A lot has changed since our last run at a 2025 NHL mock draft. The World Junior Championship is in the books, the calendar reads a new year and the draft order is flipping on a daily basis. It’s time to crank up our attention on this summer’s selections, especially with the Blackhawks having the best odds of winning the lottery (currently).
A lot more will undoubtedly change between now and when the names are actually called in June. The trade winds are blowing hard in the NHL right now, so there could be some different teams selecting in different places by then. And, of course, the draft order will continue to evolve until someone lifts the Stanley Cup.
For this mock draft I’m using the NHL standings (reverse order of point percentage) entering Friday, Jan. 9. Let’s get into it!
2025 NHL Mock Draft — First Round
1. Chicago Blackhawks — Porter Martone, RW
6-3, 208
Shoots: Right
Huge caveat here: I have been preaching that the Blackhawks should hire David Carle as their next permanent head coach since two days after they fired Luke Richardson. He just led the USA to a second straight gold at the World Juniors. If the Blackhawks do hire Carle, they should absolutely consult him regarding the 2025 NHL Draft having coached — and coached against — so many of the top prospects both at the WJC and in the collegiate ranks. That might shift the Hawks’ focus to James Hagens, who was Carle’s No. 1 center at the tournament. But I’m sticking with the power forward here.
It’s a one-goal game! 🚨
The @OHLSteelheads‘ 2025 #NHLDraft prospect Porter Martone with a re-direct on the man advantage! 🇨🇦 #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/UITgLBaH4R— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) January 3, 2025
2. San Jose Sharks — Matthew Schaefer, LHD
6-2, 183
Shoots: Left
Schaefer broke his collarbone at the WJC and is going to miss an extended period of the second half. We’re going to have to wait and see if that hurts his draft position; he was in play to be the top overall pick before the injury. I still think he makes a ton of sense for the Sharks. He and Sam Dickinson could give them two foundation pieces on the back end.
3. Nashville Predators — James Hagens, C
5-11, 170
Shoots: Left
Hagens has been considered the top prospect by most analysts since the summer and his performance at the World Juniors only helped that case. Nashville GM Barry Trotz has long coveted centers to build around, so this might be the best-case scenario for the Preds.
4. Seattle Kraken — Michael Misa, LW
6-1, 184
Shoots: Left
Misa is absolutely in play for the top pick. He’s dominating the OHL this season; entering Friday, Misa has 33 goals and 35 assists in 33 games. How the hell he wasn’t on Canada’s roster for the World Juniors is still a mystery. Seattle needs a game-changer and they get one here.
5. Buffalo Sabres — Victor Eklund, RW
5-11, 161
Shoots: Right
The Sabres are a massive disappointment this season and might make some dramatic moves before the trade deadline, so stay tuned as their draft position and needs could evolve. But right now, Eklund is a guy who might have played himself into the top five at the World Juniors. He had an exceptional tournament.
6. Philadelphia Flyers — Roger McQueen, C
6-5, 197
Shoots: Right
The Flyers have a lot of young pieces at the NHL level already and have multiple picks in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft. So we get to call their name a few times in this mock draft. McQueen is an enormous center, which fits the Flyers’ history well.
7. Anaheim Ducks — Logan Hensler, RHD
6-2, 192
Shoots: Right
I’ve had the Ducks and Hensler together in a few mock drafts thus far, and him coming off the board at seven feels like a more likely potential landing spot for both parties. The Ducks have stocked up on offensive players in recent drafts and have some nice young pieces already in the NHL. Hensler is the top-rated right-handed defenseman in this year’s class and is considered a solid top-ten pick. After trading RHD Jamie Drysdale for Cutter Gauthier, Hensler would bring back some organizational depth on the right side of their blue line.
8. New York Islanders — Anton Frondell, C
6-0, 196
Shoots: Right
The Islanders are the Islanders. They need quality in their pipeline. And a top-ten pick will help them do that. Frondell is the best player available on my board.
9. New York Rangers — Jackson Smith, LHD
6-3, 195
Shoots: Left
I’m putting two caveats on this pick, and they’re both based on the number of rumors and reports that the Rangers are trying to trade for disgruntled Canucks center JT Miller. First: this pick might end up in Vancouver if a deal is indeed consummated. Second: If the Canucks want NHL roster players and not futures, there has been speculation K’Andre Miller could be involved. Smith is an excellent defensemen with some helium in his draft stock right now. I like the fit… if the Rangers are here when the dust settles in June.
10. Detroit Red Wings — Caleb Desnoyers, C
6-1, 178
Shoots: Left
If the Red Wings are in the lottery and not the playoffs, it will be fascinating to see if Steve Yzerman is still making this selection when the draft arrives in June. Assuming he is, and the Red Wings don’t make a dramatic move before the deadline, I think they’ll look to add more offensive firepower to their pipeline.
11. Boston Bruins — Jake O’Brien, C
6-2, 172
Shoots: Right
O’Brien is a really good center with ideal size for the Eastern Conference. And how did the Bruins succeed for as long as they did? Strength down the middle. So putting a good center with size and offense in Boston feels like an ideal marriage.
12. St. Louis Blues — Kashawn Aitcheson, LHD
6-1, 196
Shoots: Left
The Blues have been up and down this season, but they continue to talk about improving their blue line. They might have more positions to fill after the trade deadline, too. Aitcheson is the best defenseman on my board here, so he’s headed to St. Louis.
13. Pittsburgh Penguins — Radim Mrtka, RHD
6-6, 207
Shoots: Right
The size of Mrtka will make him one of the more intriguing prospects in this draft class. He’s playing for Seattle in the WHL this season after coming over from Czech. Mrtka could be in play for St. Louis with the previous pick as well, but I have him going to Pittsburgh here.
14. Ottawa Senators — Malcolm Spence, LW
6-1, 203
Shoots: Left
Spence is probably a top-ten prospect in this draft but there are always teams that draft for organizational need (or go off the board), so getting this kind of value here for the Sens. They’re hoping to be drafted much later than 14 this year, however.
15. Montreal Canadiens — Lynden Lakovic, LW
6-4 , 190
Shoots: Left
Lakovic has terrific size and ability and showed well in the CHL-USA showcase. He turned 18 in mid-December and has already almost matched his production in 68 games last year (39 points) his first 31 games this year. I feel like a productive 6-4 winger something the Habs could use, especially with some of their young players not being big (specifically Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson).
16. Utah Hockey Club — Cameron Reid, LHD
6-0, 175
Shoots: Left
There’s some helium in Reid’s draft stock right now. He has decent size for a LHD, but his offensive ability is opening eyes (entering Friday he had 30 points in 38 games for Kitchener in the OHL). Looking at teams buying more offense from their blue lines recently, this would make sense for Utah.
17. Columbus Blue Jackets — William Moore, C
6-2, 161
Shoots: Left
The Blue Jackets being in the playoff picture after their heartbreaking summer is remarkable. They have youth all over their NHL roster, so they’re likely looking for the best player available to continue stocking their pipeline. In this mock draft, Moore is a good center with size who works for Columbus.
18. Montreal Canadiens (from CGY) — Justin Carbonneau, RW
6-1, 191
Shoots: Right
Can you imagine a guy named Carbonneau in Montreal? (See what I did there?) This is a good player who should come off the board around this spot, so I’m making it happen for the Habs in this mock draft.
19. Vancouver Canucks — Blake Fiddler, RHD
6-4, 207
Shoots: Right
Yes, this is the son of Vern Fiddler. And he’s a big right-handed defenseman, which is a trendy thing for NHL teams to target. What we don’t know at this point is where the Canucks will be drafting in June. Will they have multiple first-round picks because of big trades? Will they be higher/lower because the drama in the room sorts itself out and either improves or continues to hurt the club?
20. Nashville Predators (from TB) — Jakob Ihs Wozniak, RW
6-2, 184
Shoots: Right
Another pick for the Preds has them taking a talented winger from Sweden. He has good size and is playing at a high level in Sweden as a 17-year-old.
21. Calgary Flames (from NJ)— Brady Martin, C
6-0, 178
Shoots: Right
With the first of their two picks in the first round, Calgary lands a center here who has nice size and plays a good game. They’re back on the clock after the next two picks…
22. Philadelphia Flyers (from COL) — Carter Bear, LW
6-0, 179
Shoots: Left
Bear is a solid winger with good size and ability whose stock appears to be rising quickly right now thanks to 26 goals in 31 games for Everett in the WHL already. He’s a slightly older prospect; he turned 18 in early November.
23. Carolina Hurricanes — Braeden Cootes, C
6-0, 183
Shoots: Right
The Canes take the best player available here in Cootes. He has already almost matched last year’s production in 29 fewer games for Seattle in the WHL.
24. Calgary Flames (from FLA) — Cameron Schmidt, RW
5-8, 152
Shoots: Right
Remember Johnny Gaudreau? I hate making the comp this soon after his tragic death. But Schmidt is not a big player — and his ability to put the puck in the net is undeniable. They’re looking to fill their pipeline with skill at this point and Schmidt’s size won’t deter teams from taking him at this point in the first round.
25. Philadelphia Flyers (from EDM) — Charlie Tretheway, RHD
6-1, 200
Shoots: Right
Another pick for the Flyers, and this one addresses their blue line with a nice right-handed shot. He’s headed to Boston University next year.
26. Chicago Blackhawks (from TOR) — Cullen Potter, C
5-9, 168
Shoots: Left
Why would the Blackhawks take another center in this size range here in the first round of our mock draft? Because Potter is an elite skater — just like so many recent picks by the Blackhawks. Potter is having a nice freshman season at Arizona State, and him being a freshman in college already gives the Hawks more runway before needing to get an ELC written for the player. The size issue isn’t as much of a concern if the Blackhawks are able to land a big power forward earlier in the round.
27. Dallas Stars — Milton Gastrin, C
6-1, 185
Shoots: Left
The Stars have consistently been considered among the best front offices at identifying talent and developing prospects in recent years. Gastrin is young — doesn’t turn 18 until June — and is playing at better than a point-per-game rate in a junior league in Sweden. He has decent size.
28. Columbus Blue Jackets (from MIN) — Joshua Ravensbergen, G
6-5, 195
With their second pick in the first round, Columbus takes their goaltender of the future. Ravensbergen received a first-round grade from NHL Central Scouting at the start of the season and is the top netminder in this draft class.
29. Los Angeles Kings — Kurban Limatov, LHD
6-4, 187
Shoots: Left
With the future of Drew Doughty becoming an increasing question for the Kings (age happens, folks), the Kings could use a big defensemen who can come up and help in the future. Limatov is a good candidate at this stage in the first round.
30. Winnipeg Jets — Ben Kindel, C
5-10, 176
Shoots: Left
I have the Jets taking the best player on the board here. Kindel doesn’t turn 18 until April and has blown past his 68-game production from last year in his first 36 games for Calgary in the WHL this year. Nice add here for Winnipeg.
31. Washington Capitals — Artyom Vilchinsky, LHD
6-6, 240
Shoots: Left
The Caps have been magnificent this season, and selecting here means they’re a conference champion. In this year’s draft class, once you get past the top 14-16 picks there’s a lot of talk about wild cards and lottery tickets. Vilchinsky, who turned 18 in mid-September, is massive. He’s playing his fourth season for St. Petersburg in the MHL in Russia. Defensemen who are this big at 18 don’t grow on trees. So why not?
32. Nashville Predators (from VGK) — Cole Reschny, C
5-10, 187
Shoots: Left
With their third pick in the first round, the Preds take a young player (doesn’t turn 18 until April) who was nearly a point-per-game performer last year and is exceeding that rate this year in the WHL. His size isn’t ideal but the Preds have the volume of picks this year to look for productive players to help re-stock their pipeline.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
