The 2025 NHL Draft is almost here and it has been one of the trickiest years to both predict and to project out players in. The class itself is not the most exciting top to bottom, but there is plenty of value to be mined out of this class. The work put in by scouts will only be more important in a season like this where that talent thins out a bit quicker than normal and teams have to dissect players even further to make their critical draft-day decisions.
The top of the draft is where everyone will be focused and rightfully so. Matthew Schaefer has become one of the very best defense prospects in recent years in terms of what we’re projecting him to be. He missed most of the season with illness and then injury, leaving a 17-game regular-season sample, but some impressive international showings to look back on. It’s rare that a player has played so few games and has so securely seemed to grasp the No. 1 position in the draft.
That’s where we’re at though. It says a lot that Michael Misa had the remarkable season that he had and is relegated to No. 2 on most lists, including the one you’ll see below. His production was as good as we’ve seen in recent years for a draft-eligible in the OHL. Misa’s 134 points was the most by a draft-eligible player in the league since Patrick Kane scored 145 points in 2006-07.
Meanwhile, James Hagens was the player who came into the year as the presumed No. 1 prospect, but that seems more like a distant memory. Despite that, the trains leaving the station on Hagens seem premature. He was a point-per-game player on a good BC team, playing more of a third wheel role at times with other top players. I don’t think there’s much separation between Hagens and Misa when it comes to skill and hockey sense, but Misa has some of the more attractive physical attributes.
The rest of this draft feels like a real crapshoot in terms of how it will go. The talent gap between the Top 12 or 13 players and the rest is where it feels the most significant. The end of the first round looks more like the early second round in a lot of years with a ton of players that are easy to like, but harder to love. It’s going to be a wild couple of days in Los Angeles.
FloHockey will be there to bring you news, analysis and live coverage throughout the event. You won’t want to miss that. But before we put on the shades for our trip to Los Angeles, here is Chris Peters’ final top 100 prospects for the 2025 NHL Draft.
2025 NHL Draft Top 100 Rankings From Chris Peters
1. Matthew Schaefer, LHD, Erie Otters
An all-around defenseman with size, physicality, high-end skating ability and skill. He missed most of the season first with illness then a collarbone injury. In his small sample, Schaefer didn’t have any truly bad games. He is consistent, mature, and has all of the tools to be a No. 1 defenseman in the NHL. His skating is among the best in the class and his hockey sense is right up there, too. Schafer has been through a lot in his young life, but has met his challenges with grace well beyond his years. As a pick, he is not without risk, but there’s so much upside that teams have mostly dismissed the long absence and still view him as a potential long-term No. 1 defenseman at the top of his projection.
2. Michael Misa, C, Saginaw Spirit
A highly-skilled center with an astoundingly productive season in the OHL, Misa has been picked apart for years as an exceptional status player. But he saved his best junior season for his last and he’s put himself in the discussion to go as high as No. 1. Misa can score, he has excellent hands and an ability to spot plays. He processes the game at speed and when he’s got his competitive drive going, he can play a physical enough game to really put pressure on opposing players. He’ll still need work on his two-way play, but his offensive know-how, speed and improving strength have all put him on track to be a top-line player in the NHL.
3. James Hagens, C, Boston College
One of the best overall playmakers in the draft, Hagens has elite level hockey sense and vision. He can find seams and is one of the most alert players in this draft. His ability to make plays with pace, exploit defenders and get to the interior when necessary will not be overlooked. He is 5-foot-10.5, which has some concerned and he clearly needs to tack on more muscle to be effective. But a lot of people have forgotten how good this player is and how competitive he is, too. A knock on him is lack of production in some of the biggest games of his season, aside from the World Junior gold medal game where he scored a pivotal goal. Having tracked Hagens closely for the last three years, the overwhelming body of work suggests he will be a play-driving, high-producing forward at the NHL level and teams will pass him at their peril.
4. Anton Frondell, C, Djugården IF
After registering 0.86 points per game in the Allsvenskan, Frondell is without peer among U18 players at that level of hockey. His per-game production outpaces that of William Nylander, David Pastrnak and Filip Forsberg at the same age. He had another seven points in the playoffs as Djugården earned promotion to the SHL. So why isn’t he a lock to go in the top five? Frondell, oddly enough, underwhelmed against his own age group and early-season injuries knocked him out of some of the biggest competitions. When he is at his best, Frondell is a hard-driving forward who can get to the interior and score goals. He is committed to two-way ability and physicality to impose his will on games. Which is why a lot of us were perplexed as to why we didn’t see that regularly with his own age group. The inconsistency is a concern, but his best games are better than most other players in this draft, which in a weaker draft year is worth betting on, in my estimation.
5. Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton Wildcats
One of the most complete players in the draft, Desnoyers does a little bit of everything and helps you win with his tenacious, energetic play. He is a proven winner with championships at World U18s, Hlinka-Gretzky and most recently the QMJHL title with Moncton. He had 84 points in 56 games, plus another 30 points in 19 QMJHL playoff games while playing through injuries to both of his wrists. Because of the injury, his Memorial Cup performance was a bit quieter but that does little to cool my opinion of the player. Desnoyers has size, physicality, defensive sense, work ethic and skill to be a top-six center who is good in tough matchups. I do agree that his offensive game is not as dynamic as most of the other players in this range, but he can impact the game in so many different ways that it does little to dissuade the notion that he can be a difference-maker at the NHL level.
6. Porter Martone, RW, Brampton Steelheads
A tremendous playmaker, with good hands to go along with a 6-foot-3, 207-pound frame, Martone is a tantalizing talent. Size with skill is always coveted, which is why he’s been among the very best prospects in this draft. Where I see some separation between Martone and some of those ranked ahead of him is pace of play. His skating is closer to average, which will be more than enough to get by in the NHL, but I’m not sure he’s going to be able to impact games as effectively as some of the quicker players. Another knock on Martone has been his consistency in terms of his competitive drive. When he’s dialed in, he can be a power forward who impacts the game in all three zones and engages physically. But he is unlikely to be the nasty, mean power forward teams often want players like Martone to be. The team that drafts him will certainly benefit from allowing him to be who he is, which is a talented offensive player who can drive play and play the physical game when necessary.
7. Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford Bulldogs
With 98 points in the OHL this season, O’Brien made his mark as a high-end playmaker with excellent vision and decisiveness with the puck that helped make him a continual threat. He had 32 goals this season, showcasing a solid nose for the net and an ability to score goals in a variety of ways. O’Brien is a spindly 6-foot-2, with an opportunity to tack some muscle onto his frame to be more difficult to knock off the puck. He was still able to make plays in the hard areas of the ice and had creativity under pressure, which is encouraging for his ability to create and produce at the NHL level. His skill suggests he could be a credible No. 2 center in the NHL at the top of his projection.
8. Victor Eklund, LW, Djugården IF
An aggressive, speedy and skilled winger, Eklund turned heads with a high-end performance with Djugården this season. The younger brother of San Jose Sharks forward William Eklund finished with 31 points in 42 games, which is sixth-most among U19 forwards all-time in the Allsvenskan. The other players ahead of Eklund all play or played in the NHL including William Karlsson, Elias Pettersson, Filip Forsberg, Alexander Wennberg and record-holder Patrik Berglund. Eklund is 5-foot-11, but his tenacious, competitive drive limits concerns about his size. He has a very mature game on top of the quickness, skill and work ethic that leads me to believe he is going to find a top-six role in his peak years in the NHL.
9. Brady Martin, C, Soo Greyhounds
The most feared body checker in this draft, Martin came by his strength working on his family’s farm. Aside from the physical game, he can also score with good hands for such a physical player. He is all-out energy on every shift and it seems as though he doesn’t end a game without taking a piece out of the opposing team. He had 33 goals and 72 points this year for the Greyhounds and then played a leading offensive role for Canada at the U18 Men’s World Championship where the team won gold. Because he impacts the game in so many different ways, he could be a No. 2 center or top-six wing that teams rely on in all situations.
10. Roger McQueen, C, Brandon Wheat Kings
A 6-foot-5 behemoth with room to fill out, McQueen is exceptionally skilled for a player of his size. In a perfect world, he’d be in the mix to be a top-three pick with his combination of size and skill, but McQueen missed a large chunk of the season with a back injury which has teams concerned. It’s always good to be a bigger player unless you’ve sustained a back injury early in your career. Teams will continue to assess the long-term risk that comes with McQueen’s injury, but when it comes to judging what we’ve seen this year and last from the player, he has all of the tools to be an impactful power center at the NHL level, which is a hugely valuable and rare commodity.
11. Kashawn Aitcheson, LHD, Barrie Colts
One of the meanest, most physical players in this draft, Aitcheson also had 26 goals during the OHL season from the blue line. The 6-foot-1, left-shot defenseman is one of the oldest first-year eligible players in the draft, but he’s a complete throwback player that teams feel could be of exceptional value in the playoffs. I don’t anticipate Aitcheson’s goal scoring will translate at the NHL level, but I do think he has the ability down the road to be a consistent 40-point defenseman who makes every opposing forward aware of his presence on the ice. His compete and physicality are special traits that teams will value highly.
12. Radim Mrtka, RHD, Seattle Thunderbirds
The ceiling on Mrtka seems limitless. A 6-foot-6, right-shot defenseman with superior mobility and good puck-moving capabilities, he’s the kind of player teams normally line up to take in the top 10. The only reason I don’t have him there is that I’m a bit concerned about Mrtka’s overall lack of physicality and whether that’s something he’ll ever effectively add to his game. He can be a bit too passive on shifts where a more aggressive, driven player is going to make a bigger impact. You can see all the tools he has and what can happen if he puts it all together. There’s a strong chance he ends up being one of the best defensemen in this draft and plays a top-four role down the road and he is firmly in the draft’s top 12, which is where we start to see the drop off.
13. Justin Carbonneau, RW, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
A 6-foot-1 power winger with enough edge to make him difficult to play against, Carbonneau had a highly-productive season. He scored 46 goals in 62 games, showing off solid finish and good hands for a more rugged player. He’s hard to knock off pucks and can be a handful on the forecheck. There are questions about whether the offense is particularly high end, which is fair, but there’s enough to like there to believe he could be a middle-six scorer as he progresses.
14. Braedan Cootes, C, Seattle Thunderbirds
One of the more versatile forwards in the class, Cootes does a little bit of everything that will help a team win. He is a right-shot center with good-enough skill and a solid work ethic. Cootes is a good skater who can play an aggressive brand of hockey that makes him more difficult to contain and dogged in puck pursuit. He captained Canada to the gold medal at the U18 Worlds while also putting up 12 points in a stock-raising performance. Before that, he had 63 points in 60 games in the WHL. The offensive upside might be closer to average, which is why he isn’t higher, but his all-around game and character are going to be attractive to teams in the middle of the first round.
15. Cole Reschny, LW, Victoria Royals
A cerebral, skilled forward with high-end playmaking ability, Reschny has a fairly high offensive ceiling. His ability to process the game and control the pace of his shifts when the puck is on his stick make him stand out at the junior level. He lacks prototypical NHL size and he’s not a natural burner as a skater, but he moves pucks effectively and decisively. His performance down the stretch of the season and into the World Under-18 Championship put Reschny’s stock on the rise for good reason.
16. Jackson Smith, LHD, Tri-City Americans
With a good athletic profile including strong skating, a 6-foot-4 (after the combine measurement) frame and some skill, Smith is an intriguing talent. There are legitimate questions about his hockey sense that come from his ability to finish plays effectively and with precision. His puck decisions can also leave some to be desired. That said, Smith defends quite well with an ability to close gaps quickly and thwart rushes with his skating and length. He has all of the physical tools to be an impactful defenseman, but he will have to work on his puck decisions and processing speed in order to reach his full potential.
17. Carter Bear, LW, Everett Silvertips
If not for an Achilles injury late in the season, Bear was starting to push into the discussion of this draft’s top 12. He is one of the better goal scorers in this draft, having posted 40 in 56 games with Everett. Bear has the quickness and the skill to challenge defenders and competes, too. He’s an average-sized winger that can get after opposing players and engage physically, even if that is not going to be a primary selling point of his game. As long as teams are satisfied with the injury recovery, Bear has a chance to go a bit higher as he has one of the best offensive toolkits among players in this range.
18. Lynden Lakovic, LW, Moose Jaw Warriors
To land a 6-foot-4 power winger with good hands in this range is usually a nice little pickup for a team in the mid-first. Lakovic had 58 points in 47 games this year and there’s a bit more skill in his game to expect higher production in subsequent years. Additionally, Lakovic is a good skater, which should allow him to challenge defenders in a variety of ways. Where he can afford to get better is being a more driven, aggressive player shift-in, shift-out. There have been some concerns that he relies a bit too much on the skating and skill and not enough on the size to be a legitimate power forward with scoring pop.
19. Cameron Reid, LHD, Kitchener Rangers
A real riser this season, Reid’s combination of skating and hockey sense has some scouts believing there could be some top-four potential there. The hockey sense, for me, is one of the separating traits among the defensemen in this next tier of blueliners. He is decisive with the puck, reads the game well and moves effectively. His offense is not especially dynamic per se, but he makes plays all over the ice and had 54 points in 67 games with Kitchener. He grew a little bit this year, too, with a 6-foot measurement at the NHL Combine which doesn’t hurt his stock.
20. Logan Hensler, RHD, University of Wisconsin
Hensler is one of the most intriguing players among defensemen in this range because the opinions on him vary greatly. There’s no doubt that he has the mobility, the size and the defensive know-how to be a potential top-four defenseman in the NHL, but his offensive upside appears limited. I’m not sure he has the offensive sense to make effective plays consistently. That said, he’s a 6-foot-2, right-shot defenseman who can skate. In a weaker draft class, he’s one of those players that seems to have a higher floor than most, but I am uncertain of his ultimate ceiling because of the offensive limitations in his game. That said, I had a lot of similar concerns about Brock Faber at the same age and we see how that turned out.
21. Sascha Boumedienne, LHD, Boston University
One of the very best skaters among defensemen in this draft, Boumedienne has excellent mobility, edgework and some explosiveness. His ability to close on players and retrieve pucks quickly will be valuable. Similar to some other defensemen in this range, there are questions about his overall hockey sense and if he processes the game quickly enough to be an effective puck mover. I’ve seen tremendous improvement in his overall game over the course of this season, but there’s still something that hasn’t quite connected to put a full stamp of projected top-four defenseman on this player.
22. Milton Gästrin, C, MoDo U20
A hard-driving forward that lives on the interior and can make plays around the net, Gästrin is not the most exciting prospect in the mix, but he’s effective. He has a physical edge and good strength to be a bit of a handful for opposing defenders. Gästrin is also committed to both sides of the puck and has pretty good wheels even if his stride is not the prettiest. Gästrin has good hockey sense and is decisive with the puck on his stick. He played primarily in Sweden’s U20 league and didn’t outright dominate from a production standpoint. However, at the U18 level, he was consistently one of Team Sweden’s most impactful players and registered 32 points in just 19 games during international competition including 10 points at the U18 Worlds.
23. Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie Otters
Spence is big and aggressive, playing an abrasive physical game all over the ice. He out-works the opposition and wins his share of battles with good puck protection. He had 73 points in 65 games this year and saw his goal-scoring tick up decisively with 32 goals. Spence has a pretty solid shot even if he might not be tabbed as a pure sniper. At a hair under 6-foot-2 and over 200 pounds, he is difficult to stop between the dots and at the net-front. He’ll be heading to the University of Michigan next year where he should play a significant role. At the NHL level, however, I’d expect Spence to slot most comfortably into a bottom-six role with good secondary scoring.
24. Blake Fiddler, RHD, Edmonton Oil Kings
When you’re a 6-foot-4, right-shot defenseman, there’s going to be considerable attention paid to you and that has been the case with Fiddler. Despite this being a fairly shallow defensive class, Fiddler has the tools that give him a good foundation to build off of. While he can move pucks and make some plays, the offensive elements of his game remain mostly unrefined. His defensive skill is notable and he can make a good first pass. His footwork is solid for the most part, too. Fiddler’s hockey sense needs to come along a bit more for him to be an effective pro, but there is still an outside shot at top-four upside, especially if the offense comes along a bit more.
25. Jack Nesbitt, C, Windsor Spitfires
At 6-foot-4 and still filling out, Nesbitt has quite a presence on the ice. His ability to make plays at the net front and create some havoc will be helpful to him as he progresses. Where there are legitimate concerns about Nesbitt is in his skating. He’s not a particularly quick player, though he does have the hockey sense and vision to potentially play faster than he can skate. There’s still some legitimate power forward potential in this player and he’s got the foundation of skills to go along with that size that teams will be eager to work with.
26. Joshua Ravensbergen, G, Prince George Cougars
Ravensbergen is the consensus top goalie for this year’s draft and has all of the physical tools. In deeper draft years, we wouldn’t be talking about him as a first-round goalie, mainly because the track record is a bit inconsistent. His numbers were not great this year and trended down from a season ago, which does concern me some. That said, Ravensbergen has a calm demeanor in net, shows good athleticism and is close to 6-foot-5, giving him the size teams covet. When you get to this range of the first round and you’re debating between a forward that might be middle- or bottom-six, or a defenseman who is a top-four longshot, why not take a chance on the player that may have a No. 1 goalie ceiling? That’s the argument teams will make, and I’d bet Ravensbergen is off the board even before this point in the draft.
27. Benjamin Kindel, C, Calgary Hitmen
An exceptionally smart, crafty winger, Kindel’s hockey sense and ability to execute give him a good chance to make it and potentially play a top-six role down the road. He’s 5-foot-10 and the skating is only OK, but he did just put up 99 points for the Calgary Hitmen this season and showed an ability to pick apart defenses with an ability to extend plays and create for his linemates. His vision is exceptional and the hand skills will make him difficult to get the puck from. If he can get a bit stronger and raise the compete level in the harder areas of the ice, he’ll give himself a better chance.
28. Bill Zonnon, RW, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
There’s a ton of upside in Zonnon thanks to his frame and the skills he showed over the course of this season. He’s also a supreme competitor who plays well off the puck and makes the most of his touches. He is a bit older in the class and progressed as you’d expect a third-year QMJHL player to play in terms of his production and ability to impact games. He had 83 points this season including a career-best 28 goals, but was especially impactful for the Huskies in the playoffs. Zonnon was traded to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada for next season.
29. Jacob Ihs-Wozniak, C, Luleå U20
A true finisher with good size and decent speed, Ihs-Wozniak scored 23 goals in the Swedish U20 ranks this year and had five at the U18 World Championship. He is able to score off the rush, has a good one-timer and has the size to crash the net and make plays in tight. He lacks dynamic skill and his hands don’t suggest high-end offensive talent. But he finds ways to produce and seems to have the hockey sense to put himself in good spots and anticipate well. He’s the kind of player that you’d want to surround with some additional talent, but I could see him rounding into a middle-six scoring forward.
30. Will Horcoff, C, Michigan
An impressive second half of the season for Horcoff after enrolling at Michigan at mid-season helped drive growth in Horcoff’s stock. He’s a massive forward with excellent physical strength and the capability to be a power forward. College players were just bouncing off of him this year. The son of former NHLer Shawn Horcoff, Will is a chip off the old block in that he commits to two-way hockey and can play a physical game that makes him hard to play against. The big question is a valid one – is the skill level and hockey sense at a high enough level for him to produce at the NHL level? The small glimpse of some of his best offensive hockey coming at Michigan may be enough to bump him up, but it does give me some pause.
31. Cullen Potter, C, Arizona State
He may be the best skater in this draft and that one elite trait could be enough for a team to take a chance on him in the first round. Potter went to the NCAA a year early and performed well, but didn’t quite light it up with 22 points in 35 games. He has a good shot and can slither through defenders well, with speed to win races and beat defenders wide. The knock on Potter, beyond his 5-10 frame is that there are a lot of things he can create with his feet, but doesn’t finish plays as well and can be a bit too perimeter. The skating gives him a solid foundation to build off of, though, and there are a lot of players that need work in this range.
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32. Cole McKinney, C, U.S. National Under-18 Team
When McKinney is playing at the top of his game, he’s a well-rounded, impactful center with two-way value. McKinney had 27 goals and 61 points at the NTDP this season and was one of the team’s best players over the course of the season. While I think he’s likely a middle-six center who can play tough matchups, kill penalties and give you good, aggressive shifts, there’s just enough offense there to be valuable secondary scoring and I could see him carving out a variety of roles at the next level.
33. Henry Brzustewicz, RHD, London Knights (OHL)
Playing on a loaded blue line in London, Brzustewicz found a role and was able to make plenty of plays despite not being one of his team’s go-to defensemen. He had 42 points in 67 games for London, but was a bit quieter during the playoffs. Brzustewicz has good-enough size, moves well and defends at a solid rate. He projects more favorably to bottom-pairing defenseman as his offense doesn’t jump off the page and there isn’t much of a specific high-end trait that stands out about Brzustewicz. Still, he looks like he can find a role down the line here.
34. Ryker Lee, RW, Madison Capitols
The USHL’s rookie of the year and one of the league’s top scorers, Lee’s stock rose over the course of the season. He’s a higher-end skill player in this draft with good hands, a high-end release on his shot and some rapidly-improving offensive hockey sense. He made a lot of plays this year and made Madison a threatening offensive team. He’s 6-foot, but will need to tack on strength at Michigan State, which I’m sure he will in that program, and he’ll need to improve his skating more to be a true NHL offensive threat.
35. Jack Murtagh, LW, U.S. National Under-18 Team
A gifted goal scorer with a good shot and the ability to get to the interior, Murtagh is difficult to stop when his motor is running. While there’s some clear offensive capability, Murtagh didn’t light scoreboards on fire with just south of a point per game at the NTDP, highlighted by his 22 goals. He has a good shot, can make plays off the rush and gets to the net. At 6-foot-1, and close to 200 pounds, he can be difficult to play against and has enough a hard-nosed style that teams may bite in the late first round.
36. Shane Vansaghi, RW, Michigan State University
In a shallow draft, you’re simply looking for players that are going to have a chance. At closer to 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Vansaghi is the kind of high-floor player who has an identity that will get him onto an NHL roster and stay there for a long time. His overall game, physicality, ability to win battles, play well below the dots and away from the puck all help Vansaghi get into an NHL lineup and help a team win as more of a cog than a primary piece.
37. Eric Nilson, C, Djugården J20
Nilson plays hard and makes his presence felt at both ends of the ice. He lacks dynamic offensive ability, but he still produces and is able to impact the game in a variety of ways. He’s not huge, but he plays with some abrasiveness and has the kind of compete that makes him noticeable.
38. Simon Wang, LHD, Oshawa Generals/King Rebellion
Born in Beijing, Wang has made the most of his last several years living and playing in Canada. He’s such a rare player in that he’s a 6-foot-6 defenseman with good mobility and good-enough hands to move pucks. He went from the OJHL to the OHL and struggled to find his offensive game. There’s a long-term project here, but the foundation of Wang’s game leaves enough for NHL teams to want to work with. This is a pure upside pick, but Wang will have to become a harder, more aggressive overall player in order to be the kind of defenseman a team wants to repeatedly throw over the boards.
39. Will Moore, C, U.S. National Under-18 Team
Expectations were so high for Moore coming into the season as he was a projected first-rounder. I didn’t come away from enough games feeling that projection was accurate, but that shouldn’t discount Moore’s upside, which is still fairly high. He clearly has the hockey sense and skill to be an even more productive player as he progresses. He’s a lanky 6-foot-2 and as he tacks on strength, he’s going to be harder to play against. There were so many flashes of what Moore can be at his best, but never consistently enough to be comfortable with him as a first-round talent for me. There’s so much potential there for him to grow into a top-six scorer, but right now he looks closer to a secondary-scoring piece.
40. Daniil Prokhorov, RW, MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg
Prokhorov is a massive human at a clean 6-foot-6, closing in on 220 pounds. He has superior hands for a player of his size and has a goal-scorer’s shot. On top of that, he’s physical and makes an impact with that physicality. He protects pucks well and wins battles well. He’s not a great skater and the hockey sense leaves a bit to be desired. The physical tools, however, are something NHL teams are going to be drooling over. I would expect him to go in the top-50 with relative ease this year, with the chance to go even earlier than here.
41. Mason West, C, Edina H.S.
One of the most fascinating players in the draft, West is a 6-foot-6, 220-pound junior in high school who is both the star forward for Edina H.S. and the football team’s star quarterback. Athletes like West don’t come along often, which is why he’s rocketing up the charts. He’s fast and has some clear skill that allowed him to both play at a high level in High School and with the Fargo Force in a 10-game stint where he had nine points. It was that stint that made West realize his sporting future may be best served in hockey. NHL teams are still nervous about taking him because he plans to play his senior season in football before moving over to the USHL for the remainder of the season. NHL personnel have questioned what will happen if West gets big Division I football offers after getting primarily mid-major offers following his junior year. West says he is choosing hockey for the long-term, but there’s still that risk factor.
42. Eddie Genborg, RW, Linköping
Genborg was on Linköping’s pro roster for 28 games this season, but did most of his damage at the U20 level. He’s a big man with power-forward potential, but there are some reasonable concerns with his hockey sense and how that projects his overall offensive upside. That said, he’s 6-foot-2, over 200 pounds, is hard to knock off the puck and actually has pretty good hands for a big guy. There’s probably more offensive upside on the table, but the high floor of Genborg as a potential bottom-sixer is enough to see him go higher in the second round.
43. Semyon Frolov, G, Spartak Moscow
In a fairly weak goalie year, Frolov looks like he could be the guy to take a swing on. He’s an athletic 6-foot-3, had at least a .921 save percentage across three different teams in Russia’s U20 league this season. He’s an aggressive goalie who can use his size and quickness. Russia has been the goalie factory of late and when you see a bigger guy with the athletic tools Frolov has, there’s a lot of hope in that upside.
44. Vaclav Nestrasil, RW, Muskegon Lumberjacks
He has to improve his pace, but there is so much to like about Nestrasil, who won the Clark Cup with the Muskegon Lumberjacks this year. He’s close to 6-foot-6, is gaining strength and will only get stronger at UMass next season. He has outstanding skill for a player of his size and protects well. As he continues to build strength, he should be able to drive the net even better and become a bigger handful for opposing defensemen. I like his upside as a potential middle-six scoring winger.
45. Theo Stockselius, C, Djugården U20
Stockselius ranked fourth among U18 players in Sweden’s U20 league with 51 points this season. He showed an ability to get to the net and produced at a high clip as a result. Internationally, his role was a bit lower in the lineup, but he was still relied on enough to make an impact. His size is a major separator for him, and as he gets a bit more drive into his game, he could be really difficult to play against. He looks like a solid depth add in this range of the draft.
46. Alexander Zharovsky, RW, Tolpar Ufa
A highly-skilled forward that lit up scoreboards in Russia’s U20 league last season, Zharovsky scored 24 goals in 45 games with legitimate hand skills including a quick release and make-you-miss moves. We’ll want to see how he looks against stronger competition, but 50 points as a U18 in the MHL isn’t nothing.
47. Jack Ivankovic, G, Brampton Steelheads
Probably the smartest goalie in the draft, Ivankovic has been a proven winner on the international stage. He won both the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup and U18 Men’s World Championship this year. His regular season in the OHL was fine, but not amazing. Still, the tools Ivankovic has are many. What he doesn’t have is size. Can he be one of those exceptional Dustin Wolf, Juuse Saros types? That’s what a team would be banking on if they took him this early. He measured in at 5-foot-11.5 at the combine. His winning pedigree, character and hockey sense are all things teams will be weighing just as heavily as his height.
48. Kurban Limatov, LHD, Dynamo Moskva
A 6-foot-4 left-shot defenseman that logged absolutely ludicrous minutes in the MHL this season, Limatov has the profile of a do-everything defender who can move pucks and defend at a higher level. He had just 23 points in 43 games in Russia’s U20 league, but was leaned on in all situations and gave his teams effective shifts every time out. It’s sometimes hard to read into MHL results, but Limatov clearly had the trust of everyone on his team’s staff to put him out there as much as they did. Of the remaining defensemen, he is one that at least you could make a case for as high as top-four potential.
49. Vojtech Cihar, LW, Kalovy Vary
Cihar played in the Czech pro ranks all season, getting a chance to play against his own age group internationally. He didn’t have a great U18 Worlds, which was not the best last impression, but he’s a hard-driving forward that has a good work ethic on the ice that makes him noticeable. He is a tough player to play against and would be a valuable matchups forward down the road. I do wonder if the offense ever gets to a level where he is going to make the NHL case strongly enough.
50. Carter Amico, RHD, U.S. National Under-18 Team
Amico was hurt almost the entire season, which makes this a tough evaluation. However, in the little bit I was able to see this season, I saw a defender with tremendous size and good mobility. Amico has good footwork, defends well and with some physicality to him. Offensively, there’s going to be a long way to go for him. I still think the foundation of skills he has suggests he could be a physical shut-down defenseman at the NHL level.
51. Ben Kevan, RW, Des Moines Buccaneers
A scoring winger who is a bit on the slighter side, Kevan has good hands and a high-end release that I would have liked to see him use more this year. His 43 points in 51 games didn’t inspire as much confidence as his impressive rookie season in the USHL. Still, I see a lot of potential in Kevan and the puck skills he displays. There’s a decreasing number of players with higher-end puck skills in this range, but Kevan is one. I’ve gotten Jake Guentzel vibes from him all year, though it’s lofty to expect that kind of outcome for him.
52. Ivan Ryabkin, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks
An exceptional offensive talent, Ryabkin’s skating needs a lot of work and so does some of his on-ice antics. He’s got to learn to control his emotions and keep his head in the game. When he does, he can be a deadly offensive performer.
🚨 IVAN RYABKIN FIRST USHL GOAL IN HIS FIRST @USHL GAME 🚨@MuskegonJacks, what a good start, eh? 👀#USHL #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/RVsDqCf5wy
— FloHockey (@FloHockey) January 4, 2025
53. Ethan Czata, C, Niagara Ice Dogs
A solid skater with good-enough size and good work ethic on the ice, Czata looks like he could be a scoring depth option with some bit down the line.
54. Max Psenicka, RHD, Portland Winterhawks
A massive defenseman who is difficult to play against, seems to have the mobility and anticipation skills to be a shutdown defender. The offense isn’t at a projectable level at this point to believe he’d be anything more than a depth blueliner.
55. Michal Pradel, G, Tri-City Storm
A goalie with NHL size at 6-foot-5, and solid technique, Pradel reads plays wells, competes hard and seems to have a foundation that NHL development staffs could certainly work with as he progresses.
56. Maxim Schäfer, RW, Eisbaren Berlin
A 6-foot-4 forward with some scoring pop, Schäfer played almost the full season in Germany’s top pro league in a depth role. At the U18 Worlds, he showed flashes of good-enough skill and a work rate that could help him create at the next level.
57. Alex Huang, RHD, Chicoutimi Sangueneens
An average-sized defender with excellent skating ability and smoothness to his movement, Huang’s going to have a chance to potentially be a power play guy at some point in his career. He will need to gain some edge to be more effective in his position, though.
58. Cameron Schmidt, RW, Vancouver Giants
A quick, aggressive player with a wicked shot, Schmidt’s size is a concern as is some of his decision-making with the puck and especially away from it. That said, his speed and hand skills are going to give him a chance.
59. Jacob Rombach, LHD, Lincoln Stars
Rombach is still very much a work in progress, but he’s 6-foot-6, moves well and still seems to be figuring out how to play at his size. He moves pucks adequately, but will need to refine that aspect of his game over time.
Jacob Rombach was a major key to the @LincolnStars Anderson Cup Championship this season🏆🔥
Get to know him better as he gears up for the 2025 #NHLDraft. pic.twitter.com/K8rjriKosX
— USHL (@USHL) June 8, 2025
60. Matthew Gard, C, Red Deer Rebels
A big man with an ability to get to the middle and plant himself in front of the net, Gard has a lot of those power forward tools you like to see. He did score 19 goals, but production was relatively underwhelming in the WHL this season, but there’s always a spot for big, powerful players.
61. Petteri Rimpinen, G, Tappara
Rimpinen has below NHL-average size, but he had a super impressive season, playing 40 games in Liiga this year, backstopping Finland to a silver medal at the World Juniors and playing an extremely mature, competitive style. Few goalies had a better overall season in this class and I think his competitive drive is a separator for him to have a chance to make it even if I’m certain he’ll go much lower in this draft than I have him here.
62. Luca Romano, C, Kitchener Rangers
Romano is a 5-foot-11 forward with good hands an ability and willingness to get to the middle. He had 51 points in 65 games with Kitchener, but the hand skills suggest there may be more offense to mine out of him.
63. Nathan Behm, RW, Kamloops Blazers
A 6-foot-2 winger with scoring pop, Behm scored 31 goals for Kamloops this season. He has good touch for his size and shows a willingness to drive the middle.
64. Tyler Hopkins, C, Kingston Frontenacs
A solid two-way center with a good motor and high compete level, Hopkins is versatile. He also can produce in the right situations, with 51 points this season. He’s a down-the-lineup player in the long-term.
65. Pyotr Andreyanov, G, CSKA U20
66. Drew Schock, LHD, U.S. National Under-18 Team
67. Hayden Paupanekis, C, Kelowna Rockets
68. Charlie Trethewey, RHD, U.S. National Under-18 Team
69. David Lewandowski, LW, Saskatoon Blades
70. Jan Chovan, C, Tappara U20
71. Brady Peddle, LHD, Waterloo Black Hawks
72. Kristian Epperson, LW, Saginaw Spirit
73. Mason Moe, C, Madison Capitols
74. Sam Laurila, LHD, Fargo Force
75. Theodor Hallquisth, RHD, Orebro U20
76. Lasse Boelius, LHD, Assat U20
77. L.J. Mooney, C, U.S. National Under-18 Team
78. Conrad Fondrk, C, U.S. National Under-18 Team
79. Peyton Kettles, RHD, Swift Current Broncos
80. Luke Mistelbacher, RW, Swift Current Broncos
81. Tomas Poletin, LW, Lahti Pelicans
82. Adam Benák, C, Youngstown Phantoms
83. Filip Ekberg, RW, Ottawa 67s
84. Lev Katzin, C, Guelph Storm
85. Mateo Nobert, C, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
86. Tommy Lafreniere, RW, Kamloops Blazers
86. Stepan Hoch, LW, Ceske Budejovice U20
88. Benjamin Rautianien, C, Tappara
89. Viktor Klingsell, RW, Skellefteå U20
90. Owen Martin, C, Spkane Chiefs
91. Sean Barnhill, RHD, Dubuque Fighting Saints
92. Carlos Handel, RHD, Halifax Mooseheads
93. Alexei Medvedev, G, London Knights
94. Cooper Simpson, LW, Shakopee H.S.
95. Carter Klippenstein, C, Brandon Wheat Kings
96. Charlie Cerrato, C, Penn State
97. Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen, LHD, Michigan
98. Bryce Pickford, RHD, Medicine Hat Tigers
99. Måns Goos, G, Färjestad U20
100. Lucas Beckman, G, Baie-Comeau Drakkar
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