Hey everyone, it’s been a minute.
I’ll be honest, I have not had the heart to make content this year. Instead, I deleted Twitter and lived in a headspace mostly away from the usual draft cycle. However, not releasing content does not inherently mean that I wasn’t around watching these players. While the 2025 NHL Draft Class did not earn my upmost attention, I did find myself watching roughly 70-80 guys this year.
From those players, I’ve compiled a top 50. Why 50? Well for one, it’s a nice even sounding number, but the other reason is that I don’t think I’m fully comfortable ranking another 14 because I’m not particularly sold on many players this year. The 2025 NHL Draft Class is certainly one of the draft classes of all time; yet, in its midst are some genuinely interesting players. The top end is quite impressive as well.
As always, my takes are formed almost solely on my own. I say “almost” because I can’t say that I pushed outside influences away with the same level of conviction as I did in past years. Still, every idea found in this “brief” writeup is mine. The logic stitching this list together is mine.
If you want to know more about that logic and the overall methodology I used for these rankings, please read my 2023 and 2024 introductions. Not a thing has changed, it’s still the same core philosophy that drives me for better or for worse. I don’t plan on writing a long introduction, but seeing as I haven’t really spoken much publicly in essentially an entire calendar year, I want to say the following.
At this point, I’m not sure if I’m interested in returning to the content side of the public draft sphere. Speaking honestly, I’m pretty unimpressed with a lot of those sharing that space and I’m not the personality type to fake being cordial. However, my love for the game of hockey and the experience of putting together the puzzle pieces that make up each player in each draft class is always going to be something I care deeply for. It’s a process I thoroughly enjoy. I don’t know what 2026 has to offer, but I do hope I decide to find some way to share my thoughts instead of simply reappearing at the end of the year like this.
And yes, I am self aware about how lame it is to write something like this in the intro to the only rankings piece I’ve released this year. Sue me.
Enjoy the writeups. They’re not as long as in the past, which I think should be an improvement for the reader!
1 Matthew Schaefer - Erie
I’ve long believed that the nature of the defensive position means its prospects lag behind their forward counterparts specifically when it comes to their development curve. Forwards tend to lead the attack and have more opportunities to be proactive; whereas reactivity is the bread and butter of a defender. It’s for this reason we often see forwards crowd the upper echelons of the NHL draft. Typically, the defenders who do earn their position amongst the top of the draft are the ones who have natural athletic advantages that helped them adapt to their level of competition sooner, but a common trend can be seen among quite a few of this already sparse group. They don’t possess the traits commonly found amongst the NHL’s very elite 1D’s — the special intellect that allows them to use their high-end tools at the highest pace imaginable, which is a must to be a key impact player in all areas of the ice.
Enter Matthew Schaefer. This big brained lad is one helluva player. Fluidity defines him, as his brilliant agility and puck handling allows him to navigate pressure and create space with such ease it makes you wonder why other toolsy draft eligible defenders simply cannot do this. His understanding of how high-level hockey works at the macro level is so advanced that you can find little details in every crevice of his game. To exaggerate a bit to get the point across, I’d say his meager 24 game sample size has both more minute details and more “holy shit” moments in it than almost the entire first round combined… and that’s only a bit of an exaggeration.
The only way I can see fans being “disappointed” in any way is that Schaefer isn’t of the Makar archetype, but that’s okay. It’s been many a year since we’ve had a rearguard this wonderous eligible for the draft, and I personally can’t wait to see him play.
2 Michael Misa - Saginaw
Like his brother last year, Michael Misa is a superb skater in just about every possible metric. While injuries slowed down the ending stretch of his season for the second year in a row, it’s fair to say that no other forward in the draft matched the high’s that Misa achieved this year. Shifty cuts, sharp turns, explosive speed and precise routing around the ice make him a highly mobile presence.
What makes Misa stand out so much to me is just how often he elects for the smart, simple play. Possessing gamebreaking talent does not mean you need to use it every possible chance, especially if it breaks your flow within the larger macro game at play. It’s not just about making the right plays (which he does very well), it’s that he can spot that one passing lane that really opens up the defensive structure, creating the space needed for those big opportune moments. He absorbs pressure and moves the puck through it with such ease. I’m not sure there’s a forward in the draft that understands how to weaponize their own gravity for the macro benefit of the team nearly as well Misa.
Of course, Misa can still break the game open whenever needed as his expansive toolkit and deep understanding of defensive rotations provide him everything he needs to utterly humiliate opponents when the time calls for it. A great shot and an even better sense for opening pockets of space allow Misa to dash in and around defensive structures to the key areas that matter. He rarely puts himself in a position where he doesn’t have options. If you’re comfortable with the idea that a center doesn’t have to be six foot million in order to be a high-end top six center then Michael Misa is pretty easily the top forward in the draft.
3 Victor Eklund - Djurgårdens IF
I find it very fascinating that Baby Eklund, little brother of San Jose player Beeg Eklund, has formed his own play style that is completely distinct from that of his brothers while still using the same unique strengths that makes William such a phenomenal player. Both players have strong mental maps of the ice and a great understanding of the various ways play can unfold at any given moment. They’re also sensational skaters who are able to perform miraculous moves at high speeds. What made so many love William back in 2021 was his ability to use these tools to slow the game down. Delays, changes of pace and sharp turns allowed William Eklund to manage pockets of space with seemingly effortless ease.
What makes me love Victor today is that he doesn’t seem to give a shit about any of that. His motor is dialed up to 1000% for just about every shift he plays. His decision making isn’t compromised at this pace, it's enhanced. There’s seemingly no pace that makes him uncomfortable. William’s approach is more dynamic as it naturally creates more space, ultimately allowing him to facilitate a bit more than Victor does.. but again, it seems as if Victor doesn’t give a shit about that. He’s going to outwork you. He’s going to overwhelm you. He’s going to do so with better positioning and better puck control than you. Still, there are little signature plays that both have, my personal favourite being the way both invite pressure to open a lane, they angle a 270 degree turn to the outside to protect the puck and then they whip the puck with pristine accuracy through the newly opened lane. It’s a move that works so well because their dynamic footwork provides a multitude of escape routes with the puck still on their stick, so they command the respect of their foes. It’s just one brother is more of a cycle-specialist and the other is more of a forechecking-specialist.
No other forward eligible this year brings the pace and intensity that Victor Eklund does. Take any of the CHLers not named Schaefer, Misa and maybe Martone and place them in HockeyAllsvenskan and you’d immediately see their entire on-ice identity crumble into dust as they struggle to adapt to the pace, structure, athleticism and physicality. Eklund’s tenacity, overbearing presence and fearlessness make him such a distinctive prospect in the class — one that stands out even more when compared to the.. overwhelming mediocrity of the rest of the class.
So f*** the regular season. Many may think he’s a bit small to play the highly coveted “Florida Panthers style of playoff hockey” (in terms of on-ice skill, pressure and tactics, not the tendency to maim their opponents) but his style is exactly what you need in your top six if you want to emulate them and the other top playoff teams.
4 James Hagens - Boston College
Aaaaand the annual “draft stock has gone down because he didn’t meet the expectations of people who expected a different player for some reason” award goes to James Hagens of Boston College!
While I was never personally on board with James Hagens being the unanimous number one player to enter the year, I find it quite surprising that the pendulum has swung wildly in the other direction. Most credible outlets still seem to respect the player enough to keep him in the top five, but it’s quite interesting to see how his public stock has dipped when he’s essentially the exact same player he was when the season began.
James is pretty much the same player as he was last year. Hagens has an abundance of skill, great vision and a lot of escapability. His “Hockey IQ” (translated: good understanding of the macro game and how micro decisions affect it) is among the very best in the class in most areas on the ice. The jump in competition has revealed that he can’t skill his way through anything, but anyone familiar with NTDP Hagens knew that he wasn’t the type of player to carry that approach anyways. He looked his best when he made fast decisions with the puck as that forced defenders to respect the macro game. Once someone was caught paying a bit too much attention to the macro and accidentally gave him too much space, that’s when you would usually see Hagens style out. It was quite similar to Misa.
He lags behind Misa and Eklund a bit in transition and certain DZ coverages, partly because he isn’t as mobile relative to them. To clarify, I don’t mean he lacks mobility as Hagens can certainly shmoove around the ice when he’s got the puck — I mean that he isn’t constantly routing himself in, around and towards the play with the same level of impact & consistency that those two do. The NCAA is a big step up in competition. Players are both more athletic and better at playing the macro game. This revealed some areas that need to be improved on for Hagens to continue playing his game, but I don’t believe it warrants enough concern to start taking players of far lesser talent over him.
5 - Porter Martone - Brampton
Beeg, beefy, dangly and quick — the sky's the limit here with Mr Martone. When you strictly look at nothing but the tools, it’s not too tricky to argue Porter Martone may have the best physical toolkit in the draft. Does that mean he has the highest potential? Well, theoretically yes.. but realistically.. also yes.. but also kinda no.
Martone is still amongst the draft's best decision makers, but his pace of play can fall behind that of the few forwards ranked ahead. Which is a bit weird if you ask me because there are plenty of moments where Martone can do some breathtaking things at full pace that makes you genuinely fear for the poor defenders who are tasked with guarding this behemoth. The question is: can he grasp these moments with more consistency? If so, he is a true top six caliber prospect with star upside and a mean streak built for the playoffs. If not, he’s a versatile middle six player with size, durability, physical prowess and a ton of offensive flair. He’s more what you’re looking for if you’re trying to draft the stereotypical Florida Panther (but again, without the natural instinct to dismember his foes).
6 - Anton Frondell - Djurgårdens IF
A professional player through and through. If you’re expecting a top six center or a superstar winger, you may be a bit disappointed with what you get; however, set your expectations correctly and you walk away with a premier goal scoring winger who can contribute all over the ice due to his intelligence, physical durability and quick decision making. This versatility makes him an easy plug and play in almost any type of team you’d want to build which, understandably, makes him a very coveted asset.
He isn’t likely to be the guy, but you’d certainly love to have him playing alongside the guy. His routing off-puck is efficient enough so that he’s constantly trying to do something productive, whether that’s getting open for a pass, slashing through a gap to drag defenders out of the structure or supporting the puck carrier. Most importantly, Frondell knows his game very well and doesn’t appear to be interested in being something he’s not. He’s not going to take on unnecessary risk for highlight reel plays, but if there’s a good play to make that requires some skill then he’ll do it with zero hesitation.
As much as I enjoy Frondell, it wounds me a bit to rank him ahead of Potter as I’m more philosophically inclined to go towards guys of Cullen’s ilk than Anton’s. But I do recognize the sheer value that a player like Frondell brings to the table and I know I’d adore having him as a top six winger for my ideal team. Consider that my growth as a scout.
7 - Cullen Potter - Arizona State
I could sit here and gush for days about how absurdly good Cullen Potter. Every year there’s that one player who has all the talent that the top-end prospects have that is somehow ranked waaaay later in the first. It’s pretty agreed upon that this is a draft lacking high-end facilitators, yet here’s a kid who is completely cracked the f*** out almost every time he steps onto the ice and it’s just.. somehow not good enough.
The skill is elite. The handling is elite. The shot is elite. The vision is elite. The fluidity to which these four are combined is elite. His transitional game is great both on and off the puck. He’s not amazing defensively, but he has good instincts and a strong macro map of the ice. His panic threshold is very high, meaning he can withstand a lot of incoming pressure and still make consistent reads. He can make a ton of time and space for himself by toying with the game's pace through delays, stop-ups, explosive movements and beyblade-esque agility. All the individual pieces for an elite, offensive dynamo are there in spades, and I wholeheartedly believe he’s far closer to fully assembling these pieces into a top six playdriving demon than almost the entire 2025 class.
A player’s decision making is always an interesting thing to evaluate, but I find more often than not that you can eventually pick up the pattern on what’s really going on. What do you call a smart player that sometimes makes not-so-smart plays due to having outrageous skill that’s fun for them to use? You call them a smart player because if this is the standard we’re holding all players to, then we can twist and contort that logic so that almost every first-round prospect this year lacks the “hockey IQ” needed for the NHL.
Yes, sometimes he do the dangle in bad places where he should not do the dangle, but he has shown himself very capable of recognizing smart plays when they’re in front of him. That’s why his data is still supremely good for a true freshman at Arizona State University that’s playing a lot of big minutes even if he does bite off a bit more than he can chew. Do we seriously think he won’t adapt if future coaches sit him down in video review and go “Cullen, you can’t do that anymore, that’s not how it works in this league”? That’s an extremely pessimistic view towards this young man.
If my introduction hasn’t made it abundantly clear, I just don’t give a shit anymore. I challenge anyone to make a list of North American prospects from 2020 onwards that both match Potter’s extremely dynamic toolkit that they think would have played a more efficient game in the NCAA in their draft season. There are a few players on that list, and almost all of them are damn good players. The bar is high and he’s lept over it, so I remain confused as ever why we’re raising it even further for this player in particular when less dynamic CHLers with worse upside and less transitional impact are ranked in this spot instead. Hell, to go even further with this — Artyom Levshunov played for a premier program last year with less skill, less agility, less fluidity, better teammates, was given a green light to roam the ice in a way draft eligible defenders are almost never allowed to do and he made a large number of mistakes a game both on and off the puck. Everyone loved him. The few of us who weren’t sold got shit for it. Now those flaws are center stage. Maybe Lev figures it out, maybe he doesn’t, but my point is that I don’t get why the standards fluctuate so much with every player. There’s no consistency with these takes. What are we even doing here?
8 - Lyndon Lakovic - Moose Jaw - F
Perhaps a bit high on the list, but to me this is where the draft opens up into a big pool of guys with a variety of different skills. For me, the first I’d be taking is Lakovic.
His size is obviously a big factor in what makes him so tantalizing this early, but size alone is not enough to sway me. Instead, it’s his creativity with the puck that has me willing to swing this early. Parts of his offensive game remind me of Cayden Lindstrom with the way he blends directional agility with his reach to dance and dash around defenders. He’s not without flaws in this regard, but the potential is there in spades, especially as he has so much developmental room with his physical frame. Lakovic is not a bruiser, but he plays a game that would benefit greatly with an expanded power forward dynamic.
At the end of the day, Lakovic is one of the few guys with some serious offensive potential and a rare toolkit in this draft and I covet that a bit more than most. It also helps that we’ve learned through Game Tapes with Tony that this kid has a tremendous head on his shoulders that I think will make all the difference in his development.
9. Michal Svrcek - Brynas IF - F
If Lakovic may have seemed a little high on the list, then Svrcek may seem absurdly high. I agree. It is a bit high, but I’m comfortable with him in this spot. Outside of the top seven, I have not seen a player take over a game like I’ve seen Svrcek do across various games.
As always, fluidity is the defining trait I’m looking for this high in the draft. The Slovakian forward is a great skater who can change directions quickly, play with a lot of skill and is constantly looking to find whatever advantage he has the moment the puck is on his stick. How often is the puck on his stick you ask? A lot (at least in J20). Why? Because he’s a relentless puck pursuiter. He’s constantly going at full speed and tracks down puck carriers with ease, largely due to how well he identifies how play is going to unfold. 30 points in 30 J20 games may not scream “top ten caliber guy” and in most drafts, you’d be right; however, this isn’t most drafts. Dynamic playdrivers who thrive when the game’s pace is cranked all the way up are a rarity this year. While his SHL tape wasn’t as pronounced, you could see that he wasn’t suffering due to an inability to match their pace. It was more that he just lacks the experience to make his approach work as consistently as it did in J20.
In the best case scenario, Svrcek could be one helluva point producer, but I’m not ranking him ninth because I see him as a slam dunk top six forward. I see him as the ultimate support guy on a line, similar to how I viewed Gavin Brindley a few years back (but not as high-end). I would never take Svrcek at ninth simply because I don’t have to — he will be available far later after all. But the draft is wide open at this point, and the one’s who interest me most are the dynamic puck carriers who can play at maximum pace. A lot of players I see ranked in this range have a few niche strengths, but I don’t know how many are hardwired to survive the playoffs like Svrcek can.
After this is where a bit of a mini-drop happens in the draft. While I don’t think Lakovic and Svrcek are at the level of the top seven, I think they bring enough pace, skill, creativity and upside that I can comfortably rank them ahead of the rest of the pack.
10. Carter Bear - Everett
If you had asked me months ago, Carter Bear would not be in this position. I had quite a bad stretch of samples that did not do the Silvertip forward justice, but fortunately going over some older tape in the year redeemed Bear. He’s fierce, he’s quick, he forechecks well and he has a good set of hands that can be used to create for others when he’s in the right conditions. I will admit, I expected a bit more of a playdriver in Bear, but I don’t want to punish a player and lower them for not meeting expectations I shouldn’t have set.
I think all the things that make Svrcek so great are there in Bear’s game, but the Slovak’s tools are a bit more intriguing while he also plays with a higher pace of play. For that reason, I think Svrcek is more of a play driver while Bear is more of a complimentary piece, but both ultimately project best in supportive roles.
11. Bill Zonnon - Rouyn-Noranda
God damn, I love Bill Zonnon. Compared to his QMJHL contemporaries, I think Billy Z brings a tremendous amount of pace to the ice even if he isn’t the most fleet of foot himself.
He plays with an endless determination that you simply have to admire as a true fan of the game. His second effort is often the difference maker for him, forcing unexpected turnovers and generating chances that other players won’t get. Unlike Desnoyers, Zonnon was the guy driving his line as he was a key piece in transition for the Huskies. He's no stranger to chaotic scrums and panicked dashes for loose pucks. In fact I’ll go a step further and say that Zonnon has proven to be quite the improviser as he’s one of the draft's best players at finding productive plays in these difficult positions. His admirable effort level will make coaches adore him, his skill level is enough to make plays with pace in the NHL even if they aren’t the flashiest, and his physical endurance will provide him ample chances to be a disruptive menace that pisses the other team off.
12. Logan Hensler - Wisconsin
It’s tricky to find quality defenders in this draft as the drop-off after Schaefer is quite substantial to say the least, but as a multi-year long fan of Logan Hensler I’m comfortable taking him here.
Hensler has a number of strengths that project cleanly to the NHL, giving him a bit of a safety blanket relative to the other defenders available. Second, and more importantly, Hensler has some understated upside that I do believe in a fair bit, as he has these OZ flashes of creativity that makes you ponder whether or not he should be using skills like this a bit more than he does. Personally, I think it’s a natural step in his development as he’s always had the ability to generate offense within the OZ — he just tries not to force plays when they aren’t there. The NCAA is a big leap up in pace of play and mistakes are punished far more harshly than when you’re playing on the NTDP, so Hensler starting slow and trying to simply be responsible on the ice does make a lot of sense. I won’t assume Hensler goes back to his old ways of being more of an attacking force, but I also won’t rule out the possibility either. It’s not like there’s a long line of defenders who can offer more in the offensive zone anyways, and the few who can come with significantly more risk. Hensler’s a stable presence in his own zone and he has the physical traits (re: height) that people want to see in the average defender.
The key thing that gives Hensler above the group of forwards here is that I actually can see him playing in a second pairing role. He adapts to his partner fairly well and the riskier opportunities he does take with the puck (whether in the OZ or not) are usually only taken when it makes sense to do so within the larger macro game. To me, that’s projectable. It may take a while for him to acclimate to the NHL, but there’s a realistic outcome where his offensive contributions come out a bit more frequently once he’s familiar with the pace of play and has a better understanding of risk/reward in the league.
13. Eric Nilson - Djurgårdens IF
Eric Nilson is almost exactly what I’m usually looking for in a mid to late first round player, and it just so happens that those guys get a bit more of a premium spot this year. Seeing a draft eligible player play smart, responsible two-way hockey in a pro league with a projectable frame was a breath of fresh air.
At the risk of repeating myself endlessly, I must again state that pace of play is nearly everything to me. Nilson’s brand of hockey is easy to project to the NHL’s pace because while he doesn’t have the tools that someone like Svrcek does, he doesn’t necessarily need them either. He isn’t a player that’s reliant on high-end moves to generate advantages on the ice. He plays in-sync with the team like a natural center and admirably makes the right play whenever he can.
I’m not overly concerned about him being physically overwhelmed in the league because, as always, these guys are going to put on strength. I would like to see a bit of an improvement with his handling and some additional explosivity would be nice, but I’m not banking on these developments in order to justify this ranking. At this point, I’d say most of the centers available project to a middle-six role at best, with the majority ending as 3C’s. Nilson likely plays good minutes as a two-way 3C and the adaptability he showed this year in a professional league makes him my preference.
14. Jake O’Brien - Brantford
I think O’Brien is quite the interesting player. He’s developed a significant amount since his OHL draft and he brings a lot of the qualities you’re looking for in an NHL center (size, decision making, working with teammates). I’d usually like to see a bit more raw skill and/or high pace from a player this high in the draft, but seeing as we’re starting to run thin on prospects of that caliber, O’Brien ends up finishing higher than I was expecting.
I do have to give respect to how impactful O’Brien was for Brantford this year. The traits aren’t elite, even by CHL standards, but he’s far more productive than the majority of the league's players. He has a big frame that he knows how to use well to manage incoming pressure and he has good vision to move the puck whenever opportunities present themselves.
Compared to the likes of Svrcek or Lakovic, O’Brien is a clear step down in terms of pace-of-play and a dynamic toolkit. His strengths and intelligence will land him an NHL role that he will be impactful in, but I don’t really see many scenarios where O’Brien lands in the top six of an NHL team unless the quickness or hands take a further step in development.
15. Brady Martin — Sault Ste. Marie
I honestly don’t have much to say about Martin because he’s a pretty simplistic player to analyze.
He smash. He smesh. He smush.
Aside from the smishing and smoshing, Martin is a solid player in his own right with some surprisingly good passing moments that I certainly wasn’t expecting given the impression he left me in my first viewing this year. I have to admit I ended up being a bit biased against Brady solely because of how unimpressed I was with that first game, but I eventually have come to appreciate the fact that he does have things to offer beyond catapulting other players around. That being said, he’s not the most skillful player and he isn’t the quickest either. The upside is pretty limited, so I’m okay with letting other people take him to find someone who has a chance to be a bit more of a macro contributor.
16. Braeden Cootes — Seattle
Like Carter Bear, Cootes is another player who I wasn’t fully sold on due to an underwhelming sequence of games I had seen that really didn’t provide a full perspective to his game. I saw an impressive off-puck player who hadn’t done a whole lot with the puck in space as I had hoped for. Fortunately, I was able to see that Braeden proved has some dynamic flair to his game after all towards the end of the year, which then changed my perspective on Cootes’ poorer performances earlier in the year once I factored in that he isn’t playing on a team as well equipped as Carter Bear is.
Cootes is a nimble forward with a lot of fine details to appreciate, particularly with regards to how well he navigates the ice off-puck. He doesn’t pack an explosive burst, but his movement is sufficient enough to race to key areas of the ice just in time to make a quick play, only to dart off to the next key area. I think longer, substantiated carries aren’t really going to be his thing once he’s in the NHL, but I do think the overall pace of his game is going to earn him an NHL job. It just might take a bit more time than expected. There’s more risk with Cootes than there is with Desnoyers, but I think the upside in pace is worth it.
17. Caleb Desnoyers — Moncton
I think Caleb Desnoyers is a fine player but if the conversation is taking him amongst the top five then I’ll let someone else make that decision. He does have the size that teams really covet and does make very good reads when he’s on the ice, but being a top six center requires more than that and I’m not sure I’ve seen the traits needed in his game.
A concerning pattern for me is when Jr players require their lesser known linemates to do a good percentage of the dirty work for them. Caleb played for a very good team, one that made it all the way to the Memorial Cup. He wasn’t the bus driver on his line who was the key figure moving the puck up the ice, a trait I find additionally concerning considering the abundance of neutral zone space you typically see in the average QMJHL game.
Desnoyers plays a safe, simple game away from the puck and that’s completely fine. He can support linemates and then make a fast decision whenever the puck comes his way. I don’t think he’s going to be an inefficient decision maker in the league by any means, but I do question how often we will see him make high-end plays against top four NHL defenders. Can you imagine Desnoyers against Miro Heiskanen? He’d be eaten alive.
Ultimately, I see O’Brien and Desnoyers very similarly, but I think O’Brien brings a bit more of a projectable style with him while also having more room to grow. As it currently stands, Desnoyers is probably the better player. Realistically, I don’t care which one I draft either way because neither overly excited me.
18. Shane Vansaghi — Michigan State
Remember how the Florida Panthers like to decapitate every player they go against whenever they can? Yeah, so does Shane Vansaghi.
This is quite high for Vansaghi relative to others, but I think it’s pretty fair. I don’t see a tremendous difference between Martin and Vansaghi, and some of the differences I do spot between the two go in favour of Shane instead of Brady. He’s got a bit more skill, he’s a better skater and he plays within the macro structure of his team a bit better. He also hits more than Brady Martin does. He’s cool because he’s able to be such a physical menace without being an outright dirty player.
At this point, give me the guy who doesn’t stop moving and plays with the sole intent to crush all of his foes into dust every chance he can. Vansaghi isn’t going to offer a whole lot beyond that, but he moves with pace and will add to the depth of any playoff team looking to massacre the other team.
19. Roger McQueen — Brandon
I do like McQueen a fair bit more than the guys I have him ranked around, but I am utterly terrified of his injury history. I also think the upside he brings isn’t as elite as others do, as I never found myself thinking he was a top ten player, but I do think he’s a positive asset to have on the ice given that he’s physically imposing with some fun tools to work with for a player of his stature.
If injuries weren’t a factor, then I’d likely have him ahead of Jake O’Brien. I still think I’d prefer the likes of Eric Nilson as the Swedish forward plays such a clean, efficient game that’s already proven to work in professional hockey.
I really hope my concerns are overblown and that Roger manages to have a healthy career, but after the fiasco with Cayden Lindstrom’s injuries this year.. I’d steer clear.
20. Ryker Lee — Madison
Discount Beckett Sennecke, also known as Ryker Lee, is one of the few truly exciting players left.
I do believe he’s a bit of a long shot in his current form, but I also think he has a loooot of developmental room to grow into. Like Beckett, Lee was a smol lad who one day grew to be a beeg lad. As a smol lad, Lee was an agile monster for Shattuck who was creating offense out the wazoo with highlight reel attacks seemingly every shift he had. As a beeg lad, Lee is not an agile monster by any means.
BUT losing his agility has not hindered Lee’s approach to the game at all. He still has a great sense for generating offense, a deceptive boomer of a release and a fantastic set of hands. He still plays like someone who understands the value of lateral escapability even if he isn’t fully able to utilize those escapes like he once could. It took a bit for him to grow fully comfortable with his newfound reach, but he’s now experimenting with it to find new ways to skillfully attack and manipulate foes.
His skating stride is.. a bit too wonky, even for my standards as someone who doesn’t usually care about the finer biomechanical details of a player, but I trust that it will correct with time. If so, Lee should become an offensive middle six NHL player. If not, well, I’d say he was worth the risk and I’m comfortable passing on the guys he’s ahead of in order to take that risk.
21. Benjamin Kindel — Calgary
What a confusing player. If we were strictly speaking about offensive potential, I’d say Kindel is amongst the ten best players in the draft as his vision, anticipation, playdriving and facilitation are all strong strengths. Unfortunately, a lot of Kindel’s game is at its best when he’s flowing freely through the middle of the ice, navigating open space and finding every advantage he can to break apart defensive structures. That’s.. a really difficult job to have in the NHL. It requires a lot of speed, a tremendous amount of skill and a lot of tenacity as those windows of open space are going to be shut on him with lightning speed compared to what he’s used to in the WHL.
I want to rank Mr. Benjamin Kindel a bit higher than this, especially as I’d usually be pretty willing to take on additional risk for a high reward over the type of players that remain; however, I have a gut feeling here that the NHL just might be a wee bit too much for the likes of the Calgary Hitmen pivot. Playing wing also diminishes quite a few of his strengths and really saps the peak upside that Kindel has. Still, I don’t think he’s in strict boom or bust territory, as I think he has enough offensive talent to wow a team into giving him a bottom six role.
22. Justin Carbonneau — Blainville-Boisbriand
Considering that I’ve stated numerous times that I think this draft lacks high-end skill, it feels a bit wrong to have Carbonneau this low. At the same time.. this is quite literally the highest he’s ever been on my board this season. Carbonneau is a deeply frustrating player to watch. It took THREE whole games to finally find a moment where Carbonneau truly took over a shift at the level you’d expect from a player this skilled. THREE. That’s a LOT of 5v5 ice time where he wasn’t being the player I’d expect him to be.
It’s not just the infrequency to which Carbonneau imposes his will on the game. It’s the frequency to which he looks entirely complacent when opportunities to make a play are pretty much right in front of him. He’s a “controller disconnected” meme far too often, reminding me of Arthur Kaliyev.
Still.. he’s extremely skilled. This may honestly be too low for his talent level. Maybe others got a better sample on him throughout the year. I don’t know.
23. Cole Reschny — Victoria
I f***ing love Cole Reschny. This is a slam dunk top ten caliber guy if he had just.. something more to work with. It doesn’t need to be height, but if it’s not height then it’d need to be blazing agility, lightning hands or an impressive physical durability. Fortunately, it’s entirely possible that one or more of those traits enter Cole’s game as he makes his journey to the NCAA next year.
He’s simply among the brightest minds that 2025 has to offer. His positioning is incredible, his skill level is tremendous and his vision is too good that it genuinely hurts my soul to rank him this low. It’s very, very similar to Kindel but almost a more extreme version — there’s (arguably) a better player here, but it’s even more difficult to envision their success in the league.
That being said, I was shocked to find him so high on McKenzie’s final list, so hopefully someone does take him in the mid-first and gives him a proper chance.
24. Blake Fiddler — Edmonton
Similar to Carbonneau, I should probably have a player who can reach the high’s Blake Fiddler can reach a bit higher in the draft. The skating ability combined with the size and reach is very tantalizing, and if you’re someone who loves the idea of what a big toolsy player can develop into then I can understand how Fiddler may be quite tantalizing.
Also similar to Carbonneau, I’m not entirely convinced that those high’s are going to be utilized too often in the NHL. Blake Fiddler is a large, toolsy defender who is almost certainly going to go far higher than this due to positional scarcity alone; but I’m not going to be the one who takes the chance. I’m quite picky with defenders as you only get six on your team, I don’t want to just mindlessly plug guys in who don’t fit with the overall approach I have for the roster.
25. Radim Mrtka — Seattle
“Am I wrong about Mrtka? This honestly feels low” is a common thought process I’ve first started to change my tune on the large Czech rearguard back in the middle of the season. Mrtka was one of the first guys I claimed as a top ten guy in the year as I liked what I saw from him when he was playing overseas. I thought my first viewing of his with Seattle showed that he had nice touch with the puck even if he wasn’t an overly skilled guy.
Since then, I’ve switched into a more pessimistic perspective with Radim. He doesn’t play with the intensity that you’re hoping for from a guy this large. He should be smashing WHL players like it’s the easiest thing in the world to him, but his soft approach often leads to him getting awkwardly walked through or danced around. His reach isn’t utilized as well as I’d hoped, but I concede that is a strength that should develop with time.
Maybe Mrtka develops into something more defensively. Ideally, he’s someone you draft to be one of your defensive anchors that provides a safety net in the DZ. I’m just not sure what he’s going to be. Some additional physical intensity would have almost certainly landed Mrtka in the late teens on my list.
26. Jackson Smith
I find that, with enough samples, I’m able to put the puzzle pieces together for most prospects and have a pretty realistic understanding of their potential outcomes.
I have no idea what the hell Jackson Smith is going to be.
Everytime I think I’ve discerned the finer patterns within his game, he does something wildly new that makes me question everything I thought I knew about him. Simple, safe decisions are a bit of a rarity here. He’s seemingly all risk, all reward every time he goes to make a play with the puck. It’s such cowboy hockey that I can’t help but respect it, but I’m not entirely sure it’s what I want to add to my NHL team. Still, I will acknowledge that the tools are quite good for this range in the draft and if someone is capable of reigning him in then you end up getting a defender far more capable than all but a small few of his contemporaries in this draft.
I really liked Andrew Strathmann a few years ago because he was so fun. Part of that was because he wasn’t going to be a first round pick. Smith gives me very similar vibes to Strathmann. I don’t know about that being worthy of a first round pick.
27. Gustav Hillstrom
Hillstrom is a bit of a weird player but, ultimately, I’m comfortable with him in the late first. He’s playing a game that’s quite a bit more sophisticated than some of the names ahead, but it comes with the drawback that he’s still a bit flawed with the puck. I think Hillstrom could make it in the NHL as a really smart puck pursuit guy, similar to the likes of his teammate Michal Svrcek, but without the high-end skill and vision needed to really elevate to the level of impact his Slovakian counterpart can provide.
28. Malcolm Spence — Erie
This may feel a bit low, but I haven’t found myself particularly jazzed by Malcolm Spence in any of my viewings this year. He’s certainly going to play in the NHL, but I don’t think it’s going to be in a role that I find coveted enough to take earlier in the draft than this. He’s physical and can make smart plays in isolation, and that alone could carry him further in his professional career than a number of the guys ahead. That being said, is Spence going to be the guy on your third line that you’re extremely thankful to have? I think Spence is in a very similar position to Hillstrom, but they have different avenues forward. I’d risk taking Hillstrom knowing he’s a slightly longer shot to make the league in order to get a speedier player with a bit better of a puck pursuit game.
29. LJ Mooney — USNTDP
I also f***ing love LJ Mooney. I had him as a projected mid-first coming into the year. The injuries he experienced broke my heart, especially as his form when returning from said injuries was… quite unremarkable to say the least. Thankfully, Mooney has rediscovered the flow in his game that really made him such an impact player.
I don’t really see any scenario where Mooney’s game works as an NHL center, but I think he can be a dynamic winger with a lot of skill and pace that works well with other offensive minded players. He puts the effort in across all three zones that you want to see in a smaller player. LJ’s skill level is arguably the best of all players remaining in the draft as well. This is the upside bet I’d want to take on a small player and I wager some team is going to get him quite late in the draft.
30. Cameron Schmidt — Vancouver
As far as the smaller players go, I clearly lean more towards Reschny and Mooney than I do with Schmidt, but I also understand that the Giants forward has a very good chance of making me regret ranking him this low. He’s a tremendous shooter with a great sense for space, and he has the skill & agility necessary to create that space for his shot. In some ways, he has a higher ceiling than that of Mooney; however, I think he doesn’t carry the same three-zone impact that LJ does and I believe that impact is going to be essential for a team to give Schmidt a proper look in the league. To Cameron’s credit, he does put in the effort necessary to make up for his size deficit, but I still have to question if it’s going to be enough.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand yeah, that’s it. I don’t think I have any unique commentary to add to the players ranked 31-50 and I haven’t ordered them with the same level of care that I usually do. To me, it’s a big blender and you can take just about any of them in any order. Not really worth the writeup.
As always, thank you for the read. <3