It’s an important time on the NHL scouting schedule, with training camp rosters for the World Junior Championship announced and that tournament now just 23 days away.
We also just concluded the first ever CHL-USNTDP Prospect Challenge, a two-game series featuring some of the best draft eligible talent from those two sides. My colleague Sam Cosentino and I attended both of those games, which provided intriguing results from a variety of prospects.
With the calendar turning over to December, snow flying all over Canada, and the scouting season in full swing, my rankings for the 2025 NHL Draft have expanded to 40 players from the initial 32 I started with in October.
Here is my latest look at this season's NHL Draft:
No. 1: Matthew Schaefer, D, 6-foot-1, 183 pounds, Erie Otters (OHL)
Schaefer continues to evolve and take his game to new levels. The two-way/transitional defenceman leads by example with his relentless compete. He never quits on a play in the defensive zone and attacks with speed and creativity offensively. Schaefer is deployed in all situations at the junior level and averages around 30 minutes of ice time per night. Schaefer projects as a workhorse top pairing defenceman at the NHL level. He is the most elite defenceman in the 2025 draft class by a wide margin and is a complete player.
No. 2: Michael Misa, LW, 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Misa shows no signs of slowing down offensively. He's on track for well over 50 goals and 100 points this season in the OHL. Misa is playing the middle this year in Saginaw and it agrees with him. He uses the full width of the ice to make plays and attack off the rush. Misa can provide more than just offence as well. He has the hockey sense and commitment to be deployed on the penalty-kill and match up against top six opponents. He averages over 23 minutes of ice time per game. His combination of speed, skill, detail and shot project him as a first-line NHL forward.
No. 3: Porter Martone, C, 6-foot-3, 208 pounds, Brampton Steelheads (OHL)
Martone's combination of size and skill project him as a top line NHL forward in time. He has fantastic puck touch; pucks are on and off his stick in a hurry from high danger scoring areas in the offensive zone. Martone leans goal scorer/shooter more than playmaker/distributor, but his vision and execution have gone to another level this season. Martone averages over 21 minutes per game with Brampton. The bulk of his ice time comes at even strength and on the power play. He's a game changing talent overall.
No. 4: James Hagens, C, 5-foot-11, 177 pounds, Boston College (NCAA)
Hagens has adjusted to the pace and weight of the college level and is starting to take his game to another level offensively (3G-14A). He’s averaging around 20 minutes per game and all of his ice time comes at even strength and the power play. He’s driving play through the neutral zone and, at times, is proving difficult to check because of his vision and playmaking. Hagens has top-line NHL upside. He’s been the No. 1-ranked prospect since the beginning of the year and hasn’t done anything wrong that has led to his ranking dropping to No. 4 on my list. The other prospects ahead of him have simply shown me more to this stage of the season. It'll be a race to watch all year.
No. 5: Anton Frondell, C, 6-feet, 196 pounds, Djurgardens (Allsvenskan)
Frondell is one of the most elite shooters in this draft class. He’s especially dangerous on the power play when he sets up on the weak side flank to one-time pucks. Frondell has excellent hockey sense. He reads how plays are developing and slides into “quiet ice” to make himself available offensively. He has good size and room to add more strength and weight as he matures. Frondell is also generally responsible defensively. He’s a well-rounded prospect with an elite offensive element.
No. 6: Roger McQueen, C, 6-foot-5, 197 pounds, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
McQueen remains on the shelf dealing with an injury and has only played eight games so far this season. When healthy, McQueen's combination of size and skill is intriguing. He’s a solid skater for his stature. McQueen can push the play in the neutral zone and drive opponents off their blue line in the process. He uses his length as an advantage along the wall and around the net. McQueen is equal parts shooter and distributor. His element is offence, but he’s also reliable defensively. McQueen has top line NHL upside, but his health will determine his trajectory moving forward.
No. 7: Victor Eklund, LW, 5-foot-11, 161 pounds, Djurgardens (Allsvenskan)
Eklund is a fun player to watch. He’s a crafty, creative, quick strike forward who pushes the play in open ice. On balance he prefers to direct pucks on net over setting up his linemates. He’s an elusive skater who can spin off checks in tight quarters and escape traffic to create offence. Eklund won’t move the needle a great deal defensively. He’s average in his own zone, but his offensive element wins out. He will have to add much more strength as he matures.
No. 8: Caleb Desnoyers, C, 6-foot-2, 178 pounds, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
Desnoyers' entire game is on the rise. He's engaged in all three zones and competes for pucks in traffic. Desnoyers is a threat to produce off the rush. He has the vision and patience to slow things down and wait for options to present themselves. He has the hockey sense, and commitment, to be thrust into a variety of roles. Desnoyers makes plays in traffic and is especially creative on the power play.
No. 9: Jackson Smith, D, 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Tri-City Americans (WHL)
Smith's offensive contribution is trending up in his draft year and he's on pace to easily surpass his point total from last season. He's a big, strong, reliable defender who's deployed in all situations and matches up against top six opponents. Smith is a solid skater who closes the gap and is always willing to play with some edge and bite. A two-way defenceman on projection, Smith is a potential middle pairing NHL blueliner with possible top pairing upside in time.
No. 10: Ivan Ryabkin, C, 6-feet, 198 pounds, St. Petersburg Dynamo (VHL/MHL)
I’m monitoring Ryabkin closely because his season has gone through some ups and downs. He’s skated at the MHL and VHL levels in Russia (their equivalent of major junior and the AHL) and has averaged between 13-15 minutes per game, all of which comes at even strength and the power play. He’s a solid skater and plenty strong. His element is offence and he's a playmaker/distributor more than a pure shooter. His defensive detail does range. He’s the kind of prospect who has to find a home in a team’s top-six forward group to thrive. Ryabkin won’t settle into a bottom-six/checking role in the NHL.
No. 11: Malcolm Spence, LW, 6-foot-1, 203 pounds, Erie Otters (OHL)
Spence is the kind of prospect who can be deployed in a variety of roles. He's an excellent skater in open ice and plenty quick in small areas. Spence attacks the net when he creates turnovers in the offensive zone and pushes defenders back in transition. Opponents can't sleep on him when he's killing penalties. Spence pressures pucks up ice and has shown he can create scoring chances when on the penalty kill. Spence averages around 20 minutes of ice time at the junior level in Erie. He projects as a potential top six NHL forward who can be used in all situations.
No. 12: Cameron Reid, D, 6-feet, 193 pounds, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Reid is a two-way/transitional defenceman who logs over 23 minutes per game at the junior level and is deployed in all situations. He’s an excellent skater who is very agile with great edges. Reid escapes pressure in small areas and can lead the rush on his own. He quarterbacks the power play in Kitchener and sees the ice very well. Reid is a sound distributor with an understated shot. He isn’t physically imposing, but he’s plenty strong and capable defensively. He has second pairing NHL upside.
No. 13: Cameron Schmidt, RW, 5-foot-8, 161 pounds, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Schmidt is easily defined as an undersized, darting goal scorer with a "shoot-first" approach. Off the rush, if he gets the edge, he's aggressive directing the puck on net. He has the ability to shoot the puck in motion quickly and accurately. Schmidt is exceptionally dangerous on the power play and doesn't require much time, or space, to make plays. He has top-six NHL forward upside. All of his ice time will come at even strength and the power play. He's adequate defensively, but not the kind of player who will kill penalties at the pro level.
No. 14: Braeden Cootes, C, 6-feet, 183 pounds, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Cootes is a relentless competitor who can be deployed in a variety of roles. He has the skill set, and commitment, to match up against top flight opponents in a shutdown role. Cootes also provides better than secondary offence. He attacks off the rush with speed and takes the puck to the net when he sees a lane. Cootes is an energetic, lead by example, team-first player who never cuts corners. Opponents who sleep on his size are quick to find out how hard he is to play against. Cootes is a player who can be thrust into a role on any line.
No. 15: Logan Hensler, D, 6-foot-2, 196 pounds, Wisconsin (NCAA)
Hensler is settling and starting to look more comfortable at the college level. It’s a tall order for a draft eligible defenceman to adjust to bigger, stronger and faster opponents. Hensler is plenty mobile for his size. He’s a two-way defenceman with some underlying offence. Hensler is capable of walking the offensive blue line to open up shooting and passing lanes. He’s also a big body who can play both sides of the ice. Defenders like Hensler, once they fully develop, are worth their weight in gold at the NHL level.
No. 16: Radim Mrtka, D, 6-foot-6, 207 pounds, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Mrtka has made his way to North America to play for Seattle in the WHL. In his first WHL game he logged over 26 minutes of ice time and was deployed in all situations. Mrtka moves very well for a big man. His skating, especially on straight lines, is powerful. I’m monitoring how Mrtka adjusts to the smaller ice surface in North America compared to Europe and how he reads and reacts developing plays off the cycle and along the boards. Mrtka is a two-way defenceman on projection at the NHL level. He has enough skill, and compete, to be used in all key in-game moments. Opponents have a very difficult time escaping when he engages physically.
No. 17: Kashawn Aitcheson, D, 6-foot-1, 196 pounds, Barrie Colts (OHL)
Aitcheson is impacting the game in a variety of ways for Barrie. He's averaging over 24 minutes of ice time per game and being deployed in all situations. Aitcheson is a strong skater and relentless competitor who plays with a physical edge. He never shies away from contact and gaps up to kill plays on his blue line. Aitcheson is evolving offensively. His overall puck play remains a work in progress, but he's definitely making strides. Aitcheson projects as a two-way/match-up and physical second pair defenceman at the NHL level.
No. 18: Carter Bear, LW, 6-feet, 179 pounds, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Bear is on pace to score over 100 points in the WHL this season. He's a lanky, skilled forward who has the hockey sense to be used in all situations. Bear moves well. He pursues opponents to create turnovers and can be a threat off the rush or in traffic areas in the offensive zone. Bear presents as equal parts shooter and distributor. He's a competitive player who gives all he has on a consistent basis.
No. 19: Joshua Ravensbergen, G, 6-foot-5, 190 pounds, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Ravensbergen is the top-rated goalie for the 2025 draft. He's big in the net and challenges shooters at the top of his crease. Ravensbergen takes away tons of net with his aggressive style and displays good coordination and agility for his size. Pucks find him in traffic. He catches with his right-hand, which presents shooters with a different look. He’s trending to being a No. 1/No. 1B NHL upside.
No. 20: Brady Martin, C, 6-feet, 178 pounds, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
There aren't many holes in Martin's game. He provides reliable three-zone detail and can be deployed in all situations. Martin moves well and has sneaky puck skill. He sees the ice well and doesn't waste time with his decision making. When he sees a shooting lane open, he’s aggressive directing plays on net. Martin projects to land somewhere between a 2F and 3F at the NHL level. He leads by example with high end compete and determination.
No. 21: Cullen Potter, C, 5-foot-10, 172 pounds, Arizona State (NCAA)
Potter plays the game quick and fast; he’s consistently involved and full of energy. Potter is a threat off the rush and opponents have to respect how fast he attacks between the blue lines. The bulk of his ice time comes at even strength and the power play. He sets up as a distributor on his strong side flank with the man advantage. I appreciate his overall compete and he’s better than average defensively as well. Potter has top six NHL upside.
No. 22: Viktor Klingsell, LW, 5-foot-10, 188 pounds, Skelleftea (J20)
Klingsell is always in motion. He’s an excellent skater who’s quick to space in small areas and wins most of his races to pucks in open ice. Klingsell leans passer more than shooter. He sets up on the strong side flank on the power play to open up lanes to distribute and make plays. Klingsell is average defensively. He has potential top-six upside.
No. 23: Jake O’Brien, C, 6-foot-2, 172 pounds, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
O'Brien was the OHL rookie of the year in 2023-24. He has the skill set to impact the game offensively as a distributor/playmaker or shooter. O'Brien reads how plays are developing and pounces on his opportunities. His defensive game ranges at times, but he's being deployed in all situations at the OHL level and logging over 22 minutes per game. In time, added strength will create more explosiveness in open ice and leverage in traffic. O'Brien has second line NHL upside. The bulk of his ice time will come at even strength and the power play at the pro level.
No. 24: Lynden Lakovic, LW, 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Lakovic is an intriguing prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft. His combination of size, long reach, and goal scoring are attractive elements. Lakovic cannot be described as a power forward, but he does extend plays and create turnovers with an active stick. He's a solid skater who has shown the ability to pull away from checks in the neutral zone and create scoring chances off the rush. Lakovic projects as a potential top-six NHL forward. All of his ice time comes at even strength and the power play. He has room to take his physical push back to another level.
No. 25: Justin Carbonneau, RW, 6-foot-1, 191 pounds, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
Carbonneau is a crafty playmaker with outstanding puck touch. He makes plays in tight quarters, over opponents' sticks, and through their skates. He consistently plays to his identity offensively. His battle game/secondary pushback is improving. Carbonneau always has his head up with the puck on his stick and is unselfish in the offensive zone. Carbonneau is a "wide track" skater, but he arrives on time. As he continues to mature, he will need to bring his legs more on plain to enable better "cuts" to the net off the rush.
No. 26: Cole Reschny, C, 5-foot-10, 183 pounds, Victoria Royals (WHL)
Reschny is an active player who generally works hard in all three zones. He can be deployed in a variety of roles, but leans offence more than checking forward overall. Reschny is usually involved in traffic. He's strong for his height and works to win puck battles in traffic. Overall, he leans distributor more than natural goal scorer.
No. 27: Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, RW, 6-foot-3, 184 pounds, Lulea (J20)
The draft cycle doesn’t end until next June and Ihs-Wozniak is a player I have to watch very closely until the end of the season. He’s had some very positive games, but also some nights where I expected more. Coming out of the Hlinka/Gretzky U18 tournament in the summer I was underwhelmed, but did see some goal scoring upside in his game. Through the course of the season in Sweden he has been distributing the puck more than he's been directing them on net (7G-21A) and driving play through the neutral zone. There’s much to like about his game and his stature allows him to absorb contact to extend plays.
No. 28: Milton Gastrin, LW, 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, MODO (J20)
Gastrin is an interesting prospect for me. He has good size, consistent compete, and is responsible in all three zones. Gastrin can push the pace, make plays, and he’s deployed in all situations in Sweden. Gastrin is the kind of player who provides value. He produces better than secondary offence and can slot into any of the four forward lines.
No. 29: Ben Kindel, C, 5-foot-10, 176 pounds, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Kindel produces offence (15G-22A) and is used in all situations for the Hitmen. He’s an infectious player who doesn’t cut corners. Kindel works the entire 200 feet of the ice. There are some nights when he looks like he might be running on fumes, but he gives all he has. In time he will add more strength and endurance. His combination of skill and will is attractive.
No. 30: Luca Romano, RW, 5-foot-11, 177 pounds, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Romano is on the rise for me and is another darting forward with quick strike offensive upside. Romano is a threat off the rush. He values open ice and is aggressive directing pucks on net. Romano is average defensively, but his offensive upside wins out for now. In time he too will have to add more strength to his frame, which should lead to more success coming off the cycle and the boards.
No. 31: Adam Benak, C, 5-foot-7, 160 pounds, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
Benak is a very crafty, undersized, and skilled forward who’s very competitive and difficult to check in motion. The discussion around the player will revolve around his stature, but he plays bigger than his listed size. Benak has 3G-6A in his past 10 games and is averaging nearly 19 minutes of ice time, all of which comes at even strength and the power play.
No. 32: Reese Hamilton, D, 6-feet, 172 pounds, Regina Pats (WHL)
Hamilton has to be watched closely to be fully appreciated. He's an excellent skater who tracks the full length of the ice with quickness and speed. His small area escapes in the defensive zone when he's under pressure from opponents helps launch the attack for his group. Hamilton isn't tall or heavy set, but his hockey sense and ability to read and react leads to him killing plays in his own zone and timing his gaps to apply stick on puck creating turnovers. Hamilton provides secondary offence and has the awareness to be used in all situations.
No. 33: Jack Ivankovic, G, 5-foot-11, 178 pounds, Brampton Steelheads (OHL)
Ivankovic is a butterfly/athletic goalie with very quick pads and excellent feet. He's agile and moves laterally effectively. Ivankovic fronts shooters very well. Despite his current size he closes on pucks to take away shooting options and cut down his angles. Ivankovic is uber competitive and never quits on a puck. He could challenge to be the first netminder off the board by the end of the season. A potential 1B goalie at the NHL level and, possibly, a 1A.
No. 34: Jack Murtagh, F, 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, USNTDP
Murtagh is a stocky/strong player who plays with pace and tenacity. On straight lines with the puck on his stick he has a gear between the blue lines, which gives him the ability to gain space and drive the play to the net. Murtagh is used in all situations at the USNTDP. He sets up on his weak side to one-time pucks on the power play. He's a relentless competitor who's physically engaged and projects as a middle-six NHL forward.
No. 35: Nathan Behm, RW, 6-foot-1, 192 pounds, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Behm has burst on to the scene as a priority player for the 2025 NHL Draft. A right-shot centre, he creates off the rush, protects pucks very well, and heads to the net with authority. Behm averages around 18:00 minutes per game at even strength and on the power play. Behm leans shooter more than playmaker/passer. His defensive detail can range at times, but his offensive upside drive wins out for now.
No. 36: Sascha Boumedienne, D, 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, Boston University (NCAA)
It’s been a bit of a roller coaster ride to start his freshman year at Boston University. His role has ranged from depth player to one getting 20 minutes of ice time. All of Boumedienne’s ice time comes at even strength and the penalty-kill. He skates well, but his puck play and execution ranges. He seems to have his most success when he keeps things simple. Boumedienne is a two-way defenceman on projection, but he also has a transitional element inside his game.
No. 37: Emile Guite, LW, 6-foot-1, 176 pounds, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)
Guite is suffering through “draft-itis” -- don’t bother looking it up because it’s not really a thing. Or is it? There have been several players suffer through slumps in their draft year and still go on to have solid NHL careers. Guite has only scored 5G-5A this season after being nearly a point per game player last season. But he's a much better player than those stats show. The issue is Guite doesn’t kill penalties. In fact, he’s barely adequate defensively. I’m not giving up on Guite. He has quick strike offensive upside. Hopefully things come around for him.
No. 38: Will Moore, F, 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, USNTDP
It was interesting to view Moore in the CHL vs. USNTDP Prospects Challenge. He has the skill and puck touch to create offence, but he has to find a way to be more engaged in all three zones. His skating stride -- in terms of his mechanics -- are sound, but more strength is required to create space and pressure opponents into turnovers. Moore needs time. He thinks the game and sees the ice offensively, but also needs to present a more relentless approach overall.
No. 39: Blake Fiddler, D, 6-foot-4, 209 pounds, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Fiddler is a big and rangy right-shot defenceman who creates secondary offence at the major junior level and is a solid skater on straight lines. He gets from "A" to "B" on time. But when he has the puck on his stick there are moments when he needs to pivot off a check and distribute more quickly. Fiddler plays with a presence. He isn't shy about pushing back physically and uses his length to his advantage when taking away time and space defensively. Fiddler projects as a two-way/shut-down defenceman at the NHL level.
No. 40: Charlie Trethewey, D, 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, USNTDP (USHL)
Trethewey has historically produced more offence than he has contributed so far in his draft year. He's a physically capable right-shot defenceman who's used in all situations for the USNTDP. Trethewey can shoot the puck and has the ability to beat goalies clean from distance. His defensive detail ranges at times. He's involved in the play, but struggles to take the correct "route" to contain his check at times. Trethewey projects as a two-way defenceman.
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