2025 National Hockey League Entry Draft Rankings

Later this week, the eyes of millions of hockey fans will be on the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, which will be decentralized this year and only the top 50 prospects have been invited, with executives, scouting staffs and coaches remaining in a central location in their team’s city.

According to NHL Content and Events President Steve Mayer, Commissioner Gary Bettman is set to announce the first overall pick, which is held by the New York Islanders for the fifth time in franchise history and first since 2009 when they took John Tavares, while the remaining 31 selections will be announced by “special guests”.

It’s been quite an entertaining year watching some of the top prospects available for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, some of which I viewed in-person, such as Michael Misa (CS ranked #2 among NA Skaters) of the Saginaw Spirit, Porter Martone (CS ranked #6 among NA Skaters) and Jack Ivankovic (CS ranked #4 among NA Goalies) of the Brampton Steelheads, Jake O’Brien (CS ranked #4 among NA Skaters) of the Brantford Bulldogs, and Kashawn Aitcheson (CS ranked #9 among NA Skaters) of the Barrie Colts.

My 2025 NHL Draft Rankings

1. Matthew Schaefer – D – (Erie Otters – OHL). Stats: 17 GP – 7 G – 15 A – 22 PTS – 8 PIM – Plus-21.
2. Michael Misa – C – (Saginaw Spirit – OHL). Stats: 65 GP – 62 G – 72 A – 134 PTS – 45 PIM – Plus-45.
3. Anton Frondell – C – (Djurgardens IF – HockeyAllsvenskan). Stats: 29 GP – 11 G – 14 A – 25 PTS – 16 PIM – Plus-11.
4. Jake O’Brien – C – (Brantford Bulldogs – OHL). Stats: 66 GP – 32 G – 66 A – 98 PTS – 18 PIM – Minus-2.
5. Porter Martone – RW – (Brampton Steelheads – OHL). Stats: 57 GP – 37 G – 61 A – 98 PTS – 74 PIM – Plus-19.
6. James Hagens – C – (Boston College – NCAA). Stats: 37 GP – 11 G – 26 A – 37 PTS – 24 PIM – Plus-21.
7. Brady Martin – C – (Soo Greyhounds – OHL). Stats: 57 GP – 33 G – 39 A – 72 PTS – 68 PIM – Plus-25.
8. Caleb Desnoyers – C – (Moncton Wildcats – QMJHL). Stats: 56 GP – 35 G – 49 A – 84 PTS – 39 PIM – Plus-51.
9. Radim Mrtka – D – (Seattle Thunderbirds – WHL). Stats: 43 GP – 3 G – 32 A – 35 PTS – 46 PIM – Plus-10.
10. Jackson Smith – D – (Tri-City Americans – WHL). Stats: 68 GP – 11 G – 43 A – 54 PTS – 48 PIM – Plus-2.
11. Victor Eklund – RW – (Djurgardens IF – HockeyAllsvenskan). Stats: 42 GP – 19 G – 12 A – 31 PTS – 37 PIM – Plus-16.
12. Kashawn Aitcheson – D – (Barrie Colts – OHL). Stats: 64 GP – 26 G – 33 A – 59 PTS – 88 PIM – Plus-6.
13. Carter Bear – LW – (Everett Silvertips – WHL). Stats: 56 GP – 40 G – 42 A – 82 PTS – 77 PIM – Plus-33.
14. Roger McQueen – C – (Brandon Wheat Kings – WHL). Stats: 17 GP – 10 G – 10 A – 20 PTS – 40 PIM – Plus-8.
15. Cole Reschny – C – (Victoria Royals – WHL). Stats: 62 GP – 26 G – 66 A – 92 PTS – 44 PIM – Plus-42.
16. Justin Carbonneau – RW – (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada – QMJHL). Stats: 62 GP – 46 G – 43 A – 89 PTS – 61 PIM – Plus-3.
17. Logan Hensler – D – (University of Wisconsin – NCAA). Stats: 32 GP – 2 G – 10 A – 12 PTS – 27 PIM – Minus-13.
18. Malcolm Spence – LW – (Erie Otters – OHL). Stats: 65 GP – 32 G – 41 A – 73 PTS – 57 PIM – Plus-10.
19. Sascha Boumedienne – D – (Boston University – NCAA). Stats: 40 GP – 3 G – 10 A – 13 PTS – 33 PIM – Plus-8.
20. Jack Nesbitt – C – (Windsor Spitfires – OHL). Stats: 65 GP – 25 G – 39 A – 64 PTS – 74 PIM – Plus-12.
21. Alexander Zharovsky – RW – (Ufa – MHL). Stats: 45 GP – 24 G – 26 A – 50 PTS – 30 PIM – Plus-18.
22. Lynden Lakovic – LW – (Moose Jaw Warriors – WHL). Stats: 47 GP – 27 G – 31 A – 58 PTS – 4 PIM – Minus-25.
23. Benjamin Kindel – C – (Calgary Hitmen – WHL). Stats: 65 GP – 35 G – 64 A – 99 PTS – 39 PIM – Plus-39.
24. Braden Cootes – C – (Seattle Thunderbirds – WHL). Stats: 60 GP – 26 G – 37 A – 63 PTS – 18 PIM – Plus-5.
25. Milton Gastrin – C – (MoDo U20 – J20 Nationell). Stats: 40 GP – 18 G – 24 A – 42 PTS – 18 PIM – Plus-6.
26. Cameron Reid – D – (Kitchener Rangers – OHL). Stats: 67 GP – 14 G – 40 A – 54 PTS – 44 PIM – Plus-39.
27. Cullen Potter – C – (Arizona State University – NCAA). Stats: 35 GP – 13 G – 9 A – 22 PTS – 6 PIM – Minus-1.
28. Bill Zonnon – RW – (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies – QMJHL). Stats: 64 GP – 28 G – 55 A – 83 PTS – 32 PIM – Plus-5.
29. Blake Fiddler – D – (Edmonton Oil Kings – WHL). Stats: 64 GP – 10 G – 23 A – 33 PTS – 36 PIM – Plus-6.
30. Eddie Genborg – RW – (Linkoping HC J20 – J20 Nationell). Stats: 28 GP – 19 G – 15 A – 34 PTS – 26 PIM – Plus-18.
31. Henry Brzustewicz – D – (London Knights – OHL). Stats:  67 GP – 10 G – 32 A – 42 PTS – 77 PIM – Plus-24.
32. Vojtech Cihar – LW – (Karlovy Vary HC – Czech Extraliga). Stats: 43 GP – 4 G – 5 A – 9 PTS – 8 PIM – Plus-4.

• HM – Eric Nilson – C – (Djurgardens IF J20 – J20 Nationell).
• HM – Jakob Ihs Wozniak – C – (Lulea HF J20 – J20 Nationell).
• HM – Joshua Ravensbergen – G – (Prince George Cougars – WHL).
• HM – William Horcoff – C – (University of Michigan – NCAA).
• HM – Pyotr Andreyanov – G – (Krasnaya Armiya Moskva – MHL).

When Gary Bettman takes the podium on Friday night to announce the first overall selection, which is held by the New York Islanders, there’s no question Matthew Schaefer, a smooth-skating two-way defenseman for the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters, will hear his name called. Schaefer could easily step into the New York Islanders’ lineup this fall and I believe by the Olympic break in February, could be in their top-four.

After Matthew Schaefer is taken first, there’s a few players in my eyes that could be selected with the second overall pick, but for me, it should be Michael Misa, who tore up the Ontario Hockey League this season with the Saginaw Spirit, registering an impressive 62 goals and 134 points. Misa is a highly skilled, very smart player who I believe has the tools to become a top line centerman in the National Hockey League.

At third in my rankings, I have Swedish centerman Anton Frondell, who helped Djurgardens IF win the HockeyAllsvenskan champion and earn promotion back to the SHL for the first time since the 2021-22 season. For the last month, I’ve been going back-and-forth between Michael Misa and Anton Frondell for second in my rankings, it was certainly tough as both players are extremely talented. For Frondell, I believe he has the best shot in the 2025 draft class and is very good along the boards and in tight spaces, and his skating isn’t anything to slouch at either.

Rounding out my top-five is Jake O’Brien of the Brantford Bulldogs and Porter Martone of the Brampton Steelheads. O’Brien had a fantastic season in Brantford, finishing third in scoring with 99 points, while Martone was strong in his own right, putting up 98 points in 57 games with the Steelheads and rounded out his draft year with Team Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Championship.

It’s not as deep of a draft as we’ve seen in years past, but there’s still a lot of talent available, especially in the first round, and I’m really looking forward to seeing where everyone ends up on Friday and Saturday. I’m also curious to see if anyone in the 26 to 32 range use their pick to take a goaltender, with Joshua Ravensbergen and Pyotr Andreyanov at the top of this year’s class, in my eyes.

Photo Credit: NHL.