2025 NHL Draft: Conrad Jack’s Final Rankings

The 2025 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles at Peacock Theater is set to take place on June 27th and 28th.

Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini were the talk of the town in the previous two drafts. This year, it seems like there is more talent available without a clear-cut number one player. While there is debate surrounding Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa, the draft will settle who is taken where, and maybe there are more surprises like the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

Let’s take a look at my final draft rankings of the 2024-25 season with scouting reports for the top 16.

1. Michael Misa – Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

Misa had a great season with Saginaw, where he smashed his previous season scoring highs of 75 points (29G, 46A) in 2023-24. Misa posted 134 points (62G, 72A) in 65 OHL games.

He’s captured the attention of people in the hockey realm not because of numbers, but it’s because of the development he’s taken as a well-rounded two-way player who was granted exceptional status in the OHL back in 2022. Heading into the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, Misa is one of the most intriguing prospects available and will be a great addition to any team looking for a player with his talent.

Given all of his great strengths, Misa still has room for improvement as he looks to become the top available players in this year’s draft. Misa is one of those players that you can pick an attribute of his and he probably excels at it, and as a center, his stock rises even higher.

2. Porter Martone – Brampton Steelheads (OHL)

Martone is a highly competitive player who mirrors a power forward top-line scorer, and that will be lucrative to a lot of teams looking to amp up the physical side of their game.

His physicality and intensity to win are unmatched in this year’s draft class, and he’s shown that he’s comfortable in big moments. He’s improved his stock significantly over the year and has now put himself in the conversation to be one of the league’s top players to come out of this draft.

Like every player, Martone has room for improvement in certain aspects of his game, but the nature of his overall game right now is so lucrative that teams are more than willing to work around his skating struggles.

3. Matthew Schaefer – Erie Otters (OHL)

Schaefer is one of the best available defensemen in the draft this year, and his showing for the Erie Otters this past season is likely the greatest sample of who he’s going to become as an NHL defenseman.

His offensive capabilities and strong skating help him navigate the ice and take control of all three zones on the ice. There are concerns about Schaefer and his injury and health issues during the season, but given that he’s played to a dominant level well before his injury and health issues. Schaefer came back after recovering from mononucleosis. After his comeback, Schaefer went down with a broken clavicle in the 2025 World Junior Championship.

The only issue when I look at the teams drafting in the top five in this year’s draft is that they will be looking for a centre. Schaefer would be a great piece to add on any team’s blueline, but the Islanders have Noah Dobson and Alex Romanov as their young pieces alongside other defenders locked up long term.

Unless things change from now to draft day, Schaefer will likely end up on a team looking to improve their blueline long-term, and that could realistically be any team.

All things considered, Schaefer utilized his time when healthy, and it makes everyone wonder, would he become the unanimous first overall pick if he played a full season?

4. Anton Frondell – Djurgardens IF J20 (J20 Nationell)

After a dominant showing in the J20 Nationell, Frondell got his call to Djurgardens IF in HockeyAllsvenskan as he was dealing with injuries and struggling to find his footing once he returned. Frondell spent a second stint with the J20 club and exploded into the player everyone remembered prior to his injury.

As a centre, he’s strong at pushing the pace of play and driving the middle of the ice, but his biggest attribute is how difficult he is to contain when he gets to top speed. His 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame allows him to shield the puck well and will be lucrative to all of the top teams that have the chance of drafting him.

While his game is well-rounded, he can find the next level of his game throughout the next few seasons as he develops into a physically dominant and strong two-way centre.

5. James Hagens – Boston College (NCAA)

At one point in time, it seemed like James Hagens was going to be the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. With the season closing and everything getting set for the draft in Los Angeles, Hagens seems more likely to land in the top five.

Hagens has been on a lot of scouts’ and teams’ radars for years now. He’s constantly playing with a high level of consistency and being highly intense whenever he’s on the rush, which makes him a standout given the players he’s played against. He’s got a heightened level of playmaking and offensive awareness that could become elite if he continues to hone his game.

The one downside to his game is his lack of decision-making sometimes. He’s great at making plays, but sometimes he tries to force a play rather than taking a step back to assess his options with a couple of extra seconds. Wherever he lands, this will be a massive focus as he looks to become a dominant NHL centreman for years to come.

6. Roger McQueen – Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

A Saskatchewan-born centre who’s physically imposing, standing at 6-foot-5, and put the WHL on notice in 2024-25? Sign me up.

Roger McQueen is arguably one of my favourites in this year’s NHL draft class as he’s easily one of the best puck movers and skaters, even at his size. McQueen defies the stereotype and plays extremely well in high-pressure situations. When he doesn’t have the puck, he’s an excellent presence in front of the net to block a majority of the goalies’ vision. He’s also excellent at getting quick reads and getting the puck chipped into the net either on rebounds or deflections.

His offensive side of his game is no big worry, it’s his game in the defensive zone that will need some extra attention. While it isn’t anything major, he’s been caught in the defensive zone just floating around outside of the play, but because of his speed, he’s able to jump in quickly if and when needed. He’s created a habit of relying on this too much, which limits his ability to become a consistent threat in all three zones.

McQueen has the tools to become a great NHL centre, but the questions surrounding his hockey sense could be make or break as years pass. His weaknesses also might not be on full display had he not missed five months with an injury.

7. Cameron Schmidt – Vancouver Giants (WHL)

Schmidt is one of the smaller players in this draft, and that could impact where he is selected in this year’s draft, given what teams are looking for. However, Schmidt possesses something incredibly lucrative in his game that most players in this draft class lack, and that is elite goal-scoring ability.

Schmidt has a couple of comparables in Cole Caufield and Logan Stankoven as undersized players who beat the odds and become top-tier NHL players. Like Caufield, Schmidt possesses an elite shot and is lightning fast on his skates, which is a massive advantage to his game as a smaller player. His forechecking abilities are similar to Conor Garland, an NHL veteran whose made a career for being fierce on the forecheck and valuable even as a smaller player.

8. Caleb Desnoyers – Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)

Desnoyers is another solid centre available in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft who will most likely end up drafted in the top 10. His production was at its best with a 1.50 points per game pace in the regular season, but he kicked it into high gear in the postseason, and this is the type of player that teams should be trying to draft and/or acquire.

Desnoyers goes beyond being just an effective player in the playoffs. He’s a deceptive playmaker who reads the play from anywhere on the ice, making his passing all the more lethal when it comes to how plays develop when his passes are successful. Arguably, Desnoyers has the highest hockey IQ in this year’s NHL Draft, and adding to the fact that he’s a centre, he might go higher than originally expected.

9. Victor Eklund – Djurgardens IF (HockeyAllsvenkan)

Eklund is a ball of energy and likely has the brightest future as an NHL player. Victor is the brother of San Jose Sharks forward William Eklund, and they play a similar game when you break it down. Victor is a highly efficient scorer, and he’s even more effective when he’s in front of the net, where he can locate scoring areas and typically be the first to scoop up the loose puck and pot it in the back of the net.

Eklund also has great vision, and that’s mostly due to his ability to be calm when being pressured by a defender and it allows him to draw in defenders in the offensive zone. He can force plays to turn into high-danger chances, and this could be a great treat for teams looking for another strong scoring threat in their lineup.

10. Cole Reschny – Victoria Royals (WHL)

Reschny has been a strong play-making centre for the Royals this year, and ultimately, his two-way game is elite and could be the biggest asset for him in the draft. His smaller frame is not a concern whatsoever, as he makes a massive impact with his intensity and high competitive level.

Digging deeper into Reschny’s game, he reads plays well and has an exceptional passing ability, which puts his teammates in great positions to score. While his passing ability is exceptional, he’s been a wonderful centre as his defensive game is easily the most complete in his toolset, given his faceoff win percentage sits at 56.92% over 1,000 draws this season. Reschny needs to add to his frame and must improve his shot if he wants to be a top-line NHLer.

11. Jake O’Brien – Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

After a slow start, O’Brien finished the year with 98 points and found himself excelling in multiple roles throughout the entire season. His versatility and adaptability make him one of the most unique and attention-grabbing players in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

Behind Michael Misa and Porter Martone, O’Brien was one of the most productive draft-eligible players and as effective as both players in all situations. Like others in this class, O’Brien is an intelligent, two-way playmaking centre, which is likely why he’s going to fall outside of the top 10, but given he’s got size on his side, he could climb up the draft list. Realistically, O’Brien could be an effective middle-six player who can jump into top-line roles when called upon, and that’s something a lot of teams need heading into the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

12. Cameron Reid – Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

Reid has solidified himself as a great two-way defenseman whose strength is at defence, and that’s not a bad thing. If the rover was still a part of the game, Cameron Reid has definitely earned himself the honour to be considered a rover-like player, as he excels in every zone on the ice and can flip the switch between an offensive rush and shutting down the opposing rush.

His size is also a massive factor in his game as he’s physical when he needs to be and executes hits to change momentum and control the pace of play. Reid can easily develop into a top two-way defender or even a second-pairing shutdown defenseman. Reid is like a Swiss-Army knife; he can do it all, and whatever role he’s given on a nightly basis, he steps up to the plate and performs well.

13. Radim Mtrka – HC Ocelari Trinec (Czechia)

Mtrka is a giant and one of the most physically imposing defensemen in this draft class. Add to the fact that he didn’t take long to adjust to the North American game, he can become a threat really fast in the NHL, given the opportunity and application of his current game, while touching up other aspects of his game.

Standing at 6-foot-6, Mtrka is mobile and has wonderful offensive qualities to his game that defenseman of his size take time to develop. One of the biggest assets in his game is the ability to eat minutes and set the pace of a game, and control the blueline. If he rips a bomb from the point, he is highly likely to create a rebound that causes chaos in front of the net. When he’s on the defensive side of things, goaltenders can rely on him to block shots and kill plays given his size. Mtrka should have no issue developing into a solid top-four defenseman in the NHL in just a few years.

14. Malcolm Spence – Erie Otters (OHL)

Spence is one of the players in this draft class who thrives on big moments, and you don’t have to look far in his career to see where he’s done just that. His resume speaks for itself, and it’s highlighted by his golden goal at the 2023 Hlinka/Gretzky Cup in his typical defence-to-offence sequence.

Impact players aren’t available often, but that is dependent on their game transitioning to the professional level. Spence, as an established defensive forward, has also posted 135 points in his past 131 OHL seasons. Spence also has speed and size on his side, and it’s complementary to his disrupter style of play. He’s a wonderful penalty killer and power play scorer, as he’s got five shorthanded and power play goals in each category. Should this transition, Spence will be a lucrative middle-six piece that is an effective player with impactful roles in the NHL long-term.

15. Joshua Ravensbergen – Prince George Cougars (WHL)

Ravensbergen is one of the best goaltending prospects available in this draft, and likely the most interesting in the past few years. The biggest standout in his game? He’s a right-handed catcher. It’s not common in the hockey world today for a goaltender to catch with their right hand, so this makes it a little more lucrative that he’s dominant at the game with this catching hand.

For the Prince George Cougars this season, Ravensbergen stepped up in multiple big moments and performed well under pressure while displaying a sense of calmness. This could be an interesting addition to any team looking to add to their goaltending future, as Ravensbergen is a well-rounded goaltender. However, the biggest thing he must work on is his rebound control, as he tends to give up rebounds on shots from difficult angles, which usually leads to goals against.

Posting a 2.93 goals against average and a .903 save percentage across 50 games for the Cougars with a 34-12-4 record, he gave up just 142 goals against. Ravensbergen is likely to keep rounding out his game and have a future as a great goaltender, but that’s if he transitions his game to the professional level.

16. Jackson Smith – Tri-City Americans (WHL)

There has been a lot of chatter surrounding Jackson Smith as one of the wildcard players, as the players to be star-calibre esque start falling off the board. From the standpoint of production, Smith had a great season where his point-per-game rate was 0.74.

It’s not his production that stands out, it’s how he moves the puck and aids the flow of games. Smith has been exceptional at clearing the zone and exiting the zone, the latter of which is a significantly overlooked aspect of a defenseman’s game, in my opinion. He’s been dependable as a defender for Tri-City and will look to become a solidified top-four defender in the NHL in just a few years.

17. Brady Martin – Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

18. Justin Carbonneau – Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

19. Kashawn Aitcheson – Barrie Colts (OHL)

20. Bill Zonnon – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)

21. Lynden Lakovic – Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)

22. Mateo Norbert – Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

23. Benjamin Kindel – Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

24. Carter Bear – Everett Silvertips (WHL)

25. Jack Nesbitt – Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

26. Eddie Genborg – Linkoping HC J20 (J20 Nationell)

27. Ivan Ryabkin – MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)

28. Jack Murtagh – USNTDP Juniors (USHL)

29. Milton Gastrin – MoDo Hockey J20 (J20 Nationell)

30. Ryker Lee – Madison Capitols (USHL)

31. Eric Nilson – Djurgardens IF J20 (J20 Nationell)

32. Logan Hensler – USDP (NTDP)

33. Cullen Potter – Arizona State (NCAA)

34. Jakob Ihs-Wozniak – Lulea HF (J20 Nationell)

35. Henry Brzustewicz – London Knights (OHL)

36. Haoxi Wang – Oshawa Generals (OHL)

37. William Moore – USDP (NTDP)

38. LJ Mooney – USDP (NTDP)

39. Luka Radivojevic – Orebro HK (J20 Nationell)

40. Vojtech Cihar – HC Energie Kaloyv Vary (Czechia)

41. Cole McKinney – USDP (NTDP)

42. Shane Vansaghi – USDP (NTDP)

43. Maxim Agafonov – Tolpar Ufa (MHL)

44. Jack Ivankovic – Brampton Steelheads (OHL)

45. Kurban Limatov – MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)

46. Benjamin Kevan – Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)

47. Adam Benak – Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)

48. Carter Amico – USDP (NTDP)

49. Charlie Tretheway – USDP (NTDP)

50. Nathan Behm – Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

51. Vaclav Nestrasil – Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)

52. Conrad Fondrik – USDP (NTDP)

53. Alexander Zharovsky – Tolpar Ufa (MHL)

54. Shamar Moses – Barrie Colts (OHL)

55. Viktor Klingsell – Skelleftea AIK J20 (J20 Nationell)

56. Mason West – Fargo Force (USHL)

57. Matthew Gard – Red Deer Rebels (WHL)

58. Daniil Prokhorov – MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)

59. Anthony Allain-Samake – Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)

60. Luca Romano – Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

61. Ethan Czata – Niagara IceDogs (OHL)

62. Donato Bracco – USNTDP Juniors (USHL)

63. Kristian Epperson – Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

64. Alexei Medvedev – London Knights (OHL)

65. Thomas Pobezal – HK Nitra (Slovakia)

66. Peyton Kettles – Swift Current Broncos (WHL)

67. Quinn Beauschesne – Guelph Storm (OHL)

68. Theo Stockselius – Djurgardens IF J20 (J20 Nationell)

69. Pyotr Andreyanov – Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)

70. Jacob Rombach – Lincoln Stars (USHL)

71. Max Psenicka – Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

72. Arvid Drott – Djurgardens IF J20 (J20 Nationell)

73. Tomas Poletin – Pelicans (Liiga)

74. Zachary Morin – Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)

75. Phillippe Veilleux – Val-d’Or Foreurs (QMJHL)

76. Harry Nansi – Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

77. Hayden Paupenekis – Kelowna Rockets (OHL)

78. Reese Hamilton – Regina Pats (WHL)

79. Alex Huang – Chicoutimi Sageuneens (QMJHL)

80. Michal Svrcek – Brynas IF J20 (J20 Nationell)

81. Owen Conrad – Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL)

82. Viggo Nordlund – Skelleftea AIK J20 (J20 Nationell)

83. Bruno Osmanis – IF Bjorkloven (HockeyAllsvenskan)

84. Filip Ekberg – Ottawa 67’s (OHL)

85. Semyon Frolov – MHK Kyrlia Sovetov Moskva (MHL)

86. Gustav Hillstrom – Brynas IF J20 – J20 Nationell

87. Tyler Hopkins – Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

88. Brandon Gorzynski – Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

89. David Bedowski – Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

90. Ashton Schultz – Chicago Steel (UHSL)

91. Lasse Boelius – Assat U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

92. Aidan Lane – Brampton Steelheads (OHL)

93. Jimmi Lombardi – Flint Firebirds (OHL)

94. Love Harenstam – Skelleftea AIK J20 (J20 Nationell)

95. Drew Schock – USNTDP Juniors (USHL)

96. Braeden Cootes – Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

97. Lucas Karmiris – Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

98. Mikkel Eriksen – Farjestad BK J20 (J20 Nationell)

99. Matej Pekar – HC Litvinov (Czechia)

100. Tanner Lam – Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

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