Author: Luke Heintzman
Design: Liban Rizvi
Few events in the world of sports give fan bases a sense of hope for their future quite like the NHL draft does. For the first time in league history, the draft will be decentralized, similar to sports such as football and basketball. Despite this change, it still serves as a day for teams to draft the future faces of the league and start building what they hope will be a competitive core.
This article hopes to introduce the 2025 class, breaking down names with the most buzz around them. This draft isn’t currently shaping up to be as stacked as the previous two years, but it still has lots of potential, especially at the top. The top 16 in this draft are ranked below in tiers. However, there will be extra write-ups on other names later on.
Tier 1: The Stars
#1 Matthew Schaefer, Defensemen, Erie Otters
My number 1 since October and one of my favorite prospects ever. Schaefer's game begins and ends with game-breaking skating ability and pace. He's the best transition defense prospect I’ve ever seen, and his analytics back it up. Schaefer is the type of player who completely changes the pace of play when he’s on the ice. Everyone has to pick up the pace just to keep up with him, and it tilts the ice to his team's advantage. Whenever he joins the rush, it's a nightmare for opposing teams to defend. His ability to create advantages is second to none in this class. The rest of his game is also very well-rounded. He's a high-IQ player who reads the ice at the same speed he moves around it. He's got some of the best skills for any defender I’ve seen and can move the puck exceptionally well. And while his shot isn’t hard right now and he can be a bit green defensively, the kicker is how young of a player he is. Schaefer is only 10 days away from being eligible for next year's class, which just adds to his massive ceiling. The vision for him to add strength to combine with his skating is clear, and he presents an easy projection to be a true number 1 defenseman in the NHL. He’s missed a large chunk of time recovering from a collarbone injury at the World Juniors, so he will likely need a year before playing in the NHL, but he projects to have an immediate impact. His ceiling looks to be a Miro Heiskanen or Josh Morresey level defenseman, which every NHL team wishes to have.
#2 Michael Misa, Center/Winger. Saginaw Spirit
As an exceptional status player, Misa bears the weight of the many greats who gained the status before him, such as Conor McDavid, Connor Bedard, and John Tavares. Misa was seen as more of a Shane Wright-level exceptional status player before the season, but exploded this year, quelling most doubters. Misa, similar to Macklin Celebrini last year, is built on his unbelievably well-rounded game. He’s a high-end skater with great hands and vision. He’s an equal goal-scoring threat as he is a passing threat that can beat you in so many ways. His defensive game is also strong, as he’s an excellent stick-checker and consistently finishes his checks. Misa is a player who just wins on the ice because he is just better than the rest. He’s a guy you trust out there in all situations to give your team the advantage. He does do some hero puck now and then, trying to make flashy moves versus dumping the puck in, but with how much more skilled he is than others at the OHL level, it’s understandable. While he’s not quite as dynamic as Celebrini, he gives a clear projection of being a top 6 center, if not a number one center in the NHL. In recent years, having high-end skill down the middle has been the best predictor of cup success, and Misa presents the upside to be a top 10 center in the NHL someday. He likely projects more to be a Tyler Seguin-type player, but he has that 100-point upside if things go right. Expect to hear his name called first or second this year.
Tier 1: Top of the Lineup Guys
This year, after the top 2 names, it’s a true free-for-all. I could hear arguments for five or six guys to be ranked third but personally, my number 3 is maybe a more unconventional take.
#3 Jake O’Brien, Forward, Brantford Bulldogs
As the year has gone on, there is no player I have watched more than O’Brien, and I’ve ended up convinced that he’s the third most talented player in this draft. I remember the first time I watched him play being the first round of last year's CHL playoffs. As a Blackhawks fan, I’m fairly locked into the Brantford Bulldogs and had tuned in to watch Hawks prospect Nick Lardis return from injury to start the playoffs. He ended up scoring early on the power play, but on that goal, his teammate had feathered off one of the cleanest cross-ice power play passes I’ve ever seen, putting it right in Lardis’ wheelhouse to score. I would soon come to know that those types of passes were an essential routine for O’Brien. O’Brien may be the only player in the class who can get me out of my chair with a pass. Possessing unparalleled vision, O’Brien seems to spot every passing lane, especially in the offensive zone. He won the OHL Rookie of the Year last year, having the highest assist rate of any North American player eligible for this draft outside of James Hagens and has only grown in that department.
A trait that stands out about him is his patience; he feels almost immune to the effects of pressure until the very last moment. He can almost bend the speed of the game to his will, and if he’s able to get the defender to slow down, it’s game over. He can also hit any pass—forward, backhand, behind the back, and saucers. In the offensive zone, he is a dominant play conductor. When the puck is on his stick, he can create instant offense if a teammate opens up, and even if they're not, he’s always looking to manipulate them open. He makes no-look passes routinely and gets pucks to the slots as consistently as any prospect.
He’s also excellent at moving the puck off the boards and getting it to high-danger areas. He’s got a case to be the best half-wall passer in the entire CHL, being the engine for the CHL’s top-ranked power play. When he gets the puck on the half wall, he has so many options and just constantly gets pucks to the slot for chances. He is just always manipulating and is an advantage-creating machine. His playmaking game feels projectable as he hits small windows better than everyone and excels in the rare times the OHL presents NHL-type passing lanes. He is also a high-end puck handler, especially in the offensive zone, and combines it well with his shifty skating, fooling defenders constantly.
The defensive game is also positive, and he shows great effort back-checking and breaking up plays. For me, he is the most natural center in the draft, and as he fills in, he should be more dominant in the faceoff circle. One criticism I’ve heard is questions about his 5 on 5 offense and a slow start to the year. Some of the questions are fair (mainly on puck possession translatability), but I’ll mention that he is the only highly ranked North American player who doesn't get first-line minutes. The Brantford first line is perfectly constructed, and as such, O’Brien centers the second line to evaluate other teammates. With wingman Marek Vanacker missing the start of the year with a torn labrum, O’Brien had to work with some of the worst finishing linemates I’ve ever seen. When Vanacker returned, he took a while to get up to steam, and O’Brien had to carry a ton of the load up until recently. Since Vanacker has found his game, he's been a rock star at 5 on 5, and I have few doubts he’ll struggle with it for his career.
The next step in his game is to go from a play conductor to a play driver. It will start with his scoring, as although he possesses an underrated release, which he’s been flashing more this year, he needs to rip the puck a bit more. He makes good shot decisions, but I hope he continues to expand his goalscoring side because if he becomes a shooting threat, it will leave more passing lanes open for him to exploit. Working on the transition game will be another step. He is great at hitting passes in motion but still struggles to create separation with his skating. He is 6'2", still growing, and has a late birthday, and for me, his ceiling is tantalizing. It’s very easy for me to envision him putting on twenty to thirty pounds and gaining a step of two as well as better strength along the boards. I project him as a number 2 center now, but I see a clear path to him being on an Elias Pettersson, Robert Thomas level. The team that gets this player is getting a massive steal.
There are a lot of clips I could use to express how talented this player is, but this video compiles so many together that it is a better watch:
#4 James Hagens, Center, Boston University
The previously consensus top dog in the class, Hagens, has started the year in pole position primarily due to his ability to do the most essential thing in hockey: processing and adapting at high speeds. Hagens is one of the only players in the draft who plays the game at high speed while also being able to process at that speed efficiently. Hagens brings elusive skating, high-end hands, and fantastic vision. He has been compared to recent NTDP top centers such as Jack Hughes and Logan Cooley for his skill and stature. Hagens might not have that unmatched skill Jack Hughes possesses, nor Cooley’s speed, but he has many similar qualities to a Mitch Marner-type player with his skating and two-way play. However, unlike Marner, Hagen has failed to really take over his draft year. Despite being placed in a very favorable draft year situation with Boston College, he never really dominated and struggled to sell himself as a future play driver.
In Marner’s draft year, he was just man possessed and rarely looked like he wasn’t the best guy on the ice. Hagens instead always looked ok but rarely had games where he was clearly THE guy. I have liked how he’s added to his defensive game, and I do think if he continues to add muscle, he can stick at center. However, his puck protection skills need a ton of work as he's very easy to muscle off the puck. He could add another step, as despite smooth skating, he doesn't have separation speed. His decision-making also needs some work, as he forces too many passes for my liking. To start the year, it felt like a lock he’d be in the NHL right away, but it’s looking like he’ll be staying on for more years in the NCAA. I think that will be a good choice for him, though I still believe there's a top 6 center in this player. He might not ever reach a point per game, but I still think it’s in his cards and I'd take him on my team any day.
#5 Porter Martone, Winger, Brampton Steelheads
A big and skilled forward, Martone looks like your ideal modern power forward but plays a slightly deceptive game. Using an abnormally long stick, even considering his size, Martone possibly has an incredibly versatile shot. He can pull off the patented “toe drag release,” curling the puck inside and releasing it, with a frightening combination of accuracy and velocity. Like Connor Bedard, Martone can elevate the puck at a sharper angle than most players, letting him go top shelf from very close in. The slapshot is also a howitzer from the top circle and is tracked as the second-hardest shot at the World U18 tournament. He also possesses great skill and passing at his size, making him a triple-threat option in the offensive zone. He is also very adaptable, helping to support great players, as I saw with Gavin McKenna at the World Under-18s. The defining trait for me, though, is hockey IQ, especially in the offensive zone. He sees the ice brilliantly and is always trying high-end plays to create offense for himself and his teammates.
For Martone to reach the next level, he’ll have to increase the pace of his game and his off-puck play. Despite his 6’3 frame, Martone can shy away from being a menace to his opponents, which will stop him from reaching a Matthew Tkachuk-level ceiling. He is not a great forechecker and doesn’t dominate across the board like you would hope. He also leaves a lot to be desired in the D zone, missing assignments, not hustling to contest, and just looking lazy at times. His pace is also a big issue for teams, as he can’t separate in transition and struggles to make plays at a high pace. The hope for him is to develop similarly to Jason Robertson, but the motor has a good chance of holding him back from that. I do believe the skill and IQ make him into a top 6 player similar to a Bobby Ryan type, but if he gets a coach that can rev him up, he could be a legit all-star.
Tier 3: Top 6 Supports
#6 Victor Eklund, Forward, Djurgardens
The favorite to jump into the top 5 for me, Eklund, has hockey in his blood. His older brother William went 6th overall to the Sharks in 2021 and is enjoying an excellent breakout year. Eklund is a pure gamer, bringing skill and tenacity, which have shone against men with top percentile analytics in all three zones of the ice. He’s a driver who's dynamic off the rush and always looking to push the pace. He’s a dual threat in the offense and possesses a lightning-quick release that is tough to predict. He also brings a good playmaking element, finding teammate Anton Frondell (whom we’ll get to) in dangerous scoring areas often. Eklund, though, is truly defined by his outrageous motor. Eklund is an animal on the boards, fighting like hell for every puck and never giving an inch. Even against bigger players, he never shies away from a puck battle. Eklund has an easy projection as a top 6 forward with how high-end so many parts of his game are, but whether he’s an all-star level talent will be up for question. Still, it’s easy to see him being a core piece to a championship team. He is a guy every team can use and one that should have a long and successful career.
#7 Jackson Smith, Defenseman, Tri-City Americans
One of the more entertaining players in the draft, Smith combines size with elite skating to create some of the most game-breaking plays in the draft. Smith parallels a lot of San Jose Sharks first-rounder Sam Dickinson with their ability to skate at 6,3 and use it to take over games from both ends. Smith doesn’t have a Dickenson-level shot, but he’s a decent passer and handler in transition. He is also an excellent rush defender, managing gaps exceptionally well, and giving him shutdown potential at the NHL level. Like Dickinson, though, there are still question marks about how he thinks about the game, which might put a cap on his NHL ceiling. He makes a few questionable decisions now and then, and against NHL players, they will get exploited every time. Still, though the tools are arguably second among defensemen and in a weak draft at that position, he has a strong top 10 case. The IQ will likely decide what he becomes, but I think the tools give him a top 4 project with a clear top pair upside if all goes right. I think he’ll outperform what most are expecting.
I think this general post shows all you need to know about Smith:
#8 Anton Frondell, Forward, Djurgardens
This is gonna be a long one.
Frondell is the most divisive player in this entire draft for me. If you ask Flyers fans, they’ll say he is the next Leon Draisaitl, but all year, I’ve struggled to see what others have seen. After O’Brien and Misa, he’s probably the player that I’ve watched the most, which has gotten weird looks from friends hearing Swedish commentary blare from my computer. To start with the positives, Frondell brings a lot of special traits to the table that are rare for most top prospects. He’s an objectively excellent player along the boards, being proficient in retrievals and winning body positioning against men. He’s also crafty around the board as he can create little bits of space, and he will see passing lanes to the slot if there’s an easy read (more on this in a bit). The other main thing you get with Frondell is his goal-scoring skill. He possesses an absolute bazooka of a shot, especially his one timer, which projects well for an NHL powerplay. It’s fun to watch him just wind up into a clapper as he puts his whole body behind it, and the puck just explodes off his stick. His wrist shot release is also very quick, and he’s good at holding on to the shot until he sees his spot. He’s also excellent at finding soft ice in dangerous areas and giving teammates a pass option. He’s great at just firing shot after shot, and that has a place in the NHL where goals are at a premium. Already, his scoring ability is a dangerous weapon and the main contributor to his recent success.
Additionally, he is a very strong player for his age, and he uses it well on both ends of the ice. He initiates contact very well and should be a physical monster one day. He takes pride in the physical side and doesn’t shy away from any value. He hits hard and always battles like hell on the forecheck. It’s important to mention that while this skill is not flashy, in the playoffs, the puck tends to spend a vast majority of the game near the boards, and guys like Frondell have massive value with the board skills. All the skills mentioned make me feel he’s ready for the NHL soon and could make an imminent impact. When I watch Frondell, I am sent back to the 2021 Calgary Flames and their top line. That year, the combination of Matthew Tkachuk, Johnny Gaudreau, and Elias Lindholm was easily the best line in hockey, dominating every shift. Even though Lindholm was the number three on that line, he brought many little skills to help complete the line and make it what it was. For me, I can see Frondell being that number 3 on an awesome top 6 line if given stars to work with. And that point is the key to why I’m a bit lower on this player. In the draft, if you are picking the top 5, you should be aiming to grab those difference makers first.
As good at support work as Frondell is, he needs guys to drive the offense on his line, and to me, those drivers are what your top 5 picks should be used to getting. I’ll admit, at first glance, Frondell’s point numbers look great, but when adding nuance, it’s clear his ability to drive offense is much less than the Williams Nylanders' and Filip Forsberg's whom he's produced similarly to. The clear issue in his game is how he works in the neutral zone. He is an objectively poor transition player who doesn’t love skating with the puck in open ice. He’s very reliant on teammates to drive transition offense, or he must use an inefficient dump-and-chase style that struggles to consistently gain the zone. I have a very tough time projecting him to be a top 6 center, let alone a play-driving top 6 center with transition play being a black hole in his game. The lack of transition play comes back mainly to his average skating, which fails to help him separate from opposing players. I wouldn’t call him a bad skater, but his acceleration isn’t great, and he currently needs to defer to teammates to carry the puck. Against U20 comp, it’s been a bit better, but still is nowhere near good enough for me to project a transition impact in the NHL. He is also only shifty when his back is turned to a defender on the wall and doesn’t combine his edge work with his straight away speed to beat defenders head-on.
Regarding other parts of his offensive game, he flashes some good skill and playmaking, but not nearly enough for me to warrant a top 5 pick. He’s a decent passer when he has an open first read but struggles to manipulate space and create options for teammates who aren’t open. He reminds me of those college quarterbacks who are great when the first read is open, but don’t make it in the NFL because they struggle to go through their other progressions. He is also very over-reliant on short passes for my liking and struggles to stretch the ice. His IQ comes off as inconsistent as for as good as his spatial awareness is, he makes suspect puck decisions and is a trigger-happy player, always wanting to use his shot. I also do not like his panic threshold as especially in open ice, if a defender gets on him, he’ll throw the puck to the first teammate he sees and just prays it gets them. His playmaking game just reeks of average for the NHL level, and I don’t see it working at center. His hands are solid and tight, and he can pull off some creative moves, but he doesn’t combine them well with his skating and can be turnover-prone. He’s mainly dominating the power play or on soft ice at the pro level, where, using his advanced shot, he can beat goalies with extra space and generate loads of rebounds. That's kind of the main offensive draw, though, and if you want to dominate the NHL, you need to add significantly more elements to do so. Unless you're Alex Ovechkin, you can’t have the other team know you're only looking to fire shots every time you get the puck and expect to be a star in the league. For as good as the shot is, NHL goalies will naturally stop more one-timers from outside the circle and control rebounds better, which drives most of his pro league production.
Another point I want to make is that despite his late birthday, he is already basically fully grown. He’s already about 200 pounds, and I struggle to see if he can fill out more, unlike a Jake O’Brien or Radim Mrtka type. This isn’t to say he can’t improve his skating or other parts of the game, but I don’t think he's really behind the curve and projects physically more similar to the late birthday than the kids his age. I don’t see much extra room for growth in him that the older guys in the draft don’t also possess, and thus, the age doesn’t sway me when adding said context. I wouldn’t go as far as to say he has a Colby Barlow level of maturity, but he’s much closer to that area than an average May-born prospect is. If you think his decision-making is for a spike or he’ll suddenly gain high-end manipulation, sure, but to me, those are traits he just doesn’t have innately.
To finish off, when I watch him and Victor Eklund, they do a great job at complementing each other, but Eklund has always stood out more to me. He is a significantly more dynamic player in open ice and creates the most amount of advantages when on the ice. If you give Frondell and similar-type players in the NHL, I think he'll work very well with it, but tying back to my main point, to me, getting a driver like Eklund is harder than finding a Frondell, and if I'm picking top 5, I go Eklund every time. Even if Frondell's points look better when it comes to just playing the games and making net EV plays on the ice, Eklund just does it more for me. To summarize, Frondell brings a lot to the game that I like, and I think he will have a good career. I see him as a great top 6 support wing or third line center, but I just don't think he's likely a star-level guy to carry a team to the cup. All that said, though, he sounds like a fantastic kid who is loved by his teammates and coaches. He comes off as a guy you root for, so I hope he proves me wrong and becomes a star in this league. I’m fascinated to watch how he develops in the coming years.
Frondell has slick hands, especially tight:
#9 Lynden Lakovic, Forward, Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL
Somewhat of a late bloomer, Lakovic is a 6 '4 forward who came out in the WHL playoffs and has kept it going into this season. He'd be an excellent all-around skilled player if he were 5,10, let alone 6,4. He’s a beautiful skater who possesses above-average shooting, passing, and skill. He’s made some of the most high-end plays in the draft and is one of the better top 6 swings to take. He’s also a genuinely smart player, which helps as his skills come together in the offensive zone. His biggest issue is ironically his physical play. Despite his size, Lakovic is by no means a power forward. He initiates a very small amount of contact and doesn't like to use his physical tools around the boards or to drive to the net. It is enticing, though, for an organization to try and get him to expand physically with such a well-developed skill set. His numbers this year don’t pop off the page, but he was on one of the worst teams in the whole CHL selling every player worth a damn. Even still, he contributed to a massive amount of his team's offense, which puts him right at the top of the class in that regard. I think he absolutely has the top 6 upside, but I’d conservatively project him in the middle 6 for now.
#10 Caleb Desnoyers, Forward, Moncton Wildcats
A player who defines this class well, Desnoyers is an innovative two-way center with some decent skill who feels like a safe-to-project NHL player. Desnoyers constantly brings great effort and feels like he’s destined to wear a letter in the NHL. He’s stood out internationally playing big minutes in all situations and showing his defensive prowess. He’s got a well-rounded game, being decent at many facets, and is the leader of one of the top teams in the CHL. The issue with Desnoyers, for me, comes down to the level of competition he plays against and how he wins against them. The QMJHL is an interesting league, and it is often referred to as the clear weakest of the three CHL leagues. It houses by far the least amount of NHL talent and skill in the CHL, with a tough evaluation of how good players' skills are. The ice is incredibly open in that league, and in recent years, smart players have been able to thrive on the stat sheet. The issue is that many of these players have struggled to translate to the NHL, where you need more than smarts to produce.
During this year's World Junior, Mathieu Cataford and Ethan Gauthier were the Q players chosen, and the gap between them and the other players was stark to me. Jordan Dumais was the most productive player in the entire CHL in that league but looked out of place in the World Junior and in the AHL. Even recent guys who appeared to have elite toolkits, like Alexis Lafreniere, who tore that league apart, looked like a future superstar, but fell short when the skill and speed level ramped up. At this point, I just really don’t trust that league to produce star players as it stands, and Desnoyers' lack of skill and explosiveness gives me a hard time being sure he’s a top 6 player. For me to trust a player from the Q, I have to see a standout game-breaking ability, which makes me believe it would work in any league. Desnoyers might be that guy who's just got more dawg in him than the rest, but I’m not sure if that will make him a star by itself. I think he can be a great 3C and maybe even a 2C, but for the hype he's getting, I don’t see the full appeal.
He's compared to my favorite player of all time, Johnathan Toews, and if there is any comparison to comment on, it's that one. I think Toews' skill and overall game have been lost in times, but he was a legit top 5 NHL player when it was going well and possessed an elite offensive and defensive game. I’m not even sure Desnoyers' defensive game is at that level, let alone the offensive game. But you genuinely think Desnoyers will have a top percentile (as in 99th, yes, Toews was that good) offensive impact in his prime, then more power to you. For me, he projects as a middle 6 Center who you love to have on your team, but point upside is capped. Similar to Frondell, I think he’ll help make other players' jobs easier, but in the top 5, I want the guys who drive play consistently. He’s likely to go way higher than this, so I may end up being on the wrong end. I just need to see a player for his league take the NHL by storm again (or not underperform most expectations) before I can trust its prospects to be top 6 locks.
Tier 4: Safe Middle 6/Top Pair or Top 6 Upside
#11 Roger McQueen, Center, Brandon Wheat Kings
Nothing is more enticing to an NHL GM than a massive, skilled center. McQueen is this draft's unicorn, standing at 6-foot-6 and combining it with the skill of a 6-foot forward. McQueen's most significant strength at the moment is his puck-handling. He can beat defenders and goalies one-on-one and use his hand to create space for playmaking opportunities. He also uses his size to his advantage, mainly when driving to the net. At the junior level, he is almost unmovable in front of the goal and is one of the best players in the draft at cleaning out the trash around the net. He also possesses good passing and shooting abilities, occasionally making very high-end passes, and beating goalies from far out with his wrist shot. Only a few guys his size in the NHL can do what he does, so a team is bound to bite. The hiccups with McQueen revolve around his skating and injuries. He’s a lumbering, disjointed skater who struggles to separate in straight lines and doesn’t have lateral solid movement. It’s understandable, considering his size, but if he wants to reach his ceiling, skating will have to become league-average or better. Furthermore, he missed a majority of his draft year with a herniated disk, raising long-term questions similar to Cayden Lindstrom's last year. He also hasn’t had the same production as the other players in this tier and hasn’t evaluated his game as some would have hoped. He’s likely a middle 6 player to me at this point. However, the ceiling presents a genuine NHL 1C, which this draft lacks, so a top 5 projection if healthy is a legit take.
#12 Carter Bear, Forward, Everett Silvertips
One of the faster risers this year, Bear opened up the year like a house on fire, being at the top of the WHL scoring list and creating great chemistry with exceptional status stud defensemen Landon Dupont. Bear is defined by his dog on a bone mentality, He gives it full effort every time he’s on the ice and is a menace for opposing teams to stop. He’s an animal on the forecheck and an excellent defensive forward. His style has drawn comparisons to Seth Jarvis, who is one of the best two-way wingers in the league and someone you want to be compared to. Bear also has high-end skills, being able to make sick moves and rack up points. If he didn’t lacerate his Achilles to end the year, he’d likely be ranked a good bit higher, but the injury uncertainty hurts him a bit. He’s still a kid you want to bet on, and after the top 10, I’d be running to the podium to get him if he falls to the 20s, like some think. He could project to be a steal of the draft.
#13 Radim Mrkta, Defenseman, Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL
An absolute behemoth of a defenseman, Mrkta brings excellent puck-moving ability along with his 6-foot-6 frame. Mrkta is still a very raw player and doesn’t have the same staking tools as an Anton Silayev type, but there is still a substantial upside. He’s played solid minutes for Czechia, often against better international teams, and always stands out. He came over mid-season and became the Seattle Thunderbirds' number 1 defenseman, flashing his tools every night. He is capable of making mesmerizing, high skill plays for his size and looks well-positioned to convince a team to take him high. You really can’t teach his length. It is easy to envision him locking a chunk off the ice in his prime while pitching in a good offense. I’m not sure he’s a top pair guy but NHL team shell out big money for top 4 Right handed defense and Mrkta seems destined to end up on that path His toolkit makes him feel like a projectable top 15 pick, but I don’t think top 8 is out of the question considering how players of his mold are valued.
#14 Cullen Potter, Forward, Arizona State University
Regarding natural skating ability, Potter reigns supreme in this draft class. In a group of primarily safe and intelligent players, Potter brings a burst of skill arguably worthy of a top six projection. The leading scorer of the USDP U17 team last year, Potter took a rare route, decommitting from a top program at Michigan State to instead commit to Arizona State and play college hockey as an underage player. Despite going up against opponents sometimes 7-8 years older, Potter can always stand out on the ice. He moves through the neutral zone like he’s shot out of a cannon. He has high-end acceleration and can put almost every defender on their heels. He’s more of a shooter than a passer, but his shot is quick, and most importantly, he can shoot while moving at high speeds, creating space. He’s also a pretty gritty player who uses his speed to reach the puck and disrupt his opponent's time and space. Like Blackhawks prospect Oliver Moore, who was the best skater in his draft, there will be IQ questions about whether Potter can read the game at the speed he’s moving. It may be too early to know with Potter, but he has adjusted to the jump in speed excellently at such a young age, and I think his current projection is way too low. His skating and skill are in the top 10 in the draft, and I’d rather gamble on this upside over safe, steady bets.
#15 Justin Carbonneau, Forward, Blainville Armada
There’s a fun test in sports for evaluating players where you ask, “If an alien landed on Earth, could they identify who the best player is?” Normally, this test works very well with athletes, but in Carbonneau's case, he’s a bit of an exception. If you watch his best clips, you would be convinced he’s a top 10 player in this class. He possesses arguably the best stickhandling in the class, pulling off absurd one-on-one moves and combining them with excellent skating ability. He possesses a ridiculous shot release and is a high-end goal scorer. He makes some all-world passes now and then, seeing pass options no one else on the ice is seeing. So, what’s the catch? Well, like a lot of talented players, Carbonneau can feel a feeling of invincibility on the ice. He tries to pull off so many absurd plays so many times that it leads to wasted possession and advantages for the opposing team. He forces a ton of plays, and many of them get turned over and go the other way. That type of game will have a questionable translation for the NHL, where defenders are so mobile and long. Carbonneau does have a good motor despite his IQ concerns, but his whole game just goes on and off, and it is hard to trust him to be consistent. The best comparison I've heard is the Andrei Kuzmenko type. If you ask Canucks and Flames fans about Kuzmenko, you'll have a plethora of opinions. For as much as these guys can wow you, it’s only matched by their ability to frustrate you. He’s got high-end skill but can be hard to trust.
#16 Ben Kindel, Forward, Calgary Hitmen
The first 15 guys were easy for me to choose, but I ended up with a hole at 16 as I wasn't sure who to pick. I looked through a bunch of names, watched a few extra games, and ended up landing on Kindle firmly. The main reason I liked him the most is that he is simply better at the sport than the rest of the field. Kindle is a pure gamer who has brought consistently high play throughout the entire season. He’s got a great all-around game and brings that Brayden Point style grit that makes you feel more comfortable about him being a center. It’s unlikely he becomes a Point level player, but his mix of skills and two-way ability is reminiscent of a Point of Nick Suzuki type of player pre-draft, and those are guys you want to bet on. He is a bit undersized, but the brain to me is high-end, and I think he’s a guy who beats the odds going up a level. He likely doesn’t go quite this high on draft day, but in a lower-floor draft like this one, I believe his top 6 odds are higher than all those ranked behind him. I expect a big post-draft year and maybe an invite to Team Canada. I’m a big fan and would love it if the Blackhawks could get him later in the first.
Other Names to Know
This draft slightly becomes a crapshoot at the end of the first round, but there are several intriguing names that could become good NHL players if they are put on a good development path.
Ivan Ryabkin, Forward, Muskegon Lumberjacks
Ryabkin started the year with top 5 hype after setting records in the Russian junior leagues, but he has just had a disaster of a draft season. He showed up to camp out of shape, getting sent between levels, then forced his way out of Russia to go to the USHL. He's a talented player who brings good puck skills alongside playmaking and definitely has a high ceiling for a late first-rounder this year. That said, there are serious questions about whether he has it between the ears and whether he’ll ever scratch the surface of his potential. He’s a name to watch on draft day.
Logan Hensler, Defenseman, University of Wisconsin
One of the earliest names to pop off, the draft Hensler was the highest-rated defenseman to join the USNTDP three years ago, even compared to Cole Hutson and EJ Emery. Despite a hot start, Hensler cooled off in the second half of last year, leaving questions about his potential. He took the college route to the University of Wisconsin, a program that hasn’t treated young players well since Cole Caufield. He’s struggled this year, both due to his play and his team situation. He just plays an ok game and doesn’t give many high-end flashes. He’s buried in the lineup so he could use a change of scenery like Charlie Stramel, but I just don’t love Hensler as it stands now.
Malcolm Spence, Forward, Erie Otters
He’s your classic NHL coach's player crush. Spence brings size, grit, speed, and some skill. Spence is of a similar breed to Detroit Red Wings first-rounder Michael Brannstrom. Spence is tough to play against on the forecheck, constantly wreaking havoc, and can do lots with the puck if he steals it from you. At the U18 Worlds, Spence was a monster on the penalty kill and created offense because of how deadly his shot could be. Like many in the draft, there are questions about where in the lineup Spence can play, but he brings a safe projection as a good support-type player.
William Moore, Forward, USNTDP
A highly rated player going from the GTHL to the NTDP, Moore has shown that he is the most skilled player on the U18 team this year, possessing good traits across the board. He’s a center with good size and a decent shot, handles the puck well, and can pass. However, none of these tools are separable; they are generally above average. He also doesn’t use them at the correct times and lacks the effort to separate himself from other players. The tools could have a team fit on him being a top 6 player, but he’ll need to focus on all parts of his game moving forward to reach that potential—another volatile range type of player.
Cameron Schmidt, Forward, Vancouver Giants
He can burn defenders with ease and is extremely dangerous in transition. Combine that speed with a high-end shot, and Schmidt will have all the tools you want to see in a smaller forward. Schmidt made a top 20 case early on, being one of the top goal-scorers in all of the CHL, making plays every night. With most guys his size, teams will have to decide if the ability is good enough to compensate for his size, but Schmidt, as much as any small prospect since Caulfield, has the tools of a project and is accessible to a top 6. He’s maybe the fastest player in the draft and possesses legit scoring tools though. He’s got arguably the most variability of anyone in this class.
Schmidt makes these types of plays look routine and always dangerous at the junior level:
Cole Reschny, Forward, Victoria Royals, WHL
DAWG. Despite his small stature, Reschny fears no one on the ice. He grinds it out and battles like hell for pucks. There have been some trait comparisons to Buffalo Sabres forward Zack Benson as both players came out of the Western League and affected the game despite a more diminutive stature and average straight-line speed. Benson is absolutely on another tier, though; he had the misfortune of being drafted with three of the smartest prospects in recent years: Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, and Gabe Pearraut. Still, while Reschny might not be Benson, few guys in this draft bring it like him. He grinds it out everywhere on the ice and has tons of skill. He’s also had to play with less-than-stellar talent for his junior career but has the numbers to match most players in the draft. He sees the game at a great level and can make excellent passes to teammates. NHL teams will struggle with him because of his size, but he’s a guy you can bet on to beat the odds.
Adam Benak, Forward, Youngstown Phantoms, USHL
Benak is one of the first names to come onto the scene for this draft. Benak is the record holder at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, which has plenty of top names on the list. Benak is your classic, more minor, skilled forward who brings excellent skill and skating to compensate for his size. He’s had a tough time adjusting to the USHL and has questioned whether his skill level is good enough to make it to the NHL. He’ll have a big under-18s though to quell these concerns and inspire teams that his ability is worthy of a first-round pick.
Luke Radivojevic, Defenseman, Muskegon Lumberjacks
To be transparent, I’ll start by saying that Radivojevic is small. He struggled at the pro level this year and got pinned easily by defenders near the boards. However, his father played a few seasons in the NHL and was listed at 6'2", which makes me believe there is still some growth left. The word I would use to describe Radivojevic is “control.” Everything gets simplified when he’s on the ice, and the unit on the ice gets evaluated. While not a burner, he has excellent four-way mobility, which he uses to defend the rush at an acceptable level. He is an excellent manipulator on the ice, finding advantages and making quick moves to get shots on the net. I first saw him at the World Juniors in Sweden, where he was the youngest player in the tournament but still seemed to handle the pressure well. One of the best traits I see from him is how the puck seems to glue to his stick on retrievals. While he can recover pucks very well at times, the fast-for-checkers can disrupt him and cause a turnover. He’s excellent at moving pucks immediately, breaking them out, and starting a rush, which I think can work in the NHL. Like Benak, he’s come over to the USL from Europe, but he’s looking more at his elements.
His team went 9-0 after his arrival, and he’s played significant minutes. His greatest accomplishment has undoubtedly been his U18 performance, where he led the tournament in minutes per game and maintained an even plus-minus on a very young Slovakian team. In the first game they played, he was hurt, and they were defeated by the US 9-0, but the next time they played with him healthy, the deficit was cut in half. This play got him on the all-tournament team over players like EJ Emery, Logan Hensler, Matt Schaefer, and other notable European prospects. His acceleration has been compared to 2024 prospect Aron Kiviharju, who has been scaring teams away from taking smaller defensemen. I believe Radivojevic has another skill level over Kiviharju and will create more offense when the game speeds up. If he doesn't grow, his odds of making the league are small, but if he gets a growth spurt, I think this player has a lot of potential. I’ll be rooting for him to make it.