Another year, another draft rankings! This time we have a full top 100 before a very tantalizing 2025 NHL Entry Draft gets underway Friday. Given the overall talent level isn’t the highest, especially at the top, it should be a wild ride due to the lack of consensus outside the top three. With all that being said, let’s get into things!

#1 Matthew Schaefer (Defenseman, OHL)

Schaefer is someone hard to dissect due to the fact he hasn’t played since the 2025 World Junior Championship (WJC) due to a collarbone injury he suffered during the tournament. What he displayed beforehand however was No. 1 defenseman potential. 

Schaefer isn’t a first overall prospect on the level of Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini like we’ve seen the last two years, but with his elite skating, top-end hockey IQ, and improved defensive play, Schaefer is certainly worthy of the first selection.

#2 Michael Misa (Center, OHL)

While Schaefer is for the most part the consensus first pick in the draft, Misa is right behind him. The Oakville, Ontario native is as dynamic of a playmaker as they come. His elite combination of speed, creativity, and smarts, led Misa to a season in which he led all CHL (OHL, WHL, QMJHL) players in scoring with 134 in just 65 games. 

#3 James Hagens (Center, NCAA)

Hagens was considered a top prospect in this year’s draft heading into the season, and proved no one wrong with his play in the NCAA. His junior record is immensely impressive, with Hagens holding the record for most points at a single under-17 World Hockey Challenge (21 in seven games), most points at a single under-18 World Championship (22 in seven games), along with collecting nine points in seven games at this year’s WJC in route to winning a gold medal with team USA. 

His quick release and effortless skating should make him hard to stop at the next level. 

#4 Porter Martone (Right Wing, OHL)

Porter Martone is a leader with the talent to back it up. He plays with a level of intensity that isn’t seen from any of the guys ahead of him on this list. That hard work along with his effectiveness in tight spaces should allow Martone to be a great player that can fit in on any line at the NHL level.

#5 Victor Eklund (Right Wing, Allsvenskan)

Eklund is the younger brother of San Jose’s, William. He may be small, but he’s quick and feisty. The Swedish forward accelerates well and uses his great speed to be all over the ice, both offensively and defensively. Eklund plays a game very projectable to a top-six role at the NHL level. If he was a few feet and a few dozen pounds bigger Eklund would most likely be a consensus top-three pick in this draft, but, for now, he sits at an admirable five on our list. 

#6 Anton Frondell (Center, Allsvenskan)

I have Anton Frondell just behind his Djurgarden teammate in Victor Eklund. Frondell is an elite two-way talent with the potential to lock down number one centers deep into the playoffs. There are some question marks with his puck handling, but Frondell is smart and resilient. One mistake never deters him from trying a play again.

#7 Jake O’Brien (Center, OHL)

Brock Otten of McKeen’s hockey described O’Brien as someone who, “produces quietly” and in my eyes that is the perfect description of him. O’Brien has always been someone who could defend and pass the puck effectively, but he worked hard this past season to become a much more effective scorer. That came to the tune of a nearly 20 goal jump in production.

#8 Caleb Desnoyers (Center, QMJHL)

Desnoyers was great in the regular season, but really showed off during the postseason where he finished second among all skaters in points (30 in 19 games). He is a proven commodity in all three zones with a high end defensive IQ and great playmaking ability. While He may not be one of the best in any given category for this draft he is up there in almost all of them which is extremely valuable in its own right.

#9 Jackson Smith (Defenseman, WHL)

Smith proved himself this season in a breakout role as Tri-City’s No. 1 defenseman. Smith finished second in scoring among all under-18 WHL defenseman this past season, only behind projected 2027 first overall pick and exceptional status player Landon Dupont.

Smith is capable of playing in almost any situation, and changing his game depending on the where he’s playing. Smith knows how to handle pressure and execute with speed on the rush offensively, as well as being capable of using his large frame to play a physical game when needed. In our eyes, Smith is the No. 2 defense prospect in this draft.

#10 Roger McQueen (Center, WHL)

Roger McQueen is one of the more intriguing prospects in this year’s draft. He was regarded as a potential top-five pick coming into the year, but a disc injury majorly limited his playing time during the season.

McQueen spoke to the media prior to the NHL draft combine where he said he felt healthy again before participating in full during all the pre-draft events in Buffalo. Overall positive signs for the incredibly skilled center. However, teams should still definitely proceed with caution.

#11 Radim Mrtka (Defenseman, WHL)

Mrtka is in that second tier of defenseman in this draft alongside Jackson Smith. Mrtka has been a workhorse for Seattle (WHL), logging oodles of ice time night in and night out. Mrtka is arguably the best defensive defenseman in this draft and his play only improved as he learned to be more physical. While Mrtka won’t be an elite, puck-moving, No. 1 defenseman in the NHL, he certainly has the upside to partner that kind of guy on a team’s top pair.

#12 Brady Martin (Center, WHL)

Brady Martin has a unique mix of high compete and top-end skill. He can beat defenders by bulldozing through them or making them look silly with a silky-smooth move. There’s a lot to like about Martin, but his skating isn’t quite NHL level. It improved this year though, so another year of development could certainly allow him to be a top prospect in hockey.

#13 Cullen Potter (Center, NCAA)

Greg Powers, Potter’s head coach at Arizona State, said that the freshman is the best player that’s ever played at Arizona State and, “it’s probably not even close.” That’s some high praise.

Potter is eye popping game in and game out with his spectacular skating ability and blistering shot. That combination should be deadly at the NHL level most likely a year and a half from now. Look for Potter to be a Hobey Baker Award candidate this fall.

#14 Lynden Lakovic (Left Wing, WHL)

Lakovic has all the tools to be a great player in the NHL one day. He’s a top-end offensive talent who can dish the puck and finish plays. Lakovic is also a great skater, a skill he uses effectively in transition. The one area Lakovic really lacks in is being able to use his great size efficiently. You’d like to see him be smarter with physicality in the defensive zone especially.

#15 Carter Bear (Left Wing, WHL)

Bear is another player in this draft that works his butt off every single shift, playing the game with intensity, and speed, that are up there for best in this year’s draft. He’s got skill too but not as much to match some of the other high intensity guys in this draft.

#16 Benjamin Kindel (Center, WHL)

Ben Kindel is the definition of silent but deadly. His 23 game point streak (15 goals and 45 points) this season broke a Calgary Hitmen (WHL) club record and was the second longest only to 2026 projected first-overall pick Gavin McKenna’s absurd 40 game point streak. Kindel uses his smarts to his advantage, allowing him to be deployed in all situations. 

While he may be just 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, he plays like he’s much bigger which will make him even more effective when he grows physically in the coming years.

#17 Kashawn Aitcheson (Defenseman, OHL)

Brock Otten of McKeen’s Hockey called Aitcheson, “one of the most physical/competitive defenders (he’s) seen come through the OHL in the last decade.” While Aitcheson is big at 6-foot-2 and 196 pounds, he looks massive while on the ice. He fears no one and no thing, clobbering opposing forwards and blocking shots like it’s nothing. 

His offense greatly improved this season as well to the tune of 59 points in 64 OHL games. Aitcheson is quite raw, but has the potential to be one of the better, and more feared, players from this draft.

#18 Braeden Cootes (Center, WHL)

Cootes is the definition of a good hockey player. He competes night in and night out, playing a 200-foot game with great consistency. He uses his smarts to do almost everything well. It’s easy to see him slide into any part of an NHL lineup one day.

#19 Logan Hensler (Defenseman, NCAA)

Hensler is the definition of a safe pick. He’s not particularly great at anything, but he’s not close to bad in any area either. Hensler is mobile and fluid in transition and has some solid defensive fundamentals. An easy bet to be an NHL player.

#20 Malcom Spence (Left Wing, OHL)

Spence is going to be a solid bottom-six player on a contending team one day. The question is will he be any more than that. Spence plays a very mature game for his age, being able to move the puck well while on the ice with smart passing and quick touches of the puck. He isn’t overly physical, but certainly competes well. The question is going to come with his offensive upside.

It’s hard to see Spence as more than a third line guy who can kill penalties and be an effective power play net front presence. Those guys are certainly valuable, however, and easy to move around the lineup.

#21 Blake Fiddler (Defenseman, WHL)

First things first, yes, Blake is the son of former Devil Vernon Fiddler. However, he is definitely his own player. Fiddler is a big, rangy defenseman who plays with a lot of confidence. He’s great at moving the puck up ice and creating lanes for himself in the offensive zone. Defense is a bit of a question mark with Fiddler who needs to be more consistent there to reach his full potential. 

#22 Cameron Reid (Defenseman, OHL)

Reid is very similar to the aforementioned Fiddler in a lot of ways. He has a ton of skill and knows how to use it, attacking defenders head on and making well timed passes through all three zones. Once again though, we see a defender where defense is a question mark. There are going to be growing pains for Reid as he progresses to the next stage of his career, but talented players are normally able to get past that.

#23 Cameron Schmidt (Right Wing, WHL)

Cam Schmidt is another one of the most skilled players in this draft. Dazzling anyone who watches him with his electric hands and wicked shot. Schmidt is practically a non-factor on defense with his miniscule frame (just 5-foot-8 and 160 pounds), but he’s effective in transition going the other way and is smart with when to attack defenders given he almost never has the size advantage. 

Schmidt is another player with all the upside in the world. However, it’s hard to project exactly where he will land in an NHL lineup.

#24 Sascha Boumedienne (Defenseman, NCAA)

As the youngest defenseman at NCAA’s Division I level this season, it was always going to be an upwards climb for Boumedienne. With that being said, the Finnish born defenseman did great work in a top-four role on a good team. He defended extremely well in his own end and used his great hockey sense to jump in offensively at times. Boumedienne proved his offensive prowise at this year’s under-18 World Championship where he broke the record for most assists and points at a single tournament by a defenseman. 

The one area that brings him down in my eyes is his poor rush defending, skating backwards isn’t near a strength of his and could be the reason he struggles at the next level. 

#25 Justin Carbonneau (Right Wing, QMJHL)

Justin Carbonneau is one of the most skilled players in this draft. If he makes the NHL one day he’ll surely be one of the most electrifying players in the league, especially in overtime. He carries the puck well through the neutral zone and has a great shot selection. However, he needs to get better at using his raw skill in smarter ways. Carbonneau isn’t very good defensively either. His talent is so great, however, thus, we can’t have him any lower than this.

#26 Cole McKinney (Center, NTDP)

McKinney isn’t going to be an elite player at the NHL level, but he’s definitely going to be a guy who will play an important role on a good team. McKinney plays well under pressure and was a major driver of offense on this year’s under-18 NTDP team. The American center is solid in all three zones, something that is certainly valuable in a prospect.

#27 Shane Vansaghi (Right Wing, NCAA)

Vansaghi has the upside to be one of the better power forwards in the game, but will need some proper development to get there. He drove great results in a limited role for Michigan State this past season, but lacks the anticipation of a top of the lineup NHL player. His toughness and skill helps propel him up the board however.

#28 Cole Reschny (Center, WHL)

Reschny is another guy who is reliable in every situation. He plays hard and can work the puck every time he hits the ice. What makes or breaks Reschny for me is that his skating and footwork aren’t even close to NHL level. I had similar concerns about Rutgers McGroarty in 2022 and he might turn into a decent NHL player, so we’ll have to wait and see with Reschny.

#29 Bill Zonnon (Wing/Center, QMJHL)

Zonnon is a guy who looks a little funky when he plays, but is very effective. He’s consistent in all three zones with a great compete level. While his skill has shined in the QMJHL, it will be his speed and tenacity that should help him succeed at the pro level.

#30 Eric Nilson (Center, J20 Nationell)

Nilson is one of the smartest players, and best passers, in the draft. He got pucks to the middle of the ice with great success, setting up a plethora of scoring chances for his teammates. He’s great in all three zones and seems to always be in the right spot. Given his style of play, however, you’d like to see Nilson fill out his frame a little bit more.

#31 Jack Murtagh (Left Wing, NTDP)

If there’s one thing Jack Murtagh can do and do well, it’s score. His wicked shot combined with fearlessness to crash the net should help him compete at the next level with the right linemates. Murtagh is definitely a player that’s going to need the right system to succeed, but we trust NHL teams to recognize that.

#32 Ryker Lee (Right Wing, USHL)

Lee started slow this year, but got more and more comfortable as the season went on. He’s electric in all areas of the ice. Zipping pucks around and uses his great speed to slice through defenders in the neutral zone. Lee was one of the best scorers in the USHL this past season and would be a fun upside pick for any team late in the first round.

Honorable Mentions

Joshua Ravensbergen (Goaltender, WHL)

Ravensburgen is far and away the best goaltender in this class. Him falling outside our top 32 has more to do with positional value.

Jack Nesbitt (Center, OHL)

Nesbitt is a power forward who works hard and definitely improved as the year went on. He is a first-round talent in this year’s draft, but for us at least falls just below some of the other very similar guys.

Ivan Ryabkin (Center, USHL)

Ryabkin was seen as one of the top prospects in this year’s draft heading into the season. That was before he seriously struggled to score in the MHL and decided to take his talents across the pond to the USHL. He was definitely better there, but not quite good enough to climb back into our top 32.

Full Top 100 Rankings

Tier 1 (No. 1-3)

• Matthew Schaefer, D (OHL)
• Michael Misa, C (OHL)
• James Hagans, C (NCAA)

Tier 2 (No. 4-10)

• Porter Martone, W (OHL)
• Victor Eklund, W (Allsvenskan)
• Anton Frondell, C (Allsvenskan)
• Jake O’Brien, C (OHL)
• Caleb Desnoyers, C (QMJHL)
• Jackson Smith, D (WHL)
• Roger McQueen, C (WHL)

Tier 3 (No. 11-20)

• Radim Mrtka, D (WHL)
• Brady Martin, C (OHL)
• Cullen Potter, C (NCAA)
• Lyden Lakovic, W (WHL)
• Carter Bear, W (WHL)
• Ben Kindel, C (WHL)
• Kashawn Aitcheson, D (OHL)
• Braeden Cootes, C (WHL)
• Logan Hensler, D (NCAA)
• Malcolm Spence, W (OHL)

Tier 4 (No. 21-30)

• Blake Fiddler, D (WHL)
• Cameron Reid, D (OHL)
• Cameron Schmidt, W (WHL)
• Sacha Boumedienne, D (NCAA)
• Justin Caronneau, W (QMJHL)
• Cole McKinney, C (NTDP)
• Sahen Vansaghi, W (NCAA)
• Cole Reschny, C (WHL)
• Bill Zonnon, W (QMJHL)
• Eric Nilson, C (SWE-U20)

Tier 5 (No. 31-50)

• Jack Murtagh, W (NTDP)
• Ryker Lee, W (USHL)
• Joshua Ravensbergen, G (WHL)
• Jack Nesbitt, C (OHL)
• Ivan Ryabkin, C (USHL)
• Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, C (SWE-U20)
• Milton Gastrin, C (SWE-U20)
• William Moore, C (NTDP)
• Henry Brzustewicz, D (OHL)
• Benjamin Kevan, W (USHL)
• Eddie Genborg, W (SHL)
• William Horcoff, C (NCAA)
• Haoxi Wang, D (OHL)
• MAson West, C (USHS-MN)
• Daniil Prokhorov, W (MHL)
• Alexander Zharaovsky, W (MHL)
• Ethan Czata, C (OHL)
• Adam Benak, C (USHL)
• Michal Svrcek, W (SW-U20)
• Quinn Beauchesne, D (OHL)

Tier 6 (No. 51-80)

• Carter Amico, D (NTDP)
• Theo Stockseilus, C (SWE-U20)
• Luca Romano, C (OHL)
• Vaclav Nestrasil, W (USHL)
• Pyotr Andreyanov, G (MHL)
• Nathan Behm, W (WHL)
• Max Psenicka, D (WHL)
• Gustav Hillstrom, C (SWE-U20)
• Viktor Klingsell, W (SWE-U20)
• Charlie Tretheway, D (NTDP)
• Jack Ivanovic, G (OHL)
• Semyon Frolov, G (MHL)
• Jacob Rombach, D (USHL)
• Aleksei Medvedev, G (OHL)
• Carlos Handel, D (QMJHL)
• Filip Ekberg, W (OHL)
• Kurban Limatov, D (MHL)
• L.J. Mooney, C (NTDP
• Bruno Osmansis, W (Allsvenskan)
• Conrad Fondrk, C (NTDP)
• Mace’o Phillips, D (NTDP)
• Arvid Drott, W (SWE-U20)
• David Bedkowski, D (OHL)
• Tyler Hopkins, C (OHL)
• Theodor Hallquisth, D (SWE-U20)
• Hayden Paupanekis, D (WHL)
• Lasse Boelius, D (FIN-U20)
• Matle Vass, D (SWE-U20)
• Voitech Cihar, W (Czechia)

Tier 7 (No. 81-100)

• Michal Pradel, G (USHL)
• Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen, D (NCAA)
• Cooper Simpson, W (USHS-MN)
• Alex Huang, D (QMJHL)
• Tomas Poletin, W (Liiga)
• Sam Laurilla, D (USHL)
• Mateo Nobert, C (QMJHL)
• Owen Conrad, D (QMJHL)
• Jimmy Lombardi, C (OHL)
• Jan Chovan, C (FIN-U20)
• Owen Griffin, C (OHL)
• Sean Bamhill, D (USHL)
• Lucas Beckman, G (QMHJL)
• Emile Gulte, W (QMJHL)
• Nathan Quinn, C (QMJHL)
• Brady Peddie, D (USHL)