NHL
This season, The Athletic’s prospects writers Scott Wheeler and Corey Pronman set out to do something ambitious: pull off a 2025 NHL Draft player poll similar to the player polls our staff conduct in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB.
In the fall, they settled on 10 questions — three on the record and seven anonymous — and spent the season gathering as many responses as possible. By year’s end, 50 of the top prospects in the 2025 NHL Draft class were surveyed for our inaugural NHL Draft player poll.
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Here, they asked the prospects, “If you could take one draft-eligible player you’ve played on the same team with, with you to the NHL, who would it be and why?” and “What round or range of the draft do you think you will go in?”
The goal of the first question was to gain insight into players who are respected by their peers. The goal of the second question was to glean honest answers and test the players’ self-assessment.
Kashawn Aitcheson: Probably Caleb Desnoyers. He’s a workhorse, he has a lot of heart, he wears his heart on his sleeve and he’s a guy you’d want to battle with.
Carter Bear: Maybe Ryker Lee. He’s just so skilled. When I played with him, he had tons of skill, tons of vision and tons of hockey sense. We went to Italy and France together, and we played on Midwest Selects, it was called.
Quinn Beauchesne: I think I’d take Brady Martin. Such a great teammate. Great player. A lot of laughs off ice with him. He’s a great guy.
Adam Benak: Tomas Poletin because he’s a leader and he’s a good captain.
Sascha Boumedienne: Anton Frondell.
Justin Carbonneau: I’ll say Mateo Nobert. We play on the same line, and he’s a great passer and a great guy. You want a great player and a great person, and he’s both of them, so I would bring him for sure. … I think I can be a goal scorer, and I can grind, and he makes plays and sees the plays before everybody. Those are qualities that fit together, and we’re two good friends, so it’s easy to talk to him and we’ve got good chemistry.
Braeden Cootes: I would say (Matthew) Schaefer. I think he’s just a good, solid defenseman. He’ll lug the mail, he’s a guy that can play 30 a night, score goals, defend well and he’s hard to play against.
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Ethan Czata: I would say probably Braeden Cootes. He’s a leader, he’s unreal, he’s a hard worker, he plays physical and he plays everything right, so he’s a guy I’d always love to have with me.
Caleb Desnoyers: I’d say I’d bring Kashawn Aitcheson. I had the chance to be with him in Finland, and he’s a really good teammate and a really good person. He’s a really good hockey player that we don’t see every day, and plays the game in a way that not many others play it. … Just his physical game and how hard he is to play against. Often we’ll see skilled defensemen go early, but Kashawn is the type of D that could go really early because he’s unique in his own way.
Victor Eklund: Definitely Anton Frondell. … He’s my best friend, and he’s just a really good hockey player. He has a shot of a missile, and he’s just a tank out there. And he’s just the best guy.
Blake Fiddler: You know what, maybe Lukas Sawchyn. He’s a great player, very shifty and a great guy. We have a lot of fun together.
Conrad Fondrk: I’ll go Will Moore. I played with him all season, had really good chemistry with him, and he’s a really good hockey player.
Anton Frondell: I played with Victor Eklund this season, we’ve known each other a long time, and we know each other’s games really well and have really good chemistry, so if I didn’t take him, he would be angry with me. *smiles*
Milton Gastrin: Maybe Matthew Schaefer.
Eddie Genborg: I’ll say Milton Gastrin. He’s a really good player, fast skater, strong and he can do everything on the ice.
James Hagens: Either Logan Hensler or my brother (Michael Hagens). He’s eligible still to get drafted. Either of those guys I’d take with me. … My brother is a competitor. He wants to win. I know he’s going to have a great career, and he’s a great hockey player. That’s no question. Logan’s a great defenseman; he’s somebody you want on your team. He’s a tough defenseman to get around, but he’s also somebody who can make you look stupid if you’re coming at him and he has the puck. He’s going to have a long career.
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Reese Hamilton: I would have to say Cole Reschny. I’ve played with him since I was about 9 years old. We’re both from Saskatchewan, and I’ve played on multiple different teams with him, so I’ve obviously gotten super close with him throughout the years. He’d definitely be the guy.
Logan Hensler: I think James Hagens is the best player in this class, personally. You see it practicing with him, and the way he produced in college is pretty legit.
William Horcoff: James Hagens. Hell of a player. Really smart. Really skilled.
Jakob Ihs-Wozniak: I would say Anton Frondell. … He’s super serious off the ice and on the ice, always working with the details, and I really like that and feel like it would be good to bring with me to the NHL.
Jack Ivankovic: Matthew Schaefer. Just his defensive ability and his two-way game. I don’t think there’s anyone like him. And I mean, people talk about his offensive ability, which everyone sees, but just his defensive game is unmatched. If it’s a two-on-one, he’s always getting a stick there, and he’s making my life easier.
Ben Kevan: Mace’o Phillips. Very physical, very in your face, and I just love the way that he plays. Great guy. Super welcoming. I think that he could step onto any NHL team and make an impact.
Ben Kindel: I’d probably say Cameron Schmidt. Just to be able to play with a guy with that much offensive power. He’s very fast and he’s got a great shot.
Lynden Lakovic: I would take Jackson Smith and not just because we’ve been close friends the past little bit but I think he’s got tremendous upside, I think his skating’s great, I think he works hard, and I think his evasiveness on break-ins and break-outs, he just has a ton of upside.
Ryker Lee: I’ve been playing with Mason Moe all year, and he’s a good, strong player who is going to keep developing and get a lot better.
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Brady Martin: Cam Reid. I think he’s a good player and he’s a lot of fun to be around, just a chill, chill guy. … I think his skating’s elite and he’s just got good IQ and just knows what to do when he’s on the ice and has the puck.
Porter Martone: I think it’s pretty easy for me. I’m going with my teammate Jack Ivankovic. I see the way he wins us games and steals us games. … I think every NHL team needs a star goalie, and I think he’s going to be a star goalie in the NHL. The way that he puts in the work around the rink and the way that he wins us games, I think he single-handedly this year has won us games when he has got 40-50 shots with the way he battles and his compete.
Michael Misa: I’d say Porter Martone or Matthew Schaefer. You see how dynamic they are, and I think they both love to win. Any team could use Schaefer on the back end, and with Martone, he’s just a big, powerful forward who helps you win.
Will Moore: Conrad Fondrk. I think he’s the most talented hockey player I’ve ever seen and the injury that has held him back and was super disappointing when it happened, I had great chemistry with him on my line at the time and unfortunately he hasn’t been able to prove himself but I think the world of that kid and I think people are soon going to find out how good he really is.
Jack Murtagh: I’d say Cole McKinney, my linemate. … No. 1, I know who he is off the ice and what a good kid he is. We gel together really nicely, and I think he’s got the mentality that organizations want, and he could bring a team a Stanley Cup.
Jack Nesbitt: I think I play really well with Brady Martin. We played back on Team Ontario together, and we were clicking there, and then playing with him at the OHL Top Prospects Game was really fun.
Eric Nilson: I would want to play with Eddie Genborg. He’s strong, he’s physical and he wins every battle and every puck. He makes your job easy.
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Jake O’Brien: I’ll say Luca Romano because I played with him in the past, and we had pretty good chemistry in minor hockey. We were on the same line for the Jr. Canadiens all year. … He’s a good playmaker and he can score, so having both is great to play with.
Cullen Potter: I played with Misa growing up, and he’s a great player, so I’ll go with him. … I traded jerseys with him at the Brick and then a couple of tournaments after that.
Max Psenicka: I would take Ondrej Stebetak, my goalie from Portland. We’re good buddies.
Joshua Ravensbergen: I’d say Jett Lajoie on my team right now with the Cougars. He’s a great guy and we’re close. I’d bring him along. He brings a lot of grit.
Cam Reid: I’d say Jack Ivankovic. … Anytime I’ve played with him, he’s been the biggest force and impact in the game. … He’s really good. Whenever I’ve played with him personally, he’s had such an impact, he’s won games for my team, and no matter what team’s doing better, you know he always has your back back there. I’m confident that not many guys are going to score on him. I believe he’s going to be a force in the NHL.
Cole Reschny: Oof, that’s a tough one. Maybe Reese Hamilton, just a good buddy that I’ve grown up with. We kinda went through it with each other, so just being by each other’s side every year was pretty cool. … He’s a very smooth-skating defenseman. He can jump up into the rush, and he can kill a lot of plays. You don’t get someone like that every day. It’s pretty special.
Luca Romano: Michael Misa. … Just an all-around really good player. Hockey IQ is off the charts, and he’s just sound. He’s unreal.
Matthew Schaefer: Honestly, I would probably just say Jack Ivankovic. It’s so easy playing when he’s in net. I love him as a guy, and he’s a great goalie.
Cameron Schmidt: I think Caleb Desnoyers. He’s a great teammate first off, great leader and I think he’s just got the all-around game. He’s skilled, he’s got a good shot, he’s got a good motor on him and he works, and he’s got a big body as well, so I’d pick him.
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Jackson Smith: I would probably say Caleb Desnoyers. He’s a really good skater, and he’s a physical presence. He plays a really good 200-foot game, and I feel like he’s kind of a can’t-miss guy. He can be a defensive player, and he can kill penalties, and he can play a full defensive role, but I also think he has that potential to be a really good offensive player. … He can play both ends of the ice, and he’s a guy you want on your team. He’s a great guy to have off the ice, too. He’s a really nice guy. And I feel like he’s not a guy who’s a high-risk guy to take because you can transform him into whatever you want.
Malcolm Spence: I’d probably say Schaefer, but I’ll keep it away from that. I think a cool one would be Ivankovic because he’s such a good goalie, and I know he’s considered an undersized goalie, but like, he makes the saves. He’s such a good goalie that I don’t think it matters as much. I know Igor Shesterkin’s not a big guy, and most of the goalies are just so big that it just hits them naturally now, but I think it would be cool to play with Ivankovic. He actually used to A.P. with us with the Sens.
Theo Stockselius: I really like Eric Nilson from Djurgarden. I played with him a lot this season, and it’s easy to play with him. He’s a really good playmaker, and he’s got good hockey sense. I think we think hockey the same and can really find each other good out there.
Shane Vansaghi: I’d take Hagens with me. I’ve seen him quite a bit, and just the way he practices and the confidence that he has, everything about him, he’s kind of like the guy.
Simon Wang: I’ll say my teammate Owen Griffin because I see how hard he works every single day and how tough he is getting cross-checked by guys my size. He takes that for a living and plants himself there, and that’s why he was so successful this year.
Mason West: I would take Mason Moe. He’s a Minnesota kid, too. He’s not just a great player, but he’s also a great person, and I think he really works hard at his craft and wants to get better. He’s a stud.
Bill Zonnon: I’d go with Roger McQueen. … I played with him at the U17s, and I was really impressed by his game. Great guy off of the ice as well. He’s a complete player. … I think offensively, he can do a lot of special stuff. He’s got pure offensive upside, he’s got good skills, he’s got a good shot, and I just love being around him.
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Carter Bear: Honestly, I have no clue. I don’t know how to answer that one. I’ll hopefully just get drafted. It would be insane even if I went fourth round.
Justin Carbonneau: I don’t have a range. My objective is first round. That’s all I can say.
Braeden Cootes: Late first. … I think I’m a complete player who can play in all situations. I think I can even get more up (to) like 10-20. I could be in that range as well. I just think teams will like the way I play. I think it translates to the NHL and to playoff hockey.
Ethan Czata: I would say around Round 2-3.
Caleb Desnoyers: So far, I’ve seen a few lists and been in the top-10, so top-10 would be a big accomplishment for me, but I’m not putting any pressure on myself about that.
Victor Eklund: I think between 8-11.
Conrad Fondrk: Probably now second round. Somewhere in there, hopefully. But I think going into the year, I was a first-rounder in my opinion, and I think if I didn’t get hurt and I continued my season, that I would have gone in the first round. But it is what it is.
Milton Gastrin: I don’t know. I hope I go first round, but that’s just hope, and if I don’t, then I won’t get upset.
Eddie Genborg: I would say probably end of the first or start of the second.
William Horcoff: I think I’m a late first-rounder, anywhere from 24-32. But I think I could go anywhere from 24 to 40. Kind of around that range.
Jakob Ihs-Wozniak: My goal is to go in the first round, but I would say maybe late first round or second round.
Ben Kevan: Everyone’s hopeful to go first round, but realistically, not everyone can go, and there’s only 32 picks. Of course, I’d love to go there, but second/third. And then I’ll prove myself to the team and make the team.
Ben Kindel: I’d say, if I were to guess, anywhere between (the) first and third round.
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Lynden Lakovic: I think if I keep on playing consistent, I could go in the top 20.
Ryker Lee: First to third.
Porter Martone: I think I’ll go in the first round, and I have a goal to be as high as I can. There’s a lot of good players in this draft, but I want to go from 1-5 and I want to be a top-five pick.
Brady Martin: I would like to go first round.
Michael Misa: I try not to think about it, to be honest. I’d love to go as high as I can, and I’d like to go first overall, but I have no clue.
William Moore: I think I should go mid-first.
Jack Nesbitt: Hopefully late first or maybe even mid-first, but also maybe early second.
Eric Nilson: I have no idea. I don’t think I should go anywhere. I just want to play my game, I’ll just end up where I end up.
Jake O’Brien: I think I will go in the top-15 picks.
Cullen Potter: I’m not exactly sure, I hope 10-20. Somewhere in there.
Cole Reschny: That’s a tough one. I think I’d be very happy to go in the top two rounds, especially the first. I see myself as a player good enough to go in the first round, so I could definitely see myself going there.
Luca Romano: I think early second/late first.
Cameron Schmidt: I’d love to go in the first round. It has been a dream of mine to be a first-round pick, so I think that’d be my range.
Malcolm Spence: It doesn’t matter. Just drafted, hopefully. … I chase my game, I don’t chase the number. I just want to make sure I’m improving myself.
Theo Stockselius: Probably like second round, I think.
Shane Vansaghi: That’s a tough question because I don’t know. I feel like anything could happen. I’ve heard some things, but I really don’t have any expectations, to be honest with you. That’s my mindset, and that’s kind of what it has been all year.
Mason West: I think I should go in the first round, but obviously things happen, and I’ll be blessed to go in any round. Maybe late first to late second round. Around that area.
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Bill Zonnon: I’m not sure. I haven’t really talked about that. I’m just going to go to the draft and wait to hear my name called. My goal has always been to go in the first round, so that’s my goal, but that’s not my expectation. I don’t know what to expect.
Kashawn Aitcheson: First round. … 10-20, I’d say.
Quinn Beauchesne: I really have no clue. I didn’t play a lot early on in the year with being hurt, so there’s really so much up in the air. Hoping it’ll be the top two rounds, but we’ll see.
Blake Fiddler: I think if I keep having a strong season, my goal is to be a first-rounder. … I think I can maybe make my way up into the top half of the first round. Anything’s possible but I’ve got a lot of work to do.
Reese Hamilton: I would hope to go in the top two rounds. I don’t have a specific spot, but anywhere in there.
Logan Hensler: Right now, I was told by my advisers 12-20, but I think I should go in that 10-15 range. I think that’s a good spot for me.
Max Psenicka: I think I can go first round, but if not, I think I can be a strong second-rounder for sure.
Cam Reid: I believe the first. I just feel like the way I play and the strong start I had, I believe I’ll finish strong and every aspect of the game I’m pretty solid in. I believe I can only go up from there.
Matthew Schaefer: I want to be the first D drafted. That’s kind of the big thing for me. But I just want to take it step by step and worry about it when it comes.
Jackson Smith: I think I’m a first-rounder. I feel like with my size and my skating ability that I’m a bit of a can’t-miss guy. I play both ends of the ice really well and I feel like I’ve got a lot of skill in the offensive zone. I feel like I can slide into the top-10 and a team could like me, and that latest would be 10-20.
Simon Wang: I don’t really put an expectation on it. I just want to go in a spot that a team will appreciate who I am as a player. I see it sometimes, but I couldn’t care less about the rankings. I don’t really care, and I don’t want to be totally obsessed with the ranking.
Jack Ivankovic: I think I’m going to go in the first round.
Joshua Ravensbergen: Hopefully top two rounds. I’d be really happy with that.
(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; photos of Matthew Schaefer, Caleb Desnoyers and James Hagens: Chase Agnello-Dean / Getty Images)
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