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The Athletic has live coverage of the 2025 NHL Draft.
The first round of the 2025 NHL Draft has wrapped up, but there’s still plenty of talent available entering Day 2.
Here are the scouting reports for the 20 best skaters and three best goalies still available on my draft board.
1. Blake Fiddler, RHD, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
July 9, 2007 | 6′ 4″ | 209 pounds
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Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Player comparable: Joel Edmundson
Analysis: Fiddler is a defenseman with a lot of NHL traits. To start, at 6-foot-4, he’s much bigger than his father, Vernon. He also skates quite well for his size. Fiddler closes on his checks quite well and gets up the ice efficiently. He competes well on the ice, uses his big body to win pucks and makes a lot of defensive plays. He shows flashes of excellent offensive skill, and on the rush, he’s quite dangerous due to his great wingspan and skill. His vision is just OK. He doesn’t see the ice well and makes too many poor decisions for my liking. I don’t see a true NHL power-play type, but he has enough puck play in his game to go with his great athleticism to be a legit pro prospect who could play a lot of minutes in the NHL.
2. Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie Otters (OHL)
September 22, 2006 | 6′ 2″ | 201 pounds
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: High-end
Player comparable: Ivan Barbashev
Analysis: Spence struggled at times in the first half of the season, but his game started improving offensively as the year went along. He has a great track record as well, including being a top player for Canada’s U18 team the prior season multiple times. Spence’s compete is excellent and is the calling card of his game. He’s a tenacious worker who wins a ton of battles and gets to many pucks due to his length, speed and effort. He comes back hard and is a great two-way forward. Spence has good offensive skills and sense and can create chances with pace, but I wouldn’t call him a dynamic or overly creative player with the puck. His finishing touch is at times a minor question, but he gets a lot of greasy area goals. He can be a very likable middle-six winger who coaches will use a lot.
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3. Milton Gästrin, C, MoDo Hockey J20 (J20 Nationell)
June 2, 2007 | 6′ 1″ | 185 pounds
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: High-end
Shot: Above NHL average
Player comparable: Ross Colton
Analysis: Gastrin is a good-sized center who skates well and competes hard. The captain of Sweden’s age group, he’s a responsible two-way player who creates offense at the net front very well. He has skill, and while I would not describe him as a dynamic offensive type by any means, he makes enough plays to go with his responsible two-way play to make me think he could be a middle-six NHL center.
4. Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, RW, Luleå HF J20 (J20 Nationell)
February 1, 2007 | 6′ 2″ | 190 pounds
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Player comparable: Jimmy Vesey
Analysis: Ihs-Wozniak has had highly impressive stretches over the last 18 months where he’s dominated the Swedish junior ranks, but he’s also had stretches that make you question whether he will be an NHL player. I have no doubts on the tools. Forwards who are 6-foot-2, can skate, have a lot of offensive skill and can shoot the puck are difficult to find, and Ihs-Wozniak looks like a potential scoring winger versus men. I’d like to see him compete a bit harder at times, and I don’t think he’s a true playmaker, either. His game can lack a pulse, and I don’t think he’s so absurdly talented to overcome that issue. His tools should get his game, but I’m unsure if he can stick in the league.
5. Daniil Prokhorov, RW, MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)
April 27, 2007 | 6′ 6″ | 218 pounds
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: High-end
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Player comparable: Michael McCarron
Analysis: Prokhorov has trended up significantly as the season has progressed, including a great recent performance for Russia’s U18 team. Prokhorov is a huge winger with very good hands. He can make a lot of skilled plays in open ice, at full speed and in traffic. He’s a very physical forward who leans into guys with his big body and plays a direct style. Prokhorov isn’t blazing fast, but he moves well for his size and can skate at the higher levels. He isn’t a natural playmaker or scorer and he can force plays, but he should generate enough chances, especially in the high percentage areas, which leads to being a coach’s favorite. He could be a hard-to-play-against top-six winger.
6. Cameron Schmidt, RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
January 19, 2007 | 5′ 7″ | 157 pounds
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: Elite
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: High-end
Player comparable: Kailer Yamamoto
Analysis: Schmidt has been an excellent player at the junior level. He’s a dynamic winger and a truly elite skater, with the quick twitch feet and first few steps to blow by NHL defenders. He’s highly skilled, can beat opponents one-on-one at a high rate and does so at fast speeds. Schmidt is an excellent goal scorer with a quick-twitch wrist shot that often beats goalies from range. His main offensive traits are his skill and shot. He can make tough plays, but his decision making with the puck can be questionable and he often forces plays. Schmidt is a very undersized winger, too. He plays with a bit of an edge, which you like at that size, but his compete will need to be excellent to succeed in the NHL, and at times, I haven’t seen that effort in his game. I could see him miss, but his traits other than his size are so good there’s a path to him being a middle six wing.
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7. Shane Vansaghi, RW, Michigan State Univ. (NCAA)
October 11, 2006 | 6′ 2″ | 216 pounds
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Player comparable: Taylor Raddysh
Analysis: Vansaghi played limited minutes on a top NCAA team in Michigan State this season. Despite his role, he still showed a lot of traits that will appeal to NHL teams. He’s got a very high skill level, especially for a 6-2 forward. He beats defenders one-on-one routinely and has a ton of imagination with the puck. He’s a big, heavy winger who drives to the net. He doesn’t shy away from physical play, either. Vansaghi’s biggest issue is his foot speed. I’ve seen slower big guys, but he won’t be able to separate at the NHL level. He projects as a middle six wing.
8. Ethan Czata, C, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
May 29, 2007 | 6′ 1″ | 174 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: High-end
Analysis: Czata’s game developed well this season, becoming an important part of Niagara’s team. Czata isn’t going to land on many highlight reels, but he does a lot of things NHL teams will covet. He’s a good-sized center who skates well and plays very hard. Czata shows no hesitancy to engage in physical play. He lands a lot of hits and drives the net consistently to generate offense. He has some touch with the puck, but doesn’t have much creativity or vision. He projects as a bottom six forward who could be a fourth line center.
9. Eddie Genborg, LW, Linköping HC J20 (J20 Nationell)
April 20, 2007 | 6′ 2″ | 205 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: High-end
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Analysis: Genborg took positive steps this season in his development into an important player on Linköping’s junior team and Sweden’s U18 team. He did get a good chunk of games up with the SHL club, too. Genborg plays a likable style. He’s a decent-sized winger who skates well and plays hard. He is quite physical, wins a lot of pucks and creates offense at the net. He uses his speed and skill well to drive wide and get pucks to the middle. Genborg has a decent finishing touch, but doesn’t see the ice very well, and can fight the puck at times. His style gives him a real chance if he can show some offense versus men.
10. Cole McKinney, C, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)
March 16, 2007 | 6′ 0″ | 201 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: McKinney has been the best player for the U.S. NTDP this season. He doesn’t generate a ton of highlight plays, but he has a lot of substance in his game and does a lot of things well. He’s a hardworking center who wins a lot of battles and can play in traffic effectively despite being average-sized. McKinney has solid speed, hands and vision, and a decent shot from range. He doesn’t project as a major scorer at the top level, but he could chip in offense. He projects as a bottom-six forward/fourth-line center.
11. Eric Nilson, C, Djurgårdens IF J20 (J20 Nationell)
May 11, 2007 | 6′ 0″ | 165 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Nilson was very good this season at the Sweden junior level and for the U18 team internationally. He’s a forward with both the speed and skill to create offense versus men. He makes highly skilled plays on the move well and generates a lot of controlled entries. He has a good shot, but is more of a pass-first player. Nilson gives a strong effort on both sides of the puck, which could help him stay down the middle at higher levels. He’s average-sized, so the degree of skill and chances he shows will need to be very good to play in the NHL. The effort he puts in should allow him to be a bottom-six forward despite his modest frame.
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12. William Moore, C, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)
March 24, 2007 | 6′ 2″ | 174 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Analysis: Moore was a tough evaluation this season. He was arguably the most talented player on this year’s U.S. NTDP. He has a lot of tools that will appeal to NHL teams as a big forward whose played some center, skates well, has good puck skills and can make creative plays with the puck. I wouldn’t describe him as a top-tier playmaker, but he sees the ice well enough. Moore’s compete has come into question at times this season, and he’s certainly inconsistent, but he has the ability to be effective down low and can kill penalties. There’s nothing that truly stands out about his game, but the sum of the parts could lead to him being a bottom six winger with a chance to be an NHL center too.
13. Owen Conrad, LHD, Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL)
March 10, 2007 | 6′ 3″ | 209 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Conrad is a player with a lot of NHL traits who has been a productive and important QMJHL player for Charlottetown. He’s a 6-foot-3 defenseman who can skate and move pucks. He is a calm puck-mover who can make a good first pass, and hits seams from the offensive blue line. He has decent hands and a strong shot. I don’t view him as a major point producer versus pros, but he should be able to handle himself with the puck. Conrad has a powerful stride that can turn up ice quickly. He closes on checks well, creating turnovers with his body and speed. I would like to see the pace in his game be a bit quicker, but he can play fast when he chooses to. I don’t see a standout trait in his game, but the sum of the parts could lead to a third-pair defenseman.
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14. Haoxi Wang, LHD, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
July 27, 2007 | 6′ 6″ | 209 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Analysis: Wang was born in Beijing but came up playing hockey in Ontario. He’s a premium athlete; there aren’t many 6-foot-6 defenders who can skate like he does. Wang has a powerful stride that allows him to easily get up ice and close on checks. He’s a great defender due to his wingspan, mobility and penchant to lay the body. The questions will be his puck play at higher levels. Wang shows good skill at the OJHL level, but when he got to the OHL he didn’t look like a natural puck-mover, often forcing decisions and not seeing his options effectively. The physical tools and edge in his play should get him NHL games, but his hockey sense is a major question on whether he could stick.
15. Jack Murtagh, C, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)
August 22, 2007 | 6′ 1″ | 198 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Murtagh took significant steps forward in his development this season, becoming one of the better players on the U.S. NTDP. He’s a gifted forward, with legit speed and skill for the NHL level. On his best shifts when he’s beating defenders wide and attacking with his skill, he can be impactful and his shot is a legit weapon from range. His game can be frustrating at times, though. Murtagh doesn’t see the ice very well, and his compete level can be average. He has decent size and enough talent, though, that he could find a way to be a bottom-six winger.
16. Kurban Limatov, LHD, MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)
March 20, 2007 | 6′ 4″ | 190 pounds
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Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Analysis: Limatov’s season started off very well, although he tailed off a bit as the year went along. His toolkit still makes for an impressive pro prospect. He’s a 6-foot-3 defenseman who skates very well for his size. He has enough puck skills and playmaking ability to create offense at higher levels. I don’t view him as an NHL power-play type with great puck instincts, but he’s shown at lower levels that he can make creative plays off the rush and at the blue line. He closes on checks well with his feet and doesn’t shy from using his big body, too. I don’t think he truly stands out at either end, but there’s enough to his game to have a path to make it.
17. Ivan Ryabkin, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
April 25, 2007 | 5′ 11″ | 209 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Ryabkin was an impactful player at the Russian junior level as a 16-year-old. He struggled in Russia this season, leading to a mid-year shift to the USHL, where he was great for Muskegon. He’s a very talented player. He has a ton of skill and ability to improvise with the puck. He sees the ice at a high level and makes difficult passes consistently. At times, he competes quite hard and looks to use his body to win pucks. His game has inconsistencies, though. Ryabkin can lose his temper and make bad decisions on the ice. He’s a good enough skater but his game can lack pace and his fitness is a minor issue, too. He has the potential to be a legit scoring winger in the NHL but it remains to be seen if he can round out his game enough to be that player.
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18. Alexander Zharovsky, RW, Tolpar Ufa (MHL)
February 22, 2007 | 6′ 1″ | 163 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Analysis: Zharovsky had a highly productive first season in Russia’s top junior league, although he did it in the clear worst division in that league, so his scoring needs to be looked at with a grain of salt. He has some obvious tools, though, between his size, speed and skill. Zharovsky can create a lot of entries and chances with the pace in his game. He’s a creative offensive player who can beat defenders one-on-one and hit seams in the O-zone. He’s not overly physical, but he gets to the net for chances and has a game that could translate to higher levels. He could be a bottom-six winger.
19. Yegor Borikov, RW, Dinamo Minsk (KHL)
August 28, 2005 | 6′ 0″ | 185 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Analysis: Borikov had a decent season in the KHL in his third draft-eligible season, getting a regular shift for Dinamo Minsk. His playoff performance is what made him intriguing to evaluators, scoring seven goals in 11 KHL playoff games with no power-play time. Borikov is a strong skating winger with good hands and hockey sense. He makes plays with pace and creates at the hard areas of the offensive zone. He has a good shot and can finish from mid-range. He’s not overly physical but has decent size. There’s nothing special about his game, but he does a lot of things at a quality level and could be a bottom-six winger.
20. Theo Stockselius, F, Djurgårdens IF J20 (J20 Nationell)
July 24, 2007 | 6′ 3″ | 196 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
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Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Analysis: Stockselius was quite good at the Swedish junior level this season as a top scorer on a top team. He’s a skilled big man who excels at creating offense around the net and in small areas. He has shown the talent to score and generate chances at the junior level. There are reasonable questions about how his game will fare against better players. His skating isn’t the best, with a somewhat heavy stride. While he’s good at using his big body to create space for himself around the net, he’s not overly physical, and his off-puck compete can be an issue. He projects as a useful depth forward for a team.
1. Jack Ivankovic, G, Brampton Steelheads (OHL)
May 22, 2007 | 6′ 0″ | 179 pounds
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: High-end
Hockey sense: NHL average
Player comparable: Alex Nedeljkovic
Analysis: Ivankovic has been an excellent junior goalie. He was dominant for Canada’s U18 team in the summer, and accomplished the very rare feat of making Canada’s World Junior team as a goalie as a 17-year-old. He’s a goalie with tremendous athleticism and competitiveness. Ivankovic makes all kinds of difficult saves that require him to move a lot. He is great at second-effort saves and never gives up on a play. His reads aren’t as good as his quickness, but he does make a lot of smart decisions. The big issue will be his frame. There aren’t many 5-foot-11 NHL goalies, and he will need to be special at that size to make it. He could be, he has some special traits, but he’s no sure thing.
2. Burke Hood, G, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
April 30, 2007 | 6′ 3″ | 192 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Analysis: Hood had an impressive season, being a reliable starter for the Giants coming out of midget hockey the prior season. Hood is a goalie with decent size who moves like a pro. He isn’t explosive laterally, but has the quick-twitch in his lower half to make difficult saves. He’s mostly efficient in his movements, tracking pucks well. I don’t think any aspect of his game truly stands out, but he’s a steady goaltender who makes a lot of stops and could be a potential backup.
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3. Semyon Frolov, G, Ladia Togliatti (MHL)
January 17, 2007 | 6′ 3″ | 203 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Analysis: Frolov is a clear NHL athlete with decent size and the exceptional lower-body quickness to make a lot of difficult saves. He’s never out of a play with how quickly he recovers and is able to get across the crease. He’s a competitive goalie who gives solid second efforts on pucks. His game can be a bit too chaotic at times; I’d ideally like to see less sprawling, diving and squaring up pucks. He can make the efficient saves often enough but he could increase the frequency of that.
(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photos of Cole McKinney, Cameron Schmidt: Michael Miller / ISI Photos / Getty Images, Dennis Pajot / Getty Images)
Corey Pronman is the senior NHL prospects writer for The Athletic. Previously, Corey worked in a similar role at ESPN. Follow Corey on Twitter @coreypronman
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