NHL
NHL Draft
Today, we present a different type of 2025 NHL Draft list, where we rank players based on how they slot in different traits. You will see a lot of familiar names, and some unfamiliar ones. We are ranking prospects in the draft class by skating, puck handling, hockey IQ, shooting, competitiveness and athleticism.
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1. L.J. Mooney, C, U.S. NTDP
2. Cameron Schmidt, RW, Vancouver
3. Cullen Potter, C, Arizona State
4. Lukas Sawchyn, RW, Edmonton
5. Matthew Schaefer, LHD, Erie
6. Sascha Boumedienne, LHD, Boston University
7. Ilyas Magomedsultanov, LHD, Lokomotiv
8. Michael Misa, C, Saginaw
9. Lirim Amidovski, RW, North Bay
10. Lasse Boelius, LHD, Assat
Most scouts would peg Schaefer as the best skater in the draft, and when I think about how well he skates for a 6-2 defender, he’s absolutely a freakishly good skater for his size. There are several small forwards, though, in Mooney, Schmidt and Potter who can absolutely fly. They have high-end speed, the first few steps and edge work. They all have offensive talent, though, but you’re talking about two 5-foot-7 forwards and a 5-10 forward and none of them had outstanding offensive years for their size.
1. James Hagens, C, Boston College
2. Porter Martone, RW, Brampton
3. Roger McQueen, C, Brandon
4. Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford
5. Justin Carbonneau, RW, Blainville-Boisbriand
6. Matthew Schaefer, LHD, Erie
7. Michael Misa, C, Saginaw
8. Jack Nesbitt, C, Windsor
9. Jackson Smith, LHD, Tri-City
10. Anton Frondell, C, Djurgarden
This is a highly familiar group. Usually, you tend to see the very best forwards in this category as they are the ones with the most pure offensive talent. Hagens and Martone are a tier above the rest as well. Martone’s skill for a player his size is rather special.
1. James Hagens, C, Boston College
2. Matthew Schaefer, LHD, Erie
3. Michael Misa, C, Saginaw
4. Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford
5. Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton
6. Cole Reschny, C, Victoria
7. Adam Benak, C, Youngstown
8. Luka Radivojevic, RHD, Muskegon
Hagens appears first in back-to-back categories. Despite the perception he’s been beaten up in the pre-draft process, he is the most offensively talented player in this draft class. The questions for NHL teams are on his size and physicality in terms of how his offense will translate, but there’s no debate he’s a dynamic player who can break open a shift.
You again see most of the top prospects in this category, but we end it with Benak and Radivojevic. Both players have been highly impactful junior players for years, but they are good, not elite, small-guy skaters.
1. Anton Frondell, C, Djurgarden
2. Cameron Schmidt, RW, Vancouver
3. Justin Carbonneau, RW, Blainville-Boisbriand
4. Bryce Pickford, RHD, Medicine Hat
5. Lynden Lakovic, LW, Moose Jaw
6. Charlie Trethewey, RHD, U.S. NTDP
7. Emile Guite, LW, Chicoutimi
8. Brent Solomon, RW, Champlin Park
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Frondell and Schmidt both have shots that can break open a game. Their abilities to finish from range are clearly NHL quality, and if they hit, they project to a flank a power play at the top level.
1. Kashawn Aitcheson, LHD, Barrie
2. Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie
3. Victor Eklund, RW, Djurgarden
4. Milton Gastrin, C, MODO
5. Eddie Genborg, LW, Linkoping
6. Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie
7. Tomas Pobezal, C, Nitra
8. Daniil Prokhorov, RW, Dynamo St. Petersburg
9. Carter Klippenstein, C, Brandon
10. Ethan Czata, C, Niagara
11. Assanali Sarkenov, LW, Spokane
12. Malte Vass, LHD, Farjestad
You could place Aitcheson, Eklund and Martin in any order. They are three special competitors who have legit talent as well, and it’s why it is expected they will go very early on draft day.
1. Rio Kaiser, LHD, Peterborough
2. Radim Mrtka, RHD, Seattle
3. Mason West, C, Edina
4. Roger McQueen, C, Brandon
5. Max Psenicka, RHD, Portland
6. Peyton Kettles, RHD Swift Current
7. Carter Amico, RHD, U.S. NTDP
8. Blake Fiddler, RHD, Edmonton
9. Vaclav Nestrasil, RW, Muskegon
10. Matthew Gard, C, Red Deer
11. Daniil Prokhorov, RW, Dynamo St. Petersburg
12. Evan Passmore, RHD, Barrie
13. Roman Bausov, RHD, Dynamo St. Petersburg
14. Joshua Ravensbergen, G, Prince George
15. Simon Wang, LHD, Oshawa
The No. 1 player on this list may lead to a lot of “who?” among readers, but Kaiser was highly touted in Germany years ago due to how athletic and mobile he was for a tall (now 6-foot-7) defenseman. His puck play is very limited, but I would wager someone is going to roll the dice on him. West is a very interesting player given that he’s a two-sport player who is a solid football prospect, although he’s a better hockey prospect. This category is full of huge players who can move. They may not all have gaudy point totals, but they have projectable traits to the NHL level.
(Photo of James Hagens: Minas Panagiotakis / 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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