With less than two weeks until the 2025 NHL Draft, it’s time for one more prospect ranking.
At this point, the top two picks are set. Matthew Schaefer has dealt with a significant injury this season, but he impressed enough people in his 26 games to earn top consideration, and his comments at the combine all but sealed the deal. He’ll be followed by Michael Misa, a centre with practically no flaws in his game, who scored 62 goals in 65 games while playing a solid two-way game.
After that, the draft really opens up. The next seven picks have all made a case for why they could be the next name off the board, and the order will come down to each team’s preference rather than who’s the best player available. Those decisions are only amplified after the top 10; the next 20-30 players are all incredibly close in their NHL potential, but bring a different set of skills to the table. It will be almost impossible to predict, especially now that the draft has been decentralized.
However, there are a few names to keep an eye on on draft day. Brady Martin stole the show at the U18 World Championship after a strong season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), as did the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Braeden Cootes, who proved doubters wrong with a massive performance at the tournament. Kashawn Aitcheson has also been rapidly rising thanks to his combination of clutch performances and heavy-hitting style.
Others to watch are those who suffered significant injuries, which may cause them to fall on draft day. Carter Bear partially tore his Achilles just ahead of the WHL playoffs and didn’t participate in the NHL Combine drills early this month, which could raise some concerns among NHL teams. Roger McQueen could also scare some teams after a back injury, similar to Cayden Lindstrom’s situation last season. Both are arguably top-10 talents in terms of skill, but uncertainty around their recovery and potential for re-injury may cause them to fall.
Finally, there’s the Canadian Hockey League (CHL)-NCAA change that’s starting to muddy the junior landscape. Already, Malcolm Spence, Jackson Smith, and Cole Reschny have committed to college programs, leaving their major junior teams in the lurch. Will NHL teams see that as a player putting their NHL career first, or a move of disloyalty to the team that developed them into the talent they are today? Opinions…
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