Ranking 2025 NHL Draft prospects by skill sets suited for Stanley Cup playoffs

Its no secret that the game changes in the NHL once April rolls around.

The postseason is way more physical than the regular season, and what gets called in November doesnt always get called in the spring.

This list re-orders my 2025 NHL Draft big board through the lens of playoff hockey, emphasizing players who have great pace, physicality and compete level.

1.

Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie Otters (OHL) Original rank: 1 Its easy to envision Schaefer playing half of some playoff games.

His skating will be an impact trait with how well he kills plays and transitions pucks up ice.

Hes hard to play against and gives a consistently great effort on top of having a lot of offense in his game.

He has star potential and could be a foundational piece of a winning team.

2.

Michael Misa, C, Saginaw Spirit (OHL) Original rank: 2 Misa thrives in transition.

Hes not going to run opponents over, but he attacks through high-end speed and skill, and competes well enough to win plenty of pucks.

He will more than be able to handle the postseason pace while providing plenty of offense.

3.

Porter Martone, RW, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL) Original rank: 3 Martone brings a rare mix of size, touch and edge.

His skating is a question, but playoff hockey suits his game.

He can lean on defenders, battle net-front and create plenty of chances in the high-percentage areas.

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Caleb Desnoyers, C, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) Original rank: 4 Desnoyers is a coachs dream down the middle.

Hes efficient, plays a full 200-foot game and has the skating and size to survive grinding series.

He can match up against top lines and hold his own.

In a playoff context, he projects as a dependable all-situations pivot who is detailed without the puck and can provide scoring as well.

5.

Jake OBrien, C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL) Original rank: 7 OBrien is known for his high-end hockey sense.

But what is really appealing about OBrien is that, on top of his flashy plays, he creates a ton of offense right at the net, especially at even-strength.

Hes not physical, but he plays with courage and between that, his 6-2 frame and decent enough quickness, he could absolutely make an impact at the top level.

6.

Roger McQueen, C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) Original rank: 9 McQueen brings a tantalizing toolkit.

Hes massive, fast and is very skilled.

If he were perfectly healthy, I would probably put him third in this exercise.

His injury history is the only true hedge in his projection.

7.

Anton Frondell, C, Djurgarden (Allsvenskan) Original rank: 6 Frondell plays with an edge, competes well and has enough offense to be dangerous.

His versatility as a forward who can play with pace, dangle, finish chances or battle in traffic makes him playoff-relevant.

Hes physically mature and has shown he can score versus men.

8.

Kashawn Aitcheson, D, Barrie Colts (OHL) Original rank: 11 Aitcheson competes hard, finishes hits, fights and embraces contact.

His skating is good enough to close space, and while he wont run a power play, he can log tough defensive minutes and provide secondary offense.

Hes the kind of defender teams win with.

9.

Radim Mrtka, D, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) Original rank: 12 With his size and skating, Mrtka is an ideal player to log heavy minutes in the postseason.

His skating eats up ice quickly, he breaks up a lot of plays and is poised under pressure, making quick plays with the puck.

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Victor Eklund, LW, Djurgarden (Allsvenskan) Original rank: 8 Eklund is small but fearless.

He plays fast, with edge and consistently gets under opponents skin.

His feet allow him to win races and stay disruptive.

In a high-tempo, high-pressure series, he will be valuable even though hes 5-foot-11.

11.

James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA) Original rank: 5 This is the controversial one.

Hagens skating and skill are undeniable, hes the most talented offensive player in the draft.

But hes small, not overly physical, and against bigger players this season in college, he got pushed to the outside too much.

College isnt junior, and he looked excellent at the World Juniors with no issues on his compete, but if college defenders gave him trouble, how will NHL defensemen do when the refs put their whistles away? 12.

Daniil Prokhorov, LW, Dynamo St.

Petersburg (MHL) Original rank: 22 Prokhorov plays heavy, straight-line hockey.

Hes a big winger who finishes a lot of checks.

He isnt dynamic, but he has enough speed and skill to earn minutes and be trusted when the games get difficult.

13.

Brady Martin, C, Kitchener Rangers (OHL) Original rank: 10 Martin is relentless.

Hes a highly physical forward who makes life hellish for opponents.

He is also a highly skilled forward who can create offense off the rush.

The only reason a guy like him isnt higher is the questions on whether he is going to be this major physical force at 6 feet.

14.

Blake Fiddler, D, Windsor Spitfires (OHL) Original rank: 21 Fiddler is big, mobile, physical and simple.

His puck play may stress coaches out at times, but you look at what Brandon Carlo has brought to teams and Fiddler could do the same thing.

15.

Jackson Smith, D, London Knights (OHL) Original rank: 19 Smiths U18 worlds and hockey sense concern some evaluators, but at the end of the day, hes still huge, skates well and has legit offense in his game.

Thats the kind of profile that will just be fed minutes at the premier level of hockey.

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Sascha Boumedienne, D, Boston University (NCAA) Original rank: 20 Like Smith, Boumediennes puck play and decisions cause scouts some concern.

The profile, though, is clearly NHL quality: 6-foot-2, high-end skating and good enough puck play.

He absolutely can be his own worst enemy and will give coaches some (extra) grey hairs, but they will still rely on him more than a small puck-mover or a slow big guy.

17.

Justin Carbonneau, LW, Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) Original rank: 16 Carbonneau isnt a great playmaker, but hes a straight-line winger with legit NHL speed, hands and goal-scoring ability.

He competes hard and will win battles in the postseason.

18.

Joshua Ravensbergen, G, Prince George Cougars (WHL) Original rank: 17 Postseason goaltending is about competing and being able to make the toughest saves.

Ravensbergen does that, showing tendencies to make stops in the high-percentage areas and unique athleticism.

19.

Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie Otters (OHL) Original rank: 25 Spence doesnt dazzle but plays the kind of steady, hard game that wears down opponents.

He gets to a lot of pucks through his speed and effort and excels in the middle third of the offensive zone.

20.

Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) Original rank: 14 Cootes has a good motor, plays fast and makes a lot of plays with the puck.

His skill for his size isnt special, but he will play regular minutes.

Youre hoping for a Vincent Trocheck/J.T.

Compher type if he hits.

21.

Cameron Reid, D, Kitchener Rangers (OHL) Original rank: 18 Reid isnt that big, but hes a tremendous skater who competes hard.

He closes on pucks quickly and transitions well, with the potential to have secondary offense in the NHL.

22.

Henry Brzustewicz, D, London Knights (OHL) Original rank: 29 Hes developed into a strong two-way defenseman with skating and size who has fought a few times this season and doesnt shy away from the physical elements.

He makes a good first pass and wont hurt his team.

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Simon Wang, D, Oshawa Generals (OHL) Original rank: 42 Wang has a huge frame and solid feet.

His puck play is very raw and may never truly come, but hes a clear NHL athlete with bite in his game.

If he develops even a little touch, coaches will roll him in the playoffs.

24.

Carter Bear, RW, Everett Silvertips (WHL) Original rank: 15 Bear is a likable player.

Hes very skilled, competes well and is a decent enough skater.

Hes an average-sized winger who isnt truly special at anything, though, so I can see that player type not being as valuable in the playoffs.

25.

William Horcoff, LW, Michigan Wolverines (NCAA) Original rank: 30 Horcoff is a heavy skater, but hes big, creative and can score.

He makes smart plays and will be able to get inside versus NHL defenders.

26.

Lynden Lakovic, RW, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) Original rank: 23 Lakovic has top 10-15 tools.

Hes big, fast, skilled and has a great shot, but his game is quite unlikable some nights.

Scouts carve up his effort and decisions, and I can see him testing a coachs patience when everything is on the line.

27.

Milton Gastrin, C, MODO (SHL) Original rank: 24 Gastrin is responsible and steady, with good enough overall talent to be reliable at even strength.

28.

Eddie Genborg, LW, Linkoping (SHL) Original rank: 37 Genborgs hockey sense and overall scoring touch are concerns, but hes big, fast and highly physical.

If he scores a little bit, a coach will bend over backwards to get him into the game, and I think he can cross that bar.

29.

Cole Reschny, C, Victoria Royals (WHL) Original rank: 13 I love Reschny as a player and have him rated way higher on my main list.

Hes super clever and skilled, but his size and skating could limit him in physical, high-speed playoff series.

30.

Jack Nesbitt, C, Windsor Spitfires (OHL) Original rank: 26 Nesbitt is big, physical and skilled, but his skating is a major issue when the game is at its fastest.

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Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, LW, Lulea (SHL) Original rank: 32 Ihs-Wozniak has a great shot, a big frame and is overall talented, but he doesnt bring it every shift.

Playoff hockey demands more urgency than hes shown at points this season.

32.

Bill Zonnon, C, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL) Original rank: 27 Zonnon has a solid all-around skill set.

He will earn NHL minutes, but Im not sure which special team he would be slotted into on a contender.

(Photos of Matthew Schaefer and James Hagens: Michael Miller / ISI Photos / Getty Images and Richard T Gagnon / Getty Images).

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