Initial B/R 32-Player Big Board for the 2025 NHL Draft
The 2025 NHL Draft has the somewhat audacious honor of being the first decentralized NHL draftthat is to say, the first where teams are in their home cities and top prospects are somewhere else.
Somehow, it's already time to start scouting 2025 draft-eligibles.
Did you know the majority of these guys were born in 2006 or 2007? As in, after the 2004-2005 NHL lockout? Time marches on.
Let's go.
Because this Big Board is so early, expect to see movement in future editionsmaybe even significant movement.
We're going to take a swing to give us a base to start from, but for this first edition we aren't delving too much into what we've seen in the current season, instead choosing to look at what we already know about these players.
In most cases, it's too early to draw conclusions from the newer stuff.
Let us know who you want your favorite team to pick, and who you think we've egregiously left off.
NO.
32 Milton Gastrin C, MoDo Hockey J20 (J20 Nationell) Gastrin, a solid two-way center, has had a strong start to his J20 season with 12 points in 10 games.
He's projected as more of a two-way center and a playmaker than a goal-scorer himself, and doesn't shy away from using his strength to get the puck back.
He's already showing leadership qualities and consistencywe'll be watching how he develops further across the season.
NO.
31 Cullen Potter LW, Arizona State (NCAA) A January birthday who made the jump from the USNTDP to college hockey a year early this season, Cullen Potter will be challenged this seasonand we think he'll come out the better for it.
He impressed with his two-way play and his speed (which he used to attack off the rush) last season, and he has excellent mobility and agility.
He's got a great releaseexpect to see him use it more this season.
NO.
30 Lynden Lakovic LW, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) We don't anticipate keeping Lyden Lakovic this low all season.
His 39 points in 68 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors last year feels misleading; there's much more to his game than those point totals suggest.
Between his size (he's 6'4"), mobility, and his high-end instincts without the puck, he's got a lot of tools NHL teams are going to like.
NO.
29 Artyom Vilchinsky D, SKA-1946 St.
Petersburg (MHL) A defenseman who is 6'6", 240 pounds and mobile? If he was a right shot teams would be clamoring to draft Russian defenseman Artyom Vilchinsky.
He only missed the cutoff for the 2024 draft by one day, and we anticipate him making that everyone's problem.
He's strong along the boards and looks great against the rush, with good gap control.
NO.
28 Cameron Schmidt RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL) Despite his size, there's tons of skill in Cameron Schmidt's game, and we think he could challenge for a first-round spot this year.
He's extremely fast, he knows how to take advantage of gaps in his opponents' defense, and he's often the hardest-hitting guy on the ice.
He's off to a great start with 7 points in 6 WHL games so far.
NO.
27 Adam Benak C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) So he's 5'7".
So what? Adam Benak has been a highlight of every international tournament we've seen him in, and has already seen time with HC Pilzen in Czechia's top men's league.
He's a highly-skilled playmaker, and currently owns the all-time scoring record at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup (recently passing Magnus Paajarvi's record).
His vision and ability to set up teammates, along with his never-quit motor, are some of his standout strengths.
NO.
26 Emile Guite LW, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) Last season Emile Guite was Offensive Rookie of the Year in the QMJHL.
More recently, he was one of Canada's best players at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup.
He's got obvious power play potential, has a terrific and versatile shot, and he really takes advantage of space.
If you leave him open, particularly in the offensive zone, he will make you regret it.
NO.
25 Jackson Smith D, Tri-City Americans (WHL) This year's Hlinka-Gretzky tournament was especially good for Jackson Smith, who established himself as one of Canada's best players at the tournament.
He's a mobile defenseman with good agility, and he's annoying to play againstespecially trying to beat him one on one.
He's shown flashes of offensive skill but he projects more as a shutdown type.
In that vein we'd like to see his puck management improve, particularly under pressure.
NO.
24 Joshua Ravensbergen G, Prince George Cougars It's looking increasingly like we're going to see a goalie go in the first round again this year.
Joshua Ravensbergen of the Prince George Cougars (WHL) has been making noise since his draft-1 season, already showcasing his skills as a well-rounded goaltending prospect.
He recorded 26 wins with the Cougars last season, and posted a 2.46 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage.
His lateral movement has received high praise, along with his anticipation and his lack of fear in challenging shooters.
He's 6'4", which teams really like in goaltenders these days (a trend I've been noticing is that if you're a smaller guy, you'd better have elite skill to set you apart or you're going to be bypassed by someone larger who may have a similar skill set).
He's an athletic player.
He's already been compared to San Jose Sharks prospect Yaroslav Askarov.
It's early, so we'll see how that projection bears out across the season, but right now it's definitely all eyes on Ravensbergen.
NO.
23 LJ Mooney RW, US NTDP LJ Mooney (it stands for "Little John", and no, that's not a joke) is currently playing with the US National Team Development Program's U18 team, and will head to the University of Minnesota next fall.
He split time between the U17 and U18 team last season, netting a point-per-game in his 20 games with the U18s, and was the youngest player for the United States at this year's World Junior Summer Series.
Mooney is also the cousin of Utah Hockey Club forward Logan Cooley.
Mooney is a threat any time he has the puck.
He's undersized, and therefore potentially underrated, (being 5'7" is still a drawback in the eyes of a lot of teams) but he brings a lot of offensive skill to the table.
He's an explosive guyhe has excellent acceleration from a full stop, and great edgeworkand he pairs that with terrific puck skills.
He's got fast hands, a quick release, the ability to read the game at high speeds; if this skill bears out across a full season, what more could you want? Especially as he also has a fantastic work ethic alongside that.
Depending on how his season goes, particularly in the games the NTDP plays against college teams, Mooney could rise on our board.
NO.
22 Justin Carbonneau RW, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL) Right wing Justin Carbonneau led the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada with 31 goals last season, coming second in points with 59 in 68 games.
It's a leap from his previous season, where he netted 20 points in 32 games (he spent 23 games of that season in AAA).
He's the kind of guy you watch night in and night out and just know you like, even before you can pinpoint why.
Here's the why: Carbonneau is a power forward type with excellent vision.
He's a high-end skater who really knows how to use his speed to complement his offensive skill set, which includes a quick and precise shot.
With the combination of those things, we've been assuming he'll break out offensively this season; at the time of writing we're 3 games in and he has 8 points, so that feels like a safe bet to make.
We'd like to see improvement in decision-making in his own end, but that's a pretty common thing guys need to work on at this stage, not a glaring concern.
NO.
21 Cole McKinney C, USNTDP Cole McKinney is another late birthday (March), and another player who will likely take advantage of the departure of some of the NTDP's former key players.
His raw production from last season31 points in 44 games with the U17 team and 1 point in 11 with the U18sisn't necessarily indicative of the player he's capable of becoming.
He's committed to the University of Michigan, which as we've seen can be a great development environment.
McKinney is a two-way threat with better than average skating and good speed.
He's always looking to get involved, and reads the game/the ice at a high level.
Though he isn't flashy offensively, he executes plays when he sees the opportunity, and he's got penalty kill potential.
He also has a high-end work ethic to go along with his skill.
NO.
20 Kashawn Aitcheson D, Barrie Colts (OHL) With a September birthday, Barrie Colts defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson is one of the older players in this draft.
Sometimes early birthdays can be a drawbackoften these players are held to a higher standardbut one benefit is that you have a better sense of who these guys are going to mature into as players.
Aitcheson is no different, and in terms of raw potential, we like what we see.
At World U18s in the spring Aitcheson played about 25 minutes a game, including key time on the penalty kill.
That's going to be appealing to teams.
He's a very good puck mover, and he has a quick release.
His physicality is high-end, and he's not afraid to get into dirty areas of the game and take space away from opponents.
His skating needs refinement; he's aware of that and spent much of the offseason working to improve that aspect of his game.
NO.
19 Luka Radivojevic D, Orebro HK (SHL) Despite Luka Radivojevic missing the first game at this year's U18 World Championships, he still managed to be one of the tournament's standout players, catching the eye of many scouts.
He was fourth in Sweden's J20 league scoring last season, with 33 points in 43 games.
So far this season he's played 3 games at the J20 level and 3 in the SHL.
Radivojevic is on the smaller side for a defenseman, but he's a right shot; combine that with his offensive ability and teams are already going to be watching.
(Look, I didn't make it that waywe all know every team in the NHL wants right-shot defensemen like they're a precious commodity, and that's just how it is right now).
He thinks the game at a very high level, and is able to combine his skill with quickness.
You'd normally want a player of his type to be an explosive skater, and he isn't; that being said, he has great edgework and is able to keep pucks away from opponents so that he can execute his plays.
NO.
18 Jake O'Brien C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL) Depending on how his season goes, Brantford's Jake O'Brien is definitely another potential mover.
Last season's OHL Rookie of the Year ended his first major-junior season with 64 points in 61 games, including 13 goals, and knowing what we know about his skill set we expect to see those numbers go up this year.
O'Brien's playmaking skills are already advanced, thanks to his high-end vision.
He handles pressure well, and he's a pretty competitive player.
We'd like to see him add some muscle to his frame this season, but that isn't something that's detracting from his game right now, it's just an opportunity to add to it.
NO.
17 Conrad Fondrk C/LW, USNTDP Maybe 17 is a little high for Conrad Fondrk.
Maybe we'll get later in the season and have to move him down.
Or maybe we'll move him up.
Outside the top 10 or so it's such a coin toss at this point in the season.
But we like Fondrk's upside, and that's what we're betting on for now.
He had 45 points in 54 games with the NTDP's U17 team last season, including 20 goals, and we expect to see that leap forward this year.
Fondrk is an incredibly skilled player, showcasing creativity and high-end hockey smarts.
He has a dangerous shot that he can use from just about anywhere, and he's a good skater.
That hockey IQ doesn't just apply to creating offense, either; he's shown good instincts off the puck as well.
There are some questions about his strength along the boards and the competitive aspect of his game, so those are things we'll be keeping an eye on this season in order to speak to them more accurately.
NO.
16 Victor Eklund LW, Djurgardens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan) 25 points in 30 games at the J20 level last season doesn't immediately make you turn your head, but there's far more to Swedish prospect Victor Eklund's game than those numbers.
He ended last season playing key minutes for Djurgardens' Allsvenskan team during their playoff run, which speaks to the faith that the coaching staff has in his game before more than raw production, and he had 6 points in 15 games during that run.
Sometimes guys play better against higher levels of competition; we'll see if that continues to be the case for Eklund.
He's the younger brother of San Jose Shark' William Eklund, and while normally I would discourage sibling comparisons, in this case it's worth it as the two are very similarintelligent creators, and competitive guys who are capable of driving play.
Looking at Victor specifically, some of his strengths include the ability to manipulate opponents and select the best play option, and the ability to make precise, difficult passes.
He's not afraid to drive into the dirty areas but he also really stands out in transition.
There's a lot to like about his game.
NO.
15 Cole Reschny C, Victoria Royals (WHL) had an impressive rookie season in the whl with 59 points in 61 games, played for canada at this year's hlinka-gretzky and had a five-point opener in the first game of the tournament Victoria Royals forward Cole Reschny had an impressive rookie season in the WHL last year with 59 points in 61 games, and has caught the eye of many scouts around the league.
His play at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup this summer was no different; he had a five-point night in Canada's first game of the tournament against Switzerland.
He appears primed to take a significant leap forward this season, already scoring 6 points in Victoria's four games at the time of writing, including 5 assists.
The tilt toward assists in his scoring is a natural result of Reschny being a gifted playmaker, who is able to create opportunities for himself and his linemates even with limited space.
He's a highly skilled, smart guy who can drive play, and he's got a high-end motor.
He shows a great work ethic in all three zones, with good off-puck work and a willingness to drive the net and battle to make plays happen.
NO.
14 Jakob Ihs-Wozniak RW, Lulea HF J20 (J20 Nationell) We had the opportunity to see Jakob Ihs-Wozniak several times internationally last season and he was a player who always jumped out.
He had 50 points in 36 games in the J20 last season as a 16-year-old, and saw time in two SHL games.
This season he's off to a strong start with 6 points in 7 J20 games.
He's another who could potentially rise into our top 10.
Ihs-Wozniak is a strong playmaker who knows when and how to slow the game down for himself if he needs to.
He's able to protect pucks both in tight and out in space, and he's a skilled skater with good top speeds, if albeit slightly wonky posture.
We'd like to see more consistent execution from him with his skill set this season.
We'll also be interested to see what he looks like against tougher competition should he see any time in the SHL.
NO.
13 Caleb Desnoyers C, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) Moncton Wildcats center Caleb Desnoyers represented Canada at the recent Hlinka-Gretzky cup, capturing his third gold medal with Canada in under a year.
Last season he was named to the QMJHL All-Rookie Team after putting up 56 points (including 20 goals) in 60 games, often playing 20 minutes a night.
He's another player who, if it all comes together, could rise up our board across the season.
Desnoyers already shows smart habits and consistency; he's fully committed every time he steps onto the ice.
He's a strong skater with a high-end hockey IQ, and doesn't cheat for offense.
He's smart defensively, with good positioning, and battles hard for pucks.
He doesn't take a night off, which makes us excited to see where his game goes from here.
NO.
12 Charlie Trethewey D, USNTDP There are many facets of defenseman Charlie Trethewey's game that already look pro-quality, and though he needs to refine them, any NHL organization watching him should find that promising indeed.
He's another who could rise up our board as he steps into a higher-profile role with the NTDP's U18 team this season.
His first year with the program saw him finish the year with 35 points in 52 games with the U17 team, and if the play-driving ability we saw from him last season continues to develop we should see those point totals rise this year.
Trethewey plays hard, and pairs that with high-end hockey IQ and excellent puck skills.
His vision allows for great defensive awareness, and the mobility we see in his skating underpins the rest of his skill set.
His decision-making and timing need more consistency, and he'll certainly get the minutes to develop those this season.
NO.
11 Sascha Boumedienne D, Boston University (NCAA) Swedish defenseman Sascha Boumedienne is making the jump from the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL to Boston University this fall.
We'd like to see him fill out his somewhat lanky frame, but hey: a college hockey weight room is a great place to do that.
Boumedienne finished his sole USHL season with 27 points in 49 games, and flashed his offensive skill a bit more internationally with Sweden's U17 squad.
If we had to assign a player archetype to Boumedienne, it would be a bright, mobile defenseman.
His fantastic skating and his high-end intelligence are two of the key facets of his game, alongside poised puck skills that allow him to already look like one of the best distributors in this draft class.
He's very aware of the play around him, and already has a heavy shot that should get stronger as he adds muscle.
NO.
10 William Moore C, USNTDP With his March birthday, William Moore is one of the younger players in the 2025 draft.
He spent last season with the NTDP's U17 team and is off to a strong start with the U18s this year, with 4 points (including 2 goals) in 6 games at the time of writing.
He led the World U17s in scoring last fall (12 points in 7 games) and is committed to Boston College of the NCAA.
Moore has a high hockey IQ, putting his instincts to use every shift and going after pucks.
Though he is a very intelligent player, he's not the dynamic type; his game tends to be more straightforward, driving through his opponent rather than slipping around them.
He's got quick hands and quick feet, winning races and challenging opponents for pucks.
We're betting on his upside ranking him here, but we have faith in the raw talent in his game.
We'll be watching to see whether he truly takes advantage of the opportunities in front of him this season, with some key players having left the NTDP for college hockey.
NO.
9 Malcolm Spence LW, Erie Otters (OHL) Malcolm Spence is one of the older players in this draft class, with a September birthday.
He's kicking off his third OHL season, and his second as alternate captain for the Erie Otters.
Part of that gold medal-winning Canadian team at the world men's under-18s alongside Otters teammate Schaefer, Spence caught the attention of many as he finished the tournament at a point-per-game pace.
Last season saw Spence finish the year with 62 points (19G/43A) in 66 games.
That was a 20-point jump from his first OHL season; we anticipate a similar jump this season.
Whether it happens remains to be seen, of course, since the season has barely started, but we feel it's a safe assumption due to the way he thinks the game at a high level and his ability to drive play.
His offensive contributions aren't of a flashier, dynamic nature, but he doesn't need to be creative to be effective.
He has good top speed and a smoothness to his skating, and he pairs it with a tenacious nature that sees him refusing to give up on a play.
NO.
8 Logan Hensler D, University of Wisconsin (NCAA) Logan Hensler is only at 8 on this list because we've been more impressed by other players lately.
He didn't get knocked down due to anything to do with his own play, and we wouldn't be surprised if we end up moving him back up as the season progresses.
Hensler is that mythical right-shot defenseman every NHL organization wants, and if he continues to look like he did with the NTDP against NCAA competition he could even make his way into the top five this year.
His smooth skating and good posture allow him to play with confidence and poise, using his edgework to take space away from his opponents.
His vision allows him to be a capable playmaker with flashes of creativity, something we'd like to see more of, and he's hard to defend when he has the puck.
He's able to use his size to close gaps and shut down opponents' lanes or break up their plays.
NCAA hockey will be a good test of his ability to maintain this skill level against tougher competition.
NO.
7 Matthew Schaefer D, Erie Otters (OHL) Erie Otters blue liner Matthew Schaefer has jumped into our top 10 since we did our too-early rankings in July, because, frankly: we watched him more and we like what we see.
He was the first overall pick in his OHL draft year, and when you watch his game it's easy to understand why.
He was named to the OHL All-Rookie First Team, and followed that up by captaining Canada to gold at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup.
He didn't have the best offensive production in his first OHL season, ending the year with 17 points in 56 games, but that's not really a point of concern for multiple reasons.
Adjusting to a new league is one thing; Schaefer also had a challenging workload night in and night out.
He's an incredible skater, with great foot speed and edgework, and he uses it to cut off opponents' opportunities.
He's engaged all over the ice and has shown he has the ability to lead the play.
It's possible we'll see more of the offensive side of his game this season, though he is currently recovering from mononucleosis.
NO.
6 Ivan Ryabkin C, MHK Dynamo Moskva Ivan Ryabkin's MHL season is off to a solid start, with the center recording four assists in the six games he's played so far.
Like Misa before him, the only reason he's been bumped down one slot is that Roger McQueen has dramatically risen in our estimation.
Ryabkin's under-17 season already saw him put up record-breaking numbers, bypassing Matvei Michkov's totals and netting 58 points (24G/34A) in 44 games.
There is almost no part of Ryabkin's game that isn't appealing.
His skating is strong, his puck skills and shot are at the top of the class, and he reads and anticipates the play with the best of them.
There have been flashes of creativity and manipulation in his game, and we're excited to see how that aspect of his game develops further.
His defensive game is also appealing, particularly on the forecheck, though at times he can overcommit and his consistency isn't quite there yet.
While he's under contract with Dynamo through 2026-27, there's nothing wrong with taking the steady development path to the NHL and seeing that through, particularly depending on which team selects him in June.
At the time of writing, Michael Misa has played three games in the current OHL season and has seven goals.
I'm going to be honestI thought it would take him a little bit longer for the faith we have in his ability to be a top-5 pick this year to pan out.
Obviously that statement is mostly in jest, because we don't judge anyone on the basis of a few games.
Too small a sample size.
But the way Misa has started the OHL season is a good sign that we were right when we predicted his scoring would jump in his draft season in our Too-Early-Top-10 piece.
His skating alonehighlights of which are his agility and his speedshould help him achieve this.
Then you have to remember that he's also detail-oriented and a creative playmaker, using his elite vision and passing skills to set up teammates.
You'll hear discourse this season about whether or not Misa has lived up to his 'exceptional status' designation.
Tune that out and simply enjoy watching what he brings to the ice each night.
We definitely aren't the first ones to say this (as far as we're aware, that honor goes to the team at EliteProspects ), but Roger McQueen is another who could potentially challenge James Hagens for the first overall spot.
We really like McQueen's game, and we especially like how he's kicked off his draft season, scoring four goals in Brandon's home opener against the Moose Jaw Warriors.
Our initial summer top 10 noted that "if he can put all those pieces together...McQueen has the potential to be a special player".
We're pretty sure we're going to see him put those pieces together this season.
A right-shot center, McQueen ended the 2023-24 season with 51 points (21G/30A) in 53 games.
With an October birthday, he is one of the older players in the draft.
He's also one of the biggest ones, checking in at 6'5".
While his skating mechanics could still use some work, we're beginning to see more agility from him; between that and his stick skills getting even better, all the signs for a breakout season are there.
Add to that his never-quit motor and his intelligence and Hagens may want to watch his back.
Anton Frondell has seen a bad run of injury luck lately.
From a foot injury ending his 23-24 season in February of this year, to a recent knee surgery keeping him out of Djurgardens' lineup until somewhere around mid-October (estimated), he can't seem to catch a break.
Still, once he gets back on the ice and back to full health, we anticipate seeing the player whose performance last season had him easily ranked in our top five.
He impressed scouts at all levels last season, from J18s to the Allsvenskan, as well as internationally for Sweden.
One hallmark of Frondell's game is his dynamic puck skill.
He's able to create off the rush, he has a terrific release, and he has a good sense for spacing on the ice.
He pairs those offensive skills with the willingness to use the physical aspects of his game, making him useful in a variety of situations.
We're interested to see how his skill set shows up in games against players at the Allsvenskan level on a more consistent basis this season.
Martone is probably going to spend the entire season in this top section of our board.
There's just so much to like about what he brings to the iceeven if he does make us think of what Brady Tkachuk would've been had he gone to the OHL rather than NCAA.
He could potentially push Hagens out of first overall (and he's not the only one)but will he? That's the fun of tracking draft prospects for an entire season.
We just have to wait and see what happens.
Martone has the potential to become an exciting NHL power forward.
Consistency is really the biggest thing that we're still waiting for.
He's got the dynamic puck skills, a fantastic release, and physicality.
Last season he netted 33 goals; we anticipate that total to rise this season, probably at least to the 50-goal mark.
We'd like to see him play a more disciplined gamethere are ways to use the physical aspects of his game that don't involve post-whistle anticsand we'd like to see those offensive skills more consistently.
With the way his season has started, we have a feeling we will.
James Hagens is everyone's top guy right now.
Will he stay that way? Time will tell.
He'll be stepping into a bigger role at Boston College with the departure of Will Smith (SJS), and that bigger role will be an excellent test of his abilities across the season.
During the 2023-24 regular season, Hagens recorded 102 (39G/63A) points with the USNTDP.
He also set the single-tournament record at this year's U18s with 22 (9G/13A) points, and looked at the top of his game during the World Junior Summer Seriesa good indicator that he should be on this winter's WJC team.
Hagens is a dynamic playmaker, and he pairs that with elite skating skills including speed, acceleration, and agility.
His high-end puck skills and vision make him dangerous to opponents every time he steps on the ice, but he also brings a sense of poise and maturity.
His size (5'10" and 171 pounds) might make teams look askance if he was a lesser player, or if he was afraid to get involved physicallybut he isn't..
This article has been shared from the original article on bleacherreport, here is the link to the original article.