2025 NHL Staff Mock Draft 2.0: Schaefer goes No. 1, but where do Misa, Desnoyers and Hagens land?

The 2025 NHL Draft is just over two weeks away, so after doing a mock draft following the lottery , we reconvened our staff of NHL reporters to make selections for the entire first round.

This is their best attempt to predict what will happen on draft day based on their knowledge of the teams they cover and what those teams covet in players.

Trades were allowed in this exercise, and there was one agreed upon that sent Vancouvers No.

15 pick to Boston.

The Islanders finally have a GM, and Mathieu Darche likely isnt looking to rock the boat in his first act in charge.

Schaefer is still the consensus pick here, so why mess with that? The pool of top-tier players has just one defenseman and hes the one most scouts think should go first.

Makes sense to me.

Arthur Staple Lately, there have been some rumblings of Porter Martone going here, and Team Canada adding him to its world championship roster looked good on the young power forward.

Misa just makes too much sense here with Schaefer off the board, though.

Hes the next best player and gives the Sharks options in that he can play wing as well as center.

If Will Smith stays on the right wing next to Macklin Celebrini, Misa can project as their 2C or possibly move to the wing if Smith can handle the middle.

Unless Martone is seen as a serious step up from their big winger prospects Quentin Musty and Igor Chernyshov, Misa is one they cant go wrong with.

Eric Stephens The Blackhawks will likely be torn between Frondell and Caleb Desnoyers if the first two picks play out this way.

Part of the Blackhawks' draft equation is projecting both players, but also gauging their own current forward pool.

As of now, they envision Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar to be their future top-two centers.

Drafting Desnoyers means likely shifting Bedard or Nazar to wing.

With Frondell, he probably projects easier to wing, and with his size and all-around game, he could be the ideal complementary linemate to Bedard or Nazar.

Scott Powers This one comes down to Desnoyers and Martone, and either of them would add size and skill to an exciting young core in Utah.

It's a tough call, but when the Mammoth moved up from 14 to No.

4 after the lottery, it gave them a golden opportunity to add a legit top-six center at the top of the draft a chance they may not get again for many years, if all goes according to plan.

For that reason, Desnoyers is the pick, bringing an excellent two-way complement to take tough matchups behind Logan Cooley.

He would give Utah an excellent collection of young centers Max Bultman If the draft plays out this way, Hagens and Martone both make sense for different reasons for the Preds.

Its hard to pass up the American-born center who could give a Nashville team a high-skill homegrown forward, though.

Scott Wheeler The top-tier centers coming off the board in the top five might not be ideal for the Flyers, who still need depth at that position.

But they also need more size and physicality on the wings, and Martone gives them that, along with some scoring punch.

Kevin Kurz The Bruins need skill.

They need centers.

O'Brien checks both boxes.

Talent and hockey sense help make O'Brien an easy selection for the rebuilding franchise.

Fluto Shinzawa The Kraken have exclusively drafted high upside centers in the top 10 throughout their brief franchise existence including Matty Beniers, Shane Wright and Berkly Catton and while that might be an argument to diversify and look elsewhere with the No.

8 pick, the Kraken are still searching for their first breakthrough, elite contributor Which is why Ill mock them to go back to the well and draft McQueen, a 6-foot-5 goal-scoring center who would be going an awful lot higher than eighth if not for the concerns stemming from a significant back injury that limited him to just 17 games in his draft year.

Assuming the medicals check out, which is admittedly a big if to weigh, McQueen is the best bet for the Kraken to emerge from the draft with a needle-moving star down the road.

And thats the bet they should be trying to make (again).

Thomas Drance There are a few players who make sense here, including Viktor Eklund, Carter Bear and Radim Mrtka.

But Martin stands out because of his physicality, playing strength and competitiveness.

He also has plenty of offensive ability as his 72-point season showed.

He's the type of player the Sabres don't have enough of in their prospect pool.

Matthew Fairburn Three years ago, the Ducks had the 10th pick and went with a defenseman in Pavel Mintyukov, whos now part of their regular mix on the blue line.

This time, they can address the right side with the 6-foot-6 Mrtka.

While they have seen Drew Helleson grow into an everyday player and have a promising puck mover on the way in Tristan Luneau, the Ducks dont have an advanced right-shot defender of Mrtkas size and pedigree in the system.

(Noah Warren was a second-round pick in 2022, and college signing Ian Moore was a third-rounder in 2020.) A defensive ace at the junior level, Mrtka turned 18 on June 6, so Anaheim has no need to rush his development.

Stephens The Penguins system is improving greatly, but its still nothing special.

Kyle Dubas is in take the best player available mode because the Penguins need help everywhere.

Their blue line is a particular problem, especially at the NHL level.

Aitcheson can help.

That he provides such a physical dimension only helps.

The Penguins need size and physicality more than just about any NHL team.

This is a pick that would make plenty of sense.

Josh Yohe The Rangers don't have much center depth organizationally, and Cootes would bring the team a quality player up the middle.

He had 63 points in 60 games this season for Seattle and was the team's captain.

New York hasn't drafted a center in the first round since taking both Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil in 2017.

Neither is still with the organization.

New York could also choose to send its pick to Pittsburgh (via Vancouver) because of the J.T.

Miller trade, which would allow it to hold on to its 2026 first-round pick.

If the Rangers don't send Pittsburgh this year's pick, the Penguins will get New York's unprotected first in 2026.

Peter Baugh Eklund doesn't have the size factor in his favor as a smaller winger, but he competes quite hard to go with great speed and an impressive shot.

That makes him enough of a fit for the Red Wings' drafting ethos to overlook his frame.

Eklund's offensive ability would bring some needed sizzle to the top of Detroit's system.

Bultman With Mrtka and Aitcheson off the board, the Blue Jackets wont force the issue and draft a defenseman.

Theyll take the player, regardless of position, who excites them most, and who couldnt use a skilled, tenacious, combative forward like Bear.

(Have you been watching these Stanley Cup playoffs?) Bear strengthens an already deep roster of young forwards, but they could use some more grease.

The pipeline defenseman or goaltender will have to be considered at No.

20, the pick the Jackets acquired from Minnesota.

Aaron Portzline Vancouver trades No.

15 pick and F Nils Hoglander to Boston for C Pavel Zacha and F Marat Khusnutdinov.

Boston is wary of dealing Zacha, an important multi-position forward.

But landing the No.

15 pick is a critical opportunity to add to a thin prospect pool.

The Bruins are no longer in win-now mode.

Smith's all-around upside as a defenseman makes him a valuable prospect with time to grow behind Hampus Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov and Mason Lohrei.

There is no rush for Smith to turn pro.

Shinzawa Why Vancouver traded the pick: What you thought the Canucks would actually use their first-round pick? Vancouver needs help now.

The organization is all-in on getting back to contending this season, and needs size and productivity from the middle of the forward group more than anything.

Landing Zacha addresses the Canucks' need for a top two line center, and at a reasonable price, with term, cap-wise.

This is a deal that permits Vancouver to focus its resources on adding a legitimate top-of-the-lineup goal threat to try to replace what the club lost when it dealt J.T.

Miller (and may lose more of in the likely event that Brock Boeser signs elsewhere in free agency).

Drance After unsuccessfully trying to trade these picks for more established, immediate help, the Canadiens take a swing on the hulking Lakovic.

There are questions about his compete and vision something the Canadiens value enormously but you can't teach 6-foot-4 and Lakovic's skating is a plus attribute for a team that looks to play a fast game.

Arpon Basu If the draft fell this way, there would be enormous pressure on the Canadiens to take the Quebec-born Carbonneau, so I took him second just to add some drama.

Birthplace aside, Carbonneau is a high-compete scorer who could add some offensive punch in Montreal down the line.

I don't love taking two wingers in a row here, but aside from a lack of depth down the middle, the Canadiens' prospect pool is diverse enough to allow for a true best-player-available selection.

Basu I swayed back and forth between Reschny and Braeden Cootes for this pick.

Both are smaller players who can play center.

But Reschny has more skill and goal-scoring ability, while still committing to both ends of the ice.

Those attributes led me to take him in the end.

There seem to be fewer questions about Cootes viability at center, but Reschnys upside even if he translates to a winger at the NHL level was too good to pass up.

Julian McKenzie I debated between Cameron Reid and Hensler, but ultimately went with the right-shot Hensler, who has more size.

I know the Blues took a right-shot D with their first-round pick in 2024 (Adam Jiricek).

He may turn out to be a solid NHL defenseman, but hes been limited by injuries, and it wouldnt hurt to add another high-end pick on that side.

Goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen was tempting, but the highest the Blues have drafted a goalie under GM Doug Armstrong was Colten Ellis in the third round (No.

93) in 2019.

On the flip side, they havent taken a single goalie in the last four years, so perhaps this is the year.

Jeremy Rutherford Full disclosure: We discussed a trade that would have sent the No.

20 pick to the Flyers for veteran right-side defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen.

Alas, there was no deal made, but I find it hard to believe GM Don Waddell goes to the podium with each of his two first-round picks.

The Ravensbergen selection, however, would make sense, as hes a goaltender with significant attributes who could be a game-changer in the NHL.

Yes, the Blue Jackets are excited about the potential of last years second-round pick Evan Gardner, but theres nothing wrong with stockpiling high-level young goaltenders and increasing the odds that you land a franchise player.

The Blue Jackets havent drafted a goalie in the first round in 24 years (Pascal Leclaire, 2001), but its a position thats been in flux since Sergei Bobrovsky departed following the 2019 season.

Portzline A two-way forward who has been commended for his skating and compete level and has shown he can be used on special teams.

Hell be at Michigan in the fall, where hell fine-tune his game some more before hopefully jumping to the NHL level.

Considering the Sens dont currently have a first-round pick in 2026, this is a pick they need to get right.

Spences upside seems too good for the Sens to pass up at 21.

McKenzie Since we bypassed the Flyers biggest need, center, with the No.

6 pick, well go here with Nesbitt, who not only gives the prospect pool some needed depth at that position but also some welcome size and physicality.

Nesbitt has something in common with 2024 Flyers first-rounder Jett Luchanko, too, as a player whose stock seemed to rise as his draft-eligible season progressed.

Kurz The Preds would like to add some size to their pool, and the 6-foot-4 Fiddler fills that need while still having the mobility, well-roundedness and character that they covet.

It's not hard to imagine Fiddler as a complementary partner to top Preds D prospect Tanner Molendyk on a future second or third pairing in Nashville.

Wheeler The Kings now have some prospects on the left side of their defense after getting 2021 draft pick and KHL product Kirill Kirsanov signed to go with Jared Woolley, Jakub Dvorak and Angus Booth, but they don't have a true high-level puck mover that's a left shot.

Boumedienne had a secondary role behind BU star blueliner Cole Hutson in his freshman year, but he busted out at the U18 worlds with 14 points in seven games for Sweden.

He'll have time to iron out some of the risk in his game, but he can infuse L.A.'s defense pipeline with a lot of skill.

Stephens It wouldn't be surprising if the Blackhawks tried to use this pick in a trade.

If they do keep it, they might as well take a chance on someone like Ryabkin.

He's already been over to North America from Russia.

He's shown the potential in Russia to be an elite player.

He has a lot of traits that project well if he's put in the right development environment and an organization is willing to be patient with him.

The Blackhawks could also use more players with his type of edge.

Maybe he hits, maybe he doesn't.

With as many first-round picks the Blackhawks have had in recent years, they can take some risks.

Powers With Hagens, Fiddler and Gastrin, the Preds walk away from the first round with a high-end talent, a long and mobile two-way D and a well-rounded, competitive, potential future 3C.

Wheeler Reid is an excellent skater and a smart player, which is a great starter kit for a top-four defenseman.

Hes not the biggest at 6 feet, which is presumably why hes still on the board here.

On talent, he belongs higher up, and the Capitals pounce to add a steady defender with puck-moving upside to their prospect pool.

Bultman We debated centers like Mason West and William Moore but ultimately took right winger Ryker Lee, believing in his combination of puck wizardry, high-end release and compete level.

The 2025 USHL rookie of the year finished fourth in USHL scoring (first among rookies) and is committed to Michigan State for 2025-26.

There are "safer" plays available, but Lee's growth spurt and surge in production are intriguing, as is his rise from probable second-rounder to potential late first-round pick.

Lee's offensive wizardry makes him worthy of a swing at top-six upside, especially if his wheels catch up with his growth spurt.

Murat Ates There are several players here who could be targets for the Canes.

Benjamin Kindel is a smart, talented forward who fits our mold in Carolina.

We considered scoring winger Jakob Ihs-Wozniak.

Michigan State commit Eric Nilson is a fit.

But Potter, the best skater in the draft, is too appealing to pass up with his speed and skill.

Wheeler After grabbing Misa with the No.

2 pick, it's time to get a good talent who can fill a system need.

The Sharks have an overflowing prospect pool, but one area they can beef up is the right side of the defense.

Why not grab Sam Dickinson's Memorial Cup-winning teammate here? San Jose is cornering the market on Knights, and Bruzstewicz has a good all-around game where he can defend both positionally and with his stick while generating some transition offense through the zones and having the mobility to jump up into the play.

It's possible Brzustewicz could last to the Sharks next pick at No.

33, and this one spent on tenacious forward Bill Zonnon instead.

Stephens A previous iteration of the Flames wouldnt come away with two small centers as their first-round picks.

But with an emphasis on talent for their draft strategy in recent seasons, its hard to see the Flames passing up the value of Kindel at 31.

Not to mention, they likely have a good read on Kindel, considering he plays in their building with the WHLs Hitmen.

You can make the argument hes the best player available at 31, too.

In Kindel, the Flames get another two-way player who can help in transition.

Calgary can care about size with its remaining picks.

McKenzie Horcoff is a bit like our pick at No.

22, Nesbitt, in that hes a center with good size who needs to keep working on his skating.

While the Flyers dont end up with any of the truly high-end center prospects in this mock, Nesbitt and Horcoff would immediately bolster their prospect group down the middle.

If just one of them hits, that would still be a win.

Kurz (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic ; photos of Michael Misa, Matthew Schaefer and Caleb Desnoyers: Michael Miller/ISI Photos, Dale Preston / Getty Images).

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