NHL Mock Draft 2025: Schaefer at No. 1 and Misa at No. 2 in Corey Pronman's first round projection
It's NHL combine week, and as teams begin to conclude meetings and we start hearing general trends about how the league values certain players, here is our latest attempt to project the first round of the NHL Draft.
Schaefer gives the Islanders a true potential No. 1 defenseman to build around. His high-end mobility, intelligence and competitiveness project him as a cornerstone on the blue line for years to come.
Misa's elite speed and creativity give San Jose a franchise-caliber center. The addition of Misa gives the Sharks flexibility to move either him or Will Smith to the wing long term while building one of the most desirable groups of young forwards in the league.
Frondell brings high-end skill, an elite shot and a complete 200-foot game and fills Chicago's need for a strong two-way pivot to pair with Connor Bedard or potentially move Bedard to the wing.
Utah prioritizes being hard to play against, and Martone will provide a lot of size and a high compete level while also being very skilled for a big man.
Nashville adds high-end skill and speed down the middle with Hagens, even if he isn't the biggest player. He brings the potential to be a major point producer.
Desnoyers is a complete center with the size, skating, skill and off-puck play to be a big-minute NHL center, which is something Philly truly craves.
Martin brings an intense, physical two-way game while also having an excellent skill level. He is a potential top-two-line center that Boston desperately craves and plays the way the Bruins like.
Mrtka is a 6-foot-5 defenseman who skates well and has offensive flashes, giving Seattle a rare right-shot blueliner with top-four upside and much needed young defense talent.
O'Brien is a cerebral, playmaking center with top-line upside. His skill and vision are clear NHL traits, which will give Buffalo some more dynamic traits at forward.
A 6-foot-5 center with speed, hands and bite, McQueen gives Anaheim a potential massive talent down the middle. He would have gone top five if it weren't for a concerning back injury.
Aitcheson adds significant physicality to Pittsburgh's system while also having the size, mobility and skill of a top-four NHL defenseman.
A fast, strong winger with a dangerous shot, Carbonneau adds both scoring and the power elements that the Rangers tend to target in their draft picks.
Eklund's speed, high motor and ability to create offense gives Detroit an important addition of offensive talent to its system.
Smith brings size, skating and offensive tools to the Blue Jackets' blue-line pipeline. He didn't end his season on a high note at the U18 worlds but the league is still very high on this player and his potential.
A competitive and highly skilled winger who plays a physical game, Bear could provide a lot of elements to Vancouver's top six.
Reschny is a very skilled and intelligent player who plays hard and was as good as any junior player in the second half of the CHL season.
Reid is a dynamic skater who closes well defensively and can generate clean exits and secondary offense. He adds to an already promising Habs blue-line group.
Cootes brings speed, compete and two-way versatility to the Flames' forward group, giving them a hardworking center with offensive potential.
Lakovic is a big man with legit speed, skill and goal-scoring ability. He would be a highly talented forward addition to the Blues' system, even if his compete level still draws some debate.
Nesbitt is a heavy center with strong puck skills and playmaking vision. Despite questions about his skating, his offense and physicality make him a legit first-round pick.
Fiddler's size, defensive ability, skating and hardness make him exactly the type of defenseman Ottawa has coveted.
A responsible, hard-nosed, two-way center, Gastrin adds leadership traits and versatility to the Flyers' forward group that is building their center depth with this draft class.
Hensler adds a reliable two-way defenseman to Nashville's system, with size, mobility and puck-moving skill that they hope will lead to top-four minutes.
One of the better-skating defensemen in the class coming off a record-setting U18 World Championship, Boumedienne provides transition ability with the potential for some offense at the NHL level as well, to go with a decent frame.
A big, skilled forward with great hockey sense, Horcoff needs to work on his skating but has the potential to be a legit scorer as a pro and looked quite good at the college level as a U18 player.
Ravensbergen is a big, athletic goaltender with starter upside — the type of swing Nashville can afford to take here with multiple first-round picks, though his stock has cooled a bit recently.
Washington rolls the dice on the top Russian in this class, who is a tall, fast winger who is very physical and has some scoring touch, too.
Brzustewicz is a smart, mobile right-shot who adds a steady two-way game to a Jets system that needs reliable defenders.
The Hurricanes take a swing on a tall winger with NHL-caliber feet, hands and scoring ability, hoping he becomes a future middle-six scorer.
Spence brings high effort, responsible two-way play and a solid track record for Canada. He's not the flashiest forward but has enough talent to play in a middle six and plays the way the Sharks want.
Zonnon is a big winger who skates and shoots well enough to be a middle-six contributor in Calgary's forward pipeline.
Potter's great skating and puck skill give the Flyers a dynamic, high-upside forward, even if his size and perimeter play do raise questions.
(Photos of Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa: Michael Miller / ISI Photos / Getty Images)
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