Final 2025 NHL Draft Rankings: Ryan Kennedy's Top 100
The 2025 NHL draft is fast approaching, and with that, it's time to drop some final rankings.
The top 100 you'll find below are very similar to the ones you will find in The Hockey News' Draft Preview because, duh, I wrote them both. But with the benefit of a few more weeks, I did tweak these – including in the top 10.
Advertisement
I will also point out that in the past few years, I've done a final 120. I've trimmed it this time because there were players I talked to scouts about who were seen as 'non-drafts' altogether, and I would rather have a top 100 with the least amount of uncertainty possible (as if that's possible, ha ha). I don't want to just list "guys" for the sake of.
Final note: Perhaps the biggest X-factor in the class is Minnesota high school center Mason West. The big Edina Hornets star is also an elite football quarterback, and while he says he's focused on hockey, he also recently revealed he will be playing high school football again in the fall before heading off to the USHL. When I talked to scouts about this possibility during the season, they did not like it – they would have preferred to see him playing college hockey next year. How will this ultimately impact his draft stock? Well, it only takes one team to step up and take him, so we shall wait and see.
In the meantime, here's how I see things:
Matthew Schaefer (Brandon Soto / OHL Images)
1. Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie (OHL): An elite blueliner with great hockey IQ and skating acumen who can make an impact in all three zones. Schaefer brings a ton of skill to the ice, but also a lot of character. He's a pick you can build a franchise around.
Advertisement
2. Michael Misa, C, Saginaw (OHL): Absolutely destroyed the OHL this season, winning the Red Tilson Award as most outstanding player in the process. Misa has one of the best shots in the draft, and he really improved his 200-foot game this season.
3. Porter Martone, RW, Brampton (OHL): A power forward in the mold of the Tkachuk brothers, Martone is a beast of a teen who earned time at the IIHF World Championship once his OHL year was done, playing on the same Canadian team as Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon.
4. Anton Frondell, C, Djurgarden (Swe.): Helped Djurgarden's pro team win the biggest series in Swedish history in getting promoted to the SHL over rival AIK. Frondell is a big center with a great shot who plays a very team-friendly game.
5. James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA): A super-smart and talented center who put up admirable numbers as a freshman in college, Hagens doesn't have ideal size, but he did play on Team USA's top line en route to world junior gold.
Advertisement
6. Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton (QMJHL): Took his Wildcats to a QMJHL championship and a Memorial Cup berth. Desnoyers is a smart, 200-foot player with great details, and he can also blow your doors off in terms of offensive production.
7. Roger McQueen, C, Brandon (WHL): A suspected back injury had scouts a little leery, so we'll see who takes him on draft day. A healthy McQueen is a titan-sized center who skates well, drives the net and plays with a lot of skill.
8. Victor Eklund, RW, Djurgarden (Swe.): Frondell's teammate on that instant-legend Djurgarden squad, Eklund doesn't have a lot of size but plays like he does. He's got an excellent motor and already has a world juniors under his belt, where he was one of Sweden's best producers.
9. Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL): Farm-boy strong, Martin is just scratching the surface, and the early returns are already impressive. He was massive for Canada at the World Men's Under-18s and carried a Soo team that didn't have a lot of other options this season.
Advertisement
10. Jackson Smith, D, Tri-City (WHL): Another World Under-18s standout, Smith got hot at the end of his WHL season and put up nice offensive numbers. But his skating and defensive work are really his calling cards, making him an attractive asset on the blueline.
Draft Preview 2025 | The Hockey News Archive
Draft Preview 2025 | The Hockey News Archive The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions abo...
11. Jake O'Brien, C, Brantford (OHL)
12. Kashawn Aitcheson, D, Barrie (OHL)
13. Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle (WHL)
14. Radim Mrtka, D, Seattle (WHL)
Advertisement
15. Carter Bear, LW, Everett (WHL)
16. Logan Hensler, D, Wisconsin (NCAA)
17. Justin Carbonneau, RW, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
18. Lynden Lakovic, LW, Moose Jaw (WHL)
19. Cameron Reid, D, Kitchener (OHL)
20. Jack Nesbitt, C, Windsor (OHL)
21. Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie (OHL)
22. Ivan Ryabkin, C, Muskegon (USHL)
23. Jakob Ihs Wozniak, RW, Lulea Jr. (Swe.)
24. Milton Gastrin, C, Modo (Swe.)
25. Cullen Potter, LW, Arizona State (NCAA)
26. Joshua Ravensbergen, G, Prince George (WHL)
27. Ben Kindel, C, Calgary (WHL)
28. Cole Reschny, C, Victoria (WHL)
29. Bill Zonnon, RW, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
30. Shane Vansaghi, RW, Michigan State (NCAA)
Advertisement
31. Henry Brzustewicz, D, London (OHL)
32. Cameron Schmidt, RW, Vancouver (WHL)
33. Blake Fiddler, D, Edmonton (WHL)
34. William Moore, C, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
35. Eric Nilson, C, Djurgarden Jr. (Swe.)
36. Haoxi (Simon) Wang, D, King (OJHL)
37. Vojtech Cihar, LW, Karlovy Vary (Cze.)
38. Eddie Genborg, RW, Linkoping (Swe.)
39. Will Horcoff, LW, Michigan (NCAA)
40. Jack Murtagh, LW, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
41. Luca Romano, RW, Kitchener (OHL)
42. Jacob Rombach, D, Lincoln (USHL)
43. Ryker Lee, RW, Madison (USHL)
44. Matthew Gard, RW, Red Deer (WHL)
45. Theo Stockselius, RW, Djurgarden Jr. (Swe.)
46. Ben Kevan, RW, Des Moines (USHL)
Advertisement
47. Vaclav Nestrasil, LW, Muskegon (USHL)
48. Tomas Poletin, LW, Pelicans (Fin.)
49. Daniil Prokhorov, RW, Dynamo St. Petersburg Jr. (Rus.)
50. Cole McKinney, C, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
51. Kurban Limatov, D, Moscow Dynamo (Rus.)
52. Charlie Trethewey, D, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
53. Kristian Epperson, RW, Saginaw (OHL)
54. Viktor Klingsell, LW, Skelleftea (Swe.)
55. Sascha Boumedienne, D, Boston U. (NCAA)
56. Theodor Hallquisth, D, Orebro (Swe.)
57. Adam Benak, C, Youngstown (USHL)
58. Aleksei Medvedev, G, London (OHL)
59. Peyton Kettles, D, Swift Current (WHL)
60. Pyotr Andreyanov, G, CSKA Moscow (Rus.)
61. Conrad Fondrk, C, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
Advertisement
62. Lucas Beckman, G, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)
63. Francesco Delle'Elce, D, UMass (NCAA)
64. Mason West, C, Edina (MN HS)
65. Brandon Gorzynski, C, Calgary (WHL)
66. Zachary Morin, LW, Saint John (QMJHL)
67. Dakoda Rheaume-Mullin, D, Michigan (NCAA)
68. Tyler Hopkins, C, Kingston (OHL)
69. Jack Ivankovic, G, Brampton (OHL)
70. Max Psenicka, D, Portland (WHL)
71. Hayden Paupanekis, C, Kelowna (WHL)
72. Sean Barnhill, D, Dubuque (USHL)
73. Lasse Boelius, D, Assat (Fin.)
74. Ethan Czata, C, Niagara (OHL)
75. Maceo Phillips, D, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
76. Jan Chovan, C, Tappara (Fin.)
77. Nathan Behm, LW, Kamloops (WHL)
Advertisement
78. Owen Griffin, C, Oshawa (OHL)
79. David Bedkowski, D, Owen Sound (OHL)
80. Filip Ekberg, LW, Ottawa (OHL)
81. Alexander Zharovsky, RW, Ufa Jr. (Rus.)
82. Carlos Handel, D, Halifax (QMJHL)
83. Evan Passmore, D, Barrie (OHL)
84. Michal Pradel, G, Tri-City (USHL)
85. Reese Hamilton, D, Regina (WHL)
86. Carter Amico, D, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
87. Mans Goos, G, Farjestad (Swe.)
88. Luka Radivojevic, D, Muskegon (USHL)
89. Karl Annborn, D, HV71 (Swe.)
90. Atte Joki, C, Lukko (Fin.)
91. Matias Vanhanen, LW, HIFK (Fin.)
92. Semyon Frolov, G, Spartak (Rus.)
93. Louis-Antoine Denault, G, Quebec (QMJHL)
94. Caeden Herrington, D, Lincoln (USHL)
Advertisement
95. Emile Guite, C, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
96. Mason Moe, LW, Madison (USHL)
97. Alex Huang, D, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
98. Lev Katzin, RW, Guelph (OHL)
99. Trenten Bennett, G, Owen Sound (OHL)
100. Oliver Turner, D, St. Andrew's (PHC)
For in-depth scouting reports on the top 100 prospects for the 2025 NHL draft, check out The Hockey News' Draft Preview issue. You'll also find Team Reports on all 32 NHL clubs looking at the short- and long-term needs. Plus, we have feature stories on Matthew Schaefer, Anton Frondell, Michael Misa, Jackson Smith and the Nashville Predators, and we look at the impact of PWHL expansion and break down the upcoming draft.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Resilient Mathurin stars in Pacers win
Bennedict Mathurin of the Indiana Pacers shoots the ball over Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in game three of the NBA Finals (POOL) Bennedict Mathurin's game-changing performance in game three of the NBA Finals felt like a long time coming, but the 22-year-old Canadian made sure he was ready when the opportunity arrived. Mathurin came off the bench to score 27 points in Indiana's 116-107 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, which gave the Pacers a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven championship series. Advertisement In 22:24 minutes on court through the second and fourth quarters, Mathurin was a brutally efficient nine-of 12 from the field, making two of his three three-point attempts and seven of eight free-throws, adding in four rebounds an assist and a blocked shot for good measure. "Just staying ready," Mathurin said. "Whenever my number is called, go into the game and do the right things and try to help my team win -- that's the whole mindset." Mathurin is playing in the playoffs for the first time, after watching the Pacers' run to the Eastern Conference finals from the bench in the wake of season-ending surgery in March of 2024. Even then, the Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said, the 22-year-old Canadian was looking ahead. Advertisement "He was with the team. He just wasn't playing," Carlisle recalled. "He took a lot of notes, a lot of mental notes, and he may have written some things down. "I do know that after he sustained the injury, it was either in February or early March, you can order these calendars that start on a specific day and then they count days. "So there was a calendar sitting in our training room and every day he would come in and take one off, take one off. He was counting the days down to being cleared sometime in August and then be able to begin training camp, begin five-on-five with our guys in September and then be in training camp, really, with his eyes firmly set on an opportunity in the playoffs. "So he's putting a lot of work to be ready for these moments, and tonight he was an absolute major factor." Advertisement Mathurin said he was "fortunate to learn a lot" in what was an unfortunate situation last year but he admitted that it wasn't easy. Playing in the Finals, in front of the intense fans in Indianapolis, "is a dream" but one he doesn't want to get caught up in. "I'm not trying to live in my dream," he said. "I'm trying to live in the present and make sure the dream ends well, which means winning next game and winning a championship." bb/rcw
Hamilton Spectator
7 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Canada's Summer McIntosh breaks own world record in 400-metre individual medley
VICTORIA - Teen sensation Summer McIntosh has broken yet another record at the Canadian Swimming Trials. The 18-year-old from Toronto swam the 400-metre individual medley in four minutes 23.65 seconds, breaking the world record 4:24.38 she set at the Olympic trials in Toronto last May. It's the third time McIntosh has set a new world record at this year's Canadian trials, after she posted a new mark in the 200m individual medley on Monday and in the 400m freestyle on Saturday. She also broke her own Canadian records in the 800m freestyle Sunday, finishing in 8:05.07 — nearly five seconds faster than her previous time — and in the 200m butterfly on Tuesday. McIntosh also holds the world record in the 200m butterfly. She won three golds and one silver at the Paris Olympics last summer, becoming the first Canadian to ever take three golds at a single Games. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
7 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Toronto's free ‘Soccer Day' event kicks off countdown to Canada's FIFA World Cup 2026
We're officially one year away from the first ever FIFA World Cup in Canada — and the City of Toronto is marking the countdown with a celebration at Nathan Phillips Square on Thursday, June 12. Mayor Olivia Chow has officially proclaimed the day as 'Soccer Day,' recognizing the city's 'passion for the beautiful game' and its role as an official host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A post shared by City of Toronto (@cityofto) The free, family-friendly public celebration kicks off at 5:30 p.m. on June 12, with all guests invited to join the celebration by wearing their favourite soccer jersey. Whether you'd like to wear a national team jersey, a local club jersey, a community league jersey or even just wear red and white to represent Canada, all are welcome to wear their pride on the city's first ever day of its kind. Additionally, an official 2026 FIFA World Cup Toronto Countdown Clock is set to be unveiled, which will count the days down on site until opening day. A post shared by FIFA World Cup 26 Toronto (@fwc26toronto) A year from the date, the Canadian men's national team will be playing their first ever FIFA World Cup game on home soil at BMO Field on Friday, June 12, 2026 — with the opponent still yet to be determined after qualifiers. In March, the City of Toronto and MLSE announced a $146-million makeover that will enhance the stadium infrastructure, technology and overall appeal and fan experience ahead of the prestigious tournament. City of Toronto, MLSE reveal $146M BMO Field makeover ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup The stadium's capacity is set to be increased to 45,000, as well as enhancements to the field, player spaces and locker rooms to meet FIFA's world-class standards. 'The updates to Toronto Stadium ensures the city is ready to take the world stage for FIFA World Cup 2026 while solidifying the city's reputation as a destination for major events,' Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik said in a news release . 'These upgrades will enhance the experience for fans and athletes alike and be a legacy from the event for Torontonians and visitors for years to come,' Malik added. A post shared by FIFA World Cup 26 Toronto (@fwc26toronto) Toronto will be hosting a total of six matches, primarily throughout the group stage and capped off with a Round of 32 match that is set for July 2, 2026. Vancouver is set to be the other Canadian host city, along with various locations across the United States and Mexico. The first ever Soccer Day takes place at Nathan Phillips Square, located at 100 Queen St. W.
