NEWSLETTER
It’s a new month in the NHL, and there’s a lot going on across the league and beyond. We’re starting to talk about rosters for the World Junior Championship and the 4 Nations Face-Off. We’re also talking about NHL coaches getting replaced and teams either surprising or disappointing in the standings. Which makes now a good time to update our mock draft.
Mock drafts for the NHL are as much an inexact science as the real thing: we can project the best players and best organizational fits, but the order changes so much that who is ultimately available is the beauty of the selection process. We’ve already had one trade during this season impact the order of selections in this mock draft, and it came over this past weekend.
For those wondering about the selection order I’m specifically using for this mock draft, I used the Playoff Odds on MoneyPuck as of the morning of Dec. 1. The only change I made was moving the highest odd for a Western Conference team (Dallas – 96%) to the 31st pick because the three teams with the highest odds were all in the Eastern Conference. And, as we all know, the final draft order won’t play out with three picks originally owned by teams from the same conference at the end.
Let’s go!
2025 NHL Mock Draft — First Round
1. San Jose Sharks — Matthew Schaefer, LHD
6-2, 183
Shoots: Left
We have a new name to consider at the top of the 2025 NHL Draft prospect board. Schaefer was gaining momentum as a lock to be a top-four pick before the recent CHL-USA Prospects Challenge games. He was an absolute star among all of the featured top prospects there, creating even more buzz that he could be in play for the top overall pick. After taking Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith with their first picks the last two years, they’ll take a stud defenseman to build their blue line around here.
2. Columbus Blue Jackets — James Hagens, C
5-11, 170
Shoots: Left
Hagens has been considered the top prospect by most analysts since the summer, but he’s been joined at the top of the list(s) by Schaefer and Porter Martone. Columbus has some big bodies up front already, and is getting very good all-around play from Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson right now. Hagens could help them be solid down the middle for years to come. And Columbus has had good luck with college players in recent years. But this is a new front office so we’ll see what happens. If they stay hot they won’t be selecting second overall.
3. Chicago Blackhawks — Porter Martone, RW
6-3, 208
Shoots: Right
The only beneficial biproduct of the Blackhawks being awful again this season is a shot at Martone, who would be the Tkachuk-like power forward the organization needs next to Connor Bedard for the next decade. He’s big, can skate and plays with an edge. Indeed, Martone is the perfect prospect for the Blackhawks. They just need the chance to select him.
4. Anaheim Ducks — Logan Hensler, RHD
6-2, 192
Shoots: Right
The Ducks have no problem going off the board with their first pick (they did that last year). They’ve stocked up on offensive players in recent drafts and have some nice young pieces already in the NHL. Hensler is the top-rated right-handed defenseman in this year’s class and is considered a solid top-ten pick. After trading RHD Jamie Drysdale for Cutter Gauthier, Hensler would bring back some organizational depth on the right side of their blue line.
5. Nashville Predators — Michael Misa, LW
6-1, 184
Shoots: Left
Barry Trotz wants center depth — desperately. And he’ll be tempted to consider a center here if the Preds can choose one of Roger McQueen and Anton Frondell. But Misa is an elite sniper whose scoring would make him an impossible player to pass for Nashville here. Keep in mind the Preds have three picks in the first round (as of now) so they can address other needs later in the round as well.
6. Pittsburgh Penguins — Roger McQueen, C
6-5, 197
Shoots: Right
The Pens are bad. Like, sixth might be later than they eventually select next year if things don’t change soon. Which is unfortunate for Sidney Crosby and Pens fans, but it’s also a reality that many NHL teams and their fans have witnessed in recent years. McQueen is a massive center who would help their future.
7. Montreal Canadiens — Anton Frondell, C
6-0, 196
Shoots: Right
The Habs need something to kick start their roster and translate early picks into success. Frondell is a very good prospect who has decent size and plays a strong all-around game. But Montreal needs more than this pick (and their other in the first round) to change the trajectory of the franchise.
8. St. Louis Blues — Jackson Smith, LHD
6-3, 195
Shoots: Left
The Blues need to quickly restock their pipeline, and their blue line is a need. And when you look at what the Blackhawks and Wild have built for their respective futures on the back end, it becomes an even bigger need. Smith is a big player who wouldn’t be too much of a reach here for St. Louis to consider him. We’ll see if their coaching change has them eventually drafted later than eight, however.
9. Detroit Red Wings — Ivan Ryabkin, C
6-0, 170
Shoots: Left
The Yzerplan isn’t going as many hoped at this point, but the Red Wings still have some really good young pieces to build with and around. Bob McKenzie, Craig Button and Chris Peters all have Ryabkin in their top-six overall, so this could be good value for Detroit to draft and wait for him to be ready to come over to North America eventually.
10. New York Islanders — Caleb Desnoyers, C
6-1, 178
Shoots: Left
Who knows what the Islanders will look like by the time the draft comes around. The fans want changes from the top down, the players — at least those who are healthy — are struggling and they have too many veterans with term still on their contracts to move many out to make room for a pipeline that isn’t very good or deep. Desnoyers would be one of their best prospects immediately.
11. Seattle Kraken — Malcolm Spence, LW
6-1, 203
Shoots: Left
Spence is probably a top-ten prospect in this draft but there are always teams that draft for organizational need (or go off the board), so getting this kind of value here for the Kraken is fabulous. He’s a strong player with good size already.
12. Calgary Flames — William Moore, C
6-2, 161
Shoots: Left
Moore is a solid all-around center. The Flames are looking down the road to a world after Nazem Kadri and, eventually, Jonathan Huberdeau and need to continue adding good pieces to their organization. Centers with this kind of size are incredibly popular on draft day.
13. Buffalo Sabres — Cole Reschny, C
5-10, 183
Shoots: Left
Because of his size, Reschny may ultimately be a wing in the NHL. He’s consistently been a productive player; he was almost a point-per-game player last year in the WHL and is above that pace this season in his pre-draft campaign. Buffalo’s defense is locked up long term so adding offensive threats will be important.
14. Philadelphia Flyers — Victor Eklund, RW
5-11, 161
Shoots: Right
The Flyers have a nice collection of young forwards and they’re looking to build around Matvei Michkov. Eklund is a solid all-around forward who would fit their systems well. Philly also has multiple picks in the first round in 2025.
15. Ottawa Senators — Lynden Lakovic, LW
6-4 , 190
Shoots: Left
Lakovic has terrific size and ability and showed well in the CHL-USA showcase. Ottawa is still trying to establish their identity and might have some veterans move out this season as they try to shake out of their middle-of-the-pack reality.
16. Boston Bruins — Radim Mrtka, RHD
6-6, 207
Shoots: Right
The size of Mrtka will instantly draw Zdeno Chara comps, but he’s widely considered a legitimate mid-first round prospect. The Bruins are trying to retool before they have to use the word rebuild, and adding size on their back end would be a wise move.
17. Vancouver Canucks — Jake O’Brien, C
6-2, 172
Shoots: Right
O’Brien is a really good center with ideal size for the Western Conference. The Canucks have some good young pieces already in the NHL — many of whom have long-term contracts already — so adding quality depth for if/when some veterans leave as free agents (Brock Boeser?) is the need here.
18. New York Rangers — Charlie Tretheway, RHD
6-1, 200
Shoots: Right
The Rangers are in an interesting place right now. Their overall record isn’t necessarily bad, but the vibes around the organization aren’t good. They’ve reportedly been shopping for a culture change. Whether or not they have their first-round pick by the time the draft happens is TBD.
19. Utah Hockey Club — Blake Fiddler, RHD
6-4, 207
Shoots: Right
Yes, this is the son of Vern Fiddler. Utah went out and spent a lot of money to improve their blue line this year but injuries have been awful for them. While Fiddler wouldn’t improve their NHL club immediately, he has great size for a right-handed defenseman and would be a solid addition to their depth.
20. Philadelphia Flyers (from COL) — Kashawn Aitcheson, LHD
6-1, 196
Shoots: Left
The Flyers’ second pick in the first round helps them start to stockpile help for the back end. Aitcheson has good size and would be a nice fit to help them retool their back end moving forward. Though they traded for Drysdale (who’s a RHD), his injury issues don’t help planning for him to be part of the long-term plan.
21. Nashville Predators (from TB) — Brady Martin, C
6-0, 178
Shoots: Right
Trotz gets a center here with Martin, who had nice size and plays a good game. Nashville isn’t done with the first round yet.
22. Columbus Blue Jackets (from MIN) — Joshua Ravensbergen, G
6-5, 195
This is the pick Columbus got from the Wild in the David Jiricek trade over this past weekend. With this being somewhat of a luxury pick for the Blue Jackets, they can take a swing. They have an awful history with goalies but 2025 is a rare year where we could see a few come off the board in the first round. Ravensbergen is the best in the group and would be a solid pick for the Blue Jackets’ future.
23. Chicago Blackhawks (from TOR) — Justin Carbonneau, RW
6-1, 191
Shoots: Right
I’ve had my eye on Carbonneau with this pick for some time. He can skate — something the Blackhawks prioritize — and has good offensive ability. The Blackhawks need scorers and he’s certainly that; Chicago has also drafted out of the QMJHL recently (Sam Savoie, Marcel Marcel).
24. Nashville Predators (from VGK) — Jack Ivankovic, G
6-1, 191
This is Nashville’s third pick in the first round, and I have them going somewhat off the board for a really good goaltending prospect. After trading away Yaroslav Askarov, the Preds could use someone to be the “next” guy when it’s time to transition from Juuse Saros — even though Saros is signed long-term. Now would be a smart time to look for that long-term development player.
25. Philadelphia Flyers (from EDM) — Cullen Potter, C
5-9, 168
Shoots: Left
Potter is having a nice freshman season at Arizona State. With his size, he likely will transition to the wing in the professional ranks. With the Flyers’ third pick in the first round, they can look for a player who might have a slightly longer development timeline and Potter has plenty of skill.
26. Los Angeles Kings — Jakob Ihs Wozniak, RW
6-2, 184
Shoots: Right
The Kings have a solid mix of older and younger players on their current NHL roster, but their pipeline could use adding. They have historically liked players with some size and this is a prospect who fits their mold perfectly.
27. Montreal Canadiens (from FLA) — Cameron Schmidt, RW
5-8, 152
Shoots: Right
Schmidt is not a big player. But his scoring ability is undeniable. And the Habs have a history of looking for guys who can light it up, no matter their height. Schmidt is having another strong season for Vancouver in the WHL and his stock is rising.
28. Winnipeg Jets — Émile Guité, LW
6-2, 174
Shoots: Left
The Jets are playing lights-out hockey right now, so keep in mind this draft order is based on playoff likelihood — not current record. With that in mind, the Jets could use some size and skill added to their pipeline and this would be a prospect who fits that mold.
29. Calgary Flames (from New Jersey) — Milton Gastrin, C
6-1, 185
Shoots: Left
I have the Flames going with the best available center with both of their picks in the first round of this mock draft. Gastrin is another prospect who had good size and plays a responsible game.
30. Washington Capitals — Carter Bear, LW
6-0, 179
Shoots: Left
The Caps are really playing exceptional hockey right now, which is why they’re this low in the first round of our mock draft. Bears is a solid winger with good size and ability. We’ll see if the Caps hang onto this pick or if it’s moved for them to bolster their playoff chances around the deadline.
31. Dallas Stars — Cameron Reid, LHD
6-0, 175
Shoots: Left
Dallas has some really good young forwards on their current NHL roster. They also have some good young defensemen. So this pick would be the best player available on their board. I can see Reid being a player who interests Dallas based on his game and ability.
32. Carolina Hurricanes — Braeden Cootes, C
5-11, 183
Shoots: Right
The Canes picking last would mean they climbed the mountain this season and win it all. They would happily take that, especially after they lost as many players as they did in free agency this past summer. Cootes isn’t the biggest forward but he plays the game the way Carolina likes, so the fit makes sense.
