The NHL draft lottery went live this year, and the drama was real, with the New York Islanders moving all the way to No. 1 once the balls were read out.
The Utah Hockey Club won the second draw, so they moved up from 14th overall to fourth.
So let’s get to the fun part and mock draft the first 16 picks of the 2025 NHL draft, shall we?
1. New York Islanders: Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie (OHL): The Islanders could honestly use high-end help at any position for the future, so let’s just go with the best player available here. Schaefer is a game-changing defenseman who can do it all, and while he missed most of the season due to injury, it won’t take him long to get into an NHL uniform on Long Island.
2. San Jose Sharks: Michael Misa, C, Saginaw (OHL):The Sharks could probably use a D-man more at this point, but with a pick this high, only a forward would be prudent based on this class. Misa is an incredibly skilled and competitive center who would make for a daunting one-two punch down the middle with Macklin Celebrini. With Will Smith there too, the Sharks have the option of putting one of them on the wing.
3. Chicago Blackhawks: Porter Martone, RW, Brampton (OHL): Connor Bedard needs help and Martone could be his Tom Wilson or Matthew Tkachuk. Martone has plenty of skill, but he’s also big and mean. The Hawks have the luxury of already having Bedard and Frank Nazar at center, but they could use a power forward.
4. Utah Hockey Club: Anton Frondell, C, Djurgarden (Swe.): GM Bill Armstrong likes his players big, though Utah could use more size up front. Frondell gets the nod here over James Hagens because he’s bigger and stronger. On his own merits, Frondell also has a wicked shot and has proved he can handle himself against men, helping Djurgarden get promoted to the Swedish League recently.
5. Nashville Predators: James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA): A bit of a gift here for the Predators, as Hagens brings excellent skill and perhaps the best hockey IQ in the draft class. He’s in a great situation at Boston College and should probably stick there another year to get stronger, but Hagens is the type of elite talent Nashville needs.
6. Philadelphia Flyers: Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton (QMJHL): Desnoyers would be loved by Flyers fans: He brings skill, leadership and a 200-foot game that doesn’t have any holes in it. He’s a strong kid playing on one of the best junior teams in Canada and he absolutely racked up the points for Moncton this season.
7. Boston Bruins: Viktor Eklund, RW, Djurgarden (Swe.): If you’re going to play for the Bruins, you have to work and Eklund will do that. Eklund plays much bigger than his frame and has an unceasing motor, on top of enough skill to get him onto Sweden’s world junior team this past winter. He also helped Djurgarden’s pro team get promoted to the SHL.
8. Seattle Kraken: Jackson Smith, D, Tri-City (WHL): Coming off a scintillating world under-18s with gold-medal Canada, Smith brings a little bit of everything to a Kraken pipeline that is still growing. He’s a great skater with size and physicality and the offensive potential was really on display at the World Men’s Under-18s.
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9. Buffalo Sabres: Kashawn Aitcheson, D, Barrie (OHL):Sabres fans need a reason to cheer and Aitcheson will lift them out of the seats one way or another. He put up a bunch of points from the blueline this year, but his trademarks come in his own end, where the Colts D-man is a physically punishing intimidator who has no problem dropping the gloves.
10. Anaheim Ducks: Roger McQueen, C, Brandon (WHL): With so many young players already in the lineup, the Ducks can think more long-term here. McQueen missed much of the season due to injury and scouts worry about his back, but Anaheim can be patient. If he turns out, he’s a 6-foot-5 center who can shoot the puck and has top-five skill in the draft class.
11. Pittsburgh Penguins: Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford (OHL): The Penguins need a center of the future and O’Brien is a whip-smart pivot who can play in all three zones and produce offense at an elite clip. Get him in the same dressing room as Sidney Crosby in a year or two and you’ve got a perfect mentorship situation.
12. New York Rangers: Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL): For a team in need of a culture refresh, Martin would be a great future building block. He’s a farm-boy strong center who dazzled at the World Under-18s for Canada and played great for a Soo team that didn’t have much else. Great skater who competes and plays the right way.
13. Detroit Red Wings: Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle (WHL): Scouts absolutely love Cootes, who has the triumvirate of skating, skill and hockey sense. He didn’t have much help in Seattle, but still drove the play, contributed in all situations and got results. Another player who made a difference for Canada at the recent World Under-18s.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets: Radim Mrtka, D, Seattle (WHL): There’s a lot of potential in Mrtka thanks to his big frame and length. Coming over to North America from Czechia during the season, Mrtka really found his offense as time went on and while that won’t be his calling card, it’s nice to know he has it in his quiver.
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15. Vancouver Canucks: Carter Bear, LW, Everett (WHL): While he got hurt near the end of the year, Bear showed scouts enough to have them impressed. High compete, a 200-foot game and intense as a competitor, Bear has a very coach-friendly game. The fact he can put the puck in the net regularly doesn’t hurt, either.
16. Montreal Canadiens (from CGY): Logan Hensler, D, Wisconsin (NCAA): The Habs have a lot of great young players in the lineup already, so we’ll go with potential here. Hensler is a great skater with size and strength and while he didn’t put up big numbers as a freshman, he’s still pretty young. With time and patience, he could be a solid defender.
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