2025 NHL Mock Draft 4.0: The Final Countdown

Our Last Mock Draft with NHL Player Comps and Team Needs

To be clear, this is not our rankings. For our Upside’s Feature-Filled Final Rankings head to our 2025 NHL Draft Headquarters. Though often an exercise in futility, it is nonetheless a fun exercise to work through to project where prospects may land. With the Zegras trade to the Flyers and the Rangers wisely opting to handover the 12th overall pick to the Penguins, we have some updates since our last mock draft instalment. Here’s our final take; your thoughts are welcomed.

1. New York Islanders:

Team Need: No. 1 defenseman and defensive depth

Matthew Schaefer, LHD (Erie Otters, OHL)

With a game reminiscent of Miro Heiskanen, at this point a no-brainer at #1 for the lottery-winning Islanders and hope they’ve landed their best defenseman since Denis Potvin.

2. San Jose Sharks:

Team Need: Defensive prospects with two-way ability and continue to build upon talented overall foundation

Michael Misa, C/LW (Saginaw Spirit, OHL)

Sharks staff ecstatic to draft this exceptional forward who some have compared to Marian Hossa and Dylan Larkin stylistically.

3. Chicago Blackhawks:

Team Need: Star-caliber forward to complement Connor Bedard

Anton Frondell, C/RW (Djurgardens, Allsvenskan)

Holy Frondell, he will be a key piece in the Hawks rebuild. His formidable shot release will be an offensive weapon they crave. His style of play is somewhat reminiscent of fellow countrymen Elias Lindholm.

4. Utah Mammoth:

Team Need: Top-six forward with size and skill

Brady Martin, C (Soo Greyounds, OHL)

Brady Martin of the Soo Greyhounds. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images

“A one-man wrecking crew, and a responsible two-way centreman.” In a way, his style of play shows shades of Conn Smythe winner Sam Bennett.

5. Nashville Predators:

Team Need: Top-line scoring center and goaltending prospect

James Hagens, C (Boston College, NCAA)

Preds hope they have landed a future franchise centreman. Hagens, who has been loosely compared to Kirill Kaprizov, entered this season as the probable number one overall pick.

6. Philadelphia Flyers:

Team Need: High-end skill at center and overall offensive upside

Caleb Desnoyers, C (Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL)

Smart playmaking centreman. Flyers hope they have landed a Patrice Bergeron-esque player out of the QMJHL. His style is closer to Nico Hischier. It remains to be see how they will utilize recently acquired Trevor Zegras - on the wing or try him at centre, but the acquisition allows them to take the complete package that is Desnoyers.

7. Boston Bruins:

Team Need: High-end skill at all positions, especially dual-threat centers and puck-moving defenders

Porter Martone, RW (Brampton Steelheads, OHL)

Undeniable package of mammoth size, power, and skill. His game resembles that of Blake Wheeler.

8. Seattle Kraken:

Team Need: Top 4 defensemen

Radim Mrtka, RHD (Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL)

Size (6’6”!), skating, and skill makes this right-handed defenseman from Czechia who played for the WHL Thunderbirds super enticing to the Kraken. Mrtka might be a hybrid stylistically of Moritz Seider crossed with Tyler Myers.

9. Buffalo Sabres:

Team Need: Power forward with size and skill

Roger McQueen, C (Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL)

The Sabres don’t let the injury-plague season scare them off from McQueen’s tantalizing combination of size, hockey sense, and skill. Tage Thompson and Mark Scheifele spring to mind when watching him play, if he’s able to reach his immense potential.

10. Anaheim Ducks:

Team Need: Big, mobile defenseman to complement offensive blueliners; with a plethora of youthful talent can opt for best player available

Jake O’Brien, C (Brantford Bulldogs, OHL)

Stock rising on this all-around creative, playmaking centreman who plays the game similarly to Artemi Panarin. After dealing Trevor Zegras, they are thrilled for this injection of more offensive talent into the already deep prospect pool.

{Continued below after our Draft Guide announcement…}

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11. Pittsburgh Penguins:

Team Need: Elite, play-driving forward talent

Victor Eklund, RW (Djurgardens, Allsvenskan)

Cerebral two-way speedy winger. The brother of the Sharks William somewhat resembles Travis Konecny. He may easily go top 10; if he slips this far, the Penguins will welcome him aboard.

12. Pittsburgh Penguins (via New York Rangers):

Team Need: Elite, play-driving forward talent plus talent at all positions

Jackson Smith, LHD (Tri-City Americans, WHL)

Size. Hockey sense. Skating. He’s a contender for second best defensemen in this draft class. He has reminded some of an early career version of Jay Bouwmeester.

13. Detroit Red Wings:

Team Need: Top-line, play-driving forward; can afford to take deemed best player available

Kawshawn Aitcheson, LHD (Barrie Colts, OHL)

Silky smooth skating physical blueliner. Prime Dion Phaneuf might be a comparable for this X-Factor kind of defenseman.

14. Columbus Blue Jackets:

Team Need: Top-four, minute-eating defenseman

Logan Hensler, RHD (Univ. of Wisconsin, NCAA)

“Hensler owns top-tier hockey sense, reads the play and processes quickly, then makes sound decisions. His positioning is infallible in all 3 zones, with keen anticipation; he forces turnovers aplenty and intercepts passes with his long stick, timing, and reach.” CBJ hope he develops into a Devon Toews like defenseman.

15. Vancouver Canucks:

Team Need: Forwards with top-six upside

Carter Bear, C/LW (Everett Silvertips)

“Bear drives play, and exhibits high-end vision, awareness, and creativity, with a talent for manufacturing space for himself and his teammates; he baits pressure with patient delays, and forces defenders back off the rush to make room at the top of the zone.” His game might be comparable to Anthony Cirelli.

16. Montreal Canadiens (via Calgary Flames):

Team Need: Physical, hard-skill forward to complement skilled scorers

Justin Carbonneau, RW (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL)

“He's a 6'2" speedster with soft hands, and a bit of a chip on his shoulder.”

The NHL players most often compared to Justin Carbonneau in terms of style are Timo Meier and Brock Boeser.

17. Montreal Canadiens:

Lynden Lakovic, LW (Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL)

“Lakovic possesses solid IQ and awareness in all areas, and is able to find soft spots in coverage, often finding himself in the slot at the exact right moment to strike. He is inside-driven, attacking the middle while exhibiting high-end off-puck instincts. Mobility-wise, he's not a burner, but he's well above average in the speed department, on skating that is smooth and powerful with long, fluid strides.” He has reminded some of Martin Nečas.

18. Calgary Flames (via New Jersey Devils):

Team Need: Skilled, play-driving forward—especially at center

Cole Reschny, C (Victoria Royals, WHL)

“He's sub-6’0, but weighs 190lbs, and plays a very pro-style game, with suffocating defense. If you want another Brayden Point, this may be it.”

19. St. Louis Blues:

Team Need: Top-line forward or elite defender

Blake Fiddler, RHD (Edmonton Oil Kings, WHL)

“Fiddler is an above-average skater for a player his size, exploiting long and powerful strides, with smooth agility and edgework to pivot or change direction quickly. His lateral mobility lets him surf across wide tracts of ice to intercept attackers along the boards. Even still, he has room to improve his top speed and explosiveness. There's some surprising puck-skill in his repertoire to go with his unyielding puck-protection; his handling looks good, and he can dangle around defenders on occasion in the offensive zone, or when exiting the defensive zone.”

The NHL players who best compare to Blake Fiddler in terms of style are Brandon Carlo and Colton Parayko—big, mobile, defensively sound right-shot defensemen with shutdown ability and some two-way upside.

20. Columbus Blue Jackets (via Minnesota Wild):

Team Need: Top-four, minute-eating defenseman and consider best player available

Malcolm Spence, LW (Erie Otters, OHL)

“Physical winger with a pro-style, two-way game.”

Malcolm Spence’s style of play is most closely compared to Mark Stone though I’m not sure he has the same offensive upside at the next level, but should be a good fit with the Blue Jackets nonetheless.

21. Ottawa Senators:

Team Need: High-end offensive skill—creativity up front

Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, LW (Luleå HF, SHL)

“Playmaking is his best weapon, and he displays creativity as well as spatial awareness- which is a very important quality here; together with his high-level vision and hockey sense, he can locate spot spots in coverage to present himself as a passing option, draw pressure to create open space, and manipulate defenders to open seams. His shot is fairly hard and heavy, but could perhaps use a touch more power.”

Jakob Ihs-Wozniak’s style of play is most often compared to Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks. Like Boeser, Ihs-Wozniak is a skilled winger with a powerful, versatile shot and a knack for finding soft spots in the offensive zone to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

22. Philadelphia Flyers (via Colorado Avalanche):

Team Need: High-end skill at center and overall offensive upside

Braeden Cootes, C (Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL)

“Cootes is an intense two-way center.”

Braeden Cootes’ style of play is most closely compared to Phillip Danault of the Los Angeles Kings. Like Danault, Cootes is a high-motor, 200-foot center known for relentless compete level, strong hockey IQ, and the ability to play in all situations.

23. Nashville Predators (from Tampa Bay Lightning):

Team Need: Top-line scoring center and goaltending prospect

Bill Zonnon, C/LW (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, QMJHL)

Zonnon is an excellent playmaker and plays an ultra tireless hard-working power game. While we are not saying Zonnon ever reaches the level of his NHL comp player, the NHLer whose style best matches Bill Zonnon’s combination of playmaking and energy is two-time Stanley Cup champion Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers, originally drafted of course by the Calgary Flames.

24. Los Angeles Kings:

Team Need: Defensemen with NHL projection

Cameron Reid, LHD (Kitchener Rangers, OHL)

Intelligent all-around puck-moving defender whose game shows shades of Brandon Montour.

25. Chicago Blackhawks (via Toronto Maple Leafs):

Team Need: Star-caliber forward to complement Connor Bedard; talented players with size and skill

Ivan Ryabkin, C (Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL)

“Ryabkin is a smooth and fluid skater, but his straight-ahead speed is average- he needs plenty of work on his explosiveness, acceleration, and top speed. Though he can lose races, and can't easily separate in open ice, he is freakishly strong on the puck, and has uncommon balance, making it very hard to knock him over; he stays on his feet through contact, and is slippery and elusive on his edges. His lack of high-end speed doesn't hurt him as much as his inconsistent pace though. Ryabkin's best traits are his elite IQ and his advanced anticipation in the offensive zone, giving him a creative playmaking game that is augmented by his high-end passing skills. He understands how to create space for teammates by drawing pressure with delays, cut-backs, and button-hooks, and reads the ice as well as anyone in this year's draft class, with the ability to pull off feeds that few others could; he can connect with teammates through traffic, or across the ice, with crisp, accurate passing. Since he came to North America though, it looks as though he's been flexing his goal-scoring skills, with his laser of a shot on a quick, deceptive release, and superb precision to pick corners with. He also displays soft hands in-tight, and times his attacks to the slot so that he arrives at the right time to strike.”

Ivan Ryabkin projects as an Evgeny Kuznetsov–type NHL forward: a dynamic, offensively gifted center or winger who can change a game with skill and creativity, but who will need to up his conditioning and round out his consistency and defensive habits to reach his full potential. Ryabkin is also undeniably the leading candidate to take a major freefall come draft weekend.

26. Nashville Predators (via Vegas Golden Knights):

Team Need: Top-line scoring center and goaltending prospect

Joshua Ravensbergen, G (Prince George Cougars, WHL)

Team Need: Top-line scoring center and goaltending prospect

If a goalie goes in the first round the big right-catching Ravensberger who possesses confidence, perseverance, and quickness, to the Preds who have three first-round selections makes a lot of sense after they dealt stud goalie prospect Askarov to the Sharks last year. Their styles of play actually match to a certain degree.

27. Washington Capitals:

Team Need: Goaltending prospect with NHL starter upside; continue to add talent at all positions

Jack Nesbitt, C (Windsor Spitfires, OHL)

“He's 6'4" power forward with a physical style.”

The NHL players who best compare to Jack Nesbitt in terms of style are Morgan Geekie, Jordan Staal, and, to a lesser degree, Jamie Benn—centers known for their size, two-way reliability, physicality, and smart, responsible play.

28. Winnipeg Jets:

Team Need: Defensemen for prospect pipeline

Sascha Boumediene, D (Boston Univ., NCAA)

Intriguing combination of size, effortless skating, and offensive upside could have scouts jumping on this bluelinger with significant upside. His puck-moving ability is reminiscent of Morgan Rielly.

29. Carolina Hurricanes:

Team Need: Center prospects with top-six upside

Benjamin Kindel, RW (Calgary Hitmen, WHL)

“Kindel is rather diminutive (5'10", 175lbs), and isn't exactly a speedster, but he's obviously a highly intelligent scorer with a sound two-way game.” He has played some at centre, but likely projects as a winger at NHL level. Benjamin Kindel draws the most stylistic comparison to a player like Matthew Barzal. Like Barzal, Kindel is known for his pace, vision, and ability to create offense both as a playmaker and a goal scorer.

30. San Jose Sharks (via Dallas Stars):

Team Need: Defensive prospects with two-way ability and continue to build upon talented overall foundation

Milton Gästrin, C (MoDo Hockey, SHL)

“He is a playmaking center who plays a responsible two-way game with physicality, but even more than that, he's a leader who oozes intensity, consistency, and high-motor- he doesn't cheat the game, and sets an example. Gastrin plays in all situations, and is very well-rounded, with a highly-translatable style; there aren't many true flaws in his game.”

Milton Gästrin’s style of play is also most closely compared to winger Gabriel Landeskog, though Milton plays center of course at this stage.

31. Philadelphia Flyers (via Edmonton Oilers):

Team Need: High-end skill at center and overall offensive upside

Kurban Limatov D - MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)

After having picked two forwards, Philly looks to the blueline for this pick. The Flyers raise a few eyebrows with this pick, but those in the know have the feeling he could slip into the first round. The big Russian is a two-way blueliner with a physical game, but he's still quite raw. Limatov has impressive mobility for a big man, with a fluid stride in all directions, though he could use more explosiveness, and a better top-speed. He owns smooth edgework to make quick cuts and sharp turns, and can quickly surf across the ice laterally. He pushes pace with a high workrate and employs some deception in his footwork to be a bit elusive, in the form of feints and shifts of weight. He's a calm and smooth handler who manages the puck well, exhibits solid protection skills, and displays another layer of deception in his hands, with a deep cache of fakes, look-offs, dekes and dangles. The current NHL defenseman whose style most closely matches Limatov is Owen Power of the Buffalo Sabres.

32. Calgary Flames (via Florida Panthers):

Team Need: Skilled, play-driving forward—especially at center

Cullen Potter, LW (Arizona State Univ., NCAA)

“Potter may be small, but he's not afraid to cut inside or drive through traffic, and he has several tricks up his sleeve to get to the net- including dekes, fakes, and dazzling footwork. He displays soft hands around the net, and also has an above-average shot with some power, including a slick catch-and-release wrister that can catch goalies off guard.” Dylan Larkin is the most fitting NHL stylistic comparable for Cullen Potter, thanks to their shared elite skating, transition ability, and offensive creativity, albeit Potter giving way in the size department.

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