Upside Hockey's 2025 NHL Draft Rankings: December Edition
Our Top 128 rankings with a new number one rated prospect
New Logos and Branding!
Before we dig in, stick tap to Jedi graphics designer Hunter Jones Design for our brilliant new branding; we’re absolutely stoked to unveil this:
James Hagens Displaced As Number One Ranked Prospect
While the last two draft classes saw Connor Bedard and then Macklin Celebrini go their whole respective seasons as the #1 ranked prospects in their draft class and get drafted number one, before the midpoint we have a new prospect in the pole position.
While other rankings have outstanding bluelinet Matthew Schaefer jump into 1st overall in their latest rankings, led by our Chief of Scouting Eldon MacDonald, we have exceptional centreman Michael Misa now ahead of the class.
Mammoth Quintessential Rankings Spreadsheet
We have already featured over 350 prospects in our mammoth quintessential rankings spreadsheet format. Check back throughout the season as we add many tabs/sheets (subjects along the bottom) to this spreadsheet. In this edition, in the second column we have highlighted NHL Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch. There will be too many cool features to list; explore yourself with this top of mind:
Our exclusive rankings go well beyond the first round with over 350 prospects included in this version
Check out the tabs along the bottom such as Defense, Under 5'11, etc. for various unique rankings
Quick access to Elite Prospects profile linked for each prospect for updated stats - click on the respective prospect name
Videos! We've moved these just to the right of the prospect name, linking to video profiles (mostly via YouTube)
Unique prospect analyses
Screenshots — December Top 128 Rankings
For the full mammoth rankings spreadsheet check it out at our 2025 NHL Draft Headquarters. Beyond the Top 128 we have prospects also projected to go in rounds 5 through 7 noted as well our watch list for the remaining players of interest.
Our minimalist-style first round table:
Readers spoke and we listened on this one: graphics designer extraordinaire Hunter Jones (Hunter Jones Design - he’s also designed our new logos and branding!) suggested we have a more simplistic, easy-to-read rankings table to pair with our extensive spreadsheet rankings format.
Our mammoth quintessential rankings spreadsheet format:
Viewing Tips
From our 2025 NHL Draft Rankings HQ at Upside Hockey, here are our tips for viewing the full rankings:
🔁 For optimal viewing on smartphone or tablet, turn your phone to landscape view; columns in the spreadsheet are frozen (i.e. won't move) up to and including the first column of linked videos, thus scroll through the spreadsheet rankings by swiping on the right side of this information-packed resource.
▶️ You can open up the spreadsheet rankings to a separate page by clicking the icon in the upper right-hand corner. This should open up the spreadsheet and you can select "open with" your platform of choice (Google Sheets works well).
Still To Come…
We will also have in-depth scouting profiles from our scout Trevor Curtis embedded/linked within the rankings spreadsheet eventually. When added, they will under the second column "UH" (Upside Hockey) - simply click on that to be taken to that respective profile. For the 2024 NHL draft, we completed over 240!
Also, as time goes on, scroll over to the right to view selected video links to do your own armchair scouting. See our rankings from the 2024 NHL draft to see what's in store as the season unfolds.
For more examples of our in-depth prospect profiles and prospect tiers, check out their upside on our 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Profile page. We'll be setting up a specific page for the 2025 draft eligible prospects as well. We'll also be adding mock drafts throughout the season.
Everything on Upside Hockey is free. If you enjoy and would like to support us and keep us ad-free, and/or have a downloadable version of these extensive rankings, support us here on Substack, buy us a cup of virtual coffee (via KoFi; or an eTransfer works as well), follow us on Twitter/X /Bluesky @UpsideHockey, drop us your email address, and you'll become an Upside Hockey Insider.
