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 [https://thehockeynews.store/products/print-subscription?variant=41971430129798] because, duh, I wrote them both. But with the benefit of a few more weeks, I did tweak these – including in the top 10. I will also point out that in the past few years, I've done a final 120 [https://thehockeynews.com/news/news/final-2024-nhl-draft-rankings-ryan-kennedys-top-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 [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/instant-reaction-nhl-central-scouting-releases-final-2025-draft-rankings#:~:text=up%20five%20spots.-,Mason%20West,-%2C%20a%20center%20playing]. 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 [https://thehockeynews.com/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) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/e8038d76-b658-4aa4-8e3a-7b3aeef2dc7c.jpeg] 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 [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/stick-tap-to-mom-top-2025-draft-prospect-matthew-schaefer-aims-to-make-late-mother-proud] brings a ton of skill to the ice, but also a lot of character. He's a pick you can build a franchise around. 2. Michael Misa, C, Saginaw (OHL): Absolutely destroyed the OHL [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl] this season, winning the Red Tilson Award as most outstanding player in the process. Misa [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/2025-nhl-draft-misa-and-lakovic-highlight-ferrari-s-my-guys] 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 [https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhl-draft-prospect-porter-martone-fights-to-win-literally] is a beast of a teen who earned time at the IIHF [https://thehockeynews.com/international] 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 [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/djurgrden-extends-top-draft-prospect-anton-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 [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/james-hagens-may-slide-on-draft-day-but-his-nhl-upside-remains-elite] doesn't have ideal size, but he did play on Team USA's top line en route to world junior gold. 6. Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton (QMJHL): Took his Wildcats to a QMJHL [https://thehockeynews.com/qmjhl] championship and a Memorial Cup berth. Desnoyers [https://thehockeynews.com/qmjhl/latest-news/projected-top-10-2025-nhl-draft-prospect-caleb-desnoyers-wins-qmjhl-s-top-prospect-award] 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 [https://thehockeynews.com/whl/players/2025-nhl-draft-prospect-profile-roger-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 [https://thehockeynews.com/international/players/victor-eklund-its-gone-quite-well-so-ill-just-continue-with-it] 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. 10. Jackson Smith, D, Tri-City (WHL): Another World Under-18s standout, Smith [https://thehockeynews.com/whl/players/2025-nhl-draft-prospect-profile-jackson-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 [https://cdn-assets.ziniopro.com/var/site_2854/storage/images/media2/cover3716/10449187-1-eng-US/cover2.jpg?t=ipad_portrait_cover] 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... [https://archive.thehockeynews.com/issue/683997] 11. Jake O'Brien [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/players/2025-nhl-draft-spotlight-jake-obriens-elite-playmaking-ability-heating-up-down-the-stretch], C, Brantford (OHL) 12. Kashawn Aitcheson [https://thehockeynews.com/news/news/2025-nhl-draft-you-will-love-kashawn-aitcheson-as-long-as-hes-on-your-team], D, Barrie (OHL) 13. Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle (WHL [https://thehockeynews.com/whl]) 14. Radim Mrtka, D, Seattle (WHL) 15. Carter Bear [https://thehockeynews.com/whl/players/2025-nhl-draft-prospect-profile-carter-bear], LW, Everett (WHL) 16. Logan Hensler, D, Wisconsin (NCAA [https://thehockeynews.com/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 [https://thehockeynews.com/ncaa/latest-news/malcolm-spence-commits-to-michigan], 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) 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 [https://thehockeynews.com/news/news/meet-simon-wang-the-ojhl-defenseman-nhl-scouts-are-flocking-to-see], 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) 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) 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) 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) 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 [https://thehockeynews.store/products/print-subscription?variant=41971430129798] 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.
