Top 100 Prospects in the 2025 NHL Draft: Ostrower's Rankings
CoreNHL's Michael Ostrower has put together a list of his top 100 prospects eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft.
The draft is less than two weeks away, and defenseman Matthew Schaefer is the betting favorite to go No. 1.
Michael Misa is then expected to go No. 2 to the San Jose Sharks, but after that, anything can happen.
Here is Ostrower’s list of the best prospects heading into the draft:
1. Matthew Schaefer, LD (OHL)
Schaefer does not turn 18 until 10 days before the 2026 NHL Draft cutoff, yet he has emerged as the consensus top prospect in the 2025 class. Standing 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, he already has a professional frame, something that should deter concerns surrounding the broken collarbone he sustained during the WJC in December.
While Schaefer’s athleticism, skating, vision, and playmaking stand out, off the ice, he is wise beyond his years. As the presumptive No. 1 pick, it is hard to envision he does not develop into a top pairing defenseman and future captain at the least, or a superstar at best.
2. Michael Misa, C (OHL)
Spots two through four are essentially a 2A, 2B, and 2C, but Misa edges out the others for the top spot. His offensive talent and overall upside are undeniable, and the fact he maintained a high level of play all season while Anton Frondell and James Hagens experienced late-season dips gives him the edge. That said, taking the next step in his development, whether by cracking an NHL lineup or leading a top NCAA program like Boston University, will be key to maintaining his status as the top forward in the class.
3. Anton Frondell, C (HockeyAllsvenskan)
Frondell’s rankings range from top two to the late teens, but it is difficult to see how anyone could have him outside the top five. Playing for Djurgårdens IF in HockeyAllsvenskan, he showed an impressive work ethic, awareness, and strength on both ends of the ice. He is methodical and has soft hands, allowing him to navigate around and below the net incredibly well. Sure, there are concerns with his consistency and overall upside, but his production taking such a significant leap once the calendar turned to 2025 should leave no doubt he is trending the right direction.
4. James Hagens, C (NCAA)
It has been a trend to predict Hagens to fall outside the top-five, and as a result, he has arguably become the most underrated player in this draft.
Weighing in at 185 pounds at the combine, the Hauppauge, Long Island native is quickly dismissing those doubting if his body can handle professional hockey. In his DY-1, he set the single-tournament points record at the U18’s (22) and scored 149 points (57 goals, 92 assists) in 86 games with the NTDP. Then, he challenged himself and joined Boston College at 17-years-old, posting a point-per-game season that included a gold medal win as the United States’ second-line center at the WJC in Ottawa. While he had his fair share of struggles, they were just that — struggles! He never looked out of place, and his prominent role on one of college hockey’s best teams has somehow been overlooked.
5. Porter Martone, RW (OHL)
6. Victor Eklund, LW (HockeyAllsvenskan)
7. Jake O'Brien, C (OHL)
8. Caleb Desnoyers, C (QMJHL)
9. Carter Bear, C/LW (WHL)
While Bear’s season came to an unfortunate end with an Achilles laceration on March 7, everything he did to that point makes him deserving of a top-10 selection. The 18-year-old stands out, whether it is by battling for pucks or slipping into open ice. His 40 goals ranked seventh in the WHL, and his 0.714 goals per game ranked fourth, a testament not to an elite shot, but to his natural scoring instincts and positioning.
At the profesional level, Bear’s well-rounded, two-way game should translate effectively, but living up to a top-10 pick status will hinge on two key factors: his ability to better leverage his shot from distance and whether he can add strength to his 179-pound frame. Regardless, if he drops to the late teens or early 20’s like some project, whoever lands him will be getting great value.
10. Radim Mrtka, RD (WHL)
11. Cole Reschny, C (WHL)
12. Jackson Smith, LD (WHL)
13. Roger McQueen, C (WHL)
14. Kashawn Aitcheson, LD (OHL)
15. Logan Hensler, RD (NCAA)
In 14 viewings of Hensler, nothing has led me to believe he can’t become a reliable defenseman at the NHL level. He is a strong skater, unafraid to attack the middle of the ice and drive the net. His accurate, powerful wrist shot consistently finds its way through traffic, creating rebounds and quality scoring chances. Even as one of the older players in the class, his decision to join the University of Wisconsin in his DY was a significant leap, yet he more than held his own, even while playing on a struggling Badgers team that finished 13-21-3, .
Given the team’s disappointing season in a highly competitive conference, it is difficult to say whether Hensler’s occasional struggles were due to his own ability or the situation around him. However, one thing is clear: his ability to perform under tough circumstances should be seen as a major positive.
16. Benjamin Kindel, RW (WHL)
17. Brady Martin, C (OHL)
18. Lynden Lakovic, LW (WHL)
19. Jack Murtagh, C (NTDP)
20. Sascha Boumedienne, LD (NCAA)
Boston University’s stellar second-half of the 2024-25 season would not have been possible without Boumedienne. A staple alongside Tom Willander (Vancouver Canucks, 2023 No. 11), Boumedienne controlled the defensive and neutral zones with his skating, vision, and accuracy. As one of the NCAA’s youngest players, he came into his own during the Terriers’ Frozen Four run, and even dominated the U18’s with Sweden with 14 points (one goal, 13 assists) in seven games.
To live up to a top-20 draft selection, he will need to better utilize his shot and become a more consistent player, but the reality is few defenseman have Boumedienne’s upside, especially knowing he will continue developing under Jay Pandolfo’s incredible expertise and staff.
21. Justin Carbonneau, RW (QMJHL)
22. Cullen Potter, C/LW (NCAA)
23. Braeden Cootes, C (WHL)
24. Jakob Ihs Wozniak, RW (J20 Nationell)
25. Cole McKinney, C (NTDP)
26. Shane Vansaghi, RW (NCAA)
Vansaghi has one of the highest floors among non-lottery draft picks, highlighted by a 6-foot-2, 216 pound frame. He dominates below the net with his physicality and awareness, and he possesses an underrated shot, similar to current Minnesota Wild forward, Marcus Foligno. While Vansaghi’s role at Michigan State is relatively limited to third-line ice time, there is no reason to believe he can’t develop into a capable middle-six, scoring winger at the NHL level.
27. Jack Nesbitt, C (OHL)
28. Henry Brzustewicz, RD (OHL)
Brzustewicz very well could finish his career as a top-three defenseman from this class. The London Knights blue liner has impressive offensive instinct and can read the play like few others. He can score from anywhere on the ice, and his defensive ability is strong for his age. Spending another two years in London will only strengthen his game, especially with the increased ice time since so many of his teammates have now aged out of juniors.
29. Ivan Ryabkin, C (USHL)
30. Malcolm Spence, LW (OHL)
31. Luka Radivojevic, RD (USHL)
32. Filip Ekberg, LW (OHL)
Ekberg made a name for himself at the U18s when he scored 10 goals and 18 points in just seven games to set a scoring record for Sweden while leading the country to its seventh consecutive medal. His 2024-25 season’s point total with the Ottawa 67’s slightly underwhelmed, but the eye test told another story, as his hands, speed, and skill distinguish him from his peers. His 5-foot-10, 168 pound frame will likely keep him out of Day 1, but that could make him a steal for whoever grabs him on Day 2.
33. Alexander Zharovsky, RW (MHL)
Zharovsky is one of the most exciting players in this class, not just due to his elite hands and stickwork, but also for his speed, agility, and aggression. However, keeping he has yet to appear in a regular-season KHL game.
While that is not necessarily a red flag, it does carry risk, as the MHL — Russia’s premier junior league — is strong but lags behind its European and North American counterparts. Because of this, it is likely Zharovsky slips to Day 2 — even though I view him as a borderline first-rounder — but his top-20 upside makes him a clear target for any team looking to hit a home run.
34. Cameron Schmidt, RW (WHL)
35. Joshua Ravensbergen, G (WHL)
36. Kristian Epperson, LW (OHL)
37. Blake Fiddler, RD (WHL)
38. Adam Benak, C (USHL)
39. Carter Amico, RD (NTDP)
40. Bill Zonnon, LW (QMJHL)
41. Milton Gästrin, C (J20 Nationell)
42. Michal Pradel, G (USHL)
When it is all said and done, Pradel has a chance to stand as the best goaltender to come from this class. He stands 6-foot-5 and uses his body well, something not incredibly common for tall goaltenders at his age. His positioning is among the best in the draft, allowing him to consistently keep his team in games.
While he has had a few frustrating outings during international tournaments, and his statline does not stand out, the eye test is incredibly promising, and a few years of collegiate and minor league development should fix some of the weaknesses in his game.
43. Nathan Behm, RW (WHL)
44. Oliwer Sjostrom, LD (J20 Nationell)
45. Ryker Lee, C (USHL)
46. Alex Huang, RD (QMJHL)
47. Donny Bracco, LD (NTDP)
Bracco stands just 5-foot-10, 162 pounds, but that is no reason to fear selecting the Locust Valley, Long Island native. He is a natural skater who utilizes his soft hands to set up teammates. Even in games when he does not find the scoresheet, he positively impacts the game, whether it be joining the rush or clearing the defensive zone.
Joining Harvard University in the fall, Bracco will need to fill out and strengthen his defensive game, but his first-round talent could leave teams that passed on him with regret.
48. Jack Ivankovic, G (OHL)
49. William Moore, C (NTDP)
50. Pyotr Andreyanov, G (MHL)
51. Luca Romano, C (OHL)
52. Theo Stockselius, LHF (J20 Nationell)
53. Cameron Reid, LD (OHL)
54. Kurban Limatov, LD (MHL)
55. Conrad Fondrk, C (NTDP)
56. Philippe Veilleux, LW (QMJHL)
57. Eric Nilson, C (J20 Nationell)
58. Vaclav Nestrasil, RW (USHL)
59. Petteri Rimpinen, G (Liiga)
60. Benjamin Kevan, RW/C (USHL)
61. Mateo Nobert, C (QMJHL)
62. L.J. Mooney, RW (NTDP)
63. Gabriel D’Aigle, G (QMJHL)
64. Charlie Cerrato, LW (NCAA)
65. Charlie Trethewey, RD (NTDP)
66. William Horcoff, C (NTDP)
67. Max Westergard, LW (SHL)
68. Max Psenicka, RD (WHL)
69. Jamiro Reber, C (SHL)
70. Ethan Czata, C (OHL)
71. Gustav Hillström, C (J20 Nationell)
72. Jordan Gavin, LW (WHL)
73. Lev Katzin, C (OHL)
74. Yegor Borikov, LW (KHL)
75. Liam Danielsson, RW (SHL)
76. Viggo Nordlund, LW (J20 Nationell)
77. Linards Feldbergs, G (QMJHL)
78. Linus Funck, RD (J20 Nationell)
79. Eddie Genborg, LW (J20 Nationell)
80. Francesco Dell'Elce, LD (NCAA)
81. Melvin Novotny, LW (J20 Nationell)
82. Drew Schock, LD (NTDP)
83. Mason West, RW (USHS-MN)
84. Lasse Boelius, LD (U20 SM-sarja)
85. Sam Laurila, LD (USHL)
86. Ethan Wyttenbach, RW (USHL)
87. Louis-Antoine Denault, G (QMJHL)
88. Lucas Beckman, G (QMJHL)
89. David Lewandowski, LW (WHL)
90. Maxim Agafonov, RD (MHL)
Agafonov is a physical, mobile defensive defenseman, and whichever team drafts him could land a future NHLer with a mid-round pick. He is under contract in Russia for two more seasons and will likely need additional time to develop his offensive game, but his ability to control the net-front and win board battles may convince a team to select him earlier than expected, potentially as early as the 40s or 50s.
91. Haoxi Wang, LD (OHL)
92. Peyton Kettles, RD (WHL)
93. Jacob Rombach, LD (USHL)
94. Patrick Quinlan, G (NTDP)
95. Rihards Griva, RW (DNL U20)
96. Alexander Zetterberg, C (NCAA)
97. Bruno Idzan, LW (USHL)
98. Valter Lindberg, C (SHL)
99. Carlos Händel, RD (QMJHL)
100. Vojtěch Čihař, LW (Czechia)
Honorable Mentions: Matus Lisy, LD (Slovakia), Daniil Petrenko, LW (MHL), Tomas Poletin, LW (U20 SM-sarja), Anthony Cristoforo, RD (OHL), Matias Vanhanen, LW (U20 SM-sarja), Michal Svrcek, C (J20 Nationell), Jérémy Loranger, C (BCHL), Will Felicio, LD (NCAA)
You can check out more of Michael’s work at The Hockey News, follow him on X (michaelost13), Instagram (CoreNHL) or contact him directly at Michael.ostrower@gmail.com
