The 2025 NHL Draft class is built on projection. With no unanimous No. 1 and a tightly packed group of prospects through the first two rounds, this year’s draft is more about team identity, organizational need, and draft philosophy than ever before. From dynamic playmakers and towering defenders to athletic goaltenders and high-motor depth pieces, teams will have no shortage of options—just difficult decisions.
This mock draft is not a ranking of our favorite prospects or a reflection of who we would take. It’s a forecast of what NHL teams are most likely to do on draft day. Our team has considered roster construction, past drafting trends, prospect pool gaps, and behind-the-scenes rumblings to predict how the board might realistically unfold.
This project was a team effort, with contributions from the Smaht Scouting staff:
Josh Tessler, SpokedZ, Thomas Gagné, Gray Matter, Austin Garret, Iván Ortiz, Tom Watson, Dan Haurin, and Alex Appleyard.
Let’s get to it.
1. New York Islanders – Matthew Schaefer, LHD, Erie (OHL)
6’2″, 183 lbs | 09/05/2007 | Hamilton, ON, Canada
Scout: Josh
The Islanders covet structure, competitiveness, and reliability on the back end—qualities that Matthew Schaefer delivers in spades. He’s a poised, mobile defenseman who impacts every shift with high-end skating, sharp reads in transition, and a calm confidence reminiscent of Drew Doughty at his best. What makes Schaefer the right fit at first overall isn’t just his all-situations upside—it’s how seamlessly his game aligns with New York’s identity. He can anchor tough matchups, lead breakouts, and tilt the ice without sacrificing defensive integrity. For a franchise in need of a foundational presence on the blue line, Schaefer offers exactly that: a future top-pairing pillar who brings control, pace, and a competitive edge to every scenario.
2. San Jose Sharks – Michael Misa, C/LW, Saginaw (OHL)
6’1″, 185 lbs | 02/16/2007 | Oakville, ON, Canada
Scout: Josh
For a franchise in the early stages of a rebuild, Michael Misa offers the kind of all-around, dynamic forward the Sharks can build around. He’s a true dual-threat—agile, creative, and relentless on both sides of the puck. Misa’s offensive game blends high-end puck handling under pressure with sharp instincts in the offensive zone, making him a constant threat on the rush or in tight quarters. He supports the play well defensively, helps recover pucks deep in his own zone, and shows the speed and effort to transition quickly up ice. His ability to delay, pivot, and create lanes reflects a level of maturity rare for his age, and his one-touch finishing adds another layer of danger. There are shades of a young Tyler Seguin in how he processes and executes. For San Jose, Misa represents a smart, competitive forward with top-line upside and a motor built for the modern game.
3. Chicago Blackhawks – Anton Frondell, C, Djurgården (HockeyAllsvenskan)
6’0″, 196 lbs | 05/07/2007 | Trångsund, Sweden
Scout: Thomas
The Blackhawks are building around a core of high-end skill and structure, and Anton Frondell brings the kind of responsible, poised two-way game that complements that foundation. He’s a mature, detail-oriented forward who excels in supporting play, managing transitions, and making smart, controlled decisions under pressure. While Frondell isn’t the flashiest player on the board, his blend of steady skating, strong off-puck reads, and puck distribution makes him a valuable piece in a lineup that needs dependable contributors behind the stars. With time, added assertiveness, and improved decisiveness in the offensive zone, Frondell projects as a middle-six center or wing who can be trusted in all situations. For a team like Chicago, that’s a critical building block.
4. Utah Mammoth – James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA)
5’10”, 176 lbs | 11/03/2006 | Hauppauge, NY, USA
Scout: Gray
I feel that this pick marks a pivotal point that could sway the next group of picks in a number of ways, and I could go any which way here. Personally I would take Hagens if he falls; and Hagens makes a lot of sense here as a highly skilled potential star piece to add to a young offensive core that’s in the making; but I could just as easily see Utah going for more size in a Porter Martone, or potentially seeing what they have in terms of their young forward group as having enough high-end skilled players, and go for a Brady Martin instead for example, whom they’ve been linked to recently. Utah has a lot of options here; it’s a tough call to predict, and I don’t feel remotely confident that Hagens is the direction they go, but I think it makes a lot of sense.
5. Nashville Predators – Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton (QMJHL)
6’2″, 179 lbs | 04/11/2007 | St-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
Scout: SpokedZ
The Nashville Predators use their first of three picks in round one to take Moncton Wildcats center Caleb Desnoyers. Nashville has drafted an abundance of forwards over the last few years, however given the gap between Schaefer and the next best D, drafting a forward here is a no brainer. In 2024, the Predators selected Yegor Surin & Teddy Stiga- two centers with decent upside. That being said, Desnoyers projects to be a legit top 6 center with size and skill and a motor we know Barry Trotz loves. Porter Martone, Jake O’Brien, and Brady Martin are other plausible options here.
6. Philadelphia Flyers – Porter Martone, RW, Brampton (OHL)
6’3″, 196 lbs | 10/26/2006 | Peterborough, ON, Canada
Scout: Alex
The Flyers have a glaring organisational need at C. However, if the first five picks of the draft fall this way Martone would be the clear BPA in terms of both upside and floor, and frankly the Broad Street club need to add top end talent more than anything else. Martone would immediately be the No. 1 prospect in the organisation and the second best young player after Michkov.
7. Boston Bruins – Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford (OHL)
6’2″, 170 lbs | 06/16/2007 | Toronto, ON, Canada
Scout: SpokedZ
The Boston Bruins have not picked inside the top 10 since selecting Dougie Hamilton ninth in 2011 and their lack of dynamic players in their prospect pool reflect that. Simply put, they need to swing for the fences on upside. Jake O’Brien, a 6’2” center out of Brantford in the OHL, provides that upside. Few, if any, players in this class are as creative as O’Brien. He’s a deceptive playmaker with high-end vision that breaks ankles at will. He has lots of physical runway left, and hopefully that will aid his skating and pace. His ridiculous passing and playmaking ability provide a pathway for him to become a top-six center in the NHL, and that is something the Boston Bruins desperately need. They also may consider a player like Brady Martin here given his style of play that we know Boston’s management loves.
8. Seattle Kraken – Radim Mrtka, RHD, Seattle (WHL)
6’6″, 198 lbs | 06/09/2007 | Czechia
Scout: Dan
Seattle is a team that has a fairly promising future up front already, having used every 1st round pick in franchise history up to this point on forwards. This year, they add a defenseman to the mix that can bring more size to their blueline than Dunn and Evans can, while playing a similar style of defense to what Ron Francis has coveted in the past.
9. Buffalo Sabres – Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
6’0″, 176 lbs | 03/16/2007 | Elmira, ON, Canada
Scout: Austin
While Victor Eklund would be a dream for me personally, if I’m the GM of Buffalo I am well aware that the fan base is sick of taking small forwards who aren’t panning out immediately to the NHL roster. The funny thing is, and I know they’re two completely different archetype of players with different skillsets, but I could pretty much copy and paste what I wrote about Dylan Cozens in 2019 for the Sabres regarding a preference that he play on the wing and defer in transition. I think Martin will be best served on the wing where he can use his physicality on the forecheck and isn’t asked to do things that are outside his skillset (transition the puck for entries) and it limits his biggest weakness which is his lateral mobility and pace of play. In the offensive zone this will allow him to get to slot and the inside of the ice off-puck, he has great vision when he has time to pre-scan, and has great hands to play in small area spaces. He gives the Sabres something in the prospect pool they don’t have at forward, and after the hit on Tage Thompson that saw no response from the NHL roster last year that the fanbase is still up in arms about (and sounds like Tage is still upset too after a recent interview), it will make my fans happy as well.
10. Anaheim Ducks – Roger McQueen, F, Brandon (WHL)
6’5″, 190 lbs | 10/02/2006 | Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Scout: Gray
The Ducks love their solid middle-six players; I’ve no doubt Brady Martin is high on their list, but as he’s not available, McQueen feels like their next target. I’m not a big fan of McQueen nor a big believer in the upside, but NHL teams have shown a lot of interest in the player they think he could be, and he seems like very much Anaheim’s type if he makes it to 10. I would take Victor Eklund or Cullen Potter here, as I see them as much better upside bets.
11. Pittsburgh Penguins – Victor Eklund, LW, Djurgården (HockeyAllsvenskan)
5’11”, 161 lbs | 10/03/2006 | Stockholm, Sweden
Scout: Alex
The Penguins prospect pool needs help everywhere, and while C especially is the big need, with McQueen and O’Brien already gone it would take a real reach to solidify that spot here. Instead, taking the speedy, shifty, high skilled Eklund would mean going BPA. He would instantly be the Penguins top prospect and one of only a couple of players in the pipeline with clear top line upside.
12. Pittsburgh Penguins – Jackson Smith, LHD, Tri-City (WHL)
6’3″, 190 lbs | 05/13/2007 | Calgary, AB, Canada
Scout: Iván
If with their previous pick they can add an offensive talent, I wouldn’t see anything wrong with betting on one of the best defenders available in this draft class here. Smith needs time, but he has one of the highest upsides, raw offensive tools and the Pens can afford to let him develop.
13. Detroit Red Wings – Kashawn Aitcheson, LHD, Barrie (OHL)
6’1″, 198 lbs | 09/21/2006 | Toronto, ON, Canada
Scout: Thomas
Kashawn Aitcheson will assuredly be gone in that range of the draft and with the Red Wings recent strategy of shooting for players that might not have the highest ceiling in the first round of the draft and them going with forwards a lot lately in this range, Aitcheson would introduce some variety in their prospect pool. A punishing defensman with some interesting offensive tools, a player like Aitcheson could be an interesting fit with budding offensive defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellika and even if that doesn’t work too well, you’d get one of the most entertaining bottom pairing defenseman in the league.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets – Lynden Lakovic, F, Moose Jaw (WHL)
6’4″, 185 lbs | 12/12/2006 | Kelowna, BC, Canada
Scout: Thomas
Maybe outside of their 2024 draft class, the Columbus Blue Jackets have bet on skill-first players in the first couple of rounds of the draft, with players like Gavin Brindley, Andrew Strathmann, William Whitelaw or even Denton Mateychuk. With Lakovic, the Blue Jackets would get one of the most skilled players in the draft. A deft puckhandler with top-tier one-on-one skill and creativity in the offensive zone, all while boasting an imposing 6ft4 frame. There are questions with Lakovic’s actual physicality level and how he uses that size, but that can be improved. Columbus admittedly have a lot of wingers already, but the potential value of a player like Lakovic and the prospect of him on a line with Adam Fantilli is just too tantalizing to pass up.
15. Vancouver Canucks – Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle (WHL)
6’0″, 183 lbs | 02/09/2007 | Sherwood Park, AB, Canada
Scout: Tom
The Canucks are reportedly shopping the 15th overall pick to find a top six forward who’s ready to make an impact now. Replacing Miller and Boeser in one short off-season seems unlikely, however, so in the meantime, they might as well go ahead and make the pick.
With Cootes, they’re getting a player who has the tools to become a top six forward, but also a player who will endear himself to the fanbase with his puck battling skills, defensive attributes and his offence.
We believe he has a chance to stick at centre, if all goes right for Cootes, but if not he can be a valuable winger for the Canucks.
16. Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary) – Logan Hensler, RHD, USNTDP
6’2″, 196 lbs | 10/14/2006 | Woodbury, MN, USA
Scout: Gray
I believe Montréal still views the right side as a primary point of weakness, and that they’d see Hensler as the best RD available after Mrtka is gone, so the connection is easy to make. Personally, I would take Cullen Potter here, as a high-skill high-pace play driver which I see as a bigger need for Montréal, and it’d be a no-brainer given the players available.
17. Montreal Canadiens – Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie (OHL)
6’2″, 201 lbs | 09/22/2006 | Mississauga, ON, Canada
Scout: Gray
I would still be surprised if Montréal ends up making both of these picks, but in the event that they do, I see Spence being the type of player they target. A big power forward with some room to grow, but likely not more than a good bottom-six piece. My choice would be Carter Bear, and it would again be pretty much a no-brainer.
18. Calgary Flames (from New Jersey) – Benjamin Kindel, RW, Calgary (WHL)
5’10”, 176 lbs | 04/19/2007 | Coquitlam, BC, Canada
Scout: Austin
Last year the Flames took a defenseman (Parekh) with their first round pick, and this year they address the other glaring hole in their prospect pool at center with Ben Kindel. Kindel was one of the best shot generators and playmakers in my entire dataset for North American forwards this past year. He has an amazing feel for the game and his vision to see passing lanes develop is among the best in the class. He’s on the smaller side and isn’t a top-end skater, but he’s able to move easily around the ice with pace and get inside of defenders without concern about his size/speed. He’s good at suffocating space defensively, but does not engage physically much and his size does come into play in board battles or getting off the wall against stronger defenders. With time, I think Kindel has one of the higher ceilings of the forwards in this class at producing points and being an offensive weapon.
19. St. Louis Blues – Bill Zonnon, LW, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
6’2″, 190 lbs | 10/03/2006 | Montréal, QC, Canada
Scout: Josh
The St. Louis Blues have long valued structure, grit, and defensive responsibility—and Bill Zonnon fits that mold perfectly. He’s a mature, two-way forward who thrives in high-traffic areas, supports play with strong positioning, and brings a reliable presence in all three zones. Zonnon’s game isn’t flashy, but it’s fundamentally sound. He makes smart, simple plays under pressure, kills rushes with intelligent stick work and positioning, and brings physicality along the boards. His ability to support breakouts, stabilize lines, and contribute on the penalty kill gives him a clear path to middle-six NHL utility. For a team like St. Louis, looking to reinforce its identity with dependable, pro-ready habits, Zonnon is a seamless fit.
20. Columbus Blue Jackets (via Minnesota) – Carter Bear, C/LW, Everett (WHL)
6’0″, 176 lbs | 11/04/2006 | Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Scout: Thomas
Being a top 15 talent, such a fall for Carter Bear is probably unlikely, but at this point would become unbelievable value for the Blue Jackets. Bear possesses one of the highest motors in the draft and positional flexibility, playing all 3 forward positions and playing at a high-level at all times. Columbus has valued those high-effort types recently and even if Bear’s offense doesn’t translate at a top 6 level, you’re getting a fantastic bottom 6 option who’ll annoy the hell out of your opponent.
21. Ottawa Senators – Blake Fiddler, RHD, Edmonton (WHL)
6’4″, 207 lbs | 07/09/2007 | Nashville, TN, USA/Canada
Scout: Dan
With Sanderson and Chabot being anchors on the left side of Ottawa’s blue line and a fairly deep forward core already in place, Ottawa looks to add a long term piece on the right side of their defense corps. Fiddler is a bigger player who skates very well for his size and plays a fairly simple game, he could be a nice compliment to either of Ottawa’s top-2 pairings in the future.
22. Philadelphia Flyers (via Colorado) – Cole Reschny, F, Victoria (WHL)
5’10”, 183 lbs | 04/06/2007 | Macklin, SK, Canada
Scout: Alex
With all the top centers off the board when pick No.6 rolled around? The Flyers solidify the positional need in their prospect pool, and they do so by picking up one of the smartest, most skilled and highest upside players who is likely available outside of the top 15. Size is really the only flaw with Reschny and he has a chance to be a good top six NHLer, with a chance to stick at C.
23. Nashville Predators (via Tampa Bay) – Justin Carbonneau, RW, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
6’1″, 190 lbs | 11/25/2006 | Lévis, QC, Canada
Scout: SpokedZ
With their second pick of the first round, Nashville stays in the QMJHL and selects right wing Justin Carbonneau. Outside of the top 10, options become pretty limited in terms of players with future top of the lineup potential in this draft class. At 16, the Preds find a top of the lineup potential player in Carbonneau. This season, he has been a human highlight reel and very well may be the best puck handler of the entire class. He is a dazzling playmaker that matches skill with pace. He’ll need to continue improving his decision-making and willingness to use his teammates, however that should come with time and development.
24. Los Angeles Kings – Sascha Boumedienne, LHD, Boston University (NCAA)
6’2″, 183 lbs | 01/17/2007 | Oulu, Finland
Scout: Iván
I think the Kings are entering this Draft with the need to add young talent on defense or look to strengthen the center position for the future. With that context, picking up Boumedienne would be very good news. Plus, the Kings have previously shown a willingness to bet on Swedish defensemen so that pick can make sense.
25. Chicago Blackhawks (via Toronto) – Cullen Potter, LW, Arizona State (NCAA)
5’9″, 161 lbs | 01/10/2007 | Hortonville, WI, USA
Scout: Thomas
The theme of recent Chicago Blackhawks have been speed, size be damned for the most part. Speedy players like Oliver Moore or John Mustard have been the focus. Fans and media have been theorizing they might get away from that slightly for potential roster fit reasons, but the best pure skater in the class, Cullen Potter here is just too good value to pass up and it’s somewhat likely to happen, the hawks brass valuing such players more than most teams in recent years. Having one of the highest ceilings of the draft period, regardless of where he might go, Potter was one of the premier players of a pretty good NCAA team as a first time draft eligible player and posting excellent results overall in that role, which is a very impressive feat. His style is projectable to the NHL even if he might want to iron out some bad habits, like not looking for teammates enough in some situations and being maybe a little too tunnel-focused, but his high-end offensive tools overall are more than worth the bet in that range of the draft.
26. Nashville Predators (via Vegas/San Jose) – Cameron Reid, LHD, Kitchener (OHL)
5’11”, 183 lbs | 04/08/2007 | Aylmer, ON, Canada
Scout: SpokedZ
The Predators use their final pick of the first round to take puck-moving, offensive defenseman Cameron Reid from the Kitchener Rangers. Reid may not be the biggest or most physical defenseman in the class, but he’s still a more than capable defender. He uses his awareness, mobility, and patience to keep attackers to the outside and shuts down passing lanes. His skating ability drives his breakout game well. He retrieves pucks, avoids forecheckers, and can transport up ice himself. Reid provides Nashville with a blend of play-driving and reliability from the back end that should translate quite well to the NHL with refinement.
27. Washington Capitals – Shane Vansaghi, RW, Michigan State (NCAA)
6’2″, 207 lbs | 10/11/2006 | St. Louis, MO, USA
Scout: Austin
Was really hoping that Blake Fiddler would drop to this range of the draft as a RHD in the prospect pool is a big need for the Capitals. So instead, why not go and get Tom Wilson a bash brother? Vansaghi played the least amount of minutes at 5v5 in my data set per game at 7.5 minutes. But, oh boy, were those impactful minutes. For my money he’s the best hitter in the draft as he catches players at time where he hits hard and separates them from the puck. He has a lot of skill for a guy who plays a power forward game and it showed especially when he got to play on the PP. He’s a good one touch passer but needs some more puck skill to really have that top 6 upside. A safe floor with a good ceiling and the possibility that he could have Tom Wilson pass him the torch eventually? Washington could do a lot worse.
28. Winnipeg Jets – Cameron Schmidt, RW, Vancouver (WHL)
5’8″, 152 lbs | 01/19/2007 | Prince George, BC, Canada
Scout: Tom
The Winnipeg Jets could probably use some left-handed defensemen, to shore up their prospect pool, however, as one of the teams very much in their window to win a cup, I believe they’ll look to trades and free agency to fix that position on their roster this summer.
With this in mind, it became hard to pass on Schmidt as a replacement for Ehlers. Schmidt is a speedy goal scorer who we think will become a great top-9 forward and complimentary piece for a team like Winnipeg. They have the brawn in their depth already, and Schmidt can add a scoring touch, while also giving the Jets some grit and edginess.
29. Carolina Hurricanes – Milton Gästrin, C/LW, MoDo (HockeyAllsvenskan)
6’1″, 183 lbs | 06/02/2007 | Örnsköldsvik, Sweden
Scout: Gray
I see Cullen Potter as the player Carolina is targeting with this pick, but as he’s no longer available, I think Gästrin makes sense for them. A really effective two-way center with some skill who could potentially slot into a middle-six in Carolina; it’s a good bet to make for a contending team especially. Considering Carolina doesn’t have another pick until the late 3rd round, I’d probably take my chance on Alexander Zharovsky here; but he’s likely a longer-term project, and Gästrin is a solid pickup as well, with less risk.
30. San Jose Sharks (via Dallas) – Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, F, Luleå (SHL)
6’3″, 185 lbs | 02/01/2007 | Adelaide, Australia / Sweden
Scout: Josh
Jakob Ihs-Wozniak gives the Sharks a high-upside swing late in the first round—a north-south center with size, mobility, and transitional playmaking instincts. At 6’3″, he brings a valuable blend of reach and skating ability, attacking through the middle with pace and purpose. His best work comes off the rush, where he delays, distributes, and creates lanes with smart decisions under pressure. While his game still needs refining—particularly in terms of off-puck scanning, physical consistency, and defensive stick use—the tools are there to mold a middle-six contributor with second-line potential. For a San Jose team building toward a new core, Ihs-Wozniak offers a well-rounded skill set that, if developed properly, could yield a versatile, impactful forward who drives play in all three zones.
31. Philadelphia Flyers (via Edmonton) – Ivan Ryabkin, C, Dynamo Moscow (MHL)
6’0″, 170 lbs | 04/25/2007 | Balakovo, Russia
Scout: Alex
Three picks in the first round means a team can take some real risks with less concern. While he has sky high talent, make no mistake, Ryabkin is a risk who is on some teams do-not-draft lists. Perceived lack of professionalism, combined with inconsistency and rumors about poor combine interviews and showing up out of shape mean some question whether he will come close to reaching potential. But the Flyers love their Russian players and trust their room and staff to tame wild horses. If he matures? Ryabkin could be a steal and a top six C one day.
32. Calgary Flames (via Florida) – Eric Nilson, C, Djurgården (J20 Nationell)
6’0″, 154 lbs | 05/11/2007 | Calgary, AB, Canada / Sweden
Scout: Austin
I might be one of Eric Nilson’s biggest fans. I thought he was Sweden’s second best forward in the u18s as he impacted just about every shift that I saw. He’s the one player in this draft that I’d love to have a conversation with about how he processes the game and at the speed he does. Rarely does he not make the optimal play and he’s able to get to second and third progressions and see where plays are going better than most in this draft. He has slippery skill and is an engine in transition as he’s able to use great pace and lateral mobility to get through the neutral zone. He makes great passes to scoring areas. He’s a player that will take longer to develop because of the lack of physical strength, and I want to see him become more productive as he progesses through the men’s leagues in Sweden, but he’s a player that has top 15 talent that fell the end of the first round.
33. San Jose Sharks – Jack Nesbitt, C, Windsor (OHL)
6’4″, 183 lbs | 01/12/2007 | Sarnia, ON, Canada
Scout: Josh
At 6’4″ with strong skating mechanics and a detail-oriented two-way game, Jack Nesbitt offers the Sharks a projectable center with bottom-six NHL upside. He plays a direct, hardworking style—relentlessly hunting pucks in the offensive zone, engaging physically, and funneling plays toward the net or to nearby support. While his foot speed and offensive ceiling are modest, Nesbitt compensates with smart positioning, a heavy stick, and flashes of skill under pressure. He’s rarely out of place defensively and uses his reach effectively to disrupt opposing possessions. For a team like San Jose that’s rebuilding from the ground up, Nesbitt adds valuable center depth and a high-floor, low-risk profile with potential to evolve into a reliable 3C or 4C at the NHL level.
34. Chicago Blackhawks – Joshua Ravensbergen, G, Prince George (WHL)
6’4″, 181 lbs | 11/27/2006 | North Vancouver, BC, Canada
Scout: Thomas
Chicago already has a few decent goalie prospects, like Adam Gajan and Drew Commesso as well as an already established young goalie in Spencer Knight, which they got back in the Seth Jones trade, so I could see the argument for another position here, but the value is just too great here for Ravensbergen. It’s already a bit unlikely he completely falls off the first round and with goalies being a bit voodoo sometimes, there really isn’t a reason not to draft him if you’re Chicago. Tall, athletic and skilled, Ravensbergen has all the hallmarks of a future NHL starter.
35. Nashville Predators – Henry Brzustewicz, RHD, London (OHL)
6’2″, 194 lbs | 02/09/2007 | Washington, MI, USA
Scout: SpokedZ
Realistically, the Predators selecting Brzustewicz right after Reid here may be somewhat redundant. Brzustewicz is a smooth-skating, right-shot defenseman with size and defensive ability. He is a high-activity defenseman with well-rounded tools across the board. I think he’s more willing to use his tools and creativity and take on more risk than Reid does, so the possibility of adding both to the prospect pool could be intriguing if I’m Nashville.
36. Philadelphia Flyers – Alexander Zharovsky, C/W, Ufa (MHL)
6’1″, 163 lbs | 02/22/2007 | Klin, Russia
Scout: Alex
The Flyers were a prominent feature at Gold Star’s camp, one of the few teams to send a full delegation. The star of the show there? Zharovsky. While the NHL still suffers from an at times illogical “Red Scare”, the Flyers are happy to take Russian players and don’t see the risk other teams do. If the Klin native is available in the early second he could be a home-run type pick. His talent level on paper is arguably top 15 in the entire draft. The franchise have somewhat of a traffic jam on wing right now, but the fact Zharovsky will only be available from summer 2027 might actually be appealing as well given the Flyers pool make-up.
37. Washington Capitals (via Boston) – Haoxi Wang, D, Oshawa (OHL)
6’6″, 209 lbs | 07/27/2007 | Beijing, China / Canada
Scout: Austin
The Capitals biggest gap in their prospect pool comes at the backend where, after Cole Hutson, it’s a hodgepodge of low-upside defensemen who may one day play in the NHL. While there are certainly more projectable defensemen available for them to pick here, I have them swinging for the fences in the same vein they did with Cole Hutson last year. Wang has size, length, and is a high-end skater. The jump to the OHL proved he was still far too raw to be seen as a first round talent, but the development plan he’s laid out for himself gives me hope that in 3-5 years he could one day be the homerun that the Capitals are hoping for. His mental processing of the game needs a lot of work, but there are tools here that warrant using their extra pick in the second round to take the swing.
38. Seattle Kraken – Kurban Limatov, LHD, Dynamo Moscow (MHL)
6’4″, 187 lbs | 03/20/2007 | Moskva, Russia
Scout: Dan
The Kraken use the top of this draft to double down on improving their future blue line, this time adding a left shot defenseman in Limatov. Although Limatov had his ups and downs this year, he has shown above average puck moving abilities and tools. If he can improve some of his puck management and decision making, this could pay off great for Seattle.
39. Buffalo Sabres – Pyotr Andreyanov, G, Krasnaya Armiya Moscow (MHL)
6’2″, 207 lbs | 01/22/2007 | Volsk, Russia
Scout: Austin
The draft board hasn’t been kind to the Sabres in this mock draft. There are certainly talented forwards left to take, but I’m going to address the enigma of the Sabres prospect pool at goaltender with my #1 rated goalie in the 2025 draft. Levi and UPL are going to duke it out for the starter’s net this year, but it is a make-or-break year for the Sabres goaltending duo to see if either of them can stick as a 1a goalie. Andreyanov will get an extended timeline in Russia to develop and hopefully in 3-5 years make his way across the pond to compete for the net.
40. Philadelphia Flyers (via Anaheim) – Semyon Frolov, G, Spartak Moscow (MHL)
6’3, 203 lbs | 01/17/2007 | Togliatti, Russia
Scout: Alex
The Flyers have goalies coming, but have a real issue in net right now and seemingly want as many lottery tickets as possible in the draft. Frolov has the size and athleticism to be a high end goalie one day, even if he needs some polish before he gets there. With the run on goalies having already started, the Flyers will likely be involved in taking one of the first few goalie names off the board.
41. Montreal Canadiens (via Pittsburgh) – William Horcoff, C, USNTDP
6’4″, 181 lbs | 01/23/2007 | Birmingham, MI, USA
Scout: Gray
One of the things the Canadiens and much of their fanbase feel they are lacking is size in the forward group, and I think they try to tackle that here. There are a few very big boy options for that with this pick; Horcoff, Nestrasil, Prokhorov, West, to name a few; and I could see Montréal going for any one of them, but I think they’ll lean towards the physicality of Horcoff. They will have probably seen a good amount of Horcoff this season, playing for the University of Michigan with Michael Hage, and as a physical player who will go to the dirty areas and make something happen, I think that’s what Montréal is looking for. I wouldn’t do it, I’d wanna swing for more upside; a Michal Svrcek, L.J. Mooney or Ryker Lee, or one of the other big boys I mentioned if you want size; but if a big, physical bottom-six guy is what they’re looking for, Horcoff is a fine option.
42. New York Islanders – Vaclav Nestrasil, RW, Muskegon (USHL)
6’5″, 187 lbs | 04/06/2007 | Praha, Czechia
Scout: Josh
Vaclav Nestrasil brings the kind of size, physicality, and net-front presence the Islanders have historically valued in their forward group. A true power forward, Nestrasil thrives in tight areas—disrupting plays with an active stick in the defensive zone and creating chaos around the crease offensively. He’s hard to move, willing to battle along the boards, and shows flashes of offensive creativity with interior passes and quick redirections in front of goal. While his puck control and shot release need refinement, and he can force plays under pressure, his north-south style and commitment to moving pucks up ice fit well in a bottom-six energy role. For the Islanders, Nestrasil adds size, grit, and a development path as a heavy, disruptive winger who plays with edge and structure.
43. New York Rangers (via Utah/Colorado) – Cole McKinney, C, USNTDP
6’0″, 190 lbs | 03/16/2007 | Chicago, IL, USA/Canada
Scout: Iván
The Rangers also need to add the kind of players who can become part of a rotation in the future with some middle-six upside, and I think McKinney fits that profile—defensively responsible player who contributes across the board, and has the potential to be a really useful asset. He may not have the highest ceiling, but he can be a reliable player for the future
44. Detroit Red Wings – William Moore, C, USNTDP
6’2″, 161 lbs | 03/24/2007 | Mississauga, ON, Canada
Scout: Thomas
William Moore had first round pedigree coming into this year, but questions arose has he progressed through his draft year. While he was one of the better USNTDP players he just didn’t showcase very much advanced skills or a certain dimension that could turn him into a play driver at the NHL level, adopting more of a careful playstyle, letting the play come to him. The offensive tools are all fine, but none elite. His best attributes puckhandling, even under pressure, and his ability to process the game at a high level. Worth the shot here for Detroit.
45. Anaheim Ducks (via Columbus/Philadelphia) – Ryker Lee, F, Madison (USHL)
6’0″, 181 lbs | 11/08/2006 | Wilmette, IL, USA
Scout: Alex
With centers flying off the board just before this pick, a run on goalies having already taken place, and the top second round defensemen gone? BPA is the way for the Ducks here. Ryker Lee has some skating issues that might hold him back, but the Ducks are a team that don’t worry too much about skating and believe they have the staff and structure in place to fix and issues in those areas. At 45 a player whose talent is befitting of the first round is hard to pass up.
46. Utah Mammoth – Daniil Prokhorov, RW, Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)
6’6″, 209 lbs | 04/27/2007 | Krasnodar, Russia
Scout: Gray
Utah in recent years has demonstrated their love for both big boys and Russian players, so who better here than the giant Daniil Prokhorov. Especially considering they went smaller with their first pick, they’re looking to make up their size quota here. I think Prokhorov is a good bet to make if he’s available at this point though; huge with tons of skill and a lot of runway to improve into a potential steal down the line. I would again probably go for Svrcek or Mooney here, or maybe Medvedev as a goalie option; but I think Prokhorov is a good choice.
47. Vancouver Canucks – L.J. Mooney, RW, USNTDP
5’6″, 146 lbs | 03/08/2007 | West Mifflin, PA, USA
Scout: Tom
Mooney is another forward that plays a smart, cerebral game. Players who can read the game well, and have a high hockey IQ should be prioritised by the Canucks this draft, to build a prospect pipeline of players who can potentially have chemistry with Quinn Hughes.
Although undersized, Mooney can leverage his centre of gravity well, and can still attack effectively against larger defensive players. He can also pull off skilled plays in all areas of the offensive zone, and has proven time and again that he’s defensively responsible.
He has the upside of become a great addition for the Canucks.
48. Philadelphia Flyers (via Calgary) – Carter Amico, RHD, USNTDP
6’5″, 205 lbs | 03/15/2007 | Westbrook, ME, USA
Scout: Alex
Given the way the board fell, the Flyers first six picks all ended up being forwards, not by design, but chance. With their final pick in the second round if the draft fell this way it would be shocking if they didn’t take a defenseman or a goalie. While the franchise has not seemed to care too much about size upfront, they have very much vocalized that size and skating on the back-end are priorities. At 6’6 with a smooth stride Amico fits the bill, and my feeling is the Flyers will prioritise defensemen over additional goalie prospects if it comes down to it. They will also likely be able to get a good goalie prospect with their third rounder if they so wish.
49. Montreal Canadiens – Maxim Agafonov, RHD, Ufa (MHL)
6’2″, 198 lbs | 04/10/2007 | Moskva, Russia
Scout: Gray
Here the Habs throw another dart at the board on right defence. I don’t mind Agafonov; I think this is early considering the names that are still on the board, but Montréal has shown time and again that they’re not afraid to reach to get their guy. A physically sound, stable defensive guy on the right side with limited upside; I could easily see him being a player Montréal has their eye on. As always, I’d probably look towards a higher upside guy like Michal Svrcek or Adam Benák, or Quinn Beauchesne if you want a stable RD with some offensive upside, who can move the puck well.
50. New Jersey Devils – Jack Murtagh, C/LW, USNTDP
6’0″, 185 lbs | 08/22/2007 | East Greenbush, NY, USA
Scout: Dan
With this pick, the Devils leave a tad bit of upside on the board to add a player who has a good shot at being a very useful bottom-six forward one day. Murtagh plays a very hard north-south game with solid physicality and a decent shot. For a team that is looking to contend in the immediate future, Murtagh could factor in as a high energy role player sooner rather than later if all breaks right.
51. Boston Bruins (via St. Louis) – Max Psenicka, RHD, Portland (WHL)
6’5″, 185 lbs | 01/18/2007 | Praha, Czechia
Scout: SpokedZ
The Boston Bruins kick off their second round with one of the draft’s biggest second-half risers, 6’4” right-shot defenseman Max Psenicka. After starting the season in Czechia, Psenicka made his move to the WHL and joined the Portland Winterhawks in January. This was a fantastic decision, as he adapted to the WHL instantly and was quickly thrust into Portland’s top 4. Psenicka plays a high-octane, high pace game and is more than willing to use his size and physicality against opponents. That being said, he is not just a bruiser. He is a highly intelligent stopper and a solid rush defender. He has high-end vision and is a breakout machine who certainly does not lack puck skills. If he can continue to tap into his offensive game consistently, he has the potential to be a minute munching top four defenseman in the NHL.
52. Minnesota Wild – Mason West, C, Edina (MNHS)
6’6″, 218 lbs | 08/03/2007 | Edina, MN
Scout: SpokedZ
I’ll be honest, I really couldn’t help myself with this pick for Minnesota. Mason West has one of the most unique profiles we’ve seen from a draft prospect in a long time. He’s a 6’6” forward pivot who, until recently, was teetering back and forth between playing college football or hockey. After returning to Edina High School for his senior year of football, he’ll be heading to the USHL for the remainder of the year and then to Michigan State to play college hockey. West boasts a unique blend of size, mobility, and tools and has flashes of high-end skill. He’s a long term project prospect, but his foundational attributes make for a player with almost limitless upside. With only one pick in the first three rounds of this draft, the Wild may opt for less risk & a shorter development runway, but I would have a hard time not swinging for the fences on Mason West here.
53. San Jose Sharks (via Ottawa) – Jack Ivankovic, G, Brampton (OHL)
6’0″, 179 lbs | 05/22/2007 | Mississauga, ON, Canada
Scout: Josh
With Jack Ivankovic, the Sharks land one of the most athletic and technically intriguing goaltenders in the draft. He’s explosive laterally, tracks pucks well through traffic, and owns one of the most reliable gloves in his class. Despite being undersized by modern NHL standards, his ability to read plays, reset quickly, and stay composed under pressure gives him legitimate starter potential. Ivankovic plays with confidence and flair—sometimes venturing a bit too aggressively—but his quick-twitch recovery and refined puck-tracking often bail him out. For a San Jose team looking to stock the pipeline with upside and skill, Ivankovic is a high-reward swing at a premium position.
54. Calgary Flames (via Colorado/Washington) – Sean Barnhill, RHD, USHL
6’5″, 214 lbs | 01/08/2007 | Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Scout: Austin
Barnhill adds some grit as a RHD to the Calgary defensive prospect pool. The lengthy USHL defenseman does a great job patrolling the blue line and initiating contact to separate players from the puck. He has a good first pass in controlled exits and played well under duress in puck retrievals. Not much of an offensive standout, but will provide good bottom four minutes eventually in the NHL
55. Nashville Predators (via Tampa Bay) – Theo Stockselius, F, Djurgården (J20 Nationell)
6’2″, 181 lbs | 07/24/2007 | Norrtälje, Sweden
Scout: SpokedZ
The Predators use pick #55 on Theo Stockselius from Djurgardens IF. In an organization that oozes NHL Draft prospects, Stockselius went quite under the radar despite posting impressive results basically all season. He’s a 6’2” forward who boasts intelligence and skill. He’s a crafty playmaker whos vision stands out in basically every viewing. If he can improve his skating and pace, he certainly has middle-six scoring upside. He also has positional versatility, so it’s not out of the question for him to play higher in an NHL lineup as well.
56. Tampa Bay Lightning – Benjamin Kevan, F, Des Moines (USHL)
6’0″, 183 lbs | 01/03/2007 | Fairfield, CA, USA
Scout: Iván
The Lightning may have different needs, but with this potential scenario, I think Kevan is a solid option to add offensive talent for the future, instead of going with another player who might fill a more urgent positional need, but doesn’t offer the same talent ceiling. This choice could pay off long-term.
57. Seattle Kraken – Eddie Genborg, F, Linköping (J20 Nationell)
6’2″, 185 lbs | 04/20/2007 | Trollhättan, Sweden
Scout: Dan
After using their first two picks in this draft to help bolster their defensive pool, they use their 2nd pick of the second round to help diversify the talent they have in their offensive pool. Genborg brings a blend of physicality, a high end motor, and sneaky offensive tools that give him a real chance to be a role player in Seattle’s middle six in the future.
58. Vegas Golden Knights – Charlie Trethewey, RHD, USNTDP
6’1″, 190 lbs | 08/02/2007 | Ellicott City, MD, USA
Scout: Iván
Vegas usually uses its picks as trade assets, so it seems like a good idea to target players who could increase their value or, if they stick in the organization, help address positional needs. Trethewey looks like a solid bet in that regard, especially in a draft class that thins out on defense as it goes on and he was once considered a top prospect for this promotion.
59. Pittsburgh Penguins – Jacob Rombach, LHD, Lincoln (USHL)
6’6″, 209 lbs | 01/01/2007 | Blaine, MN
Scout: Alex
The run on big defensemen was expected to start in the second round, and very much did. Wang, Barnhill, Amico, Limatov and Psenicka have all gone off the board, and Rombach is the last of the potential “unicorns” remaining. There is a chance he ends up the best of the bunch with better puck-skills than most of his peers. The Penguins have targetted players who are big and physical on their blue-line in recent drafts, and the Minnesota product fits that bill too.
60. Anaheim Ducks – Michal Pradel, G, Tri-City (USH)
6’5″, 194 lbs | 03/10/2007 | Dolny Kubin, SVK
Scout: Gray
I think Anaheim looks to strengthen their goalie pipeline here, which likely puts it between Medvedev and Pradel and I could see either way. I would lean Medvedev, but in the end I see them giving the edge to size and going with the big 6’5” Pradel.
61. Boston Bruins – Alexei Medvedev, G, London (OHL)
6’1″, 165 lbs | 09/10/2007 | St. Petersburg, Russia
Scout: SpokedZ
The Boston Bruins should strongly consider goaltending options with their second pick in round 2. There are rumours swirling about suggesting the run on goaltenders may start early. If Medvedev is available for the Bruins at 61, he would be their best option. Medvedev is a smart, athletic goaltender who is a strong and explosive skater. He’s positionally sound, and is very difficult to beat. The Bruins have some decent goaltending prospects in their system, however it’s never a bad idea to add another. Medvedev made his move to North America earlier than most Russians, and that should give him a leg up especially at the goaltending position.
62. Chicago Blackhawks – Nathan Behm, LW, Kamloops (WHL)
6’2″, 198 lbs | 04/18/2007 | Calgary, AB, Canada
Scout: Thomas
Behm is one of the sneaky most spectacular players in the draft. His ability to cut inside, weave through traffic, to find teammates as well as finding ways to use his above-average shot is great. Chicago here gets a big upside swing with a low floor, as questions remain concerning his defensive game and overall pace of play. If he hits though, watch out.
63. New Jersey Devils – Arvid Drott, RW, Djurgården (J20 Nationell)
6’1″, 187 lbs | 08/11/2007 | Stockholm, Sweden
Scout: Dan
The Devils use their second pick of the draft to take a swing on another player who can help boost the Devils depth on the wing. Drott is a high hockey IQ player who is seemingly always in the right place and the right time, supporting teammates and winning puck battles consistently. With his hockey sense and sneaky higher end shot, he has the chance to progress even further in the future into being a middle-six goal scorer if given a bigger opportunity and all breaking right.
64. Toronto Maple Leafs – Matthew Gard, C, Red Deer (WHL)
6’4″, 192 lbs | 04/07/2007 | Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Scout: Dan
After losing Minten in a trade with Boston back at this year’s trade deadline, the Leafs look to add another bigger Center into their pipeline. Gard skates quite well for his size and showed flashes of higher end ability on a poor offensive team Red Deer last season. With improved consistency, he has the chance to carve his way to a bottom-six Center role in the NHL.