The 2025 NHL Draft season has officially kicked off following the conclusion of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, marking the first major event on the prospect calendar. As the anticipation builds for the upcoming draft, it’s time to delve into the top prospects to keep an eye on.
This preseason top 32, along with 38 honorable mentions, totaling 70 players to watch, is the second ranking of the 2025 class. It comes after the way-too-early top 28 and will be followed by a preliminary top 64 in November, a midseason top 64 in January, a March top 64, a post-U18 worlds top 32 in May, and the final top 100 in June. The excitement is already palpable as the draft season heats up.
Among the standout prospects in this age group, which includes 2007s and late-2006s, are American center James Hagens, Swedish center Anton Frondel, Canadian forwards Porter Martone and Roger McQueen, OHL exceptional status forward Michael Misa, and defensemen Matthew Schaefer and Logan Hensler. It appears to be a promising year for Sweden and the QMJHL as a whole, setting the stage for some top-tier talent to emerge.
The rankings, provided in a sortable and customizable user interface, are structured into four tiers: 1, 2-8, 9-12, and 13-32+. It’s a comprehensive breakdown of the prospects that showcases the depth of talent available for the upcoming draft.
It’s important to note that while input is gathered from scouts, coaches, general managers, and team staff, the evaluations and rankings presented are the sole opinion of the writer. The insights provided offer a glimpse into the potential stars of tomorrow as the draft season progresses.
As the excitement mounts and the anticipation builds, fans and analysts alike eagerly await the unveiling of the next wave of NHL talent. With the draft season in full swing, all eyes are on the top prospects as they vie for a spot at the next level.
Illustration by Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic. Photos by Nic Antaya, Michael Miller / ISI Photos, Chris Tanouye / Getty Images.