NHL draft tracker: Schaefer selected at No. 1, Misa goes No. 2 and more as Flames close out Round 1

The 2025 NHL draught is taking spot connected Friday (Round 1) and Saturday (Rounds 2-7) astatine the Peacock Theater successful Los Angeles.

This leafage volition beryllium your location for the full event, arsenic each prime is added below, including scouting notes and squad acceptable investigation for the first-rounders.

More: Prospect rankings
Draft week buzz
Late-round gems
Needs for each 32 teams

Round 1

1. New York Islanders: Matthew Schaefer, D

Team: Erie (OHL)
DOB: 09/05/2007 | Ht: 6-1¾ | Wt: 183 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 17 | G: 7 | A: 15 | P: 22

Scouting notes: Schaefer is projected to go a existent No. 1 cornerstone for years to come. A dynamic beingness astatine some ends of the ice, helium skates with easiness and elite mobility to unopen down opponents successful each situations, portion creating discourtesy with prime modulation play.

Executives and scouts presumption him arsenic a aboriginal elite NHL defenseman and a foundational portion for a championship-caliber roster. Schaefer's quality to power play from the bluish line, play pugnacious matchups, and tally a powerfulness play -- combined with the content successful his quality and enactment -- effect successful galore believing that Schaefer has the tools to go a top-10 defender successful the league, portion wearing a missive arsenic portion of a team's enactment group.

How helium fits: After trading Noah Dobson earlier successful the day, the Islanders drafted their franchise cornerstone defender. Schaefer does everything well, and is simply a dynamic skater with elite mobility. He volition instrumentality connected the toughest matchups, assistance the Islanders exit the portion with creaseless passes and transportation outs, and thrust discourtesy from the backmost end. He's a aboriginal No. 1 defenseman who volition log 25-28 minutes per nighttime and tally the powerfulness play.

Schaefer's quality to dictate play from the backmost extremity is franchise-changing for the Isles. Schaefer volition be improvement campy adjacent week, and it is highly apt helium starts the play successful the NHL lineup. Don't beryllium amazed if Schaefer is moving the powerfulness play and logging large minutes by November.

A precise affectional Schaefer hugged his household and pulled connected the Isles jersey for the archetypal time, with a crab patch. Through tears, helium shared his excitement and emotion, and gained the hearts of a batch much than conscionable Isles fans.

2. San Jose Sharks: Michael Misa, C

Team: Saginaw (OHL)
DOB: 02/16/2007 | Ht: 6-¾ | Wt: 184 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 65 | G: 62 | A: 72 | P: 134

Scouting notes: Granted exceptional presumption successful the OHL successful 2022, Misa delivered 1 of the astir singular goal-scoring seasons successful caller representation successful 2024-25, netting 62 goals successful conscionable 65 games. He projects to beryllium a top-line guardant susceptible of consistently exceeding 90 points per play successful the NHL.

Misa's violative instincts are elite. He processes the crippled astatine a precocious level and executes astatine apical speed. Scouts judge helium is NHL-ready and has the imaginable to go an elite top-line center. Away from the puck, Misa excels astatine uncovering brushed areas successful sum and has a flair for delivering successful clutch moments. His operation of high-end playmaking and goal-scoring quality makes him a changeless dual menace successful the violative zone.

How helium fits: The Sharks kept everyone guessing until the precise past moment, but yet selected Misa. He is simply a peculiar endowment and adds a 2nd elite two-way halfway to the organization. He projects arsenic a first-line star, with dual-threat playmaking and scoring quality -- notching 62 goals successful 65 OHL games.

If Misa's two-way crippled continues to improve, there's a existent accidental the Sharks volition person 2 centers susceptible of dominating play successful each 3 zones with 2024 No. 1 prime Macklin Celebrini already successful place. On the powerfulness play, Misa tin facilitate, beryllium a shooting menace and transportation the puck connected entries. Because of his dual-threat capabilities, helium tin play the bumper, the flank oregon down low. With this selection, the Sharks person the imaginable to diagnostic the champion one-two punch down the mediate for years to come.

3. Chicago Blackhawks: Anton Frondell, C

Team: Djurgarden (SWEDEN-2)
DOB: 05/07/2007 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 198 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 29 | G: 11 | A: 14 | P: 25

Scouting notes: Frondell is simply a versatile two-way guardant that plays some halfway and close wing. His flexibility is charismatic to teams, though galore judge helium is astir apt to scope his imaginable arsenic a winger successful the NHL.

Frondell is coming disconnected 1 of the astir productive seasons by an under-18 subordinate successful Allsvenskan history, giving him a assured projection arsenic a first-line NHL forward. He's a cerebral player, who picks isolated defenders successful one-on-one situations and antiaircraft sum successful violative portion play. The details of Frondell's crippled are translatable, including fantabulous forechecking ability, willingness to onslaught the mediate of the crystal and high-end anticipation connected some sides of the puck.

He has shown play-driving capabilities against men successful the Allsvenskan, which has translated to the NHL for different prospects successful the past. He's projected to nutrient betwixt 75-85 points per season. His benignant of play translates good and has executives excited astir his quality to measurement successful the league successful the adjacent 18 months.

How helium fits: It was nary concealed that Chicago wanted to adhd immoderate size up front, and Frondell is precisely that. He tin play halfway oregon the wing, and brings an fantabulous two-way game. He confidently projects arsenic a first-line guardant that beats defenders one-on-one, drives play connected some ends of the ice, and should people astir a constituent per game.

He plays connected the wrong of the crystal and has the quality to people 30-plus goals successful the NHL due to the fact that of his fantabulous shot. Frondell is simply a twelvemonth distant from playing successful the NHL, and astir apt 2 oregon 3 from hitting his imaginable arsenic a top-line guardant who drives play. Chicago tin play him down Connor Bedard up the middle, oregon connected Bedard's enactment to capitalize connected the versatility helium brings.

4. Utah Mammoth: Caleb Desnoyers, C

Team: Moncton (QMJHL)
DOB: 04/11/2007 | Ht: 6-1½ | Wt: 178 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 56 | G: 35 | A: 49 | P: 84

Scouting notes: Described arsenic a "coach's dream" due to the fact that of his quality to instrumentality an violative oregon checking duty and execute consistently. He makes smart, elemental plays, provides a carnal beingness connected the forecheck and mostly agitates and makes beingness hard connected defenders.

He projects to beryllium a prime second-line halfway with a decent accidental of becoming a first-line player. He's cerebral, with speedy hands and playmaking ability. He's not flashy, but he's consistently effectual and makes intelligent plays with the puck. As 1 scouting manager described "he's the benignant of subordinate you triumph with." Some person softly compared him to Patrice Bergeron and Jonathan Toews, who are lofty comparisons, to accidental the precise least.

How helium fits: The Mammoth kept everyone guessing: Would they commercialized oregon support the pick? Ultimately, they kept the prime and selected Desnoyers. He tin play successful immoderate concern arsenic 1 of the champion two-way players available. He's a serial victor who plays immoderate benignant of crippled required to win. If helium needs to nutrient offense, helium does. If helium needs to unopen down the opponent's best, helium does that too.

Utah needed immoderate size and two-way capableness to mesh with Logan Cooley, Clayton Keller and Dylan Guenther, and Desnoyers is precisely that. He'll beryllium NHL-ready a batch sooner than radical deliberation due to the fact that his nonrecreational details are top-notch. He projects arsenic a play-driving, two-way, 2nd enactment halfway that the Mammoth volition crook to successful cardinal situations. As noted above, there's a batch of Jonathan Toews successful Desnoyers' game, which volition excite Mammoth fans, absorption and coaches.

5. Nashville Predators: Brady Martin, C

Team: Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
DOB: 03/16/2007 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 178 | Shot: R
2024-25 stats: GP: 57 | G: 33 | A: 39 | P: 72

Scouting notes: A Swiss Army weapon benignant of subordinate who volition beryllium astir effectual connected the helping due to the fact that of his beardown partition play, Martin projects arsenic a middle-six guardant susceptible of scoring 20 goals routinely, with upside arsenic a second-line forward.

He's a wrecking shot that volition bring worth successful each 3 zones, connected and disconnected the puck. Martin has scouts raving astir him aft an fantabulous show astatine the IIHF under-18 championship, with galore opining that helium could spell precise aboriginal successful the archetypal round. He's a workhorse without an disconnected switch, who brings a blend of physicality and hard skill. He's a nightmare to incorporate with his brute strength, and forces defenders into precarious positions with bully velocity and willingness to marque "winning" plays.

Several teams mentioned however awesome Martin was during interviews astatine the combine. Combine an charismatic property with the hard-nosed style, and it forms a uncommon operation that is invaluable to galore scouts who judge he's the benignant of subordinate teams request to triumph successful the playoffs. Surely, his notation of Conn Smythe victor Sam Bennett arsenic a relation exemplary grabbed attention.

How helium fits: Another prime that was rumored to beryllium connected the move, the Predators kept it and selected Martin. Martin is simply a earthy subordinate with functional spot and projects to beryllium a middle-six forward. He volition radiance arsenic the games get tighter and much physical, and tin plaything momentum with a superb forecheck oregon large hit.

The hard-nosed benignant of crippled was precise charismatic to galore teams, particularly with Bennett and the Panthers' caller success. Martin needs astatine slightest different play oregon 2 to make his violative game, and portion the Predators did permission immoderate accomplishment with James Hagens and Porter Martone connected the board, they judge Martin tin beryllium an impactful subordinate for years to come.

6. Philadelphia Flyers: Porter Martone, RW

Team: Brampton (OHL)
DOB: 10/26/2006 | Ht: 6-2¾ | Wt: 208 | Shot: R
2024-25 stats: GP: 57 | G: 37 | A: 61 | P: 98

Scouting notes: A big, cerebral forward, Martone is simply a dual-threat violative subordinate with quality to people connected his ain and facilitate. He projects to beryllium a second-line scoring winger who should spot apical power-play minutes.

His competitory quality volition marque him an effectual agitator arsenic helium learns to physically enforce himself connected opponents. He needs to hone the competitiveness and physicality to summation its effectiveness, but helium is precisely the benignant of subordinate teams covet due to the fact that of the unsocial operation of violative endowment and competitory fire.

His unsocial operation of scoring ability, size and hard accomplishment marque him a precise charismatic prospect. While his astir assured projection is arsenic a top-six forward, Martone has a morganatic accidental to go a top-line winger if his skating improves.

How helium fits: The Flyers got a batch bigger and amended with Porter Martone. Considered the smartest subordinate successful the draught by scouts, Martone is simply a dual-threat violative subordinate with fantabulous playmaking and shooting ability. There is an aura of competitiveness and physicality that volition make and volition undoubtedly marque him a instrumentality favourite successful Philly.

Martone projects to beryllium a scoring winger who volition beryllium pugnacious to grip arsenic helium develops his powerfulness guardant game. The Flyers person immoderate elite young players, and Martone has a large framework with elite talent, and tin make discourtesy and marque peculiar plays happen. He needs a twelvemonth oregon 2 to amended his skating to afloat unlock his imaginable arsenic a top-six scorer, but Rick Tocchet is going to emotion this player.

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Charles Barkley announces Porter Martone arsenic No. 6 prime successful NHL draft

NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley helps the Flyers prime Porter Martone with the sixth prime of the NHL draft.

7. Boston Bruins: James Hagens, C

Team: Boston College (H-EAST)
DOB: 11/03/2006 | Ht: 5-10½ | Wt: 177 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 37 | G: 11 | A: 26 | P: 37

Scouting notes: Hagens is projected to beryllium a top-line center, oregon 1 of the NHL's champion second-line centers. He lacks the dynamism of Misa, opting for a highly cerebral and businesslike play style. He brings a bully enactment complaint with fantabulous velocity and passing quality that should spot him efficaciously thrust play astatine the NHL level. Scouts and executives are impressed with the nonrecreational details of his crippled (puck support, winning battles, antiaircraft puck play), and they judge it volition easiness the modulation to the NHL portion helium finds his violative gear.

Another play astatine Boston College to further make a much a dynamic violative cogwheel to go a top-line NHL halfway -- the 1 that had scouts impressed during his NTDP play (with 102 points) -- could beryllium the remedy. After playing connected 1 of assemblage hockey's apical lines with Gabe Perreault (New York Rangers) and Ryan Leonard (Washington Capitals), Hagens would present beryllium relied upon to thrust his ain line, make discourtesy done his ain playmaking and play a important matchup role.

Hagens has the imaginable to beryllium the implicit bundle successful the NHL. His knowing of spacing and quality to expect stands retired among his peers. He's smaller and slighter than different prospects, which worries immoderate teams, but there's a premix of Clayton Keller and Jack Hughes successful him successful presumption of modulation play and creativity.

How helium fits: The enactment starved for centers lucks retired arsenic Hagens falls to No. 7. He's a highly cerebral player, with a nonstop motor, fantabulous velocity and playmaking ability. There is small uncertainty helium volition beryllium a play operator astatine the NHL level. His nonrecreational details are already top-notch with puck support, conflict success, and beardown antiaircraft play.

Another twelvemonth up the roadworthy astatine Boston College volition mean Bruins fans won't person to spell acold to ticker their prized prospect. Hagens volition measurement into the Bruins' lineup arsenic their first-line halfway erstwhile helium is ready, and David Pastrnak volition emotion that. Hagens has 1 of the highest ceilings successful the draft, particularly if his discourtesy continues to develop. Bruins fans should beryllium highly excited to person their halfway of the aboriginal due to the fact that helium should not person been disposable astatine this point.

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Adam Sandler announces Bruins prime astatine NHL draft

Adam Sandler gives a motion to his celebrated "Happy Gilmore" quality to denote the Bruins picking Boston College's James Hagens with the seventh pick.

8. Seattle Kraken: Jake O'Brien, C

Team: Brantford (OHL)
DOB: 06/16/2007 | Ht: 6-1¾ | Wt: 172 | Shot: R
2024-25 stats: GP: 66 | G: 32 | A: 66 | P: 98

Scouting notes: Deceptive and incredibly smooth, O'Brien projects to beryllium a point-producing, top-six halfway with a accidental to go a top-line center. The right-handed pivot is 1 of the champion playmakers successful the draft, creating high-danger chances with regularity; for my money, helium is the champion axenic creator successful the draft.

He consistently manipulates defenders, distributes the puck connected the forehand and backhand and uses fakes that nonstop crook defenders and goalies into pretzels. The improvement volition travel from simplifying violative plays to destruct turnovers caused by holding the puck for excessively long.

O'Brien's changeable is going to beryllium a indispensable improvement country if his passing is to beryllium an elite menace successful the NHL. There is hazard here, due to the fact that he's slighter than different players disposable astatine the halfway position, but helium has country to capable retired implicit the adjacent fewer years. O'Brien's elite playmaking skills volition beryllium that overmuch much invaluable if helium tin adhd a velocity cogwheel and summation his shooting threat.

How helium fits: The Kraken are collecting centers similar infinity stones, but O'Brien's ceiling was excessively bully to walk connected astatine No. 8. O'Brien sees the crystal extraordinarily well, has elite playmaking quality and volition surely assistance facilitate offense. Matty Beniers and Shane Wright play a two-way game, portion O'Brien and Berkly Catton tin thrust offense.

The Kraken are present loaded up the middle, and tin easy determination 1 oregon 2 players to the helping to circular retired their apical six. O'Brien needs a mates of years to physically mature and amended his changeable to go a dual-threat violative player. As it is, helium is much than susceptible of quarterbacking a powerfulness play and facilitating offense. There is nary request for the Kraken to unreserved him, and allowing him to further make his elite playmaking skills mightiness amended his projection to a first-line guardant who tallies a constituent per crippled successful the NHL.

9. Buffalo Sabres: Radim Mrtka, D

Team: Seattle (WHL)
DOB: 06/09/2007 | Ht: 6-5¾ | Wt: 207 | Shot: R
2024-25 stats: GP: 43 | G: 3 | A: 32 | P: 35

Scouting notes: A 6-6, right-handed defenseman with decent mobility who plays successful each situations has scouts precise excited. He's precise hard to get around, routinely thwarting attackers successful their tracks and sidesplitting plays. He projects arsenic a top-four, shutdown defenseman due to the fact that of his fantabulous instrumentality work, mobility and modulation defense. Mrtka uses his mobility to flight pressure, activate successful the unreserved and marque prime passes to the mediate of the ice.

Mrtka should make into a beardown modulation defender, a reliable punishment slayer and businesslike puck mover. He shoots the puck hard and could go much of a scoring menace if helium tin prime his spots to get pucks through. While everything flowed done him successful Seattle, determination are well-placed concerns astir his deficiency of offense.

His size and physicality springiness him the tools to make into a minute-munching, shutdown defender if his mobility continues to progress. His precocious day gives him tons of improvement runway to refine his skating, violative playmaking, and physicality successful each areas of the ice.

How helium fits: A big, right-handed defenseman who plays a hard game, Mrtka is astatine slightest 2 oregon 3 years distant from playing successful the NHL. The Sabres person surely been lacking players who play a hard game, and Mrtka provides that. He is simply a mobile skater with bully puck-moving quality and projects arsenic a shutdown defenseman astatine the NHL level. Mrtka's quality to support successful transition, unit attackers to the extracurricular and termination plays is attractive.

Mrtka has a precocious day and his improvement runway is longer than others, giving him clip to amended his playmaking, prime his spots physically and go an effectual shutdown defender. There was immoderate content the Sabres would instrumentality a forward, and this prime raised immoderate eyebrows, but the Sabres felt they needed a defender similar Mrtka to complement Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power.

10. Anaheim Ducks: Roger McQueen, C

Team: Brandon (WHL)
DOB: 10/02/2006 | Ht: 6-5¼ | Wt: 197 | Shot: R
2024-25 stats: GP: 17 | G: 10 | A: 10 | P: 20

Scouting notes: Described arsenic "a unicorn" due to the fact that he's a 6-5 halfway who skates with the velocity and mobility that you would expect from a smaller player, McQueen a blistery taxable each season. He profiles arsenic a prototypical modern-day powerfulness guardant who blends brushed accomplishment with physicality. Elite right-handed centers are uncommon successful the NHL, and McQueen's size and willingness to physically dictate play adds undeniable value. He has nonrecreational antiaircraft habits that are translatable to the NHL, and unsocial violative upside that is inactive processing fixed the nonaccomplishment of playing clip owed to a backmost wounded during his draught season.

McQueen dominates the rhythm game, creates discourtesy connected the unreserved and uses his carnal gifts to predominate the rhythm and support pucks. His projection arsenic an elite top-line halfway lacks confidence, owed to deficiency of playing clip from his backmost injury. Without the injury, we mightiness beryllium discussing McQueen adjacent the apical of this draught people due to the fact that his bundle of skating, accomplishment and carnal gifts are rare, and the benignant of toolbox of which executives dream.

He is simply a textbook lawsuit of high-risk, high-reward player; however, his show astatine the scouting harvester went on to proving his backmost wounded had healed completely. Playing against tougher competition, wherever McQueen volition beryllium forced to make his quality to support himself, the puck power and quality to make discourtesy against bigger bodies volition beryllium important. If developed without setback, helium could go a two-way unit successful the NHL for years to come.

How helium fits: The Ducks swung the bat, and are hoping McQueen is simply a location tally for them astatine No. 10. Had it not been for injury, there's a precise existent accidental that McQueen gets taken successful the apical five. McQueen moves with the velocity and agility of a overmuch smaller player. He tin dictate play physically, thrust play astatine some ends of the crystal and possesses unsocial violative upside.

Anaheim has immoderate high-end forwards -- and McQueen apt has the highest upside of them all. He tin predominate disconnected the rush, connected the cycle, and astatine the nett front. The operation of McQueen's carnal gifts, accomplishment and skating marque him an easy projectable powerfulness guardant who changes the people of games. If helium tin stay healthy, get stronger and amended his puck-protection skills, the Ducks person a peculiar player.

Patience volition beryllium cardinal arsenic McQueen needs a fewer years to make his accomplishment set, but if helium hits his ceiling, he's going to beryllium a ascendant two-way unit successful the NHL.

11. Pittsburgh Penguins: Benjamin Kindel, C

Team: Calgary (WHL)
DOB: 04/19/2007 | Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 176 | Shot: R
2024-25 stats: GP: 65 | G: 35 | A: 64 | P: 99

Scouting notes: Kindel is simply a scoring machine. Following a 60-point rookie run successful the WHL successful 2023-24, helium vaulted into elite presumption this season, finishing seventh successful wide scoring, and was fantabulous astatine adjacent strength.

Though undersized, Kindel blends pace, imaginativeness and prime instincts, and helium projects to beryllium a middle-six winger with two-way ability. Kindel's centrifugal is relentless, which makes up for his deficiency of speed, and enables him to weave done postulation and execute give-and-go's with ease. A dual-threat attacker, helium pairs an close changeable with unsafe passing ability. His elite hockey consciousness allows him to consistently outsmart opponents and acceptable teammates up with originative plays successful unsafe areas with clip and space, portion playing positionally dependable hockey disconnected the puck.

Defensively and connected the forecheck, Kindel leverages his intelligence, anticipation and effort to triumph battles contempt size disadvantages. He'll request to refine and amended his skating posture and puck control, portion adding different velocity cogwheel to win successful the NHL.

While the imaginable exists for Kindel to a top-six NHL player, helium is much apt to find himself successful the middle-six arsenic a complementary piece.

How helium fits: Kindel is simply a facilitator of offense, a superb playmaker and somewhat of a astonishment astatine No. 11. Kindel brings high-end hockey consciousness to place opportunities to acceptable up teammates successful space. He's undersized, but his bundle of speed, playmaking and relentless centrifugal should construe good to the NHL.

Kindel's ceiling is simply a second-line halfway who facilitates for his teammates and drives play. If helium doesn't, he's apt to beryllium a middle-six, secondary shaper who plays connected the 2nd power-play unit. The Penguins request players who are cerebral, skate good and thrust discourtesy -- and are surely swinging connected Kindel's ceiling. If helium grows an inch oregon 2 arsenic helium develops implicit the adjacent 2 years, the comparable to Brayden Point is simply a bully 1 fixed the similarities successful skating, cerebral play, and driving play astatine that size.

12. Philadelphia Flyers: Jack Nesbitt, C

Team: Windsor (OHL)
DOB: 01/12/2007 | Ht: 6-4¼ | Wt: 185 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 65 | G: 25 | A: 39 | P: 64

Scouting notes: Nesbitt is an intelligent, two-way halfway whose crippled is rooted successful competitiveness, antiaircraft reliability, and off-puck hockey IQ. He excels defensively by utilizing his 6-4 framework to interruption up plays with carnal engagement and astute instrumentality positioning to prime disconnected pucks. His hockey consciousness consistently places him successful beardown positions successful each 3 zones, allowing him to make turnovers and execute speedy passes to make unsafe chances disconnected those turnovers.

His violative upside hinges connected his skating, which is simply a concern. His stiff skating stride and deficiency of demonstrated flexibility astatine the harvester mightiness bounds however overmuch helium tin improve. Despite flashes of skill, helium struggles to maneuver past defenders, and his inconsistent puck handling nether unit often disrupts his playmaking.

Nesbitt showed betterment passim the season, leveraging his size offensively and initiating much interaction much consistently. If these improvements continue, and he's capable to amended his skating stride, helium projects confidently arsenic a dependable middle-six halfway who tin anchor a antiaircraft enactment and enactment skilled players higher up the lineup.

How helium fits: The Flyers traded with their authorities rival the Penguins to prime Nesbitt. He's a high-floor subordinate who astir apt tops retired arsenic a third-line center. At his height, helium has been described arsenic a "hard to play against" halfway who plays a throwback game, which fits with the benignant the Flyers privation to play.

There were a batch of rumors this week that Nesbitt would get taken aboriginal due to the fact that of his positional value, blend of size, hard accomplishment and hockey sense. A precise intelligent subordinate who executes prime passes, helium plays a reliable game. His skating stride volition beryllium the eventual determining origin successful his NHL ceiling. If helium adds mobility and an other gear, there's much discourtesy to unlock, but the absorption volition beryllium his quality to check. He needs 2 oregon 3 years to develop, but Nesbitt had 1 of the astir confident, low-volatility projections successful the draught people arsenic a third-line center.

13. Detroit Red Wings: Carter Bear, LW

Team: Everett (WHL)
DOB: 11/04/2006 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 179 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 56 | G: 40 | A: 42 | P: 82

Scouting notes: Bear is the benignant of subordinate that a squad looking for high-end instincts and playmaking covet. Before a season-ending wounded successful March, Bear was 1 of the CHL's astir unsafe violative players and a reliable antiaircraft forward. He's versatile, successful that helium plays halfway and the wing, and projects arsenic a 65- to 75-point, second-line player, astir apt connected the wing.

He's a prime playmaker utilizing antithetic passes to make advantages successful unsafe areas. His quality to manipulate defenders and make abstraction for teammates portion pulling sum towards him should construe good successful the NHL. He's got bully hands successful choky spaces, which marque him a menace astir the net, and is 1 of the champion violative facilitators successful the draught class.

On apical of his violative gifts, Bear's antiaircraft play makes him a prime two-way player. His instrumentality positioning allows him to disrupt passes, and he's a tenacious forechecker who tracks good connected the backcheck and finishes hits. His skating posture needs to beryllium much upright to let him to make a much explosive stride to instrumentality vantage of his violative skills successful transition, but the instincts and execution of plays already exist.

Bear is simply a bully premix of brushed and hard accomplishment with projectable traits connected some sides of the puck, and helium is the benignant of subordinate who should thrive successful a matchup relation portion contributing offensively.

How helium fits: There's a batch to similar astir however Bear plays the game, and I'm a believer that determination is much discourtesy to give. He has elite hockey consciousness that helium relies connected to interaction the crippled connected some ends of the ice. A projection arsenic a second-line, two-way subordinate who scores adjacent to 75 points per play should beryllium precise breathtaking for Red Wings fans.

His playmaking quality makes up for a deficiency of speed, and should acceptable nicely into what the Red Wings person up front. He's a unsocial blend of brushed and hard accomplishment that volition beryllium reliable successful each situations. He tin triumph puck battles, get nether the tegument of opponents and marque a quality successful each areas of the ice. He'll request 2 oregon 3 years to amended his skating and capable retired physically, but erstwhile he's ready, he'll descent close into the Wings' mediate six arsenic an impactful player.

14. Columbus Blue Jackets: Jackson Smith, D

Team: Tri-City (WHL)
DOB: 05/13/2007 | Ht: 6-3¼ | Wt: 195 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 68 | G: 11 | A: 43 | P: 54

Scouting notes: Smith is simply a big, carnal defenseman with untapped violative ability. He possesses each the qualities of a top-four matchup guy. He defends the unreserved well, closes gaps and steers the play successful transition, making him 1 of the champion neutral-zone, modulation defenders successful the class. Given the value of modulation defence successful a matchup role, Smith has a existent accidental to the feline coaches trust upon to play dense minutes against the champion players.

His blend of skating, size and poise with an violative crippled that progressed positively arsenic the play wore connected makes maine a believer that determination is much to give, and playing astatine Penn State adjacent play should assistance it along.

Smith stands 6-3, and executives emotion the simplicity of his game, speechmaking pressure, disrupting plays and making effectual passes to exit the zone. He lacks explosive skating, and the accordant creativity required to beryllium a prime violative contributor astatine the NHL level, but his reads are determination to beryllium a positive modulation subordinate and articulation the unreserved arsenic a enactment player.

Smith's improvement from present volition beryllium astir utilizing his fantabulous mobility to forestall unreserved discourtesy and becoming a much accordant violative menace with amended puck management. If Smith tin thrust play connected some sides of the puck successful modulation and go a power-play threat, there's a existent accidental helium becomes a No. 2 defender astatine the NHL level.

How helium fits: The Blue Jackets tugged connected everyone's heartstrings by having Meredith Gaudreau, the woman of the precocious Johnny Gaudreau, prime Smith. The Penn State perpetrate has untapped violative imaginable to blend with his bundle of physicality, size and skating. He's poised with the puck, makes prime breakout passes and influences the play. Defensively, he's fantabulous successful transition, closing gaps and forcing players to the perimeter.

The Blue Jackets needed a defenseman, and getting Smith extracurricular the apical 12 is large value. He should reliably play a matchup relation connected the 2nd pair, and has the imaginable to play successful a No. 2 role. Smith's improvement volition beryllium astir leveraging his mobility to amended his violative game, and go a much accordant menace with the puck successful the violative zone.

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Johnny Gaudreau's woman announces the Blue Jackets' draught pick

Meredith Gaudreau, Johnny Gaudreau's widow, joins the NHL draught to denote the Blue Jackets selecting Jackson Smith with the 14th pick.

15. Vancouver Canucks: Braeden Cootes, C

Team: Seattle (WHL)
DOB: 02/09/2007 | Ht: 5-11¼ | Wt: 183 | Shot: R
2024-25 stats: GP: 60 | G: 26 | A: 37 | P: 63

Scouting notes: Cootes lacks explosive offense, but with immoderate improvement of his shooting mechanics, helium could go a 60-point, two-way center. Scouts emotion however consistently helium moves his feet passim his shifts, his thrust to play done the mediate of the crystal and his quality to make advantages for himself with his skating and vie level.

His quality to make abstraction for his teammates and determination the puck to advantageous areas of the crystal is highly translatable. He's proactive with his contact, moves the puck to the mediate of the crystal and is reliable connected some sides of the puck, successful each country of the ice.

A beardown skater and leader, his level is apt a third-line checking center, but there's imaginable for him to go a two-way, second-line center.

How helium fits: The Canucks request centers, arsenic president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford has stated galore times this offseason. It was thought the Canucks mightiness prime the falling Viktor Eklund, but alternatively they addressed an organizational request by drafting Cootes.

He's an-all situations subordinate who tin comfortably play a middle-six role, with a level arsenic a high-energy, third-line center. He's a prime two-way subordinate with a nonstop motor. The Canucks emotion his vie level, his willingness to thrust the mediate of the crystal and a tenacious prime to his game.

Cootes has the quality to make abstraction for his teammates, beryllium reliable connected some ends of the crystal and outskate opponents. There is crushed to judge helium volition make much offensively. If helium does, there's a accidental helium becomes a second-line, play-driving center.

16. New York Islanders: Victor Eklund, RW

Team: Djurgarden (SWEDEN-2)
DOB: 10/03/2006 | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 161 | Shot: R
2024-25 stats: GP: 42 | G: 19 | A: 12 | P: 31

Scouting notes: Eklund projects arsenic a top-six guardant with a bully accidental of becoming a top-line contributor. Despite concerns astir his size, Eklund's benignant of play is precise translatable to the NHL. He plays a batch bigger than his measurements suggest, and determination is country to adhd strength. Should helium grow, which has happened to different prospects successful the past, Eklund's projection becomes much assured arsenic a 70-point shaper with a high-end centrifugal and fantabulous forechecking capability.

Eklund is fantabulous successful modulation and attacks defenders with velocity and fearlessness, darting to the inside, and positioning his assemblage to triumph oregon support pucks. His smaller size has forced him to larn however to support the puck with fantabulous assemblage positioning. If helium develops a bigger, stronger frame, those skills volition marque him adjacent much hard to support successful the violative zone.

His off-puck play is mature, and volition rapidly gain the spot of NHL coaches. Eklund has the imaginable to beryllium a difference-maker successful a second-line role, and his blend of hard-nosed play with brushed accomplishment should construe much seamlessly than different players.

How helium fits: With their 2nd prime successful the archetypal round, the Isles got tremendous worth by selecting Eklund. He plays bigger than his framework with fantabulous forechecking, hard accomplishment and puck-protection skills. He uses above-average velocity to onslaught the mediate of the ice, creating discourtesy successful modulation and beneath the circles.

Eklund has a centrifugal without an disconnected switch, and competitory occurrence to burn. The operation of hard-nosed play and brushed accomplishment should let Eklund's crippled to construe seamlessly to the NHL. He should capable retired physically, and determination is simply a existent accidental helium becomes a quality shaper successful the apical six connected the wing. The ceiling for Eklund is higher than immoderate different subordinate who was disposable successful this spot, and helium mightiness beryllium acceptable sooner than immoderate expect. Isles fans should beryllium highly excited with this pick.

17. New York Islanders: Kashawn Aitcheson, D

Team: Barrie (OHL)
DOB: 09/21/2006 | Ht: 6-1½ | Wt: 196 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 64 | G: 26 | A: 33 | P: 59

Scouting notes: His projection arsenic a No. 4/5 defender sees him beneath different players with higher upside. Aitcheson plays with each kinds of truculence and aggression, portion possessing an aura of assurance connected and disconnected the puck. He's got each the makings of being a implicit menace who plays pugnacious minutes arsenic a No. 4 defender.

Whether it is simply a preseason crippled oregon the playoffs, Aitcheson plays the aforesaid unsmooth style, and is unafraid of lowering the roar connected opponents. He needs to prime his spots amended to debar unnecessary penalties, but he's the benignant of subordinate that requires opponents to beryllium alert erstwhile he's connected the ice. Scouts spot him arsenic hard-nosed, two-way defender with important wound who tin beryllium a momentum-shifter with his carnal presence.

He needs improvement time, arsenic his skating and playmaking are precise raw, but the competitory attributes and his improvement curve this play are precise promising. Aitcheson's violative engagement developed arsenic the play progressed, rotating with his teammates, diving down towards the high-danger country and becoming much unsafe with unfastened ice.

He's apt 2 oregon 3 years distant from being acceptable to measurement in. But erstwhile helium does, he's precisely the benignant of defender each manager and GM privation connected their team.

How helium fits: With their 3rd enactment of the archetypal round, the Islanders selected a batch of nastiness successful Aitcheson. One of the meanest, assertive defensemen successful the draft, Aitcheson is going to beryllium a nightmare to play against. He's precise raw, and has untapped violative potential. The competitory attributes marque Aitcheson's playstyle a throwback, and helium is apt to go a instrumentality favourite connected the island. He tin alteration a game's momentum with a large hit, but besides showed the quality to lend offensively arsenic the play progressed.

His skating and playmaking are the biggest areas of development, but adjacent if helium doesn't find much than 30 points astatine the NHL level, Aitcheson is the benignant of defenseman with whom you triumph a batch of games. He makes beingness hard for opponents, defends his teammates, sacrifices his assemblage to triumph and is relentless successful puck battles. At his ceiling, Aitcheson could go a second-pairing matchup defender who makes forwards deliberation doubly earlier engaging successful a puck conflict oregon cutting crossed the bluish enactment with their caput down.

18. Calgary Flames: Cole Reschny, C

Team: Victoria (WHL)
DOB: 04/06/2007 | Ht: 5-10½ | Wt: 183 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 62 | G: 26 | A: 66 | P: 92

Scouting notes: The two-way halfway brings an fantabulous premix of hockey sense, playmaking and creativity to beryllium a middle-six contributor susceptible of consistently producing 60 points. He lacks elite skating, but his harvester results raised eyebrows -- tying Frondell for tops successful VO2 max. While that isn't indictive of NHL success, it shows a peculiar dedication to conditioning, and those successful NHL circles wage attraction to those results.

Reschny is smaller, and relies connected his cerebral attack and fantabulous passing abilities to make vantage each implicit the ice. He processes the crippled amended than galore successful the draught class, allowing him to negociate unit and enactment himself successful amended puck-protection positions.

Defensively, Reschny's instincts effect successful positionally dependable play, regularly playing supra the puck, disrupting passes, and communicating duty switches. He's got the imaginable to beryllium a large two-way complementary halfway that creates discourtesy without separating speed. His reads volition astir surely spot him play a penalty-killing relation and idiosyncratic who is relied upon erstwhile his squad is holding a lead.

How helium fits: The Flames needed a halfway and they got their guy, drafting Reschny. He is simply a prime two-way halfway with originative playmaking abilities and high-end hockey sense. He picks isolated antiaircraft sum with those abilities, consistently putting his squad successful unsafe areas to score. Off the puck, he's positionally sound, reliable defensively and helium should beryllium a secondary punishment killer.

Reschny's velocity volition request to develop, but his quality to process the crippled amended than astir players volition assistance him beryllium successful the close spots, place scoring opportunities and thrust play. He'll request 2 years successful the NCAA earlier he's ready, but erstwhile helium is, he's apt to slot successful to a middle-six relation and supply worth connected some ends of the ice.

19. St. Louis Blues: Justin Carbonneau, RW

Team: Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
DOB: 11/25/2006 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 191 | Shot: R
2024-25 stats: GP: 62 | G: 46 | A: 43 | P: 89

Scouting notes: Carbonneau possesses an violative toolbox that teams covet, including almighty skating and eye-popping creativity. He projects arsenic a second-line scoring guardant with important variance and is apt to extremity up arsenic a middle-six subordinate who thrives against secondary matchups. Carbonneau tin thrust discourtesy with his playmaking and shooting quality and plays a well-rounded violative crippled that includes playing done contact, fantabulous puckhandling skills and above-average skating.

As is the lawsuit with immoderate subordinate who person unthinkable upside, determination is inherent risk. He has a physically mature body, and volition request to set to the velocity of the nonrecreational game. He thrives erstwhile fixed clip and space, and his maturation volition travel from learning to simplify his violative play and marque amended decisions with the puck. There are tools to go a precise effectual powerfulness guardant successful the NHL who tin people 25 goals if helium adds a cerebral constituent to his game.

How helium fits: Carbonneau is simply a high-upside, dual-threat subordinate who drives the mediate of the crystal and has an fantabulous shot. Off the puck, helium finds quiescent areas connected the wrong of the crystal and takes vantage of scoring opportunities. Carbonneau has the size and physicality to go a powerfulness guardant successful the NHL, and should acceptable nicely connected the 2nd enactment and archetypal power-play unit.

He's a earthy subordinate who volition request to make his skating to instrumentality vantage of his violative toolbox, but the upside is precise high. Carbonneau's blend of size, fearless play, creativity and elite shooting quality bode good for his NHL projection. If the Blues are patient, Carbonneau should go a prime powerfulness guardant successful 3 to 4 years.

20. Columbus Blue Jackets: Pyotr Andreyanov, G

Team: CSKA Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)
DOB: 01/22/2007 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 207 | Catches: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 37 | Mins: 2,195 | GAA: 1.75 | SV%: 0.942 | SO: 3

How helium fits: With their 2nd prime of the night, the Blue Jackets raised a batch of eyebrows selecting Andreyanov. Many had expected them to instrumentality a 2nd defenseman, but they identified the Russian goalie arsenic their guy.

He's athletic, and plays an assertive style, cutting angles down and making beingness hard for shooters. He's a battler, warring done screens, managing his movements with postulation astatine the nett front, and freezing the puck without sacrificing position. His rebound power needs to improve, but the Blue Jackets similar his toolbox and his quality to travel up with cardinal saves astatine captious times.

He could beryllium a reliable NHL backup, with immoderate imaginable to go a 1B tandem goaltender if his rebound power improves. This is simply a large stake successful the archetypal round, 1 that the Blue Jackets anticipation pays off.

21. Nashville Predators: Cameron Reid, D

Team: Kitchener (OHL)
DOB: 04/08/2007 | Ht: 5-11¾ | Wt: 193 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 67 | G: 14 | A: 40 | P: 54

Scouting notes: There's a batch to emotion astir Reid's crippled -- and a batch of varying opinions. Some scouts spot him arsenic a top-15 value, others spot him arsenic a mid-20s value, and it each hinges connected their content successful his violative game. Reid is simply a play operator from the backmost extremity with fantabulous puck-moving skills and fantabulous skating. He flashes high-end violative quality successful the signifier of setups and moving to find and make passing lanes to high-danger areas; however, his changeable volition request to go much of a menace to debar his organisation being neutralized successful the NHL.

In transition, he's 1 of the champion connected some sides of the ice. His creaseless puck retrievals -- wherever helium perpetually enarthrosis checks and scans to debar unit -- led to businesslike breakouts. When nether duress, helium uses elite edgework to flight and shingle pressure, pursuing with a speedy outlet walk to bushed the forecheck.

The statement content is that he's a middle-pairing, modulation defender who tin crook into a bona fide No. 3 if helium develops his discourtesy and grows an inch oregon two; presently he's listed astatine 5-11.

How helium fits: Nashville traded up to get Reid, and he's going to beryllium a stalwart connected the bluish line. An fantabulous modulation defenseman, Reid makes a prime archetypal pass, and has the imaginable to thrust discourtesy from the backmost end. Reid's terrific skating quality allows him to flight forecheckers and articulation the rush. Defensively, Reid has bully spread control, uses his skating to adjacent attackers aboriginal and lucifer velocity to bounds unsafe chances.

He's going to beryllium a high-end modulation defender who could go a 50-plus constituent shaper if his violative improvement continues. His elite skating quality allows him to beryllium patient, not get caught doing excessively overmuch and he's seldom retired of position. He's 2 oregon 3 years distant from making an interaction astatine the NHL level, but erstwhile helium does, he'll beryllium a prime second-pairing defender connected some ends of the ice.

22. Pittsburgh Penguins: Bill Zonnon, RW

Team: Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
DOB: 10/03/2006 | Ht: 6-1¾ | Wt: 187 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 64 | G: 28 | A: 55 | P: 83

Scouting notes: Zonnon is simply a relentless and detail-oriented two-way guardant who has carved retired a estimation arsenic 1 of the CHL's hardest-working players. With an 83-point breakout run successful his archetypal full-time play astatine center, Zonnon combined a high-end motor, earthy but effectual playmaking and relentless puck pursuit that allowed him to beryllium a play operator successful each 3 zones. He excels connected the forecheck, pressuring defenders into rushed decisions, winning battles and moving pucks to teammates successful scoring areas.

Offensively, helium makes bully reads nether pressure, threading pucks done choky lanes and consistently puts his squad successful advantageous positions. His quality to enactment defensively, facilitate transitions and physically enforce himself makes him perfect the benignant of guardant who teams privation successful the playoffs.

His skating remains a limiting factor, and he'll request to amended his agility and posture to scope his violative ceiling. If Zonnon tin refine his stride and proceed to make his playmaking, helium projects arsenic a middle-six operator who blends tenacity and has the makings of a invaluable third-liner whom playoff teams covet.

How helium fits: With their 2nd enactment of the archetypal round, the Penguins selected Zonnon, a high-energy, relentless winger. He has elite details, supports the puck, wins puck battles, forces turnovers connected the forecheck and finds his teammates successful space. Zonnon makes dependable decisions with the puck nether pressure, facilitates discourtesy and is reliable defensively. His nonstop centrifugal and willingness to get to the hard areas of the crystal should assistance him people astatine the nett front, triumph pucks backmost to widen violative portion clip and marque beingness easier for his linemates.

His skating volition find wherever successful the lineup helium plays, but his level arsenic a bottom-six competitory guardant who tin punishment termination and forecheck is simply a assured one. If Zonnon's skating improves implicit the adjacent 2 to 3 years, helium should beryllium capable to thrust play successful a middle-six relation with tenacity and reliability.

23. Ottawa Senators: Logan Hensler, D

Team: Wisconsin (BIG10)
DOB: 10/14/2006 | Ht: 6-2¼ | Wt: 192 | Shot: R
2024-25 stats: GP: 32 | G: 2 | A: 10 | P: 12

Scouting notes: The 6-2 defender projects to go a second-pair blueliner that excels successful transition. He is 1 of the champion neutral-zone defenders and puck movers successful the draft, who steadily improved arsenic a existent freshman successful the NCAA. His puck retrievals, breakout passes and offensive-zone passes consistently enactment his squad successful much advantageous attacking positions. Being a right-handed defender with fantabulous mobility and an easy translatable crippled makes Hensler a precise charismatic imaginable successful this class.

The are concerns among NHL scouts related to Hensler's violative abilities and however helium mightiness fare successful the NHL. However, Hensler showed flashes successful the backmost fractional of the NCAA season, drafting defenders successful and making slick plays for high-danger scoring opportunities. He's improbable to go a 60-point defender, but 35-45 points arsenic a dependable modulation defender who plays a shutdown relation seems to beryllium the due projection.

His NHL-ready framework is simply a plus, and volition lone amended passim his collegiate career, which is apt to beryllium different 2 seasons.

How helium fits: The Sens extracted tremendous worth by getting Hensler astatine No. 23. As 1 of the younger players successful assemblage hockey past season, Hensler became an impactful subordinate erstwhile helium adjusted to that level. His skating and mobility are high-end, allowing him to unopen opponents down successful transition, termination plays and beryllium a reliable antiaircraft presence. One of the champion neutral-zone defenders successful the draft, Hensler's spread power forces dump-ins, and his skating allows him to crook and retrieve those forced dump-ins with ease.

He showed flashes of higher-end discourtesy toward the extremity of the season, making prime plays to make high-danger chances. He's physically acceptable for the NHL, but volition payment from much NCAA improvement to amended his violative play and solidify his antiaircraft game. When he's ready, helium could go a large spouse for Jake Sanderson oregon play secondary matchups successful the mediate pairing.

24. Pittsburgh Penguins: Will Horcoff, C

Team: Michigan (BIG10)
DOB: 01/23/2007 | Ht: 6-4¾ | Wt: 190 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 18 | G: 4 | A: 6 | P: 10

Scouting notes: The lad of erstwhile NHLer Shawn Horcoff, Will projects arsenic a defensively reliable third-line halfway with size, spot and beardown off-puck instincts. At astir 6-5, he's a disruptive unit successful his ain zone, utilizing his scope and physicality to unit puck attackers and origin turnovers.

Offensively, helium facilitates with astute passes and uses his size to play with interaction and support the puck. He'll request to make his skating from a velocity and mobility position to turn offensively. If helium adds a measurement with immoderate explosiveness and fills retired his frame, Horcoff could go a physically imposing, two-way pivot successful a bottom-six NHL relation who plays against secondary matchups.

How helium fits: The Penguins traded up 7 spots to marque their 3rd enactment of the archetypal circular successful Horcoff. The youngest subordinate successful assemblage hockey this play was a dependable riser successful the backmost fractional of the campaign. A spot of a precocious bloomer, Horcoff has country to capable retired his frame, and plays a prime two-way game. Horcoff drives the nett and converts chances amended than astir immoderate different draft-eligible player, a scoring accomplishment that volition construe good to the NHL level.

He projects arsenic a third-line halfway who uses physicality to abstracted players from pucks, support pucks and thrust to the mediate of the ice. Horcoff volition request a fewer years to make successful the NCAA, and if helium tin adhd immoderate velocity and explosiveness, determination is much violative imaginable arsenic a powerfulness forward.

25. Chicago Blackhawks: Václav Nestrašil, RW

Team: Muskegon (USHL)
DOB: 04/06/2007 | Ht: 6-5¼ | Wt: 187 | Shot: R
2024-25 stats: GP: 61 | G: 19 | A: 23 | P: 42

Scouting notes: Nestrašil is simply a high-upside powerfulness guardant who projects arsenic a top-six NHL winger if his improvement continues connected its existent path.

He is simply a unsocial blend of above-average puck accomplishment and playmaking with size, centrifugal and punishing carnal play. He excels with give-and-go's, attacking disconnected the wall, and creating abstraction successful traffic. He consistently moves the puck done carries oregon passes to the mediate of the ice, creating much threatening opportunities.

He is earthy and somewhat erratic with his reads and timing; his continued betterment and carnal toolkit springiness him morganatic upside. If helium becomes a much accordant threat, he's a second-line force; if not, his antiaircraft worth and strength inactive task a relation arsenic a physical, bottom-six winger.

How helium fits: With their 2nd enactment successful the archetypal round, Chicago selected Nestrašil. I had connected him to the Blackhawks successful the last mock draft, fixed the organization's edict to draught prime skaters with high-end skill.

Nestrašil has precocious upside arsenic a powerfulness guardant successful the apical six, and brings a bundle of size, puck accomplishment and playmaking. Another subordinate with a high-end motor, Nestrašil plays good disconnected teammates, attacks disconnected the partition and bullies his mode to the mediate of the ice.

He has a projectable carnal crippled that volition make abstraction for his teammates, and helium tin abstracted opponents from pucks and beryllium reliable defensively. He's a fewer years distant from being ready, but there's a batch to beryllium excited astir with the blend of size, physicality, playmaking and skill.

26. Nashville Predators: Ryker Lee, RW

Team: Madison (USHL)
DOB: 11/08/2006 | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 170 | Shot: R
2024-25 stats: GP: 58 | G: 31 | A: 37 | P: 68

Scouting notes: One of the astir skilled and originative forwards successful the draft. Some scouts had Lee ranked successful the precocious teens due to the fact that of their content successful his upside.

Lee is simply a dynamic violative subordinate who consistently cuts done antiaircraft sum with elite puckhandling and deceptive passes. His one-timer is 1 of the champion successful the draught class. With a afloat complement of high-end tools, Lee has a uncommon quality to make discourtesy successful choky quarters with constricted space, and helium stood retired amongst his USHL peers. He manipulates defenders and delivers elite passes nether pressure. He consistently makes translatable plays similar one-touch breakouts, fake receptions, and speedy releases successful scoring areas. As the play progressed, helium showed a willingness to forecheck, conflict and use unit defensively.

The glaring question is his skating. His stride is stiff and lacks explosiveness. Lee volition request large strides successful mobility to maximize his violative toolkit astatine the NHL level. That being said, if helium adds a measurement oregon 2 to brace with his skill, Lee has the accomplishment to go a creative, middle-six playmaker with top-six upside.

How helium fits: Nashville utilized its 3rd enactment successful the archetypal circular to prime 1 of the highest-upside players near connected the board. Lee is extraordinarily skilled, and is 1 of the champion axenic creators successful the draught class. A existent dynamic subordinate who is simply a dual menace with his playmaking and elite shooting ability. He creates discourtesy retired of nothing, tin play successful choky spaces, and marque defenders look silly.

His play distant from the puck developed arsenic the play progressed. To scope his ceiling arsenic a top-six, dynamic violative threat, Lee needs to adhd velocity and explosiveness. The quality to execute high-skill plays astatine velocity volition marque oregon interruption him arsenic a imaginable successful the apical six. If helium hits, the Preds person a peculiar subordinate -- but patience is critical. I emotion this plaything from the Preds, arsenic it is precisely the benignant of subordinate they request successful their system.

27. Washington Capitals: Lynden Lakovic, LW

Team: Moose Jaw (WHL)
DOB: 12/12/2006 | Ht: 6-4¼ | Wt: 190 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 47 | G: 27 | A: 31 | P: 58

Scouting notes: The 6-4 near winger has translatable scoring ability, and fantabulous velocity for his size. With country to capable retired his frame, Lakovic is an charismatic prospect.

He attacks with linear crossovers utilizing his large framework to support the puck, and makes plays utilizing bully deception. He has the imaginable to beryllium a dual-threat winger astatine the NHL level if his passing translates the mode galore judge his shooting will. Lakovic projects to beryllium a middle-six winger with just assurance due to the fact that of his scoring ability, velocity and size, but determination is simply a accidental helium becomes a second-line scoring threat.

Lakovic's improvement volition travel connected the carnal side. While helium is supremely skilled, helium needs to thin connected defenders and unit his mode to the mediate of the crystal to instrumentality vantage of his speedy hands and shot. If helium does, helium becomes a importantly much unsafe player, arsenic he'll beryllium a menace successful modulation and disconnected the cycle. That is surely a developable accomplishment that translates to immoderate level, and combined with prime violative instincts and skill, could spot Lakovic go a dual-threat, 65-point winger.

How helium fits: The Capitals selected Lakovic, a large guardant with an fantabulous changeable and prime skating. Lakovic has NHL scoring quality and speed. If helium tin capable retired his frame, should beryllium capable to get to the hard areas of the crystal with ease. He understands however to support the puck and play connected with his teammates.

He projects arsenic a middle-six winger with dual-threat ability, and would surely payment from adding immoderate physicality to his playstyle to go a skilled powerfulness forward. He'll person Tom Wilson to larn from, and the Capitals person clip to make Lakovic into the complementary scorer helium is susceptible of becoming. This is fantabulous worth for the Capitals astatine the extremity of the archetypal circular due to the fact that Lakovic could beryllium acceptable to lend successful 2 oregon 3 years.

28. Winnipeg Jets: Sascha Boumedienne, D

Team: Boston University (H-EAST)
DOB: 01/17/2007 | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 175 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 40 | G: 3 | A: 10 | P: 13

Scouting notes: One of the astir discussed and debated defenders successful the draft, Boumedienne projects arsenic a second-pair, two-way defender.

Already known arsenic a superb breakout passer with a dense slap changeable and beardown instrumentality play, Boumedienne's antiaircraft crippled evolved noticeably astatine Boston University. Buoyed by steadily improving his skating weaknesses, peculiarly his agility and borderline work, helium looked the portion of a modern shutdown defenseman, specifically successful transition. He developed greater stability, enabling much effectual spread power and quicker pivots. Proactive reads, beardown positioning, physicality and effectual disruption of passing lanes allowed his antiaircraft crippled to blossom.

While his violative crippled remains chiefly rush-based alternatively than successful the violative zone, Boumedienne's willingness to experimentation with fakes and deception improved his modulation interaction significantly. The volatility of his projection remains high, but Boumedienne's important in-season growth, antiaircraft reliability and refined skating connection realistic upside arsenic an effectual second-pair, two-way defender astatine the NHL level who tin nutrient secondary offense.

How helium fits: The Jets drafted a fantastic breakout passer successful Boumedienne, who should blossom into a prime modulation defender. He possesses a prime slap shot, an evolved antiaircraft crippled and fantabulous modulation play. His skating looks smooth, and inactive has country to amended successful presumption of borderline enactment and stability. If it does, he'll go adjacent much hard to bushed successful modulation and capable to articulation the unreserved offensively. He's beardown positionally, engaged physically and kills plays.

He'll request 2 oregon 3 years earlier he's NHL-ready, but the imaginable to go a 2nd power-play backmost and middle-pairing, secondary-matchup subordinate is tangible. At a minimum, he'll supply prime breakout passes, bully modulation defence and a threatening slapshot.

29. Chicago Blackhawks: Mason West, C

Team: Edina (HIGH-MN)
DOB: 08/03/2007 | Ht: 6-5¾ | Wt: 215 | Shot: R
2024-25 stats: GP: 31 | G: 27 | A: 22 | P: 49

Scouting notes: Without a doubt, the champion wide jock successful the draught class. A precocious schoolhouse backmost with morganatic assemblage shot imaginable and a hockey subordinate who went successful the archetypal circular of the NHL draught does not travel astir excessively often.

West possesses uncommon mobility, carnal tools and intriguing upside. A earthy shooter and creaseless skater, his accumulation connected the Minnesota High School circuit astatine Edina High was impressive. When helium stepped into the USHL, his improvement deed warp speed.

For evident reasons, West is precise earthy arsenic a prospect. He shows flashes of skill, an immovable net-front beingness and increasing carnal engagement. Given his rawness, helium volition request to make his puck control, positioning and decision-making. However, helium volition beryllium capable to trust connected his QB scanning skills to assistance make his decision-making successful hockey. With continued development, determination is simply a existent accidental helium becomes a middle-six NHL powerfulness forward. The axenic earthy quality of this elite jock has executives and scouts precise excited.

How helium fits: Chicago traded up to marque a 3rd enactment successful the archetypal round, grabbing West, a backmost and hockey subordinate from Edina High School. One of the youngest players successful the draft, West is 1 of the champion axenic jock successful the class, elite astatine 2 sports.

He has a precise agelong improvement runway and won't play successful the USHL until aft his shot season. He combines creaseless skating, a beardown net-front beingness and bully play facilitation. West is precise raw, with country to make his puck skill, positioning and decision-making. His spatial consciousness is fantabulous and volition let him to place unfastened space, bully his mode to the mediate of the crystal and make offense. He's inactive a agelong mode away, but if helium hits, West has a accidental to beryllium a almighty middle-six guardant who tin people and facilitate offense.

30. San Jose Sharks: Joshua Ravensbergen, G

Team: Prince George (WHL)
DOB: 11/27/2006 | Ht: 6-5¼ | Wt: 190 | Catches: R
2024-25 stats: GP: 51 | Mins: 2964 | GAA: 3 | SV%: 0.901 | SO: 0

Scouting notes: Ravensbergen projects a composed, assured demeanor, with a assured projection arsenic a starting NHL goaltender who tin grip a important workload.

At 6-5, helium leverages size, elite anticipation and crisp lateral agility, consistently positioning himself perfectly to contradict shooters without unnecessary flash. He tracks the puck a level supra his peers, which allows him to confidently situation shooters and chopped angles effectively. He is peculiarly susceptible done the five-hole, which isn't atypical for ample goalies who hover sticks supra the ice. As helium develops and refines his technique, this weakness should beryllium corrected agelong earlier helium reaches the NHL.

A reliable backstop for Prince George, Ravensbergen's .901 prevention percent stands retired adjacent much erstwhile considering the high-danger chances helium regularly faced. His rebound power is good supra average, and helium has an above-average mitt hand. He regularly has his blocker angled well, enabling him to nonstop shots safely distant from danger.

It is apt that Ravensbergen becomes a platoon starter until his mid-20s, erstwhile helium is susceptible of go a full-time NHL starter who plays 60-65 games per season.

How helium fits: Some thought the Sharks would instrumentality a defenseman aft getting Misa with the No. 2 pick, but alternatively they added to their goaltending radical with Ravensbergen. There is simply a precise existent anticipation that Ravensbergen and Yaroslav Askarov make into 1 of the champion goaltending tandems successful the NHL.

Ravensbergen is simply a southpaw goaltender. He's composed successful his movements, reads the play to bounds erratic movement, and challenges shooters effectively. He is the champion puck tracker successful the draft, uncovering pucks successful traffic, moving efficiently to thwart opportunities and power rebounds. Goaltending improvement is not linear, and overmuch much hard to predict, but Ravensbergen should find himself successful beardown contention for Team Canada astatine the IIHF satellite inferior title earlier turning professional.

31. Los Angeles Kings: Henry Brzustewicz, D

Team: London (OHL)
DOB: 02/09/2007 | Ht: 6-1¾ | Wt: 203 | Shot: R
2024-25 stats: GP: 67 | G: 10 | A: 32 | P: 42

Scouting notes: Brzustewicz is the adjacent imaginable from the mill that is the London Knights. The blueliner projects arsenic a steady, mobile modulation defender with the imaginable to turn into a No. 4 oregon 5 NHL blueliner.

A right-handed changeable with a beardown antiaircraft foundation, helium maintains bully spread control, moves the puck precise good and supports plays portion remaining positionally sound. In an elevated role, his violative creativity developed dramatically. He jumped into the rush, evaded forecheckers and created scoring chances with prime passes to the slot.

If helium continues to make his assurance and play-driving ability, Brzustewicz could germinate into a reliable second-pairing defender. Without that growth, helium inactive holds worth arsenic a extent puck mover with a bully antiaircraft foundation.

How helium fits: The Kings addressed a important country of request by drafting Brzustewicz. A right-shot defender with prime mobility and reliable modulation play. As the play progressed, Brzustewicz facilitated offense, utilizing his skating to onslaught unfastened space. He makes a bully archetypal walk that puts his teammates successful presumption to onslaught disconnected the rush. Once helium moves the puck, helium jumps successful the play, supports arsenic a secondary unreserved attacker and tin shingle defenders to make scoring chances.

He'll beryllium the go-to feline successful London adjacent season, with opportunities to play a matchup relation and tally the powerfulness play, some of which volition expedite his development. He's apt 3 years distant from becoming an NHL contributor but should go a reliable middle-pairing defender.

32. Calgary Flames: Cullen Potter, C

Team: Arizona State (NCHC)
DOB: 01/10/2007 | Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 172 | Shot: L
2024-25 stats: GP: 35 | G: 13 | A: 9 | P: 22

Scouting notes: Potter is simply a dynamic skater who is the fastest straight-line skater successful the draught class, and his explosive mobility ranks among the draft's best. Making an uncommon leap from the NTDP's under-17 squad consecutive to NCAA play, Potter displayed elite acceleration and agility, effortlessly shifting from stride to crossover and cutting sharply done defenders. Initially reliant connected earthy skill, Potter often avoided carnal battles and forced "hope plays," limiting his effectiveness successful the archetypal fractional of the NCAA season.

Potter's improvement successful the 2nd fractional of the play elevated his crippled dramatically, and it was intolerable not to notice. He embraced antiaircraft responsibilities, improved his carnal play contempt his 5-10 frame, won puck battles and filled lanes connected the backcheck. Potter's positional play improved, and his off-puck play improved arsenic a result.

The added antiaircraft magnitude complements his violative talents, elevating his level to a bottom-six checker, portion his upside is precise precocious arsenic a top-six guardant due to the fact that of his steep improvement curve. Development of his modulation play and learning to usage his explosive skating and close changeable portion changing gears volition marque him a much unsafe violative threat.

How helium fits: With their 2nd prime successful the archetypal round, the Flames took Potter, the fastest subordinate successful the draft. A prime transporter of the puck, Potter uses his elite velocity to make discourtesy disconnected the unreserved with dynamic zone-entry ability. He catches defenders connected their heels, and should beryllium capable to bushed NHL defenders connected the extracurricular and transverse them up with his crossovers if helium tin adhd spot and recognize erstwhile to alteration gears.

Potter tin pat into his violative imaginable by relying connected his quality to usage velocity to make abstraction for his incredibly close shot. When fixed the opportunity, Potter tin truly rip it, and his merchandise catches goaltenders disconnected guard. If his improvement curve continues, Potter should go an elite assemblage subordinate and beryllium acceptable for an NHL relation successful 2 years. His level arsenic a bottom-six checker is bully worth astatine this spot, but his upside arsenic a second-line subordinate who scores disconnected the unreserved should excite Flames fans.

Best disposable for Day 2

Malcolm Spence, F, Erie (OHL)
Blake Fiddler, D, Edmonton (WHL)
Jack Murtagh, F, USNTDP (USHL)
Shane Vansaghi, F, Michigan State (NCAA)
William Moore, F, USNTDP (USHL)
Nathan Behm, F, Kamloops (WHL)
Cameron Schmidt, F, Vancouver (WHL)
Cole McKinney, F, USNTDP (USHL)
Milton Gästrin, F, MoDo (J20 Nationell)
Carter Amico, D, USNTDP (USHL)