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NHL mock drafts 2025: Compare Bob McKenzie, other expert opinions for this summer’s NHL Draft

Soon, the next wave of hockey talent will arrive in the NHL. 

In late June, the league’s draft will be held in Los Angeles for the second time ever, and the first time since 2010. Following Monday’s lottery, the official order will be set — and the expectation is that whichever squad lands the No. 1 pick will select Matthew Schaefer.

Behind Schaefer, center Michael Misa is also heavily expected to go No. 2. But beyond those two standouts, league insiders and analysts have some differing opinions on how the draft will shake out, with some valuing certain prospects over others based on potential team fits.

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Here’s a look at some of the top recent NHL mock drafts from ESPN, The Athletic and more.

MORE: Explaining the odds, rules for the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery

Rachel Doerrie’s mock draft (ESPN)

Doerrie’s mock draft was released on April 24:

Pick Team Player Position Previous Team
1 Sharks Matthew Schaefer D Erie (OHL)
2 Blackhawks Michael Misa C Saginaw (OHL)
3 Predators James Hagans C Boston College (NCAA)
4 Flyers Porter Martone RW Brampton (OHL)
5 Bruins Caleb Desnoyers C Moncton (QMJHL)
6 Kraken Jackson Smith D Tri-City (WHL)
7 Sabres Victor Eklund LW Djurgardens (Allsvenskan)
8 Ducks Anton Frondell C/RW Djurgardens (Allsvenskan)
9 Penguins Jake O’Brien C Brantford (OHL)
10 Islanders Roger McQueen C Brandon (WHL)
11 Rangers Radim Mrtka D Seattle (WHL)
12 Red Wings Carter Bear C/LW Everett (WHL)
13 Blue Jackets Brady Martin C Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
14 Utah Lynden Lakovic C/LW Moose Jaw (WHL)
15 Canucks Kashawn Aitcheson D Barrie (OHL)
16 Canadiens Justin Carbonneau RW Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)

*Doerrie’s mock draft included only the top 16 picks

Notable:

  • Doerrie predicts the Sharks come away with the right to selection Schaefer, who was previously the top selection in the 2023 OHL Draf and had 22 points in 17 games for Erie last season.
  • This year’s draft is heavy on centers, with six of the top 10 players here listed at the poistion.

Corey Pronman’s mock draft (The Athletic)

Pronman’s latest mock draft was released on April 24:

Pick Team Player Position Previous Team
1 Sharks Matthew Schaefer LHD Erie (OHL)
2 Blackhawks Michael Misa C Saginaw (OHL)
3 Predators Caleb Desnoyers C Moncton (QMJHL)
4 Flyers James Hagans C Boston College (NCAA)
5 Bruins Anton Frondell C Djurgarden (Allsvenskan)
6 Kraken Jake O’Brien C Brantford (OHL)
7 Sabres Porter Martone RW Brampton (OHL)
8 Ducks Radim Mrtka RHD Seattle (WHL)
9 Penguins Victor Eklund RW Djurgarden (Allsvenskan)
10 Islanders Roger McQueen C Brandon (WHL)
11 Rangers Kashawn Aitcheson LHD Barrie (OHL)
12 Red Wings Jack Nesbitt C Windsor (OHL)
13 Blue Jackets Jackson Smith LHD Tri-City (WHL)
14 Utah Carter Bear LW Everett (WHL)
15 Canucks Brady Martin C Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
16 Canadiens Justin Carbonneau RW Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
17 Canadiens Cameron Reid LHD Kitchener (OHL)
18 Flames Cole Reschny C Victoria (WHL)
19 Blues Logan Hensler RHD Wisconsin (NCAA)
20 Blue Jackets Joshua Ravensbergen G Prince George (WHL)
21 Senators Lynden Lakovic LW Moose Jaw (WHL)
22 Flames Malcolm Spence LW Erie (OHL)
23 Hurricanes Cullen Potter C Arizona State (NCAA)
24 Flyers Daniil Prokhorov LW Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)
25 Flyers Milton Gastrin C MoDo (Sweden Jr.)
26 Predators Braeden Cootes C Seattle (WHL)
27 Kings Sascha Boumedienne LHD Boston University (NCAA)
28 Sharks Blake Fiddler RHD Edmonton (WHL)
29 Blackhawks Bill Zonnon LW Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
30 Predators Mason West C Edina (MN High School)
31 Capitals Henry Brzutewicz RHD London (OHL)
32 Jets Simon Wang LHD Oshawa (OHL)

Notable:

  • The general consensus is that Ravensbergen will be the lone first-round goalie selection, as Pronman predicts here. There hasn’t been a first-round goalie since 2021.
  • Beyond the Schaefer-Misa top two, Pronman has Desnoyers, coming out of the QMJHL with 84 points in 56 games last season, as the third prospect to emerge at the top.

Logan Horn’s mock draft (The Hockey Writers)

Horn’s latest mock draft was released on April 25:

Pick Team Player Position Previous Team
1 Predators Matthew Schaefer LD Erie (OHL)
2 Red Wings Michael Misa C Saginaw (OHL)
3 Sharks Anton Frondell C Djurgardens (Allsvenskan)
4 Blackhawks Porter Martone RW Brampton (OHL)
5 Flyers James Hagans C Boston College (NCAA)
6 Bruins Caleb Desnoyers C Moncton (QMJHL)
7 Kraken Roger McQueen C Brandon (WHL)
8 Sabres Radim Mrtka RD Seattle (WHL)
9 Ducks Jake O’Brien C Brantford (OHL)
10 Penguins Victor Eklund RW Djurgardens (Allsvenskan)
11 Islanders Kashawn Aitcheson LD Barrie (OHL)
12 Rangers Jackson Smith LD Tri-City (WHL)
13 Blue Jackets Joshua Ravensbergen G Prince George (WHL)
14 Utah Jack Nesbitt C Windsor (OHL)
15 Canucks Brady Martin C Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
16 Canadiens Carter Bear LW Everett (WHL)

*Horn’s mock draft included only the top 16 picks

Notable:

  • Horn has the Blue Jackets going for their next goalie at No. 13 overall in Ravensbergen, a bit higher than most analysts have predicted.
  • Horn goes with the Swedish forward Frondell as his No. 3 selection, who captained Sweden to a bronze medal at the 2023 World U-17 Hockey Challenge.

Bob McKenzie’s mock draft (TSN)

McKenzie’s latest big board was released on May 2:

Ranking Player Position Previous Team
1 Matthew Schaefer LD Erie (OHL)
2 Michael Misa C/LW Saginaw (OHL)
3 Porter Martone RW Brampton (OHL)
4 Anton Frondell C Djurgardens (Allsvenskan)
5 James Hagans C Boston College (NCAA)
6 Caleb Desnoyers C Moncton (QMJHL)
7 Jake O’Brien C Brantford (OHL)
8 Roger McQueen F Brandon (WHL)
9 Victor Eklund LW Djurgardens (Allsvenskan)
10 Jackson Smith D Tri-City (WHL)
11 Radim Mrtka D Seattle (WHL)
12 Brady Martin C Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
13 Carter Bear C/LW Everett (WHL)
14 Kashawn Aitcheson D Barrie (OHL)
15 Logan Hensler D Wisconsin (NCAA)
16 Lynden Lakovic F Moose Jaw (WHL)

*McKenzie’s rankings were a top-16 big board that did not include team selections

Notable:

  • McKenzie’s January big board placed Hagans over Misa as the second-ranked prospect, going against the general consensus among NHL Draft analysts, but he has since dropped Hagans to No. 5. Misa had 134 points in 65 games in the OHL last season, while Hagans totaled 37 points in 37 games for Boston College.
  • McKenzie places a higher value on players like Logan Hensler and Lynden Lakovic compared to others’ projections, including both of them as lottery selections. 

2025 NHL Draft Lottery Odds

Here’s a look at which teams have the best chance to land the No. 1 pick this year, where they would presumably select Schaefer, based on their 2024-25 record:

Team Chance at No. 1 pick
San Jose Sharks 18.5%
Chicago Blackhawks 13.5%
Nashville Predators 11.5%
Philadelphia Flyers 9.5%
Boston Bruins 8.5%
Seattle Kraken 7.5%
Buffalo Sabres 6.5%
Anaheim Ducks 6.0%
Pittsburgh Penguins 5.0%
New York Islanders 3.5%
New York Rangers 3.0%
Detroit Red Wings 2.5%
Columbus Blue Jackets 2.0%
Utah Hockey Club 1.5%
Vancouver Canucks 0.5%
Montreal Canadiens (via Calgary) 0.5%
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