The NHL Draft is one of my favorite times of the year. This page will be my NHL mock draft. This will be updated as developments happen throughout the year and things will change based on the standings and player performances.
Gunner’s 2025 NHL Mock Draft
| 1) | Chicago Blackhawks | James Hagens | Center | USA |
James Hagens is the favorite to go first overall in this draft.
At the 2024 Under-18 World Championships, Hagens broke the record for most points in a single tournament, where he had an impressive 22 points in only 7 games. This broke the record that was previously held by Nikita Kucherov, who had 21 points during the 2011 tournament. Nothing is guaranteed with prospects but if he is anything close to Kucherov, the team drafting first is going to be very happy.
The Chicago Blackhawks are likely going to be at the bottom of the league again. It should take a few more years before they are fighting for a playoff spot. I could see them getting the first overall pick again this year.
Hagens is a center, so 10+ years of him and Connor Bedard as the 1-2 punch down the middle would be great for the Blackhawks. Or, they can play them together if that makes more sense. Either way, they can’t really go wrong here.
Speaking of elite talent from the United States, make sure to check out my predictions for Team USA at the next Olympics.
| 2) | San Jose Sharks | Porter Martone | Right Wing | Canada |
The San Jose Sharks are going to be bad again. I am going to assume that they will have a top 3 pick for the second year in a row. They already have Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini, so they will be adding another elite prospect to the mix.
Porter Martone has some great size at 6 foot 3. He also plays physical and can score goals. I think the combination of size, physicality and skill will be hard for a lot of GM’s to pass up on. I see him going in the top 5 unless he has a terrible year.
Martone to the Sharks could make a lot of sense. You can put him on the wing with either Celebrini or Smith for many years to come.
| 3) | Columbus Blue Jackets | Anton Frondell | Center | Sweden |
I think that the Columbus Blue Jackets will be bad again. I see them probably in the bottom 5, with an outside chance of getting first overall if everything goes off the rails. They should really try and get the first overall pick if they can because they desperately need some elite talent.
Anton Frondell is the top Swedish prospect in this years class. He seems to have a lot of offensive talent and I am excited to see how he progresses. I see him having a fantastic draft year and finding his way into the top 5 of this draft.
This would give Columbus a potential top line center to build around for many years to come.
| 4) | Anaheim Ducks | Michael Misa | Center/ Left Wing | Canada |
I expect the Anaheim Ducks to be at the bottom of the NHL again and picking in the top 5. They could always make a jump but I am not counting on it.
Michael Misa is a really interesting prospect. He was granted exceptional status in the OHL. This is something that guys like Connor McDavid, John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, and Connor Bedard did, and they all went first overall in the NHL Draft. Exceptional status isn’t a guarantee though as names like Sean Day, Shane Wright, and Joe Veleno didn’t end up getting picked first overall after being granted the status. This just tells us that the potential for Misa is really high.
I think Misa will go in the top 5 with a chance to go 2nd overall if he has a monster draft year. He has the talent to do it.
Speaking of McDavid and Bedard, make sure to check out our predictions for the Canada hockey team at the 2026 Olympics.
| 5) | Utah HC | Logan Hensler | Right Defense | USA |
The Utah Hockey Club will likely be picking in the top 10. I am going to have them in the bottom 5 here. Any team from here on out is a bit of a crapshoot until we get later in the season.
Logan Hensler is the top defenseman on my board right now. He has NHL size at 6 foot 2 and he shoots right. Two combinations that GM’s really like. He seems like he could have a solid career as a two-way defenseman and I see him going in the top 5.
| 6) | Calgary Flames | Roger McQueen | Center | Canada |
I don’t expect the Calgary Flames to make the playoffs. I could even see them trading a bunch of players after they are out of the playoffs at the deadline. They have real potential to pick in the top 5 here but we will see how the season goes.
Roger McQueen is another guy with great size who I think will be hard to pass up on in the top 10. McQueen stands at 6 foot 5 and should be someone who GM’s will be very interested in. His skating seems to need work but if he can put everything together, he has a lot of upside.
| 7) | Washington Capitals | Ivan Ryabkin | Center | Russia |
Ivan Ryabkin is the top-rated Russian player in this year’s draft class. Russians are always major wildcards in drafts, and that is heightened based on the current political climate. I just don’t know if GM’s will want to take the risk, so that moves him out of the top 5 for me.
The Washington Capitals seem like a good landing spot for Ryabkin. The Capitals should be worse this year, with Alexander Ovechkin getting older. I also think they overachieved last year. It could be the perfect fit for him and a fun story to have him on the same line as Ovechkin.
| 8) | Seattle Kraken | Malcolm Spence | Left Wing | Canada |
Seattle has a chance to make the playoffs but I have them drafting in the top 10. It will depend on how they start the season but I am not very high on them.
Malcolm Spence is a guy who seems like he could go in the top 10. He has nice size at 6 foot 2 and has a lot of offensive talent. If he has a strong year, he should crack the top 10.
Spence has also proven that he is someone who can come up in the clutch as he scored the overtime goal to help Canada win the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
| 9) | Pittsburgh Penguins | Sascha Boumedienne | Left Defense | Sweden |
I think that Pittsburgh will be out of the playoffs this year. With their core guys getting older, it feels like it is going to be hard for them to get in. I hate to bet against Sidney Crosby, who is still playing at an elite level but I don’t see them in the playoffs right now.
Sascha Boumedienne is the top rated Swedish defenseman in this class. He is the son of Josef Boumedienne, who played in the NHL. Sascha is a great skater and has a strong shot. This will depend on the year he has but he has top 10 potential for sure.
| 10) | Philadelphia Flyers | William Moore | Center | USA |
The Philadelphia Flyers are a team who could make the playoffs. I don’t think they have the talent to do so but you never know. I have them picking in the top 10 right now.
William Moore is another guy with size (6 foot 2) and skill. He is someone who could shoot up draft boards based on how his year goes with Boston College.
What are your predictions for the NHL Draft? Make sure to let me know in the comments or Tweet me your top 5.