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The 2025 NHL Entry Draft is almost upon us which means it’s time for our annual mock draft. As is tradition, we’ve picked the entire first round. In addition, we’ve also picked Montreal’s next five selections after the top round.
Joining me to pick the draft last Thursday (June 19th) were HW writers Norm Szcyrek and Kevin Leveille. Montreal’s selections were made on a consensus basis while picks for the rest of the first round were made on an alternating basis; the writer for each pick is noted in the write-up.
#1 – New York Islanders – Matthew Schaefer, LD, Erie (OHL)
(Norm) Schaefer is the consensus number one-rated player despite missing a significant part of this season, first due to contracting mononucleosis and then a left shoulder injury suffered at the World Junior Championships. Matthew has elite skating abilities with outstanding acceleration and mobility in all directions. This allows him to easily carry the puck to lead the rush or press defenders into making a bad play when they try to enter the defensive zone. His other offensive tools such as hockey sense, shooting, and passing are also elite level. He is the closest thing to a can’t-miss NHL player with the potential to become a top pairing leader on his pro team. Since he missed a high number of games, it’s possible the Islanders will choose to let him play one more season in junior before turning pro.
#2 – San Jose Sharks – Michael Misa, C, Saginaw (OHL)
(Brian) While the Sharks have added centres with top-five picks over the last two years, this is not the time for them to be nitpicky about positions. Misa found another gear offensively after being moved back down the middle with the Spirit and scored at nearly a goal-per-game mark. He projects as a true number one pivot and if San Jose winds up with two of those (the other being Macklin Celebrini) with Will Smith also in the picture, their rebuild will be in very good shape.
#3 – Chicago Blackhawks – James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA)
(Kevin) The consensus top pick to start the season has lost his spot at the top, but not really his shine as a prospect. Chicago is thrilled to add what should be a quality centre for Connor Bedard to play with. Hagens operated at a point per game scoring 37 in 37 games. That’s not as flashy as Macklin Celebrini last season, but there is little doubt that Hagens is an eventual top-line NHL centre. An important add for the Blackhawks here.
#4 – Utah Mammoth – Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton (QMJHL)
(Norm) Who would not want a good-sized centre capable of playing well in all three zones? Desnoyers is one of the best playmakers in this draft class, while also being one of the best defensive forwards. Caleb has a high compete level to go along with an equally high hockey sense. During the QMJHL playoffs, he played with an injured wrist but still won the MVP award. Desnoyers could use at least another season to improve his strength. When he’s ready to turn pro, Caleb should adapt quickly to a bottom-six position to start, before moving up the depth chart. The Mammoth are part way through their rebuild, and will very much like to slide a prospect like Desnoyers into their lineup.
#5 – Nashville Predators – Anton Frondell, C, Djurgardens (Allsvenskan)
(Brian) The Predators have been in need of centre help for quite some time now and the fact this is a centre-heavy draft is great news for them. Frondell has been limited by injuries a bit in recent years but he is one of the top all-around players in this draft class. He’s already playing professionally and will move up to the SHL level next year, making him someone who could make the jump to the NHL quickly. That could be especially appealing to a Nashville group that isn’t looking to be part of an extended rebuild.
#6 – Philadelphia Flyers – Porter Martone, RW, Brampton Steelheads (OHL)
(Kevin) Martone is ranked third in the HabsWorld Final Rankings, but the needs on the teams picking there likely mean that he’s going somewhere between four and six. I wouldn’t be surprised if some teams regret this down the line as the floor on Martone is so high. I’ve been high on Martone since the start of the season and nothing that happened this season has changed that. Martone’s physical style of play is built for the NHL and more importantly, the playoffs. I see Corey Perry in this player and that is a perfect fit for the Flyers here.
#7 – Boston Bruins – Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford (OHL)
(Norm) Arguably the best playmaker in this draft, Jake could end up the best assist-generating centre since Joe Thornton. The Bruins have been looking for a true top-six centre since Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci retired. Although he’s an above-average skater, his very high hockey sense complements his other offensive abilities. Jake has a non-stop motor and is very diligent across all 200 feet of the ice. He needs time to fill out physically and is likely to stay in junior for the next two seasons before turning pro.
#8 – Seattle Kraken – Brady Martin, C, Soo (OHL)
(Brian) Over their first few years as a franchise, the Kraken have done well adding skill to their prospect pool up front. But they don’t have someone quite like Martin, a player who plays a heavy game for his size while being a relentless forechecker and a legitimate top-six offensive threat. He may not be a true power forward but he’s pretty close. There’s the saying of how certain players can help get a team through the playoffs and Martin should be one of those. He might have to move off the middle given Seattle’s centre depth but he can still be a core piece for them.
#9 – Buffalo Sabres – Radim Mrtka, RD, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
(Kevin) A big right-handed defenceman who skates like the wind and naturally takes advantage of his six-foot-six-inch frame. He’s also incredibly intelligent at both ends of the ice with his positioning and managed to score 35 points in 43 WHL games. This fills a need for the Sabres on the right side of the blue line which made it an easy pick. However, I wonder if teams (like the Habs!) don’t start calling and trying to trade up if Mrtka really is available at this point in the draft.
#10 – Anaheim Ducks – Roger McQueen, C, Brandon (WHL)
(Norm) It’s tough to imagine the Ducks not selecting a 6’5 centre who can dangle the puck with ease. Unfortunately, McQueen played in only 17 games this season due to a back injury (stress fracture). When the NHL Combine was held in June, Roger attended and participated in all drills to help downplay the impact of that injury. His offensive skills (skating, shooting) are all at a very high level. Before the season started, he was thought to be a top-five candidate. After missing so much game time, Roger will need at least one season before being deemed ready to turn pro; it’s more likely he will need two seasons.
#11 – Pittsburgh Penguins – William Eklund, Left Wing, Djurgardens (Allsvenskan)
(Brian) As the Penguins work through what actually might finally be a rebuild, they’re going to need some skilled forwards. Eklund, while a little undersized, is exactly that, while also bringing a gritty game to the table. Notably, his speed should stand out on a team that is largely bereft of that particular element. If he were a couple of inches taller, he might have had a shot at beating or matching where his brother William went (seventh overall back in 2021) but he’s a top-ten talent that falls to the Penguins in this mock draft.
#12 – Pittsburgh Penguins – Kashawn Aitcheson, LD, Barrie Colts (OHL)
Editor’s Note: This selection was initially made with the anticipation that the Rangers would keep the pick. We’ve kept it intact for the Penguins rather than readjust several other selections.
(Kevin) After picking a winger with their previous pick, the Penguins can turn to the blue line for this one. Beyond Owen Pickering, Pittsburgh doesn’t have much on the left side in their defensive pool and they frankly don’t have anyone quite like Aitcheson in their pool. While Kyle Dubas seems to be emphasizing an influx of skill since taking over as their GM, Aitcheson would be a good complementary addition while having a bullet for a point shot that could help him put up some points in the NHL.
#13 – Detroit Red Wings – Jackson Smith, LD, Tri-City Americans (WHL)
(Norm) Among the best skaters in this draft, Smith is a big left-shooting defenceman with a smooth skating stride that is the complete package. This blueliner has great mobility in every direction and loves to carry the puck to lead the rush. He is nearly 6’4 and just under 200 pounds, and he has improved at using his size towards his defensive game. His decision-making is improving, but not yet at a pro level. He has all the tools to make the transition to the NHL, and the Red Wings can use a player of his size and talent on the left side of their blueline.
#14 – Columbus Blue Jackets – Justin Carbonneau, RW, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
(Brian) Columbus has the benefit of being pretty well-stocked everywhere in their system. But while they have a lot of good young centres, they don’t have as much firepower on the wing to finish some of those chances. Enter Carbonneau, whose shooting ability is a standout skill. He plays a bit too much individualistic of a game at the moment but that can be worked on over time, especially as he makes the jump to college hockey next season. Carbonneau is one of the better finishers in this draft and could make an already-improving Blue Jackets offensive group even stronger.
#15 – Vancouver Canucks – Braedan Cootes, C, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
(Kevin) Cootes had 63 points in 60 games and is a responsible centre who always gives his utmost effort on every shift. Like Nick Suzuki, the ceiling is in question due to skating questions, but like Suzuki, he is said to play a cerebral game and his attention to detail is absolutely not in question. The Canucks are looking for players up the middle after trading away J.T. Miller, and this is an interesting pick for them.
#16 – Montreal Canadiens – Carter Bear, LW, Everett (WHL)
The Canadiens are in a spot where they can take a swing, so to speak, if they hold onto their draft picks. Bear would qualify as one given his Achilles injury as there’s a chance that his skating is negatively affected. But his overall playing style fits what the Habs could use as a physical player with a goal-scoring touch. Bear might not be a top-line player in the NHL down the road but he could fit in very nicely on a second line alongside last year’s top pick by the Canadiens, Ivan Demidov, as a finisher with some grit.
#17 – Montreal Canadiens – Logan Hensler, RD, University of Wisconsin (NCAA)
Hensler is a pro-sized defenceman with excellent four-way mobility. A right-shot defender, Logan started off slowly in his freshman college season, but improved with time. Despite being one of the youngest blueliners on his squad, he was given top minutes. Hensler projects as a good two-way defenceman, capable of making good defensive zone passes. His strength is in his defensive game, where he can use his stick to break up plays or his skating to keep tight gaps. Hensler fared well at the 2025 NHL Combine, scoring among the top 25 players in three different categories. It’s no secret that Montreal’s depth on RD is somewhat weak. Logan should improve his offensive stats next season, then be ready to turn pro for the 2026-27 season.
#18 – Ottawa Senators – Benjamin Kindel, RW, Calgary
(Norm) Kindel is on the smaller side at 5’10 but he’s one of the more offensively gifted players in this draft while also having a strong all-around game. He can play centre if needed although most players his size ultimately end up on the wing in the pros, especially since his skating isn’t his best attribute which isn’t ideal for a smaller player. The Senators can afford to be patient with him as he’s probably still a few years away from being NHL-ready.
#19 – St. Louis Blues – William Horcoff, C, Michigan (NCAA)
(Brian) This is admittedly a reach but big centres are hard to come by and Horcoff was a late riser following the move to Michigan midseason, one that actually saw him produce at a higher rate offensively than with the NTDP. His defensive game and physicality make him a safe bet to play on a third line in the NHL but some team is going to see the offensive improvement in the second half and think there’s another level Horcoff can get to, justifying an earlier selection. St. Louis is a team that fits his playing style and with Robert Thomas and Dalibor Dvorsky either signed or under club control long-term, they just might be the team to take that bet.
#20 – Columbus Blue Jackets – Cullen Potter, LW, Arizona State University (NCAA)
(Kevin) The skill with Potter is evident, the size is a concern, and the result is a mixed bag on what teams think about the player. Potter put up 22 points in 35 games playing on a less stacked team in Arizona. Potter will need to improve his strength which is the usual story around smaller players, but Potter’s commitment to defensive play is also in question. Teams do love the skating and the offensive skill that this player possesses. There is so much offensive talent that teams seem to believe that, at worst, he’ll become a power play merchant. For the Jackets, this is their second pick in the round, and they are willing to take the home run swing on a higher ceiling pick like Potter.
#21 – Ottawa Senators – Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie (OHL)
(Norm) Spence is a physical forward with an impressive two-way game. His skating is very good, with strong acceleration and speed. He shields the puck well when carrying it and is a very effective forechecker in every zone, loving to hit the opposition. Malcolm is among a growing number of junior-aged players who are choosing to leave their junior teams to move to NCAA colleges to continue their development. When asked at the NHL Combine about this decision, Spence stated he knew that he needs some time to get heavier, which you can translate into meaning the college hockey approach allows more time to spend in the weight room. He projects as a strong middle-six forward, and if he adapts well to college hockey, he may be ready to turn pro as early as the 2026-27 season.
#22 – Philadelphia Flyers – Cameron Reid, D, Kitchener (OHL)
(Brian) After landing a power winger earlier with the Martone selection, the Flyers can address another area that needs to be shored up, the left side of the back end in their prospect pool. Reid isn’t the biggest player which plays a role in him slipping a little further than many rankings have him projected to go but as a mobile, two-way blueliner, he checks a lot of boxes on a team that’s making a distinct effort to get younger and quicker.
#23 – Nashville Predators – Blake Fiddler, RD, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
(Kevin) A big (6’4), rangy defender who skates extremely well and provides some offence at the junior level, racking up 33 points in 64 games. He is most known for his ability to defend the rush which is remarkable at his size. He’s got the frame but he’s still skinny, so he will need to be given the time for the rest to catch up. This is definitely a high-floor, limited-ceiling pick. In this case, the family ties with the father comes into play for Nashville to look for the next wave of blue liners to be developed by the Predators.
#24 – Los Angeles Kings – Lynden Lakovic, LW/RW, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
(Norm) Lakovic is a bit of a controversial forward. Despite being over 6’4 and close to 190 pounds, he managed only four penalty minutes this season. Some are wondering if he is a “soft” player or less physical because of that metric. Despite those concerns, he remains a highly skilled player with very good puck handling, shooting, and passing abilities. Lynden is an excellent skater, very fluid, and can puckhandle among the best of this draft class, let alone his junior league. His passing skills are also top-notch, and his wrist shot is above average. One would think he should be a top ten player in this draft, and there is a chance someone could put their faith in him. If he drops, I cannot see him going past Los Angeles, who have taken on similarly skilled players in the past. Forwards like Quinton Byfield, Anze Kopitar, and Gabriel Vilardi come to mind.
#25 – Chicago Blackhawks – Daniil Prokhorov, RW, MHK Dynamo (MHL)
(Brian) Chicago selected Hagens already and they have a bunch of other centres in the system. Their defensive pool is well-stocked and even in goal, they have options. So, this is a good spot for them to swing big, literally. Prokhorov is a draft-and-stash power forward who, if he pans out, would give them the one piece they don’t have in their system. There’s definitely some risk but if he can become a consistent offensive power forward, Prokhorov could become a significant piece of the puzzle for the Blackhawks for a long time.
#26 – Nashville Predators – Bill Zonnon, C, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)
(Kevin) After Frondell and Fiddler, the Predators continue to beef up their roster with sizable players, this time adding a winger in Zonnon. He was a huge P.K. Subban fan, so he’ll be thrilled to get picked by the Preds. For Nashville, they get a player who hasn’t yet filled out his frame as he remains a rather lanky player who has produced 83 in 64 games for the Huskies. He’s a complete player who hasn’t found the consistency in his compete level but is a physical specimen when on his best game. This type of projectable player who will fill out the frame and likely find a bit more regularity when hockey becomes his life is what Nashville is hoping to find in Zonnon.
#27 – Washington Capitals – Simon Wang, LD, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
(Norm) Wang is one of the biggest defencemen eligible in this draft. A native of China, Simon moved to Canada as a twelve-year-old to better his dream of playing in the NHL. Wang is an excellent skater, able to move well in all directions on the ice despite his bulky size. He moved up from the OJHL to the OHL near the midseason mark and only played 38 games for the Generals. His size will help him once he is pro-ready, but he’s still adapting to the game in Oshawa. He has already committed to playing for Boston University, a school that his older brother graduated from with a Master’s Degree. Due to this fact, Simon’s desire to follow his brother’s educational path may have him stay a full four seasons in college. That may not be a bad decision since drafting Wang is very much a project type of selection. The allure of choosing a big blueliner like Wang is filling a future need for Washington, who does have a penchant for larger players.
#28 – Winnipeg Jets – Jack Nesbitt, C, Windsor (OHL)
(Brian) The big question with Nesbitt is if his offensive game can develop enough to play on an NHL second line. Like Horcoff earlier, there’s a high floor with a sound defensive game and physicality that should appeal to a team like the Jets. They’ve been trying to find a long-term 2C for a long time now. Nesbitt isn’t the likeliest centre on the board still to be that but it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Jets take the safer one with the physical profile that’s a better fit for their division and hope that a bigger role in junior will unlock some offensive development.
#29 – Carolina Hurricanes – Sascha Boumedienne, LD, Boston University (NCAA)
(Kevin) Carolina has no history drafting D. None. In fact, their owner has said they wouldn’t. However, new management might need to sell new ideas. The team boasts a very good forward group, with more quality forwards in the system. Their cupboards are nowhere near as full on the blue line, and with both Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov set to become free agents, it might be the perfect time to start filling that portion of the roster. In Boumedienne, the Hurricanes find a very Carolina player in that he isn’t small, but isn’t huge, instead focusing on being a smooth-skating defender who excels when he joins the rush. That might seem like an odd description of a player who scored only 13 points in 31 NCAA games, the Hurricanes are banking that what they saw at the U-18 (14 points in seven games) is more where this player is headed.
#30 – San Jose Sharks – Henry Brzustewicz, RD, London Knights (OHL)
(Norm) This draft has many high-end puck-moving defencemen, and Brzustewicz is yet another player who falls into this category. He is an excellent skating defender, with great mobility and acceleration. He is close to an average-sized pro player now and should grow into his body a bit more as he gains strength. Henry took part in his team winning the Memorial Cup this year. His hockey sense is very high, and that helps his decision-making in his defensive game too. He played on London’s second pairing, alongside Sharks 2024 pick Sam Dickenson, and averaged around 20 minutes per game. What’s interesting to note is, Henry was a forward at times for London this season. I believe his ability to change positions is a strong indicator that he will be a very good pro player, given his ability to quickly adapt. Outside top five players, it’s unlikely Brzustewicz will make the NHL this upcoming season, but he stands an excellent chance of doing so in two to three years.
#31 – Philadelphia Flyers – Cole Reschny, C, Victoria (WHL)
(Brian) From a skill perspective, Reschny should have been gone a long time ago. However, he’s one of the smaller centres in the draft and his skating has been a question mark. That’s not a great combo which caused him to fall here. But the Flyers are a good fit to stop the slide. They can afford to be patient and have enough depth down the middle that they could shift him to the wing if need be. The Flyers are still accumulating pieces and Reschny would give them another high-skilled piece in the pipeline.
#32 – Calgary Flames – Shane Vansaghi, RW, Michigan State (NCAA)
(Kevin) With the recent history surrounding the Flames and first-round selections out of the NCAA (Fox, Tkachuk, Gaudreau) all opting to leave, I was very hesitant to make this pick for the Flames. However, I think new management will see this as an opportunity to rejuvenate hope around the team that this group can bring in and keep NCAA talent. In Vansaghi, they find a sizable winger who likes to use his size to create offensively. This is in Calgary’s wheelhouse of needs right now. The ceiling is in question, but if he can be the muscle on a line with some of the skillful youth that Calgary has injected into their lineup the last two seasons, he might surpass what scouts are seeing as his ceiling. If not, that type of player can easily become a role player in the bottom six.
#41 – Montreal Canadiens – William Moore, C, USNTDP (USHL)
Moore started the season just outside the top 10 in many draft rankings. This season did not go his way, and he has slipped throughout the year as he was a late first-rounder by Christmas and is now widely considered to be a second-round talent. He had an offensive surge to end the year to end with 21 points in 25 games, but it is believed to be rather unsustainable offence. If the Canadiens believe that it was an anomaly of a year and he can bounce back, then this is an excellent selection with plenty of upside for a player heading to the NCAA next season. He’s also said to be very defensively responsible, so it’s a high-floor pick that can surprise a la Owen Beck.
#49 – Montreal Canadiens – Ethan Czata, C, Niagara Ice Dogs (OHL)
Czata had 55 points in 68 games and is likely to be a middle-six centre while penalty killing at the next level. Czata is physical despite only being 6’1 which has led to some penalty trouble. He’s not a great passer but is working on it. A project pick on a player with some jam that needs to work on some skill to get to the next level. This could be a pick that becomes a player if the Habs take time to develop him and can use him when the Habs start seeing success and perhaps Beck, Oliver Kapanen, Florian Xhekaj, and Jake Evans might be pricing themselves out of Montreal.
#79 – Montreal Canadiens – Matthew Gard, C, Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
Gard is another project player who is rated anywhere from the middle of the second round through to the late fourth round. Matthew’s size stands out, of course, since he’s 6’5 and 192 pounds. His defensive game is already excellent and he excels in faceoffs. What many scouts like is his high compete level, and his strong positional play. He only scored 36 points this season, but he was the leading scorer on a dismal team. Gard also shows very good hockey sense, and his size gives him a big advantage in the corners. His offensive game is less developed, so it’s hard to say how well he will progress from his draft year. His skating is average, which is similar to his shooting and passing skills. Although Matthew’s ceiling may only be a bottom-six centre, his size and faceoff skills should give him the edge to eventually make it to the NHL, especially given Montreal’s lack of centre depth. It’s likely he will take three more seasons at least before getting a chance at the NHL.
#81 – Montreal Canadiens – Cooper Simpson, LW, Tri-City Storm (USHL)
Cooper scored 83 points in 31 games playing in high school before moving up to the USHL where he scored eight points in nine games. He is heading to North Dakota in the NCAA next season, and it will be interesting to see if his scoring can follow him to the next level. He’s said to be an explosive skater with great puck-handling and diverse attacking styles. He also has a great shot. Obviously, he’s playing in a lower league which raises plenty of questions about a potential role in the NHL, but it’s an interesting home-run swing considering the impressive offensive numbers in high school.
#82 – Montreal Canadiens – Ilyas Magomedsultanov, D, Yaroslavl (MHL)
The Habs have tended to lean toward longer-term projects in recent years and that has factored into some of our selections beyond the first round. Magomedsultanov is another one of those players. He’s a strong skater and plays a very physical game with a lot of room to fill out his frame over the next few seasons. On the flip side, he’s very raw beyond those two elements. It’ll take a few years for some refinement to come to his game but knowing that the Canadiens are starting to eye some bigger and stronger players, they’re a team that may have the blueliner rated higher than others.
