Introduction

As the NHL season progresses, the focus shifts to the future stars of the league. The 2025 NHL Draft features an impressive lineup of prospects, with James Hagens, Michael Misa, and Matthew Schaefer leading the pack. Here's an in-depth look at the top 32 prospects based on the latest draft model.

The Draft Model

This year's draft rankings are solely based on outputs from a sophisticated draft model. No adjustments have been made for scouting or other anecdotal information. The model has been refined from last season, giving more weight to tracking statistics, league strength, and scoring statistics, while reducing emphasis on player size.

Categories and Projections

Each player is projected into specific categories with a confidence factor indicating their likelihood of reaching that level:

• Forwards: Elite player, top-line forward, top-six forward, impact forward, middle-six forward, bottom-six forward, and NHL player.
• Defensemen: Top-pair defenseman, top-four defenseman, impact defenseman, and NHL defenseman.
• Goaltenders: Starting goaltender, platoon starter, backup goaltender, and NHL goaltender.

Top Prospects

1. Matthew Schaefer - D, Erie (OHL) - Top-Pair Defenseman
2. James Hagens - F, Boston College (NCAA) - Top-Line Forward
3. Michael Misa - F, Saginaw (OHL) - Top-Line Forward
4. Porter Martone - F, Brampton (OHL) - Top-Six Forward
5. Roger McQueen - F, Brandon (WHL) - Top-Six Forward
6. Viktor Eklund - F, Djurgarden (Allsvenskan) - Top-Six Forward
7. Caleb Desnoyers - F, Moncton (QMJHL) - Top-Six Forward
8. Anton Frondell - F, Djurgarden (AllSvenskan) - Impact Forward
9. Jake O'Brien - F, Brantford (OHL) - Impact Forward
10. Lynden Lakovic - F, Moose Jaw (WHL) - Impact Forward

Emerging Talent

Players like Malcolm Spence and Cameron Schmidt have shown potential despite varying confidence factors. Spence, for instance, is rated higher due to a more stable confidence factor, highlighting the model's focus on reliability.

Conclusion

This initial ranking sets the stage for future updates, incorporating scouting and industry opinions as the draft approaches. With such a promising class, the NHL's future looks bright.

For continuous updates and breaking news from the NHL Draft, don't forget to download the ESPN app and follow Emily Kaplan's alerts.