The Biggest Moves in the Lottery

• The New York Islanders leaped from No. 10 to No. 1.
• Utah Hockey Club jumped from No. 14 to No. 4.

Mock Draft: The New Face of the 2025 Draft

With the draft order now set, our experts weigh in with their best predictions for the first 16 picks:

1. New York Islanders: Matthew Schaefer, LHD, Erie (OHL)

“With all the turmoil around this team now — they don’t have a GM at the moment — the smart move is to find a cornerstone defenseman. Schaefer is the consensus pick here and you can’t go against that…

2. San Jose Sharks: Michael Misa, C, Saginaw (OHL)

“Good fortune didn’t strike twice for the Sharks… but this is still a great spot to add another high-end piece to their prospect arsenal…

3. Chicago Blackhawks: Porter Martone, RW, Brampton (OHL)

The Blackhawks don’t have many forwards like Martone in their prospect pool. He could be the perfect complementary top-line winger to what the Blackhawks are already building.

4. Utah Hockey Club: Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton (QMJHL)

Utah may not have gotten up to the top two, but this win still brings them into a totally new tier of prospects. Desnoyers is a big, two-way center who was one of the top scorers in the QMJHL this season.

5. Nashville Predators: James Hagens, C, Boston College

Soo Greyhounds center Brady Martin fits the competitive archetype the Predators covet… but how long have they been waiting for a premium skill forward in Smashville?

6. Philadelphia Flyers: Anton Frondell, C, Djurgården (SWEDEN-2)

With the Flyers dropping two spots in the lottery… they’re fortunate that the draft is deep at their position of need — center. So, we’ll go with the best available one still on the board here in Frondell…

7. Boston Bruins: Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford (OHL)

The Bruins need skill in a big way at every position. But especially at center… No. 7 will be the highest selection since 2010, when the Bruins took Tyler Seguin second after Taylor Hall.

8. Seattle Kraken: Radim Mrtka, RHD, Seattle (WHL)

This will be the Kraken’s fifth draft. They’ve used their previous four first-round picks on forwards… Mrtka has been in their backyard all year with the Thunderbirds… his combination of size and skating would be unique in their pool.

9. Buffalo Sabres: Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

The Sabres fell back two spots in the lottery, and that puts them in a trickier position… But that he brings a physical edge the Sabres need more of is a bonus.

10. Anaheim Ducks: Roger McQueen, C, Brandon (WHL)

This could be an interesting spot for the Ducks… If they keep this pick, McQueen is a tantalizing choice that comes with risk… He’s a huge, right-shot pivot that can play a skilled game with some edge — does that sound familiar?

11. Pittsburgh Penguins: Jackson Smith, LHD, Tri-City (WHL)

Kyle Dubas recently acknowledged that the left side of his team’s blue line is a mess… Thus, Jackson strikes me as a perfect pick for the Penguins in this spot…

12. New York Rangers: Jack Nesbitt, C, Windsor (OHL)

The Rangers might not even make this pick… Nesbitt, though, is a center, which fits an organizational need… “He has top-six forward potential and could be a second-line center”…

13. Detroit Red Wings: Victor Eklund, RW, Djurgården (SWEDEN-2)

In a perfect world, I think the Red Wings would add a forward with a bit more size here, but Eklund’s talent is just too much to pass up… Ultimately, Eklund’s motor and offensive ability make him the pick.

14. Columbus Blue Jackets: Kashawn Aitcheson, D, Barrie (OHL)

If this is how the draft board falls… there’s a chance the Blue Jackets strongly consider trading out of this pick… Aitcheson would certainly brighten their long-term future…

15. Vancouver Canucks: Justin Carbonneau, RW, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)

The Canucks will explore their options on the trade market with the 15th selection… But if they stick and pick, they’ll need to add offensive juice to their lineup above all other considerations…

16. Montreal Canadiens: Carter Bear, LW, Everett (WHL)

The Canadiens also hold the No. 17 pick… If they keep the pick, and Bear is available, he fits what the Canadiens are looking to add… In his year-end news conference, executive vice-president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton mentioned the need to improve the team’s compete level multiple times…

Pronman’s Audit

Two outlier cases winning the lottery turned this draft on its head… McQueen getting to 10 is the first interesting result… Eklund falling to 13 to Detroit is the second most interesting takeaway…

Did You Know?

This is the first time since the draft lottery system began in 2017 that two teams have jumped up into the top four.

Pro Tip

Keep an eye on the Flyers at No. 6. They’ve traded out of this spot in the past, and with their recent changes, they could do so again.

Call to Action

Join the conversation! Leave a comment with your thoughts on this mock draft, and share your own predictions for the 2025 NHL Draft.

Summary

The 2025 NHL Draft has seen a dramatic shake-up with the lottery, flipping the script and offering some exciting possibilities. Our experts’ mock draft provides an intriguing look at how the first 16 picks could play out. Keep an eye on our coverage for more updates and analysis as the draft approaches.