Scout’s Analysis: Favourite choose from every spherical of 2025 NHL Draft

The 2025 NHL Draft is within the books and prospects at the moment are scattering all through North America making ready for his or her first expertise with the groups that chosen them. With growth camps set to begin, the following section of a prospect’s journey in direction of sometime changing into an NHL participant begins. 

This yr’s draft class wasn’t as deep as among the newer ones, however it didn’t lack for character. This class will add layers of depth to NHL rosters sooner or later. Some of them gained’t transfer the needle on the high of a lineup, however they are going to present the form of glue that retains groups collectively when video games get tougher within the playoffs. 

Here’s a have a look at my favorite choose from every spherical of the 2025 NHL Draft:

Matthew Schaefer, New York Islanders, first general 

I’ve been scouting hockey for greater than 25 years now. I’ve attended 1000’s of video games in my profession and had the nice fortune of interviewing a whole bunch of gamers. I’ve by no means met a high prospect who has suffered via a lot private tragedy and located a option to persevere the way in which Matthew Schaefer has. He misplaced his mother to most cancers final yr and missed most of this season because of harm, however discovered a option to stay optimistic all through the draft course of and was an absolute pleasure to get to know. 

Schaefer performs for the Erie Otters (OHL) and is an elite prospect who initiatives to be an entire participant on the NHL degree. Schaefer will probably be deployed in all conditions and log a ton of ice time for the Islanders. He produces offence with out sacrificing defence. The Islanders have themselves a future captain in Schaefer and a prospect to construct their group round for years to come back. 

NHL Projection: Top pairing defenceman. Deployed in all conditions

Alexander Zharovsky, Montreal Canadiens, thirty fourth general

Zharovsky was a major riser for me this yr and one of the crucial attention-grabbing offensive prospects to trace. He’s extremely expert and initiatives to be a high six ahead in time. His capacity to beat opponents one-on-one in tight quarters and capitalize in excessive hazard areas may be very intriguing. In time Zharovsky will add extra energy and weight to his body which is able to help him with extra open ice energy and produce much more alternative to influence the sport together with his elite puck contact. Zharovsky has two extra seasons left on his contract with UFA Tolpar in Russia. 

NHL Projection: Top-six ahead. Playmaker

Cameron Schmidt, Dallas Stars, 94th general

Schmidt ended the yr ranked in my first spherical, so I used to be stunned to see him fall all the way in which to the third. Teams have been clearly shy about drafting a ahead of Schmidt’s stature (5-foot-7, 157 kilos) however Dallas Stars Director of Scouting Joe McDonnell stepped in to benefit from Schmidt nonetheless being obtainable at choose 94. 

Schmidt is undersized, however he performs the sport fast and explodes via the impartial zone to steer the push. If he will get the sting on an opponent he’ll drive to the online however he’s most harmful snapping pucks on internet in movement or when he cycles to the center of the ice off the half wall. Schmidt leans shooter greater than distributor. He contributed 40G-38A in 61 video games taking part in for the Vancouver Giants this previous season.

NHL Projection: Middle-six ahead. Shooter. Goal scorer

LJ Mooney, Montreal Canadiens, 113th general

Mooney, like Schmidt, is undersized (5-foot-7, 157 kilos) however he’s by no means a straightforward out for opponents regardless of his stature. The Habs chosen Mooney with the 113^th choose after watching him contribute 10G-41A this yr taking part in for Team USA’s U18 nationwide group. 

Mooney leans distributor greater than shooter. He’s very fast in small areas and has the power to slide off checks. He’s dependable defensively and doesn’t shrink back from contact. Mooney’s elite aspect is his offensive upside, however he’s lively in all three zones and has an actual probability of changing into an NHL participant sometime with the way in which he approaches each shift. 

NHL Projection: Third line centre/winger. Play driver

Viktor Klingsell, Winnipeg Jets, 156th general

Klingsell initiatives to be a center of the lineup winger who produces secondary offence at even energy and has the talent to be deployed on the ability play. The stocky/sturdy ahead produced 17G-22A taking part in for Skelleftea’s J20 group in Sweden and added 2G-6A suiting up for Team Sweden on the U18 World Championship. He’s a really aggressive participant who was persistently noticeable for me after I considered him this previous season. 

NHL Projection: Potential third line winger. Shooter on energy play 

Burke Hood, New York Islanders, a hundred and seventieth general

The Islanders gained the weekend with their three first-round choices and added Hood to the group with the 170^th choose within the sixth spherical. 

Hood is an intriguing goalie prospect who’s athletic and large within the internet. He’s very highly effective shifting facet to facet monitoring the play and has higher than common low internet protection and glove hand. Hood wants time to be “coached up.” Like a whole lot of athletic goaltenders there are occasions he will get too aggressive difficult performs and loses his crease within the course of. However, I admire his compete and imagine he has a stable basis to work with general. Hood posted a 3.13 GAA and .910 save proportion taking part in for the Vancouver Giants (WHL) this previous season. 

NHL Projection: No. 2B/NHL backup 

Filip Ekberg, Carolina Hurricanes, 221st general

I used to be stunned to see Ekberg fall this far within the draft. He ended up being chosen by the Hurricanes with the fourth-last choose general. 

Ekberg fought some inconsistencies within the common season however left a robust impression on the U18 worlds on the finish of the yr. He contributed 16G-29A for the Ottawa 67’s (OHL) earlier than profitable the scoring title on the U18s with 10G-8A in solely seven video games. Ekberg might want to present extra progress in his throughout sport and show a willingness to battle onerous within the trenches persistently, however he was positively definitely worth the danger at this stage of the draft and will have been chosen sooner in my view. 

NHL Projection: Fourth line. Minor league recall ahead