2025 NHL Mock Draft - Round 1

How I envision a draft is I think about what the team would do, or what would be the ideal option in their shoes. I look at past drafts in their history as for the kind of attitude or playing styles, or what the team may need to get to the next level. You think some players should be taken higher, but sometimes they fall and others they rise. But this is my final mock draft, sans to change at anytime such as draft picks being traded:

Mock Draft:

1. New York Islanders - Matthew Schaefer - Obvious clear favourite to go first overall. Player comparable - Mikhael Sergachev

2. San Jose Sharks - Anton Frondell - I think this is the guy San Jose could use, but I think he's a guy who suits their style of game. Player comparable - Sasha Barkov

3. Chicago Blackhawks - Michael Misa - I think personally he is the best player in the draft and wouldn't be surprised to see him go first overall. He is a pure hockey player, and I see him having the longest lasting career in the NHL. He plays a consistent offensive game, and putting him on Bedard's line gives so much promise for both Misa and the Blackhawks. I also see Misa playing in the NHL for a long time similar to Corey Perry. Player comparable - Henrik Zetterberg

4. Utah Mammoth - Brady Martin - Unless a better player is available, there's no way Utah passes on Martin. He isn't attending the draft for the right reasons which is to be with his family, but also playing for the Greyhounds just shows he's willing to bring the heart and soul into the room as it's not a popular location in the OHL similar to Sudbury. Player comparable - Martin Necas

5. Nashville Predators - Victor Eklund - He plays a style that suits the Predators game and developmental route. I think this is a no-brainer for Nashville. Player comparable - Jake Guentzel

6. Philadephia Flyers - Roger McQueen - Plays the exact style of game for the Flyers and think he's the right player to step up when the time comes. Player comparable - Keith Primeau

7. Boston Bruins - Carter Bear - I see him being the riser of the draft, and with Boston likely going into rebuild mode it's best they take a talented young player who is also a leader. But I see Carter Bear panning out to be a really good Boston Bruin if taken by them. Player comparable - Mike Richards

8. Seattle Kraken - Porter Martone - He'd look good on a line of Berkley Catton and Shane Wright which has potential to make Seattle a better team. Player comparable - Corey Perry

9. Buffalo Sabres - James Hagens - I think he'd be a great player for the Sabres and has great leadership potential. Player comparable - Dylan Larkin

10. Anaheim Ducks - Jackson Smith - What Anaheim needs more of is young defenseman. And I think Jackson Smith would be the best player available. Player comparable - Thomas Harley

11. Pittsburgh Penguins - Caleb Desnoyers - Player comparable - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

12. New York Rangers - Kashawn Aitcheson - I think the Rangers should take a forward, but their defense needs work and in this case I find the Rangers take the best player available. Player comparable - Brock Beukeboom

13. Detroit Red Wings - Radim Mrtka - He and Moritz Seider would be an unstoppable defensive-pairing. I do believe he is a great player, but needs more time and years to develop, after that I think he'll be a staple to the NHL. Player comparable - Jay Bouwmeester

14. Columbus Blue Jackets - Cameron Reid - The Blue Jackets need to add to their blue-line a lot more for when their contracts expire. Player comparable - Zach Werenski

15. Vancouver Canucks - Justin Carbonneau - I think this is the exact player the Canucks need, and I think he fits a long-term plan very well. Say they decide to trade Pettersson, he will be the kind of guy to step up into those shoes or if not he can be a 2C behind Pettersson. Player comparable - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

16. Montreal Canadiens (Calgary) - Jake O'Brien - Montreal wouldn't just take the best player available, but one who can be a 2C or 1C with Suzuki in the future. Player comparable - Mat Barzal

17. Montreal Canadiens - Lynden Lakovic - Lakovic is one of the most effective players in this draft, and Montreal needs one of those kinds of players. Player comparable - Josh Anderson

18. Calgary Flames (New Jersey) - Braeden Cootes - Calgary adding centre depth to their core, but Calgary is also in no rush to have players onto their team. As for Cootes, when his time comes he'll step right onto that ice when he is ready and not go back down. But Cootes is the kind of player who needs a lot of time before he makes his NHL debut. I do believe he can rise, but what's valuable about him is he's a leader and think he'll if not captain, one of Canada's Captains at the WJC one day. He makes everything happen offensively too. Player Comparable - 

19. St. Louis Blues - Logan Hensler. Player comparable - Bryan McCabe

20. Columbus Blue Jackets (Minnesota) - Joshua Ravensbergen - Columbus needs a starting goaltender in the future, and I believe they decide to take a chance on Ravensbergen. Also, Columbus isn't in any kind of rush when it comes to goaltending, so letting Ravensbergen develop properly wouldn't hurt them. Player comparable - Jake Oettinger 

21. Ottawa Senators - Jakub Ihs-Wozniak - Ottawa makes a rise, and I think this may be the steal of the draft. I think he'd be great for their core given no pressure will be on him and he plays a style of game the Senators have. Player comparable - Mika Zibanejad

22. Philadelphia Flyers (Colorado) - Blake Fiddler - Philadelphia's next place to look is defense, but Fiddler is going to need a lot of patience and I think Philly makes sure they have what they need in place before taking the biggest risk with their final pick in the first round. Player comparable - Brent Sopel

23. Los Angeles Kings - Cole Reschney - If developed properly, I think he'll have a long and strong NHL career. I do think he does fall due to his size, but I don't think his size has an effect on whether or not he plays in the NHL. Player comparable - Johnny Gaudreau 

24. Nashville Predators (Tampa Bay) - Shane Vansaghi - Nashville getting a big and gritty player for their future is just what they need. Player comparable - Tyler Bertuzzi

25. Chicago Blackhawks (Toronto) - Sascha Boumedienne - The Blackhawks adding to their defensive core is the next step, and if Boumedienne were to join the likes of Kevin Korshinski and Atryom Levshunov, I assume in the next 5 seasons Chicago will return to their glory days. Player comparable - Shayne Gostisbehere

26. Nashville Predators (Vegas) - Jack Nesbitt - Nashville taking a solid player would help their future depth in the long-run, say they take Vansaghi 24th. Player comparable - Adam Lowry

27. Washington Capitals - Cullen Potter - I think Potter could go higher, but if he lands with Washington I think he is one of their better players and has a long career with the Capitals because he's such a good fit there. Player comparable - RJ Umberger

28. Winnipeg Jets - William Moore - Jets take the best player available. I also believe Moore to be the best fit for the Winnipeg Jets as he plays the style Winnipeg wants, and I think if he is drafted there he is built into a player that lasts a long time in the NHL. What I love about Moore is, like Misa, a rare breed of hockey player that can last a really long time. I could also see William Moore jumping up into the top-ten. One thing he does that's incredible is how he makes really good plays behind the net. Player comparable - John Tavares

29. Carolina Hurricanes - Bill Zonnon. Player comparable - Tyler Toffoli

30. San Jose Sharks (Dallas) - Malcolm Spence. Player comparable - Alex Iafallo

31. Philadelphia Flyers (Edmonton) - Ben Kindel - The Flyers taking Kindel would be a great addition as I could see him being a Flyer in the long run. Player comparable - 

32. Calgary Flames (Florida) - Cameron Schmidt - Calgary decides to see if they can make a steal with the final pick. I personally believe Nashville likes Schmidt, but he could also go higher or drop into the second round. Player comparable - Mike Comrie

The players I'd take if I was an NHL GM in their expected draft slots:

1. Michael Misa - 1-10

2. Braeden Cootes - 11-20

3. William Moore - 21-32

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