NHL Central Scouting released its final rankings for the 2025 NHL Draft class on Tuesday morning.
Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer and Saginaw Spirit exceptional status center Michael Misa headlined the list of North American skaters, while Djurgarden center Anton Frondell leapfrogged teammate Victor Eklund for the top spot on the list of international skaters.
Here are the rankings and some takeaways from The Athletic’s draft experts, Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler.
NHL Central Scouting has released its final rankings presented by BODYARMOR Sports Drink for the 2025 Upper Deck #NHLDraft:
No. 1 N.A. Skater: Matthew Schaefer
No. 1 ITL Skater: Anton FrondellFull rankings: https://t.co/e9iTvRmx1e pic.twitter.com/w97kHHWr97
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) April 15, 2025
North American Skaters Rankings (NHLCS)
|
Rank
|
Player
|
Pos.
|
Team
|
League
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Matthew Schaefer |
LHD |
Erie |
OHL |
|
2 |
Michael Misa |
C |
Saginaw |
OHL |
|
3 |
James Hagens |
C |
Boston College |
NCAA |
|
4 |
Jake O’Brien |
C |
Brantford |
OHL |
|
5 |
Radim Mrtka |
RHD |
Seattle |
WHL |
|
6 |
Porter Martone |
RW |
Brampton |
OHL |
|
7 |
Caleb Desnoyers |
C |
Moncton |
QMJHL |
|
8 |
Roger McQueen |
C |
Brandon |
WHL |
|
9 |
Kashawn Aitcheson |
LHD |
Barrie |
OHL |
|
10 |
Carter Bear |
LW |
Everett |
WHL |
Top North American goalie: Joshua Ravensbergen (Prince George, WHL)
International Skaters Rankings (NHLCS)
|
Rank
|
Player
|
Pos.
|
Team
|
League
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Anton Frondell |
C |
Djurgarden |
HockeyAllsvenskan |
|
2 |
Victor Eklund |
RW |
Djurgarden |
HockeyAllsvenskan |
|
3 |
Milton Gastrin |
C |
MoDo |
J20 |
|
4 |
Vojtech Cihar |
LW |
Vary Karlovy |
Czechia |
|
5 |
Alexander Zharovsky |
RW |
Ufa |
MHL |
|
6 |
Eddie Genborg |
RW |
Linkoping |
SHL |
|
7 |
Eric Nilson |
C |
Djurgarden |
J20 |
|
8 |
Jakob Ihs Wozniak |
C |
Lulea |
J20 |
|
9 |
Kurban Limatov |
LHD |
Dynamo Moscow |
MHL |
|
10 |
Theodor Hallquisth |
RHD |
Orebro |
J20 |
Top international goalie: Pyotr Andreyanov (CSKA, MHL)
Pronman’s thoughts
Jake O’Brien’s rise into the top five players in North America tracks from what I’ve seen and heard from NHL sources. I don’t know if I personally would have him there yet, but he’s close. He’s a 6-foot-2 right-shot center with high-end offensive traits. He started the season off slow but has been great in recent months. His trajectory reminds me in some ways of Beckett Sennecke’s last year.
Caleb Desnoyers, in my view, is being underrated. He’s the best player on arguably the best team in the CHL, and I expect he’ll be a top-five pick on draft day. He’s a center who does everything well. He has a lot of offense and a great motor.
Wheeler’s thoughts
There has been a lot of debate amongst scouts this year as to who the second-best D in the draft is, and so the rankings of the next cluster of consensus North American D was the first place I looked. Removing their ranking on the overall list, the top five D in North America were slotted as follows:
- Matthew Schaefer
- Radim Mrtka
- Kashawn Aitcheson
- Logan Hensler
- Jackson Smith
Mrtka was their No. 2 D at midseason as well, but Aitcheson jumped past both Hensler and Smith on the final list. He’s viewed as a pretty singular D in this class and, with Brady Martin, one of its fiercest competitors. He finished the season really strong and has been excellent in the OHL playoffs for Barrie, too. Scouts still covet his throwback brand of hockey.
People will notice Porter Martone’s slip from No. 4 in North America at midseason to No. 6 here as well. He got off to a torrid start but plateaued in the second half. Scouts like his combination of size, skill and competitiveness but there are some concerns about his skating/pace.
I was happy to see Ryker Lee rise from No. 40 to No. 28 in North America. I’m very high on his skill level.
(Photo of Matthew Schaefer: Dennis Pajot / Getty Images)