What's the consensus? Who are best prospects in the 2025 NHL Draft

Every June, the next generation of NHL stars hear their name called and experience a childhood dream. Each draft has a cream-of-the-crop, surefire top-of-the-class prospect that many teams hope to add to their organization.

Generational talents like Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby and Connor Bedard were set to go No. 1 from the very beginning. Fast forward to 2025 and that No. 1 spot has been ever changing as we just pass the halfway point of the season.

It started with a consensus at No. 1, but the competition has made it difficult to lock down the position with so many stars entering the mix, making it hard to pick just one player.

So what’s the argument for some of these blue chip prospects? What does each bring to the table?

Matthew Schaefer, Defenseman, Erie Otters (OHL)

A human highlight reel that can skate like the wind and hands so silky smooth it can make some of the finest suits jealous. Matthew Schaefer is a defenseman whose name is circled at the top of the league’s rankings.

Schaefer is smart and extremely skilled, with flashes of Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes in his playstyle. One minute, he’s at his own goal line, and the next he’s going coast-to-coast, dangling in and out of the other team’s defense.

Even with the start of his season delayed due to mononucleosis, Schaefer took off and didn’t look back, scoring a total of 22 points in 17 games with the Otters, becoming a whole different player than he was last season. His ability to take over games and be that do-it-all defenseman earned him a spot on Canada’s 2025 U20 World Junior roster.

His tournament came to an end when he suffered a broken collarbone in a game against Latvia, sidelining him for three months. Team Canada’s defense didn’t seem the same after the injury, and the team had another early exit, losing to Czechia in the quarterfinals.

Schaefer’s talent and rising potential are exactly what teams are looking for as they search for a franchise-changing defenseman.

James Hagens, Center, Boston College (NCAA)

One of the top centers in the NHL draft brings a strong two-way game, high IQ, incredible puck skill and elite playmaking. James Hagens entered the season as the top dog in the draft order, coming off a season where he tallied 149 points between the USHL and the U.S. National U18 team.

Hagens committed to Boston College, looking to bolster a talented roster that has been in the mix for the national title in the last couple of years. The Eagles’ No. 1 center has had a ton of high-caliber weapons at his disposal, with names like Gabe Perreault, Ryan Leonard and Teddy Stiga all being threats as soon as their skates touch the ice.

Hagens has put up solid numbers in his first NCAA season, recording 29 points in 22 games, but the prospect has seemed a bit of a slight slope when it comes to his stock.

He has all the tools to hear his name called first, everyone knows he has skills and talents that not many others have, but other prospects in this draft have blossomed and caught the eyes of scouts.

Hagens is still likely to be the first center off the board in 2025. The NCAA is a tough and physical league, especially for an 18-year-old, but he has all the tools and resources to continue his strong freshman campaign with the Eagles.

Michael Misa, Center/Left Wing, Saginaw (OHL)

Michael Misa has been on the map for years. He was granted exceptional status by the Canadian Hockey League, a privilege that allows underaged players to join the league early. At 15 years old, he was drafted first overall by the Saginaw Spirit in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection.

He scored 20 points in seven games during the 2022 OHL Cup, breaking Connor McDavid’s scoring title record.

Misa had an instant impact on the team, leading all rookies with 56 points in the 2022-23 season. Fast forward two seasons, and he’s become an even more elite offensive force. He is nearly a goal per game, lighting the lamp 40 times in 44 contests.

Those goals only make up nearly half of his total points, which sit at 88 on the campaign as the OHL’s leader in the category. He is on pace for 59 goals and 130 points.

Misa’s compete level and urgency in some instances hold him back, and his defense is still a work in progress like many young offensive-minded players. He still has all the talent in the world to be a 200-foot player.

Misa’s abilities can change games instantly. He is elite on his skates and is a wizard when he has the puck. He’s been turning heads for years, thriving year in and year out. His skills have him in the upper echelon of the 2025 draft class.

Porter Martone, Right Wing, Brampton (OHL)

The 6-foot-3 winger from Peterborough has impressed all season long. Starting out with the Sarnia Sting in 2022, Porter Martone was traded to the Mississauga Steelheads (now Brampton) and has called the team home since.

Martone burst onto the scene in 2023-24, where he tallied 71 points and finished it off with a strong playoff performance. His efforts were good enough to put him with the top prospects of 2025; he earned the “C” for the Steelheads and immediately continued to take over hockey games.

He knows where to be in the offensive zone, he isn’t afraid to go to the dirty areas of the ice and his size makes opponents feel like they’re playing against a monster. The kid has the puck on a string 24/7.

Currently sitting at 67 points, he’s on pace to finish 104. He’s taken his play to a whole new elevation, making the top of the class that much better.

His skating is still in development, but given his size, it is understandable that these areas are still a work in progress as a young prospect still growing into his body. He’ll only get better as he works on his skating and defensive play. His ceiling is sky-high when it comes to his potential.

The 2025 NHL Draft is very deep, with so many prospects that can instantly impact a franchise. It’ll be fun to continue watching these players as they round themselves out as the NHL’s next generation of greats.

Anthony Desher is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email desher1119@gmail.com.