2025 NHL Mock Draft 1st-Round Predictions and Latest Draft Order

The San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks are in a race to the finish to land the best odds to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL draft.

San Jose and Chicago are the only two teams in the NHL under 60 points. The Sharks have 50 points and the Blackhawks are at 51 points.

The three worst teams in the NHL enter the draft lottery with odds over 10 percent to pick first.

The last four teams to pick first had No. 1 pick odds over 10 percent going into the lottery.

Defenseman Matthew Schaefer is on top of many draft boards at the moment, but a few forwards could make a case to be chosen first over the next two months.

2025 NHL Mock Draft

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1. San Jose - Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie (OHL)
2. Chicago - Michael Misa, C/LW, Saginaw (OHL)
3. Nashville - Anton Frondell, C, Djurgardens
4. Seattle - James Hagens, C, Boston College
5. Boston - Porter Martone, RW, Brampton (OHL)
6. Philadelphia - Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton (QMJHL)
7. Buffalo - Roger McQueen, C, Brandon (WHL)
8. Pittsburgh - Victor Eklund, LW, Djurgardens
9. Anaheim - Jackson Smith, D, Tri-City (WHL)
10. New York Islanders - Radim Mrtka, Seattle (WHL)
11. Detroit - Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford (OHL)
12.  New York Rangers - Carter Bear, LW, Everett (WHL)
13. Columbus - Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
14. Utah - Logan Hensler, D, Wisconsin
15. Vancouver - Justin Carbonneau, RW, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
16. Montreal (from Calgary) - Lynden Lakovic, LW, Moose Jaw (WHL)
17. Montreal - Kashawn Aitcheson, D, Barrie (OHL)
18. Ottawa - Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie (OHL)
19. Calgary (from New Jersey) - Ben Kindel, C, Calgary (WHL)
20. St. Louis - Jack Nesbitt, C, Windsor (OHL)
21. Columbus (from Minnesota) - Cameron Reid, D, Kitchener (OHL)
22. Philadelphia (from Edmonton) - Cole Reschny, C, Victoria (WHL)
23. Calgary (from Florida) - Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle (WHL)
24. Philadelphia (from Colorado) - Blake Fiddler, D, Edmonton (WHL)
25. Los Angeles - Cullen Potter, C, Arizona State
26. Nashville (from Tampa Bay) - Cameron Schmidt, RW, Vancouver (WHL)
27. Carolina - Bill Zonnon, C, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
28. San Jose (from Dallas) - William Moore, C, USDP
29. Chicago (from Toronto) - Joshua Ravensbergen, G, Prince George (WHL)
30. Nashville (from Vegas) - Jack Murtagh, LW, USDP
31. Winnipeg - Ivan Ryabkin, C, Muskegon (USHL)
32. Washington - Cole McKinney, C, USDP

Matthew Schaefer Viewed as Top Prospect

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Canadian defenseman Matthew Schaefer is rated as the top prospect in the draft class by a handful of experts.

Sportsnet's Jason Bukala described what makes Schaefer the top prospect in the 2025 class.

"Schaefer is a complete player. He’s a massive threat off the rush with his pace and puck skill and sees the ice exceptionally well when distributing on the power play. He’s engaged defensively and is one of the most competitive and mature prospects in the draft class."

Two NHL.com experts projected Schaefer would be the top pick as well in a recent mock draft.

If recent history holds, San Jose, Chicago or Nashville will have the chance to take Schaefer at No. 1.

The Predators have the third-lowest point total in the NHL and would have over 10 percent odds to win the draft lottery, along with San Jose and Chicago.

The Sharks and Blackhawks are both building up their rosters and could use a dynamic defenseman, like Schaefer.

If Nashville lands the top pick, Schaefer could bring an injection of youth into a veteran lineup led by Filip Forsberg, Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault.

Handful of Forwards to Be Chosen In Top 5

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A slew of forwards will be chosen in the top five.

If Schaefer goes first, the run on forwards could start right at No. 2.

Michael Misa, James Hagens, Porter Martone and Anton Frondell are among the forwards who will be chosen in the top five.

Misa and Martone were both projected as the No. 2 pick in the mock draft done by NHL.com's Adam Kimelman and Mike Morreale.

The pair of prospects from the OHL will be compared to Hagens, the top U.S. college prospect, and Frondell, the top international prospect.

For Nashville, Seattle and Boston, those players could all fill in roles at the top of the depth chart that needs retooling.

Boston might be the most intriguing fit for any of the young forwards since the Bruins traded away plenty of key pieces at the trade deadline. Boston's first-round pick could have the easiest path to playing time right away given how many roster spots will be open for competition in 2025.