2025 NHL Mock Draft and Top Prospects on the Rise amid 1st-Round Predictions

The next wave of young talent to enter the NHL will find out their landing spots on Friday and Saturday.

The New York Islanders possess the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL draft and are expected to take defenseman Matthew Schaefer.

Forward Michael Misa should be the second overall selection to the San Jose Sharks, but after that, a handful of options await the Chicago Blackhawks at No. 3.

Five or six forwards are in the mix at No. 3. The same can be said about the next few picks after that since certain players would fit better with different organizations.

As there always is in the draft process, there are a handful of players on the rise as well who could make their mark in the top 10 on Friday night.

2025 NHL Mock Draft

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

Jake O'Brien, C, Brantford (OHL)

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Jake O'Brien could go as high as the Philadelphia Flyers at No. 6.

The OHL center was mocked to the Flyers by NHL.com's Mike Morreale. ESPN's Rachel Doerrie ranked O'Brien as the No. 9 prospect in the draft class.

O'Brien's draft stock could rise further on Friday because he can fill the center need that teams, like the Flyers, have.

Anton Frondell and Caleb Desnoyers will probably be top-five picks. That could leave O'Brien as the top center on a handful of draft boards.

O'Brien ranked inside the top 10 in OHL points and assists last season. The scoring production combined with his size could move him above James Hagens, Porter Martone and other forwards projected to land in the top few picks.

Roger McQueen, C, Brandon (WHL)

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Roger McQueen is the high-risk, high-reward prospect among the players expected to land in the top 10.

McQueen sat out most of the last year with a back injury, and although he appears to be fully recovered, some teams might turn away from him.

The teams that believe in him could make McQueen as high as a top-five pick. NHL.com's Adam Kimelman placed McQueen at No. 5 with the Nashville Predators.

"Most importantly, he said he's fully healed from a fracture in his back that limited him to 17 regular-season games, and was a full participant in the NHL Combine fitness testing. The Predators have three first-round picks, allowing them to take a big swing with the potential for a giant reward," Kimelman wrote.

Nashville and Philadelphia, who pick at No. 5 and No. 6, each have three first-round picks, so they might be more willing to take the risk on McQueen because the overall talent stands out more than the recent injury.