The 6 Best Available Players on Day 2 of the 2025 NHL Draft

Thirty-two players had their dreams achieved as the best of the best were drafted on Friday night in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft.

But some are still hoping to have their name called. And will be disappointed they didn't go in Round 1.

We're looking at players that could have easily been first-rounders and teams that select them on Day 2 might be getting gems.

Read on to find out which names we think can make an impact.

Nathan Behm, LW, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

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Strengths: NHL-ready shot, passing, creativity

Weaknesses: Consistency and physicality

Breaking the 30-goal mark in your draft-eligible WHL season is nothing to sneeze at. Nathan Behm started the season at a tearing pace, with 29 points in his first 18 games, and while that leveled out across the season, his production in those initial games wasn't a fluke. We saw the elements that underpinned it each time he stepped onto the ice.

Behm has an NHL-ready shot, for one thing. My particular favorite part of his game is his deceptive playmaking elements, including his puck skills and creativity. He has an innate awareness that allows him to get off deceptive passes to teammates and, on the next shift, quickly identify and take advantage of any mistakes made by an opponent.

I'm still undecided on whether his full game will translate to the NHL level, but the promise is there. Adding more to the physical side of his game and becoming more consistent—particularly on the forecheck—will go a long way toward fulfilling that promise.

Jack Murtagh, C, USNTDP

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Strengths: Work ethic, motor, playmaking

Weaknesses: Could be more creative, and could showcase manipulation abilities more consistently

We thought Jack Murtagh could end up being the only NTDP draft-eligible taken in the first round Friday (William Moore was another possibility) in what is a slow year for an otherwise prolific run for the program. It didn't happen, and he's still available today. It's been fun to watch him grow as a player across the season, particularly in his playmaking. The addition of manipulation into his skill set is an excellent one, and one I would prefer to see more consistently. I also think he has some creativity that he hasn't tapped into quite yet.

Part of what drives his playmaking ability is his relentless motor—it underpins his entire game, and is what allows him to create space to set up his teammates. College hockey is going to be a good environment for him, and I think we'll have a better sense of just how his game will translate to the NHL after a couple of years playing against NCAA competition.

Shane Vansaghi, RW, Michigan State University (NCAA)

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Strengths: Puck skills, physicality, relentless work ethic

Weaknesses: Skating, offensive consistency

Another member of the draft-eligible NCAA club, Shane Vansaghi, is one of the younger players in NCAA hockey period, though his size belies that at 6'2" and 216 pounds. Vansaghi is another player whose potential we're betting on more than direct impact in his draft season; he finished his first year at Michigan State with 16 points in 37 games.

Vansaghi combines terrific puck skills with high-level battling and productive physical play (in other words, he's not out here hitting just to hit—he's hitting to make something happen). His pace without the puck is high, as is his work ethic. Because he has above-average hockey sense and vision, I'm expecting to see him combine that and his puck skills to take a significant step forward next season. His skating can be clunky, but that's a skill that can be improved (and he is not remotely alone in that area in this draft class). For his potential to bear out, we'll see more consistency and the aforementioned skating improvement, but he's worth a swing.

Cameron Schmidt, RW, Vancouver Giants

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Strengths: Goal-scoring, speed

Weaknesses: Consistency, playing without the puck

B/R Rank: 21

One of my favorite aspects of Cameron Schmidt's game is his vision. He reads the play at such a high level and isn't shy about using that vision to burn his opponents for any mistakes they've made. We aren't seeing it consistently enough, particularly when he isn't the one with the puck, but consistency is something that can be improved on. And when you score 78 points in 61 games while taking nights off, well, you owe it to yourself and your team to improve that consistency and see what you're truly capable of.

Between his excellent shot and high-end speed, Schmidt can score some highlight goals. He's also shown flashes of playmaking potential. But my biggest gripe with him is consistency. If he can bring those offensive skills nightly and combine them with smarter decision-making, we could see his offensive numbers shoot up. He has a layer of physicality to his game, but it isn't something I would hang my hat on as a strength.

Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie Otters (OHL)

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Strengths: Tenacity, physicality, instincts

Weaknesses: Lack of agility and dynamism

B/R Rank: 22

I like Malcolm Spence, but I don't love Malcolm Spence. Fortunately, he doesn't need my approval. His floor is so high, and he's got very real potential even without improving aspects of his gam,e such as, his agility (other parts of his skating too, but that's the primary area of need in my view).

Even though he's not a flashy playmaker, Spence finished the regular season for the Erie Otters with 73 points in 65 games. His tenacity is unreal; combining his physicality with a work ethic that never runs out of battery means he is constantly engaged on the ice. Add to that his ability to finish off a pass or be exactly where a teammate needs and you have a very appealing combination of skills. He doesn't need the flashy creativity; he's making waves without it. If his agility improves, he could even take that to the next level, pestering an opponent in one area of the ice and then turning on a dime to complete a play.

Blake Fiddler, D, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

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Strengths: Always involved and activating, good offensive instincts

Weaknesses: Has issues with misreads and timing

B/R Rank: 23

Blake Fiddler—yes, Vern's son, do you feel old now?—has stayed right below the middle of the first round on our boards across the season. I still think he could be selected inside the top 20, depending on what teams are looking for. He's got such an appealing approach to the game, with strong defensive instincts and the ability to smother his opponents' chances. His mobile skating — a necessity in today's NHL — is also an asset.

Misreads are his fatal flaw right now; misreading plays, misreading timing. Giving him more of a development runway to refine his habits in those areas is going to be a must for whatever team selects him. His offensive instincts are very good, and I would like to see him use them more next season. His future, though, projects as a shutdown-style defenseman, and with some focus and maturity, he should turn out to be a very good one.