2025 NHL Mock Draft 3.0: Wheeler’s final predictions for the first two rounds

The work is done. The phone calls and text messages have been sent and received. And after a season of speaking with agents, scouts, coaches and family members, here is my final mock draft for the 2025 NHL Draft.

Packed with intel, this two-round, 64-pick mock combines sourcing with my sense for team need and leanings, as well as the consensus range for these players. Throughout, I’ve also mapped out different scenarios, considerations and contingencies for certain picks.

Position C G LHD LW RHD RW

NHL Team Blackhawks Blue Jackets Blues Bruins Canadiens Canucks Capitals Devils Ducks Flames Flyers Golden Knights Hurricanes Islanders Jets Kings Kraken Lightning Mammoth Maple Leafs Penguins Predators Rangers Red Wings Sabres Senators Sharks Wild

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I haven’t heard a single thing in recent weeks that leads me to believe it’s not Schaefer here, and haven’t spoken with a single scout in months who thinks he’s not the No. 1 prospect in this class. If there was a debate to be had, I think the way he presented at the combine put it to bed. Schaefer looks like a first-pairing D and carries himself like he’s NHL captain material.

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Brandon Soto / OHL Images

A couple of weeks ago, I heard that the Sharks were quietly showing real interest in Anton Frondell and Caleb Desnoyers, causing some to wonder if it maybe wasn’t Misa here. One source also connected Porter Martone, and mentioned the Sharks’ desire to add a big winger. I also heard Misa told one team at the combine that he wasn’t sure the Sharks were going to take him. But as I’ve followed up on those four players, the majority of folks think the Sharks are leaning Misa, and that he’d love to go there. I don’t think it’s cut and dry here, though, is my sense. If I had to guess as to which player it’d be if it’s not him, I’d say Frondell, then Martone, then Desnoyers.

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Natalie Shaver / OHL Images

I’ve been saying since the start that I believe this pick comes down to three players for the Blackhawks: Misa, Frondell and Desnoyers. I think it’s in that order, too, and if the Sharks don’t take Misa, I’d bet the Blackhawks do. James Hagens, because of his size and the size of their pool, and Martone, because of his below-average pace, just don’t feel like fits for the Blackhawks. I still think the thicker Frondell is the most likely outcome here. One thing to keep an eye on, though: the Blackhawks have been shopping this pick, or at least have expressed they’re open to offers on it, and the Rangers, Sabres and Penguins have all discussed it with them.

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Steven Ellis / Daily Faceoff

I’ve said for the last couple of months that Brady Martin is in the conversation starting at No. 4 with Utah. I believe the Mammoth like Jake O’Brien a lot as well. But Desnoyers was trending as a top 4-5 consensus player in this draft all year, and I know he really stamped that with impressive interviews at the combine. Utah has also spent extra time with him, and he’d fit in really nicely as the 2C of the future behind Logan Cooley. The Mammoth are the most common team I’ve heard connected to trade talk ahead of the draft this year as well (and specifically that they’re after an established goalie this offseason).

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Daniel St. Louis / Moncton Wildcats

My sense for this pick hasn’t changed. I could see the Preds considering Hagens, Martin and Desnoyers if he’s around here, but I also know they were in Brampton a lot to watch Martone this year (including upper management), and I think he’s their guy. Martone would give them the high-skill, top-of-the-lineup forward prospect they’ve been searching for as long as the organization has existed. Right-shot wingers with his size and profile don’t grow on trees either, even if center is the more premium position.

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Natalie Shaver / OHL Images

The Flyers are high on all three of Martin, O’Brien and Hagens, and I’ve had two different people say O’Brien and Martin “don’t get past the Flyers.” And yet, if Utah doesn’t take one of them, I think there’s a chance both are here and as a result one of them *does* get past the Flyers. I know they’ve spent extra time with all three of those guys. But there are a lot of people in the NHL who think they’re going to take Martin. I could see a scenario where Martin was the guy they liked and thought they could get, and Hagens was the guy they didn’t think would get to them, but would take if he did, for example. I’m partial to Hagens, but a lot of the teams near the top love Martin, and it’s easy to see why if you know him.

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Natalie Shaver / OHL Images

Everyone I’ve talked to in the last week or so seems to think O’Brien/Martin/Hagens don’t get past the Flyers and Bruins at 6-7, and yet one of the top eight guys has to go outside the top seven. I’ve also heard the Bruins have looked into moving up. I do think it’s interesting that the Flyers and Bruins seem to like the same three guys and pick back-to-back, though, and Hagens just makes so much sense for the Bruins as that high-end piece to build around if he’s there.

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Eric Canha / Imagn Images

I’ve spoken to a couple of different people who are convinced O’Brien goes to one of Utah, Philly or Boston at 4, 6 or 7. Despite never having drafted a D with any of their top picks, I’m starting to think the Kraken probably take whichever of the consensus top eight is available, though. I could see the Kraken considering Roger McQueen for how different he is from the other centers they’ve drafted high as well. Eventually, they’ll have to take a D with a first. I’m not sure this is the year they do it. I’ll say this, too: I wouldn’t be totally shocked if Hagens is the one who lingers. I think there’s a scenario where the Sharks don’t take Misa and then the Blackhawks do and Frondell slips a little as well.

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Brandon Taylor / OHL Images

As I’ve previously reported, I’ve had Mrtka connected to the Sabres. If it’s not Mrtka, I could see it being McQueen, though. They could use his size within their pool and could use a premium center prospect, too.

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Brian Liesse / Seattle Thunderbirds

As I previously reported, one scout noted to me that the Ducks took McQueen out to a “sneaky” dinner just before the combine in Buffalo. I think he makes a lot of sense for them. They have a good pool at forward and on defense but I think it’s slightly more likely they take whichever of the top forwards is still available, and McQueen, Beckett Sennecke, Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish would give them a unique mix of young players — and a big one (McQueen, Sennecke and Carlsson all still have room to fill out further, too). Despite a deep D pool, they don’t have a D that looks like Mrtka either, so he could be of interest if available. And Kashawn Aitcheson and Stian Solberg have some similarities, so I could see them being drawn to the ultra-competitive Barrie Colts D for the same reasons (even if a bit redundant). McQueen makes the most sense, though, and I think he goes top 10-11.

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Jeremy Champagne / Brandon Wheat Kings

The Penguins are high on Martone and Hagens, and the sense I’ve gotten is that if they can swing a move to move up, Martone will be the target. I think they’d be all over McQueen and Mrtka if they get to here as well. But there are no trades in this mock, all four of those names are gone, and I know they took Aitcheson out for dinner in Buffalo. A lefty like Aitcheson or Jackson Smith makes a lot of sense for them, given the rise of righty Harrison Brunicke. If they were to get the Rangers’ pick at No. 12, I could see a winger like Lynden Lakovic being a fit as well.

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Terry Wilson / OHL Images

There are people in the league who think the Rangers are after Aitcheson if they don’t move up. If Aitcheson is here, I’d mock him to them. He fits the ultra-competitive, thorny DNA they’ve targeted at the draft. If he’s not here, my mind has gone to Smith. Their pool needs D more than forwards, unless they can add one of the premium forwards. The sense I got at the combine and out of my scouts survey was that Smith goes right around the top 10. Either way, I think the Rangers probably go D here. I could see this being the start of Logan Hensler’s range as well if the other top D are gone.

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Portland Winterhawks

Despite how quiet they keep things as an organization, the Red Wings have been an easier team to mock over the last few years because they have a clear type. The challenge this year is that there are multiple Steve Yzerman types in their range, instead of just one or two. I could see them taking Aitcheson or Smith if they were to get here, but if they don’t, there are a number of forwards that fit their mold, including wingers Carter Bear, Justin Carbonneau and Eklund, and centers Braeden Cootes and Cole Reschny. No. 13 would be a little early for Cootes and Reschny (at least relative to the consensus), though, and the Red Wings do have solid center prospects in Nate Danielson and Marco Kasper. Bear and Eklund also fit their archetype the closest. I debated Bear here and mocked him to them last time because he’s a lefty, they have right-shot wingers like Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and Lucas Raymond, and they could probably use a little more size, but Eklund is their type, he’s the higher ranked winger in the consensus, and I wonder if Bear’s Achilles injiury (even though he’s now back skating) and stiff interviews at the combine hold him back ever so slightly. I could still absolutely see him here, but I’m leaning Eklund at the moment and trusting my gut on this one more than the others.

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Steven Ellis / Daily Faceoff

I’ve gone pretty consistently to two names with the Blue Jackets: Smith, if he’s here (and I’d throw Aitcheson in there as well, but I’m starting to feel like both will be gone), and Lakovic. As I reported previously, they like Lakovic, and I think he makes a lot of sense for them as a big left-shot winger with a compelling skating-skill package as a potential up-and-down the lineup top-nine winger. While I’m sure they’d love to add a D here, and Cameron Reid seems to really be trending to go in the teens, I don’t get the sense they’re the team that will take him/that he’s a fit there.

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Nick Pettigrew / Moose Jaw Warriors

The consensus seems to be that Cootes is going to go in the 15-20 range, and the Canucks took him to dinner at the combine. They’d be familiar with his game due to the proximity to Seattle, and their top prospects at the moment are a D (Tom Willander) and a winger (Jonathan Lekkerimäki). I don’t think Lekkerimäki, who has had some ups and downs this year in the AHL, precludes them from taking a winger by any means (I’ve heard they like Eklund and I mocked him there in my last mock), and could see them prioritizing the higher skill level of Justin Carbonneau and Bear over Cootes here because they need talent, but Cootes makes a lot of sense as a projectable middle-six C.

I could see the Canucks take defenseman Cameron Reid, too. I think they’re the start of his range.

Kyle Smutzki

Habs fans don’t seem to be fans of them taking Reid with one of these picks, and I’ve heard about it when I’ve mocked him there twice. But I’m doing it a third time, and as I wrote the last time around, I know they’re high on him. I don’t think having Lane Hutson and Reid on your back end prevents you from building a winning six-man blue line, either. Awesome player, and the Habs faithful will come around on him if they go this way.

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Natalie Shaver / OHL Images

What do Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovský, Kirby Dach, Ivan Demidov, Brendan Gallagher, Josh Anderson, Jake Evans, and even Oliver Kapanen, Michael Hage and Owen Beck have in common? Regardless of their handedness, they all prefer to play right wing. For that reason, the more I’ve thought about left-shot wingers like Lakovic and Bear more than a right-shot winger like Carbonneau for the Habs with this second first-round pick. Even if several of those players won’t be with the Canadiens long- or even medium-term, you can see the point. If Lakovic makes it here, I could see Montreal take him. The same goes for Bear as an up-and-down-the-lineup top-nine winger who can play with anybody. I wouldn’t at all rule out a center like Reschny with their desire to find that 2C, but Bear just felt a little more likely for me here. An off-the-board one that one person connected to Montreal: Cullen Potter. This would be a little early, and he probably doesn’t get to them at No. 41, but I figured I’d at least mention it.

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Caroline Anne / Everett Silvertips

The Flames’ pool is deepest on defense and deeper on the wing than it is at center. They should consider Reschny here if he’s around, and I think they’re a team that would. But I don’t think Matvei Gridin or Aydar Suniev preclude them from taking a winger here, and I think there are good odds that one of the second-tier wingers lingers. Some wonder about Carbonneau’s defensive play, his average skating, his late-stage agency switch and consider him a little cocky — and while those are all viewed as very minor things, and he could go higher than here as a 6-1 winger with a legitimate skill-scoring-size-physicality package, is it just enough to make him the one that slips a little? (It’s worth noting I’m a big fan of Carbonneau, he’d be my best player available here, I’m not the only one, and I think the Flames pool could really use a player like him.)

If the Flames go winger, they could also always go center with their next pick, and there are a couple of talented options who could make it.

Team

Blainville-Boisbriand

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Sebastien Gervais / CHL

Reschny could go to the Canucks, Canadiens and Flames just in front of the Blues, but if he gets to them, I think they’d strongly consider him. He’d be a great fit, and they’re a team that could use another center prospect behind Dalibor Dvorsky. I believe they’d be the floor for Cameron Reid, but I’m not convinced Reid gets to them. Logan Hensler could be in the mix here as well.

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Kevin Light / Victoria Royals

If the Blue Jackets take a forward like Lakovic with their first pick, I could see them take a D here and would bet that both Hensler and Sascha Boumedienne (who would be a nice story after playing in minor hockey in Columbus for a couple of years) would be more likely for their group than Fiddler. I could see them take a D here even if they take a D at No. 14, too.

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Brandon Soto / OHL Images

There are a few players in this range that fit as Senators types. I could see their group liking competitive MoDo center Milton Gastrin, raw 6-5 skating defenseman Simon Wang (though that pick would be more likely in a move-back), the further-along Fiddler (I think this is probably the start of Fiddler’s range) and Daniil Prokhorov as well. But the two players I’ve kept coming back to are Nesbitt, a big center with skill and some presence to him, and Malcolm Spence, a 6-1 winger who plays a likable, competitive, honest game. Both scream Senators as prospects and fit into this early 20s range.

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Maksim Konstantinov / Getty Images

Prokhorov is really trending up right now based on the conversations I’ve had, and regardless of who the Flyers take at No. 6, they could/probably should look to add size to their pool with this second selection. Nesbitt, if he’s here, would make a lot of sense as a potential 3C of the future behind whoever they take at No. 6 and Jett Luchanko. But Prokhorov, as a big, strong, competitive secondary-scoring winger who can skate, makes a lot of sense for them, too. They’ve also got a contingent of Russians, which it never hurts to have when adding another. He’s going to go by the early 20s, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go in the late teens.

Team

Dynamo St. Petersburg

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Natalie Shaver / OHL Images

The Preds’ pool is notably thinner on the back end than it is up front, and that’ll be even more pronounced after they take a forward at the top this year. I’d bet they take a D with one of their two picks late in the first as a result, and I could see it being either of Fiddler or Boumedienne. Both are strong skaters. Fiddler is a 6-5 righty who could play opposite Tanner Molendyk, their top D prospect, as a complementary partner, but doesn’t offer much with the puck. Boumedienne is a lefty who offers a little more offense and has more room for physical development. I don’t think it’s nothing that Fiddler’s dad, Vernon, played for almost a decade within the Preds organization, either. I don’t think it’s out of the question that Hensler gets here, either.

BU Athletics

The sense I’ve gotten is that the Kings are likely to take a D here. I’ve also heard they want to get bigger. Those two things point to Fiddler, but I don’t think Wang is completely out of the question late in the first round, either. If Reid were to be here, I think they’d take him even though he doesn’t check the size box, but he’ll be long gone. Boumedienne would also be an option they could consider if he’s available. I think this is the start of where Henry Brzustewicz enters the conversation as an option for some teams, too. Hensler could even get here as well (it wouldn’t shock me at least).

Andy Devlin / CHL

If either Prokhorov or Nesbitt (probably in that order) is here, I could see the Blackhawks targeting both to add more size to their pool. They’ve shown a willingness to be aggressive and look to move up as well, and I could see those two being targets for them in that kind of scenario. With both gone in this one, though, Spence, with his good speed, competitiveness and consistent effort level and game, makes a lot of sense as a projectable middle-six winger who plays a winning style and can play with anyone.

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Brandon Soto / OHL Images

Preds fans are probably tired of seeing me mock Ravensbergen to them, but leaving the first round with a forward, a defenseman and the top goalie in the class (though that’s not an absolute consensus and the two Russian goalies do have some camps) would be a really nice day for them. After moving Yaroslav Askarov, the Preds’ pool could use a young goalie. Ravensbergen’s timeline would align nicely with Juuse Saros’ when Askarov’s didn’t.

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James Doyle / Prince George Cougars

The Caps have taken some swings at the draft over the last couple of years on talented but undersized players. Andrew Cristall, Cole Hutson and even Terik Parascak, to a certain degree, were choices others weren’t making around them, and I think it’s going to pay off. But they’ve also drafted a lot of wingers; when you add Ryan Leonard and Ivan Miroshnichenko to that group, it’s been a minute since they’ve taken a center. Gastrin, a projectable 3C, makes a lot of sense for them if he’s here. The Caps also had a big contingent at U18 worlds, where he finished strong. Benjamin Kindel and Potter would align more with the Cristall/Parascak choices, and both are technically listed as centers, but many believe they’ll be wingers in the NHL.

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Steven Ellis / Daily Faceoff

The Jets’ pool could use a defenseman (Elias Salomonsson is their only prospect of note on D) and a goalie more than a forward. If Ravensbergen is here, I could see them being another team to take him. But a defenseman is more likely and both Brzustewicz and even Wang are justifiable in this range. They also have a signed London Knights teammate of Brzustewicz’s within their pool already in Jacob Julien.

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Luke Durda / OHL Images

The offensive IQ of Kindel, the scoring of Jakob Ihs-Wozniak and the skill of Ryker Lee make each of them a potential target for a Canes group that has prioritized skill and offense over the years, even when it has at times come with some risk or been outside the consensus. But Potter, the best skater in the draft for me, also feels like a Canes pick and a worthy swing late in the first round. Players who can fly like him usually aren’t available late in the first, but there are mixed opinions on him, and he’s 5-10. The Canes could feel comfortable making the bet.

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Rena Laverty / U.S. NTDP

In an ideal world, the Sharks would probably like to add a D here. I could see them being another team to take Brzustewicz in the late first as well. But with Brzustewicz gone, I’m not sure this is the range that a team quite feels comfortable taking Wang or Max Psenicka. If they don’t go D, an up-and-down-the-lineup winger who can play with pace and skill or pace and work ethic, like Zonnon, makes sense. Zonnon may end up an early Day 2 pick, but he could sneak into the late first.

Jean Lapointe

Even if they take a player like Nesbitt or Prokhorov with their second first, I could see the Flyers prioritize size again with their third pick and really make a dent in adding it at two or three of the selections. I’m not convinced they’ll take three forwards, as their pool could use another defenseman behind Oliver Bonk, but they have two second-round picks in the next 10 selections after this as well and could turn their attention to some D prospects who fit better in that range in this scenario. Prokhorov and Horcoff would really change the complexion and shape of their pool. Shane Vansaghi, who has some late-first-round momentum, could go here for the same reason.

Team

University of Michigan

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Michigan Photography

If the Flames take a winger at No. 18, I could see them target a center at No. 32. Kindel, who has been playing for the WHL team they own, makes a lot of sense, not just for those reasons but also to add some offensive smarts/skill to their pool. It’s not often you can find a 99-point WHLer this late.

Jenn Pierce

If the Sharks don’t take a D with their second first-rounder, I’d bet they take one to kick off Round 2. The 6-5 Psenicka, who some scouts think has more skill than his numbers indicate, is going to go in this range and makes a lot of sense to potentially slot in behind Sam Dickinson someday.

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Keith Dwiggins / WHL

If the Blackhawks don’t take a Prokhorov/Nesbitt type with their first-rounder, I could see them prioritize size with this early second, and a player like Nestrasil makes sense. If they do get size with their first and feel less of a need to target it here, I wonder about a player like Alexander Zharovsky as a worthwhile skill swing for them. And if they go D here, I wonder about Psenicka to them as well.

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Courtesy Muskegon Lumberjacks

If the Preds walk away from Day 1 with one of the top forwards, a second-tier D and the top goalie, they’ll have a little more freedom to take a swing early on Day 2. Their pool could also use a little more size. West fits the bill. I could see Wang here if they want to prioritize another D and take a swing on size. I could see them take Vansaghi as well.

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Marissa Schiock / Fargo Force

The Flyers need size and could both stand to add a D prospect (especially if they take three forwards in the first round) and stand to take a swing as the team with the highest concentration of top 50 picks. Wang, with his raw profile, length and high-end skating, makes almost too much sense for them if he’s here. Philadelphia has a recent history with BU commits as well.

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Tucker Nadon / OJHL Images

If the Capitals target a more projectable center or D with their late first, I could see them take another second-round cut on a skill-first type like Ihs-Wozniak, Lee or Zharovsky. Ihs-Wozniak gives them a little more size, though, even if he’s still learning how to use it.

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Steven Ellis / Daily Faceoff

The Kraken have to take a D here, right? Right? I could see them targeting Kurban Limatov (though this is a little early), or Psenicka if he makes it. If it’s not one of those two here, a big boy like Rombach or Peyton Kettles will get consideration in this range and would give the Kraken something they don’t have in their pool. If they go D with their first, they’re an amateur scouting group that I could see take a swing on one of the skilled wingers in this range like Lee, Zharovsky or Ihs-Wozniak.

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Steven Ellis / Daily Faceoff

The sense I got coming out of the combine was that Vansaghi was trending up and could go late first/early 30s. If he doesn’t go to one of the teams I’ve highlighted as a potential option above, though, I can’t imagine he gets past the Sabres, an organization that should want to add a heavy player exactly like him to its mix.

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MSU Athletic Communications

McKinney, a well-rounded, well-built center who projects safely as a 3C, is going to go in the 30s or early 40s, I believe. The Flyers like his type and could use a center like him in the organizational depth chart.

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Rena Laverty / USA Hockey’s NTDP

Moore is one of the only centers likely to be available early on Day 2 who has the talent, smarts and potential to develop into a middle-six C. The Canadiens should be on the hunt for that, especially if they take a D and a winger in the first round.

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Rena Laverty / U.S. NTDP

Nilson, a Michigan State commit, is a well-liked player who is expected to go in the 30s or 40s. He’s a smart, crafty, intuitive player who plays the right way and has speed and skill. Adding muscle will be important, but I could see him becoming a riser post-draft and catching some of the players in front of him. He’d be a nice addition behind Calum Ritchie and Cole Eiserman in the Isles’ pool.

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Steven Ellis / Daily Faceoff

Some scouts believe Frolov is in the conversation as the top goalie prospect/highest upside goalie in this draft. I could see the Rangers begin to start looking for a young goalie whose timeline aligns with Igor Shesterkin’s, and Frolov fits the bill. I could see Matthew Gard here as well. Rangers amateur scout Shaun Sutter drafted Gard into Red Deer when he was the assistant general manager there, and he’s the type of player they like.

Kettles is a big, mobile, physical right-shot D with more puck-moving ability than his numbers indicate. He’s projected to go in this range of the draft and is one of its youngest players. The Red Wings could use a D prospect of his makeup, and he could someday slot in as a depth D behind Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson and Axel Sandin Pellikka. This isn’t Brady Cleveland 2.0, either. Rombach could be an option here for the same reason.

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Steven Ellis / Daily Faceoff

With the pick they acquired in the Trevor Zegras trade, the Ducks take Genborg, who would add more heaviness to their pool and is expected to be picked in this range. He’s a big, strong, hardworking player who projects as a bottom-sixer.

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Steven Ellis / Daily Faceoff

The assumption seems to be that the Mammoth are just singularly focused on size, but I don’t think that’s the case, and I think their group is willing to take swings. I’ve heard they’re high on the miniature Adam Benak, and I could see them take Jack Murtagh here (though Murtagh is thick). I could also see them targeting Zharovsky, a highly skilled Russian with first-round talent who I think will go high second or not much lower than this.

If the Canucks decide to draft more for projectability with their first-rounder, I wonder if they’ll take a cut on a high-skill type here. They need to inject skill into their pool, and Lee has some of the best pure puck skills in the draft. He performed really well at the combine as well, which I think gave teams more confidence that his average skating should improve following a growth spurt.

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Steven Ellis / Daily Faceoff

The Flyers are another team that everyone assumes wants to get bigger, but I’ve also heard they like the diminutive Benak. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them take him in the second, but I wonder if the teams that do like Benak roll the dice and see if they can grab him later in the second or the third. I still think adding some size, strength and competitivenss on their blue line should be and likely is a priority, too, and Hallquisth plays a hard and efficient game.

Courtesy Orebro HK

The Canadiens love the super competitive types, and there are two players in this range that I’ve come back to with them: Gard and Carter Klippenstein. Klippenstein is one of the most competitive players in the class, and I could see them liking him for some of the same reasons they liked Florian Xhekaj. But Gard is even bigger and offers some of the same qualities while also having more areas for development in front of him.

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Taylor Lachance / WHL

Murtagh probably goes a little ahead of here, but a disappointing U18s could have moved him from closer to the front of the second round into this range. The Devils could use a forward prospect who can put the puck in the net.

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Rena Laverty / USA Hockey’s NTDP

The Bruins were at a good number of Kitchener Rangers games this year, and as they try to rebuild their pool, they need to inject some skill into it. Romano needs to be more consistent, but his skating/skill package gets a second-round grade, and I think he goes in the 50-70 range. I wonder about talented BU commit Conrad Fonrdrk here or in the third round for the Bruins as well.

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Natalie Shaver / OHL Images

I don’t think the Wild would be afraid to take Benak or Cameron Schmidt here. If they go D, I could see Bryce Pickford or Hallquisth for them in this range. But Czata, a competitive, hardworking forward who rose into the second-round mix this season and profiles like a future third-liner, could be a solid pick.

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Brandon Taylor / OHL Images

The sense I’ve gotten is that Ivankovic, despite his 5-foot-11.5 listing, is going to go in the second round. If the Sharks go D again here, names like Carter Amico, Pickford and Limatov fit. But despite having just acquired Yaroslav Askarov, I could see them take another goalie fairly high in this draft.

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Charles Warburton / Brampton Steelheads

Stockselius needs to get quicker, but he’s a pro-sized forward who’s effective all over the ice and can play different roles. He could be a potential future third-liner for a team like the Flames, and he’s going to go in this late-second/early-third range.

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Courtesy Djurgardens IF

Benak, despite his small stature, is liked in NHL circles more than people realize. I think he goes in the second round, and the Preds are one of several teams that have shown a good amount of interest.

One thing to watch out for as well: Despite having mocked Ravensbergen to the Preds, I’m not necessarily convinced he’s their guy, and I wonder about Ivankovic here if they go all skaters with their three first-rounders. I think that’s a real possibility.

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Scott Galvin / Youngstown Phantoms

There was a time this season when I was hearing late-first consideration was being given to Behm. But after regressing a little after a hot start, the mid-to-late second has become his range. He’s the Lightning’s type.

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Allen Douglas / WHL

The Kraken have taken some cuts in the second round, and I could see them taking one on a winger like Schmidt, who’s small and can frustrate but is also one of the best skaters and shooters in the draft.

I also wonder about Pickford. The Kraken had success with another overaged WHL D when they took Ryker Evans in the second round.

James Doyle / CHL

There’s a very good chance Ryabkin doesn’t even go in the first two rounds. The consensus from my scouts poll seemed to be the third round. But all it takes is one team, and there are still people who would be comfortable taking him in the second. And if there’s one team that has shown it’s not shy to go where others won’t, it’s the Golden Knights. I could see them take Schmidt as well, and their pool could use a goalie prospect, so I thought about Pyotr Andreyanov and Lucas Beckman here.

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Courtesy Muskegon Lumberjacks

I kept coming back to Hopkins, Kingston’s competitive and detail-oriented center, for this Penguins pick. The cheap connection is between brothers Trent Mann (an adviser with the Penguins) and Troy Mann (Kingston’s head coach), but he’s also the type of player that the management group/scouting department tends to like, and he’s expected to go in the late second/early-third range.

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Robert Lefebvre / OHL Images

The Ducks didn’t draft a goalie last year, and the one they drafted two seasons ago, Damian Clara, has had some struggles since and doesn’t carry the same cachet/come with the same belief anymore. I could see them going goalie here and wonder about Andreyanov and Beckman (they’ve gone to the Q regularly and clearly see it as a market inefficiency).

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Maksim Konstantinov / Getty Images

I don’t view Klippenstein as a second-round prospect, but there are people who do. When you’re 6-3 and you have his combination of plus-athleticism and plus-competitiveness, teams will bet on you becoming a bottom-sixer. I’d guess he goes in the 40-60 range, and could see the Bruins being drawn to him after prioritizing skill earlier. Think A.J. Spellacy (who stuck around in his first NHL camp!) to the Blackhawks last year.

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Jeremy Champagne / WHL

Limatov probably goes a little in front of this, as D with good skill tend to, but this is probably the floor for him. I could see the Blackhawks liking him and being willing to wait for a Russian prospect given how many young D they already have vying for NHL promotions.

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Maksim Konstantinov / Getty Images

Pickford, an overager, was one of the stories of the draft class this year and finished it with an emphatic playoff run and Memorial Cup. He now has a real chance to go in the second round after scoring more than 30 goals and playing to above a point per game in important minutes on the best team in the WHL.

Reynolds is the one new name that I’ve heard is going in the second round. He came out of nowhere this year and really took off in the second half. He’s a big, strong, competitive D who skates at an NHL level and has a lot of the attributes that teams — the Maple Leafs chief among them — now covet. He’s also an August birthday, and teams are excited about what that means for his development after how quickly he developed this season. I wonder about all of the big second-round D and the Leafs, though, so you can probably add Rombach, Kettles and Amico to the potential list. They’re placing a premium on it right now.

Some names that didn’t go in the first two rounds here that could go in the late second or early third: Alex Huang, Conrad Fondrk, Lucas Beckman, Ben Kevan, Owen Conrad, Vojtech Cihar, Charlie Cerrato (wonder about the Penguins there), Hayden Paupanekis.

(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb; / The Athletic; photos of Michael Misa, Matthew Schaefer, Anton Frondell: Michael Miller / ISI Photos / Getty Images)

2025 NHL Mock Draft 3.0: Wheeler’s final predictions for the first two rounds

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