2025 NHL draft ranking | Preliminary top 32
With the 2024 NHL Draft behind us and the upcoming Hlinka-Gretzky tournament, I’m now focusing on evaluations for the 2025 session. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been watching games of eligible prospects for the 2025 NHL draft to compile a preliminary top 32. Of course, this ranking comes before these prospects have even played their 17 or 18 years old season. The exercise is primarily to lay the groundwork for the next cohort.
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Preliminary Top 32 NHL Draft 2025 Prospects
Note: My evaluations for the 2025 NHL Draft include cross-viewings from my analysis of the 2024 session and additional ones I’ve added in recent weeks to refine everything. This gives me a good handle on what’s available and allows me to have notes on over a hundred young players at the moment. Since I only count viewings during an individual’s draft year, I can’t provide precise viewing numbers per prospect as I usually do.
Overall, the 2025 NHL Draft reminds me of 2022. We don’t necessarily have a generational prospect or someone with unquestionable potential for the first overall pick. Yes, James Hagens currently holds that spot, but there could be debates involving Anton Frondell, Porter Martone, or others.
Furthermore, drafts are often characterized by themes such as being defenseman-heavy or center-heavy. Here, it’s quite diversified. We have big, talented forwards in the top 10, some quality defensemen of various profiles, and also goalies. This diversity will make it interesting for observers as everyone will find something to their liking.
Small forwards, the QMJHL, and a goalie!
If there’s one trend I’ve noticed, it’s the significant number of small forwards with very high offensive potential. This profile isn’t currently highly sought after by NHL teams, so it could create chaos in June 2025. However, I believe many will find takers sooner rather than later because these prospects have been impressive on the ice at 16.
The QMJHL will have an excellent year in the 2025 NHL Draft. With Caleb Desnoyers and Émile Guité, we can expect at least 2 first-round picks. Additionally, young players like Justin Carbonneau and Bill Zonnon could also sneak into the top 32. It all depends on their performances in the coming year, but I like their chances and it could rejuvenate interest in the league, which has been somewhat lackluster lately.
Joshua Ravensbergen is often projected in the first round in preliminary predictions for the 2025 NHL Draft. This imposing goalie from the Prince George Cougars was excellent this season in the WHL and should continue his momentum in 2024-2025. He possesses the size, competitiveness, and positioning of an NHL goaltender. Will he maintain his consistency with a heavier workload this year?
Preliminary list and Video
Here is the preliminary top 32 of the best prospects for the 2025 NHL Draft. If you want to learn more about each of them, you can check out my explanatory video on our YouTube channel here. Additionally, in the coming days and weeks, I will also be publishing reports on prospects eligible for the upcoming draft. Even though it’s July, there’s always room to talk hockey!
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