McKeen’s Hockey Preliminary Top 32 for 2025

[Brock]

2025 NHL DRAFT: FIRST TOP 32 DRAFT RANKING - Hagens tops list, with Martone, Misa and McQueen sharp on his heels

McKeen's Hockey Scouting team releases its initial top 32 ranking for the 2025 NHL Draft. Brock Otten provides an overview of the rankings.

www.mckeenshockey.com

We’ve released our first draft ranking of the year.

Top 10:

1	James Hagens	C	Boston College (NCAA)	5-10/170	3-Nov-06	4	1	5	6	0
2	Porter Martone	RW	Brampton (OHL)	6-3/195	26-Oct-06	7	5	12	17	6
3	Michael Misa	C	Saginaw (OHL)	5-11/160	16-Feb-07	13	17	9	26	6
4	Roger McQueen	C	Brandon (WHL)	6-5/190	2-Oct-06	8	8	3	11	18
5	Matthew Schaefer	D	Erie (OHL)	6-1/165	5-Sep-07	3	1	2	3	2
6	Anton Frondell	C	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	6-0/180	7-May-07	6	3	1	4	4
7	Ivan Ryabkin	C	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	6-0/170	25-Apr-07	9	0	8	8	20
8	Victor Eklund	LW	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	5-11/160	3-Oct-06	12	7	4	11	2
9	Logan Hensler	D	Wisconsin (NCAA)	6-2/185	14-Oct-06	6	0	1	1	2
10	Lynden Lakovic	LW	Moose Jaw (WHL)	6-4/185	12-Dec-06	14	7	12	19	2

Click to read more...

 

[Eye of Ra]

I highly doubt Sasha is a first rounder.

 

[Brock]

I highly doubt Sasha is a first rounder.

At this point, I would agree with you. Both Derek Neumeier (my assistant director of scouting) and myself are not the highest on Boumedienne. We worry about a lack of standout trait and stagnation in his development. But the reality is that our U.S. region scouts still believe in him and think that he has shown flashes at BU so far. It's still so early in the process, so that's going to factor in heavily when it comes to him being in first round right now. But come our December update (and extension to the top 64), I wouldn't be shocked at all if he was outside of the first.

It's the same reason a guy like William Moore is in the first. I haven't loved his progression this year. But our US scouts still really like the upside. In fact, Jack Murtagh is the only player from the NTDP that I'd have in my personal first round currently. That team just hasn't been great. It'll be interesting to see how it all comes together for them later in the year when we enter tournament season.

 

[Czechboy]

Benak still in round 1. That is encouraging. By far the most polarizing Czech.

Mrtka right where I'd expect him.. middle of round 1. Am curious if his WHL move helps him or hurts him!

 

[josra33]

I don’t see Fiddler as a first rounder. I think people see him based on name pedigree. I would put everyone about 5+ spots below him on this ranking above him right now.

 

[TLEH]

Big Jackson Smith fan.

 

[57special]

3 OHL'ers in the top 5? Wow.

 

[dr1234]

Love the list but shocked that Behm didn’t even get a HM nod. Thoughts on him?

 

[Juxtaposer]

Nice list, Brock!

Curious what your thoughts are on Henry Brzustewicz, since he's on your HM list. He's been very solid every time I watch London, but I'm struggling to pin down what his niche is at the NHL level. Seems like a jack of all trades kind of guy. What kind of upside do you see?

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think this is one of their best lists in recent times.

A few things I don’t get.

How is a 5’7 winger who has 8 points in 10 USHL games rated as a first rounder? The USHL MVP last year was a first time eligible 5’8 winger that went in the 7th round.

What make Will Moore a first rounder? I feel he’s arguably the most overrated player to come through the NTDP in years.

 

[czechcanadian]

Not 1 Finnish player? Am I right?
That’s crazy

 

[josra33]

Not 1 Finnish player? Am I right?
That’s crazy

Not really, the Finnish crop is weak this year. Really weak.

 

[jtechkid]

At this point, I would agree with you. Both Derek Neumeier (my assistant director of scouting) and myself are not the highest on Boumedienne. We worry about a lack of standout trait and stagnation in his development. But the reality is that our U.S. region scouts still believe in him and think that he has shown flashes at BU so far. It's still so early in the process, so that's going to factor in heavily when it comes to him being in first round right now. But come our December update (and extension to the top 64), I wouldn't be shocked at all if he was outside of the first.

It's the same reason a guy like William Moore is in the first. I haven't loved his progression this year. But our US scouts still really like the upside. In fact, Jack Murtagh is the only player from the NTDP that I'd have in my personal first round currently. That team just hasn't been great. It'll be interesting to see how it all comes together for them later in the year when we enter tournament season.

moore has zero juice or moxy to his game and i don’t think that is taught - either you want the puck or you want take over a shift or you don’t . murtaugh is only guy i see on that team has that trait to will himself to tough areas . love the fact if you make ntdp they simply assume your great as a scout or good player going forward and you get drafted . this is really weak group and i think 75% should play ushl next year .

 

[jtechkid]

I think this is one of their best lists in recent times.

A few things I don’t get.

How is a 5’7 winger who has 8 points in 10 USHL games rated as a first rounder? The USHL MVP last year was a first time eligible 5’8 winger that went in the 7th round.

What make Will Moore a first rounder? I feel he’s arguably the most overrated player to come through the NTDP in years.

benak after watching him in ushl i see as 3-4 th round player at best . first , he has zero - zero shot playing center at the nhl level so he will be a wing and his profile as a wing is not great . he likes to float around at center , actually pretty good center positional wise but his size he is not playing center in the nhl so that knocks him out of first round .

 

[Brock]

Love the list but shocked that Behm didn’t even get a HM nod. Thoughts on him?

I chatted with the West guys at length about him because I've liked the physical tools from the limited amount that I've seen. Basically, they agreed, but just wanted to see the level of play sustained before overreacting. I think that's fair. I'd expect him to be ranked higher in our next update.

 

[Brock]

Nice list, Brock!

Curious what your thoughts are on Henry Brzustewicz, since he's on your HM list. He's been very solid every time I watch London, but I'm struggling to pin down what his niche is at the NHL level. Seems like a jack of all trades kind of guy. What kind of upside do you see?

I've really liked what I've seen from Brzustewicz. Yes, the profile is well rounded. But, I like the athleticism. Right shot. He's flashed some serious puck skill and creativity, especially early on before London's big guns returned and he was being tasked with driving play in transition and quarterbacking the power play. I think that there's a lot of upside there as he develops under Hunter, who has been so good at getting the best out of young defenders over the years. To me, he's a clear top 50 prospect right now.

Not 1 Finnish player? Am I right?
That’s crazy

I'm honestly not sure we'd have more than one in our top 100, let alone the top 32. This is the weakest group of Finns that I can ever remember for the draft. There's a reason why this group finished last at the U17's the year prior and almost last at the summer's Hlinka/Gretzky.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Very weak year for the non NTDP, USHL group. Wonder what most think of Ben Kevan.

 

[Intangir]

Normally the McKeen's guys like big, rangy two-way forwards and will tend to shy away from smallish players like Benak, Potter, and Reschny.

But now it seems that they have gone away a bit from their modus operandi to start the year, and I kind of dig it.

That said, I wouldn't have Benak anywhere near the first-round as others have said. I don't like his skating/skill/smarts combo enough to personally give him a first-round grade.

But yeah, nice list Brock.

 

[BKarchitect]

Great list...definitely aligns with a lot of the early season returns mixed with expert scouting opinions. Love that it is a group effort. For anybody just jumping into names to watch for next spring - this easily feels like the most relevant ranking out there.

Guys I didn't notice that had previously been high/1st round graded in various lists, any thoughts?

- Kashawn Aitcheson: Top 20-25 in a lot of lists, albeit older ones. Looks like a solid start to the season, has good size...not a 1st/high 2nd for you?

- Will Sharpe: Some of the great WHL posters here love this guy - good size and having a banger to start the year...similar scoring to other two-way guys listed like Reid and Brzustewicz.

- Luka Radivojevic: Always assumed his slight stature would hurt him as a blueliner but seems to be settling very well in the USHL.

- Reese Hamilton: Prior to the season seemed neck-and-neck with Smith out west but very slow start and not tremendous physical traits so he seems an obvious faller.

- Jordan Gavin: Production seems off especially for a guy in his third junior season...too little progression, not enough physical traits?

- Filip Ekberg: Seems to be settling in as a dangerous threat for Ottawa after a slowish start to his North American transition. Projections hurt by his size?

- Bill Zonnon: Great start on one of the surprise lines of the CHL season; more importantly it seems he has transitioned easily to center and has oodles of versatility along with good playmaking and size. He has always seemed a bit of an inconsistent wildcard but seems like something here.

- Ben Kindel: Right up there with the other big WHL names in scoring but smallish build...more of a 2nd/3rd round junior scorer at this point?

Thanks @Brock !

 

[Czechboy]

benak after watching him in ushl i see as 3-4 th round player at best . first , he has zero - zero shot playing center at the nhl level so he will be a wing and his profile as a wing is not great . he likes to float around at center , actually pretty good center positional wise but his size he is not playing center in the nhl so that knocks him out of first round .

Such an exciting Czech prospect. But I think you are right... Unfortunately.

There are guys his size in NHL that do well but not many and I don't think any are a C.

After galvas last year I've accepted he will be a 3rd or 4th rounder despite routinely being the best Czech on his team. And some (not many) of those Czechs will go before him.

Can't teach size.

 

[The Old Master]

2025 NHL DRAFT: FIRST TOP 32 DRAFT RANKING - Hagens tops list, with Martone, Misa and McQueen sharp on his heels

McKeen's Hockey Scouting team releases its initial top 32 ranking for the 2025 NHL Draft. Brock Otten provides an overview of the rankings.

www.mckeenshockey.com

We’ve released our first draft ranking of the year.

Top 10:

1	James Hagens	C	Boston College (NCAA)	5-10/170	3-Nov-06	4	1	5	6	0
2	Porter Martone	RW	Brampton (OHL)	6-3/195	26-Oct-06	7	5	12	17	6
3	Michael Misa	C	Saginaw (OHL)	5-11/160	16-Feb-07	13	17	9	26	6
4	Roger McQueen	C	Brandon (WHL)	6-5/190	2-Oct-06	8	8	3	11	18
5	Matthew Schaefer	D	Erie (OHL)	6-1/165	5-Sep-07	3	1	2	3	2
6	Anton Frondell	C	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	6-0/180	7-May-07	6	3	1	4	4
7	Ivan Ryabkin	C	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	6-0/170	25-Apr-07	9	0	8	8	20
8	Victor Eklund	LW	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	5-11/160	3-Oct-06	12	7	4	11	2
9	Logan Hensler	D	Wisconsin (NCAA)	6-2/185	14-Oct-06	6	0	1	1	2
10	Lynden Lakovic	LW	Moose Jaw (WHL)	6-4/185	12-Dec-06	14	7	12	19	2

how dose this group look compared to the last few years?

 

[jtechkid]

for me it looks like a big down year for ntdp - ushl - usa group and really down year for Finland . the fact fiddler mid first round tells you how weak the draft is . outside the first maybe 5-7 it looks like it fall off a cliff with not lot high end depth .

 

[kudla]

Thoughts on Luka Radivojevic ?

 

[tomd]

for me it looks like a big down year for ntdp - ushl - usa group and really down year for Finland . the fact fiddler mid first round tells you how weak the draft is . outside the first maybe 5-7 it looks like it fall off a cliff with not lot high end depth .

Looks that way to me as well...