McKeen's Hockey PRE WJC (December) 2025 Draft Rankings

[Brock]

2025 NHL DRAFT: DECEMBER RANKING - TOP 32 - PRE-WJC

McKeen's Hockey releases it top 64 ranking with honourable mentions prior to the start of the 2025 World Junior Championship.

www.mckeenshockey.com

1	Matthew Schaefer	D	Erie (OHL)	6-2/180	5-Sep-07	17	7	15	22	8
2	James Hagens	C	Boston College (NCAA)	5-10/170	3-Nov-06	16	5	15	20	4
3	Michael Misa	C	Saginaw (OHL)	5-11/160	16-Feb-07	30	30	31	61	21
4	Porter Martone	RW	Brampton (OHL)	6-3/195	26-Oct-06	26	21	33	54	41
5	Roger McQueen	C	Brandon (WHL)	6-5/190	2-Oct-06	8	8	3	11	18
6	Victor Eklund	LW	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	5-11/160	3-Oct-06	24	8	7	15	31
7	Jackson Smith	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-3/190	13-May-07	30	2	22	24	26
8	Anton Frondell	C	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	6-0/195	7-May-07	7	1	2	3	6
9	Caleb Desnoyers	C	Moncton (QMJHL)	6-2/190	11-Apr-07	26	17	25	42	14
10	Lynden Lakovic	LW	Moose Jaw (WHL)	6-4/190	12-Dec-06	29	16	22	38	4

Our updated top 32 is free for all (see link above). Top 64 for subscribers only.

As always, happy to answer any questions you all might have. Always appreciate the support of the HF community!

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[SI90]

I feel like Logan Hensler will be drafted top10

 

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

I feel like Logan Hensler will be drafted top10

I'd bet against that. After the top 10.

He might not even be the first RHD off the board.

 

[HoweFan]

Carter Bear and Braeden Cootes seem a little liw

 

[MasterMatt25]

I'd bet against that. After the top 10.

He might not even be the first RHD off the board.

With the way Mrtka is playing right now I'd agree with this

 

[Barry Amsterdam]

mcqueen ain’t a top 5 talent

 

[Just Linda]

mcqueen ain’t a top 5 talent

I'd take him over Sennecke and Lindstrom.

 

[Trojans86]

I'd take him over Sennecke and Lindstrom.

Sennecke has been amazing this year has has massive upside. Looking a lot better than several other picks

 

[HuGort]

I feel like Logan Hensler will be drafted top10

No offense though

 

[hockeyprospects9]

Eric Nilson in the first round

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

Thank God, as a Red Wings fan, I still need to pay attention to this shit.

Who's got high compete level this year? That's who we're taking.

 

[wetcoast]

Love Schaefer at #1 but I wonder if the team picking first has the balls to take him?

In some alternate universe the Black Hawks have Bedard, Demidov and Schaefer.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Love Schaefer at #1 but I wonder if the team picking first has the balls to take him?

If they were watching the game last night they wouldn’t even need balls, just eyes

 

[Kingpin794]

Thank God, as a Red Wings fan, I still need to pay attention to this shit.

Who's got high compete level this year? That's who we're taking.

I hope that isn’t our criteria. We need skill, skill, and more skill.

 

[Brock]

Carter Bear and Braeden Cootes seem a little liw

Our Western scouts just aren’t sold on their upside.

Bear has had a very impressive season, but he’s not a dynamic skater or a high skill guy. The compete level is off the charts good, but at 6’0, is he going to be an elite complementary piece at the NHL level the same way he is in Everett? There’s obviously a chance and our scouts do like him as a potentially solid middle six guy, but more? If Bear were on a worse team, having to drive the bus himself would we be seeing him as high as he is on some lists?

Cootes, similar concerns about upside. I actually like him better than our Western scouts, but I don’t have the same level of familiarity as them yet. Great pace. Intense competitor. But is he a high point producer at the higher levels?

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Love Schaefer at #1 but I wonder if the team picking first has the balls to take him?

In some alternate universe the Black Hawks have Bedard, Demidov and Schaefer.

That's what I wonder. How often does a team opt for a d-man when so many top forwards are available? People can say what they want about Hagens, but he's a legit #1 center who is adept on both sides of the puck. That is typically the most valuable commodity for teams, especially those that are desperate for one.

 

[Forlan]

I really hope that the Sharks will be able to choose Misa/Schaefer

 

[Finster8]

Not trying to be an ass but Misa has not been 160 lbs since he was 15. 6’1 185 appreciate all your work Brock and just pointing that out. Merry Christmas

 

[HoweFan]

It might be a good year to be 3rd or 4th so some of your decisions will be made for you

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

I hope that isn’t our criteria. We need skill, skill, and more skill.

... Dude that's been our criteria for pretty much every 1st round pick we've made. Detroit very much has a type.

 

[Kingpin794]

... Dude that's been our criteria for pretty much every 1st round pick we've made. Detroit very much has a type.

Oh I know. Just saying that “type” needs to change.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

Oh I know. Just saying that “type” needs to change.

I think it really depends on the type of skill player that's out there. ASP was worth the swing, especially at 17. Not factoring in hindsight, I don't think I'd have taken him at #9 on draft day.

But you had people banging the table for us to draft Savoie, and right now it's looking like Kasper was the better pick.

 

[Kingpin794]

I think it really depends on the type of skill player that's out there. ASP was worth the swing, especially at 17. Not factoring in hindsight, I don't think I'd have taken him at #9 on draft day.

But you had people banging the table for us to draft Savoie, and right now it's looking like Kasper was the better pick.

I don’t know how you make that assessment in regards to Kasper and Savoie. It’s way too early to tell who would have been the better pick. Just from watching Kasper, my thoughts are that he’s fine. He should be a good enough guy that can float between line 3 and 2 but that’s not that kind of guy the wings need. I think they got scared after Zadina didn’t pan out. They’ve hit really well on their defensive core but good god that forward group is not skilled or deep enough.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

I don’t know how you make that assessment in regards to Kasper and Savoie. It’s way too early to tell who would have been the better pick. Just from watching Kasper, my thoughts are that he’s fine. He should be a good enough guy that can float between line 3 and 2 but that’s not that kind of guy the wings need. I think they got scared after Zadina didn’t pan out. They’ve hit really well on their defensive core but good god that forward group is not skilled or deep enough.

Zadina has nothing to do with Yzerman's draft strategy considering Yzerman didn't draft Zadina and was already drafting that way before Zadina was a confirmed bust.

If anybody changed Yzerman's draft strategy, it was guys like Drouin and Deangelo.