Upside's 2025 NHL Mock Draft 2.0: Post-Lottery Edition

[UpsideHockey]

Upside Hockey takes a stab at this futile prediction task...

"To be clear, this is not our rankings. For the NHL Draft Lottery Edition of our exclusive 2025 NHL Draft Rankings head to our 2025 NHL Draft Headquarters. Though often an exercise in futility, it is nonetheless a fun exercise to work through to project where prospects may land. Here’s our take; your thoughts are welcomed."

Note up front: though this mock contains no official trades the assumption on pick #1 is the Islanders will do something sort of unconventional (essentially equivalent of trading back a draft a slot or two and still get how they ultimately want)...

2025 NHL Mock Draft 2.0: Post-Lottery Edition

To be clear, this is not our rankings.

upsidehockey.substack.com

 

[UpsideHockey]

Our actual most recent draft rankings thread:

Thread '2025 NHL Draft Rankings: Lottery Edition'

May 6, 2025

The May Edition of Our Top 224 NHL Draft Rankings from Chief Scout Eldon MacDonald​

Excerpt:
"Updated May 5, 2025
This is a quick update just to get our NHL Draft Lottery Edition of our rankings out in the wild.

Matthew Schaefer Maintains Number One Ranking

Outstanding blueliner Matthew Schaefer leap-frogged exceptional centreman Michael Misa into 1st overall in our January rankings led by our Chief of Scouting Eldon MacDonald and continues to hold his spot this time around. He seems like the odds-on choice for the NHL Draft Lottery winners - the New...

• UpsideHockey
• Replies: 4
• Forum: NHL Draft - Prospects

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[DJJones]

McQueen falling that far for Calgary would be a dream scenario

 

[tomd]

Eklund is very unlikely to be picked by Anaheim. Everything verbeek has done since he arrived has been focused on adding size. I don’t see that changing with the 10OA pick.

 

[wetcoast]

Man if Schaefer drops to San Jose that franchise will be on the fast track on their rebuild.

Don't see why the NYI would take Hagens over him.

I'm also not crazy on the Canucks taking Lynden Lakovic at 15 he has Mantha, wood vibes and not in a good way.

 

[shaner8989]

Pretty good mock

 

[Ford Prefect]

"To be clear, this is not our rankings. For the NHL Draft Lottery Edition of our exclusive 2025 NHL Draft Rankings head to our 2025 NHL Draft Headquarters. Though often an exercise in futility, it is nonetheless a fun exercise to work through to project where prospects may land. Here’s our take; your thoughts are welcomed."

Note up front: though this mock contains no official trades the assumption on pick #1 is the Islanders will do something sort of unconventional (essentially equivalent of trading back a draft a slot or two and still get how they ultimately want)...

2025 NHL Mock Draft 2.0: Post-Lottery Edition

To be clear, this is not our rankings.

upsidehockey.substack.com

If this played out the way you have it, I think I might just pee myself a little. I've wanted Ryabkin on Montreal since last summer. On the limited viewing I've gotten of him, to me he's the modern-day Russian version of Bobby Clarke. He's mean and nasty and skilled. If they can harness his worst impulses and channel the aggression, look out. I think he's the perfect compliment at C2.

 

[Jormungandr]

No reasoning or explanation as to why you mocked the players to their teams? This mock is about as useless as an hfboards mock with just names and no explanation.

 

[UpsideHockey]

In case you'd prefer a direct link to our Upside Hockey website (mock draft homepage)

Mock Drafts

Mock Drafts

www.upsidehockey.com

 

[Kevin Musto]

Misa and Spence?

I approve of this mock

 

[WinterLion]

Habs pick Carbo!! !!!!! I can't believe it!!!

 

[Go Wings]

I would love Kashawn Aitcheson for Detroit.

 

[UpsideHockey]

Man if Schaefer drops to San Jose that franchise will be on the fast track on their rebuild.

Don't see why the NYI would take Hagens over him.

I'm also not crazy on the Canucks taking Lynden Lakovic at 15 he has Mantha, wood vibes and not in a good way.

Absolutely - as noted, the scenario would likely be the Isles dropping back 1 or 2 slots and gaining extra pick(s)/prospect(s) and landing the hometown kid they want - Hagens. Anything possible with the Islanders.

Fair point on Lakovic, but think someone will jump on him in the mid-1st rnd range...

 

[wetcoast]

Absolutely - as noted, the scenario would likely be the Isles dropping back 1 or 2 slots and gaining extra pick(s)/prospect(s) and landing the hometown kid they want - Hagens. Anything possible with the Islanders.

Yes who knows as alot of GMs picking first are Dman adverse.

Fair point on Lakovic, but think someone will jump on him in the mid-1st rnd range...

I just hope it's not the Canucks he has size but doesn't use it in enough ways and I worry about how he projects and I think better options will be available at 15..

 

[tomd]

Yes who knows as alot of GMs picking first are Dman adverse.

I just hope it's not the Canucks he has size but doesn't use it in enough ways and I worry about how he projects and I think better options will be available at 15..

Lakovic is a projection pick just like Sennecke was last year. Some people are much higher on his projection than you are...especially in a draft where projectable players are few outside of the top 8-10 picks.

 

[wetcoast]

Lakovic is a projection pick just like Sennecke was last year. Some people are much higher on his projection than you are...especially in a draft where projectable players are few outside of the top 8-10 picks.

No i'm all about projection, usually more so than production but he just doesn't use his size in enough ways and I think that he can get away with it in junior, not so sure that he will be a star or impactful enough over other players at 15.

Kinda reminds me , in terms of value, teddy Purcell but with a more sustained prime.

But who knows it's hard to even get 40% of these things right after the top 5 in most drafts.

I just think some team will take him and be possibly frustrated that he is big but doesn't do certain things but maybe he will develop enough there to succeed.

 

[tomd]

No i'm all about projection, usually more so than production but he just doesn't use his size in enough ways and I think that he can get away with it in junior, not so sure that he will be a star or impactful enough over other players at 15.

Kinda reminds me , in terms of value, teddy Purcell but with a more sustained prime.

But who knows it's hard to even get 40% of these things right after the top 5 in most drafts.

I just think some team will take him and be possibly frustrated that he is big but doesn't do certain things but maybe he will develop enough there to succeed.

My sense is that he started to figure things out more after he came back from his injury and was named captain. Teams might be encouraged by that progression. He has the size and skills that teams want.

 

[Mrfenn92]

Solid

 

[JadedRandom]

Upside Hockey takes a stab at this futile prediction task...

"To be clear, this is not our rankings. For the NHL Draft Lottery Edition of our exclusive 2025 NHL Draft Rankings head to our 2025 NHL Draft Headquarters. Though often an exercise in futility, it is nonetheless a fun exercise to work through to project where prospects may land. Here’s our take; your thoughts are welcomed."

Note up front: though this mock contains no official trades the assumption on pick #1 is the Islanders will do something sort of unconventional (essentially equivalent of trading back a draft a slot or two and still get how they ultimately want)...

2025 NHL Mock Draft 2.0: Post-Lottery Edition

To be clear, this is not our rankings.

upsidehockey.substack.com

I was mostly fine with you guys' mock draft until I saw Ryabkin going to the Canadiens at #17.

I double-checked, wanting to make sure I hadn't misread, but no.

Simply put, Ryabkin at the 17th spot is in my opinion a downright bad take.

At this point I seriously wonder if a team even drafts him in the first.

I've got Ryabkin much lower than you guys (#48 vs. your own #30 from your rankings) because I don't like his blend of low compete, speed issues, already physically-mature frame so little physical runway, and "average-adjacent" hockey sense by NHL standards from my viewings.

I similarly think Ryabkin has very little shot at being an NHL center one day, his attention to detail is very low, and though he does like the board battles, he also doesn't project as a future top-6 center because of playmaking and transition issues.

So yeah, the fact that you put Ryabkin with the Canadiens while also giving them another winger in Carbonneau makes it all much, much worse.

You give two future wingers to a team that already has 3 long-time top-6 wingers (Caufield, Slafkovsky, Demidov) on their current roster, with one being an hypothetically WAY overdrafted Ryabkin on top?

I know the Canadiens most likely trade one, if not both picks in this year's draft and you probably didn't want to overthink this, but come on.

Long story short, I stopped reading your list at #17. That Ryabkin pick was all I needed to know as far as the effort you put into this list.

 

[Garbageyuk]

I was mostly fine with you guys' mock draft until I saw Ryabkin going to the Canadiens at #17.

I double-checked, wanting to make sure I hadn't misread, but no.

Simply put, Ryabkin at the 17th spot is in my opinion a downright bad take.

At this point I seriously wonder if a team even drafts him in the first.

I've got Ryabkin much lower than you guys (#48 vs. your own #30 from your rankings) because I don't like his blend of low compete, speed issues, already physically-mature frame so little physical runway, and "average-adjacent" hockey sense by NHL standards from my viewings.

I similarly think Ryabkin has very little shot at being an NHL center one day, his attention to detail is very low, and though he does like the board battles, he also doesn't project as a future top-6 center because of playmaking and transition issues.

So yeah, the fact that you put Ryabkin with the Canadiens while also giving them another winger in Carbonneau makes it all much, much worse.

You give two future wingers to a team that already has 3 long-time top-6 wingers (Caufield, Slafkovsky, Demidov) on their current roster, with one being an hypothetically WAY overdrafted Ryabkin on top?

I know the Canadiens most likely trade one, if not both picks in this year's draft and you probably didn't want to overthink this, but come on.

Long story short, I stopped reading your list at #17. That Ryabkin pick was all I needed to know as far as the effort you put into this list.

One of you is WAY off base in the description of Ryabkin then, because nearly all the areas you criticized about him, minus the speed, he described as strengths.

I’d lean toward you being wrong because almost everyone else lauds his skill, hands, IQ, shot, playmaking, and transition ability. It’s his inconsistency, often poor effort and reads defensively, and behavioural issues that are the main concerns. Basically, the dude is described as a loose cannon/psycho, and people question how he will fit in team-wise.

By all other accounts, he is supremely skilled, loves to engage physically and play in the dirty areas, has strong puck protection and possession skills, and his “average” speed isn’t as much of a concern due to excellent edge work and technical, dynamic skating.

I mean, I get that there are very valid concerns, not debating that, but what I’m saying is that there’s a rather large gulf between where you say they are, and where OP and everyone else does. Or rather, you mentioned the same concerns, but then added a bunch of other stuff in that category as well, which are described as strengths by everyone else.

Interesting.

 

[DeltaSwede]

Penguins don't have the #12 pick, it's the Rangers pick.

The pick was top 14 protected and Pittsburgh now has the Rangers 2026 1st Round Pick instead.

Edit: Canucks wouldn't pass on McQueen as they will most likely prioritize centers. If McQueen is there at that point in the draft it's a no brainer to pick the Canuck fan (McQueen)

 

[Jared Grayden]

Penguins don't have the #12 pick, it's the Rangers pick.

The pick was top 14 protected and Pittsburgh now has the Rangers 2026 1st Round Pick instead.

Edit: Canucks wouldn't pass on McQueen as they will most likely prioritize centers. If McQueen is there at that point in the draft it's a no brainer to pick the Canuck fan (McQueen)

Top 13 protected and the decision to convey isn't until 48 hrs before the draft so still undetermined. Though I would expect the Rangers to keep it.

 

[UpsideHockey]

Top 13 protected and the decision to convey isn't until 48 hrs before the draft so still undetermined. Though I would expect the Rangers to keep it.

Right, right - we should have noted that. They probably will they I'd personally opt to keep the 2026 pick tbh.

As per Athletic: "So, what precisely will the New York Rangers do? Here are the details: The Rangers have been awarded the 12th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. If they’d like, they may keep that selection. Doing so guarantees that the Penguins own the Rangers’ 2026 first-round pick. The Rangers also have the option to give the Penguins the 12th pick this June, which will allow the Rangers to keep their 2026 pick."

Which first-round NHL Draft pick will Penguins get from Rangers?: Mailbag

A look at the Rangers' decision and how it will impact the Penguins, Mike Sullivan's time in Pittsburgh and much more.

www.nytimes.com

 

[UpsideHockey]

If this played out the way you have it, I think I might just pee myself a little. I've wanted Ryabkin on Montreal since last summer. On the limited viewing I've gotten of him, to me he's the modern-day Russian version of Bobby Clarke. He's mean and nasty and skilled. If they can harness his worst impulses and channel the aggression, look out. I think he's the perfect compliment at C2.

LOL - let's hope you have no accidents, but be pretty great haul for the Habs indeed.