Breaking Down NHL Draft's Top Prospects in 2025 Class

Unlike the Connor Bedard or Macklin Celebrini drafts or the Gavin McKenna-led 2026 class, there hasn't been a consensus top prospect in the year leading up to the 2025 NHL Draft.

Teams who win top-five picks in the draft lottery this May will still get a shot at some talented prospects with the potential to be game-changers at the NHL level.

Here's a look at some of the top prospects to keep an eye on during the lead-up to the 2025 NHL Draft on June 27 in Los Angeles.

Schaefer's final season before the draft was delayed by early-season mononucleosis and cut short when he suffered a broken collarbone at the World Juniors, necessitating Dec. 30 surgery and sidelining him for at least three months.

The 17-year-old had already done enough to establish himself as the top defenseman— and likely the top overall prospect— available in the upcoming draft.

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 183 pounds by Elite Prospects, Schaefer recorded 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 17 games while establishing himself as a strong two-way player for the Erie Otters this season.

Schaefer has showed himself to be an elite skater in both the OHL and international play. He has experience on the power play and penalty kill, and at even strength he regularly led the Otters on the rush this season.

As of April 8, Schaefer had returned to the ice, although he has been skating away from his team in a non-contact jersey amid the Otters' playoff preparations. His recovery progress is still a good sign for his odds at the top pick and his availability by the start of next season.

Michael Misa joined the ranks of John Tavares and Connor McDavid when he was granted exceptional player status to enter the OHL draft at 15 years old back in 2023.

The forward proved why during his second season, during which he joined Patrick Kane as the second draft-eligible OHL player since 1997 to score 50 goals in 50 games.

He finished his second season with the Saginaw Spirit having led the OHL with 134 points, while ranking second with 62 goals in 65 games.

Misa moved to center during his second season in the OHL, a switch that allowed him to show off his playmaking and skating skills.

Like Schaefer, Misa served as a regular driver of play in transition for the Spirit, and was dependable with the puck on both ends of the ice.

Whether Schaefer or Misa goes first in the upcoming draft could come down to whether the top-drafting team decides to prioritize adding offense or defense this summer.

Martone's size and hard shot make him one of the top wingers available in the upcoming draft.

The 6-foot-3, 207-pound power forward just finished the OHL regular season with 37 goals and 61 assists in 57 games before adding four goals and five assists in six playoff contests for the Brampton Steelheads.

Martone also showed off his playmaking skills with frequent touch passes for the Steelheads last season.

For any NHL team looking to add size to their lineup, Martone's power skating will make him an intriguing option. His willingness to drop the gloves could also make him a fit for clubs drawn to more physical players.

Martone has at times struggled with turnovers in the OHL, as noted by The Athletic's Scott Wheeler.

Any teams looking for him to develop his game more before trying to break into the pros could look for him to do so in college. EliteProspects' Cam Robinson noted that Martone is "expected to attract significant interest from NCAA institutions."

Hagens may have cemented his position as a top-five pick at the World Juniors, where he anchored Team USA's top line and scored five goals in nine games to help lead the Americans to gold in Ottawa.

He was also a point-per-game during his freshman season for BC, putting up 11 goals and 26 assists in 37 games for the Eagles.

Hagens is listed by Elite Prospects at 5-foot-11 and 176 pounds, but potentially has the skating skills to make up for his size as he looks to succeed as an NHL center.

He has also established himself as a smart playmaker at BC, where he ranked second only to New York Rangers prospect Gabe Perreault for the team assists lead.

Several teams selecting with the top five picks of the upcoming draft are in need of more depth down the middle of their lineup. Hagens, who has already proven he can compete with older college players at age 18, is a promising option for a team looking to develop a center who can distribute the puck.