Updated 2025 NHL 1st-Round Mock Draft After the End of the Regular Season

The 2024-25 NHL regular season is over, and the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is underway. With the standings set, it's time to update our 2025 first-round mock draft.

As usual, a draft lottery will determine the placement of the 16 teams that missed the postseason. On March 25, TSN's Chris Johnston reported it would be held on May 5 or 6. An official date from the league is expected soon.

The team with the worst record this season has the best odds (25.5 percent) of winning the lottery and can drop no lower than third overall. A team can move up no more than 10 spaces, giving the bottom 11 teams in the standings the best odds of winning the No. 1 pick.

This year's draft class has no clear-cut top prospect. However, a handful of young players have a good chance of becoming the top pick. They include defenseman Matthew Schaefer and forwards James Hagens, Michael Misa and Porter Martone.

The full order of this year's draft won't be determined until the end of the playoffs. The last four selections will belong to the conference finalists regardless of their regular-season record, with the last pick (32nd overall) belonging to this year's Stanley Cup champion.

This mock draft is based on the NHL's overall standings as of April 17.

Prospect info is via Elite Prospects, with each team's needs based on The Athletic's prospect pool rankings. Player rankings were based on analysis by NHL Central Scouting, TSN's Craig Button, Sportsnet's Jason Bukala, and The Athletic's Corey Pronman.

Finishing last in the overall standings, the San Jose Sharks have the best odds of winning the lottery for the second straight year. Last year, they used that first-overall pick to select center Macklin Celebrini, who finished tied for second among this season's rookie scorers.

The Sharks hold two picks in this round. Should the lottery balls bounce their way again, they could use this year's first overall pick to address their need for a scoring right wing among their top-five prospects. Porter Martone of the Brampton Steelheads in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) could be a good fit.

NHL Central Scouting had Martone at No. 6 among North American skaters in their final rankings. However, they consider the 6'3”, 207-pound winger to have a good mix of size and strength who has the skills and ability to change the complexion of a game.

The Athletic's Corey Pronman singled out Martone's skill level and creativity with the puck and his willingness to engage physically. He believes the youngster projects to be a top-line scoring winger who should put up a lot of points in the NHL.

Martone finished the regular season leading the Steelheads with 61 assists and 98 points. The big winger was second among their playoff scorers with nine points in six games.

With the second overall pick in last year's draft, Chicago selected right-shot defenseman Artyom Levshunov. With 2022 first-round Kevin Korchinski in their lineup, they could opt to use the first of their two picks in this round to add a left-shot defenseman among their top-five prospects.

Matthew Schaefer of the OHL's Erie Otters could be their choice if the Sharks don't select him first. The 6'2”, 183-pound defenseman is ranked No. 1 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, TSN's Craig Button, Sportsnet's Jason Bukala and The Athletic's Corey Pronman.

Central Scouting praised Schaefer's combination of speed, skills and size. Bukala called him a workhorse who plays big minutes and a complete player, while Pronman projects him as a future No. 1 NHL defenseman.

Schaefer had 22 points in 17 games with the Otters before suffering a season-ending broken collarbone during the 2025 World Junior Championships. The fact that he remains so well-regarded by scouts despite his absence for most of the season speaks volumes about his abilities.

The Nashville Predators could select Matthew Schaefer with the first of their three picks in this round if he's still available, given their lack of depth in defensemen among their top-10 prospects. Failing that, they could select a scoring center like Michael Misa of the OHL's Saginaw Spirit with this pick.

Misa is second among North American prospects in NHL Central Scouting's midseason rankings. TSN's Craig Button, Sportsnet's Jason Bukala and The Athletic's Corey Pronman have him sitting second in their prospect rankings.

It's understandable why they rate Misa so highly. The 6'1”, 185-pound center scored 62 goals and 72 assists to lead the OHL with 134 points in 65 games. The Spirit captain also had three points in four playoff games.

Button was impressed by Misa's progression throughout this season, calling him “a hell of a player.” Bukala considers him one of the most lethal shooters in this year's draft class, while Pronman projects he has the skills to become a No. 1 center in the NHL with the chance to become a star.

NHL Central Scouting moved Jake O'Brien up to the No. 4 position on their final ranking of North American skaters. The 6'2”, 170-pound center had a fine season with the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs, finishing third in scoring with 98 points in 66 games.

The Philadelphia Flyers hold three picks in this round and have only one center among their top-10 prospects. They could address that need by selecting O'Brien with their own pick.

O'Brien is considered among the best playmakers in this draft class. NHL Central Scouting noted he led the OHL in power-play assists (44), was seventh in all assists with 66, and tied for seventh in points.

NHL Central Scouting vice president and director Dan Marr said O'Brien has elite-level hockey sense and skill. The Athletic's Corey Pronman singled out his high-end vision and patience, projecting he'll be a very good top-two line center who could score a lot in the NHL.

This will be the first time the Boston Bruins have had a first-round pick among the top five since selecting Tyler Seguin second overall in the 2010 NHL Draft. With this choice, they could opt for Boston College center James Hagens.

The Bruins could use another skillful right wing among their top-10 prospects and could choose Porter Martone if he's not selected earlier. Otherwise, the opportunity to pick the Boston College star could be too tempting to pass up.

Hagens finished third among Boston College scorers this season with 37 points in as many games. The 5'11”, 176-pound center had nine points in seven games for Team USA's gold-medal winning team at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championships.

NHL Central Scouting has Hagens at No. 3 in their final ranking of North American prospects. They compare his playmaking, skating and hockey sense to Clayton Keller of the Utah Hockey Club. The Athletic's Corey Pronman believes he can be a play-driving top-two line NHL center.

NHL Central Scouting has Anton Frondell at No. 1 on their final ranking of international skaters. The 6'0", 196-pound center from Djurgårdens IF/HockeyAllsvenskan in Sweden could draw the interest of the Seattle Kraken.

The Kraken have four centers among their top-10 prospects, but the versatile Frondell can also play on the wing. He overcame an early-season injury to move up the prospect rankings this year with Djurgårdens IF's J/20 team and their HockeyAllsvenskan squad.

NHL director of European Scouting Jukka-Pekka Vuorinen said Frondell is “a strong skater, skilled, and a two-way player,” adding he plays with a lot of confidence and intensity. Sportsnet's Jason Bukala considers him a difference-maker offensively and a game-changer who wants the puck in big moments.

Frondell had five goals and seven points in 10 games with Djurgårdens IF's J-20 team and 25 points in 29 games with the HockeyAllsvenskan team, along with six points in 14 playoff games.

The Buffalo Sabres have one right wing among their top-10 prospects. Victor Eklund of Djurgårdens IF/HockeyAllsvenskan could be an intriguing option for them.

A versatile forward who can play either wing, Eklund is ranked second among international skaters by NHL Central Scouting. The 18-year-old is the younger brother of San Jose Sharks forward William Eklund.

NHL Director of European Scouting Jukka-Pekka Vuorinen called Eklund a playmaker with the ability to manipulate with great vision and creativity. Sportsnet's Jason Bukala noted that the 5'11”, 161-pounder is undersized but is speedy, elusive and difficult to check.

Eklund finished fifth among Djurgårdens IF HockeyAllsvenskan skaters with 19 goals and 31 points in 42 games. He also had five points in 14 playoff contests.

A versatile forward who can play left wing or center, Carter Bear had a strong performance this season with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League. He led his club with 40 goals and 82 points in 56 games.

Bear's performance sent him rising up this season's prospect rankings. NHL Central Scouting has the 6'0", 176-pound forward at No. 10 in their final listing of this year's North American skaters.

The Anaheim Ducks could be interested in selecting Bear in this round. They lack a left wing among their top-10 prospects.

Corey Pronman of The Athletic considers Bear a potential NHL top-six winger, singling out his offensive skills and physical play. Sportsnet's Jason Bukala cited his ability to score timely goals, his tenacity and “in your face” style.

With only one center among their top-10 prospects, the Pittsburgh Penguins could attempt to address that issue in a draft heavy with centers. Caleb Desnoyers of the Moncton Wildcats in the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) could be among their targets in this round.

NHL Central Scouting has Desnoyers at No. 7 among North American skaters in their final rankings. The 6'2", 172-pounder led the Wildcats this season with 84 points in 56 games and has 20 points in nine playoff contests.

Sportsnet's Jason Bukala considers Desnoyers a future top-six NHL forward who can be deployed in a variety of roles, suggesting he could become a complete player. The Athletic's Corey Pronman praised his playmaking and two-way game.

With superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin approaching the end of their careers, the Penguins must find suitable future replacements. Desnoyers could be one of those players if he develops as projected.

The New York Islanders received a significant addition to their prospect pipeline with the acquisition of Calum Ritchie from the Colorado Avalanche in the Brock Nelson trade. The 20-year-old Oshawa Generals center is on his NHL entry-level contract and could join the Isles' ranks next season.

Having added a potential future NHL center at the trade deadline, the Islanders could attempt to address their lack of a right-shot defenseman among their top prospects. Radim Mrtka of the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds could be on their radar.

Mrtka transferred to the Thunderbirds last fall from the Czech Extraliga's HC Oceláři Třinec. He quickly adjusted to the North American game, finishing with 35 points in 43 games. Mrtka was fifth among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting's final rankings.

Sportsnet's Jason Bukala noted the 6'6”, 198-pound Mrtka regularly logged over 25 minutes per game with the Thunderbirds, saying he possessed a wide-range skill set. The Athletic's Corey Pronman was impressed by his skating and puck-handling abilities.

The New York Rangers included their 2025 first-round pick in the return they sent to the Vancouver Canucks in the J.T. Miller trade in January. The Canucks subsequently included that pick in the return they sent to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Marcus Pettersson.

However, the pick is top-13 protected, meaning the Rangers could retain it for this year's draft or convey it to next year. Given their position in the final standings, we'll assume they will retain it and select Roger McQueen of the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings.

Sidelined by a back injury for most of this season, McQueen had 10 goals and 20 points in 17 games to sit eighth among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting's final rankings. They considered the 6'5”, 192-pound center comparable to Quinton Byfield of the Los Angeles Kings.

McQueen could fill the Rangers' need for a skilled center among their top-five prospects. TSN's Craig Button considers him a bit of a wild card because of his injury, but not his skills. Sportsnet's Jason Bukala was impressed by how well he used his size and strength to create plays and scoring chances.

It's been another disappointing season for the Detroit Red Wings as their much-anticipated breakthrough season came to naught again. Nevertheless, they still possess a deep prospect pool that could include Justin Carbonneau of the QMJHL's Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.

The Red Wings have one right winger among their top-10 prospects. Carbonneau could be a solid fit here, potentially developing into a top-six forward for the Wings by the time they end their long postseason drought.

Carbonneau already has a good NHL frame at 6'1” and 192 pounds. He led the Armada with 46 goals and 89 points in 62 games this season. NHL Central Scouting has him at No. 16 among North American skaters.

Sportsnet's Jason Bukala pointed out Carbonneau finished second among QMJHL scorers, projecting him as a top-six forward with a shoot-first mentality. The Athletic's Corey Pronman believes his style of play is highly translatable to the NHL.

The Columbus Blue Jackets narrowly missed clinching this season's final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Nevertheless, they're a team on the rise with a roster stocked with former first-rounders like Adam Fantilli, Denton Mateychuk, Cole Sillinger and Yegor Chinakhov.

With two picks in this round, the Jackets could use their own to address their lack of a natural left winger among their top-15 prospects. Lynden Lakovic of the WHL's Moose Jaw Warriors could be another first-round pick to go on to become a key Blue Jackets player.

The 6'4”, 190-pound Lakovic is ranked 14th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. He finished this season as the Warriors' leading scorer with 58 points in 47 games.

Corey Pronman of The Athletic cited Lakovic's powerful skating and offensive creativity. He believes his compete level must improve, but still projects him as a top-six winger. Sportsnet's Jason Bukala pointed out that his size and long reach make him difficult to check.

Despite missing the playoffs in their first season in Salt Lake City, the Utah Hockey Club is a promising team that could become a postseason contender starting next season. Former first-rounders like Clayton Keller, Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley have become important core players.

Utah's prospect pipeline is ranked seventh by The Athletic's Scott Wheeler, but they lack a center among their top-five prospects. That need could put their focus on Brady Martin of the OHL's Sault St. Marie (Soo) Greyhounds.

Martin is ranked at No. 11 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. The 6'0”, 174-pound center finished second among the Greyhounds with 72 points in 57 games.

Sportsnet's Jason Bukala considers Martin the most competitive player in this draft class, calling him a relentless, lead-by-example forward. The Athletic's Corey Pronman believes he has the one-on-one abilities to beat NHL defensemen while his agitating style would get under his opponents' skin.

After finishing third last season in the Western Conference with 109 points, the Canucks tumbled to 90 points and failed to qualify for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Their slide ensures them a better pick in this year's draft than they would've had if they'd finished higher in the standings.

Malcolm Spence of the OHL's Erie Otters could be an option at this stage in the round. They lack a left wing among their top-15 prospects.

Spence finished third among Otters scorers this season with 32 goals and 41 assists for 73 points. He also had nine points in as many playoff games. NHL Central Scouting has the 6'2”, 201-pounder at No. 17 in their final ranking of North American prospects.

The Athletic's Corey Pronman and Sportsnet's Jason Bukala project Spence to become a middle-six NHL forward. Pronman cited his two-way play, high compete level and tenacious work ethic. Bukala believes he can become a difference maker.

The Montreal Canadiens acquired this pick from the Calgary Flames for taking Sean Monahan off their hands in a cost-cutting move in Aug. 2022. With only one left wing among their top-15 prospects, they could select Carter Bear, Lynden Lakovic or Malcolm Spence if one of them is available at this stage.

Failing that, the Canadiens could add another left-hand defenseman to their prospect pool. They could turn to Kashawn Aitcheson of the OHL's Barrie Colts, who rose to ninth on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters.

TSN's Craig Button called the 6'1”, 198-pound Aitcheson “a guy you want on your team. He's hard, heavy, physical, competitive, great skater.” The Athletic's Corey Pronman called him one of the better defensemen in the OHL this season, projecting he'll become a top-four NHL blueliner.

Aitcheson led the Colts this season with 59 points, including 26 goals. His offensive abilities and strong physical game could make him an attractive draft option for the Canadiens.

After drafting among the top five in the last three drafts, the Montreal Canadiens exceeded expectations this season by qualifying for the playoffs, meaning they'll be much lower in this year's first round than they've been used to.

We have them using the pick they received from the Calgary Flames to select defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson. With top prospect Ivan Demidov promoted to their roster, they could opt for a right wing like Benjamin Kindel of the WHL's Calgary Hitmen.

A versatile forward who can also play center, Kindel finished second among Hitmen scorers with 99 points. He also led them in postseason points with 11. NHL Central Scouting has him at No. 21 among their ranking of North American skaters.

The Athletic's Corey Pronman considered the 5'10”, 176-pound Kindel among the best forwards in the WHL this season, projecting him as a middle-six NHL forward. However, Sportsnet's Jason Bukala believes his vision and playmaking ability could make him a top-six NHL forward.

The Calgary Flames received this pick from the New Jersey Devils as part of the return in the Jacob Markstrom trade last June. This pick was top-10 protected, but that no longer applies because of where the Devils finished in the standings.

Jack Nesbitt of the OHL's Windsor Spitfires could be among the Flames' notable targets in this round. They only possess four forwards among their top-10 prospects, and two of them are centers.

The Athletic's Corey Pronman considered the 6'4”, 183-pound Nesbitt a very skilled center with great size, comparing his style of play to that of Tomas Hertl of the Vegas Golden Knights. Sportsnet's Jason Bukala noted he approaches the game with power and skill.

Nesbitt finished fifth among the Spitfires this season with 25 goals and 39 assists for 65 points. He also collected nine points in as many playoff games. NHL Central Scouting has him at No. 15 among their North American skater rankings.

The St. Louis Blues are set in goal with starter Jordan Binnington signed through 2026-27, while backup Joel Hofer shows potential as Binnington's successor. Nevertheless, they could consider adding a goaltender if Hofer doesn't pan out as hoped.

Joshua Ravensbergen of the WHL's Prince George Cougars could help the Blues address their lack of a goalie among their top-15 prospects. The 6'5”, 192-pounder is ranked No. 1 among North American netminders by NHL Central Scouting.

Central Scouting considers Ravensbergen a big net presence and an elite goalie prospect. The Athletic's Corey Pronman cited his athleticism, comparing him to Jacob Markstrom of the New Jersey Devils. Sportsnet's Jason Bukala appreciates his aggressiveness at challenging shooters at the top of his crease.

Ravensbergen's stats dropped a bit this season (3.00 goals-against average, .901 save percentage), but he still finished the season tied for second in wins (33) among WHL goalies. He has the potential to become an NHL starter.

The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired this pick from the Minnesota Wild as part of the return in the David Jiříček trade. It was top-five protected, but that condition doesn't apply given where the Wild finished in the standings.

We have the Jackets selecting winger Lynden Lakovic with their first pick earlier in this round. With this pick, they could continue to add depth among their prospect wingers by choosing Bill Zonnon of the QMJHL's Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

A versatile forward who can also play center, the 6'2”, 190-pound Zonnon finished second among the Huskies with 28 goals and 55 assists for 83 points. He also led them in playoff scoring with 12 points in nine games. NHL Central Scouting has him at No. 31 among North American skaters.

Sportsnet's Jason Bukala praised Zonnon's speed, work ethic and intensity, projecting him as a middle-six NHL forward. The Athletic's Corey Pronman likes his stick skills and ability to create offense on the move.

A defenseman for the Tri-City Americans, Jackson Smith had a solid performance in his second full season in the WHL. That could draw the attention of the Ottawa Senators if he's still available at this stage.

The Senators' prospect pool is ranked No. 27 by The Athletic's Scott Wheeler. They need to replenish it with more promising youngsters to maintain the youth pipeline that helped them reach the playoffs this season after seven years of rebuilding.

Smith finished fourth among the Americans' scorers with 54 points in 68 games, sitting 10th overall among WHL defensemen. The 6'3”, 190-pounder is listed at No. 13 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

TSN's Craig Button considers the big, rangy Smith an “elite skating defenseman”. The Athletic's Corey Pronman believes he can be a great top-four defenseman who can play on the power play and the penalty kill.

The Florida Panthers included this pick with the return they sent to the Calgary Flames in exchange for power forward Matthew Tkachuk in July 2022. It's the second pick the Flames have in this round.

We have the Flames choosing versatile forward Jack Nesbitt with their earlier pick in this round. With this pick, they could continue stockpiling forwards by selecting Cole Reschny of the WHL's Victoria Royals.

Reschny had a strong sophomore season with the Royals. The 5'10”, 187-pound center led the club with 66 assists and 92 points and is their postseason leader with 25 points. NHL Central Scouting has him at No. 25 among North American skaters in their final rankings for this season.

Sportsnet's Jason Bukala observed that Reschny is always visible, competitive, and involved in any area of the game. The Athletic's Corey Pronman called him a high-skilled and intelligent player as well as a creative stickhandler.

The Carolina Hurricanes could use a center among their top-10 prospects. They landed young center Logan Stankoven from the Dallas Stars as part of the return in the Mikko Rantanen trade but he's being used more as a right wing on their third line.

Braeden Cootes of the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds could be an option available for them at this stage of the first round. The 6'0, 183-pound center sits at No. 20 on NHL Central Scouting's list of North American skaters.

Cootes had a solid sophomore campaign with the Thunderbirds. He led them in scoring with 63 points in 60 regular-season games. He was also their playoff scoring leader with eight points in six games.

The Athletic's Corey Pronman praised Cootes as a likeable all-around forward with strong offensive skills. Sportsnet's Jason Bukala called the Thunderbirds captain a lead-by-example player who gives his all in every game.

The Philadelphia Flyers received this pick from the Edmonton Oilers during the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft. It is top-12 protected, but that condition no longer applies given the Oilers' position in the standings.

This is the second of three picks the Flyers have in this round. We have them selecting center Jake O'Brien with their first pick. With this one, they could attempt to add another left-shot defenseman among their top prospects.

Cameron Reid of the Kitchener Rangers could be an option for the Flyers at this stage. The 6'0”, 174-pounder finished tied for third among the Rangers with 54 points. He moved up from No. 27 to No. 23 among NHL Central Scouting's ranking of North American skaters.

TSN's Craig Button praised Reid's skating, hockey IQ, competitiveness and ability to contribute offensively. The Athletic's Corey Pronman projects he'll become a second-pairing defenseman at the NHL level.

The third pick for the Philadelphia Flyers in this round was received from the Colorado Avalanche as part of last season's Sean Walker trade. It was top-10 protected, but that condition doesn't apply because of the Avalanche's high finish in the standings.

We have the Flyers selecting center Jake O'Brien and defenseman Cameron Reid with their previous picks in this round. With this selection, they could add another center like Milton Gästrin of MoDo Hockey in the Swedish Hockey League.

Ranked third among International skaters by NHL Central Scouting, Gästrin finished second in scoring with 42 points in 40 games on MoDo Hockey's J20 team. A versatile forward who can also play left winger, the 6'1”, 185-pounder saw action in eight games with MoDo this season.

Corey Pronman of The Athletic called Gästrin a responsible two-way player who creates offense well at the net. Sportsnet's Jason Bukala projects him as a middle-six NHL forward.

The second of three picks the Nashville Predators hold in this round, they received this one from the Tampa Bay Lightning as part of the return in the Tanner Jeannot trade in February 2023. It was top-10 protected, but that doesn't apply because of the Lightning's position in the standings.

We have the Predators choosing Michael Misa with their pick earlier in this round. With this one, they could address their need for a right-shot defenseman among their top-10 prospects by selecting Logan Hensler of the University of Wisconsin.

Hensler finished his freshman season with 12 points in 32 games. He also played for Team USA gold-medal team in the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championships. The 6'2”, 196-pound defenseman sits at No. 12 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

Sportsnet's Jason Bukala believes Hensler has the combination of size and skating ability that projects well for the NHL, pointing out he was used in all situations at Wisconsin. The Athletic's Corey Pronman believes he should be a solid NHL player.

Sascha Boumedienne made his debut this season with Boston University. The 6'2”, 183-pound left-shot defenseman had 13 points in 40 games.

The Los Angeles Kings have only two defensemen among their top-15 prospects. Boumedienne could be among those they have an eye on at this stage of the first round. NHL Central Scouting has Boumedienne at No. 18 among their final ranking of North American skaters.

The Athletic's Corey Pronman observed that Boumedienne had a slow start adjusting to college hockey but improved as the season progressed. The Athletic's Jason Bukala considers him a two-way defenseman with secondary scoring upside.

Boumedienne will return to Boston University this fall, where he'll get more seasoning. He could blossom into a solid top-four defenseman.

The San Jose Sharks received this pick from the Dallas Stars on Feb. 1 as part of the return for Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci. We have them selecting Porter Martone with the first-overall pick.

With this pick, the Sharks could add a right-shot defenseman among their top-10 prospects. One option could be Henry Brzustewicz of the OHL's London Knights.

The 6'1”, 194-pound Brzustewicz enjoyed a strong sophomore season with the Knights. He was ninth among their scorers with 42 points in 67 games. NHL Central Scouting has him at No. 19 among North American skaters.

Sportsnet's Jason Bukala called Brzustewicz a two-way defenseman who was deployed in a variety of roles. Corey Pronman of The Athletic praised his offensive skills and reliable defensive play.

The Toronto Maple Leafs included this pick with the return they sent the Chicago Blackhawks in the Sam Lafferty trade in February 2023. It was top-10 protected, but that condition doesn't apply given the Leafs placement in the standings.

This is the second pick Chicago has in this round. We have them choosing Matthew Schaefer with the second-overall pick. They could consider adding Cullen Potter of Arizona State University, given their lack of wingers among their top-six prospects.

NHL Central Scouting has Potter at No. 22 among North American skaters. The 5'9”, 168-pounder is a versatile forward who can play center or left wing and tallied 22 points in 35 games as a freshman this season.

Sportsnet's Jason Bukala projects Potter as a middle-six NHL forward and power-play specialist. The Athletic's Corey Pronman singled out his elite skating, calling him more of a one-on-one and shooter type of forward.

This pick originally belonged to the Vegas Golden Knights, who traded it to the San Jose Sharks at last year's trade deadline as part of the Tomáš Hertl deal. The Sharks shipped it to the Predators last August as part of the return in the Yaroslav Askarov trade.

We have the Predators selecting forward Michael Misa and defenseman Logan Hensler with their previous two picks in this round. With this one, they could opt for another defenseman by choosing Blake Fiddler of the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings.

Sportsnet's Jason Bukala singled out the 6'4”, 209-pound Fiddler's size and strength, pointing out he's deployed in all situations. Corey Pronman of The Athletic cited his skating and compete level among his strengths.

The son of former NHL forward Vernon Fiddler, Blake sits at No. 26 among North American skaters. He had 33 points in 64 games this season with the Oil Kings.

It's been an up-and-down season for Ivan Ryabkin. The 6'0”, 198-pound center started this season playing in Russia before joining the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League. He put up good numbers with them, finishing seventh in scoring with 19 goals and 30 points in 27 games.

NHL Central Scouting had Ryabkin at No. 3 among North American skaters in their midseason rankings. However, he tumbled down to No. 35 as Sportsnet's Jason Bukala cited concerns about his fitness and the overall pace of his game.

Nevertheless, Ryabkin's offensive potential could make him an enticing choice for the Capitals. They lack a center among their top-five prospects and could take the gamble on the young Russian developing into a more well-rounded forward.

Bukala projects Ryabkin as a middle-six forward and power-play specialist. He could become much more than that with more guidance and minor-league seasoning.

The Winnipeg Jets lost one of their top prospects when Chaz Lucius prematurely retired for health reasons. That could have them seeking another center with their first-round pick.

William Moore of the United States National Team Development Program could help address that issue for the Jets. The 6'2”, 174-pound center had 21 points in 25 games with the USNTDP Junior team in the USHL and 47 points in 55 games with their US National squad.

NHL Central Scouting has Moore at No.29 among North American skaters. Sportsnet's Jason Bukala observed he had a slow start but improved throughout the season. He believed Moore has the speed, coordination and hockey sense to become a top-six NHL forward.

Moore has committed to Boston College for the 2026-27 season. He's had time there and with the USNTDP to improve his game. The young center might become a steal in this round for the Jets.