Ranking NHL Draft Prospects By Six Different Tools and Traits

[TBone]

Which 2025 NHL Draft prospects have the best skills? Ranking 6 different tools and traits

By Corey Pronman
June 13, 2025 6:00 am CDT

Today, we present a different type of 2025 NHL Draft list, where we rank players based on how they slot in different traits. You will see a lot of familiar names, and some unfamiliar ones. We are ranking prospects in the draft class by skating, puck handling, hockey IQ, shooting, competitiveness and athleticism.

- clip -

Best compete level

1. Kashawn Aitcheson, LHD, Barrie
2. Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie
3. Victor Eklund, RW, Djurgarden
4. Milton Gastrin, C, MODO
5. Eddie Genborg, LW, Linkoping
6. Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie
7. Tomas Pobezal, C, Nitra
8. Daniil Prokhorov, RW, Dynamo St. Petersburg
9. Carter Klippenstein, C, Brandon
10. Ethan Czata, C, Niagara
11. Assanali Sarkenov, LW, Spokane
12. Malte Vass, LHD, Farjestad

You could place Aitcheson, Eklund and Martin in any order. They are three special competitors who have legit talent as well, and it’s why it is expected they will go very early on draft day.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/637283 ... ls-traits/

[STL fan in MN]

Here’s a couple more of the categories:

Best puck skills

1. James Hagens, C, Boston College
2. Porter Martone, RW, Brampton
3. Roger McQueen, C, Brandon
4. Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford
5. Justin Carbonneau, RW, Blainville-Boisbriand
6. Matthew Schaefer, LHD, Erie
7. Michael Misa, C, Saginaw
8. Jack Nesbitt, C, Windsor
9. Jackson Smith, LHD, Tri-City
10. Anton Frondell, C, Djurgarden

This is a highly familiar group. Usually, you tend to see the very best forwards in this category as they are the ones with the most pure offensive talent. Hagens and Martone are a tier above the rest as well. Martone’s skill for a player his size is rather special.

Best hockey sense

1. James Hagens, C, Boston College
2. Matthew Schaefer, LHD, Erie
3. Michael Misa, C, Saginaw
4. Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford
5. Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton
6. Cole Reschny, C, Victoria
7. Adam Benak, C, Youngstown
8. Luka Radivojevic, RHD, Muskegon

Hagens appears first in back-to-back categories. Despite the perception he’s been beaten up in the pre-draft process, he is the most offensively talented player in this draft class. The questions for NHL teams are on his size and physicality in terms of how his offense will translate, but there’s no debate he’s a dynamic player who can break open a shift.

You again see most of the top prospects in this category, but we end it with Benak and Radivojevic. Both players have been highly impactful junior players for years, but they are good, not elite, small-guy skaters.

Reschny is the guy I want at this point. There’s an above 50% chance he’s gone before 19 but of the players that there’s at least a reasonable chance of them being available at 19, he’s the one I want. Very skilled and smart.

A little surprised Ethan Bear didn’t make it onto any of Corey’s lists. He’d be the next guy I want after Reschny.

[zamadoo]

A little surprised Ethan Bear didn’t make it onto any of Corey’s lists. He’d be the next guy I want after Reschny.

I was gonna say the same thing. How was he not even on the Compete list? Cootes probably should be on it as well, though I don't know much about all of the players list.

Bear or Reschny would be great gets at 19.

[STL fan in MN]

For me, the options at 19 fall into the following categories:

We have basically no chance:
Schaefer, Misa, Desnoyers, Hagens, Frondell, Martone, Martin, Eklund, O’Brien, McQueen, Mrtka, Smith, Aitcheson

I’d be ecstatic:
Reschny, Bear

I’d be happy:
Cootes, Carbonneau, Hensler, Brzustewicz, Potter, Reid, Kindel, Spence, Boumedienne

I’d be fine with it but maybe disappointed depended on who all was passed up:
Zonnon, Nesbitt

Would be disappointed:
Nestrasil, Moore, McKinney, Ihs-Wozniak, Lakovic, Fiddler, Murtagh, Horcoff, Rybakin, Gastrin etc.

[seattleblue]

For me, the options at 19 fall into the following categories:

We have basically no chance:
Schaefer, Misa, Desnoyers, Hagens, Frondell, Martone, Martin, Eklund, O’Brien, McQueen, Mrtka, Smith, Aitcheson

I’d be ecstatic:
Reschny, Bear

I’d be happy:
Cootes, Carbonneau, Hensler, Brzustewicz, Potter, Reid, Kindel, Spence, Boumedienne

I’d be fine with it but maybe disappointed depended on who all was passed up:
Zonnon, Nesbitt

Would be disappointed:
Nestrasil, Moore, McKinney, Ihs-Wozniak, Lakovic, Fiddler, Murtagh, Horcoff, Rybakin, Gastrin etc.

If some people weren't afraid they'd put their own lists up and notice who else "hates" their favorite prospects!

[STL fan in MN]

For me, the options at 19 fall into the following categories:

We have basically no chance:
Schaefer, Misa, Desnoyers, Hagens, Frondell, Martone, Martin, Eklund, O’Brien, McQueen, Mrtka, Smith, Aitcheson

I’d be ecstatic:
Reschny, Bear

I’d be happy:
Cootes, Carbonneau, Hensler, Brzustewicz, Potter, Reid, Kindel, Spence, Boumedienne

I’d be fine with it but maybe disappointed depended on who all was passed up:
Zonnon, Nesbitt

Would be disappointed:
Nestrasil, Moore, McKinney, Ihs-Wozniak, Lakovic, Fiddler, Murtagh, Horcoff, Rybakin, Gastrin etc.

If some people weren't afraid they'd put their own lists up and notice who else "hates" their favorite prospects!

What’s yours?

[seattleblue]

For me, the options at 19 fall into the following categories:

We have basically no chance:
Schaefer, Misa, Desnoyers, Hagens, Frondell, Martone, Martin, Eklund, O’Brien, McQueen, Mrtka, Smith, Aitcheson

I’d be ecstatic:
Reschny, Bear

I’d be happy:
Cootes, Carbonneau, Hensler, Brzustewicz, Potter, Reid, Kindel, Spence, Boumedienne

I’d be fine with it but maybe disappointed depended on who all was passed up:
Zonnon, Nesbitt

Would be disappointed:
Nestrasil, Moore, McKinney, Ihs-Wozniak, Lakovic, Fiddler, Murtagh, Horcoff, Rybakin, Gastrin etc.

If some people weren't afraid they'd put their own lists up and notice who else "hates" their favorite prospects!

What’s yours?

It's in progress. Once I post it then I have to wait for the (bleep) draft. What I've noticed is that if I procrastinate, the date arrives much faster so I want the draft to get here, so I am strategically procrastinating. But I love a good list so no worry

[STL fan in MN]

For me, the options at 19 fall into the following categories:

We have basically no chance:
Schaefer, Misa, Desnoyers, Hagens, Frondell, Martone, Martin, Eklund, O’Brien, McQueen, Mrtka, Smith, Aitcheson

I’d be ecstatic:
Reschny, Bear

I’d be happy:
Cootes, Carbonneau, Hensler, Brzustewicz, Potter, Reid, Kindel, Spence, Boumedienne

I’d be fine with it but maybe disappointed depended on who all was passed up:
Zonnon, Nesbitt

Would be disappointed:
Nestrasil, Moore, McKinney, Ihs-Wozniak, Lakovic, Fiddler, Murtagh, Horcoff, Rybakin, Gastrin etc.

If some people weren't afraid they'd put their own lists up and notice who else "hates" their favorite prospects!

What’s yours?

It's in progress. Once I post it then I have to wait for the (drat) draft. What I've noticed is that if I procrastinate, the date arrives much faster so I want the draft to get here, so I am strategically procrastinating. But I love a good list so no worry

lol fair enough. And mine could always change. I’m on vacation this week but I’m sure I’ll consume more games next week which could always tweak things slightly.

[callitwhatyouwant]

For me, the options at 19 fall into the following categories:

We have basically no chance:
Schaefer, Misa, Desnoyers, Hagens, Frondell, Martone, Martin, Eklund, O’Brien, McQueen, Mrtka, Smith, Aitcheson

I’d be ecstatic:
Reschny, Bear

I’d be happy:
Cootes, Carbonneau, Hensler, Brzustewicz, Potter, Reid, Kindel, Spence, Boumedienne

I’d be fine with it but maybe disappointed depended on who all was passed up:
Zonnon, Nesbitt

Would be disappointed:
Nestrasil, Moore, McKinney, Ihs-Wozniak, Lakovic, Fiddler, Murtagh, Horcoff, Rybakin, Gastrin etc.

If some people weren't afraid they'd put their own lists up and notice who else "hates" their favorite prospects!

What’s yours?

It's in progress. Once I post it then I have to wait for the (drat) draft. What I've noticed is that if I procrastinate, the date arrives much faster so I want the draft to get here, so I am strategically procrastinating. But I love a good list so no worry

lol fair enough. And mine could always change. I’m on vacation this week but I’m sure I’ll consume more games next week which could always tweak things slightly.

I trust in you guys when it comes to draft stuff. I looked into it a fair bit the year we had 3 picks. But it's just not my cup of tea until they are drafted by the blues to find out what they are all about.

but why would they even rank the players? according to some posters, the 5th pick is guaranteed to be better than the 10th pick who is definitely better than the 15th who makes the 20th look completely washed. don't you guys know this?

[Pierre McGuire]

For me, the options at 19 fall into the following categories:

We have basically no chance:
Schaefer, Misa, Desnoyers, Hagens, Frondell, Martone, Martin, Eklund, O’Brien, McQueen, Mrtka, Smith, Aitcheson

I’d be ecstatic:
Reschny, Bear

I’d be happy:
Cootes, Carbonneau, Hensler, Brzustewicz, Potter, Reid, Kindel, Spence, Boumedienne

I’d be fine with it but maybe disappointed depended on who all was passed up:
Zonnon, Nesbitt

Would be disappointed:
Nestrasil, Moore, McKinney, Ihs-Wozniak, Lakovic, Fiddler, Murtagh, Horcoff, Rybakin, Gastrin etc.

If some people weren't afraid they'd put their own lists up and notice who else "hates" their favorite prospects!

What’s yours?

It's in progress. Once I post it then I have to wait for the (drat) draft. What I've noticed is that if I procrastinate, the date arrives much faster so I want the draft to get here, so I am strategically procrastinating. But I love a good list so no worry

Looking forward to it

[seattleblue]

For me, the options at 19 fall into the following categories:

We have basically no chance:
Schaefer, Misa, Desnoyers, Hagens, Frondell, Martone, Martin, Eklund, O’Brien, McQueen, Mrtka, Smith, Aitcheson

I’d be ecstatic:
Reschny, Bear

I’d be happy:
Cootes, Carbonneau, Hensler, Brzustewicz, Potter, Reid, Kindel, Spence, Boumedienne

I’d be fine with it but maybe disappointed depended on who all was passed up:
Zonnon, Nesbitt

Would be disappointed:
Nestrasil, Moore, McKinney, Ihs-Wozniak, Lakovic, Fiddler, Murtagh, Horcoff, Rybakin, Gastrin etc.

If some people weren't afraid they'd put their own lists up and notice who else "hates" their favorite prospects!

What’s yours?

It's in progress. Once I post it then I have to wait for the (drat) draft. What I've noticed is that if I procrastinate, the date arrives much faster so I want the draft to get here, so I am strategically procrastinating. But I love a good list so no worry

Looking forward to it

have you ever done one yourself or do you just say what's wrong with others' lists

[Pierre McGuire]

For me, the options at 19 fall into the following categories:

We have basically no chance:
Schaefer, Misa, Desnoyers, Hagens, Frondell, Martone, Martin, Eklund, O’Brien, McQueen, Mrtka, Smith, Aitcheson

I’d be ecstatic:
Reschny, Bear

I’d be happy:
Cootes, Carbonneau, Hensler, Brzustewicz, Potter, Reid, Kindel, Spence, Boumedienne

I’d be fine with it but maybe disappointed depended on who all was passed up:
Zonnon, Nesbitt

Would be disappointed:
Nestrasil, Moore, McKinney, Ihs-Wozniak, Lakovic, Fiddler, Murtagh, Horcoff, Rybakin, Gastrin etc.

If some people weren't afraid they'd put their own lists up and notice who else "hates" their favorite prospects!

What’s yours?

It's in progress. Once I post it then I have to wait for the (drat) draft. What I've noticed is that if I procrastinate, the date arrives much faster so I want the draft to get here, so I am strategically procrastinating. But I love a good list so no worry

Looking forward to it

have you ever done one yourself or do you just say what's wrong with others' lists

Yes I’ve done them plenty of times but now my list is players that I like and would like to see the Blues draft. I don’t need to play it safe and rank a bunch of guys based on central scouting bureau rankings or any other rankings list. I understand there is a range of players that the Blues could select if they are available.
My rankings aren’t changing though this year. I’ve had the same guy #1 on my list since January.