NHL Central Scouting released its final rankings for the 2025 NHL Draft class on Tuesday morning.
Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer and Saginaw Spirit exceptional status center Michael Misa headlined the list of North American skaters, while Djurgarden center Anton Frondell leapfrogged teammate Victor Eklund for the top spot on the list of international skaters.
Here are the rankings and some takeaways from The Athletic’s draft experts, Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler.
NHL Central Scouting has released its final rankings presented by BODYARMOR Sports Drink for the 2025 Upper Deck #NHLDraft:
No. 1 N.A. Skater: Matthew Schaefer
No. 1 ITL Skater: Anton FrondellFull rankings: https://t.co/e9iTvRmx1e pic.twitter.com/w97kHHWr97
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) April 15, 2025
North American Skaters Rankings (NHLCS)
|
Rank
|
Player
|
Pos.
|
Team
|
League
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Matthew Schaefer |
LHD |
Erie |
OHL |
|
2 |
Michael Misa |
C |
Saginaw |
OHL |
|
3 |
James Hagens |
C |
Boston College |
NCAA |
|
4 |
Jake O’Brien |
C |
Brantford |
OHL |
|
5 |
Radim Mrtka |
RHD |
Seattle |
WHL |
|
6 |
Porter Martone |
RW |
Brampton |
OHL |
|
7 |
Caleb Desnoyers |
C |
Moncton |
QMJHL |
|
8 |
Roger McQueen |
C |
Brandon |
WHL |
|
9 |
Kashawn Aitcheson |
LHD |
Barrie |
OHL |
|
10 |
Carter Bear |
LW |
Everett |
WHL |
Top North American goalie: Joshua Ravensbergen (Prince George, WHL)
International Skaters Rankings (NHLCS)
|
Rank
|
Player
|
Pos.
|
Team
|
League
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Anton Frondell |
C |
Djurgarden |
HockeyAllsvenskan |
|
2 |
Victor Eklund |
RW |
Djurgarden |
HockeyAllsvenskan |
|
3 |
Milton Gastrin |
C |
MoDo |
J20 |
|
4 |
Vojtech Cihar |
LW |
Vary Karlovy |
Czechia |
|
5 |
Alexander Zharovsky |
RW |
Ufa |
MHL |
|
6 |
Eddie Genborg |
RW |
Linkoping |
SHL |
|
7 |
Eric Nilson |
C |
Djurgarden |
J20 |
|
8 |
Jakob Ihs Wozniak |
C |
Lulea |
J20 |
|
9 |
Kurban Limatov |
LHD |
Dynamo Moscow |
MHL |
|
10 |
Theodor Hallquisth |
RHD |
Orebro |
J20 |
Top international goalie: Pyotr Andreyanov (CSKA, MHL)
Pronman’s thoughts
Jake O’Brien’s rise into the top five players in North America tracks from what I’ve seen and heard from NHL sources. I don’t know if I personally would have him there yet, but he’s close. He’s a 6-foot-2 right-shot center with high-end offensive traits. He started the season off slow but has been great in recent months. His trajectory reminds me in some ways of Beckett Sennecke’s last year.
Caleb Desnoyers, in my view, is being underrated. He’s the best player on arguably the best team in the CHL, and I expect he’ll be a top-five pick on draft day. He’s a center who does everything well. He has a lot of offense and a great motor.
Wheeler’s thoughts
There has been a lot of debate amongst scouts this year as to who the second-best D in the draft is, and so the rankings of the next cluster of consensus North American D was the first place I looked. Removing their ranking on the overall list, the top five D in North America were slotted as follows:
- Matthew Schaefer
- Radim Mrtka
- Kashawn Aitcheson
- Logan Hensler
- Jackson Smith
Mrtka was their No. 2 D at midseason as well, but Aitcheson jumped past both Hensler and Smith on the final list. He’s viewed as a pretty singular D in this class and, with Brady Martin, one of its fiercest competitors. He finished the season really strong and has been excellent in the OHL playoffs for Barrie, too. Scouts still covet his throwback brand of hockey.
Advertisement
People will notice Porter Martone’s slip from No. 4 in North America at midseason to No. 6 here as well. He got off to a torrid start but plateaued in the second half. Scouts like his combination of size, skill and competitiveness but there are some concerns about his skating/pace.
I was happy to see Ryker Lee rise from No. 40 to No. 28 in North America. I’m very high on his skill level.
(Photo of Matthew Schaefer: Dennis Pajot / Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Jacobs Gibbs’ Wide Receiver Dynasty Rookie Rankings & Tiers : Post 2025 NFL Draft risers, fallers, more
/ Getty Images We are so back! With landing spots secured, all that is left to do is speculate for months on end. Before we know it, August preseason action will be upon us! Let's go!Dynasty Wide Receiver Rookie RankingsTIER 1WR1 -- Travis Hunter, Jacksonville JaguarsWR2 -- Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina PanthersTIER 2WR3 -- Luther Burden, Chicago BearsWR4 -- Matthew Golden, Green Bay PackersWR5 -- Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay BuccaneersWR6 -- Tre Harris, Los Angeles ChargersWR7 -- Jayden Higgins, Houston TexansWR8 -- Kyle Williams, New England PatriotsTIER 3WR9 -- Jaylin Noel, Houston TexansWR10 -- Jack Bech, Las Vegas RaidersWR11 -- Isaac TeSlaa, Detroit Lions TIER 4WR12 -- Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee TitansWR13 -- Tory Horton, Seattle SeahawksWR14 -- Jalen Royals, Kansas City ChiefsWR15 -- Savion Williams, Green Bay PackersWR16 -- Pat Bryant, Denver BroncosWR17 -- Dont'e Thornton, Las Vegas RaidersTIER 5WR18 -- […]
Ric Bucher on Lakers woes, Anthony Edwards, Jimmy Butler, Nuggets-Clippers | FULL INTERVIEW | The Herd
THE HERD WITH COLIN COWHERD Trending MLB NFL UFL NTT INDYCAR SERIES NASCAR LIV NBA PGA NCAABK NCAAFB
Champions League expert picks, predictions: Can Arsenal top PSG at home? Can anything slowdown Barcelona?
Getty Images The UEFA Champions League is down to its final four teams, who will kick off their semifinal ties this week as a spot in the May 31 final at Munich's Allianz Arena feels within touching distance.Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, fresh off winning their first trophies of the season, are still in the hunt to win the treble but face different obstacles on the way there. The French champions will begin their semifinal tie at Arsenal on Tuesday, facing the Gunners for their first Champions League semifinal in nearly 20 years. Barcelona, meanwhile, will host Inter on Wednesday in this week's other first leg tie.Both Arsenal and Inter will have plenty to play for, though – the Champions League is now the only title up for grabs for the Gunners this season, while Inter will balance the Champions League […]
2026 NFL Draft betting, odds, lines: Texas QB Arch Manning opens as favorite to go No. 1 overall
The 2025 NFL Draft is over, but it's never too early to look ahead to next year.Sportsbooks have already put out odds on which player will be selected No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning is the favorite at +200 odds, slightly ahead of Penn State QB Drew Allar (+225).AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLSU QB Garrett Nussmeier (+450) is the only other player with single-digit odds. Clemson QB Cade Klubnik has the next-best odds at 18-1, followed by three players at 25-1: Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk, Clemson DE T.J. Parker and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.Big things are expected from Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Manning, the son of Cooper and nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, played sparingly last season in relief of […]
Meet Bucs OL Ben Chukwuma, NFL-bound two years after his first football game
Greg Auman NFL Reporter <!--> TAMPA, Fla. — In February 2020, the football program at Georgia State held an open tryout for potential walk-ons, and about 40 students showed up to run through drills. But only one made an assistant hurry into head coach Shawn Elliott's office."He said, 'I don't know if this guy can play, but he's massive,'" Elliott recalled. "I said, 'Where is he?' and he pointed him out on the field. I said, 'Tell that dude he doesn't have to go through tryouts. We're going to take him, regardless. He's got a roster spot.'"That was the first step for Ben Chukwuma, who moved to Georgia from his native Nigeria when he was 17, loving soccer and basketball but knowing nothing at all about American football. The past five years have been a slow but persistent journey, but […]
Hvězda NBA Lillard si přetrhl Achillovu šlachu
Vážným zranění skončilo pro Lillarda třetí utkání po návratu na palubovky po měsíční pauze, kterou si vyžádala krevní sraženina v pravém lýtku. Kvůli ní přišel o 15 zápasů.„Tohle je těžké. Nejdřív krevní sraženina a teď tohle. Je to skvělý chlapík, tohle si nikdo nezaslouží. Je mi kvůli tomu mizerně,“ řekl trenér Doc Rivers po nedělním utkání. Bucks podlehli Indianě 103:129 a prohrávají v sérii 1:3.Damian Lillard underwent an MRI today that revealed a torn left Achilles tendon. Lillard will miss the remainder of the 2025 playoffs and undergo surgery to repair the injury. pic.twitter.com/Ag0jYBOh9n— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 28, 2025 Devítinásobný účastník Utkání hvězd Lillard měl v základní části průměr 24,9 bodu a přes sedm asistencí. Za Milwaukee nastupoval druhou sezonu. Díky smlouvě, kterou podepsal ještě s Portlandem, si má v příštím ročníku vydělat 54 milionů dolarů a má opci na další rok za 58 milionů dolarů.
Related
Jacobs Gibbs’ Wide Receiver Dynasty Rookie Rankings & Tiers : Post 2025 NFL Draft risers, fallers, more
/ Getty Images We are so back! With landing spots secured, all that is left to do is speculate for months on end. Before we know it, August preseason action will be upon us! Let's go!Dynasty Wide Receiver Rookie RankingsTIER 1WR1 -- Travis Hunter, Jacksonville JaguarsWR2 -- Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina PanthersTIER 2WR3 -- Luther Burden, Chicago BearsWR4 -- Matthew Golden, Green Bay PackersWR5 -- Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay BuccaneersWR6 -- Tre Harris, Los Angeles ChargersWR7 -- Jayden Higgins, Houston TexansWR8 -- Kyle Williams, New England PatriotsTIER 3WR9 -- Jaylin Noel, Houston TexansWR10 -- Jack Bech, Las Vegas RaidersWR11 -- Isaac TeSlaa, Detroit Lions TIER 4WR12 -- Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee TitansWR13 -- Tory Horton, Seattle SeahawksWR14 -- Jalen Royals, Kansas City ChiefsWR15 -- Savion Williams, Green Bay PackersWR16 -- Pat Bryant, Denver BroncosWR17 -- Dont'e Thornton, Las Vegas RaidersTIER 5WR18 -- […]
Ric Bucher on Lakers woes, Anthony Edwards, Jimmy Butler, Nuggets-Clippers | FULL INTERVIEW | The Herd
THE HERD WITH COLIN COWHERD Trending MLB NFL UFL NTT INDYCAR SERIES NASCAR LIV NBA PGA NCAABK NCAAFB
Champions League expert picks, predictions: Can Arsenal top PSG at home? Can anything slowdown Barcelona?
Getty Images The UEFA Champions League is down to its final four teams, who will kick off their semifinal ties this week as a spot in the May 31 final at Munich's Allianz Arena feels within touching distance.Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, fresh off winning their first trophies of the season, are still in the hunt to win the treble but face different obstacles on the way there. The French champions will begin their semifinal tie at Arsenal on Tuesday, facing the Gunners for their first Champions League semifinal in nearly 20 years. Barcelona, meanwhile, will host Inter on Wednesday in this week's other first leg tie.Both Arsenal and Inter will have plenty to play for, though – the Champions League is now the only title up for grabs for the Gunners this season, while Inter will balance the Champions League […]
2026 NFL Draft betting, odds, lines: Texas QB Arch Manning opens as favorite to go No. 1 overall
The 2025 NFL Draft is over, but it's never too early to look ahead to next year.Sportsbooks have already put out odds on which player will be selected No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning is the favorite at +200 odds, slightly ahead of Penn State QB Drew Allar (+225).AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLSU QB Garrett Nussmeier (+450) is the only other player with single-digit odds. Clemson QB Cade Klubnik has the next-best odds at 18-1, followed by three players at 25-1: Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk, Clemson DE T.J. Parker and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.Big things are expected from Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Manning, the son of Cooper and nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, played sparingly last season in relief of […]
Meet Bucs OL Ben Chukwuma, NFL-bound two years after his first football game
Greg Auman NFL Reporter <!--> TAMPA, Fla. — In February 2020, the football program at Georgia State held an open tryout for potential walk-ons, and about 40 students showed up to run through drills. But only one made an assistant hurry into head coach Shawn Elliott's office."He said, 'I don't know if this guy can play, but he's massive,'" Elliott recalled. "I said, 'Where is he?' and he pointed him out on the field. I said, 'Tell that dude he doesn't have to go through tryouts. We're going to take him, regardless. He's got a roster spot.'"That was the first step for Ben Chukwuma, who moved to Georgia from his native Nigeria when he was 17, loving soccer and basketball but knowing nothing at all about American football. The past five years have been a slow but persistent journey, but […]
Hvězda NBA Lillard si přetrhl Achillovu šlachu
Vážným zranění skončilo pro Lillarda třetí utkání po návratu na palubovky po měsíční pauze, kterou si vyžádala krevní sraženina v pravém lýtku. Kvůli ní přišel o 15 zápasů.„Tohle je těžké. Nejdřív krevní sraženina a teď tohle. Je to skvělý chlapík, tohle si nikdo nezaslouží. Je mi kvůli tomu mizerně,“ řekl trenér Doc Rivers po nedělním utkání. Bucks podlehli Indianě 103:129 a prohrávají v sérii 1:3.Damian Lillard underwent an MRI today that revealed a torn left Achilles tendon. Lillard will miss the remainder of the 2025 playoffs and undergo surgery to repair the injury. pic.twitter.com/Ag0jYBOh9n— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 28, 2025 Devítinásobný účastník Utkání hvězd Lillard měl v základní části průměr 24,9 bodu a přes sedm asistencí. Za Milwaukee nastupoval druhou sezonu. Díky smlouvě, kterou podepsal ještě s Portlandem, si má v příštím ročníku vydělat 54 milionů dolarů a má opci na další rok za 58 milionů dolarů.
Be the first to leave a comment