A case for (and against) picking the top forward prospects in 2025 NHL Draft

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The 2025 NHL Draft class boasts a deep pool of top-end forwards. It’s a group without a ton of separation, and legitimate cases to be made for multiple players as top picks. I’ve talked to NHL scouts who have Michael Misa, Anton Frondell, Jake O’Brien, Porter Martone, James Hagens or Caleb Desnoyers as their top-ranked forward, for example. NHL teams with high picks will be sorting out how to order these players in the coming months. Here is my perspective on the arguments for and against each of the players.

Michael Misa | Center | OHL

Case for: Misa has the most complete toolkit of the group. He’s a high-end skater with great creativity, vision and puck skills who produced massive numbers in the OHL, scoring over 60 goals this season. The skill he displays at quick tempos separates him from the rest of the top prospects. He competes diligently without the puck and has the instincts to run a first power-play unit as a pro. Teams see a potential No. 1 center.

Case against: He’s not a pure sniper, and while he scored a lot this year, many of his goals come from timing and positioning rather than from a world-class shot. He also isn’t that physical, with some speculating that Misa could end up as an NHL winger due to his off-puck play.

Porter Martone | Winger | OHL

Case for: Martone’s size-skill combination is the most enticing in the draft. He can outmuscle defenders, control the puck in traffic and make difficult plays look easy. His willingness to engage physically while also being elite with the puck on his stick makes evaluators dream about how he could impact an NHL playoff run.

Case against: His skating is an issue, and he is the clear worst skater among the top prospects. His first few steps are sluggish, and his stride mechanics need work. There’s real risk his game just doesn’t translate to the top level to be a true difference-maker unless his offensive touch is truly special, which it could be.

Caleb Desnoyers | Center | QMJHL

Case for: Desnoyers checks a lot of the boxes teams will want in an NHL center: He’s big, fast, skilled and competitive and he can play any role coaches ask of him. His ability to transition play up ice, contribute offensively and still be a shutdown presence gives him massive value.

Case against: While Desnoyers is excellent across the board, he doesn’t have any true elite traits. His game is more about consistency than flash. Teams that are bearish on him also wonder how much offense he will truly bring in the NHL, and most are wary of great production in the QMJHL as being indicative of future NHL success.

James Hagens | Center | Boston College

Case for: Few players in this class can create offense like Hagens. His skating, particularly his edge work and acceleration, is top-tier, and his puck skills are elite. He’s deadly in transition and thrives in open ice. Hagens projects to flank an NHL PP1 and to be a major point producer in the NHL.

Case against: His game has too much perimeter play at times. Against bigger, stronger competition, there’s concern about his ability to consistently get inside and create in the hard areas even if his compete level is solid. He’s very talented, but will he have to be moved off to the wing? And if he’s a 5-foot-11 winger, how valuable is that player profile?

Anton Frondell | Center/Winger | Sweden

Case for: Frondell plays a well-rounded and highly effective game. His combination of smooth puck play, solid skating, an NHL one-timer and physical compete makes him very projectable to the top level. He could be a consistent 20-30 goal scorer who plays against top competition.

Case against: He’s not a high-pace offensive driver and can sometimes fade into the background due to a lack of premier playmaking in his game. There will be flashier options available, with the argument around Frondell being that he could be a top-two-line center who is hard to play against. Despite being projected to the NHL as a center, when he played versus men this season, he was mostly a winger.

Jake O’Brien | Center | OHL

Case for: O’Brien has high-end offensive instincts. His ability to make plays through defenders and to his teammates is elite. He can quarterback a power play and control the tempo of a game. His poise and feel for the game as a 6-foot-2 right-shot center gives him a ton of NHL potential.

Case against: His lack of a high-end shot limits his goal-scoring threat. There are concerns about whether he can consistently push the tempo at the next level and how hard he is to play against.

Victor Eklund | Winger | Sweden

Case for: Eklund is a relentless, energetic forward who combines speed, skill and compete. He plays bigger than his frame, consistently winning battles and creating chaos in front of the net. His edge work and puck retrieval ability could make him a highly effective top-line winger who makes life miserable for opponents.

Case against: Size is the lingering worry. Even though he plays tough, physical teams will still test him. There’s also some risk that his offensive game doesn’t pop quite enough to offset the physical mismatch against bigger NHL players. Unless he’s a truly special player, i.e., a Seth Jarvis type, a 5-foot-11 energetic scoring winger isn’t the most exciting profile with a premier pick.

Roger McQueen | Center | WHL

Case for: McQueen’s profile is rare and coveted: a giant center with good speed, hands, hockey sense and some physical bite. When healthy, he can dominate shifts.

Case against: Health is the big question. Back injuries like what McQueen dealt with have the potential to be career-altering, and even if McQueen is fully cleared, durability concerns will be a major question mark for teams with a premium draft pick. Teams didn’t get much draft-season data on him as well. Even when he was playing, he looked good, but he didn’t produce points at a major rate in the WHL.

Brady Martin | Center | OHL

Case for: Martin is a coach’s dream: a skilled, nasty forward who drives the net hard, plays very physical and embraces the dirty work. He’s got enough skill to score in the NHL in a top-six role.

Case against: His offensive instincts aren’t quite at the level of some of the other names on this list. His hockey sense could limit his offense and/or push him to the wing in the NHL. For a power forward type of player, he’s actually slightly below average in terms of size for the NHL.

(Photo of Michael Misa and Porter Martone: Dennis Pajot / Getty Images)

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