2025 ChicletsU NHL Mock Draft
Jared Silber. Getty Images.NHL draft week has arrived so here is the official Chiclets University 2025 Mock Draft. A draft people are saying is an "off-year", but there is certainly no shortage of talent in this draft. I think this year is missing the big name at the top like a Celebrini or Bedard and it isn't as deep in years past, but the top-10 will produce some great NHL hockey players….so lets dive in.
1. New York Islanders - Matthew Schaefer - Erie Otters (OHL) - 2024-25 - 17gp, 7g, 15
It seems all but certain the Islanders will take Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick. That isn’t to say that Isles would be done there, there have been rumors about them potentially trying to get another pick in the top-10. Schaefer hasn’t played a game since December when he broke his collarbone and personally…i would’ve liked to see more of this kid this season, but the big dogs who know a hell of a lot more than me are convinced he has everything it takes to be a number 1 d-man. An elite puck mover and a true one man breakout, Schaefer can easily help provide some much needed offense from the back end. Also, with rumors now swirling that Noah Dobson could be dealt, all signs point to Matthew Schaefer being a New York Islander.
San Jose Sharks - Michael Misa - Saginaw Spirit (OHL) - 2024-25 - 65gp, 62g, 72a
Part of me feels like the Sharks could shock everyone here and go off the board and take someone like Porter Martone. The team needs a big, strong winger and Porter Martone is just that. Ryan Warsofsky joined Chiclets a few weeks back and mentioned he envisions Will Smith as a center. So with Celebrini & Smith, why would they draft another center? Michael Misa has almost left them no choice, the kid almost scored a goal a game this year in the OHL. Misa is a top-2 player in this draft and the most offensively talented player in this draft. Is that what the Sharks need? I guess we’ll see.
Chicago Blackhawks - Anton Frondell - 2024-25 - Djurgardens IF (Swe-1) - 29gp, 11g, 14a
Frondell is my favorite player in this draft. He has it all. Size, skill, can play on both sides of the puck. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if the Sharks don’t let him get past two. But I think he lands in Chicago, giving Connor Bedard some much needed offensive help. With Bedard playing some wing at the end of the season, is it safe to say he is not the Blackhawks center of the future and they should still be on the hunt? If so, Anton Frondell can be that guy.
Utah Mammoth - Caleb Desnoyer - Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) - 56gp, 35g, 49a
There seems to be some rumors that Utah could deal this pick. Whether they trade the pick or not, I think Caleb Desnoyer is the pick at no. 4. Utah has been spending a decent chunk of time with the QMJHL stud whose stock has started to rise since the Memorial Cup has ended. I think a future 1-2 punch of Logan Cooley and Caleb Desnoyer is the recipe for strong future of winning hockey in Utah.
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Nashville Predators - James Hagens - Boston College (NCAA) - 37gp, 11g, 17a
James Hagens is probably the most interesting name in the draft. He has been the No.1 prospect in his birth year since he was 9 years old. A lot of people want to rip his freshmen year at BC, but he was a point-per-game player and he reclassified and went to BC a year early, he should be an incoming freshmen at Boston College THIS season. I think another issue that has been brought up is his size. I think the Florida Panthers have everyone in the hockey world thinking you need to be big and mean to win, which is true, but the game still has a place for highly skilled players and James Hagens is just that. I also wouldn't be surprised one bit if the Islanders find a way to trade for this kid, We had him on Chiclets this week and this kid lives and breathes New York Islanders hockey.
6. Philadelphia Flyers - Brady Martin - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) - 57gp, 33g, 39a
As a Bruins fan, I would love to see Brady Martin fall to 7, but I can’t see him falling past Philadelphia. He is Philadelphia Hockey. He’s the perfect player for Rick Tocchet. The Flyers just traded for Trevor Zegras, they have Matvei Michkov, skilled players aren't their biggest need at this time. It’s time to draft a meat n potatoes style player and Brady Martin screams meat n potatoes. The Sault Ste. Marie product grew up on a dairy farm in Elora, Ontario and is no stranger to getting put to work. "I'd wake up, like, 6 o'clock [in the morning], scrape out the [poop] in the pens and then put fresh stuff down for [the cows] to lay on, and then feed them all, put a couple through the milker that need to. Then probably go for breakfast, and then see whatever else needs to get done the rest of the day." he told NHL.com…..in a world where finding old school hockey players can be pretty difficult, you don't have to look far with Brady Martin.
Boston Bruins - Jake O’Brien - Brantford Bulldogs (OHL) - 66gp, 32g, 66a
Jake O’Brien checks all the boxes for the Boston Bruins. A 6’1’’ playmaking center who can produce offense while also handle himself on the defensive side of the game. Someone who has been compared to former Bruins center David Krejci because of the way he likes to slow the game down. O’Brien himself compares his game to Wyatt Johnston because he is "deceptive around the net." The Bruins need center help desperately and Jake O’Brien can ideally be that guy. Could O'Brien slot in next season and play? That is still undetermined. But he will certainly get a shot if taken at 7.
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Seattle Kraken - Radim Mrtka - Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) - 43gp 3g, 32a
Mrtka wont have to travel far. I have the Seattle Thunderbirds dman being selected 8th overall by the Seattle Kraken. The 6’6’’ defenseman gives the Seattle Kraken something they desperately lack, a true no 1 shutdown defenseman for the future. "He could go in the top three of this draft and it's not going to shock anybody," Central Scouting director Dan Marr said (via NHL).
Buffalo Sabres - Porter Martone - Brampton Steelheads (OHL) - 57gp, 37g, 61a
Wouldn’t it be wild if Porter Martone is drafted by Buffalo? Rumors are have been swirling about Martone potentially heading to Penn State next season. Who is Penn State Hockey’s biggest doner? Terry Pegula. Who is the rink at Penn State named after? Terry Pegula. Who owns the Buffalo Sabres? Terry Pegula. Forgetting all that - Martone is EXACTLY what Buffalo needs. A big power forward who isn’t afraid to get his nose dirty. Not saying Martone is going to go fight every guy he see’s, but lets not forget the Tage Thompson incident from last season. The Sabres need to get bigger and tougher and Martone does just that.
Anaheim Ducks - Jackson Smith - Tri-City Americans (WHL) - 68gp, 11g, 43a
Smith made headlines this month by announcing his commitment to Penn State. A huge get for Coach Gadowsky and Smith would be a huge get for the Ducks as well. A future with Jackson Smith and Jackson LaCombe on the back end, with Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, Bennett Sennecke, Cutter Gauthier….not too shabby. In 68 game for the TriCity Americans, Smith had 54 points. He’s very skilled, a good skater, and in this new age of Cale Makars and Quinn Hughes style of dmen, he will do just fine (and make a lot of money)
11. Pittsburgh Penguins - Roger McQueen (C)
12. Pittsburgh Penguins - Victor Eklund (RW)
13. Detroit Red Wings - Carter Bear (LW)
14. Columbus Blue Jackets - Laydon Lakovic (LW)
15. Vancouver Canucks - Kashawn Aitcheson (LHD)
16. Montreal Canadiens - Justin Carbouneau (RW)
17. Montreal Canadiens - Braeden Cootes (C)
18. Calgary Flames - Cameron Reid (D)
19. St Louis Blues - Logan Hensler (D)
20. Columbus Blue Jackets - Sascha Boumedienne (D)
21. Ottawa Senators - Henry Brzustewicz (D)
22. Philadelphia Flyers - Malcolm Spence (LW)
23. Nashville Predators - Jack Nesbit (C)
24. LA Kings - Milton Gastrin (C/LW)
25. Chicago Blackhawks - Blake Fiddler (D)
26. Nashville Predators - Joshua Ravensbergen (G)
27. Washington Capitals - Bill Zonon (LW)
28. Winnipeg Jets - Daniil Prokhorov (RW)
29. Carolina Hurricanes - William Horcoff (C)
30. San Jose Sharks - Simon Wang (LHD)
31. Philadelphia Flyers - Max Psenicka (RHD)
32. Calgary Flames - Benjamin Kindel (C)