The 2025 NHL Draft is quickly approaching. Familiarize yourself with the top skaters in the class with theScore's prospect rankings series.
1. Matthew Schaefer, Erie Otters
A bout with mono and a broken collarbone limited Schaefer to 26 games across the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, OHL, CHL-NTDP Prospects Challenge, and world juniors. And yet, he's established himself as the clear top defender and likely the first overall pick.
Schaefer's exquisite skating provides the foundation for his exciting, top-pairing projection. His speed and four-way mobility give him a strong basis defensively and allow him to be dangerous in transition. Schaefer's a very competitive player who will give up his body to block a shot, and he has the size to be a play-stopper at the NHL level as his 6-foot-2 frame fills out. He brings everything that a team would covet in a No. 1 defenseman.
2. Jackson Smith, Tri-City Americans
Smith had a standout campaign with Tri-City as an active and aggressive defender at both ends of the ice. He utilized his skating in transition and showed upside as a shutdown rush defender thanks to his reach.
The Calgary native has the highest upside among defenders in the class after Schaefer, with his athletic profile and involved style of play. Smith's combination of size and offensive ability could make him an important defender for a long time.
Smith recently announced he won't return to the WHL next season and instead head to Penn State.
3. Radim Mrtka, Seattle Thunderbirds
A midseason move from Czechia to the WHL helped Mrtka establish himself as the draft's top right-handed defender. He played huge minutes with the Thunderbirds and excelled as a two-way, physically dominant rearguard.
Mrtka's size is the clear draw. He's massive at 6-foot-6 and well over 200 pounds and is on the younger side of the class, too, with a June 2007 birth date. He's a strong skater and has shown promise as a puck-mover. Those qualities make him enticing as a potential shutdown defender in the NHL and could see him become the second blue-liner off the board.
4. Kashawn Aitcheson, Barrie Colts
Aitcheson was a dominant force, both physically and on the scoresheet. He racked up a whopping 26 goals from the back end and had 88 penalty minutes.
It's easy to see a team becoming infatuated with Aitcheson's throwback style. He has a booming shot, throws massive hits, and will drop the gloves. The physicality in his game has driven the hype, but Aitcheson has legit tools to be more than an intimidating third-pairing option, which has pushed him up the board.
5. Cameron Reid, Kitchener Rangers
Reid is on the smaller side among the class' top defenders. He was excellent for Kitchener this year, leading the team and all OHL draft-eligible defenders with a plus-39 rating.
The Aylmer, Ontario, native projects as a puck-moving, second-pair defenseman. Reid isn't tiny, but with multiple defense prospects over 6-foot-2 at the top of this class, the size factor could see others jump him on draft day. He's a strong skater, but teams would prefer a dynamic, offensive creator in a defenseman on the smaller side.
6. Blake Fiddler, Edmonton Oil Kings
Fiddler, son of former NHLer Vernon Fiddler, featured for Canada at the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge but represented Team USA at the U-18s this spring.
The 6-foot-5 blue-liner is a huge presence, clocking in at 220 pounds at the combine. He's a good skater for his size and projects as a legit shutdown defender with his massive reach and physicality. His development as a puck-mover will make the difference between being a fine third-pairing penalty killer or the kind of play-stopping, top-four rearguard every team covets.
7. Sascha Boumedienne, Boston University
The best way to help your draft stock is to play your best hockey of the year at the very end, and that's precisely what Boumedienne did. He was lights out at the Under-18s, where he tallied 14 points in seven games to set a new scoring record among defenders.
Still, Boumedienne doesn't project as an offensive force at the next level. He's an impressive skater but lacks the high-end puck skills and playmaking to set himself up to be a future power-play quarterback and point-producer in the NHL. Rather, he is a well-rounded option with room to fill out and could develop into a top-four defender.
8. Logan Hensler, University of Wisconsin
Hensler entered his draft year projected to be one of the first defenders off the board. An underwhelming freshman campaign at Wisconsin has dampened his stock, but there are still reasons to like him as a swing in the mid-first round.
The 6-foot-2 defender showed more offensive upside when he was at the USNTDP before this past season. He doesn't have a standout, elite trait, but his combination of skating and all-around game could make him a complementary top-four option down the road.
9. Henry Brzustewicz, London Knights
Brzustewicz played a complementary role on a dominant London team that won the Memorial Cup. He took a massive leap this season, going from a depth defender who periodically lined up at forward in 2023-24 to an important regular on the back end for the best team in Canadian junior hockey.
The Michigan native played in all situations but is unlikely to be a power-play quarterback at the next level. He has the traits to be a top-four defender alongside a more offensive, creative partner. His older brother, Calgary Flames prospect Hunter Brzustewicz, had a breakout campaign after he was drafted. Teams might hope Henry can do the same, especially with a much bigger role in London next season.
10. Kurban Limatov, Dynamo Moscow
Limatov played huge minutes in the Russian junior league's playoffs. He surged to become the No. 1 international defender on Central Scouting's final list, jumping 10 spots from his midseason ranking.
The 6-foot-4 defender has impressive four-way mobility and is an adept puck-mover. He's an intriguing longer-term project, and it wouldn't be a shock to see him sneak into the first round.
