We just wrapped our 2024 NHL Draft coverage, so it's way too soon to start looking at the 2025 draft.

But let's do it anyway.

Some years a clear consensus No. 1 doesn't show up till the hockey season is already in progress. That's how the 2025 NHL draft feels right now.

There's a standout front-runner, but that doesn't mean he will be the guy the entire season. There's room for movement and healthy debate, and those are the most enjoyable draft years. With that in mind, our list will fluctuate over the season.

For now, we'll see what we're working with in a far-too-early top 10.

10. Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie Otters (OJL)

Malcolm Spence wore an A with the Erie Otters during the 23-24 season, his second in the OHL due to his September birthday, making him one of the older players in the 2025 draft class.

He also won gold with Canada at the world men's under-18 hockey championship in the spring, where he made quite a bit of noise, finishing the tournament with seven points in seven games.

He also wore an A for Canada which means the coaches he's played for seeing very real leadership potential in him.

Spence finished the 23-24 OHL season with 62 points (19G/43A) in 66 games, a 20-point leap from his previous season total. He's a tenacious guy on and off the puck, particularly on the forecheck.

He has an inviting combination of physicality and scoring talent; he's very effective offensively and thinks the game at top speeds, even though he isn't the more creative, dynamic forward type.

Instead, he'll take over the game physically, getting in the way of every opponent he can and driving play with his pace—and then make those opponents regret any mistakes when he takes the puck back. It's going to be fun to see where his game goes this season.

9. Sascha Boumedienne, D, Boston University (NCAA)

A Swedish import player who spent the 2023-24 season with the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL, Sascha Boumedienne is heading to Boston University in the fall.

The defenseman is another player who has the potential to rise up our list as the season progresses. He finished his first (and seemingly only) USHL season with 27 points (3G/24A) in 49 games, and he projects as an intelligent, mobile defenseman.

Boumedienne is 6'2" and could stand to add some muscle. He's an excellent skater, who reads the ice at a high level. He's a poised puck-handler and good distributor who also has a heavy shot, and that shot has the potential to get even stronger as he adds muscle to his frame.

We're intrigued to see how he does as he makes the jump to college hockey.

8. William Moore, C, USNTDP (USHL)

One of the younger players in the draft, William Moore is dual Canadian-American citizen who chose to play with the NTDP's U17 team last season.

The 6'2" center is a Boston College commit who led the World U17s in scoring in the fall, and he finished the NTDP U17s season with 43 points (23G/20A) in 50 games. Expect him to play a more prominent role on this year's under-18 team.

With Moore, what we're looking at here is his upside, and what we project to see from him this coming season based on his skill set.

His hockey IQ is solid; he's a player who isn't afraid to challenge opponents and go after pucks, winning races, and will lurk at the net to hop on any opportunities he might see.

He has quick hands and the ability to use them, even if his offensive game tends to be more straightforward than dynamic—he'll drive right through rather than dip and slide around an opponent.

Moore has great instincts with the puck, and what we'd like to see from him this season is improving his game off of it to round out that skill set.

7. Roger McQueen, C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

A right-shot center who plays for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL, Roger McQueen ended the 2023-24 season at nearly a point-per-game pace, with 51 points (21G/30A) in 53 games, and that's after impressing with Canada at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup.

With an October birthday, he is one of the older players in the draft and will likely be held to slightly higher standards. Still, looking at his skill set, he's got real potential.

McQueen is a big guy, last checking in at 6'5". His 51-point outing in 2023-24 is an explosive increase from 14 points in his rookie season the year before, and there's no reason to think we won't see further growth from him this season.

A primary area of concern thus far has been the mechanics of his skating, but there has been improvement there; we'll be watching this season to see if that improvement continues. He's tenacious and has great puck-handling skills. He's also an intelligent problem-solver.

If he can put all those pieces together, combined with his size, McQueen has the potential to be a special player.

6. Logan Hensler, D, Wisconsin (NCAA)

It seems we're constantly hearing about NHL teams looking for that mythical creature: the right-shot defenseman. But one will be up for grabs near the top of the draft in 2025.

Logan Hensler has already logged two years with the USNTDP in Ann Arbor due to his October birthday, and he has impressed in his time with the program.

He's headed to the University of Wisconsin this fall where we'll get a chance to see him take on the challenges of NCAA competition.

Hensler is a smooth skater, strong on his edges and a capable playmaker with good vision. He prefers to set up his teammates, rather than shoot himself.

At 6'2", his size makes him difficult to defend when he does have the puck, including in transition, and he also uses that size—namely his reach—to break up opposition plays. He's composed and confident, and he's doing all this consistently.

5. Ivan Ryabkin, C, MHK Dynamo Mosvka (MHL)

An all-around offensive threat, Ivan Ryabkin just put up the most productive year ever for an under-17 player in the MHL, passing Matvei Michkov's total by two points in 12 fewer games, with 58 points (24G/34A) in 44 games.

In what is a fairly typical caveat for Russian junior players, he is under contract with Dynamo through the 2026-27 season. However, in the vein of letting prospects develop and not rushing them to the NHL, that is probably a good path for him.

He's a strong skater with a terrific release; his quick hands and puck skills are up at the top of the class. His high-end vision allows him to read the play and anticipate his teammates, and his instincts are good off the puck as well.

Ryabkin is not afraid to chase down pucks, and he's got a quick release that will probably see his goal tally continue to rise next season.

4. Michael Misa, C/LW, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

Recent Memorial Cup champion and brother of potential draft steal Luke, Michael Misa is going into his third OHL season after being granted exceptional status and jumping into the league at age 15.

Sometimes the hockey world puts too much pressure on players who are granted exceptional status—as if being selected outside the top three or not immediately jumping to the NHL after being drafted is a deep failure.

I always watch exceptional-status players more closely for this reason. It should be about the skill set and how the player uses it, rather than whether they "live up to" some arbitrary standard imposed when they're allowed to enter major-junior hockey a year early.

Misa finished the 23-24 OHL regular season with 75 points (29G/46A) in 67 games on a fairly deep Saginaw Spirit team.

Looking solely at his skill set, it's a pretty safe bet his scoring will take a jump in his draft season. He is a phenomenal skater, particularly when it comes to how he uses his agility and speed.

His hockey sense is one of his greatest assets. He can alter the pace of the game when he has the puck on his stick, and his vision and decision-making elevate his playmaking ability.

Misa was pulling off some pretty absurd plays his first season in the OHL, but it feels like he's got more in the tank that we haven't seen yet.

3. Porter Martone, RW, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

With two gold medals for Canada under his belt this year—one at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August and one as captain at the under-18s in April—and a 33-goal season as a D-1 player, Porter Martone has caught the eye of a lot of scouts.

That's for good reason. He could become a thrilling NHL power forward if he takes the next step this season in terms of his consistency.

Martone, a right wing with the OHL's Mississauga Steelheads, is 6'3" and plays like it, with a healthy dose of physicality in his game. His puck skills are high-end, with smooth handling and a great release.

Don't be surprised if that release has him hitting 50 goals next season.

To really live up to this top-five ranking, though, Martone needs to use that offensive skill set and improve his decision-making to take control of the game more consistently, rather than having off-nights where the discipline and intelligence just aren't showing up.

2. Anton Frondell, C, Djurgardens IF (Allsvenskan)

Before his 2023-24 season was ended by a foot injury in February, Anton Frondell played nine games for Djurgardens in the Allsvenskan (the second-tier Swedish league), as well as four games for their J18 team and 29 games for their J20 team.

At all levels, he impressed and held his own in that top professional team before injury sidelined him. He's also impressed scouts internationally at tournaments such as the Under-18 Five Nations and the World Under-17s. When you dig into his game, it's easy to see why.

Frondell is a dynamic forward whose most eye-catching tool is his puck skills. From the way he's able to shield pucks in play to his ability to create off the rush to his excellent release, his hands drive his game.

He's also got high-end hockey sense, reading spacing and options available to him on the ice.

1. James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA)

James Hagens is currently sitting at the top of most lists. The question is whether he can hold on to that spot across the entire season as he makes the jump to NCAA hockey.

With the departure of Will Smith to the San Jose Sharks, he is expected to have a larger role than initially projected, and the challenges of college hockey will be good for his development.

Hagens had 102 (39G/63A) points with the USNTDP during the 2023-24 regular season, and he set the single-tournament record at this year's U18s with 22 (9G/13A) points.

He is a dynamic playmaker with terrific skating skills. Speed, acceleration, agility—you name it, he makes it look simple. Pair his high-end puck skills and vision with that skating ability and you've got someone who is consistently a danger every time they step onto the ice.

He's smaller in the hockey sense, checking in at 5'10" and 168 pounds, but he's not afraid to get involved in the more physical areas of play such as board battles and finishing checks.

In addition to stepping into a top-six role at Boston College, we fully anticipate seeing Hagens in a significant role at this year's World Junior Championships.