2025 Final Draft Rankings – 1-8
The Habs needed to stink this year to get a pick in this range. Calgary’s pick was protected from here. Instead, the Habs end up with two picks outside this group and that’s okay. Frankly, it was far more fun to watch some playoff hockey anyway.
With two picks not too far off, some have speculated that perhaps the Canadiens could trade into the back end of this segment of players, but I don’t think it’s likely to happen. Instead, let’s check out players that will make Habs fans sweat for the next several seasons.
#1 – Matthew Schaefer
Erie Otters (OHL) – LD
Start of season rank: 4 Midseason rank: 1
Schaefer is now the consensus top pick in this year’s draft even if the Islanders would also love to add hometown boy James Hagens. Schaefer kicked things off with an excellent Hlinka-Gretzky tournament before producing 22 points in 17 games to start the season. Things were derailed from there due to injury trouble, starting with mono and then quickly injuring a shoulder afterwards that ended his season. However, this type of defender is a rare find so teams don’t seem too concerned with it when they think they have the next Rasmus Dahlin on their hands. What scouts love about Schaefer is the skating and hockey IQ, but also that he pairs them with excellent poise that really makes him a player who should be impactful in the NHL. There is no way for the Habs to get here that makes sense, so let’s not even entertain that thought.
#2 – Michael Misa
Saginaw Spirit (OHL) – C
Start of season rank: 7 Midseason rank: 4
Misa had himself quite the season, producing 134 points in 65 games in the OHL, living up to his exceptional player status. At this point, he likely ends up in San Jose, with an outside chance at Chicago, but anything else would be shocking to say the least. His true standout qualities are his vision, agility, and playmaking, but he really does everything rather well. He has no real flaws to his game other than the natural progression of adding strength to a young body which will come naturally in time. Schaefer is likely to get the nod due to positional rarity, but Misa might be the true threat to Ivan Demidov for the Calder.
#3 – Porter Martone
Brampton Steelheads (OHL) – RW
Start of season rank: 2 Midseason rank: 3
A 6’3 power forward who scored over a point per game in the OHL prior to his draft year. This year, he scored 98 points in 57 games which really allowed him to cement his position this high on the board. Many of the boards compare Martone to the Tkachuk’s, but, to me, I look more toward Corey Perry as a potential comparable in that he may have more pure puck skills than the Tkachuk’s. Martone was the perfect fit for the Habs in the top five, but once again, it appears impossible for Montreal to get into this section.
#4 – James Hagens
Boston College (NCAA) – C
Start of season rank: 1 Midseason rank: 2
Hagens scored 37 points in 37 games and that wasn’t enough to stay at the top of the draft. While some suggest the Islanders would prefer hometown Hagens, it appears as though Hagens will go the way of Shane Wright and slide from 1 to 4 and head to Utah. Hagens remains a top-end talent who is a huge threat off the rush combined with elite playmaking ability. Hagens remains a smaller player, and he’ll need to regain some confidence in finishing plays himself. The Habs can’t trade into this segment of the draft, but obviously it would be fun if they could.
#5 – Anton Frondell
Djurgardens (Hockey Allsvenskan) – C
Start of season rank: 3 Midseason rank: 6
There is significant noise around Chicago that if Schaefer and Misa go 1-2, Frondell will be their pick at three. Despite being at five on this list, that report makes a ton of sense. Chicago is actively looking for a pivot to play with Bedard, and while Hagens might be a more natural fit, the Hawks aren’t exactly large up front and Frondell helps in that department far more than Hagens. After a spectacular 23-24 season in the J20, Frondell took some time to get going in a Men’s league this season. He dealt with injuries early and just needed to adapt to the reality of playing against adults when he was on the ice. His second half was much better as he finished with 15 points in his last 10 games to end the season with 25 points in 29 games. Like Misa, there isn’t an obvious flaw in his game other than some consistency concerns with the season he just had. With the needs of the teams at the top of the draft, there is no way he slides past this spot come Friday.
#6 – Caleb Desnoyers
Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) – C
Start of season rank: 10 Midseason rank: 8
Many believe that Desnoyers has done enough and generated enough interest to be selected earlier than this sixth-place ranking. It’s easy to see why when the player racks up 84 points in 56 games in the regular season and then 30 more in 19 playoff games. The numbers don’t even justify his game either, as he’s proven to have off-the-charts IQ everywhere on the ice. His dedication to playing without the puck is spectacular, and it’s even better with the puck as his vision and ability to deliver pucks is very good. The fact that he was already a top-eight pick that actually found another gear come playoff time has teams trying to trade up to get their hands on this player.
#7 – Victor Eklund
Djurgardens (Allsvenskan) – LW
Start of season rank: 12 Midseason rank: 5
Eklund is barely under six feet and for this, he’s being labelled as small and has become the forgotten man in what should be a clear top seven in this draft. He produced 31 points in 42 pro league games this season after an excellent World Junior tournament. He’s got great hands and plays with intelligence all over the ice. Questions about his ability to finish plays were quieted this season. With a brother (William in San Jose) already in the league, the pedigree that follows him is also a boost for his stock. Should he fall further than this ranking, a team will be receiving a gift further down the ranking.
#8 – Jake O’Brien
Brantford Bulldogs (OHL) – C
Start of season rank: 14 Midseason rank: 14
A tall pivot at 6’2 that needs to add some muscle. A great playmaker who counted 51 assists in his D-1 season and followed it up with 98 points in 66 games this season. O’Brien has shown great agility and playmaking with the puck and excellent hockey IQ with and without the puck. He seems very comparable to Hage in my eyes, only he’s produced in the OHL, so he’s been noticed more. He’s the top pick in a group that is not the top seven, and he’s not a consensus pick at number eight. But he’d be a very nice addition to any team that makes him its early selection.