NHL Draft Excitement
As the 2025 NHL Draft approaches, the excitement around potential prospects is heating up, drawing considerable attention from analysts and hockey fans alike. Recently, a collaborative effort among notable hockey experts—including Corey Pronman, Max Bultman, Scott Wheeler, and Chris Peters—took place on The Athletic’s Hockey Show Prospect Series, where they combined their unique evaluations to establish a consensus ranking of the top 12 draft prospects.
Evaluating Draft Prospects
The exercise highlighted the dynamics of drafting, showcasing how differing opinions among top analysts could coalesce into one unified list after rigorous discussions. The panel dedicated nearly an hour and a half to meticulously argue over the merits of various players, resulting in a multi-tiered ranking that displayed both harmony and contention among the group.
The Case of James Hagens
One of the most contested figures was James Hagens, initially viewed as a favorite for the first overall pick. Though he had a solid freshman season at Boston College, the debate surrounding his ranking underscored a potential shift in the perception of his draft stock. Pronman acknowledged Hagens’ impressive capabilities, noting his exceptional skating skills, yet raised concerns about his size at 5-foot-10 and how this might affect his performance against tougher competition at the NHL level.
Conversely, Wheeler and Peters strongly advocated for Hagens’ placement at the forefront of the list. Wheeler firmly supported Hagens, going so far as to threaten to use his special tie-breaking vote to ensure Hagens was not ranked lower than fourth. He expressed confidence in Hagens’ overall projection despite his stature, stating,
“I have, actually, fewer questions… about projecting James Hagens than I do about projecting Anton Frondell or Porter Martone.”
Peters took a more critical stance against Pronman’s size-related arguments, passionately asserting that Hagens would emerge as one of college hockey’s elite players this season. However, after rigorous back-and-forth discussions, Hagens found himself positioned as the fourth prospect, a decision reached through a compromise that allowed other candidates like Martone and Caleb Desnoyers to also receive favorable rankings.
Other Notable Prospects
Notably, the list also included Brandan McQueen, a highly-skilled 6-foot-5 center from the WHL with injury woes. Wheeler employed his veto power to ensure McQueen’s position reflected the panel’s concerns regarding his health and performance, placing him into the fourth tier alongside Radim Mrtka, a promising defenseman whose position fluctuated significantly during the debate.
Final Consensus Ranking
By the conclusion of the episode, the panel reached a well-rounded yet contentious top 12 list, which reflects the diverse opinions and intricate discussions that characterize the draft ranking process:
- Matthew Schaefer
- Michael Misa
- Porter Martone
- James Hagens
- Caleb Desnoyers
- Anton Frondell
- Jake O’Brien
- Victor Eklund
- Brady Martin
- Kashawn Aitcheson
- Roger McQueen
- Radim Mrtka
This spirited discourse among experts serves as a microcosm of the challenges NHL teams face when evaluating talent ahead of the draft, highlighting how subjective opinions can shape perceived player potential in the competitive world of professional hockey.
