BUFFALO — At the 2025 NHL Draft in Buffalo, while a defenseman is widely expected to be the top selection, the event could ultimately be characterized by several teams picking high and desperately needing a center, hoping to finally secure their franchise cornerstone.
Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer arrived at the 2025 NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo earlier in the week as the consensus top prospect. While the New York Islanders hold that pick and their final decision isn`t guaranteed, Schaefer`s confident and approachable personality certainly reinforced the idea that he could become just the fifth defenseman in the last two decades drafted first overall.
So, what happens next?
Center and defense are considered the most crucial positions in the NHL, and it`s quite possible that after Schaefer, no other blue-liner will be chosen within the top 10 picks.
Instead, we might see a significant number of teams addressing their critical need for a player down the middle. The picks held by Nashville (fifth), Philadelphia (sixth), and even Boston (seventh) are particularly intriguing when you consider that some of these franchises have lacked a top-tier center for decades.
Let`s look at some of the prospects who could be available to these clubs, depending on the outcomes of the initial selections.
If highly-regarded centers Michael Misa and Caleb Desnoyers are already drafted by the fifth pick, it`s probable that players like James Hagens and Anton Frondell will still be available when the Predators make their choice at No. 5.
James Hagens was frequently ranked at the top of mock drafts during the fall and early winter but has slightly dropped since then. Nevertheless, he`s a player often compared to Jack Hughes, and despite his average size, he consistently exhibits a competitive edge in his game.
Hagens, an 18-year-old who is clearly proud of his Long Island roots, explained his playing style: “I think it’s from growing up on Long Island… It’s kind of blue-collar [on Long Island], nothing has ever been given to me, everything has been earned, so I’m glad I have that trait. You need it to be able to last and survive in the NHL. It’s a good trait to have.”
Then there is Anton Frondell, who likely benefits from the current attention on Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers as he pursues his second consecutive Stanley Cup. Frondell, an 18-year-old Swede listed at six-foot-one and 198 pounds, is often compared to Barkov and openly models his game after him. When this prospect was asked which NHL record he would most like to hold by the end of his career, he responded with a focus on defense: “Is there a record for most killed penalties?”
Viktor Klingsell, who played alongside Frondell at the U-18 World Championship in May, described his fellow countryman as a complete player.
Klingsell praised him: “He’s an amazing player… He’s for sure got every tool in his game. He’s got the size, he’s got the puck control, he’s got the off-ice skills.”
Klingsell also chuckled recalling Frondell`s habit of juggling balls used in the sport of floorball while in hotels. “He’s such a crazy guy,” Klingsell laughed. “He’s for sure going to be a star in the NHL one day.”
Considering what Hagens and Frondell could offer, they seem like good fits for Nashville and Philadelphia. Two years ago, the Flyers landed talented winger Matvei Michkov in the draft, but they are still in significant need of a top center to drive their rebuild. Nashville, for its part, feels like an organization that has been searching for a true number one center throughout its 25-year history.
And let`s not forget the Boston Bruins, a team undergoing a re-tooling process that is still trying to fill the massive void left when franchise icons Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci retired two years ago.
Assuming the highest-rated centers—Desnoyers, Misa, Hagens, and Frondell—are all selected before the seventh pick, the rapidly rising Brady Martin could still be available. The forward from the Soo Greyhounds isn`t physically imposing at six-foot and 178 pounds, but every part of him is dedicated to the competitive fight.
Kris Mallette, who coached Martin at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer and witnessed his climb up the lineup, remarked, “What a kid… He just doesn’t stop, his motor doesn’t stop and he does have very good individual skill. I think a lot of people are just starting to see [that], but we saw it firsthand. He had the ability to take a guy one-on-one and dance through him and get an opportunity.”
Naturally, what occurs in the latter half of the top 10 selections will be significantly influenced by how the first three or four picks unfold. Every year, there`s discussion about where the draft truly becomes unpredictable; in other words, at what pick does the consensus on the next selection disappear?
This year, that point appears to be at the No. 2 position, held by the San Jose Sharks. While Hagens and, to a lesser extent, Frondell have been projected in that range in various mock drafts leading up to the event, Jason Bukala of Sportsnet believes there`s a chance that both Caleb Desnoyers and power forward Porter Martone could be drafted in the top 3. If Desnoyers and Martone are selected second and third, respectively, it would likely push Michael Misa – a center who scored 62 goals in 65 games for the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit this past season – down to No. 4. The Utah Hockey Club would likely be thrilled to select him there, potentially pairing him with Logan Cooley to form an exciting future center tandem.
Regarding Desnoyers, his recent climb in the rankings is credited to his comprehensive 200-foot game, which looks increasingly impressive upon closer review. Coupled with his reputation as a strong leader, it’s clear how Desnoyers – who recently competed in the Memorial Cup with the Moncton Wildcats (and opted out of combine testing due to wrist injuries sustained in the playoffs) – could be an excellent fit as a second-line center behind a star player like Macklin Celebrini in San Jose, or even Connor Bedard in Chicago.
Mallette, who also coached Desnoyers at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, described him as “Very mature, very dedicated.” He added, “He’s a gamer. He’s a player who might not flash — his point total in the Quebec League was obviously very good — but he’s not an overly flashy player; he’s a player who just does a lot of things very well. His competitiveness, his physicality — his ability to finish is very good — but his leadership qualities are great.”
Even outside the top 10, it`s worth considering how teams might find long-term solutions at center. The Pittsburgh Penguins, picking 11th, built their dynasty and won three championships largely thanks to having Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin anchoring their center positions for two decades. However, as these players near the end of their careers, there`s a significant need for new talent.
What about a calculated gamble on a large player like Roger McQueen? The Brandon Wheat Kings player was limited to only 20 games this season due to a back issue and subsequent muscle strain. However, the six-foot-five, 197-pound center completed all physical tests at the Buffalo combine on Saturday and wore a wide smile afterward, expressing his relief at being there and informing teams that he has been pain-free for approximately six weeks.
McQueen commented on his recovery: “Just being able to come here and have that back issue [behind] me now, it’s so nice to have that in my past,” he said. “Having that in the past and being able to come here and compete with my buddies is awesome.”
If the Penguins aren`t looking to take a chance on McQueen, who models his game after big centers like Tage Thompson and Ryan Getzlaf, perhaps Jake O’Brien would be an ideal match. The six-foot-two center for the Brantford Bulldogs might be selected within the first 10 picks, but he grew up as a Pittsburgh fan and possesses the offensive capability to potentially lead the next generation of the Penguins` attack.
Michael Misa, who has played against O`Brien in the OHL and with him on spring hockey teams previously, praised him: “Great player… One of the best playmakers in the draft, the way he’s able to find other players. It’s pretty impressive.”
This year, perhaps more than in recent memory, it is genuinely difficult to predict how the draft picks will unfold after the very first selection. However, once the draft concludes in three weeks, several teams may find themselves with their most optimistic outlook at the center position in quite some time.
Choosing the NCAA Route
Unsurprisingly, the relatively new option for players from major junior leagues to transition to NCAA hockey was a frequent topic of discussion at the combine. For the most part, top prospects like Schaefer, Misa, and Desnoyers were non-committal regarding their future paths. At this point, it`s easy for them to state their immediate goal is to play in the NHL next year and they are not focused on anything beyond that.
However, some players have already announced their intentions. Malcolm Spence, formerly of the Erie Otters, is one such player. The physical winger mentioned that, as expected, many teams interviewing him in Buffalo were curious about his decision, made public in mid-May, to commit to the Michigan Wolverines.
Spence explained, “For sure, they were wondering [what the] decision-making process [was] and why… I explained, obviously, a lot has to do with physical attributes. For the NHL, I’m going to have to play at a heavier weight, so for me to go to Michigan [where there is more training time and fewer games], it made more sense.”
Neville Woodall