<p>The NHL’s Central Scouting Service released its preliminary watch list for the 2025 NHL Draft on Wednesday afternoon, rating hundreds of players who hope to hear their names called next June.</p>



<p>The list features players broken into five tiers: A (projected first-rounder), B (2nd-3rd rounder), C (4th-5th rounder) and W (6th-7th rounder). No players were placed in “LV” or Limited Viewing.</p>



<p>The list gives fans and media alike a good look at which players scouts across the league are keeping a close eye on. It’s not an exhaustive list, with players getting taken each year who didn’t appear until the midterm rankings or sometimes not at all.</p>



<p>As it stands, Boston College’s James Hagens is the top projected prospect, but the fight below him is heating up. Michael Misa, Porter Martone, Roger McQueen, Anton Frondell, Matthew Schaefer and Ivan Ryabkin are among the names with realistic shots of being taken early next summer.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="153"></div>



<p>As Daily Faceoff’s prospect analyst, here are my main takeaways from the initial list:</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">No real surprises at the top</h2>



<p>There always seems to be a few names rated as “A” players that turn heads, but it doesn’t seem like that’ll be the case this time around. Hagens, Martone, Schaefer, Ryabkin, Misa and McQueen are all there, and most of <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025-nhl-draft-rankings-preseason-top-40">Daily Faceoff’s top 40 preseason list</a> make up the projected first-rounders list.</p>



<p>One name to keep a close eye on: McQueen. It’s expected that he’s going to be out until at least December with an injury, but he plays a similar game to <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/columbus-blue-jackets/line-combinations">Columbus Blue Jackets </a>prospect Cayden Lindstrom’s. If McQueen returns and dominates, teams will be clamoring for the 6-foot-5 center.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players I’m higher on</h2>



<p>Scouts will always be tough on smaller players, I get it. But Cameron Schmidt (B) should be A-rated, not B. And that’s because he doesn’t play like a 5-foot-8 forward. He’s not afraid to battle along the boards, loves spending time in front of the net, and he’s on pace for 75 goals and well close to 120 points. Schmidt is lighting up the WHL in a way few draft prospects have in recent years and I think he’s projecting to be a first-round pick at this point.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="204"></div>



<p>Some scouts I’ve talked to like Viktor Klingsell as a potential first-round pick, but he’s rated as a “C” player here. That’s fine – he’s 5-foot-9 and is more of an offensive driver compared to a two-way threat. I just really like what he does with the puck and think he makes his teammates better. We’ll see how he progresses.</p>



<p>I know Carson Cameron (C) has had a quiet start with the Peterborough Petes (everyone has). But he’s a tremendous skater who plays well in transition and can be creative with the puck. One big knock is that if he’s going to be more of a stay-at-home defender, he isn’t that intimidating at 6-foot-1. But I think his hockey IQ is solid for this group.</p>



<p>The younger brother of <a href="https://flamesnation.ca/">Calgary Flames</a> prospect Hunter Brzustewicz, Henry Brzustewicz (C) has had an excellent start with the London Knights this year. He has just under a point-per-game after playing a more reserved depth role a year ago. I think he has second-round potential, especially given his pure strength – maybe he’ll be a late-bloomer like his brother.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="184"></div>



<p>After a decent start to his OHL tenure in Ottawa, Filip Ekberg has really come into his own in recent games. Ekberg is flashy, elusive and generates a lot of quality chances in close. I think his smaller 5-foot-10 frame and lack of defensive awareness will hurt him, but he’s a high-skill player that I could see someone betting high on.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">It’s going to be a good year for goalies</h2>



<p>It’s been a few years since Central Scouting viewed more than one goaltender in a high light early on. Only one received an “A” grade – Prince George’s Joshua Ravensbergen. He was outstanding as a WHL rookie last year, and while he has cooled off a bit more this year, he’s still got everything teams want – a 6-foot-4 frame, great play reads and tremendous athleticism.</p>



<p>Three goaltenders received a “B” rating: Jack Ivankovic, Pyotr Andreyanov and Love Harenstam. Of the three, I’ve been most impressed by Ivankovic, but his 5-foot-11 frame is definitely not ideal. In fact, size is an issue for all three of them, with Harenstam being listed as the tallest at 6-foot-1. </p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="178"></div>



<p>Will size matter if the performances are good enough? All three are definitely higher rated than Dustin Wolf and Devon Levi at the same age. I think all should go relatively high because of their high potential – especially Harenstam. Teams have taken more fliers on Russian keepers in recent years, and Andreyanov is already drawing rave reviews for his play in the CSKA system.</p>



<p>Beyond that, other intriguing goaltending options include Baie-Comeau’s Lucas Beckman (C) and Quebec’s Louis-Antoine Denault (C), who stands at a massive 6-foot-8. Don’t sleep on Mans Goos (C), who, beyond his incredible name, also has tremendous athleticism for a 6-foot-5 keeper.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">It’s going to be a BAD year for Sweden and Finland</h2>



<p>Victor Eklund, Anton Frondell, Lasse Boelius, Sascha Boumedienne (playing in the United States), Milton Gastrin, Harenstam, Jakob Ihs Wozniak. One Finnish player and six from Sweden. Between the first three rounds, that’s all Central Scouting is banking on coming from two hockey powerhouses.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="149"></div>



<p>And I can’t disagree there. </p>



<p>Eklund and Frondell should both go early, with Frondell being a top-five candidate. Injuries have hampered his season and that could hurt his draft stock, but I do think he’ll be an excellent player. Eklund isn’t all too different from his brother, William, and I’ve been really impressed with my in-person viewings of him.</p>



<p>But beyond that? It looks bleak.</p>



<p>At one point, Ihs Wozniak was looking like a real threat to challenge for a top five spot in the NHL Draft. But sentiment around the scouting world has fortunately soured after a poor showing at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and underwhelming play in the Swedish U-20 league. I think Gastrin is an intriguing option as a late-first rounder, but I’m not married to that idea. Boumedienne makes too many unforced errors for my liking, too.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="142"></div>



<p>So, we’ll see what happens, but I’m not feeling good about either nation’s World Junior Championship hopes over the next few years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Notable overage prospects</h2>



<p>NHL CSS has three overagers listed as C-rated prospects: forward Kristian Epperson, defenseman Niklas Nykyri and goaltender Andrei Trofimov. Epperson’s play dipped with the USNTDP last year, and he was left off the U-18 World Championship team – and was even demoted to the U-17 squad. But he has bounced back in a shining role with Saginaw of the OHL this year, with the 18-year-old on pace for over 100 points. Keep a close eye on him.</p>



<p>Nykyri struggled mightily with the puck at the U-18 World Championship last year and was good, but not great, against U-20 competition. But watching him play with HIFK in Liiga this year, I’ve started to like what I’m seeing. He’s not playing a ton against men, but he’s generating chances and playing a more reserved, smart game.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="6" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="156"></div>



<p>Trofimov, meanwhile, has had some outstanding efforts with Magnitogorsk in the Russian junior league. He isn’t particularly big, but he has stood tall in some difficult outings this year. He hasn’t really had a bad game yet, which is good, at least.</p>



<p>Two potential high-risk, high-reward players who could show up late in the draft are forward Alex Zetterberg and defenseman Daniil Ustinkov. Zetterberg was Sweden’s best player in U-18 national team competition and was one of the most productive players in his age group, period. He hasn’t wasted much time producing with Boston University, either. The biggest issue is that he’s 5-foot-8 and doesn’t have a lot of muscle to work with, leaving scouts concerned.</p>



<p>Ustinkov, meanwhile, was one of the most skilled defensemen in the draft class last year. But a difficult season against men, a non-existent showing at the U-18s and a boatload of mistakes with the puck at the World Juniors didn’t help his cause. If Ustinkov could limit his unforced blunders, I could see a team looking to play the patient game and mold him into a power-play specialist.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="7" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="184"></div>



<p>Other notable overagers I think that could get some attention this year include Robin Antenen, Tomas Galvas, Caleb Heil and Callum Hughes – all of whom are rated as “W’s.”</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity">



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-left" id="h-win-one-of-98-exclusive-gatorade-bottles-signed-by-connor-bedard"><strong>Article presented by Fountain Tire</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/07/FT_LogoTagOnBlue_RGB1752.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="183" src="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/07/FT_LogoTagOnBlue_RGB1752-1024x183.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-175274" srcset="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/07/FT_LogoTagOnBlue_RGB1752-1024x183.jpg 1024w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/07/FT_LogoTagOnBlue_RGB1752-300x54.jpg 300w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/07/FT_LogoTagOnBlue_RGB1752-768x137.jpg 768w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/07/FT_LogoTagOnBlue_RGB1752-1536x274.jpg 1536w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/07/FT_LogoTagOnBlue_RGB1752-2048x365.jpg 2048w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/07/FT_LogoTagOnBlue_RGB1752-150x27.jpg 150w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/07/FT_LogoTagOnBlue_RGB1752-600x107.jpg 600w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/07/FT_LogoTagOnBlue_RGB1752-696x124.jpg 696w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/07/FT_LogoTagOnBlue_RGB1752-1392x248.jpg 1392w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/07/FT_LogoTagOnBlue_RGB1752-1068x190.jpg 1068w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/07/FT_LogoTagOnBlue_RGB1752-1920x342.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></a></figure>



<p>At Fountain Tire, you don’t have to choose between a good deal or excellent service—they offer both. They treat your vehicle like their own, providing detailed inspections, photos, and updates on what’s fine, what needs attention, and what can wait. Offering top-quality tires and products from brands like Goodyear, safety is their top priority. Every visit ensures you’re as safe as possible on the road. If you need new tires, or your vehicle’s making a funny noise, stop by Fountain Tire. They’ll take care of it, or you can book an appointment online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fountaintire.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.fountaintire.com</a></p>
