After pouring over hours of tape in the summer, watching every early-season game possible, and filing nearly 1,500 game reports, the Elite Prospects scouting team is ready to share their first ranking for the 2025 NHL Draft. 

Early on, the 2025 Draft class doesn't just look strong but deeply fascinating. It's a draft class of extremes: Elite skating, elite motors, uniquely gifted big men, and electrifying shorter players with the skills to thrive in the NHL. 

Though James Hagens sits at No. 1, the four players ranked after each have the potential to become first-overall-calibre talents. Look no further than Roger McQueen, our No. 2 prospect, who combines top-of-class puck skills with physicality, defence, and a 6-foot-5 frame.

Right now, this is a CHL-heavy class in the eyes of our scouts. CHLers comprise 80 percent of the top 10 and 63 percent of the first round. The WHL is a particular driver of this, with half of the CHLers, but it's also a strong bounceback year for the QMJHL. We didn't rank a single QMHJLer in the first round last year; we currently have three inside the first, along with four others making honourable mentions.

Over in Europe, we're a bit less optimistic about the class. Lassi Alanen, our Director of European Scouting, sees just four A-grade prospects, headlined by Victor Eklund – a stance the entire team nearly unanimously agrees on. While our team views Ivan Ryabkin and Anton Frondell as top-15 talents, they're both at the lower end of the range due to questions about their ultimate upside. Of course, things can change quickly, especially once Frondell gets back into the lineup. 

On the flip side, this is looking like a strong year for Europe among the B-grade prospects, who usually fill the latter portions of the first round all the way to the early third in our rankings. 

The scouting team convenes again in December for a pre-World Juniors top-64 ranking. Expect lots of change on the next board as sample sizes expand and draft-minus-ones and summer tournaments become less important. 

With the introduction out of the way, here's our top 32: