2025 NHL Draft Results

Round 3

Find out who got Cameron Schmidt in the third round. Some had this second round forward getting picked in the first round.

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: July 1, 2025.

65. Vancouver Canucks: Kieren Dervin, C, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) C- Grade
    
    
    The 6-1 183 lb Kieren Dervin had 22 goals, 43 assists, and 63 points with the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite Under 15 AAA Team at the Mario Lemeiux Sports Complex in 2022-2023. Kieren Dervin had 15 goals, 32 assists, and 47 points in 49 games with the St. Andrew's College in 2023-2024. Kieren Dervin had 33 goals, 46 assists, and 76 points with the St Andrew's College in 2024-2025. Kieren Dervin had 1 goal, 2 assists, and 3 points, 6 penalty minutes, and a +2 +/- ratio in 10 games with the Kingston Frontenacs in 2024-2025. Kieren Dervin had 1 goal, 2 assists, and 3 points in 11 games in the 2025 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Kieren Dervin is raw. He's going to Penn State in 2026 and is considered a long-term project. I don't see him becoming anything more than an AHL player when he's done developing.
    
    
    
66. Chicago Blackhawks: Nathan Behm, LW, Kamloops Blazers (WHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    Chicago drafts for value in the third round. Nathan Behm has the versatility to play both left winger and right winger.
    
    
    
    Nathan Behm was the Kamloops Blazers first round pick in the 2022 WHL Draft. Nathan Behm was the final player in the Elite Prospects Top 32, but he didn't impress me when watching his tape. Still, he's got experience on the Kamloops Blazers top line and he put together a respectable season, so he shouldn't be on the board for very long if he falls to the second round because he entered the 2022 WHL Bantam Draft as a center before converting to winger gaining expereince to play left winger and right winger. Having the versatility to play all three forward roles at left winger, center, and right winger makes him a valuable forward prospect for any NHL organization.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 192 lb Nathan Behm had 31 goals, 35 assists, and 66 points in 59 games for the Kamloops Blazers in 2024-2025. Nathan Behm has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Nathan Behm got to learn under Logan Stankoven when he first got to the Kamloops Blazers. Nathan Behm is the thirty first player with first line potential in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
    
    
    
    Nathan Behm was the only Chicago Blackhawks pick to get an A+ grade in the entire draft. I think Nathan Behm can be a Patrick Sharp Brandon Hagel type impact player. If Chiccago cannot land Gavin McKenna or Maddox Schultz, you are looking at a Ryan Donato, Connor Bedard, Nathan Behm line down the road if Behm plays right winger. You could also see Behm replace Donato as the first line left winger in four years when Donato's contract is up.
    
    
    
    
    
67. Carolina Hurricanes: Kurban Limatov, D, UHC Dynamo Moscow (KHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    The 6-3 198 lb Kurban Limatov had 8 goals, 15 assists, 23 points, 44 penalty minutes, and a +7 +/- ratio in 46 MHL games in 2024-2025. Kurban Limatov did well enough to get promoted to UHC Dynamo Moscow in the KHL where he played one KHL game in 2024-2025.
    
    
    
    Kurban Limatov has the skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Kurban Limatov may not be a top line defenseman, but he has experience playing on the power play and being an effective penalty killer. Kurban Limatov can be a quarterback or sniper on the power play.
    
    
    
68. Seattle Kraken: Will Reynolds, D, Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL) C- Grade
    
    
    The 6-3 192 lb Will Reynolds had 4 goals, 10 assists, 14 points, and a +5 +/- ratio on the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in 64 QMJHL games in 2024-2025. Will Reynolds had 0 goals, 2 assists, and 2 points in 5 games in the 2025 QMJHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Will Reynolds has the skating, foot speed, versatility, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. He did well on the Acadie-Bathurst Titan penalty killing unit. He does need a lot of work on offense despite being sound on defense and winning face offs consistently.
    
    
    
    I had Will Reynolds in the sixth round. He got picked in the first four picks of the third round.
    
    
    
    
    
69. Montreal Canadiens: Hayden Paupanekis, C, Kelowna Rockets (WHL) B+ Grade
    
    
    The 6-4 203 lb Hayden Paupanekis had 22 goals, 21 assists, and 43 points in 2024-2025. Hayden Paupanekis started out on the Spokane Chiefs before getting traded to the Kelowna Rockets midseason.
    
    
    
    Hayden Paupanekis has the skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. His slap shot power and slap accuracy need work.
    
    
    
    Hayden Paupanekis had more goals than assists, but his passing is more refined than his shot. Hayden Paupanekis is the fifty fifth player with experience playing on the first line in the 2025 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    I had Hayden Paupanekis getting picked at the end of the third round. This is a better selection than Montreal's second round pick, but it still feels like a reach.
    
    
    
70. New York Rangers: Sean Barnhill, D, Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    The 6-5 205 lb Sean Barnhill had 4 goals, 8 assists, 12 points, and a +9 +/- ratio in 54 USHL games in 2024-2025. Sean Barnhill has one more year with the Duqbuque Fighting Saints before enrolling at Northeastern in 2026.
    
    
    
    Sean Barnhill has the skating, foot speed, passing, playmaking, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Sean Barnhill showed the ability to play on the power play as well as the penalty killing unit. He's the sixty third player in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft with experience on a top line.
    
    
    
    
    
71. Buffalo Sabres: David Bedkowski, D, Owen Sound Attack (OHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    Buffalo goes for value over need in the third round. I mocked David Bedkowski to Buffalo in my 2025 NHL Mock Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-5 214 lb David Bedkowski had 3 goals, 4 asissts, and 7 points in 2024-2025. David Bedkowski got traded from the Oshawa Gneerals to the Owen Sound Attack.
    
    
    
    David Bedkowski has the skating, versatility, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. David Bedkowski did well on both the power play and penalty killing unit. It really felt like David Bedkowski was taking pressure off of goalie Carter George, the Los Angeles Kings 2024 second round pick when watching his tape despite the underwhelming point total and that would be my arguement for taking a flyer on David Bedkowski.
    
    
    
72. Anaheim Ducks: Noah Read, RW, London Knights (OHL) C+ Grade
    
    
    Noah Read was the London Knights fourth line right winger. Noah Read has the versatility to play all three forward roles at left winger, center, and right winger.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 170 lb Noah Read had 10 goals, 16 assists, 26 points, 20 penalty minutes, and a +10 +/- ratio in 45 OHL games in 2024-2025. Noah Read had 4 goals, 2 assists, and 6 points in 17 games in the 2025 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    
    
73. Pittsburgh Penguins: Charlie Tretheway, D, USNTDP (USHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    The 6-1 190 lb Charlie Tretheway had 4 goals, 10 assists, and 14 points in 33 games in 2023-2024. Charlie Tretheway had 2 goals, 7 assists, and 9 points in 24 USHL games in 2024-2025. Charlie Tretheway has one more year on the USNTDP before he enrolls into Boston University next Fall.
    
    
    
    Charlie Tretheway has the skating, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Charlie Tretheway has to develop his wrist shot at Boston University since his slap shot is good enough, but can get better. Charlie Tretheway improved his wrist shot power, but wrist shot accuracy remains an issue heading into college.
    
    
    
    Charlie Tretheway is raw, but is the forty first player with experience on a first line in the 2025 NHL Draft. Pittsburgh might be able to develop him into a second line defenseman.
    
    
    
74. New York Islanders: Luca Romano, C, Kitchener Rangers (OHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    New York needs a first line center for the future. Luca Romano might be the guy to consider here.
    
    
    
    Luca Romano was drafted one spot after teammate Cameron Reid in the 2023 OHL Draft. Luca Romano looked good on film despite getting off to a rocky start.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 177 lb Luca Romano had 10 goals, 12 assists, 22 points, 8 penalty minutes, and a +1 +/- ratio as a rookie in 2023-2024. Luca Romano also had 0 goals, 5 assists, and 5 points in 10 games during the 2024 OHL Playoffs. Luca Romano had 25 goals, 26 assists, 51 points, 22 penalty minutes, and a +5 +/- ratio in 2024-2025. Luca Romano had 6 goals, 5 assists, and 11 points in 16 games during the 2025 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Luca Romano has the skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Luca Romano needs to improve his defensive awareness, but he makes up for that with winning faceoffs. Luca Romano is the thirty fifth player in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft with experience on a first line.
    
    
    
    
    
75. Detroit Red Wings: Michal Pradel, G, Tri-City Storm (USHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    The 6-5 194 lb Michal Pradel had a 2.41 goals against average, a .899 save percentage, 1 shutout, and went 9-4 in 13 starts with 1 game played as a backup wih only 33 goals allowed in 14 games on the Tri-City Storm in 2024-2025. Michal Pradel posted a 2.06 goals against average and a .944 save percentage in his one game where he started for the Tri-City Storm in the 2025 USHL Playoffs where the Tri-City Storm lost.
    
    
    
    Style, Post Integration, Glove, Blocker Pad, Reading The Puck By Tracking, Rebound Control, Post Save Recovery, Quickness, Footwork, and Puckhandling. Those are ten different categories that NHL Draft Scouts use to evaluate goalies. Michal Pradel checks off all ten boxes just like the other six goaies in the 2025 NHL Draft that I ranked ahead of him in Joshua Ravensbergen, Jack Ivankovic, Pyotr Andreyanov, Alexei Medvedev, Lucas Beckman, and Elijah Neuenschwander.
    
    
    
    Michal Pradel hasn't decided what college to go to. The only thing that needs improvement in his game is save percentage in the regular season, and with another season on the Tri-City Storm before he goes to college in 2026, he probably gets it. Also, Detroit will not have to sign Michal Pradel to an NHL entry level contract until 2029, maybe 2030 if Pradel plays all four years in College, but my guess is he plays one more year of USHL and 2 or 3 years of College Hockey.
    
    
    
76. Columbus Blue Jackets: Malte Vass, D, Farjestads BK (Elitserien) A- Grade
    
    
    The Columbus Blue Jackets draft a defenseman. Malte Vass makes a lot of sense here.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 185 lb Malte Vass had 2 goals, 9 assists, and 11 points on the Farjestads BK Under 20 Team in 2024-2025. Malte Vass had 0 goals, 0 assists, and 0 points in 5 SHL games in 2024-2025. Malte Vass was known for his skating and passing on film.
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77. Colorado Avalache: Francesco Dell'elce, D, Massachusetts C Grade
    
    
    The Colorado Avalanche have Gabriel Landeksog their team captain as well as their first round pick drafted second overall in the 2011 NHL Draft as their first line left winger, Nate MacKinnon Colorado's first overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, and Martin Necas as their first line right winger. Colorado could have Arturri Lehkonen as their second line left winger, Brock Nelson as their second line center, and Valeri Nichushkin as their second line right winger. Colorado could have Parker Kelly as their third line left winger if Jonathan Drouin leaves, Jack Drury as their third line center, and Logan O'Conner as their third line right winger. Colorado has Oskar Olausson their 2021 first round pick and Gavin Brindley competing for the fourth line right winger job.
    
    
    
    The Colorado Avalanche have Cale Makar their 2017 first round pick drafted fourth overall and Devon Toews as their two first line defensemen. Colorado has Samuel Girard and Josh Manson as their two second line defensemen. Colorado has Brent Burns and Sam Malinski as their two third line defensemen.
    
    
    
    Colorado has Mackenzie Blackwood as their starting goalie. Scott Wedgewood is the backup goalie.
    
    
    
    Colorado needs a fourth line left winger and a fourth line center to round out their lineup in the worst way possible with the worst prospect pool in the entire NHL. Colorado drafted a defenseman with their first pick as Josh Manson is a UFA in 2026. Cale Makar, Samuel Girard, and Keaton Middleton are UFA's in 2027. Francesco Dell'elce was a defenseman that I had a fourth round grade on.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 185 lb Francesco Dell'elce had 7 goals, 17 assists, 24 points, and a +18 +/- ratio in 40 NCAA games with Massachusetts in 2024-2025. Francesco Dell'elce was the number four defenseman on Massachusetts hockey team playing on the second line as a complimentary defender as a true freshman.
    
    
    
    Francesco Dell'elce has the skating, passing, playmaking, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. His traits on tape are good despite not being a top line guy.
    
    
    
78. Utah Mammoth: Stepan Hoch, LW, HC Motor Ceske Budejovice (Extraliga) C- Grade
    
    
    The 6-4 192 lb Stepan Hoch had 1 goal, 2 assists, and 3 points in Extraliga in 2024-2025. Stepan Hoch is most likely an AHL left winger and a big reach in the third round.
    
    
    
    
    
79. Boston Bruins: Cooper Simpson, LW, Tri-City Storm (USHL) C Grade
    
    
    The 6-1 179 lb Cooper Simpson had 49 goals, 34 assists, and 83 points in 31 games at Shakopee High School in Minnesota in 2024-2025. Cooper Simpson had 7 goals, 1 assist, and 8 points with the Tri-City Storm in the USHL 2024-2025. Cooper Simpson is enrolling in North Dakota this fall.
    
    
    
    Cooper Simpson has the skating, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, and slap shot accuracy. Cooper Simpson is one of the better snipers in the 2025 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    I had a fifth round grade on Cooper Simpson. This was a reach by the Boston Bruins.
    
    
    
80. Calgary Flames: Mace'o Phillips, D, USNTDP (USHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    The 6-6 227 lb Mace'o Phillips had 2 goals, 1 assist, and 3 points in 25 USHL games. He's going to enroll at Minnesota this fall.
    
    
    
    Mace'o Phillips has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Mace'o Phillips can go to Minnesota and develop there for a few years until he earns a first line role. Calgary wouldn't have to sign him to an entry level deal until 2028.
    
    
    
    
    
81. Montreal Canadiens: Bryce Pickford, D, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    The 6-0 190 lb Bryce Pickford had 20 goals, 27 assists, 47 points, and a +34 +/- ratio in 48 games played in 2024-2025. Bryce Pickford had 13 goals, 11 assists, and 24 points in 18 games during the 2025 WHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Bryce Pickford has the skating, foot speed, passing, playmaking, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision. offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Bryce Pickford was the number three defenseman anchoring the Medicine Hat Tigers second line, but he was the number one defenseman on the power play playing on the top line with Gavin McKenna on the Medicine Hat Tigers power play as the 19 year old defenseman broke out this past season. Bryce Pickford only has one more WHL season left and will be ready to make an impact with the NHL team that drafts him in the AHL by 2026.
    
    
    
82. Montreal Canadiens: Arseni Radkov, G, Tyumensky Legion (MHL) D Grade
    
    
    Arseni Radkov was not in my goalie rankings for the 2025 NHL Draft. He also had a losing record for a goalie.
    
    
    
    
    
83. Edmonton Oilers: Tommy Lafreniere, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL) C Grade
    
    
    Edmonton got this pick from the St. Louis Blues in the trade that sent their 2019 and 2020 first round picks Phillip Broberg and Dylan Holloway to the St. Louis Blues.
    
    
    
    The Edmonton Oilers have Ryan Nugent-Hopkins their first overall pick from the 2011 NHL Entry Draft as their first line left winger, Connor McDavid their team captain was the first pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft with McDavid being Edmonton's first line center, and Zach Hyman as their first line right winger. Edmonton has Matthew Savoie as their second line left winger, Leon Drasaitil their 2014 first round pick drafted third overall as their second line center, and Vasily Podkolzin as their second line right winger. Edmonton hase Matias Janmark as their third line left winger, Trent Frederic as their third line center after being the second center to agree to an eight year deal along with Leon Drasaitl, and Kasperi Kappanen as their third line right winger. Edmonton has Max Jones their fourth line left winger, Noah Philp as their fourth line center, and David Tomasek as their fourth line right winger.
    
    
    
    Edmonton has Evan Bouchard their 2018 first round pick as their first line defenseman who is back for four more years and Darnell Nurse their 2013 first round pick is still under contract as the other first line defenseman. Matias Ekholm and Troy Stetcher will be the two second line defensemen. Jake Walman and Brett Kulak willbe the two third line defensemen.
    
    
    
    Stuart Skinner, Edmonton's 2017 third round pick began the season as the starting goalie. He got benched for Calvin Pickard in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Both goalies will be back for Edmonton next season with Pickard entering a contract year and Skinner with two years left on his contract.
    
    
    
    Edmonton will need more bodies at right winger, but it looks like the Edmonton Oilers remain a force in the Western Conference as long as they can give their core guys long-term contracts.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 170 lb Tommy Lafreniere had 24 goals, 32 assists, and 56 points in 68 games with the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL in 2024-2025. Tommy Lafreniere generated points consistently.
    
    
    
    Tommy Lafreniere has the skating, foot speed, passing, playmaking, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision. offensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Tommy Lafreniere needs to improve his defensive awareness.
    
    
    
84. Pittsburgh Penguins: Gabriel D'Aigle, G, Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL) B+ Grade
    
    
    There is one more goalie that checks off all ten boxes, but his production is underwhelming. Gabriel D'Aigle was drafted second overall by the Victoriaville Tigres in the 2022 QMJHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 211 lb Gabriel D'Aigle posted a .894 save percentage, a 3.18 goals agaisnt average, 2 shutouts, and a 13-6 record in 19 starts while playing 21 games as a rookie for the Victoriaville Tigres in 2022-2023. Gabriel D'Aigle posted a 3.87 goals against average, a .879 save percentage, 1 shutout, and went 13-6-2 in 21 starts and 25 games played in 2023-2024. He started 1 game for the Victoriaville Tigres during the 2024 QMJHL Playoffs. Gabriel D'Aigle had a 4.52 goals against average, a .883 save percentage, 1 shutout, and a 16-33-2 record starting 51 games and playing 55 games for the Victoriaville Tigres in 2024-2025.
    
    
    
    Despite the losing record in his first full season as a starting goalie, Gabriel D'Aigle checked off all 10 boxes that scouts look for in a goalie. He also trained with Marc-Andre Fleury when Marc-Andre Fleury decided play pick up hockey with some younger players in Canada during his free time.
    
    
    
    Style, Post Integration, Glove, Blocker Pad, Reading The Puck By Tracking, Rebound Control, Post Save Recovery, Quickness, Footwork, and Puckhandling. Those are ten different categories that NHL Draft Scouts use to evaluate goalies. Gabriel D'Aigle checks off all ten boxes just like the other nine goaies in the 2025 NHL Draft that I ranked ahead of him in Joshua Ravensbergen, Jack Ivankovic, Pyotr Andreyanov, Alexei Medvedev, Lucas Beckman, Elijah Neuenschwander, Michal Pradel, Ondrej Stebetak, and Patrik Kerkola.
    
    
    
    
    
85. Vegas Golden Knights: Mateo Nobert, C, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    Vegas gets a center prospect for the future. Mateo Nobert was drafted third overall by Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the 2023 QMJHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 166 lb Mateo Nobert had 28 goals, 39 assists, 67 points, 24 penalty minutes, and a +1 +/- ratio in 57 QMJHL games in 2024-2025. Mateo Nobert had 2 goals, 3 assists, and 5 points in 4 games during the 2025 QMJHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Mateo Nobert has the passing, playmaking, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ you want to succeed in the NHL. He's got to add some muscle while improving as a skater too, but most of the traits you want from a playmaker are there. Mateo Nobert is the forty seventh player with experience on a first line in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft as he was linemates with first round prospect Justin Carbonneau.
    
    
    
86. San Jose Sharks: Tyler Hopkins, C, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) B Grade
    
    
    The Toronto Maple Leafs get a center to stash and develop. One player I heard that the New York Islanders love on day 2 of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft is Kingston Frontenacs center Tyler Hopkins. Tyler Hopkins was drafted fourth overall by the Kingston Frontenacs in the 2023 OHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 179 lb Tyler Hopkins had 20 goals, 31 assists, and 51 points in 67 OHL games in 2024-2025. Tyler Hopkins had 0 goals, 5 assists, and 5 points in 11 games during the 2025 OHL Playoffs. Tyler Hopkins has the versatility to play left winger, center, and right winger.
    
    
    
    Tyler Hopkins has the skating, foot speed, versatility, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Tyler Hopkins needs to improve his defensive awareness.
    
    
    
    
    
87. Carolina Hurricanes: Roman Bausov, D, UHC Dynamo Moscow (KHL) C+ Grade
    
    
    The 6-5 190 lb Roman Bausov had 2 goals, 9 assists, 11 points, and a +10 +/- ratio in 41 games with MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg the MHL team affiliated with UHC Dynamo Moscow in 2024-2025. Roman Bausov also had 0 goals, 1 assist, and 1 point in the 2025 MHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Roman Bausov has the skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. He's the sixty seventh player with experience to be a first line player as well as potential to be a first line player in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Roman Bausov's KHL contract runs through 2027, so the NHL team that drafts him cannot sign him until then.
    
    
    
88. Los Angeles Kings: Kristian Epperson, LW, Saginaw Spirit (OHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    Los Angeles goes with the best player on the board here. Kristian Epperson is the top overager in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and out of every prospect here, Epperson is the 19-year-old with the strongest case to go in the top 32. That being said, I expect Kristian Epperson to get picked somewhere in the top half of the second round.
    
    
    
    The Saginaw Spirit had Kristian Epperson at left winger, Michael Misa at center, and Igor Chernysov the San Jose Sharks 2024 second round pick at right winger on the Saginaw Spirit first line. Zayne Parekh the Calgary Flames 2024 first round pick was the number one defenseman with Guo complimenting Parekh on the blue line. This team won the 2024 Memorial Cup, but failed to repeat getting bounced in the first round of the 2025 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 183 lb Kristian Epperson had 27 goals, 53 assists, 80 points, and a +45 +/- ratio in 58 games with the Saginaw Spirit in 2024-2025. Kristian Epperson had 3 goals, 1 assist, and 4 points in 5 games in the 2025 OHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Kristian Epperson has the speed, skating, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Kristian Epperson is the thirty sixth player with experience and potential to play on a top line in the 2025 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    
    
89. New York Rangers: Artyom Gonchar, D, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    Artyom Gonchar is the nephew of Sergei Gonchar. Sergei Gonchar is Artyom Gonchar's uncle.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 157 lb Artyom Gonchar had 7 goals, 18 assists, 25 points, 2 penalty minutes, and a +2 +/- ratio in 50 MHL games in 2024-2025. Artyom Gonchar had 0 goals, 1 assist, and 1 point in 3 games in the 2025 MHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
90. New Jersey Devils: Mason Moe, C, Madison Capitols (USHL) B+ Grade
    
    
    The 6-1 173 lb Mason Moe had 17 goals, 26 assists, 43 points, 26 penalty minutes, and a +10 +/- ratio in 2024-2025. Mason Moe had 5 goals, 1 assists, and 6 points in 6 games during the 2025 USHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Mason Moe has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Mason Moe has to develop his shot.
    
    
    
    
    
91. Pittsburgh Penguins: Brady Peddle, D, Waterloo Blackhawks (USHL) C Grade
    
    
    The 6-3 203 lb Brady Peddle had 3 goals, 7 assists, 10 points, 36 penalty minutes, and a +12 +/- ratio in 67 games as the number six defenseman on the Waterloo Blackhawks third line in 2024-2025. Brady Peddle had 1 goal, 9 assists, 10 points, 6 penalty minutes, and a +3 +/- ratio in 15 games during the 2025 USHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
92. Winnipeg Jets: Owen Martin, C, Spokane Chiefs (WHL) B Grade
    
    
    The 6-0 183 lb Owen Martin had 13 goals, 21 assists, 34 points, 20 penalty minutes, and a +16 +/- ratio in 39 games with the Spokane Chiefs in 2024-2025. Owen Martin had 6 goals, 6 assists, and 12 points in 20 games during the 2025 WHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Owen Martin has the skating, foot speed, versatility, passing, and playmaking. He was the Spokane Chiefs line 2 center behind Berkly Catton, who was the Seattle Kraken's 2024 first round pick. Owen Martin should remain on the second line behind Berkly Catton next season before playing on the Spokane Chiefs first line in 2026.
    
    
    
    Owen Martin had a third round grade. I still believe Winnipeg should have loaded up on defensemen.
    
    
    
    
    
93. Ottawa Senators: Blake Vanek, RW, Chicago Steel (USHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    Blake Vanek is the son of Thomas Vanek. Thomas Vanek was the Buffalo Sabres first line left winger and former Buffalo Sabres team captain for many years.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 205 lb Blake Vanek had 4 goals, 1 assist, and 5 points in 9 USHL games with the Chicago Steel as a fourth line right winger in 2024-2025. Blake Vanek will play for the Wenatchee Wild next year to develop further.
    
    
    
94. Dallas Stars: Cameron Schmidt, RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL) A+ Grade
    
    
    The Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill won the Jim Gregory Award for NHL GM of the Year for the third year in a row with Peter DeBoer getting fired for pulling starting goalie Jake Oettinger. Edmonton Oilers assistant head coach Glen Gulutzan who coached the Dallas Stars from 2011-2013 is the new Dallas Stars head coach as Glen Gulutzan was the Edmonton Oilers assistant head coach from 2018-2025.
    
    
    
    The Dallas Stars have Jason Robertson a 2017 second round pick as their first line left winger, Roope Hintz a 2015 second round pick as their first line center, and Mikko Rantanen who the Dallas Stars got at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline as their first line right winger. Dallas has their team captain Jamie Benn as their second line left winger, Matt Duchene as their second line center, and Tyler Seguin, the first player Jim Nill traded for as the Dallas Stars GM as their second line right winger. Dallas has Oskar Back a 2018 third round pick as their third line left winger if he's not traded, Wyatt Johnston as a 2021 first round pick, as their third line center, and Maverick Bourque their 2020 first round pick as their third line right winger. Dallas has Radek Faksa as a fourth line left winger, Sam Steel as their fourth line center, and Colin Blackwell as their fourth line right winger.
    
    
    
    The Dallas Stars have Miro Heiskanen the Dallas Stars 2017 first round pick who was drafted third overall anchoring the blue line with Thomas Harley the Dallas Stars 2019 first round pick complimenting Miro Heiskanen on the Dallas Stars first line. Dallas has Esa Lindell a 2012 third round pick that got extended and Lian Bichsel their 2022 first round pick on the second line. Ilya Lyubushkin and Matt Dumba will be the third line defenseman with Alex Petrovich and Nils Lundqvist as a defenseman for insurance as an RFA in 2025-2026. Dallas also still has Christian Kyrou and Tristan Bertucci their two second round picks from 2022 and 2023 in the prospect pool developing and one of those guys could end up supplanting Nils Lundqvist if Dallas lets Brendan Smith l walk like I them too. Aram Minnetan was the Dallas Stars 2023 fourth round pick and he enters his junior year at Boston College.
    
    
    
    The Dallas Stars have Jake Oettinger their second 2017 first round pick as the starting goalie. Casey DeSmith is the backup goalie.
    
    
    
    Dallas only has 0.98 million for this upcoming season after extending Duchene, Benn, Bourque,and Lundqvist. Dallas traded Mason Marchement and reloaded.
    
    
    
    Dallas drafts a right winger to stash and develop for the future. Cameron Schmidt was drafted seventh overall by the Vancouver Giants in the 2022 WHL Draft. Cameron Schmidt has the versatility to play left winger, center, and right winger.
    
    
    
    The 5-7 161 lb Cameron Schmidt had 31 goals, 27 assists, and 58 points in 59 WHL games in 2023-2024. Cameron Schmidt had 2 goals, 0 assists, and 2 points in 5 games during the 2024 WHL Playoffs. Cameron Schmidt had 40 goals, 38 assists, and 78 points in 61 WHL games in 2024-2025. Cameron Schmidt had 4 goals, 5 assists, and 9 points in the 2025 WHL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Cameron Schmidt has the skating, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, versatility, playmaking, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Cameron Schmidt needs to refine his slap shot as it is good enough to be effective at the WHL level, but its not an NHL level slap shot yet. Cameron Schmidt is the thirty ninth player in the 2025 NHL Draft with experience on a first line and some NHL Mock Drafts have him going in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    The Dallas Stars assistant GM admitted that the Dallas Stars had a first round grade on Cameron Schmidt. Cameron Schmidt was the best value pick in the third round and Nathan Behm the Chicago Blackhawks third round pick is probably the only other third round pick you can make a case for as the best third round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
    
    
    
    
    
95. San Jose Sharks: Teddy Mutryn, C, Chicago Steel (USHL) D+ Grade
    
    
    San Jose is already stacked at center. I had a seventh round gradeon Teddy Mutryn.
    
    
    
    The 6-1 207 lb Teddy Mutryn had 17 goals, 13 assists, and 30 points in 47 games with the Chicago Steel in 2024-2025. Teddy Mutryn also played situationally on the United States National Team Developmental Program and has one more year with the Chicago Steel before he heads to Boston College in 2026.
    
    
    
    Teddy Mutryn has the skating, passing, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, offensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Teddy Mutryn does need to improve his defensive awareness.
    
    
    
    Mike Greer the San Jose Sharks GM has a lot of ties to Boston College as his son went there. Macklin Celebrini began his career in the USHL with the Chicago Steel. San Jose reached here for a seventh round prospect, but I can understand the thought process of them reaching here.
    
    
    
96. Washington Capitals: Maxim Schafer, C, Eisbaren Berlin (DEL) C- Grade
    
    
    The Washington Capitals get a center to stash and develop. Maxim Schafer has the versatility to play all three forward roles at left winger, center, and right winger.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 187 lb Maxim Schafer had 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points, 6 penalty minutes, and a +2 +/- ratio in 31 games in DEL in 2024-2025. Maxim Schafer had 0 goals, 0 assists, and 0 points in 6 games during the 2025 DEL Playoffs.
    
    
    
    Maxim Schafer has the skating, foot speed, versatility, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Maxim Schafer needs to play more minutes on a better line, but he has a lot of traits you want.
    
    
    
    I had a seventh round grade on Maxim Schaefer. The reason I gave this a C- instead of a D or a D+ is because of Maxim Schafer's versatility at forward.