Schaefer tops Central Scouting North American skater final rankings for 2025 NHL Draft

Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman with Erie in the Ontario Hockey League, is No. 1 on NHL Central Scouting's final rankings of North American skaters presented by BODYARMOR Sports Drink for the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft.

Central Scouting revealed its final list of the top North American skaters and goalies, and the top International skaters and goalies on Tuesday. Center Anton Frondell of Djurgarden in Sweden's second division is No. 1 on the final ranking of International skaters.

PDFs: North American skaters | North American goalies | International skaters | International goalies

The 2025 draft will be held at L.A. Live's Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on June 27-28. The NHL Draft Lottery to determine the first 16 picks in the draft will be held next month at NHL Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey.

There were several changes at the top of the list for North American skaters from the midterm release in January. Center Michael Misa of Saginaw (OHL) was promoted one spot to No. 2 and center James Hagens of Boston College (NCAA) dropped to No. 3 from No. 2.

Jake O'Brien, a right-handed center with Brantford (OHL), is No. 4 after being No. 8 in the midterm, defenseman Radim Mrtka of Seattle in the Western Hockey League advanced one spot to No. 5, and right wing Porter Martone of Brampton (OHL) is No. 6 after being No. 4 in the midterm rankings.

"It's a tighter spread between Schaefer and the No. 2 player than it was at the midterm and that is a result of the fact [Schaefer] has not been playing," NHL Central Scouting vice president and director Dan Marr said. "But what does remain is that [Schaefer] is the best at his position. There's no other defenseman, though Mrtka might make a conversation out of it. Maybe if [Mrtka] had a full year in North America, but he hasn't.

"The potential and upside that everybody sees in [Schaefer's] game ... he just scratched the surface this season. Our guys, everyone, expect him to be a dominant player at the OHL level next year, every game, and those type of guys are hard to come by."

Schaefer (6-foot-2, 183 pounds) had surgery Dec. 30 after sustaining a broken clavicle three days earlier while playing for Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa. He also missed the opening nine games of the season because of mononucleosis. He had 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) and is plus-21 in 17 games.

He has been skating and practicing in a non-contact jersey during Erie's run in the OHL playoffs, but his return to the lineup has not yet been determined. He'll attend the NHL Scouting Combine from June 1-7 in Buffalo.

Schaefer could become the first player from Erie to go No. 1 in the NHL draft since Connor McDavid to the Edmonton Oilers in 2015.

Misa (6-1, 184) is the first player in Saginaw history to win the Eddie Powers Trophy as the top scorer in the OHL, finishing the regular season with 134 points (62 goals, 72 assists). He had a point in 60 of 65 regular-season games and tied John Tavares (2006-07) for the most points by an OHL player under 18 since 2000 (Misa turned 18 on Feb. 16). He also was named the 26th captain in Saginaw history Jan. 8.

Hagens (5-10, 177) is one of five NCAA players among the top 32 skaters on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters. He was third on Boston College with 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists) in 37 games skating as the No. 1 center between Gabe Perreault (New York Rangers) and Ryan Leonard (Washington Capitals).

"[Misa and Hagens] are very impressive in their own right and there's not a fine line to be drawn," Marr said. "Three years from now they both could be a point-per-game guy in the NHL, but they'll just both do it their own way."

O'Brien (6-2, 172) might be one of the best playmakers in the 2025 draft class. He led the OHL in power-play assists (41), was seventh in all assists (66) and tied for seventh in points (98) in 66 games.

"He placed himself in a special category," Marr said. "In his first year in the OHL [2023-24], everyone started to appreciate him. He's got some elite-level hockey sense and skill and I think that the ceiling on him is just a little higher with the expectations."

Mrtka (6-6, 207) began the season with one assist in 10 games with Trinec in the top professional league in his native Czechia, then signed with Seattle on Nov. 27. He had 35 points (three goals, 32 assists) in 43 WHL games.

"He could go in the top three and it's not going to shock anybody," Marr said. "He's a pretty complete package, everything that you're looking for in a player, and he's been able to deliver while having changed continents and leagues. I think he's going to continue to elevate his game. So with him, everyone's looking at him like the best is yet to come."

Martone (6-3, 208) remains one of the top players for this year's draft despite being moved down in the final rankings. The Brampton captain led the team with 98 points (37 goals, 61 assists), and had 29 power-play points (seven goals, 22 assists), in 57 games.

"Porter brings that package that teams are looking for; he has a little bit more of the size asset element to his game than some of the other skaters in the top five do," Marr said. "I think that's appealing to some teams, but I also think he's eliminated any concerns there was about the skating. He's undervalued on his skill set. He's the one who wears his compete on his sleeve and I think that's what endears him to everybody."

Frondell and Djurgarden teammate Victor Eklund are Nos. 1-2, respectively, on Central Scouting's International skater ranking.

Frondell (6-1, 198) had 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) in 29 games. Eklund, a right wing and the brother of San Jose Sharks forward William Eklund, had 31 points (19 goals, 12 assists) in 42 games.

"Some minor injuries slowed [Frondell] a bit during the early season but he's a strong skater, skilled, and a two-way player," NHL Director of European Scouting Jukka-Pekka Vuorinen said. "Eklund plays with a lot of confidence and intensity. He's a playmaker with an ability to manipulate with great vision and creativity."

Rounding out the top five International skaters are center Milton Gastrin (6-0, 185) of Modo's team in Sweden's junior league, left wing Vojtech Cihar (6-0, 175) of Karlovy Vary in Czechia's top professional league, and right wing Alexander Zharovsky (6-1, 163) of Ufa's team in Russia's junior league.

The No. 1 North American goalie is Joshua Ravensbergen (6-5, 190) of Prince George (WHL). He was 33-13-4 with a 3.00 goals-against average and .901 save percentage in 51 games.

"He looks like a pro NHL goalie with the way he moves and represents himself out there," Central Scouting's Al Jensen said. "His mechanics are good, and he plays big even when he goes down in butterfly."

The No. 1 International goalie is Pyotr Andreyanov (6-0, 207) of CSKA's team in Russia's junior league. The 18-year-old was 23-6-6 with a 1.75 GAA, .942 save percentage and three shutouts in 37 regular-season games, and 2-4 with a 2.36 GAA and .929 save percentage in six playoff games.

"Perfect balance on his feet and an excellent glove hand," Vuorinen said. "He helps his teammates around the net by being active and playing the puck."