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NHL Mock Draft 2025: Frondell to Chicago, Martone to Utah? Pronman projects Round 1

Published

10 months ago

May 13, 2025

NHL Mock Draft 2025: Frondell to Chicago, Martone to Utah? Pronman projects Round 1

With the draft lottery done, we have a template of the selection order ready for the 2025 NHL Draft. Unless Radim Mrtka breaks things up in the top 5-7, we expect a run on forwards early in the draft, especially with so many good centers available. The order in which these forwards go is the most interesting thing about this draft and will be debated by teams and fans in the coming weeks. This mock is my best attempt to project how I think the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft will transpire on June 27.

1. New York Islanders: Matthew Schaefer, LHD, Erie (OHL)

Schaefer gives the Islanders a true No. 1 defenseman prospect to build around. His high-end mobility, intelligence and competitiveness project him as a cornerstone on the blue line for years to come and he is highly likely to be the pick despite the limited number of games he played this season.

2. San Jose Sharks: Michael Misa, C, Saginaw (OHL)

Misa’s elite speed and creativity give San Jose a franchise-caliber center. The addition of Misa gives the Sharks flexibility to move either him or Will Smith to the wing long term. He can break games open with his skill and vision and will be a foundational offensive piece for a rebuilding Sharks squad.

3. Chicago Blackhawks: Anton Frondell, C, Djurgården (Allsvenskan)

Frondell brings high-end skill and a complete 200-foot game and fills Chicago’s need for a strong two-way pivot to pair with Connor Bedard, who may end up as a long-term winger in the NHL.

4. Utah Mammoth: Porter Martone, RW, Brampton (OHL)

Utah prioritizes being hard to play against, and Martone will provide a lot of size and a high compete level while also being very skilled for a big man. It’s easy to envision him next to Logan Cooley on a top line for the next 10 years.

5. Nashville Predators: James Hagens, C, Boston College (Hockey East)

Nashville adds high-end skill and speed down the middle with Hagens, even if his game needs more inside presence. He brings the potential to be a major point producer and address a critical need for the Predators at center, even if not every NHL scout is convinced he’s an NHL center.

6. Philadelphia Flyers: Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton (QMJHL)

Desnoyers’ stock continues to rise with his great playoff run for Moncton. He’s a complete center with the size, skating, skill and off-puck play to be a big-minute NHL center, which is something Philly truly craves.

7. Boston Bruins: Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford (OHL)

O’Brien is a cerebral, playmaking center with top-line upside. His skill and vision are clear NHL traits and address Boston’s massive need for a center who can drive play and create offense.

8. Seattle Kraken: Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Martin brings an intense, physical two-way game that complements all the skill Seattle has drafted in recent years while also bringing plenty of puck play himself and the ability to be a top-six forward, be it at center or wing.

9. Buffalo Sabres: Radim Mrtka, RHD, Seattle (WHL)

Mrtka is a 6-foot-5 defenseman who skates well and has offensive flashes, giving Buffalo a rare right-shot blueliner with top-four upside. He compares to a Sabres pick from a long time ago in Tyler Myers.

10. Anaheim Ducks: Roger McQueen, C, Brandon (WHL)

A 6-foot-5 center with speed, hands and bite, McQueen gives Anaheim a potential massive talent down the middle. He would have gone top five if it weren’t for a concerning back injury. With superb young talent in the organization, Anaheim can afford the gamble on McQueen.

11. Pittsburgh Penguins: Kashawn Aitcheson, LHD, Barrie (OHL)

Aitcheson adds significant physicality to Pittsburgh’s system while also having the size, mobility and skill of a top-four NHL defenseman.

12. New York Rangers: Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle (WHL)

Cootes brings speed, compete and two-way versatility to the Rangers’ forward group, giving them a hardworking center with offensive potential and addressing an important need at center.

13. Detroit Red Wings: Victor Eklund, RW, Djurgården (Allsvenskan)

Eklund’s speed, high motor and ability to create offense gives Detroit an important addition of offensive talent to its system while continuing with a trend of prioritizing compete in its picks.

14. Columbus Blue Jackets: Cameron Reid, LHD, Kitchener (OHL)

Reid is a dynamic skater who closes well defensively and can generate clean exits and secondary offense. I could see him or Jackson Smith as the Jackets’ pick here as they try to add young depth to their blue line.

15. Vancouver Canucks: Cole Reschny, C, Victoria (WHL)

Reschny is a very skilled and intelligent player who plays hard and was as good as any junior player in the second half of the CHL season. He theoretically gives Vancouver a much-needed young center of the future, although not everyone in the league is convinced he’s a pro center.

16. Montreal Canadiens: Carter Bear, LW, Everett (WHL)

A competitive and highly skilled winger who plays a physical game, Bear could provide a lot of elements to Montreal’s top six.

17. Montreal Canadiens: Jackson Smith, LHD, Tri-City (WHL)

Smith brings size, skating and offensive tools to the Canadiens blue-line pipeline as they continue to build a very strong group of young defensemen.

18. Calgary Flames: Justin Carbonneau, RW, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)

A fast, strong winger with a dangerous shot, Carbonneau adds a scoring element and high-energy game to Calgary’s top six, even if he’s slightly redundant with someone like Matt Coronato.

19. St. Louis Blues: Lynden Lakovic, LW, Moose Jaw (WHL)

Lakovic is a big man with legit speed, skill and goal-scoring ability. He would be a highly talented forward addition to the Blues’ system, even if his compete level still draws some debate.

20. Columbus Blue Jackets: Joshua Ravensbergen, G, Prince George (WHL)

Ravensbergen is a big, athletic goaltender with starter upside — the type of swing Columbus can afford to take on a second first-rounder.

21. Ottawa Senators: Blake Fiddler, RHD, Edmonton (WHL)

Fiddler’s size, defensive ability, skating and hardness make him exactly the type of defenseman Ottawa has coveted. Ideally, the Senators would add some skill to their forward group, but a run on forwards before their pick left them without any of the top-tier forward prospects.

22. Calgary Flames: Milton Gastrin, C, MoDo (Sweden Jr.)

A responsible, hard-nosed, two-way center, Gastrin adds leadership traits and versatility to the forward group.

23. Carolina Hurricanes: Logan Hensler, RHD, Wisconsin (Big Ten)

Hensler fits the type of defenseman Carolina has liked to target: He’s mobile, has skill and can make a reliable pass.

24. Philadelphia Flyers: Daniil Prokhorov, LW, Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)

Prokhorov’s size and physicality fit the typical Flyers draft pick, and he has enough touch and speed to complement their skilled forwards.

25. Philadelphia Flyers: Sascha Boumedienne, LHD, Boston University (Hockey East)

One of the better-skating defensemen in the class, Boumedienne provides transition ability with the potential for some offense at the NHL level as well.

26. Nashville Predators: Jack Nesbitt, C, Windsor (OHL)

Nesbitt is a heavy center with strong puck skills and playmaking vision. Despite questions about his skating, his offense and physicality make him a legit first-round pick as Nashville builds out its center depth in this draft.

27. Los Angeles Kings: Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, LW, Luleå (Sweden Jr.)

The Kings take a swing on a tall winger with NHL-caliber feet, hands and scoring ability, hoping he becomes a future middle-six scorer.

28. San Jose Sharks: Henry Brzustewicz, RHD, London (OHL)

Brzustewicz is a smart, mobile right-shot who adds a steady two-way game to a Sharks system that needs quality blueliners.

29. Chicago Blackhawks: Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie (OHL)

Spence brings high effort, responsible two-way play and a solid track record for Canada. He’s not the flashiest forward but he has legit enough talent to play in a middle six.

30. Nashville Predators: William Horcoff, C, Michigan (Big Ten)

A big, skilled forward with great hands, Horcoff needs to work on his skating but has the potential to be a legit scorer as a pro and looked quite good at the college level as a 17-year-old.

31. Washington Capitals: Cullen Potter, C, Arizona State (NCHC)

Potter’s great skating and puck skill give Washington a dynamic, high-upside forward, but his size and perimeter play does worry teams too.

32. Winnipeg Jets: Bill Zonnon, LW, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)

Zonnon is a big winger who skates and shoots well enough to be a middle-six contributor in Winnipeg’s forward pipeline.

(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Photos of Porter Martone, Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa: Michael Miller / ISI Photos / Getty Images)

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Utah Jazz starter Keyonte George is back but wants to be ‘cautious’ as he returns from injury

Published

2 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Utah Jazz starter Keyonte George is back but wants to be ‘cautious’ as he returns from injury

George returned from a right ankle sprain that kept him out six straight games.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The crowd reacts as Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) hits a 3-point shot at the Delta Center this season.

Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy didn’t need to see much from his young point guard in his return.

“Making shots, missing shots, it’s not anything that’s in question for me,” Hardy said about Keyonte George. “I just want to see him exert himself physically and competitively.”

In that case, mission accomplished.

After missing nine games in the last month with two different ankle sprains, George returned against the Pelicans on Saturday.

The Jazz lost 115-105.

George’s numbers were fine, scoring 17 points on 4-of-11 shooting in 23 minutes. But Hardy saw enough mobility from George to make him comfortable moving forward.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz Center Mo Bamba sits next to Keyonte George and Jazz forward Jaren Jackson Jr. on the bench in NBA action between the Utah Jazz and the New Orleans Pelicans at the Delta Center on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.

“I thought he made some athletic plays in small spaces. I was more concerned with his willingness to slam on the brakes,” Hardy said. “And I thought he had a couple possessions where he did, where he really pushed it athletically.

“He’s like any player, he’s frustrated. He feels like he should have made a few more shots,” he continued. “But that’s not what I was watching.”

George was on a restriction of 20-24 minutes and he wants to be cautious in the days ahead. Utah plays Denver on Monday before heading on the road.

“Feet are the most precious thing for any athlete. So I want to make sure I feel good, not feeling off balance or nothing like that,” George said. “Just want to be cautious with the ankle injuries and stuff like that.”

But for his return, it was good enough.

“I feel like my pop was there. I didn’t want to force anything,” he finished. “I just wanted to play the game. I feel like I did a decent job tonight.”

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Reading changed these authors’ lives, now they want the same for Utah’s youth

Published

14 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Reading changed these authors’ lives, now they want the same for Utah’s youth

SALT LAKE CITY — “If you don’t think you’re a reader yet, it’s because you haven’t found the right book.”

Utah author Sara B. Larson believes there is a book out there for everyone that can make someone love reading. She and dozens of other authors gathered at StoryCon this weekend to teach and inspire young kids to love reading and writing.

“It’s hard to see the drop in literacy that has happened, but it’s also encouraging to see so many people banding together to try and combat it and help our youth,” Larson said.

StoryCon is a literature conference that brings together authors, educators, teens, tweens and everyone in between to focus on the power of literacy. Around 3,500 people flocked to the Salt Palace Convention Center for workshops on writing concepts, shopping for book merchandise, author signings, and even panels about Brandon Sanderson’s famed fantastical universe known as the Cosmere.

Sanderson, one of the most well-known fantasy authors to come out of Utah, said writing can feel isolating because it is such a solitary activity. He attended a conference similar to StoryCon in Nebraska when he was 18, and the opportunity to connect and meet with real authors was “so invigorating.”

“It was so powerful to just have a community. So I’ve always tried to do what I can to support communities, particularly for young people,” he said.

Aspiring writers don’t need to stress about writing the perfect book immediately, Sanderson advises. While some authors get lucky, like Christopher Paolini, who wrote “Eragon” at just 14 years old, most of the time writing is about exploring genres and just improving your skills over time, he said.

Brandon Sanderson speaks to thousands of people who attended the 2026 StoryCon literacy convention at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Saturday. (Photo: Cassidy Wixom, KSL)

Sanderson himself didn’t love reading at first until between his eighth and ninth grade years.

“I went from being a C student to an A student because of books. This was partially because I found myself in the books; I had a reason to care, but your reading comprehension going up helps in all aspects of life,” he said. “Having a fluency with reading, reading for the love of it, which will just build those muscles in your brain, is extremely important.”

Brandon Mull, author of the “Fablehaven” series, said he also didn’t like reading as a kid until he read “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” which made a “light go on.” He now feels he owes C.S. Lewis the credit for how his life turned out.

“When I learned to read for fun as a kid, it changed the trajectory of my life,” Mull said. “I’m a practical example of how big a difference learning to love reading can make for someone.”

Authors Sara B. Larson and Brandon Sanderson speak to StoryCon CEO Jennifer Jenkins at a meet and greet during the 2026 StoryCon literacy convention in Salt Lake City, Saturday. (Photo: Cassidy Wixom, KSL)

Mull focuses on children’s literature and said he tries to write stories that children and families can enjoy. Reading fiction helps children develop “a rich inner life,” learn how to be empathetic and develop their minds to be a place ideas can be explored.

The Utah author will soon be celebrating the 20th anniversary of his book “Fablehaven,” which will include a special illustrated edition of the beloved children’s book, a dramatized full-cast audiobook, and the premiere next year of a film based on the novel. He also will be releasing a new series this year called “Guardians” that he believes is some of his best work.

With so many things competing for kids’ attention every day, it’s crucial to teach them to read, Mull said.

“If we don’t get kids to learn how to read a book and turn it into a story in their head, they are missing an aspect of education that makes them good consumers of information and good consumers of stories,” he said.

Larson agreed with that sentiment, saying people’s brains are being “hijacked” and getting stuck in a loop of only having a 3-second attention span because of social media. Larson has written more than eight fantasy books, including the popular “Defy” trilogy.

“This phenomenon that is happening to our kids, they are losing the ability to focus, losing the ability to even think with any sort of deep analytical process. It’s so vital to get to these kids and help them realize you have got to put down the phone and pick up a book and train yourself to focus,” she said.

There is wealth, knowledge, joy, happiness, peace and calm to be found when you put social media away and instead dive into a book, she said. Reading helps children grow up to be successful adults who can pursue goals, constantly learn and successfully contribute to society.

StoryCon CEO Jennifer Jenkins said it has been overwhelming to see the success of the event. StoryCon was created by the nonprofit Operation Literacy last year and has become the biggest literacy-focused event in Utah.

Growing up, she felt there wasn’t a place for writers compared to athletes or dancers who always had camps and conventions, so she helped found Teen Author Boot Camp, which evolved into StoryCon.

“Kids need to know they are being taken seriously. They need to be validated and know they are being encouraged,” she said. “That’s the why behind all of this. We really want to put them before anything else. These kids are the heart of everything we do.”

The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.

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Why Utah Represents Arizona State’s True Turning Point

Published

1 day ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Why Utah Represents Arizona State’s True Turning Point

Arizona State basketball is at a crossroads. After back-to-back road losses to Baylor and TCU, the Sun Devils are suddenly fighting just to stay above .500.

Now, with Utah coming to town Saturday afternoon, this isn’t just another conference game. It feels bigger than that. It feels like the moment that decides whether this season still has life or if it quietly fades away.

The Danger of Falling Below .500

All season long, Arizona State has had one strange pattern.

Every time they dropped to .500, they responded with a win. They never let things spiral.

But now they’re sitting right on the edge again.

A loss to Utah would push them below .500 for the first time all year. That might not sound dramatic, but it matters for team morale.

Teams feel that shift. Confidence changes. Urgency changes. And with only a few games left before the Big 12 Tournament, there isn’t much time to recover.

That’s why this Utah game feels different.

Feb 21, 2026; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears guard Isaac Williams (10) scores a basket over Arizona State Sun Devils guard Anthony Johnson (2) during the second half at Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images | Chris Jones-Imagn Images

Utah Is Playing Better — Especially on Defense

When these two teams met a few weeks ago, Utah was struggling.

Since then, they’ve improved. They’re still built around their top scorers, who combine for around 40 points per game, but the real difference lately has been defense.

Utah has started putting together more complete defensive performances. They’re contesting shots better. They’re finishing possessions. They’re not folding as easily in the second half.

That matters because Arizona State’s biggest issue right now isn’t effort, it’s physical depth.

Feb 21, 2026; Waco, Texas, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Bobby Hurley disputes a call with an official during the first half against the Baylor Bears at Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images | Chris Jones-Imagn Images

The Real Niche Problem: Guard-Heavy and Worn Down

Here’s something that doesn’t get talked about enough: Arizona State’s roster balance is off.

Because of injuries, especially the likely season-ending absence of Marcus Adams Jr., the Sun Devils are extremely guard-heavy right now. More than half of the available players are guards. That creates matchup issues, especially against physical teams.

We saw it against TCU. They got to the free-throw line 36 times.

They won the physical battle. Even when their best scorer struggled, they still controlled the game inside.

ASU just doesn’t have the same frontcourt depth.

With only a few true bigs available and some undersized forwards playing bigger roles than expected, the team can get worn down.

Late in games, that shows up in missed rebounds, second-chance points, and tired legs.

It’s not about hustle. It’s about bodies.

Why Saturday Truly Matters

If Arizona State beats Utah, everything changes.

Suddenly, you’re heading into Senior Night against Kansas with momentum. Win that, and you’re talking about a possible 7–11 conference finish and a much better Big 12 Tournament matchup.

From there? Anything can happen.

But if they lose Saturday, the math and the hope get much harder.

That’s why this game isn’t just about Utah.

It’s about belief. It’s about roster limitations. And it’s about whether this team has one more push left in them before the season runs out.

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