The top 2025 NHL Draft overagers to watch at the World Juniors

The 2025 World Juniors will showcase some of the top prospects in all of hockey.

It’ll be a second-chance for some past NHL Draft eligibles to showcase themselves a second time, too.

Case in point? Topias Hynninen.

Hynninen, No. 104 in FCHockey’s Final ranking for the 2024 draft, sat through all 224 selections last June without hearing his name called by an NHL club, that that hasn’t necessarily diminished or dimmed some outside expectation on one of the top re-entries into the 2025 NHL Draft.

No 19-year-old has scored more in Liiga this season, with Hynninen netting 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists) in 32 games with Jukurit — adding to the expectation and anticipation for him to hit the ice at the World Juniors.

“Hynninen is a true play-driver on a professional level and a really skilled and intelligent playmaker, who loves to set up his teammates from center position,” FCHockey scout Samuel Tirpak said. “He needs to work on faceoffs to be a true center, however. He has excellent vision, doubled with great skating — making him an intriguing re-entry option with potential middle-six upside.”

Here are other 2025 draft re-entry candidates to watch at the World Juniors:

Roope Vesterinen | F | Finland

Roope Vesterinen went unlisted in FCHockey’s Final ranking for the 2024 draft, but he’s taken plenty of strides in his game and could play a key role in Finland’s offense. The 19-year-old winger has 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 24 games with HPK in Liiga this season.

“Vesterinen is a speedy winger who is smallish in size, but compensates with strength and willingness to go into battles,” Tirpak said. “He is not a player who specializes in scoring or playmaking. Instead, he is a well-rounded forward that drives play and produces on a really good level taking ice time into consideration.”

Alan Lendak | G | Slovakia

Though it remains to be seen how much action he will see between the pipes with Samuel Urban returning from Slovakia’s entry a year ago, Alan Lendak nonetheless is an intriguing goaltending option to keep an eye on. Lendak wasn’t slotted among the netminders in FCHockey’s Final ranking for the 2024 class, but a strong showing with Fargo of the United States Hockey League — a 2.27 goals-against average and .917 save percentage in 18 games — could help push Lendak’s minutes.

“Lendak is an average-sized, fast and highly athletic goaltender who would likely be a number two goalie for Slovakia and I believe has potential to steal a number one spot. He is super consistent in his performances and has historical numbers behind him to support that. He has an excellent USHL season thus far, has great stats against shots from all parts of the offensive zone and I honestly think he can be a sneaky draft candidate for a team looking at consistent goaltending.”

Jan Kavan | G | Czechia

Jan Kavan will be hard-pressed to earn crease time behind Arizona Coyotes prospect Michael Hrabal, who is entering his second tournament after an eye-opening performance in 2024. Still, Kavan is likely to net a game or two on the strength of his start with LHK Jestrabi Prostejov in Czechia’s second division which features a 2.61 goals-against average and .911 save percentage in 21 appearances.

“Kavan is a fast, athletic goaltender who is still rather raw, but what stands out about him is his consistency,” Tirpak said. “He is smaller in size, but compensates with fast movement and excellent reflexes. His game against high danger shots needs to be better as he allows most of his goals in that region. He is almost unbeatable from anywhere else.”

Jamiro Reber | F | Switzerland

Jamiro Reber was projected to be a member of the 2024 draft class, slotting in at No. 180 in FCHockey’s Final ranking. That wasn’t the case, but it hasn’t discouraged the multi-faceted Swiss forward. Reber, who won’t turn 19 until next September, is among the highest U20 scorers in the SHL. In fact, only Detroit Red Wings prospect Axel Sandin-Pellikka has been more productive than Reber’s 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 25 games.

“Reber has been on fire since being passed up for draft last June, producing on a really excellent level for a junior-level forward in SHL,” Tirpak said. “His underlyings tell a bit of a different story, however with the intrigue being playmaking and producing, he is putting up a strong season in best European league and can put an exclamation mark next to his name when it comes to re-entry candidates with strong tournament at the World Juniors.”

Richard Baran | D | Slovakia

Richard Baran snuck into FCHockey’s Final top-300 for the 2024 draft at No. 271, but landed well outside the seven selection rounds last June. A strong start to the season with Des Moines in the United States Hockey League — 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) in 25 games — paired with an impressive performance in Slovakia’s second-pair, could go a long way to Baran’s draft status in 2025.

“Baran is a strong, mobile, two-way defender who is putting up a strong offensive season in the USHL,” Tirpak said. “I personally love the combination of size, puck-moving and this mature strong and controlled possession game. He is able to play in all situations, however he seemed to fins his groove as an offense-driving defender this season and with him likely getting paired within Slovakia’s defensive top-four, there’s an opportunity for him to bolster his name.”

Tomas Galvas | D | Czechia

Tomas Galvas, the highest-ranked prospect at FCHockey to go unselected at the 2024 draft, could have a massive tournament in his second go-round at the World Juniors. Galvas is likely to play an offensively-geared game in Czechia’s top pair. The internationally experienced 18-year-old has four points (two goals, two assists) in 25 games in Czechia’s top twirl with Bílí Tygři Liberec.

“Galvas is a small, puck-moving defender who excels with his puck possession skills and great reads,” Tirpak said. “Size is a definitive limiting factor in his case and it likely means no draft for him again this year, but he tries to compensate with his fantastic skating abilities and puck play to overcome this issue. A strong tournament could be the opportunity to sway some teams into potentially giving him a draft shot despite the legitimate size concerns.”

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