Ranking the top overagers of the 2025 NHL Draft class
Second time could be the charm for more than a few members of the 2025 NHL Draft class.
Third time, too.
Every year at the draft, some players slip through the cracks only to appear in later years as overage entries. Whether they took a step forward or showed something extra with the added time, these players should find homes with NHL clubs in this go-round.
Here’s a look at some of the top overagers still eligible to be selected in the 2025 draft:
Charlie Cerrato | C | Penn State (NCAA)
Charlie Cerrato was born in 2005 and has been eligible to be selected since the 2023 NHL Draft. The 20-year-old United States National Team Development Program alumnus was No. 47 on FCHockey’s Final ranking for the 2025 draft after wrapping up his freshman season with Penn State.
The 6-foot, 190-pound center finished second on his team in scoring behind Nashville Predators prospect Aiden Fink with 42 points (15 goals, 27 assists) in 38 games.
“I always questioned his translatability,“ FCHockey scout Kyle Pereira said. “He was always ‘good, but…’ in the sense of he had good traits but never really put it all together. His offensive game also lacked dynamism. If I’m honest, he should have been drafted in 2023 or 2024. He’s made it a no-doubt choice to pick him in 2025, and the reason for it lies in the fact that his offensive game really exploded in college without losing his efficiency in his overall game. He’s strong defensively. Always has been. Strong skater. But his offensive game is finally really blossoming and looking more translatable.”
Francesco Dell’Elce | D | UMass (NCAA)
Francesco Dell’Elce should find an NHL home in his third year of draft eligibility. The 19-year-old — he turns 20 in July — had an impressive 2022-23 season with St. Andrew’s College in the hockey school circuit. The 6-foot-1, 186-pound defender compiled 82 points (26 goals, 56 assists) in 65 total games. He moved to the British Columbia Hockey League for his D+2 season and amassed 38 points (nine goals, 29 assists) in 54 games.
Dell’Elce jumped to the NCAA with UMass for the 2024-25 season and was playing big minutes for a school that has a good track record of producing quality NHL defensemen. He finished as the No. 70 player in FCHockey’s final ranking.
“Dell’Elce was not on my radar last year playing in the BCHL but really impressed me at UMass this year,“ FCHockey scout Jacob Roth said. “I wouldn’t call him an offensive defenseman, but he’s a real asset in transition and is a strong puck mover. His skating and puck-moving skills are skills you look for in a modern NHL defenseman. He is on the smaller side and could stand to get stronger, but he has the tools to be a bottom-pair defenseman who can contribute some secondary offense and even run a secondary power-play unit.”
Kristian Epperson | LW | Saginaw (OHL)
Kristian Epperson has always been a gifted offensive player. He began to get attention for his skill after producing 187 points (76 goals, 101 assists) in 106 games with the legendary Shattuck St. Mary’s prep school program. He then spent two uneven years with the NTDP before joining Saginaw in the Ontario Hockey League.
Epperson stepped right onto the first line with the defending Memorial Cup Champions and was slotted beside top prospect Michael Misa for most of the year. He relished the opportunity, scoring 80 points (27 goals, 53 assists) in 58 games. The No. 87 player in FCHockey’s final ranking has committed to the University of Denver for 2025-26.
“After being passed on in his initial draft year, Epperson has showcased enough of a high-end skill set to emerge as one of the best second-year draft eligibles,” FCHockey scout Mike Kennedy said. “His offensive production and reliable, two-way play took off this season with Saginaw. He did his part to earn another shot at being selected by an NHL club this year.”
Sam Laurila | D | Fargo (USHL)
Sam Laurila didn’t really catch the eyes of NHL scouts with an uninspiring draft year at the NTDP in 2023-24. The 6-foot-1, 187-pound defender wasn’t much of an offensive producer in his draft year, with only 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 88 games. Laurila joined Team USA at the U18 Worlds after his season was over and posted one assist in seven games.
He joined Fargo in the United States Hockey League and found a new offensive gear. He finished tied with forward Merril Steenari for the team lead with 41 points (eight goals, 33 assists) in 57 games. Laurila, who finished as the No. 91 ranked player, is committed to the University of North Dakota for 2025-26.
“Laurila took a big step in his offensive game,” FCHockey scout Nathan Hutchinson said. “He has always been a strong defender and skater but became an offensive contributor in 2024-25. Laurila brings more to the table now than he did last year and projects to be a more well-rounded defenseman.”
Bruno Idzan | LW | Lincoln (USHL)
Bruno Idzan has had quite the hockey journey so far. The Croatian product dominated at the junior level in Sweden and, in the 2021-22 season, had 32 points (26 goals, 6 assists) in 17 games in the U16 division. He continued to show off his offensive prowess with 81 points (50 goals, 31 assists) in 35 games. Idzan earned a 13-game trial in Sweden’s Division 2 — the fourth-highest level in the country — and produced seven points (three goals, four assists).
The 6-foot-1 winger played two more seasons split between the U18 and U20 levels in Sweden before joining Croatian pro team KHL Sisak at the start of 2024. He produced 30 points (21 goals, nine assists) in 19 games before moving to North America to join Lincoln in the USHL. He finished fifth in team scoring with 44 points (22 goals, 22 assists) in 36 games. The No. 112 ranked player has also been a fixture on Croatia’s national team, producing at or near a point per game in every tournament he has attended.
“Idzan is a player who is far from a sure thing but I could see why teams would be interested in him towards the middle rounds of the draft,” Roth said. “His offensive skill set is great he’s a talented goal scorer with a cannon of a shot. Hes just as good on the puck as he is off of it. Hes got great hands and can dangle through traffic but is just as comfortable working himself open off the puck and unleashing one timers. Outside of the offensive zone, though, I don’t think hes all that effective. Defensively, he works super hard and is willing to battle but just isn’t all that effective. He also has a tendency to chase hits and overcommit letting players skate into free ice behind him.”
Aidan Park | C | Green Bay (USHL)
Speedy center Aiden Park, the nephew of former NHL center Richard Park, had a productive season in his first full year with Green Bay in the USHL. The No. 115 player in FCHockey’s final ranking had 66 points (33 goals, 33 assists) in 55 games. He added another three points (two goals, one assist) in two playoff games before joining Calgary in the Western Hockey League for another trio of playoff games. He is committed to the University of Michigan for 2025-26.
“I was very surprised to see Park go undrafted last year and, after the strong season he had in the USHL this year, I would be even more surprised to see it happen again,” Roth said. “He plays the game with so much energy and was able to make it translate on the scoresheet. His skating isn’t quite there yet, but he’s strong, has great puck skills and attention to detail, and could be a bottom-six center if his skating improves.”
Niklas Nykyri | D | HIFK (LIIGA)
Niklas Nykyri had a strong campaign in Liiga as a 19-year-old. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound defender chipped in eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 31 games. Nykyri, the No. 128-ranked prospect, has been a fixture on Finnish national teams dating back to 2021, when he played a pair of games for the U16 team. He figures to have a bigger role on HIFK’s blue line in 2025-26 in his second pro season.
“Nykyri is a big, smart, defensive defender that plays a really calculated game,” FCHockey scout Samuel Tirpak said. “Not overly physical, not as quick as I would like for a modern-day defensive defender, but he is efficient and strong. Has great reads and understands space extremely well.”
Topias Hynninen | C | Jukurit (LIIGA)
Topias Hynninen started to produce in a meaningful way for Jukurit in his third season with the club. Hynninen, No. 129 in FCHockey’s Final ranking, showed some flashes in his first two seasons but, with a more consistent role, found the scoresheet more often. The 5-foot-11, 176-pound center had 35 points (12 goals, 23 assists) in 51 games in the regular season. He found another gear in the playoffs, registering 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in five games to help his squad avoid relegation. Hynninen was also a member of the Finnish team that took home silver at the World Juniors in Ottawa, contributing four assists.
“Hynninen is a really smart, fast playmaker that already drives the play well in Liiga among men,” Tirpak said. “He plays a simple style of game. He is smallish in size, so as a center he is not really adjusted to that and doesn’t win faceoffs as much as I would like him to.”
Petteri Rimpinen | G | Kiekko-Espoo (LIIGA)
Petteri Rimpinen is an undersized, athletic goalie who has produced some very good results in pro hockey in his last two seasons. Rimpinen, the No. 142 ranked player and 10th goalie in FCHockey’s Final ranking, had a .925 save percentage in 14 games in 2023-24 with Kiekko-Espoo in Finland’s second league, and a .920 in five playoff games to help his squad earn a promotion to Liiga. He stole the crease and posted a .912 in 40 starts in 2024-25. He also starred for Finland at the World Juniors with a .933 in seven games.
“Rimpinen’s athletic ability and no-quit attitude have been at the forefront of his rise to being a draft pick in his second year of eligibility,” FCHockey chief goaltending scout David Phillips said. “At the World Juniors, he showcased an elite ability to stay with the play and contest every puck that came his way, no matter what he had to do. Rimpinen also showed very strong tracking habits and the ability to find the puck through traffic, which is a trait that sets him apart from other small goalies in the past.”
Julius Sumpf | C | Moncton (QMJHL)
Julius Sumpf, ranked No. 160, is a disciplined, two-way forward who thrives in structured, system-driven play. He brings a strong work ethic, reliable hockey sense, and a north-south style that emphasizes puck support, forechecking, and positional responsibility. Defensively, he excels in coverage, tying up sticks, blocking lanes, and supporting defensemen. Though his skating is steady with above-average straight-line speed, limited agility and edgework constrain his elusiveness. Offensively, he leans on net-front presence, puck retrieval, and physicality rather than creativity, with a heavy but slow-release shot and accurate, low-risk passing. While not flashy, his intelligence, effort, and reliability make him a dependable checking-line center prospect.
“Sumpf increased his offensive output this season and was an integral part of one of the best teams in the Canadian Hockey League,” FCHockey regional scout Nathanial Duffett said. “The experience he gained as a top player with Moncton, and with Germany at the World Juniors, will only serve him well. He might not demonstrate as much offensive upside in the pro game, but with his combination of size and above-average skating, there’s no reason why he couldn’t find a home on a fourth line in the NHL one day.”
Liam Danielsson | RW | Obero HK (SHL)
Liam Danielsson, ranked No. 177, is a skilled, intelligent forward known for his refined offensive instincts, crisp passing, and fluid skating. He reads the ice well, makes quick decisions under pressure, and consistently creates high-danger chances. His skating features strong acceleration and edgework, allowing smooth transitions and effective puck control in tight spaces. He owns a quick, accurate shot and shows confidence driving into high-pressure areas. Defensively, he demonstrates solid positioning and active support, though his intensity without the puck can fluctuate. While not physical, he competes along the boards and adapts well to various roles. Overall, Danielsson is a creative, poised two-way threat with clear upside.
“Danielsson is known for his skating, hockey sense, and developing skills ,” FCHockey regional scout Jocke Andersson said. “He took on a leading role at the U20 level and earned pro experience, playing and practicing with the SHL club. He also showcased his potential and commitment to advancing his game at international junior games.”
Tomas Galvas | D | Bili Tygril Liberec (Czechia)
Tomas Galvas, slotted at No. 194, is a mobile, puck-moving defenseman whose smooth skating, edgework, and strong offensive instincts highlight his game. He excels at walking the blue line, creating passing and shooting lanes through deception and quick footwork. His puck distribution is clean and purposeful, helping spark transitions and support power-play effectiveness. Galvas handles pressure well, initiating breakouts with poise and showing strong spatial awareness. Defensively, he uses smart angles and stick work but struggles with physical battles due to his smaller frame. While his defensive limitations raise concerns, his high-end skating, hockey sense, and transition ability provide a clear path to pro-level contribution.
“Galvas’ blend of playing at the U20 level and at the highest level of Czechia pro hockey should add value to him potentially being selected as an overager,” Andersson said. “He has demonstrated solid defensive positioning and puck-moving ability to go with being recognized for his hockey sense and work ethic.”
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