FCHockey releases Final ranking for the 2025 NHL Draft

Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman with Erie in the Ontario Hockey League, is No. 1 on FCHockey’s Final ranking for the 2025 NHL Draft.

Schaefer retains his status as the top prospect available in the 2025 draft, claiming the No. 1 spot in FCHockey’s Final ranking despite lack of playing time. He was limited to 17 games in his draft year due to some bad injury luck, including missing opening nine games of the season because of mononucleosis and the remainder of the season after sustaining a broken clavicle while playing for Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.

The 17-year-old still managed 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in the small sample size.

“Schaefer missed extended time in 2024-25 but impressed enough with his two-way acumen in that time to solidify his position as the top prospect for 2025,” FCHockey scout Joseph Aleong said. “His elite skating ability and vision allow him to exit his own end easily and make him a threat in transition. His puck skills and playmaking were at a high level as well, quarterbacking a power play effectively and making patient, difficult plays along the blue line and when attacking lower in the offensive end. His athletic frame, skating, and IQ at both ends make him clearly the best defender in this draft, and one of the top defensive prospects in recent years.”

Michael Misa, a center with Saginaw in the OHL, slots in at No. 2 in FCHockey’s Final ranking.

He has seen his stock slowly rise after a historic year, leading the entire Canadian Hockey League with 134 points (62 goals, 72 assists) in 65 games — the highest single-season total by an OHL player since Patrick Kane’s 145-point campaign with the London Knights in 2006-07. Misa’s 62 goals also tied Kane for the third-most by an NHL Draft-eligible player in OHL history, trailing only Eric Lindros (71, 1990-91) and Tony Tanti (81, 1980-81).

Misa, a former exceptional status player and first overall pick in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, has shattered records in Saginaw. This season, he set multiple franchise marks and now stands as the team’s all-time leading scorer with 265 points (113 goals, 152 assists) in just 177 career games.

“I think what makes Misa the best forward in this draft is how incredibly well he sees the ice and creates scoring opportunities for both himself and his teammates,” FCHockey scout Mike Kennedy said. “His ability to score goals at a breakneck pace this season is what really solidified him as the top forward prospect in my mind. His playmaking and hockey IQ were highly evident early on in his OHL career, but his knack for scoring timely goals really shone this season.”

James Hagens, a projected No. 1 option at the beginning of the season, ranks in at No. 3.

As a true freshman starting the season as a 17-year-old, the center produced a point-per-game season at Boston College with 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists) — leading all college draft-eligible players by 15 points. Hagens was also an important player on Team USA at the World Juniors, with the 5-foot-11, 176-pound New York product compiled nine points (five goals, four assists) while playing 19 minutes or more in seven games.

“I think his slide is more about the other two players than it is about him,” FCHockey scout Jacob Roth said. “Did he exceed the lofty expectations placed on him in his freshman season? No, but he still put in an incredibly productive season, putting up a point per game at Boston College, and was incredibly impressive at World Juniors. He has such great feel for the game and the puck-carrying and distribution skills to really control play and let the game flow through him. He has dynamic offensive skill, and while his defensive game isn’t high-end, it has a strong enough foundation to build around due to his understanding and positioning.”

Caleb Desnoyers‘ impressive season with Moncton in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League has pushed him up one spot since the spring to the No. 4 spot.

Desnoyers led the team with 84 points (35 goals, 49 assists) in 56 games en route to finishing as the top team in the league. He found yet another gear in the QMJHL playoffs while his team won the Gilles-Courteau Trophy as QMJHL champions. He was awarded the Guy Lafleur Trophy as the playoff MVP after scoring 30 points (nine goals, 21 assists) in 19 games.

“Desnoyers is the best two-way forward available in the 2025 draft with his mix of defensive responsibility and offensive prowess,” FCHockey scout Aaron Vickers said. “He may not be as flashy or dynamic as some other top prospects in the class, but his attention to detail in all three zones and ability to be a high-end offensive catalyst in the opponent’s end should make him an incredibly coveted prospect on draft day. He’s a player that was a winning pedigree at all levels.”

Porter Martone of Brampton in the OHL ranks No. 5.

The right winger finished with 98 points (37 goals, 61 assists) to put him behind only Misa and Ben Kindel (99 points in 65 games) among draft-eligible players in the CHL this season. The 6-foot-3, 207-pound power forward also got a pair of chances to represent his country in his draft year, too. Martone was named to Canada’s entry at the World Juniors, and again with the men’s program at the 2025 IIHF World Championship.

“Martone has been a high-profile prospect for a few years, lighting up the U18 World Championships last season and getting some valuable experience at both the World Juniors and World Championships this season,” Aleong said. “His leadership, heavy playing style, and high-level offensive skill set are some of the best in the entire draft. While his foot speed and defensive game could use some development, Martone is a physical beast, and his awareness at both ends makes him more than worthy of a top 10 draft pick.”

Joshua Ravensbergen of Prince George in the Western Hockey League continues to be the top goalie prospect in 2025, and the only one ranked inside the first round at No. 30.

The 6-foot-5, 192-pound, right-handed keeper established himself in 2023-24 as a goalie to watch for the 2025 draft. He posted a 2.46 goals-against average and .907 save percentage with six shutouts in the regular season. He stole the crease as the starter in the playoffs and helped Prince George to the conference final with a 1.98 GAA, .931 SV%, and three shutouts. Ravensbergen started 51 games this year and posted an impressive 33-13-4 record.

“Ravensbergen’s style of play and toolkit make him easy to project as a modern-day NHL goalie,” FCHockey goalie scout David Phillips said. “He doesn’t really have a weak trait in his game, and being as well-rounded as he is is rare for a draft-year goalie prospect.”

To view FCHockey’s full Final ranking for the 2025 draft, click HERE.

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