Central Scouting unveils final ranking for the 2025 NHL Draft

Matthew Schaefer of Erie in the Ontario Hockey League and Anton Frondell of Djurgarden in HockeyAllsvenskan have topped the final 2025 NHL Draft ranking by Central Scouting.

Schaefer, a defenseman who is no. 1 in FCHockey’s Spring ranking for the 2025 draft, has topped Central Scouting’s list of North American skaters. He had 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 17 games played in the OHL and two points (one goal, one assist) for Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship before sustaining a broken collarbone that has left him sidelined since late December.

He could become one of five defensemen taken first overall at the NHL Draft in the last quarter century, joining Owen Power (2021), Rasmus Dahlin (2018), Aaron Ekblad (2014) and Erik Johnson (2006).

“Schaefer is without question the top defenseman available in the 2025 draft,” FCHockey scout Aaron Vickers said. “His combination of skating and ability to process the play in all three zones is as good as any player, regardless of position, that this draft class has to offer. He can do it all, and is one of the youngest players available to be selected in 2025. He can be a franchise cornerstone to whichever team ultimately selects him.”

Michael Misa, ranked no. 3 at FCHockey, is second amongst North American skaters behind Schaefer.Misa had 134 points (62 goals, 72 assists) with Saginaw in the OHL — the league’s highest single-season point Toal since John Tavares and Patrick Kane in 2006-07.

James Hagens, no. 2 at FCHockey, is third amongst North American skaters. He finished fourth amongst freshmen skaters in scoring in the NCAA this season with 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists) in 37 games, and had nine points (five goals, four assists) in seven games to help Team USA to gold at the World Juniors.

Frondell, no. 7 at FCHockey, is the top-ranked international skater on Central Scouting’s list. Frondell, playing in Sweden’ssecond division, had 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) in 29 games — the second-most points every recorded by a player age 17 or younger in HockeyAllsvenskan behind William Nylander in 2013-14.

“Frondell’s excellence is in the details and that modern, power-forward game that he has,” FCHockey scout Samuel Tirpak said. “He has a great shot, drives play extremely well, is responsible and, for a player that had such a double-sided season from first half to second, sustaining the details, shooting activity, everyday habits and creating pressure offensively like he does shows a sign of maturity in his game that’s rare at this age. He is a really safe and high end selection for a team that wants a certain player type long-term.”

Victor Eklund, no. 6 at FCHockey, is the second-ranked. International skater at Central Scouting. Eklund finished with 31 points (19 goals, 12 assists) in 42 games, the most points by a player aged 18 or younger in that league since Elias Pettersson in 2016-17.

Joshua Ravensbergen of Prince George in the Western Hockey League is Central Scouting’s top-ranked North American goaltender. He is no. 32 at FCHockey. Pyotr Andreyanov of CSKA Jr. in Russia’s top junior league leads the list of international goaltenders, and is no. 81 at FCHockey.

To view the NHL Central Scouting final ranking, please click HERE.

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