NHL Central Scouting reveals preliminary players to watch list for 2025 draft
James Hagens, the projected top pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, is among 24 players to earn an ‘A’ grade on the NHL Central Scouting preliminary players to watch list.
Hagens, No. 1 in FCHockey’s Preliminary ranking for the 2025 draft, has four points (one goal, three assists) in three games as a freshman with Boston College. He paced the US National Team Development Program with 102 points (39 goals, 63 assists) in 58 games in 2023-24.
The 18-year-old is one of 20 players skating in North America to earn the ‘A’ grade. An additional four international players also received the grade, which indicates a potential first-round candidate in 2025.
“Hagens has a strong case for No. 1 in 2025, but the biggest challenge for him will be to find that dynamic ability he showed in the USHL and translate it to the NCAA,” FCHockey scout Kyle Pereira said. “Finding that stride will help cement that status, but if he doesn’t, others could push into that spot.”
Other top prospects to receive the letter include Porter Martone of the Brampton Steelheads and Matthew Schaefer of the Erie Otters in the Ontario Hockey League, Roger McQueen of the Brandon Wheat Kings and Cole Reschny of the Victoria Royals in the Western Hockey League, Caleb Desnoyers of the Moncton Wildcats and Justin Carbonneau of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, Victor Eklund and Anton Frondell of Djurgårdens IF in J20 Nationell, Logan Hensler of Wisconsin and Cullen Potter of Arizona State in the NCAA, William Moore and Charlie Trethewey of the US National Team Development Program, and Ivan Ryabkin of Dynamo Moskva in the KHL.
The players on the preliminary list with A ratings are considered potential first-round picks. Players with B ratings are considered possible second- or third-round choices. Those with C ratings are potential fourth- or fifth-round candidates and players with a W rating are possible sixth- and seventh-round picks.
To view the NHL Central Scouting preliminary players to watch list, please click HERE.
| GRADE | FC RANK | NAME | POS | TEAM | LEAGUE | HT | WT |
| A | 1 | James Hagen | C | Boston College | NCAA | 5’10” | 152 |
| A | 2 | Porter Martone | RW | Brampton Steelheads | OHL | 6’3” | 170 |
| A | 3 | Matthew Schaefer | D | Erie Otters | OHL | 6’1” | 175 |
| A | 4 | Anton Frondell | C | Djurgårdens IF J20 | J20-NATIONELL | 6’0” | 179 |
| A | 5 | Ivan Ryabkin | C | Dynamo Moskva | KHL | 6’1” | 192 |
| A | 6 | Caleb Desnoyers | C | Moncton Wildcats | QMJHL | 6’0” | 178 |
| A | 7 | Roger McQueen | C | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | 6’4” | 185 |
| A | 8 | Michael Misa | C | Saginaw Spirit | OHL | 6’0” | 174 |
| A | 9 | Logan Hensler | D | Univ. of Wisconsin | NCAA | 6’2” | 196 |
| A | 10 | Malcolm Spence | LW | Erie Otters | OHL | 6’0” | 179 |
| A | 11 | Cole Reschny | C | Victoria Royals | WHL | 5’10” | 183 |
| A | 14 | Victor Eklund | LW | Djurgårdens IF J20 | J20-NATIONELL | 5’11” | 161 |
| A | 16 | Radim Mrtka | D | HC Frydek-Mistek | CZECHIA2 | 6’4” | 183 |
| A | 18 | Jake O’Brien | C | Brantford Bulldogs | OHL | 6’0” | 168 |
| A | 21 | Justin Carbonneau | RW | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | QMJHL | 6’1” | 190 |
| A | 22 | Kashawn Aitcheson | D | Barrie Colts | OHL | 6’0” | 172 |
| A | 29 | Brady Martin | C | Soo Greyhounds | OHL | 6’0” | 176 |
| A | 35 | Cullen Potter | LW | Arizona State Univ. | NCAA | 5’9” | 161 |
| A | 39 | Lynden Lakovic | LW | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 6’4” | 195 |
| A | 42 | Blake Fiddler | D | Edmonton Oil Kings | WHL | 6’4” | 207 |
| A | 45 | William Moore | C | U.S. National U18 Team | NTDP | 6’2” | 161 |
| A | 49 | Charlie Trethewey | D | U.S. National U18 Team | NTDP | 6’1” | 190 |
| A | 53 | Jackson Smith | D | Tri-City Americans | WHL | 6’3” | 190 |
| A | 66 | Joshua Ravensbergen | G | Prince George Cougars | WHL | 6’4” | 181 |