NHL Draft 2025 top prospects: Porter Martone ranks No. 1, James Hagens drops to No. 2

Boston College center James Hagens and Brampton Steelheads winger Porter Martone are neck and neck for me in the first-overall pick conversation, as they were entering the season.

Hagens is a smaller but dynamic play-driving center, and Martone is a highly skilled big winger with a lot of athleticism. It's not completely analogous, but their skill sets and positions remind me of how Logan Cooley was contrasted to Juraj Slafkovský ahead of the 2022 NHL Draft. I leaned Hagens entering the year; today I lean Martone, and my lean could change in my next update. I have Erie defenseman Matthew Schaefer at No. 3 on my list, but he's in the conversation to go No. 1 or 2 in part due to the fact that there is a giant chasm between him and the next-best defense prospect in this class.

The top of the 2025 class isn't overly deep, leading to what looks like a below-average draft overall, though it's still early and a lot can still change. There are anywhere from four to six truly premium prospects, though, depending on who you talk to in the league. Overall, I have 27 players graded currently as projected middle-of-the-lineup or better players, but that number tends to grow as seasons go along. While it's still early and a lot can change, I've seen enough data to start moving guys up and down my board significantly. You'll notice several highly rated guys in the offseason are either hanging on to their first-round range, or have fallen off completely.

(Illustration: Meech Robinson / The Athletic. Photos: Michael Miller / ISI Photos, Chris Tanouye, Leila Devlin / )