With the National Hockey League down to their final four teams, it is time to add the eliminated teams to our 2025 mock draft. To review in case you missed Part one (1-5), Part two (6-10), and Part three (11-17), now here are my projected pick for spots 18 to 23. We will post projected picks 24 to 28 in Part 5 tomorrow.
These are picks that I believe are what address the needs that each team has. Not going to apologize if that is not popular for your team. Teams that look for the “sexy” pick rarely draft the right person and the franchise is who suffers the most.
Mock Draft: Pick 18 — Calgary Flames
This was originally New Jersey’s pick, but they traded it to Calgary in the Jacob Markstrom deal. Their biggest needs are playmaking forward and depth at center, so they are shocked that LW/RW Victor Eklund of Djurgardens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan) is still here.
Eklund is an under-sized (5’11 161 lbs.) forward who plays above his size. He is a dual offensive threat as he can score, or he can fill the role of a playmaker. He has above average skills as a skater, hockey IQ, and work ethic.
Always plays hard and is not afraid to go into the corners to fight puck battles. If he is anything like his older brother William of San Jose, then this pick will be a winner.
Mock Draft: Pick 19 — St. Louis Blues
The Blues would love to find a right-handed defenseman but there is not one worth taking here so they look to add depth to their forwards and will pick LW Malcom Spence of the Erie Otters (OHL). This is going to be doubly interesting as Spence has committed to playing for Michigan (NCAA) next year.
Spence is a solid player who brings a combination of skill, physicality, and three zones compete to his game. The knock on him is he can be inconsistent at times which is why you will find the scouting reports on him as being all over the place.
Going to Michigan where he will be playing against top level competition every night, I believe is going to help him in maturing as a player. Has the potential to be a top six player if that is what he wants to be.
Mock Draft: Pick 20 — Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets need to look at adding defensemen. They passed on drafting one with their first pick in this draft. They must take one here, so they select Theodor Hallquisth of Örebro HK (SHL).
A solid defensive prospect with good passing skills, Hallquisth needs to learn to take the shot when he could take one. However defensively, he checks all the boxes as he can be a physical clearing the crease, a smart defender who can read the ice in front of him or a mature one who never loses his composure when under pressure.
A good passer who can get the puck up ice in a hurry, wants to see him add some more muscle upper and lower body, and while he is a good overall skater, improve his first step acceleration.
Mock Draft: Pick 21 — Ottawa Senators
The Sens could use all the help they can find. They have one of the weakest prospect pools in the NHL. In this case the best available player is the way they need to go and that would be LW Lyden Lakovic of Moose Jaw (WHL).
Lakovic is a big body (6’4 190 lbs.) who is more of a finesse player than a physical one. He is not going to be a power forward at the NHL level, but he skates better than most his size. Lakovic is a big game player as he despite missing 21 games due to injury was 27-31-58 in just 47 games. His 1.23 points per game translates to 39-45-84 would have made him a top 20 scorer this season.
Mock Draft: Pick 22 — Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers have some decent defense prospects in the system, ranging from Spencer Gill at the junior level to Emil Andrae, Hunter McDonald and Helge Grans in the AHL. None, however, are can’t miss NHL prospects. Far from it, in fact. With their second pick in the first round, the Flyers target a left-handed defenseman, with plus skating ability. Here, they draft defenseman Lasse Boelius of Assat JR (Finland JR). Can see Flyer fans upset with this pick as they will look to find fault with this pick.
But Boelius is a smooth-skating, mobile defenseman who can quarterback the power play, he is an excellent passer who also has great on ice vision. His passing skills alone will make Flyer fans happy to have him.
The Finnish back needs to get stronger on the upper body as he is not the biggest defender, but his offensive play will make up for it. Has one of the best hockey IQs among European players.
Mock Draft: Pick 23 — Nashville Predators
This the second of Nashville’s three first-round selections. They can roll the dice on a toolsy prospect. Consequently, here is where they look at adding a physical forward Jack Murtagh of USNTDP. Murtagh can play center or left wing but will wind up on the wing as a pro is heading to Boston University next year.
Already with an NHL type body (6-foot-1, 200 pounds), Murtagh likes to play an up tempo game which allows him to use his body to put himself into position to get accurate shots to the net. Has a nasty looking one-timer that gets on net and creates rebounds for his teammates.
The teenager needs some work improving his defensive side of the game. Boston University is the perfect place for him to learn such skills.
