2025 Mock Draft Picks 6-10

Yesterday, we started our 2025 mock NHL draft by examining the first five selections in the NHL Entry Draft. Instead of evaluating talent, we based our selections on each team’s most pressing needs.

The top five were:

1-New York Islanders – Michael Misa C/LW

2- San Jose Sharks – Matthew Schaefer D

3-Chicago Blackhawks – Porter Martone RW

4- Utah Mammoth – Anton Frondell C/LW

5- Nashville Predators – James Hagen C

Here are picks 6-10, starting with the Philadelphia Flyers.

6-Philadelphia Flyers – GM Daniel Briere had their hearts set on Anton Frondell as the Flyers desperately need a top-level center to play with Matvei Michkov. Jake O’Brien of Brantford (OHL) is not a bad consolation prize for them to have.

O’Brien is a very smart two-way center with an extremely high upside to his game. He has considerable size at 6’2 and eventually could weigh around 200 lbs, which will help his power game. He has great instincts at both ends of the ice as he reads plays with a high hockey IQ.

Would like to see a little more of a physical game out of him, but for a Flyers club that needs a center who can develop in a hurry and be productive, O’Brien fits the bill perfectly.

7-Boston Bruins – Boston comes into this draft also needing a number one center, and the Flyers took the player they wanted, so the Bruins will settle for Caleb Desnoyers of Moncton (QMJHL). A player that the scouts like to use the word “cerebral” to describe how he approaches the game.

Desnoyers is an excellent team player as he works well with or without the puck on his stick. If you need someone to make a play for a teammate, this is your guy, as he does a masterful job of putting his teammates into position where they can make plays.

But if you need him to score the big goal in the biggest moments of the game, Desnoyers is just as comfortable doing that as well. But the biggest reason to like him is that he is a big game player, and this year’s QMJHL playoffs show that. Desnoyers has played in 13 playoff games this year, helping his Moncton Wildcats make it to the QMJHL finals. He is 9-15-24 with points in 12 out of the 13 playoff games he has played in.

At this rate, he might not fall this far in the draft, but if he does, then Boston is getting a winner.

8-Seattle Kraken- New Kraken GM Jason Botterill is going to make Kraken fans very happy, as the player they are going to pick has played in their backyard all year long. Seattle needs a top-pair defenseman, and they are going to grab 6’6 Radim Mrtka of the Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL).

This import from Czechia needed almost no time at all to adjust to the North American style of hockey. This almost perfect blending of size, athleticism, and advanced mobility will make him a top pair defender in the NHL sooner rather than later.

Do not let the 3-32-35 numbers fool you, as he put those numbers up in just 43 WHL games, and if he had played more, those numbers would have been higher. One other thing to like about this teenager is that he does not turn 18 until Jun 9th.

Defensively, he can disrupt plays with his size and reach, or he will not hesitate to go down to block a shot if needed. This is a minute-eating defender who is only going to get better as he gets older.

9-Buffalo Sabres- was coming into this draft looking to find a solid playing center to dish the puck to an already deep collection of goal-scoring forwards. But falling backwards two spots in the draft has taken the best playmakers out of the equation.

And over the years, I have learned that if the Buffalo bloggers and fans want a specific player, then the team will disappoint them by picking someone else. This year is no exception, but this prospect is the better option as Buffalo needs to improve their blueline, and this guy will do just that.

Thinking the Sabres will select defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson of Barrie (OHL). Call this the guy I was hoping would fall to the Rangers, as Aitcheson just by showing up becomes their best young defender. Built like a linebacker, plays like a physical force who, if he were a WWE wrestler, would have the name “Mad Dog” for the intensity that he brings to the ice. Older fans will think of a younger version of Scott Stevens of the Devils, the way he plays defense.

Heavy but very clean hitter who opposing players never want to be caught with their heads down. Protector of his teammates, a crease-clearing defender who has much more offense than he is given credit for.

10-Anaheim Ducks- need a two-way defenseman in the worst way, and their best choice is a two-way defenseman named Jackson Smith of Tri-City (WHL). Smith has great size (6’3) but his best weapon is his skating ability as he can lead the rush, QB from the point using his mobility to open space for passing or shooting.

Needs to learn to play a more physical game on the defensive end as he currently relies too much on his skating in the defensive zone. His first step is going to make opposing players look bad as he can accelerate like he was a forward.

Very much what the modern NHL defenseman should play like, as he plays his position with the smarts of a grand chess expert. He will be NHL-ready sooner than most in his draft class.