2025 NHL Mock Draft: Who will Predators take at No. 5, Full first round predictions,

After the Florida Panthers clinched their second straight Stanley Cup over the Edmonton Oilers, the NHL’s offseason begins in earnest, starting with the 2025 NHL Draft on June 27 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).

The Nashville Predators have a total of nine picks, including three in the first round. General manager Barry Trotz has said the team will target the best player available, likely taking a forward with the No. 5 overall pick.

Here is The Tennessean’s 2025 NHL Mock Draft, with projections on all 32 picks in the first round.

1. New York Islanders – Matthew Schaefer (LHD, Erie Otters). The Islanders have an easy pick here. Schaefer is a dynamic, two-way defenseman that could develop into a Norris candidate in time.

2. San Jose Sharks – Michael Misa (C, Saginaw Spirit). Misa is the only sure-thing center in this draft. He’s a playmaker, a scorer, and can make a difference at both ends.

3. Chicago Blackhawks – Anton Frondell (C, Djurgårdens IF). This is where things get interesting. Chicago has been flirting with Frondell, a formidable Swedish pivot with a ton of upside.

4. Utah Mammoth – Porter Martone (RW, Brampton Steelheads). Utah has plenty of speedsters, but could use more size up front. Martone brings that, plus offensive punch.

5. Nashville Predators – James Hagens (C, Boston College). Trotz desperately wants a young center with speed and offensive skill. That’s exactly what Hagens brings.

6. Philadelphia Flyers – Caleb Desnoyers (C, Moncton Wildcats). A 6-foot-1, two-way center to help regroup the Flyers and establish a more concrete identity.

7. Boston Bruins – Jake O’Brien (C, Brantford Bulldogs). The Bruins need to reload up the middle and O’Brien has the potential to be a top-six center that can lead the way. He had 98 points in 66 games with the Bulldogs last season.

8. Seattle Kraken – Brady Martin (C, Soo Greyhounds). A vphysical forward with some puck skill.

9. Buffalo Sabres – Victor Eklund (LW, Djurgårdens IF). A Viktor Arvidsson comparable, the Sabres would love some offensive energy to get them out of their rebuilding funk.

10. Anaheim Ducks – Radim Mrtka (D, Seattle Thunderbirds). The second-best defenseman on the board, the Ducks could use more blue line help.

11. Pittsburgh Penguins – Roger McQueen (C, Brandon Wheat Kings). Injury issues push McQueen out of the top 10, but he’s a solid prospect.

12. New York Rangers – Jackson Smith (D, Tri-City Americans). Smith is a 6-3 defenseman with excellent skating ability.

13. Detroit Red Wings – Carter Bear (LW, Everett Silvertips). Bear scored 40 goals as an assistant captain for the Silvertips.

14. Columbus Blue Jackets – Kashawn Aitcheson (D, Barrie Colts). Aitcheson could very well be the best defenseman in this draft when it’s all over. He has tremendous potential.

15. Vancouver Canucks – Justin Carbonneau (RW, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada). Carbonneau could become a power forward for the Canucks.

16. Montreal Canadiens – Logan Hensler (D, Wisconsin). Hensler is a well-balanced defenseman to round out a good, young core for Montreal.

17. Montreal Canadiens – Lynden Lakovic (LW, Moose Jaw Warriors). Lakovic ia a skilled winger with size. He could be a decent power forward.

18. Calgary Flames – Braeden Cootes (C, Seattle Thunderbirds). Cootes is a smaller forward, but one with a great set of skills the Flames can build around.

19. St. Louis Blues – Cameron Reid (D, Kitchener Rangers). Reid is an averaged sized blue liner to provide depth for the Blues on defense.

20. Columbus Blue Jackets – Bill Zonnon (LW, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies). Zonnon is a 6-2, 190-pound winger to balance the Blue Jackets’ skill players.

21. Ottawa Senators – Cole Reschny (C, Victoria Royals). A North Dakota commit, Reschny had 25 points in 11 playoff games for the Royals last season.

22. Philadelphia Flyers – Sascha Boumedienne (D, Boston University). Boumedienne is a great skater, but may be more of a long term project for the Flyers.

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23. Nashville Predators – Blake Fiddler (D, Edmonton Oil Kings). The Predators get their home town product to add a big right-handed defenseman to their core.

24. Los Angeles Kings – Malcolm Spence (LW, Erie Otters). Spence had 73 points for the Otters last season and brings a ton of speed.

25. Chicago Blackhawks – William Horcoff (C/LW, USNTDP). A 6-4, 180-pound winger with great defensive ability.

26. Nashville Predators – Joshua Ravensbergen (G, Prince George Cougars). Trotz grabs the best goaltender in the draft to replace Yaroslav Askarov, who he traded away last summer.

27. Washington Capitals – Jack Nesbitt (C, Windsor Spitfires). Nesbitt is a big center with playmaking ability.

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28. Winnipeg Jets – Cullen Potter (LW, Arizona State). Potter is an explosive skater and dynamic scorer. He could play for the Jets sooner than you think.

29. Carolina Hurricanes – Milton Gastrin (C/LW, MoDo Hockey J20). Gastrin is a playmaking winger with solid two-way ability.

30. San Jose Sharks – Henry Brzustewicz (D, London Knights). The Sharks need as much blue line help as they can get.

31. Philadelphia Flyers – Cole McKinney (C, USNTDP). A physical, two-way forward, McKinney will play at Michigan in 2025-26.

32. Calgary Flames – Haoxi Wang (D, Boston University). A 17-year old who is 6-6 and 210 pounds, Wang would be the first Chinese national drafted in the first round.

Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NHL mock draft 2025: Who will Predators pick, first round predictions

2025 NHL Mock Draft: Who will Predators take at No. 5, Full first round predictions,

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