2025 NHL Draft: Top 10 prospects to watch in the NCAA

Credit: Steven Ellis/The Nation Network

The NCAA has become a hot topic this year since they relaxed the rules to allow major junior players to participate under certain conditions.

We haven’t seen the full effects of what could happen just yet, but it’s definitely going to be an intriguing storyline moving forward. It’s not outlandish to think that after Macklin Celebrini went first overall last year, we could see NCAA players get selected with the top pick in each of the next two drafts (if Gavin McKenna does indeed take the college route, as expected).

There aren’t a ton of first-year draft eligibles from the NCAA on any given year, and that’s because they either have to fast-track school or be born just after the Sept. 15 cutoff from the previous year. That means there are only seven first-year prospects to choose from this year, but that doesn’t mean we might not see more selected from the top college ranks. It’s quality over quantity here.

Here’s a look at 10 current NCAA players you need to know ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft:

1. James Hagens, C (Boston College)

Hagens has been near the top of the 2025 NHL Draft for a few years now, and for good reason. He’s really smart, plays a great two-way game and can thrive with just about anyone. He’s currently playing with two of the best NCAA players at Boston College in Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault, but Hagens also showed last year just how good he could be with more role-oriented players as he took the all-time single-tournament scoring lead at the U-18 World Championship. Hagens has all the makings of being a No. 1 center on many NHL teams – or at the very least, a high-end No. 2.

2. Logan Hensler, RHD (Univ. of Wisconsin)

Hensler was once projected to be a potential top-five pick for 2025, so his stock has fallen a bit. Some of it has been out of his hands – a few other defenders have helped make the race a bit more exciting. In other cases, scouts just want to see more. He’s a 6-foot-2, mobile blueliner who has good reach and can rough guys up, and he’s solid in his own zone. You won’t confuse him for a puck-rushing offensive defenseman, though. There’s still solid second-pairing potential, or even first-pairing if you pair him with someone who likes to do more with the puck.

3. Shane Vansaghi, RW (Michigan State University)

After he was more of a support player deeper down in the USA Hockey National Team Development Program lineup last year, I grew to really like Vansaghi’s game. The strong winger is exactly what you’re looking for from a bottom-six forward: he hits hard, brings energy, and never gives up on a play. We’ve seen him bounce all throughout the MSU lineup this year, and he has always found ways to produce. I think Vansaghi will be an attractive option for an NHL team looking to get tougher to play against deeper in the lineup – he has plenty of pro traits already.

4. Cullen Potter, LW (Arizona State University)

Consistency has been a bit of an issue for Potter – but when ASU is thriving, Potter typically is too. He’s playing around 20 minutes a night as of late and scouts have been impressed with his play-driving abilities. He’s 5-foot-9, but his pure skill and ability to make things happen with the puck should keep him high in the draft conversation. Overall, I like his commitment to playing in all three zones, and he anticipates plays and gets himself where he needs to be better than most of the draft class.

5. Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen, RHD (Univ. of Michigan)

Rheaume-Mullen was never in the spotlight with the USNTDP, but he’s looking good in the NCAA. The defensive defender is an excellent skater and is almost always one of Michigan’s best players in his own zone. He’s best when defending against skilled players trying to make quick, skilled moves because he never seems to fall for flash and pizzazz. His game with the puck isn’t great, though, which will hurt his stock.

6. Sascha Boumedienne, LHD (Boston University)

Boumedienne made noise after an explosive start to his junior career with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms last year. But it feels like we’ve missed him making any big steps in his game ever since he struggled to make the right decisions with the puck at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Now at Boston University, he’s playing between 18-20 minutes a night and has gotten better as the season has worn on. The highs are high, the lows are low – he’s a real high-risk, high-reward defender.

7. William Horcoff, C (Univ. of Michigan)

You might know about William’s dad – former NHLer Shawn Horcoff. The elder Horcoff was a gritty playmaker during his peak days with the Oilers, but Will loves to put players through the glass whenever possible. He hasn’t put up a ton of points this year, but he’s good in his own zone. Horcoff only joined Michigan in January, but he made a big first impression with a two-point effort in the outdoor game against Ohio. He’s already producing better at college than he did with the USNTDP, which is fascinating.

8. Francesco Dell’Elce, LHD (UMass)

Many expected Dell’Elce to get drafted two years ago, and he has even participated in the past two Montreal Canadiens development camps. So we know there’s definitely some interest in his game. But after playing prep hockey in his draft season and having just an OK year in the BCHL last year, scouts wanted to see more. Now, he’s producing at a 25-point pace as a rookie at UMass, which is no small feat for someone his age. The King City, Ontario native is a mobile, offensive defender who loves to shoot the puck and make things happen in the O-zone. I think he has improved defensively but can still get caught trying to activate a bit too much. I do like his raw talent, though.

9. Charlie Cerrato, C (Penn State University)

A product of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, Cerrato regressed as the 2023 draft season wore on, and he was ultimately demoted to the U-17 squad. Undrafted, Cerrato spent last year in the USHL putting up 50 points in 45 games in a leading role with Youngstown. Now a college freshman, Cerrato is second in scoring at Penn State with 22 points in 24 games. It’s not uncommon to see a prospect who once played a minuscule role with the USNTDP strike gold somewhere else, but Cerrato has evolved to the point where a team might take a chance on him later in the draft. He’s still a below-average skater, but his hockey sense has improved over the past few years, and he’s good in his own zone.

10. Will Felicio, LHD (Univ. of Michigan)

If there’s one thing to knock Felicio for, it’s his size. At 5-foot-10, he’s small and rarely gets involved physically. But he often makes up for it with some excellent skill that, at one point, made him a potential first-round pick in the eyes of some scouts last year. Felicio is having a solid offensive season as a freshman, but his below-average skating – both in top speed and overall mobility – has kept him from reaching the heights needed to stand out. He can’t do much to fix the lack of size, but if he can keep finding ways to be useful with and without the puck, I could see a team taking a chance on him.

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