2025 NHL Draft: Top 10 prospects from the WHL you need to know

Blake Fiddler (Janise Michel/Edmonton Oil Kings)

Credit: Janise Michel/Edmonton Oil Kings

We’ve already done a few league-by-league breakdowns for the 2025 NHL Draft, starting with the NCAA and treading up north into the OHL.

Next up: we’re sticking in the CHL to check out the Dub. The WHL should have a solid showing at the 2025 NHL Draft, with around 10 prospects projected to go in the first round alone. They might not have a top-five prospect this year (although some say Roger McQueen could), but they’ve got plenty of high-caliber players at every position – something very few leagues can boast.

So while the OHL might have the edge in terms of upper-class talent, the WHL could beat them in the quantity department – and the quality will be mighty impressive, too:

1. Roger McQueen, C (Brandon Wheat Kings)

An injury knocked McQueen out for close to five months, and his return to Brandon has been a bit slow. But scouts absolutely love the massive 6-foot-5 forward, someone who isn’t afraid of anything and has the energy to match it. He blends a unique mix of size, playmaking, hockey sense, and an outstanding shot – he was scoring at a point-per-game pace before his injury. I want to see him move a bit quicker when he’s dealing with pressure-packed situations, but he has a unique base to build around. A team with some high-end prospects could look past McQueen’s injury issues and bet high on one of the most unique players in this draft class.

2. Jackson Smith, LHD (Tri-City Americans)

Many consider Smith to be the second-best defensive prospect in the draft behind Matthew Schaefer, and I agree. From an overall package standpoint, Smith has so many things going for him. He’s physical, skates so well, and he’s very mobile for a 6-foot-3 defenseman. I also think his hockey sense is great, and it’s only a matter of time until he finds a way to explode offensively. I’ve seen him play in person a handful of times this year, and he almost always was one of my favorite defenders on the ice.

3. Carter Bear, C/LW (Everett Silvertips)

A season-ending injury this week means we won’t get to see Bear rip things up in the WHL playoffs, which is a shame. Bear was one of the CHL’s most dangerous forwards this year, registering 40 goals, 82 points and 77 penalty minutes in just 56 games. He’s a difficult player to play against, and his athleticism is top-notch. I still think he goes high in the draft, but it’ll be interesting to see if his late injury impacts his draft status. For what it’s worth, I don’t think so. Bear should be one of the most interesting prospects to watch in the Dub next year as he looks to get back on track.

4. Radim Mrtka, RHD (Seattle Thunderbirds)

Mrtka has impressed since joining the Thunderbirds. It was a necessary move, leaving HC Ocelari Trinec in the top Czech pro league, where he essentially fell out of favor and lost his ice time. He played some games in the U-20 league, but he was much better off heading to the WHL. He’s been a big-time producer with the Thunderbirds and would probably finish with 50 points in a full season. Tack on the fact he’s 6-foot-6, a right-hand shot and quite mobile and there’s a lot to like.

5. Lynden Lakovic, LW (Moose Jaw Warriors)

Lakovic is so much fun to watch, and while he’s not putting up explosive offensive numbers, he reads plays so well and has an excellent shot. Things just seem to happen whenever he has the puck on the rush, and at 6-foot-4, he’s got tremendous size. Some scouts think he’s going to be more of a second-liner at best. He drives tbe play a bit like Dmitri Voronkov, but I’d like to see it more consistently. Still, from an overall base, there’s a lot to like.

6. Blake Fiddler, RHD (Edmonton Oil Kings)

Standing tall at 6-foot-4, Fiddler is a big-bodied defender who clears forwards away from his net and pushes opponents to the perimeter. Fiddler is averaging around 22 minutes a night this year and already looks good with the puck. He’s mobile, and while he isn’t the quickest defender overall, he moves well for his size. Fiddler also comes from great hockey bloodlines – his father, Vern, played 14 seasons in the NHL, while his brother, Riley, has spent the past season with the AHL’s Rochester Americans.

7. Braeden Cootes, C (Seattle Thunderbirds)

Cootes might become more of an energy forward in the NHL, but he’ll be a good one at that. The thing that really stands out here is just how much he wants the puck, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Cootes is also a solid playmaker, often easily finding teammates in open space. I think his value goes far beyond his numbers, which you want from a center. He’s not small at six-foot, but he’s not huge, either. That doesn’t seem to hurt him, though, because he’s not afraid to play with an edge.

8. Benjamin Kindel, RW (Calgary Hitmen)

Kindel has been one of the WHL’s hottest prospects this season, and he’s quickly becoming one of the most popular names in the public scouting sphere. He’s equally good as a shooter and a playmaker and is the driving force of Calgary’s attack. Kindel does a great job of finding open space and exploiting it and he has a shot he can unleash from just about anywhere. Below-average skating and a lack of a physical edge knock him down a few pegs, but many teams should consider him for his pure puck skills and solid all-around improvement. I’ve probably been a bit too low on him this season.

9. Joshua Ravensbergen, G (Prince George Cougars)

Ravensbergen has a real chance at getting taken in the first round. He’s the near-unanimous No.1 goalie prospect this year. At 6-foot-5, he has incredible size, great athleticism, and a calm demeanour. Package that together, and he’s an intriguing prospect. His numbers aren’t fantastic by any means, but he gets wins on a consistent basis on a team that would be in a lot more trouble if he didn’t have their back. Look for Ravensbergen to become an NHL starter one day.

10. Cameron Schmidt, RW (Vancouver Giants)

Schmidt might be small at 5-foot-8, but he makes up for it in pure skill. He started the season as one of the league’s most productive forwards. His numbers started to quiet down as the season wore on, but he still showed his incredible puck skills and play reads every single night. Schmidt is a pure offensive forward with great speed and likes being in front of the net. We’ll see if a team bets high on his skill in the first round.

Other notables: Cole Reschny, C (Victoria Royals); Nathan Behm, RW (Kamloops Blazers, WHL); Reese Hamilton, LHD (Regina Pats); Matthew Gard, C (Red Deer Rebels); Jordan Gavin, LW (Tri-City Americans)