Top 10 ‘big guy’ prospects for the 2025 NHL Draft

May 29, 2025, 10:00 EDT

Top 10 ‘big guy’ prospects for the 2025 NHL Draft

Credit: Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff

Yesterday, we took a look at 10 of the better “small guy” prospects in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Today, we’re going the opposite direction, looking at the true big dawgs of the draft class. To narrow the search, we’re focusing on players standing 6-foot-5 or taller. These are the best of the best among tall players, and we could see all taken in the top 80 of the draft in Los Angeles next month.

If you’re wondering who the biggest players are in the draft, look no further than in the crease with 6-foot-8 keepers Louis-Antoine Denault and Trenten Bennett. Denault was the fifth-ranked North American-based goaltender this year after a good season with the Quebec Ramparts, while Bennett made his mark in the same CCHL that Devon Levi once made a name for himself.

Last year, Dean Letourneau went in the first round to the Boston Bruins. At 6-foot-6, he’s an absolute monster of a center. He’s a bit of a project player as he adjusts to his bigger frame, but that’s someone you don’t want to mess with.

This year? We likely won’t see anyone that tall go early, but we could have three players standing 6-foot-5 selected on Day 1 of the draft.

Here’s a look at 10 of the better big players at this year’s draft. All heights are taken from NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings before their updated measurements at the draft combine:

1. Roger McQueen, C (Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL)

McQueen might be the riskiest pick this season, but at the same time, one absolutely worth making for some teams. He played just 20 games between the regular season and the playoffs. But he was productive, physical, and brought so much to the table that very few else possess in this draft. McQueen has a big 6-foot-5 frame and plays with the skill of a 5-foot-11 speedster. He can shoot, pass and intimidate all in one shift. A back injury is a tough one to overcome fully, but his pure talent is undeniable. Few players have the pure upside that McQueen does. Still, he’s one of the biggest wild cards in the draft, much like Cayden Lindstrom was a year ago.

2. Radim Mrtka, RHD (Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL)

Could Mrtka be the second defenseman off the board? Some scouts think it’s possible. He was 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-5, a right-hand shot and quite mobile and there’s a lot to love. That’s the thing about Mrtka – you won’t find many blueliners his size who can accelerate like he can, and the Czech defender doesn’t seem too fazed rushing the puck at speed, either.

3. Joshua Ravensbergen, G (Prince George Cougars, WHL)

Ravensbergen is one of the best all-around goaltending prospects we’ve seen in quite some time. He’s 6-foot-5 and takes up a lot of space, and he has excellent reflexes, too. Package that together, and he’s an intriguing prospect. His numbers aren’t fantastic by any means, but he snagged wins consistently on a team that would be in a lot more trouble if he didn’t have their back. This is a quality draft for goaltenders, but Ravensbergen is the closest to feeling like a legit No. 1 goaltender. For teams with multiple first-rounders, Ravensbergen should absolutely be a target.

4. Haoxi ‘Simon’ Wang, LHD (Oshawa Generals, OHL)

Now this is one that’ll be highly debated. The Boston University commit was dominant against OJHL competition with the King Rebellion, but he was so-so in the OHL. The big draw here surrounds Wang’s pure upside. He only started to play at a high level competitively a few years ago, and he’s learning how to use his 6-foot-6 frame to his advantage. The Beijing, China native can skate well and has good offensive instincts. Moving forward, reading plays on the rush will be something he needs to work on, but the raw talent is there. You might need some patience if you’re the team that selects Wang, but you might be getting a second-pairing defenseman if everything works out right.

5. Vaclav Nestrašil, RW (Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL)

Nestrašil is set to head to UMass a year early in 2025-26. He’s been solid in the USHL, but you have to dig beyond the scoresheet to see just how dangerous he can be. The Czech forward is 6-foot-5, skates well and is exceptionally skilled with the puck. He’s tall, but he’s not physically strong. Once he adds some muscle to his game, he could become quite the power forward. At this point, there’s enough to like about him to consider him a second-rounder.

6. Will Horcoff, LW (Univ. of Michigan, NCAA)

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 put up some solid numbers with Michigan and I thought he looked good at the U-18s, even if he wasn’t in a shining role. Horcoff will be an NHLer based on his work ethic alone. Everything else? A bonus.

7. Mason West, C (Fargo Force, USHL)

West has received a lot of praise in the scouting community recently, and for good reason. He’s a 6-foot-6 center who loves to overpower defenders and beat opponents with skill. He spent most of the year playing high school hockey but then finished the season with some excellent performances with the USHL’s Fargo Force. Every time I watch him, he finds a way to get better. The upside is tremendous, and he doesn’t struggle with traits that some other big forwards can, including slower hands and feet. A team looking to swing big could take West high in the second round, but it’s unlikely he’s available at the end.

8. Peyton Kettles, RHD (Swift Current Broncos, WHL)

Kettles didn’t put up many points in Swift Current, but he wasn’t afraid to absolutely blast someone. The 6-foot-5 defender takes up a ton of space, defends well and is decently mobile for his size. He can kill penalties, and I actually think he’s better offensively than his offensive numbers would suggest. Kettles also plays a ton of minutes, which is never a bad thing. He’s a hard-nosed defeneder who gives you little to work with, and teams crave guys like that as potential third-pairing options.

9. Max Pšenička, RHD (Portland Winterhawks, WHL)

A move to Portland later in the season really helped Pšenička earn the ice time he needed to showcase his true talent. He has a big 6-foot-5 frame, competes hard and is mobile, too. Defensively, he’s above average. Offensively, I’m not sure there’s enough there – yet. I’d like to see him add some muscle, but he doesn’t seem to carry extra weight around and uses it to beat opponents with speed. As a project player, Pšenička is in a good spot, and there’s plenty of runway for him to become something quite notable.

10. Daniil Prokhorov, RW (Dynamo St. Petersburg, MHL)

There seem to be split opinions on Prokhorov. For starters, his stat line in the Russian junior league looks hilarious – 20 goals, but just 27 points in 43 games. But you’re not drafting him to be an all-around threat. Instead, you’re looking at his 6-foot-5 frame, his absolute bullet release and his brute strength. Is he a risk? Maybe. He’s not skilled enough, but he has good enough speed to be a project NHLer. His game can be basic at times, but his pure muscle mass makes him interesting.

Other notables: Louis-Antoine Denault, G (Quebec Remparts, QMJHL); Måns Goos, G (Farjestad BK, Sweden U-20); Matthew Gard, C (Red Deer Rebels, WHL); Carter Amico, RHD (USNTDP); Jacob Rombach, LHD (Lincoln Stars, USHL)

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