Top 15 centers for the 2025 NHL Draft
There’s almost never a bad time to draft a centerman.
And that’s definitely true in 2025. We could see upwards of four of the top five picks being middlemen, but whether they’ll remain at that position once they crack the NHL is a different story. Teams often prefer players who play center because it’s much easier to have one transition into a winger if needed, rather than vice versa.
Today, we’re looking at the top 15 centers for the 2025 NHL Draft. Position designations are based on NHL Central Scouting’s final draft list, and the rankings are largely based on Daily Faceoff’s recent top 80 list. Michael Misa, James Hagens and Caleb Desnoyers lead a strong center group heading toward the NHL Draft in Los Angeles:
1. Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit, OHL)
Misa is coming off one of the most impressive goal-scoring campaigns we’ve ever seen in the OHL. That alone could push him into the No. 1 draft spot this year. Misa has the outstanding ability to find ways to get into high-danger scoring positions. If I was a coach and needed someone to score a big goal late to win a game, Misa would be my pick. He has the best offensive instincts of any player in this draft. I want to see him battle harder more often (it feels like he cheats up the ice sometimes) but he’s got the pure skill to be a top-line NHLer sooner rather than later. We’ll see if he goes the college route next year – it would be best for him to bulk up physically.
2. James Hagens (Boston College, NCAA)
As an actual center, I think Hagens might be better than Misa – at least right now. Down the line, though, Hagens needs to add extra muscle to excel at the next level. He is stronger than he was a year ago, but it’s still a work in progress. Hagens’ hockey sense and two-way play are great, and he’s an outstanding passer, too. He had a point-per-game freshman season at Boston College, and won gold at the World Juniors, too. Add in record-breaking numbers at the U-17 World Challenge and U-18 World Championship and it’s easy to see the appeal.
3. Caleb Desnoyers (Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL)
Desnoyers is a safe bet to become a two-way, top-six forward. I like his physical play, even though he’s not huge. I think he’s a great playmaker and he’s one of the smarter centers in this draft. Desnoyers might not be the flashiest, but he does so many intelligent things with the puck. Desnoyers is a guy you can win with, having done so at various international tournaments and in the 2025 QMJHL final. It’s a shame he didn’t get to battle for the Memorial Cup after Moncton missed out on the final. Still, the ability to stay calm and collected under pressure – and still perform to a high level – matters to NHL teams. Desnoyers isn’t flashy, but he’s got everything else going for him.
4. Anton Frondell (Djurgardens, Allsvenskan)
Frondell finished with one of the most productive seasons by a U-18 player in Allsvenskan history despite missing time with injuries. He has experience down the middle and on the wing, which makes him intriguing. Frondell has a fantastic shot release and he’s getting even better at attacking pucks, too. Frondell loves spending time in open space, and I also like that he battles behind the net to get the puck more than he used to. I wish he’d dominate shifts more consistently, but he’s still one of the best players every time he hits the ice. I think the floor here is better than most.
5. Jake O’Brien (Brantford Bulldogs, OHL)
O’Brien has the skills and the smarts to be a very impressive center in the NHL. His off-puck play is great, and he’s always out-thinking his opponents. O’Brien just fell short of 100 points with 98, but he only continued to get better as the season wore on. He’s never going to blow you away with his pure skill, but his work ethic and ability to be effective in all three zones will allow him to have a solid career. I wouldn’t be surprised to see O’Brien go even higher in the draft as teams look to bank on his overall package.
6. Brady Martin (Soo Greyhounds, OHL)
Martin is ahead of O’Brien in my latest draft rankings, but I think O’Brien will be a better center. Martin has the versatility to play anywhere up front, which is partly why I love his game, even if it’s not a huge reason. He’s built for the playoffs – he plays a bit like Brad Marchand. Martin played at more than a point per game in the OHL while being one of the Soo’s most important forwards. He was also one of the best players at both the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the U-18 World Championship. Away from the puck, He hits everyone in sight, constantly battles hard for the puck and is a noted goal-scorer, too. He doesn’t always have top-level players to play with on the Greyhounds, but he does look like one of the best players to come out of the OHL this year because he does so much all over the ice and never gives up on a play. Martin is a center, but I think he’ll be better suited on the wing in the NHL.
7. Roger McQueen (Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL)
McQueen might be the riskiest pick given that 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 but has tremendous skill, too. 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. If he’s good to go next year, look for McQueen to put a beating on the rest of the WHL.
8. Cole Reschny (Victoria Royals, WHL)
Reschny had one of the best ends to the season, closing out the campaign with an excellent U-18 World Championship. Even when he wasn’t producing, he was making great plays at both ends and was stout on the power play. Reschny isn’t huge, but he makes up for it with explosive speed and elusiveness, making him a tough player to contain on the rush. He’s an outstanding playmaker, maybe one of the best in this class. Reschny’s competitive nature will take him far, and he has proven internationally that he can be an offensive catalyst with other high-end prospects.
9. Braeden Cootes (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Cootes showed a little bit of everything that makes him intriguing at the U-18s earlier this month. I think he’ll be more of a good support forward who brings the energy every shift, but he’s always thinking about making an impact pass whenever possible. I also think Cootes is one of the most competitive centers on this list. His value goes far beyond his numbers, which you want from a center. I’ve really grown on Cootes’ game as the season has developed, and while I don’t see a high ceiling, I think he’s got all the tools to be a very solid NHLer.
10. Milton Gastrin (Modo, Sweden U-20)
Gastrin doesn’t get enough love for just how steady he was this season. I loved him every time he wore the Tre Kronor, and he showed he could be quite a responsible two-way player. Gastrin likely won’t be a high-end point producer in the NHL, but he will do so many other things that excite you. He’s defensively responsible, wins a ton of face-offs and can play the wing when you need him to. We’ve seen him play with some of Sweden’s better players in international junior tournaments, and he has never looked out of place.
11. Ivan Ryabkin (Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL)
Ryabkin is one of the most divisive players in this draft because he initially emerged as a potential top-five pick. But his performance in Russia was inconsistent and he needed a change of scenery. He’s was productive after his move to Muskegon, though, playing at a 40-goal pace. We’ve also seen him flesh out his physical and playmaking games, with his passing and hockey sense being two of his best traits. A boost of confidence in the USHL seems to have really helped Ryabkin’s stock after falling out of the first round in the eyes of many at the halfway point of the season.
12. William Moore (USNTDP)
I really liked Moore at the U-18s. He was never USA’s best player, but he was so reliable and always involved in the two-way game. And that’s the best way to describe Moore: he’s reliable. You know what you’re getting every night. He has good size at 6-foot-2, and he’s not afraid to outmuscle players. He doesn’t get too fancy or anything like that with the puck – instead, he spends a lot of time around the net at both ends of the ice. When Moore is really on his game – when he desperately wants the puck or has a chance to get a second, third, or even fourth look at a chance – he can be so dangerous.
13. Jack Nesbitt (Windsor Spitfires, OHL)
Nesbitt was often one of Windsor’s better shot generators, and while he didn’t put up Liam Greentree numbers, he’s still going to finish at close to a point per game. He’s a big, 6-foot-4 center – teams typically like that. I wish he had more top speed, but I think Nesbitt has a solid ceiling. He showed how good he could be around the net during the U-18s, creating havoc and pushing guys around while jumping in on rebounds. Some scouts don’t know if he’ll be more than a third-line center, but I feel confident he’ll be an NHLer. His size should help him go higher in the draft.
14. Cole McKinney (USNTDP)
McKinney was one of the USNTDP’s top forwards all year long, and he was also one of the most aggressive. McKinney is a mid-sized, two-way center who can play on the penalty kill, block shots and win a ton of faceoffs. He’s not going to be a play driver in the NHL, but he’s detail-oriented and astute. McKinney is also not afraid to land a big hit to channel some energy. I hope he gets stronger when he heads to college to really maximize his pure power, but the overall package right now is a solid base to build around.
15. Eric Nilsson (Djurgardens, Sweden U-20)
I don’t think Nilsson has high-end skill and he’s definitely not a play-driver. But he’s a great passer who can also wire home shots, too. And the fact that he’s so involved at both ends is what scouts are going to like. He’s been productive in the Swedish U-20 league and has some pro experience with Djurgardens’ Allsvenskan team. I can see Nilsson becoming an effective bottom-six forward because he’s so committed to winning every battle while still maintaining his position in his own zone.
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