Top 15 wingers for the 2025 NHL Draft

Jun 11, 2025, 09:00 EDT

Credit: (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)

NHL teams typically crave centers more than wingers, and you’ll find more middlemen taken early at the 2025 NHL Draft.

But sometimes, you need guys who have dedicated skillsets on the sides. That’s where these wingers come in. There might not be many taken in the first round – an educated guess likely puts it in the 7-8 range. But there are plenty of wingers coming off big seasons, and some of the top risers in the draft this year happen to be guys who play on the flanks.

Using position designations from NHL Central Scouting, here’s a look at 15 of the best left and right wingers for the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles:

1. Porter Martone, RW (Brampton Steelheads, OHL)

In terms of pure offense, there aren’t many that play like Martone. He has arguably the best vision in the entire draft class and has some of the best offensive IQ, too. While his skating might lack and some scouts wish he’d be more physical, everyone agrees that he’s one of the smartest players in this draft class. He just understands the game and how to exploit opportunities. Martone will probably need to line up with a play-driving center to continue producing at the next level, but his ability to absolutely dominate with the puck – and impact the offensive zone without it – makes him so lethal. His skating is a work in progress, but I’m not too worried.

2. Victor Eklund, RW (Djurgardens, Allsvenskan)

Eklund is one of the most skilled wingers in this draft class. He makes things happen with the puck that very few can, and he’s got an excellent shot, to boot. I loved him at the World Juniors because it felt like he was always involved in the puck play. He might not be big at 5-foot-11, but he does have some decent strength. Defensively, he needs work, but it shouldn’t stop him from playing high in the lineup. His skating continues to get better, and I’m excited to see what an NHL coaching staff can get out of him there.

3. Carter Bear, LW (Everett Silvertips, WHL)

Will a season-ending injury prior to the playoffs hurt his draft stock? Potentially. But he 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. I’m still hooked – and I know other scouts think he could be a top-10 pick. Regardless, if he falls past No. 15, it’s a big mistake.

4. Justin Carbonneau, RW (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)

Carbonneau doesn’t seem to get enough love for the season he just had. He scored 46 goals and 89 points while boasting one of the best shots in the draft class. He’s known for making high-end moves and can beat most players in 1-on-1 situations. The upside is massive here, but he can be prone to giving the puck away too easily and doesn’t engage much physically. Still, with the right players around him, Carbonneau looks like a future first-line winger who can score 30 goals a season.

5. Malcolm Spence, LW (Erie Otters, OHL)

Spence isn’t flashy, but scouts agree he’s going to be an absolute menace in the NHL. He can hit, agitate and score. Spence is coming off his third season with the Otters, registering a personal best of 32 goals and 73 points. He also had his best playoff run to date, scoring four goals and nine points in nine games. His numbers aren’t mind-blowing by any means – he had 61 fewer points than the top-scoring draft-eligible OHLer in Michael Misa. But Spence’s all-around game will make him a first-round pick.

6. Lynden Lakovic, LW (Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL)

Lakovic is definitely an interesting prospect, and one who could go higher than expected thanks to his size. Things just seem to happen whenever he has the puck on the rush, and at 6-foot-4, he’s tough to contain. He drives the play a bit like Dmitri Voronkov, but I’d like to see it more consistently. Some scouts think he’s not a good enough skater to go high in the draft, but I see the potential.

7. Jack Murtagh, LW (USNTDP)

Murtagh is a skilled puck handler who can absolutely fire a shot and is a bit of a workhorse, too. I think he’s a good skater and has the hockey sense you’re looking for in a second or third-liner. I’ve been impressed in most of my viewings this year, and he’s one of the primary reasons to watch the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. He’s speedy, works hard and when you put it all together, he’s a difficult player to contain. I think he can become a middle-six forward.

8. Ryker Lee, RW (Madison Capitols, USHL)

Lee grew five inches this year, which is extremely notable. Lee has been one of the best players in the USHL this season, using his quick hands and excellent hockey IQ in the offensive zone to win so many battles. He’s not big and can be pushed around a bit too much at times, but he doesn’t let it get to him and is quite competitive. I hope to see him become quicker once he heads to college – if he could just use his footwork to win more puck races, he’d be even more effective.

9. Václav 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.

10. Nathan Behm, RW (Kamloops Blazers, WHL)

Behm had a breakout season with the Blazers, which saw him finish with more than 30 goals and more than 60 points. He has always been a decent goal scorer at every level, but he has found a way to put more muscle behind his shot while being better defensively, too. His skating is still a work in progress – he’s not particularly quick and can be beaten by mid-range skaters. But his play with the puck has been incredible this year and I think there’s some serious potential as a secondary scorer.

11. Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, RW (Lulea, Sweden U-20)

Ihs-Wozniak struggled out of the gate this year, but he ended the season as one of Sweden’s top young players. He closed with a great showing at the U-18s, which scouts were thrilled to see after a quiet Hlinka Gretzky Cup. That helped him get back into the first-round conversation, although I don’t think he’s rounded enough to make it happen. Ihs Wozniak is streaky, but the goal-scoring instincts are definitely there. He just needs to figure out how to be more consistent if he’s going to excel at the next level. But in terms of raw talent, Ihs-Wozniak has loads of it and I love his shot.

12. Alexander Zharovsky, RW (Ufa, MHL)

Zharovsky has been another big riser this year, and for good reason. He put up excellent numbers in the MHL while being so dangerous on the rush. He definitely needs to add more muscle, but if he can even add 15 pounds, he’d be significantly tougher to steal the puck off. He’s crafty, smart and dangerous in open space – he’s easily one of the top players to watch in Russia.

13. Eddie Genborg, RW (Linkoping, SHL)

He wants to hit everyone in sight – period. I don’t see much high-end offensive potential, but he’s hard to play against, at the very least. He does a lot away from the puck, which is something I value quite a lot. Genborg is absolutely relentless, plays a reliable two-way game and didn’t look out of place in the SHL. I have full belief he’ll become an NHLer one day in a bottom-line role because he can be a menace without getting himself in too much trouble.

14. 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.

15. Benjamin Kevan, RW (Des Moines Buccaneers, USHL)

Kevan struggled to produce in his second year in the USHL, which was disappointing after blowing the doors off the league as a 16-year-old. He became streaky and wasn’t able to elevate his game to the next level. That being said, Kevan is still an excellent skater who handles the puck well and can make some quality passes. He also has plenty of skill while being defensively responsible. At this point, though, I’m not sure he’s more than a depth forward, but still one I’d be willing to be patient with.

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