Capitals’ Ryan Leonard, Wild’s Zeev Buium highlight 2025 Hobey Baker top 10 finalists

The National Collegiate Athletic Association announced the top 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award on Wednesday, highlighted by Washington Capitals 2023 eighth-overall pick Ryan Leonard and Minnesota Wild 2024 12th-overall pick Zeev Buium.

The following players were named as finalists:

Zeev Buium, D (University of Denver│Minnesota Wild prospect)
Jack Devine, RW (University of Denver│Florida Panthers prospect)
Aiden Fink, RW (Penn State University│Nashville Predators prospect)
Mac Gadowsky, D (Army West Point│Undrafted)
Isaac Howard, LW (Michigan State University│Tampa Bay Lightning prospect)
Ryan Leonard, RW (Boston College│Washington Capitals prospect)
Ayrton Martino, LW (Clarkson University│Dallas Stars prospect)
Liam McLinskey, RW (College of the Holy Cross│Undrafted)
Jimmy Snuggerud, RW (University of Minnesota│St. Louis Blues prospect)
Alex Tracy, G (Minnesota State University│Undrafted)

The award is handed out annually to the top men’s NCAA player, with recent winners including Macklin Celebrini, Adam Fantilli, Cole Caufield and Cale Makar. With no draft eligible players among this year’s finalists, this will end a two-year run from Fantilli and Celebrini where the award was won by a player eligible for the upcoming draft.

Leonard is considered to be one of the top prospects not in the NHL right now, thanks to his play both at the collegiate level and playing a role in Team USA winning back-to-back gold medals at the World Juniors. He has 29 goals and 18 assists for 47 points in 35 games with Boston College this season.

Buium was another player who’s made a name for himself with his performance at the the World Juniors, but it’s his play with the University of Denver that has earned him recognition for the Hobey Baker. He has 10 goals and 32 assists for 42 points in 36 games this season.

Howard is another notable prospect on the list, considered to be the top prospect in the Lightning’s system. He has 24 goals and 23 assists for 47 points in 35 games with Michigan State University.

Alex Tracy is the lone goaltender named as a finalist, with a 25-8-3 record, a .946 save percentage and 5 shutouts in 36 games with Minnesota State University. He’s also been named as a finalist for the Mike Richter Award as the NCAA’s best goaltender.