The 2023 NHL Draft featured two locals chosen inside the top 10. This year, Cole Eiserman (Newburyport, Mass.) was taken 20th overall by the New York Islanders, the only New Englander in the first round.
So what will the 2025 NHL Draft bring for New Englanders?
Players born between Jan. 1, 2005, and Sept. 15, 2007, will be eligible to be chosen. In this story, we’re looking only at the players in their first year of eligibility.
So far, there don’t seem to be any clear first-round picks. But there’s something else that’s intriguing. This class is full of players with high upside. And, as we saw in 2024, a lot can happen in 12 months. Ben Merrill (Hingham, Mass.) rocketed up the charts before being chosen by Montreal with pick No. 166. Teddy Stiga (Sudbury, Mass.) went from being on the bubble to the 55th overall pick by Nashville.
There is a large chance that this list will fluctuate a lot.
Another trend among these prospects is the lack of players who will play prep hockey this upcoming season. Many of them played in prep this past season but will head to either the USHL or BCHL this fall.
Let’s dive into our first rankings of the 2025 class.
1. Carter Amico
U.S. NTDP U-18, 3/15/2007, D, right shot, 6-5/205
NCAA: Boston University
Because there is so much untouched upside among the top prospects in this class, Amico (Portland, Maine) gets the No. 1 spot because of what he could turn into over the next 12 months. The 6-foot-5 defenseman is intriguing given his size and good skating abilities. Players with Amico’s upside don’t come around often. He missed part of his first season in Plymouth, Mich., with an injury but still posted one goal and 14 points in 41 games. NTDP players usually progress in their U-18 season, so it will be fascinating to see what he does next year.
2. Teddy Mutryn
St. Sebastian’s, 2/16/2007, C/RW, right shot, 6-0/196
NCAA: Boston College
Mutryn (Norwell, Mass.) long has been one of the top ’07 prospects from New England. His high compete and good skating and skill are the perfect combination to create buzz among NHL scouts. He was hampered by a knee injury for most of his junior year at St. Sebastian’s. What will be key is how he adjusts to the USHL game with Chicago next season. Projecting him to the pro level, he's someone who can play anywhere in a lineup and in any situation. If he does what he’s capable of, he surely should be an NHL draft pick come June 2025 — and a relatively high one at that. It's no surprise that he got an invite to Hlinka-Gretzky Cup Camp.
3. Everett Baldwin
St. George’s, 1/15/2007, D, right shot, 6-0/170
NCAA: Providence College
Even 12 months out, I’ve already had one NHL scout tell me how much they like Baldwin (Providence, R.I.), and rightfully so. He’s a phenomenal skater who has a ton of confidence with the puck on his stick. He has high skill and he takes care of business in his own end. His numbers at St. George’s were never eye-popping. But anyone who watched his games knows just how dominant he can be. He was a standout at USA Hockey's Select 17 Camp, leading to him getting an invite to Hlinka-Gretzky Cup Camp. If he makes the team, he will have the biggest stage to show off his talents to NHL scouts. Baldwin is slated to return to St. George's next season.
4. Cam Caron
New Hampton, 6/21/2007, C, left shot, 6-3/194
NCAA: Northeastern
Caron has quietly been a prep force for the past two seasons. The Dracut, Mass., native totaled 47 points as a freshman at New Hampton. He followed that with 44 as a sophomore this past winter. New Hampton wasn’t overflowing with talent, so for Caron to post those numbers was impressive. But the real reason Caron ranks this high is his size, hands and shot. Size was the most common ingredient in the 2024 NHL Draft, which is why Caron has legitimate pro upside. He's slated to play for the USHL's Muskegon Lumberjacks next season.
5. Alex Donovan
Shattuck-St. Mary’s 16-U, 4/8/2007, RW, right shot, 5-10/161
NCAA: Denver
In my opinion, Donovan (Darien, Conn.) was the best ’07 forward at New England District camp. He was also the region's best forward at Select 17 Camp, posting two goals and six points in six games. He’s not big, but he plays bigger than he is, using his frame well to protect pucks. He has great hands and can get to interior ice with ease. He’s fresh off a 40-goal, 80-point season with Shattuck-St. Mary’s 16-U team. If he continues his progress in his draft year, it will be hard for NHL teams to pass over him in later rounds.
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6. Gavin Cornforth
Dubuque, 12/15/2006, RW, right shot, 5-9/165
NCAA: Boston College
NHL teams love players who’ve challenged themselves. That’s exactly what Cornforth (Milton, Mass.) has done for the past two seasons. After a great freshman season at Thayer in 2021-22, he opted for the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints as a 16-year-old in 2022-23. This past winter was his second season in the USHL and he tallied 15 goals and 32 points in 62 games. Cornforth’s best attribute is his skill. He can dangle. If his production jumps in year No. 3 as it should, he could jump up NHL draft rankings.
7. Richard Gallant
U.S. NTDP U-18, 6/12/2007, C/LW, left shot, 5-8/161
NCAA: Harvard
Gallant (Concord, Mass.) is another forward with high upside. He made the national program in the spring of 2023 but had a tough first season, potting three goals and totaling 15 points. He also dealt with injury. For NHL teams, his size will always work against him. However, players are known to have big jumps from their U-17 to U-18 season with the program. Gallant's compete is at the center of everything he does, so he should experience a boost in play next season. The question will be how big is that boost? If that happens for Gallant, he will shoot up these rankings.
8. Anthony Bongo
Shattuck-St. Mary’s 16-U, 5/16/2007, D, right shot, 5-9/150
NCAA: Michigan
What works against Bongo is his size. Smaller defensemen are not in high demand at the NHL level. What works in his favor is his mobility, skating and puck-moving skills. He’s a great skater with a good stride and has terrific vision, especially when moving the puck out of his own zone and making that first pass. The Ridgefield, Conn., native also makes an impact in the offensive zone. He scored nine goals and totaled 37 points in 57 games for Shattuck-St. Mary’s 16-U team this winter. He also earned an invite to U.S. NTDP Evaluation Camp in 2023.
9. Egan Beveridge
Saint John Sea Dogs, 1/11/2007, C, right shot, 5-7/157
Beveridge has taken an unconventional path. After being a standout with the Mount St. Charles 14-U team, he went to the Chicago Mission last year and then the Saint John Sea Dogs in the QMJHL this season. He’s known for his high-end skill. Despite being undersized, he's strong on pucks and hard to knock over, using a low center of gravity to land hard reverse hits. He plays like he's 6-foot-2. The East Kingston, N.H., native will be an interesting prospect to track over the next 12 months.
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10. CJ Watroba
Kimball Union, 2/2/2007, LW, left shot, 6-0/172
NCAA: Merrimack
Watroba (West Springfield, Mass.) was a force at the Mass. Hockey Festival this year. At Select 17 Camp, he had a stretch where he posted one goal and five points in three games, while going pointless in the other three. At last season's Select 16 Camp, he scored three goals and added three assists in five games. He had 31 points in 37 games for Kimball Union this winter. The biggest thing with Watroba is his consistency, because when he's on, he's on. I’d expect a massive jump in points from Watroba next winter, which should propel him up these rankings.
11. Michael Munroe
Avon Old Farms, 7/6/2007, LW, left shot, 5-9/165
NCAA: Maine
Munroe (Hanover, Mass.) might be undersized, but he plays a feisty game to make up for it and that showed at Select 17 Camp. The Avon Old Farms product led the Mass. District in goals (5) and points (8). After the district posted one goal over its first two games, it was Munroe who consistently brought the energy that eventually led to goals. He had a strong second season with Avon Old Farms this winter, scoring 18 goals and totaling 34 points in 27 games. After the prep season ended, he scored two goals in eight games with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms. His plan is to play for Youngstown next season. If he continues his ascent in the USHL, he will climb these rankings.
12. Tyler Russo
Cushing, 3/19/2007, D, left shot, 6-1/176
NCAA: Minnesota State
Russo (South Hamilton, Mass.) is far from flashy, but he always gets the job done. He’s a reliable two-way defenseman in the truest sense. He can shut down the opposing team’s top players with his good stick and strong physicality. He also makes smart plays with the puck. Only three players have been drafted straight from prep over the last two years making the odds difficult. But the more he proves to be reliable on the back end, the more he could ascend these rankings.
13. Hugo Daniel
North Yarmouth Academy, 8/18/2007, C, left shot, 6-2/201
Daniel played at North Yarmouth Academy for the past two seasons. The Yarmouth, Maine, native had a strong sophomore season, scoring 26 goals and posting 44 points in 34 games. He plays with an edge and uses his frame well to protect pucks well in transition. He was a surprising snub from the New England District at Select 17 Camp. He has the size to intrigue NHL scouts.
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14. Jake Tavares
Belmont Hill, 1/27/2007, RW, right shot, 6-0/174
Tavares (Belmont, Mass.) broke out with 18 goals and 32 points in his sophomore year after only getting four and seven as a freshman. It’s a bit of a long shot, but if he continues to prove himself as a high-end goal-scorer at the prep level next season, he will at least have NHL eyes on him.
15. Patrick Woods
Belmont Hill, 7/5/2007, C, right shot, 6-1/170
The same can be said for Woods (Charlestown, Mass.), who does have some upside. He’s a reliable force down the middle who can drive a line. Senior Jake McManus centered Belmont Hill's top line between David Bosco and Tavares. With McManus gone, Woods should get top-line responsibilities. Jumping over the point per game mark would be attainable in that case and would make him a candidate for NHL scouts to watch.
