After the combined nine hours spent remotely making selections, the 2025 NHL Entry Draft is finally complete. While the first two picks were the ones that were expected, there was no shortage of surprises in the first ever decentralized draft.

With all 224 picks already made, we will now evaluate how all 32 teams did in the Entry Draft, going by division. In this installment we look at the Central Division.

Chicago Blackhawks

Selections

Pick no.	Player	Pos.	Team	League
3	Anton Frondell	C	Djurgårdens IF	Sweden-2
25	Václav Nestrašil	RW	Muskegon Lumberjacks	USHL
29	Mason West	C	Edina Hornets	USHS-MN
66	Nathan Behm	RW	Kamloops Blazers	WHL
98	Julius Sumpf	C	Moncton Wildcats	QMJHL
107	Parker Holmes	LW	Brantford Bulldogs	OHL
162	Ashton Cumby	LD	Seattle Thunderbirds	WHL
194	Ilya Kanarsky	G	AKM Tula	MHL

Draft Grade: A-

Kyle Davidson clearly had an agenda: Tall, high-upside players. Every player Chicago drafted in this year’s Draft is 6’2″ or taller. Frondell looked like a clear-cut top-three pick from mid-January onward. He is a true power forward who can dominate the ice with his separation skill, his high-end shooting talent, and beating defensemen for rebounds and deflections.

Nestrašil and West are big bets on upside, size and skill. Nestrašil is a tough player to beat, being a punishing heavy hitter who skates hard after every puck, with well-timed swipes without it and playing a high-skill, team-focused game with it, working on give-and-gos and giving teammates more space. West, beyond his 6’6″ frame, is a smooth skater, and his reach and skill combine for big plays. He is also a natural shooter, too.

Behm continues the theme of size and skill. He has playmaking elements, though he also is a sniper, having scored 31 goals in the WHL this past season. A strong first-touch player, he either launches one-timers or, when firing wristers, changes the angle before the release. The scoring part is similar with Sumpf, who had 26 goals in the QMJHL this season and 10 more in the playoffs.

He works best in transition, initiating rush chances to force the opposition to break their formation. Chicago also took a chance at a big Russian goaltender in Karnasky in the 7th round, who put up absurd numbers in the MHL, where he put up a 2.24 GAA and a .938 save percentage. Chicago took interesting players with upside, and they may have gotten two or three NHL-caliber players from their picks. Can they compete in the central division in 2025?

Colorado Avalanche

Selections

Pick no.	Player	Pos.	Team	League
77	Francesco Dell’Elce	LD	UMass Minutemen	NCAA
118	Linus Funck	RD	Luleå HF J20	Sweden Jr.
214	Nolan Roed	C	Tri-City Storm	USHL

Draft Grade: C-

As is the case with many previous years, the Avalanche didn’t have many picks, as they are still in win-now mode. One could argue that they could’ve took higher upside with their picks, because contenders need to hit on those players to keep the window open for longer. However, Francesco Dell’Elce was one of the most promising overage prospects in the Draft after having an impressive freshman year with UMass.

He’s an offensive defenseman with a projectable shot, and battles forecheckers deeper in the defensive zone. There’s an outside chance of him becoming a bottom-pairing defenseman, but as an overager, development time is shorter for him.

Funck is a play-killer, even along the wall with his physical presence, land big hits, and is effective on the rush and on puck retrievals. Roed is another overager drafted in an additional year of eligibility, and he is coming off a solid season with the USHL. His shooting and passing skills mesh with his ability to get off the wall and build downhill speed. However, it’s probable that the Avs don’t get any NHL players from this Draft, with Dell’Elce being the only one with a shot. Can they compete in the central division in 2025?

Dallas Stars

Selections

Pick no.	Player	Pos.	Team	League
94	Cameron Schmidt	RW	Vancouver Giants	WHL
126	Brandon Gorzynski	C	Calgary Hitmen	WHL
146	Atte Joki	C	Rauman Luukko U20	Finland Jr.
158	Måns Goos	G	Färjestad BK J20	Sweden Jr.
190	Dawson Sharkey	RW	Acadie-Bathurst Titan	QMJHL
222	Charlie Paquette	RW	Guelph Storm	OHL

Draft Grade: B-

The Stars always seem to make the most out of their drafts, and despite not picking until 94th, this is once again the case. There were concerns about Schmidt’s size, but he’s similar to Logan Stankoven given that he too was another high-scoring forward who tore up the WHL. He’s a good skater with a ripper of a shot, and it’s easy to take a chance on that upside.

Gorzynski could be a good value pick for Dallas, as he rose up the ranks as he stood out in his first full season with the WHL after making the jump midway through last season as a checking-line player who pressures puck carriers and works for every puck. Most of Joki’s value stems from his work away from the puck and with his physicality, though he did flash talent as a shooter, between his wristers and one-touch releases.

Goos, a big and athletic goaltender, is solid on rush chances, especially on breakaways, and has decent technical habits where he can maximize his size, but he still has to work on his in-zone plays and rebound control. Paquette is a hard-working physical player who battles opponents around the net to gain positioning for deflections and rebounds. Can they compete in the central division in 2025?

Minnesota Wild

Selections

Pick no.	Player	Pos.	Team	League
52	Theodor Hallquisth	RD	Örebro HK J20	Sweden Jr.
102	Adam Benák	C	Youngstown Phantoms	USHL
121	Lirim Amidovski	RW	North Bay Battalion	OHL
123	Carter Klippenstein	C	Brandon Wheat Kings	WHL
141	Justin Kipkie	LD	Victoria Royals	WHL

Draft Grade: B-

The Wild didn’t have a lot to work with in the Draft and didn’t make their first pick until 52nd. Hallquisth’s value is with his offensive reads and instincts, and he’s a reliable puck mover in transition relying on his passing abilities, with the tools to be a depth defender, though he has to work on his skating. Next season in the SHL could do wonders in his development.

The best value came from Benák, who is one of the best skaters in his draft class and one of the smartest. He is also a precise passer, though his biggest fault is his size, where he stands 5’8″, thus leading to a limited physical ability and questions if it’s going to translate to the NHL.

Some viewed Amidovski as a higher selection than 121st because of his forechecking, where he is intimidating and can turn steals into plays for his teammates, not giving up any room for opponents. Klippenstein is physical too, and has the added playmaking abilities with him, reversing contact, throwing big hits, and digging for loose pucks under sticks.

He can also weave through traffic and set up chances with fakes and backdoor passes. Kipkie is the rare double draftee: He was originally drafted 160th in 2023 by the Arizona Coyotes, but went unsigned. He’s one of the best overage defensemen with bottom-pairing potential, and he is primarily a shooter who loads up for one-timers. Can they compete in the central division in 2025?

Nashville Predators

Selections

Pick no.	Player	Pos.	Team	League
5	Brady Martin	C	Soo Greyhounds	OHL
21	Cameron Reid	LD	Kitchener Rangers	OHL
26	Ryker Lee	RW	Madison Capitols	USHL
35	Jacob Rombach	LD	Lincoln Stars	USHL
58	Jack Ivankovic	G	Brampton Steelheads	OHL
122	Alex Huang	RD	Chicoutimi Saugenéens	QMJHL
163	Daniel Nieminen	LD	Lahti Pelicans	Liiga

Draft Grade: A-

Nashville had a haul of players in the first round, and they’re taking players with a high upside. It’s easy to fall in love with Martin’s frequent and heavy hitting, his forechecking, and his puck-moving skill, especially where he weaves through the neutral zone. At his best, he’s a valuable playoff performer, but there was talent left on the board in James Hagens and Porter Martone.

Meanwhile, they took a chance at Reid, who they needed for their blueline, as he was one of the better blueliners of the first round. He’s a mobile puck-mover and an explosive skater, which fuels his breakout game. Lee could be a top-six forward if he improves on his skating, because his offensive tool kit features pull-back wristers, precision lob and saucer passes, and just about every skill in hockey. He also just won the Rookie of the Year award in the USHL too.

Rombach, who is approaching 6’7″, is one of the best shutdown defensemen in the class, with a near-complete toolkit at his own end, drawing multiple forecheckers to create space for who he’s passing to. Ivankovic is the goalie Nashville desperately needed in the pipeline after trading away Yaroslav Askarov. Though undersized, he excelled in international competition, fighting for pucks better than people may expect.

Huang’s passing and agility make him an effective puck-mover where he creates a high volume of controlled offensive zone entries where he explodes out of his movements. Nieminen is a mobile defenseman who can beat forecheckers and carry the puck across the neutral zone, and offer support down the middle or as a trailer, even leading the rush, and can get back to close on attackers with his pivots and matching them along the boards. Can they compete in the central division in 2025?

St. Louis Blues

Selections

Pick no.	Player	Pos.	Team	League
19	Justin Carbonneau	RW	Blainville-Boisbriand Armada	QMJHL
147	Mikhail Fyodorov	RW	Stalnye Lisy	MHL
179	Love Härenstam	G	Skellefteå AIK J20	Sweden Jr.

Draft Grade: B-

The Blues had just three picks in the Draft, but with what they had to work with, they got good value out of it. Carbonneau is a power forward where his size, skill and ability stand out to create scoring chances. When he retrieves pucks, he protects them before driving to the net, and when he doesn’t have the puck, he adapts his speed to stay in passing lanes and chase down defenders.

Having just two picks much later in the Draft means that St. Louis could only do so much, but the Fyodorov selection makes sense given he can be a threat on the power play, and at 5-on-5, he has a knack for finding space in the offensive zone, with quick catch-and-shoot releases. He still has a long way to go, but his creativity helps the Blues.

Härenstam isn’t a big netminder, but he is an athletic goaltender who makes the difficult saves look easy. However, he still has work to do, as he seemed to struggle when the pressure picked up in international competition. Still, coming out with Carbonneau is a win for the Blues. Can they compete in the central division in 2025?

Utah Mammoth

Selections

Pick no.	Player	Pos.	Team	League
4	Caleb Desnoyers	C	Moncton Wildcats	QMJHL
46	Max Pšenička	RD	Portland Winterhawks	WHL
78	Štepán Hoch	LW	Motor České Budějovice Jr.	Czechia Jr.
110	Yegor Borikov	RW	Dinamo Minsk	KHL
142	Ivan Tkach-Tkachenko	G	Ufa Tolpar	MHL
174	Ludvig Johnson	LD	Zug U20	Switzerland Jr.
182	Reko Alanko	RD	Jokerit U20	Finland Jr.

Draft Grade: B+

The Mammoth had a clear goal: To add size and tenacity to the club. Desnoyers is a perfect fit for Utah, as he has the potential to be the team’s second line, two-way center to free the pressure off Logan Cooley and Barrett Hayton offensively. He bases his transition game off short passes, give-and-gos, and delay plays to attack downhill and challenge defenders.

Pšenička’s 6’5″ frame with improved skating will be a tough player to go by given his great defensive potential as a shutdown defenseman, always impacting play where he denies entries with pokes off the rush, aggressive step-ups and hits. Hoch adds more size, whether it be on the wing or down the middle, and is at his best where he takes a step back, reading the breakout and leveraging his reach for interceptions and pass breakups, and methodically takes away any offensive threats.

Borikov is a legitimate scoring threat from distance, as his shot has a lot of power with it. He also has the knack to find soft spots in the offensive zone to load up his quick release. In NHL scouting circles, when it comes to goaltenders, the common phrase is, “When in doubt, draft a big Russian goaltender.”

This is the case with Tkach-Tkachenko, who has good size and plays aggressively, and he takes away the glove side on most sequences. Alanko is a towering 6’6″, using his frame to line and size up unsuspecting attackers. On breakouts, he is poised, but he also has the confidence to not jump to a play that he doesn’t like so that he finds a better option. Utah could get two NHLers with this Draft with their first two picks, who should be key factors in the lineup in the coming years. Can they compete in the central division in 2025?

Winnipeg Jets

Selections

Pick no.	Player	Pos.	Team	League
28	Sascha Boumedienne	LD	Boston University Terriers	NCAA
92	Owen Martin	C	Spokane Chiefs	WHL
156	Viktor Klingsell	RW	Skellefteå AIK J20	Sweden Jr.
188	Edison Engle	LD	Dubuque Fighting Saints	USHL
220	Jacob Cloutier	RW	Saginaw Spirit	OHL

Draft Grade: B

The Jets had five picks in the Draft, and they selected solid value with what they had. Boumedienne at 28th overall is a key pick, especially since the prospect pool is thin. He has more work to do with his decision-making, but if all goes well, the Jets are getting a mobile defenseman who is one of the best skaters in the Draft.

The focus is that he continues developing his play at his own end and improves on his decision-making, where he could be a quality middle-pairing defenseman. While the rest may be a long way away from the NHL, Martin is a hard-working two-way center constantly trying to get the puck or take away off-puck threats, and is good at denying space in his own zone. He was productive in a secondary role in the WHL, and could be a depth player in the NHL if he develops as advertised.

Klingsell is a small, but dynamic player that Winnipeg took in the 5th round, and his instincts show that he can set the pace of the game, while showcasing his smoothness as a skater, puckhandler, and smart scorer. Engle is coming off a strong USHL season as a secondary player who has the speed to keep up with and defend other puck carriers. Once he gets the puck, he waits for passing lanes to open.

He will head to the OHL this upcoming season before committing to Ohio State University ahead of the 2027 season. Cloutier, despite being a smaller player, plays a fast-paced, intense style of game that can be a nice addition if he improves his skating. He combines energy, physicality, and different rush patterns to attack the offensive zone, and thrives on cycle plays. The Jets got good value on their picks and improved on their prospect pool. Can they compete in the central division in 2025?

If you are an NHL fan check out our other recent hockey related articles here:

• Pacific Division: Grading Every Team’s 2025 NHL Entry Draft
• Central Division: Grading Every Team’s 2025 NHL Entry Draft
• Metropolitan Division: Grading Every Team’s 2025 NHL Entry Draft
• Atlantic Division: Grading Every Team’s 2025 NHL Entry Draft
• Grading Every Team’s 2024-25 NHL Season: 1st-8th

Sources:

NHL.com

Image Credits:

Chicago Sun Times

Elite Prospects

BlackOut Dallas

Minnesota PONDcast

NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Playoff News NHL

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