On Friday night, the Boston Bruins are set to make their highest draft pick since taking Tyler Seguin second overall way back in 2010. They enter the 2025 NHL Draft holding the seventh overall pick after a miserable season that saw them fall apart down the stretch and sell off multiple core pieces at the trade deadline.
They are an organization in desperate need of young, blue-chip talent, and after years of trading away draft picks while trying to contend, they finally have an opportunity to draft that caliber of prospect – assuming they don’t trade it away.
While there have been rumors that the Bruins might be open to moving the seventh pick, general manager Don Sweeney made it clear Wednesday afternoon that any such trade – involving pick No. 7 or any other draft capital – would have to be for a young, core player under team control for years to come and not for a “short-term acquisition.”
“We would absolutely augment our roster if there's an eye towards now and the future,” Sweeney said. “I don't think it's a short-term acquisition that we'd be inclined to make at this point in time. When we have runway, I think that's what we would look into. Otherwise, we are going to focus on some of the draft capital that we have and use it as effectively as we possibly can. So, I don't say that when something presents in a player that has some term and/or runway that we wouldn't jump at that, because we would.”
If the Bruins do stick at seven and make the pick, though, who might they end up with? Well, we here at The Skate Podcast held our final mock draft Wednesday evening and took a stab at it. You can listen to the full episode – including reaction to Sweeney’s pre-draft press conference and the unveiling of the Bruins’ new jerseys – above.
Here’s how it worked: The three of us – myself and co-hosts Bridgette Proulx and Brian DeFelice – drew names out of a hat to set the draft order, and then went through the first nine picks. We did not do the entire first round, but just for fun, I will do my own picks for 10-32 here.
1. New York Islanders – Matthew Schaefer, LHD, Erie Otters (OHL)
Schaefer has been the consensus top pick for months, and there doesn’t seem to be any reason to believe the Islanders will go against that consensus. He has franchise No. 1 defenseman potential.
2. San Jose Sharks – Michael Misa, C, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Misa had been the consensus No. 2 pick for months, but there has been recent reporting that the Sharks might shake things up and take Anton Frondell instead. Bridgette had this pick in our mock and elected to stick with Misa despite the Frondell smoke. I think that’s the right move, but we’ll see if it’s what the Sharks actually do.
3. Chicago Blackhawks – Porter Martone, RW, Brampton Steelheads (OHL)
Brian had this pick in our mock, and Martone – a big, physical, playmaking wing – would make a lot of sense for Chicago as a Connor Bedard running mate and as both a positional and stylistic need. However, most of the expert reporting now suggests that the Blackhawks will take whichever one of Misa or Frondell is still on the board, so it would be a bit of a surprise if they go with Martone.
4. Utah Mammoth – Anton Frondell, C, Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)
No one really seems to know what Utah is going to do. They have been linked to all of Martone, Caleb Desnoyers, Brady Martin and Jake O’Brien recently, but that is with the assumption that the top three is Schaefer, Misa and Frondell. In this scenario, Frondell is still on the board, and I think his combination of size, two-way play and a great shot would be tough for the Mammoth to pass up. Utah also might just trade out of this pick if they can find a partner, because that remains a persistent rumor as well.
5. Nashville Predators – Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
Bridgette, acting as the Preds, was thrilled to see Desnoyers still on the board here. I think the actual Preds would be, too. He is an incredibly smart, well-rounded center who also has quite a bit of offensive potential.
6. Philadelphia Flyers – James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA)
I wrote earlier this week that Hagens dropping to seven might be the best-case scenario for the Bruins, and it’s a very real possibility based on chatter around the league and reports about his potential slide. In this exercise, however, the Flyers snatch him up one pick ahead of Boston and hope he proves to be an ideal running mate for stud winger Matvei Michkov.
7. Boston Bruins – Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler reported this week that his sources tell him the Flyers and Bruins are zeroing in on the same three players at six and seven: Hagens, O’Brien and Brady Martin. In this case, all three are still on the board for the Flyers at six, and O’Brien and Martin are left for the Bruins at seven. I had this pick in our mock. I really like both players. I don’t think you’d ever be disappointed with Martin given the physicality and effort he brings every shift. But I also think O’Brien has the higher offensive ceiling thanks to his hockey IQ and playmaking wizardry, and I really think the Bruins need to take a shot on that kind of upside.
8. Seattle Kraken – Brady Martin, C, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)
The Kraken may very well just take whichever of these first eight players is left, as it does feel like there’s a little bit of a dip after this. They’d probably be pretty happy if it’s Martin, because they could use a player with his kind of jam.
9. Buffalo Sabres – Radim Mrtka, RHD, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
If you follow the mocks, Mrtka to Buffalo at nine has been one of those picks that seemingly everyone expects now. It would make a lot of sense; the Sabres have young talent up front and on the left side of their defense, but could use help on the right - even after acquiring Michael Kesselring from Utah Wednesday night in a trade for JJ Peterka.
10. Anaheim Ducks – Roger McQueen, C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
This feels like the right spot and the right team for taking a chance on McQueen, who would definitely go higher if it weren’t for his injury history, highlighted by the back injury that cost him most of this season. The 6-foot-5 pivot might still go higher anyways.
11. Pittsburgh Penguins – Kashawn Aitcheson, LHD, Barrie Colts (OHL)
The Pens would probably love for McQueen to fall to them, and they might try to trade up to get him or another top forward. But they should also be happy with Aitcheson, who fills a positional need and brings the kind of high compete level they could use on the back end.
12. Pittsburgh Penguins – Victor Eklund, LW, Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)
The Pens have back-to-back picks here after the Rangers elected to send them this pick instead of their 2026 first. After going D at 11, they go forward here and take the best player available.
13. Detroit Red Wings – Carter Bear, C/LW, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Bear is coming off an Achilles injury that could be a concern for some teams, but he’s too good to slip much further than this.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets – Lynden Lakovic, LW, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
I could also see defenseman Jackson Smith here, but the run on wings continues.
15. Vancouver Canucks – Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
The Canucks need help down the middle, and Cootes is the top center left on the board.
16. Montreal Canadiens – Jackson Smith, LHD, Tri-City Americans (WHL)
The Habs would probably be thrilled to see Smith slide this far. Many had him going in the top 10 not too long ago.
17. Montreal Canadiens – Justin Carbonneau, RW, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
Quebec kid to the Habs with their second pick of the round feels almost too perfect.
18. Calgary Flames – Cameron Reid, LHD, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
This would be good value at this point.
19. St. Louis Blues – Cole Reschny, C/LW, Victoria Royals (WHL)
This seems to be a pretty popular pick in mocks, and I see no reason to argue.
20. Columbus Blue Jackets – Logan Hensler, RHD, Wisconsin (NCAA)
After taking a forward at 14, going defense here makes a lot of sense for Columbus.
21. Ottawa Senators – Jack Nesbitt, C, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Another popular mock pick that makes a lot of sense.
22. Philadelphia Flyers – Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie Otters (OHL)
After taking a highly-skilled, finesse center in Hagens at six, a big, physical winger in Spence could be the move here.
23. Nashville Predators – Sascha Boumedienne, LHD, Boston University (NCAA)
The smooth-skating Terrier would be a good fit for the Preds after addressing center at five.
24. Los Angeles Kings – Blake Fiddler, RHD, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Reports suggest the Kings are looking for defense and size. The 6-foot-4 Fiddler is both of those things.
25. Chicago Blackhawks – Milton Gastrin, C, MoDo (J20 Nationell)
If the Blackhawks go center at three, I could see big Russian winger Daniil Prokhorov here. Instead, we’ll invert it and go center here after taking Martone.
26. Nashville Predators – Joshua Ravensbergen, G, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
After taking a center and a defenseman, the Preds go goalie with their third pick of the first round. I dare you to find a mock draft that doesn’t have Nashville taking Ravensbergen here.
27. Washington Capitals – Benjamin Kindel, C/RW, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Gastrin is a popular pick in mocks here, but we have him already off the board. Kindel is incredibly talented, but on the smaller side. The Caps have made a habit of hitting on those kinds of players in recent years, so let’s continue that trend.
28. Winnipeg Jets – Bill Zonnon, LW, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)
The Jets could go defense, but this feels like a best player available kind of pick.
29. Carolina Hurricanes – Cullen Potter, C/LW, Arizona State (NCAA)
Like Kindel, a highly talented player who just happens to be on the smaller side. Potter might be the best skater in the class.
30. San Jose Sharks – Henry Brzustewicz, RHD, London Knights (OHL)
After going with Misa near the top of the round, the Sharks get the defenseman they’re looking for here.
31. Philadelphia Flyers – Daniil Prokhorov, RW, Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)
Hagens, Spence and Prokhorov would be quite the Round 1 haul for Philly.
32. Calgary Flames – Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, RW, Lulea (J20 Nationell)
Kindel is a popular mock here, but we have him already off the board. Ihs-Wozniak might be the top forward available and would make sense after going D at 18.
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We didn’t do a second-round mock, but here are some players I like who could be available for the Bruins on Saturday at picks 51 and/or 61:
Eddie Genborg, LW, Linkoping (SHL)
Physical, forechecking winger who played 28 games against pros last season. If the Bruins don’t take Brady Martin in the first, Genborg could bring some similar characteristics, just with a lower offensive ceiling.
Ethan Czata, C, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
Another pretty physical player, and a good two-way center who can still add some muscle to his 6-foot-1, 178-pound frame.
Alexander Zharovsky, RW, Tolpar Ufa (MHL)
The Bruins haven’t drafted a Russian in the first four rounds since 2011, but if one with the offensive skill of Zharovsky were to drop to them, they should give him serious consideration.
Cameron Schmidt, RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Schmidt is 5-foot-7. That’s the only reason he might still be available late in the second round. On talent alone, he’d be a first-rounder. The talent is worth betting on.
Max Psenicka, RHD, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
The Bruins could use right-handed defensemen – not just in the NHL now, but also in their pipeline. The second round (or pick 69 early in the third) could be a good place to find one, and Psenicka could be near the top of the list. He’s 6-foot-5, mobile and tough to play against, with the potential to get even tougher as he adds more muscle to his 185-pound frame.
Carter Amico, RHD, U.S. Under-18 Team
Amico only played 17 games this season due to injury, but his massive size (6-foot-6, 234 pounds), physicality and mobility make him worth taking a chance on. He is heading to Boston University this fall.