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The IIHF under-18 world championships are done, and the draft lottery is also in the rearview mirror, so it is time for the next big board for the 2025 NHL draft in June.

Unlike the earlier iteration, these rankings are not based solely on model outputs. They more heavily include viewings, insight from scouts and an evaluation of how the play styles and skills will translate to the NHL level.

Quite a few players shot up the draft board because of elevated projections, rarity of package and upside. Some fell down the draft board related to concerns of translatable skills, discrepancy in projections and concerns about having a “B” game.

There is such variance this year, with a consensus top two, along with two more players below them … and then all bets are off. There are a few pathways for teams in the top 10 to choose from: a high-floor, lower-upside player or a unicorn-upside, high-risk player. Each of those is weighted in the rankings, and by no means is this a mock draft.

With all that considered, these are the top 32 players, along with some honorable mentions, for the 2025 NHL draft.


1. Matthew Schaefer
D, Erie Otters (OHL)

The Erie Otters defender is projected to become a true No. 1 cornerstone for years to come. A dynamic presence at both ends of the ice, the 6-2 blueliner skates with ease and uses his agility to shut down opponents in one-on-one situations, while creating offense with excellent rush capabilities.

Across the league, executives and scouts view him as a future elite NHL defenseman and a foundational piece for a championship-caliber roster. With the ability to control play from the blue line, play tough matchups and run a power play, Schaefer has the tools to become a top-10 defender in the league.


2. Michael Misa
C, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

Misa, granted exceptional status in the OHL, delivered one of the most remarkable goal-scoring seasons in recent memory, netting 62 goals in just 65 games. He confidently projects to be a top-line forward with the potential to consistently exceed a point-per-game pace at the NHL level.

Misa’s offensive instincts are elite. He processes the game at a high level and executes at high speed. He’s NHL ready, and has the potential to become an elite top-line center if his development continues on its current path.

His two-way game took a major step this season and, when paired with his explosive speed and offensive firepower, Misa profiles as a foundational piece around which to build a Stanley Cup contender.


3. James Hagens
C, Boston College Eagles (NCAA)

A skilled center, Hagens projected to be a top-line center or one of the NHL’s best second-line centers. He brings a good work rate with excellent speed and two-way ability that should see him effectively drive play at the NHL level. The professional details of his game, such as supporting the puck, winning battles and defensive anticipation, will ease the transition to the NHL while he finds his offensive gear.

Hagens likely needs another season at Boston College to further develop his decision-making and add a more dynamic offensive gear to become a top-line NHL center. His understanding of spacing and his anticipation ability stand out among his peers. There’s a mix of Clayton Keller and Matty Beniers in him in terms of playmaking skill and two-way ability.


4. Porter Martone
RW, Brampton Steelheads (OHL)

The 6-3 right winger projects as a high-end second-line player with a competitive streak reminiscent of Corey Perry and Tom Wilson. A big, physical forward, Martone is a dual-threat offensive player with ability to score on his own and facilitate. His competitive nature will make him an effective agitator, and he will physically impose himself on opponents. He needs to hone his competitiveness and physicality to increase his effectiveness, and adjust his skating posture to become a more efficient skater.

His unique combination of scoring ability, size and hard skill make him a very attractive prospect. While his most confident projection is a top-six forward, Martone has a legitimate chance to become a top-line winger if his skating improves.


5. Roger McQueen
C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

One of the most hotly debated prospects because of injury concerns — he played only 17 games this season — and also his incredible natural abilities.

McQueen is described as “a unicorn” because he’s a 6-5 center who skates with the speed and mobility you’d expect from a smaller player, despite some odd mechanics, which may be a function of adjusting to his size. His projection as an elite top-line center lacks confidence due to lack of playing time. Elite right-handed centers are rare in the NHL, and McQueen’s size and willingness to physically dictate play add significant value. He has professional defensive habits that are translatable to the NHL, as well as unique offensive upside.

He is a textbook case of high risk, high reward. McQueen needs to play against tougher competition, where he will be forced to develop his ability to protect himself and the puck, and create offense against bigger bodies. If developed properly, he could become a two-way force in the NHL.


6. Anton Frondell
C/RW, Djurgardens (Allsvenskan)

Frondell is a versatile two-way forward who plays both center and right wing. His flexibility is attractive to teams, although many believe he is most likely to reach his potential as a winger in the NHL. Frondell is coming off one of the most productive seasons by an under-18 player in Allsvenskan history, giving him a confident projection as a first-line NHL forward.

He’s a cerebral player who picks apart defenders in one-on-one situations — and defensive coverage in offensive zone play. The details of Frondell’s game are translatable, including excellent forechecking ability, willingness to attack the middle of the ice and high-end anticipation on both sides of the puck.

Frondell has shown play-driving capabilities against senior-level players in the Allsvenskan, which has translated to the NHL in the past. He’s projected to produce between 75 and 85 points per season. His play style translates well, and has executives excited about his ability to step in the league in the next 18 months. His two-way ability combined with great anticipation and incredible puck skill make him one of the more captivating prospects in the draft.


7. Jackson Smith
D, Tri-City Americans (WHL)

Smith is a big, physical defenseman who is the consensus second best defender in the draft class. As a pure defender, Smith possesses all the qualities of a top-four matchup guy. He defends the rush very well, closes gaps and steers the play in transition. His offense started to develop more toward the end of the season, and he had a strong showing at the IIHF under-18 tournament. Given the importance of transition defense in the matchup role, Smith has a real chance to reach his ceiling projection of a No. 3 matchup defender.

Smith possesses a blend of skating, size and poise. Smith’s development will be about using his excellent mobility to prevent rush offense, becoming a more consistent offensive threat and continuing to develop his decision-making. If Smith can drive play on both sides of the puck in transition, he has a chance to become a No. 2 defender.


8. Victor Eklund
LW, Djurgardens (Allsvenskan)

Eklund projects as a top-six forward with a fair chance of becoming a top-line contributor. Despite concerns about his size, Eklund’s play style is very translatable to the NHL. He plays a lot bigger than his measurements suggest, with a high-end motor and excellent forechecking ability. Should he grow, which has happened to other prospects in the past, Eklund’s projection becomes more confident as a 70-point producer.

Eklund excels in transition and attacks defenders with speed and fearlessness, darting to the inside and positioning his body to win or protect pucks. His smaller size has forced him to learn how to protect the puck with excellent body positioning. His off-puck play is very mature and should quickly translate to earned trust from NHL coaches. He has the potential to be a difference-maker in the NHL, and there is every reason to believe his blend of hard-nosed play with soft skill will translate seamlessly to the NHL.


9. Caleb Desnoyers
C, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)

Desnoyers may go higher than ninth overall because he is one of the best two-way players in the draft. He has been described as a coach’s dream in that he can take an offensive or checking assignment and execute consistently. Desnoyers projects to be a quality second-line center, with a decent chance of becoming a first-line player.

He’s a cerebral player with excellent playmaking ability. It isn’t that he’s flashy and will get you out of your seat, it is that he’s consistently effective and makes intelligent plays with the puck. In other words, he’s reliable. As one scouting director described: “He’s the type of player you win with.” Some have quietly compared him to Patrice Bergeron and Jonathan Toews.


10. Jake O’Brien
C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

O’Brien projects to be a point-producing top-six center with a chance to become a top-line center. The right-hander is one of the best playmakers in the draft, creating high-danger chances with regularity. O’Brien’s elite playmaking skills will be that much more valuable if he can add speed.

O’Brien’s two-way ability has consistently improved this season, through puck support, good defensive tracking and quality stick positioning. He lacks dynamic skating but plays a projectable two-way game. There is risk because he’s slighter than other players available at the center position, but O’Brien should comfortably be a top-six point producer in the NHL.


11. Carter Bear
C/LW, Everett Silvertips (WHL)

Bear is the type of player that a team looking for high-end skill and playmaking covets. He’s versatile and projects as a 65- to 75-point second-line player, with most believing he’ll be a full-time winger. He’s an excellent playmaker with good hands in tight spaces, making him a threat around the net, and one of the best offensive facilitators in the draft.

In addition to his offensive gifts, Bear has professional defensive habits that will translate well. His skating posture needs to be more upright to allow him to develop a more explosive stride to take advantage of his skills. Bear is a good mix of soft and hard skill with reliable defensive traits, and is the perfect second-line player who should thrive in a matchup role.


12. Brady Martin
C/W, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)

Martin has scouts raving about him after an excellent performance at the IIHF under-18 tournament, tallying 11 points in seven games. He’s a workhorse without an off switch, who brings a blend of physicality and hard skill. Martin projects as a middle-six forward capable of scoring 20 goals, with upside as a second-line forward. He’s a Swiss Army Knife-type player who will be most effective on the wing because of his strong wall play.

Most top prospects are invisible if their A game isn’t there, but Martin finds ways to get involved physically, and those traits are translatable. If Martin’s scoring doesn’t translate, he’ll be a valuable member of a third line. The hard-nosed style is rare in today’s NHL, and Martin’s play style is attractive to many scouts who believe he’s the type of complementary player teams need to win in the playoffs.


13. Justin Carbonneau
RW, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

Carbonneau possesses a toolbox of attributes that teams covet, including powerful skating and dynamic attacking presence. He projects as a top-six forward with significant variance, and is likely end up as a complementary middle-six player. Carbonneau can drive offense with his playmaking and skating ability, and though he lacks a standout special talent, he plays a well-rounded offensive game that includes playing through contact, good puck skills and a decent shot.

Carbonneau is a player with high upside, and there is inherent risk with his projection. He thrives when given time and space, and his development will come from learning to simplify his offensive attacks, drive to middle ice and play off his teammates. He has tools to become an effective power forward in the NHL with a few years of development.


14. Radim Mrtka
D, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

A 6-6, right-handed defenseman with good mobility who plays in all situations has scouts very excited. Mrtka confidently projects as a top-four shutdown defenseman because of his excellent stick work, mobility and transition defense. Mrtka should develop into a strong transition defender, a reliable penalty killer and be a steady shorthanded presence.

He lacks the offensive prowess scouts would like to see in a top-pair defenseman, but his skating, size and intelligence give him the tools to develop into a reliable, minute-munching, shutdown defender. His late birthday gives him lots of development runway to refine his offensive playmaking, first passes and general understanding of how to best use his physical gifts.


15. Logan Hensler
D, Wisconsin Badgers (NCAA)

The 6-2 defender projects as a second-pairing defenseman with relative confidence. Hensler is very difficult to beat because he moves well and maintains good gap control. He lacks a dynamic offensive trait, but he has looked good when he activates in the rush. There are offensive flashes of head fakes and using his mobility to beat players that, if developed, would be critical to solidifying him as a two-way defenseman.

Hensler is a longer-term project who likely needs three years before he’s ready to make an impact in the NHL. His decision-making under pressure and ability to execute quality plays with consistency will make or break him as a high-end prospect. There is lots to like about his game, with the mobility and transition defense expected to translate well, but he lacks the high-end upside of other defenders in the draft class.


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

The 6-4 left winger has translatable scoring ability and excellent speed for his size. He attacks using his big frame to protect the puck and makes plays using good deception. He has the potential to be a dual-threat winger if he can develop his playmaking and decision-making. Lakovic projects to be a middle-six winger with fair confidence because of his scoring ability, speed and size.

Lakovic’s development will come on the physical side and in decision-making. He needs to lean on defenders and force his way to middle ice to take advantage of his quick hands and shot. Lakovic has quality offensive upside that projects confidently as an NHL player, with potential to be a 60-point player.


17. Braeden Cootes
C, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

A right-handed center, Cootes was a standout performer at the under-18 world championships. He projects to be a middle-six player with value on both sides of the puck. His floor is likely a third-line checking center, similar to Yanni Gourde. Cootes possesses excellent speed that allows him to push the pace and drive play. He anticipates the game at a high level, allowing him to take advantage of his speed at even strength and on the penalty kill.

Cootes has a longer development path and needs to get a little stronger to truly become a quality NHL center. His relentlessness on the puck and strong playmaking qualities make him a desirable asset in this year’s draft. There is a lot to like about his toolbox and, if developed with patience, he could be a solid second-line contributor.


18. Kashawn Aitcheson
D, Barrie Colts (OHL)

There’s a very real chance that Aitcheson goes in the top 10 given the type of game he plays, but his projection as a No. 4/5 defender sees him below other players with higher upside. Aitcheson plays with all kinds of truculence and aggression, while possessing an aura of confidence on and off the puck. He has all the makings of being a complete menace who plays tough minutes and projects as a No. 4 defender.

Scouts see him as a hard-nosed two-way defender with significant bite who can be a momentum shifter with his physical presence.

He needs development time, as his skating and playmaking are very raw, but the competitive attributes and his development curve this season are very promising. Aitcheson’s involvement on offense developed as the season progressed, but he’s likely two or three years away from being ready to step in. When he does, he’s exactly the type of defender every coach and GM would want on their team.


19. Cameron Schmidt
RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL)

While size is not the be-all, end-all, it is exceedingly rare for a player smaller than 5-9 to make the NHL. I fully expect Schmidt to go lower than 19th in the draft, because he is 5-7.

However, every other model input has Schmidt as a top-15 player, with boom-or-bust potential as a second-line winger. He’s got breakneck speed and excellent puck-handling capabilities, making him a dangerous offensive threat.

Scoring 40 goals in the WHL is no easy task. Only three players under 19 eclipsed the mark this season (Schmidt, along with Gavin McKenna and Carter Bear). Schmidt has great offensive instincts and needs to be more efficient with his play selection to translate to the NHL level. He can be a bit of a pest and engage physically, but if he’s going to reach his ceiling, he needs to round out his off-puck play and be more consistently impactful shift to shift.


20. Benjamin Kindel
RW, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

Kindel had excellent numbers in the WHL, putting up 99 points in 65 games. The right-winger has skill to burn, and terrific hockey sense. Kindel projects as a middle-six player with the most likely outcome being a third-line winger. He doesn’t have blistering speed in top flight, but he is agile and is difficult to pin down because of his water bug style. He needs to refine how he utilizes his skill, because it lacks a dynamic trait. Adding strength will go a long way to improving puck protection and ability to drive to middle ice to create scoring chances.

Defensively, Kindel provides tremendous value. He forechecks and backchecks effectively, plugs lanes and wins his fair share of puck battles. There is real value as a checker and penalty killer that will translate to the NHL level. He consistently competes on pucks and makes life difficult with his pace of play. If his scoring translates, he will likely be a 50-point, two-way player. If it doesn’t, a 40-point, two-way checker that is a plus penalty killer will be a good complementary piece at the NHL level.


21. Cameron Reid
D, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

A slight defender, Reid is a fast and agile skater, consistently activating in the rush. Reid has upside as a top-four defender if he can develop his offensive traits, specifically his playmaking. His skating allows him to create time and space, evade forecheckers and put defenders in precarious positions. The next step is to use the space and lanes he creates to facilitate offense more effectively.

Defensively, Reid is an excellent rush defender because of his excellent skating ability and good stick work. He guides players to the outside with his stick, and uses his skating to disrupt the rush. In the defensive zone, his stick is timed perfectly to lift opponents’ sticks as the puck arrives, deflect shots out of play and plug passing lanes. The upside is there because of his skating, and the development requires patience to allow him to reach top-four level.


22. Cole Reschny
LW, Victoria Royals (WHL)

Reschny may find himself higher on the board when all is said and done after a standout performance at the under-18 world championships. No player has risen the way Reschny has in the second half of the season, due in large part to his offensive production in the WHL playoffs. Reschny’s projection elevated from a third-line player with a less confident projection to a relatively confident middle-six player.

He’s not as dynamic as his point totals suggest, but his anticipation and reads are among the best in the draft class. He’s not big, but he’s effective when he physically engages and understands how to play through contact. His development will be about adding speed and strength to complement his two-way ability, and to be a Swiss Army Knife-type player in the NHL who can score 50 points.


23. Cullen Potter
LW, Arizona State Sun Devils (NCAA)

Potter had a strong freshman season in the NCAA, particularly when you consider he didn’t turn 18 until halfway through the campaign. He showed consistent growth that culminated in a standout performance at the under-18 world championships. His speed is NHL level, and he’s one of the best skaters in the draft class. He understands how to effectively use his skating ability to pressure players, drive pace of play and create offense. He looks to drive to the middle of the ice, makes plays at top speed and understands when to delay on the rush to allow the play to develop.

Potter is a dynamic skater with flashes of dynamic skill. His off-puck play, both offensively and defensively, improved dramatically this season, which resulted in him becoming a play driver. He has boom-bust potential, but if he hits his ceiling, there is a top-six player there. The projection confidence has steadily improved this season, and with two more NCAA seasons, Potter should be one of the best players at the collegiate level by the time he signs his entry-level NHL contract.


24. Malcolm Spence
LW, Erie Otters (OHL)

Spence falls out of the top half of the first round in large part because other players passed him, but his lack of dynamism combined with non-elite production affected his projection. His relentless work ethic, tenacity and two-way ability give him a high floor as an NHL regular. His lack of play-driving ability and playmaking see his upside as a third-line forward.

He’s not flashy in any sense of the word, but he’s very effective. He’s one of the most defensively sound forwards in the draft, and understands how to forecheck to cause turnovers. His tenacity will translate, and his shot is good enough to be a threat from close range. Coaches love this type of player on their third lines in the playoffs, and Spence should develop into a solid complementary piece in the NHL.


25. Ivan Ryabkin
C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)

Ryabkin is a hotly debated prospect and is up and down on draft boards. Depending on who you talk to, feedback ranges from a potential second-line guy to might not make it at all. That explains his variance in model projection. He’s most likely to become a depth NHL player, but there is a fair chance of becoming a middle-six, physical presence who can score 15 to 20 goals.

When he’s on, it is easy to see the upside. He is crafty, identifying passing lanes and firing accurate passes to set up scoring chances. When Ryabkin moves his feet to drive to middle ice and create passing lanes, he is a very effective player. His physicality on both sides of the puck should translate to becoming a good checking-line player, with some creative scoring ability if he can develop puck protection and inside ice-battle skills.


26. Joshua Ravensbergen
G, Prince George Cougars (WHL)

It is rare that a goaltender is a consensus first-rounder, but Ravensbergen is that guy. Teams love his 6-5 frame with long limbs and good flexibility. He’s able to cover significant portions of the net, and his puck tracking allows him to proactively move and aggressively angle. His lateral movement is explosive while maintaining control, preventing over-sliding and overactivity. He is sharp in his crease play, calmly directing pucks and communicating with his defensemen on coverage.

Ravensbergen has issues with layered screens, a common trait for young goaltenders and NHLers. His elite puck tracking allows him to stay one step ahead of the play, preventing erratic movements. This gives him the aura of calmness that scouts discuss, and is something that will serve him well as he strives to become an NHL starter.


27. Blake Fiddler
D, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

There is a chance that Fiddler goes higher because he’s a right-handed defender with NHL bloodlines — father Vernon played 877 NHL games — and has an NHL-sized frame at 6-4, 210 pounds. As scouts and executives say, “Those guys don’t grow on trees,” and Fiddler fits the mold.

He’s a strong defender, taking away time and space from opponents and making life difficult in physical battles. He strongly projects as an NHL player with a chance of becoming a No. 4 D-man. Among scouting circles, there is belief he can become a second-pairing defender because he has a long development runway, and his physical play style will translate well.

Fiddler’s decision-making leaves something to be desired, but he’s always activating and can be taught how to be more effective with his reads. His desire to be a difference-maker and his package of plus skating, physical play and size are attractive to teams. He’s a project, and will need three to four years of development to simplify his game and become an effective NHL defender.


28. Jack Murtagh
C/LW, U.S. National Team Development Program

The 6-1, versatile forward is going to provide some value toward the end of the first round. Murtagh projects confidently to be an NHL player, and scouts like his non-flashy, high-motor game. He never cheats for effort, plays a high-pace game and is physically involved. He is most likely to be a third-line forward, which fits his game style of being strong on the puck, winning puck battles and wreaking havoc around the net.

Heading to Boston University will be good for his overall development, offensively in particular. Murtagh has good playmaking ability that lacks creativity or dynamism. He’s a hard-skill player, gritting his way to scoring chances in the hard areas and out-battling opponents. That won’t always work against NHL defenders, meaning developing some creativity and the ability to manipulate defenders will be critical to translating offense and being a well-rounded, two-way forward in the NHL.


29. Sascha Boumedienne
D, Boston University Terriers (NCAA)

Boumedienne played more than half of his freshman NCAA season as a 17-year-old, and was the youngest player in the NCAA this season. His total of 13 points in 40 games is not the type of offense you expect from a potential first-round pick, but against his peers at the under-18s, Boumedienne set a scoring record for most points by a defenseman and was named the tournament’s best defender.

His skating mechanics have improved, leading to more explosive maneuvers and the chance to develop more agile movements for transition play. He’s an offensive horse, facilitating scoring chances by manipulating defenders, moving his feet and creating passing lanes. When he gets his chance, his slap shot packs significant power and should be a weapon in the NHL.

Boumedienne’s defensive transition will need to improve to hit his ceiling of a second-pairing defender. As of now, he can run an effective power play, break pucks out with clean passes and create offense. His agility and ability to defend middle ice will need to develop to match his perimeter defensive ability. He’s got a good stick, and is most disruptive when he engages physically. Improving his anticipation and reads will be critical to reaching his potential.


30. Jack Nesbitt
C, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

Nesbitt has risen on draft boards in the back half of the season — and with good reason. The 6-4 center brings a physical, defensive force and he confidently projects to be an NHL player. His upside continues to improve with flashes of one-on-one skill and the speed to drive and create in middle ice. There is a top-nine projection with less confidence; Nesbitt could become a checking center with 40-point potential.

His defensive play excites scouts because the scanning, shot-blocking, lane-filling and tracking to force turnovers under pressure will translate to the NHL. Scouts are confident Nesbitt is going to be an effective player in the NHL, and agree he’ll need to show more offensive playmaking ability to provide value on both sides of the puck.


31. William Moore
C, U.S. National Team Development Program

Moore is all over draft boards — from the mid-20s to the third round — because he’s a long-term project, exactly the type of player that teams drafting in the late first like to target. Moore is a cross between a hard-skill and soft-skill player who needs to pick which play style he wants to be. He projects as an NHL player with an outside shot of becoming a middle-six player if he can add to his offensive toolbox.

He has creativity and the skill to execute, manipulating defenders and playing with pace, and picks pucks off the wall with ease. But, he lacks consistency. His compete level and willingness to engage physically show potential as a power forward. He has reliable two-way abilities that will translate well, and will further develop as he stops on pucks, engages physically defensively and adds strength to improve in puck battles and playing through contact.


32. Bill Zonnon
LW, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)

Zonnon is a raw prospect that some team in the late first round is going to be thrilled to get. He checks all the boxes, with a high-end motor, elite work ethic and playmaking abilities. The big forward is confidently projected to be an NHL player, and has a fair chance of becoming a third-liner. Scouts view him as a high-floor player because of his translatable “intangibles” and long runway to develop the raw skill. He’s already a reliable, 200-foot player and scouts love his no-quit, relentless effort.

If his skating improves, he will become a very effective two-way player, relying on his awareness, playmaking and competitiveness to bring value on both sides of the puck. He’s most likely to be a winger, with excellent wall play and battle skills. He can be a prototypical hard-skill player that teams play on the third line to shut down opponents and rely upon in all situations. He’s likely three years away, and would benefit from NCAA time to develop his skating and offensive abilities.


Honorable mentions (in alphabetical order)

Nathan Behm, LW/RW, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Henry Brzustewicz, D, London Knights (OHL)
Milton Gastrin, C/LW, MoDo Hockey (J20 Nationell)
Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, RW, Lulea HF (J20 Nationell)
Jack Ivankovic, G, Brampton Steelheads (OHL)
Benjamin Kevan, F, Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
Ryker Lee, F, Madison Capitols (USHL)
Cole McKinney, C, U.S. National Team Development Program
Vaclav Nestrasil, RW, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
Shane Vansaghi, RW, Michigan State Spartans (NCAA)

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Ranking the Red Sox’s options at first base: Devers back in the infield? A prospect moving positions?

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Ranking the Red Sox's options at first base: Devers back in the infield? A prospect moving positions?

The Boston Red Sox front office dreamed that this would be the year that Triston Casas would fully blossom, mashing 30 homers and fully exploiting Fenway Park’s dimensions in a way that other left-handed hitters have. But Casas is out for the year after rupturing his left patellar tendon — and now manager Alex Cora must find a replacement.

But this is not a situation in which the Red Sox have to scramble for help outside the organization. Evaluators with other teams scan Boston’s big league roster and organizational depth and believe the Red Sox are in a strong position, with a lot of options.

Based on feedback from front office-types, scouts and major league staffers, here are the best first-base options for the Red Sox, in order of collective preference of those we spoke to.

1. Rafael Devers

As of Tuesday afternoon, Cora said he hadn’t asked Devers about a move to first, and some rival evaluators believe that makes sense due to the political complications. After Devers was surprised by the late-winter signing of Alex Bregman and initially rejected the idea of moving from third base, Devers eventually went along with a shift to designated hitter.

“He already made one big change, so it’d be tough to ask him to do another in-season,” one evaluator said. “Leave him at DH and let him get comfortable there.”

Said another: “He’s gone all-in at designated hitter.”

But that doesn’t preclude Devers from knocking on Cora’s door and telling his manager he would like to move, which could be the best-case scenario for the Red Sox. And in doing this, Devers could be embracing the inevitable — because eventually, he’s probably going to move to first base. Devers is in the third year of a 10-year, $313.5 million contract that runs through 2033.

“Are you ever going to move him back to third base after getting him off that spot?” one rival official asked rhetorically. “And he’s too young [28] to be settling into a full-time DH role. It’s better for him if you get him out in the field.”

It doesn’t have to happen all at once. If Devers volunteers, he could start taking ground balls for a week or two and then gradually play at first, getting back into the kind of shape necessary to play in the field regularly.

There would be natural concerns about his defense at a new position, but a couple of evaluators noted that Devers’ primary defensive problem at third base was in throwing, something he would do far less at first. At the very least, Devers would be wholly accustomed to the speed of the game for a corner infielder.

“I don’t think he would be bad over there,” one evaluator said. “It’s not like he was a total zero at third base. He was OK at times.”

If Devers were to play first, that would open the DH spot for Cora to use as a resting spot for position players dealing with weariness or nagging injuries and creating an opening for Roman Anthony or Marcelo Mayer to be promoted.

2. Marcelo Mayer

His future with the Red Sox is as a middle infielder, but there is precedent in Boston’s history of using a star prospect as a stop-gap solution. In 2013, the Red Sox needed a third baseman and promoted shortstop Xander Bogaerts to play the spot, and they went on to win the World Series. For Mayer to move from shortstop to first base would be a more dramatic change, but one staffer believes he could do this with relative ease.

“He’s athletic enough to do it,” the staffer said, “and he’d hold down the position offensively. You’d have some growing pains on defense, but he’s played on the right side of the infield before [at second] and he would hit enough to make it work.

“That’s the thing — they need offense from that position. If they weren’t trying to win, you wouldn’t think about it. But they are trying to win and it’s something you consider.”

Mayer is currently playing for Triple-A Worcester, though Red Sox fans are eager to see him with the major league team.

“It’d work for [Mayer] because it would get him to the big leagues right away,” the staffer concluded.

3. Give Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro a full shot to share the first base job

Gonzalez and Toro have been the two players to get reps at first base since Casas went down Friday night, with Gonzalez owning the biggest share of those — though, he exited Wednesday night’s win and is day-to-day after colliding with Texas Rangers first baseman Josh Smith while trying to beat out an infield hit.

Gonzalez is a right-handed hitter who’s been a good player for the Red Sox over the past two seasons and is batting .308 in 58 plate appearances this season. The utilityman had played only 20 games at first base at the big league level coming into this season, so the best that Cora could hope for would probably be league average defense. Gonzalez doesn’t hit for much power, but he will get on base regularly, if he can stay healthy. Toro is a switch-hitter who has played 368 games with five different teams, generating a career adjusted OPS+ of 80.

However, it seems more likely the Red Sox look for more thump at what is a power position.

4. Move Kristian Campbell from second base to first, with Marcelo Mayer getting a shot to win the second base job

Campbell is seen by one scout as “primarily an offensive player.”

“He’s going to hit,” the scout said. “He’s not especially good at any one spot defensively. He’s moved around a lot in his career, and he’d be fine at first.”

Campbell has played the infield plenty in his time in baseball, and at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, he would present a good target for other infielders at first. And Mayer did have a brief audition at second base in spring training.

However, one evaluator said that Campbell has already been learning one new position this season and asking him to learn another could be too much — and the Red Sox might be better just leaving him at second and allowing him to get comfortable at the plate.

5. Move Trevor Story to first base and promote Mayer to play shortstop

This was raised by ESPN analyst Eduardo Perez on the “Baseball Tonight” podcast. But as difficult as it was to ask Devers to move off third base, it might be even more complicated getting Story to buy into the idea of moving to first. He’s under contract for two more seasons after this year at $25 million annually, and he’s been a shortstop for almost all of his 10-year career.

Additionally: If the Red Sox are going to affect a major change, they’ll do it to enhance their offense — and Story hasn’t been a big run-producer. Over 105 games in the past three seasons, he’s slashing .233/.287/.354.

6. Move one of the outfielders to first — either Wilyer Abreu or rising star prospect Roman Anthony

Some rival evaluators believe this is the worst possible option because you would be asking two high-end outfielders to learn to play infield on the fly.

“What a waste that would be,” one scout said. “Anthony is going to be a star — a guy who hits .280 with 28-30 homers, and he can really play the outfield. A total waste. They’ve got enough guys in the infield to move somebody else there.”

7. Vaughn Grissom

The infielder acquired in the trade of Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves, Grissom was hurt much of last year, batting .191 in 31 games for the Red Sox. In Triple-A this season, he’s hitting a respectable .260/.343/.398. But two evaluators with other teams believe that there wouldn’t be much of a difference between the Gonzalez/Toro platoon and what Grissom could provide offensively.

“They’d probably just go with the guys who are in the big leagues already,” one staffer said.

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Stanley Cup playoffs daily: Can the Capitals, Golden Knights get revenge in Game 2?

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Stanley Cup playoffs daily: Can the Capitals, Golden Knights get revenge in Game 2?

With all four second-round series officially underway after the Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets played Game 1 on Wednesday, we now have a sense of all eight clubs. Will the two home teams from Tuesday night reverse course after losing in Game 1?

First up are the Washington Capitals, who lost 2-1 in OT to the Carolina Hurricanes; those two square off again Thursday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. The nightcap features the Vegas Golden Knights hosting the Edmonton Oilers (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) after the visitors prevailed 4-2 on Tuesday.

Read on for game previews with statistical insights from ESPN Research, a recap of what went down in Wednesday’s games and the three stars of Wednesday from Arda Öcal.

Matchup notes

Carolina Hurricanes at Washington Capitals
Game 2 | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN

The odds have shifted sharply after the Canes took Game 1 in D.C.: the opening series odds were Hurricanes -195, Capitals +165. Now it’s Hurricanes -425, Capitals +300.

Jaccob Slavin had the OT game winner in Game 1, his first career playoff winning goal. There have been three other defensemen in Hurricanes/Whalers franchise history with a playoff overtime goal: Niclas Wallin (who scored three), plus one each for Tim Gleason and Ian Cole.

The Canes allowed 14 shots on goal in Game 1, the fewest allowed by any team in the playoffs this season and the second fewest allowed by Carolina in a playoff game in franchise history (12, in the 2024 first round vs. the Islanders).

Alex Ovechkin was held to one shot on goal in Game 1, snapping a streak of 18 games (regular season and playoffs) with multiple shots on goal. The last time he was held to one or fewer shots on goal in consecutive games was last year’s playoff series against the Rangers.

Pierre-Luc Dubois has now gone 10 games without scoring a goal (dating back to the regular season). His last goal? April 10 against the Hurricanes.

Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights
Game 2 | 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN

This series opened as a pick ’em, with both teams at -110 odds to win. After the Oilers’ Game 1 victory, they are now the favorites at -225, while the Golden Knights are now +190.

Connor McDavid‘s 39 playoff goals are seventh in Oilers history, behind Jari Kurri (92), Glenn Anderson (81), Wayne Gretzky (81), Mark Messier (80), Esa Tikkanen (51) and current teammate Leon Draisaitl (45).

Edmonton defenseman Evan Bouchard scored six goals in the Oilers’ run to Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, and he already has four goals through seven games this postseason.

With two goals in Game 1, Mark Stone now has 36 playoff goals since joining the Knights beginning in 2018-19. That is tied with Edmonton’s Zach Hyman for fifth in the NHL during that span, behind Nathan MacKinnon (50), Draisaitl (39), Mikko Rantanen (39) and Brayden Point (37).

According to Stathletes, the line of Stone, Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev has allowed more scoring chances against (seven) than it has generated (six) during the playoffs. In the regular season, the differential was 112-77 in Vegas’ favor with those three on the ice.


Öcal’s three stars from Wednesday

Another NHL record for “Moose.” He became the first player in NHL history with two single-period hat tricks in the same postseason. There have been only three other players with multiple playoff hat tricks in their career: Wayne Gretzky (three), Maurice Richard (three), Tim Kerr (two).

The former Canadiens captain scored the first goal and added an assist on William Nylander‘s goal in the second. He now has three-game point streak for the first time since 2021.

Scored the clutch third-period goal 17 seconds after the Panthers had tied the score, taking Game 2 and giving the Leafs a 2-0 series lead.


Wednesday’s recaps

Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Florida Panthers 3
TOR leads 2-0 | Game 3 Friday

With neither team willing to give an inch, Game 2 was another close final result. The Panthers struck first in this one, via a first-period power-play goal from Aleksander Barkov, answered later in the first by Max Pacioretty. Old Maple Leafs nemesis Brad Marchand scored 15 seconds into the second, followed by William Nylander notching his sixth of the postseason at 4:18. The score would remain tied until Max Domi scored his first regulation goal of the playoffs with under three minutes left in the second. Anton Lundell drew the Panthers even at 3-3 early in the third, but new father Mitch Marner scored the game-winning goal just 17 seconds later. Full recap.

play

1:27

Mitch Marner answers Panthers’ tying goal to clinch Game 2

Anton Lundell and Mitch Marner notch goals 17 seconds apart as Toronto maintains the lead.

Dallas Stars 3, Winnipeg Jets 2
DAL leads 1-0 | Game 2 Friday

As has happened in many Game 1s this postseason, the two teams went scoreless in the first period, measuring one another for the fight. Winnipeg’s Nino Niederreiter got the party started 3:30 into the second, but then the Mikko Rantanen Show began. The Finnish forward scored a natural hat trick — that’s two straight games with a hat trick — putting the Stars up 3-1. Mark Scheifele scored his third of the postseason at the tail end of the second, but the Jets could not get the equalizer despite a furious effort in the third. Full recap.

play

1:09

Stars desperately defend net in Jets 3rd-period onslaught

Jake Oettinger and company crowd the goal to keep the Jets from tying the score.

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Homestead-Miami to host ’26 NASCAR title races

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Homestead-Miami to host '26 NASCAR title races

NASCAR’s Championship Weekend is headed back to the racetrack it called home for nearly two decades, but it won’t stay long, as the sanctioning body moves to a new rotation scheduling model for its season finale.

On Tuesday, NASCAR announced that Homestead-Miami Speedway, which hosted the conclusion of the NASCAR postseason from 2002 to 2019, will do so once again in 2026, as NASCAR’s three national series – Craftsman Trucks, Xfinity and Cup — crown champions over a three-day weekend, Nov. 6-8.

But the return to South Florida will only be the first year of the annual rotation of NASCAR Championship Weekend, to be held at to-be-determined locations each fall. The move is inspired by so-called “stick-and-ball” title games such as the Super Bowl, College Football Playoff National Championship and NCAA Final Fours.

In recent years, NASCAR has experimented with moving around its two exhibition events, as the preseason Clash went from Daytona International Speedway, its home 1979-2021, to a short track constructed inside the Los Angeles Coliseum in 2022-23 and Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Feb. 2 of this year. Since 2020, the NASCAR All-Star Race has also rotated, leaving its birthplace and longtime home track Charlotte Motor Speedway to race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee, Texas Motor Speedway and the resurrected North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina.

Adding that to NASCAR’s frequent shuffling of its first nine playoff races, it all feels as if it were one big test session for this, an overhaul of the biggest weekend of NASCAR’s year, when its three national champions are crowned.

“Yes, mixing it up, and I think you are going to see different teams and different drivers as we move this championship around,” said Ben Kennedy in a phone conversation with ESPN. He is NASCAR EVP, chief venue & racing innovation officer, great-grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France, and a former racer in Trucks and Xfinity. “Some are going to rise to the occasion, and others aren’t. It’s going to be interesting to see how that plays out. We still want to keep the playoff schedule. We want to keep a lot of that intact. But you’ve seen over the past few years some small nuances and changes we’ve met, we’ve created in it, just to keep that level of unpredictability high.”

This marks a significant departure from NASCAR’s long-established regular-season stock car racing scheduling model. In 2020, the finale weekend was moved from 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway to the flat, quirky 1-mile Phoenix Raceway amid NASCAR’s fan-driven push toward shorter tracks. It has resided there ever since, slated for this year’s Championship Weekend Oct. 31-Nov. 2.

But before Homestead-Miami’s 18-year stint as Championship Weekend host, Atlanta Motor Speedway was home to the season’s last race for 14 years, the only exception being 2001, when New Hampshire Motor Speedway had its fall date pushed to the end of the Cup Series calendar due to the attacks of 9/11. From 1974 to 1986, the season always ended in Southern California, either on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway clone of Ontario or on the road course of Riverside two racetracks that no longer exist.

Kennedy explained that the details of how tracks will be selected to host Championship Weekend in the post-2026 rotation are being sorted out by a NASCAR industry working group. But he also listed criteria that included a warm weather climate in late fall, adjacency to a large metro area, updated facilities prepared to handle the sport’s crowning events and established racetracks instead of unfamiliar wild cards where teams don’t have at least some history. He also said he did not foresee the roulette wheel-style “plate racing” of Daytona International Speedway or Talladega Superspeedway having a place in the finale, even after they have had previous turns in the postseason, including crucial cutoff races.

There are 28 tracks that host Cup Series events. NASCAR wholly owns 11, including Homestead-Miami and Phoenix. Speedway Motorsports Incorporated owns a dozen facilities. The remaining five are independently owned or are operated by NASCAR in conjunction with other entities. Based on Kennedy’s description of what constitutes warm weather climate (“You could draw a line just a little bit north of the Rockingham [North Carolina] Speedway”) then roughly a quarter of those tracks would seem to be in play for a future Championship Weekend.

“A big part of this is also hearing feedback from the industry, be it teams, drivers, broadcast partners, industry partners and, importantly, the fans,” Kennedy said. “It was the fans who ranked Homestead-Miami Speedway as the No. 1 track that they would like to see the championship at.”

As for Phoenix Raceway, which Kennedy says received $100 million in capital improvements to bolster its role as the championship anchor, will continue to host two Cup Series events, as it has since 2005. It will be included in the Round of 8, essentially the semifinals, of the 2026 NASCAR playoffs, the specific date to be announced with the remainder of next year’s schedule at a later date.

“Phoenix set the bar really high since that weekend moved from here to there,” Homestead-Miami Speedway president Guillermo Santa Cruz said. “But now to kick off this rotation, to be the first one up in this in this new format and, you know, set the pace for it. It’s an honor for us to have it back and to kick it off.”

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