Blueshirt Banter 2025 NHL Mock Draft: Picks 11-22

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back for part two of this year's Blueshirt Banters Official Mock Draft, presented by Chris Feldman and Roberto Solis-Byxbee.

If you weren’t privy to it last year, our mock draft serves two purposes: to talk about what each of these prospects bring to the table ahead of the big day, and to make our best guesses on who ends up where. And, of course, to make mention of who could, and should, be on the radar for the New York Rangers.

If you missed picks 1-10, you can read those here. Without further ado, let's get back into it with picks 11-22 for this year’s draft class!

11. Pittsburgh Penguins

Roberto:  Viktor Eklund - RW/LW, Djurgårdens IF, Sweden: The younger brother of San Jose's young star William Eklund, teams will automatically pay attention to Viktor Eklund. But all the hype around him isn't just because of nepotism. Like his brother, there is a large amount of skill and effort involved in his game. Similar to Frondell, Eklund helped his team, Djurgården, earn their berth back into Sweden's top league, which is no easy feat. But unlike Frondell, Eklund's stature is on the smaller side and for him to make it to the NHL he will need to add a fair amount of muscle to his frame. Nevertheless, he brings an overwhelming amount of skill with a relentless motor, so the NHL really does seem more of an eventuality versus a possibility for him.

Chris: Brady Martin, Center - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL: It’s pretty well known that Kyle Dubas loves his guys. The former general manager of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds is notorious for acquiring former Soo Greyhounds to come play for him. Surely, he’s not going to look past Brady Martin, who just put up 72 points for them this past season. This is a player I’m sure plenty of teams are going to have on their list heading into draft day but don’t see him making it past here if still available. He’s tough to play against in the sense that he’s just really good. He can beat players 1-on-1 with ease, has a ton of tricks up his sleeve as he’s outstanding with the puck. Everything about his talents make him stand out, but he also plays a physical game to the point where some are comparing him to Sam Bennett. For that reason alone, don’t be surprised if a team reaches for him before Pittsburgh gets the chance to. 

12. Pittsburgh Penguins (via NYR)

Full transparency, we both had the Rangers taking Jackson Smith with this pick, but now that they have opted to send it to Pittsburgh, we still believe Smith gets chosen here and are now convinced he will win a minimum of two Norris Trophies since he very well may become "what could have been" for the Rangers.

Roberto: Jackson Smith - Defenseman, Tri-City Americans, WHL: Jackson Smith is too intriguing a prospect to pass up on. This would have made sense from the Rangers' perspective. But, alas, you can't always get what you want, and the Penguins will get a shot at Jackson Smith and add a top-tier prospect to their pipeline now instead. Smith eats minutes for his team, and while having some flaws in his game, has vastly outperformed many of his peers. With size and skill both being assets for Smith, he projects to be a solid NHL defenseman with his ceiling being a top pair guy who contributes in even strength and with the man advantage.

Chris: Jackson Smith - Defenseman, Tri-City Americans, WHL: Jackson Smith is exactly what the Rangers needed, but also is a great fit for Pittsburgh. He's a 6-3, left-handed shot, mobile defenseman who’s physical, dependable, and a great two-way player. He’s not quite NHL-ready but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s champing at the bit to make an NHL roster in a season or two. His game is far from perfect and many reports make note of the fact that he makes mistakes. But by all accounts, the pros outweigh the cons with this player. The Penguins need help in all areas and assuming they get their guy in Brady Martin at 11, they'll want to add a defenseman with their second pick in the first round, and Jackson Smith would be the guy to take here.

13. Detroit Red Wings

Roberto: Milton Gastrin - Center, Modo Jr. Sweden: Ignoring all the expert projections and yearning for fun, I am predicting Detroit goes a little off the board here and picks Gastrin with their first pick. Before you judge, hear me out. While he projects to go a little bit later in the draft, Gastrin is very much deserving of the love. He assumes a leadership position on almost every team he's been placed on, and he put up 10 points at the Hlinka Gretzky tournament while serving as captain for Team Sweden.

Chris: Carter Bear - C/LW, Everett Silvertips, WHL: If it wasn’t for an achilles laceration that put an end to his season, Carter Bear could be ranked even higher. Prior to that season ending injury, Bear registered 82 points in 56 games which is even better than some of last year’s top ten picks. There’s plenty of reason to believe he can become a top-six forward in the NHL some day as he has great hands, all-around skill, and doesn’t hesitate to go to the net and other dirty areas to generate offense. He’s one of those examples of a center who will probably become a winger in the NHL, but has all the potential for becoming a very useful NHLer down the road. The Red Wings would be a great fit for him but the injury could cause him to fall in the draft. 

14. Columbus Blue Jackets

Roberto:  Brady Martin, Center - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL: Brady Martin is the old-school story of being raised on a farm but born to play hockey. His work ethic is noticeable the minute he touches the ice, as he never gives up on a forecheck or backcheck. Add his high skill level to that, and you have an infectious, positive, hard-working player whose attitude will positively influence the entire roster. There is a good chance Martin goes earlier than this. He was able to put up 72 points on a weaker OHL squad, but when plugged in with other top players, he has historically scored at will.

Chris: Jake O’Brien - Center, Brantford Bulldogs, OHL: Some folks have O’Brien just outside the top five of this draft class, others have him as low as 26th. Personally, I think he’s going to go somewhere in the middle strictly based on the fact that he’s a reliable two-way center that has potential to become a really valuable second line center someday. However, he doesn’t have the tenacity or size that lots of other prospects in this class have, so I can see a world in which he falls to the back half of the first round. Still, he’s a calm and composed forward that has great hands, a ton of skill, and drives offense. A leader on the ice and the scoresheet on a top team in the OHL, O’Brien could be a smart gamble to take and my gut says Columbus becomes that team. 

15. Vancouver Canucks

Roberto: Braedon Cootes - Center, Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL: A sub-six-foot player, Braedon Cootes has not let that slow him down. He led a weaker WHL team in points and played in all situations for the Thunderbirds. A lot of teams will value him higher because of his ability to produce without much help surrounding him. His offensive skill set is well-rounded, and he can fit in with almost any productive line, as seen in his very successful WU18 tournament.

Chris: Braedon Cootes - Center, Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL: Another prospect that’s sort of ranked all over the place, Braedon Cootes is a workhorse that if nothing else, and has the tenacity that NHL teams are looking for. There are concerns with his skating and how his skills will translate to the NHL but there’s also plenty of belief that he can become a valuable two-way center similar to O’Brien. He played a key role on Canada’s U18 team this year which can be enough for a team, like Vancouver, to want to take a gamble on him. 

16. Montreal Canadiens (via CGY)

Roberto: Carter Bear - C/LW, Everett Silvertips, WHL: Carter Bear had a real chance to go higher in the draft, but is now consistently ranked as a mid-first round pick due to an Achilles laceration he suffered in March. Still, he put up 82 points in 56 games and led his team in points despite missing the last month or so of the season. He is a bit on the smaller side but has the skill and tenacity to make an impact. With the Canadiens' reputation of not shying away from undersized forwards, this felt like a natural fit.

Chris: Cole Reschny - C/LW, Victoria Royals, WHL: This is another player who could fall in the draft because of his smaller size. But you know what team isn’t afraid of drafting smaller players? The Montreal Canadiens. Cole Reschny has a great hockey IQ, skates well in all areas of the ice, and can be used in practically every situation. He’s great at faceoffs, has all the fixings to become a great two-way center, but could end up moving to the wing if he struggles adjusting to professional levels of play. Montreal just makes all the sense in the world for this player. 

17. Montreal Canadiens

Roberto: Logan Hensler - Defenseman, University of Wisconsin, NCAA: I think we can expect to see Montreal diversify with their second pick and draft a defenseman next. Cameron Reid is an intriguing option, but I think Montreal prioritizes size and skating here and takes Logan Hensler. Hensler struggled in his first NCAA season with Wisconsin, but because of a late birthday, his jump from the USNTDP to NCAA was a bit earlier than most. At 6-2, Hensler can play the body or skate out of trouble, and with some fine-tuning and a few more years in the NCAA, Montreal would be getting a polished, safe product to plug into their defensive corps.

Chris: Blake Fiddler - Defenseman, Edmonton Oil Kings, WHL: Son of former NHLer Vernon Fiddler, Blake is 6-4 every time he steps onto the ice and is right-handed everytime he touches the puck. Say less, says practically every general manager in the NHL. Fiddler’s not a great skater, doesn’t always make great decisions with the puck, and doesn’t offer a ton offensively. But his abilities as a stay-at-home defender, as well as his size and stature will be what gets a team like Montreal that needs to replenish their right side to take him in the first round. On top of being responsible defensively, he plays the game hard, has good hands and is effective physically. He likely maxes out as a bottom pair defender but with the right development, maybe he sniffs a team’s top four. 

18. Calgary Flames (via NJD)

Roberto: Cameron Reid - Defenseman, Kitchener Rangers, OHL: It's crazy that these days a six-foot defenseman is considered a bit small, but that's what Cameron Reid has to deal with. That said, his top-tier skating skills, combined with the fact that he was second in the CHL in points for 2025 draft-eligible defensemen, show that Reid has some flair in his game that teams should pay attention to.

Chris: Cameron Reid - Defenseman, Kitchener Rangers, OHL: Many people have Cameron Reid projected to be a late first or early second round pick, but I could see a world in which he becomes one of the better defensemen in this draft class. He’s got a great shot, strong puck skills, is reliable defensively and good enough offensively. What much else can you ask for? Size again doesn’t necessarily work in his favor but he competes hard and keeps up enough physically.  

19. St. Louis Blues

Roberto: Jack Nesbitt - C/LW, Windsor Spitfires, OHL: It's hard to imagine many teams passing up the opportunity to draft Jack Nesbitt, but the buck stops here. In a 6-4 frame, the centerman's production exploded this season playing for the upstart Spitfires. With a few years of development and muscle added to Nesbitt's frame, he's bound to be a dominant gamer that gets consistent minutes for any team lucky enough to take him.

Chris: Henry Brzustewicz - Defenseman, London Knights, OHL: A key part of the London Knights team that just won the 2025 Memorial Cup, Henry Brzustewicz is a strong, two-way defenseman that has size and a wide range of skills that make him a great investment for any team in this draft. A 6-2, right-handed shot with loads of skill, hockey sense, and a high compete level, Brzustewicz is a great fit for a team like St. Louis that needs to replenish their back end.  

20. Columbus Blue Jackets (via MIN)

Roberto: Jakob Ihs-Wozniak - Left Wing, Lulea Jr, Swe: The prospect who broke the scoring record in the Swedish Junior League should absolutely go in the first round and look no further than Columbus. While Ihs-Wozniak may have underwhelmed this past year, the sky is the ceiling for the dynamic winger and, with the right support and development, he could have teams looking silly for passing up on him earlier in the draft.

Chris: Justin Carbonneau - Right Wing, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada - QMJHL: Justin Carbonneau is a really smart player that sees the ice well, can make plays, score goals and just knows what to do in the offensive zone. He has a ton of skill that can lead to him becoming a top-six forward in the NHL but could also end up settling into a really valuable middle-six role if it all doesn't immediately click for him on a professional stage. The defensive side of his game could use some work but with the right development, he could become a really good pick this late in the draft.

21: Ottawa Senators 

Roberto: Ivan Ryabkin - Center/Wing, Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL: Similar to Chris' thoughts below, I think Ryabkin plays with a fire in his game that's similar to Brady Tkachuk, and the Senators' captain would make a perfect mentor for the Russian enigma. There have been many questions about his effort level, but as his postseason performance in the USHL this season proved, when the kid wants to play, he is one of the best.

Chris: Jack Nesbitt - C/LW, Windsor Spitfires, OHL: Some have Jack Nesbitt ranked very high, while others see him falling out of the first round entirely. He’s listed as a center and played center in Windsor but makes more sense as a left winger at the professional level, at least in my eyes. He’s a power forward with size that feels like a Will Cuylle-type with less physicality and better hands. He’s a 200-foot player that generates offense, which is exactly what is going to draw attention from NHL GM’s, but he is a work in progress for sure. His speed and skating abilities need a ton of work but the rest of his skills could offset his shortcomings. I can see Ottawa drafting him and having Brady Tkachuk take him under his wing down the road, when they’re both traded to the Rangers. Kidding… unless?! 

22. Philadelphia Flyers (via COL)

Roberto: Henry Brzustewicz - Defenseman, London Knights, OHL: There are a lot of mixed feelings on what Brzustewicz brings. Some scouts think he's the total package, and others are less than impressed. Regardless, I think if Philadelphia takes a forward sixth overall, they'd be looking to add to their back end with one of their later picks, and the London Knight defenseman has displayed his sense of composure and skill set night in and night out to qualify as a first-round prospect. There are other defensive options available, but Brzustewicz would be one of the best available this late in the round.

Chris: Lynden Lakovic - C/LW - Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL: If we were drafting based on hockey names, Lynden Lakovic would go first overall. Lakovic is a 6-4, left-handed winger who uses his size well, can score goals with an impressive shot, and has good enough playmaking abilities. He’s another forward that just feels like a Flyer to me. His game could really benefit from some more physicality and effort but his skills should make up for it enough to get him drafted in the first round. 

Tomorrow, we'll wrap up our Blueshirt Banter Mock Draft with picks 23-32.