Five Nhl Draft Comparables: Will We See The Next Hughes, Hischier, Bennett, Getzlaf And Jarvis?

With the 2025 NHL draft quickly approaching, teams around the league are finalizing their draft boards in hopes of landing the best young talent from around the hockey world.

While no two players are identical, every year, scouts and fans always look for the closest NHL comparisons for draft-eligible prospects to better assess their potential with pro-level development.

It can sometimes be misleading, but it can also be a great way to gain a better understanding of how each player can fit within an organization’s future.

Let’s look at some of the top prospects in the 2025 draft class and find their best NHL comparables.

Roger McQueen, C, Brandon (WHL)

NHL Player Comparable: Ryan Getzlaf

Ryan Kennedy’s Rank: 7
Tony Ferrari’s Rank: 18

Roger McQueen has the frame of a power forward but the offensive instincts of a playmaker. He can visualize plays in the offensive zone at a high level and is very calm with the puck, unafraid to slow things down and draw in opposing players to create passing lanes for his teammates. While he may not be the most mechanically sound skater, he’s deceptively quick and uses his length to cover a lot of ice quickly. 

McQueen is also very elusive in transition, slipping pucks past players despite not being able to beat them with explosive speed. He’s an elite net-front presence for his age and has great hands in tight, making him a threat from many different areas of the ice. While his injury history could make him one of the riskiest picks at the draft, his upside is undeniably one of the highest among the players in this class.

James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA)

NHL Player Comparable: Clayton Keller, Jack Hughes

Kennedy’s Rank: 5
Ferrari’s Rank: 3

James Hagens is one of the most offensively gifted players in this class, with his skating being the foundation of what makes him so remarkable. His agility, acceleration and ability to dictate the pace of play trickles into every facet of his game, and Hagens is easily the best forward when it comes to generating transition offense.

Puck control is also a huge part of Hagens’ playmaking game. He uses his stick extremely well in placing pucks in small spaces, and he can consistently beat players 1-on-1 with various skilled moves. He’s great at making defenders make uncomfortable decisions, and he has a decent enough shot that can make teams pay if passing lanes are closed off.

While the concerns about his size are warranted, it’s difficult to imagine a world where Hagens won’t be able to become a top-six center with high-end point production with the proper development.

Victor Eklund, LW, Djurgarden (Swe.2)

NHL Player Comparable: Seth Jarvis, Travis Konecny

Kennedy’s Rank: 8
Ferrari’s Rank: 4

Despite weighing in at just under 170 pounds, Victor Eklund is a relentless forechecker who plays with a motor and pace that few others do in this class. He plays much bigger than he is, constantly putting pressure on opposing players below the goal line and having the willingness to drive to the net to bury loose pucks or rifle shots from in tight.

Eklund isn’t an overly creative player, but his timing, effort and IQ make him a well-rounded offensive player. He plays with intensity at both ends of the ice and is incredibly difficult to match up against, giving him one of the best projectable skill sets among wingers in this class.

Brady Martin, C, S.S. Marie (OHL)

NHL Player Comparable:  Sam Bennett

Kennedy’s Rank: 9
Ferrari’s Rank: 22

Nobody plays with more physical intensity in this draft class than OHLer Brady Martin. With his pace, tenacity and willingness to lay bone-crushing hits, Martin makes every shift feel like it’s his last. However, he isn’t just the best bruiser in junior hockey right now, either. Even though Martin doesn’t have the raw tools to always execute the most creative offensive plays, he’s got just enough offensive skill to make opponents pay if they underestimate him.

He’s going to make life difficult for a lot of players at the NHL level, and his work ethic and defensive instincts also make him a player coaches can trust in any on-ice situation.

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Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton (QMJHL)

NHL Player Comparable: Nico Hischier

Kennedy’s Rank: 6
Ferrari’s Rank: 15

Caleb Desnoyers is a proven winner at every level and enters the NHL draft as one of the most NHL-ready prospects. He’s a true 200-foot center who takes every detail of the game seriously, especially defensively. Desnoyers always looks to support his teammates in his own zone and is great at clogging up passing lanes while pushing defenders to the outside. 

While he gets a ton of deserved credit for his defensive play, Desnoyers is also an underrated offensive player. He’s great at baiting defenders and manipulating space in open ice to create shooting lanes for teammates, and he has a deceptive-enough release that allows him to beat goaltenders from mid-range consistently. 

Overall, he’s got a ton of pro-ready characteristics that will make him a reliable two-way player with offensive upside for a long time.

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