The Journey: 2025 NHL Draft – Top Picks & Big Fits (Part 2)
Puneet Sharma
2025-07-05
Welcome back to The Journey, where we track the development of prospects as they excel in junior, make the NHL, and push towards stardom.
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Welcome back to Part 2 of my three-part breakdown of the 2025 NHL Draft first round. This week, we are moving on to picks 11 through 22 and assessing how these selections align with each team’s needs and where things may have gone a little off-script. Let's jump in.
Pick No. 11 – Pittsburgh Penguins
Benjamin Kindel – RW
Kindel took a massive step forward this season, emerging as one of the Calgary Hitmen's most dangerous offensive players. After a solid but unspectacular rookie year, he broke out in a big way with 35 goals and 99 points over 65 games which nearly doubled his production before joining the WHL. That production carried over when it mattered most especially with his eight goals and 15 points in the WHL Playoffs, showing he can elevate his game when the stakes are high. He also earned a spot with Team Canada at the 2025 U18 Worlds and added seven points in five games during the tournament.
Kindel projects as a skilled, play-driving winger with legit top-six potential. His scoring instincts, poise under pressure, and improving skating make him a decent fit in Pittsburgh. He will have plenty of opportunities with the Penguins as they continue to build out their future forward group with players who can produce and impact the game in key moments.
Pick No. 12 – Philadelphia Flyers
Jack Nesbitt – C
The Flyers made a move to grab Nesbitt 12th overall, a classic Philadelphia-style pick through and through. Nesbitt quietly climbed draft boards this season, playing a key role on a deep Windsor squad. He brings the size, smarts, and two-way reliability that NHL teams covet down the middle. He does have some sneaky offensive upside but the knock is his skating, his stride looked heavy at times this season and was a point of contention at the NHL Combine. That may be the swing factor in how high his ceiling projects. However, even without major improvement in that area, his physicality, and defensive game give him a high floor as a middle-six center.
The Flyers continue to live up to their historical identity of structure, and hard-nosed hockey which Nesbitt fits that identity perfectly. He will need a least a couple more seasons of development, but he looks like a solid hard-to-play-against center who can anchor a checking line in Philly.
Pick No. 13 – Detroit Red Wings
Carter Bear – LW
Much like Philly, the Red Wings stuck to their identity selecting winger Bear from the Everett Silvertips, a pick that fits Detroit's blueprint to a tee. Bear was one of the WHL's most dangerous offensive threats this season, piling up 40 goals in just 56 games before a lacerated Achilles cut his year short. He blends high-end skill with a competitive, hard-nosed game, making him exactly the type of winger Detroit continues to covet. He is a constant threat around the net, is not shy about engaging physically, and shows the instincts of a future top-six forward.
Bear's ability to play both wing and center add even more value to the pick and with some time to build strength and refine his stride, he could project as a 65-point top-six winger who brings skill, grit, and versatility to a Detroit lineup built on exactly that.
Pick No. 14 – Columbus Blue Jackets
Jackson Smith – D
The Blue Jackets landed a key piece for their blue line at 14th overall, selecting left-shot defenseman Smith from the Tri-City Americans. Committed to Penn State for next season, Smith brings the exact mix of size, mobility, and upside Columbus was looking for. Offensively, Smith is not a natural playmaker, but he finds ways to contribute. He can activate off the rush when needed, beat defenders one-on-one, and has an accurate point shot. His puck decision making and distributing still need refining, but the foundation is there for him to grow.
Smith was widely viewed as the next best defenseman in the class behind Schaefer, so grabbing him outside the top 12 is a solid value pick for Columbus. He needs time to polish his game but projects as a steady, top-four defender who can play heavy minutes in a matchup role.
Pick No. 15 – Vancouver Canucks
Braeden Cootes – C
The Canucks addressed a clear organizational need down the middle by selecting Cootes from the Seattle Thunderbirds. His production did not stand out on a thin Seattle roster, but his value extends far beyond the stat sheet. Cootes is a strong skater who plays with pace, energy, and structure. His floor projects as a hard-working third-line center, with a solid motor and strong hockey sense. There is a real path to him growing into a play-driving, two-way pivot higher in the lineup.
Vancouver’s need for centers has been well-documented, and Cootes addresses part of that gap. There was some debate about passing on Victor Eklund, who went next to the Islanders. In some cases, the best approach is to select the highest-rated player available rather than drafting strictly by position. Time will tell which route pays off, but for Vancouver, Cootes fits the identity they continue to build.
Pick No. 16 – New York Islanders
Victor Eklund – RW
The Islanders went out and grabbed one of the most skilled and competitive wingers available, selecting Eklund out of Djurgårdens IF. Eklund lit up Sweden's Allsvenskan this season, leading all U20 players with 19 goals and 31 points through 42 games and also backed that up on the international stage, cracking Sweden's World Junior roster as their youngest player and still managing six points. His game is built for pace, he plays fast, fearless hockey with slick edgework and quick hands that make him dangerous off the rush.
Eklund slipped outside the top 10 on draft day with scouts circling his size as a concern, but much like Seth Jarvis at the same age, his skillset looks tailor-made for the NHL. For the Islanders, this is the type of swing they need: a potential top-six winger who can inject some much-needed speed and creativity into their lineup.
Pick No. 17 – New York Islanders
The Islanders added some much-needed grit to their blue line with the selection of Aitcheson from the Barrie Colts. Aitcheson was one of the most physically imposing defenders in the OHL this season, logging heavy minutes for both Barrie and Canada's U18 squad. He plays a hard, punishing game that makes life miserable for opposing forwards.
Aitcheson has shown some flashes of offensive upside with a heavy point shot. When looking long term, he projects as a reliable, hard-nosed second-pair defender who can eat tough minutes, kill plays with physicality, and chip in some secondary offense. He will likely need a few years to round out his game, but when ready, he will be the type of defender that makes life difficult on every shift. Between Aitcheson and Eklund, the Islanders got two high-quality pieces and came away as one of the big winners of this year's draft.
Pick No. 18 – Calgary Flames
Cole Reschny – C
The Flames addressed an obvious need down the middle with their selection of Reschny from the Victoria Royals. Reschny has been a steady offensive presence in the WHL, capping off his season with a strong playoff performance for Victoria. He is a smart, play-driving forward with the hockey sense and compete level.
Reschny is mature beyond his years. He is positionally sound, competitive, and reliable in his own zone. His work ethic shows both on the ice and off it, highlighted by his strong fitness testing at the combine, where he tied for the best VO2 max score. Whether he stays at center or shifts to the wing down the line, Reschny projects as a dependable, playmaking middle-six forward with 50 to 60-point potential. It is a smart, low-risk addition to Calgary's prospect pool.
Pick No. 19 – St. Louis Blues
Justin Carbonneau – RW
The Blues added a high-upside power forward to their system with the selection of Carbonneau at 19th overall. Carbonneau was one of the most dangerous scorers in the QMJHL this season, finishing with 46 goals and 89 points in 62 games. His blend of size, pace, and skill fits exactly in today's NHL. At 6-1 and 205 pounds, Carbonneau is a powerful skater with excellent hands who is tough to contain when attacking with speed. He plays with an edge, wins puck battles, and drives offense in hard areas. His one-timer from the faceoff dots is a legitimate weapon that makes him a natural fit on the power play.
The Blues are not necessarily desperate for wingers, but they took the best player available and added a potential difference-maker. With patience and development, Carbonneau projects as a 25-goal, top-six winger who brings pace, skill, and physicality to the St. Louis lineup.
Pick No. 20 – Columbus Blue Jackets
Pyotr Andreyanov – G
The Blue Jackets made the first big splash in the crease at this year's draft, selecting Andreyanov twentieth overall from CSKA Moscow's junior program. Andreyanov was one of the top junior goaltenders in Russia this season. At 6-0, he is undersized by NHL standards (for those who think it matters), has a sharp glove and is technically sound with strong reads. He tracks the puck well, battles through traffic, and shows excellent lateral quickness. He is calm under pressure and that stands out, though his rebound control remains an area that will need work as he continues to develop.
As the case with most goalies, the size question will follow him, but Columbus clearly believes in his tools and long-term potential. It is a gamble for the Blue Jackets, but if his development stays on track, Andreyanov has the makings of a reliable 1B option down the road.
Pick No. 21 – Nashville Predators
Cameron Reid – D
The Nashville Predators made a calculated move, trading up to select left-shot defenseman Reid from Kitchener. Reid was a key piece on Kitchener's blue line this season and logged top-four minutes for Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He is not the biggest defender, but he projects as a high-end transition defender who can create offense with his vision and puck movement. His shot remains a work in progress, but his defensive awareness, sharp gap control, and ability to match speed stand out.
There are comparisons to Tanner Molendyk, and while his ceiling is still debated, most see Reid as a reliable second-pair defender with upside. With two to three years of development, Reid has the tools to grow into a steady, 50-point, top-four presence in Nashville.
Pick No. 22 – Pittsburgh Penguins
Bill Zonnon – D
The Pittsburgh Penguins added size, speed, and work ethic with the selection of Zonnon from Rouyn-Noranda. Zonnon has been a top performer in the QMJHL, breaking out with 83 points in his first full year playing center. He is a strong skater, though improving his agility and posture will be key to unlocking his offensive upside. He plays a detail-oriented, high-energy game, excelling on the forecheck by forcing turnovers and winning puck battles.
Offensively, Zonnon makes smart plays and creates chances under pressure, rounding out his game beyond just scoring. His size gives him that physical edge, and with potential to develop into a dependable middle-six forward who brings energy and playoff style grit to Pittsburgh.
Stay tuned for next week's Draft picks from 23 to 32. Thanks for reading and see you next week! Follow me on X @Punters_hockey for more content and fantasy hockey analysis.
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