Midway 2025 BRHL Mock Draft

With the season well underway and a clear divide growing between the contenders and rebuilders, as always, I am jumping into a mock draft based on player performances in their draft +1 year and our team needs.

1.        Ducks – no brainer top pick is Macklin Cellebrini no matter who wins our lottery, they will run up and make this selection!

2.        Sharks – an interesting season of tanking. I don’t actually expect the Sharks to make this pick, so will take what I feel is best player on board in Ivan Demidov. Outstanding season in KHL for a young player and suspect whoever has 2, takes him.

3.        Jets – with Jets and Leafs tied, I am giving myself this pick! If I am at three, I don’t think I can go by Artyem Levshunov. Guy is playing well in the AHL and suspect by end of year is patrolling the Hawks blue line for years to come and likely will team with Harley, Broberg, Bichsel and others on my blueline for years to come.

4.        TML - Several players interest. Sennecke rocketed up draft boards and has been lights out to start year, but did not make WJC team. Sam Dickinson has been a force for the Knights on back end at more than a point per game and plays a physical style on top of it. Berkley Catton continues to put up points so lots of options. I suspect if pushed at four, with a top defenseman taken last year, G would take Sennecke slightly over Dickinson. He might even entertain a trade down.

5.        Hurricanes – Rich will take BPA if he has the pick. Might be moved for more ready player/spect but either way, given year Dickinson was having prior to WJC, I think he will not slide past the top 5. Post WJC, it could be any of the Dmen. 

6.        CBJ – The run of top pairing projected dmen continues with the Jackets taking who they think is the best of the next. Parekh, Yakemchuk, Silayev, or Buium. Based on the start of the year, I would not be surprised if it is Buium. He was excellent at the WJC and has been at a point per game in the NCAA. 

7.        Blues –The debate could be Catton vs Iginla as Lindstrom’s injury history is a concern. I am going to give the nod to Catton projected 110pts and WJC role vs Iginla’s projected 90 and no WJC role.

8.        Pens – I think this is coin flip but suspect Toby goes OHL and is salivating over Parekh.

9.        VGK  – Some elite defensive youth makes me suspect that Joe might look forward. If so, likely Iginla, but Lindstrom fall might finally be stopped here. 

10.  Wild – Al will take the highest Minnesota product no? I think he would love Buium to fall….If not available, suspect Wild take BPA in Yakemchuk, but Lindstrom falling might get their attention. 

11.  Canucks– Whoever remains between dmen and Lindstrom is likely debated. If it is the Canucks here, it could go either way, so Lindstrom is the pick in my mock. 

12.  Lightning via Flyers –Given their elite I’ll go another elite NCAA player in Cole Eiserman. His attitude at WJHC has a lot of people back on his bandwagon after dropped in NHL draft and after slow start in NCAA. 

13.  Jets via Stars – if I have a 2^nd lottery pick, I will be ecstatic but expect this pick to continue to climb standings. None the less, will take best player available at this slot. If I do take defense first in this round, I suspect I go forward. Of the remaining guys Luchanko, Helenius (if wasn’t a Sabres prospect), Greentree all interest but might be tough if one of top dmen Silayev still there. Silayev is the pick and would leave my team with an enormous, elite top 6 for years to come with Levshunov, Silayev, Broberg, Harley, Bichsel, Lamoureux. Think the average height would be the largest blue line in history!

14.  Kings via Rangers – Tyler runs up and grabs Luchanko. Likely in the NHL next season after 4 game start this year.

15.  CGY via Wings – Kevin will go BPA as always. I suspect that is Konsta Helenius. Strong in AHL and good WJC 6 pts in 7 games.

16.  Sens – Suspect this pick is better by end of year but for now, will be BPA at this point and will depend on who they like. I will take a flier here and go with Habs spect Michael Hage who was overlooked at WJC but sure looks nice in NCAA this year with 21 pts in 17 gp including 10 goals.

17.  Pens via Utah- with defense taken with first pick, suspect he goes with OHL monster forward who continues to put up elite scoring numbers in Liam Greentree.

18.  Kings – needs help at all levels so again BPA. Carter George was incredible despite poor overall team play at WJC. I suspect he rockets into first round with Kings pick. 

19.  Sens via Preds – BPA as need to refill coffers. Brandsegg-Nygard is playing in SHL and doing well with 8 pts in 22 games as a teenager and likely over to NA in the coming year

20.  Habs – Steve needs to stock cupboards. BPA and likely is Adam Jiricek. Dropped on a lot of boards after injury plagued year last year when drafted suffering a concussion in the pros as a teenager. This year, looked good at WJC and if plays well in the OHL on return from WJC, could go even higher.

21.  Stars via Devils – I suspect that Junya trades this pick as tries to solidify his team, but if has, needs everything and will take best player on NHL draft board, who is Sacha Boisvert

22.  NYI via Sabres – steady eddie Joe will take BPA. Trevor Connelly having a good season in NCAA and solid but not spectacular WJC with 4 pts…he is the pick. 

23.  Kraken – as with all things Rex, I see goaltending but only if George available. If not, forward is the calling and will take a WHL kid in Parascak. 

24.  CBJ via Lightning – does a Russian forward make an appearance. With ongoing concerns getting guys out (see Michkov draft), will they fall. Surin playing in KHL and has scored a few goals. Too good not to make our top 32. 

25.  BlackHawks – Dave will take BPA. Who is that though. I like Cole Beaudoin here for him, but perhaps Stan Solberg who many feel is not far from NHL?

26.  Panthers – If Solberg, there, suspect goes here.

27.  CGY via Bruins – BPA again. Cole Hutson is the draft climber post WJC after leading tourney in scoring. Will not make our 2^nd round. 

28.  Capitals – Larry plays the Leaf card that he can leverage Ben Danford into future assets. 

29.  Avs – BPA. Letourneau is the best NHL DP available at this slot, but he has not had a good freshman year and is going to fall in our draft. Matvei Gridin has been sneaky good in QMJHL this year after transfer from USHL. 45 pts in 35 gp has him being the pick. 

30.  LAK via Flames – Many feel that Harrison Brunicke should never have fallen to 2^nd round and think he goes in our first after a strong +1 year and nearly making Pens out of camp.

31.  Wild via Isles – Sam O’Reilly. Some were surprised he climbed into first round but was excellent in 2^ndhalf of ohl year and playoffs. He has followed this up with a pt per game in OHL and suspect will still be a first round pick with all oilers fan also!

32.  Ducks via Oilers – OHLer for sure going and suspect it could be Colt Emil Hemming. Not a great year in OHL, but does take time to adjust to NA when come.