2025 NHL DRAFT: AN EARLY LOOK AT THE TOP 5 DEFENSEMAN

In my previous blog, I took an early look at the best 5 prospects in 2025, but all of them happened to be forwards, so in this blog, I wanted to focus specifically on defenseman. Unlike the 2024 Draft, which was loaded with talented defensemen, the 2025 Draft doesn’t really have a deep pool of defensive prospects, as it is more forward-heavy. Here is an early look at the top 5 defensemen in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Next: 2025 NHL DRAFT: WAY TOO EARLY TOP 5

1. Logan Hensler, 6’2/194, US National U18 Team (NTDP)/USNTDP Juniors (USHL)

One of the top defensive prospects already for 2025, it’s hard to miss the slick-skating, 6-foot-2, 194-pound defender. He moves so well, takes away space, and is a competent puck-mover, even if the numbers seem a bit lackluster. The University of Wisconsin commit uses his agile footwork to take away space, and if he gets beaten, he has the stick work to retrieve the puck. Hensler has also taken positive steps forward with his creativity, allowing him to make more advanced plays under pressure. I see top-four potential in him, but like Zeev Buium before him, I feel like he can advance that with a great run in college because the raw skillset is there. He is going to be a player watch for the US National team and with Team USA during the World Juniors next year. At the NHL level, I see Hensler as a top 4 caliber defenseman, with an upside to be a top pair two-way defenseman. At this moment in team, there is quite a separation between him and the next-best defensive prospect.

2. Matthew Schaefer, 6’1/161, Erie Otters (OHL)

Drafted first overall by the Erie Otters last spring, the 6-foot-1 defender is an incredible skater and is always actively engaged at both ends of the ice. Offensively, Schaefer has real potential, but he’s also positionally sound and aggressive in his own zone. He had a decent first year with Erie, registering 17 points, but there was still a lot of feeling out to be done. The raw talent is there for Schaefer to become a legitimate top-pairing defenseman in the NHL, and this tournament could help him prove why. He’s a heady two-way defenseman who skates well overbalanced and light edges, managing play in front of him. He’s got a good stick and an ability to close out on carriers, be disruptive, and then advance and steer play down the ice. There are some parallels to Brock Faber. Some scouts think he is better than Logan Hensler, but the difference is that Hensler is 6’2/194, while Schaefer is just 6’1/161, which is a huge difference at the NHL level. Matthew Schaefer has the potential to be a top 4 defenseman and is at worst
the 2nd best defenseman in this draft.

3. Sacha Boumedienne, 6’2/183, Boston University (NCAA)

Sacha Boumedienne is a tall and lanky defenseman who is still growing into his frame at 6’2 and 183 pounds; he is a Swedish import in the USHL. Boumedienne is an excellent skater, who reads the ice at a high level and has an absolute bomb of a shot. He’s a poised puck-handler and good distributor who also has a heavy shot, and that shot has the potential to get even stronger as he adds muscle to his frame. As he fills out, he should be a pretty tough guy to beat. He had a good year with Youngstown in the USHL and put up 27 points in 49 games and showed more than his fair share of physicality with Sweden’s U-17 team, tallying 4 points in 7 games. The Finnish-born but Swedish-flagged defender has a good 6-foot-2 frame, skates well, and is one of the better puck distributors in this class. It should also be mentioned that he sees the ice at an advanced level, well beyond his years, and plays a cerebral, poised game. Depending on the year that Boumedienne has in 2024-25, his stock could skyrocket to the point where he passes up Schaefer on the rankings because of his potential. Boumedienne has the potential to be a top 4, two-way defenseman and is at worst the third-best defenseman in this draft, as of right now.

4. Luka Radivojevic, 5’10/161, Orebro HK (SHL)

Get used to the name Luka Radiviojevic because it won’t be long until he is making headlines in the NHL. The 16-year-old defenseman became the first player born in 2007 to play in the SHL (Swedish Hockey League) and has quickly risen like a rocket this fall. The defenseman has also earned a spot on the Slovakian World Junior Championship team, where he was easily the youngest player in the tournament. Slovakia ultimately lost in the quarterfinal against Finland, but Radiovijevic was given a relatively large amount of trust, especially in victories against Czechia, Switzerland, and Norway. Back in Sweden, where he plays with Örebro, Radivojevic has been a standout. Among U-17 players in the Swedish U-20 league, Radivojevic is fourth in the points (18 in 27 games), only outscored by forwards Filip Ekberg, Jakob Ihs Wozniak, and Anton Frondell, the three most talked about Swedish prospects born in ’07. Radiojevic’s greatest strength is his skating and skills with the puck, but one of the knocks on him is his defensive zone play and lack of physicality. There are also good hockey genes to draw from, too. His father, Branko Radivojevic, was a physical forward who played nearly 400 games with Phoenix, Philadelphia, and Minnesota in the NHL. If you want a player comparison for Luka Radivojevic, he models his game after players like Cale Makar and Adam Fox, and you can clearly see it in his game. The potential that this kid has has scouts excited and it would not be shocking if he is a top-15 pick despite being an undersized defenseman.

5. Kashawn Aitcheson, 6’0/172, Barrie Colts (OHL)

Aitcheson was a minutes-eater at the U-18s, playing around 25 minutes in some games for Canada. He’s physical, plays a ton on the penalty kill, moves well, and takes away space as well as anyone. I don’t see him being much of a point producer in the NHL, but he’s just a mean dude out there. With the Barrie Colts of the OHL, Aitcheson was relied on to be a top pair, a shut-down defenseman and was also expected to contribute occasionally offensively. In 64 games with Barrie, he put up 39 points and provided the “it” factor and physical presence on the backend. If he’s on your team, you love him. If not, the rangy blue liner agitates. Quickly and often. Since the Defensive prospects this year aren’t all that good, Aitcheson is a safe pick and could be a late first-round pick because he could be a contributor on a contending team in no time.

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