Who will drop to Carolina at number 29?
The 2025 NHL Entry Draft will be this weekend, with the first round on Friday night at 7 P.M. Eastern and the remaining rounds on Saturday afternoon, 12 P.M. Eastern.
The Carolina Hurricanes roll into the coming draft with a total of six picks including a late first rounder, number 29 overall. Will they end up that way? Odds say probably not.
This team is known for trading down to get additional picks. It would not shock anyone if they traded that first round pick for two later picks, but maybe they have someone in mind they want at that position in the draft.
Of course it is impossible to know what the teams in front of Carolina will do and who they will pick. All we can do is look at various mock drafts and scouting reports and guess what might happen.
If Carolina holds onto that 29th overall pick, let’s see who they might be interested in and see what some mock drafts say.
The first one up is McQueen’s Hockey.
https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/mckeens-hockey-2025-nhl-draft-guide-two-round-mock-draft/
29. Cullen Potter
According to Elite Prospects, he is rated as high as #5 and as low as #50. (This is common, you will see these players ranked all over the spectrum.) He is noted as an excellent skater.
Next up we will look at the NHL .com rankings.
https://www.nhl.com/draft/prospects
29. William Moore
Moore is ranked anywhere from 25 to 92.
One interesting thing I noticed from this report, a player named Ivan Ryabkin was ranked at number 3 earlier in the season and dropped to number 35 at the end. He is described as a “violent” player with high end skills. He scored a point a game in the USHL and also had 70 penalty minutes in the regular season and another 30 in the playoffs. Perhaps he has anger issues?
My NHL Draft is cool because if you click on the player’s name, it will show several scouting blurbs for that player. http://www.mynhldraft.com/NHL-Mock-Draft/
29. Shane Vansaghi
He is a good player but notably has slow foot speed. He does not seem like a good fit.
Next is the Elite Prospects final ranking. https://www.eliteprospects.com/draft-center/eliteprospects.com
29. Jack Murtagh
Known as an explosive skater who plows through people. What’s there not to like? He is ranked as high as 26 and as low as 70.
The NHL combines two mock drafts into one posting here. https://www.nhl.com/news/mock-2025-nhl-draft-opinions-vary-after-1st-4-picks
29. Bill Zonnon
I really like what I see in this kid. He’s been described as the “best forechecker in the draft.” He seems like a fit, but will he be around at 29? He’s been ranked at 13 and 14, and as low as 33.
Don’t hold it against him that he plays in the “Q”.
29. William Horcroff
He is 6’4 and is ranked as high as 27 by Bob Mckenzie, but mostly ranked lower.
Speaking of Bob McKenzie, he has the Canes picking Zonnon at 29.
29. Bill Zonnon
ProHockeyRumors has Cameron Reid falling to Carolina. https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2025/06/phrs-2025-nhl-mock-draft.html
29. Cameron Reid
Stranger things have happened but it would be a stretch to have this defenseman fall this low. He is ranked higher on almost every service I have seen, from 13 to 33.
Tankathon puts out a mock draft which is interesting. They have us selecting a big strong center. https://www.tankathon.com/nhl/mock_draft
29. Jack Nesbitt
At 6’4 he uses his body to get where he wants to go. He has good numbers for Windsor and is ranked anywhere from 17 to 52.
Sports Illustrated is another source having Carolina selecting Zonnon.
29. Bill Zonnon
The Athletic has a few mock drafts. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6406848/2025/06/11/nhl-mock-draft-2025-staff/
29. Cullen Potter
At 5’10 he is called the best skater in the draft.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6436425/2025/06/20/2025-nhl-mock-draft-the-athletic-hockey-show/
29. Henry Brzustewicz
This defenseman is ranked lower by many services.
Scott Wheeler has us taking Potter.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6393677/2025/06/09/2025-nhl-mock-draft-round-1-wheeler/
29. Cullen Potter
What do you all think? Does anyone have a dark horse favorite?