WHL leads way in latest edition of Craig Button’s top 64 for 2025 NHL Draft

The Western Hockey League is once again poised for a strong showing at the NHL Draft.

In the latest edition of Craig’s List – the top 64 ranked players for the 2025 NHL Draft, as identified by TSN Director of Scouting, Craig Button – the WHL boasts 13 players to sit atop the charts among all development leagues.

The Ontario Hockey League also enjoyed a strong showing on the latest Craig’s List, with 12 players identified within the top 64.

Surging up the ranks is Vancouver Giants spitfire Cameron Schmidt, who is the top-ranked WHL player, listed sixth.

Schmidt has enjoyed an outstanding campaign with the Giants, leading the WHL in goal scoring with 23 tallies prior to departing for this week’s CHL USA Prospects Challenge presented by Kubota Canada.

The 5-foot-7, 156-pound product of Prince George, B.C., though small, packs a mighty punch on offense – evidenced by his team-leading 35 points (23G-12A) through 21 games. A former seventh-overall selection of the Giants, Schmidt is set to star for Team CHL this week, with Game 1 of the 2024 CHL USA Prospects Challenge slated for Tuesday, November 26 at 5 p.m. MT / 7 p.m. ET (TSN 4/5 in Canada, NHL Network in U.S.).

Joining Schmidt in the Craig’s List top 10 is Brandon Wheat Kings star Roger McQueen. The product of Saskatoon, Sask., was out to a quality start, before injury knocked him out of the Wheat Kings lineup and the CHL USA Prospects Challenge. The 6-foot-5, 193-pound pivot has registered 11 points (8G-3A) in eight games.

In total, the WHL has nine players in the top 32, including five in the top 20 and eight in the top 25.

Of the 13 WHL players finding a home on the latest Craig’s List, 10 will compete for Team CHL in this week’s inaugural CHL USA Prospects Challenge, which pits the top NHL Draft-eligible stars from across the CHL in a two-game series with the U.S. National Team Development Program (NTDP) U18 squad.

Game 1 goes Tuesday at Canada Life Place in London, Ont., home of the OHL’s London Knights.

Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday at Tribute Communities Centre, home of the OHL’s Oshawa Generals.

Puck drop both nights is slated for 5 p.m. MT / 7 p.m. ET on TSN in Canada and NHL Network in the U.S. Check your local listings for the latest channel designations.

Craig’s List – Top 64 (WHL Players), November 25