Seven WHLers crack TSN’s Bob McKenzie’s top 20 in final 2025 NHL Draft rankings

The countdown is on to the 2025 NHL Draft!

With Round One set to begin on Friday, June 27, TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie has dropped his final prospect rankings.

McKenzie’s list is based on surveys of 10 NHL scouts and is not impacted by the NHL clubs’ order of selection.

Towering Brandon Wheat Kings centreman Roger McQueen could be the WHL’s top selection despite an injury-shortened campaign that saw the Saskatoon, Sask. product put up 20 points (10G-10A) in 17 regular-season games.

“Big and skilled, skates well, a potential No. 2 NHL centre who could put up numbers,” one scout told TSN.

Trailing McQueen is rangy Seattle Thunderbirds defender Radim Mrtka, one of the tallest skaters available and a key part of Seattle’s run from the bottom of the Western Conference to a dangerous 2025 WHL Playoff team.

“Radim Mrtka is a towering Czech, highly regarded for his strong skating, two-way play and ability to skate and move the puck efficiently on breakouts,” McKenzie wrote. “He ranged from  Nos. 10 to 14 on our scouts’ ballots.”

McKenzie also noted Tri-City Americans defender Jackson Smith netted one sixth-overall vote and no votes below 25.

WHL Goaltender of the Year finalist Joshua Ravensbergen is ranked first among all North American netminders by NHL Central Scouting and is also the top goaltender on TSN’s list, which projects him as an early second-round pick.

The Prince George Cougars standout went 33-13-3-1 with a 3.00 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage in his sophomore season while adding four rare goalie assists.

TSN’s wild card contingent also saw Swift Current Broncos rearguard Peyton Kettles, a gold medalist with Canada at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, earn a first-round vote.

All told, the scout survey saw seven Western Hockey League players rank among the top 20.

WHLers on TSN’s Bob McKenzie’s final 2025 pre-NHL Draft Ranking: June 23, 2025