2025 NHL Draft: Top 10 centers

There were 11 centers selected in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft, including six in the top 15: Macklin Celebrini (No. 1, Sharks), Cayden Lindstrom (No. 4, Columbus Blue Jackets), Tij Iginla (No. 6, Utah Mammoth), Berkly Catton (No. 8, Seattle Kraken), Jett Luchanko (No. 13, Philadelphia Flyers) and Konsta Helenius (No. 14, Buffalo Sabres).

Here are NHL.com’s top 10 centers available for the 2025 draft (position according to NHL Central Scouting):

1. Michael Misa, Saginaw (OHL)

NHL Central Scouting: No. 2 (North American skaters)

Misa was named the winner of the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence, presented annually “to the NHL Draft prospect who best exemplifies commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness and athleticism.” He also was named “Smartest Player” in the Western Conference in the OHL coaches’ poll after becoming the first player in Saginaw history to win the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL’s most outstanding player and the Eddie Powers Trophy as the top scorer in the OHL, finishing the regular season with 134 points (62 goals, 72 assists). The Saginaw captain had at least one point in 60 of 65 regular-season games and tied John Tavares (2006-07) for the most points by an OHL player under 18 since 2000 (Misa turned 18 on Feb. 16). His style of play has been compared to Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos. Misa was granted exceptional player status to enter the OHL as a 15-year-old and he helped Saginaw win the Memorial Cup in 2023-24. His brother, Luke Misa, is 14 months older than Michael and was chosen by the Calgary Flames in the fifth round (No. 150) of the 2024 draft and will play for Penn State in 2025-26.

“He’s the type of player that, if there’s a man in a better position for a scoring opportunity and if the proper read is to get the puck to that man, he’ll do it,” Smith said. “And he does it with such quickness and elite hockey sense that it’s just great to watch.”

2. James Hagens, Boston College (NCAA)

NHL Central Scouting: No. 3 (North American skaters)

Hagens, whose playmaking ability and skating resemble Clayton Keller of the Utah Mammoth, was third on Boston College with 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists) in 37 games skating as the No. 1 center between Gabe Perreault (New York Rangers) and Ryan Leonard (Washington Capitals). He also tied for the United States lead with five goals in seven games to help his country win the gold medal at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. Born in Hauppauge, New York, Hagens was the fourth-youngest player in college hockey ranked fourth among NCAA Division I freshmen in points, earning a spot on the Hockey East All-Rookie Team. In 2023-24, he led USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program Under-18 team with 63 assists, 102 points and 1.76 points per game in 58 games. Hagens looks to become the highest-drafted player out of Boston College; defenseman Noah Hanifin is the only player from BC to be chosen among the top five in the NHL Draft (Carolina Hurricanes, No. 5, 2015 NHL Draft).