Day 2 of the 2025 NHL Draft opened up the floodgates—teams widened their focus and took upside gambles to find hidden talent and fill organizational needs. Here are the top takeaways and five Day 2 standouts worth deeper attention.

Key Trends
● Day 2 mirrored Round 1 in many ways: teams swung on upside, balanced skill and size, and targeted
developmental timelines.
● Several players were picked significantly later than consensus, allowing teams to capitalize on falling
talent.

Highlighted Picks
#34: Alexander Zharovsky → Montreal Canadiens
Zharovsky is one of the most skilled wingers in this class—brilliant hands, sharp creative instincts, and after a slow start, went on a tear in the MHL to the tune of 46 points in 29 games. He looks the part of a middle-six NHL playmaker and power-play threat, though he’ll need to refine his skating and improve his play without the puck. While he is still a raw talent, if he hits his upside, he could be a significant part of the Habs for years to come. Zharovsky has yet to play any games in the KHL so that will be a first important step for him, then he will hopefully be able to translate his game to North America and then the NHL. It’s a long road for him, but a promising one.

#35: Blake Fiddler → Seattle Kraken
Taken right after Zharovsky, Fiddler adds strong value as a modern two-way defenseman. He was a name
often mentioned as the best player not taken on day one. He offers great gap control, mobility, and smart puck movement. He may not have top-pairing flash, but he projects confidently as a reliable second-pair blueliner. He’s still only 17 years old, so the runway for him to develop is substantial. He should get the best deployment with the Edmonton Oil Kings for the next two years, which will help his growth dramatically. Defense is a major need for the Kraken pipeline, so this pick is a win all around.

#43: Malcolm Spence → New York Rangers
Spence’s fall to the second round is a clear win for the Rangers. Once projected as a top-20 pick, the big,
skilled winger brings offensive polish and strong hockey IQ. He has the upside to become a top-six contributor and could prove to be one of the steals of the round. He’s the type of player that when the games get tough, the space gets limited, and intensity ratchets up, he thrives. Look for him to be a playoff performer and fan favorite for years to come in the Big Apple.

#58: Jack Ivankovic → Nashville Predators
Ivankovic brings an international pedigree and consistent results. He backstopped Canada to a U18 gold with a .961 SV% and posted a .915 SV% in his OHL rookie season. While not a towering goalie by today’s
standards, his technique, poise, and lateral movement are all NHL-caliber. Great value for Nashville late in the second. During the media availability, Ivankovic stated that he models his game after Juuse Saros. Being drafted by the Predators is a dream come true, and he looks forward to learning from his idol. As a smaller goaltender, he’s going to need a lot of things to break right to replicate the success that Saros has had in the league.

#94: Cameron Schmidt → Dallas Stars
One of the more intriguing picks of Day 2, Schmidt is a smaller, high-skill winger with excellent finishing ability and deceptive speed. He’s raw and will need time,  ut he has second-line upside if he can physically mature and refine his decision-making. A smart swing by Dallas this late. Dallas has been known to take swings on guys from Wyatt Johnston to Jason Robertson to Logan Stankoven. All of those guys had significant upside, but similarly significant questions. Schmidt is no different, but if he can be at least partially as successful a
Stankoven, the Stars and their fans will be ecstatic.

Value Breakdown
Player Draft Spot What Stands Out Projection

Zharovsky 34 Elite puck skills, MHL production, Middle-six winger, PP asset

Second-pairing defenseman?

Fiddler 35 Polished, dependable puck-moving defenseman

Top Six Wing

Spence 43 Size and offensive polish, slipped from top 20.

Is he a 1A goalie? 

Ivankovic 58 U18 pedigree, technically sound, NHL reflexes.

Potential NHL starter

Schmidt 94 Small but dynamic, skilled goal scorer Boom-or-bust second-

liner

Final Thought
Day 2 resembled a strategic chess match: teams prioritized upside and fit over hype. Montreal and Seattle
added high-upside mids with Zharovsky and Fiddler. Nashville bet on Ivankovic’s poise, while Dallas took a
high-skill flier on Schmidt late. And Malcolm Spence may go down as one of the most overlooked talents in this
class.