By Warren Kozireski —
NHL Central Scouting released their Midterm Rankings for the 2025 NHL Draft and there are nine New Yorkers including three among the top-35 North American skaters and two goaltenders in the top-20.
Hauppauge’s James Hagens is ranked second among North American skaters. Thought by some to be the best player and possibly the first overall selection next year, he is in his freshman campaign with Boston College. Despite missing time to be a key cog for Team USA’s gold medal effort at the recent IIHF World Junior tournament in Ottawa, the 5’10”, 178 lb. forward is second in the nation in scoring among freshmen and second on the Eagles with five goals and 16 assists.
Last season Hagens 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.
East Greenbush’s Jack Murtagh was slotted as a “B” draft prospect indicating a projected second or third round selection in the preseason rankings and is now 25th among North American skaters. The 6’0”, 200 lb. left wing is committed to Boston University in 2025 after completing this, his second season with the USNTDP.
He spent two seasons with the Bishop Kearney Selects prep program in Rochester prior to heading to Plymouth, Michigan. This season he had a combined 15 goals and 35 points in 37 games.
Ithaca’s Will Moore was projected to be selected in the first round in preseason but has dropped to 32nd at midterm. Moore stands 6’2” and 175 lb. and is playing in his second season with the U.S. National Team Development Program. In a combined 19 games against college programs and in the USHL, the Boston College commit had a combined 41 points in 48 games after registering 68 points in 85 games a season ago.
Matthew Lansing of Tonawanda is ranked 97th. The 6’0”, 188 lb. center spent four seasons with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres program with his final year split between there and Waterloo in the USHL. This season with Waterloo and the USNTDP he had 13 points over the first 32 games.
Ithaca’s John (Jack) Parsons, passed over in last year’s draft, is slotted 17th among North American goaltenders The former USNTDP goaltender is committed to Providence but is with Chicago in the USHL this season where he has a 3.78 goals against average and a .898 save percentage in 19 games.
Greece native Ethan Phillips is one slot behind Parsons at 18th. The Bishop Kearney Selects 6’2”, 205 lb. goaltender had an 11-8-2 record with a 2.39 GAA and .910 save percentage in 21 games with two shutouts. He is committed to Providence College in 2026.
New York City-born Dylan Lee-Stack is ranked 30th among goaltenders. The 6’2”, 176 lb. product of the Ramapo Saints and Westchester Express is playing in his second season with the Yale Jr. Bulldogs 18-U team where he has played in 14 games with a 5-4-5 record.
Northwood Prep and Camillus’ William Schneid is ranked 202nd among North American skaters. The 6’0”, 174 lb. left wing and former West Genesee HS player already had 42 goals and 70 points in 46 games this season. He is committed to the University of Connecticut in 2026.
And Roslyn’s Ethan Wyttenbach is 222nd. The 5’10”, 170 lb. forward is playing this season with Sioux Falls in the USHL where he had 13 goals with 18 assists over 30 games. The Long Island Gulls product is committed to Quinnipiac University in 2026.
East Greenbush native Donato Bracco, Locust Valley’s Matthew Grimes and Brooklyn’s Jess Orlowsky were listed as “W” prospects in preseason indicating a sixth or seventh round projection., but all were left off the midterm rankings.
Unofficially the draft is reported to be held in Los Angeles in late June.
