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2025 NHL Draft: Late-round gems ready to shake up the game
NHL (via Getty Images)
Each
NHL
Draft unearths hidden gems in the later rounds who surprise and become vital contributors. Even with analytics diminishing the chances of gems, the past indicates that players taken beyond the third round still have a chance to turn into impact performers.
Indeed, less than 1.5 % of those selections turn into true NHL-impact players.
NHL teams may discover talent in deep draft rounds
Every NHL team looks for value in players late in the draft, those who get overlooked because of their size, skating or limited exposure but have what it takes to go to the next level. Whether it's blazing speed, punishing physicality, or high-end hockey sense, these are the traits that help late-round picks beat the odds. In a draft where upside and potential come with risk, these prospects offer compelling reasons for teams to take a swing after the third round.
Here are some fascinating late-round prospects in the 2025 crop—players who have that exceptional 'skill' and can develop into building blocks in the future.
Final 2025 NHL Mock Draft
Cameron Schmidt, right wing (
Vancouver Giants
, WHL): Cameron Schmidt's size may deter early selection, yet his elite speed and goal-scoring touch resemble a potential Alex DeBrincat-style scorer. With 40 goals in 61 games, he excels on the rush, in one-timers, and around the net. If he adds a bit of height and strength, Schmidt could rival traditional goal-getters—exactly the type of talent that can pay off late in the draft.
Jacob Rombach, defense (Lincoln Stars, USHL): Rombach possesses shutdown ability with his size, gap control, and passing savvy. Not a puck-moving sensation, but his ability to gain pucks back and shut down plays makes him a future No. 4/5 defenseman—a steady asset for any NHL organization looking for depth on the blue line.
David Bedkowski, defense (Oshawa Generals, OHL): A throwback enforcer, David Bedkowski excels in physical punishment and shutting down zone entries. He might not become an elite-pair defenseman, but as a bottom-pair enforcer who plays the body and kills plays, he can be a prized playoff asset, like recent physical icons in the league.
Aidan Lane, right wing (Brampton Steelheads, OHL/NCAA): Aidan Lane was impressive late in the OHL with a point-per-game run. A physical, engine-driven winger, he mixes strength and maturing offense. Expected to keep developing at Harvard, he possesses the skills to be a power-wing bottom-six forward with finishing skills and tenacity.
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Through the 2025 Draft, these players will emerge as sources of attention for a valid reason: when the timing of breakthrough meets unpolished talent, stars are made in the late rounds.
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