So, here’s the thing about mock drafts this early in the year: the NHL standings can never stay still. Ever. There’s still so much flip-flopping around the league, with a team able to move up five spots after a three- or four-game-winning streak.

Safe and dependable play is often favored in the NHL, both on and off the ice. The Carolina Hurricanes could have followed that path, leaving Martin Necas and Jack Drury on their roster.

Our second mock draft of the 2025 cycle dives into the projected top-16 lottery picks after Friday's trade deadline.Selection order is based on points percentage through games on March 9.!function(){"use strict";