2025 NHL Draft: 10 prospects with notable family connections
There’s a saying: it’s not what you know, but who you know.
And for some NHL Draft prospects, it doesn’t hurt to have connections to elite hockey talent, past or present. Sometimes, having a familiar last name can do a lot of heavy lifting. For others, being able to learn from someone who’s been through the grind before can be so helpful when trying to live out your dreams.
Today, we’re looking at 10 players in the 2025 NHL Draft with notable hockey bloodlines. It’s not an extensive list – there’s many others with highly skilled family members. But these 10 have very strong chances of getting drafted this year, including a couple in the top 10 alone:
Caleb Desnoyers, C (Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL)
Brother: Elliot Desnoyers
Elliot was a fifth-round pick by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2020, a system he remains in to this day. Since then, he helped Canada win gold at the 2022 World Juniors and then quickly established himself as a promising prospect after a great AHL rookie season in 2022-23. Unfortunately, his production has fallen with each subsequent season. Desnoyers hasn’t returned to the NHL since his four-game run in 2022-23, and it’s looking like his hopes of becoming a full-time NHLer are over at 23.
Caleb, however, has taken the draft by storm. He is a proven winner, having captured gold at the U-17 World Championship, Hlinka Gretzky Cup, U-18 World Championship and he even won the QMJHL title a few weeks back. A potential top-five pick in 2025, Caleb can play center and the wing, and he’s capable of some highlight-reel plays. Desnoyers is a safe bet to become a two-way, top-six forward. I like his physical play, mostly because he doesn’t let anyone push him around. I think he’s a great playmaker and he’s one of the smarter centers in this draft. Desnoyers might not be the flashiest, but at the very least, but he does so many intelligent things with the puck every night.
Victor Eklund, RW (Djurgardens, Allsvenskan)
Brother: William Eklund
The San Jose Sharks might still be a disaster, but William Eklund is coming off a personal-best season with 41 assists and 58 points. The skilled winger had a bit of a slow start to his NHL career but has quickly become one of the team’s most vital forwards. Taken seventh overall in 2021, Eklund already looks like one of the best picks from that draft.
His brother, Victor, will likely be available in the same spot on draft day in Los Angeles. Eklund is coming off his first full season of playing pro men’s hockey with Djurgardens – a team he helped get up to the top division in Sweden for 2025-26. Eklund was the only draft-eligible prospect in the second-tier Swedish league to register 30 points, and he was one of two, including teammate Anton Frondell, to register more than seven. Eklund’s output is the third best by a draft-eligible prospect in league history, behind Elias Pettersson (41 points in 2016-17) and Alexander Wennberg (32 in 2012-13).
There are some similarities between the two brothers, too. They’re both undersized but make up for it with their dynamism. I’d argue Victor is better there, though. He exploits open space with his advanced skating, both in his edge work and with his top speed. Eklund’s creativity brings back memories of watching William at the same age, but Victor’s shot is more accurate and powerful.
Blake Fiddler, LHD (Edmonton Oil Kings, WHL)
Father: Vernon Fiddler
Vernon had a solid 14-year NHL career, registering 104 goals and 261 points as more of a hard-hitting, energy forward. He built his career on being a hard-working forward who’d lay everything on the line to win an individual shift, and while he never was flashy, teams clearly liked what he brought to the table.
His son, Blake, is a very, very different player. For starters, he’s bigger at 6-foot-4, and he can beat you with his pure defensive awareness. Blake isn’t exciting with the puck, but he’s very mobile for his size and teams love that. Fiddler is known for keeping things simple, but scouts note that he’s got the hockey IQ and the pure skill to build a good base around. He had a good year with the Oil Kings, but scouts are excited to see what he can do with more confidence and a bigger role next season, assuming he doesn’t go the college route.
William Horcoff, LW (Univ. of Michigan, NCAA)
Father: Shawn Horcoff
Shawn Horcoff wasn’t massive by any means, but he was strong, and used his energy to help create his offense. He had a career-best 73 points during the 2005-06 season, where he showed his chops as a high-end playmaker. Will is somewhat similar, using his larger 6-foot-4 frame to bowl players over while outsmarting them with the puck.
Will Horcoff plays a big, muscly game, and he’s an immovable object in front of the crease. By all accounts, he’s a prototypical power forward. Horcoff isn’t just a big forward who plays a hard-hitting game, and that’s partly why scouts think he could go as early as the top 40. Horcoff can shoot, make plays and hit. But while he’s a good passer, he can be caught trying to slow games down too much and not making the right moves to take advantage. If he could figure out how to play with pace, watch out, because he’s got the intensity element locked in already.
Michael Misa, C (Saginaw Spirit, OHL)
Brother: Luke Misa
Michael knows all about the draft journey after watching his brother live out his dream at the Sphere in Vegas last year. Luke was selected 150th overall by the Calgary Flames, and then turned that momentum into his second 80-plus point campaign with the Brampton Steelheads. He’s off to Penn State next year, where he’ll look to chase a national title with the bulked-up squad.
Michael, though, appears to be a much more dangerous prospect. He’s the top forward in the draft, one who could potentially go first overall. Misa is an outstanding skater who’ll beat you both in short bursts and with his pure straight-line speed. He’s as good a play-driver as you’ll find from any forward in this class. His hockey sense is truly elite, too. Heck, he’s even got some muscle in his 6-foot-1 frame. Misa isn’t a bruiser by any means, but he’s more than willing to get physical. Misa uses all his traits to exploit defenders and generate scoring chances. His shot is deceptive, rarely needing much of a wind-up to get it where he wants it. Don’t expect him to last past the second overall pick.
LJ Mooney, C (USNTP)
Cousin: Logan Cooley
Cooley and Mooney grew up playing road hockey and mini sticks together, making each other more competitive. Since then, Cooley has become a key part of the Utah Mammoth and recently won gold at the World Championship while playing a crucial top-six role. Drafted fourth overall in 2022, Cooley already looks like the top prospect from that draft class, and he’s simply not getting enough love across most hockey circles.
Little John Mooney, meanwhile, has first-round talent – but he won’t go that high. He’s one of the most energetic, skilled wingers you’ll find in this draft class. But at 5-foot-7, there’s an obvious concern about his size. At the very least, he’s so much fun to watch. An injury early in the season limited his output, but he was arguably USA’s most important playmaker at the U-18 level. The Univ. of Minnesota commit was the most productive USNTDP U-18 player in USHL play, too. Nobody will ever question his skill, but his small frame might be what holds him back.
Eric Nilson, C (Djurgardens, Sweden U-20)
Father: Marcus Nilson
Marcus Nilson had a solid nine-year NHL career, scoring 67 goals and 168 points. he never won the Stanley Cup, or even a gold medal, for that matter, but he was a good checking line forward who went on to win silver at both the World Juniors and the World Championship for Sweden.
His son, Eric, is a three-time U-18 Swedish league champion, and he just won gold with the U-20 team, too. Add in silver medals at both the U-18 World Championship and World Junior A Challenge and it was a solid year overall for the two-way center. He had points in all but two games at the U-18s this year, where he showed his all-around game. He’s not remarkable in any specific area, but Nilson merges speed and defensive awareness to make himself a valuable bottom-six forward – just like his dad, in a way.
Cullen Potter, C (Arizona State University, NCAA)
Mother: Jenny Potter
Potter comes from a big hockey family, but no one was more prominent than his mother, Jenny. The former Minnesota-Duluth star won three Olympic medals, including gold back in 1998. She’s a four-time World Champion, won titles in both the NCAA and CWHL is a member of the Triple Gold Club, too.
Those are some big shoes to fill for Cullen, who is projected to go in the first round in 2025. He’s 5-foot-9, but his pure skill and ability to make things happen with the puck should keep him high in the draft conversation. Overall, I like his commitment to playing in all three zones, and he anticipates plays and gets himself where he needs to be better than most of the draft class. I think the ceiling is higher for Potter than many others around this part of the draft, but he needs to show he can handle the physical challenge. There’s a lot to love about Potter’s game, and don’t be surprised if he’s gone in the top 20.
Luka Radivojevič, RHD (Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL)
Father: Branko Radivojevič
Branko Radivojevič had a decent 399-game NHL career, registering 120 points and 252 penalty minutes as a bottom-six player. He had good size at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, using his pure power to win battles consistently. He was a decent playmaker, too, and while he never was a huge offensive threat in the NHL, he built a career off of being a hard-working winger who could kill penalties.
His son, Luka, didn’t inherit his dad’s size, though. At 5-foot-10, the Minnesota-born Slovakian defender has struggled to maximize his potential. However, the raw talent is absolutely noticeable, with some scouts considering him a second-round prospect. Radivojevič spent many years competing against older players, especially at the international level. He put up good numbers with Muskegon and was a key piece of Slovakia’s blueline at the World Juniors. His more petite frame will definitely hold him back unless he can get stronger and quicker at Boston College. But at the very least, you can’t ignore just how skilled with the puck.
Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen, RHD (Univ. of Michigan, NCAA)
Mother: Manon Rheaume
Only one woman has ever skated in an NHL game: Manon Rhéaume. It was just a couple of pre-season games, but it was still a major moment that hasn’t been matched ever since. Her brother, Pascal, also played in the NHL, and her older son, Dylan, just retired after finishing his pro career in Europe.
Next up? Dakoda, a defensive defenseman. The former USA Hockey National Team Development Program blueliner is an excellent skater and was almost always one of Michigan’s best players in his own zone. He’s best when defending against skilled players who try to make quick, skilled moves, because he never seems to fall for flashy moves. His game with the puck isn’t great, though, which has hurt his stock a bit this year. The ceiling isn’t high here, but he plays strong enough defensively to give him a chance on the third pairing.
Other notables: Nicolas Sykora (Father: Petr Sykora);
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