NHL Draft begins Friday

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

The 2025 NHL Draft begins Friday night.

It's unlikely any Saint John Sea Dogs will be selected during Friday's opening round, but there could be one or more picked on Saturday.

Sea Dogs forwards Zachary Morin was ranked 103rd overall amongst North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings while forward Olivier Groulx was listed at 186th. The recently signed Alexander Donovan, meanwhile, was ranked 197th.

Morin had a strong start to his first QMJHL season but struggled with consistency in the second half, finishing his rookie year with 16 goals and 20 assists in 50 games. He also appeared in four games with the USHL's Youngstown Phantoms to start the year. Morin is a Boston University commit.

Groulx became Saint John's top centre following the trade of captain Eriks Mateiko. Playing in his first full QMJHL season, Groulx posted 17 goals and 24 assists while suiting up for all 64 of Saint John's games.

Donovan signed with the Sea Dogs earlier this month after completing his fourth season at Shattuck St. Mary's. He posted 45 goals in 58 games of US prep school play this past season. Donovan is a Denver University commit.

Over at The Athletic, Corey Pronman's mock draft as Baldwin going 147th overall to the St. Louis Blues and Morin 155th overall to the Washington Capitals.

A couple other names to keep eye on are Sea Dogs prospects Everett Baldwin and Samuel Doyon-Cataquiz.

Baldwin, a second-round pick of Saint John in this year's QMJHL Entry Draft, recorded 20 points in 22 games with St. George's School last season. He also spent time with the USNTDP program and the USHL's Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. Baldwin is a Providence College commit.

Doyon-Cataquiz was selected by the Sea Dogs in the 14th round of the 2023 QMJHL Entry Draft. The 17-year-old appeared in 43 games with the Bishop Kearney Selects under-18 squad this past season, posting a 28-14-0 record to go along with a 2.29 goals against average and a .913 save percentage. Doyon-Cataquiz is a Quinnipiac University commit.

Matthew Schaefer of the OHL's Erie Otters is likely to be taken first overall. The top-ranked QMJHL skater is Caleb Desnoyers of the Moncton Wildcats, who should be a fairly early selection.