The Winnipeg Jets and the rest of the 31 teams in the NHL have just 19 days left to prepare for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Last year’s draft was held at the sphere in Las Vegas, and this year the draft will be held at L.A Live’s Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. With only the final 2 draft spots to be determined, the Jets are locked in at 28th overall. The NHL is trying something different this year, making the draft “decentralized”, meaning that management will not be at the draft, kind of like how it’s done in the NFL. Kevin Cheveldayoff will be in Winnipeg when he makes this selection, and it’s interesting to note that the Jets’ last five 1st round picks were all forwards. While it may be a little early to get a sense of what the Jets want to do with this pick (trade it, move up, move down, which position), here are 3 options for forwards that the Jets could select with their 1st round, 28th overall draft pick.

It’s always difficult to predict how the 2nd half of the 1st round of the NHL draft will unfold, but the Jets should be looking at prospects ranked in the 25-30 range, which will vary person to person, sometimes considerably. Jack Murtagh is a 6’1″, 200 lbs left winger and centre who usually falls in that range. Murtagh is committed to Boston University for next season after spending his last two seasons with the U-18 U.S. National Development Team. In 24 games this season, Murtagh scored 7 goals and added 11 assists for 18 points. Scouts have noted that Murtagh should be a 1st round pick because of his “prototypical” NHL winger frame, his skating ability while making defensive off-puck plays, and his overall growth as a playmaker who always seems to find the right pass.

Another forward who seems to be projected to be selected in the late 1st round is Ben (Benjamin) Kindel. Some scouts see Kindel as a “late riser”, with the potential of being selected mid 1st round if teams become more interested by draft time. Kindel is a 5’10”, 176 lbs right handed centre who played the last 2 seasons with the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL. In 65 games this season, Kindel scored 35 goals and added 64 points to finish with 99 points. Kindel’s strengths that any team (including the Jets) would admire include his hockey IQ, his scoring instincts (especially on the rush), and his ability to play bigger than his size, often winning those gritty puck battles.

A third out of a dozen options that the Jets should consider at 28th overall is Ivan Ryabkin. The Russian forward is one of those prospects that entered his draft year as a potential top 10 pick, but has fell further and further as the season went on. The 5’11”, 205 lbs left handed centre split his time this season between 4 teams: Moscow Dynamo, St. Petersburg Dynamo, Muskegon Lumberjacks and Moscow Dynamo Jr. Ryabkin was most successful when playing in the USHL with the Lumberjacks, scoring 19 goals and adding 11 assists in 27 games for 30 points. Ryabkin’s draft stock may have fallen, making him a “riskier” pick, but his diverse skillset and scoring ability could still easily make him worthy of a late 1st round pick.

As previously mentioned, these are just 3 options that should be available in the 25-30 range at the NHL’s upcoming draft. I need to do more research to determine who I personally would like the Jets to select, but that time will come prior to draft night. I’ll likely make a similar article about 3 defencemen the Jets could take, but the 1st round this year could be heavily filled with forwards. Draft month is always exciting for researching the next NHL superstars, but for now we’ll have to wait to see who gets selected (and where) on June 27th and 28th in Los Angeles.