Identifying "sleeper picks" in the NHL draft is a challenging but rewarding exercise. These are the players who, for various reasons, may be undervalued by many scouting services and NHL teams, but possess the potential to significantly outperform their draft position. Here are five potential deep sleeper picks for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft:

1. Artemi Nizameyev (Forward, Tri-City Storm, USHL): Nizameyev is a high-risk, high-reward prospect. After being ranked 217th by NHL Central Scouting (North American skaters) and 200th by Foley's Midseason Draft Guide, he went unranked after the season ended with the Tri-City Storm. He went undrafted in 2024, but after the year he had, that shouldn't happen again.

2. Alexander Zharovsky (Right Wing, Russia Jr.): A possible sleeper in the 2025 draft, Zharovsky (6-1, 163) had 50 points (24 goals, 26 assists) in 45 games for Ufa's team in Russia's junior league. A sizable winger whose strength lies in his hockey vision, the 18-year-old is projected as a future second-line forward with the proper development. His puck control and protection are second to none. He also had one assist in seven Kontinental Hockey League playoff games. The left-handed shot said he enjoys watching and learning from Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov, New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin and Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov.

3. Owen Martin (Center, Spokane, WHL): He's a 6'0" RHC, who put up an impressive 34 points in 39 games with Spokane. He's a responsible two-way pivot with speed and good puck-skill. Should be picked in the second.

4. Semyon Frolov (Goalie, Spartak Jr., RUS-JR): Frolov (6-3, 203) was 16-7-3 with a 2.12 GAA, a .921 save percentage and two shutouts in 27 games with three teams in Russia's junior league, including 9-2-2 with a 2.05 GAA and a .915 save percentage in 13 games with Spartak after being acquired in a trade on Nov. 19. "Semyon is a tall, strong, athletic stand-out goalie with explosive movements and solid positional play," Vuorinen said. "He tracks pucks well and battles hard for every save, showing a competitive edge in the net. His lateral movements are smooth, and he covers the net effectively with brilliant depth and angles.

5. Kale Dach (Forward, Calgary Hitmen, WHL): Dach ripped up the BCHL 2 years running and has really high IQ and will not make it past 4 th round . I'm intrigued and shocked I haven't heard his name yet. I could see him going 4th or 5th just because of how raw his profile seems.

These five players represent a range of positions and playing styles, but they all share the potential to be impact players at the NHL level if their development progresses favorably. Identifying and selecting these types of "sleeper" prospects is crucial for teams looking to maximize the value of their draft picks and build a competitive roster for the future.