Hayden Paupanekis

June 2025 – Selected 69th overall, Hayden Paupanekis is now a member of the Montreal Canadiens. Mark Henry

Final Rankings – An imposing, two-way center with the ability to play as a true power-forward, Hayden Paupanekis is also an extremely fluid skater for his size. Questions remain regarding long-term offensive upside, but he plays with his head up in possession, and he’s shown flashes of high-end finishing talent.—Collin Wilcox

June 2025 – Paupanekis has been a late riser. It’s not hard to see why—these tools in this frame are hard to come by. That said, his pace and compete level can be inconsistent. He’s capable of strong defensive and physical plays when he’s in position, but he often lets himself drift around the defensive zone. However, what he does bring is undeniable and sets him apart from some of the other big forwards in the Draft. Paupanekis has good creativity, one-on-one handling skill, and playmaking instincts, which, combined with his skating, make him solid in transition. – Luke Sweeney