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Luka Radivojevic, Muskegon Lumberjacks (Photo credit: Muskegon Lumberjacks)

Luka Radivojevič – 2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Matthew Buhrmann | Last updated Apr 8, 2025 3:15 PM ET

Luka Radivojevič

2024-25 Team: Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
Date of Birth: Jan. 3, 2007
Place of Birth: Edina, Minnesota
Ht: 5-foot-10 Wt: 165 pounds
Shoots: Right
Position: Right Defenseman
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2025 first-year eligible

Rankings

Luka Radivojevič is quickly establishing himself as one of junior hockey’s premier young talents, showing remarkable progress year after year. His journey began during the 2020-21 season with HK Dukla Trenčín U16 in Slovakia, where he showcased his potential as a 14-year-old. Although he played only three games, Luka registered three assists and a plus-7 rating, demonstrating his ability to contribute offensively while maintaining good defensive positioning on the ice. Even at this young age, his vision and ability to dictate play with the puck on his stick are apparent.

The following season, Radivojevič headed to Sweden to develop his game. At 15, he joined AIK U16 in Sweden’s U16 Division 1, tallying 11 assists over 16 games. His skill set stood out, and he soon transitioned to Örebro HK’s U16 program in 2022-23. He wasted no time making an impact, racking up nine points in just five games before being promoted to the J18 level. Competing against older players didn’t faze him, as he recorded 19 points in 21 J18 Region games and added eight more points in 17 J18 Nationell games. By the end of the season, he earned a brief call-up to Örebro HK’s J20 team and continued impressing internationally, scoring 11 points in 13 games for Slovakia’s U17 team during that same season.

In 2023-24, Radivojevič took his skills to the next level. He represented Slovakia at the U18 World Championship and World Juniors, gaining valuable experience on the international stage. Meanwhile, his play with Örebro HK J20 (J20 Nationell) was nothing short of stellar. In 43 games, he registered 33 points (four goals, 29 assists), proving himself as a dynamic offensive defenseman. He even got a taste of Sweden’s premier league, the SHL, appearing in six games and holding his own against top competition.

This season, Radivojevič brought his talents to North America, joining the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the United States Hockey League (USHL) for his NHL draft-eligible season. He has maintained his reputation as an offensive weapon, tallying 18 assists and two goals through 36 games so far and posting a solid plus-8 rating. As an offensive-defenseman, he is helping Muskegon push for a deep run in the USHL Clark Cup Playoffs, building off the team’s deep postseason run last year.

Looking ahead, Radivojevič has committed to Boston College for the 2025-26 season, one of the most prestigious NCAA hockey programs. The Eagles are consistently in the mix for championships. Still, they’ve faced heartbreak in the last two seasons—falling in the Manchester regional final this year and losing in the championship last year, both times to the Denver University Pioneers. Despite these setbacks, the Eagles remain a powerhouse program, and his arrival for next season certainly bolsters their roster as they hope to reclaim their position at the top of college hockey.

The biggest question now is where Radivojevič will land in the 2025 NHL Draft. As a highly-ranked prospect, he’s drawing plenty of attention near the top of the draft. Scouts rave about his skating, puck skills, and high hockey IQ, which make him a game-changer in transition and on the man advantage. While his offensive talent is clear, continued development in his defensive game and physical strength could make him a game-changing defenseman for whichever NHL team selects him. The team that drafts him will likely need patience as he continues to refine his game, but his potential to become an everyday player at the professional level is undeniable, despite his size.

Luka Radivojevič – NHL Draft Projection

Radivojevic is projected to be a mid-to-late second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, with rankings placing him between 44th and 79th overall across various scouting outlets. His consolidated ranking of 63rd reflects a strong consensus about his potential as a skilled, offensive defenseman with room to grow defensively. While NHL Central Scouting lists him at 120th among North American skaters, other sources, such as Draft Prospects Hockey (45th) and FCHockey (44th), show his upside and ability to impact the game in transition and especially on the power play. Teams selecting him will likely view him as a high-reward prospect who has the potential to develop into a low-risk defenseman with patience and continued growth.

Other THW Draft Profiles

Quotables

“Radivojevič will need to address areas of his defensive game and add strength to compete against larger opponents,’ but there are many tools in his skillset that should have NHL general managers looking to add him to their prospect pool at the draft this spring,” – Neutral Zone

”My skating is my greatest strength, and my skills with the puck. I think I need to work more on the defensive zone play and become more physical,” said Luka Radivojevič. – Martin Jansson, Daily Faceoff

“Radivojevic is intriguing thanks to his pure skill and hockey IQ. He has already shown that he can handle playing against older competition in this tournament and will be given every opportunity to play key minutes. Radivojevic is a mobile defenseman who is always looking to make the right play, but he lacks ideal size at 5-foot-10,” – Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff

Strengths

Mobile Defenseman
Playmaker
Offensive Defenseman
High-End IQ
Elite Skater
Great in Transition

Under Construction/Improvements to Make

Defensive Zone Play
Physicality
Play Without the Puck

NHL Potential

Radivojevič has all the makings of a dynamic and impactful defenseman who could thrive at the NHL level. His skating is exceptionally smooth, allowing him to move the puck efficiently up the ice and create opportunities in transition. His hockey IQ also stands out—he sees plays developing before they happen and can make smart hockey decisions under pressure. These qualities, paired with his solid puck skills, make him a valuable asset on the power play, where he can control the game and set up scoring chances with ease, something that an NHL team will surely value in this year’s draft.

Risk-Reward Analysis

Risk 2/5, Reward 4/5

Fantasy Hockey Potential

Offense 9/10, Defense 7/10