2025 NHL Draft: Each Team's Picks And Prospect Pool Needs

NHL teams use their picks as currency for trades all the time, sometimes even years before that pick turns into a player. 

That means that although every franchise gets one pick in each of the seven rounds of the NHL draft, some teams have as many as 12 and as few as two picks in the draft taking place on June 27 and 28.

Not every draft pick is made the same, though. There is a difference between having nine picks with five in the first three rounds and having nine picks where five fall in the last three rounds.

Those picks will be used to draft players each organization thinks can help its franchise moving forward. 

Every team has strong points and weak points in its pipeline. 

Let’s look through every team across the NHL, checking out how many draft picks each team has and what weak points they look to address. 

Round 1: 10th overall 

Round 2: 60th overall

Round 3: 72nd overall

Round 4: 101st and 104th overall 

Round 5: 136th and 159th overall

Round 6: 168th overall

Round 7: 200th overall

Weak point: center

The Ducks have a loaded pipeline, and they have young centers on the roster. There isn’t really a major need anywhere, but they could target a center because depth down the middle wins championships.

Round 1: 7th overall

Round 2: 51st overall and 61st overall

Round 3: 69th overall

Round 4: 100th overall

Round 5, 133rd overall

Round 6: 165th overall

Round 7: no picks

Weak point: high-end skill

After over a decade of being among the Stanley Cup contenders, the Bruins' pipeline lacks talent everywhere. The reality is that they just need some high-end skill to kick-start their rebuild. 

Round 1: 9th overall

Round 2: 39th overall

Round 3: 71st overall

Round 4: 103rd overall and 116th overall

Round 5: 135th overall 

Round 6: 167th overall

Round 7: 195th overall, 199th overall, and 219th overall

Weak point: right-shot defender

The Sabres have a fairly loaded prospect pool, with their forward group looking deep and skilled in various ways. Their NHL blueline has plenty of young talent, but most of it is on the left side. Finding a right shot to play with talented blueliners Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power will be key. 

Round 1: 18th and 32nd overall

Round 2: 54th overall

Round 3: 80th overall

Round 4: no picks

Round 5: 144th overall

Round 6: 176th overall

Round 7: 208th overall

Weak point: star power up front

While the Flames have slowly built up a quality pipeline and added some intriguing talents like Zayne Parekh on the blueline, they don’t really have a game-breaker up front. Finding one in this draft will be tough, but the Flames can afford to take some swings.

Round 1: 29th overall

Round 2: no picks

Round 3: 87th overall

Round 4: 125th overall 

Round 5: no picks

Round 6: 183rd and 189th overall

Round 7: 221st overall 

Weak point: center 

The Hurricanes haven’t developed a truly high-end center since they drafted Sebastian Aho in 2015, and they desperately need one in this system. They lack a true center in their system at the moment, but finding one at 29th overall might be tough. 

Round 1: 3rd and 25th overall

Round 2: 34th and 62nd overall

Round 3: 66th overall

Round 4: 98th and 107th overall

Round 5: no picks

Round 6: 162nd overall

Round 7: 194th and 197th overall 

Weak point: blueline depth

Even with recent additions, such as Artyom Levshunov and Kevin Korchinski, the blueline needs some major pieces in Chicago. They could certainly add some with their plentiful collection of picks this year, taking some swings in the late first or second rounds. 

Round 1: no picks

Round 2: no picks

Round 3: no picks

Round 4: 118th overall

Round 5: no picks

Round 6: no picks

Round 7: 214th overall

Weak point: just about everything

The Avalanche have been a contender for quite a while now, so they’ve been accustomed to spending their draft capital to acquire players for the current roster. With just two picks, they aren’t likely to do too much in the way of adding to their pipeline, especially with their first coming at well outside the top 100.

Round 1: 14th and 20th overall

Round 2: no picks

Round 3: 77th overall

Round 4: 109th overall

Round 5: no picks

Round 6: 173rd overall

Round 7: 205th and 218th overall 

Weak point: depth 

The Blue Jackets have quality talent all over their pipeline, but they must continue to add depth. With two top 20 picks, they will have the opportunity to add high-end talent up front and on the back end. 

Round 1: no picks

Round 2: no picks

Round 3: 94th overall 

Round 4: 126th overall

Round 5: 146th and 158th overall

Round 6: 190th overall

Round 7: 222nd overall

Weak point: impact talent 

The Stars have done a very good job of drafting and developing players throughout their recent competitive window, but with the Logan Stankoven trade and Mavrik Bourque and Lian Bichsel graduating to the NHL, they could use some more impact talent. Without a pick in the first two rounds, that might be tough.

Round 1: 13th overall

Round 2: 44th overall

Round 3: 75th and 76th overall

Round 4: 199th overall

Round 5: 140th overall 

Round 6: 172nd overall

Round 7: 204th and 211th overall 

Weak point: high-end skill 

The Red Wings went through a couple of years where they took swings, and they paid off, getting Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider. Since then, they have played it safe and drafted players with high floors and limited ceilings. They need to swing for the fences at No. 13 and go for a player that could outperform their draft slot.

Round 1: no picks

Round 2: no picks

Round 3: 83rd overall

Round 4: no picks

Round 5: no picks

Round 6: 191st overall

Round 7: 223rd overall

Weak point: everything 

The Oilers are back-to-back Stanley Cup finalists, but having lost both, they would benefit from some young talent ready to join the roster, especially since they are the NHL’s oldest squad. Unfortunately, they lack young up-and-coming players all over the pipeline, and with just one pick inside the top 180 selections, they likely won’t get that player this year. 

Round 1: no picks

Round 2: no picks

Round 3: no picks

Round 4: 112th and 128th overall

Round 5: 129th and 160th overall 

Round 6: 192nd overall 

Round 7: 224th overall (last pick of the draft)

Weak point: blueline help

The Panthers are back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. If you’re reading this as a Panthers fan, shouldn’t you be crowd surfing Brad Marchand or waiting for Aleksander Barkov to knock on your door with the Stanley Cup? You could use a defender, but who cares? You have two Cups. 

Round 1: 24th overall 

Round 2: no picks

Round 3: 88th overall 

Round 4: 120th overall

Round 5: 152nd overall

Round 6: 184th overall 

Round 7: 196th and 216th overall 

Weak point: defensive help

The Kings’ once-heralded prospect pool wasn’t quite as fruitful as they hoped, but they have some quality depth up front who can fill in. The blueline is a more pressing area of concern, especially with Brandt Clarke graduating to a full-time NHL role. They must find a way to add a quality blueliner, hopefully one with some upside.

Round 1: no picks

Round 2: 52nd overall

Round 3: no picks

Round 4: 121st overall

Round 5: 141st overall 

Round 6: 180th overall 

Round 7: no picks

Weak point: right-shot defenders

The Wild have done a good job of filling their pipeline with quality talent at just about every position. The one hole is on the right side of their blueline. There are a few solid right-shot defenders in this class, but none of the best players will be around when Minnesota finally makes its pick in the mid-second round. 

Round 1: 16th and 17th overall

Round 2: 41st and 49th overall

Round 3: 79th, 81st, and 82nd overall

Round 4: 108th and 113th overall 

Round 5: 145th overall 

Round 6: 177th overall 

Round 7: 209th overall

Weak point: center depth and goal-scoring

The Montreal pipeline is chock-full of talent. They could use a top-level scorer, though, and it would be even better if it were a center. They need a second-line center of the future, and maybe they can take a swing and find one at Nos. 16 or 17. 

Round 1: 5th, 23rd, and 26th overall

Round 2: 35th and 55th overall

Round 3: 67th overall 

Round 4: no picks

Round 5: 131st overall

Round 6: 163rd and 182nd overall

Round 7: no picks

Weak point: defense and goaltending

After trading Yaroslav Askarov, the Predators have a massive need for a netminder of consequence, but they also need some help on the right side of their blueline. The Preds are in a weird spot because they wanted to be good, but they weren’t. They want to rebuild, but they have a roster that’s ready to compete. 

Round 1: no picks

Round 2: 50th and 63rd overall

Round 3: 90th overall 

Round 4: 99th and 114th overall 

Round 5: no picks

Round 6: 161st and 178th overall

Round 7: no picks

Weak point: impact talent 

The Devils have good players all over the pipeline, but they lack difference-makers in the pipeline. They have some young players on their NHL roster, but if they want to extend their window, they need to find more skilled players. With no first-rounder this year, that might be tough. 

Round 1: 1st overall

Round 2: 42nd overall

Round 3: 74th overall 

Round 4: 106th overall 

Round 5: 138th overall 

Round 6: 170th overall

Round 7: 202nd overall 

Weak point: right-handed defense

The Islanders have no notable prospects or even long shots on the right side of their defense pipeline, so they are in an excellent situation with Matthew Schaefer being available. Whether they take him or not is a different story. 

Round 1: 12th overall 

Round 2: 43rd overall 

Round 3: 70th and 89th overall 

Round 4: 111th overall

Round 5: 139th overall 

Round 6: 166th and 171st overall

Round 7: 203rd overall 

Weak point: legitimate centers

The centers the Rangers have in the system likely project to the NHL as wingers. At 12th overall, they should be in line to draft a legitimate center who could stick at the NHL level. They should have a number of options, even if it’s not one of the top group of centers. 

Round 1: 21st overall

Round 2: no picks

Round 3: 96th overall

Round 4: 97th overall 

Round 5: 149th overall

Round 6: 181st overall

Round 7: 213th overall

Weak point: forwards with skill

The Senators made the playoffs after a long stretch of misses, but they couldn’t build up a promising pipeline, which could impact their ability to contend long-term. If they have the chance, they should look to go for skill. They have plenty of tenacity and truculence in the system, but they need swings on talent. 

Round 1: 6th, 22nd, 31st overall

Round 2: 36th, 40th, 45th, and 48th overall

Round 3: 68th overall

Round 4: no picks

Round 5: 132nd and 157th overall

Round 6: 164th overall

Round 7: no picks

Weak point: left-shot defenders

The Flyers have an incredible amount of draft capital with seven picks in the top 50. They have more opportunity to add legitimate talent than anyone in the draft, and filling their need on the left side should be quite easy. This could be a franchise-altering draft for Philly. 

Round 1: 11th overall

Round 2: 59th overall

Round 3: 73rd, 84th, and 85th overall

Round 4: 105th overall

Round 5: 130th and 148th overall

Round 6: 169th overall 

Round 7: 201st overall 

Weak point: everything

When you’ve had one of the greatest players of all-time leading you on multiple Stanley Cup runs and a supporting cast that features potential Hall of Famers, you don’t worry about your prospects. That’s how the Penguins have gotten to the point where they need everything now that they aren’t a true contender anymore. They’ve traded picks and prospects for years to keep competitive, but now, it’s time to lock in and find some talent for the next generation. 

Round 1: 2nd and 30th overall

Round 2: 33rd and 53rd overall

Round 3: 95th overall

Round 4: 115th and 124th overall

Round 5: 150th overall

Round 6: no picks

Round 7: 210th overall

Weak point: defensemen

Although they have some quality defenders, they have a loaded forward pipeline. The Sharks have talent up and down their pipeline, especially since adding Askarov to bolster their crease. They don’t really need anything, but finding a quality defender to go with some of their young and up-and-coming defensemen could be nice. 

Round 1: 8th overall

Round 2: 38th and 57th overall

Round 3: no picks

Round 4: 102nd overall

Round 5: 134th overall

Round 6: no picks

Round 7: 198th overall

Weak point: left-shot defenders

The Kraken have built up a nice prospect pool since coming into existence. They have a ton of forward depth and plenty of legitimate centers. Even on left defense, they have some solid players who might develop into NHLers. Finding a stud would be excellent, though. 

Round 1: 19th overall

Round 2: no picks

Round 3: no picks

Round 4: no picks

Round 5: 147th overall

Round 6: 179th overall

Round 7: no picks

Weak point: impact defense

The Blues have quite a few solid defenders, but none of them have the upside they will need to play big minutes on the top pair. Pick 19 isn’t exactly where you go to find those players, but they can add to a solid defensive pipeline and swing on upside because they have depth already. 

Round 1: no picks

Round 2: 56th overall

Round 3: no picks

Round 4: 127th overall

Round 5: 151st overall

Round 6: no picks

Round 7: 193rd, 206th, 212th, and 215th overall

Weak point: everything, everywhere, all at once

Tampa Bay has thrown draft picks out the window, unlike just about any other team in the league, and they have been in a Cup-contending window for the last half-decade. They need everything because even the one truly potentially effective prospect they have, Isaac Howard, isn’t likely to make an impact at the NHL level.

Round 1: no picks

Round 2: 64th overall 

Round 3: 86th overall 

Round 4: no picks

Round 5: 137th and 153rd overall

Round 6: 185th overall

Round 7: 217th overall

Weak point: impact defenders

The Leafs have been spinning their wheels, trying to get over the hump for a while now, and they have exhausted most of their prospect pool, but they do have a few promising forwards. Unfortunately, they haven’t been able to build a strong group on the back end. Ben Danford is a solid defensive blueliner, but his upside is limited. With no picks in the top 60, this weakness is unlikely to change. 

Round 1: 4th overall

Round 2: 46th overall

Round 3: 78th overall

Round 4: 110th overall

Round 5: 142nd overall 

Round 6: 174th overall

Round 7: no picks

Weak point: high-end center

The Mammoth and Arizona Coyotes have had plenty of high draft picks in recent years, and they have a ton of solid prospects because of it. Even down the middle, they have some solid options, but they will likely turn into bottom six centers. If they could add one more top-six center, they could be a force in the future. 

Round 1: 15th overall

Round 2: 47th overall

Round 3: 65th overall

Round 4: 117th overall

Round 5: 143rd overall

Round 6: 175th overall

Round 7: 207th overall

Weak point: they’re good, not great

The Canucks have some very good prospects at a variety of positions, but they lack a truly great prospect. At 15th overall, it might be tough to get one, but they must find a way to bring in some elite talent. Whether on the back end or up front, they could use some impact players coming up. 

Round 1: no picks

Round 2: 58th overall

Round 3: 91st overall

Round 4: 122nd overall

Round 5: 154th overall

Round 6: 186th and 187th overall 

Round 7: no picks

Weak point: who cares?

It sounds silly, but Vegas couldn’t care less about its prospects. They have traded nearly every first-round pick they have made, and they’ve traded as many picks before they made them. Vegas is a win-now team, as it’s been since its inception. Their prospect pool is merely a tool to trade from, so swinging on elite talent and hoping they perform well to boost their trade value might be the way to go. 

Round 1: 27th overall

Round 2: 37th overall

Round 3: 93rd overall 

Round 4: 123rd overall

Round 5: 155th overall 

Round 6: no picks

Round 7: no picks

Weak point: center depth

The Capitals have long needed to draft and develop a quality center, but Hendrix Lapierre and Connor McMichael are the closest they’ve come, and they aren’t full-time top six centers. If there is a center available late in the first round, Washington should grab them, even if it means trading up a few picks to do so.

Round 1: 28th overall

Round 2: no picks

Round 3: 92nd overall 

Round 4: no picks

Round 5: 156th overall 

Round 6: 188th overall

Round 7: 220th overall 

Weak point: right-shot defense 

The Jets have a deceptively strong pipeline, but they could use some help on defense, particularly on the right side. The Jets are picking quite late, so any help they get won’t be ready for the NHL for at least a couple of years, but they should be looking to invest in the blueline if they get the chance.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.