The Anaheim Ducks own the tenth overall selection on night one of the 2025 NHL Draft.
The New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens made noise hours before the draft when the Islanders sent defenseman Noah Dobson to the Habs in exchange for the 16th and 17th overall picks as well as forward Emil Heineman.
The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Gavin Brindley, a 2025 third round pick, and a 2027 conditional second round pick.
There's a fair amount of uncertainty following the Islanders first overall selection, with rumors and speculation running rampant.
1st Overall: New York Islanders
Matthew Schaefer-Erie Otters (OHL)
No surprise here. Schaefer is the surest bet in the draft to become a number one NHL defenseman. He possesses every tool teams are looking for in a cornerstone blueliner: tremendous skater, offensive instincts through the roof, and his defensive fundamentals are well beyond his years, despite missing the second half of the season with a broken clavicle.
2nd Overall: San Jose Sharks
Michael Misa-Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
After some speculation heading into tonight whether they were going to stick with the consensus and take Michael Misa or go against the grain and take Anton Frondell, the Sharks select Misa with the second overall pick. Misa produced an astounding 134 points (62-72=134) in 62 regular season games. He's got every tool in the toolbox necessary to become a number one center and the puck is drawn to his stick like a magnet. He's a playmaker, he's a scorer, he's a puck hound. A one-two punch of Celebrini-Misa will likely give the Ducks fits for over a decade.
3rd Overall: Chicago Blackhawks
Anton Frondell-Djurgårdens IF (SHL)
Frondell gives the Blackhawks their own thunder and lightning one-two punch between him and Connor Bedard down the middle. Frondell is a detailed 200-foot forward who thrives in the hard areas of the ice and has the best release in the draft. The Ducks are going to have to deal with some deep and talented center cores in the Western Conference when it's time to contend.
4th Overall: Utah Mammoth
Caleb Desnoyers-Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
Desnoyers is the center Utah needed behind Logan Cooley in the top six. He's another 200-foot, detailed, and creative center who can thrive next to newly acquired JJ Peterka. Utah is rumored to be one of the big noise-making teams this summer and they're already off to a great start. Desnoyers thrives in open ice and in small areas. He'll kill penalties and produce on the power play.
5th Overall: Nashville Predators
Brady Martin-Soo Greyhounds (OHL)
After a surprisingly poor season, the Preds earned a top five selection in this year's draft and took blue collar center Brady Martin. Martin was the Draft's biggest riser after his season finished and through the combine. Nashville has needed a number one center since their inception. I'm not so sure that center is Martin, but he'll win that fanbase over with his effort shift in and shift out. He's one of the most difficult players to play against in the draft and has a nose for the net.
6th Overall: Philadelphia Flyers
Porter Martone-Brampton Steelheads (OHL)
Days after acquiring Trevor Zegras from the Ducks, the Flyers select Martone as a potential glove-like fit on Zegras' wing. Martone has terrific vision from all areas of the ice. He thrives on the cycle as well as the rush and he is disruptive defensively. He's a big, skilled wing and could be the team's future captain. There's an argument he's the most NHL-ready prospect in this draft, so it will be interesting to see how Philly handles his development.
7th Overall: Boston Bruins
James Hagens-Boston College (NCAA)
Like Nashville, Boston had a surprisingly poor season and earned the seventh overall pick. They selected James Hagens, who I consider a steal at seven. Hagens is the center Boston craves. He's incredibly polished, a terrific skater, and has fantastic vision. The Bruins could be looking to retool or build up their pipeline or both. Whichever way they go, Hagens will be a perfect fit there.
8th Overall: Seattle Kraken
Jake O'Brien-Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
Seattle have selected exclusively centers with their four top ten picks in franchise history. O'Brien is the drafts best playmaker and has an underrated 200-foot impact. Once he fills out his 6-foot-2 frame, he will become part of a spectacular center core in Seattle that already ices Matty Beniers and Shane Wright, with Berkly Catton on the way. They are another team in the West that can give the Ducks fits down the middle.
9th Overall: Buffalo Sabres
Radim Mrtka-Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Mrtka fills out the Sabres blueline nicely. This leaves Roger McQueen ripe for the picking for Anaheim. Mrtka is a high-floor defender with elite shutdown capability. Even if he plays low-energy at times, he will have a long career in the NHL.
10th Overall: ANAHEIM DUCKS
Roger McQueen-Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
A grand slam swing, Roger McQueen is an Anaheim Duck. He models his game after Ducks legend Ryan Getzlaf and was the only prospect reported to have had dinner with the team during the combine week. A fracture in his vertebrae cost him to miss all but 17 regular season games and three playoff games. He's huge, moves well, and has terrific hockey sense. Were it not for his injury, he may have been a top five pick, even top three. The Ducks were in a great position to take a high-risk/high-reward player, and if he hits, McQueen will be a member of a potent and difficult trio down the middle in Anaheim with Mason McTavish and Leo Carlsson.
11th Overall: Pittsburgh Penguins
Benjamin Kindel-Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Kyle Dubas strikes again and goes way against consensus with the selection of Kindel at 11th overall. Kindel is a deceptive, shifty, effective forward who can break down defensive structures and seemingly disappear to soft ice. Though projected to go later in the draft and on the slighter side (5-foot-11, 180 pounds), his smarts will carry him a long way.
12th Overall: Philadelphia Flyers
Jack Nesbitt-Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Philly makes some noise and jumps back into the top 12, parting with the 22nd and 31st overall picks. They selected Martone at six and add Nesbitt to pair with him, in a bit of a surprise. Despite a clunky stride, Nesbitt plays a physical and skilled brand of hockey from the center ice position. They desperately needed to add depth to their center core and they feel like they found their guy.
13th Overall: Detroit Red Wings
Carter Bear-Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Detroit loves their competitive forwards in the first round. Carter Bear has the highest motor in the draft and is a pest over the entire ice surface. His motor is his biggest asset, but he was one of the most productive players in the draft and totaled 82 points (40-42=82) in 56 games before suffering a lacerated achilles.
14th Overall: Columbus Blue Jackets
Jackson Smith-Tri-City Americans (WHL)
It's a bit surprising to have only seen three defensemen drafted to this point, maybe this will kickstart a run. Smith has top-pair upside and is incredibly toolsy, but lacks some details in his game. This is a solid, high upside swing from a team looking to make a jump to the playoff picture next season.
15th Overall: Vancouver Canucks
Braeden Cootes-Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Another forward, as centers seem to be the premium position in this draft. Cootes has a projectable game and is a 200-foot presence. He captained team Canada to a U18 World Championship with 12 points (6-6=12) in seven games. This is a high-floor pick, in my opinion.
16th Overall: New York Islanders
Victor Eklund-Djurgårdens IF (SHL)
A center-heavy draft after the heavy Florida Panthers won their second consecutive Stanley Cup meant slight winger Eklund (5-foot-11, 169 pounds) was going to fall out of the top ten. Fortunately for the Islanders, he fell to them at 16. He's skilled, smart, and competitive. He's explosive and shifty, with a nose for the net. This will go down as a value selection and the Islanders are having a very good day so far, even if they didn't land their local boy James Hagens.
17th Overall: New York Islanders
Kashawn Aitcheson-Barrie Colts (OHL)
The Islanders select back-to-back in the middle of the round and take Aitcheson at 17 after taking Eklund at 16 and Schaefer to kick off the event. They're quickly becoming one of the more fun teams to watch for the future. He is the most violent player in the draft, this year's Stian Solberg. He scored a whopping 26 goals for Barrie this season and though his offense may not entirely translate, his defensive fundamentals and physicality will.
18th Overall: Calgary Flames
Cole Reschny-Victoria Royals (WHL)
Reschny is an upside swing. He's an undersized forward, but gifted offensively. His hockey IQ is elite in this draft class. He plays his best hockey when it matters most, as he scored 25 points (9-16=25) in 11 playoff games and added eight points (5-3=8) in five U18 World Championship games.
19th Overall: St. Louis Blues
Justin Carbonneau-Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
Carbonneau is one of the draft's best goal-scorers. He utilizes 10-2 mohawks to freeze defenders and breakdown layers of defenders in front of him. His skill and production dictated he could have gone higher, but St. Louis should be pleased he didn't.
20th Overall: Columbus Blue Jackets
Pyotr Andreyanov-Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)
The Blue Jackets desperately needed a goaltender in their pipeline and got the first one in the draft, even if he wasn't the highest ranked among consensus (Ravensburgen). Andreyanov's numbers were spectacular, however (.942 SV%, 3 shutouts) and he has a prototypical frame for a modern goaltender.
21st Overall: Nashville Predators
Cameron Reid-Kitchner Rangers (OHL)
Nashville moves up two spots to take Reid ahead of the Penguins, who have the 22nd pick. Reid is a fundamentally sound defenseman, but very slender (6-foot, 170 pounds). He is a gifted skater and one of the smarter defensemen in the draft. He will add some dynamism with Tanner Molendyk to the Preds future blueline.
22nd Overall: Pittsburgh Penguins
Bill Zonnon-Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
The Pens may have gone off the board with their 11th overall pick, but had an excellent forward in Zonnon fall to them in the 20s. Zonnon is a high-motor forward who gets to the middle of the ice at will and eliminates time and space as teams attempt to move pucks up the ice. Dubas is having fun tonight.
23rd Overall: Ottawa Senators
Logan Hensler-University of Wisconsin (NCAA)
A poor freshman season for a defenseman who was projected as a top ten pick entering the 2024-25 season dropped Hensler to 23rd. He's a toolsy defender who skates well and kills plays early. He'll look to rebound in his sophomore season and will likely have more of an impact with an improved team.
24th Overall: Pittsburgh Penguins
William Horcoff-University of Michigan (NCAA)
Dubas makes another draft day trade, this time to move up and select Horcoff. Horcoff was the star of the combine, nearing the top of the leaderboard of all physical tests. He's a physically gifted forward who competes in every zone. The Pens are walking away with a trio of high-upside forwards this year.
25th Overall: Chicago Blackhawks
Vaclav Nestrasil-Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
With a trio of sub-six-foot centers in Bedard, Frank Nazar, and Oliver Moore, Chicago added some serious size today. First, they selected Frondell at third and now add 6-foot-6 winger Nestrasil. Nestrasil moves remarkably well for his size, has a wicked release, and excellent small area skill. It's shaping up as a good night for the Hawks.
26th Overall: Nashville Predators
Ryker Lee-Madison Capitals (USHL)
Ryker Lee is a draft pundit darling, flashing electric skill and producing at an impressive clip in his first season in the USHL with 68 points (31-37=68) in 58 games. Lee's puck skills are elite and he has good vision on the ice. He gets lost a bit at 5v5, rendering himself a non-factor at times, but if he can impact games on a more consistent basis, the Preds have a player here. It's been an interesting day for them, winding up with Martin, Reid, and Lee.
27th Overall: Washington Capitals
Lynden Lakovic-Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Lakovic was projected as a mid-first round pick, but fell to 27. The Caps are pleased he did. He has all the tools of a dominant NHL player: he flies, has a tremendous release, and some of the better puck skills in the draft. He captained Moose Jaw in 2024-25, an impressive feat despite their poor season. Lakovic will make a lot of teams regret not drafting him higher.
28th Overall: Winnipeg Jets
Sascha Boumedienne-Boston University (NCAA)
Boumedienne was the youngest player in college hockey last season and didn't have an easy time transitioning. He has all the two-way skills and the size to have an impact at the NHL level. He's a quality skater and has decent defensive fundamentals, but he's a project who seems to need time to adjust to a new level of competition.
29th Overall: Chicago Blackhawks
Mason West-Edina High School (Minnesota)
One of the most intriguing prospects in the NHL Draft was Mason West. West is a three-star football recruit, but claims to be committed to finishing his senior season and transitioning full time to hockey and the Fargo Force of the USHL. He's a humungous body who moves really well for his size and has great skill. He gives Chicago even more size.
30th Overall: San Jose Sharks
Joshua Ravensbergen-Prince George Cougars
San Jose got the top-ranked goaltender in the draft with the 30th overall selection. A future tandem with Ravensbergen and Yaroslav Askarov could be quite formidable.
31st Overall: Los Angeles Kings
Henry Brzustewicz-London Knights
A pick after the Sharks pick, the Kings take the defensive partner of top prospect Sam Dickinson, Henry Brzustewicz. He's a detail-oriented defender who played big minutes en route to London's Memorial Cup Championship. He shows flashes of offensive involvement, but is more of a high-floor defensive fundamental archetype.
32nd Overall: Calgary Flames
Cullen Potter-Arizona State University
Potter is the best skating forward in the draft class and will look to overcome his size (5-foot-10, 172 pounds) with his shiftiness and IQ. He's creative, pacy, and can create shots for himself and teammates. He has top six upside with a middle six motor. He's a risk worth taking with the last pick in the first round. On talent, he deserved to go higher.
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