The opening night of the 2025 NHL draft delivered drama, surprises, and the foundation for future NHL contenders. As teams convened in a unique decentralized format, the focus remained squarely on the talented prospects poised to make their mark on the league. This comprehensive analysis dives deep into every first-round selection, offering expert insights and grades on the value each team gained relative to their draft position and strategic needs.
The Top of the Draft: Consensus and Debate
The excitement began with the most anticipated pick, but the path wasn’t without twists.
Islanders Select Elite Defenseman Matthew Schaefer at No. 1
The New York Islanders held the highly coveted first overall pick. As widely projected, they selected defenseman Matthew Schaefer from the Erie Otters. Schaefer entered the draft as the undisputed top prospect. Experts lauded his elite ceiling and high probability of reaching his potential quickly.
Schaefer’s skating stands out. It’s powerful and effortless, enabling him to close gaps defensively and drive transition offensively at an NHL level. He combines this athleticism with remarkable intelligence. His offensive skills are legitimate, featuring the ability to break down opponents one-on-one and find passing lanes. He also possesses high-level closing speed and is a fierce competitor who uses his size effectively.
Despite missing time due to illness and injury, Schaefer consistently dominated when healthy. His performance at events like the Hlinka Gretzky and CHL/U.S. NTDP series, and being Canada’s best player at the World Juniors before injury, underscore his talent. Projected as a star No. 1 defenseman, his selection perfectly aligns with the Islanders’ needs, especially after trading Noah Dobson. General Manager Mathieu Darche emphasized drafting high-character individuals, a trait Schaefer embodies, having overcome significant personal adversity. The Islanders earned top marks for this pick, securing the clear best player available.
Sharks Land High-Impact center Michael Misa at No. 2
Holding the second pick, the San Jose Sharks selected Michael Misa, a highly anticipated center from the Saginaw Spirit. Misa received exceptional status to enter the OHL early and delivered on his potential. He’s described as a polished, all-around forward.
Misa is an elite skater with exceptional edge work and top speed. His hands are highly skilled and creative, paired with tremendous vision. He excels at improvising in tight spaces and on the move, hinting at significant NHL scoring potential. While his goal totals were high, his game is more about generating offense through timing and driving the net than pure sniping. He competes effectively and is diligent without the puck. Misa projects as a star No. 1 center, a foundational piece to build a winning team around. The Sharks view him alongside Celebrini, Smith, and Dickinson as cornerstones. This pick offers crucial lineup flexibility for San Jose’s future.
Blackhawks Take Skilled Forward Anton Frondell at No. 3
The Chicago Blackhawks made a pivotal selection at third overall, choosing forward Anton Frondell from Djurgårdens IF. Frondell had a season of two halves, starting slow but excelling against men in Sweden’s HockeyAllsvenskan later on.
Frondell possesses impressive skill and smoothness with the puck. He can consistently make difficult plays, even while skating. Despite average size, his style translates well to the NHL. He competes hard, often outmuscling larger opponents. Frondell is a good playmaker but also boasts a potent shot considered among the best in the draft. While not always dynamically offensive, his strong second half and high-end shot profile project him as a quality second-line center who plays with needed edge. His size and two-way game fit well with Chicago’s existing smaller centers.
Utah Adds Playmaking Center Caleb Desnoyers at No. 4
Utah continued to build its prospect pipeline by selecting center Caleb Desnoyers from the Moncton Wildcats. Desnoyers had a stellar season, culminating in being named QMJHL playoff MVP. He embodies everything teams seek in an NHL center.
Desnoyers is tall, fast, and creates offense effectively both with and without the puck. He displays excellent skill and creativity as a playmaker, generating chances from various areas of the ice. He is a detailed two-way player with a physical edge and a high compete level, capable of shutting down top opponents. Projected as a potential No. 1 center usable in any situation, Desnoyers is seen as a perfect fit for Utah’s desired identity and adds significantly to their strong young center group alongside Cooley and Hayton. His high hockey IQ and aura of future leadership are notable assets.
Predators Select Competitive Center Brady Martin at No. 5
The Nashville Predators addressed a need at center by selecting Brady Martin from the Soo Greyhounds. Martin is a highly likable player known for a blend of skill and intense compete.
Martin possesses impressive skill and the ability to beat defenders one-on-one. He’s creative with the puck, and his offensive IQ improved throughout the season. What truly excites scouts is the combination of his skill with his compete level. He plays with “true hardness,” attacking high-traffic areas and being an extremely physical player. His skating has developed into a strength, allowing him to keep pace at the NHL level. Martin projects as a potential second-line center, capable of being a difficult matchup player for opponents. While some debated his dynamic offense compared to others available, his hard-nosed style aligns with Nashville’s preferences.
First-Round Grabs and Gambles
Beyond the top five, the first round featured teams securing high-value players and taking calculated risks on potential.
Flyers Stock Up on Size and Skill
The Philadelphia Flyers had a busy first round. At sixth overall, they selected large winger Porter Martone. Martone boasts elite skill and creativity, especially for his size (6-3). His reach and hands allow him to beat defenders. He competes well but has a notable issue with pace, particularly his heavy first few steps. Despite this weakness, his size/skill combination is significant.
Later, the Flyers traded up to take center Jack Nesbitt at No. 12. Nesbitt is a skilled center with great size (6-4) who trends upwards. He’s creative offensively and a reliable 200-foot player who plays heavy. His main drawback is heavy skating, which may limit his ability to beat NHL defenders with speed. The Flyers prioritized adding a potential top-two line center after taking a winger, even trading assets to move up for Nesbitt.
Boston Nabs a Dynamic Playmaker
The Boston Bruins landed what many saw as a steal at seventh overall with center James Hagens. A local prospect from Long Island, Hagens boasts a dynamic combination of high-end skating and skill. He is extremely elusive and makes difficult plays on the move, projecting as a high-end playmaker. While not big or overly physical, he is a potential play-driving top-two line center. His fall was attributed partly to lottery circumstances, allowing Boston to add significant high-end talent to their system.
Kraken, Sabres, and Ducks Address Key Needs
The Seattle Kraken selected center Jake O’Brien at eighth overall, seen by some as arguably the second most purely talented player available. O’Brien has high-end patience, vision, and soft hands, though his game can lack pace at times due to pulling up for skill plays.
The Buffalo Sabres took defenseman Radim Mrtka at ninth overall, a big (6-6), mobile right-shot defender with legitimate puck skill. He projects as a top-four defenseman who adds needed size to Buffalo’s prospect pool.
The Anaheim Ducks took a calculated risk on forward Roger McQueen at tenth overall. A talented 6-5 forward, McQueen fell due to a back injury. At this point in the draft, the Ducks appreciated the risk on a player with potential top-two line impact if his health holds.
Penguins’ Surprising Picks
The Pittsburgh Penguins made the first notable surprise pick of the night, selecting smaller winger Benjamin Kindel at No. 11. While highly skilled and intelligent, Kindel was ranked lower by most experts. They later added winger Bill Zonnon at No. 22 and large forward William Horcoff at No. 24. Some analysts felt the Penguins reached on certain players, particularly Horcoff, despite adding three prospects to their pool.
Islanders Shine With Multiple High-Value Selections
Beyond Schaefer at #1, the New York Islanders had a tremendous first round thanks to the assets acquired in the Noah Dobson trade.
At No. 16, they selected winger Victor Eklund, the younger brother of Sharks forward William Eklund. Victor is an excellent, elusive skater with very high skill and creativity. Despite being undersized, he plays with tenacity and projects as a potential top-line winger. Experts saw him as a significant value pick at this spot.
Just one pick later at No. 17, the Islanders grabbed defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson. Aitcheson is a hyper-competitive, highly physical defender with decent size (6-1) and an edge to his game. He adds secondary offense potential and projects as a potential top-four defenseman with snarl. Landing two high-value prospects in Eklund and Aitcheson, in addition to the consensus first overall pick, made the Islanders one of the major winners of the first round, significantly replenishing their prospect pool.
Draft Format and Trade Landscape
This year’s draft implemented a new decentralized format, moving away from the traditional arena setting. Initial reviews were mixed. The virtual “Draft House” connecting prospects and teams saw criticism for awkwardness and technical glitches. The “Big Red Button” for trades was present but underutilized, reflecting a surprising lack of trade activity in the first round. The only trade involving picks saw the Flyers move up with the Penguins. No players were moved for picks during the first round itself. The format didn’t spur the expected trade volume, leaving uncertainty about its future use.
Final Assessments: Winners and Losers
Evaluating draft classes immediately is challenging, but based on prospect talent relative to draft position, some teams stood out.
The New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals, and Calgary Flames were highlighted as “Winners,” making selections seen as high value and addressing needs effectively. The Islanders, with their three high-ranked picks, received particularly high praise.
Other teams like the San Jose Sharks, Ottawa Senators, Nashville Predators (especially for their later picks), Winnipeg Jets, Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, Utah Mammoth, Seattle Kraken, Detroit Red Wings, and Philadelphia Flyers (despite debate over one pick) were categorized as “Overtime Winners,” making solid to excellent selections that addressed needs or secured high-talent players, even if not unanimously perfect grades.
The Columbus Blue Jackets were placed in the “Overtime Losers” category, addressing needs but with questions around the value or risk of certain picks like the goalie Pyotr Andreyanov.
The Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins were labeled “Losers” by one analysis. The Kings’ pick was seen as being in the player’s range but with perceived downside, while the Penguins’ selections were viewed as surprising reaches on players ranked lower by many experts, leading to questions about the overall value gained despite adding prospects.
The first round sets the stage for Day 2, where teams will continue to build their future rosters, hoping to uncover hidden gems and add depth to their organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the biggest surprises or steals in the 2025 NHL Draft first round?
Several picks drew attention for being higher or lower than anticipated. Victor Eklund falling to the Islanders at #16 was widely seen as a significant steal, as many ranked him much higher. Similarly, Joshua Ravensbergen, the author’s top-rated goalie, going at #30 to San Jose was considered high value for the Sharks. On the other hand, Benjamin Kindel at #11 to Pittsburgh and William Horcoff at #24 to Pittsburgh were seen by some experts as reaches relative to their rankings, raising questions about value gained.
How did the new decentralized format impact the 2025 NHL Draft?
The new decentralized format was intended to streamline the draft, but feedback was mixed. The virtual setup for prospects and teams connecting received criticism for being awkward and experiencing technical issues. A major disappointment was the lack of trades, which the format was partly hoped to facilitate. Only one pick-related trade occurred, and no players were exchanged for picks in the first round. It’s uncertain if the league will continue with this format in the future.
Which teams were considered the biggest winners of the first round?
According to expert analysis, the New York Islanders were major winners, securing consensus #1 Matthew Schaefer and adding two high-value prospects (Victor Eklund, Kashawn Aitcheson) through a trade. The Boston Bruins, landing highly-rated James Hagens at #7, and the St. Louis Blues, getting Justin Carbonneau at #19, were also cited as teams that had excellent first rounds, securing top-ranked talent later than expected or valuable players at their pick slots.
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