The 2025 NHL Entry Draft wrapped up in Los Angeles, concluding two days of selections that felt like an eternity to dedicated hockey fans. This year’s event, held remotely, saw 224 talented young players join NHL organizations. While the true impact of a draft class won’t be known for years, experts immediately begin the tradition of assessing each team’s performance. Based on initial analysis from multiple scouting perspectives, there’s a consensus: no team had a truly poor draft, but some clearly positioned themselves for greater future success by acquiring significant talent.
Determining instant draft grades is a complex, speculative process. Scouts and analysts weigh various factors based on their pre-draft rankings and team needs. Key considerations include the perceived talent and potential of drafted players relative to their selection slot (value), whether teams prioritized securing high-end talent or building depth (quality vs. quantity), the specific skills and physical attributes added (size, speed, compete), and how well the draftees fit into the team’s long-term vision. While immediate needs aren’t always the driving force for drafting talent, securing players who project to fill future gaps often factors into evaluations. This comprehensive review synthesizes expert opinions to provide an early look at how each NHL franchise fared.
Elite Draft Hauls: A+ and A Grades
Three teams consistently landed at the top of most expert lists, earning A+ or A grades for what was seen as an exceptional influx of talent. These teams capitalized on their draft positions and scouting insights to secure players widely projected as future impact players.
The New York Islanders earned a consensus A+ grade. Holding the first overall pick, they selected defenseman Matthew Schaefer, widely regarded as the draft’s top player. Schaefer is described as a dynamic, complete package defender with high hockey IQ and All-Star potential. Beyond Schaefer, the Islanders made waves with their two subsequent first-round picks, acquiring forward Victor Eklund and defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson. Eklund is seen as a high-value pick, a competitive winger projected for a top-six role who just needs physical development. Aitcheson is frequently highlighted as one of the draft’s best defensemen, bringing an old-school, physical edge coupled with underrated offensive instincts. Later picks, including physical power forward Daniil Prokhorov and speedy forward Luca Romano, further bolstered a draft class viewed as “spectacular,” potentially yielding multiple quality NHL regulars and a foundational star in Schaefer.
The Philadelphia Flyers also received high praise, consistently graded A+ or A. They added significant size and physicality to their organization. Their top pick, winger Porter Martone, is seen by some as the third-best player available, a power forward with high upside and scoring ability, even if not a center as some expected. The Flyers traded up for center Jack Nesbitt, a move seen by some as “rich” in value due to skating concerns, but acknowledged for addressing a crucial positional need with a player possessing size, offensive gifts, and grit. The second round was particularly strong for the Flyers, adding massive defenseman Carter Amico (seen as great value despite injury history), gritty scorer Jack Murtagh, physically imposing forward Shane Vansaghi, and large playmaker Matthew Gard. Experts noted the Flyers picked big players who could genuinely play, making their six early selections count towards building a tougher, more skilled lineup.
Completing the top tier, the San Jose Sharks garnered A+ or A grades. Picking second overall after selecting Macklin Celebrini in 2024, they secured explosive center Michael Misa, universally seen as a future NHL star known for his exceptional points production, relentless motor, and high hockey sense. They also addressed a goaltending need, taking Joshua Ravensbergen late in the first round, who is widely considered the draft’s best goaltender prospect. On Day 2, the Sharks added large, mobile defenseman Simon Wang (a high-upside bet) and solid all-around center Cole McKinney. Experts believe these top four picks alone could anchor a strong draft class, indicating things are rapidly coming together for the Sharks’ prospect pool.
Strong Additions: A- and B+ Grades
Several teams earned A- or B+ grades, demonstrating solid drafting results by securing valuable talent, addressing needs, or making smart bets on upside.
The Chicago Blackhawks received A- or B+ grades for betting heavily on upside with three first-round picks. Center Anton Frondell, their top pick, is seen as a future top-six forward with size and high-end skills. They focused significantly on adding size up front with massive forwards Vaclav Nestrasil and Mason West in the first round, continuing this theme with later picks like Nathan Behm and Julius Sumpf. Experts noted the Blackhawks got deeper and added much-needed size and potential to their forward group.
The Nashville Predators were graded A or A- for selecting players popular in the public scouting sphere. Center Brady Martin, their first pick, was a slight reach for some experts but his elite compete level and potential top-six role were highlighted. Mobile defenseman Cameron Reid adds puck-moving ability, and physical forward Ryker Lee brings skill. Later picks like massive shutdown defender Jacob Rombach and small, athletic goalie Jack Ivankovic were also noted positively, resulting in a draft where a majority of their picks appeared on expert Top 100 lists.
Other teams in this strong category include the Calgary Flames (A-/B+), who balanced skill (Reschny, Potter) with size (Stockselius, Phillips); the Detroit Red Wings (A-/B+), praised for adding dynamic elements like scoring winger Carter Bear and high-end goalie prospect Michal Pradel; the Pittsburgh Penguins (A-/B+), who despite perceived first-round reaches, aimed to rebuild their shallow pool with athletic players like Benjamin Kindel, Bill Zonnon, and William Horcoff; the Seattle Kraken (A-/B+), focusing on quality over quantity with high-value picks like skilled center Jake O’Brien and big defenseman Blake Fiddler; the Columbus Blue Jackets (A-/B+), who addressed needs for a big defender (Jackson Smith) and high-potential goaltender (Pyotr Andreyanov), although the goalie pick’s size was noted by some; the Utah Mammoth (A-/B+), securing a valuable two-way center in Caleb Desnoyers and adding quality prospects like defenseman Max Psenicka and forward Stepan Hoch; the Boston Bruins (A-/B+), who heavily benefited from center James Hagens falling to them, seen as a potential future No. 1 pivot; the Anaheim Ducks (A-/B+), adding both quantity (10 picks) and depth, led by the high-risk, high-reward center Roger McQueen; the Carolina Hurricanes (A-/C+), following their strategy of trading back and taking swings on value and international players like goalie Semyon Frolov and re-entry prospect Charlie Cerrato; and the Washington Capitals (A-/B+), consistently drafting well and finding high value with players like large winger Lynden Lakovic and two-way center Milton Gastrin despite less advantageous draft positions.
Solid Picks & Depth Additions: B / B- / C+ Grades
The middle tier of teams generally made solid selections or faced limitations like fewer picks or later slots. While perhaps lacking the immediate “wow” factor of the top groups, these teams still added pieces expected to contribute down the line.
The Los Angeles Kings (B+/C+) made nine total picks, building depth after trading back. They selected defenseman Henry Brzustewicz in the first round, a pick some experts questioned at that position but who adds a right-shot blueliner. Later picks like forward Vojtech Cihar and goalie Petteri Rimpinen were seen as potentially valuable. The Vancouver Canucks (B+/B) used their early picks to secure potential future NHLers like smart center Braeden Cootes and rising defenseman Kieren Dervin, along with goalie Alexei Medvedev. The Buffalo Sabres (B) focused on adding toughness, drafting size on the right side of defense with Radim Mrtka and David Bedkowski, alongside big two-way forward Matous Kucharcik.
Other teams in this range include the New York Rangers (B/C+), who secured first-round caliber forward Malcolm Spence with their first pick but were seen as having a class with high floors and questionable ceilings; the New Jersey Devils (B/C+), adding depth forwards like Conrad Fondrk and Benjamin Kevan but also making some notable “off-the-board” picks like tall goalie Trenten Bennett; the Montreal Canadiens (B/B-), whose draft was overshadowed by the Noah Dobson trade but still made decent picks including re-entry forward Bryce Pickford and intriguing small-framed forward L.J. Mooney; the Ottawa Senators (B/B-), finding value in shutdown defenseman Logan Hensler but with some later picks drawing questions; the St. Louis Blues (B/B-), despite only three picks, were praised for selecting heavy, skilled winger Justin Carbonneau as a great organizational fit; the Winnipeg Jets (B+/B-), seen as having a decent draft class led by best-skating defenseman Sascha Boumedienne, though many picks were viewed as being far from NHL readiness; and the Toronto Maple Leafs (B/C), whose picks aligned with the GM’s preference for physical players, resulting in a draft seen as decent overall despite some confusing selections.
Looking Long-Term: C+ / C / C- / D+ Grades
The teams receiving lower grades often faced challenges like having significantly fewer picks, particularly in the early rounds, or made selections that experts were less confident would translate into significant NHL impact players based on their pre-draft assessments.
The Dallas Stars (C+) didn’t pick until late but secured value in small, high-scoring winger Cameron Schmidt. Their draft success often relies on waiting for players to develop, and picks like Brandon Gorzynski and goalie Mans Goos represent potential late-round value. The Tampa Bay Lightning (C+) also had limited early picks, led by center Ethan Czata, but faced uncertainty on the quality of later selections, typical for a team with fewer high picks. The Vegas Golden Knights (B-/C+) are known for finding value with few picks, landing potential scoring threat Jakob Ihs-Wozniak and playmaker Mateo Nobert, but some experts questioned the NHL projection of others in their small class.
The Minnesota Wild (B-/C+) had a limited number of picks and a later first selection. They added defenseman Theodor Hallquisth, seen as a “high-floor” player, but their high-end skill pick Adam Benak faced size concerns. The Edmonton Oilers (C) didn’t pick until the third round but added pieces like forward Tommy Lafreniere and David Lewandowski, seen as having potential despite doubts about their NHL projection by some analysts. The Colorado Avalanche (C+/C-) had very few picks, focusing on older players like overage defenseman Francesco Dell’Elce, a strategy some experts felt did little to significantly boost their prospect pool for the long term. Finally, the Florida Panthers (D+) received the lowest grades, understandable for a team with few picks (all in the fourth round or later) after deep playoff runs. Their goal was simply hoping a few late-rounders earn NHL contracts down the road, with physical forward Shamar Moses noted as a liked pick.
The 2025 NHL Draft saw teams pursuing various strategies – prioritizing size, speed, skill, compete, or positional needs. While the early grades offer an interesting snapshot based on immediate expert analysis, the true success of each team’s draft class will only be revealed years from now as these prospects develop and chase their NHL dreams.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which teams received the highest grades in the 2025 NHL Draft?
Based on a synthesis of expert analysis immediately following the draft, the New York Islanders received a consensus A+ grade. The Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks also consistently ranked at the very top, receiving A+ or A grades from multiple sources for their selections. These teams were seen as acquiring the most significant high-end talent.
What factors influenced how experts graded teams in the 2025 NHL Draft?
Experts considered several factors, including the raw talent and potential of drafted players, the perceived value of picks relative to where the player was selected, the balance between high-end potential and acquiring depth, specific player attributes like size, speed, and compete level, and how well the players fit into the team’s long-term organizational structure. The speculative nature of immediate grades means these are early assessments based on scouting projections.
Who were some of the key prospects selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft?
The first overall pick was defenseman Matthew Schaefer (Islanders), widely viewed as the draft’s top player. Other top selections included center Michael Misa (Sharks), center Anton Frondell (Blackhawks), center Caleb Desnoyers (Utah), center Brady Martin (Predators), winger Porter Martone (Flyers), center James Hagens (Bruins), center Jake O’Brien (Kraken), and defenseman Radim Mrtka (Sabres). These players represent a mix of positions and skill sets projected to make an impact in the future.
