The 2025 NHL Entry draft has wrapped up, marking two days packed with anticipation, strategic picks, and unexpected turns. While the New York Islanders selecting defenseman Matthew Schaefer first overall came as little surprise, the event delivered plenty of shocks and notable stories. This draft was unique, held in a decentralized format with teams operating remotely, adding a different dynamic to the usual draft-day buzz.
Now that all 224 selections are in the books, what stands out most? From emotional moments to team-building successes and format challenges, experts weighed in on the best, worst, and most transcendent aspects of the 2025 draft class.
Draft Highlights: Emotional Moments and Unique Touches
Drafting an NHL player is a life-changing experience for young athletes. The 2025 draft featured several moments that elevated this milestone from memorable to truly incredible, showcasing the human side of the sport and some creative flair.
When Matthew Schaefer was chosen No. 1 by the New York Islanders, the moment was deeply personal. Schaefer carried the memory of his late mother, Jennifer, who passed away from breast cancer the previous year. He had her photo and signature sewn inside his draft jacket. The Islanders added a poignant tribute, presenting him with a jersey featuring a purple Hockey Fights Cancer ribbon on the chest and his mother’s initials on the inside collar. Schaefer kissed the ribbon after putting on the jersey, a gesture that resonated widely. “This is a high-class organization,” Schaefer commented. “A lot of people can say, ‘Oh, it’s just a ribbon,’ but it means a lot for me. My mom’s a big part of my life. This jersey, I’m going to hang up for sure.” This heartfelt moment set an emotional tone for the draft’s opening.
Across the country, the Anaheim Ducks provided a moment of pure, unique fun for their No. 10 pick, Roger McQueen. Their marketing team and the league collaborated on a plan to load McQueen into a helicopter, fly him across Southern California, and then drive him to Disneyland. That McQueen got to meet Lightning McQueen in Radiator Springs at California Adventure Park made the experience even more fantastic. These moments, from heartfelt remembrance to meeting a cartoon hero, are the ones that stick with fans long after the picks are made.
Who Won the 2025 NHL Draft?
Several teams and trends emerged from the draft looking like clear winners, strengthening their organizations and celebrating significant milestones.
Islanders Make a Splash Beyond No. 1
While securing Matthew Schaefer was huge, the New York Islanders were arguably the biggest overall winners of the draft’s first round. Beyond drafting the highly-touted, incredibly mobile two-way defender, they strategically used the two additional first-round picks acquired in the earlier Noah Dobson trade with Montreal. With one of those picks (No. 16), they selected Swedish winger Victor Eklund. Despite his relatively smaller size (163 pounds), Eklund is praised for his competitive fire and excellent shot. As a teammate noted, Eklund’s mindset helps him win puck battles against bigger opponents. The Islanders used their other pick (No. 28) to add physical defender Kashawn Aitcheson, further bolstering their blue line depth after the Dobson trade. This active and impactful Day 1 positioned the Islanders for a potentially transformative future.
Sharks Continue Building a Bright Future
The San Jose Sharks, while still in a rebuild phase, significantly added to an already promising young core. Following up last year’s No. 1 pick, Macklin Celebrini (who has adapted quickly to the NHL), San Jose landed forward Michael Misa at No. 2. Misa projects as a potential top-six center. They also invested a first-round pick (No. 30) in goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen, an athletic 6-foot-5 netminder who could become a franchise cornerstone down the road. Day 2 saw them draft defenseman Simon Wang at No. 33, the highest-drafted Chinese-born player in history. Wang is noted for his size (6-6), excellent skating, and massive wingspan, possessing significant untapped potential. GM Mike Grier is making smart selections that seem to be accelerating the Sharks’ path toward contention.
Goalies Return to the First Round
A recurring debate in the hockey world centers on the value and risk of drafting a goaltender in the first round. The 2025 draft added a new chapter to this discussion as two netminders were selected in the opening 32 picks – the first time since 2021 this had occurred. Pyotr Andreyanov went to the Columbus Blue Jackets at No. 20, and Joshua Ravensbergen was taken by the San Jose Sharks at No. 30. This broke a three-year drought for first-round goalies, the longest stretch without one since the mid-1980s. While history shows inconsistency in first-round goalie success, their selection this year marks a shift, prompting questions about whether it signals a new trend or is merely an outlier.
James Hagens Finds a Home (Sort Of)
James Hagens’ draft journey was an emotional rollercoaster. Once projected as a potential top-five pick, his stock reportedly slipped slightly after his freshman season at Boston College, despite strong performance. Many wondered if he would slide. Two first-round events showed teams still highly value Hagens. His hometown Islanders, who acquired picks partly with him in mind, publicly expressed a desire to bring him home, fueling “We want Hagens!” chants from their draft party crowd. Ultimately, the Boston Bruins drafted Hagens at No. 7. Seeing the local college standout as key to their retooling efforts, the Bruins had Adam Sandler announce the pick via remote video, adding a unique touch. For Hagens, being drafted by a local team after the Islanders’ pursuit made it a truly memorable, perhaps surreal, path to the NHL.
WHL Dominance Continues
The Western Hockey League (WHL) once again showcased its strength as a talent incubator, matching its league record by having nine players selected in the first round, tying the mark set in 2014. Radim Mrtka (No. 9, Buffalo) and Roger McQueen (No. 10, Anaheim) led the charge. Mrtka’s selection continued the WHL’s streak of having at least one first-round pick for five straight years. Having multiple players in the top 10 for the fourth consecutive year further solidified the league’s status. The WHL has now had five or more players go in the first round in nine of the last eleven drafts, consistently producing future NHL talent like Seth Jarvis, Connor Bedard, and Dylan Guenther.
Other Noteworthy Winners
Utah Mammoth: The new Utah franchise had a strong first round after winning the draft lottery to move up to No. 4. They selected center Caleb Desnoyers, a complete two-way player who could form a potent 1-2 punch with Logan Cooley. Adding young winger J.J. Peterka earlier in the week contributed to a very positive stretch for the organization.
Philadelphia Flyers: The Flyers leaned into a physical identity, adding power forward Porter Martone (compared to players like Corey Perry or the Tkachuk brothers) and large center Jack Nesbitt (acquired via trade at No. 12). These selections signal the Flyers’ intent to become a harder team to play against.
St. Louis Blues: The Blues made waves on social media with a playful jab at the Edmonton Oilers while announcing goalie Joel Hofer’s extension, referencing their use of offer sheets the previous year. Beyond the online humor, they secured a promising prospect in Justin Carbonneau at No. 19, a confident, physical forward with potential to be a consistent goal scorer.
Arizona State Hockey: Forward Cullen Potter’s selection by the Calgary Flames at No. 32 marked a historic moment for Arizona State’s men’s hockey program, making him their first-ever first-round pick. This milestone also puts ASU in an elite group of universities (including UConn, Michigan State, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Wisconsin) that have produced first-round picks in the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, and WNBA drafts.
Who Lost the 2025 NHL Draft?
Not everything went smoothly at the 2025 draft. Some aspects left participants and fans feeling underwhelmed or pointing to missed opportunities.
The Decentralized Draft Format
Perhaps the biggest perceived “loser” was the new decentralized draft format itself. Adopted because 26 of 32 GMs reportedly favored it (citing cost savings and efficiency), the format saw team executives operate remotely from their home arenas while prospects and fans gathered in Los Angeles. The result felt “disjointed” to many observers. A 4½-hour first round was longer than typical, and the lack of face-to-face interaction among GMs reportedly hindered trade discussions. Prospects had to interact with GMs via video feeds, sometimes with technical glitches. The format generated significant criticism, leading many to believe it was a one-and-done experiment, a sentiment echoed by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman’s cautionary tone beforehand.
Fans Hoping for Trades
Partially a consequence of the decentralized format, the draft lacked the usual trade fireworks that spice up the proceedings. While the John Gibson-for-Noah Dobson swap between Detroit and Anaheim was a significant move, it occurred before the draft officially began. Fans eager to see teams make moves ahead of free agency were left wanting. Speculated deals involving high-profile players like Mitch Marner, Erik Karlsson, and Jason Robertson did not materialize during the draft weekend. The absence of significant trades unfolding in real-time disappointed fans who enjoy seeing teams actively reshape their rosters while the league’s future talent is being unveiled.
The NTDP’s First-Round Streak (Semantics Edition)
A point of debate arose regarding the United States National Team Development Program (NTDP) and its first-round streak. While four NTDP alumni (James Hagens, Logan Hensler, Will Horcoff, and Cullen Potter) were drafted in the first round, none were playing for the NTDP during their draft-eligible season. If the criteria is limited to players actively on the NTDP roster that season, then 2025 marked the first time since 2008 that the program didn’t have a player drafted in the first round. This distinction sparked discussion. However, despite the semantics regarding the streak, the NTDP still set a program record by having 23 total players drafted throughout the seven rounds, surpassing their previous high of 21 in 2016.
Dress Codes Take a Hit
In a lighter moment, the draft’s final rounds provided an example of hockey’s evolving fashion norms. With a new collective bargaining agreement reportedly removing mandated dress codes for players arriving/departing games, the sight of No. 223 pick Aidan Park accepting his Edmonton Oilers jersey while wearing shorts and a hoodie was notable. Park, who lives near the Los Angeles venue and attended to see friends, didn’t expect to be drafted. While others were in tailored suits, Park kept it casual, arguably winning the “fashion draft” with his laid-back approach that earned a loud cheer from the remaining crowd.
Finland’s Quiet Draft
For Finnish hockey fans, the 2025 draft was unusually quiet. Finland, a nation known for consistently producing NHL talent, did not have a single player selected in the first round – a rare occurrence. Furthermore, only eight Finnish players were drafted overall, the nation’s lowest total since 2014. While Finland has produced multiple first-rounders in many recent drafts (including two last year), 2025 continued an alternating trend observed since 2021, with zero first-rounders in 2021 and 2023. This draft proved to be an uncharacteristic outlier for one of hockey’s major powerhouses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the significance of the decentralized draft format in 2025?
The 2025 NHL Draft experimented with a new format where team executives participated remotely from their home cities instead of gathering on a central draft floor. While intended to save costs and potentially improve efficiency, this decentralized approach was widely criticized for feeling “disjointed,” contributing to a longer first round, and reportedly hindering trade activity due to the lack of face-to-face interaction between general managers. Many observers felt it was unsuccessful and may not be repeated.
Which teams are considered major “winners” from the 2025 NHL Draft?
Several teams had strong drafts, but the New York Islanders were particularly highlighted for their work, securing top pick Matthew Schaefer and strategically using trade assets to add two more first-round prospects in Victor Eklund and Kashawn Aitcheson. The San Jose Sharks also impressed by adding potential top-line forward Michael Misa and first-round goalie Joshua Ravensbergen to their developing young core. The Utah Mammoth were also seen as winners, landing highly-rated center Caleb Desnoyers at No. 4 after winning the draft lottery.
Were there any surprising trends or outcomes in the 2025 NHL Draft?
One surprising trend was the return of goaltenders to the first round, with two selected after three consecutive drafts without a first-round goalie. Another unexpected outcome was Finland’s unusually quiet draft, with no players selected in the first round and only eight total drafted, a significant drop from recent years. The perceived “ending” of the NTDP’s first-round streak (based on whether players were on the roster that season) also sparked debate, although the program set a record for total players drafted.
Looking Back on a Unique Draft
The 2025 NHL Entry Draft will be remembered for its blend of predictable outcomes and genuine surprises. From deeply emotional moments like Matthew Schaefer’s tribute to his mother and creative team initiatives like the Ducks’ Disneyland trip, the human element of the draft shone through. Teams like the Islanders and Sharks appeared to significantly bolster their future prospects, leveraging picks and strategy effectively. However, the experimental decentralized format faced considerable challenges, dampening the traditional trade buzz and leaving many yearning for a return to the conventional setup. While the long-term impact of these picks won’t be known for years, the 2025 draft certainly delivered plenty of storylines, defining its own unique place in NHL history.
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