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2025 NHL Draft

Sabres Mulling Options As Draft Approaches

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While Buffalo hosted the 2025 NHL Scouting Combine, the team remained focused on evaluating key prospects they believe could be available with the ninth overall pick, including defender Jackson Smith, per Rachel Lenzi of The Buffalo News.

Lenzi listed five prospects the Sabres will keep their eye on when the draft kicks off in a few weeks. Among them is Smith, a 6’3, 190-pound defender out of the WHL. The offensively gifted blueliner put up 11 goals and 54 points in 63 games for the Tri-City Americans, and excelled for Team Canada in the U18 World Championship, posting four goals and five points in seven games.

When asked what he could bring to the Sabres, Smith noted his size, skating, and two-way playing ability as his biggest strengths. “A big defenseman who skates really well, who has a lot of offensive upside, but can also play on the ’D’ side of the puck, can run a power play and can play PK (penalty kill) as well,” he said.

Lenzi, who notes that the Sabres will have their draft headquarters in Buffalo as this year’s draft will be decentralized, also lists defenders Kashawn Aitcheson and Radim Mrtka, as well as forwards Jack O’Brien and Anton Frondell, as options for the Sabres to consider. The biggest name on the list is arguably Frondell, who is listed as Elite Prospects’ fifth-ranked prospect ahead of the draft.

The 6’1″, 205-pound Swedish center put together a solid showing at the combine, finishing in the top five in several tests, including a first-place result in Aerobic Fitness: VO2max (ml/kg/min).

If Frondell does fall to the ninth pick, he said he would provide the Sabres with a high compete level. As he noted, “It doesn’t matter if it’s a game or practice. I always compete and I always think winning is really important.”

While Frondell and O’Brien did not disclose whether they met with the Sabres’ front office during the combine, Aitcheson, Mrtka, and Smith all confirmed they did. Smith noted that “four or five” front-office members were present, including general manager Kevyn Adams and senior advisor Jarmo Kekalainen.

 

 

2025 NHL Draft Combine Results

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The NHL held its annual Draft Combine over the past week, with players able to speak with their potential teams and participate in fitness testing. The physical part of the week was held on Saturday (with a select few tests occurring the day before), with 90 prospects trying their best to show off their strengths in the gym. Here are the top five prospects in each test, thanks to NHL Central Scouting:

* – denotes projected first-round pick according to Elite Prospects’ consolidated ranking

Aerobic Fitness: VO2max (ml/kg/min)

  1. *F Anton Frondell (Sweden2/Djurgårdens) – 64.7
  2. *F Cole Reschny (WHL/Victoria) – 64.7
  3. F Eric Nilson (Sweden-Jr/Djurgårdens) – 63.7
  4. F Vaclav Nestrasil (USHL/Muskegon) – 63.3
  5. F Matthew Gard (WHL/Red Deer) – 62.0

Agility & Balance: Pro Agility – Left time (sec)

  1. *F Milton Gästrin (Sweden-Jr/MoDo) – 4.12
  2. *F William Moore (USNTDP) – 4.19
  3. D Sean Barnhill (USHL/Dubuque) – 4.23
  4. F William Horcoff (NCAA/Michigan) – 4.23
  5. D Charlie Trethewey (USNTDP) – 4.24

Agility & Balance: Pro Agility – Right time (sec)

  1. F Carter Klippenstein (WHL/Brandon) – 4.20
  2. D Charlie Trethewey (USNTDP) – 4.21
  3. *F Cameron Schmidt (WHL/Vancouver) – 4.21
  4. D Sean Barnhill (USHL/Dubuque) – 4.23
  5. *F Milton Gästrin (Sweden-Jr/MoDo) – 4.24

Anaerobic Fitness: Fatigue Index

  1. F Eric Nilson (Sweden-Jr/Djurgårdens) – 34.1
  2. *D Cameron Reid (OHL/Kitchener) – 34.5
  3. F Matous Kucharcik (Czechia-Jr/Prague) – 37.4
  4. F Hayden Paupanekis (WHL/Kelowna) – 37.4
  5. D Sam Laurila (USHL/Fargo) – 38.9

Anaerobic Fitness: – Mean Power Output (watts/kg)

  1. D Sam Laurila (USHL/Fargo) – 12.2
  2. F Carter Klippenstein (WHL/Brandon) – 12.1
  3. F Tommy Lafrenière (WHL/Kamloops) – 12.1
  4. F Vojtěch Čihař (Czechia/Karlovy Vary) – 12.0
  5. D Carlos Händel (QMJHL/Halifax) – 12.0

Anaerobic Fitness: – Peak Power Output (watts/kg)

  1. D Charlie Trethewey (USNTDP) – 17.0
  2. F Arvid Drott (Sweden-Jr/Djurgårdens) – 16.8
  3. *F Anton Frondell (Sweden2/Djurgårdens) – 16.8
  4. *D Matthew Schaefer (OHL/Erie) – 16.6
  5. D Asher Barnett (USNTDP) – 16.4

Anthropometry: Wing Span (inches)

  1. D Haoxi Wang (OHL/Oshawa) – 82.25
  2. D Carter Amico (USNTDP) – 82.00
  3. D Mace’o Phillips (USNTDP) – 82.00
  4. D Jacob Rombach (USHL/Lincoln) – 81.00
  5. *F Jack Nesbitt (OHL/Windsor) – 80.00

Force Plate: No Arm Jump (inches)

  1. F William Horcoff (NCAA/Michigan) – 22.84
  2. F William Belle (USNTDP) – 21.92
  3. D Haoxi Wang (OHL/Oshawa) – 21.25
  4. D Mace’o Phillips (USNTDP) – 21.25
  5. F Kieren Dervin (OHL/Kingston) – 21.03

Force Plate: Vertical Jump (inches)

  1. F Ryker Lee (USHL/Madison) – 25.67
  2. F Kieren Dervin (OHL/Kingston) – 25.10
  3. *F Malcolm Spence (OHL/Erie) – 24.51
  4. F William Belle (USNTDP) – 24.45
  5. *F Bill Zonnon (QMJHL/Rouyn-Noranda) – 24.36

Musculoskeletal: Bench Press 50% of Body Weight – Power (watts/kg)

  1. *F Cameron Schmidt (WHL/Vancouver) – 7.82
  2. F Adam Benák (USHL/Youngstown) – 7.75
  3. D Mace’o Phillips (USNTDP) – 7.64
  4. F Cole McKinney (USNTDP) – 7.62
  5. F Shane Vansaghi (NCAA/Michigan St) – 7.59

Musculoskeletal: Horizontal Jump (inches)

  1. F William Horcoff (NCAA/Michigan) – 124.8
  2. F William Belle (USNTDP) – 118.3
  3. D Sean Barnhill (USHL/Dubuque) – 118.0
  4. *F Lynden Lakovic (WHL/Moose Jaw) – 117.0
  5. *F William Moore (USNTDP) – 116.0

Musculoskeletal: Left Hand Grip (lb)

  1. F Shane Vansaghi (NCAA/Michigan St) – 180
  2. D Haoxi Wang (OHL/Oshawa) – 170
  3. F Hayden Paupanekis (WHL/Kelowna) – 167
  4. D Mace’o Phillips (USNTDP) – 161
  5. F William Belle (USNTDP) – 158

Musculoskeletal: Pull-Ups Consecutive (max #)

  1. *F Bill Zonnon (QMJHL/Rouyn-Noranda) – 16
  2. F Shane Vansaghi (NCAA/Michigan St) – 15
  3. *F Braeden Cootes (WHL/Seattle) – 15
  4. F Eric Nilson (Sweden-Jr/Djurgårdens) – 15
  5. *D Sascha Boumedienne (NCAA/Boston U) – 14

Musculoskeletal: Right Hand Grip (lb)

  1. F Shane Vansaghi (NCAA/Michigan St) – 180
  2. F Hayden Paupanekis (WHL/Kelowna) – 165
  3. D Peyton Kettles (WHL/Swift Current) – 165
  4. *F Jack Nesbitt (OHL/Windsor) – 165
  5. *D Blake Fiddler (WHL/Edmonton) – 162

Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson Previews Draft

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In a wide-ranging interview with The Athletic’s Scott Powers, Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson discussed the team’s offseason plans, draft strategy, and excitement surrounding the franchise’s younger players.

With the third pick in the upcoming NHL Draft, Davidson didn’t name any specific players the team is targeting, unwilling to tip his hand. He did, however, discuss the team’s decision not to participate in the tradition of taking draft prospects to dinner, noting that those types of events do not provide the team with much information.

“We didn’t do any dinners this year. It was much more doing it in the room. I think it’s probably born out of, we don’t learn anything. We haven’t learned much new in those interviews in the past. … It’s funny because there’s no place to hide here either, right? There’s only so many (restaurant) options, and everyone’s bopping around to the same spot. I don’t know if I’ve ever really drawn any connection between dinners to list/ranking or anything like that,” he said.

Davidson added that the team is prepared to take the best player available with the third pick. While Davidson avoided names, Powers believes the Blackhawks are likely considering Anton Frondell or Caleb Desnoyers, unless Michael Misa slips to three.

While Davidson was cautious to provide details on the draft, he did open up more about what the team may look to do in free agency. With a potential generational talent like Connor Bedard, Davidson understands that the fanbase expects significant additions to support the team’s young core. With that said, Davidson believes that big moves cannot be made without strategy.

“Look, we’re always open to exploring these things, but it’s got to be right. It’s got to make sense. We can’t do something that’s going to be counter to the path that we’ve set out on. If there is a big move that presents itself, that makes sense, then I’m all for exploring that and pursuing something that does make sense. But to say we’re going to do something just to say we did something, and then it doesn’t make sense with where we’re at or where we’re going, then I don’t think we can do that. That would be irresponsible,” he said.

Davidson acknowledged that the team would be willing to trade draft capital to acquire the right NHL player. However, he cautioned that quality NHL players may be harder to come by. With the salary cap rising, Davidson noted that teams have a better chance of retaining their own players. He said, “Normally, the No. 1 motivator of movement is salary-cap constraint, and a lot of teams have been relieved of that this year.”

Top Prospect Michael Misa Interviewing With Multiple Teams

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Top NHL draft prospect Michael Misa, considered one of the best forwards available, has met with or is scheduled to meet with four teams ahead of the draft, per Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now. The four teams are the San Jose Sharks, New York Islanders, Utah Mammoth, and Nashville Predators, all of whom hold four of the top five picks in the draft, highlighting the strong interest in Misa at the top of the board.

Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 184 pounds, Misa, 18, is coming off a phenomenal season in the OHL, where he led the league with 134 points in 65 games for the Saginaw Spirit. He nearly doubled his output from a season ago, when he put up 75 points in 67 games for Saginaw. Misa, who is currently participating in the NHL Combine in Buffalo, appeared on NHL.com’s “NHL Draft Class” podcast today and said he feels he is ready to make the leap to the NHL.

“Ultimately, I think that’s up to the NHL team that drafts me. I think we’re going to figure out a plan for what best suits me. But I believe when I’m at my best, I put all the work in this summer, hopefully I will be ready to go next year in the NHL,” he said.

With that said, Misa also discussed the possibility of playing in the NCAA next season alongside his brother, Calgary Flames forward prospect Luke Misa, who recently committed to Penn State. He called getting a chance to play with his brother “a dream.” Whether Misa begins next season in the NHL, returns to major junior, or heads to the NCAA, there’s little doubt he’ll be a top-five pick in the upcoming draft. When asked on a podcast what he’d say to the Islanders to convince them to take him first overall, Misa highlighted his all-around game as one of his biggest strengths.

“I think there are a lot of things. I’m someone who hates losing. I’m a hard worker and I think my work ethic can be seen when I play. And I think I’m someone who is coachable. I like to work with the coaching staff and the team. And when I’m at my best, I think I can be a force to be reckoned with,” he said.

Prospect Jackson Smith Set To Commit To Penn State

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Defensive prospect Jackson Smith, one of the top prospects heading into the NHL draft, is set to commit to Penn State, per Scott Wheeler of The Athletic. While Wheeler notes that the signing isn’t “done done,” he added that Jackson is set to visit the Nittany Lions following the draft combine, which starts this week.

Wheeler also confirmed that Smith, 18, had visited other schools before choosing the WHL route this past season, and noted that this year’s recruitment process has taken place through virtual meetings. While Smith feels Penn State could be a good fit, he may return to the WHL next season before joining Penn State in 2026-27, Wheeler adds.

With the WHL’s Tri-City Americans, Smith posted 11 goals and 54 points in games this season, showcasing his offensive upside. He added five points in seven games at the IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship this spring, helping Canada to a gold medal. While Matthew Schaefer may be the consensus number one defender available in the draft, Smith may slot right behind him, with the University of Wisconsin’s Logan Hensler and fellow WHLer Radim Mrtka also in the mix. What may set Smith apart from his peers is his ability to make an impact at both ends of the ice, according to Max Bultman of The Athletic.

As Bultman notes, Smith has the size (six-foot-three, 190 pounds), skating ability, and two-way potential to make him a top-10 pick later this month. Smith’s former coach, ex-NHLer Stu Barnes, compares his style of play to that of Dallas Stars standout Thomas Harley. Said Barnes, “You try to, with these young guys, give them maybe somebody that they can look to at the next level and see what could be, and I think Thomas Harley’s a great comparison.” Barnes himself was a former lottery pick, going fourth overall in the 1989 draft to the Winnipeg Jets.

Goalie Jack Ivankovic Commits to University of Michigan

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One of the top goaltending prospects heading into the NHL draft has found a home in the NCAA, as Jack Ivankovic has committed to the University of Michigan, per Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff. The 18-year-old Ontario native spent last season in the OHL with the Brampton Steelheads, where he compiled a 25-12-5 record to go with a .903 save percentage and two shutouts. He shined at the IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship this spring, where he went 6-0 with a .961 save percentage, leading Canada to a gold medal. Ivankovic also helped Canada hoist the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

If Ivankovic heads to Michigan, he’ll get the best of both worlds, joining a strong program while also having a chance to compete as a freshman. Despite his listed size at 5-foot-11, Ivankovic has positioned himself as a first-round option ahead of the draft. The Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis sees Ivankovic as potentially the next Dustin Wolf, a fellow undersized goaltender who has flourished despite his perceived physical disadvantages.

As Ellis notes, despite Wolf going 41-15-4 with seven shutouts and a .936 save percentage for the WHL’s Everett Silvertips ahead of the 2019 draft, he slid all the way to the Calgary Flames’ 214th overall pick, largely due to his six-foot, 166-pound frame. Since being drafted, Wolf has done nothing but excel all the way up to the NHL, where he currently finds himself as a Calder Cup Finalist after going 29-16-8 on the season with a .910 save percentage and three shutouts. His 29 wins were 14 more than any other rookie netminder on the season.

So, can Ivankovic make a rise similar to the one Wolf has achieved? That’s the debate NHL front offices face, but a team thin on goaltending prospects might be eager to take a chance on Ivankovic late in the first round.

Snapshots: Blashill, Braun, Misa, Niederreiter

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Lightning assistant Jeff Blashill isn’t just the only name firmly linked to the Blackhawks’ vacancy this summer; he’s becoming the clear favorite for the role, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet on today’s 32 Thoughts podcast. Talk around the league sprouted up aggressively this week after Blashill canceled an interview he had with another club about their opening.

“I heard on Friday morning that he was in as the head coach of Chicago,” Friedman said. “I started asking around and had a couple [of] people tell me it’s too soon… that would be premature.”

It’s premature because the Blackhawks also have a strong interest in someone on the staff of a recently eliminated team, Friedman said. “It’s possible that one of the reasons there has been a bit of a delay is somebody who is central to the process with the Blackhawks was not available at the end of last week, so it had to be pushed into this week. He is a very serious contender there. I just can’t tell you it’s 100% his job” (via CHGO Blackhawks).

The fact that Blashill’s the only name leaked from what’s otherwise been an airtight coaching search for Chicago likely speaks volumes about how highly the club values him compared to other candidates they’ve interviewed. Chicago surely hopes that after a few years of working under Jon Cooper in Tampa, he’s able to get the Blackhawks to greater heights exiting their rebuild than the success he had as head coach of the Red Wings at the beginning of theirs.

There’s more from around the hockey world:

  • Two years removed from his last NHL game, defenseman Justin Braun is still playing overseas in Germany and will extend his career for another season. The 38-year-old has signed a one-year deal with Dresdner Eislowen ahead of their first season in the top-flight DEL in franchise history after gaining promotion from the DEL2, the team announced. The longtime Sharks (and briefly Flyers and Rangers) rearguard had spent the last two years with the Straubing Tigers, where he posted a 10-33–44 scoring line and a +22 rating in 103 games.
  • After an underwhelming pre-draft season, OHL exceptional status grantee Michael Misa reclaimed his spot as the 2025 draft class’ top scorer with a 62-goal, 134-point showing in just 65 games for the Saginaw Spirit. It remains to be seen whether he’ll go No. 1 overall ahead of speedy two-way defenseman Matthew Schaefer, but Misa’s happy with his trajectory this season as a more explosive yet still well-rounded center. “I think my defensive ability, just to be that second guy in battles—it was something my coach harped a lot on me this year,” Misa told RG’s Marco D’Amico. “Just trying to become that 200-foot player. I think my offensive ability was there. But being able to be reliable defensively and break pucks out is something I think I improved on.“
  • Team Switzerland is getting a boost at the World Championship after losing Devils captain Nico Hischier to injury. Jets winger Nino Niederreiter is heading to the tournament to represent his country as they aim to secure the top spot in Group B, the team announced.

Full 2025 NHL Draft Order

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Now that the NHL’s draft lottery results are in, most of the 2025 draft order has been set. There’s still some wiggle room near the bottom. Still, with the Oilers securing a bottom-four pick in each round by advancing to the Western Conference Final last night and all other second-round series in elimination game territory, it’s time to look at how the picks will shake out as things stand.

Many of these picks could still change hands leading up to and at the draft on June 27 and 28 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. It will be the first (and likely only) decentralized draft in recent memory. This list will be updated as picks are confirmed or traded.

Here’s the whole 2025 NHL draft order:

Last updated 5/16/25, 8:08 a.m.

First Round:

  1. New York Islanders
  2. San Jose Sharks
  3. Chicago Blackhawks
  4. Utah Mammoth
  5. Nashville Predators
  6. Philadelphia Flyers
  7. Boston Bruins
  8. Seattle Kraken
  9. Buffalo Sabres
  10. Anaheim Ducks
  11. Pittsburgh Penguins
  12. New York Rangers
  13. Detroit Red Wings
  14. Columbus Blue Jackets
  15. Vancouver Canucks
  16. Montreal Canadiens (from Flames)
  17. Montreal Canadiens
  18. Calgary Flames (from Devils)
  19. St. Louis Blues
  20. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Wild)
  21. Ottawa Senators
  22. Philadelphia Flyers (from Avalanche)
  23. Nashville Predators (from Lightning)
  24. Los Angeles Kings
  25. Chicago Blackhawks (from Maple Leafs)
  26. Nashville Predators (from Golden Knights)
  27. Washington Capitals
  28. Winnipeg Jets
  29. Lower-seeded Conference Finals loser
  30. Higher-seeded Conference Finals winner
  31. Stanley Cup runner-up
  32. Stanley Cup winner

Notes for picks 29-32: the Flyers own the Oilers’ pick, the Flames own the Panthers’ pick, and the Sharks own the Stars’ pick.

Second Round:

  1. San Jose Sharks
  2. Chicago Blackhawks
  3. Nashville Predators
  4. Philadelphia Flyers
  5. Washington Capitals (from Bruins)
  6. Seattle Kraken
  7. Buffalo Sabres
  8. Philadelphia Flyers (from Ducks)
  9. Montreal Canadiens (from Penguins)
  10. New York Islanders
  11. New York Rangers
  12. Detroit Red Wings
  13. Philadelphia Flyers (from Blue Jackets)
  14. Utah Mammoth
  15. Vancouver Canucks
  16. Philadelphia Flyers (from Flames)
  17. Montreal Canadiens
  18. New Jersey Devils
  19. Boston Bruins (from Blues)
  20. Minnesota Wild
  21. San Jose Sharks (from Senators)
  22. Calgary Flames (from Avalanche)
  23. Nashville Predators (from Lightning)
  24. Tampa Bay Lightning (from Kings)
  25. Seattle Kraken (from Maple Leafs)
  26. Vegas Golden Knights
  27. Pittsburgh Penguins (from Capitals)
  28. Anaheim Ducks (from Jets)
  29. Lower-seeded Conference Finals loser
  30. Higher-seeded Conference Finals winner
  31. Stanley Cup runner-up
  32. Stanley Cup winner

Notes for picks 61-64: the Bruins own the Hurricanes’ pick, the Maple Leafs own the Panthers’ pick, the Devils own the Oilers’ pick, and the Blackhawks own the Stars’ pick.

Third Round:

  1. Vancouver Canucks (from Sharks)
  2. Chicago Blackhawks
  3. Nashville Predators
  4. Philadelphia Flyers
  5. Boston Bruins
  6. New York Rangers (from Kraken)
  7. Buffalo Sabres
  8. Anaheim Ducks
  9. Pittsburgh Penguins
  10. New York Islanders
  11. Detroit Red Wings (from Rangers)
  12. Detroit Red Wings
  13. Columbus Blue Jackets
  14. Utah Mammoth
  15. Montreal Canadiens (from Canucks)
  16. Calgary Flames
  17. Montreal Canadiens
  18. Montreal Canadiens (from Devils)
  19. Edmonton Oilers (from Blues)
  20. Pittsburgh Penguins (from Wild)
  21. Pittsburgh Penguins (from Senators)
  22. Toronto Maple Leafs (from Avalanche)
  23. Carolina Hurricanes (from Lightning)
  24. Los Angeles Kings
  25. Anaheim Ducks (from Maple Leafs)
  26. New Jersey Devils (from Golden Knights)
  27. Vegas Golden Knights (from Capitals)
  28. Winnipeg Jets
  29. Lower-seeded Conference Finals loser
  30. Higher-seeded Conference Finals winner
  31. Stanley Cup runner-up
  32. Stanley Cup winner

Notes for picks 93-96: the Capitals own the Hurricanes’ pick, the Sharks own the Oilers’ pick, and the Senators own the Panthers’ pick.

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New York Islanders, Utah Hockey Club Win 2025 NHL Draft Lottery

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The New York Islanders have won the 2025 NHL draft lottery, jumping up from No. 10 in the pre-lottery order to No. 1. The Utah Hockey Club won the second draw but only moved to pick No. 4, as teams were only able to improve 10 spots from their pre-lottery odds. That means the San Jose Sharks, who entered the night with the top odds, will pick second overall.

The Islanders had a 3.5 percent chance of claiming this year’s top pick. After the lottery and the end of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the 2025 draft is locked in as follows:

  1. New York Islanders
  2. San Jose Sharks
  3. Chicago Blackhawks
  4. Utah Hockey Club
  5. Nashville Predators
  6. Philadelphia Flyers
  7. Boston Bruins
  8. Seattle Kraken
  9. Buffalo Sabres
  10. Anaheim Ducks
  11. Pittsburgh Penguins
  12. New York Rangers (must send either 2025 or 2026 first to Penguins, yet to decide)
  13. Detroit Red Wings
  14. Columbus Blue Jackets
  15. Vancouver Canucks
  16. Montreal Canadiens (from Flames)
  17. Montreal Canadiens
  18. Calgary Flames (from Devils)
  19. St. Louis Blues
  20. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Wild)
  21. Ottawa Senators

For the first time since 2009, the Islanders will call the first name of the NHL Draft. It’s an incredible consolation prize for the squad after missing the postseason for just the second time in the last seven years. In picking first, New York could have a chance to repeat fate and draft an exceptional status OHL center on the heels of a red-hot season. That, of course, refers to Saginaw Spirit center Michael Misa, who led the OHL with a dazzling 62 goals and 134 points in 65 games this season.

Misa’s scoring is the most from an OHL draft-eligible player since Patrick Kane scored 145 points in 58 games before going first overall in the 2007 Draft. Misa’s 2.06 points-per-game are the sixth-most from an OHL draft-eligible since 2000, sandwiched between Jason Spezza (2.07) and Mitch Marner (2.00).

But for all of his scoring acclaim, Misa isn’t often considered the top player in this class. That title has instead been bestowed upon defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who hasn’t played since December after sustaining a collarbone injury at the World Junior Championship. Schaefer quickly underwent surgery and lost his draft season, but his performance before injury was strong enough to establish his case.

Schaefer recorded 22 points in 17 OHL games, two points in two World Juniors games, and six points in five games as Team Canada’s captain at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup before the start of the season. All the while, he looked cool, calm, and collected, making very smooth and deliberate plays in his own end and showing great jump on offense. The NHL’s top defensemen are playing an increasingly rangy, 200-foot style of offense that Schaefer mirrors well, with strong passing and a killer instinct for scoring goals.

Behind the pair of OHL stars is America’s top representation in the class – Boston College centerman James Hagens. Hagens stepped into the center role between Gabriel Perreault and Ryan Leonard this season, filling the gap after Will Smith, who centered the duo for three straight years, opted to sign his entry-level contract. And despite some early stumbles, Hagens managed to fill the role seamlessly, netting 37 points in as many games and helping to grow the total goals from BC’s top line by four percent compared to last season.

He’s a diligent playmaker with a keen hockey sense, and one who can’t be second-guessed in this draft. Hagens proved as much at the 2024 World U18 Championship, where his 22 points in just seven games broke the tournament record, previously held by Nikita Kucherov. Hagens also grew up in Hauppauge, New York, and idolized the Islanders growing up. If that wasn’t incentive enough, Hagens was also the set-up man to Cole Eiserman during his years at the U.S. National Team Development Program. The Islanders drafted Eiserman with the 20th-overall pick last year.

2025 NHL Draft Lottery Odds

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Apr. 29th: The ping pong balls will fall in less than a week. The NHL announced that the draft lottery will be held on Monday, May 5th.

Apr. 22nd: With the regular season in the rearview, the NHL’s draft lottery odds are set. As it has been since 2021, only two draws will be held.

Since 2022, teams who win the lottery can only move up a maximum of 10 spots, and teams can only move up in the draft order twice in five years. Every team is eligible to move up this year. The only two lottery-eligible teams who have moved up in the lottery since 2020 are the Kraken (No. 3 to No. 2 in 2021 to select Matty Beniers) and the Blackhawks (No. 3 to No. 1 in 2023 to choose Connor Bedard).

Odds for the league’s worst teams to retain their positions atop the draft increased as a result of the lottery draw for the third overall pick being eliminated four years ago, so there hasn’t been a ton of movement in the last few years. The last team outside the bottom three to win a lottery draw was the Devils, who moved up from No. 5 to No. 2 overall in 2022 to select Simon Nemec.

Perhaps there will be more meaningful changes to the order in this year’s lottery. The league has not yet set a date for the draw, but it typically takes place in the first half of May.

Via Tankathon.com, the draft lottery odds for 2024 are listed in the chart below. The numbers in the chart indicate percentages, so the Sharks’ pick, for instance, has a 25.5% chance of becoming the No. 1 selection and a 55.7% chance of ending up at No. 3. If a team’s odds are listed as >0, that percentage is below 0.1%. Odds are rounded to the nearest decimal place.

Here’s the full chart (if you’re on our mobile site or app and can’t see the whole thing, try turning your phone sideways):

 

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
SJS 25.5 18.8 57.7 – – – – – – – – – – – – –
CHI 13.5 14.1 30.7 41.7 – – – – – – – – – – – –
NSH 11.5 11.2 7.8 39.7 29.8 – – – – – – – – – – –
PHI 9.5 9.5 0.3 15.4 44.6 20.8 – – – – – – – – – –
BOS 8.5 8.6 0.3 – 24.5 44.0 14.2 – – – – – – – – –
SEA 7.5 7.7 0.2 – – 34.1 41.4 9.1 – – – – – – – –
BUF 6.5 6.7 0.2 – – – 44.4 36.5 5.6 – – – – – – –
ANA 6.0 6.2 0.2 – – – – 54.4 30.0 3.2 – – – – – –
PIT 5.0 5.2 0.2 – – – – – 64.4 23.5 1.7 – – – – –
NYI 3.5 3.7 0.1 – – – – – – 73.3 18.4 0.9 – – – –
NYR* 3.0 3.2 0.1 – – – – – – – 79.9 13.4 0.5 – – –
DET – 5.1 0.1 0.1 – – – – – – – 85.7 8.9 0.2 – –
CBJ – – 4.2 >0 >0 – – – – – – – 90.7 5.1 >0 –
UTA – – – 3.2 >0 >0 – – – – – – – 94.7 2.1 >0
VAN – – – – 1.1 – >0 – – – – – – – 97.9 1.1
CGY* – – – – – 1.1 – – – – – – – – – 98.9

Notes:

  • The Rangers’ pick is top 13 protected. It is guaranteed to land inside the top 13. They can decide between surrendering this year’s pick to the Penguins or deferring to an unprotected 2026 first-round selection. New York initially sent their pick to the Canucks in the J.T. Miller trade, but Vancouver immediately flipped the pick to Pittsburgh for Marcus Pettersson.
  • If the Flames retain No. 16 overall, the pick will be sent to the Canadiens. If Calgary wins a lottery draw to move them to No. 6 overall, they keep the pick and send the Panthers’ 2025 first-round pick, which they own, to Montreal.

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