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2025 NHL Draft

Pittsburgh Penguins Acquire 24th Overall Pick, Select Will Horcoff

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According to a team announcement, the Los Angeles Kings have traded the 24th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft to the Pittsburgh Penguins for the 31st and 59th overall selections. Using the pick, the Penguins selected Will Horcoff from the University of Michigan.

Horcoff, the son of longtime Edmonton Oiler Shawn Horcoff, had a split season during the 2024-25 campaign. He began the year with the United States National Team Development Program in Plymouth, MI, scoring eight goals and 14 points in 28 games with a +5 rating.

After making the short trip to Ann Arbor, MI, for the second half of the season, Horcoff finished his first year with the Wolverines with four goals and 10 points in 18 contests. He also performed well on the international stage, scoring two goals and four points in seven games for Team USA at the U18 World Junior Championship.

Unfortunately, few believed that Horcoff had the necessary offensive talent to warrant a first-round selection, with several mocks projecting him to fall to the second round. Still, at 6’4″, he’ll immediately add size and physicality to the Penguins system, and is arguably one of, if not the best, defensive forward available at this year’s draft. At any rate, it’ll be a few years before Pittsburgh sees the value in this pick, as Horcoff is expected to return to Michigan in the fall.

Nashville Predators Acquire 21st Overall Pick, Select Cameron Reid

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According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Ottawa Senators have traded the 21st overall selection of the 2025 NHL Draft to the Nashville Predators for the 23rd and 67th overall picks. The Predators have selected Cameron Reid from the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers as the franchise’s newest player at the time of writing.

Reid joins the Predators’ system as a very high-floor defensive prospect, being projected right around the time of selection if not a few spots higher. He recently completed his second season with the Rangers, scoring 14 goals and 54 points in 67 games with a +39 rating.

Unfortunately, Reid looked a bit weaker in the postseason, tallying five assists in 14 postseason contests with a -5 rating. It was an identical output to last year’s postseason in four additional games.

Although he’s mostly associated with the two-way archetype, Reid’s offensive capabilities are the best part of his game. He is an exceptional skater with advanced hockey IQ for his age, and his draft stock rose this season due to his effortless joining of the rush.

In all seriousness, shot selection may be his only true weakness, which is true of most younger defensemen, anyway. If he continues his developmental trajectory, Reid should have no issue being a top-four blueliner on Nashville’s roster and finding a role on both special teams units.

Flyers Acquire 12th Overall Pick, Select Jack Nesbitt

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As first reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Pittsburgh Penguins have traded the 12th overall pick to the Philadelphia Flyers for the 22nd and 31st overall selections. With their newfound pick, the Flyers selected forward Jack Nesbitt from the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires.

In what is considered a surprise selection by most analysts’ projections, the Flyers selected a player projected toward the bottom third of the first round, if not the second round. The most logical explanation is that Philadelphia believed other teams were interested in Nesbitt and were uncomfortable waiting until the 22nd pick to select him.

Still, he’s a prototypical Flyers player and has serious puck skills. Standing at 6’4″, 183 lbs, Nesbitt was selected as a center, but given his skating ability, is likely destined for a spot on the left wing. He recently concluded his second full year in Windsor, scoring 25 goals and 64 points in 65 games with a +12 rating, and winning the OHL’s Most Improved Player Award as voted on by the coaches.

Unfortunately, despite the raw scoring potential, there are serious concerns with Nesbitt’s skating ability. His scoring pace and effort level declined significantly toward the end of the 2024-25 campaign, tallying only one goal in 12 postseason contests with a -5 rating.

Bruins Select James Hagens Seventh Overall

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James Hagens is staying in Boston, as the Bruins have selected him with the seventh overall pick. Hagens, 18, put up 11 goals, 26 assists, and 37 points in 37 games last season at Boston College. General manager Don Sweeney and his front office benefit from Hagens sliding slightly down the draft board and keeping him in town. Although Sweeney left open the possibility of trading the No. 7 pick, the team ultimately couldn’t pass on Hagens as they rebuild toward contention.

While many believed at this time last year that Hagens was destined to be the first overall pick in this year’s draft, he slipped to seventh after producing less than expected in the NCAA. Still, Hagens game may be more NHL-ready than any of his peers in this draft class. The Long Island native plays bigger than his 5‑foot‑10, 185‑pound frame and has elite speed and scoring abilities.

In their 2025 NHL Draft Guide, Elite Prospects stated of Hagens:

“Hagens has seemingly been part of the hockey world’s zeitgeist from a young age. A fluid skater who is light on his edges, he leverages full-range wingspan handling, high activity rate crossovers, and a motor to create constant advantages. He layers pucks through tricky seams, hooks and slips feeds around pressure, and improvises on the fly with lightning-quick processing, punching away from threats and funneling play to the inside.” 

For his part, Hagens mentioned he’s glad to stay close to home and won’t have to change area codes.

“I’m so excited to be back in Boston. The Bruins are getting someone who puts his soul and body on the line. I love to win and I’m just so excited to be in Boston,” he said.

Blackhawks Select Anton Frondell Third Overall

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The Chicago Blackhawks have added another high-end forward to their deep cupboard of prospects. With the third overall pick of the 2025 NHL Draft, the Blackhawks selected Anton Frondell from the SHL’s Djurgårdens IF.

There’s a reason Frondell was listed as the top available European skater in this summer’s draft. The 6’1″, 205lbs Swede scored 11 goals and 25 points in 22 games for Djurgårdens IF HockeyAllsvenskan team, with another three goals and seven points in 16 postseason contests.

He shone on the international stage, too. The Trångsund, Sweden native scored one goal and three points in five tournament gams for Sweden’s U18 team at the U18 World Junior Championship this past season. Overall, Frondell was far and away Sweden’s top talent, scoring eight goals and 18 points in 19 international contests.

It’ll be interesting to see if Chicago decides to let Frondell make the jump to North America right away or continue his development overseas in the SHL with Djurgårdens IF, who have recently been promoted. At any rate, the Blackhawks organization and their fans will likely see Frondell participating in the 2025-26 U20 World Junior Championships.

As a natural center, Chicago may have cemented a powerful one-two punch down the middle with Frondell’s selection. Connor Bedard has already carved out his role as the team’s top center moving forward, which would allow Frondell to thrive on the second line or play on Bedard’s wing.

Sharks Select Michael Misa With Second Overall Pick

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The San Jose Sharks have added to their young, talented forward group—already headlined by Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith—by selecting Michael Misa with the second overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

By selecting Misa, the Sharks have arguably added the most offensively gifted player in the draft. Playing for the OHL Saginaw Spirit last season, the speedy Misa put up 62 goals, 72 assists, and 134 points in 65 games. He added two goals and an assist in four playoff games. Listed as a center and left wing, Misa is projected to be an impact first-line center at the NHL level. More than just a flashy offensive performer, Misa also draws positive reviews for his defensive capabilities.

In their 2025 NHL Draft Guide, Elite Prospects stated of Misa:

“Capable of speeding past opponents and drawing complex rush patterns in the neutral zone, Misa finds and creates gaps in neutral zone coverages. He drives east-west, under and over teammates’ routes, slows down and accelerates, and slips pucks under sticks, always keeping defenders on their heels. Away from the puck, he’s constantly relocating from pocket to pocket, reloading to the top of the zone, sprinting behind defenders, and playing between them.”

The Sharks selection of Misa ended weeks of suspense as to who would go second overall. While it was widely expected that defender Matthew Schaefer would go first to the New York Islanders, the Sharks were perceived to have multiple options to go with. In the end, they landed Misa, who adds to one of the best young forward groups in the league.

With that young core set to lead the team moving forward, the Sharks and GM Mike Grier can now turn their attention to free agency, where the team has a league-high $40MM in cap flexibility, per PuckPedia. While the club isn’t expected to be a major player for headline free agents on July 1, they could do well by signing veteran depth to support their young core.

Islanders Select Matthew Schaefer First Overall

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As expected, the New York Islanders have selected defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick of the 2025 NHL Draft. Schaefer is the first defenseman chosen first overall since Owen Power in 2021, and only the sixth defenseman to achieve this since the 1992 NHL Draft, when the Ottawa Senators selected Chris Phillips.

Despite playing on the opposite side of the blue line, Schaefer’s presence at the top of the draft order made trading Noah Dobson all the more palatable for the Islanders. They’ll now have a younger defenseman with a higher ceiling, while acquiring additional assets in return.

Still, Schaefer is not your typical first overall selection, and there’s no questioning that the Islanders are making a gamble. Due to a broken collarbone suffered during the 2024-25 World Junior Championships, Schaefer finished the season with seven goals and 22 points in 17 games with the OHL’s Erie Otters.

Having that level of injury concern is never ideal entering your draft year, but a collarbone fracture shouldn’t carry any long-term issues. His talent speaks for itself, and that’s the exact reason he was chosen as this summer’s top selection.

Due to his lack of playing time throughout the 2024-25 season, Schaefer becomes an exercise in scouting raw talent for the NHL level. Without any shadow of a doubt, he has the capabilities to become a top-pairing defenseman long term.

In their 2025 NHL Draft Guide, Elite Prospects broke down Schaefer’s talent perfectly, saying:

“Schaefer controls games from the back end, making the play flow through him. An elite puck-rusher, he takes off from behind his net, using it as a shield against the forecheck, and traverses the defensive zone with a few long strides. He spots teammates in every direction, making both one-touch plays and elaborate, deceptive feeds. Attacking down, he grabs the spotlight and draws opponents to him, before turning and relaying the puck across.“

Senators Notes: First-Round Pick, Forsberg, Merilainen, Søgaard

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After qualifying for the postseason for the first time since the 2016-17 season, speculation began that the Ottawa Senators could look to make a notable addition this summer to continue their winning ways. It doesn’t appear that an addition of that magnitude will be made at the draft, as General Manager Steve Staios shared on TSN 1200 that the Senators are more inclined to move down in the first round, rather than move up.

The Senators should have quality options available to them with the 21st overall pick of the 2025 NHL Draft. Still, it makes little sense to move up in this summer’s draft, which has been perceived as weaker than normal, unless they’re willing to make an offer for a top-four selection. According to PHR’s 2025 NHL Mock Draft by Gabriel Foley, the Senators are projected to select center Cole McKinney from the U.S. National Team Development Program, should they retain their pick.

As a counterpoint, the same reason it makes little sense for Ottawa to move up in the draft could be the same reason another team isn’t interested in helping them move down for additional assets. Teams may not see much discrepancy in talent from picks 20 to 32nd, giving them little reason to include additional draft picks to move up a few spots in the draft order.

Other notes from the Senators:

  • Stemming from the same interview with TSN, Bruce Garrioch reports that the Senators are interested in re-signing Anton Forsberg, but it’s not a priority. The expectation is that Forsberg will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st and make a decision then. Forsberg is coming off a quality season as Ottawa’s backup netminder, managing an 11-12-3 season in 30 games with a .901 SV% and 2.72 GAA. AFP Analytics projects a two-year, $3.4MM contract for Forsberg, which should be feasible for a team with $10.7MM in cap space.
  • If the Senators and Forsberg can’t agree on a contract moving forward, Staios suggests he’s comfortable with Ottawa’s in-house options. Garrioch shares that the Senators would use Leevi Merilainen or Mads Søgaard as the backup next season, with a competition taking place during training camp and preseason. Both netminders played sparingly for Ottawa in the 2024-25 season, with the former maintaining a .925 SV% through 12 games. Still, Søgaard is the only one signed through next season, with Merilainen entering the summer months as a restricted free agent.

Metropolitan Notes: Severson, Penguins, Snowden

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Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson has popped up in recent trade discussions, relays Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli.  The 30-year-old still has six years left on his contract with a $6.25MM cap charge.  He logged over 19 minutes a game this season and posted 25 points in 70 appearances but notably, he was a healthy scratch down the stretch as Columbus made their late push for the playoffs.  Given that limited usage late, it’s not too surprising that the Blue Jackets appear to be exploring if there are any trade options with Severson even though they’re set to potentially lose two key blueliners in pending UFAs Ivan Provorov and Dante Fabbro.  Notably, Severson has a full no-trade clause so even if a trade gets agreed on, the veteran will have the final say on if it happens.

More from the Metropolitan:

  • While the order for the draft has now been set, there is still one pick whose status is in flux. That would be the 12th overall selection, presently held by the Rangers, who have until Wednesday to decide if they’re conveying it to the Penguins or keeping it, allowing Pittsburgh to get New York’s 2026 unprotected pick.  Josh Yohe of The Athletic notes (subscription link) that at this moment, the belief inside the Penguins organization is that the Rangers will keep the selection and defer ceding the first rounder until next year.  Even if that happens, Pittsburgh will have a late-lottery pick as they already have the 11th selection.
  • It appears as if the Flyers could be promoting from within when it comes to their AHL head coaching vacancy. Kevin Kurz of The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that the frontrunner is Phantoms assistant coach John Snowden.  He has spent the last two years in that role after spending the previous two as an assistant with AHL Toronto.  Snowden, if ultimately promoted, would take the place of Ian Laperriere who was reassigned in the organization back in the spring.

Flyers Recap Trevor Zegras Trade, Eyeing More Moves This Off-Season

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As has become custom in the wake of big roster trades, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Brière sat down with the media to discuss the team’s acquisition of Trevor Zegras on Monday morning. Brière most notably shared that the Flyers had already engaged the Ducks in talks around a trade for Zegras, shares ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski. Brière went on to share that previous talks fell through because of Philadelphia’s lack of assets and Anaheim’s lack of desire to rush a move.

That sentiment will ring loud as the Flyers spark their off-season with a big swap. Ryan Poehling – the only skater featured in the return package – filled an important third-line role for the Flyers this season. He scored a career-high 31 points in 68 games and was often the champion of the simple tasks, supporting Philadelphia’s jump up the ice or surge to regain possession. It’s possible that the team couldn’t be pried away from their impactful depth forward until after the season concluded, and they had a full summer to properly assimilate Zegras into his new role.

But what that role will look like still remains a glaring question mark. Brière spoke candidly about the team’s lack of depth down the middle and shared that he hopes Zegras can eventually return to his role at center. But he made sure to note that the final decision will rest with new head coach Rick Tocchet, per Charlie O’Connor of PHLY Sports.

Zegras looked more comfortable on the wing in the time leading up to his first-round selection in the 2019 NHL Draft, but Anaheim invested significant development into shifting the skillful forward over to the middle lane. The center role supported Zegras to the two highest-scoring seasons of his career, when he combined for 46 goals and 126 points in 156 games. But the Ducks had to bear through his dismal 40.6 percent faceoff success rate in that span – a mark that ultimately landed him back on the flanks in the last two seasons.

Brière acknowledged that Zegras’ dip in scoring is why he was available on the open market. The recently turned 24-year-old winger fell to just 32 points in 57 games this season, far off his career-high mark of 65 points set in the 2022-23 campaign. In the end, Brière says that the bet on Zegras returning to strong scoring is a risk the Flyers are willing to take, even if it was difficult to give up Poehling.

Even more exciting, Brière went on to say that the acquisition of Zegras is meant to be just one piece of a big puzzle this summer, shares O’Connor. The team wants to improve through shrewd additions on the trade or free agent market. But they’ll make those decisions with caution, and particularly don’t want to part with any of their three first-round picks in Friday’s 2025 NHL Draft, per Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia. The club could land an impactful player in each of the three position groups in this year’s first round, and was predicated to draft center Jake O’Brien, defender Kashawn Aitcheson, and goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen in PHR’s 2025 Mock Draft. All three players have warranted plenty of attention for their explosive and reliable performances this season.

It’s not clear the exact extent to which Brière wants to build up the Flyers this summer. They ranked dead last in the Eastern Conference last season and have already undergone multiple layers of change this summer. It may be overeager to push the team towards playoff contention next season, though a few more high-upside and young additions like Zegras could go far towards catapulting Philadelphia’s rebuild forward. That momentum, spurred by a trio of top prospects, could push the Flyers into closer contention with future standouts like the San Jose Sharks and Columbus Blue Jackets.

Image courtesy of Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.

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