2025 NHL Draft: Day One recap

After many, many, hours of drafting players, watching a two minute timer count down, and even the beloved phrase "We have a trade to announce" the first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft is complete.

If you didn't watch it, you're in luck because for some reason I did, once again.

PRE-DRAFT TRADES

It was a busy pre-draft trade market, with nine deals in the week leading up to the draft and four of them all coming on the day before.

To Seattle: Joe Veleno
To Chicago: Andre Burakovsky

A straight one for one trade, nice and easy.

To Philadelphia: Trevor Zegras
To Anaheim: Ryan Poehling, 2025 2nd, 2026 4th

One of the young Ducks that got plenty of hype, Zegras fell out of favour with Ducks management, but he won't have to change team colours as he's still wearing orange.

To Vancouver: Evander Kane
To Edmonton: 2025 4th round pick

The Oilers moved salary ahead of free agency, and the Canucks made another head scratching deal.

To Utah: JJ Peterka
To Buffalo: Michael Kesselring, Josh Doan

Utah moves a legacy player from their roster as Buffalo continues to baffle everyone with their choices.

To Seattle: Frederick Gaudreau
To Minnesota: 2025 4th round pick

Minnesota moved money, Seattle got a very good player on a very good contract.

To Florida: Daniil Tarasov
To Columbus: 2025 5th round pick

Columbus was busy ahead of the draft, and their first move was to move a goalie who has been splitting time since he was drafted between the NHL and AHL.

To Minnesota: Cameron Butler
To Columbus: Brendan Gaunce

Columbus moved a prospect who just played his first NHL game, for a long time veteran at centre.

To Washington: Justin Sourdif
To Florida: 2026 2nd, 2027 6th

Florida needed to re-stock their picks after spending so much over the past couple years and right wing prospect Sourdif fetched the picks they needed to look at the future after this group of cup winners ages out.

To Columbus: Charlie Coyle, Miles Wood
To Colorado: Gavin Brindley, 2025 3rd, 2027 2nd

Colorado makes space, Columbus does...something questionable. Good job all around.

To NY Islanders: 2025 16th & 17th overall picks, Emil Heineman
To Montréal: Noah Dobson

The Canadiens immediately signed Dobson to an 8 year deal at $9.5 Million per year.

THE PICKS

1. NY Islanders - Matthew Schaefer - D - Erie Otters, OHL
17GP - 7G - 15A - 22Pts

The Islanders selected Schaefer despite injuries limiting him to only 17 games last year. The first overall pick was exceptionally emotional, being given a jersey with a breast cancer ribbon patch on it that honours his mother who passed from cancer last year.

2. San Jose - Michael Misa - C - Saginaw Spirit, OHL
65GP - 62G - 72Pts - 134Pts

The Sharks brought out WWE wrestler and Sharks fan Bailey to make their pick on top of an announcement that they will be buying out Marc-Edouard Vlasic from his contract.

Misa won the 2024 Memorial Cup, and nearly doubled his output this year over the 2023-24 season - from 75pts to 134pts, he was also the eighth player to be named an exceptional player in the CHL to join the league one year early.

3. Chicago - Anton Frondell - C - Djurgårdens IF, HockeyAllsvenskan (Swe Div 2)
29GP - 11G - 14A - 25Pts

Former Chicago player Jeremy Roenick was the man making the pick, a bit of a cheap pop bringing out a former Los Angeles King to the home crowd. Chicago broke away from drafting out of the OHL and went to Sweden, looked past the SHL and nabbed a new centre from Division 2. Not seen as a scoring phenom, but he's a solidly built player who NHL Central Scouting calls a "tank".

4. Utah - Caleb Desnoyers - C - Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL
56GP - 35G - 49A - 64Pts

The 2025 QMJHL Playoff MVP goes fourth overall was picked by PGA player Tony Finau who is a Salt Lake City native. compared to Patrice Bergeron, he's a two way centre who is praised for his hockey IQ.

5. Nashville - Brady Martin - C - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL

The Predators brought out a video of Shea Weber, who was clearly in the middle of a golf game when he made it, to announce their pick. Martin wasn't at the draft as he was working at the family farm. A real throwback to the early days of the draft.

6. Philadelphia - Porter Martone - RW - Brampton Steelheads, OHL
57GP - 37G - 61A - 98Pts

The Flyers bring out NBA and 76ers legend Charles Barkley to make the pick, and after too much bad zoom connection banter between him and Bettman, the Flyers picked another OHLer. So far 5/6 picks are from the OHL.

7. Boston - James Hagens - C - Boston College, Hockey East (NCAA)
37GP - 11G - 26A - 37Pts

The first college hockey player picked this year goes played in Boston, gets picked by Boston, and is announced by popular Bruins fan Happy Gilmour (the second PGA player tonight).

8. Seattle - Jake O'Brien - C - Brantford Bulldogs, OHL
66GP - 32G - 66a - 98Pts

Co-Owner of the Kraken, local boy movie producer Jerry Bruckheimer makes the pick in part to promote his F1 movie, and brings in the sixth player from the OHL.

9. Buffalo - Radim Mrtka - D - Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL
43GP - 3G - 32A - 35Pts

I never knew I needed to hear Gary Bettman say "Goo Goo Dolls" as much as I did, but as the most famous people from Buffalo members of the band came out to make the pick so we got to hear it and I loved it. The Sabres picked a 6'6 defender who wants to emulate Victor Hedman.

10. Anaheim - Roger McQueen - C - Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL
17GP - 10G - 10A - 20Pts

Two of the original Mighty Ducks came to make the pick for the Ducks: Joshua Jackson and Marguerite Moreau donned the classic logo to bring out the newest Duck. Missing most of the season with a back injury, no one was sure where he'd go. Now we need to know if this McQueen is as fast as the other Disney branded McQueen. Kachow!

Later in thew show we see McQueen at Disneyland with Donald Duck, which ESPN - a Disney property - identifies as Daffy Duck. He also got to meet Lightning McQueen, because duh.

11. Pittsburgh - Benjamin Kindel - C - Calgary Hitmen, WHL
65GP - 35g - 64A - 99Pts

No non-hockey celebrity for the Penguins, as they send Kris Letang to finally get on the draft stage to make the pick. Penguins pick up a smaller guy who can score. Not surprised.

12. Pittsburgh (from VAN via NYR)

A well travelled pick, originally belonging to the New York Rangers. The Rangers traded it to the Vancouver Canucks along with Filip Chytil and Victor Mancini for J. T. Miller, Erik Brannstrom and Jackson Dorrington.

Pittsburgh acquired the pick from the Canucks along with Vincent Desharnais, Melvin Fernstrom, Danton Heinen for Drew O'Connor and Marcus Pettersson. The pick was conditional, and the Rangers got to decide which year of the first round pick was being traded. The Rangers elected to send the 2025 pick.

WE HAVE A TRADE TO ANNOUNCE

Yes, this pick was traded once again. Kyle Dubas shockingly traded down in the draft.

To Philadelphia: 2025 1st round pick
To Pittsburgh: 2025 22nd & 31st overall picks

12 - Philadelphia Flyers - Jack Nesbitt - C - Windsor Spitfire, OHL
65GP - 25G - 39A - 64Pts

Eagles player Brandon Graham made the pick, #gobirds, and I'm wondering if they knew they were going to be trading down and had him on standby. A Penguins - Flyers trade is always fun to see and this is the first time the Flyers ever made a pick with a Penguins pick.

13. Detroit - Carter Bear - LW - Everett Silvertips, WHL
56GP - 40G - 42A - 82Pts

Actor Dave Coulier (Full House) makes the pick for the Red Wings, something every lifelong fan would want to do. The Red Wings picked a player named Bear from Everett whose logo is a Bear and that's the kind of matching I love in sports.

14. Columbus - Jackson Smith - D - Tri-City Americans, WHL
68GP - 11G - 43A - 54Pts

Meredith Gaudreau made the pick for Columbus, taking the time to thanks everyone in the hockey community for the support the family received over the season. We stayed out west, and moved down the highway to the Tri-City Americans, who are losing Smith to Penn State next season.

15. Vancouver - Braeden Cootes - C - Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL
60GP - 26G - 37A - 63Pts

Markus Näslund makes the pick for the Canucks, a rare hockey player making an appearance. Seattle looks down south a little bit to Seattle for their pick, and he's the second player to go from Seattle tonight.

NY Islanders (from MTL via CGY) - Viktor Eklund - RW - Djurgårdens IF, HockeyAllsvenskan (Swe Div 2)
42GP - 19G - 12A - 31Pts

This pick has been waiting to be used for a long time. Calgary traded this pick and Sean Monahan to Montreal for future considerations. The conditions on the pick are long, so here's the Wikipedia summary:

The condition – Montreal will receive a first-round pick in 2025 if Calgary's first-round pick in 2024 is inside of the top nineteen selections, Calgary acquires Florida's first-round pick in 2025 and both selections are outside of the top ten, then Montreal will receive the higher of Calgary's or Florida's first-round picks in 2025 – was converted when the Flames did not win either draw in the 2025 NHL entry draft lottery draw on May 5, 2025.

Then the Canadiens traded the pick to the Islanders for Noah Dobson, along with the 17th overall pick. The Islanders brought out Entourage star and Islanders documentarian Kevin Connolly to make the pick. They pick the player everyone has been waiting for to be picked.

17. NY Islanders (from MTL) - Kashawn Aitcheson - D - Barrie Colts, OHL
64GP - 26G - 33A - 59Pts

The Islanders third pick in the top 20 comes from the Barrie Colts who are a team the Maple Leafs have never drafted from. I picked this article because of the weird headline.

18. Calgary (from NJD) - Cole Reschny - C - Victoria Royals, WHL

Calgary acquired this pick from New Jersey along with Kevin Bahl for Jacob Markstrom ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft. The pick was top ten protected, so when New Jersey made the playoffs it was transferred to Calgary.

One of the very few Flames to win the Stanley Cup in Calgary, and promoter for mustaches everywhere Lanny MacDonald made the call for Calgary. They stayed out west but went into the ocean to Vancouver Island for this one.

19. St. Louis - Justin Carbonneau - RW - Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL

The Blues have comedian Nikki Glaser make their pick and after a five minute set that included a shot at Brett Hull being sloppy drunk at the cup celebrations, they got their pick. She nailed the pronunciation of Blainville-Boisbriand, but stumbled over Armada? I know these paragraphs are more about who made the pick, but I'm linking a story on the player from people who know what they're talking about.

20. Columbus (from MIN) - Pyotr Andreyanov - G - CSKA Jr - MHL
37GP - 1.75GAA - .942sv% - 3SO

Columbus acquired this pick, Daemon Hunt, a 2026 third and fourth round pick, and a 2027 second from the Wild for David Jiricek and a 2025 fifth round pick. The pick was top five protected.

Columbus made the first pick from Russia of the draft, replacing the Russian goalie they just traded away. I also took my dog for a walk during the next few picks so I don't know who announced them. Someone nice I assume. I also lost my video so we're going off the draft board from here on out!

21. Nashville (from OTT) - Cameron Reid - D - Kitchener Rangers, OHL
67GP - 14G - 40A - 54Pts

To Nashville: 2025 21st overall pick
To Ottawa: 2025 23rd and 67th overall picks

Nashville moves up in the draft to get the player they wanted, and when your guy is still on the board you do what it takes to get him. I like keeping defenders away from Ottawa, so I approve of this trade.

22. Pittsburgh (from COL via PHI) - Bill Zonnon - RW - Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, QMJHL
64GP - 28G - 55A - 83Pts

The Flyers acquired this pick and Ryan Johansen from the Avalanche for Sean Walker and a 2026 fifth. The pick was top ten protected. It was traded to Pittsburgh at the draft.

I am a Huskies fan, so I'm a fan of this pick. Penguins traded down to get him, hopefully their fans are less critical of the move than Leafs fans were of Travis Dermott.

Ottawa (from NSH via TBL) - Logan Hensler - D - Wisconsin BIG10 (NCAA)
32GP - 2G - 10A - 12Pts

Nashville traded Tanner Jeannot to the Lightning in 2023 in exchange for Cal Foote, a third, fourth, and fifth in 2032, a 2024 second, and this pick. The pick was top ten protected. Nashville traded with Ottawa to move up in the draft at the 21st pick.

Another NCAA player goes to Ottawa, and I will pretend they had Supreme Court of Canada mascot Amicus the Owl make the pick, a defensive defender.

24. Pittsburgh (from LA) - William Horcoff - C - Michigan, BIG10 (NCAA)
18GP - 4G - 6A - 10Pts

To Pittsburgh: 2025 24th overall pick
To Los Angeles: 2025 31st and 59th overall picks

Pittsburgh took one of the picks they got from the Flyers for trading down, and packaged it to trade back up to take Horcoff. The man loves trading picks, you know? Yes, he is the son of former Oiler Shawn Horcoff.

25. Chicago (from TOR) - Václav Nestrašil - RW - Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL
61GP - 19G - 23A - 42Pts

In 2023 the Maple Leafs traded this pick, Joey Anderson, Pavel Gogolev, and a 2026 second for Sam Lafferty, Jake McCabe, a 2024 fifth round pick (Miroslav Holinka) and a 2025 fifth. The pick was top ten protected.

What should have been our pick goes to Chicago, and what should be an OHL pick stays with the USHL. As a former Leafs pick I'm sure he won't come around to haunt us....

26. Nashville (from VGK via SJS) - Ryker Lee - RW - Madison Capitols, USHL
58GP - 31G - 37A - 68Pts

Originally from San Jose, Vegas acquired it as well as David Edstrom in exchange for Tomas Hertl and a third round pick in 2025 and 2027. Nashville received it from San Jose along with Magnus Chrona, David Edstrom for Yaroslav Askarov, Nolan Burke, and a 2025 third. The pick was top ten protected.

Back to back USHL picks, and a twice traded pick. Lee better wear number two.

27. Washington - Lynden Lakovic - LW - Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL
47GP - 27G - 31A - 58Pts

Lakovic said he studied Matthew Knies playing style these playoffs and you know? That's a pretty good compliment.

28. Winnipeg - Sascha Boumedienne - D - Boston University, Hockey East (NCAA)

Winnipeg sends back up goalie Eric Comrie to make the pick and he does it like he's being held for ransom. They pick a Finnish player who is already adapted to the weather in Winnipeg.

29. Chicago (from CAR) - Mason West - C - Edina high School, Minnesota
31GP - 27G - 22A - 49Pts

To Chicago: 29th overall
To Carolina: 2025 34th & 62nd picks, 2026 5th

Carolina still had their celebrity pick, a NASCAR driver naturally, show up but he announced the trade to Chicago. Mason West is also the starting quarterback at Edina, so we have a new two sport star on our hands! He will be moving on to the USHL next season.

30. San Jose (from DAL) - Joshua Ravensbergen - G - Prince George Cougars, WHL
51GP - 33W - 3.00GAA - .901sv% - 0SO

San Jose traded Cody Ceci and Mikael Granlund to Dallas for this pick and a 2025 third.

The Sharks pick another left handed goalie to go with Askarov, and he's given a big ol' Sharks wrestling belt by Bailey.

31. Los Angeles (from PIT via EDM) - Henry Brzustewicz - D - London Knights, OHL
67GP - 10G - 32A - 42Pts

At last years draft Edmonton traded their first round pick in 2025 to the Flyers for the Florida Panthers first round pick in 2024. Philadelphia acquired it from the Panthers in 2022 as the result of a trade that sent Connor Bunnaman, Claude Giroux, German Rubtsov and a fifth-round pick in 2024 to Florida in exchange for Owen Tippett, a third-round pick in 2023 and this pick, which was top ten protected.

It would be traded to Pittsburgh at the draft.

The Knights traded down, but got a defender who won the OHL Championship and Memorial Cup this year. Over 6 feet, over 200lbs, he's already beloved be many hockey men.

32. Calgary (from FLA) - Cullen Potter - C - Arizona State, NCHC (NCAA)
35GP - 13G - 9A - 22Pts

The Panthers sent this pick to Calgary along with Jonathan Huberdeau, Cole Schwindt, and MacKenzie Weegar in exchange for Matthew Tkachuk and a 2025 fourth. The pick was top ten protected.

Lanny comes back to make the final pick, and the Flames makes it a player from Arizona State, and as Leafs fans we know the talent that comes out of Arizona. He's talked up as the fastest player in the draft, which makes sense as you have to skate fast before the ice melts down there.