The NHL Entry Draft is where the league`s future stars are introduced. The 2025 draft saw the New York Islanders select Matthew Schaefer as the first overall pick.
Let`s examine the performance of the five most recent first overall selections during their debut NHL seasons.
Macklin Celebrini (2024-25)
Selected first overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2024 NHL Draft, Macklin Celebrini joined the team after a remarkable freshman year at Boston University. In his rookie campaign with the Sharks, he recorded 25 goals and 38 assists. His impressive play earned him a third-place finish in the Calder Memorial Award voting and a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team.
Connor Bedard (2023-24)
Connor Bedard made an immediate impact after being chosen first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2023 NHL Draft. He was recognized with the 2024 Calder Trophy as the league`s top rookie. Despite missing 14 games due to injury, Bedard led or shared the lead among all rookies and the Blackhawks team in goals (22), assists (39), and points (61). At 18 years and 276 days old, he became the second-youngest player in NHL history to lead rookies in all three scoring categories, just behind Nathan MacKinnon`s record set in 2013-14.
Juraj Slafkovsky (2022-23)
The Montreal Canadiens selected Juraj Slafkovsky first overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, making him the first Slovakian-born player to achieve this distinction. Originally from Kosice, Slovakia, Slafkovsky recorded his first NHL point, a goal, in his fifth game. He concluded his rookie campaign with a total of 10 points, including four goals and six assists, over 39 appearances.
Owen Power (2021-22)
Selected first overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2021 NHL Draft, Owen Power joined the team late in the 2021-22 season after two years at the University of Michigan, appearing in eight games (2 goals, 1 assist). While his initial taste of the NHL was brief, Power had a significant impact in the 2022-23 season, qualifying for rookie status. He earned a place on the 2022-23 NHL All-Rookie Team and led all rookie defensemen that season with 35 points (4 goals, 31 assists) over 79 games.
Alexis Lafreniere (2020-21)
The New York Rangers chose Alexis Lafreniere with the first overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. This came after he was named the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League`s Most Valuable Player for two consecutive seasons. In his rookie campaign with the Rangers, Lafreniere registered 21 points, consisting of 12 goals and nine assists, across 56 games.
Duncan Priestley