The 2025 NHL Entry Draft has concluded. While Matthew Schaefer`s selection as the first overall pick was widely anticipated, the two-day event still featured several surprises. Notable elements included celebrity appearances for pick announcements and other unique aspects of this year`s `decentralized` format, alongside the customary draft drama. With all 224 prospects now drafted, what were the key takeaways? ESPN writers Ryan S. Clark, Kristen Shilton, and Greg Wyshynski share their analysis of the draft`s standout positive and negative moments.
Winners
Making special moments even more special
Being drafted by an NHL team is one of the most significant events in a young player`s life. However, it`s the small, thoughtful additions by the league and teams that elevate these moments from merely memorable to truly exceptional.
When Schaefer was drafted first overall by the New York Islanders, his late mother, Jennifer, who passed away last year from breast cancer, was already on his mind. Schaefer had her photo and signature sewn into his jacket lining. Upon receiving his first Islanders jersey, he discovered a purple Hockey Fights Cancer ribbon stitched onto the left chest and his mother`s initials on the inner collar. Schaefer visibly kissed the ribbon after putting the jersey on.
“This is a high-class organization,” Schaefer commented. “Many might dismiss it as just a ribbon, but it means a great deal to me. My mom was a huge part of my life. I will definitely hang this jersey up.”
Meanwhile, the Anaheim Ducks` marketing team and the NHL collaborated on a special experience for their No. 10 pick: transporting him via helicopter across Southern California and then driving him to Disneyland. The fact that the pick turned out to be Roger McQueen, who subsequently met Lightning McQueen at Radiator Springs in California Adventure, was simply fantastic. (Meeting Carter Bear at the Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree would have also been acceptable.)
From deeply personal tributes to a rookie in a Ducks jersey high-fiving Donald Duck, these are the moments from the draft that will endure in our memories. — Analysis by Greg Wyshynski
Goaltenders are people (and first-rounders) too
It has become a recurring debate: the annual discussion about whether drafting a goaltender in the first round is a worthwhile risk.
Friday provided the latest chapter in this ongoing saga, with the Columbus Blue Jackets selecting CSKA Jr. goalie Pyotr Andreyanov at pick No. 20 and the San Jose Sharks choosing Prince George Cougars netminder Joshua Ravensbergen at No. 30. While debate accompanies most first-round picks, what made Friday distinct was that this marked the first time in four years a goalie was taken in the first round, and also the first time in four years that two goalies were selected in the opening round.
In 2021, the Detroit Red Wings drafted Sebastian Cossa 15th overall, and the Minnesota Wild picked Jesper Wallstedt at No. 21.
Following that, there was a three-year span without a goaltender being drafted in the first round, which is significant. The previous time the NHL went three consecutive drafts without a first-round goalie was nearly 40 years ago, from 1984 to 1986. The late 1980s saw more teams opt for first-round netminders. The 1991 and 1992 drafts were the only ones in the `90s without a first-round goalie. This pattern continued in the 2000s, where every draft class except 2007 and 2009 included a first-round goalie. The subsequent 15-year period, however, saw eight classes without any goalies in the first round.
Does 2025 signal the beginning of a new trend, or will we have to wait another four years for the next first-round goaltender? — Analysis by Ryan S. Clark
The Sharks add to an already promising young group
The San Jose Sharks are currently undergoing a challenging rebuild, but their future appears remarkably bright. Not only did San Jose draft Macklin Celebrini first overall last year, and he has quickly adapted to the NHL, but they have also acquired another impressive group of prospects poised to lead the franchise forward.
Michael Misa, drafted second overall on Friday, has the potential to be a top-six center. Joshua Ravensbergen is an athletic, 6-foot-5 goaltender who could develop into their franchise netminder down the line. Defenseman Simon Wang, the highest-drafted Chinese-born player ever at pick No. 33, possesses size at 6-6, is an excellent skater, and has a considerable reach.
These are just a few of the players joining San Jose`s system. General Manager Mike Grier is making astute selections for the Sharks, which are steadily positioning the organization for long-term success. While the process has required patience, it feels as though San Jose is reaching the positive phase of the rebuild sooner than anticipated. — Analysis by Kristen Shilton
James Hagens
It`s always good to feel desired. Hagens was ranked as TSN`s top prospect before the 2024-25 season, but his solid-but-not-spectacular season at Boston College, combined with the emergence of other prospects, caused his ranking to drop. At one point, some believed Hagens might be the biggest faller in the first round.
However, two events in the first round should leave Hagens feeling appreciated. Firstly, the Islanders reportedly did everything possible, using the two first-round picks acquired in the Noah Dobson trade, to bring the Long Island native home, according to GM Mathieu Darche. Islanders fans at their draft party in UBS Arena chanted, “We want Hagens!” and cheered for every player drafted who wasn`t James Hagens.
Ultimately, Hagens did, in a sense, return home: The Boston Bruins drafted him at No. 7, viewing the local college product as part of their retooling strategy. They even enlisted none other than Happy Gilmore himself, Adam Sandler, to announce the pick via a remote video. For various reasons, it was an emotional journey for Hagens. That first game against the Islanders while wearing the Bruins` `Spoked-B` will undoubtedly feel surreal. — Analysis by Greg Wyshynski
The WHL`s historic Round 1
Recall the Western Hockey League`s achievement in 2014? That year, the league set a record with nine first-round draft picks. The third pick was Edmonton Oilers center and 2020 Hart Trophy winner Leon Draisaitl. The fourth pick was Florida Panthers center and Conn Smythe winner Sam Bennett. Other players from that class, such as Haydn Fleury, Julius Honka, and Travis Sanheim, would also go on to play in the NHL.
The WHL matched that record 11 years later, with nine players also selected in the first round. This began when the Buffalo Sabres used the No. 9 pick to draft Seattle Thunderbirds defenseman Radim Mrtka, followed by the Ducks selecting Roger McQueen with the 10th pick. Mrtka`s selection at ninth overall continued the WHL`s five-year streak of having a first-round pick, which began with Dylan Guenther in 2021. With Mrtka and McQueen both going in the top 10, the league extended another streak: having multiple top-10 picks for a fourth consecutive year, a trend that started in 2022 with Kevin Korchinski and Matthew Savoie.
The WHL consistently produces a substantial number of first-round picks. Before this year`s draft, the WHL had the distinction of having more than five players selected in the first round in nine of the 11 most recent drafts. Recent examples of players from the league who have reached the NHL include Seth Jarvis, Kaiden Guhle, Connor Zary, Connor Bedard, Zach Benson, Guenther, and Korchinski. — Analysis by Ryan S. Clark
The Blues have jokes
The St. Louis Blues injected some humor, embracing a “BLUES” attitude, when they announced a two-year contract extension for promising young goaltender Joel Hofer. Their social media post notably stated he would “not be subject to offer sheets.” This was, of course, a thinly veiled jab at the Edmonton Oilers, from whom the Blues had signed Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway with offer sheets just one season prior.
This type of banter is perfectly acceptable, and the Blues didn`t hesitate to playfully remind the hockey world of their previous moves, adding some friendly fire to spice up the five-hour second day of the draft.
But St. Louis` success wasn`t limited to their social media presence. In addition to re-signing Hofer, a key part of the franchise`s future, the Blues secured an excellent prospect in Justin Carbonneau at No. 19. His selection was announced by comedian and Blues fan, Nikki Glaser. Carbonneau is described as confident and physical, with the potential to become a 20-plus goal scorer in the NHL, making him a potential ideal fit for the St. Louis style of play. — Analysis by Kristen Shilton
Arizona State now in elite company
Every draft pick has an impact, though the full extent of many impacts isn`t clear for some time. An exception is what the Calgary Flames achieved with the 32nd and final pick of the first round. Their decision to draft forward Cullen Potter had an immediate impact on his university.
Potter became the first player in Arizona State men`s hockey program history to be selected in the first round. ASU records show that the Sun Devils have had six players drafted as incoming freshmen, with notable examples including Seattle Kraken goalie Joey Daccord and Buffalo Sabres winger Josh Doan. Before Friday, Doan held the record for the highest-drafted player in ASU history, taken 37th overall in the 2021 draft by the Arizona Coyotes.
Potter`s selection in the first round accomplished more than just providing the ASU men`s hockey program with a significant milestone. The university now joins a select group of schools that can boast producing a first-round pick in the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, and WNBA drafts. This exclusive list includes Connecticut, Michigan State, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Wisconsin.
Of course, Penn State is also part of this conversation. While the Nittany Lions have produced first-round picks in four of these five leagues, they are set to have a player on their roster next season who was a first-round pick: incoming Tri-City Americans defenseman Jackson Smith, drafted 14th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets. — Analysis by Ryan S. Clark
Losers
Twenty-six NHL general managers
The NHL transitioned to a decentralized draft format this season, primarily because 26 out of its 32 general managers advocated for the change. Their reasons ranged from saving on travel costs to being more productive in the quiet environment of their home arena conference rooms. Regardless of one`s opinion on how Friday night unfolded, their majority preference was the initial cause, although the NHL did try its best to make the format work.
This decentralized approach resulted in a first round lasting four and a half hours. It also contributed to a lack of significant trade activity, as veteran executives like Columbus`s Don Waddell suggested that the absence of face-to-face interaction on the draft floor negatively impacted trade discussions. This format also necessitated the `NHL draft house,` where prospects entered an on-stage area for real-time video conversations with the general managers who drafted them.
Most observers had already assumed this format would likely be a one-time occurrence for the NHL; everything Commissioner Gary Bettman said leading up to the draft carried a subtle “be careful what you wish for” tone. The general reaction to the first round likely sealed the format`s fate. — Analysis by Greg Wyshynski
Fans who love trades
Full credit is due to Detroit and Anaheim for executing the John Gibson trade. It provided at least one transaction that occurred within the draft itself to add some excitement. Yes, the Noah Dobson deal was a major move, but that happened *before* the draft officially began.
There`s always an eagerness among fans to see teams make significant roster changes leading up to free agency on July 1st. While there were rumors of other potential trades in the works—is Mitch Marner humming `Viva Las Vegas` at his cottage?—none of the highly speculated moves materialized before the draft`s conclusion.
Erik Karlsson remains a Penguin, and Jason Robertson is still a Star. It`s highly entertaining to see deals focused on immediate winning prospects interwoven with the landscape of the league`s future being revealed in real time. We simply didn`t get enough of that this year, which was disappointing. — Analysis by Kristen Shilton
The NTDP`s first-round streak
No NHL draft is complete without some form of discussion where semantics are central to the argument. In this specific instance, the debate revolves around whether the United States National Team Development Program`s first-round drafting streak officially ended on Friday.
Here`s where the situation becomes unclear. The NTDP did indeed have four alumni—James Hagens, Logan Hensler, Will Horcoff, and Cullen Potter—selected in the first round on Friday. However, all four players were competing elsewhere during their draft-eligible season.
So, if you count alumni who previously went through the program, then yes, the streak continues. But if you`re only considering players who were part of the NTDP`s active setup this season, none were selected in the first round. The NTDP`s own website provides some insight into how they define an NTDP draft pick. Their list of alumni who were first-round picks from the 2024 draft includes three players selected in the opening round: Zeev Buium, Cole Eiserman, and E.J. Emery. However, on the NTDP`s page specifically detailing their 2024 draft class, it lists Eiserman and Emery as their first-rounders, noting that Buium had enrolled at the University of Denver.
If that interpretation is applied, Friday marks the first time since 2008 that the NTDP did not have a player drafted directly from their current program setup in the first round. The 2008 draft class saw eight NTDP players selected in the second round or later, before the 2009 draft began a new streak with future NHL All-Star Kyle Palmieri being drafted 26th overall by the Ducks.
And yet? The NTDP still had a record-breaking 23 players drafted this year. The program`s previous high was 21, set in 2016. — Analysis by Ryan S. Clark
Dress codes
Although the specific details of the new collective bargaining agreement haven`t been officially released, as the NHL and players are still finalizing ratification, one confirmed point is that teams will no longer be allowed to mandate a dress code for players arriving at or departing from games.
Traditional hockey fashion norms took another hit during the final round on Saturday afternoon, when the 223rd pick accepted his new Edmonton Oilers jersey while wearing shorts and a hoodie.
In his defense, Aidan Park lives only eight miles from the Peacock Theater, the venue for this year`s draft in Los Angeles. He explained he showed up because he had friends working the event. Park was a ranked prospect by NHL Central Scouting, having played for the USHL Green Bay Gamblers last season and committed to the University of Michigan for the next season. However, he didn`t anticipate being selected until his name was announced with the second-to-last pick, receiving loud applause from those still in attendance.
So, while most others were immaculately dressed in newly tailored suits with custom linings, the nephew of former NHL player Richard Park kept it casual – and arguably won the fashion draft. — Analysis by Greg Wyshynski
Finland`s California misadventure
Finnish hockey fans, you might want to look away. The nation that has supplied the NHL with foundational current talents like Aleksander Barkov, Miro Heiskanen, and Mikko Rantanen did not have a single player selected in the first round on Friday.
But that was merely the beginning of what proved to be an uncharacteristically quiet draft for Finland. Lasse Boelius was the first Finn drafted, going 60th overall to the Ducks. Finland would not see another player selected until the fourth round. By the end of the draft, the nation finished with eight players drafted, the first time Finland has concluded a draft with a single-digit number of selections since having nine in 2014.
According to QuantHockey`s data, Finland ranks fifth in terms of the number of players in the NHL. However, the reality of Finland not having a first-round pick has become something of a trend in alternating drafts recently. Finland had a streak of multiple first-round picks between 2004 and 2020. The 2017 draft was particularly strong, with six Finnish players selected in the first round; led by third overall pick Heiskanen, all of them have since reached the NHL.
Finland`s streak of multiple first-rounders ended in 2021. Since then, the nation has alternated years with first-round picks: two in 2022, none in 2023, and two last year. — Analysis by Ryan S. Clark
Gareth Tenby