2025 NHL Draft Tracker: Pick-by-pick for the first round
The 2025 NHL Entry Draft is finally here.
Friday night will see the opening round take place, where the first 32 picks will be made at Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, California. It’s the first – and potentially last – time that we’ll see the draft be decentralized, with all the players in attendance, but all of the teams operating remotely. Regardless, it should still be an entertaining night, as 32 teams’ amateur scouting departments finally get their chance to shine and see all of their hard work from the past year pay off.
While Matthew Schaefer is expected to go first overall in this draft, it’s still not 100% certain, at least in comparison to drafts in recent years. Michael Misa certainly has the explosive talent to justify being picked first overall, and perhaps even James Hagens has the chance to be drafted by his hometown team – or even be left out of the top five all together.
And then there’s the potential for surprise picks, whether teams are searching for the next Aleksander Barkov in a fellow Northern European with Anton Frondell, or if it’s the next Tom Wilson or Sam Bennett in Brady Martin.
It’s safe to say that we’re in for a good night.
Follow along with the selections all night long below:
1. NY Islanders: Matthew Schaefer, D (Erie Otters, OHL, 17GP, 7G, 15A, 22P)
2. San Jose: Michael Misa, C (Saginaw Spirit, OHL, 65GP, 62G, 72A, 134P)
3. Chicago: Anton Frondell, C (Djurgardens IF, Swe-1, 29GP, 11G, 14A, 25P)
4. Utah: Caleb Desnoyers, C (Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL, 56GP, 35G, 49A, 84P)
5. Nashville: Brady Martin, C (Soo Greyhounds, OHL, 57GP, 33G, 39A, 72P)
6. Philadelphia: Porter Martone, RW (Brampton Steelheads, OHL, 57GP, 37G, 61A, 98P)
7. Boston: James Hagens, C (Boston College, NCAA, 37GP, 11G, 26A, 37P)
8. Seattle: Jake O’Brien, C (Brantford Bulldogs, OHL, 66GP, 32G, 66A, 98P)
9. Buffalo: Radim Mrtka, D (Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL, 43GP, 3G, 32A, 35P)
10. Anaheim: Roger McQueen, C (Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL, 17GP, 10G, 10A, 20P)
11. Pittsburgh: Benjamin Kindel, C (Calgary Hitmen, WHL, 65GP, 35G, 64A, 99P)
12. Philadelphia (from VAN via NYR & PIT): Jack Nesbitt, C (Windsor Spitfires, OHL, 65GP, 25G, 39A, 64P)
13. Detroit: Carter Bear, LW (Everett Silvertips, WHL, 56GP, 40G, 42A, 82P)
14. Columbus: Jackson Smith, D (Tri-City Americans, WHL, 68GP, 11G, 43A, 54P)
15. Vancouver: Braeden Cootes, C (Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL, 60GP, 26G, 37A, 63P)
16. NY Islanders (from CGY via MTL): Viktor Eklund, RW (Djurgardens IF, Swe-1, 42GP, 19G, 12A, 31P)
17. NY Islanders (from MTL): Kashawn Aitcheson, D (Barrie Colts, OHL, 64GP, 26G, 33A, 59P)
18. Calgary (from NJD): Cole Reschny, C (Victoria Royals, WHL, 62GP, 26G, 66A, 92P)
19. St. Louis: Justin Carbonneau, RW (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL, 62GP, 46G, 43A, 89P)
20. Columbus (from MIN): Pyotr Andreyanov, G (CSKA Red Army Jr., Rus-MHL, 37GP, 23-6-6, .942SV%, 3SO)
21. Nashville (from OTT): Cameron Reid, D (Kitchener Rangers, OHL, 67GP, 14G, 40A, 54P)
22. Pittsburgh (from COL via PHI): Bill Zonnon, RW (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, QMJHL, 64GP, 28G, 55A, 83P)
23. Ottawa (from TBL via NSH): Logan Hensler, D (University of Wisconsin, NCAA, 32GP, 2G, 10A, 12P)
24. Pittsburgh (from LAK): Will Horcoff, F (University of Michigan, NCAA, 18GP, 4G, 6A, 10P)
25. Chicago (from TOR): Vaclav Nestrasil, RW (Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL, 61GP, 19G, 23A, 42P)
26. Nashville (from VGK via SJS): Ryker Lee, RW (Madison Capitols, USHL, 58GP, 31G, 37A, 68P)
27. Washington: Lynden Lakovic, LW (Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL, 47GP, 27G, 31A, 58P)
28. Winnipeg: Sascha Boumedienne, D (Boston University, NCAA, 40GP, 3G, 10A, 13P)
29. Chicago (from CAR): Mason West, C (Fargo Force, USHL, 10GP, 1G, 8A, 9P)
30. San Jose (from DAL): Joshua Ravensbergen, G (Prince George Cougars, WHL, 51GP, 33-13-4, .901SV%)
31. Los Angeles (from EDM via PHI and PIT): Henry Brzustewicz, D (London Knights, OHL, 67GP, 10G, 32A, 42P)
32. Calgary (from FLA): Cullen Potter, C (Arizona State University, NCAA, 35GP, 13G, 9A, 22P)
For bios on the top prospects, check out Steven Ellis’ top 120 list here.