The NHL’s inaugural draft wrapped up over the weekend, presenting one of the more fascinating classes in recent years. The best way to sum up 2025? “Boom or bust.” Almost every player in the top 10 has at least one standout characteristic, making some wonder whether the rest will flourish or fail.
In this context, a number of teams excelled in their drafting, which could pave the way for a significant transformation moving forward. However, some teams made dubious selections that deserve a closer look, even in such a volatile draft class.
Winner: New York Islanders
It’s often the case that teams can achieve high marks simply by not messing up their picks, but the Islanders really impressed me with their choices in this draft.
By trading Noah Dobson prior to the first round, they created space to select Matthew Schaefer at number one without feeling crowded on defense. I had hoped they’d go for Michael Misa, but selecting Schaefer was a safe strategy for developing the organization. What truly elevated this draft class from merely “good” to potentially “legendary” were the three additional picks:
Victor Eklund, who was sixth on my list, landing at 16th was a significant win. It’s rare to find wingers who love engaging in forechecks as much as he does, and he has the talent to play in tough areas around the net. He’ll need some time, of course, but he could very well become a top-line winger down the line.
Kashawn Aitcheson at number 17 was a solid value pick. His knack for making big hits has already made him a fan favorite, and he’ll pair nicely with Schaefer, focusing on more control-oriented play. It’s quite likely that they’ll form a top-line partnership for years to come.
The draft wraps up with the selection of Danil Prokholov, who adds a special dynamic. While he may not be a point-producing machine, he’s an ideal third-line winger capable of wearing down opponents with his physicality. Standing at 6’6″, he’s an intense player with a love for impactful play.
Overall, this was an impressive draft class.
Loser: Chicago Blackhawks
While there’s a certain optimism around Connor Bedard’s comments about wanting to remain with the Hawks long-term, it shouldn’t take away from their need for urgency.
I appreciate the three first-round picks the Blackhawks made, but it looks like they won’t contribute for a while. Anton Flander might be able to step in quickly, but I wasn’t as sold on him as some of the other scouts appeared to be. He could develop into a decent second-line center, but he doesn’t really stand out. I would’ve liked them to grab a natural scorer like Porter Martone to help unlock Bedard’s potential on the top line.
Vaclav Nestrasil and Mason West are both promising for the future, but they will require time to adapt to the league. That’s understandable, yet I would have preferred the Hawks to push for improvement now and make a bolder move rather than looking ahead to 2027.
Winner: Philadelphia Flyers
This is how you build a team. The Flyers made an excellent choice, selecting Porter Martone at number 6. As the most skilled scorer in this draft, it’s great that the Flyers focused on securing top talent instead of just filling needs. Martone can transform their offense with his playmaking.
Jack Nesbitt at number 12 raised some eyebrows, yet after the combine, he showcased impressive qualities for his size, making his stock rise. This selection aligns with their strategy of pairing a defensively minded center with explosive wingers.
Jack Mater at number 40 was an excellent value pick. I had him going at number 27 in my last mock, and it’s another instance of the board falling in their favor.
Loser: Pittsburgh Penguins
While there’s always potential for things to pan out, the Penguins’ third-round selections left me scratching my head. All the picks felt like they veered too far from consensus rankings.
- No. 11 Ben Kindel (20th in consolidated rankings)
- Bill Zonnon No. 22 (24th in consolidated rankings)
- Will Holcroff on No. 24 (37th in linked list)
I’m not sure any of these players will become top-six talents. This draft was about building for the future, yet the Penguins missed the chance to secure the top talents available. By the time they pivoted to defense, they picked Payton Kettles too early. It appears to be quite a puzzling draft from my viewpoint.
Honorable mention: Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes continue to do what they do best, turning the 29th pick into another second-rounder as they take a shotgun approach to stockpiling picks.
I’m unsure about their selections this year, but history has shown the Hurricanes excel at finding diamonds in the rough outside the first round.
Disgraceful mention: San Jose Sharks
I liked the pick of Michael Misa and was on board with the following two selections. However, I do question whether the Sharks should have traded up for Joshua Raven given how the first round unfolded. Haoxi Wang is an interesting prospect, but there are enough question marks about him to make his selection at the top of the second round questionable.
