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The 2025 NHL Draft marks the introduction to the league for a fresh batch of young prospects from North America and around the world.
The New York Islanders made the first pick, selecting 17-year-old Matthew Schaefer from Hamilton, Canada.
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The Ottawa Senators have selected 18-year-old Wisconsin RHD Logan Hensler with the 23rd pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Hensler didn't have a huge draft season, but he was still a top-four defenseman for Wisconsin and held his own at the World Juniors for Team USA. He’s a 6-foot-2, mobile right-shot with strong offensive skills and playmaking ability. At his best, his offensive touch can stand out, and I've seen him break games open. That player has shown up inconsistently, though, over the years. His defending is OK. His length and feet will allow him to make stops and retrieve effectively in the NHL, but he’s not a super-hard-to-play-against type. Hensler doesn't stand out at any one thing, but he does enough well that he should be a solid NHL defenseman.
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Pick grade: C+
Thoughts on the pick: Zonnon had a great season in the Q as a top player for Rouyn-Noranda. He’s a good skater with legit skill and two-way ability. He’s not the most dynamic player in the world, but there’s a path for him to become a third-line forward in the NHL.
Earlier this week, Blues GM Doug Armstrong said that when building a team, he seeks strength up the the middle. He said centers and defensemen are attractive at the NHL Draft for that reason, and wingers seem to be more plentiful.
Then Friday night, with their first-round pick at No. 19 overall, the Blues selected right winger Justin Carbonneau.
It’s not that Armstrong was misleading anyone. Like a lot of teams, the Blues take the best player available and won’t take a lower-graded player at center or defense over a higher-rated winger.
That’s why they went with Carbonneau (6-foot-1, 205 pounds), who has above-average puck skills. He had 46 goals and 89 points in 62 games for Blainville Broisbrian Armada of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) last season.
The Athletic’s Corey Pronman says of Carbonneau, “He’s a very strong skater and puck handler who can beat defenders one-on-one at full flight. He’s a physically developed winter who plays hard and can win puck battles fairly often. His style of play is highly translatable to the NHL game with the pace and efforts in his shifts.”
The Pittsburgh Penguins have selected 18-year-old Rouyn-Noranda RW Bill Zonnon with the 22nd pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Zonnon has been a top player for Rouyn-Noranda for the past two seasons. Zonnon checks a lot of boxes NHL teams will be looking for. He's a big, fast center with a skating stride that will easily translate to the NHL. He has good stick skills and can create offense on the move. He's been a big scorer in the QMJHL, but I wouldn't call him an overly instinctive offensive type. He can make some plays, and has a decent shot too, but it looks like more secondary skill at the top level. He works well enough off the puck and could have two-way value as a pro. He could be a bottom six forward be it at wing or center.
Pick grade: B
Thoughts on the pick: Nashville gets the best defenseman remaining on the board in Reid. He’s a great skater who moves the puck well and competes hard. He has a ton of similarities to Tanner Molendyk, whom they drafted in a similar spot two years ago.
Cameron Reid was selected with the No. 21 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft by the Nashville Predators.
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Jim Nill was announced as the winner of the 2025 Jim Gregory GM of the Year Award, his record-setting third straight.
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The Nashville Predators have selected 18-year-old Kitchener LHD Cameron Reid with the 21st pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Reid was a big-minute defenseman for Kitchener and also played top-four minutes for Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky. He's a likable player in a lot of regards. He's a dynamic, powerful skater. He closes on pucks quickly and can get the play going up the ice due to his feet. He's average-sized but competes well and is a physical player. He makes efforts defensively and coaches trust him. Reid has strong enough puck skills and vision. He can create offense off the rush and from the offensive blue line, with flashes of high-end skill although I don't see him as a true NHL power-play type. Despite his average size, Reid projects to make NHL stops due to how good a skater he is. He projects as a second pair defenseman.
Pick grade: C
Thoughts on the pick: Andreyanov was great in Russia this season as the leader of their national team and posting great numbers. He has legit NHL athleticism and hockey sense, but he is also a 6-foot-0 goalie, and there are some concerns about how his game will translate to the NHL at that frame. Columbus doesn’t shy away from small goalies, though, taking Evan Gardner last season. But this is high for me based on what I saw of Andreyanov. He’s a talented goalie, but I didn’t see a Juuse Saros level of athletic talent.
The Senators trade down from No. 21 overall to get pick No. 23 and No. 67 from the Nashville Predators.
Well, that was interesting. The Blue Jackets just selected goaltender Pyotr Andreyanov with the No. 20 pick, going way off the board to spend a first-round pick on the draft’s top-ranked international goalie, according to NHL central scouting.
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The Columbus Blue Jackets have selected 18-year-old CSKA Jr. G Pyotr Andreyanov with the 20th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Andreyanov has outstanding quickness in his lower half. He makes a ton of highlight reel-type saves due to his athleticism, plus his compete level. He never seems like he's out of a play due to his effort. Andreyanov is also a good technical goalie who can make smooth, efficient saves with good reads. NHL teams’ only concern with him will be his size. He's a very small goalie by NHL standards, and will need to prove he's just not very talented, but especially talented to be an NHL goalie. I've seen enough flashes of special to think he has a chance to make it.
Pick grade: B+
Thoughts on the pick: Carbonneau is a highly skilled, hard-to-play against winger who projects as a top-six forward. He’s the last skater remaining of my top group of players, as the draft drops off a bit at this point, and the Blues get a valuable piece for the future.
Justin Carbonneau was drafted by the St. Louis Blues with the 19th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Read more on St. Louis' first round pick below.
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The St. Louis Blues have selected 18-year-old Blainville-Boisbriand RW Justin Carbonneau with the 19th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Carbonneau has been a top player in the QMJHL. He's a very strong skater and puck handler who can beat defenders one-on-one at full flight. He's a physically developed winger who plays hard and can win puck battles fairly often. His style of play is highly translatable to the NHL game with the pace and effort in his shifts. He has a great shot and is often a threat to score from the faceoff dots with his one-timer. The one issue with Carbonneau is his decision-making at times is questionable, and I wouldn't call him a natural playmaker. He projects as a top-six winger.
The "professional, driven" 18-year-old from Macklin, Sask., could be the best 200-foot player available in this year's draft. Cole Reschny was selected at No. 18 by the Calgary Flames.
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In its press release, ESPN said its Round 1 coverage would run from 7-10 p.m. ET. I … don't think they're gonna make it.
Pick grade: B+
Thoughts on the pick: Reschny was the best player available at 18, with a high skill level and great hockey IQ. He was as good as anyone in the CHL in the second half. He’s not the biggest or fastest, but he competes hard enough that he could stay in the middle and be a potential second-line center.
The Calgary Flames have selected 18-year-old Victoria C Cole Reschny with the 18th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Reschny has been a great WHL player, scoring a lot over his two seasons, including a standout playoff performance this spring for Victoria and a great U18 Worlds for Canada. He’s a highly skilled and intelligent player who can run a power play like a pro and makes a ton of creative stick handles and passes. He's a quick skater with good edges who plays with pace and makes high-end plays on the move. He's not the most dynamic skater for a guy his size, but he will be able to move at an NHL level. He's on the smaller side, but Reschny can create at the net and kill penalties. He's played center in junior, showing a diligent two-way game. There's a chance, due to his size, that he'll need to be moved to the wing as a pro. He has the traits to be a top-six forward.