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The 2025 NHL Draft marks the introduction to the league for a fresh batch of young prospects from around the world.
The New York Islanders made the first pick, selecting 17-year-old Matthew Schaefer from Hamilton, Canada.
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Matthew Schaefer selected by New York Islanders with first pick in 2025 NHL Draft
The Calgary Flames have selected 18-year-old Arizona State C Cullen Potter with the 32nd pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Potter left the U.S. NTDP following his U17 season, changing his commitment from Michigan State to Arizona State and beginning his college career early. It was a risky decision, but the early dividends have been positive. He looked very good for Arizona State and helped them in a meaningful way as a 17-year-old. Potter's skating is elite. His edge work plus foot speed are both clearly NHL-level. He will be able to generate a lot of controlled entries in the NHL due to his feet and a very high skill level. Potter is more of a one-on-one and shooter type of forward than a playmaker even though he can make plays. For a smaller forward, I would like to see Potter not stay on the perimeter as much as he does, but he has enough interior offense that I think he can score in the NHL as a middle-six winger.
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Joshua Ravensbergen was selected with the No. 30 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft by the San Jose Sharks. '
Read more on the Sharks' latest draft pick below.
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How goalie Joshua Ravensbergen went from unknown to Sharks’ 2025 NHL Draft pick
The Los Angeles Kings have selected 18-year-old London D Henry Brzustewicz with the 31st pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Brzustewicz played a notable role on a strong London team this season, appearing at times on both special teams. He's a tall right-shot who skates well and doesn't shy from using his feet to jump up into the attack. He's a skilled and creative player with the puck. Brzustewicz can make plays through opponents, hit seams in the offensive zone and can create offense on the move. Defensively he's reliable, using his length and feet to close on pucks and getting back to retrieve efficiently while also having an edge in his game. He's been a sharp riser this season, a story we've heard often with London players developing well. I could see more offense coming from him with more opportunity.
Pick grade: B-
Thoughts on the pick: West was one of the most polarizing players in this year’s draft. He’s a first-round hockey talent, with legit size, speed and skill. He is a legit dual-sport athlete, though, who is committed to playing football in the fall of 2025 before going to the USHL. This is a massive gamble given those obvious risks. I don’t mind the pick at 29, I probably wouldn’t have traded up for him, though.
The San Jose Sharks have selected 18-year-old Prince George G Joshua Ravensbergen with the 30th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Ravensbergen was up and down this season after a standout rookie year in the WHL. His numbers are average, but his toolkit is going to be highly desirable to NHL teams, and he was still one of the better goalies in the WHL. He’s 6-foot-5. He’s very athletic with the quick-twitch in his lower half of a 6-foot-1 goaltender. He anticipates the play well and is quite aggressive in challenging shooters with his big frame. He can be a bit over-aggressive and chaotic in net, bouncing/flopping around too much. His reads do concern me at times, but for the most part, he's in the right place. He can make a lot of tough saves and does so in a way that makes him look like a potential starting goaltender in the NHL.
With their third first-round pick of the draft, the Blackhawks take 6-foot-6 high school center (and quarterback!) Mason West. The Blackhawks reached a bit with high-schooler Sam Rinzel at No. 25 a few years ago. Rinzel almost immediately became Chicago's No. 1 defenseman when he reached the NHL for the last nine games of the 2024-25 season, so that one worked out quite well. Plus, with 2024 third-rounder AJ Spellacy, the Blackhawks would own any flag-football competitions at future All-Star weekends.
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The Chicago Blackhawks have selected 17-year-old Edina C Mason West with the 29th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
West is a very interesting prospect. He's huge at 6-foot-6 and quite athletic in how easily he gets around the ice. That athleticism is also why he is being recruited as a D-1 football player. He's a better hockey prospect than football prospect, but he's been indecisive in discussions with teams about which sport he prefers. On the ice, you see the talent. The speed and skill for his size are very unique. He creates a lot of controlled entries due to that combination. West's compete is average, though, as well as his playmaking. The team that drafts him will bank on him not being fully developed yet, and ideally him picking hockey full-time. He started off the season slow, but was very good in the big games in Minnesota High School and in the USHL this spring. He has middle-six forward potential if the offense clicks at higher levels.
Sascha Boumedienne's bet on himself to make the jump to Boston University in his draft year has paid off. Boumedienne was selected with the No. 28 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft by the Winnipeg Jets.
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How ‘uber talent’ Sascha Boumedienne became a top 2025 NHL Draft pick for the Winnipeg Jets
With Chicago trading back into the first round, this will be the 11th first-round pick that Kyle Davidson has made in just four drafts: Three in 2022, two in 2023, three in 2024, and now three in 2025.
Pick grade: B+
Thoughts on the pick: Boumedienne is a great skating defenseman who had his ups and downs this season, but the ups were very impressive. He has a lot of NHL traits, and although he can be a bit erratic, I like the value on his skill set and track record at 28.
The Winnipeg Jets have selected 18-year-old Boston University LHD Sascha Boumedienne with the 28th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Boumedienne went to school as a 17-year-old and it was a major adjustment as the youngest player in the NCAA, but he was better in the second half of the season as a top-four defenseman on a top BU team. He was also one of the best defensemen at the U18 Worlds. His skating gets you excited about his NHL projection. He has NHL foot speed and edge work, and his stride gets him around the ice effortlessly. He closes on gaps and retrieves pucks like a pro. His puck game is good, but not amazing. He makes plays and has above-average skills, but he doesn’t project as a major offensive type at the higher levels and his decision-making with the puck can be questionable at times. The hope with Boumedienne is that with his skating he can be a steady first-pass type who can make stops and eat minutes, even if he doesn't truly stand out at either end.
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Pick grade: B
Thoughts on the pick: Lakovic is a very talented forward. He’s big, fast, skilled and can rip a puck. He got carved by the league this season for his consistency and compete level, though, and predictably falls in the draft. I would’ve had issues taking him top 15. At 27, it’s a worthwhile gamble on the tools for Washington.
Pick grade: C+
Thoughts on the pick: Lee was one of the best players in the USHL this season, dazzling scouts with his skill, vision and shot. He’s average-sized, though, with subpar skating. This is a swing on skill by Nashville, as there’s significant risk this profile doesn’t translate up levels. He has some big fans in the league, but I do have some skepticism about his skating in the NHL. In some ways, he reminds me of Preds forward Luke Evangelista.
Pick grade: C+
Thoughts on the pick: Nestrasil’s stock shot up following his second half and playoffs for Muskegon. He’s a huge winger who can skate, has skill and works hard. He’s not the most creative player with the puck, but his athletic toolkit and potential are high-end. He projects as a unique profile in a bottom six.
The Washington Capitals have selected 18-year-old Moose Jaw LW Lynden Lakovic with the 27th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Lakovic was the best player on a poor Moose Jaw team, but his body of work plus his athleticism is impressive. He's a 6-foot-4 winger who skates quite well for his size. He has a powerful and fluid stride and can easily avoid checkers. He's a creative offensive player with the hands to make defenders miss often. Lakovic sees the ice well enough but scouts aren't fully convinced on that aspect of his game. He's more of a scorer than a passer with a legit mid-range shot. His compete level is mediocre. It won't hold him back at the top level, but I wouldn't call him a hard-to-play-against type who makes full use of his big frame and he plays too much on the outside. He projects as a top-six winger.
New Montreal Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson said Friday night that once it became clear he would not be able to come to terms on a new contract with the New York Islanders, the focus from both parties shifted to a trade. Dobson was excited to join the Canadiens, saying games at the Bell Centre were always his favorite road games of the year. But mainly, he's excited by the young core the Canadiens have assembled and the team's potential to compete in the coming years. "I know what they've been building the last few years, and it's a special group," Dobson said.
Dobson said he is getting married on Monday, which only added to the stress of the last week.
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The Nashville Predators gave selected 18-year-old Madison RW Ryker Lee with the 26th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Lee was one of the top forwards in the USHL this season. His talent stands out when he has the puck on his stick. He shows high-end small-area skills, and ability to beat opponents one-on-one. He is a creative playmaker who can find lanes and run a power play well. Lee has a great wrist shot, and has the ability to beat goalies from the faceoff dots. His compete level is OK. He shows up consistently, but he's not overly physical and like a lot of shooters he stays too much on the outside. His skating is also a concern for scouts. He gets around fine in the USHL, but he lacks the quick twitch you'd like in an NHL wing,er especially given his average-sized frame. His talent could get his games, but his lack of pace will likely test a coach's patience.
Pick grade: B
Thoughts on the pick: Horcoff had a great second half at Michigan, looking like he belonged in a top conference as a U18 player. He’s a huge and highly skilled playmaking forward with heavy feet. I like him at this spot, and think he can be a middle-six forward in the NHL.
The Chicago Blackhawks gave selected 18-year-old Muskegon RW Muskegon with the 25th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Nestrasil kept getting better as the season went along. becoming a top player for the eventual USHL champion in Muskegon. His tools and projection for the pro game are highly intriguing. He's a huge winger who can move quite well for a big man and has some offense in his game. When Nestrasil gets going, he has the foot speed of an NHL player and can create a lot of controlled entries. His first few steps are just OK, though. I'd like to see him use his big body more to get to the net, but Nestrasil has the skill to create in small areas. He competes well, can kill penalties, and will be a player that coaches tend to trust. He projects as a bottom six wing in the NHL.
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