With the conclusion of the conference semifinals, it’s time for the eliminated teams to look towards the future.
The NHL announced on Monday that the draft order from the first through 28th overall picks has been finalized, cementing spots for all 12 teams that have been knocked out of the post-season.
After the first 16 picks were set at the draft lottery earlier in May, the next 12 were determined by when each team was eliminated as well as its final regular-season point tally and divisional placement.
Teams that did not win their division were placed in inverse order of regular-season points, followed by the four division winners who were eliminated in inverse order of regular-season points.
All four division winners (Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets and Vegas Golden Knights) were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, meaning that they’ve slotted into picks 25-28 in inverse order of their regular-season point total.
The final four spots in the draft, picks 29-32, will be determined in the final two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Pick 29 will go to the team that loses in the conference finals with the fewest regular-season points, while pick 30 will go to the other losing team. The 31st pick will go to the runner-up in the Stanley Cup Final while the winner has the 32nd and final selection.
The conference finals begin Tuesday with the Florida Panthers heading to Carolina to take on the Hurricanes. On Wednesday, the Edmonton Oilers visit the Dallas Stars in Game 1 of the West final.
Full coverage of the conference finals will be available on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
2025 draft order from picks 1 to 28:
1. New York Islanders
2. San Jose Sharks
3. Chicago Blackhawks
4. Utah Mammoth
5. Nashville Predators
6. Philadelphia Flyers
7. Boston Bruins
8. Seattle Kraken
9. Buffalo Sabres
10. Anaheim Ducks
11. Pittsburgh Penguins
12. New York Rangers
13. Detroit Red Wings
14. Columbus Blue Jackets
15. Vancouver Canucks
16. Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary Flames)
17. Montreal Canadiens
18. Calgary Flames (from New Jersey Devils)
19. St. Louis Blues
20. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Minnesota Wild)
21. Ottawa Senators
22. Philadelphia Flyers (from Colorado Avalanche)
23. Nashville Predators (from Tampa Bay Lightning)
24. Los Angeles Kings
25. Chicago Blackhawks (from Toronto Maple Leafs)
26. Nashville Predators (from Vegas Golden Knights via San Jose Sharks)
27. Washington Capitals
28. Winnipeg Jets
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