The Florida Panthers just lifted a second consecutive Stanley Cup, but the hockey world quickly recalibrates in Los Angeles, where the NHL’s future stars begin as 2025 draftees. The New York Islanders are on the clock, after winning the lottery for the first pick. New York is expected to take Matthew Schaefer, a 17-year-old prodigal defenseman from Ontario.

How to watch the 2025 NHL Draft
RoundTime (ET)TVStream

1

7 p.m., Fri.

ESPN

2-7

Noon, Sat.

NHL Network

Both days can also be viewed on ESPN+.

The San Jose Sharks have pick No. 2, followed by the Chicago Blackhawks and then Utah (oh, that’s right, the Utah Mammoth has arrived). It’s a particularly strong draft class for the center position, headlined by talents such as Caleb Desnoyers, Anton Frondell, James Hagens and Michael Misa.

Trade action is already underway. The New York Rangers sent pick No. 12 to the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of the J.T. Miller deal from earlier this season. The Philadelphia Flyers took a flier on Trevor Zegras, the ninth selection in 2019’s entry draft. In exchange, the Anaheim Ducks landed Ryan Poehling, pick No. 45 this year and a 2026 fourth-rounder. And up in Canada, the Edmonton Oilers traded Evander Kane to his hometown Vancouver Canucks; they fetched a Saturday fourth-round pick to get off the veteran winger’s contract.

Current draft order (top 10)

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

The full draft order can be found here. 

In-depth coverage of this weekend’s draft

Corey Pronman projects all 224 picks

Scott Wheeler has comparisons for the top prospects

The biggest question facing each team

Our staff’s hot takes, over ice

Player poll with 50 draft hopefuls

Draft class leaders by points shares, with selection number listed
2024: Macklin Celebrini (No. 1)
2023: Connor Bedard (No. 1)
2022: Logan Cooley (No. 3)
2021: Wyatt Johnston (No. 23)
2020: Tim Stützle (No. 3)
2019: Jack Hughes (No. 1)
2018: Quinn Hughes (No. 7)
2017: Cale Makar (No. 4)
2016: Auston Matthews (No. 1)
2015: Connor McDavid (No. 1)
Islanders No. 1 picks
2009: John Tavares (9 NYI seasons, 6 ASG appearances)
2000: Rick DiPietro (11 NYI seasons, 1 ASG appearance)
1973: Denis Potvin (15 NYI seasons, 9 ASG appearances, 4 Stanley Cup titles, Hall of Fame)
1972: Billy Harris (8 NYI seasons, 1 ASG appearance)

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(Photo of  Matthew Schaefer: Dennis Pajot / Getty Images)