Arizona State’s Cullen Potter poses with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after his selection by the Calgary Flames with the 32nd overall pick during the first round of the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft at the Peacock Theater Friday in Los Angeles. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES – For the first time in the history of the league, the words “from Arizona State University” were uttered at the NHL Draft.
After a freshman season that saw Sun Devils forward Cullen Potter rack up 35 points, the Calgary Flames selected the Wisconsin native Friday with the 32nd pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
The night culminated with Potter walking to the stage in Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater, standing in front of a big screen with a Flames “No. 25” sweater behind him and posing for a picture with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
“It’s been a long journey, ever since I was a kid, but I just put in a lot of work and it’s just the beginning of this journey now, so, super happy and speechless,” Potter said.
Since joining the NCAA in 2015, Arizona State has produced multiple NHL prospects. Players including forward Josh Doan, goaltender Joey Daccord and defender Ty Murchison all have been selected by NHL franchises. The difference between those players and Potter? They were drafted as incoming freshmen.
As players walked the red carpet outside of the Peacock Theater Friday, NHL war rooms prepped for the 2025 NHL Draft.
An excited crowd packed into the theater that sits across the street from Crypto.com Arena, the home of the Los Angeles Kings.
ASU fans hoped they would be able to hear Potter’s name called on Friday night, not having to wait until Saturday for rounds 2-7. As picks passed by in round one, only the Flames remained in the opening round.
As Hall of Famer Lanny Macdonald, who won a Stanley Cup with Calgary, walked up to the podium to announce the pick, Sun Devils everywhere held their breath.
They would receive the outcome they awaited. Potter became the final pick of round one in 2025, and the Flames were thrilled.
“His speed alone,” Calgary general manager Craig Conroy said. “He’s fast, quick, electric, he’s got high hockey sense. To be this young playing in college hockey, it’s not easy.”
After Friday’s first round, Potter became the first player to be drafted after playing a season at Arizona State. Potter is also the first Sun Devils player to be selected in the first round of the NHL Draft.
“To hear a player called from Arizona State is going to be a really cool moment for everybody that’s played for our program,” said ASU coach Greg Powers before the draft.
In October, Powers said that Potter’s skills and ability makes him “the best player that’s ever played (at Arizona State).” Potter racked up 13 goals in 35 games as ASU would make the semifinals of the NCHC conference tournament.
“He’s a great Sun Devil,” said Powers, who has been ASU’s coach since 2010. “He had a great freshman year and we’re looking forward to having him back this year. He’s going to have a really big year.”
After hearing his name called by an NHL team, Potter plans to return to ASU to continue to work on improvement before making the jump to the pros.
“It’s been huge having the staff having confidence in me coming in a year early, just being able to trust me,” Potter said. “I think it’s been huge, and them taking a chance on me, I think it paid off for me and them, too, and I had a great year and can’t wait to go back next year.”
Cullen Potter was destined to play hockey. His dad coached the sport for 20 years and his mom, Jenny Potter, is a U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer, Olympic gold medalist and a four time gold medalist at the IIHF Women’s World Championship.
In the 2022-23 season, Potter tallied 87 points in 52 games as a member of the Dallas Stars Elite 16U AAA team. When that season started, Potter was 15.
The next season, Potter put up 46 points in 54 games on the U-17 national team and became the first player in national team history to leave the program for college after his U-17 season.
“The kid played as a 17 year old in the NCAA,” said Shane Doan, who spent 20 seasons playing for the Arizona Coyotes. “That’s pretty special.”
Cullen Potter stepped into Arizona State during its first season as the primary hockey team in Arizona.
Since its inception in 1983 as a club program, the ASU hockey team has found itself growing exponentially, eventually joining the NCAA in 2015. With a tournament appearance in 2019 and the introduction of Mullet Arena, ASU’s 5,000-seat hockey venue, in 2022, and joining the NCHC in 2024, ASU found itself with a sustainable hockey team.
Meanwhile, Arizona’s NHL team, the Coyotes, were in a very different position.
In April of 2024, it was announced that the Coyotes’ 28-year run in Arizona would come to an end, with the franchise relocating to Utah. This move left ASU as the premier hockey team in the desert.
With increased attention on the Sun Devils, ASU placed second in its conference and ended the year ranked 15th in the nation. Potter was a consistent starter and one of the most important pieces for ASU.
“You see the development calling out an unbelievable year at ASU this year and we’re all proud of him and who he’s turned into as a player,” said Josh Doan, who spent two seasons playing for ASU. “(ASU has) taken the step in becoming what’s going to carry hockey in Arizona for the next little bit, and he’s a big part of that.”
Continuing the development of the program, ASU had another player selected by an NHL team.
With the 63rd pick, the New Jersey Devils selected incoming freshman Sun Devil forward Ben Kevan.
Kevan joins Potter as Sun Devils who joined from the U.S. National Team Development Program.
Kevan will become the sixth player to play for the Sun Devils after being drafted as an incoming freshman.
“I really want to win a national championship with coach Powers and all those guys,” said Kevan, who scored 43 points in 53 games in the USHL. “I’m really excited to get going.”
Potter and Kevan were able to attend the draft with Powers. Seeing three Sun Devils at the draft instills hope for the continued growth of the program.
Sun Devils are in sunny LA for the #NHLDraft 🌴 pic.twitter.com/MK0wS7gZ0t
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) June 27, 2025
Two NHL prospects on the same team is bound to excite fans inside Mullet Arena. The two players are looking forward together.
“He’s really excited and he’s just one of those kids who’s ready to work no matter who picks him,” Kevan said. “I’m really happy that he was able to get picked in that first round because I know that was a goal of his from the start of the year.”
His return to ASU means Potter can help the Sun Devils try to achieve their dreams, too.