Draft NHL 2025: Winners, Losers, and Key Moments of the Event

2025 NHL Draft: Winners and Losers

The 2025 NHL Draft has concluded, leaving behind a trail of emotions, surprises, and memorable moments. Alofoke Deportes presents a detailed analysis of the teams, players, and situations that marked this event.

Draft Winners

The NHL Draft is an event that goes beyond the simple selection of players. It’s a time to create bonds, honor loved ones, and demonstrate the organizations’ commitment to their players. The first pick, Matthew Schaefer, selected by the New York Islanders, received an emotional tribute to his mother. The organization gave him a jersey with a purple ribbon in honor of the fight against breast cancer and his mother’s initials on the collar. Schaefer, visibly moved, kissed the ribbon, demonstrating the importance of this gesture.

“This is a high-class organization. Many people may say, ‘Oh, it’s just a tie,’ but it means a lot to me. My mother is a big part of my life. This shirt, I’m going to hang it up for sure.”

Matthew Schaefer

The Anaheim Ducks also stood out by creating an unforgettable experience for their tenth selection. The player was transported by helicopter and taken to Disneyland, where he met Lightning McQueen. These gestures demonstrate the importance of creating lasting memories for young players.

Goalkeepers in the Spotlight

A recurring tradition in the draft is the debate over the advisability of selecting a goalkeeper in the first round. This year, the discussion regained momentum with the selection of Pyotr Andreyanov by the Blue Jackets and Joshua Ravensbergen by the San Jose Sharks. The selection of two goalkeepers in the first round is an uncommon event. The last time this happened was four years ago. Will this be the beginning of a new trend or will we have to wait several years to see goalkeepers in the first round again?

The Sharks Look to the Future

Despite being in reconstruction, the San Jose Sharks have a promising future. After selecting Macklin Celebrini in the previous draft, the team added Michael Misa, a potential elite center, and goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen. In addition, defenseman Simon Wang, the highest-ranked Chinese player in an NHL draft, completes a group of young prospects who could lead the Sharks to long-term success. General Manager Mike Grier is making smart decisions that are building a solid organization for the future.

James Hagens: The Desired

James Hagens, considered a high-level prospect, experienced a change in his position in the rankings, but was ultimately selected by the Boston Bruins in the seventh position. Islanders fans, his hometown team, chanted his name during the ceremony, demonstrating the affection they have for him. The Bruins had the help of Adam Sandler to announce the selection, adding an emotional touch to the moment. The first time Hagens plays against the Islanders will be a surreal moment.

Adam Sandler announces the Bruins’ pick in the NHL draft. Adam Sandler makes a nod to his famous character “Happy Gilmore” to announce that the Bruins select James Hagens from Boston College with the seventh pick.

The WHL and its Historical Performance

The Western Hockey League (WHL) tied the record of nine selections in the first round, demonstrating the quality of players it produces. Radim Mrtka was the ninth selection, extending the WHL’s streak of having a selection in the first round for five consecutive years. The WHL continues to be a significant source of talent for the NHL, with players like Seth Jarvis, Connor Bedard, and Zach Benson, among others, who have made it to the league.

The Blues and Their Jokes

The St. Louis Blues extended the contract of their young goaltender Joel Hofer and took the opportunity to throw a jab at the Edmonton Oilers on their social media. In addition to securing Hofer, the Blues selected Justin Carbonneau, a prospect with the potential to score more than 20 goals per season.

Arizona State in the Elite

Cullen Potter, selected by the Calgary Flames, made history by becoming the first player from Arizona State’s men’s hockey program to be chosen in the first round. The university joins a select group of institutions that have had players selected in the first round of the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, and WNBA.

The Draft Losers

The Decentralized Draft: 26 NHL general managers opted for a decentralized format, seeking to save costs and work from their home arenas. However, the lack of face-to-face interaction and the absence of significant exchanges were some of the consequences. This experience could lead the NHL to reconsider this format in the future. Fans of the Exchanges: The excitement for the transfers was limited, despite expectations. Fans hoped to see significant moves before the opening of free agency, but few materialized. The NTDP’s Streak: The U.S. national team development program (NTDP) had no players selected in the first round. This situation marks the first time since 2008 that the NTDP has no first-round selection. Dress Codes: The NHL is reviewing its policies on dress codes for players. A player selected in the last round, Aidan Park, attended the draft in casual clothes, which sparked a debate about dress codes in hockey. The Finnish Adventure in California: Finland didn’t have a player selected in the first round, breaking a recent trend. The country finished the draft with eight players selected, its lowest number since 2014.