The 2025 NHL Entry Draft represents a significant milestone as the league’s 63rd annual player selection event . Here’s what we know about this upcoming draft:
Key Details
- Location: Peacock Theater, Los Angeles, California
- Dates:
- First Round: June 27, 2025 (7 p.m. ET)
- Rounds 2-7: June 28, 2025 (Noon ET)
- Broadcast: ESPN, ESPN+, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Current Top Prospects
North American Skaters:
- Matthew Schaefer (Defenseman)
- Michael Misa (Center)
- James Hagens (Center)
- Jake O’Brien (Center)
- Radim Mrtka (Defenseman)
European Skaters:
- Anton Frondell (Center)
- Victor Eklund (Right Wing)
- Milton Gastrin (Center)
- Vojtech Cihar (Left Wing)
- Alexander Zharovsky (Right Wing)
Draft Lottery Results
On May 5, 2025, the NHL held its draft lottery with significant outcomes:
- New York Islanders won the lottery, moving up nine spots to secure the first overall pick
- Utah Mammoth won the second lottery, moving up the maximum ten spots to secure the fourth pick
- This marked the first time the league broadcast lottery results live
Current First Round Order (Picks 1-28)
- New York Islanders
- San Jose Sharks
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Utah Mammoth
- Nashville Predators
- Philadelphia Flyers
- Boston Bruins
- Seattle Kraken
- Buffalo Sabres
- Anaheim Ducks
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- New York Rangers
- Detroit Red Wings
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- Vancouver Canucks
- Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary)
- Montreal Canadiens
- Calgary Flames (from New Jersey)
- St. Louis Blues
- Columbus Blue Jackets (from Minnesota)
- Ottawa Senators
- Philadelphia Flyers (from Colorado)
- Nashville Predators (from Tampa Bay)
- Los Angeles Kings
- Chicago Blackhawks (from Toronto)
- Nashville Predators (from Vegas via San Jose)
- Washington Capitals
- Winnipeg Jets
Notable Team Situations
- Multiple First-Round Picks:
- Philadelphia Flyers: Three picks (#6, #22, #23)
- Nashville Predators: Three picks (#5, #23, #26)
- Other teams with multiple picks include San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Montreal Canadiens
Remaining Draft Positions
Picks 29-32 will be determined based on playoff outcomes:
- #29: Conference finals loser with fewer regular-season points
- #30: Other conference finals loser
- #31: Stanley Cup Finals runner-up
- #32: Stanley Cup champion
Eligibility Requirements
Players born between January 1, 2005, and September 15, 2007, are eligible for selection. Additionally, undrafted non-North American players born in 2004 who haven’t played a complete draft season in North America are also eligible, along with certain players from the 2023 NHL entry draft who weren’t signed by NHL teams