2025 NHL Draft Live: Matthew Schaefer Takes Top Spot, Latest Scouting Reports Revealed

The New York Islanders are busy at the 2025 NHL Draft on June 27.

They ended up with the first overall pick after surprisingly winning the draft lottery in May and jumping up from 10th place.

They took Erie (Pennsylvania) Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the pick. Schaefer, who lost his mother to cancer , was emotional after the announcement .

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New Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche also was busy before the draft. The Islanders traded defenseman Noah Dobson to Montreal for forward Emil Heineman and the Canadiens' two first-round picks. The Islanders used the picks to draft Victor Eklund and Kashawn Aitcheson.

Red Line Report 's Kyle Woodlief is providing scouting reports for the players chosen in the first round of the 2025 draft. Follow along:

1. New York Islanders draft pick

Matthew Schaefer — Erie defenseman

Suffered a broken clavicle at the world juniors that required surgery and wasn’t able to return to the ice the rest of the year. But he had already separated himself from the rest of the pack as 2025’s best prospect. Tremendous compete level, leadership and IQ. He’s totally engaged from first puck drop and his engine never shuts off until the final buzzer. Defensively he does it all. Excellent coverage, blocks shots, initiate  physical contact, wins puck battles and makes fantastic zone exits. His tremendous skating allows him to join, and often lead, the rush.

Projection: Top pairing two-way defenseman and power play quarterback.

Style compares to: Josh Morrissey

2. San Jose Sharks draft pick

Michael Misa — Saginaw center

Highly skilled and creative center had a dominant regular season and captured the OHL scoring title, though he sustained a season-ending injury during the playoffs. Showed his skill, will and leadership on a nightly basis. Has tremendous hockey sense and offensive instincts - impressive in how quickly he processes the game and makes good decisions every shift. Sees developing plays early and buys extra time for his linemates, then gets them the puck in great scoring areas. Not only drives his line but drives his whole team offensively. Also extremely strong defensively, consistently using his speed, good angles and an active stick to regain possession of the puck.

Projection: Top line two-way center impacts game at both ends.

Style compares to: Aleksander Barkov

3. Chicago Blackhawks draft pick

Anton Frondell — Djurgarden center

Over the last two months of the season playing against men in Sweden, he was a dominant force every shift. Has excellent size/strength and shrugs off checkers. Very strong on the puck. Finishes checks. Causes big problems as a forechecker on the penalty kill, disrupting breakouts and stealing passes. Has the heaviest shot in this draft and an absolute bomb of a one-timer. Makes tremendous individual rushes and shows good touch in tight.

Projection: Competitive, top line goal scorer with size.

Style compares to: Mark Scheifele

4. Utah Mammoth draft pick

Caleb Desnoyers — Moncton center

Might be the most complete player in this draft – polished in every facet. Craves improvement and pays tremendous attention to detail. His play away from the puck is impeccable. Tall, rangy, smart center thinks the game well and plays it with speed, skill, controlled aggression and makes big contributions at both ends. Exceptional leadership qualities. Carries himself with confidence. Big and strong with soft hands, lots of puck poise and playmaking skill. Engages physically and finishes checks all over the ice. Never takes a shift off.

Projection: Complete two-way center. Captain plays in all situations.

Style compares to: Patrice Bergeron

5. Nashville Predators draft pick

Brady Martin — Sault Ste. Marie center

Super intense and plays a take-no-prisoners style. Makes numerous crushing hits every game and finishes every check. Relentless forecheck and constant pressure on the puck creates boatloads of turnovers that lead to great chances/goals – tough to play against. Tremendous lower body strength makes him impossible to move off the puck. Great work rate and ultra competitive - wins almost every puck battle. An absolute horse who impacts every aspect of the game. Powerful skater with good burst. Strong on his stick and great on faceoffs. Drives net hard with or without the puck.

Projection: Physical, attacking, heart and soul second line center.

Style compares to: Sam Bennett

6. Philadelphia Flyers draft pick

Porter Martone — Brampton right wing

Prototypical NHL power winger is a real load to handle. Has great size, ruggedness, soft hands and really good short area passing ability. An absolute beast who gets north/south quickly and competes at both ends, though at times looked bored this season and went through stretches where he wasn’t fully engaged. Normally he’s a blunt instrument who bludgeons foes into submission with his physicality, then has the offensive skills and finesse to make great plays down low in the offensive end. Loves to play in the greasy areas in front of the net and is willing to pay the price in tight areas.

Projection: Rugged top line scoring winger on a strong club.

Style compares to: Jason Robertson

7. Boston Bruins draft pick

James Hagens — Boston College center

Has a wonderfully creative and inventive mind. Is equally adept at sniping brilliant goals or making imaginative setups. Sees plays developing two full beats before anyone else on the ice and can feather delicate touch passes through traffic or zip rocket passes through layers of defense. Controls the pace of play when he’s on ice. Makes all his linemates better. Able to hold onto pucks an extra split second to give them time to break into open ice. Led the U.S. to world juniors gold, centering their top line and acting as catalyst on the power play.

Projection: Dynamic offensive catalyst and facilitator.

Style compares to: Jack Hughes/Artemi Panarin

8. Seattle Kraken draft pick

Jake O’Brien — Brantford center

Smooth skater with explosive speed, slick moves, great playmaking skills and an aptitude for playing without the puck. He’s always on the puck and drives his line – plays at a very high tempo. Has silky soft hands and makes smart plays with the puck under pressure. Keeps his feet moving and is in constant motion, making him difficult for defenders to contain. Attacks down the middle of the ice with speed and will use his great vision to distribute the puck to open teammates. He’s quick to get in on the forecheck and disruptive once he arrives. Always hunting loose pucks in the offensive zone but tracks back hard to his own end does a fantastic job of exerting back pressure on the puck. His defensive zone coverage is good and improving as his read and react skills continue to evolve.

Projection: Smooth, two-way second line center on a good club.

Style compares to: Nico Hischier

9. Buffalo Sabres draft pick

Radim Mrtka — Seattle defenseman

Humongous, gangly young defenseman is shockingly agile for his size, sees the ice well and moves the puck with crisp passes, getting it to the right spots. He’s patient and poised with the puck offensively and has good instincts. Makes great lateral moves off the point to bring the puck into the high slot and rip dangerous wristers. Will use his massive frame to win puck battles. Has the reach of a condor and uses it effectively to both defend and win races to loose pucks all over the ice. Handles the puck well, carrying pucks up the ice, leading rushes and making short passes with touch. Really asserts himself at both ends of the ice.

Projection: Huge and highly mobile top pairing defenseman.

Style compares to: Moritz Seider

10. Anaheim Ducks draft pick

Roger McQueen — Brandon right wing

This huge and highly talented forward missed most of the season with a back injury. But from a pure talent perspective, he’s one of the best prospects in this class – might even have been in contention to be the first overall selection. Can beat you in a multitude of ways. Skates extremely well with a long stride and is unbelievably smooth for a player his size. Has a hard, accurate shot that he gets off fast and can beat goaltenders from distance. Has some of the best hands in the draft, can walk around defenders with ease and handle the puck in tight to his body. He’s a problem off the rush and the cycle. Will throw the body around defensively. Dropped on our rankings due to his play after returning from injury, mainly his lack of creativity/carrying the puck into problem areas. And the back injury itself – spondylosis – seems like the type that could easily recur.

Projection: Massive second line scorer with huge upside... or bust.

Style compares to: Dylan Cozens

11. Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick

Ben Kindel — Calgary right wing

The best forward on one of the best teams in the WHL this season. Though on the small side, he’s involved all over the ice. Speedy and elusive with an explosive first three steps. One of the hardest working players in the draft. Always involved in the middle of the action – hounds the puck. Offensively, he has excellent patience with the puck, holding an extra beat to give linemates time to break for open ice, then hitting them with pinpoint passes. A real playmaker and sparkplug. Also has a hard, accurate shot and is great at finding open ice in the offensive zone. Makes outstanding stretch passes with vision. Competes hard in all three zones, which makes him effective defensively. He’s a plus player in all areas of the game outside of physicality, though he still plays with an edge.

Projection: Undersized, instinctive second liner on playoff team.

Style compares to: Jesper Bratt

We have a trade

The Penguins trade pick No. 12 to the Philadelphia Flyers for picks No. 22 and 31. No back-to-back picks for the Penguins and the Flyers go from three first-rounders to two.

12. Philadelphia Flyers draft pick

Jack Nesbitt — Windsor center

Big, strong, rangy center has grown into his body this season and has the strength to dominate the middle of the ice. His game is still quite raw and evolving, but he has a great combination of size, soft hands and a good compete level. He’s comfortable and effective in either a low scoring, grinding game or a high scoring affair where he can exhibit his skills. Tall, gangly kid lacks leg strength right now, but has above average straight line speed. Has quick, soft hands and puck skills, too. Has some snarl in his game, naturally aggressive and will get involved physically.

Projection: Big, goal scoring second line center on mid-tier club.

Style compares to: Brock Nelson

13. Detroit Red Wings draft pick

Carter Bear — Everett left wing

Plays one of those uber projectable pro style games in that he’s an effective contributor all over the ice and in different situations. His high work rate and forechecking skill are strong assets, and he has a varied offensive toolkit. While we’ve been fans of his game for years, we don’t necessarily see him a play driving, top line player. But with his shot, intensity and smarts, it’s easy to project him as a middle six center who can reliably take defensive zone matchup shifts, kill penalties or ride shotgun with a team’s star players. He’s the type of Swiss army knife forward every team needs.

Projection: Second/third line center on middle tier club.

Style compares to: Nick Schmaltz

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14. Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick

Jackson Smith — Tri-City defenseman

He has superb mobility, intelligence and size. Rugged defender plays a very physical game and is really strong to ride players off the puck, particularly on the penalty kill, where he outfights his man frequently in one-on-one puck battles to gain possession and clear the zone. Outstanding physical tools and competitiveness – should be a minute-muncheras a pro. He’s a presence in the defensive zone, where he controls the play. His team is rarely in trouble in their own end when he’s on the ice. Always in the proper position defensively with his head on a swivel around the net front. He’s willing to handle the puck and move up on the rush when he sees an opportunity. His shot makes him a good triggerman on the power play, but he lacks the offensive creativity to project as a true quarterback.

Projection: Powerhouse No. 2 defenseman and penalty kill mainstay.

Style compares to: Jakob Chychrun

15. Vancouver Canucks draft pick

Braeden Cootes — Seattle center

A 17-year-old, first line center on a rebuilding team who put up point-per-game numbers while also playing a reliable defensive game. Already the team captain and leader. Has a motor that just won’t quit and the two-way IQ and habits that will make him a coach’s favorite. Boasts a strong faceoff win rate along with heavy special teams usage. His ability to win possession battles is incredibly impressive considering his deployment against older, more physically mature top line centers. The offensive upside is there to project as a top six center, as are the pace and habits of a high value penalty killer. There are no major holes in his game, and his playmaking ability is underrated.

Projection: Third-line center with penalty killing ability on a strong club.

Style compares to: Philip Danault

16. New York Islanders draft pick

Victor Eklund — Djurgarden right wing

Constantly competes and is surprisingly physical for a smallish guy. Finishes checks and makes sure to get a piece of someone in scrums after the whistle. Grinds away along the walls and has a knack for coming out with the puck. Extremely dangerous on the power play, where he makes aggressive plays attacking right through the box.

Projection: Chippy playmaking winger on a playoff team.

Style compares to: Brendan Gallagher

17. New York Islanders pick

Kashawn Aitcheson — Barrie defenseman

He’s a nasty physical force in the defensive zone - plays a tough, hard, rugged game with an edge that forces opponents to keep their heads up. Always looking to initiate contact and mix it up physically but does lack some discipline and takes penalties when his emotions get the better of him. His puck movement is better at the offensive end than breaking pucks out of the defensive zone. Has a low, hard, heavy shot from the point and does a good job of getting shots through to the net with a quick release.  His footwork needs to be better in coverage down low.

Projection: Mean, nasty shutdown defender.

Style compares to: A less mobile Kaiden Guhle

18. Calgary Flames draft pick

Cole Reschny — Victoria center

A cerebral playmaker, he’s one of those guys the puck seems to follow around all shift. Not flashy but understands pacing and makes a lot of second effort plays. Successfully slows the pace down to his speed, then gets pucks to the right spots. He’s in the middle of a lot of good plays. Poised with the puck and incredibly adept at finding open ice. While not a burner, his slippery game relies on good four-way mobility and smarts. Clutch player who scores big goals. Doesn’t play at high tempo but is effective all across the ice.

Projection: Smallish but instinctive second line scoring center.

Style compares to: Marco Rossi

19. St. Louis Blues draft pick

Justin Carbonneau — Blainville-Boisbriand right wing

Has a great combination of size and top-notch individual skills. Flashy stickhandler beats defensemen off the rush with a variety of slick moves but does have a tendency to try too much on his own. Dynamic player who is not afraid to take chances but turns pucks over due to high-risk choices. Strong on his skates with excellent acceleration through the neutral zone. Drives through defenders and carries men on his back in order to attack the net. Strong finisher both in close and from distance - can overpower goalies with his heavy shot. We’d like to see him give up the puck to linemates in better scoring position rather than shoot all the time. Every defender in the arena knows what’s coming.

Projection: Second line scorer and power play threat for mid-tier team.

Style compares to: Owen Tippett

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20. Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick

Pyotr Andreyanov — CSKA goaltender

A huge-bodied and talented goaltender. Clearly the best young netminder in Russia and is actively developing, becoming more agile and flexible. He’s technically skilled and has ideal physical qualities. Excellent balance in his stance. Reliable and calm under pressure. His technique is similar to Andrei Vasilevskiy, but he lacks Vasilevskiy’s flexibility in his movements. Has excellent net coverage because he’s a wide goalie who continues to grow. Despite his size, he’s quite mobile - he just needs to adjust to his rapid physical growth. The main downside is his reaction to second shots. Also, he will occasionally open up holes when moving in the butterfly.

Projection: A solid No. 1 netminder.

Style compares to: Pyotr Kochetkov

What time is NHL draft tonight?

The first round of the 2025 NHL Draft will start at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, June 27. The second through seventh rounds will start at noon ET on Saturday, June 28.

Where to watch NHL draft

• Time: 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT) on Friday. // Noon ET (9 a.m. PT) on Saturday, June 28
• Location: L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater in Los Angeles (team officials will participate remotely).
• TV: ESPN on June 27. NHL Network on June 28.
• Stream: Fubo , ESPN+

2025 NHL Draft: First-round order

1. New York Islanders ( won draft lottery )
2. San Jose Sharks
3. Chicago Blackhawks
4. Utah Mammoth ( moved up in second draft lottery )
5. Nashville Predators
6. Philadelphia Flyers
7. Boston Bruins
8. Seattle Kraken
9. Buffalo Sabres
10. Anaheim Ducks
11. Pittsburgh Penguins
12. Pittsburgh Penguins (from New York Rangers via Vancouver Canucks)
13. Detroit Red Wings
14. Columbus Blue Jackets
15. Vancouver Canucks
16. New York Islanders (from Calgary Flames via Montreal Canadiens in the Noah Dobson trade).
17. Montreal Canadiens Note: This pick has reportedly been traded to the Islanders.
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 Golden Knights via Sharks)
27. Washington Capitals
28. Winnipeg Jets
29. Carolina Hurricanes
30. San Jose Sharks (from Dallas Stars)
31. Philadelphia Flyers (from Edmonton Oilers )
32. Calgary Flames (from Florida Panthers )

Who are the top prospects?

Top North American skaters

As ranked by NHL Central Scouting

1. Erie (OHL) defenseman Matthew Schaefer
2. Saginaw (OHL) center Michael Misa
3. Boston College center James Hagens
4. Brantford (OHL) center Jake O'Brien
5. Seattle (WHL) defenseman Radim Mrtka
6. Brampton (OHL) right wing Porter Martone
7. Moncton (QMJHL) center Caleb Desnoyers
8. Brandon (WHL) center Roger McQueen
9. Barrie (OHL) defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson
10. Everett (WHL) left wing Carter Bear

Top international skaters

1. Djurgarden (Sweden) center Anton Frondell
2. Djurgarden (Sweden) right wing Victor Eklund
3. Modo Jr. (Sweden) Milton Gastrin
4. Karlovy Vary (Czechia) left wing Vojtech Cihar
5. Ufa Jr. (Russia) right wing Alexander Zharovsky

Gary Bettman booed

It wouldn't be an NHL event if that didn't happen. The commissioner explained how the decentralized draft will work, including a draft house where prospects can virtually meet their new team executives.

How many rounds are the NHL draft?

There are seven rounds. The first round is on Friday, June 27, starting at 7 p.m. ET. The second through seventh rounds are on Saturday, June 28, starting at noon ET.

Draft is decentralized

This year, team officials are working out of their home cities while prospects, media and NHL officials are in Los Angeles. Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the vote to decentralize the draft was 26-6.

Sam Bennett re-signs with Panthers

Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito doesn't have a first-round pick but he made news before the draft. Forward Sam Bennett, the 2025 playoff MVP with 15 goals, agreed to terms on an eight-year contract . Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports it's worth $8 million a year. Earlier in the day, Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (four years, $4.38 million average) and Edmonton Oilers forward Trent Frederic (eight years, $3.85 million average) agreed to terms.

Eight-year deals reportedly will no longer be an option in the new collective-bargaining agreement.

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NHL draft prospects with notable bloodlines

Victor Eklund's brother is San Jose Sharks forward William Eklund. Eric Nilson's father Marcus played for the Panthers and Flames and went to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final. Artem Gonchar's uncle Sergei was an NHL defenseman for 20 seasons and won the 2009 Stanley Cup title. William Horcoff's father Shane played 1,008 NHL games and was Oilers captain for three seasons. Blake Fiddler's father Vernon played 877 NHL games. Daniel Granberg's uncle Mikael Renberg played on the Flyers' Legion of Doom line. Nicolas Sykora's father Petr won Stanley Cups in 2000 and 2009.

Cullen Potter's mother, Jenny, was a four-time Olympic hockey player. Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen's mother Manon was a Canadian Olympic and the first woman to play in an NHL preseason game. His uncle Pascal won a Stanley Cup in 2003.

Blue Jackets acquire Charlie Coyle, Miles Wood from Avalanche

The Avalanche get back 20-year-old forward Gavin Brindley, a third-round selection (77th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft and a conditional 2027 second-rounder. This move helps the Blue Jackets' depth. Wood has a lot of speed and kills penalties. Coyle, acquired by the Avalanche at the trade deadline, had 25 goals two seasons ago.

2025 NHL draft: Mock drafts

Kyle Woodlief lists Schaefer, Misa, Martone, Hagens and Frondell as his top five picks. Full list

Here is how AI predicts the first round .

2025 NHL Draft odds for second pick

With Matthew Schaefer expected to go No. 1 overall, here are odds from BetMGM for the second overall pick.

• Michael Misa -425
• Anton Frondell +250
• Caleb Desnoyers +1800
• Porter Martone +2000
• James Hagens +6600
• Jake O'Brien +10000

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2025 NHL Draft live updates: Matthew Schaefer goes first, scouting reports on picks