Senior NHL writer John Matisz offers his insights on the most interesting picks and notable moves Friday night during the opening round of the NHL draft.
Isles make franchise-altering pick
Mathieu Darche's first pick as Islanders GM is a no-brainer that immediately changes the club's trajectory. Matthew Schaefer is a safe bet to blossom into a minute-munching top-pair defenseman. He has the foundation - elite hockey sense, wonderful puck skills, exemplary skating, ample bite and size - to potentially challenge for a Norris Trophy down the road. The Islanders, who traded blue-liner Noah Dobson to Montreal earlier Friday, jumped nine spots during the draft lottery. The club last picked first overall in 2009 (John Tavares).
Sharks don't overthink it at No. 2
After some predraft buzz linking Anton Frondell to the Sharks, general manager Mike Grier makes the logical choice by selecting the consensus top forward in the class. Michael Misa, a projected impact top-six center, has a bulletproof profile. He's a dual offensive threat who's fast, physical, and competitive. The Oakville, Ontario, native put up an OHL-high 134 points in 65 games. San Jose has built an enviable young core - Macklin Celebrini and Misa at center, Will Smith and William Eklund on the wing, Sam Dickinson on defense, and Yaroslav Askarov in net.
Hawks play it safe with Anton Frondell
Chicago selects a two-way center in Frondell over a handful of other viable options, including Porter Martone, James Hagens, and Caleb Desnoyers. Frondell boasts arguably the best shot in the class and earns comparisons stylistically to Panthers center Anton Lundell. The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder recorded the highest points-per-game rate ever for an 18-year-old playing in Sweden's second-best pro league. The Blackhawks have grabbed a bunch of high-octane forwards in recent drafts, most notably sniper Connor Bedard, so Frondell adds a different element to their core.
Utah finds second-line center at No. 4
Caleb Desnoyers, an all-around forward out of the QMJHL's Moncton Wildcats, brings needed depth to Utah's center group. The club will be icing a one-two-three punch of Logan Cooley, Desnoyers, and Barrett Hayton sooner than later. Desnoyers is known for his detail-oriented game, playmaking, bite, and big-game performances. The Mammoth are becoming the main character of the offseason: They acquired and extended star forward JJ Peterka from the Sabres on Wednesday, just made a sizable splash in the top five of the draft, and are expected to be active in free agency.
Preds take chance on late-rising Martin
Predators GM Barry Trotz said in 2023 that he wants to take some "high-end swings" at the draft. Picking Brady Martin at fifth is a swing, but it's not necessarily a high-end one with more talented players still available. Martin is the biggest late-season riser of the class due to phenomenal showings at the U-18 worlds and scouting combine. A proven goal-scorer in the OHL, Martin is competitive and physical to the point of instilling fear in opponents. He projects to be an all-situations top-six forward. Nashville last picked in the top 10 of the draft in 2013. The Predators also have the 23rd and 26th selections. Do they leave Day 1 with a player from each position? It's very possible.
James Hagens' slide ends with Bruins
Hagens was the consensus No. 1 prospect coming into the season. Then he put up 37 points in 37 games for Boston College as a freshman. He slid to seventh mostly due to overscouting. Hagens' game was nitpicked over several years in the spotlight, and within a few seasons, there may be a high-picking club - perhaps the Flyers, who drafted winger Porter Martone sixth - that regrets passing on the dynamic center. Hagens possesses sick skating, puck skills, and vision. He rockets to the top of Boston's prospect pool.
Top 10 rounded out by 3 intriguing kids
At No. 8, the Kraken snag arguably the most creative player in the class in playmaking center Jake O'Brien. (Seattle's now five drafts into its existence and has yet to select a defenseman or goalie in the first round.) At No. 9, the Sabres pick up 6-foot-6 Czech Radim Mrtka two days after acquiring another giant right-handed defenseman, Michael Kesselring. (Totally defensible pick for Buffalo, given the need and talent.) At No. 10, the size-loving Ducks take a tremendously skilled 6-foot-5 center in Roger McQueen. (He could be great value for Anaheim; however, McQueen was still on the board mostly due to concerns related to a back injury that kept him out for all but 20 WHL games this year.)
Penguins, Flyers both go off the board
OK, now we have some jaws dropping around the league. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia (thanks to a trade with the Penguins) call upon two players who'd been projected to go much later at Nos. 11 and 12, respectively. The Penguins take Benjamin Kindel, an undersized forward with high hockey IQ and silky hands. He recorded 99 points in 65 WHL games for Calgary but probably could have been picked in the 20s. The Flyers select Jack Nesbitt. While the 6-foot-4 center needs to fill out his frame, he's already a strong net-front presence. However, considering Nesbitt's lackluster skating and the better names that are still available, it's an uninspiring pick.
Teams call on 3 relentless forwards
One theme of the 2025 class is that there's plenty of dogged forwards. The Red Wings had three staring at them with the 13th pick and chose Carter Bear. A high-floor winger who bagged 40 goals in 56 WHL games for Everett, he reminds scouts of Lightning star Brandon Hagel. Then there's Braeden Cootes, whom the Canucks took two picks later at No. 15. Cootes is a Swiss Army knife of a right-shot center. Vancouver is getting energy, physicality, forechecking, and leadership with Cootes. Canucks GM Patrik Allvin, who didn't pick until the 93rd selection last year, needed to add a center to the organization's pipeline. A third dogged forward? Victor Eklund, arguably the best player available for the Islanders at No. 16. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound winger plays a power game. He's speedy, aggressive, dependable in all three zones - a dog with a bone.
Blues select boom-or-bust goal-scorer
St. Louis' farm system is thin at center, with little promise beyond 2023 first-round pick Dalibor Dvorsky, and the club holds just three total picks this weekend (19th, 147th, and 179th). But the Blues can't help themselves with sniping winger Justin Carbonneau still around after Calgary took Cole Reschny off the board at No. 18. Carbonneau is considered a boom-or-bust prospect. He's a strong skater, owns a wicked shot, and is by no means small (6-foot-1, 192 pounds). He scored 46 goals in 62 QMJHL games this past season. His bust potential comes from his inconsistent decision-making. Given the other options at this point of the draft, this is a totally justifiable pick at No. 19.
Senators take another RHD in Hensler
Last year, Sens GM Steve Staios only picked players listed at 6-foot-2 or taller with his six selections in his first draft for the team. Right-handed defenseman Carter Yakemchuk was Ottawa's lone 2024 first-rounder. And now, with the top selection of his second draft, Staios takes another right-handed blue-liner in Logan Hensler. The mobile 6-foot-2 Wisconsin freshman is a savvy pick at 23rd overall; there's top-four potential. (Ottawa traded No. 21 to get Nos. 23 and 67 from Nashville.)
Isles, Preds, and Pens all over draft board
If it feels like every third pick is being made by one of three teams, it's because the Islanders, Predators, and Penguins have combined for nine selections in the first 26. New York's enjoyed a franchise-altering day with Schaefer (No. 1), Eklund (16), and Kashawn Aitcheson (17). That's a franchise blue-liner, top-six winger, and second-pair blue-liner. Nashville's done well too with Martin (No. 5), defenseman Cameron Reid (21), and winger Ryker Lee (26) all reasonable choices. Pittsburgh's work is less encouraging with the Kindel reach at No. 11, though Bill Zonnon (22) and William Horcoff (24) are two personal favorites.
Keep an eye on Capitals and Lakovic
The Capitals are one of the NHL's smartest organizations. They like to bet on upside at the draft - something more teams should do. They're also not afraid to go against the grain on player types, taking large forwards who don't have a defined physical game when other clubs won't. Aliaksei Protas (91st overall in 2019) and Ilya Protas (75th in 2024) are two success stories. Keep an eye on Lynden Lakovic, Washington's first on Friday at No. 27. The sharpshooting 6-foot-4 winger took a huge step this season. Some scouts are worried about his compete level, which is probably why he fell into the Capitals' lap here.
High school QB West is Chicago-bound
The Blackhawks take the flier of the first round at No. 29. Mason West is a 6-foot-6 playmaking center out of the Minnesota high school system. He's extremely skilled and quick. The risk is related to West's unique path: The longtime football quarterback is committed to playing his senior season at Edina High in the fall, with the stated goal of winning a state title. West is off to USHL Fargo for the 2025-26 hockey season, then Michigan State for hockey in 2026-27. Chicago clearly loves the kid; the Hawks acquired the 29th pick from Carolina in exchange for the 34th and 62nd picks in 2025, plus a fifth-rounder in 2027.
Rare multi-goalie Round 1
Two goalies were drafted in Round 1 for only the second time since 2012. This time Columbus and San Jose pounced in the back half, with the Blue Jackets surprising the hockey world with small but super-smart netminder Pyotr Andreyanov at No. 20 and the Sharks ending right-catching goalie Joshua Ravensbergen's slide at 30. Ravensbergen, a 6-foot-5, extremely athletic kid out of North Vancouver, British Columbia, is the consensus top guy in the class.
