There was a debate for a little bit as to who the New York Islanders should select No. 1 overall at the 2025 NHL Draft after the club won its first draft lottery since 2009.

But, since the draft combine, 17-year-old defenseman Matthew Schaefer has emerged as the clear-cut favorite. On Monday, TSN's Bob Mackenzie released his final draft rankings, citing that Schaefer is the unanimous No. 1 selection.

"The true testament to defenceman Matthew Schaefer’s prodigious talent and boundless potential as the undisputed No. 1 prospect in the NHL’s Class of 2025 can be found in the numbers. Not the goals or assists or points or penalty minutes or plus-minus or any analytics. Just look at his games played this season: 17 in the regular season for the OHL’s Erie Otters; two in the inaugural CHL-U.S. NTDP Prospects Challenge; and two for Team Canada at the 2025 World Junior Championship. Twenty-one games in all. If, as expected, Schaefer is taken No. 1 overall by the New York Islanders at the NHL draft June 28 in Los Angeles, it will be unprecedented. That is, no No. 1 pick will have ever played so few games in his draft year as Schaefer."

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Mackenzie also projects that Long Island native James Hagens, who was the consesus No. 1 pick for a few years before falling a bit, will fall to the Boston Bruins at No. 7.

With 'prodigious talent and boundless potential,' Matthew Schaefer tops McKenzie's NHL Draft Ranking | TSNIf, as expected, Matthew Schaefer is taken No. 1 overall by the Islanders, it will be unprecedented. That is, no No. 1 pick will have ever played so few games in his draft year as Schaefer.

The 2025 NHL Draft begins at 7 PM ET on Friday. 

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PHTO: GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK

On Monday, TSN’s Bob McKenzie released his final draft ranking. Unsurprisingly, Matthew Schaefer from the Erie Oters leads the way just ahead of Michael Misa and Porter Martone. Anton Frondell and Caleb Desnoyers complete the top five. But unless there is a significant coup by Kent Hughes before the first round kicks off on Friday night, all these players will be long gone from the board when the Montreal Canadiens make their first selection at 16th overall.

Who does the insider have at 16th overall? QMJHL product Justin Carbonneau. The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada player and Lévis native has had a great season, scoring 89 points in 62 games. Nick Bobrov attended many of his games, indicating that the Canadiens have at least some interest in the prospect.

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At the combine, the Canadiens met the young man and, speaking to TVA Sports’ journalist afterwards, the Quebecer confirmed it would be an honour for him to be the first Quebecer picked in the first round by the Canadiens since Louis Leblanc in 2009.

There has been some chatter about his body language on the ice and his decision to dismiss his agent via email, but given the talent displayed on the ice, I doubt they’d pass on him for that reason.

At 17th overall, the Windsor Spitfires center is Jack Nesbitt. At nearly 6-foot-5 and weighing in at 185 pounds, the left-shot pivot put up 64 points in 65 games this season in the OHL. He’s got the size and the compete level to impose himself physically, and he’s not afraid to get to the dirty areas and battle for pucks. This is the kind of player the Canadiens could need to make a longer appearance in the playoffs, even though he won’t be ready right away.

Of course, McKenzie’s list doesn’t mean things will unfold exactly that way, but the man has in-depth prospect knowledge and is generally well-informed. We’ll see on Friday night if things unfold as he believed they should.

Photo credit: Michael Augello

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2025 NHL mock draft roundup: Final No. 7 pick predictions for Bruins originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The 2025 NHL Draft is of the utmost importance to the Boston Bruins.

They have the No. 7 overall pick — their highest first-round selection since 2011. If the Bruins keep the pick and don’t trade it, the position they need to target is center.

The Bruins were lucky to have a top-tier center tandem in Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci for well over a decade. The franchise has been unable to draft a worthy replacement for either player, but that drought could end this year.

The 2025 draft class is loaded with quality centers. We might even see seven of them taken in the top 10 picks.

A talented wing such as Porter Martone or Victor Eklund could be enticing, but the Bruins desperately need a top-six center, and given how expensive that kind of player is to acquire via trade or free agency, the most effective way to get one is through the draft.

Which players should the Bruins consider with the No. 7 pick? Here’s a roundup of projections from recent expert mock drafts, including our own.

Nick Goss, NBC Sports Boston: Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford (OHL)

“It’s no secret the Bruins need a center. They haven’t drafted well at that position for a long time. Luckily for the B’s, they have a top 10 pick (their first since 2011) in a draft that’s loaded with quality centers.

O’Brien is the best center available at this point in Round 1. He has a really strong two-way skill set with the high-end offensive talent to consistently create scoring chances for himself and teammates. He tallied 66 assists in 66 games for Brantford last season.”

Kevin Sousa/Getty Images

Corey Pronman, The Athletic: Roger McQueen, C, Brandon (WHL)

“Despite their needs, I don’t think Boston is as hard pressed to take a center here as the organizations in front of them, in part because six centers in a row just got picked. I could see the Bruins lean toward winger Martone or defenseman Radim Mrtka for that reason but it wouldn’t surprise me as well if they took another center. McQueen, O’Brien and Hagens would all be possible fits here.”

Scott Wheeler, The Athletic: James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA)

“Everyone I’ve talked to in the last week or so seems to think O’Brien/Martin/Hagens don’t get past the Flyers and Bruins at 6-7, and yet one of the top eight guys has to go outside the top seven. I’ve also heard the Bruins have looked into moving up. I do think it’s interesting that the Flyers and Bruins seem to like the same three guys and pick back-to-back, though, and Hagens just makes so much sense for the Bruins as that high-end piece to build around if he’s there.”

Lyle Richardson, Bleacher Report: Victor Eklund, RW, Djurgarden (Sweden)

“With only one natural right wing among their top 15 prospects, the Boston Bruins could use this opportunity to address that particular need. They could turn to Victor Eklund of the SHL’s Djurgårdens IF. NHL Central Scouting ranked him No. 2 among international skaters.

“Eklund is the younger brother of San Jose Sharks forward William Eklund. The 5’11”, 170-pound Swede had 31 points in 42 games this season for Djurgårdens’ HockeyAllsvenskan squad, helping them earn promotion to the SHL alongside teammate and fellow NHL prospect Anton Frondell.

“NHL.com’s Mike G. Morreale considers him to be the second-best right wing in this year’s draft. Corey Pronman praised Eklund’s speed and creativity, while Steven Ellis cited his playmaking and excellent shot. Eklund will likely spend next season with Djurgårdens IF, where he’ll garner valuable experience against SHL talent. He has the potential to become a top-six right wing for the Bruins.”

Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

Alex Daugherty, The Tennessean: Jake O’Brien, C, Brantford (OHL)

“The Bruins need to reload up the middle and O’Brien has the potential to be a top-six center that can lead the way. He had 98 points in 66 games with the Bulldogs last season.”

Sam Russell, Bleacher Nation: Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

“Martin is an accomplished two-way player and has solid defensive instincts. His game doesn’t involve any unnecessary risks and is good at cutting passing lanes in the neutral zone.”

With the 2025 NHL Entry Draft later this week, POHO and GM Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins have their work cut out for them. 

Since the Penguins have a total of 30 picks over the next three drafts, including 11 this year - which could reduce to 10 if the conditional first-round pick from the New York Rangers defers to 2026 - there will be plenty of opportunity for the Penguins to add impact players. Of their 11 picks in 2025, six of them are in the first three rounds.

After the results of the draft lottery on May 5, the Penguins - as of now - will select 11th overall, dropping down two spots from where they originally were at ninth. And, normally, at this point, we compile a list of potential draft selections who could be available at 11 - which includes the likes of players such as right wing Justin Carbonneau, defenseman Radim Mrtka, and defenseman Jackson Smith.

However, with the recent report that the Penguins are interested in moving up in the draft, we have begun to profile some players who are likely to be drafted in the top-five. 

We already spotlighted right wing Porter Martone. Next up? Center James Hagens.

Penguins Draft Prospect Profile: Porter MartoneWith the 2025 NHL Entry Draft approaching fast, POHO and GM Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins have their work cut out for them. 

James Hagens

DOB: Nov. 3, 2006 (Age 18)
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 177 pounds
Team: Boston College (NCAA)

There was a point last year when folks were projecting Hagens - prior to his freshman season at Boston College - to be selected first overall in the 2025 draft.

With the emergence of defenseman Brandon Schaefer and forward Michael Misa, he has fallen ever-so-slightly. But, if the Chicago Blackhawks and Penguins would, indeed, be interested in executing a trade to bump the Penguins up to the third overall selection, Hagens wouldn't be a bad consolation prize by any means.

In his freshman season with Boston College, Hagens registered 11 goals and 37 points in 37 games. That may not "wow" anyone - and he could stand to find a bit more finishing touch in his game - but the centerman's playmaking ability, offensive instincts, and smarts stand out.

FRESHMAN JAMES HAGENS WITH THE BIGGEST GOAL OF HIS CAREER TO SECURE THE W IN THE FINAL MINUTES 🔥 pic.twitter.com/lD8eOmR4xt

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) March 28, 2025

Although undersized, Hagens's speed and ability to thwart defenders makes him a threat. He is especially dangerous off the rush, where his vision and playmaking are really brought out of the woodwork. 

He is also a decent two-way presence, as he's able to backcheck, catch just about anyone with his speed, and has good puck skills in all three zones. 

Hagens may not be an elite scoring threat - and this is a bit worrisome to some scouts, who see him as a potential complementary piece of the puzzle in a top-six - but he is an offensive threat every time he touches the ice. He proved as much in his time with the U.S. National Development Team, as he put up 35 goals and 87 points in 57 games from 2022-24.

If the Penguins do trade up in the draft, they'll have some tough decisions to make. But Hagens is certainly an option for them, as his floor is higher than most, even if the ceiling isn't.

Can The Penguins Trade Up For Blackhawks' Third Overall Pick?It has been rumored that the Pittsburgh Penguins would like to trade up in the 2025 NHL Draft.

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Feature image credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

While the Nashville Predators aren't the oldest franchise in the NHL, they have a lot of history of picking in the first round of the NHL Draft.

In its 27-year history, the Predators have selected 25 times in the first round. Amongst those first-round selections, some have had massive success in Nashville, others have found it elsewhere, and a few have been busts.

With the Predators picking fifth, 23rd and 26th overall in this year's draft, we take a look back at every first-round pick by Nashville. 

1998: David Legwand (center, 2nd overall) 

The original Nashville Predator, center David Legwand, was the organization's first-ever draft pick at second overall in 1998. 

As one of the top prospects in his draft class, Legwand scored 105 points in 59 games for the OHL's Playmouth Whalers during the 1997-98 season.

He contracted mononucleosis during Predators training camp and ended up playing an extra season in the OHL, recording 80 points in 55 games. 

Legwand spent the bulk of his career with the Predators, playing in 956 games and scoring 566 points. Legwand was traded to the Detroit Red Wings at the end of the 2013-14 season, which coincided with the expiration of his contract with Nashville. 

He'd play 1,136 games in the NHL and score 618 points. 

1999: Brian Finley (goalie, 6th overall) 

It's always a risk to take a goalie so high, but the Predators took the jump in selecting Barrie Colts goaltender Brian Finley with the sixth overall pick.

It should be noted that the Predators passed on goalie Ryan Miller in this draft, who was selected by the Buffalo Sabres 138th overall and would go on to win the Vezina Trophy in 2010.

During the 1998-99 season, Finley posted a 23-14-1 record with the Colts, holding a 2.92 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. He'd play three more seasons in the OHL before joining the Predators during the 2002-03 season. 

He'd played one game that season with the Predators, coming in relief of Tomas Vokoun. Finley allowed three goals on 13 shots. He'd spend some time with the Milwaukee Admirals, winning the Calder Cup in 2004. 

Finley got his second shot with the Predators during the 2005-06 season, where he'd allow seven goals on 41 shots in a loss to the Florida Panthers. He signed with the Boston Bruins during the 2006 offseason, playing two games before retiring in 2007. 

2000: Scott Hartnell (forward, 6th overall) 

One of the most notable "tough guys" in NHL history, Prince Albert Raiders forward Scott Harnell got his NHL start with the Predators. 

Amounting 230 penalty minutes in 128 games played in the Western Hockey League, Hartnell also proved that he could find the back of the net, scoring 91 points in that stretch.

He quickly made an impact as one of the Predators' heavy hitters, recording 48 penalty minutes in 75 games in his rookie year. Hartnell had three seasons with the Nashville Predators, during which he accumulated 100+ penalty minutes. 

Hartnell still found ways to be productive. During the 2006-07 season, he had a plus/minus of 19. To the Predators' misfortune, he really hit his stride when he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2007. 

With the Flyers, Hartnell eclipsed 140 penalty minutes in four straight seasons and had a career high 67 points in 82 games during the 2010-11 season. He also helped the Flyers reach the 2010 Stanley Cup Final.

He'd play over 1,200 NHL games, score 707 points and log 1,809 penalty minutes. 

Hartnell returned to Nashville for the 2017-18 season, which was his final year. He recorded 24 points in 62 games and 82 penalty minutes. 

2001: Dan Hamhuis (defenseman, 12th overall) 

The first defenseman to be selected by the Predators in the first round, Prince George Cougars defenseman Dan Hamhuis put up some impressive junior numbers.

During the 2000-01 season, he had 59 points in 62 games. His second season with the Predators, coming out of the 2005 NHL lockout, was the best of his career. Hamhuis had 38 points in 82 games and a plus/minus of 11. 

He was a consistent producer with the Predators, but, similar to Harnell, he found his stride when he left for another team. Hamhuis signed with the Vancouver Canucks in 2010 and the following season made a run to the Stanley Cup Final. 

In back-to-back seasons with Vancouver, he had a plus/minus of 29 and just his second 30+ point season of his career in 2011-12. Hamhuis would also win a Gold Medal with Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics. 

Hamhuis returned to Nashville to play his final two seasons in 2018. He recorded 13 points in 117 games. 

2002: Scottie Upshall (forward, 6th overall) 

Six seems to be the magic number for the Predators, as three of five picks in the first round from 1998 to 2002 have been at the number six spot.

This time, the Predators went for Kamloops Blazers forward Scottie Upshall, who put up 83 points in 61 games in his draft season. He was also known for his tougher style of play, racking up 139 penalty minutes during the 2001-02 season. 

Upshall struggled to find a consistent spot on the Predators' roster. Between 2002 and 2007, he bounced back and forth between Nashville and Milwaukee. His best season was in 2005-06, where he scored 34 points in 48 games and had a plus/minus of 14.

He still found himself back in Milwaukee the following season before he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2007 for two draft picks and Peter Forsberg.

Upshall found a permanent spot in the NHL playing 759 games between the Predators, Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers and St. Louis Blues. His best season came in 2013-14, when he had 37 points in 76 games. 

He played his final game in the NHL during the 2017-18 season with the St. Louis Blues. Upshall played one more professional season with Ambri-Piotta of the Swiss-A hockey league before retiring. 

New reports suggest Vegas Golden Knights as heavy favourites to land Toronto's Mitch Marner.

The Mitch Marner sweepstakes have dominated headlines over the past few weeks with new reports coming everyday on where the superstar winger is considering going. We started to see more clarity with the frontrunners recently with reports coming out on top contenders but Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman dropped the biggest tidbit of information yet.

On Monday, he reported on his podcast "32 Thoughts" that the Vegas Golden Knights are now being looked at as the team to beat when it comes to signing Marner.

More NHL: Toews To Join Hometown Winnipeg Jets Next Season

We recently explained current betting odds on Marner and that it was good time to pull the trigger on a bet for him to go to Vegas and time may be quickly running out. Free agency opens up next Tuesday on July 1st and there's no telling when Marner will come to a decision.

Some insiders have noted it may be some time after that Marner decides who he wants to sign with, including a report from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman saying there may be a team that will offer Marner a contract with a certain time limit for a decision as the team would like time to go out and make more decisions. 

There's no telling who Marner will go with but the reports of him being interested in joining a Western Conference team, a contender and one that will be willing to pay him around $12-14 million per season all fit the Vegas mold. 

The Golden Knights have just $9.61 million in projected cap space currently but many insiders have noted that Marner may be willing to take a shorter term deal to help accommodate whatever team he is signing with.

Vegas has also proven to be a hyper-aggressive franchise when it comes to making impactful roster moves and could very easily make a trade that would clear enough cap space to bring in Marner. 

Nothing is ever confirmed until it happens but if betting odds are still available, you can feel comfortable in taking a shot at Marner joining the Golden Knights that is still listed at +185 on FanDuel Sportsbook.

More NHL: 2026 Stanley Cup Odds: Oilers, Panthers Lead Early Contenders But One Unexpected Favourite Emerges

Marner’s elite playmaking and two-way ability would slot perfectly into the Knights’ system, giving them another dynamic weapon alongside Jack Eichel and Mark Stone. With a proven championship core already in place, Marner could be the piece that puts them over the top, making +1200 odds a potential steal before any deal becomes official.

The Wraparound is here to discuss the NHL and more in rapid-fire topics. This episode looks at Monday's big trade before focusing on the Atlantic Division teams.

How Creative Will The Maple Leafs Need To Be With John Tavares' Next Contract? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and David Alter discussed in this episode:

1:00: Reacting to the Anaheim Ducks’ trade of Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers

4:00: Will Kevyn Adams and the Buffalo Sabres be able to take full advantage of the trade market for players like Bowen Byram and JJ Peterka?

9:00: Will the Montreal Canadiens trade or extend Patrik Laine? What about Mike Matheson?

14:05: What could a new contract look like for John Tavares and the Toronto Maple Leafs?

18:10: Is Vladimir Tarasenko a buyout candidate for the Detroit Red Wings?

22:00: Can the Florida Panthers afford to re-sign all three of their big free agents (Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand)? If not, who stays and who goes?

26:30: What will the free agent market look like for former Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Nick Perbix?

30:30: Did the Boston Bruins make the right choice extending Mason Lohrei for two years at $3.2 million average annual value?

33:05: What will a potential extension look like for Claude Giroux and the Ottawa Senators?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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Promo image credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

NHL Draft week is upon us, and the Nashville Predators will be staying busy, owning nine picks in this year's draft.

Monday, the NHL announced where the Predators will be selecting. Their first pick, which was earned in the NHL Draft lottery in May, will be fifth overall. It's the highest the Predators have selected since 2013 when they picked defenseman Seth Jones fourth overall.

The eight other picks are as follows: 23rd (first round), 26th (first round), 35th (second round), 55th (second round), 67th (third round), 131st (fifth round), 163rd (sixth round) and 182nd (sixth round).  

This is the most the Predators have picked in a draft since the 2023 Draft, which they hosted, where they had 11 picks. The three picks in the first round are the most in franchise history. 

Last year, Nashville had eight picks in the draft and selected center Yegor Surin with the 22nd overall pick. Surin was promoted from Yaroslavl Lokomotiv's junior team to their KHL team and won the Gagarin Cup. 

Jones, who was the Predators' last top-five pick, won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers this season. He spent two and a half seasons with the Predators before being traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2015-16 season.

He'd spend six seasons in Columbus before being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021. Jones was in Chicago for three and a half seasons before getting traded to the Panthers this year. 

Boston College center James Hagens is one of the popular names being thrown around as to who the Predators will select with their fifth overall pick.

Hagens had 37 points in 37 games with the Golden Eagles and won the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship with Team USA, scoring nine points in seven games. 

Predators general manager Barry Trotz is expected to address the media ahead of Friday's draft on Tuesday at 3 p.m. 

The NHL Draft will take place on Friday at 7 p.m. EST from Los Angeles. 

The Montreal Canadiens will be one of the most intriguing teams to follow this NHL off-season. 

The Canadiens may have overachieved in the minds of some this past season, but not in the minds of their management.

The Habs got into the playoffs last year by being a plucky, resilient group, but Canadiens brass won’t kid themselves when it comes to improving on that surprising playoff appearance. Being an Atlantic Division team means that it’s going to be extremely difficult for Montreal to keep up in terms of improving from year to year.

GM Kent Hughes will have to be aggressive on the trade front this summer to bring in the type of talent the Canadiens need not only to stay in the post-season picture but to vault even higher in the food chain.

That said, there are some hurdles for Montreal as it tries to solidify its position in the Atlantic. The Canadiens only have $6.1 million in salary cap space, and they have two notable UFAs in center Christian Dvorak and right winger Joel Armia, as well as RFA left winger Emil Heineman. Thus, Hughes must be creative in trades more than anything he can do in free agency.

Being a big-time player in trades makes a lot of sense for the Canadiens at this point in their competitive trajectory. Montreal has had to grit its teeth and be patient as the team underwent a basement-to-ceiling rebuild. They had three straight seasons where they finished dead last in the Atlantic and focused on drafting and developing their lineup. 

Now, Montreal needs to move forward with youngsters, including budding stars Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov, as well as prospects Michael Hage, David Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux, and firm up their core by acquiring a few veterans with a winning pedigree.

They can do that by trading some of the draft picks they’ve acquired, as in this summer’s draft, the Habs have two first-round picks, two second-rounders, three third-rounders and two fourth-rounders. Next summer, they have nine picks, including two second-rounders. Montreal doesn’t need to stockpile picks the way it’s done earlier in this rebuild. It’s time to pivot to being an organization focused on winning now. 

The Canadiens should look at the Colorado Avalanche to see how to pivot. From 2011 through 2017, the Avalanche failed to make the playoffs in six of seven years. The Avs had one playoff year as a blip on their radar, but for the most part, they weren’t talented enough to be a playoff contender, let alone a Stanley Cup contender.

However, from 2017 onward, Colorado slowly built itself into a playoff powerhouse, adding important players, including Nazem Kadri, Devon Toews, Josh Manson, Valeri Nichushkin and Artturi Lehkonen to surround key components Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Cale Makar. And voila – they won a Cup in 2022.

That’s a template the Canadiens must follow. They don’t have to acquire someone like Pittsburgh Penguins icon Sidney Crosby – although that would be something, wouldn’t it? – but Montreal does need to add at least a few experienced-but-effective hands to complement core players Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Jake Evans, Kirby Dach and Kaiden Guhle.

If Hughes can do that, the Habs will have enough talent to secure a wild-card spot next season, and perhaps, move even higher in the division. From there, it’s all about learning lessons from playoff series – like the lessons they hopefully learned in their first-round loss to the Washington Capitals this past season – and evolving into a bona fide Cup threat.

The Canadiens should no longer be satisfied taking a back seat to most teams. Certainly, they’re not in a position to battle for first place in the Atlantic just yet, but finishing in the basement of the division is now completely unacceptable. Montreal has to set the bar higher, and if Hughes can go out and acquire some veterans to raise expectations next season, there’s a good chance the Habs will assert themselves as a team to reckon with.

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It’s been a fun week celebrating the Florida Panthers and their second straight Stanley Cup championship.

There has been plenty of attention, and rightly so, cast upon what a tight and cohesive unit the team has grown into.

One big example of that came in the moments immediately after Florida won the Stanley Cup last week.

When Panthers Captain Sasha Barkov was handed the Stanley Cup from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Barkov did something that isn’t the norm.

Usually, the captain takes the cup for a spin around the ice before, one by one, his teammates do the same.

This time, Barkov carried the Cup to where all his fellow Panthers were standing, and the raised it only after he was surrounded by all of them.

It was an incredibly cool moment to see play out in real time.

Afterwards, when Barkov began the Cup raising process by handing the historic trophy off to the next player, he started by giving Lord Stanley not to the highest goal scorer or star goaltender, but to the players on the team who were first time champions.

First was defenseman Nate Schmidt, followed by Seth Jones, Tomas Nosek, Vitek Vanecek, A.J. Greer, Jesper Boqvist, Mackie Samoskevich, Uvis Balinskis, Jaycob Megna and Evan Cormier.

It was something that Barkov and several of the team’s leaders came up with as a way to honor those players for the sacrifices they made toward an unknown.

"It wasn't just me, we — Chucky, Reinho, Ekky, all these guys — were talking about it,” Barkov explained. “I think it was a great point that the guys who haven't won yet, they get to get it first. I think it was great and it tells a lot about our team, like what Paul (Maurice) did to Nosek's line at the end (of Game 6). When they came in down two to nothing (in the series) to Toronto, they really changed the way we played. The identity that they brought, and the way we started being physical again and playing the right way, they really changed that. They really deserve it, and it tells a lot about people like Paul and everyone in this team and organization with how we treat each other."

Barkov is referring to a video that has since gone viral showing Maurice on the Panthers bench during the final minutes of Game 6.

As Florida was about to win their second straight Stanley Cup, Maurice told his fourth line players that he wanted them to be on the ice when the final buzzer sounds. He wanted them to be the first to throw their gloves and helmets in the air.

It’s those moments that will last a lifetime to the players involved.

That’s why Barkov and Florida’s leadership did what they did, and it’s why the Panthers are who they are.

"It's an unreal feeling to lift that Cup,” Barkov said. “You know how much work you put in. There's 31 other teams in the league that are trying to do the same thing, and only one team wins it every year.”

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The Chicago Blackhawks are still very much a rebuilding team. They are farther along than some other rebuilding squads, but there is still so much work to be done. The 2025 NHL Draft is an event that can help them take another step in their quest to become a winner again. 

The draft is seven rounds long. Over those seven rounds, the Blackhawks are scheduled to make 10 selections. Two of them will come in the first round, two will come in the second, one in the third, two in the fourth, one in the sixth, and two in the seventh. 

All of those picks are lottery tickets that could blossom into impactful NHL players. They could also be used as currency to get other assets from teams across the league. 

It would be surprising if GM Kyle Davidson used all 10. He has been known to shuffle them around in the past, which is a good indicator of his potential plans. 

Chicago’s two first-round selections (if they keep both) will come on Friday night. The first one is 3rd overall, and the second is 25th. High-end prospects will be taken in those spots. 

NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) on XThe @NHL announced the current order of selection for the 2025 Upper Deck #NHLDraft at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Round 1 takes place Friday (7 p.m. ET on @espn, @ESPNPlus, @Sportsnet, @TVASports). Details: https://t.co/TLJ5fnEO7m

It isn’t likely for later round picks to become stars, but it does happen from time to time. Adding more talent to the prospect farm system is never a bad thing. 

Davidson has a good track record when it comes to the entry draft. That trend needs to continue with these selections, whether he uses them or not. 

Having this many picks gives the organization some wiggle room, as all 32 teams come together to make themselves better. 

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The Buffalo Sabres are reportedly being aggressive in their pursuit of trades with the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday and the start of free agency in just over a week. According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams has been talking to several teams in regards to restricted free agent defenseman Bowen Byram and winger JJ Peterka, but are also actively shopping defenseman Mattias Samuelsson.  

The 25-year-old blueliner is in the third year of a seven-year, $30 million contract, and has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. Samuelsson had a career-high 14 points (4 goals, 10 assists) in 62 games last season, but was healthy scratched by head coach Lindy Ruff at times and played with multiple defensive partners throughout the year.. Because of his age, the former second round pick could be a buyout option, since he would cost only one-third of the remaining value of the deal (a cap penalty of $714,286), but it would be on the Sabres books over the next 10 years.  

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Byram is looking for a significant pay increase and a larger role where he can play top-pairing minutes, while Peterka is reportedly looking for a change of scenery after the expiration o his entry-level deal and finishing second on the Sabres with 68 points, but the difficulty is that Adams is looking to make hockey deals for other NHL talent, while many interested clubs are looking to acquire players for draft picks and prospects. 

Buffalo continues to have difficulty navigating the waters of players with no-movement, no-trade, or limited no-trade clauses, as many players have the Sabres on their list of destinations they prefer not to go to. Pagnotta also indicates that Buffalo has been linked to Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi, but the restricted free agent is reportedly looking for a long-term deal in excess of the seven-year, $49 million contract that teammate Matt Boldy signed two years ago.  

 

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Barring any changes, the St. Louis Blues will be selecting 19th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The Blues will certainly be hoping to hit with this pick, especially when noting that they won't select again after it until the fifth round.

With this draft being a bit of a wild card, it will be fascinating to see who the Blues end up selecting. They have multiple areas that they should be looking to improve, and there are going to be some intriguing names for them to consider once they are on the clock because of it. 

The Athletic's Corey Pronman recently released a 2025 NHL mock draft where he made predictions for every single pick. When it came to the 19th overall pick, Pronman sees the Blues selecting defenseman Cameron Reid. 

Reid, 18, is viewed as one of the top defensemen in this year's draft class, so he would certainly be a good player for the Blues to select if they have the chance to. The 6-foot blueliner has the tools to blossom into a top-four NHL defenseman, so he could be a good fit on a Blues club that could use another exciting defensive prospect. 

Reid spent the 2024-25 season with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League. He took a nice step forward this season, as he set new OHL career highs with 14 goals, 40 assists, 54 points, and a plus-39 rating in 67 games. This was after he had two goals and 23 points in 49 games with Kitchener last season.

Overall, Reid has been an impactful two-way defenseman at the junior level, so he could be a nice pickup for the Blues. It will be intriguing to see if he ends up being who the Blues select with their first-round pick from here. 

NHL Trade Rumors: Blues Have Great Target In Kraken ForwardThe St. Louis Blues should be looking to upgrade their roster this off-season after their solid 2024-25 season. One specific area that could use a boost in their lineup is their forward group.

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