The ping-pong balls did not fall in the favor of the Nashville Predators, who ended up with the No. 5 overall pick in Monday's NHL Draft Lottery.

The Predators, who finished the regular season ranked 30th out of the 32 NHL teams, got their lowest possible position in the Draft Lottery at No. 5. The New York Islanders, who had a 3.5% chance to win the No. 1 pick, beat the odds and landed in the top spot in the first draw.

In the draw for No. 2 overall, Utah Hockey Club jumped from the No. 14 slot to take the No. 4 pick. Since no team can jump more than 10 spots, the San Jose Sharks get the No. 2 pick, and the Chicago Blackhawks get No. 3.

The No. 5 selection in this year's draft will give the Predators their highest draft pick since they selected Scottie Upshall at No. 6 overall in 2002.

Beyond the No. 5 pick, Nashville has two additional first-round picks in the 2025 draft. The Predators own the Tampa Bay Lightning's first-round pick, which is expected to be between No. 22 and No. 26 overall, as well as the Vegas Golden Knights' first-round pick. Tampa's first-rounder was acquired in the Tanner Jeannot trade in 2023, while Vegas' came courtesy of the San Jose Sharks in the Yaroslav Askarov trade in August.

The Predators have 10 picks in the 2025 draft, including three in the first round, and two in each of the second and sixth rounds.

The full order for the top 16 NHL Draft selections in 2025 is as follows:

1. New York Islanders
2. San Jose Sharks
3. Chicago Blackhawks
4. Utah Hockey Club
5. Nashville Predators
6. Philadelophia Flyers
7. Boston Bruins
8. Seattle Kraken
9. Buffalo Sabres
10. Anaheim Ducks
11. Pittsburgh Penguins
12. New York Rangers
13. Detroit Red Wings
14. Columbus Blue Jackets
15. Vancouver Canucks
16. Montreal Canadiens

The 2025 NHL Draft will take place from June 27-28 at L.A. Live's Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

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The Philadelphia Flyers are confirmed to hold the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft following Monday's draft lottery results. In other words, this was the worst-case scenario for the Flyers.

Before the draft lottery, Philadelphia had a 9.5% chance of picking either first or second, but those picks now belong to the New York Islanders and San Jose Sharks, respectively.

The Isles moved up nine spots to win the lottery, and to make matters worse, the Utah Hockey Club jumped the Flyers, moving up 10 spots to receive the No. 4 overall pick.

So, by the end of it all, the Flyers ended up with the sixth pick, despite having the highest odds for the fifth pick and finishing with the fourth-worst record in the NHL.

While this outcome is invariably going to sting in the moment for Flyers fans, there are still plenty of prospects worth discussing. The following mock draft is my gut feeling for the top-six teams at the moment, followed by my reasoning for the Flyers' draft selection post-draft lottery.

Flyers Mock Draft 2.0

1. New York Islanders: James Hagens, C, Boston College

2. San Jose Sharks: Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie Otters

3. Chicago Blackhawks: Michael Misa, F, Saginaw Spirit

4. Utah Hockey Club: Porter Martone, W, Brampton Steelheads

5. Nashville Predators: Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton Wildcats

With the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers select...

Jake O'Brien, C, Brantford Bulldogs

I think most Flyers fans would like to see with the Orange and Black go with Anton Frondell here, but I'm not nearly as high on Frondell as some are.

In my mock draft 1.0, I selected Frondell, who has an elite shot and can be a bully along the walls, at pick five, but there's a growing concern about his true position at the next level. Plus, he's not great in transition, and the Flyers desperately need strong puck transporters.

Are the Flyers the team that can unlock Frondell's potential and find his best position? Given their recent draft and development history, I wouldn't bet on that.

Someone I would bet on, though, is Brantford's Jake O'Brien.

Not to conjure up some old memories, but O'Brien is far better than former draft bust Jay O'Brien was. Not to worry, friends.

O'Brien, 17, has the build of a prototypical center at 6-foot-2, 170 pounds. Like most young athletes his age, he'll need time to physically mature and fill out his frame.

The Toronto, Ontario, native is a playmaker in the purest sense, finishing second (66) to only Michael Misa (72) in assists amongst OHL draft-eligible skaters this season.

I watched more of Jake O'Brien recently and wow, was I ever impressed.

High IQ player with advanced playmaking ability. Has so many tools. Just hasn't quite put it all together.

He will go top-10 in June. Here are some playmaking clips from his last 10 GP (#44).#2025NHLDraftpic.twitter.com/yHTbQMAKyY

— Ben Misfeldt 🇨🇦 (@BBMHockey) March 14, 2025

Additionally, O'Brien, with his 98 points, was a distant second to Misa (134) in overall scoring, but he was notably level with Porter Martone, albeit while appearing in nine more games.

The drop off between a Martone and an O'Brien might feel or seem significant based on the differing media coverage between the two, and while Martone is certainly the better prospect, O'Brien absolutely deserves his flowers, too.

In this scenario, Caleb Desnoyers goes earlier than anticipated with Nashville opting to draft for need, which leaves the Flyers with question marks at the center position in Frondell and Roger McQueen.

I like O'Brien better than all three of them, plus he's ranked seventh on Bob McKenzie's latest rankings, which are largely based on industry consensus.

While McKenzie's scouts around the NHL like Frondell and Desnoyers a bit more than O'Brien, the latter is more the Flyers' speed.

O'Brien is an expert manipulator when he's on the puck, and he's sneaky-good defensively, too. A responsible player all around who can be a handful to contain when paired with equally opportunistic players, like a Matvei Michkov or an Alex Bump.

He's a pass-first player, so he'll have to develop his shot and mentality as he goes along. When O'Brien adds some mass and if he adds an extra gear of speed to his game, he could really become a menace.

St. Louis Blues star Robert Thomas was the 20th pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, and while it took him some time to hit his stride, he would be the No. 1 center on a number of aspiring contenders.

Thomas, 25, is a little shorter and bulkier than O'Brien at 6-foot, 190 pounds, but they play a very similar game. Both centers are smart, instinctive, creative, responsible, and not afraid to engage physically when necessary.

And, Thomas, of course, now has back-to-back 80-point seasons under his belt, on top of his 77-point 2021-22 season.

Not every good center in the NHL was a No. 1 pick. Whether it's O'Brien or another player they draft, the onus is on the Flyers to develop the kid they draft into his best self.

O'Brien, with his size and skillset, could very well be the talisman they crave if all goes according to plan.

The NHL draft lottery went live this year, and the drama was real, with the New York Islanders moving all the way to No. 1 once the balls were read out.

The Utah Hockey Club won the second draw, so they moved up from 14th overall to fourth.

So let's get to the fun part and mock draft the first 16 picks of the 2025 NHL draft, shall we?

1. New York Islanders: Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie (OHL): The Islanders could honestly use high-end help at any position for the future, so let's just go with the best player available here. Schaefer is a game-changing defenseman who can do it all, and while he missed most of the season due to injury, it won't take him long to get into an NHL uniform on Long Island.

2. San Jose Sharks: Michael Misa, C, Saginaw (OHL):The Sharks could probably use a D-man more at this point, but with a pick this high, only a forward would be prudent based on this class. Misa is an incredibly skilled and competitive center who would make for a daunting one-two punch down the middle with Macklin Celebrini. With Will Smith there too, the Sharks have the option of putting one of them on the wing.

3. Chicago Blackhawks: Porter Martone, RW, Brampton (OHL): Connor Bedard needs help and Martone could be his Tom Wilson or Matthew Tkachuk. Martone has plenty of skill, but he's also big and mean. The Hawks have the luxury of already having Bedard and Frank Nazar at center, but they could use a power forward.

4. Utah Hockey Club: Anton Frondell, C, Djurgarden (Swe.): GM Bill Armstrong likes his players big, though Utah could use more size up front. Frondell gets the nod here over James Hagens because he's bigger and stronger. On his own merits, Frondell also has a wicked shot and has proved he can handle himself against men, helping Djurgarden get promoted to the Swedish League recently.

5. Nashville Predators: James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA): A bit of a gift here for the Predators, as Hagens brings excellent skill and perhaps the best hockey IQ in the draft class. He's in a great situation at Boston College and should probably stick there another year to get stronger, but Hagens is the type of elite talent Nashville needs.

6. Philadelphia Flyers: Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton (QMJHL): Desnoyers would be loved by Flyers fans: He brings skill, leadership and a 200-foot game that doesn't have any holes in it. He's a strong kid playing on one of the best junior teams in Canada and he absolutely racked up the points for Moncton this season.

7. Boston Bruins: Viktor Eklund, RW, Djurgarden (Swe.): If you're going to play for the Bruins, you have to work and Eklund will do that. Eklund plays much bigger than his frame and has an unceasing motor, on top of enough skill to get him onto Sweden's world junior team this past winter. He also helped Djurgarden's pro team get promoted to the SHL.

8. Seattle Kraken: Jackson Smith, D, Tri-City (WHL): Coming off a scintillating world under-18s with gold-medal Canada, Smith brings a little bit of everything to a Kraken pipeline that is still growing. He's a great skater with size and physicality and the offensive potential was really on display at the World Men's Under-18s.

New York Islanders Win NHL Draft Lottery: Who Should They Pick First Overall?The NHL draft lottery was broadcast live for all to see, and the balls fell in the New York Islanders’ favor.

9. Buffalo Sabres: Kashawn Aitcheson, D, Barrie (OHL):Sabres fans need a reason to cheer and Aitcheson will lift them out of the seats one way or another. He put up a bunch of points from the blueline this year, but his trademarks come in his own end, where the Colts D-man is a physically punishing intimidator who has no problem dropping the gloves.

10. Anaheim Ducks: Roger McQueen, C, Brandon (WHL): With so many young players already in the lineup, the Ducks can think more long-term here. McQueen missed much of the season due to injury and scouts worry about his back, but Anaheim can be patient. If he turns out, he's a 6-foot-5 center who can shoot the puck and has top-five skill in the draft class.

11. Pittsburgh Penguins: Jake O'Brien, C, Brantford (OHL): The Penguins need a center of the future and O'Brien is a whip-smart pivot who can play in all three zones and produce offense at an elite clip. Get him in the same dressing room as Sidney Crosby in a year or two and you've got a perfect mentorship situation.

12. New York Rangers: Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL): For a team in need of a culture refresh, Martin would be a great future building block. He's a farm-boy strong center who dazzled at the World Under-18s for Canada and played great for a Soo team that didn't have much else. Great skater who competes and plays the right way.

13. Detroit Red Wings: Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle (WHL): Scouts absolutely love Cootes, who has the triumvirate of skating, skill and hockey sense. He didn't have much help in Seattle, but still drove the play, contributed in all situations and got results. Another player who made a difference for Canada at the recent World Under-18s.

14. Columbus Blue Jackets: Radim Mrtka, D, Seattle (WHL): There's a lot of potential in Mrtka thanks to his big frame and length. Coming over to North America from Czechia during the season, Mrtka really found his offense as time went on and while that won't be his calling card, it's nice to know he has it in his quiver.

NHL Draft Lottery Through The Years: From McDavid And Matthews To Bedard And CelebriniThe NHL draft lottery is the most exciting time of the post-season for the clubs that missed out on a playoff spot.

15. Vancouver Canucks: Carter Bear, LW, Everett (WHL): While he got hurt near the end of the year, Bear showed scouts enough to have them impressed. High compete, a 200-foot game and intense as a competitor, Bear has a very coach-friendly game. The fact he can put the puck in the net regularly doesn't hurt, either.

16. Montreal Canadiens (from CGY): Logan Hensler, D, Wisconsin (NCAA): The Habs have a lot of great young players in the lineup already, so we'll go with potential here. Hensler is a great skater with size and strength and while he didn't put up big numbers as a freshman, he's still pretty young. With time and patience, he could be a solid defender.

In past draft lotteries, the Pittsburgh Penguins have seen their fair share of luck.

This time around, not so much.

After the results of the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery on Monday, the Penguins slid from the ninth overall draft slot to 11th overall. The Penguins - when the last of the four lottery balls was about to be drawn - were tied for the highest odds at 18.5 percent, but, ultimately, the New York Islanders - previously slotted at 10th overall - won the first overall pick.

The Utah Hockey Club - previously positioned at 14th overall - won the second lottery selection and moved up 10 spots to fourth overall. Because two teams behind the Penguins in original draft order leapfrogged them, the Penguins dropped two slots to 11th.

In addition, the New York Rangers slid from 11th to 12th in draft order. The Penguins acquired the Rangers' 2025 conditional first-round pick from the Vancouver Canucks in the Marcus Pettersson trade on Jan. 31. 

The pick is top-13 protected, and the Rangers have up until 48 hours before the draft on June 27 to let Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas know if they want to keep their 2025 pick or defer the pick to 2026.

Marc-Andre Fleury Reunites With Sidney Crosby At IIHF World ChampionshipsThe Minnesota Wild were recently eliminated by the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round of the Stanley Cup, ending Marc-Andre Fleury's legendary career.

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The NHL held its Draft Lottery before the opening of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday, and the Buffalo Sabres, because of two teams below them in the standings moving up into the top four, will be selecting ninth overall at the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles in late June. 

After the balls were drawn by Commissioner Gary Bettman,  the New York Islanders, who finished 23rd overall and had a 3.5% chance, will be selecting first overall, while the Utah Hockey Club, who missed the playoffs by seven points (19th overall) move up from the 14th to the fourth overall pick. The Sabres, who had a 6.5% chance at winning the lottery and were in the seventh slot, moved down two spots to the ninth overall pick. 

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The San Jose Sharks, who won the Draft Lottery one year ago and selected Macklin Celebrini at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas last June, had the top odds (18.5%) but moved down to the second overall pick, with the Chicago Blackhawks moving down from the second slot to third overall. The big losers were the Nashville Predators, who slipped from potentially the third overall pick to fifth, the Philadelphia Flyers dropping from fourth to sixth, and the Boston Bruins dropping from fifth to the seventh overall pick.  

The late winning streak by the Sabres cost them better odds of finishing in the top five, where they would have been in the mix for Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schafer, Saginaw’s Michael Misa, Mississauga’s Porter Martone, James Hagens of Boston College, or Swedish center Anton Frondell. At ninth overall, players who Buffalo could be in the mix for are Roger McQueen of the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, Frondell’s teammate Victor Eklund of Djurgardens IF, Brantford Bulldogs C Jake O’Brien, and Jackson Smith of the WHL’s Tri-City Americans. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo 

With a 5-4 win on Monday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs take a 1-0 series lead over the Florida Panthers.

The two teams went at it again, two years after their first series, which Toronto lost in five games. Since then, the Maple Leafs have brought in a new coach in Craig Berube, while the Panthers have added a Stanley Cup to their resume.

Toronto eliminated the Ottawa Senators in six games. William Nylander led the way with nine points—three goals and six assists—in the series. New father Mitch Marner (one goal, seven assists) is one point behind Nylander for the team lead through six games.

Nylander led the Maple Leafs in points during the game with two goals and an assist, now with 12 points in seven games. Matthew Knies scored the game-winner, his fourth goal of the playoffs, with six minutes remaining in the third period.

Steven Lorentz, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Anthony Stolarz, three former Panthers, face their former team in the postseason after winning the ultimate prize last June.

Florida eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games. Selke Trophy nominee Sam Reinhart led the team in points with two goals and four assists during the series. Sergei Bobrovsky had a .901 save percentage in the five games played.

3rd Period

During the second intermission, Sportsnet showed Stolarz appearing to throw up on the Maple Leafs' bench. After stopping four shots in the middle frame, Woll led the Maple Leafs out for the third period.

As the final period began, the team announced that Stolarz wouldn't return to the game and remains under evaluation. Dennis Hildeby is Toronto's third goalie.

Maple Leafs’ Anthony Stolarz Leaves Game 1 After Taking Elbow From Panthers’ Sam BennettThe Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltending situation took an unexpected turn in Game 1 of their second-round series against the Florida Panthers, as Anthony Stolarz was forced to leave the game midway through the second period after appearing to take an elbow to the head from Panthers forward Sam Bennett.

At 1:39 of the third period, Eetu Luostarinen one-hands a pass from Anton Lundell in front, which beats Woll over the glove to make it a 4-2 game.

Eetu Luostarainen cuts the lead in half pic.twitter.com/LuNvj6Xfog

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

Nearly three minutes later, Uvis Balinskis beats Woll over the shoulder to cut Toronto's lead to just a goal. Brad Marchand assisted on Florida's second and third goals.

Balinskis makes it a one-goal game pic.twitter.com/m3zvgVzrK6

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

Domi finishes his check on Matthew Tkachuk, putting him into the boards, before joining the rush with Bobby McMann on a two-on-one. McMann gets the puck across to Domi, but Bobrovsky stops the chance.

what a rush from Domi and McMann pic.twitter.com/bW1lSZFTPj

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

Shortly after Domi's scoring opportunity, Knies finds himself behind the Panthers' defense. Marner ties up Nate Schmidt's stick before sending the 22-year-old on a breakaway.

He pulls the puck to the backhand and beats Bobrovsky with six minutes left in the third period, putting Toronto up 5-3. It's Knies' fourth goal in seven playoff games this year.

MATTHEW KNIES 🚨

TWO-GOAL LEAD RESTORED! pic.twitter.com/GPTUSyHoaA

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

With 1:53 remaining in the third period and Bobrovsky on the bench, Tavares tries to clear the puck, but cannot, and Bennett's shot goes off two Maple Leafs sticks before beating Woll over the shoulder.

Sam Bennett makes it 5-4 off some deflections pic.twitter.com/pGRPq7qcgt

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

2nd Period

After not scoring on a power play early in the period, the Panthers went to the man advantage following Pontus Holmberg's interference with Jones in front of Florida's net.

The Panthers weren't able to score, but had some strong chances, including one at the end of the power play where Sam Bennett's forearm hit Stolarz in the head.

Bennett catches Stolarz in the head pic.twitter.com/AorFonA398

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

Tanev's knuckler of a point shot beats Bobrovsky, putting Toronto up 4-1 at 7:50 of the second period. It's the 35-year-old's first goal since the regular season finale against the Detroit Red Wings.

McCabe tallies his second assist of the game, and Knies gets his first assist of the playoffs. Toronto's defense now has seven of the Maple Leafs' 23 goals during the postseason.

CHRIS TANEV 🚨

THE KNUCKLE BOUNCER pic.twitter.com/ChuszWWhEB

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

Joseph Woll enters the net at 10:14 for the Maple Leafs after Stolarz goes to the dressing room. Stolarz was in good spirits, speaking and smiling with Woll during the TV timeout.

Joseph Woll has entered the game for the Maple Leafs pic.twitter.com/1RRh1smrNO

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 6, 2025

Knies buries Jones in the corner of Florida's zone before setting up Auston Matthews for a chance. The Maple Leafs' captain's shot just goes wide.

I would've went Super Saiyan 3 if Matthews scored here after obliterating Jones pic.twitter.com/13rYKclMwS

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

1st Period

Nylander scores the series-opening goal 33 seconds into the game. It's his fourth goal in seven games, with assists going to Max Pacioretty and Jake McCabe. Bobrovsky couldn't see anything with John Tavares and Seth Jones battling in front.

WILLIAM NYLANDER 🚨

33 SECONDS IN! pic.twitter.com/N5yFqKGioY

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

Toronto's second line continued with another chance a few minutes later. Nylander finds Tavares in the slot, and his shot is stopped by Bobrovsky before going out of play.

another chance for the second line pic.twitter.com/sVXkcLgEgr

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

The Maple Leafs' third line gets involved after a few chances from the second line. Max Domi deflected Chris Tanev's point shot before it took another deflection as it travelled to the net. Bobrovsky made the difficult stop with his glove.

double deflection pic.twitter.com/6xBKh5tUUh

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

Domi takes a cross-checking penalty 6:38 into the first period after getting tied up with Brad Marchand following a whistle. Toronto's coaching staff was surprised by the call. The Maple Leafs allowed one shot on Florida's power play.

this was a penalty!? pic.twitter.com/HAdjrdG2TF

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

McCabe throws a massive hit on Dmitry Kulikov, heating the game even more than it already was.

McCabe dropped Kulikov pic.twitter.com/oVsbnOAhzp

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

Nylander scores his second goal of the game and fifth of the playoffs at 12:51 after Ekman-Larsson's rebound bounced to him. It's the defenseman's first assist of the playoffs. Nylander shimmied left and right before going upstairs on Bobrovsky.

The Maple Leafs have two goals on their first six shots of the game.

WILLIAM NYLANDER 🚨🚨

FIFTH OF THE PLAYOFFS! WHAT A GOAL! pic.twitter.com/yGND4G6idx

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

Toronto takes a too-many-men penalty midway through their power play. Jones gets the Panthers on the board with his second goal of the playoffs at 16:57 as his point shot beats Stolarz.

Seth Jones on the power play pic.twitter.com/y7VHIjuTmi

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

Nineteen seconds after Florida cut Toronto's lead in half, Morgan Rielly found himself on a two-on-one with Tavares after a pass from Nylander. Rielly beats Bobrovsky over the blocker for his third postseason goal, putting the Maple Leafs up 3-1.

Nylander's third point of the night ties him for the playoff lead with Mikko Rantanen and Kyle Connor.

MORGAN RIELLY 🚨

WHAT A SHOT! THE LEAFS GET IT BACK! pic.twitter.com/l5hORXFpKn

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 6, 2025

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The Islanders don’t currently have a GM, but whoever they end up hiring just picked up a pretty significant asset. 

New York officially won the NHL Draft Lottery on Monday night -- meaning that they now own the first overall pick in the 2025 Draft. 

The Isles entered the night with just a 3.5 percent chance of landing in the top spot, but they somehow had the luck of the draw on the first roll of the night and are now in a good spot to take the young talent of their choice.

One of the top prospects in this class is 18-year-old Long Island-native James Hagens, who produced 11 goals and 26 assists this season with Boston College. 

How bout the Blueshirts?

The Rangers, on the other hand, weren’t so lucky. 

With the Utah Hockey Club jumping up to the fourth overall pick, they actually moved down a selection and will now be at No. 12 this year. 

They now have until two days before the draft to decide if they want to keep that pick and use it themselves or send it to Pittsburgh by way of the Vancouver Canucks to help complete the J.T. Miller trade. 

If they do keep it, they’ll send the Penguins a 2026 unprotected first-round pick. 

Here's a look at the rest of the order:

Presenting the 2025 #NHLDraft Lottery results! 🤩

The 2025 Upper Deck #NHLDraft will be held June 27-28. pic.twitter.com/6JJLYngoww

— NHL (@NHL) May 5, 2025

The Philadelphia Flyers officially hold the 6th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

For general manager Danny Brière and the rest of the Flyers front office, the draft continues to be a cornerstone of the franchise’s long-term rebuild. Though the Flyers exceeded outside expectations at times, team leadership has consistently reiterated that their strategy is rooted in patience, development, and building a sustainable contender through the draft.

The Philadelphia Flyers will pick 6th overall in this year’s draft, which takes place on June 27.

— Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) May 5, 2025

The Flyers have invested heavily in their amateur scouting department in recent years and have reaped early signs of that investment. Players like Matvei Michkov, Jett Luchanko, and Denver Barkey represent a promising wave of young talent. Adding a sixth-overall pick to that group offers another chance to secure a difference-maker—potentially one who can grow into a franchise-altering piece.

While much remains uncertain leading up to the draft, the 2025 class is shaping up to be strong at the top, with high-end forwards and puck-moving defensemen available—all of which will be of interest to the Flyers. Philadelphia’s position at sixth overall puts them in prime position to draft one of the most NHL-ready players in the pool or take a calculated swing on long-term upside.

There is also intrigue around how the Flyers could use this pick within the broader scope of their offseason plans. Even more interesting is that the team has multiple selections in the early rounds and a stocked prospect pipeline, which gives them flexibility if opportunities arise—something Briere is known to be open to.

Still, the message remains clear: the draft is one of the pivotal parts of the Flyers’ rebuild. With the sixth overall pick secured, the organization now turns its focus to final evaluations and preparation for a decision that could help shape their future for years to come.

The NHL draft lottery was broadcast live for all to see, and the balls fell in the New York Islanders’ favor.

The Islanders had the winning combination that awards them the first overall pick and the chance to improve their franchise moving forward. The Utah Hockey Club won the second draw to move up 10 spots to fourth overall. That means the San Jose Sharks have the second overall pick.

Although most lists are beginning to put Matthew Schaefer at the top spot, there are a few, including my own, that have Michael Misa ranked first. 

Let this officially open the debate as we dig into which top prospect makes the most sense for the Islanders.

Let’s start with the underdog in the race for first overall, Misa. 

Michael Misa, C, Saginaw (OHL)

The Saginaw Spirit center was undeniably dominant in the OHL this past season. His 62 goals were second in the CHL, and his 134 points led the entire CHL in scoring. 

Misa showed himself to be one of the most intelligent players in the draft class throughout the year and continually grew his game. Not only was his offensive game a force to be reckoned with, but he was a positive defensive presence as well, even playing on the penalty kill. 

Misa’s ability to elevate those around him was evident all season. He was more than capable of playing any role asked of him on a line. The Spirit captain showed an amazing amount of maturity and mental toughness throughout the season, becoming a more well-rounded player as the season wore on. 

The big separator for Misa compared to most other high-end offensive scorers at the junior level was his attention to detail. From positioning himself on the right side of the puck to understanding his leverage in a board battle, Misa used his strengths in those situations. Misa can be a top-line center with a legitimate two-way impact.

2025 NHL Draft: Michael Misa's Historic Year Has Him Pushing For First OverallTop-level NHL draft prospect Michael Misa tore the OHL apart with a season that rewrote the history books.

Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie (OHL) 

Matthew Schaefer is the front-runner in discussions about the first overall pick since at least the world juniors. 

Not only did he make Canada’s U-20 team, but he was its most effective defenseman before his season-ending injury. He pushed the pace, showed offensive prowess and controlled the flow of play as a 17-year-old. 

Unfortunately, the collarbone injury he suffered when he crashed into the net in Canada’s second game kept him out of the lineup for the second half of the season. 

What makes Schaefer special is his fluidity in all aspects of his game. His vision on the ice is incredible. He handles the puck with impressive control and is rarely in a situation where he loses the puck off his stick. His passing is crisp and precise, hitting targets in motion with ease. 

Defensively, Schaefer leverages his skating and play-reading ability to close on puck carriers in transition, and he wins battles in the tough areas by playing through opponents' hands. He doesn’t have the raw strength to throw guys around or blow players up, but he’s no slouch along the boards because he understands how to position his body.

Instant Reaction: NHL Central Scouting Releases Final 2025 Draft RankingsNHL Central Scouting released its final rankings for the 2025 NHL draft.

Who’s The Better Fit?

The biggest question is how Schaefer and Misa would fit with the Islanders and where they would project in the lineup next year and down the line.

It’s an interesting question because the Islanders are entering a new era without former GM Lou Lamoriello after parting ways. The search for a new GM continues.

Looking at the current roster and their prospect pool, there are needs all over the lineup. Center prospect Cal Ritchie was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in the Brock Nelson trade at the deadline. Ritchie has been electric at times in the OHL, and his development as a two-way forward has been fantastic. He may not project as a true first-line center, but he has top-six talent. 

Cole Eiserman is a scoring left winger who was quite good for Boston University this year. He is a one-shot lethal scorer who could look great alongside Ritchie down the line. 

Danny Nelson has shown some promise in college, playing for the University of Notre Dame, but he projects as a bottom-six center. Outside of those few players, there is still quite a bit of work for the Islanders to do in rebuilding this team back to true contention. 

Notably, all of those players are forwards. Although Misa is a first overall worthy prospect, the logical pick for the Islanders is Schaefer, who would instantly become their top prospect. He would be the centerpiece of their blueline for years to come.

A pairing of Schaefer and current No. 1 defender Noah Dobson would push the pace and create an offensive advantage that most teams would cause most teams a headache or they could opt to spread out the puck-moving ability and consistently have the best defenseman on the ice at any given time.

There is plenty of work to do for the Islanders’ scouting staff, and things could change, or they could opt to load up down the middle.

James Hagens grew up as an Islanders fan and started the year as the top-rated player, so there is always the chance that he comes in as the dark horse. There will be plenty of intrigue heading into the NHL draft in June.

2025 NHL Lottery Mock Draft: Where Schaefer, Misa, Hagens And More Could FallThe NHL draft lottery went live this year, and the drama was real, with the New York Islanders moving all the way to No. 1 once the balls were read out.

Sharks Get No. 2 Pick

Since a team can only move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the a lottery draw, Utah climbed from 14th to fourth.

That means the Sharks get the second pick and the intriguing possibility of adding Misa to pair down the middle with last year’s first overall pick, Macklin Celebrini. Their fourth overall pick in 2023, Will Smith, played mainly on the right wing this season.

The one-two punch down the middle could make them a force out West for years to come. Two complete centers who have 30-goal, point-per-game potential is a prospect that almost no NHL team has and that could be the Sharks reality for the next decade.

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The NHL conducted their annual Draft Lottery on Monday night ahead of the Florida Panthers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs game, which was game one of the second round.

Report: The Ducks Ongoing Search for Next Head Coach

An extremely unlikely scenario unfolded and the Anaheim Ducks will be selecting 10th overall at the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, to be held on June 27 in Los Angeles.

The Ducks finished the 2024-25 season with a 35-37-10 record, good enough for 80 points and the eighth-best odds to win the lottery.

The Lottery featured two draws, one for first overall and one for second. The Ducks came into Monday with a 6% chance to win the first overall pick and a 6.2% chance to win the second overall pick. They won neither, and their fifth most likely outcome transpired, as they had a 3.2% chance of dropping to the 10th overall pick.

For the Ducks to drop from eight to ten at the draft lottery, two teams that finished the season with better records had to win the draws. The New York Islanders won this year’s draft lottery with a 3.5% chance, and the Utah Hockey Club won the second draw with a 3.2% chance. 

Utah was only eligible to move up a maximum of 10 spots, so they will select fourth. The San Jose Sharks will select second overall. 

The 2025 Draft will be the 32nd in franchise history, and they’ve never selected first overall. They’ve never had a first overall pick even on their roster at any point in time.

This will mark the third time the Ducks will have drafted 10th at the NHL Draft. They selected Nick Ritchie 10th in 2014 and Pavel Mintyukov in 2022.

The 2025 draft class isn’t like most years, where there’s a clear-cut prospect at the top of everyone’s (or most everyone’s) list. In 2024, there was no doubt that Macklin Celebrini was going to be taken first. In 2023, there was even less doubt that it was going to be Connor Bedard.

This year, consensus indicates the top selection is between Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer and Saginaw Spirit forward Michael Misa, with Schaefer seemingly having the edge at this point in time.

After Schaefer and Misa, there’s a cluster of three to five players that draft experts view as the next tier, including forwards James Hagens, Porter Martone, Anton Frondell, and Caleb Desnoyers.

As the annual draft combine nears and subsequent reports leak out, a lot of information will be uncovered.

Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek and assistant general manager/director of amateur scouting Martin Madden have marched to the beat of their own drummer during their three previous drafts together when they selected Pavel Mintyukov (10th overall in 2022), Leo Carlsson (2nd in ’23), and Beckett Sennecke (3rd in ’24). When it comes to the Ducks’ front office duo, it’s best to expect the unexpected at the draft.

Opinion: The Anaheim Ducks Deserve to Win the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery

2025 Anaheim Ducks Draft Lottery Preview

On Monday night, the National Hockey League conducted the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery. The San Jose Sharks led the way with a 25.5 percent chance of winning. The Chicago Blackhawks were in second with a 13.5 percent chance. 

Any team could only move up a max of 10 spots. For the Blackhawks, that meant that they could pick anywhere from 1-4. 

The first draw led to the New York Islanders winning the first overall pick. They jumped up from 10 to earn this selection. New York will pick first for the first time since 2009 when they selected John Tavares. 

The second lottery went to the Utah Hockey Club, so they will jump up from 14 to 4. That means that the Sharks will go down to 2 and the Blackhawks will drop to 3. 

This will be the third year in a row that Chicago will make a draft pick in the top three. In 2023, they took Connor Bedard first overall, and they took Artyom Levshunov second in 2024.  

A lot of conversations will take place in regards to who Chicago will select with this pick. There are some great options as players like Michael Misa, Matthew Schaefer, James Hagens, and Porter Martone are projected to go in the top four. 

The first round of the 2025 NHL Draft will begin on June 26th, 2025. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

The Seattle Kraken will make the eight selection of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft after moving down two spots in the draft lottery. If the Kraken do not move the pick, it will be tied for the third-highest selection they've made since they became an NHL franchise. Only Matty Beniers (second overall) and Shane Wright (fourth overall) were higher selections. The additional two players the Kraken have drafted in the first round are Eduard Sale (20th overall) and Berkly Catton (eighth overall). Heading into the draft, the glaring need within their prospect pool is on their blue line. Their top defensive prospect, Ty Nelson, likely projects to be a bottom-pairing defenseman, and the Kraken require more high-end talent. Matthew Schaefer is the best defenseman in the draft class, but he will likely be selected within the top two picks. Jackson Smith and Radim Mrtka are the next best two available defensemen. If the Kraken elect to continue to bolster their forward group, one of James Hagens, Anton Frondell, Porter Martone, Jake O'Brien and Caleb Desnoyers could be available for them to select. The NHL draft is set for Jun. 27 in Los Angeles, and the Kraken will have eight selections to make across the seven rounds

The Vancouver Canucks will be selecting 15th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. While there was a chance that the Canucks could have moved up ten spots, they did not win the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery, which took place on Monday. As for which teams will be picking in the top three this season, that will be the New York Islanders, the San Jose Sharks and the Chicago Blackhawks.

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Vancouver has only had the 15th overall pick once before. That occurred in 2022, when they selected Jonathan Lekkerimäki. The Canucks have never won the draft lottery, but have picked second overall on four occasion. 

If Vancouver elects to keep their pick, there are plenty of intriguing prospects who could be available at 15th overall. Some of those players include University of Wisconsin defenceman Logan Hensler, Soo Greyhounds center Brady Martin and Victoria Royals center Cole Reschny. There are also some BC-born players, including Calgary Hitmen winger Ben Kindel and Moose Jaw Warriors winger Lynden Lakovic.

The 2025 NHL Entry Draft is scheduled for June 27 and 28. While the event will take place in Los Angeles, it will be a decentralized draft, meaning teams will make their selections from their home cities. Both days of the draft will be aired on Sportsnet. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

The NHL has announced its nominees for the Calder Trophy during the pre-show of Monday's Draft Lottery, and Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf is amongst the contenders for the award alongside San Jose's centre Macklin Celebrini and Montreal's defenceman Lane Hutson.

The 24-year-old ended a memorable rookie season with a record of 29-16-8.

He registered a GAA of 2.64 and a save percentage of 91.0 in 53 games while putting up three shutouts.

The undersized netminder was the biggest reason why Calgary were in the playoff conversation and the last team eliminated from post-season contention in the Western Conference.

The young California-native was the fourth-last pick in the 2019 NHL draft – 214th overall – and the last of 22 goalies to be selected. The fact that Wolf has played more games than all but two of those goalies (the first two to come off the board: Spencer Knight at 13th and Pyotr Kochetkov at 36th overall) alone is probably Calder-worthy on its own.

He'll look to be the sixth Flame to win the Calder Trophy.