Category: NHL

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

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.

For just about eight years, Rob Blake served as GM of the Los Angeles Kings. In that span, the Kings made five appearances in the Stanley Cup playoffs. But because L.A. failed to win a single playoff series in that span, Blake and the Kings parted ways Monday. 

Let's compare Blake's tenure to that of Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams, who has been running things in Western New York since June of 2020. In Adams' tenure, the Sabres have failed to make the playoffs each and every season. Playoff wins have been more of a pipe dream than just getting into the post-season, yet here we are, and Adams is still holding the reins of power. Does something seem off about this picture? Because it absolutely should.

Indeed, the Sabres' culture of losing is so pervasive, the status quo is embraced in a way that would never happen with many other organizations. Other teams have pulled the plug on their GM after two or three seasons of letdowns, let alone five. There are no excuses with other teams -- you either produce positive results, or someone comes in and takes over your job. Pretty straightforward.

It took the Kings less than a week to decide on a new direction for the team after their latest playoff loss to the Edmonton Oilers. There was no doubt something major had to change. Blake didn't get the job done, and he knew as well as anyone it was time for his era in L.A. to end. Sabres fans have to look at the way that situation played out and pine for an ownership group that has that level of expectation for its management members.

Because the Kings changed course so quickly, they're going to have a sizeable number of GM candidates to choose from. But if the Sabres get off to another sub-par start to the 2025-26 season, the group of candidates to replace Adams at that time will be rather small. This is another reason why waiting to dismiss Adams is such a bad idea. But the Sabres have cornered the market on bad ideas, so no one should be shocked at their most recent one.

Lamoriello's Cold-Blooded Legacy A Good Lesson For Rebuilding SabresThe New York Islanders 

The Kings have won two Stanley Cups in the past 14 years because the competitive bar the team has set for itself is considerably high. The Sabres, on the other hand, have a competitive bar set so low, a limbo contest would be impossible to win against them.

It has to be massively frustrating for Buffalo fans to sit back and watch the Sabres have another ho-hum off-season where nothing changes at the top of their power pyramid.  And until that changes, more disappointment is almost assuredly on its way.

As the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs continue to unfold, it’s as good a time as any to look at the league’s pending UFAs and examine how they’ve helped or hurt their negotiating leverage this summer. 

Let’s focus on five prominent pending UFAs:

1. Mitch Marner, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs

Heading into the post-season, few players were under more pressure than Marner. Unlike last year, when he had one goal and three points in a seven-game loss to the Bruins, Marner came through, posting seven assists and eight points in the six-game win against the Ottawa Senators. 

Marner helped his financial cause greatly in the regular season with a career-best 75 assists and 102 points in 81 games, but his first-round performance is a step toward proving he can rise to the occasion in the playoffs. His strong defensive play also helps.

Most people now understand Marner won’t likely give the Leafs a hometown discount, and he’s almost assuredly going to make $13 million or $14 million per season beginning next year. The further the Leafs go, the more the 27-year-old is assured of an even bigger raise on the $10.9 million he’s currently making – especially if he can help the Leafs get past the Panthers in the second round.

2. Nikolaj Ehlers, LW, Winnipeg Jets

Injuries limited Ehlers to only 69 regular-season games with the Jets, but he still was able to match his career-high in assists (39) and came within one point of equaling his career high in points (64). 

Injuries kept Ehlers out of the first five games of their first-round showdown against the St. Louis Blues. However, he made up for lost time by setting up Cole Perfetti for the game-tying goal that sent Game 7 to overtime.

Regardless of what happens the rest of the way for himself and the Jets, Ehlers will have serious interest from many teams and get a raise on the $6 million he’s earning this season. His combination of speed and finishing skills makes him highly valuable.

3. Mikael Granlund, C, Dallas Stars

Granlund, 33, is no spring chicken. But since Dallas acquired him from San Jose midway through the season, he’s been solid, combining for 22 goals and 66 points in 83 games with the Stars and the San Jose Sharks. Those are his best totals since he was a member of the Minnesota Wild in 2017-18. 

In seven games against the Colorado Avalanche, Granlund put up a goal and two points – nothing earth-shattering but nothing that will see him take a pay cut on the $5 million he’s earning this season. At his age, the contract term will likely be as important to Granlund as the dollar amount he eventually arrives at.

NHL Playoffs 2025: Winners And Losers From Round 1 Feature Rantanen, Necas And MoreJust like that, the NHL’s 2025 Stanley Cup playoff field is cut in half. 

4. John Tavares, C, Toronto Maple Leafs

Like Marner, Tavares plays for the high-profile Maple Leafs, so his next contract has been a topic of speculation for the past year. 

Tavares thrived in the regular season with 38 goals and 74 points in 75 games, and he added three goals and five points against the Sens in Round 1. Despite his age, that should only help his negotiating rights this coming off-season.

Tavares, 34, will not earn anywhere close to the $11-millon cap hit he’s been making in Toronto for the past seven seasons. But if he can get a three- or four-year contract from his hometown Leafs, Tavares should be satisfied at the prospect of ending his terrific career for the Blue & White.

5. Sam Bennett, C, Florida Panthers

Bennett’s skill and sandpaper make him highly regarded to pretty much every team out there, and his current cap hit of $4.425 million makes him one of the better bargains in the NHL.

This year, he’s put up career bests in assists (26) and points (51), but his recent playoff history assures him of a considerable raise this summer. 

The 28-year-old had seven goals and 14 points in 19 games during Florida’s Cup run last year. This spring, he’s put up three goals and five points in the Panthers’ first-round win over Tampa Bay.

Bennett may choose to remain in Florida over the long haul, but if the Panthers want to keep him, they will have to pay him a good deal more than what he’s currently making. Bennett’s skill set is unique, and while he no doubt wants to stay a Panther, there will be no shortage of teams tempting him with a healthy raise.

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The incredible ending of the St. Louis Blues - Winnipeg Jets series on Sunday put an end to the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which did not see any shocking upsets, but did see clubs like the Los Angeles Kings and Tampa Bay Lightning, who had home-ice advantage, go down to division foes Edmonton and Florida. A number of former Buffalo Sabres moved on to the second round, which will open with the Panthers taking on the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on Monday, but a number of ex-Sabres also had their season end.  

Here are the players who went home after the first round:

Colorado

Erik Johnson  GP - 2, G - 0, A - 0, PTS - 0, +/- 0

Most likely the end of the career of the Stanley Cup champion and former #1 overall pick. 

Minnesota

Marcus Foligno  GP - 6, G - 3, A - 1, PTS - 4, +/- +4

Marcus Johansson  GP - 5, G - 0, A - 2, PTS - 2, +/- 0

Zach Bogosian  GP - 6, G - 0, A - 1, PTS - 1, +/- -1

Foligno was a force in the Wild’s six-game loss to Vegas, with three goals.

Montreal

Joel Armia  GP - 5, G - 0, A - 2, PTS - 2, +/- +2

The former Sabres first-rounder was an effective checker and bottom-six forward for the Canadiens, who fell in five games to the Washington Capitals. 

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Ottawa

Dylan Cozens  GP - 6, G - 1, A - 1, PTS - 2, +/- -2

Linus Ullmark  GP - 6, Record - 2-4-0, GAA - 2.84, Save % - .880

Cozens had a rough playoff for Ottawa, as he was victimized on Max Domi’s OT goal in Game 2, but the former Sabre did score a back-breaking short-handed goal in Game 5. Ullmark gave up six in the series opener, but got stronger as the series evolved, shutting out Toronto in Game 5 to keep the Sens alive.  

Tampa Bay

Zemgus Girgensons  GP - 5, G - 0, A - 0, PTS - 0, +/- 0

Girgensons played fourth-line duty and, most notably, was checked from behind by Niko Mikkola, earning the Florida defenseman a five-minute major and game misconduct. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

When the 2024-25 NHL season began, defenceman Nikolas Matinpalo wasn't exactly on the Ottawa Senators' NHL radar.

Last summer, Matinpalo signed a one-year, two-way contract with the club, suggesting they expected him to spend the bulk of the year again with the AHL's Belleville Senators.

But as they often do, a rash of injuries opened the door for Matinpalo, and he made the most of the opportunity. The 26-year-old played 41 regular-season games for the Senators this season, which is probably about 41 more than most observers expected. As a testament to how well he played this season, Matinpalo suited up in all six of Ottawa's playoff games this spring, even though more veteran options were both healthy and available.

Four days after the Senators' season ended, Matinpalo was rewarded with his first one-way NHL contract. GM Steve Staios announced on Monday that the team signed Matinpalo to a two-year deal with an $875,000 AAV through the 2026-2027 season.

The Espoo, Finland native started the season on waivers before reporting to Belleville, where he stayed until being recalled to Ottawa in December.

Matinpalo's whirlwind season included an opportunity to be an injury replacement for Team Finland at February's NHL 4 Nations Faceoff, which was far more intense and entertaining than anyone expected. He'll also be suiting up for his national team later this week as the World Championships begin in Stockholm, Sweden, on Friday.

“Nik took a significant step this season and proved he could be a valuable contributor at the NHL level,” Staios said. “We look forward to his continued growth.”

It will be interesting to see exactly what that level of growth will look like. He'll be 27 when the next NHL season begins, so he may have peaked already. But some players are late bloomers, and the Sens are hoping his best is yet to come.

Ottawa Senators Captain Brady Tkachuk At His Seasonal Farewell: 'We Want More'On Saturday morning, with the echoes from Thursday's season-ending Game Six loss still rattling about in the rafters of Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk was made available to the media for one final time this season. For Tkachuk, not being able to complete an epic comeback against the Toronto Maple Leafs is still an open wound.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News - Ottawa

Bruins hope to get ‘impact player' with No. 7 pick after lottery disappointment originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins needed some luck to win the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery, and they didn’t get it. In fact, they got the opposite.

The worst-case scenario for the Bruins was falling two spots to the No. 7 pick, and that’s what unfolded Monday night when the draft lottery concluded.

The last time the Bruins picked in the top seven with their own pick was 2006 when they selected Phil Kessel at No. 5 overall. The B’s did pick No. 2 overall in 2010 (Tyler Seguin) with a pick they acquired in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Despite the disappointment in the lottery results, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney seems confident his team will be able to get a good player in the first round.

“We’re still picking in the upper echelon of the draft, which we haven’t done for a significant time period,” Sweeney told reporters at a press conference Monday night. “So we feel very comfortable in terms of where the top seven picks are and we’ll get a good player, an impact player, regardless of the disappointment of moving back a couple spots. That’s the nature of the lottery.”

The Bruins, given the weakness of their prospect pool, should keep the No. 7 pick and add a potential top-tier young player to their organization. But you never know what trade offers might come your way.

“If you had a chance to win the lottery, I’m sure you’d receive phone calls in terms of whether you’ll ever move that pick. At No. 7, you still may,” Sweeney said. “It’s difficult to move up from there, but we’ll do our due diligence in terms of which teams may want to jockey around. And we still feel very comfortable with the scouting we’ve done and the player we’re gonna get at No. 7 if we decide to stay there.”

If the Bruins plan on their retool being a quick one — maybe just one offseason — it would help if their 2025 first-round pick could contribute right away. But that’s not often what happens. Rushing these players to the NHL can backfire.

Does Sweeney see any players in this draft who could play as early as next season?

“You never know. The surprises are what they are each year,” Sweeney explained. “I think (sometimes) you find a player who comes out of the gate and looks like he can play right away. Whether that’s acclimation — some of these guys have been injured for a period of time. Are they mature enough and physically ready to play? That’s to be determined.

“The league gets harder as you go along, and you see a lot of these players do get injured when they start out early. But they’re all good players in the upper echelon of the draft. You’ve got some guys who have played pro over in Sweden. It’s a chance to impact your club, whether that’s next year, that remains to be seen.”

The first round of the draft will take place on June 27. Rounds two through seven will take place the following day. The Bruins currently own eight picks in the 2025 draft, including two second-round selections.

How is Michkov not a Calder Trophy finalist? Flyers' rookie a clear snub originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Matvei Michkov led all rookies this season in goals (26) and even strength points (46).

He was tied for second in overall points (63).

He was the only player in the NHL to put up both three or more overtime goals and three or more shootout goals.

He played in 80 of 82 games as a 20-year-old from Russia jumping into the NHL.

But somehow, he was not a Calder Memorial Trophy finalist Monday. The NHL’s top rookie honor will come down to Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, Sharks center Macklin Celebrini and Flames goalie Dustin Wolf.

The award is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The winner is expected to be announced at some point in June.

Hutson is the likely front-runner to win it after leading all rookies in points (66) and assists (60), while playing big minutes for a Montreal team that went to the playoffs. His assists mark tied an NHL record for most by a rookie defenseman.

So Michkov had a tall order to become the first Flyers player to ever win the Calder Trophy. But how he wasn’t voted as a finalist is hard to comprehend. He won the rookie goal-scoring race, he did a ton of his work at even strength and he delivered in clutch moments.

More: How Michkov embraced a ‘boring process’ to become an even greater scorer

“I think he’s probably the one guy that I’ve played with in my career that he wants to be the best player in the NHL,” Travis Konecny said over two weeks ago. “He believes that he can be and you can’t teach that. That’s just something that he wants and he believes in — that’s a powerful thing. If he can continue to figure out how to play on both sides of the puck and help us win games that way, too, he’s a really big part of this.”

Celebrini finished with the same number of points as Michkov, but played in 10 fewer games. He had a minus-31 rating, while Michkov had a minus-18 mark.

Wolf was Calgary’s No. 1 goaltender, going 29-16-8 with a 2.64 goals-against average and .910 save percentage. The Flames had a 96-point season but missed the playoffs. Wolf made his NHL debut two seasons ago.

Last season, Connor Bedard won the award with 22 goals, 61 points and a minus-44 rating in 68 games.

Michkov’s 26 goals led the Flyers and his 63 points were second to Konecny. He recorded the most points by a Flyers rookie since Mikael Renberg had 82 in 1993-94. Renberg’s mark is a franchise record for most points by a rookie in a season. Michkov finished eighth on the Flyers’ all-time rookie single-season scoring list.

“He’s a special athlete, person,” general manager Danny Briere said over two weeks ago. “He sees it, he’s extremely intelligent. He has got a different mind. It’s part of the reason that makes him who he is. There’s something special around him, just in his approach.”