As one of two teams with three picks in the first round, the Nashville Predators have a lot of flexibility in this year's NHL Draft. 

Alongside the fifth overall pick, the Predators have the 23rd and 26th overall picks. It's a new franchise record and is tied with the Philadelphia Flyers for the most first-round draft picks. 

MORE: NHL Draft preview: Frondell, Hagens, McQueen emerge as favorites for Predators 5th overall pick

MORE: Analyzing every Nashville Predators first round NHL Draft pick: 2022-2024 

MORE: Trotz, Predators prepared to get 'a really good player' at NHL Draft

Nashville obtained the 23rd overall pick in a trade in 2023 with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Predators sent Tanner Jeannot to the Lightning for Cal Foote, a 2024 second-round pick, a third-round pick, a fourth-round pick, a fifth-round pick in the 2023 draft and the 2025 first-round pick. 

If you thought that was complicated, the Predators got the 26th overall pick in a three-way trade with the Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks.

The Predators traded Yaroslav Askarov, Nolan Burke and a 2025 third-round pick to the San Jose Sharks for Magnus Chrona, David Edstrom and the 2025 first-round pick. 

Five prospects have jumped out as favorites for the Predators to draft with these two picks, with the most popular player being defenseman Sascha Boumedienne. 

The 6-foot-1-inch, 175-pound Swede played this past season with Boston University, scoring 13 points in 40 games and logging 33 penalty minutes. He helped the Tarriers to an appearance in the NCAA National Championship game. 

With a lankier build, Boumedienne's specialty comes in his mobility on the ice and skating. It's a more offensively minded defenseman who, with more experience, could add some nice depth on the Predators' blue line.

🇸🇪 #5 // Sascha Boumedienne // 6’2 183 🇸🇪

Boumedienne is an active, mobile defenceman, who uses his feet and passing to push the pace. His skating is excellent, displaying high-end mobility in all directions. The decision making was was hit and miss pic.twitter.com/2KowrpgkRT

— Matt Mosewich (@EDMFutureWatch) September 21, 2024

If Nashville is still looking for center depth, another favorite is 5-foot-10-inch, 172-pound Cullen Potter. The Minnesota native just finished his first collegiate season with Arizona State, scoring 22 points in 35 games. 

He is also the son of former professional women's hockey player and Olympian Jenny Schmidgall-Potter. 

Potter is another player who will likely need to spend a few more seasons with Arizona State or in Milwaukee before making the jump to Nashville. Still, he is a very good transitional player. He can break out the puck well and generate good scoring chances on the rush, a critical skill for a center to have. 

Cullen Potter is one of my favorite 2025 draft prospects, so when I saw that his ASU team beat top-ranked Denver TWICE last weekend and snapped their 12-game win streak I had to take a closer look

Here are some of his highlights from those games (#12 in maroon). Dynamic player pic.twitter.com/WyaIDFfZ86

— Derek Neumeier (@Derek_N_NHL) November 29, 2024

Goalie Joshua Ravensbergen is a name being mentioned as a potential 26th overall pick for the Predators. This comes with caution as the Predators, over their 27-year history, have struggled with selecting goalies in the first round. 

At 6-foot-5-inches and 190 pounds, Ravensbergen is in his second season with the Prince George Cougars. He posted an impressive 33-13-4 record this season, with a .901 save percentage. His goals against average was a bit higher at 3.00. 

With a six-and-a-half-foot build, Ravensbergen definitely has an NHL goalie frame. It's always good to get a goalie in the system, but the question is if Nashville really needs one. 

Defenseman Blake Fiddler, the son of former Predator forward Vernon Fiddler, is a favorite to be selected at 23rd or 26th. 

Outside of his family connections, he put up 33 points in 64 games and logged 36 penalty minutes in his second season with the Edmonton Oil Kings. He's a strong, offensively minded player, and it wouldn't be surprising if he were picked up before the Predators had a chance. 

With a 6-foot-4-inch, 209-pound build, only more experience can really benefit Fiddler. Another season in the WHL could really show just what Fiddler is capable of. 

Blake Fiddler homecoming! 🇺🇸

The Frisco, TX native scores in his hometown at the #U18MensWorlds! @EdmOilKings | #NHLDraftpic.twitter.com/1BCn45kmFR

— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) April 24, 2025

Center and quarterback Mason West is the final prospect that could land in the Predators lap. 

The 6-foot-6-inch, 215-pound Minnesotan just finished his junior year, splitting time between Edina High School's varsity hockey team and the Fargo Force in the USHL. He had 49 points in 39 games with Edina and nine points in 10 games with the Force.

At quarterback, West was 178-of-244 passing for 2,592 yards and threw 37 touchdowns. He also holds Division I football offers from Marshall, Miami (Ohio) and Kent State. 

He's already committed to Michigan State (to play hockey) and will be spending his senior year playing football for Edina and hockey for the Fargo Force. 

This is a very unique prospect, but the Predators wouldn't have him in the system until at least the 2027-28 season. Still, with his build and especially needing a center, West could be worth the wait. 

 

It's time for our fourth and final rendition of our 2025 Philadelphia Flyers mock draft, complete with all 32 first-round selections from every team.

The perpetually changing rumor landscape has changed our selections over time, with names like James Hagens, Porter Martone, Ivan Ryabkin, Joshua Ravensbergen, Jackson Smith, and more all making their ways into the first round for the Flyers.

So, what's ultimately going to happen? It's hard to say, but there are now only so many hours before the draft for things to change.

Let's talk Flyers and the NHL Draft, yes?

1. D Matthew Schaefer, New York Islanders

2. C Anton Frondell, San Jose Sharks

3. C Michael Misa, Chicago Blackhawks

4. C Caleb Desnoyers, Utah Mammoth

5. RW Porter Martone, Nashville Predators

6. C James Hagens, Philadelphia Flyers

Rationale: Under GM Danny Briere, the Flyers have developed a reputation for deception around draft time. But you can only perform the same trick so many times before you become a one-trick pony.

That's why I believe the Flyers are genuinely interested in James Hagens, once the consensus No. 1 player of this draft class, and believe he can be Philly's No. 1 center of the future alongside Matvei Michkov.

Hagens confirmed Thursday that he met with the Flyers an additional time following the NHL scouting combine.

7. C Jake O'Brien, Boston Bruins

8. F Brady Martin, Seattle Kraken

9. D Radim Mrtka, Buffalo Sabres

10. D Kashawn Aitcheson, Anaheim Ducks

Flyers Have New Trade-Up Possibility in NHL DraftIf the Philadelphia Flyers wish to move up in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, the Los Angeles Kings have presented them a golden opportunity to do so.

11. C Roger McQueen, Pittsburgh Penguins

12. RW Victor Eklund, Pittsburgh Penguins

13. F Carter Bear, Detroit Red Wings

14. D Jackson Smith, Columbus Blue Jackets

15. F Benjamin Kindel, Vancouver Canucks

16. LW Lynden Lakovic, New York Islanders

17. D Logan Hensler, New York Islanders

18. LW Malcom Spence, Calgary Flames

19. RW Justin Carbonneau, St. Louis Blues

20. C Braden Cootes, Columbus Blue Jackets

21. D Cam Reid, Ottawa Senators

22. C Cole Reschny, Philadelphia Flyers

Rationale: Should they draft Cole Reschny, the Flyers will have drafted a center with each of their last three first round picks after Hagens and Jett Luchanko.

But that's not a bad thing. We don't know what Luchanko's true ceiling is as a promising player playing on awful teams, and the Flyers were basically the only team to value him as highly as they did.

Adding Reschny to the mix gives the Flyers a much better chance of having two potential top-six centers in the pipeline and helps further take the pressure off Luchanko to become some offensive maven.

Reschny is a versatile forward and was dynamite in the WHL this season, especially in the second half of the year. He'd be a great fit in Philadelphia.

23. G Joshua Ravensbergen, Nashville Predators

24. D Blake Fiddler, Los Angeles Kings

25. LW Bill Zonnon, Chicago Blackhawks

26. C Jack Nesbitt, Nashville Predators

27. RW Alex Zharovsky, Washington Capitals

28. C William Horcoff, Winnipeg Jets

29. D Max Psenicka, Carolina Hurricanes

Flyers Draft 2025: Who Are the Best (and Worst) Trade-Up Targets for Philly?With seven picks in the first two rounds of the 2025 NHL Draft, the possibilities are endless for the Philadelphia Flyers. They could use all seven picks, trade up once, trade up twice, or even trade down like they did in 2024.

30. D Henry Brzustewicz, San Jose Sharks

31. LW Cullen Potter, Philadelphia Flyers

Rationale: Another small forward Jon, really?

Look, Cullen Potter is one of my favorite forwards in this draft class. He's a monster skater and has a full offensive toolkit, and he's a left-shot left wing, which the Flyers really need more of.

Alex Bump and Nikita Grebenkin are probably NHL contributors, but do they have the skating and upside of Potter? No, not in my opinion, at least.

Potter will need to put on some weight and strength, but the Flyers already have guys (Bobby Brink, maybe Maxim Shabanov) smaller than the 5-foot-10, 172-pound Potter.

Add the talent first, worry about size later. Last year, the Flyers had the inverse strategy, though, so there's concern they again look for the tallest centers they can find within reason at this draft slot.

32. D Haoxi "Simon" Wang, Calgary Flames

Potential Flyers picks to watch on Day 2

With that all out of the way, there's a surprisingly considerable amount of talent left on the board, including some of my mocked first-rounders from past attempts at this thing.

The Flyers need left defensemen, so names like Kurban Limatov and Sascha Boumedienne should be in play at 36.

Later in the second round, I could see the Flyers take one, or even two, goalies. Russians Semyon Frolov and Alexei Medvedev (already plays in North America for London, teammate of Oliver Bonk and Denver Barkey) are the two best options there.

I lean Medvedev. Taking the Russian-playing-in-North-America pipeline worked well for the New Jersey Devils last year with Mikhail Yegorov.

Other names I like for the Flyers, in no particular order: RW Vaclav Nestrasil, C Ivan Ryabkin, LW Jack Murtagh, LW Kristian Epperson, D Maddox Labre, D Mace'o Phillips, D David Bedkowski, C Milton Gastrin, RW Jakob Ihs-Wozniak.

The 2025 NHL draft day is here. Check out the picks and scouting reports of the first round as they come in, as well as draft rankings and much more prospect coverage.

(Jump to the tracker)

Want to compare the first-round results with mock drafts? Want to learn more about where your team's new addition was ranked or how they play? Want a ton of NHL draft content, no matter what? Check out our curations of draft-related content as well.

Also check out The Hockey News' Draft Preview. Not only does it feature scouting reports on the NHL draft's top 100 prospects, but it also goes further into the stories of some of the top players available, as well as team-by-team reports that cover immediate and long-term needs, cap situation, players in the system, shrewd picks and not so shrewd picks. It's worth a read whether it's during or even after the draft.

After the first round, stay at THN.com and tune into our livestream.

Round 1

Refresh this page for the latest updates. All height and weight information are according to NHL Central Scouting.

1. New York Islanders: Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie (OHL), 6-foot-2, 186 pounds

"Thank you guys, I appreciate you taking a chance on me. I promise I won't disappoint, but especially, just want to say to my mom and all my family and friends, thanks for everything."

Schaefer was in tears as he heard NHL commissioner Gary Bettman call his name and as he put on his Islanders uniform for the first time. He said they were happy tears, but he wishes his late mom was there.

He started the season with mono and ended it with a broken collarbone, but in between, Schaefer established himself as the consensus No. 1 prospect in the 2025 NHL draft. Schaefer’s skating and hockey IQ are elite, and there is a sense of calm when the puck is on his stick. “He’s an exit machine,” said one scout. “He can skate it out or pass it out, and he has the ability to control the play. I’ve never seen a team disintegrate the way Canada did after he got hurt in the world juniors.” (The Hockey News Draft Preview Issue)

New York Islanders Select Their New Foundational D-Man, Matthew Schaefer, First Overall In NHL DraftAfter weeks of excitement, anticipation and speculation, the New York Islanders selected Matthew Schaefer with the first pick of the 2025 NHL draft.

2. San Jose Sharks: Michael Misa, C, Saginaw (OHL), 6-foot-1, 182 pounds

The CHL’s leading scorer and second-leading goal-scorer was simply unstoppable until he was injured in the first round of the playoffs for Saginaw. Misa is one of the most intelligent and tactical players in the draft. His ability to read plays and exploit holes in the defensive coverage or create small advantages for himself in battles is impressive. (Tony Ferrari's final draft rankings)  

3. Chicago Blackhawks: Anton Frondell, C, Djurgarden (Swe.2), 6-foot-1, 204 pounds 

After some debate over whether Frondell goes ahead of Misa, the Hawks get Frondell, a powerful center who boasts an excellent shot and plenty of potential as a very good two-way center. With Connor Bedard on the top line and Frondell taking the second-line center role, Chicago could look to give San Jose a run for its money for the best young center tandem in the NHL. (Ferrari's mock draft)

4. Utah Mammoth: Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton (QMJHL), 6-foot-1, 182 pounds 

“He’s a smart 200-foot player with really good details in his game,” said one scout. “He’s getting a ton of ice time with the best team in the league, which tells you something. He plays in all situations, big minutes and against top lines almost every night. I don’t know if there are many guys in the draft as well-rounded as him. He’s a guy you’d want to have on your team.” (The Hockey News Draft Preview Issue)  

5. Nashville Predators: Brady Martin, C, S.S. Marie (OHL), Six-foot, 186 pounds 

Farm-boy strong, Martin is just scratching the surface, and the early returns are already impressive. He was massive for Canada at the World Men’s Under-18s and carried a Soo team that didn't have a lot of other options this season. (Ryan Kennedy's final draft rankings)

6. Philadelphia Flyers: Porter Martone, RW, Brampton (OHL), 6-foot-3, 204 pounds

If you need a distillation of Martone’s game, just watch the first-ever OHL Top Prospects Game this season. The power forward notched a Gordie Howe hat trick in the all-star showdown, with the goal coming as the OT-winner. “He’s a skilled guy who can play it any way you want,” said one scout. “He’s physical, he’s hard to get away from the net, and he has great hands in close. He gets a lot of goals in a lot of different ways. He can handle it himself 1-on-1, or he can jam the net.” (The Hockey News Draft Preview Issue)    

7. Boston Bruins: James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA), 5-foot-10, 186 pounds

Going into the season, many scouts projected Hagens to be the No. 1 pick. And while he didn’t disappoint, he fell a bit after a slightly underwhelming offensive year. But perhaps that can be forgiven given the quality of NCAA competition. “If Hagens had played in the OHL for London or Kitchener, would he not have scored 55 or 60 goals?” said one scout. “You just wish he were a little bit bigger,” said another scout. “You can be pretty confident he’s going to create offense. He’s performed everywhere he’s been, and he’ll perform in the NHL, too.” (The Hockey News Draft Preview Issue)    

8. Seattle Kraken: Jake O'Brien, C, Brantford (OHL), 6-foot-2, 177 pounds

O’Brien sees the ice in a way unlike just about any player in the draft class. His touch as a passer is wildly impressive, and he became a much more confident shooter this season. O’Brien simply understands how to advance play. (Ferrari's final draft rankings)    

9. Buffalo Sabres:Radim Mrtka, D, Seattle (WHL), 6-foot-6, 218 pounds

The Sabres desperately need a right-handed defenseman to come in and play alongside their offensively minded left-shot guys, such as Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power. Mrtka falls right into their laps. The big Czech defender has a very solid defensive base and some upside offensively. He fits right into what the Sabres need.  (Ferrari's mock draft)  

10. Anaheim Ducks

11. Pittsburgh Penguins

12. Pittsburgh Penguins (From NY Rangers via Vancouver)

13. Detroit Red Wings

14. Columbus Blue Jackets

15. Vancouver Canucks

16. New York Islanders (from Calgary via Montreal)

17. New York Islanders (from Montreal)

18. Calgary Flames (from New Jersey)

19. St. Louis Blues

20. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Minnesota)

21. Ottawa Senators

22. Philadelphia Flyers (from Colorado)

23. Nashville Predators (from Tampa Bay)

24. Los Angeles Kings

25. Chicago Blackhawks (from Toronto)

26. Nashville Predators (from Vegas via San Jose)

27. Washington Capitals

28. Winnipeg Jets

29. Carolina Hurricanes

30. San Jose Sharks (from Dallas)

31. Philadelphia Flyers (from Edmonton)

32. Calgary Flames (from Florida)

Back to top

Final NHL Draft Rankings

- Final 2025 NHL Draft Rankings: Ryan Kennedy's Top 100

- Final 2025 NHL Draft Rankings: Tony Ferrari's Top 80

- Instant Reaction: NHL Central Scouting Releases Final 2025 Draft Rankings

Mock Drafts

- 2025 NHL Mock Draft: Final First-Round Predictions For Schaefer, Martone And More

- 2025 NHL Lottery Mock Draft: Where Schaefer, Misa, Hagens And More Could Fall

More Draft Lists

- Top Shooters, Playmakers, Motors And More

- Islanders, Canadiens, Penguins Hold Pivotal Points In Round 1

- Each Team's Picks And Prospect Pool Needs

- Three Candidates To Be Surprising Top Five Picks

- 10 Players Who Won't Go Undrafted Again

- All Draft-Eligible First And Second Teams

- After Schaefer, Who Is The Next-Best Defenseman?

Draft Prospect Profiles

- 'Stick Tap To Mom': Matthew Schaefer Aims To Make Late Mother Proud

- Misa Making History: Top Prospect's Impressive Play Has Put Him In Contention For 2025 First-Overall NHL Selection

- Porter Martone Fights To Win – Literally

- Meet Simon Wang, The OJHL Defenseman NHL Scouts Are Flocking To See

Scouting Notebooks

- NHL Draft Notebook: McKenna (2026 Draft), Desnoyers And Wang Impress In The CHL League Finals

- NHL Draft Notebook: Hagens, Eklund And Osmanis Thrive At World Juniors

- NHL Draft Notebook: Schaefer, Martone, Eklund Shine Ahead Of World Juniors

- NHL Draft Notebook: Highly Rated Hagens, Misa And Eklund Star Early

More NHL Draft Coverage

- Mailbag: Where Misa Would Rank Last Year, Hagens' Drop And More

- Player A Vs. Player B: Debating Between NHL Draft Prospects Including Schaefer, Misa And Desnoyers

- Goalie-Specific Scouts Change The Landscape Of Predicting A Team's Future In Net

- Lessons Learned In Hindsight From Lafreniere, Raymond And The Rest Of The 2020 Draft Class

- Potential No. 1 Pick Matthew Schaefer On Islanders Bo Horvat, Adam Pelech & Mathieu Darche

- 2025 NHL Draft WHL Prospect Profiles

- Three QMJHLers That May Go First Round In The 2025 NHL Draft

- New York Islanders Win NHL Draft Lottery: Who Should They Pick First Overall?

- Misa And Lakovic Highlight Ferrari's 'My Guys'

- The Kids Chose Violence: An Evening With The OHL's Top NHL Draft Prospects

- James Hagens Takes Center Stage With Team USA

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that, after the success of their Prospects Showdown last September, they would be holding a revamped edition this September. Last time around, it only featured the Habs and the Toronto Maple Leafs, but this time, four teams will participate.

In addition to the Canadiens and the Leafs, the Winnipeg Jets and the Ottawa Senators will also participate in the two-day event. It’s scheduled to take place on September 13 and 14. On Saturday afternoon, Toronto and Ottawa will play, followed by the Canadiens' game against the Jets at 7:00 p.m. On Sunday, the Habs and Leafs will face off at 3:00 p.m., and the evening game, featuring the Senators and Jets, will kick off at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets will range from $10 to $25 for lower bowl seating. An early access sale will take place from June 30th, when coupons will be distributed in participating IGA locations on the Island, as well as on the North and South shores.

Proceeds of the event will be donated to the Montreal Canadiens Alumni Centennial Emergency Fund and La Tablee des Chefs. While it’s impossible to know who will be playing in these games, the Habs are using Ivan Demidov as the face of the event, so it’s safe to assume that the young Russian will be there. Jacob Fowler and Oliver Kapanen should also be there, according to the Canadiens’ article on the event.

If you're desperate for your hockey fix, hang in there - there’s about two and a half months to go.

Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

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ST. PAUL, Minn - This is the first year that the Minnesota Wild will enter the Draft without a first round pick since 2017. Obviously things can happen and the Wild could trade for a first round pick before the draft or during it, but as of four hours before the draft, the Wild don't have a first rounder. 

It is the first year since 2017 that they don't. Minnesota traded its first round pick that year to the Arizona Coyotes in a trade for forward Martin Hanzel and Ryan White. 

The Coyotes drafted defenseman Pierre-Oliver Joseph with the pick. He has 194 career games in five NHL seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins and a half of a season with the St. Louis Blues. 

Minnesota made six picks in the 2017 draft. Ivan Lodnia was the Wild's first pick that year and it was in the third round. Mason Shaw was the next in the fourth round. Bryce Misley was their other fourth round pick. Jacob Golden was taken in the fifth round, Andrei Svetlakov was taken in the sixth round and Nick Swaney was taken in the seventh. 

Swaney and Shaw were the only two to ever play for the Wild. Swaney played one NHL game and just signed in the ICEHL. Shaw is a free agent. He spent the 2024-25 season with the Winnipeg Jets AHL team. 

The following season was new General Manager Paul Fenton's first draft with the Wild. He drafted defenseman Filip Johansson with the 24th pick in the 2018 Draft. Johansson has played zero NHL games and did not play a single game in the Wild's organization. He plays in Sweden now.

In five drafts as the General Manager for the Wild, Bill Guerin has taken seven first round picks. The Wild have had a first round pick in every year that Guerin has been the General Manager other than this year.

Minnesota traded its first round pick in a deal for Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Jiricek in November of the 2024-25 season. Guerin's first round picks include Marco Rossi, Jesper Wallstedt, Carson Lambos, Danila Yurov, Liam Ohgren, Charlie Stramel, and Zeev Buium. 

Again, anything can happen. The Wild could make a trade for a first round pick before the draft is over. But as of now, this will be the first time in eight years that they don't have a first round pick. 

Other Wild News

Wild Add Another Draft Pick For 2025 NHL DraftST. PAUL, Minn - Following a trade on Thursday, the Minnesota Wild added another pick for the 2025 NHL Draft which takes place today.  Minnesota Wild Trade Freddy Gaudreau To Seattle For A Draft PickST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild have traded center Freddy Gaudreau to the Seattle Kraken for a fourth round draft pick.  Minnesota Wild Trade Forward Brendan Gaunce To ColumbusST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild made a trade on Thursday morning and followed it up with another trade. 

There is a lot of uncertainty in the top ten of the 2025 NHL Draft. No player has stuck out so much in his draft year that he has to be selected first overall. There isn’t a consensus on what the order should be, as there is in most years. 

However, there is a handful of high-end prospects who can make an impact in the NHL and possibly become a star if they are developed properly. That’s where the excitement stems from. 

The Chicago Blackhawks want Michael Misa. Although he isn’t seen as a superstar top forward at this time, his draft year production turned heads. With the New York Islanders almost certainly taking Matthew Schaefer first overall, the San Jose Sharks begin the intrigue. 

Despite reports that they are interested in guys like Anton Frondell and Porter Martone, there is a chance that this is a smoke screen for them to take Misa anyway. 

What will Kyle Davidson and the Blackhawks do if that is the case? They will certainly take a forward, but which one? Anton Frondell might be the guy to consider. 

Of all the top forwards projected to go in the top ten, Frondell is the closest to being a true center who can play the 200-foot game. Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar are seen as centers by the organization, but they'd like to add a more established two-way player to create a three-headed monster down the middle. Frondell could be that guy. 

NHL (@NHL) on XIf you're looking for skill, look no further than Anton Frondell 👀 Catch the 2025 Upper Deck #NHLDraft on June 27 and 28. (🎥: IG/quickturnhockey)Lassi Alanen (@lassialanen) on XTwo minutes of Anton Frondell's (#2025NHLDraft) best offensive moments from this season. Blistering one-timers from the half wall, angle-changing releases from mid-range, strong off-puck instincts around the slot, creative finishing solutions from close range.

Frondell is a high-motor kid who gives an incredibly competitive effort on every shift. He models his game after Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers, who has been a three-time Selke Trophy winner in addition to being a back-to-back Stanley Cup champion. That is the type of attitude you want from an 18-year-old being drafted. 

Coming off a strong year in Sweden, Frondell is the number one-ranked international prospect coming into the 2025 NHL Draft. He is almost certainly going to go in the top-five, but will he be the one that the Blackhawks end up taking 3rd overall? What happens in front of them will dictate that. 

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

The Montreal Canadiens are acquiring defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders and signing him to an eight-year contract worth $9.5 million annually.

The Canadiens' massive splash comes hours before the NHL draft. Montreal had two first-round picks entering Friday at 16th and 17th overall. Both those picks go to the Islanders, which also have the No. 1 selection in the draft. The Islanders also receive Emil Heineman, a 23-year-old left winger who had 18 points in 62 games this past season. 

ESPN's Kevin Weekes reported the trade, while Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the contract extension. Friedman and The Hockey News' Stefen Rosner are among those who reported the trade return.

Dobson, 25, was a pending RFA with arbitration rights. The right-handed blueliner had 39 points in 71 games this past season, a drop from years past. Dobson had a career-high 70 points in 2023-24, 49 points in 2022-23 and 51 points in 2021-22.

Dobson will be the second defenseman under contract past 2030 for the Canadiens. Kaiden Guhle is the other with an average annual value of $5.55 million. Their defense corps also includes Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson, who's left-handed.

As for the Islanders, they're projected to select defenseman Matthew Schaefer first overall. But James Hagens grew up on Long Island and is projected to go in the top five. They now have two mid-range first-rounders to potentially use as trade bait.

More to come as the teams have yet to announce the trade as of 3 p.m. ET.

The St. Louis Blues were one of the teams interested in defenseman Noah Dobson, but he is now officially off the board. 

Source: Blues Have Inquired About Potential RFA Defenseman; Should They Pursue It?The St. Louis Blues and New York Islanders are apparently each testing the market on key pieces of their core.

According to TSN's Chris Johnston, the New York Islanders are trading Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens. In addition, Johnston reported that Dobson is signing an eight-year contract extension with the Canadiens, where he will have a $9.5 million average annual value.

NEWS: The Montreal Canadiens are acquiring Noah Dobson in a sign-and-trade with the New York Islanders. Dobson gets an eight-year contract extension carrying a $9.5M AAV as part of the trade.

First to report: @KevinWeekes

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 27, 2025

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman also added that the Canadiens will be sending forward Emil Heineman, the 2025 No. 16 overall pick, and the 2025 No. 17 overall pick to the Islanders in the move.

Return includes Emil Heineman and both of Montreal’s first-round picks tonight.

Will be interesting to see what NYI GM Mathieu Darche does with them https://t.co/VUtanRytwN

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 27, 2025

Dobson would have been a great pickup for the Blues, as he is a top-pairing defenseman who has the ability to produce strong offense from the point. However, with Dobson being dealt to the Habs, the Blues will need to explore their options elsewhere. 

Dobson appeared in 71 games this season with the Islanders, where he recorded 10 goals and 39 points. This was after he had 10 goals, 60 assists, and 70 points in 79 games in 2023-24. 

NHL Trade Rumors: Blues Interested In Sabres StarAfter taking a nice step forward this season, the St. Louis Blues should be active this off-season. One area on their roster that could use a boost is their defensive group, and they have been connected to New York Islanders blueliner Noah Dobson because of it.

Photo Credit: © John Jones-Imagn Images

The 2025 NHL Entry Draft is officially here. After years of hard work, many WHLers will have the opportunity to experience their dreams of being drafted into the NHL. In honour of the draft, here are the links to some of the top WHL prospect draft profiles that THN's WHL team have produced over the past month. 

Jackson Smith:

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Jackson Smith The WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is defenceman Jackson Smith, who plays for the Tri-City Americans. 

Roger McQueen

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Roger McQueenThe WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is forward Roger McQueen, who plays for the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Carter Bear

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Carter BearThe WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is forward Carter Bear, who plays for the Everett Silvertips.

Lynden Lakovic

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Lynden LakovicThe WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is forward Lynden Lakovic, who plays for the Moose jaw Warriors.

Cole Reschny

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Cole ReschnyThe WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is center Cole Reschny, who plays for the Victoria Royals.

Blake Fiddler

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Blake FiddlerThe WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is defenceman Blake Fiddler, who plays for the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Radim Mrtka

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Radim MrtkaThe WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is defenceman Radim Mrtka, who plays for the Seattle Thunderbirds.

Ben Kindel

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Ben KindelThe WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is forward Benjamin Kindel, who plays for the Calgary Hitmen.

Braeden Cootes

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Braeden CootesThe WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is center Braeden Cootes, who plays for the Seattle Thunderbirds.

Matthew Gard

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Matthew GardThe WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is center Matthew Gard, who plays for the Red Deer Rebels.

Cameron Schmidt

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Cameron SchmidtThe WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is winger Cameron Schmidt, who plays for the Vancouver Giants.

David Lewandowski

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: David LewandowskiThe WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is David Lewandowski, who plays for the Saskatoon Blades.

Hayden Paupanekis

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Hayden PaupanekisThe WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is Hayden Paupanekis, who plays for the Kelowna Rockets.

Peyton Kettles

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Peyton KettlesThe WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is Peyton Kettles, who plays for the Swift Current Broncos.

Nathan Behm

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Nathan BehmThe WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is Nathan Behm, who plays for the Kamloops Blazers.

Reese Hamilton

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Reese HamiltonThe WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is Reese Hamilton, who plays for the Regina Pats.

Max Pšenička

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Max PšeničkaThe WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is Max Pšenička, who plays for the Portland Winterhawks.

Hayden Harsanyi

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Hayden HarsanyiThe WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Wrapping up the Eastern portion of this series is Hayden Harsanyi, who plays for the Saskatoon Blades.

Joshua Ravensbergen

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Joshua Ravensbergen The WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is Joshua Ravensbergen, who plays for the Prince George Cougars. 

Brandon Gorzynski

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Brandon GorzynskiThe WHL is set to play a big role in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Leading up to the draft, we at The Hockey News will be profiling some of the players who are projected to hear their names called at the end of June. Today's prospect is Brandon Gorzynski, who plays for the Calgary Hitmen. 

The 2025 NHL Entry Draft is scheduled for June 27 & 28 and can be viewed on Sportsnet/ESPN/ NHL Network

Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

LOS ANGELES -- The New York Islanders have traded defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens, first reported by Kevin Weekes.

Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) on XBelieve 23-year-old Emil Heineman is part of the return. Also believe both MTL picks (No. 16 & No. 17) will be part of this as well. We will wait for official wording.

Elliotte Friedman reports that he signed an eight-year extension worth $9.5 million annually. 

We will wait on an announcement on the returns.

Dobson, 25, was a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights. After a 70-point campaign in 2023-24, with 10 goals and 60 assists, he regressed offensively in 2024-25. 

He recorded 39 points (10 goals, 21 assists) in 71 games, and given that it was a contract year, that certainly impacted things.

New general manager Mathieu Darche was trying to work with his camp on an extension, while also testing the market to see what other NHL teams were willing to offer up.

Drafted 12th overall in 2018, Dobson played 388 games for the Islanders, recording 230 points with 50 goals and 180 assists, averaging 20:53 per game. 

In 31 playoff games, the Prince Edward Island native recorded 10 assists.

Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Photo: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Detroit brings back depth defenceman William Lagesson on two-year deal. 

The Detroit Red Wings have signed defenseman William Lagesson to a two-year contract extension, securing a reliable depth option as the team continues to build its blue line for the future. 

Lagesson, 28, joined the Red Wings organization in 2024 on a one-year deal and split the season between Detroit and AHL affiliate Grand Rapids.

While he appeared in just seven NHL games with Detroit, registering one assist and averaging 14:34 of ice time per night, he was a steady presence for the Griffins, putting up three goals and six assists for nine points in 23 games, along with a strong +13 rating.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.

Originally drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the fourth round (91st overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft, Lagesson has carved out a journeyman career as a stay-at-home defenseman capable of stepping in when needed. 

Over 107 career NHL games with Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto, and Detroit, he has recorded 12 points and served primarily in a third-pairing or extra defenseman role. 

His physical play and ability to kill penalties have made him a useful option for teams needing dependable coverage on the back end. With this extension, the Red Wings continue to emphasize organizational depth and veteran insurance as their core defense group continues to evolve.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs signed former captain John Tavares to a four-year contract worth $4.38 million per season.

This new contract includes a full no-move clause for the first two seasons of the deal. For the remaining two years, Tavares has a five-team trade list, according to TSN and The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.

In addition, Tavares’ contract includes $2 million in deferred compensation, LeBrun reported. That mechanism is set to be banned in the reported collective bargaining agreement extension between the NHL and NHLPA, which is scheduled to take full effect for the 2026-27 campaign.

"Coming to Toronto seven years ago has been better than I ever anticipated," Tavares said in a social media post. "The challenge of helping bring the Cup back to the many generations of Leafs fans and Leafs Nation is an incredible opportunity that pushes myself and my teammates everyday."

Tavares' contract comes under Matt Duchene’s $4.5-million cap hit on his four-year extension with the Dallas Stars, which was speculated as a comparable. It's also nearly $7 million less than the $11-million cap hit Tavares had since he left the New York Islanders for Toronto in 2018.

Tavares and Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving made it clear ahead of this signing that they wanted to make it work. The 34-year-old center wanted to play and potentially retire with his hometown team. As for Treliving, the free-agent market is thin in terms of middle-six centers.

Tavares had an excellent regular season for the Maple Leafs. He finished second on the team in goals with 38, behind William Nylander's 45. He nearly reached a point-per-game average with 74 points in 75 appearances.

It was his second-best season in terms of goals, with his career high being the first year he joined the Maple Leafs in 2018-19, when he scored 47 times. 

The veteran also averaged 18:14 in ice time throughout the regular season and recorded 12 power-play goals and eight game-winning goals.

In the playoffs, Tavares recorded five goals and two assists in 13 contests. He had three goals and five points in Toronto’s first-round series against the Ottawa Senators, followed by two goals in the next round against the Florida Panthers.

When this new contract expires, Tavares could be in the 600-goal and 1,300-point club.

He's at 494 career goals and 520 assists for 1,114 points in 1,184 career regular-season games. 

This past season, Tavares averaged about half a goal per game. If he played at least 75 games in the next few seasons and kept this pace, he could reach 600 goals in 2027-28. If his points pace in 2024-25 continues, he may also reach 1,300 points in 2027-28 as well.

If Tavares remains healthy and plays out his contract, he could join the list of players who have played 20 seasons in the NHL, potentially making a case to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The Maple Leafs now have about $21.3 million in projected cap space. They have four other pending UFAs, including Mitch Marner, Max Pacioretty, Steven Lorentz and Jani Hakanpaa. Marner is expected to test the free-agent market, Treliving told reporters on Thursday.

Toronto also has three pending RFAs: Matthew Knies, Nick Robertson and Pontus Holmberg. Treliving said there's no rush on Robertson and Holmberg, as they need to figure out their other free agents first.

Jonathan Tovell contributed to this report.

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Here's today's NHL Nugget – this Birthday Backcheck features Calgary Flames pending RFA Kevin Bahl, who turns 25 on June 27.

At 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, Bahl ranked third on the Flames in blocked shots this past season, with 116, and seventh in hits, with 109. He's been part of three NHL organizations in his young career, beginning with the Arizona Coyotes, which selected him 55th overall in the 2018 NHL draft. He played his first NHL seasons with the New Jersey Devils before joining the Flames.

Brian T. Dessart takes fans on a distinctive ride through the historic-laden NHL with the #NHLNugget. Check out NHLNugget.com to find where to follow NHL Nugget on social media.  And for past NHL Nuggets, click here.  

Promo image credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

The Nashville Predators have a chance to place three major building blocks for the future on Friday, owning three first-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft.

While the Predators drew the short end of the stick in May's lottery, drawing the fifth pick, they still own the 23rd and 26th overall picks, thanks to a pair of trades from 2023 and 2024.

This is the most picks the Predators have had in the first round in franchise history. The Philadelphia Flyers are the only team with three first-round picks in this year's draft.

MORE: Trotz, Predators prepared to get 'a really good player' at NHL Draft

MORE: Predators hire former Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson as assistant

MORE: Analyzing every Nashville Predators first round NHL Draft pick: 2017-2021

With so much top-end talent in this year's draft, it's anyone's guess as to where players will be drafted. However, no matter who the Predators end up selecting, they believe they're getting a star.

“I think we're going to get a really good player [at fifth overall],”  General Manager Barry Trotz said during a press conference on Tuesday. “We’re fortunate that there are a number of good centers in this Draft." 

Swedish center Anton Frondell, measuring 6-foot-0-inch and 196 pounds, is who many experts believe the Predators will pick with their fifth overall pick. With two strong centers on their top two lines, Nashville is looking to expand that depth down the middle into the bottom six.

Frondell has just finished his second season with Djurgårdens IF in the HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden's second-highest professional hockey league. He had 25 points in 29 games and seven points in 16 playoff games.

Frondell could also be used as a weapon on the power play, as he has showcased his powerful, one-time shot on many occasions.

At the NHL Combine, Frondell had the highest VO2 max score, which measures the amount of oxygen utilized during a high-intensity workout. The prospect pedals on a stationary bike while a face mask measures how well their body is converting oxygen into energy.

Frondell finished with a score of 64.7. He also had the second-highest score (16.8) in the Peak Power Output test, which is measured similarly to the VO2 Max test on a stationary bike.

Boston College center James Hagens and Brandon Wheat Kings center Roger McQueen are two other names that have been thrown around as well.

James Hagens 🚨 #WorldJuniorspic.twitter.com/SCoApPMjcc

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) January 6, 2025

Hagens is expected to go in the top three following his stellar season with the Eagles, where he scored 37 points in 37 games and helped the United States win the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.

He is also from Hauppauge, New York, which is located on Long Island, so there is a slim chance that the New York Islanders could select a hometown kid with the No. 1 overall pick. 

If Hagens is still available by the time the fifth pick rolls around, it's likely the Predators will pick him up. Trotz expressed interest in the center on Tuesday, saying that he was "right in our wheelhouse." 

"He's [Hagens] a good example of a player that could go as high as two or three, but he's a tremendous player," Trotz said. "

Opposite to Hagens, McQueen could make the jump from a top 12 prospect to the top 5. With the Wheat Kings, he had 20 points in 17 games, 11 coming in the first eight games of the season, but suffered an injury that sidelined him for the bulk of the season.

If you missed Roger McQueen’s goal last night, boy are you going to want to see this! I think we have our goal of the year! #2025nhldraftpic.twitter.com/ZAaqSpMKNn

— Brandon Wheat Kings (@bdnwheatkings) March 23, 2025

McQueen's injury has him lower in the projections, but the Predators could get a steal by drafting him at fifth. He was also asked about his health and said that he "feels 100%" going into the draft.

"It was obviously huge to be able to get the sign," McQueen told NHL.com. "I kind of knew, just because, like, I've been pain-free for a while now. So, I kind of knew I was going to be cleared. Obviously, especially for me, a hurt guy, not playing all year, (it’s important) just to see that you're healthy.

The combined height, measuring 6 feet 5 inches and weighing 198 pounds, McQueen had a 112.8-inch horizontal jump and a 77.5-inch (6.45 feet) wingspan at the combine. 

While he may need to put on a bit more muscle, McQueen's 6-foot-5-inch build is a huge selling point and could be just what the Predators are looking for down the middle.

There is also the possibility that Nashville could trade the fifth overall pick. Trotz said on Tuesday that it'd be something he'd be open to if the right situation emerged. 

According to Elliotte Friedman, the New York Islanders are looking for another "high draft pick," opening the door for Nashville to trade. 

"If someone needs picks and wants to move past a really good player, I'm all in for that," Trotz said. "I'll never turn my nose up at any good player."

Sharks select OHL star forward Michael Misa at No. 2 overall in 2025 NHL Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Another young star has entered the mix in San Jose.

The Sharks further fortified their young core by selecting standout forward Michael Misa No. 2 overall in the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday.

THE PICK IS IN! 🦈

The @SanJoseSharks have selected Michael Misa with the second overall selection!

📺: 2025 Upper Deck #NHLDraft on @espn, @ESPNPlus, @Sportsnet and @TVASportspic.twitter.com/DkuWOLALTv

— NHL (@NHL) June 27, 2025

The 18-year-old Misa spent the previous season dominating the OHL, recording a league-high 134 points in 65 appearances for the Saginaw Spirit. Misa’s 134-point campaign is the OHL’s highest single-season total since three-time Stanley Cup champion Patrick Kane’s 145-point tally in 2007.

Misa did a little bit of everything up front for the Spirit, logging 62 goals and 72 assists in his standout 2024-25 campaign, not only living up to, but exceeding the hype after being drafted No. 1 overall in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection.

Michael Misa (2025) has 17 goals in his last 13 games.

57 in 57 on the season. He's gross. pic.twitter.com/vEep32FUHy

— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) March 2, 2025

The 18-year-old center demonstrated remarkable consistency on the score sheet last season, recording multi-point games in 46 of his 65 appearances for Saginaw.

A year after selecting superstar center Macklin Celebrini No. 1 overall in the 2024 draft, once again the Sharks have capitalized on a premium draft pick by adding another blue chip prospect to San Jose’s stockpile of promising youngsters.

As the Sharks seek a return to NHL prominence, Misa joins Celebrini, Will Smith, William Eklund and Yaroslav Askarov as San Jose’s foundational building blocks moving forward.

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