Here are all of the Islanders' picks from both rounds of the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles...

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Round 1

No. 17 pick: D Kashawn Aitcheson

The Islanders selected Kashawn Aitcheson with the 17th overall pick in the draft, thanks to the Dobson deal.

Elite Prospects: Loving nothing more than seeing attackers approach with their head down, Aitcheson hunts big open ice hits, connecting those every chance he gets. Saying that he makes his presence felt would be underselling it. Like throwback defencemen, Aitcheson is also a spot defender in his zone, forcing attackers to take the long way around to find some space in the slot. He can rotate and follow threats around the ice, but he’s at his best when picking up net-drivers, pushing them back and off the puck, and harassing them on the boards.

No. 16 pick: LW Victor Eklund

Acquired as part of the Noah Dobson deal with the Canadiens, the Islanders selected Eklund, the 18-year-old Swede, with the No. 16 overall pick. Eklund is ranked as the second-best international prospect by NHL.com.

Eklund is the brother of Sharks' winger William Eklund and racked up 31 points (19 goals, 12 assists) in 42 games in Hockey Allsvenskan, Sweden's second pro league. He recorded six points (two goals, four assists) in seven games at the 2025 World Juniors as his Sweden team finished fourth in the tournament.

Elite Prospects: Employing a relentless, never-ending motor and highly impressive contact skills, Eklund suffocates defenders with his pace, outraces them for pucks on retrievals and wins the war for body positioning by cutting them at their hands. He’s also a very capable offensive creator who gets a lot of looks from the slot and net-front areas due to his dogged style, as well as showing skill and finesse as a playmaker. He’s particularly gifted at playing below the goal line, combining the forechecking prowess with playmaking vision to turn steals into chances with clever feeds to the slot.

No. 1 pick: D Matthew Schaefer

The Islanders drafted the first overall pick in the draft for just the fifth time in their history, and they selected arguably the best prospect in the class.

The 6-foot-2 defenseman recorded 10 goals and 39 points in 73 OHL games across two seasons. He captained Canada to a gold medal at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he scored six points (two goals, four assists) in five games. He also scored five points (one goal, four assists) to help Canada win gold at the 2024 U-18s.

NHL.com: The 17-year-old defenseman recorded 22 points (7G, 15A) in 17 games for the Erie Otters last season, as his season was cut short due to a broken clavicle at the 2025 World Juniors. Despite being limited to 17 games, he's highly-regarded both offensively and defensively and is a blueliner who can play in all situations.

At the end of the day, the Pittsburgh Penguins did end up making a draft day trade. 

However, it wasn't necessarily the type that was expected.

After selecting center Benjamin Kindel 11th overall, the Penguins traded the New York Rangers' 12th overall pick to the Philadelphia Flyers for the 22nd and 31st overall picks in the draft.

The move will give the Penguins three first-round picks, which is the most first-round picks they've had since 1984, when Pittsburgh drafted Mario Lemieux (first overall), Doug Bodger (ninth overall), and Roger Belanger (16th overall). 

Other presumed draft targets for the Penguins - such as forward Victor Eklund and Kashawn Aitcheson, who were drafted back-to-back by the New York Islanders at 15th and 16th overall - are already off the board. 

Reaction: Penguins Select Center Ben Kindel 11th Overall In 2025 NHL DraftThe 2025 NHL Draft is finally upon us.

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Feature image credit: The Pittsburgh Penguins

With the 15th overall selection in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, the Vancouver Canucks selected Braeden Cootes of the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. Cootes is a 6’0 centre who served as Seattle’s captain for the 2024–25 season and has spent the past three years with the Thunderbirds. 

Cootes made his WHL debut in the 2022–23 season, playing in seven games and tallying one assist. In his first full year with Seattle, he scored 14 goals and 21 assists in 64 games played. He broke out offensively this season, posting 26 goals and 37 assists in 63 games. In six playoff games with the Thunderbirds this season, he potted two goals and six assists. 

Cootes served as Team Canada’s captain in the 2025 U18 IIHF World Junior Championship, putting up six goals and six assists in seven games in Canada’s gold medal win.   

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This is Vancouver’s third first-round selection in the past six years, as previously, the Canucks picked Jonathan Lekkerimäki 15th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft and Tom Willander 11th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft. Vancouver traded away their 2020, 2021, and 2024 first-round picks. 

Prior to Cootes’ selection, the New York Islanders used the first overall selection in the draft to pick defenceman Matthew Schaefer. Other picks include Carter Bear to the Detroit Red Wings, Roger McQueen to the Anaheim Ducks, and James Hagens to the Boston Bruins. 

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 Philadelphia Flyers have traded up to get the 12th overall from the Pittsburgh Penguins, giving Pittsburgh their 22nd and 31st picks.

🔶 WELCOME TO PHILLY! 🔶

With the 12th pick in the 2025 #NHLDraft, we are proud to select Jack Nesbitt. pic.twitter.com/xZu0kLmX78

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) June 28, 2025

Nesbitt, who plays for the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL, is a 6'5" center that brings high hockey IQ, incredible positional awareness, and skillful puck-handling to the table. There are some concerns surrounding his skating ability, although his vision and playmaking ability balance out what he may lack in speed. 

The center position has been one where the Flyers have needed more depth, and after taking right winger Porter Martone with their No. 6 pick, it's clear that GM Danny Briere was high enough on Nesbitt to hand over their other two first-round picks to their Keystone State rivals. 

Nesbitt has shown significant improvement over this past season, and his ceiling is believed to be a high one. Although it might take him a little while to be NHL ready, there is plenty of room to grow and develop into a solid anchor for the Flyers' offense. 

Los Angeles - With the 8th overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Seattle Kraken have selected Jake O’Brien from the Brantford Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League. This marks the second year in a row that the Kraken have selected 8th overall, taking center Berkly Catton of the Spokane Chiefs in 2024.

O’Brien is a 6’2”, 170 lb center who recently completed his second season in a Brantford Bulldogs sweater. This past year, he came 3rd in team scoring with 32 goals and 66 assists in 66 games. In his first season with the Bulldogs in 2023-24, he earned the Emms Family Award for OHL Rookie of the Year, along with selections to both the CHL All-Rookie Team and the OHL First All-Rookie Team. This past January, O'Brien was named captain of the Eastern Conference team for the Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game. He earned MVP honors for Team East after notching 3 assists.

"Displaying close to x-ray vision, O’Brien spots the tiniest seams between skates, under sticks and above them. He sees through multiple defenders and behind his back, spotting teammates running at the back post and attacking a few steps late. When he can’t spot a lane, he creates it, shifting defenders or faking a shot before dropping the puck to teammates."

- EliteProspects 2025 NHL Draft Guide

Jake will look to fill in with other Kraken center prospects like Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs), Carson Rehkopf (Coachella Valley Firebirds), and Nathan Villeneuve (Sudbury Wolves) in the upcoming Kraken Development Camp in Seattle starting next week.

Time will tellI how O’Brien, along with the Kraken’s other picks will fare with this being the first Seattle Kraken draft with Jason Botterill at the helm as General Manager after Ron Francis held that role for the first 4 seasons. In his years as the Buffalo Sabres GM from 2017-2020, Botterill selected players like Casey Mittlelstadt, Rasmus Dahlin, and Dylan Cozens each in the first round.

Related

Kraken 2025 Draft Targets: Jake O'BrienAs we continue to look at 2025 NHL draft-eligible prospects, we head to the OHL to analyze center Jake O'Brien and what he could provide the Seattle Kraken if they drafted him with the eighth overall pick.

O’Brien featured photo via chl.ca

O’Brien hero photo via chl.ca

The Philadelphia Flyers have selected Porter Martone at No. 6 in the 2025 NHL Draft.

🔶 WELCOME TO PHILLY! 🔶

With the sixth pick in the 2025 #NHLDraft, we are proud to select Porter Martone. pic.twitter.com/qAidvQsEtW

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) June 27, 2025

Martone, a right winger, brings size and intelligence to the Flyers' offense, and it's suggested that he could be ready for an NHL roster come October.

The 6'3" forward brings plenty of energy, and has proven himself capable of scoring and driving possession. The hope is that he can balance out an offense with equally high-motor players like Matvei Michkov and Trevor Zegras. 

He's drawn comparisons to players like Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk and Dallas Stars standout Mikko Rantanen. 

Martone also grew up a Flyers fan, revealing that he had a poster of former Flyers captain Claude Giroux in his basement. General manager Danny Briere also said with a smile on his face that they had pictures of Martone in Flyers gear.

Brady Martin is a Nashville Predator. 

With their highest pick since 2013 and first of three in the first round, the Predators selected Sault St. Marie Greyhounds center Brady Martin with the fifth overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. 

In his second season with the Soo Greyhounds in the OHL, Martin scored 72 points in 57 games and had a plus/minus of 25. He also logged 68 penalty minutes. 

The Elmira, Ontario, native also represented Canada at the 2025 IIHF U-18 World Championship, scoring 11 points in seven games and winning a gold medal.

Martin was not in attendance at the NHL Draft as he was reportedly working on his family's farm. 

Think Brady Martin might just be a Top 3 guy in this NHL Draft pic.twitter.com/mMntmlp2oy

— Liam Blutman (@Blutman27) June 26, 2025

With a 6-foot-0-inch, 174-pound build, Martin is the perfect center for the Predators to develop and has used his frame to his advantage. From highlights, Martin is able to generate space on the ice during the rush and has a strong net-front presence. 

The Predators next selections are at 23rd overall and 26th overall. 

It was an emotional moment for Matthew Schaefer and his family when Gary Bettman announced Matthew Schaefer as the first-overall pick at the 2025 NHL Draft. Despite injury and personal hardship, the Erie Otters' defender proved he was the top prospect in this draft class. 

In February of 2024, Schaefer lost his mother, Jennifer, to breast cancer. The young defender was visibly in tears as he stood on the stage wearing the blue, orange and white of the New York Islanders.

Schaefer was the first-overall pick at the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. The 6-foot-2 defender scored 10 goals and added 29 assists in 73 games with Erie over the course of the last two years. This past season, he only played 17 games for Erie due to a combination of injury and illness. 

He was named to Canada's World Junior roster and scored a goal and added an assist in the two games he played at the tournament before succumbing to an upper-body injury. Just making the team was an accomplishment for the 17-year-old defender as Canada's roster normally consists of 19 and 20-year-old players.

 Schaefer impressed in the two games he played for Canada, showcasing his elite skating abilities and offensive instincts. His performance in those two games was so impressive that he became the consensus first-overall pick for the entire second half of the season despite being unable to play for the remainder of the season.

Bulldogs Acquire Two Time OHL Champion Ryder BoultonEarlier today, the London Knights sent 2006-born forward Ryder Boulton to the Brantford Bulldogs in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick. 

He's the first OHL player since Connor McDavid to be a first-overall pick in his OHL Draft year and NHL draft year. 

Schaefer is a fantastic add for the Islanders who just traded away Noah Dobson earlier today. He profiles as a strong two-way defender who can not only score big goals and contribute offensively but also lock down defensively. 

It is entirely possibly that Schaefer could join the Islanders as soon as next season based on his skillset and accomplishments. However, it may be more prudent for the Islanders to give their young prospect a bit more time to develop. This seems especially true given the amount of time he missed this past season. 

Whether he joins the NHL next season or not it seems like Schaefer has a bright future ahead of him with his new NHL franchise. 

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The Chicago Blackhawks were forced down to the third overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft as a result of the Draft Lottery that took place a handful of weeks ago.

Since then, the debate and conversation about who they will go with has been ongoing. Now, the wait is over.

The New York Islanders kicked the night off by selecting Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick. Although it was expected, it set the tone for the rest of the draft to play out. 

With the second overall pick, the San Jose Sharks took Michael Misa. After rumors started to suggest that San Jose may go in a different direction, they ultimately proved that was a smokescreen for them to end up taking Misa in the end. 

From there, the Chicago Blackhawks were on the clock. They selected Swedish forward Anton Frondell with the third overall pick. Frondell entered the draft as the number one-ranked international prospect. 

Now, with Bedard and Nazar leading the way on offense, they have another forward to put in the mix. Frondell is much more of a two-way center who models his game after Aleksander Barkov. He will provide a perfect balance to their long-term forward group. 

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

After weeks of excitement, anticipation and speculation, the New York Islanders selected Matthew Schaefer with the first pick of the 2025 NHL draft.

The Islanders shockingly landed the top pick back in May despite having a 3.5-percent chance of winning the draft lottery. The organization picked first overall four times previously, with John Tavares being the last choice back in 2009.

While mononucleosis and a broken clavicle suffered at the world juniors derailed most of Schaefer’s season, the 6-foot-2, 183-pound defenseman still managed to put up 22 points in 17 games with the Erie Otters and remained a consensus No. 1 pick heading into the opening night of the NHL draft.

Injury aside, it’s been a continuous upward trajectory for Schaefer, who was the No. 1 selection in the 2023 OHL draft. With tremendous showings at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge, he emerged as the clear top draft-eligible player ahead of contenders Michael Misa, Porter Martone and James Hagens.

'Stick Tap To Mom': Top 2025 Draft Prospect Matthew Schaefer Aims To Make Late Mother ProudLeading up to the 2025 NHL draft, as part of the San Jose Sharks’ due diligence, they had one of their team psychologists interview Matthew Schaefer. This was not a typical draft interview, because the psychologist was not a hockey guy and didn’t know anything about the young man with whom he was speaking. He also quite obviously didn’t know Schaefer’s backstory.

What The Islanders Get With Matthew Schaefer

Schaefer has drawn comparisons from across the scouting world to Miro Heiskanen of the Dallas Stars, and for good reason. 

Schaefer is an elite two-way blueliner with game-breaking potential built on a remarkable transition game and impressive offensive instincts.

While his effortless skating is the main source of what drives Schaefer’s offensive game, he can also break down opponents with his hands in 1-on-1 scenarios and can work well with very little space given to him. He also has great off-puck habits, often joining the rush as a fourth forward without compromising his defensive positioning.

He also leverages his size extremely well on both ends of the ice. Schaefer is great at protecting the puck from opposing players and is a fierce competitor when defending, closing off gaps at a high level while using his physical advantages and overall athleticism to kill plays on the rush and in his own zone.

Schaefer can make an impact in all on-ice situations, and he can control the flow of the game like nobody else in this class. The Islanders truly have themselves a special talent that should have no problem making an impact at the NHL level immediately.

The New Foundational Piece On Defense

The Islanders also made headlines earlier Friday afternoon with a reported blockbuster deal that sent defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for both of Montreal’s first-round picks in this year’s draft and 23-year-old forward Emil Heineman.

Dobson, who was a pending RFA, signed a monstrous eight-year extension with the Canadiens worth $76 million, carrying an annual cap hit of $9.5 million.

Sitting here in tears. Such an emotional moment and stick taps to the #Isles for adding the cancer ribbon on the jersey.

pic.twitter.com/tNAI1Sw6Gm

— Kristy Flannery (@InStilettos_NHL) June 27, 2025

While it’s unclear whether or not the Islanders will continue to ship off any integral roster pieces, Schaefer will now be the Islanders’ foundational piece on the blueline instead of Dobson. 

Schaefer joins 2024 first-round pick Cole Eiserman and 2022 fourth-rounder Isaiah George as the team’s top prospects of the future, with potentially two more first-round additions to be made to the team’s pipeline in this year’s draft.

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.

LOS ANGELES -- With the first overall pick of the 2025 NHL Draft, the New York Islanders selected defenseman Matthew Schaefer from the Erie Otters of the OHL.

Schaefer, who was projected to go first overall, scored seven goals with 15 assists for 22 points in 17 games.

The 6’2”, 185-pound left-shot defenseman’s season was shortened after he broke his clavicle at the 2024 IIHF World Juniors.

“On the ice, I’m a two-way defenseman. I can play all over the ice, power play, penalty kill, very competitive, and I love to win," Schaefer said. "Off the ice, I love to talk, as you guys can tell. I'm a leader. Honestly, the fans mean a lot to me. If they want autographs or anything, which I don't know why they would want one, really, but if they do want pictures, I love taking the time because they come out to support us so much.”

Potential No. 1 Pick Matthew Schaefer On Islanders Bo Horvat, Adam Pelech & Mathieu DarcheLOS ANGELES -- Matthew Schaefer is not a member of the New York Islanders organization just yet, but all signs are pointing to that with the 2025 NHL Draft just a day away. 

According to EliteProspects, Schaefer is an “elite puck-rusher” who excels in transition from the defensive zone. Schaefer’s puckhandling, skating, and vision are exceptional—no other defensemen in the draft class are of the same caliber.

Despite his shortened season, Schaefer impressed scouts in the OHL, dominating with his high-end skills in all three zones. Schaefer also stood out as a productive leader for Team Canada in international competitions.

Approaching the draft, this distinguished him from other top prospects, namely Michael Misa and James Hagens.

Schaefer immediately projects as a regular in the Islanders defense, which grew thinner after top defenseman Noah Dobson was traded earlier.

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.

Kai Russell contributed to the story. 

The Anaheim Ducks own the tenth overall selection on night one of the 2025 NHL Draft. 

The New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens made noise hours before the draft when the Islanders sent defenseman Noah Dobson to the Habs in exchange for the 16th and 17th overall picks as well as forward Emil Heineman. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Gavin Brindley, a 2025 third round pick, and a 2027 conditional second round pick.

There's a fair amount of uncertainty following the Islanders first overall selection, with rumors and speculation running rampant. 

1st Overall: New York Islanders

Matthew Schaefer-Erie Otters (OHL)

No surprise here. Schaefer is the surest bet in the draft to become a number one NHL defenseman. He possesses every tool teams are looking for in a cornerstone blueliner: tremendous skater, offensive instincts through the roof, and his defensive fundamentals are well beyond his years, despite missing the second half of the season with a broken clavicle. 

2nd Overall: San Jose Sharks

Michael Misa-Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

After some speculation heading into tonight whether they were going to stick with the consensus and take Michael Misa or go against the grain and take Anton Frondell, the Sharks select Misa with the second overall pick. Misa produced an astounding 134 points (62-72=134) in 62 regular season games. He's got every tool in the toolbox necessary to become a number one center and the puck is drawn to his stick like a magnet. He's a playmaker, he's a scorer, he's a puck hound. A one-two punch of Celebrini-Misa will likely give the Ducks fits for over a decade.

3rd Overall: Chicago Blackhawks

Anton Frondell-Djurgårdens IF (SHL)

Frondell gives the Blackhawks their own thunder and lightning one-two punch between him and Connor Bedard down the middle. Frondell is a detailed 200-foot forward who thrives in the hard areas of the ice and has the best release in the draft. The Ducks are going to have to deal with some deep and talented center cores in the Western Conference when it's time to contend.

4th Overall: Utah Mammoth

Caleb Desnoyers-Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)

Desnoyers is the center Utah needed behind Logan Cooley in the top six. He's another 200-foot, detailed, and creative center who can thrive next to newly acquired JJ Peterka. Utah is rumored to be one of the big noise-making teams this summer and they're already off to a great start. Desnoyers thrives in open ice and in small areas. He'll kill penalties and produce on the power play.

5th Overall: Nashville Predators

Brady Martin-Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

After a surprisingly poor season, the Preds earned a top five selection in this year's draft and took blue collar center Brady Martin. Martin was the Draft's biggest riser after his season finished and through the combine. Nashville has needed a number one center since their inception. I'm not so sure that center is Martin, but he'll win that fanbase over with his effort shift in and shift out. He's one of the most difficult players to play against in the draft and has a nose for the net. 

6th Overall: Philadelphia Flyers

Porter Martone-Brampton Steelheads (OHL)

Days after acquiring Trevor Zegras from the Ducks, the Flyers select Martone as a potential glove-like fit on Zegras' wing. Martone has terrific vision from all areas of the ice. He thrives on the cycle as well as the rush and he is disruptive defensively. He's a big, skilled wing and could be the team's future captain. There's an argument he's the most NHL-ready prospect in this draft, so it will be interesting to see how Philly handles his development. 

7th Overall: Boston Bruins

James Hagens-Boston College (NCAA)

Like Nashville, Boston had a surprisingly poor season and earned the seventh overall pick. They selected James Hagens, who I consider a steal at seven. Hagens is the center Boston craves. He's incredibly polished, a terrific skater, and has fantastic vision. The Bruins could be looking to retool or build up their pipeline or both. Whichever way they go, Hagens will be a perfect fit there. 

Report: Jay Woodcroft to Join Anaheim Ducks Coaching Staff as an Assistant

Anaheim Ducks Draft Preview: Dark Horse Options at 10 Overall

Anaheim Ducks Draft Preview: Best Fits at 10 Overall

During a recent appearance on SN590, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman shared that the Pittsburgh Penguins have had discussions with the Buffalo Sabres about moving up to the ninth-overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft. 

In addition, Friedman noted that he thinks the Penguins and Sabres have also had talks about Pittsburgh star winger Bryan Rust. 

"I think Pittsburgh has discussed moving up to 9 with Buffalo," Friedman said. "I mentioned on the pod this morning, I think they have been talking about Bryan Rust. I could see them talking to Buffalo about the possibility of Rust going there, and Pittsburgh getting nine, and Buffalo getting one of those two Pittsburgh picks."

Rust has been a popular name in the rumor mill as of late, and it is easy to understand why. The Penguins are in the middle of retooling their roster, and the 33-year-old forward has improved his trade value due to his strong 2024-25 season. In 71 games this campaign, the Michigan native had 31 goals, 34 assists, and 65 points. 

It would certainly be significant if the Penguins acquired the ninth-overall pick from Buffalo, as it would increase their odds of landing a very good prospect this year. This would be big for the Penguins, especially when noting that their prospect pool could use some improvement.

Nevertheless, with draft day here, it will be interesting to see if these reported discussions lead to a possible trade between the Penguins and Sabres from here. 

Photo Credit:  © Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Sharks take best-player-available approach to 2025 NHL Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

• Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.

The Sharks have a new star in town.

With the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, San Jose selected 134-point centerman Michael Misa from the Saginaw Spirit.

They also, perhaps surprisingly, grabbed a first-round goalie, Josh Ravensbergen with the No. 30 pick.

Sharks general manager Mike Grier noted that San Jose received trade offers worth considering for the No. 2 pick, but that nothing got close.

“Michael was too special of a player for us to pass on,” Grier said.

San Jose Hockey Now learned from a source that the New York Islanders offered star 25-year-old defenseman Noah Dobson to the Sharks for the No. 2 pick, which Grier declined.

The Islanders went on to trade Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens on Friday for the Nos. 16 and 17 picks in the 2025 draft, and winger Emil Heineman.

League sources independent of the Sharks think that Misa is indeed special.

“Everything’s there to be a really good front-line NHL player,” a league source told SJHN before the 2025 draft. “He is a first-line center.”

So while there was a lot of buzz, especially on Thursday, that the Sharks would opt for fast-rising Swedish pivot Anton Frondell, San Jose went with the “safe” pick in consensus top forward Misa. Frondell went to the Chicago Blackhawks at No. 3.

Grier said that Misa was the Sharks’ pick “for a while,” though he declined to specify for how long.

“We were pretty sure he was No. 2 on our list for quite a while,” Grier said.

We can assume No. 1 was also the No. 1 pick of the draft, defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who went to the New York Islanders.

“Safe,” by the way, isn’t a euphemism for Misa’s game.

“High skill, high sense, offensive driver, real creative, very skilled,” an NHL scout told SJHN.

“He consistently skates away from people and creates speed, he’s slippery when he’s got the puck,” the league source said. “I think his skill level is super-high. Great hands. He’s a really intelligent player. He makes great plays.”

So while Frondell’s massive shot and bigger body might be a better fit, in the future, with centers Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith — Misa and Frondell are both 6-foot-1, but Frondell is 20 pounds heavier right now — I think the Sharks just went best player available, which appears to be Misa.

It also sounds like Misa will have a chance to compete for an NHL job this fall, per Grier: “He’s got to come into training camp and try and take a job and earn a spot.”

There’s some thought that Misa’s development could be better served in the NCAA, but that’s a story for another day.

Anyway, if Celebrini, Misa or Smith duplicate in skill, productivity, or position, that’s a good problem for Grier to have, and all three natural centers should have the versatility to play wing, too.

Grier projects Misa as a center in the future, at least today.

“I think he can stay in the middle with his brain and his skating and the way he plays on the defensive side of the puck,” Grier said.

“His defensive play isn’t as talked about as much because of the offensive production,” director of amateur scouting Chris Morehouse agreed. “But he does have strength. He does have the ability to maintain and hold the middle of the ice.”

Between Celebrini and Smith and Misa and William Eklund, the Sharks should have a high-powered offensive attack in the coming years.

That’s not mentioning other highly skilled forward prospects like Igor Chernyshov and Quentin Musty.

As for Ravensbergen, even the 6-foot-5 Prince George Cougars netminder was surprised to be selected by the Sharks.

Ravensbergen cited fewer meetings with San Jose than other teams and the presence of 23-year-old star prospect Yaroslav Askarov ahead of him on the depth chart.

“He’s just big, athletic, kind of prototypical of today’s goalie,” director of player personnel Scott Fitzgerald noted.

Most outsiders would’ve guessed that the Sharks would address defense, the organization’s greatest need, at No. 30.

“He was the best player available on our board,” Grier emphasized. “We’re not drafting for whatever other people might think our need is in the organization. We’re taking the best player here.”

You can say the Sharks did that with Misa, too.

It’s a realistic view taken by Grier.

“For the most part, we’re trying to stay away from drafting for need,” Grier said. “It’s not the NFL or the NBA. These kids are all going to need some time.”

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