The Anaheim Ducks made ten selections at the 2025 NHL Entry Draft over the two-day event in Los Angeles on June 27 and 28.

They made two significant trades leading up to the draft, trades that included long-time roster pieces Trevor Zegras and John Gibson, but didn’t move up or down with any of their picks during the event.

Due to the uncertain nature of evaluating draft picks, as they’re incredibly young and likely will take several years to reach the NHL, if at all, it’s difficult to dislike any selection made by any team at any point in the draft. With that said, for this exercise, instead of typical letter grades, I have graded the Ducks' selections in terms of “Cold Stone Creamery” ice cream sizes, which reflect varying degrees of enjoyment: “Like It,” Love It,” and “Gotta Have It.”

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek on John Gibson Trade

Ducks Trade John Gibson to the Red Wings for Petr Mrazek, Draft Picks

10. Roger McQueen, C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

6-foot-5 | 192 pounds

Grade: Gotta Have It

The Ducks have one of the deepest and most potent prospect pools in the NHL, with several of their top U24 talent already playing significant roles in the NHL. McQueen was the draft’s highest-risk/highest-reward player, who, if it weren’t for a back injury, would have likely been selected in the top five of this draft and perhaps even top two or three.

He models his game after Ryan Getzlaf, but has more upside than Getzlaf did when it comes to creating offense in transition. He’s an impactful skater, fluid and explosive, for his size, who finds lanes on and off the puck, competes, and can score from anywhere in the offensive zone, whether that’s from distance or the front of the net.

“It comes down to upside. It’s not every year you have a chance to select a 6-foot-5 (center), somebody who will be over 220 (pounds) with his type of skill, his type of hockey sense,” Ducks assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting Martin Madden said of the selection. “Generally good edges and a skating ability that will keep getting better. At ten overall, it just doesn’t happen. We did our homework. We feel comfortable that he’s healthy, that he will play a full season next year, that he’ll make up for the lost time this year, and maximize his potential.

“We went back and watched the Moose Jaw series (against McQueen’s Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL playoffs). We’d seen a few games live last year, but I watched the whole thing. He was their best player; he was the best player on the ice against the top team in the league for three of those games. He was a play driver; he was so strong on the puck, he carried his team. What we liked the most was that even in games where they were behind by two or three goals, he kept competing and pushing and getting his team back into it. So I think that speaks to his character, that speaks to his resilience, and that’s why we like him so much.”

45. Eric Nilson, C, Djurgardens IF (J20 Nationell)

6-foot | 165 pounds

Grade: Love It

Several excellent players fell to day two of the draft, and several were available (Max Psenicka, Shane Vansaghi, William Moore) for the Ducks at 45th overall, a pick they acquired in the week leading up to the draft in exchange for Zegras.

They went with a detail-oriented, two-way center from Sweden, Eric Nilson. Nilson is a cerebral yet responsible center who thrives in transition offensively. He has quick hands, which he uses to freeze defenders in front of him so as to either dish to an open teammate on the flank or get off his plus release. He defends with his feet more than anything, as he closes on attackers in a flash, taking away time and space, especially on the backcheck.

“You regroup overnight and you’ve got your targets for the next morning, and we tried to move up again this morning, and that didn’t work out. We got lucky and we got our guy at 45,” Madden said. “He reminds us of William Karlsson at the same age. Really, really smart, really competitive, great skill, great edge work, and he’s also 165 pounds.

“So he’s got some work to do in the gym, and he understands that, and that’s why he’s taking the path to go to Michigan State. He wanted to get the best program off the ice. That was his focus, and we kind of agree. He’s going to a great spot for him. He’s a good two-way player, he’s first off the bench on the PK, and he’s on the first power play unit for the (Swedish) national team. He’s a hockey player.”

60. Lasse Boelius, LD, Assat (U20 SM-sarja)

6-foot-1 | 190 pounds

Grade: Gotta Have It

The Ducks took their first of four left-shot defensemen in this draft at the end of the second round with the selection of Boelius out of Finland. There were taller defensemen still on the board when the Ducks made this pick (David Bedkowski, Kurban Limatov, Will Reynolds), but the Ducks elected for the supremely mobile Boelius.


Boelius closes gaps in the blink of an eye and has a knack for identifying where on the ice he needs to be to present himself as a passing option for his defensive partner or forwards looking for a regroup. He’s shifty at the offensive blueline and will likely run Finland’s U20 power play for the next couple of World Junior Championships.

“Lasse is a really, similar to many puck-moving defensemen we’ve drafted during the last ten years; he’s a smart, mobile kid,” Madden said. “The Finnish U18 team was not the strongest this year, but he was clearly their best player from last summer to the U18 Championships in Dallas.

“He played pro, and he really impressed in those pro games. He was able to adapt his game, he’s a smart kid. Really level-headed and competitive, as most Fins are. That’s what we really liked about him.”

72. Noah Read, F, London Knights (OHL)

6-foot | 170 pounds

Grade: Like It

With their lone third-round pick, the Ducks selected OHL and Memorial Cup champion forward Noah Read. Though typically with these picks, the Ducks elect for size over speed, Read is one of the faster players selected by the team of late.

His brain works as fast as his feet, and despite a fourth-line role with the Knights, he made an impact in transition and when agitating opponents with drives to the top of the crease. Read assumed a role lower on the depth chart than others from the CHL in this range, but will likely be slotted into a larger role in the upcoming 2025-26 season, with London set to graduate several of their key contributors.

101. Drew Schock, LHD, USNTDP (USHL)

6-foot | 179 pounds

Grade: Like It

The second defenseman the Ducks took in the draft was Schock from the NTDP team, who played big minutes alongside Charlie Tretheway on both the power play and penalty kill. He’s more offensively inclined than Boelius, consistently looking to join rushes or make plays from the offensive blueline. While not the biggest and far from physical, he does well to gap and angle attackers to the boards.

The strength of his game lies in his ability to retrieve pucks and snap them quickly to outlets. He’ll play at the University of Michigan in 2025-26, where he’ll look to add a physical element to his sound fundamental defensive play and add strength.

104. Elija Neuenschwander, G, HC Fribourg-Gotteron (U20-Elit)

6-foot-4 | 198 pounds

Grade: Like It

The Ducks typically select at least one goaltender in every draft, but took the 2024 draft off in that regard. They went back to the crease with their second fourth-round pick and took Swiss goalie Neuenschwander this year.

Neuenschwander was the third-ranked European goaltender by NHL Central Scouting and played the majority of his draft year in the Swiss U20 league, but got a cup of coffee in the NL. His game is based on his utilization of angles and quiet movements, while playing pucks well from behind the net. As he did in 2025, he will represent Switzerland at the World Junior Championships again in 2026.

“Very, very similar profile to Damian (Clara): big, lanky, still physically developing. Really poised goaltender, good overall hockey sense, ability to track the puck, will get the opportunity to keep getting better on the international stage,” Madden said. “He’s already in the program with the Swiss U20s, he was there this year. Sudsy and Pavel Routa, our Czech scout, love this kid.

“They saw him play a lot. They’ve spoken with him on numerous occasions during the year. They love his personality, the way he’s willing to learn and adapt his game. He understands that it’s going to be a longer process, and we’ve got a long runway with him.”

136. Alexis Mathieu, LHD, Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)

6-foot-4 | 196 pounds

Grade: Like It

Mathieu began a mini-run of QMJHL players for the Ducks, a specialty of Martin Madden. Mathieu’s skillset with the puck on his stick is limited at this stage in his development, but he possesses elite shutdown capabilities with his mobility and physicality.

159. Emile Guite, LW, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)



6-foot-2 | 179 pounds

Grade: Gotta Have It

His draft position does not represent Guite’s skill. He was the second overall pick in the QMJHL, and he had a terrific rookie season in 2023-24. His production was down considerably in his second season, causing his stock to slide heading into the draft.

He’s labeled as a pure goal scorer, and while his pace and skating could use some improvement, he’s cerebral with the puck on his stick and looking to break down defenders in one-on-one situations. It wouldn’t come as a surprise to see him bounce back in his third season in the QMJHL, refine his offense, and make this pick look like a steal. This is the kind of late-round swing fans crave from their favorite teams.

“Emile was a second-overall pick in the QMJHL behind (Caleb) Desnoyers a few years back, he grew up playing with him. Everybody in the province compared them as equally talented at a young age, and he had a hell of a season at 16. 60 points with super high expectations to be a first-round pick this year,” Madden said. “Probably put a little too much pressure on himself, the team might have put a little too much pressure on him.

“He had a setback season, but we are convinced that he’ll bounce back. He’s got outstanding hockey sense, a great shot, and really good hands. We’ll help him. We’ll support him. He’ll get faster. He’ll keep going as the player. We’re super excited for the value he got in the fifth round.”

168. Anthony Allain-Samake, LHD, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)

6-foot-2 | 183 pounds

Grade: Love It

Allain-Samake was drafted in both the USHL and the QMJHL, opting for the former with his sights set on the NCAA in 2025-26, where he’ll play at the University of Connecticut. This is another big swing late in a draft that could prove a significant boom for the Ducks.

AAS is just a few days from being a 2026 draft-eligible player, born on Sept. 10, so he has one of the longer runways for development. His biggest strength is his skating; he’s always active and involved, but doesn’t have the production to show for it.

“Allain-Samake is going to a good school,” Madden said. “He’ll be with a few of our prospects down the road there at UConn. (Scouts) Steve Lyons and Gabri (Switaj) were really excited for him in the sixth. Number one quality: really mobile, really good skater. Puck-moving defender, competitive kid.”

200. Brady Turko, RW, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

6-foot | 168 pounds

Grade: Like It

Teammate of McQueen in the WHL and an even younger prospect than Allain-Samake. Turko didn’t produce much for Brandon in his rookie WHL season, and he didn’t assume too high a role in their lineup.

He is a slight player, but willing to use his body on the forecheck, nonetheless. He utilizes a 10-2 mohawk to gain time and space with the puck on his stick before confidently attempting to make a play to the middle of the ice. He’s another decent late-round swing from the Ducks' scouting staff and not a bad player to throw a dart with.

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Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Conor Sheary will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. 

According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Sheary has been placed on waivers by the Tampa Bay Lightning to terminate his contract. 

Sheary was entering the final season of his contract with the Lightning in 2025-26, but with this news, the former Penguins winger's time with the Bolts is coming to an end.

Friedman reported that Sheary requested to have his contract terminated by the Lightning so he could have a better chance to play at the NHL level again. Sheary played in just five games this season with Tampa Bay and spent the rest of the season in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch.

Conor Sheary (TB) on waivers to terminate contract.

Sheary had one more year at a $2M AAV, but couldn’t get one roster due to TB cap problems.

He asked to terminate to get a chance to be in NHL

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 29, 2025

Sheary played in 192 games with the Penguins over two stints and four seasons, where he had recorded 49 goals, 97 points, and a plus-24 rating. He also won two Stanley Cups while with the Penguins. 

With the Penguins retooling their roster and Sheary being 33 years old, it does not seem too likely that they will look to reunite with the 5-foot-9 forward this summer. However, he could be a nice pickup for a team looking for more forward depth. 

NHL Trade Rumors: Penguins Linked To Big Utah ForwardThe Pittsburgh Penguins are undoubtedly a team to watch very closely this off-season. With the team in the middle of a retool, they are expected to be busy this summer. 

Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

In the latter half of the 2025 NHL draft, some rumors came to fruition surrounding highly-regarded pending UFA Mitch Marner and the Vegas Golden Knights. 

Reports from TSN’s Darren Dreger and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman indicated that the Toronto Maple Leafs have been discussing a potential sign-and-trade with Vegas for the star right winger.

Friedman further reported that Toronto could be receiving center Nicolas Roy, with additional rumours suggesting defenseman Nicolas Hague could be involved as well. A great return for a player who could leave for free on July 1, almost too great. 

I believe Nic Roy will be going to Toronto if this gets done https://t.co/lWRgGg60jn

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 28, 2025

On Sunday’s edition of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Friedman shared that there could be some tension in negotiations behind the scenes between Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon and Toronto GM Brad Treliving.

The Sportsnet insider believes that the Maple Leafs could report the Golden Knights for tampering during their recruitment of Marner. However, Friedman added that if the Golden Knights give the Maple Leafs a return of their liking in a trade for Marner’s signing rights, the idea of filing for tampering against Vegas could go away.

It’s important to mention that Friedman said he has no evidence that there has been tampering in this situation, but he knows that the league is looking to “try and make an example out of someone.”

The NHL have been on high alert when it comes to tampering this season. Toward the end of the 2024 calendar year, the league sent out a memo about the consequences of being caught tampering.

If the league eventually takes action against the Golden Knights for tampering, they could face the following sanctions:

• Up to a $5-million fine
• Termination of any contracts that were signed
• Forfeiture of draft picks
• Awarding draft picks or cash to the offended club

As for Marner, he’d also be in danger of a fine up to $1 million, as well as potential suspension or worse.

For now, no deal has been put in place for a Marner sign-and-trade, and the 28-year-old right winger is still set to hit the free agent market on July 1.

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Former St. Louis Blues goaltender Ville Husso has landed his next contract. 

The Anaheim Ducks have announced that they have signed Husso to a two-year, $4.4 million contract extension.

Husso was acquired by the Ducks from the Detroit Red Wings back in February in exchange for future considerations. In four games with the Ducks following the move, he had a 1-1-1 record, a .925 save percentage, and a 2.99 goals-against average. He also had a 7-2-0 record, a .907 save percentage, and a 2.56 goals-against average in nine games with the Ducks' AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls. 

With the Ducks recently traded John Gibson to the Red Wings, there is a goalie spot to fight for on the Ducks' roster right now. After signing this two-year extension, Husso will look to earn the Ducks' backup job. 

Husso was selected by the Blues with the 94th overall pick of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. In 57 games over two seasons as a Blue, he had a 34-13-7 record, a .912 save percentage, and a 2.74 goals-against average. 

NHL Trade Rumors: Canadiens Interested In Blues StarSt. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou has been the subject of trade rumors this off-season. The 27-year-old's full no-trade clause kicks in on July 1, so there have been plenty of questions about whether or not the Blues will move him before it starts. 

Photo Credit: © Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

GM Kevyn Adams and the Buffalo Sabres have moved on from another promising player before they reached the pinnacle of their career. On Wednesday night, JJ Peterka was traded to the Utah Mammoth for Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan.

With Peterka gone, the Sabres have just six players remaining from their 2020-21 roster. That team didn’t have success in the regular season, as they finished last in the NHL. However, looking back at the makeup of their roster, they had an impressive group of players.

That 2020-21 team included Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, Casey Mittelstadt, Taylor Hall, Brandon Montour, Dylan Cozens, Jake McCabe and Linus Ullmark. All those players now play elsewhere, and some of them have gone on to win Stanley Cups and NHL awards.

In addition, that Sabres team had Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, three players who remain on Buffalo’s current roster.

Among the ex-Sabres listed and including their former captain, Kyle Okposo, there are five Stanley Cups between them. Not just that, all those players experienced playoff hockey after moving from Buffalo.

Eichel and Reinhart have transformed themselves into some of the best players in the league since they were traded away from Buffalo.

The Sabres traded Eichel to the Vegas Golden Knights in the middle of the 2021-22 campaign. There was a disagreement between the player and the team regarding his health and how to manage Eichel’s injury.

Nonetheless, he became a different beast once he moved to Nevada, especially last season. Eichel reached a new career-high of 94 points, including 28 goals in 77 games. The 28-year-old finished in the top five in voting for the Hart, Selke and Lady Byng Trophies.

Reinhart is a back-to-back Cup champion with the Florida Panthers and is a key member of the team. On top of that, he had a 57-goal season in 2023-24 and has been a top-five Selke Trophy candidate twice since joining Florida. 

With that, Eichel and Reinhart were selected to Team USA and Team Canada’s preliminary rosters, respectively, for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in February.

Even Jeff Skinner, who never made a playoff appearance before this past season, went all the way to the Stanley Cup final with the Edmonton Oilers. He was bought out by the Sabres and signed with the Oilers as a free agent last July.

It’s worth mentioning that the Sabres hold the joint-longest playoff drought among the four major sports in North America. They share a 14-year playoff drought with the NFL’s New York Jets, and it’s the longest drought in NHL history.

Even those players who haven't gone on to win the Stanley Cup they turned out to be solid players, making a difference on their respective teams.

For example, Ullmark has won a Vezina and William M. Jennings Trophy one season after he signed with the Boston Bruins in the 2021 off-season. Now, he’s a true No.1 goaltender and was a key piece to pushing the Ottawa Senators to the post-season for the first time since 2017.

Defenseman Jake McCabe is another player who has found a new home. He’s been a force with the Toronto Maple Leafs, heading into his fourth season with the team, and depending on the game, McCabe is sometimes the best D-man on Toronto.

Only time will tell if Peterka becomes yet another player that Buffalo may regret moving on from.

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Former Blue Jackets prospect Liam Foudy has signed a new deal with a Metro Division rival.

The New York Islanders have announced that they've signed Liam Foudy to a one-year, two-way contract.

Last season, Foudy played 70 games for the Bridgeport Islanders. He scored 20 goals, totaled 45 points, and had a minus-31 rating for Bridgeport. 

Foudy also played a pair of games for the the New York Islanders last season and had zero points. 

The Scarborough, ON native played a total of 90 games for the Blue Jackets and had a total of 12 points. His career high in games played for the Jackets was 62 in 2022-23. 

He was claimed by the Nashville Predators on October 21, 2023 after being put on waivers by Columbus. He played in 12 games for the Preds and had three points. 

Foudy also played in 41 games for the Cleveland Monsters, scoring 10 goals and totaling 35 points. 

Let us know what you think below.

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Blue Jackets Should Target Andersson Or Ekblad After Losing Out On DobsonNow that the 2025 NHL Draft is over and the Columbus Blue Jackets tried to make a big splash landing Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders, GM Don Waddell's attention turns to trying to add to the blue line. Elliotte Friedman Reveals Potential Offer To Islanders For Noah DobsonElliotte Friedman said on his 32 Thoughts Podcast today that he believes Columbus made a really good offer to the New York Islanders for defenseman Noah Dobson.  Columbus Blue Jackets Draft RecapThe 2025 NHL Draft is over, just like that. There were a bunch of pick swaps and a few player trades, but nothing of substance for the CBJ. 

The New York Islanders have told teams that centerman Jean-Gabriel Pageau is not for sale, per Michael Russo of The Athletic:

Pageau, 32, has one season left on his deal at $5 million annually and had many suitors if the Islanders were looking to move him.

He'd made complete sense for the Minnesota Wild, especially if they move Marco Rossi. 

Other teams that had inquired over the last year was the Vegas Golden Knights, the Edmonton Oilers and the Boston Bruins. 

Pageau recorded 42 points (14 goals, 28 assists) in 79 games, while owning the highest face-off winning percentage in the NHL, at 59.6 percent. 

With Calum Ritchie expected to make the Islanders out of training camp, Pageau will be tasked wth serving as a mentor for the young player. And if the Islanders don't fill the No. 2 center position this summer after the loss of Brock Nelson to Colorado -- they could move Mathew Barzal off Bo Horvat's wing and back to his natural position -- there's a stronog chance Pageau centers the second line come the fall. 

Just because Pageau isn't on the move now doesn't mean that he won't be on the move at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. Especially if he can mimic last season's success, he could be worth a first-round pick or multiple second-round picks from a desperate hockey club as opposed to, maybe, just a second right now. 

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: James Guillory-Imagn Images

​​The Buffalo Sabres pulled off a second trade in the last week on Day 2 of the NHL Draft, and it involved a defenseman, but not the blueliner that many expected. The deal on Saturday sending Connor Clifton to Pittsburgh in exchange for Conor Timmins was a reshuffle of the club’s bottom pairing, while a potential trade of restricted free agent blueliner Bowen Byram would be an impact hockey deal to bring significant NHL talent in return.  

Sabres GM Kevyn Adams met with the media after completion of the draft on Saturday afternoon and indicated that while he is still open to the possibility of trading the 23-year-old, there seems to be an openness to bringing him back either on a short- or long-term deal.

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"I had a great one-on-one conversation with Bo at the end of the season, just understanding where he's at. He's a great kid, he loves his teammates, and he loves being a Sabre, but he also understands that he has this window in his career, and what does that look like, and what are (the) opportunities?" Adams said. "We just talked about that, and I've had a lot of conversations with (agent) Darren Ferris, and I've just been very honest with him. I understand the position he's in, where he is in his career, and (that) he's two years away from UFA, and we'll just keep talking. I don't think it's great for me to publicly talk about any sort of contract negotiations, but what he knows is we like him, we believe in him. We think he makes our team better with him on it, but if there's a trade to make that makes sense, and we think it's the right thing to do, we'll do it."

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman indicated before the draft that the Vegas Golden Knights have interest in Byram, but that the market for Byram had not been as brisk as the Sabres would have liked. The Sabres are again looking for players in return for him, and not a deal like the NY Islanders pulled off with Montreal for RFA defenseman Noah Dobson, who was one year away from unrestricted free agency. 

With the draft completed and free agency beginning on Tuesday, the Sabres may find it easier to pull off a trade after teams strike out on the open market, but Byram is not the only blueliner out there that teams covet. Calgary’s Rasmus Andersson is right-handed and older than Byram, but teams looking to add to their defense, the 28-year-old gives those teams options if they believe that Adams is looking for too much in return. 

 

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It almost feels impossible to designate winners and losers on the day that the NHL draft goes down. The whole point of the NHL draft is to build for the future, and with the inexact science that is the NHL draft, no one really knows who won and lost the day the picks are made. 

We all have our judgments, and we can look at the value that some teams got in the annual player selection proceedings. A team drafted a handful of players that you liked and they are deemed winners. Another drafted players too high for your liking, and you call them losers. It feels unfair, but life isn’t always fair and placing judgments is all part of our jobs as analysts and fans of the NHL. 

So let’s take a look at a few winners and losers from the 2025 NHL draft.

Winner: New York Islanders

It’s easy to call the team with the first-overall pick the winner of the draft, but everything the Islanders did after the first-overall pick was impressive as well. Trading Noah Dobson netted them two first-round picks at 16 and 17, and despite the desire to trade up, they ended up making the picks. They nabbed Victor Eklund at 16, a player many had in the top 10. The next pick, they selected Kashawn Aitcheson, a player known most for his open-ice hits and strong shot. 

In Round 2, they added some beef with Daniil Prokhorov, a big, skilled Russian forward who had been rising up draft boards. They followed that up with Luca Romano, a do-it-all, hard-working forward from the OHL. Tomas Poletin and Sam Laurila, selected in the fourth and fifth rounds, respectively, were excellent value picks as well. The 2025 NHL draft could be transformational for the Islanders. 

Loser: The NHL’s Decentralized Draft

From the presentation and technical issues to the vibes and the fan turnout, the decentralization of the NHL draft was an absolute disaster. The first round dragged on an outrageous amount of time with so much dead air and lackluster production value. There were audio issues when teams were trying to talk to players, and even if that wasn’t the case, they had these somewhat awkward interviews that felt like bad Tinder dates when the players were drafted. 

The decentralized draft was a half-decent idea, even though the NHL was taking away from what made their draft special. They could have looked at how the NBA or NFL do things and copied bits and pieces, but they tried to reinvent the wheel. The interviews fell flat, the timers that they had on teams were merely suggestions, and they really didn’t seem to have a plan despite boasting about state-of-the-art technology prior to the event. 

What made the draft feel the most underwhelming, though, was the fact that the players in attendance were limited, and the fans that showed up could have been counted by a kindergartener. 

The NHL should look at last year’s draft at The Sphere and try to replicate that. Bring the draft back to Vegas every year, make The Sphere your spectacle and enhance the fan experience the way that they did in Las Vegas. That’s how you make your draft the best in the world. Whatever they thought they were doing this year wasn’t it. 

Winner: Calgary Flames

The Flames have had a few good drafts in a row, and this year was no different. They nabbed a pair of high-end playmakers in the first round in Cole Reschny and Cullen Potter. Both were players who had doubters despite their immense skill and offensive prowess. The Flames knew that taking the upside was well worth it, knowing that they could be rewarded in a big way. 

The selection of Theo Stockselius is an underrated pick as the big Swede has a nice mix of skill and passing ability. He wasn’t on many lists to start the year, but he rose quite a bit in the second half. Even the Mace’o Phillips pick was an interesting swing at a player with the profile of a mean, physical defender. Aidan Lane in the sixth round and Ethan Leander in the seventh were also interesting darts thrown at the board. 

Loser: Colorado Avalanche

Colorado came into the draft with fewer darts than anyone, and although they added another via trade, the Avalanche weren’t really looking to swing for upside or skill. Their top pick was Francesco Dell'Elce, a 20-year-old defender who had a pretty solid freshman season at UMass, but at 77th overall, there were players on the board that presented more runway development and higher upside with a similar floor. The Avs very well could have seen something they loved in Dell’Elce, but it was a bit of an odd pick. 

Linus Funck in the fourth round was an interesting pick with a projectable frame and some good defensive habits. Nolan Roed, the Avs' rounder, had a point-per-game season in the USHL this year and had some flashes of nice playmaking, and as a seventh-round pick, he’s a perfectly solid selection. 

The Avs just didn’t have much in the tank when it came to this draft, and they did very little to make the limited picks worthwhile. It’s tough restocking your pipeline when you’re pushing for championships every year, but I don’t think Colorado would change that. 

Winner: Carolina Hurricanes

The kings of trading down, the Hurricanes moved out of the first round, but they made three second-round picks with excellent value. They first selected Semyon Frolov, a goaltender who had been skyrocketing up draft boards and was even rumored to be in contention for the first round. They followed that with the pick of top overage prospect Charlie Cerrato, who had a great season at Penn State, showing his growth as a player since his NTDP days. 

Toward the end of the round, they took the ultimate swing on Ivan Ryabkin. Coming into the year, Ryabkin was a player that some thought could be a top-10 talent. His season in the MHL as a D-1 center was fantastic. He was putting up numbers that were comparable to some of the best Russians drafted in recent years, like Ivan Demidov and Matvei Michkov. This season, everything fell apart. He looked slow, uninterested, and his game wasn’t working at any level in Russia, pro or junior. 

A move to Muskegon in the USHL saw him rekindle some of his playmaking touch but the he evolved into a violent, chippy player who was using his physicality as a means to impact the game. If the Canes can get him to find a middle ground and get back into shape, Ryabkin could be a steal, but it’s a swing for the fences. 

In Round 3, the Hurricanes snagged two Russian defenders in Kurban Limatov and Roman Bausov. They added two mobile, defensively oriented blueliners who bring some size and snarl. Limatov, in particular, is a player who looked like a first-round talent at times this year because of just how fluid his defensive game can be and some flashes of puck-moving ability. 

The bets on undersized Swedes late looked like absolute steals for the Canes. Sixth-round pick Viggo Nordlund was the most productive player in Swedish junior hockey this season, bringing dynamism and skill in bunches. With one of the final picks of the seventh round, Carolina took Filip Ekberg, a player who had so much promise coming into the season, but a slow start after moving to the OHL for his draft year soured his stock. 

His second half looked infinitely better, and he showed that he adapted his skilled, possession-based game to the OHL’s north-south style quite well, bringing elements of both to the table by season’s end. He then followed it up by leading the U18s in scoring. Picked 221 out of 224 players, that’s incredible value. 

Loser: Tampa Bay Lightning

Much like Colorado, they get added to the losers category simply because they were a team with very little ammo, picking just once inside the top 100. The players they did take were all guys with floors close to their ceilings, and none of their ceilings are particularly high. They added Ethan Czata in the second round, a player who will go as far as his motor will take him. He shows some flashes of skill, but he projects as a bottom-six project at this point. 

The Lightning followed that up with a skilled overager in Benjamin Rautiainen from Finland, who had an age-20 season in the Liiga. It was a nice swing on an offensive winger with some nice hands. Next up was Aiden Foster, who is a heavy hitter with a decent shot but a limited upside at best. 

My favorite pick of theirs came in the fifth round when they took Everett Baldwin. The prep defender has nice mobility, slick offensive skills and could be an exciting prospect. His development will take him to Providence College, so Tampa can let him develop slowly and then maybe they’ll have something on their hands. 

The one interesting thing about Tampa’s draft is that they had four seventh-round picks. Goaltender Caleb Heil is an interesting late swing in net. Roman Luttsev is a high motor center who didn’t look out of place in limited KHL action this year, and he tore it up in the junior league. Grant Spada is a defensive specialist who has a huge frame and needs to fill out. Marco Mignosa is a 20-year-old who works hard and had a breakout season in the OHL this past season. None of these players are ultra high-upside, but they are all fine swings to take late. 

Winners: New York Rangers

The Rangers had a sneaky good draft despite not having a first-round pick. They had Malcolm Spence fall into their laps in the second round after being a potential top-15 guy for most of the season. The hard-working winger has a nice touch of skill and pace to his game, showing both a physical edge and a finesse game with the puck. 

Sean Barnhill, their first of two second-round picks, is one of the more underrated defenders in the draft with excellent size and mobility. He understands his role as a defensive stopper, and he plays it quite well, and there are some flashes of potential offensive skill that pop up from time to time as well. 

Mikkel Eriksen is a player who showed some deceptive skill and a dual-threat offensive game in the Swedish junior ranks while taking on a lead role for Norway internationally at both the U18 and U20 levels. At pick 111, there was really solid value in an underrated project. 

At pick 139, the Rangers took one of my favorite later-round swings in defenseman Zeb Lindgren. With solid size, good mobility, and a knack for making plays at both ends of the ice, Lindgren flew under the radar for much of the season. There always felt like so much untapped potential for Lindgren that a swing this late made for a great value pick. 

Later picks like defenders Evan Passmore and Felix Farhammar were nice value late on guys that could develop into solid pros, even if not at the NHL level. The Rangers were undoubtedly good at the 2025 NHL draft, and they should be happy with the haul they got.

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The 2025 NHL Entry Draft was another success for the WHL. In the end, 33 WHLers heard their names called as they were drafted into the NHL. This includes nine in the first round, which accounts for 28.125% of the picks. 

Overall, the CHL had a great weekend, as 93 total players were drafted into the NHL. The 93 accounts for 41.5% of the entire draft, and was the most prospects selected in over a decade. Here is a look at where the 33 WHLers were drafted in this year's draft. 

First Round (9):

9th Overall: Radim Mrtka – Buffalo Sabres; Seattle Thunderbirds
10th Overall: Roger McQueen – Anaheim Ducks; Brandon Wheat Kings
11th Overall: Benjamin Kindel  – Pittsburgh Penguins; Calgary Hitmen
13th Overall: Carter Bear – Detroit Red Wings; Everett Silvertips
14th Overall: Jackson Smith – Columbus Blue Jackets; Tri-City Americans;
15th Overall: Braeden Cootes – Vancouver Canucks; Seattle Thunderbirds
18th Overall: Cole Reschny – Calgary Flames; Victoria Royals
27th Overall: Lynden Lakovic – Washington Capitals; Moose Jaw Warriors
30th Overall: Joshua Ravensbergen – San Jose Sharks; Prince George Cougars

Round Two (4):

36th Overall: Blake Fiddler – Seattle Kraken; Edmonton Oil Kings
39th Overall: Peyton Kettles – Pittsburgh Penguins; Swift Current Broncos
46th Overall: Max Pšenička – Utah Mammoth; Portland Winterhawks
57th Overall: Matthew Gard – Philadelphia Flyers; Red Deer Rebels

Round Three (6):

66th Overall: Nathan Behm – Chicago Blackhawks; Kamloops Blazers
69th Overall: Hayden Paupanekis – Montreal Canadiens; Kelowna Rockets
81st Overall: Bryce Pickford – Montreal Canadiens; Medicine Hat Tigers
83rd Overall: Tommy Lafreniere – Edmonton Oilers; Kamloops Blazers
92nd Overall: Owen Martin – Winnipeg Jets; Spokane Chiefs
94th Overall: Cameron Schmidt – Dallas Stars; Vancouver Giants

Round Four (5):

117th Overall: David Lewandowski – Edmonton Oilers; Saskatoon Blades
123rd Overall: Carter Klippenstein – Minnesota Wild; Brandon Wheat Kings
126th Overall: Brandon Gorzynski – Dallas Stars; Calgary Hitmen
127th Overall: Aiden Foster – Tampa Bay Lightning; Prince George Cougars
128th Overall: Shea Busch  – Florida Panthers; Everett Silvertips

Round Five (3):

130th Overall: Ryan Miller – Pittsburgh Penguins; Portland Winterhawks
141st Overall: Justin Kipkie – Minnesota Wild; Victoria Royals
157th Overall: Luke Vlooswyk – Philadelphia Flyers; Red Deer Rebels

Round Six (3):

162nd Overall: Ashton Cumby – Chicago Blackhawks; Seattle Thunderbirds
170th Overall: Burke Hood – New York Islanders; Vancouver Giants
186th Overall: Alexander Weiermair – Vegas Golden Knights; Portland Winterhawks

Round Seven (3):

197th Overall: Brendan Dunphy – Florida Panthers; Wenatchee Wild
200th Overall: Brady Turko – Anaheim Ducks; Brandon Wheat Kings
216th Overall: William Sharpe – Los Angeles Kings; Kelowna Rockets

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.

Vancouver Giants Cameron Schmidt Drafted 94th Overall By The Dallas Stars

Spokane Chiefs Owen Martin Drafted 93rd Overall By The Winnipeg Jets

Kamloops Blazers Tommy Lafreniere Drafted 83rd Overall By The Edmonton Oilers

Medicine Hat Tigers Bryce Pickford Drafted 81th Overall By The Montréal Canadiens

Kelowna Rockets Hayden Paupanekis Drafted 69th Overall By The Montréal Canadiens

It was an exciting day for Minnesota’s Blake Vanek. First, he was selected in the third round (93rd overall) by the Ottawa Senators at the 2025 NHL Draft. It certainly wasn’t the usual draft process for Vanek, since only the top 50 prospects were invited to the draft in L.A. this year.

So Vanek wasn’t in L.A., but he also wasn’t home in Minnesota, or in his future home in Ottawa.

Instead, Vanek, who couldn’t wipe the smile off his face, chatted with the Ottawa media on a Zoom call from Madison, Wisconsin.

“I’m actually going to the Morgan Wallen concert (here) tonight,” Vanek laughed. “So there’s kind of a lot going on tonight.”

Seeing one of the biggest names in country music was merely the cherry on top of a perfect day for Vanek, who realized the first step in his NHL dream. And to get to this far, to quote the classic Morgan Wallen/Post Malone song of the same name, Blake “Had Some Help.”

Blake’s father is Thomas Vanek, who had an outstanding NHL career, appearing in 1,029 games and recording 789 points, most of them with the Buffalo Sabres. Vanek spent eight and a half seasons in Buffalo before finishing his career as something of a journeyman, playing for seven teams in his final six seasons: the New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and finally returning to Detroit to close out his career.

Now six years into retirement and settled in the State of Hockey, the 41-year-old is back to focusing on the NHL again, this time through the eyes of his son.

Like fellow Sens prospect Javon Moore (2024), Blake spent most of his draft year playing high school hockey in Minnesota, where he tallied 22 goals and 53 points in just 29 games. Blake fits Ottawa’s trend of drafting bigger players—he’s already almost 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds—and he doesn’t turn 18 until August.

“There’s a lot of hockey runway ahead with him,” Sens amateur scout Dan Boeser said. “He obviously comes from a hockey family with his dad, so there’s that piece we like. He knows the game well.”

Blake also saw limited action with the Chicago Steel in the USHL, posting 5 points in 9 games. Next season, he’s committed to a scholarship and development agreement with the Wenatchee Wild of the WHL. In addition, he represented the U.S. National Team Development Program’s U18 squad, where he picked up an assist in six games.

“He's a powerful kid,” Boeser said. “He's going to be a big man when he's all done. He competes, can shoot the puck, he scores in the dirty areas. So there's a lot to like about him. Like the path that he's going to take next year going to Wenatchee. So yeah, we're excited. We made that move for a reason to get him.”

Vanek says the excitement is mutual.

“I’m totally pumped to become an Ottawa Senator,” Vanek said in a Zoom call posted to the Sens website. “It's a dream come true to be drafted in the NHL Draft.”

Vanek is the latest in a long line of NHL players’ sons to join the Senators. While Blake admits he got a lot of his game from his dad, he says they’re not exactly the same. And then he couldn’t resist a little dig at his pops.

“I want to say my shot’s a little better than his was,” Vanek laughed. “That might be a little cocky.”

If/when Vanek makes it to Ottawa, Dad might feel a brief twinge of irony. Thomas’ best NHL season came in 2006–07, when he recorded 84 points for the Sabres, who won the Presidents' Trophy that year. However, they fell short in the Eastern Conference Final, losing to none other than his son’s new team, the Ottawa Senators.

The Sens advanced to their first and only Stanley Cup Final that year. But now that his son is on board, Thomas wouldn’t mind seeing that happen again.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News/Ottawa

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The 2025 NHL Draft is over, just like that. There were a bunch of pick swaps and a few player trades, but nothing of substance for the CBJ. 

Don Waddell is very happy with his selections in this draft, stating that “We drafted right, identically, as our list was laid out," Waddell said. “The first three guys were all in the top 14 on our list.” 

That makes for a very successful draft if he's being honest. 

Let's recap the 2025 Draft for the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

2025 Columbus Blue Jackets Draft Class 

Overall Grade - B-

Jackson Smith - LHD - Tri-City Americans (WHL) - After two seasons with Tri-City, Smith has committed to playing at Penn State University. 

THN Scouting Report - "Smith is an offensive defenseman who could be considered the second-best defenseman in the 2025 NHL Draft. When he has the puck on his stick, it allows his forwards to find open ice. They can rely on him to carry the puck into the neutral zone before snapping a pass to spring his teammates. All the plays with Tri-City tend to go through him when he is on the ice, he gets the most puck touches due to his high hockey IQ and awareness. His ability to read the game and anticipate pressure is one of the main reasons coaches trust him in all situations, even late in close games.

On the defensive side of the puck, Smith does very well. He gets into lanes, he is smart positionally and doesn't give up on puck battles. Thanks to his speed, he can still get involved with any play, whether it's on the rush or the backcheck, he can skate his way back into any play. Overall, Smith is going to be a very good offensive defenseman that will have a large impact on whichever NHL team decides to draft his name."

Pyotr Andreyanov - G - Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL) - Andreyanov has apparently signed a multi-year contract that will keep him in Russia for the next 4-5 years. 

Elite Prospects Scouting Report - "Pyotr Andreyanov is one of the most impressive skaters and athletes at the position. He has strong footwork and explodes well to the top of the crease to take away time and space from shooters, while also not giving up too much where an easy pass will beat him. His play reading and tracking combined well with those mobility skills, as Andreyanov is often beating the play to its spot and makes difficult situations look easy."

Malte Vass - LHD - Färjestad BK J20 (J20 Nationell) - Vass will attend Boston University after leaving Sweden. 

Elite Prospects Scouting Report - "Malte Vass is a defensive defenceman who kills plays through his physicality and motor. He suffocates opponents by taking away their time and space. He is an aggressive play-killer who can leverage his strength and skating to stop rushes early or engage attackers along the wall to separate them from the puck."

Owen Griffin - C - Oshawa Generals (OHL) - Griffin still has to play another two years in the OHL before becoming AHL eligible. 

Chris Pronmon of The Athletic - "Griffin’s game got better as the year went along, ending his season with a huge OHL playoffs performance. Griffin is an excellent skater who can play at an NHL pace. He has solid puck skills and vision and creates offense on the move. Despite his huge playoff performance, I have mild questions on how dynamic he is, especially for a 5-10 forward. I think he will have success as a pro, but I don’t see a clear NHL role for him."

Victor Hedin Raftheim - LHD - Brynäs IF J20 (J20 Nationell) - Hedin Raftheim is only 17 and is presumed to stay in Sweden for the foreseeable future. 

Elite Prospects Scouting Report - "Hedin Raftheim profiles as an all-around defender. His stride isn’t the most fluid just yet, but he makes up for it with natural athleticism. It’s not just the skating that makes him intriguing, though, but especially his active style of play. He jumps from the point down the weak side regularly to fish for opportunities, but also activates off the rush, providing support as a trailer or sometimes spearheading the attack himself."

Jérémy Loranger - C - Sherwood Park Crusaders (BCHL) - Loranger will attend the University of Nebraska-Omaha for the 25-26 season. 

Elite Prospects Scouting Report -  "Loranger is constantly dangerous with possession — curl-and-stop attacks, backhand saucers, cross-body looks, and slick hands around the net. His off-puck orbit pulls attention, creating space for linemates. While not a true power shooter, he elevates his finishing profile through shot location and creativity."

Don Waddell sounds like he didn't want to make the two two first rounds picks he made, so why couldn't he trade them? More on that later.

Let us know what you think below.

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Blue Jackets Sign Zach Sawchenko To One Year ExtensionThe Columbus Blue Jackets have announced the signing of Zach Sawchenko to a one-year/two-way contract on Saturday.  REPORT: Impaired Driving Charges Dropped Against Blue Jackets Prospect Jordan Dumais Jordan Dumais had a pair of impaired driving charges dismissed yesterday in Halifax, Nova Scotia. According to the Chronicle Herald, the charges were dropped when the arresting officer failed to show up for court.  Columbus Blue Jackets Day 1 Draft RecapThe Columbus Blue Jackets came into night one of the 2025 NHL Draft armed with multiple first-round picks, and many thought that Don Waddell would trade both of those picks. But it wasn't because they thought he would, but because he told everyone that they were on the market. 

Providence Bruins defenseman Daniil Misyul has signed a one-year deal in Russia with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, it was announced earlier this week. 

A 2019 third round pick of the New Jersey Devils, Misyul split time this season between the Bruins, Utica Comets and the Devils. Over a combined 58 AHL games, he scored one goal and added eight assists for nine points while going pointless in one NHL appearance. 

Since coming over to North America for the 2023-24 season, Misyul has only gotten in one NHL game but has accumulated 23 points over 102 career AHL regular season games. Prior to making the trek, Misyul spent parts of five seasons playing in the KHL with Lokomotiv. 

As Misyul heads back to Russia, the chances of him coming back stateside are likely pretty slim. He seems to have a good relationship with Lokomotiv, and the chance to continue playing in the organization he's spent a lot of time with in the past will likely keep him in Russia for the foreseeable future. 

The 2025 NHL Draft is officially over, with the Vancouver Canucks adding six new players into their organization’s portfolio. Their selection includes a surprising four centers, a goaltender, and a right-winger. Vancouver didn’t pick any defencemen this year, which isn’t surprising given the depth they have shown lately with both Vancouver and the Abbotsford Canucks. They had a pick in every round of the draft except for the fourth, which they traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Evander Kane earlier on in the week. Let’s take a look at the six players who are now members of the Canucks organization. 

Braeden Cootes 

Round 1, 15th OVR

Centre

Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL 

With their first selection in the 2025 NHL Draft, Vancouver selected centre Braeden Cootes of the Seattle Thunderbirds. Cootes, who captained the Thunderbirds alongside fellow Canucks prospect Sawyer Mynio in 2024–25, is a two-way centre who is known for his leadership on and off the ice as well as his positive impact in the locker room. Offensively, Cootes hit another level this year, scoring 26 goals and 37 assists in 63 games. In terms of his potential, some have even likened Cootes to former Canucks captain Bo Horvat. 

Aleksei Medvedev

Round 2, 47th OVR

Goaltender

London Knights, OHL 

Vancouver’s second pick in this year’s draft was Aleksei Medvedev, a goaltender who played in his first season with the London Knights of the OHL this season. He started 34 of the Knights’ games this season, putting up a 2.79 GAA and a .912 SV%. The left-handed catcher registered a record of 22–8–2 as well as three shutouts. Medvedev is one of the youngest goalies in this year’s draft, as he is still 17 until September 10, but is still 6’3 and has room to grow within the next few years. 

Kieren Dervin 

Round 3, 65th OVR

Center

Kingston Frontenacs, OHL 

Selected in the third round at 65th overall, Kieren Dervin spent 10 games with the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL in 2024–25. In his time with the Frontenacs during the regular season, he scored a goal and two assists. In the playoffs, he had a goal and two assists in 11 games. Prior to his time with Kingston, he spent two seasons with St. Andrew’s College, a Canadian hockey prep school located in Aurora, Ontario. With St. Andrew’s in 2024–25, Dervin posted 33 goals and 46 assists in 50 games played. He has already committed to Penn State University of the NCAA and is expected to join the team in 2026.

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Wilson Björck 

Round 5, 143rd OVR

Center

Djurgårdens IF, J20 Nationell 

Wilson Björck was the third center the Canucks selected in this year’s draft. Picked 143rd overall in the fifth round, Björck is one year older than the eligibility age and has a brother who will be eligible in the 2026 Entry Draft. Björck has played with Djurgårdens IF since 2022–23, splitting time with their J18 and J20 teams. In 2024–25, he scored 28 goals and 39 assists in 43 regular season games played with the J20 team. He averaged a point per game in the postseason with a goal and eight assists in nine games. Earlier this week, it was announced that Björck would be committing to Colorado College for the 2025–26 season. 

Gabriel Chiarot 

Round 6, 175th OVR

Right wing 

Brampton Steelheads, OHL 

Vancouver’s fifth selection of the 2025 Draft was Gabriel Chiarot, a cousin of current Detroit Red Wings defenceman Ben Chiarot. Picked 175th overall in the sixth round of the draft, the 18 year old Chiarot spent the past two seasons with the Brampton Steelheads (formerly Mississaugua prior to relocation). He had 21 goals and 14 assists in 66 regular season games in 2024–25, and added a goal in six of the team’s postseason games. 

Matthew Lansing

Round 7, 207th OVR

Center 

Fargo Force, USHL 

The Canucks’ final pick of the 2025 NHL Draft was Matthew Lansing, who was also the fourth centerman that the team selected this year. Lansing split time with the Fargo Force and the Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL in the 2024–25 season, and also played 11 games with Waterloo the season prior. In 40 games with the Blackhawks this year, he scored eight goals and nine assists. With Fargo, he scored four goals and six assists in the regular season. He and Team USA won a Bronze Medal in the 2025 IIHF U18 World Junior Championship. In 2025–26, Lansing will be playing for Quinnipiac University of the NCAA. 

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