The Pac-12 Conference is clawing back from near extinction, adding Texas State as its eighth football-playing member. Six other schools will join in 2026.
Detroit Re-Signs Depth Defenceman Lagesson to Two-Year Deal
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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Toronto Maple Leafs Keep John Tavares Away From Free Agency
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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NHL Nugget: Calgary Flames' Kevin Bahl's Birthday Backcheck
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
NHL Draft preview: Frondell, Hagens, McQueen emerge as favorites for Predators 5th overall pick
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."
Key denies Archer concerns and backs him to be ‘one of best England have had’
Rob Key: ‘We’ve gone slower than we could have done’
Fast bowler may be held back for third Test at Lord’s
Rob Key has played down concerns about Jofra Archer’s readiness for Test cricket, insisting England could have fast-tracked his comeback sooner and saying he trusts Ben Stokes not to flog such a precious commodity.
Archer, 30, was the standout name when an otherwise unchanged squad was picked for the second Test against India that starts at Edgbaston next Wednesday. But coming after a four-year absence from first-class cricket, and just 18 overs with a red ball for Sussex this past week, the selection also raised eyebrows.
Continue reading...Jonathan Pintaro talks Mets debut, his inspiring journey to the majors, and what's next
Standing on the mound at Citi Field in the ninth inning on a sweltering night on Wednesday in front of 38,275 fans, Jonathan Pintaro -- making his major league debut -- met Ronald Acuña Jr., whostepped into the box with two outs and two on as the rookie looked to secure the final out for the Mets.
"Crazy," Pintaro told SNY on Friday about the moment. "As soon as I saw him step in, I was like 'alright, here it is. Here's the big time. You gotta figure out how to get out of this, facing one of the best hitters in the league.'"
Pintaro got strike one when Acuña fouled off a 92 mph cutter, and strike two by dotting a cutter near the knees on the outside corner.
That cutter, by the way? Pintaro said he modeled it after the one Corbin Burnes throws.
The third pitch to Acuña -- another cutter -- caught a bit more plate, and that one was fouled off, too.
Then came the fourth pitch, which was a 97 mph four-seam fastball that was up and in on Acuña for a bit of unintended chin music.
"It was not meant to be up and in," Pintaro said with a chuckle. "It was supposed to just be up. Ball is a little bit more slick than what I'm used to at the minor leagues. But I'll figure it out."
After that adrenaline and slick-ball-induced up-and-in pitch, Pintaro missed inside with another four-seamer before Acuña lined a cutter down the line for a two-run double.
That ended Pintaro's debut. But it was not hard to see why the Mets are so intrigued by him.
Pintaro's somewhat funky delivery and strong pitch mix means he'll likely be back in the majors sooner rather than later, where he'll look to carve out a home as a reliever -- a role he'll start to get more accustomed to beginning right now with Triple-A Syracuse after spending most of his time in the organization as a starter.
Then there's the story of Pintaro's journey to the big leagues, which is truly inspiring.
"Coming from a small town in Alabama, then went to a small D2 college in Rome, Georgia that not many people have heard of," Pintaro explained. "Went to Indy ball in Montana, playing for a newer team. And then now I'm here."
While in Independent Ball pitching for the Glacier Range Riders, Pintaro began tweaking some things. And once the Mets signed him last season (after he had a 0.97 WHIP and struck out 14.4 batters per nine for Glacier) and assigned him to the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones, Pintaro continued to fine-tune his arsenal.
"We just started looking at pitch grips and adding new pitches to my repertoire," he said about his time pitching in Independent Ball. "We ended up adding a sinker, changeup. Just kind of tweaking the sweeper, but the sinker and changeup were the biggest ones to add. And then when I got to Brooklyn, the pitching coach there is who helped me get my sweeper to where it is now."
While with Double-A Binghamton earlier this season, Pintaro's velocity ticked up -- something he attributes to adjustments with his mechanics.
In Binghamton, Pintaro impressed, posting a 3.40 ERA and 1.11 WHIP while striking out 57 batters in 42.1 innings over 11 starts -- a K rate of 12.1 per nine.
And he was teammates with Jonah Tong, whom Pintaro has been friends with for a while -- going back to their time playing together in the Draft League.
As far as the biggest thing Pintaro learned during his time in Binghamton?
"Don't take anything for granted," he said. "I did six years of college, played Indy ball. Now I have the opportunity to be here and I'm grateful for it. And I love everybody in Binghamton -- the manager, the coaches, the training staff, the players -- they're all amazing. I couldn't be happier than I am being with this organization."
Now that he's in Triple-A, Pintaro will get acclimated to a more regular relief role, noting that he'll be used mostly out of the bullpen while there -- something he said comes with more of an "adrenaline rush," which he felt during his big league debut earlier this week.
As he gets used to relieving regularly, Pintaro will be striving to return to the majors. And his answer was short and sweet regarding what his focus will be.
"Just command the zone, land all five pitches, and attack hitters," he said.
Mike Dunleavy believes Jonathan Kuminga can reach NBA potential with Warriors
Mike Dunleavy believes Jonathan Kuminga can reach NBA potential with Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The biggest question mark of the Warriors’ NBA offseason revolves around impending restricted free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga.
After the first phase of the offseason concluded with Thursday’s second round of the 2025 NBA Draft, general manager Mike Dunleavy offered insight into where the Warriors stand with the former No. 7 overall pick.
On Friday’s episode of “The TK Show,” Tim Kawakami asked Dunleavy about Kuminga’s comments earlier this week, when the 22-year-old expressed his desire to be “great” and an NBA All-Star.
“As a young player, I love the personal ambition,” Dunleavy stated. “That’s what I see, first and foremost, with the comments. He’s a guy that believes in himself, wants to see what he can do.
“I think, ultimately, if we’re able to bring him back, we see a path for him to be able to do some of those things here.”
While Kuminga will be free to negotiate with other teams once NBA free agency begins June 30, Golden State will have the chance to match any contract offer sheet he receives from another franchise.
Kuminga’s potential isn’t much of a debate, but it’s fair to wonder if he can become a consistent, high-end scorer on a team led by veteran stars Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler.
Varying from DNP-CDs to the Warriors’ main scoring threat, Kuminga’s playing time under coach Steve Kerr fluctuated greatly throughout the end of the 2024-25 NBA season. As Dunleavy recognized, Golden State will need to make a firm decision on the young forward’s role going forward — which could affect how both sides approach contract talks.
“I think that will come out in the wash. It will get figured out, honestly,” Dunleavy said of Kuminga’s unclear role with the Warriors. “And that would be the calculus on us bringing him back and him wanting to be back here. So these are all of the things we have to go through and figure out. These are all questions that just can’t really be answered until we know what the deal is.”
Whatever those answers end up being, it will be very interesting to see how Golden State continues to handle this saga with a rising star.
Will The Rangers Trade Back Into The First Round?
Will the New York Rangers trade into the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft? The answer is likely no.
When the Rangers still held the 12th overall pick, it was rumored that the team could be looking to move up in the draft and land a top-ten pick.
However, as part of a trade with the Vancouver Canucks involving J.T. Miller, the Rangers had a choice to either give away this year’s first-round pick or their 2026 first-round pick.
Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury decided to transfer the 12th overall pick and keep the team’s 2026 first-round pick.
Now, the Rangers are left without a selection in the opening round of the draft on Friday, so it may be a quiet night for the Blueshirts.
There’s always a possibility the Rangers trade back into the first round if there’s a specific prospect Drury has his eye on, but their move to transfer the 12th overall pick kind of cancels out that possibility.
The most likely scenario for the Rangers to get a first-round pick tonight is a trade involving K’Andre Miller.
Since the Rangers 2024-25 season ended, Miller has been the subject of multiple trade rumors as he will become a restricted free agent on July 1 and he’s still without an extension.
With the draft approaching in just a few hours though, Miller still hasn’t been traded and Vince Z. Mercogliano is reporting that it seems the Rangers aren't crazy about what's been offered so far.
The Rangers' Thought Process Behind Keeping Their 2026 First-Round PickThere’s one major reason the New York Rangers decided to send their 2025 12th overall pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins and keep their 2026 first-round pick.
The Rangers still hold eight draft picks through the 2-7 rounds that begin on Saturday.
Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury decided to transfer the 12th overall pick and keep the team’s 2026 first-round pick.
Report: Sixers declining Jared Butler's team option
Report: Sixers declining Jared Butler's team option originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Sixers are declining Jared Butler’s $2.3 million team option for the 2025-26 season, PHLY’s Kyle Neubeck reported Friday.
The team acquired Butler last season in a trade-deadline deal that sent Reggie Jackson to the Wizards. By the end of the Sixers’ injury-decimated year, he was their starting point guard.
Over 28 appearances as a Sixer last season, Butler averaged 11.5 points, 4.9 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals. He shot 42.6 percent from the floor, 35.2 percent from three-point range and 87 percent at the foul line.
The 24-year-old appreciated the opportunity to have a stable role and aimed to provide stability and poise with a perpetually changing cast of healthy teammates.
“It’s been fantastic,” Butler said on March 29. “I think people underestimate … it’s been four years and it’s my first time getting a stretch of games where I know I’m going to play. … It’s a blessing, and I’m just glad I’m healthy and able to play. I think it’s good for my career.”
When everyone’s available, the Sixers clearly have multiple guards who’d be ahead of Butler on head coach Nick Nurse’s depth chart, including Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain and Quentin Grimes. No. 3 pick VJ Edgecombe is in town, too.
We’ll see what free agency holds for Butler, who’s played for four NBA franchises since being drafted with the 40th pick in the 2021 draft. Free agency will formally begin Monday at 6 p.m. ET.
The Sixers’ other team options are Justin Edwards ($2 million) and Lonnie Walker IV ($2.9 million).
Sharks select OHL star forward Michael Misa at No. 2 overall in 2025 NHL Draft
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.
Edmonton Oilers Have Three Players Signed Through 2030 After Re-Signing Trent Frederic
The Edmonton Oilers announced they re-signed Trent Frederic to an eight-year contract extension.
Frederic's new deal carries an average annual value of $3.85 million and lasts through 2032-33. The Oilers turned a trade deadline acquisition into a longtime piece of the puzzle.
In fact, Frederic is now one of three Oilers players under contract through at least 2030. The other two are center Leon Draisaitl and defenseman Darnell Nurse.
Draisaitl, 29, begins a new eight-year contract on July 1 with an NHL-high $14-million cap hit. His deal also expires in 2033. Nurse, 30, has five years remaining on an eight-year deal with a $9.25-million cap hit. Both players have no-move clauses in the rest of their contract, although Nurse's clause becomes a 10-team no-trade list in 2027-28 onward.
With Frederic's signing, Edmonton has about $12.35 million in projected cap space, according to PuckPedia. A good chunk of that will likely go to defenseman Evan Bouchard, a pending RFA with arbitration rights. They also have five pending UFAs, including Corey Perry and Connor Brown.
Although only three players are signed through 2030, that could change.
If Bouchard re-signs for at least five seasons, he'll be on that list. And superstar captain Connor McDavid, 28, enters the final year of his contract and can sign an extension as of July 1. He's prioritizing family and a long window to win on his next contract, whether it's with the Oilers or elsewhere.
There were some trade rumors and speculation this week regarding Nurse, who had 33 points in 76 games and eight points in the playoffs. TSN's Ryan Rishaug reported there's nothing to those rumors at this point.
Frederic, 27, had eight goals and seven assists for 15 points in 58 games this past regular season. All those points came with the Boston Bruins, which traded him to Edmonton on March 4.
Frederic, who dealt with an injury, played one regular-season game with the Oilers before adding a goal and four points in 22 playoff contests. He ranked fourth among Oilers forwards in hits during the post-season, with 85, and fifth in blocked shots, with 15. He averaged 11:24 of ice time on the Oilers in the playoffs, although he averaged 13:50 with the Bruins before the trade.
Since the Bruins drafted the center 29th overall in 2016, he's played 338 career games and recorded 55 goals and 54 assists for 109 points.
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What to expect in College Football 26? EA Sports production director explains
EA Sports wants its players' voices heard when it comes to how the future of College Football video game franchise is shaped.
Yankees promoting prospect Spencer Jones to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Spencer Jonesis moving on up.
The Yankees are promoting the 24-year-old to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, according to SNY's Andy Martino.
Jones, ranked the No. 2 prospect in New York's system by MLB Pipeline, had ben lighting it up over 49 games at Double-A this year to earn his first taste of the last step between him and the big leagues. The 6-foot-7 outfielder had 16 home runs and 32 RBI with a .274/.389/.594 slash line for a .984 OPS over his first 208 plate appearances of the campaign.
He has been on a particularly hot run during 21 games in June, smacking seven homers with 15 RBI, a .321 average, and 1.039 OPS.
Jones played 124 games for Double-A last campaign and produced 17 homers and 30 doubles, good for a .452 slugging percentage and .789 OPS. But, the 84th rated prospect in baseball entering that year, continued his struggles with strikeouts as he went down on strikes 200 times over 544 times up. That after he struck out 155 times over 117 games across two levels the year prior. This year, despite his better success in the box, he has already been fanned 70 times.
Jones was the 25th overall pick (Round 1) by the Yanks in the 2022 MLB Amateur Draft after playing his college ball at Vanderbilt. He was selected in the 31st round of the 2019 draft by the Los Angeles Angels, but opted to play college ball.
Last July, the Chicago White Sox were reportedly “insisting” that Jones be included in any potential trade package for left-hander Garrett Crochet, who was dealt to the Boston Red Sox this past offseason.
2025 NHL Draft Predictions: Pittsburgh Penguins Edition
The day is finally here.
On Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET, the 2025 NHL Entry Draft will begin. Team general managers, draft prospects, and fans alike have been preparing for and awaiting this day for a long while, and there is already a ton of buzz around this, potentially, being a very interesting draft.
And one of the teams generating the most buzz? Kyle Dubas's Pittsburgh Penguins.
After the decision by the New York Rangers to give Pittsburgh their 12th overall pick in this year's draft - which officially completed the J.T. Miller and Marcus Pettersson trades - the Penguins are slated to select back-to-back at 11th and 12th overall. The team has never selected back-to-back before, and they'll have the opportunity to add two impact players who could play a big part in their future.
But, it might not go down the way you think.
There are several reports that the Penguins are willing to either trade up in the draft or pony up one of those picks for the "right young player," as per Darren Dreger of TSN. Whatever way they decide to go, they'll be getting two good young players - but, obviously, the door is open for them to draft a game-changer, should they decide to move up.
So, with that said, here are two draft scenarios for the Penguins - and who I think they'll select in these scenarios.
2025 NHL Mock Draft: Final First-Round Predictions For Schaefer, Martone And MoreThe 2025 NHL draft kicks off Friday evening, so it’s time to get in the spirit by conducting the final mock draft of the season.
Penguins stand pat at 11 and 12
It should be emphasized that, despite all the buzz around the Penguins, they very well could play it safe and do exactly this. So, what would happen if the Penguins stay put?
Truthfully, the odds are that the Penguins are going to get a pair of difference-making players regardless. Names are bound to fall, and I believe one will.
Given the alleged focus on centers in this draft class, it's entirely possible that the Penguins could snag Swedish left wing Victor Eklund, who is - arguably - one of the most skilled players in the draft. Eklund registered 19 goals and 31 points for Djurgardens IF of HockeyAllsvenskan last season, and he played alongside top-five draft hopeful Anton Frondell.
Penguins Draft Prospect Profile: Victor EklundWith the 2025 NHL Entry Draft approaching fast, POHO and GM Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins have their work cut out for them.
Drawing comparisons to NHL forwards such as Jesper Bratt and Travis Konecny, the relentless forward would be a very solid choice for the Penguins at 11 - and, seemingly, a very realistic one.
As for the 12th overall spot? There's a good chance that spot belongs to defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, who the Penguins have had conversations with.
The hard-hitting left defender - contrary to popular belief - isn't just known for his meanness, physicality, and shutdown ability. He is also known for his booming shot, ability to aid the transition game, and steady offensive production, as he finished seventh overall in OHL scoring among defensemen with 26 goals and 59 points in 64 games for the Barrie Colts last season.
If the Penguins draft back-to-back at 11 and 12 - again - they'll be getting two good players. And they could also be getting a potential high-end forward and a top-four defenseman, which are both things they desperately need in their system.
Penguins Draft Prospect Profile: Kashawn AitchesonWith the 2025 NHL Entry Draft approaching fast, POHO and GM Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins have their work cut out for them.
Penguins trade up, draft third overall
It is, perhaps, unwise to read too much into speculation around draft day. Teams purposefully leak things, and misleading narratives are told left and right, to try to throw other teams off in hopes of a given team being able to land who they want.
But, as Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects said, this year seems to feel a bit different.
Y'all wouldn't believe the stuff that's floating around out there right now.
— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) June 26, 2025
If even a fraction of it happens, we're shaping up for a very fun Friday.
As mentioned before, there is a lot of talk about the Penguins potentially moving up in the draft in order to be able to select an elite talent. Having the Rangers' first-round pick gives them quite a bit more flexibility to do so.
And it's something I predict is going to happen.
It has been reported that the Chicago Blackhawks - who are currently slated to draft third overall - are trying to take a step this year and are open to dealing that pick for some NHL help. They are also one of the teams rumored to be interested in Penguins' veteran winger Rickard Rakell, who had a career season with 35 goals and 70 points in 2024-25.
If you do the math, it's not all that difficult to see a package from the Penguins involving Rakell and their 11th overall pick to Chicago for their top-three pick.
Can The Penguins Trade Up For Blackhawks' Third Overall Pick?It has been rumored that the Pittsburgh Penguins would like to trade up in the 2025 NHL Draft.
It's possible that more would have to be involved to get a deal across the finish line, but - given that the Penguins would still have that 12th overall selection and that they're in the midst of a rebuild - a move like this certainly makes sense. And it will be one of the biggest storylines to watch out for on Friday.
If the Penguins do bump up to third overall, I think their guy is Frondell. Frondell has steadily climbed the draft board after his season with Djurgardens IF - alongside Eklund - that saw him put up 11 goals and 25 points in 29 games.
He was putting up such numbers after a slow start and as a 17-year-old in HockeyAllsvenskan, and this was just one season after registering 18 goals and 39 points in 29 games as part of J20 Nationell in 2023-24 - again, dominating despite his young age. He is also projected as an elite two-way centerman, which is something that certainly excites NHL clubs.
It will be interesting to see whether or not the Penguins do move up - and, if they do, how far they are interested in moving up. Dubas is known to be enamored with right wing Porter Martone as well, so it's possible that Pittsburgh could look to even just move up a handful of spots in order to land him.
Regardless, things should be interesting. And I do think they will try to move up.
NHL Trade Rumors: Penguins Have Prime Target In Utah ForwardThe Pittsburgh Penguins are currently retooling their roster. While there certainly is a chance that they could end up trading away some of their key players before the off-season is done, they also should not be afraid to acquire players who could help them in the long term.
Final first-round predictions
Here are my final predictions for the first-round draft order on Friday:
1. D Matthew Schaefer - New York Islanders
2. C Michael Misa - San Jose Sharks
3. C Anton Frondell - Pittsburgh Penguins (traded by Chicago Blackhawks on draft day)
4. C James Hagens - Utah Hockey Club
5. RW Porter Martone - Nashville Predators
6. C Caleb DeSnoyers - Philadelphia Flyers
7. C Brady Martin - Boston Bruins
8. D Radim Mrtka - Seattle Kraken
9. C Jake O'Brien - Buffalo Sabres
10. C Roger McQueen - Anaheim Ducks
11. LW Victor Eklund - Chicago Blackhawks (traded by Pittsburgh Penguins on draft day)
12. D Kashawn Aitcheson - Pittsburgh Penguins (from New York Rangers)
13. C Justin Carbonneau - Detroit Red Wings
14. D Jackson Smith - Columbus Blue Jackets
15. LW Carter Bear - Vancouver Canucks
Five NHL Draft Comparables: Will We See The Next Hughes, Hischier, Bennett, Getzlaf And Jarvis? With the 2025 NHL draft quickly approaching, teams around the league are finalizing their draft boards in hopes of landing the best young talent from around the hockey world.
16. C Cole Reschny - Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary)
17. D Logan Hensler - Montreal Canadiens
18. C Braeden Cootes - Calgary Flames (from New Jersey)
19. LW Lynden Lakovic - St. Louis Blues
20. RW Malcolm Spence - Columbus Blue Jackets (from Minnesota)
21. C Jack Nesbitt - Ottawa Senators
22. D Blake Fiddler - Philadelphia Flyers (from Colorado)
23. C Ivan Ryabkin - Nashville Predators (from Tampa Bay)
24. C Cullen Potter - Los Angeles Kings
25. RW Alexander Zharovsky - Chicago Blackhawks (from Toronto)
26. G Joshua Ravensbergen - Nashville Predators (from Vegas via San Jose)
27. C Eric Nilson - Washington Capitals
28. D Sascha Boumedienne - Winnipeg Jets
29. RW Daniil Prokhorov - Carolina Hurricanes
30. D Cameron Reid - San Jose Sharks (from Dallas)
31. C Cole McKinney - Philadelphia Flyers (from Edmonton)
32. RW Ryker Lee - Calgary Flames (from Florida)
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2025 NHL Draft: Islanders, Canadiens, Penguins Hold Pivotal Points In Round 1Every NHL draft, there are pivot points that affect what happens next.
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