The NHL’s first (and hopefully only) “decentralized draft” wrapped up over the weekend with one of the more curious classes in recent memory. The best way to characterize 2025 was “boom or bust,” with almost every player outside of the top 10 prospects having obvious problems with their game to nitpick, or possessing one incredible trait surrounded in question marks over whether the rest could develop, or if they’re destined to be wasted picks.
Inside of this reality we had a few teams do absolutely stellar work in the draft that could lay the groundwork for a huge turnaround in the future, while others made some questionable selections worthy of scrutiny, even in a boom-bust class like this one.
Winner: New York Islanders
It’s not uncommon for a team drafting No. 1 overall to earn high mark by virtue of not screwing up the pick, but my goodness I love everything the Islanders did in this draft.
Trading Noah Dobson prior to the first round gave the Islanders the flexibility to take Matthew Schaefer at No. 1 without feeling like a log jam at defense. While I loved the idea of Michael Misa for them, taking Schaefer was the safest way to build this organization. It was the next three picks that took this class from “good” to potentially legendary.
Victor Eklund was a player I had as No. 6 on my board, so landing him at No. 16 was an absolute coup. It’s rare to find a wing who loves playing on the forecheck as much as Eklund, and he’s gifted playing behind the goal line in the dirty parts of the ice. Obviously he’ll need a little time, but I have no doubt he can become a top line wing in the future.
Kashawn Aitcheson was pure value at No, 17. His love of open ice hitting is going to make him a fan favorite from the second he joins the organization, and he’s a brilliant complement to Schaefer, who plays a more positional, control style game. There’s a very real chance Schaefer and Aitcheson can be a top line pairing for the next decade.
Round this group out with second rounder Daniil Prokhorov and there’s something special building. Prokhorov is going to be one of those guys who won’t give you 60 points, but he’s an ideal third line wing who can wear out opponents with his physicality. This is a kid who is a 6’6, violent as hell, and loves to make impact plays.
Top to bottom this was a brilliant draft class.
Loser: Chicago Blackhawks
I have no doubt the Hawks are feeling good about Connor Bedard’s comments about wanting to stay in Chicago long term, but I don’t think that should have bailed them out from having a sense of urgency.
While I like the three first round picks Chicago made, they’re not going to be able to make an impact for some time. It’s likely Anton Frondell can make the jump fairly quickly, but I wasn’t as enamored with him as other scouts in this class. He’ll be a solid second line center, but nothing especially remarkable. I would have preferred them to take a natural scorer like Porter Martone who would help unlock Bedard on the top line.
Vaclav Nestrasil and Mason West are both nice players for the future, but they’re going to need a time to be ready for the league. That’s natural, but I just would have liked to see the Hawks show some more teeth in trying to get better right now and pouring gas on the Bedard fire, rather than looking ahead to 2027 at the earliest.
Winner: Philadelphia Flyers
This is how you build an organization. The Flyers let the board come to them and made absolute stellar picks. Porter Martone was a steal at No. 6. The most gifted scorer in this draft, I love that the Flyers didn’t force a pick and go center out of need, rather than just taking the best player available. Martone is a difference maker offensively with skills to make the jump by the end of the season.
Jack Nesbitt at No. 12 raised a bit of a question mark, but he was a fast-riser after the combine who showed some impressive traits to match his big frame. I see the vision here for taking defensive-minded centers to pair with overwhelming wing offense, and I dig it.
Jack Murtaugh at No. 40 was incredible value. I had him going at No. 27 in my final mock, and it was another great example of letting the board come to them.
Loser: Pittsburgh Penguins
There’s every chance this could work out, but the Penguins three first round picks all left me scratching my head a little. Every pick felt like a significant reach over the board.
- Ben Kindel at No. 11 (ranked 20 in consolidated)
- Bill Zonnon at No. 22 (ranked 24 in consolidated)
- Will Horcroff at No. 24 (ranked 37 in consolidated)
I don’t know if any of these guys can be Top 6 players when it’s all said and done. This was a year all about building talent for the future, and the Penguins sticking to forwards ensured they didn’t get the best players available. By the time they decided to pivot to defense they took Peyton Kettles too early as well. Just a really iffy draft from my perspective.
Honorable mention: Carolina Hurricanes
The Canes do what the Canes do. They turned the No. 29 pick into three second rounders, as the organization keeps taking the shotgun approach to the draft of just making as many picks as possible, hoping a few will stick.
We won’t know about these guys for years, but history tells us that the Canes have mastered the art of drafting outside the first round.
Dishonorable mention: San Jose Sharks
I loved the Michael Misa pick, then the next two left me wanting. I don’t know if the Sharks needed to trade up for Joshua Ravenbergen based on how the first round was breaking. Haoxi Wang is an intriguing upside guy, but too many questions to be confident enough to take him with the first pick of the second round.
