NHL Draft Lottery Results Revealed: New York Islanders and Utah HC Claim First and Second Picks in 2025 Draft
In a jaw-dropping turn of events, the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery brought excitement and surprises aplenty! The New York Islanders, who had the 10th-best odds, shockingly clinched the No. 1 spot, marking their first pick within the top 10 since 2014. This is the team's fifth No. 1 pick in their history, boasting names such as John Tavares, Rick DiPietro, and Denis Potvin.
The Islanders' representative at the draft lottery, none other than Ken Morrow, stepped up in the absence of the team's departed president and GM, Lou Lamoriello. Morrow expressed his joy for the Islanders fans, ownership, and organization after the results were announced, with a hint of the Hockey Gods smiling upon them.
The lottery involved drawing numbered balls from a machine for the first time ever, making the suspense palpable. The four teams with the best remaining odds to win were the Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins. The San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken, and Buffalo Sabres remained in contention, albeit with lower odds.
Interestingly, the NHL's rule now prohibits a winning team from moving up more than 10 places, which came into play during the second drawing, won by the Utah Hockey Club. They jumped from 14th to 4th, marking the team's second draft lottery, with their first-round picks being centers Tij Iginla and Cole Beaudoin last year.
Last year, the San Jose Sharks claimed the first-overall pick for the first time in their franchise's history and used it to pick Canadian center Macklin Celebrini. However, this year's lottery results dropped them down to the No. 2 pick.
For the 2025 NHL Draft, the promising Canadian defenseman Matthew Schaefer is predicted to take the limelight. His superior skating and impressive hockey IQ have earned him the favorable position atop most rankings. However, there are concerns surrounding his health due to a bout of mono and a broken clavicle suffered at the 2025 world junior championship.
The draft itself will take place in a new, decentralized format starting from June 27-28. Gary Bettman will call the names of the drafted prospects at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles while teams set up their war rooms in their home markets. Before that, the 2025 NHL Scouting Combine will take place in Buffalo from June 1-7, offering a chance for top prospects to showcase their talents.
Meanwhile, the IIHF's world U18 championship, the next gathering of top prospects, is now underway. With the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery in the rearview mirror, the race to snag promising young talents is heating up!
Sneak Peek into the 2025 NHL Draft Class
The 2025 NHL Draft class is expected to be firmly led by defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who boasts exceptional skating, hockey IQ, and impact potential across all three zones. Other standout prospects include offensive powerhouse Michael Misa, NCAA freshman James Haggins, and versatile forward-defenseman Anton Frondell. Schaefer is the favorite to be selected first overall, with specific concerns regarding his size being raised for Haggins.
A summary of analyses from experts suggests that Schaefer possesses a combination of skating and the ability to process the play in all three zones that is unparalleled in this year's draft class. Analysts praise his maturity, agility, and potential as a franchise cornerstone.
- The New York Islanders, after securing the No. 1 spot in the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery, will have the opportunity to pick the promising defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who is projected to be the first overall pick.
- Matthew Schaefer's exceptional skating and high hockey IQ have propelled him to the top of most rankings for the 2025 NHL Draft, impressing analysts with his maturity, agility, and potential as a franchise cornerstone.
- The San Jose Sharks, despite claiming the first-overall pick last year, have dropped down to the No. 2 spot in this year's draft, potentially missing out on the favorite to be the first pick, Matthew Schaefer.
- Some experts have voiced concerns about the size of James Haggins, another standout prospect in the 2025 NHL Draft, but even with these concerns, he is still considered one of the top prospects, alongside Michael Misa, and versatile forward-defenseman Anton Frondell.
