NHL Draft 2025 tracker, live updates: Full pick order, latest selections, analysis and news – The New York Times

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The 2025 NHL Draft marks the introduction to the league for a fresh batch of young prospects from around the world.
The New York Islanders made the first pick, selecting 17-year-old Matthew Schaefer from Hamilton, Canada.
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Matthew Schaefer selected by New York Islanders with first pick in 2025 NHL Draft
The Chicago Blackhawks have selected 17-year-old Edina C Mason West with the 29th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
West is a very interesting prospect. He's huge at 6-foot-6 and quite athletic in how easily he gets around the ice. That athleticism is also why he is being recruited as a D-1 football player. He's a better hockey prospect than football prospect, but he's been indecisive in discussions with teams about which sport he prefers. On the ice, you see the talent. The speed and skill for his size are very unique. He creates a lot of controlled entries due to that combination. West's compete is average, though, as well as his playmaking. The team that drafts him will bank on him not being fully developed yet, and ideally him picking hockey full-time. He started off the season slow, but was very good in the big games in Minnesota High School and in the USHL this spring. He has middle-six forward potential if the offense clicks at higher levels.
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Sascha Boumedienne's bet on himself to make the jump to Boston University in his draft year has paid off. Boumedienne was selected with the No. 28 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft by the Winnipeg Jets.
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How ‘uber talent’ Sascha Boumedienne became a top 2025 NHL Draft pick for the Winnipeg Jets
With Chicago trading back into the first round, this will be the 11th first-round pick that Kyle Davidson has made in just four drafts: Three in 2022, two in 2023, three in 2024, and now three in 2025.
Pick grade: B+
Thoughts on the pick: Boumedienne is a great skating defenseman who had his ups and downs this season, but the ups were very impressive. He has a lot of NHL traits, and although he can be a bit erratic, I like the value on his skill set and track record at 28.
The Winnipeg Jets have selected 18-year-old Boston University LHD Sascha Boumedienne with the 28th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Boumedienne went to school as a 17-year-old and it was a major adjustment as the youngest player in the NCAA, but he was better in the second half of the season as a top-four defenseman on a top BU team. He was also one of the best defensemen at the U18 Worlds. His skating gets you excited about his NHL projection. He has NHL foot speed and edge work, and his stride gets him around the ice effortlessly. He closes on gaps and retrieves pucks like a pro. His puck game is good, but not amazing. He makes plays and has above-average skills, but he doesn’t project as a major offensive type at the higher levels and his decision-making with the puck can be questionable at times. The hope with Boumedienne is that with his skating he can be a steady first-pass type who can make stops and eat minutes, even if he doesn't truly stand out at either end.
Pick grade: B
Thoughts on the pick: Lakovic is a very talented forward. He’s big, fast, skilled and can rip a puck. He got carved by the league this season for his consistency and compete level, though, and predictably falls in the draft. I would’ve had issues taking him top 15. At 27, it’s a worthwhile gamble on the tools for Washington.
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Pick grade: C+
Thoughts on the pick: Lee was one of the best players in the USHL this season, dazzling scouts with his skill, vision and shot. He’s average-sized, though, with subpar skating. This is a swing on skill by Nashville, as there’s significant risk this profile doesn’t translate up levels. He has some big fans in the league, but I do have some skepticism about his skating in the NHL. In some ways, he reminds me of Preds forward Luke Evangelista.
Pick grade: C+
Thoughts on the pick: Nestrasil’s stock shot up following his second half and playoffs for Muskegon. He’s a huge winger who can skate, has skill and works hard. He’s not the most creative player with the puck, but his athletic toolkit and potential are high-end. He projects as a unique profile in a bottom six.
The Washington Capitals have selected 18-year-old Moose Jaw LW Lynden Lakovic with the 27th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Lakovic was the best player on a poor Moose Jaw team, but his body of work plus his athleticism is impressive. He's a 6-foot-4 winger who skates quite well for his size. He has a powerful and fluid stride and can easily avoid checkers. He's a creative offensive player with the hands to make defenders miss often. Lakovic sees the ice well enough but scouts aren't fully convinced on that aspect of his game. He's more of a scorer than a passer with a legit mid-range shot. His compete level is mediocre. It won't hold him back at the top level, but I wouldn't call him a hard-to-play-against type who makes full use of his big frame and he plays too much on the outside. He projects as a top-six winger.
New Montreal Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson said Friday night that once it became clear he would not be able to come to terms on a new contract with the New York Islanders, the focus from both parties shifted to a trade. Dobson was excited to join the Canadiens, saying games at the Bell Centre were always his favorite road games of the year. But mainly, he's excited by the young core the Canadiens have assembled and the team's potential to compete in the coming years. "I know what they've been building the last few years, and it's a special group," Dobson said.
Dobson said he is getting married on Monday, which only added to the stress of the last week.
The Nashville Predators gave selected 18-year-old Madison RW Ryker Lee with the 26th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Lee was one of the top forwards in the USHL this season. His talent stands out when he has the puck on his stick. He shows high-end small-area skills, and ability to beat opponents one-on-one. He is a creative playmaker who can find lanes and run a power play well. Lee has a great wrist shot, and has the ability to beat goalies from the faceoff dots. His compete level is OK. He shows up consistently, but he's not overly physical and like a lot of shooters he stays too much on the outside. His skating is also a concern for scouts. He gets around fine in the USHL, but he lacks the quick twitch you'd like in an NHL wing,er especially given his average-sized frame. His talent could get his games, but his lack of pace will likely test a coach's patience.
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Pick grade: B
Thoughts on the pick: Horcoff had a great second half at Michigan, looking like he belonged in a top conference as a U18 player. He’s a huge and highly skilled playmaking forward with heavy feet. I like him at this spot, and think he can be a middle-six forward in the NHL.
The Chicago Blackhawks gave selected 18-year-old Muskegon RW Muskegon with the 25th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Nestrasil kept getting better as the season went along. becoming a top player for the eventual USHL champion in Muskegon. His tools and projection for the pro game are highly intriguing. He's a huge winger who can move quite well for a big man and has some offense in his game. When Nestrasil gets going, he has the foot speed of an NHL player and can create a lot of controlled entries. His first few steps are just OK, though. I'd like to see him use his big body more to get to the net, but Nestrasil has the skill to create in small areas. He competes well, can kill penalties, and will be a player that coaches tend to trust. He projects as a bottom six wing in the NHL.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have selected 18-year-old Michigan C William Horcoff with the 24th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Horcoff, the son of former NHLer Shawn Horcoff, was doing just OK to start the year at the U.S. NTDP. He left midseason to join Michigan where his game took off from that point, making a real difference for his team at the college level as a U18 player. He's a very skilled big man who can make small-man-type plays in tight areas. He sees the ice at a high level and has a creative offensive mind. Horcoff is also good enough in the hard areas and can play the body when he needs to. The issues in his game at the top level will all come down to pace. I've seen slower 6-foot-5 guys, but his first few steps are going to be a struggle in the NHL. The rest of his game is good enough, though, that I see a projected middle-six winger.
Kings trade down with Penguins, sending them the No. 24 pick for Nos. 31 and 59. Get back a second-round pick they lost in Tanner Jeannot trade.
Pick grade: B
Thoughts on the pick: Hensler’s stock went down notably this year after his season at Wisconsin, but he’s still a big, mobile blueliner who has legit skill and vision. He will need to play harder, but this is a swing on talent that I know Sens fans have wanted the team’s scouting staff to take.
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The Ottawa Senators have selected 18-year-old Wisconsin RHD Logan Hensler with the 23rd pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Hensler didn't have a huge draft season, but he was still a top-four defenseman for Wisconsin and held his own at the World Juniors for Team USA. He’s a 6-foot-2, mobile right-shot with strong offensive skills and playmaking ability. At his best, his offensive touch can stand out, and I've seen him break games open. That player has shown up inconsistently, though, over the years. His defending is OK. His length and feet will allow him to make stops and retrieve effectively in the NHL, but he’s not a super-hard-to-play-against type. Hensler doesn't stand out at any one thing, but he does enough well that he should be a solid NHL defenseman.
Pick grade: C+
Thoughts on the pick: Zonnon had a great season in the Q as a top player for Rouyn-Noranda. He’s a good skater with legit skill and two-way ability. He’s not the most dynamic player in the world, but there’s a path for him to become a third-line forward in the NHL.
Earlier this week, Blues GM Doug Armstrong said that when building a team, he seeks strength up the the middle. He said centers and defensemen are attractive at the NHL Draft for that reason, and wingers seem to be more plentiful.
Then Friday night, with their first-round pick at No. 19 overall, the Blues selected right winger Justin Carbonneau.
It’s not that Armstrong was misleading anyone. Like a lot of teams, the Blues take the best player available and won’t take a lower-graded player at center or defense over a higher-rated winger.
That’s why they went with Carbonneau (6-foot-1, 205 pounds), who has above-average puck skills. He had 46 goals and 89 points in 62 games for Blainville Broisbrian Armada of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) last season.
The Athletic’s Corey Pronman says of Carbonneau, “He’s a very strong skater and puck handler who can beat defenders one-on-one at full flight. He’s a physically developed winter who plays hard and can win puck battles fairly often. His style of play is highly translatable to the NHL game with the pace and efforts in his shifts.”

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