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Chicago Tribune
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
New York Islanders choose Erie defenseman Matthew Schaefer with No. 1 pick in NHL draft
LOS ANGELES — The New York Islanders selected defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft Friday night. High-scoring forward Michael Misa went second overall to the San Jose Sharks, and the Chicago Blackhawks took Swedish forward Anton Frondell third at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles. The Islanders maneuvered their way into three picks in the top 17, but they surprised nobody by using their first No. 1 selection since 2009 on the 17-year-old Schaefer. The 6-foot-2 blueliner from Hamilton, Ontario, with exceptional puck-moving ability and strong defensive skills spent the past two seasons with the Ontario Hockey League's Erie Otters. Schaefer scored 22 points while playing in only 17 games last season before breaking his collarbone in December. Schaefer's acumen on both ends of the ice still propelled him to the top of nearly all draft boards. Schaefer is just the fifth defenseman picked No. 1 overall in the NHL draft since 2000, and the first since Owen Power went to Buffalo in 2021. Schaefer persevered through tragedy to reach this milestone. Schaefer's mother, Jennifer, died of cancer 16 months ago, and he also endured the recent deaths of the Otters' owner, Jim Waters, and the mother of his billet family. When Schaefer pulled on his Islanders sweater for the first time on the stage, he kissed a pink ribbon patch on the chest representing breast cancer awareness before breaking into tears. 'I appreciate you taking a chance on me,' Schaefer said in a video conference call with the Islanders' front office. 'I promise I won't disappoint, but especially I just want to say to my mom and all my family and friends, thanks for everything.' The Islanders added the patch specifically for Schaefer, along with his mother's initials. 'Seeing the ribbon on my jersey, and I saw a picture, it has J.S. on my back here,' Schaefer said. 'You can see just how high-class the organization is. It really means a lot. I wish my mom could be here today. Obviously, she's with me here in spirit. … Cancer sucks, and it's not fun. She didn't feel the best, but she was always the happiest in the family. She would do anything for us.' Schaefer got two new teammates when the Islanders used the 16th pick on Swedish forward Victor Eklund and nabbed defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson with the 17th selection. 'I finally have a new favorite NHL team': Chicago Blackhawks select Anton Frondell at No. 3 in the 2025 NHL draftBoth Pennsylvania teams also were busy in Los Angeles. The Philadelphia Flyers grabbed forward Porter Martone sixth overall before trading up for the 12th selection to get forward Jack Nesbitt, while the Pittsburgh Penguins maneuvered up and down the draft to control three picks in the top 24, swinging two trades while drafting forwards Benjamin Kindel, Bill Zonnon and William Horcoff. Misa tore up the OHL last season as the captain of the Saginaw Spirit, scoring 62 goals and 134 points in just 65 games. He joins a struggling Sharks organization that chose Will Smith fourth overall in 2023 and got center Macklin Celebrini with the first overall pick a year ago. 'We just thought it was a perfect fit with what we already have here,' Sharks general manager Mike Grier said. 'Another guy to step in and be a nightmare matchup for people.' Frondell excelled as a 17-year-old forward last season with Djurgården in Sweden's second division, showing off a two-way game that allowed him to push Misa on some draft boards. At 6-2, he could provide a large complement to Connor Bedard. Frondell is the eighth Swedish player to be a top-three selection, joining elite company including Victor Hedman, Mats Sundin and the Sedin twins. Center Caleb Desnoyers went fourth to the Utah Mammoth, who moved up 10 spots in the draft lottery. The Nashville Predators chose physical forward Brady Martin with the fifth pick before trading up for the 21st selection to get Kitchener defenseman Cameron Reid. Martin skipped the draft, staying home on his family farm in Ontario. Fans of the host Los Angeles Kings inside the theater got fired up for their club to make the 24th selection — which the Kings promptly traded to Pittsburgh for the 31st and 59th selections, prompting groans from the crowd. Los Angeles eventually chose defenseman Henry Brzustewicz from the Memorial Cup champion London Knights in general manager Ken Holland's first selection for his new team. The Penguins created the majority of the surprises in the first round, first by choosing Calgary Hitmen center Kindel with the 11th pick — much higher than many prognosticators expected. Pittsburgh then traded the 12th pick, which originally belonged to the New York Rangers, to Philadelphia for the 22nd and 31st picks. The Flyers wanted the 6-foot-4 Nesbitt, a fast-rising center from the OHL's Windsor Spitfires last season. The Penguins also gave a second-round pick to the Kings and swapped first-rounders so they could move up for Horcoff — the son of NHL veteran Shawn Horcoff — with the 24th pick. The Anaheim Ducks took a chance on forward Roger McQueen with the 10th selection. The 6-foot-5 McQueen is widely thought to have enough talent to become an elite center, but the Saskatchewan native has been slowed by a back injury that scared off some teams. Two goalies were chosen in the first round for the first time since 2021 and only the third time in 13 years. Columbus grabbed Russia's Pyotr Andreyanov with the 20th pick, making him the highest-picked European goalie in four years, while San Jose added goalie Joshua Ravensbergen with the 30th selection. The Boston Bruins used the seventh overall pick on Boston College center James Hagens, the consensus top prospect for this draft a year ago. Hagens, a Long Island native coveted by many Islanders fans, slid down the board just enough to reach the Bruins, whose pick was announced by a video of Adam Sandler in character as Happy Gilmore, complete with his signature Bruins jersey. 'I'm so excited to be back in Boston, and to have Adam Sandler make the pick, that was special,' said Hagens, who cites 'Happy Gilmore' as his favorite movie. 'I love to win, and I'm really glad that I'm in Boston.' The Seattle Kraken chose playmaking forward Jake O'Brien eighth overall. The Islanders won the lottery to pick first in a draft that is packed with talent — while missing a few staples of recent drafts. There was no prohibitive lock of a No. 1 pick in this field, unlike the past two drafts — although Schaefer clearly came out on top for most executives. The draft also lacked the centralized structure that has long been a staple of this annual exercise. The 32 teams' various executives are mostly at home, not strewn across the draft floor. The majority of the picks were taken to a video room just behind the stage to exchange televised pleasantries with their new front offices through video conferencing.
CBS News
8 hours ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Detroit Red Wings select Carter Bear in 2025 NHL draft
The Detroit Red Wings selected Canadian hockey player Carter Bear on Friday in the 2025 NHL draft. Bear, who played three seasons for the Everett Silvertips in the Western Hockey League, was selected 13th overall. He ranked among top leaders in the 2024-2025 season with 40 goals, 42 assists, 82 points and 77 penalty minutes. Standing at 6 feet, Bear also played with the Winnipeg Thrashers in the 2022-2023 season. The NHL draft will continue on Saturday, June 28. The Red Wings have eight remaining picks: one in the second round, two in the third round, one in the fourth round, one in the fifth round, one in the sixth round and two in the seventh round. Earlier this week, the Red Wings released their 2025-2026 preseason schedule, with the first matchup set against the Chicago Blackhawks. Kickoff for the first game at the Little Caesars Arena will be at 7 p.m. on Sept. 23. Ticket sales will be announced at a later date.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
NHL Draft 2025 Live Updates: Full list of first-round picks
In a moment filled with both promise and poignancy, the New York Islanders selected defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL Draft on Friday night at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Schaefer, a 17-year-old blueliner from Hamilton, Ontario, became the Islanders' first top overall pick since 2009. Schaefer is only the fifth defenseman to be chosen No. 1 overall since 2000 and the first since Owen Power was selected by Buffalo in 2021. Following Schaefer, the San Jose Sharks used the No. 2 pick on dynamic forward Michael Misa, while the Chicago Blackhawks selected Swedish winger Anton Frondell at No. 3. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like We Can't Believe She Wore That To The Red Carpet Golfhooked Read More Undo The Utah Mammoth , after leaping 10 spots in the draft lottery, chose center Caleb Desnoyers fourth overall. Rounding out the top five, the Nashville Predators picked up rugged forward Brady Martin. NHL DRAFT 2025: COMPLETE LIST OF ROUND 1 PICKS Live Events 1. New York Islanders - Matthew Schaefer 2. San Jose Sharks - Michael Misa 3. Chicago Blackhawks - Anton Frondell 4. Utah Mammoth - Caleb Desnoyers 5. Nashville Predators - Brady Martin 6. Philadelphia Flyers - Porter Martone 7. Boston Bruins - James Hagens 8. Seattle Kraken - Jake O'Brien 9. Buffalo Sabres - Radim Mrtka 10. Anaheim Ducks - Roger McQueen 11. Pittsburgh Penguins 12. Pittsburgh Penguins 13. Detroit Red Wings 14. Columbus Blue Jackets 15. Montreal Vancouver Canucks 16. Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary Flames) 17. Montreal Canadiens 18. Calgary Flames (from Devils) 19. St. Louis Blues 20. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Wild) 21. Ottawa Senators 22. Philadelphia Flyers (from Avalanche) 23. Nashville Predators (from Lightning) 24. Los Angeles Kings 25. Chicago Blackhawks (from Maple Leafs) 26. Nashville Predators (from Golden Knights via Sharks) 27. Washington Capitals 28. Winnipeg Jets 29. Carolina Hurricanes 30. San Jose Sharks (from Stars) 31. Philadelphia Flyers (from Oilers) 32. Calgary Flames (from Panthers)
National Post
10 hours ago
- Sport
- National Post
How the first round of the 2025 NHL draft went down
A glance at how the first round of the 2025 National Hockey League draft unfolded on Friday night at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles: Article content 1. New York Islanders — Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie (OHL) Article content Full-package defenceman will make an impact in all areas. First OHL player to go first since Connor McDavid in 2015. Article content 3. Chicago Blackhawks — Anton Frondell, C, Djurgarden IF (Sweden 2) Article content Will bring a solid mix of competitiveness, skill and defensive awareness to the Blackhawks and their continued rebuild. Article content 4. Utah Mammoth — Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton (QMJHL) Article content QMJHL playoffs MVP is above-average on both sides of the puck and will be a strong building block in Salt Lake City. Article content 5. Nashville Predators — Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) Article content One of the hardest workers in the draft, not coincidentally, stayed home to do farm chores in Elmira, Ont., rather than attend draft. Article content 6. Philadelphia Flyers — Porter Martone, RW, Brampton (OHL) Article content Power forward has good playmaking skills as well as leadership element, in serving as Brampton's captain. Article content Bruins' first top-10 pick since 2011 eventually will provide scoring punch and desire among Boston's forwards. Article content 8. Seattle Kraken — Jake O'Brien, C, Brantford (OHL) Article content Among the smartest forwards available, he's offensively gifted and was eighth in OHL scoring with 98 points in 66 games. Article content 9. Buffalo Sabres — Radim Mrtka, D, Seattle (WHL) Article content Good mobility for someone who is 6-foot-6 and 218 pounds, also has skill and competitive approach. Article content
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
How the first round of the 2025 NHL draft went down
A glance at how the first round of the 2025 National Hockey League draft unfolded on Friday night at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles: 1. New York Islanders — Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie (OHL) Full-package defenceman will make an impact in all areas. First OHL player to go first since Connor McDavid in 2015. 2. San Jose Sharks — Michael Misa, C, Saginaw (OHL) Canadian Hockey League scoring leader (134 points, including 62 goals) will fit in nicely with Macklin Celebrini in San Jose. 3. Chicago Blackhawks — Anton Frondell, C, Djurgarden IF (Sweden 2) Will bring a solid mix of competitiveness, skill and defensive awareness to the Blackhawks and their continued rebuild. 4. Utah Mammoth — Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton (QMJHL) QMJHL playoffs MVP is above-average on both sides of the puck and will be a strong building block in Salt Lake City. 5. Nashville Predators — Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) One of the hardest workers in the draft, not coincidentally, stayed home to do farm chores in Elmira, Ont., rather than attend draft. More to come… tkoshan@ X: @koshtorontosun
