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New York Times
7 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Your views on the 2025 NHL Draft
Follow live coverage of tonight's first round of the 2025 NHL Draft as teams select the next generation of hockey's future stars Getty Images Keenan H.: Knowing that Chicago will come out of the draft with Misa or Frondell, has me excited. If the rumors of Frondell going to the Shark's at 2 and Misa dropping to Chicago at 3 come to fruition , I'll be ecstatic. Chris C.: I've given up hope that Frondell will make it to #6, so I've turned to Hagens as my top (realistic) hope. If he's there they better not go big because of the Zegras trade... Michael E K.: That's one nasty injury Spence had to fight through! To still put up the numbers he did speaks volumes about the guts and ability he's got. Adam V.: I'm pretty sure the Penguins need quality MORE than quantity. They acquired a lot of picks recently, but they don't really have a lot in terms of high-end talent coming. Getty Images This season, The Athletic's prospects writers Scott Wheeler and Corey Pronman set out to do something ambitious: pull off a 2025 NHL Draft player poll similar to the player polls our staff conduct in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB. In the fall, they settled on 10 questions — three on the record and seven anonymous — and spent the season gathering as many responses as possible. By year's end, 50 of the top prospects in the 2025 NHL Draft class were surveyed for our inaugural NHL Draft player poll. If you could take one draft-eligible player you've played on the same team with, with you to the NHL, who would it be and why? Matthew Schaefer: Honestly, I would probably just say Jack Ivankovic. It's so easy playing when he's in net. I love him as a guy, and he's a great goalie. Honestly, I would probably just say Jack Ivankovic. It's so easy playing when he's in net. I love him as a guy, and he's a great goalie. Michael Misa: I'd say Porter Martone or Matthew Schaefer. You see how dynamic they are, and I think they both love to win. Any team could use Schaefer on the back end, and with Martone, he's just a big, powerful forward who helps you win. I'd say Porter Martone or Matthew Schaefer. You see how dynamic they are, and I think they both love to win. Any team could use Schaefer on the back end, and with Martone, he's just a big, powerful forward who helps you win. Porter Martone: I think it's pretty easy for me. I'm going with my teammate Jack Ivankovic. I see the way he wins us games and steals us games. … I think every NHL team needs a star goalie, and I think he's going to be a star goalie in the NHL. The way that he puts in the work around the rink and the way that he wins us games, I think he single-handedly this year has won us games when he has got 40-50 shots with the way he battles and his compete. Check out more questions and answers below. GO FURTHER 2025 NHL Draft player poll: 50 top prospects dish on each other, predict their draft range Every year, in the days between the release of my final draft board and the draft itself, continued conversations and video work (normally prompted by those conversations) always seem to lead me to some flip-flopping and hair-pulling about my list. This year, there's only one that I've kept coming back to, and it's a minor one: I think I'd move Cullen Potter down two or three spots to No. 18 or No. 19, which would move Jackson Smith and Lynden Lakovic up one spot each to No. 16 and No. 17, respectively, and maybe Cameron Reid up one to No. 18 as well. Getty Images I mentioned it briefly on the pod last week, but I wanted to highlight a note on Malcolm Spence. (If you're faint of heart, maybe don't read ahead.) I was a little surprised when Spence, who'd previously been listed at 201 pounds by NHL Central Scouting, weighed in at 190 pounds at the combine in Buffalo, and it was enough of a loss that I decided to ask around. As it turns out, the weight loss happened after he 'split his tongue in half' earlier this year. After getting it stitched, it got infected, swelled and eventually grew a blood clot. Spence ended up in the hospital after one particularly tough bus ride home, and the hospital had to bring in a dentist and an oral surgeon to lance the growth off. He struggled to eat for a while and even had trouble breathing for a time. Though he played with a bubble cage, he lost 10 pounds, and it sounds like it impacted his season. Spence still finished the year with a respectable 36 goals (including five shorties, second-most in the OHL) and 82 points in 74 combined regular-season and playoff games, but he moved from the front half of the first round entering the season to the back half of the first round exiting it. He has since committed to the University of Michigan and projects to play at 215 pounds in the NHL. He also did well in his interviews at the combine, by the sounds of it. I'll be interested to see where he goes on Friday night, but I'd guess early 20s. Getty Images A little more than a year ago, Hagens set the U18 Worlds single-tournament points record with 22 points in just seven games in Finland, and entered the summer before his draft year as the front-runner to be the No. 1 pick. Now, I'm starting to get the sense he's not going to be a top-five pick. As things stand right now, I don't think the Sharks, Blackhawks or Mammoth take him at 2, 3 or 4. And while I think he makes a lot of sense for the Preds at No. 5 — and I'd take him there — they've shown a lot of interest in Martone throughout this year, and I think he's likely their selection if he's there. If Martone goes before the Preds' pick at No. 5, which is a real possibility, I could see Nashville circle back to Hagens. But the chalk version that I've got in my head right now has Hagens going No. 6 or No. 7 to the Flyers or Bruins. I do know there are teams that have Hagens as their target in potential trade-up scenarios, however, and the Islanders have explored trying to add a second top-five pick, presumably to take Hagens, who's from Long Island. (Those trades almost never happen, but wouldn't that be something?). Getty Images I was already hearing a lot about the Penguins before the Rangers made the decision to transfer the No. 12 pick to them to complete the J.T. Miller trade. As I've reported, I know they'd inquired with the Blackhawks about the No. 3 pick and have been aggressive in looking into moving up. It sounds like they like both Porter Martone and James Hagens a lot. I've also heard they like Roger McQueen. I believe Martone's going top five, so they'd have to jump into the 3-5 range to grab him. I'm less sure Hagens goes top five, but I also believe the Flyers and Bruins like him at No. 6-7. So those are your scenarios. After polling scouts about McQueen, I believe he goes in the 8-10 range and could see any of the Kraken, Sabres and certainly Ducks take him (multiple people have linked McQueen and the Ducks to me). If McQueen's gone and they stand pat, the names I've heard tied to the Penguins are lefty defensemen Kashawn Aitcheson and Jackson Smith (who they both spent extra time with in Buffalo at the combine and would give them a top left-shot D prospect opposite emerging righty Harrison Brunicke) and winger Lynden Lakovic, who I think is in play starting with the Penguins. Kyle Dubas has never been shy to move back, either, so I don't think that door is shut (though they need quantity less than quality after acquiring more of the former since Dubas took over). Getty Images There are a few names that I've been hearing a lot in recent weeks and days that I wanted to draw some attention to: Russians Daniil Prokhorov, Alexander Zharovsky and Semyon Frolov, Acadie-Bathurst Titan defenseman Will Reynolds and Czech forward Vaclav Nestrasil. There are multiple teams prepared to take Prokhorov, a 6-5 winger with secondary scoring and a nose for the dirty areas, in the first round. Zharovsky got mixed reviews coming out of Dan Milstein's Gold Star camp in Fort Lauderdale because of just how far behind the curve he is physically, but there are some that still rate him higher than people realize. I believe Prokhorov is gone in the early 20s and won't be surprised if he goes late teens. Zharovsky and Nestrasil could both go late first, and if they don't, they will be gone very early on Day 2. Frolov is viewed by some as the 1A or 1B goalie in this class to Joshua Ravensbergen. Don't be surprised if Ravensbergen slips out of the first round, either. I'm less and less convinced the Predators take him with one of their late firsts. Reynolds' name came a little out of nowhere in the second half. He's a big, strong, competitive D who can really skate, and while his production (16 points in 69 combined regular-season and playoff games) doesn't scream second-rounder, I believe he's going to go there now; multiple teams have him rated firmly there. It sounds like he's a couple of inches bigger than his 6-foot-2.5 listing as well. Plus, he's an August 2007 birthday, which puts him on the younger side of this class. His game translates to the NHL and what teams are now looking for in D. 'From (January) to now, he had his development trajectory skyrocket,' said one source on Reynolds. Getty Images Roger McQueen is the top prospect in the 2025 NHL Draft who will create the most debates for teams with an early pick. Standing at 6-foot-5, McQueen is exactly the type of player NHL teams dream of: a big, skilled center who can skate, has high-end skill and plays physical and is a right shot to boot. Before injuries disrupted his season in the fall, McQueen was viewed in NHL circles as a potential candidate for the No. 1 pick, especially after his scorching start to the season, where he scored eight goals in his first 12 WHL games for the Brandon Wheat Kings. What was even more impressive this season compared to previous ones was the edge he added to his play. McQueen was at times tentative before with a razor-thin frame, but this year, even after returning from a serious injury, he was highly physical and scrappy. He has a knack for getting to high-danger scoring areas and consistently demonstrates excellent puck skill and vision. He has the potential to be a first-line center in the NHL. 'Players with his skill set are top-five picks all day long,' one NHL scout said. Another scout was even more explicit about McQueen's value, stating, 'On pure talent, he's a top-three pick. He does what Anton Frondell does while being four inches taller.' However, the optimism surrounding McQueen comes with significant medical uncertainty. His most recent season was marred by a back injury, forcing him to miss extended time during the regular season. After returning briefly, he suffered another setback during the playoffs for Brandon, causing further concern among NHL evaluators. GO FURTHER Why Roger McQueen is the 2025 NHL Draft's most fascinating top prospect Getty Images Position: Center Center Team: Brandon Brandon Shoots: Right Right Height: 6-foot-5 Roger McQueen got off to a great start to the season before a back injury sidelined him in the fall. He returned for a handful of games toward the end of the year. He's a 6-foot-5 center who, when healthy, can skate and has high-end offensive skills. His reach and hands can let him break shifts open, especially when he's attacking with tempo. I wouldn't call McQueen a truly high-end playmaker, but he sees the ice well, makes difficult plays and can create in the high percentage areas. McQueen is big, but what scouts will love is that he uses his big frame. He has an edge in his play, and even after a near season-long injury, he returned and played with bite. He projects as a potential No. 1 center who can play big minutes in the NHL, presuming his health checks out. Getty Images Position : RW : RW Team : Djurgarden : Djurgarden Shoots : Right : Right Height: 5-foot-11 Victor Eklund, the younger brother of Sharks winger William Eklund, was excellent this season versus men in the Allsvenskan as well as for Sweden's World Junior team. Victor is an excellent skater. He has good speed, but his edge work is what separates his skating ability and how elusive he is in tight. He's a very skilled forward who makes creative plays and can do so in the tough areas. Eklund is undersized, but he plays like a big man. He's a tenacious competitor who hunts down pucks and is great at creating chances around the net. He projects as a top-line winger. Getty Images The Chicago Blackhawks love being in the top three of the NHL Draft. History shows they've drafted successful players when they are one of the first three selections. Two of those past selections include Denis Savard (1980), a Hall of Famer and Jonathan Toews (2006), a three-time Stanley Cup champion. Per NHL Stats, they are the first team since the Oilers from 2010 to 2012 to make a top three selection in three straight years. Getty Images Players from U.S. colleges are becoming more popular in the top five of NHL Drafts. Below is the history of top-five picks out of U.S. college since 2006: Macklin Celebrini (Sharks — 2024) Artyom Levshunov (Blackhawks — 2024) Adam Fantilli (Blue Jackets — 2023) Owen Power (Sabres — 2021) Matty Beniers (Kraken — 2021) Kent Johnson (Blue Jackets — 2021) Brady Tkachuk (Senators — 2018) Jack Eichel (Sabres — 2015) Noah Hanifin (Hurricanes — 2015) Jonathan Toews (Blackhawks — 2006) Phil Kessel (Bruins — 2006) If James Hagens (Boston College) is selected in the top five, it would be the first time in NHL Draft history that a top-five pick has come out of U.S. college hockey for three straight years. Getty Images There's been a pattern in recent NHL Drafts of players picked in the top five making an immediate impact on their respective teams. In fact, according to NHL Stats, 19 of the 25 NHL Drafts since 2000 have seen numerous top-five selections appear in at least 10 games in the ensuing regular season, including San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini (70 games played in 2024-25) and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Artyom Levshunov (18 games played in 2024-25). Getty Images This isn't the first time the New York Islanders have the No. 1 pick. It's the fifth time the Islanders select first overall, after picking Billy Harris (1972), Denis Potvin (1973), Rick DiPietro (2000) and John Tavares (2009). Harris recorded six 20-goal seasons for the franchise. DiPietro played his entire 11-year career with the Islanders. Tavares spent the first nine seasons of his NHL career with the Islanders, captaining the team for five seasons (2013-14 to 2017-18). Getty Images Scott Wheeler: The Flyers are high on all three of Martin, O'Brien and Hagens, and I've had two different people say O'Brien and Martin "don't get past the Flyers." And yet, if Utah doesn't take one of them, I think there's a chance both are here and as a result one of them *does* get past the Flyers. I know they've spent extra time with all three of those guys. But there are a lot of people in the NHL who think they're going to take Martin. I could see a scenario where Martin was the guy they liked and thought they could get, and Hagens was the guy they didn't think would get to them, but would take if he did, for example. I'm partial to Hagens, but a lot of the teams near the top love Martin, and it's easy to see why if you know him. Corey Pronman: Like Nashville, I somewhat expect the Flyers to take a center, and the options start getting more limited here. James Hagens is possible here, although it would give them a rather small core. McQueen is possible too. O'Brien makes a lot of sense though and people in the league think this is a possible landing spot for him as well. Getty Images Position: Center Center Team: Brantford Brantford Shoots: Right Right Height: 6-foot-1 Jake O'Brien has been an excellent junior player as a leading player on a top OHL team. O'Brien displays the high-end patience and vision to hold onto pucks for an extra second to make difficult plays and run an NHL power play. He's extremely skilled with the puck, showing the soft touch and quick hands to create a lot of scoring chances and improvise on difficult plays often. He's a decent enough skater. His game can lack pace at times in part because he pulls up to make his skilled plays too much, but when he gets going, he moves well. O'Brien isn't overly physical, but he gets to the net to create chances, can kill penalties and isn't a pushover. He projects as a very good top two line center who could score a lot in the NHL. Getty Images Jake O'Brien is the reigning OHL Rookie of the Year. After leading all OHL rookies with 64 points in 61 games last season at 16, he's chasing 100 points and a top-10 finish in OHL scoring at 17 this season. He's got a chance to be a top-10 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, too. NHL Central Scouting slotted him eighth among North American skaters on their midterm rankings. And he has ascended to the top of the 2025 class as a center, as one of the youngest top prospects in the draft because of his June 16 birthday, as an alternate captain and without his Brantford Bulldogs running mate, Blackhawks first-rounder Marek Vanacker, for much of the season. Jay McKee, the Bulldogs' head coach, told The Athletic that O'Brien has been 'incredible' in his two years in the OHL. He talks about an 'elite, elite hockey IQ,' about how games just 'flow and slow down for him,' and about how he 'sees plays developing before they happen.' He talks about his passing ability, his deceptiveness, his unpredictability, how coachable he is, a shot that has improved and his leadership. But most of all, he talks about his love for the game. And that part he comes by honestly. Read more below. GO FURTHER How 'incredible' Jake O'Brien became one of the 2025 NHL Draft's top prospects Getty Images Scott Wheeler: My sense for this pick hasn't changed. I could see the Preds considering Hagens, Martin and Desnoyers if he's around here, but I also know they were in Brampton a lot to watch Martone this year (including upper management), and I think he's their guy. Martone would give them the high-skill, top-of-the-lineup forward prospect they've been searching for as long as the organization has existed. Right-shot wingers with his size and profile don't grow on trees either, even if center is the more premium position. Corey Pronman: I would be a little surprised if Nashville doesn't come out of this draft with a center. With a run on centers here, the Predators probably take whichever of the top group of pivots are left. Desnoyers, Frondell, Martin all fit their style of draftees. The league thinks this is a potential landing spot for Roger McQueen, too. Getty Images Indeed, James Hagens was once widely regarded as the potential top pick in this year's draft after his great career at the U.S. NTDP and dominating the World Under-18 Championship last spring. His freshman season at Boston College, however, didn't quite meet those lofty expectations despite still being very productive. He's a dynamic player with the skating, skill and hockey sense of a premier NHL forward. He's on the smaller side, but his profile echoes similarities to players like Logan Cooley and Jack Hughes at the same age, although some scouts have concerns on whether he will handle the NHL's physicality like the other two did. While he may no longer be the consensus top choice, Hagens still projects comfortably as a high-end NHL talent likely to be selected very early.
New York Times
9 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Track 2025 NHL Draft best available players from Corey Pronman's ranking
The Athletic has live coverage of the 2025 NHL Draft. Players are coming off the board in Round 1 of the 2025 NHL Draft. Keep track of the best players available according to Corey Pronman's ranking.
New York Times
10 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
NHL Draft grades, analysis for every 2025 first-round pick by Corey Pronman
The Athletic has live coverage of the 2025 NHL Draft. The first round of the 2025 NHL Draft is here, and, as expected, Matthew Schaefer was selected by the New York Islanders with the first pick. Follow along here as every pick is announced tonight to see scouting reports of every player and analysis of their selection. The pick grade reflects my thoughts on perceived value gained from the pick relative to the draft slot, plus any secondary variables a team may have had to deal with. See what scouts really have to say about the best prospects in Corey Pronman's NHL Draft Confidential and Scott Wheeler's NHL scouts survey. 1. New York Islanders: Matthew Schaefer, LHD, Erie Otters (OHL) September 5, 2007 | 6′ 2″ | 185 pounds Tier: NHL Star Player comparable: Jake Sanderson Analysis: Schaefer was tremendous, when healthy, this season. The No. 1 pick in his OHL Draft, Schaefer was arguably the best player at the Hlinka Gretzky and the CHL/U.S. NTDP series. He was also Canada's best player at the World Juniors up until he broke his clavicle. Schaefer missed time at the start of the season due to mono as well. His main asset is his skating. He's a powerful, effortless skater who will be able to close gaps and transition up ice at a clear NHL level. He uses his feet to attack often, leading and supporting rushes very well. Schaefer is a very intelligent defenseman with legit offensive skills. He creates a lot of chances due to his skating, but he can also break down opponents one-on-one with his hands, and finds a lot of seams to make plays. He closes on checks at a high level due to his athleticism, but Schaefer is also a great competitor. He uses his size to make stops, gives a great effort every shift and projects to be able to stop top players in the NHL. He's a great talent, who has already overcome tremendous personal adversity in his life. He projects as a star No. 1 defenseman in the NHL. Advertisement Pick grade: A- Thoughts on the pick: For most teams, this would have been a routine decision to pick Schaefer as the top selection, but there was an unusual amount of pressure on the Islanders to go off the board to select James Hagens, who's from Long Island. Schaefer is the clear best prospect in the draft. He's a dynamic two-way defenseman who dominated routinely this season when healthy, and he's on the fringe of being eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft. He projects as a star No. 1 defenseman for them. (Photo of Matthew Schaefer: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
New York Times
12 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
NHL trade grades: Blue Jackets pay high price, let Avalanche off the hook in Charlie Coyle deal
By Corey Pronman, Dom Luszczyszyn and James Mirtle Columbus Blue Jackets get: F Charlie Coyle and F Miles Wood Colorado Avalanche: F Gavin Brindley, 2025 third-round pick (No. 77) and 2027 conditional second-round pick The condition on the 2nd Rd pick in '27 is that the CBJ have two 2nd Rd picks that year so can send lower pick to Colorado — Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 27, 2025 Gavin Brindley was just OK as a rookie pro, but he was also a very young player at the AHL level. He's a highly likable player with a great track record, though at the college and international levels. With excellent skating and work ethic, Brindley buzzes around the ice, playing with a ton of pace and giving his best effort nightly. He's able to make highly skilled plays at full speed and plays with courage, going to the net and engaging along the walls. Brindley is a creative playmaker as well, although for a tiny forward, I wouldn't call him a dynamic offensive player. His energy could make him a middle-six wing, but he will need to score more versus men than he showed this past season. I understand Colorado wanting to target a player such as Brindley over a high draft pick as well. Brindley could realistically play in the NHL within a year or two. — Corey Pronman This one is some nice Houdini-like salary magic for the Avs, who were projected to be over the cap going into this deal. Instead, they free up $7.75 million that will allow Colorado to be an unexpected player in free agency on Tuesday. Plus, they get a little draft and prospect capital sprinkled in, too. Advertisement It's been a weird year for contract dumps already, as Mason Marchment and others have been shipped out for what feels like very little. Here, two overpriced forwards fetch two decent picks and a young player who put up huge numbers in college. I can see what Columbus is thinking, as the Blue Jackets are drowning in cap space (more than $35 million before this deal), and it's going to be a challenge in this free agent landscape to bring in one of the few big names. They also have an exciting young team that made a huge step last year, so trying to spend that money on reinforcements and depth makes sense. Both players are rebound candidates and likely playing down the lineup for Columbus, where they'll bring OK value. If it doesn't work out, Coyle is signed for only one more year anyway. Wood, meanwhile, has had a lot of injuries and the term on his deal — with four more years to go — could hurt, even though the cash is closer to $2 million than his $2.5 million AAV. (And Columbus is still working on getting to the floor.) All in all, it's not all that exciting for either party — but it could be setting the table for bigger things to come for both teams. — James Mirtle Avalanche grade: B+ Blue Jackets grade: C+ This is a telling deal when it comes to where the NHL market currently stands in two ways. One, the center market must be dry as a bone. Two, cap growth has led to some cap-hit blindness. To the first point, Coyle is the focal point of the deal, and the Blue Jackets are a better team with him on it. He gives Columbus a lot of versatility in the middle six as a plug-and-play center who can play wing if needed. While there isn't much about Coyle's game that stands out, there aren't a lot of holes either. He's by almost any account — scoring, play-driving, puck possession, offense, defense — an average player. That's a helpful addition to a team that had a lot of sub-standard players in the bottom six. Advertisement Coyle is also 33 and will probably fall a bit below average next season as a result; third-line calibre. At $5.25 million, that's a pricey ticket for what he likely brings to the table. And between Sean Monahan, Adam Fantilli and Cole Sillinger, a top-nine center wasn't exactly the most pressing need either. Columbus has a lot of cap space, making the price not too concerning, and you can never have enough centers. Still, the cost of acquisition shouldn't have been this high for what is effectively a cap dump. Which brings us to the cap-hit blindness and the Miles Wood of it all. It's possible Wood reignites his game with the Blue Jackets, but he's been a below-replacement-level player for two years in Colorado. Wood played in just one of seven playoff games for the Avalanche, and at 29, there's a big question of how much he has left to offer at the NHL level. With four years left at $2.5 million, it's unfathomable that the Avalanche were able to rid themselves of Wood's deal without any consequences. This is a deal that teams used to have to pay a heavy price to get out of — the Avalanche seemingly got an asset out of it. Even if Columbus was really enamoured with Wood (for whatever reason), the Blue Jackets completely let Colorado off the hook here. Just because the cap is going up doesn't mean that cap efficiency no longer matters. A bad deal is still a bad deal. This is an unbelievably good move for the Avalanche, who clear $7.75 million in cap space while getting a 2nd, 3rd and a prospect for two players that aren't worth their current cap hits — by a substantial degree. With that money freed up, the Avalanche can seriously load up. And while Columbus got a decent center for its trouble, the cost of doing so looks obscenely high. — Dominik Luszczyszyn Avalanche grade: A Blue Jackets grade: D (Photo of Charlie Coyle: Jerome Miron / Imagn Images)
New York Times
21 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
San Jose Sharks NHL Draft guide: Picks, best fits and analysis
The San Jose Sharks have nine picks in the 2025 NHL Draft: Nos. 2, 30, 33, 53, 95, 115, 124, 150, 210. Here's what to expect. Even after picking Sam Dickinson, who played great in the OHL this season, with the 11th pick last summer, defense is still far and away the Sharks' biggest organizational need. They have plenty of young, skilled forwards on the way; they need to continue to address the depth on defense. In recent mock drafts, Corey Pronman has projected the following picks: 2. Michael Misa, C 30. Bill Zonnon, RW 33. Simon Wang, D 53. Nathan Behm, RW 96. Artem Gonchar, D 115. Louis-Antoine Denault, G 124. Artem Vilchinskiy, D 150. Will Reynolds, D 210. Blake Vanek, RW (Photo of Sharks GM Mike Grier: Vitor Munhoz / NHLI via Getty Images)
