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New York Times
12 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
NHL Draft 2025: Analyzing fit, potential of the top 5 picks
The Athletic has live coverage of the 2025 NHL Draft. Hockey's next generation of stars is here. The New York Islanders kicked off the 2025 NHL Draft with their No. 1 selection of defenseman Matthew Schaefer. As the rest of the first-round selections roll in from L.A.'s Peacock Theater, The Athletic's experts break down picks No. 1-5 and what fans of the Islanders, Sharks, Blackhawks, Mammoth and Predators can expect. Players tend to be ranked higher based on two key elements: an elite ceiling and a likelihood of reaching that level sooner than later. So the more Schaefer became the consensus No. 1 pick, between rankings here at The Athletic and throughout the hockey sphere, the better bet he appeared to be here. There are two especially noteworthy elements to his game, according to our Scott Wheeler: his elite skating ability that translates on both ends of the ice and his maturity, despite being on the younger side of this draft class. Advertisement A team's draft strategy should be selecting the best player available, not need. So, Schaefer should have been the pick here, regardless of the Islanders' needs. But after today's Noah Dobson trade, this happens to check both boxes; he projects to grow into a top-pair caliber defenseman who can drive play and fills an important need on the back end. — Shayna Goldman, national writer Ultimately, Sharks general manager Mike Grier and his staff went with a polished all-around forward in Misa rather than uncorking a rumored curveball with Swedish center Anton Frondell. Frondell had emerged through reports in recent days as a consideration given his combination of size, skill and offensive potential. Even Porter Martone was rumored as a fit given his true power forward profile. But there is a reason why Misa was projected to be the No. 2 pick all along. One of the few to be granted exceptional player status, Misa delivered on his immense promise in the Ontario Hockey League. The Saginaw Spirit star was the leading scorer in Canadian major junior hockey last season with 134 points, including 62 goals, in just 65 regular-season games. Misa is a committed defender in his own zone in addition to his offensive feats. Listed at 6 feet 1 and 184 pounds, it's not as if he is diminutive. Misa can play center and wing, though he returned to the middle this past season. Because of his versatility, the Sharks could envision him as their 2C behind Macklin Celebrini or move him to the wing if they're determined to shift Will Smith back to center. Smith did display great chemistry with Celebrini in the second half of last season, and so San Jose could stick with that and have Misa, whose game has drawn comparisons to John Tavares, Dylan Larkin and Marian Hossa, develop into a top-six pivot. And the Sharks would do well even if Misa has the kind of career Logan Couture had for the franchise. — Eric Stephens, Sharks beat reporter With the first two selections going as most expected, the Blackhawks became the team to really set the path for the top-10 picks. Would they go with Anton Frondell, Caleb Desnoyers, Porter Martone, someone else? Almost none of them would have been a surprise. The Blackhawks ended up taking Frondell, a 6-foot-1 and 205-pound forward who they envision as another top-six piece to their rebuild puzzle. With Frondell's size and two-way game, the Blackhawks think he can perfectly complement what they already have in their forward roster pool, especially the likes of Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar, two undersized centers. Frondell took off in his draft year while playing in HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden's second division. Frondell's 25 points in that league were he most by an under-18 player since William Nylander produced 27 points during the 2013-14 season. — Scott Powers, Blackhawks beat writer After talk for weeks that they could move the No. 4 pick for more immediate help, the Mammoth instead selected center Caleb Desnoyers from the Moncton Wildcats. Desnoyers adds another skilled forward to a loaded prospect pool that includes last year's No. 6 selection Tij Iginla. Desnoyers won the QMJHL playoff MVP in taking Moncton to the Memorial Cup and piled up 35 goals and 84 points in 56 games for one of the best points per game in the Q in the last 25 years. He's a very high-IQ pivot who excels as a playmaker and two-way player. Desnoyers is considered a high-end competitor and potential No. 1 center once he fills out — he's 6 feet 2 and 180 pounds — and spends another year or two developing. Utah has quickly been building out one of the deepest pools of young offensive talents in the league, including the recently acquired JJ Peterka, and Desnoyers will fit right in. — James Mirtle, national writer The Predators started this draft with a major organizational need at center and, with the No. 5 pick, a guaranteed opportunity to fill it. They did just that; Brady Martin, as mocked to them by Corey Pronman, was the pick. Martin was a bit of a late riser, but the appeal is clear. There might not be a better blend of skill, productivity and physicality in the draft. Martin starred at the World Juniors, scoring twice in the gold medal game, and finished the OHL season with 72 points in 57 games. Maybe more importantly, he loves Sam Bennett and Tom Wilson's games, and it shows. Nashville got the type of player it desperately needed. — Sean Gentille, national writer
New York Times
a day 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)
Reuters
2 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Sharks waive D Marc-Edouard Vlasic after 19 seasons
June 26 - The San Jose Sharks placed defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic on waivers Thursday after 19 seasons with the team. The team said the purpose of the move is to buy out the final year of the 38-year-old veteran's contract. Vlasic appeared in 1,323 regular-season games and 142 playoff games since making his Sharks debut in 2006. The Montreal native has 379 career points (84 goals, 295 assists), including three points in 27 games in 2024-25. "This was a difficult decision to make today, with how much Marc has meant to the San Jose organization for 19 years," general manager Mike Grier said. "I was fortunate enough to be here with Marc for his first season with the Sharks, and knew he would become a great defenseman. Over the course of his career in the NHL, Vlasic was one of the premier shutdown defensemen, earning tough defensive assignments on the ice against the best players in the world and doing it with effectiveness." Vlasic broke the NHL record for career blocked shots earlier this season and ends his time in San Jose with 2,184. He appeared in the playoffs 12 times with the Sharks, including a six-game loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2016 Stanley Cup Final. Internationally, he won gold medals with Team Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey in Toronto. He won silver medals at the World Championships in 2009 and 2017. "With over 1,300 games in the NHL, he brought immense expertise and experience to the organization daily, and was selected to represent his country on multiple occasions at the highest level," Grier added. "He will go down not only as one of the best defensemen in franchise history, but one of the best players. "We want to thank him for his dedication and commitment to the organization, and wish him all the best." Vlasic has one season left on an eight-year, $56 million extension he signed in July 2017, giving him a $7 million cap hit for 2025-26. Hall of Famers Ray Bourque (Boston Bruins) and Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings) are the only blueliners to play more games with a team than Vlasic, counting regular season and postseason. --Field Level Media
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Sharks are buying out the final year of Marc-Edouard Vlasic's contract
The San Jose Sharks placed longtime defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic on unconditional waivers Thursday for the purpose of buying out the final year of his contract. Vlasic, 38, has been a staple in the Bay Area for the better part of the past two decades. He has played all 1,465 games of his NHL career for the Sharks since debuting in 2006. Hall of Famers Ray Bourque and Nicklas Lidstrom are the only defensemen who have played more games in the league with one team than Vlasic, counting the regular season and playoffs. Vlasic was a significant part of their core during the contending days when they reached the playoffs in 13 of 14 years and went to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016. 'This was a difficult decision to make today with how much Marc has meant to the San Jose organization for 19 years,' general manager Mike Grier said. 'I was fortunate enough to be here with Marc for his first season with the Sharks and knew he would become a great defenseman.' Over the course of his career in the NHL, Vlasic was one of the premier shutdown defensemen, earning tough defensive assignments on the ice against the best players in the world and doing it with effectiveness. A native of Montreal, Vlasic was a key part of Canada's gold-medal run at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. He missed much of last season because of injuries but skated in 27 games and had three points. Vlasic was set to count $7 million against the salary cap in 2025–26. Buying him out saves San Jose $2.3 million while counting $1.2 million extra in 26–27. 'He brought immense expertise and experience to the organization daily and was selected to represent his country on multiple occasions at the highest level,' Grier said. 'He will go down not only as one of the best defensemen in franchise history but one of the best players. We want to thank him for his dedication and commitment to the organization and wish him all the best.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sharks are buying out the final year of Marc-Edouard Vlasic's contract
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The San Jose Sharks placed longtime defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic on unconditional waivers Thursday for the purpose of buying out the final year of his contract. Vlasic, 38 has been a staple in the Bay Area for the better part of the past two decades. He has played all 1,465 games of his NHL career for the Sharks since debuting in 2006. Advertisement Hall of Famers Ray Bourque and Nicklas Lidstrom are the only defensemen who have played more games in the league with one team than Vlasic, counting the regular season and playoffs. Vlasic was a significant part of their core during the contending days when they reached the playoffs in 13 of 14 years and went to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016. 'This was a difficult decision to make today, with how much Marc has meant to the San Jose organization for 19 years,' general manager Mike Grier said. 'I was fortunate enough to be here with Marc for his first season with the Sharks and knew he would become a great defenseman. Over the course of his career in the NHL, Vlasic was one of the premier shutdown defensemen, earning tough defensive assignments on the ice against the best players in the world and doing it with effectiveness.' A native of Montreal, Vlasic was a key part of Canada's gold-medal run at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. He missed much of last season because of injuries but skated in 27 games and had three points. Advertisement Vlasic was set to count $7 million against the salary cap in 2025-26. Buying him out saves San Jose $2.3 million, while counting $1.2 million extra in '26-27. 'He brought immense expertise and experience to the organization daily, and was selected to represent his country on multiple occasions at the highest level," Grier said. "He will go down not only as one of the best defensemen in franchise history but one of the best players. We want to thank him for his dedication and commitment to the organization, and wish him all the best.' ___ AP NHL: The Associated Press
