After the combined nine hours spent remotely making selections, the 2025 NHL Entry Draft is finally complete. While the first two picks were the ones that were expected, there was no shortage of surprises in the first ever decentralized draft.

With all 224 picks already made, we will now evaluate how all 32 teams did in the Entry Draft, going by division.

Boston Bruins 2025 Entry Draft

Selections

Pick no.	Player	Pos.	Team	League
7	James Hagens	C	Boston College Eagles	NCAA
51	William Moore	C	U.S. NTDP	USHL
61	Liam Pettersson	LD	Växjö Lakers J20	Sweden Jr.
79	Cooper Simpson	LW	Tri-City Storm	USHL
100	Vashek Blanár	LD	IF Troja-Ljungby	Sweden Jr.
133	Cole Chandler	C	Shawinigan Cataractes	QMJHL
165	Kirill Yemelyanov	C	Loko Yaroslavl Jr.	MHL

Draft Grade: A-

A lot of the heavy lifting of the Bruins’ Entry Draft Class is because of Hagens, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Hagens was projected to be, at the highest, a top three pick in the Entry Draft, and may have a realistic shot at becoming their top-line center to add to a forward core that already includes David Pastrnak.

His speed and intelligence will be huge assets for Boston in their rebuild. Moore is another high-upside forward with size who can be a support winger in the future after a point-per-game season with the NTDP. He will be joining Hagens at Boston College next season, so possible added chemistry and familiarity between the two will help out.

Pettersson is an under-the-radar pick who was solid in the Swedish Junior league, and the Bruins are betting on that high upside where he worked his way up to playing in some SHL games. His shiftiness and mobility will be one to watch, where his transition play is smooth.

Simpson was one of the best players in Minnesota’s high school ranks, and carried over that success to the USHL, and has a rocket of a shot, which he will carry over to the University of North Dakota. Chandler can pursue pucks and engage with opponents defensively, and Yemelyanov plays a physical role and with the attributes of a playmaker. At the end of the day, the Bruins vastly improved a prospect pool that was one of the league’s shallowest.

The 2024-25 season marked the first year the Bruins had missed the playoffs since a decade prior during the 2015-16 season. They have been among the class of the Atlantic Division for a long time, can they return to their former glory in 2025?

Buffalo Sabres 2025 Entry Draft

Selections

Pick no.	Player	Pos.	Team	League
9	Radim Mrtka	RD	Seattle Thunderbirds	WHL
71	David Bedkowski	RD	Owen Sound Attack	OHL
103	Matouš Kucharčík	C	HC Slavia Praha U20	Czechia Jr.
116	Samuel Meloche	G	Royun-Noranda Huskies	QMJHL
135	Noah Laberge	LD	Acadie-Bathurst Titan	QMJHL
167	Asthon Schultz	C	Chicago Steel	USHL
195	Melvin Novotny	LW	Muskegon Lumberjacks	USHL
199	Yevgeni Prokhorov	G	Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk	MHL
219	Ryan Rucinski	C	Youngstown Phantoms	USHL

Draft Grade: B

While the Sabres had nine draft picks in this year’s Entry Draft, there is a strong possibility that only one of them—Mrtka—plays in the NHL. It’s harder to build on an Entry Draft where a majority of the picks were so late in what is a shallow Entry Draft. But they addressed one of their glaring needs by taking not one, but two right-shot defensemen with their first two selections.

Mrtka, standing 6’6″, has top-four shutdown potential, with a mix of size and mobility to dominate competition, can absorb contact, and can move the puck. Bedkowski, who is 6’5″, is a punishing physical defender who crushes opponents with open-ice hits. Buffalo will have to be patient with both defenders as there is still room for growth, but getting that kind of size is exciting, especially in a position they desperately needed to address.

Kucharčík is a smart two-way center with a towering 6’4″ frame who can help facilitate others on the ice, and has defensive upside. Taking a chance on Meloche, one of the younger goalies of the Draft, is a gamble, but his composure and his ability to read plays pairs well with his athleticism. Laberge is a mobile blueliner whose defensive game is built on shutting down opposing rushes.

Schultz will head to the University of North Dakota next season, where he will be a solid support option. Novotny can pass to open teammates to set himself up for favorable positions in the offensive zone, and Rucinski is a versatile forward who creates chances with puck protection, net-front skills and winning battles. Buffalo’s goal in this Entry Draft is to be tougher to play against, as shown with their first three picks. The Buffalo Sabres are going on 15…yes 15 seasons out of the playoffs. Can they avoid this fate in 2025 and find a way to be competitive in the Atlantic Division?

Detroit Red Wings 2025 Entry Draft

Selections

Pick no.	Player	Pos.	Team	League
13	Carter Bear	LW	Everett Silvertips	WHL
44	Eddie Genborg	RW	Linköping HC	SHL
75	Michal Pradel	G	Tri-City Storm	USHL
109	Brent Solomon	RW	Sioux Falls Stampede	USHL
119	Michal Svrcek	LW	Brynäs IF	SHL
140	Nikita Tyurin	LD	JHC Spartak	MHL
172	Will Murphy	LD	Cape Breton Eagles	QMJHL
204	Grayden Robertson-Palmer	C	Phillips Andover Big Blue	USHS-MA

Draft Grade: B+

The Red Wings were wanting to add more dynamic talents to their forward core, and Bear adds that. He’s a feisty goal-scorer with a strong ability to get under opponents’ skin. He fits in with the kind of team that the Red Wings were building through the Draft.

Genborg plays a physical two-way game with a strong forechecking presence, and got to play 28 SHL games as a U18. He could be a solid middle-six threat who can work alongside skilled forwards. Pradel is another high-end goaltending prospect added to the Red Wings’ system, and he tracks pucks extremely well, looking both above and around screens. His rebound control is a work in progress, but it doesn’t impact his confidence.

Solomon’s downhill attacking and high-volume shots speak to his tendency to go to the high-danger areas of the ice. Svrcek’s motor and pace are the most consistent areas of his game, and while undersized, he can swarm opponents with lots of pressure and finishing his checks. Tyurin moves the puck smoothly, connecting with his teammates as they get open.

Murphy, who stands 6’4″, can run through opponents, with the strength and range needed to work the boards and protect the high-danger areas of the ice. Robertson-Palmer can leverage on his puck skills to open space up for his teammates and protect the puck efficiently. The Red Wings have not made the playoffs since 2015, and needed to retool their roster to compete in the Atlantic Division in 2025. Was it enough?

Florida Panthers 2025 Entry Draft

Selections

Pick no.	Player	Pos.	Team	League
112	Mads Kongsbak Klyvø	LW	Frölunda HC J20	Sweden Jr.
128	Shea Busch	LW	Everett Silvertips	WHL
129	Shamar Moses	RW	North Bay Battalion	OHL
192	Arvid Drott	RW	Djurgårdens IF J20	Sweden Jr.
197	Brendan Dunphy	LD	Wenatchee Wild	WHL
224	Yegor Midlak	G	JHC Spartak	MHL

Draft Grade: D+

While the Panthers didn’t have a lot of draft capital, they don’t really need to when they’re in a win-now window. They did take six picks, but they were all in the 4th round or later. The hope for Bill Zito is that a few of these players are good enough to land an NHL contract, especially since this year’s Draft is a shallower one. Kongsbak Klyvø is an intriguing prospect and a good value pick at 112th overall, showing finesse in transition and is an explosive skater. He got into some playoff games with Frölunda’s senior team in the SHL playoffs, and was impactful for Denmark at multiple tournaments.

Busch, a Penn State University commit, plays with a lot of energy and creates separation for himself with reverse hits, and has a decent shot. Moses knows where his teammates are at, push through checks, and shield the puck from opponents. Drott is on the younger side of the Draft, though he’s a powerful skater who can get open through coverage and beat defenders on the outside before driving to the net. Dunphy plays a true stay-at-home style, shoving opponents away from threatening areas with his 6’5″ frame, setting picks on opponents and absorbing contact on retrievals.

The Panthers have now appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals in three consecutive seasons, winning back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024. Can they run the table in the Atlantic Division once again in 2025 and make their fourth straight trip to the Finals?

Montreal Canadiens 2025 Entry Draft

Selections

Pick no.	Player	Pos.	Team	League
34	Alexander Zharovsky	RW	MHC Tolpar Ufa	MHL
69	Hayden Paupanekis	C	Kelowna Rockets	WHL
81	Bryce Pickford	RD	Medicine Hat Tigers	WHL
82	Arseni Radkov	G	Tyumensky Legion	MHL
113	LJ Mooney	C	U.S. NTDP	USHL
145	Alexis Cournoyer	G	Cape Breton Eagles	QMJHL
177	Carlos Händel	RD	Halifax Mooseheads	QMJHL
189	Andrew MacNiel	RD	Kitchener Rangers	OHL
209	Maxon Vig	LD	Cedar Rapids RoughRiders	USHL

Draft Grade: B+

Montreal’s biggest splash wasn’t in the Draft. They sent both of their first round picks to the Islanders to land Noah Dobson in a sign-and-trade (8 years, $76 million total—$9.5 million per year) to take the next step of playoff contention. It was the price they had to pay for a long-term piece for their back end to boost both ends of the ice.

They also traded up to snag Alexander Zharovsky, who has some of the best hands in the Draft. Some believed him to be a first round talent, as he has lots of skill in the offensive zone. Paupanekis is a defensively sound tough customer, with his pace and physicality negating his opponents’ best players. He has some bottom line potential down the line.

Pickford is one of the better re-entry prospects after getting passed on last year. He projects as an all-around defenseman with goal-scoring capabilities, and is a heavy shooter. Radkov sparks interest as he is a big goaltender, standing at 6’4″, though he has a smooth game that comes with his movements between the posts, especially when tracking passes or puck carriers. Mooney, despite being undersized at 5’7″, attacks defenders with speed, and looks for teammates across the slot and net front. Even when there were size concerns about him, they still took a chance at him, like they did with Lane Hutson.

Cournoyer, at 6’4″, is one of the bigger goalies in a smaller goalie class, using his pads to take away the ice and his length to an advantage. He’s also confident off the posts too. Händel attacks the gaps to give his supporting options, controlling the puck in space, where he uses it to develop the attack. With nine picks, Montreal did themselves a nice job in the Draft, even outside of the Dobson trade. Montreal is just 5 years removed from their last trip to the Stanley Cup Finals, can they be the team to represent the Atlantic Division in 2025?

Ottawa Senators 2025 Entry Draft

Selections

Pick no.	Player	Pos.	Team	League
23	Logan Hensler	RD	Wisconsin Badgers	NCAA
93	Blake Vanek	RW	Stillwater Ponies	USHS-MN
97	Lucas Beckman	G	Baie-Comeau Drakkar	QMJHL
149	Dmitri Isayev	LW	JHC Avto	MHL
181	Bruno Idžan	LW	Lincoln Stars	USHL
213	Andrei Trofimov	G	Stanlye Lisy Magnitogorsk	MHL

Draft Grade: B

Hensler was a good value pick at 23rd overall, even after the Senators traded down a few picks. He could slot in as a top-four defenseman in the NHL one day, as he plays a well-rounded game thanks to his skating ability and an aggressive set-up game. Vanek, whose father, Thomas, played in the NHL, is coming off a big season in the Minnesota high school ranks, and will be taking his quick shot to the Wenatchee Wild of the WHL. Beckman is a strong-skating goaltender who can use his edges to remain in position and track plays. He’s not a big goalie, standing just 6’2″, but he remains calm and composed.

Isayev is listed at 5’9″, 148 lbs., but had a quality season with JHC Avto in the MHL, Russia’s junior hockey league, and has the speed and skill to carve out a name for himself. Idžan, the first Croatian to be selected in the NHL Draft, combined his snipes and one-timers with his playmaking, checking, and defense. He was a standout in the USHL and could get a shot as a top-nine forward. Trofimov fits the description of most Russian goaltenders of this draft class: Slightly undersized, strong MHL numbers, and sound in net with strong edge work. Could Ottawa be on the way up in the Atlantic Division following their first playoff birth in 8 seasons?

Tampa Bay Lightning 2025 Entry Draft

Selections

Pick no.	Player	Pos.	Team	League
56	Ethan Czata	C	Niagara IceDogs	OHL
108	Benjamin Rautiainen	C	Tappara	Liiga
127	Aiden Foster	C	Prince George Cougars	WHL
151	Everett Baldwin	RD	St. George’s Dragons	USHS-RI
193	Caleb Heil	G	Madison Capitols	USHL
206	Roman Luttsev	C	Loko Yaroslavl	KHL
212	Grant Spada	LD	Guelph Storm	OHL
215	Marco Mignosa	RW	Soo Greyhounds	OHL

Draft Grade: C+

The Lightning don’t have a lot of early draft picks, but still managed to take solid value with Ethan Czata at 56th. A fierce competitor, he imposes his physical will, shuts down opposing puck carriers and reduces their space. Tampa Bay has had success developing players of his type.

Rautiainen, an offensive-minded winger, played in the pros with the Finnish Liiga, where he had 33 points in 50 games as a rookie, and was on Finland’s World Juniors team. He’s closer to playing in the pros in the organization. Foster is a potential hidden gem, as he’s a hard-hitting forward with tenacious skating and solid offensive zone reads, at just 6’2″. Baldwin is an offensive-minded defenseman who consistently steps up on the rush, and can attack defenders with his mobility.

While the Lightning had eight picks in the Draft, half of them came in the 7th round. Heil made a step forward this past season after getting passed up during last year’s Draft, though he still has his work cut out for him. Luttsev is a hard-nosed centreman who is focused on breaking up plays to turn into scoring chances.

Spada is physical at his own end, engaging the play along the boards, clogging lanes and protecting the net-front. Mignosa battles for pucks and can be a go-to option in transition, turning defense into offense. Tampa Bay certainly got quantity with their picks, though the quality is uncertain because of the number of late round picks. Tampa Bay is hoping to be a force in the Atlantic Division as they try to get over the first round playoff hump in 2025.

Toronto Maple Leafs 2025 Entry Draft

Selections

Pick no.	Player	Pos.	Team	League
64	Tinus Luc Koblar	C	Leksands IF J20	Sweden Jr.
86	Tyler Hopkins	C	Kingston Frontenacs	OHL
137	William Belle	RW	U.S. NTDP	USHL
153	Harry Nansi	RW	Owen Sound Attack	OHL
185	Rylan Fellinger	RD	Flint Firebirds	OHL
217	Matthew Hlacar	LW	Kitchener Rangers	OHL

Draft Grade: C+

The Maple Leafs didn’t pick until 64th overall, though the Koblar selection is interesting. The Slovenian-born center who represents Norway is a raw propsect, but he’s a big-bodied centreman with value as a puck carrier and a heavy forechecker. He could be a hidden gem, though he needs improvement offensively and is a long shot to make the team.

After reaching for him, the Leafs got good value in Hopkins, who has good size, skill, and offensive upside. He’s a reliable two-way forward, is a solid passer and shows the physical attributes to win puck battles.

Brad Treliving has a reputation for taking gritty players in the Draft, and this is no different. Belle is a hard-hitting forechecker, forcing steals and willing to push the breakout, and works hard to push opposing attackers wide. Nansi loves to knock down his opponents, where he pushes through checks, attacking the pressure and creating opportunities for his linemates.

At the end of the day, the common theme here with this year’s draft class for the Leafs is physicality, and while they’re it doesn’t do a lot to move the needle, they did a solid job with what they had. Will they be the team to beat in the Atlantic Division in 2025?

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