2025 NHL Draft Grades: Best, Worst, Most Surprising Picks

New York Islanders
Grade: A+

For Day 1 alone, the Islanders earned an A+, and arguably deserve higher if possible. Selecting a franchise defenseman in Matthew Schaefer, who is expected to make a positive impact both on the ice and potentially as a future captain, is remarkable. Furthermore, the trade involving Noah Dobson, who was not expected to re-sign, and using those assets to acquire the falling Victor Eklund and promising middle-pairing defender Kashawn Aitcheson significantly boosted their grade.

The Islanders avoided overthinking their decisions. Success hinges on hitting on first-round picks, and with each selection, they chose quality players who are confidently projected to become impactful NHLers. There`s a strong possibility the Islanders added a foundational piece, a skilled top-six forward combining grit and finesse, and a difficult-to-play-against defender with untapped offensive potential.

On Day 2, GM Mathieu Darche continued to accumulate promising NHL talent. Daniil Prokhorov has the potential to develop into a high-end power forward, and Luca Romano is likely to play NHL games in a middle-six role. Tomas Poletin represents a reasonable bet on offensive upside, and Burke Hood in the later rounds offers excellent value. This draft could truly be transformative for the Islanders franchise.

Boston Bruins
Grade: A

The Bruins benefited from some unexpected decisions at the top of the draft and managed to secure their future top-line center, James Hagens, considered the third-best player in the draft class. Boston has needed help down the middle for several years, and Hagens is on track to become an NHL star relatively soon. His selection at No. 7 was one of the draft`s most valuable, as players with his talent and skill rarely fall that far.

Following this, drafting Will Moore and Cooper Simpson were value picks within their respective ranges, both possessing genuine NHL upside. While they may require more time to reach the NHL, Boston`s talent acquisition with these two, along with defenseman Liam Pettersson, is commendable. There`s a solid chance Boston will produce four NHL players from this draft class, including a potential absolute cornerstone player for their top line.

Carolina Hurricanes
Grade: A

It seems we say this every year, but the Carolina Hurricanes once again excelled. They extracted tremendous value from their trade back with the Canadiens, using the acquired picks to select two promising NHL talents in Semyon Frolov and Charlie Cerrato. Frolov`s stock rose throughout the season, and he has a real chance to become a 1B goaltender in a tandem. Both Ivan Ryabkin and Kurban Limatov provided significant value at their draft positions and have legitimate paths to becoming NHL players. Ryabkin, in particular, could become a true gem if he improves his consistency.

In the late rounds, the selections of Filip Ekberg and Viggo Nordlund were particularly impressive. Both are smaller, highly skilled wingers with NHL scoring potential. While they represent something of a boom-or-bust scenario, if they hit, they offer top-six scoring upside – precisely the type of players worth taking a chance on in the later rounds. While the Hurricanes may need to wait a few years for these players to make an impact, they should realistically gain at least two or three contributors from this draft class.

San Jose Sharks
Grade: A

Anytime you add the best forward (Michael Misa) and the best goalie (Joshua Ravensbergen) in the draft, you should be extremely pleased. There`s a significant chance the Sharks will come away from this draft with both a starting NHL goaltender and an elite forward capable of scoring at over a point-per-game pace. That alone would warrant at least a B+ grade. Add in Simon Wang, the highest-drafted Chinese-born player in NHL history, who possesses elite skating and a 6-6 frame, and the Sharks have significantly upgraded every area of their prospect pool.

While I personally felt Blake Fiddler would have been a safer pick at 33, the Sharks` decision to prioritize Wang`s raw ability and high upside is understandable. If Wang develops as hoped, he could become an impactful NHL defenseman that many teams will regret passing on.

Selecting Cole McKinney at No. 53 also represented great value. McKinney has more offensive potential than he`s shown and, at minimum, projects as a reliable bottom-six forward defensively and on the penalty kill. When all is said and done, there`s a strong likelihood the Sharks will derive four NHL players from this draft, including a dynamic, two-way center who could make them a difficult matchup for opposing teams for the next decade.

Anaheim Ducks
Grade: A-

Acquiring Roger McQueen, a player with top-five talent, at No. 10 is tremendous value for the Ducks. They`ve added another large, powerful forward to their group of young players, and McQueen`s skill set is elite. If McQueen reaches his full potential, the Ducks could have a unique player capable of dominating on both ends of the ice.

Eric Nilson in the second round was another valuable selection. He`s a reasonable projection to become a bottom-six contributor relied upon for secondary matchups and responsible defensive play. Neuenschwander is a more than solid bet for a goaltender, and getting him in the later rounds adds to his value.

The Ducks likely added at least two quality NHLers to their organization today and found good value throughout the draft, while finally trading John Gibson – putting an end to those long-standing rumors.

Note: If there were bonus points for marketing synergy, the Ducks would receive an A+ for drafting McQueen, taking him to Disneyland, and arranging a photo opportunity with Lightning McQueen. One can hope he chooses to wear No. 95, as the marketing possibilities would be abundant.

Calgary Flames
Grade: A-

The Flames not only addressed organizational needs with this draft class, but they also secured significant value with the Cullen Potter and Aiden Lane picks, while selecting Cole Reschny and Theo Stockselius within appropriate ranges. All these players will require development time but are reasonable prospects to play NHL games.

Reschny and Potter are high-upside selections with NHL attributes that could see them impacting the middle six. The Flames needed centers, and there`s a decent chance that at least two of these players will provide value down the middle for them. If Potter transitions to the wing, he might flourish as a speedy player with an excellent shot.

The decision to take a chance on Aiden Lane late in the draft was promising, as he`s a late bloomer with potential bottom-six upside. The Flames extracted considerable value from their selections this weekend and should be pleased with their newly acquired group of young talent.

Detroit Red Wings
Grade: A-

There`s much to appreciate about the Red Wings` performance this weekend; they likely acquired at least two long-term NHL players in Carter Bear and Eddie Genborg. Bear represented good value in the teens, bringing a projectable two-way game complemented by high-end playmaking abilities. As an added benefit, he possesses the coveted “hard skill” teams seek, excelling in traffic, winning puck battles, and creating space for teammates. While two or three years away, he should become a quality top-six forward when ready.

The selection of Genborg was a good choice for a middle-six player who thrives with skill. He is expected to be a strong complementary piece when he`s ready.

After the top goaltenders were off the board, the gamble on Michal Pradel was particularly appealing. The Red Wings are not lacking in goaltending prospects, and he represents another player with a legitimate chance to become an NHL netminder. The pick of Michal Svrcek in the fourth round is also commendable for his potential as a speedy player with a competitive edge. Adding the John Gibson trade – which provides immediate help – resulted in a very positive weekend for the Red Wings.

Nashville Predators
Grade: A-

The Predators draft class presented a mixed picture for me. Did they secure some high-end talent? Absolutely, without question. Did they leave high-end talent on the board? Unequivocally yes.

I understand the decision to bet on Brady Martin and why he was liked by so many teams, but Nashville is in need of elite talent and passed on both James Hagens and Porter Martone. If Martin reaches his potential, he`ll be a valuable playoff performer, but there are few scenarios where he would be considered more valuable than Hagens or Martone.

I was very impressed by their swing on Ryker Lee, who could become an elite top-six forward if his skating improves; his offensive toolkit is among the best in the draft class. Cameron Reid at pick 21 was solid value, projecting as a quality middle-pairing defenseman for many years. I also really liked the selections of Jacob Rombach and Jack Ivankovic. The Predators needed a goaltender, and if Ivankovic develops, he possesses the foundational talent to potentially be the best goalie from this draft crop.

Philadelphia Flyers
Grade: A-

Prepare yourself, because this draft was quite a ride!

The Flyers needed a center and, while they passed on Hagens, they selected Porter Martone. I appreciate Martone`s game and see significant potential, but it appears their decision was driven by size. Despite this, I won`t lower their grade because Martone at No. 6 offered excellent value. If his skating improves, he`s destined to be a star player.

The decision to trade up to No. 13 for Jack Nesbitt not only meant bypassing significant talent still available, but they also lost the asset value trade to their state rivals. Nesbitt is likely to be a solid third-line center, but I have serious reservations about the Flyers` tendency to prioritize size with players who have a lower ceiling.

Beyond that, I was very impressed with the Carter Amico, Jack Murtagh, Shane Vansaghi, and Matthew Gard picks. The Flyers clearly had a mandate to get bigger and tougher, as every single pick was used on a player possessing some level of size and competitive intensity that coach Rick Tocchet will appreciate. The Flyers undoubtedly improved significantly this weekend, but there`s little doubt that some valuable talent was left available on the board.

Seattle Kraken
Grade: A-

The Kraken significantly improved their prospect pool this weekend, particularly with their first two selections. Jake O`Brien is projected to be an offensively gifted top-six playmaking center. Seattle already boasts a strong group of young centers, and whether they convert one or two to wing or trade one to address another organizational need, the Kraken are in a strong position because they consistently prioritize drafting the best available player.

Blake Fiddler is another example of this strategy, with the Kraken securing a player who many considered a first-round talent in the second round. He is highly likely to become a middle-pairing defenseman specializing in shutdown minutes. Not only did Seattle address an organizational need, but they also did so with excellent value.

I also liked the selections of Will Reynolds and Maxim Agafonov. Both players possess NHL-caliber traits and are worthy chances taken at their respective draft positions. Overall, it was another successful draft for Seattle.

Winnipeg Jets
Grade: A-

I, for one, was very impressed with how the Jets utilized their draft capital. Adding Sascha Boumedienne to a prospect pool that is relatively thin on defense was smart work. He is mobile, showed significant improvement in his defensive game, and has the potential to develop into a quality middle-pairing defenseman and power play contributor if his decision-making continues to refine.

Viktor Klingsell was a high-value addition when the Jets selected him. He was one of the most skilled players available in the later rounds, which is precisely the type of player you should target in the fifth round. If he fills out physically, there`s a potential middle-six forward there.

I was also quite fond of the Owen Martin and Jacob Cloutier picks. Martin plays a professional style that should allow him to develop into a depth player, while Cloutier is a high-reward selection on a smaller player who is highly competitive and could be a valuable asset if his skating improves. The Jets achieved good value with all their picks, gambled on talent, and effectively improved their prospect pool.

Chicago Blackhawks
Grade: B+

The Blackhawks clearly had a specific strategy in mind: `big players who can skate.`

I liked Anton Frondell at No. 3, but they definitively passed on available talent like Hagens to prioritize Frondell`s size. However, he is likely to develop into a top-line forward, so this organizational decision is understandable.

Both Vaclav Nestrasil and Mason West were selected a bit higher than I anticipated, but both are very raw, long-term projects with extremely high potential. Given the state of Chicago`s prospect depth, they can afford to take such high-upside swings because both players could ultimately become middle-six complementary pieces who are exceptionally difficult to play against. At the very least, they bet on size combined with skill, which is a strategy I can support.

Nathan Behm and Julius Sumpf offered good value at their respective draft positions, and there`s a chance one of them will play NHL games. The Blackhawks should realistically get two or three NHL players from this draft class, but their development staff will certainly be put to the test.

Montreal Canadiens
Grade: B+

The Canadiens had a busy weekend. Trading away picks that ultimately resulted in Victor Eklund and Kashawn Aitcheson to acquire Noah Dobson aligns with their current timeline, although it may prove to be a substantial price.

They clearly favor Alexander Zharovsky, and it`s easy to see why, but they gave up quite a bit of pick value to select him. Nevertheless, I appreciate Zharovsky`s game, and he is expected to be a quality complementary player in the middle six.

In the middle rounds, I was extremely impressed by the selections of Hayden Paupenakis, Bryce Pickford, and a personal favorite – L.J. Mooney. All these players possess legitimate NHL upside to varying degrees. Mooney, despite his smaller stature, offered outstanding value due to his compete level and offensive abilities. Paupenakis is likely to become a bottom-6 player, and Pickford is a great bet on an overage defenseman with offensive potential.

Overall, it`s difficult not to be satisfied with their weekend performance, even if they parted with some very valuable assets to acquire the players they targeted.

Ottawa Senators
Grade: B+

Friday night was a notable success for the Senators. Trading back two spots and acquiring the pick used to trade for Jordan Spence while also extracting tremendous value with Logan Hensler at No. 23 demonstrates high-end asset management. I am very impressed with Hensler`s game and believe he possesses the tools to develop into a solid second or third-pairing defenseman who would complement Jake Sanderson effectively. The fact that he is right-handed and very mobile with an NHL frame makes him particularly valuable.

The Senators` goaltending depth is thin, and taking a chance on Lucas Beckman was a logical decision. Bruno Idzan represents a high-upside gamble that is worthwhile based on his USHL production. He has the potential to be a late bloomer who contributes in a depth role.

Washington Capitals
Grade: B+

The Capitals secured excellent value with their first two picks in the draft, and both players are solid prospects to develop into middle-six contributors at the NHL level.

Lynden Lakovic possesses the potential to be a large, versatile offensive producer and would be even more exciting if he learns to leverage his 6-4 frame to physically dominate opponents. Lakovic`s ceiling is high, and selecting a player widely considered a top-15 talent at pick No. 27 is impressive work.

Milton Gastrin is one of the more well-rounded players in the draft class and should be relatively close to being NHL-ready. He projects strongly as a third-line center and could potentially provide more offense than many expect.

Beyond their top picks, I also liked the selection of Maxim Schaefer, who exhibits more skill than most players taken in the fourth round. Given their draft position and assets, the Capitals achieved good value and came away with at least two players who should play impactful roles in their future lineup.