Canada's Matthew Schaefer #25 during Preliminary Round - Group A action against Latvia at 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship at Canadian Tire Centre on December 27, 2024 in Kanata, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by André Ringuette/IIHF)
photo: © André Ringuette/IIHF
The New York Islanders, winners of the draft lottery, selected defenceman Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft on Friday at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Schaefer, who plays for the Erie Otters of the OHL, held onto the number-one ranking despite suffering a broken collarbone during the IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa that cost him the rest of the season.
In an emotional scene, Schaefer, who lost his mother to cancer in early 2024 and was carrying a photo of her inside his jacket, was too choked up to speak immediately after being drafted.
Schaefer, who plays for the Erie Otters of the OHL, held onto the number-one ranking despite suffering a broken collarbone during the IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa that cost him the rest of the season.
In an emotional scene, Schaefer, who lost his mother to cancer in early 2024 and was carrying a photo of her inside his jacket, was too choked up to speak immediately after being drafted.
“Lots of tears, as you guys can see – they’re a lot more happy than not,” Schaefer said later in an interview with ESPN. “I can control myself a little bit now but … things like this mean so much to me,” he said, pointing to the pink ribbon pinned to his Islanders jersey.
“I’ve waited for this moment my whole life and, like I said, I wish my mom could be here, but I know she’s here with me, my brother and my dad in spirit, so we’re super excited and we can’t wait,” he added.
Michael Misa from the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit went second overall to the San Jose Sharks. In San Jose, Misa will join Macklin Celebrini, last year’s first-overall pick and a player for Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Championship in Stockholm and Herning.
Speaking of Stockholm, Djurgarden centre Anton Frondell went third overall to the Chicago Blackhawks, where he will join 2023 first-overall pick Connor Bedard. Like Schaefer, Frondell was drafted high despite missing a significant portion of last season with an injury – in his case, his knee.
“There have been a lot of meetings, interviews and combines and now I have my new favourite team in the NHL,” Frondell told the NHL Network. “It will probably take a few days to digest this but I’m happy to be here.”
Only one player taken in the first round has any experience in a senior-level IIHF World Championship and that’s Porter Martone, who was taken sixth overall by the Philadelphia Flyers. Malone played two games for Canada at this year’s Worlds in Stockholm and Herning. Martone also won a gold medal playing for Canada at the 2024 U18 Worlds.
The first American taken in the draft was James Hagens of the Boston College Eagles, who was taken by the Boston Bruins with the seventh overall pick. Hagen swas the Best Forward and MVP of the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship, where he had 22 points in seven games, and won a gold medal with the USA at the 2025 World Juniors.
“I’ve waited for this moment my whole life and, like I said, I wish my mom could be here, but I know she’s here with me, my brother and my dad in spirit, so we’re super excited and we can’t wait,” he added.
Michael Misa from the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit went second overall to the San Jose Sharks. In San Jose, Misa will join Macklin Celebrini, last year’s first-overall pick and a player for Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Championship in Stockholm and Herning.
Speaking of Stockholm, Djurgarden centre Anton Frondell went third overall to the Chicago Blackhawks, where he will join 2023 first-overall pick Connor Bedard. Like Schaefer, Frondell was drafted high despite missing a significant portion of last season with an injury – in his case, his knee.
“There have been a lot of meetings, interviews and combines and now I have my new favourite team in the NHL,” Frondell told the NHL Network. “It will probably take a few days to digest this but I’m happy to be here.”
Only one player taken in the first round has any experience in a senior-level IIHF World Championship and that’s Porter Martone, who was taken sixth overall by the Philadelphia Flyers. Malone played two games for Canada at this year’s Worlds in Stockholm and Herning. Martone also won a gold medal playing for Canada at the 2024 U18 Worlds.
The first American taken in the draft was James Hagens of the Boston College Eagles, who was taken by the Boston Bruins with the seventh overall pick. Hagen swas the Best Forward and MVP of the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship, where he had 22 points in seven games, and won a gold medal with the USA at the 2025 World Juniors.
After Schaefer, the next defenceman taken in the draft was Radim Mrtka of the Seattle Thunderbirds, who was picked ninth by the Buffalo Sabres.
In addition to Schaefer, the Islanders had two more picks in the first round, thanks to a trade that sent Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens. As a result, Montreal did not have a first-round pick this year. The Islanders selected Frondell’s Djurgarden teammate Victor Eklund with the 16th pick and defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson with the 17th pick.
Both Frondell and Eklund were part of the Djurgarden team that was promoted from the HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s tier-two pro league, to the SHL, and both players are signed to play there at least one more season in Sweden’s top circuit.
A third Swede, Sascha Boumedienne, was taken 28th overall by the Winnipeg Jets. Boumedienne was named Best Defenceman and won a gold medal at 2025 U18 Worlds in the USA.
In all, 14 of the 32 first-round picks were traded at least once – seven of them were traded on draft day.
The 32 first-round selections included 19 Canadians, seven Americans, three Swedes, two Czechs and one Russian. By position, there were 22 forwards, eight defenders and two goaltenders.
Only the first round of the draft was held on Friday. Rounds 2 through 7 follow on Saturday, starting at 9am local time in Los Angeles and 18:00 CEST.
In addition to Schaefer, the Islanders had two more picks in the first round, thanks to a trade that sent Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens. As a result, Montreal did not have a first-round pick this year. The Islanders selected Frondell’s Djurgarden teammate Victor Eklund with the 16th pick and defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson with the 17th pick.
Both Frondell and Eklund were part of the Djurgarden team that was promoted from the HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s tier-two pro league, to the SHL, and both players are signed to play there at least one more season in Sweden’s top circuit.
A third Swede, Sascha Boumedienne, was taken 28th overall by the Winnipeg Jets. Boumedienne was named Best Defenceman and won a gold medal at 2025 U18 Worlds in the USA.
In all, 14 of the 32 first-round picks were traded at least once – seven of them were traded on draft day.
- Matthew Schaefer, D (CAN) New York Islanders
- Michael Misa, F (CAN)San Jose Sharks
- Anton Frondell, F (SWE) Chicago Blackhawks
- Caleb Desnoyers, F (CAN) Utah Mammoth
- Brady Martin, F (CAN) Nashville Predators
- Porter Martone, F (CAN) Philadelphia Flyers
- James Hagens, F (USA) Boston Bruins
- Jake O’Brien, F (CAN) Seattle Kraken
- Radim Mrtka, D (CZE) Buffalo Sabres
- Roger McQueen, F (CAN) Anaheim Ducks
- Benjamin Kindel, F (CAN) Pittsburgh Penguins
- Jack Nesbitt, F (CAN Philadelphia Flyers (from NYR via VAN and PIT)
- Carter Bear, F (CAN Detroit Red Wings
- Jackson Smith, D (CAN) Columbus Blue Jackets
- Braeden Cootes, F (CAN) Vancouver Canucks
- Victor Eklund, F (SWE) New York Islanders (from CGY via MTL)
- Kashawn Aitcheson, D (CAN) New York Islanders (from MTL)
- Cole Reschny, F (CAN) Calgary Flames (from NJ)
- Justin Carbonneau, F (RW) St. Louis Blues
- Pyotr Andreyanov, G (RUS) Columbus Blue Jackets (from MIN)
- Cameron Reid, D (CAN) Nashville Predators (from OTT)
- Bill Zonnon, F (CAN) Pittsburgh Penguins (from COL via PHI)
- Logan Hensler, D (USA) Ottawa Senators (from TB via NSH)
- Will Horcoff, F (USA) Pittsburgh Penguins (from LA)
- Vaclav Nestrasil, F (CZE) Chicago Blackhawks (from TOR)
- Ryker Lee, F (USA) Nashville Predators (from VGK via SJ)
- Lynden Lakovic, F (CAN) Washington Capitals
- Sascha Boumedienne, D (SWE) Winnipeg Jets
- Mason West, F (USA) Chicago Blackhawks (from CAR)
- Joshua Ravensbergen, G (CAN) San Jose Sharks (from DAL)
- Henry Brzustewicz, D (USA) Los Angeles Kings (from EEM via PHI and PIT)
- Cullen Potter, F (USA) Calgary Flames (from FLA)
The 32 first-round selections included 19 Canadians, seven Americans, three Swedes, two Czechs and one Russian. By position, there were 22 forwards, eight defenders and two goaltenders.
Only the first round of the draft was held on Friday. Rounds 2 through 7 follow on Saturday, starting at 9am local time in Los Angeles and 18:00 CEST.