NHL Draft 2025: Analyzing fit, potential of the top 5 picks

New York Times

4 hours ago

The Athletic has live coverage of the 2025 NHL Draft.
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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.
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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