Winners and losers of 2025 NHL draft round 1: Matthew Schaefer’s heartwarming no. 1 selection highlights a night of ups and downs | NHL News
The inaugural round of the 2025 NHL Draft presented an evening of unforgettable drama, surprise picks, and a little bit of growing pains with the league’s initial NFL-style decentralized model. Although the structure of the draft left some fans and insiders pining for the ambience of the classic draft floor, compelling tales like Matthew Schaefer’s ensured the focus was still on the players themselves. Here’s a complete analysis of Round 1 winners and losers of the 2025 NHL draft.
Winners
1. Matthew Schaefer and the New York Islanders
The strongest moment of the draft came when the New York Islanders selected defenseman Matthew Schaefer first overall. His jersey had a pink Hockey Fights Cancer ribbon and his mother’s initials embroidered below the collar—a heartwarming reference to his family’s experience. Despite his abbreviated season due to a broken clavicle, Schaefer headed the NHL Central Scouting’s list. The Islanders, who also traded defenseman Noah Dobson to Montreal earlier in the day, sent a clear message: Schaefer is the Islanders’ future on defense.
2. Boston Bruins and James Hagens
Getting center James Hagens at No. 7 might be the draft’s biggest steal. A former first-round candidate, Hagens had his value decline after a yo-yo freshman year at Boston College. But desperate for center depth, the Bruins jumped. To cap it all off, Hagens was welcomed to the NHL by Adam Sandler—all in Happy Gilmore form — who announced with a “Congratulations, homie!”
3. Utah Mammoth
Utah created a big splash with the selection of two-way center Caleb Desnoyers at No. 4, a player some felt might be available as high as second overall. He will pair with Logan Cooley to form a powerful 1-2 punch up the middle. Now with the acquisition of winger J.J. Peterka, Utah’s rebuild is getting into high gear.
4. Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers embraced their rugged persona by taking bruising winger Porter Martone and almost 6-foot-5 center Jack Nesbitt. Martone, who captains the Brampton Steelheads, has drawn comparisons to Corey Perry and the Tkachuk brothers. Philadelphia will be a harder out in the future; just wait.
5. The Fans—and a Few Celebrities
From Sandler’s slapstick humor to the tearful standing ovation for Johnny Gaudreau’s widow, Meredith, who made the Blue Jackets’ selection, the draft had several moments that extended beyond hockey. Anaheim’s selection, Roger McQueen, even received the complete Disney experience, heading to Disneyland after being selected.
Losers
1. The Draft format itself
The NHL attempted something different in a decentralized draft, but the effect was mediocre at best. With “war rooms” in far-flung locations and prospects putting on erratic connections from afar, the excitement of the old draft floor was noticeably missing. While the format might cut expenses and time, many (and some GMs) are already wishing this was a one-and-done deal.
2. Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus had two first-round picks and trade bait but squandered opportunities. Having drafted defenseman Jackson Smith at No. 14, the Jackets stunned everyone by making Russian goalie Pyotr Andreyanov their 20th pick—a player thought to be a Day-2 guy. It’s a high-risk selection in a position where development timelines stretch long and far into the future.
3. Failure in player trades
Despite the massive Dobson-for-picks trade, Round 1 had no other player transactions—the second consecutive year in which no NHL players were traded in the first round. Though picks are precious, fans and pundits were expecting some mega-deal shakeups.
4. Ken Holland and Los Angeles Kings’ Draft strategy
Holding the draft in Los Angeles, new Kings GM Ken Holland decided to trade down from his first-round position, acquiring a late second-rounder in exchange. The decision underwhelmed fans clamoring for a more aggressive charge to enhance a middle-of-the-pack roster.
5. The Jim Nill GM of the Year Win—Again
Stars GM Jim Nill won his third consecutive GM of the Year award, but Panthers GM Bill Zito has his critics saying he should have been recognized. Following his signings of Brad Marchand and Seth Jones and his back-to-back Cup wins, Zito’s ongoing snub left people scratching their heads.Also read: From Connor McDavid’s decade of dominance to Matthew Schaefer’s tearful tribute, the 2025 NHL Draft nightThough the NHL’s decentralized draft dampened some of the normal enthusiasm, Round 1 was no less full of emotion, surprise, and potential.
