Notes from Round 1 of the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft

June 28, 2025

ISLANDERS SELECT SCHAEFER WITH FIRST OVERALL PICK

Picking at No. 1 for the fifth time in franchise history and first since 2009, the Islanders made defenseman Matthew Schaefer of the Erie Otters the top pick in the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft. Schaefer became the first OHL player to go first overall in the NHL Draft since Connor McDavid in 2015 (also out of Erie) and the first OHL defenseman to be picked at No. 1 in more than a decade, with Aaron Ekblad (2014) the last before him.

* Schaefer became the fifth defenseman this quarter century to be chosen with the first overall pick, after Owen Power (2021 by BUF), Rasmus Dahlin (2018 by BUF), Ekblad (2014 by FLA) and Erik Johnson (2006 by STL). Overall, he was the ninth defenseman in the past 42 years to be selected first.

* Schaefer joined Ekblad on a short list of four OHL defensemen to go No. 1 in the NHL Draft (also Bryan Berard in 1995 & Ed Jovanovski in 1994) and started a trend of players from the league going on Day 1 of the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft.

* An emotional moment for any top pick, the dream-fulfilling night had added meaning for Schaefer who lost his mother, Jennifer, to breast cancer in February 2024. With her picture and signature stitched inside his suit jacket, Schaefer pointed to the sky on his walk to the stage where he was presented with an Islanders jersey for the first time – with a purple Hockey Fights Cancer ribbon sewn on the left chest.

“This is a high-class organization … A lot of people can say, ‘Oh, it’s just a ribbon,’ but it means a lot for me. And you know, my mom’s a big part of my life. And this jersey I’m gonna hang up for sure. And I mean, that ribbon has a little extra meaning to it.” — Schaefer

MISA PICKED SECOND OVERALL IN STRONG ROUND 1 FOR OHL, CANADA

The second name called at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater was Michael Misa, who went to the Sharks after leading the CHL (OHL/WHL/QMJHL) in scoring with 134 points in 2024-25 – the most by any OHL player since 2006-07 (Patrick Kane: 145 points & John Tavares: 134).

* With Matthew Schaefer and Misa going first and second overall, it marked the first time since 2010 that the top two picks in the NHL Draft were from the OHL. That draft also was held in Los Angeles.

* Overall, nine players were drafted out of the OHL – the second straight year they have had as many in Round 1 (also 9 in 2024). The last time the league was represented as strongly in the opening round of consecutive drafts was in 2011 and 2012 (11 in each R1).

* For the first time in 38 years and fourth time in NHL Draft history, 20 Canadian-born players were selected in Round 1. That list includes William Horcoff, who was born in Canada but represents the USA internationally.

FRONDELL LEADS LIST OF SIX EUROPEANS SELECTED ON DAY 1

Anton Frondell is coming off a season in which he posted the second-most points ever by a player age 17 or younger in Sweden’s second division (behind William Nylander in 2013-14), garnering the attention of the Blackhawks who chose him at No. 3. He became the eighth Swedish-born player to be selected among the top three of an NHL Draft and made Chicago the first team since Edmonton from 2010 to 2012 to make a top three selection in three consecutive years (also Artyom Levshunov at No. 2 in 2024 & Connor Bedard at No. 1 in 2023).

HAGENS STAYING PUT IN BOSTON AS FIRST AMERICAN PICKED FRIDAY

The first American selected in the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft was James Hagens (Hauppauge, N.Y.), selected seventh overall by the Bruins after ranking fourth among NCAA Division 1 freshmen in points with Boston College in 2024-25. Hagens became the third player picked by Boston out of either Boston College or Boston University. It was the third straight year that an NCAA player was picked among the top 10, with Hagens joining Macklin Celebrini (No. 1) and Artyom Levshunov (No. 2) last year as well as Adam Fantilli (No. 3) in 2023.

* A total of seven U.S. nationals were picked (6 who were born in the country), including three of the last four selections. Mason West, who is also a Division I football prospect, was picked at No. 29 by the Blackhawks; Henry Brzustewicz, the only selection by the host Kings (No. 31), followed in the footsteps of his brother, Hunter, who was picked 75th overall in 2023 (VAN); as well as Cullen Potter, the son of four-time U.S. Olympic hockey player Jenny Potter, who became the first player ever drafted out of Arizona State University when the Flames called his name at No. 32.

DRAFT DAY DEALS SHOOK UP ORDER OF SELECTION IN ROUND 1

Montreal entered the draft with the most picks of any team (12) and as one of eight teams who were set to pick multiple times in Round 1, but dealt both of their first-round picks to the Islanders in exchange for defenseman Noah Dobson – who they then signed to an eight-year contract.

* The moves gave the Islanders three picks in Round 1 for the second time (also 4 in 1999) and allowed them to make back-to-back first-round selections for the third time.

* The Penguins also had been slated for back-to-back Round 1 picks but made a deal with the state-rival Flyers, who moved up to select Jack Nesbitt at No. 12.

* Pittsburgh acquired two picks from Philadelphia and then made a deal with host Los Angeles to finish the day with three first-round picks – Benjamin Kindel (No. 11), Bill Zonnon (No. 22) and William Horcoff (No. 24) – all announced by Kris Letang’s son, Alex. It marked just the second time they made a trio of Round 1 selections (also 1984: Mario Lemieux at No. 1, Doug Bodger at No. 9 & Roger Belanger at No. 16).

LOADING UP ON FIRST ROUND PICKS

Four teams made three picks apiece in Round 1 – a first in NHL Draft history – and overall eight clubs made multiple selection. In addition to the Islanders and Penguins (detailed above), the Predators and Blackhawks also added three players to their system Friday.

* Nashville traded up to select Cameron Reid at No. 21, the second of their three picks along with Brady Martin (No. 5), who was watching from his family’s farm in Elora, Ont., and Ryker Lee (No. 26), whose dad was born in Taiwan. It was the first time the Predators made three Round 1 selections.

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* Chicago made three selections in the first round of the NHL Draft for the third time in the past four years, following 2024 and 2022 (3 in each).

* Two of the eight clubs overall that made multiple picks in Round 1 were responsible for drafting the only goaltenders picked Friday: Pyotr Andreyanov to the Blue Jackets at No. 20 and Joshua Ravensbergen to the Sharks at No. 30.

CELEBRITIES HELP WELCOME PROSPECTS TO NHL

With clubs basing their draft headquarters out of their home markets for the first time, the NHL enlisted a number of celebrity pickers to announce Round 1 selections.

* Among the long list of special guests Friday: WWE superstar Bayley (SJS); PGA golfer and Utah native Tony Finau (UTA); NBA legend Charles Barkley and two-time Super Bowl champion Brandon Graham (both PHI); Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore (BOS); Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer (SEA); Goo Goo Dolls John Rzeznik and Robby Takac (both BUF); Mighty Ducks stars Joshua Jackson and Marguerite Moreau (both ANA); actors Dave Coulier (DET); and Kevin Connolly (NYI); Meredith Gaudreau (CBJ); comedians Nikki Glaser (STL) and Tom Green (OTT); NFL tight end George Kittle and country singer Jordan Davis (both NSH); as well as Isaiah Mustafa who announced both a trade and the Kings’ lone Round 1 pick.

* Another special appearance came at pick No. 25 when Commissioner Gary Bettman recognized NHL senior executive vice president of communications Gary Meagher, who is retiring following the draft after 44 years with the League.