FILE — Canada's Matthew Schaefer, right, battles for the puck with Switzerland's Basile Sansonnens, second right, and Eric Schneller (26) during the third period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship pre-tournament game in Ottawa, Ontario, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo)
San Jose settles for second, Utah surprises with a jump to fourth
The New York Islanders have pulled off a dramatic win — this time off the ice. The team secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft after winning the lottery on Monday, leaping from the 10th position despite having only a 3.5% chance.
Former player and current pro scouting director Ken Morrow was emotional. Known for his role in the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" Olympic team and the Islanders’ four Stanley Cups, Morrow called the moment “right up there at the top.”
A Stroke of Luck for a Team in Transition
The lottery win comes at a turbulent time for the franchise. The Islanders missed the playoffs for the second time in four years and recently parted ways with GM Lou Lamoriello. But Monday’s surprise win brought new energy.
Morrow credited “the hockey gods,” saying the win is a boost for fans, ownership, and the entire organization.
Utah Hockey Club Makes Major Leap
Another headline-stealer was the Utah Hockey Club. The first-year franchise jumped from 14th to 4th in the draft order. “This is a game-changer,” said Utah GM Bill Armstrong. “We were sitting way back, and now it feels unreal.”
The team narrowly missed the playoffs in its debut season and will now have a valuable early pick to build its roster.
Sharks Fall to No. 2
Despite entering the lottery with the best odds, the San Jose Sharks missed out on the top prize. They had an 18.5% chance to pick first and a 25.5% shot at a top-two selection.
This marks the second straight year the Sharks finished last. They were aiming to become the first team in NHL history to pick No. 1 in back-to-back years.
“We would’ve loved to pick first again,” Sharks GM Mike Grier admitted. “But we’re still in a good spot at No. 2.”
Chicago to Pick Third
The Chicago Blackhawks, who had the second-best odds, will select third. Other teams, including Nashville, slid back two spots in the order. The remaining first-round spots will be finalized after the playoffs.
This marks the Islanders’ fifth time holding the No. 1 pick, and the first since they selected John Tavares in 2009.
Draft Set for Late June in Los Angeles
This year’s NHL Draft will take place in Los Angeles. The first round is set for June 27, followed by rounds two through seven the next day. Top prospects will gather next month in Buffalo for the league’s pre-draft scouting combine.
Who’s in the Running for No. 1?
The 2025 draft class lacks the star power of last year’s group. However, several names are already in the spotlight.
Matthew Schaefer, a 6'2" defenseman from the Erie Otters, tops NHL Central Scouting’s North American list. He missed the last three months of the season due to a broken collarbone suffered during the World Juniors.
Schaefer could become the first defenseman to go No. 1 since Owen Power in 2021 and the first OHL player taken first overall since Connor McDavid in 2015.
Other top prospects include Michael Misa, a center from the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit, and James Hagens, a Boston College forward and Long Island native.
Hagens grew up an Islanders fan and could be a storybook pick if selected. Among international players, Swedish teammates Anton Frondell (center) and Victor Eklund (right wing) lead the rankings.
A Historic Jump for the Islanders
New York’s leap from 10th to first is the biggest jump in the history of the draft lottery. It’s a rarity in a system where the worst teams typically stay at the top.
Since the lottery system began in 1995, the last-place team has retained the top pick in 12 of the last 30 drafts.
The 2025 lottery was the first to be broadcast live from the NHL Network studios in New Jersey. Previously, the process occurred off-air, with results unveiled afterward.
Now, with their first top pick in 16 years, the Islanders are on the clock — and on the verge of a new chapter.
