Matthew Schaefer emerged as the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL Draft 2025 as the teenage defenseman went to New York Islanders.
The first round of the NHL Draft 2025 took place on Friday night at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Schaefer, a 17-year-old blueliner from Hamilton, Ontario, became the only the fifth defenseman to be chosen No. 1 overall since 2000 and the first since Owen Power was selected by Buffalo in 2021.
Schaefer expressed his gratitude, stating, “I appreciate you taking a chance on me. I promise I won’t disappoint.”
The No. 2 pick of the night was dynamic forward Michael Misa selected by the San Jose Sharks, while the Chicago Blackhawks placed bets on Swedish winger Anton Frondell at No. 3.
The Utah Mammoth, after leaping 10 spots in the draft lottery, picked center Caleb Desnoyers fourth overall. Rounding out the top five, the Nashville Predators picked up rugged forward Brady Martin.
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NHL Draft 2025: Full list of First Round Picks
- New York Islanders – Matthew Schaefer
- San Jose Sharks – Michael Misa
- Chicago Blackhawks – Anton Frondell
- Utah Mammoth – Caleb Desnoyers
- Nashville Predators – Brady Martin
- Philadelphia Flyers – Porter Martone
- Boston Bruins – James Hagens
- Seattle Kraken – Jake O’Brien
- Buffalo Sabres – Radim Mrtka
- Anaheim Ducks – Roger McQueen
- Pittsburgh Penguins – Benjamin Kindel
- Philadelphia Flyers – Jack Nesbitt (from Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers)
- Detroit Red Wings – Carter Bear
- Columbus Blue Jackets – Jackson Smith
- Montreal Vancouver Canucks – Braeden Cootes
- New York Islanders – Victor Eklund (from Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames)
- New York Islanders – Kashawn Aitcheson (from Montreal Canadiens)
- Calgary Flames – Cole Reschny (from New Jersey Devils)
- St. Louis Blues – Justin Carbonneau
- Columbus Blue Jackets – Pyotr Andreyanov (from Minnesota Wild)
- Nashville Predators – Cameron Reid (from Ottawa Senators)
- Pittsburgh Penguins – Bill Zonnon (from Philadelphia Flyers, Colorado Avalanche)
- Ottawa Senators – Logan Hensler (from Nashville Predators and Tampa Bay Lightning)
- Pittsburgh Penguins – William Horcoff (from Los Angeles Kings)
- Chicago Blackhawks – Vaclav Nestrasil (from Toronto Maple Leafs)
- Nashville Predators – Ryker Lee (from Vegas Golden Knights)
- Washington Capitals – Lynden Lakovic
- Winnipeg Jets – Sascha Boumedienne
- Chicago Blackhawks – Mason West (from Carolina Hurricanes)
- San Jose Sharks – Joshua Ravensbergen (from Dallas Stars)
- Los Angeles Kings – Henry Brzustewicz (from Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers)
