And just like that, round one of the 2025 NHL entry draft is in the books.
While it wasn’t one to watch for Toronto Maple Leafs fans, as the team went without a pick on Friday, there was still lots of action across the league.
Here’s a breakdown of the winners and losers after Day 1 of the draft:
Winners:
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders came into the draft already a winner after emerging from the draft lottery victorious with the first overall pick, going in with just a 3.5% chance of earning it. And after they used the top pick to take leading prospect Matthew Schaefer, they weren’t done yet.
According to @SEllisHockey‘s draft board, the #Isles just got three of the top 10 players with picks 1, 16 and 17.
1 Schafer
9 Eklund
10 Aitcheson 👀— Matt Larkin (@MLarkinHockey) June 28, 2025
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New GM Mathieu Darche traded away young defenceman Noah Dobson to make contract space, receiving the Montreal Canadiens 16th and 17th overall picks in return, as they work on retooling their long middling team. Darche used those picks to grab winger Victor Eklund and defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson from the Barrie Colts, deepening their prospect pool even further.
Boston Bruins
Wait, James Hagens fell how far in the draft? It’s always tough news in Toronto when something good happens for the Boston Bruins, especially when it comes right as the group from Beantown finally missed the playoffs for the first time in almost ten years.
But unfortunately this year, with their seventh overall pick, the Bruins were able to steal the Boston College forward. Hagens had a huge 2023-24 season, but his smaller size and decreased playmaking this season let him slip through the cracks. GM Don Sweeney will certainly be popping the champagne for this one tonight.
Columbus Blue Jackets
After just missing out on the playoffs for another year, the Blue Jackets came into this first day hungry. A veteran add in Charlie Coyle on the trade market, a big blueliner in Jackson Smith, then the first goaltender of the draft marked the Jackets’ night, when they picked 18-year-old Russian netminder Pyotr Andreyanov.
Losers:
NHL fans watching the draft
I think we can all agree, the new decentralized format of the draft was an absolute mess. Awkward television lacking any human connection, and somehow it all seemed to drag out even longer. Not even Hollywood stars could save this one.
Toronto Maple Leafs, for sitting on the sidelines
Look, it was a good day overall for the Maple Leafs, there’s no doubt about it. John Tavares’ extension was a slam-dunk for the team and already knowing they weren’t picking in the first round, there’s been more focus anyways on the free agent market to build a Cup-contending team going into next year.
But on the draft front, it was a tough day for the Leafs to be sitting on the sidelines watching as their Eastern Conference rivals bolstered up their future one-by-one. Now it’s up to Brad Treliving to see what he and his team can do to jump right back in going into the second round of the draft and beyond today.
Get ready for wall-to-wall coverage of one of the biggest days in the calendar — the Daily Faceoff Live Free Agency Special goes live on July 1st at 11 AM EST. Host Tyler Yaremchuk is joined by Carter Hutton, Matthew Barnaby, Jeff Marek, Hart Levine, Colby Cohen, Jonny Lazarus, and insiders from across the Network for three hours of in-depth analysis, live reactions, and real-time updates on every major signing and trade. From blockbuster deals to under-the-radar moves, we’re breaking it all down as it happens. Don’t miss a minute — catch the full special live on DailyFaceoff.com and Daily Faceoff’s YouTube.