Long Island is at the top of the board. On Monday night, May 5, 2025, the New York Islanders won the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery, securing the first-overall pick in this year’s draft. The Islanders, who had the 10th-best odds at just 3.5%, celebrated a remarkable victory, marking the third time in franchise history they have won the lottery. Previously, they selected goaltender Rick DiPietro in 2000 and former captain John Tavares in 2009.
Heading into the lottery, the San Jose Sharks had the best odds for the second consecutive year, boasting an 18.5% chance to win. However, they stumbled to the second overall pick after the Utah Hockey Club, which had entered the lottery ranked 14th, managed to secure the second-overall selection by moving up to fourth.
The lottery was held live for the first time in its 30-year history, a move designed to enhance transparency and drama. Ken Morrow, the Islanders’ pro scouting director and a member of the 1980 gold-medal-winning U.S. Olympic team, expressed his excitement, stating, "I’ve had a lot of thrills in my hockey life, but this is right up there at the top. The hockey gods smiled on us. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am for Islanders fans, for our ownership, for the entire Islanders organization." Morrow's sentiment reflects the optimism surrounding the franchise as they look to rebuild after missing the playoffs for the second time in four seasons.
As for the prospects, Erie Otters forward Matthew Schaefer is widely regarded as the odds-on first-overall pick. Despite suffering a serious injury that sidelined him for the latter part of the season, scouts are eager to see what he can achieve at the next level. Schaefer, who is NHL Central Scouting’s top-ranked North American prospect, stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs 183 pounds. He broke his right collarbone while representing Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. Should he be selected first overall, Schaefer would become the first defenceman to do so since Owen Power was picked by Buffalo in 2021 and the first OHL player since Connor McDavid in 2015.
Other top prospects expected to be drafted in the top five include Saginaw Spirit forward Michael Misa, Boston College standout James Hagens, and Brampton Steelheads star Porter Martone. Victor Eklund, a forward with Djurgarden, is considered the top European prospect heading into the draft.
The draft order has been set, with the Islanders leading the pack:
- 1. New York Islanders
- 2. San Jose Sharks
- 3. Chicago Blackhawks
- 4. Utah Hockey Club
- 5. Nashville Predators
- 6. Philadelphia Flyers
- 7. Boston Bruins
- 8. Seattle Kraken
- 9. Buffalo Sabres
- 10. Anaheim Ducks
- 11. Pittsburgh Penguins
- 12. New York Rangers
- 13. Detroit Red Wings
- 14. Colorado Avalanche
- 15. Vancouver Canucks
- 16. Montreal Canadiens (via CGY)
The remaining draft order will be finalized as teams are eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The first round of the 2025 NHL Draft is scheduled to take place on June 27 at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with the subsequent rounds occurring on June 28. This will be the second time the city has hosted the NHL Draft, the first being in 2010.
As the Islanders prepare for the upcoming draft, the excitement surrounding the franchise is palpable. This lottery win could be a turning point for a team looking to rejuvenate its roster and return to playoff contention. With talented prospects on the horizon, fans are eager to see how the Islanders will utilize their newfound opportunity to shape the future of their team.