The NHL is just coming off a fun Draft weekend and heading into what should be a wild free agency in a few days. The 2025 NHL Entry Draft is still on the minds of everyone, so it’s the focus of this week’s column, which dives into it.
- The top seven teams didn’t overthink their picks.
- The draft shows that some sleeping giants are on the way.
- Some teams might be sending messages with their selections.
- The Anaheim Ducks are a lesson for the rest of the league.
- Free agency frenzy is on the way.
With all this in mind, let’s dive right in, starting with a draft that, oddly, was a bit anticlimactic.
Teams Weren’t Overthinking Their Picks
Every year, there’s talk about a blockbuster trade for a pick in the top 10. The last time it happened was the 2022 draft when the Ottawa Senators moved the 7th pick to the Chicago Blackhawks for Alex DeBrincat. The point being, it rarely happens.
There was a lot of smoke about how this draft would play out. When the New York Islanders traded Noah Dobson, it looked like a certainty that they would move up. The San Jose Sharks were rumored to have a strong interest in multiple forwards, some of whom would be considered reaches for the second pick.
The Islanders took the best player on the board, defenseman Matthew Schaefer. The Sharks took the forward with the highest ceiling, Michael Misa. It was a chalk draft after that, at least until the Seattle Kraken were on the clock with the eighth pick.
Back in the day, trading top picks in the draft was a common occurrence. The Vancouver Canucks landed both Henrik and Daniel Sedin in the 1999 draft thanks to multiple trades by general manager (GM) Brian Burke. He ended up with the second and third selections and took both brothers. The Islanders had the second pick in the 2001 draft and moved it in the Alexei Yashin trade. The pick became Jason Spezza. And now you see why teams don’t trade out of the top 10 often.
Sure, Utah and the Boston Bruins want to make a push for a playoff spot next season, and adding a veteran would do that. At the same time, these picks are too valuable to move, which is why they weren’t.
The Draft Shows Sleeping Giants Are on The Way
The Florida Panthers look like an unbeatable juggernaut after winning their second Stanley Cup title in a row. It seems like nobody can beat them. Yet, some teams came away from this weekend poised to make a big leap next season.
The Montreal Canadiens are one of those teams. The Dobson trade gives them a one-two punch at the blue line (as he’s paired with reigning Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson) and gives them plenty of options to make another big move. They have prospects and cap space to make a big trade this week and sign a player to send the message they are competing for the Cup.
The Islanders are the other team everyone wants to point to as a sleeping giant, especially after a draft class that is considered far and beyond the most talented. However, the other sleeping giant is in their division, with the Philadelphia Flyers coming away from this class with two power forwards. Pair them with Matvei Michkov and a handful of other intriguing prospects, and the Flyers could have a forward group that mirrors the one the Panthers had (as it comes at teams in waves).
It’s worth noting that the Blackhawks and the Sharks are also building something special. They still have some work to do and need that game-changing defenseman but they also added to promising rebuilds, and it might not be long until both teams are in the Cup contention discussion. But of course, this is an optimistic time of the year, and every draft class looks like the one that will change the trajectory of a franchise (it’s why we watch the draft after all).
The Pick & The Message It Sent
It’s always fun to read into a draft pick and see what it says about the direction the franchise is heading in. So, here are four teams that made interesting selections and what they might say about the team.
Nashville Predators: Brady Martin – He’s one of the projects in this draft and will take time to develop, more so than other prospects. The Predators went all in last offseason, signing Jonathan Marchessault, Steven Stamkos, and Brady Skjei, three veterans expected to carry this team to the playoffs and beyond. One year later, they are opening the door to a rebuild and a long-term one, with Martin being the player to build around.
Philadelphia Flyers: Porter Martone (& Jack Nesbitt) – The theme of the draft was size. Everyone saw what the Panthers did in the playoffs and is looking to add physicality, especially at the forward position. The Flyers took Porter Martone and Jack Nesbitt, two power forwards who fit that billing. They took them to the next level (although don’t take my word for it when there are a few Flyers writers at this site who dive deeper into this)
Buffalo Sabres: Radim Mrtka – The Sabres already have Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, and the newly-acquired Michael Kesselring on their defense. All three are core parts of the unit. By drafting Radim Mrtka, another defenseman, they open the door for a Bowen Byram or Mattias Samuelsson trade, since both become expendable.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Pyotr Andreyanov – The Blue Jackets were the only team in the first round to take a goaltender. The position is unpredictable and takes a longer time to develop. That said, they need an answer in the net, and Elvis Merzlikins at best is someone who can split starts, not anchor the unit as a primary starter.
Ducks Trading “Damaged Goods”
The second a car is purchased, it goes down in value. It’s one of those investments that over time diminishes, and it’s why a used car is always cheaper, albeit with more mileage and damage attached to it.
This tangent is relevant for the Anaheim Ducks or any team that has a player on the trade block. The second the player is available for a trade, the value is at its best, and it only goes down from there.
The Ducks could have traded John Gibson a few seasons back for a first round pick and some top prospects. Instead, they moved him for Petr Mrazek, a second and a fourth round pick. Trevor Zegras would have gotten a first round pick or a team’s top prospect 18 months ago, and instead, he was moved for Ryan Poehling, a second and a fourth round pick.
The two trades brought back underwhelming returns. While moving Gibson or Zegras earlier would have been tougher for the team to process at the time (and find replacements for), the move makes sense for the rebuild. The Ducks were rebuilding in recent seasons, yet held both players until their value was lowest.
Free Agency Frenzy on the Way
The Mitch Marner trade rumors are just the tip of the iceberg. The Vegas Golden Knights are looking to acquire the winger from the Toronto Maple Leafs and then extend him. The Tampa Bay Lightning did the same thing last summer with Jake Guentzel, and the Golden Knights want to beat everyone to the punch. Aside from this potential move, there are some big moves on the way.
It starts with the Maple Leafs, who look like a team ready to make a splash. They signed John Tavares to a team-friendly deal and have room to work with. Assuming they re-sign Matthew Knies to a deal below the $8 million average annual value (AAV) mark, they have the cap space to make another splash (and all eyes are on Brad Marchand).
Brock Boeser and Nikolaj Ehlers are the two wingers to watch. Teams will spend big on both and possibly overpay. For Boeser, it’s a worthwhile move for a contending team to do so since he’s a scorer who can find the back of the net in the playoffs, something lots of teams value.
It’s not the type of free agency class that makes you jump out of your seat. However, it’s one that will have many value signings. So, make sure to follow it all on HockeyHotStove!!
