The 2025 NHL Draft was a fever dream of trades, tears, and a whole lot of "wait, he went where?" moments. Honestly, the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles was less of a hockey venue and more of a chaos factory on June 27. Everyone expected a few surprises. Nobody expected the Long Island boy and projected top-five lock James Hagens to slide all the way to seventh while a defenseman who missed half the season went first overall.
Draft grades are always a bit of a gamble. You're basically judging a recipe before the cake is even in the oven. But looking at the 2025 NHL draft grades, some teams clearly walked away with a full pantry while others are still looking for the flour.
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The New York Islanders: A Masterclass in Aggression
If you want to talk about winning the room, the New York Islanders didn't just win; they owned the lease. Taking Matthew Schaefer at No. 1 was the "safe" move that felt anything but safe given he only played 17 games in his draft year due to a broken clavicle and mono. But Lou Lamoriello didn't stop there.
He flipped Noah Dobson to Montreal for a haul that felt like a video game trade.
Then he used those picks to snag Victor Eklund (16th) and Kashawn Aitcheson (17th). Basically, the Islanders decided to rebuild their entire defensive identity and top-six future in about four hours. Aitcheson is an absolute throwback. He hits everything that moves and has a shot that probably leaves dents in the boards. Most pundits are slapping an A+ on the Isles, and it’s hard to argue. They didn't just pick players; they picked a specific, nasty brand of hockey.
Why 2025 NHL Draft Grades Favor the "Big Three" Rebuilders
The San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks are in a perpetual arms race for who can gather the most elite centers. It’s getting ridiculous. San Jose taking Michael Misa at No. 2 felt like the logical conclusion to a year of debating between him and Anton Frondell. Misa is a tactical wizard. You've seen players who are fast, but Misa is fast between the ears. He finds holes in coverage that don't exist yet.
Chicago, on the other hand, was more than happy to "settle" for Anton Frondell at No. 3.
Frondell is a tank. Pairing him with Connor Bedard gives the Blackhawks a 1-2 punch that should make the rest of the Central Division very nervous for the next decade. Chicago then doubled down on size by grabbing 6-foot-6 Vaclav Nestrasil and Mason West. It’s clear they are tired of being pushed around.
- San Jose Sharks Grade: A+ (Misa is a superstar; Ravensbergen at 30 is a theft)
- Chicago Blackhawks Grade: A (Betting on pure, unadulterated upside and size)
- Utah Mammoth Grade: B+ (Caleb Desnoyers at No. 4 is the ultimate "pro's pro" pick)
The James Hagens Slide and the Bruins' Luck
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Or rather, the Eagle in the room. James Hagens was supposed to be the prize. For most of 2024, he was the consensus No. 1 or No. 2. Seeing him sit there until the Boston Bruins took him at No. 7 was wild.
Boston basically sat back and let the draft come to them. They needed a center desperately after the Bergeron/Krejci era truly faded, and they got a guy who plays ten minutes away at Boston College. Adam Sandler even announced the pick as Happy Gilmore. You can't make this stuff up. Hagens is an elite playmaker, and while some scouts worried about his "pace," the Bruins just got a franchise-altering talent without having to trade up. That’s a massive win.
Philadelphia's "Broad Street Bullies" 2.0
Danny Briere is doing something interesting in Philly. By taking Porter Martone at No. 6, the Flyers got the meanest, most skilled power forward in the class. Martone is 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds of pure "don't touch my goalie." He had a Gordie Howe hat trick in the OHL Top Prospects game. Think about that.
The Flyers then followed up with Jack Nesbitt and Carter Amico. If you’re a skill player playing against the Flyers in 2027, you’re going to want extra padding. They are building a team that is genuinely miserable to play against. It’s a specific vision, and for that, they get an A+.
The Quiet Winners: Calgary and Carolina
The Calgary Flames walked away with Cole Reschny and Cullen Potter. Small? Yes. Fast? Extremely. The Flames are betting on the "new NHL" where you just outskate the problems. Potter might be the fastest kid to come through the draft since McDavid.
Meanwhile, Carolina did the most Carolina thing ever. They traded out of the first round entirely. They ended up with three second-round picks, including Ivan Ryabkin, a guy who many had in their top ten last year but fell because of the "Russian Factor." If Ryabkin hits, the Hurricanes just stole a first-line center for the price of a second-round pick.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often look at 2025 NHL draft grades and assume the team with the most picks won. That's rarely true. The real winners are the teams that addressed a specific organizational philosophy.
Colorado and Tampa Bay are being labeled "losers" because they barely picked in the top 100. But they don't care. They are in "win now" mode. The Avalanche taking Francesco Dell'Elce at 77 was a reach, sure, but they are looking for specific role players, not franchise saviors.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Watch the OHL: The 2025 class was dominated by the Ontario Hockey League. Keep an eye on the development of the "big three" from that league: Schaefer, Misa, and Martone.
- Don't overreact to the "Slide": James Hagens falling to 7th doesn't mean he's a bust. It means teams 1 through 6 had very specific positional needs (mostly defense and "heavy" centers).
- The Goalie Market: Joshua Ravensbergen going at 30 to San Jose is a huge deal. He's widely considered the best goalie prospect in years. If you're a Sharks fan, the future in net is officially set.
If you’re looking to track these prospects, the next big milestone is the 2026 World Junior Championship. That’s where we’ll see if the Islanders' "nasty" defense can actually shut down the speed the Flames and Bruins just drafted. For now, the Islanders and Flyers sit at the head of the class, while the rest of the league is left wondering how they let James Hagens fall into the Bruins' lap.
To stay ahead of the curve, follow the transition of these players from junior hockey to the AHL. Often, the "best" picks at the draft struggle with the physicality of the pro game in year one, while "reaches" like Kashawn Aitcheson tend to thrive because their game is already built for men's hockey. Keep your eyes on the rookie tournament rosters this September to see who is actually ready for the jump.