2025 NHL Draft: A New Chapter in Professional Hockey

Welcome to our coverage of the 2025 NHL Draft, where the future of hockey will be shaped by team selections choosing from a pool of talented young prospects globally. These youths stand on the precipice of achieving a life ambition of joining the world’s premier professional ice hockey league. The first round of the draft kicked off on Friday, with six more rounds slated for today’s session. The draft is headquartered at the Peacock Center in sunny Los Angeles.

Today, let’s delve into the order for the seventh round. Kicking off the round at pick 193 is Tampa Bay, followed closely by Chicago and Buffalo. Subsequent picks include such teams as Los Angeles, Seattle, Buffalo, Anaheim, and Pittsburgh. Midway through, Detroit, Columbus, Tampa Bay, Vancouver, and Calgary take their turns. The round concludes with the picks from Tampa Bay, Los Angeles, Toronto, Columbus, Buffalo, Winnipeg, Carolina, Dallas, Edmonton, and Florida.

Consequently, the teams drafting in the sixth round include New Jersey, Chicago, and Nashville to start. Several selections later, teams Boston, NY Rangers, Buffalo, Anaheim, and Pittsburgh secure their choices. As we near the end, Carolina, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Vegas put their plans into action, with Winnipeg, Carolina, Dallas, Edmonton, and Florida bringing up the rear.

Onto the fifth round, we find Florida, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Philadelphia, and Boston waiting patiently for their draft picks. Midway through, Dallas, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, and Ottawa sink their teeth into the talent pool. Rounding off, Philadelphia, Dallas, Anaheim, and Columbus make hay while the draft sun shines.

In the fourth round, we kick it off with Ottawa and Chicago followed by teams such as New Jersey, Boston, and Anaheim. Halfway through Montreal, New Jersey, San Jose, and Buffalo stake their claim. The round concludes with powerhouses such as Minnesota, Vegas, Washington, San Jose, Carolina, Dallas, Tampa Bay, and Florida.

For the third round, Vancouver leads the way, followed by such organizations as Chicago, Nashville, Philadelphia, Boston, and NY Rangers. Teams Montreal, Calgary, and Edmonton patiently anticipate their turn halfway through. As we near the end, NY Rangers, New Jersey, Vegas, Winnipeg, Washington, Dallas, San Jose, and Ottawa align their ducks in order.

During the second round, key rosters like San Jose, Chicago, Nashville, and Philadelphia are all ready to make their calculated decisions. As the round progresses, Boston, Minnesota, San Jose, Calgary, Nashville, Tampa Bay, and Seattle join the fray. Rounding the corner to the end, Pittsburgh, Anaheim, Boston, Chicago, New Jersey, and Toronto conclude the team picks.

Switching gears, we turn to the first round which took place yesterday. The first-round picks, 17-32, were cast starting with the New York Islanders, who selected the defensive talent of Kashawn Aitcheson. The list proceeded with selections from Calgary, St. Louis, Columbus, Nashville, Pittsburgh, and Ottawa. To cap off the first round, Los Angeles selected defensive player Henry Brzustewicz, while Calgary went with left-wing skater Cullen Potter.

Now to the heart of the first round, picks 1-16, where teams drafted promising players to enrich their rosters. The New York Islanders opted for defender Matthew Schaefer. In succeeding slots, teams like San Jose, Chicago, Utah, and Nashville made their precious early picks. The round ended with New York Islanders seizing forward Victor Eklund to enrich their frontline.

The 2025 NHL Draft holds in the esteemed Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, a significant shift from its previous location in an NHL arena. This deviation allows for a decentralized setup where each team operative will base themselves in their home cities, participating virtually. An ambitious move by the NHL, this seeks to further distance and safety protocol observance amidst needs for crucial decisions and potential trade negotiations.

As per the league’s statement, there will be a massive presence from the prospective draftees. A total of 93 prospects will attend the event in person in Los Angeles, in the audience of roughly 3,000 fans, in anticipation of the life-changing moment they’ve worked tirelessly for.

Moreover, the viewers from home are in for an unprecedented access into the front offices. Over 100 cameras are deployed across the league to capture every decision-making moment, a bid by the NHL to bring fans closer to the heartbeat of their favorite teams.

The energy at the Peacock Centre will undoubtedly be buzzing with anticipation as each name is drawn and a young player’s life changes in an instant. With families, friends, and fans watching in person and countless more eyes glued to screens around the world, the tension will continually ratchet up each passing moment.

This draft is a testament to years of hard work, discipline, and passion for the game. For many of these young men, the journey started in backyard rinks or early morning practices at their local arenas. And for all this, it now culminates with this: their name being called at the NHL draft, marking the beginning of their professional career.

Behind every pick is a testament of individual talent, team-based tactics, community support, and collective yearning for the prospects to pursue their dream of playing in the NHL. It’s a day intertwined with joy, hope, suspense, and most importantly, anticipation of the promising future.

The 2025 NHL Draft will recommence at Noon ET. To all participating and watching – enjoy the historic event as it shapes the future of professional hockey. Remember, hockey isn’t just a game; it’s a community brought together by a shared love of the sport.