The Athletic has live coverage of the 2025 NHL Draft. LOS ANGELES — Welcome to my pick-by-pick breakdown of the 2025 NHL Draft’s first round. Over the next two days, I’ll review and rank the draft classes of all 32 NHL teams.

With the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft, the Islanders selected Erie Otters (OHL) defenseman Matthew Schaefer to help stabilize their back end for years to come. Schaefer registered seven goals and 15 assists to go along with a +21 rating in just 17 games this past season after dealing with a collarbone injury.

Islanders GM and EVP Mathieu Darche is “beyond excited” winger Victor Eklund and defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson were available

Tracking all of the latest NHL trades, including the Islanders trading Noah Dobson to the Canadiens, per report.

Defenseman Noah Dobson was at the center of a trade Friday between the Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders with the idea both franchises are heading in different directions. The Canadiens got Dobson after he'd signed an eight-year contract extension worth $9.

The Montreal Canadiens are reportedly bringing in one of the NHL's most productive right-shot defensemen ahead of the 2025-26 season.