Winners and losers from 1st round of 2025 NHL Draft

New GM Mathieu Darche traded away young defenceman Noah Dobson to make contract space, receiving the Montreal Canadiens 16th and 17th overall picks in return, as they work on retooling their long middling team. Darche used those picks to grab winger Victor Eklund and defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson from the Barrie Colts, deepening their prospect pool even further.

Boston Bruins

Wait, James Hagens fell how far in the draft? It’s always tough news in Toronto when something good happens for the Boston Bruins, especially when it comes right as the group from Beantown finally missed the playoffs for the first time in almost ten years.

But unfortunately this year, with their seventh overall pick, the Bruins were able to steal the Boston College forward. Hagens had a huge 2023-24 season, but his smaller size and decreased playmaking this season let him slip through the cracks. GM Don Sweeney will certainly be popping the champagne for this one tonight.

Columbus Blue Jackets

After just missing out on the playoffs for another year, the Blue Jackets came into this first day hungry. A veteran add in Charlie Coyle on the trade market, a big blueliner in Jackson Smith, then the first goaltender of the draft marked the Jackets’ night, when they picked 18-year-old Russian netminder Pyotr Andreyanov.

Losers:

NHL fans watching the draft

I think we can all agree, the new decentralized format of the draft was an absolute mess. Awkward television lacking any human connection, and somehow it all seemed to drag out even longer. Not even Hollywood stars could save this one.

Toronto Maple Leafs, for sitting on the sidelines

Look, it was a good day overall for the Maple Leafs, there’s no doubt about it. John Tavares’ extension was a slam-dunk for the team and already knowing they weren’t picking in the first round, there’s been more focus anyways on the free agent market to build a Cup-contending team going into next year.

But on the draft front, it was a tough day for the Leafs to be sitting on the sidelines watching as their Eastern Conference rivals bolstered up their future one-by-one. Now it’s up to Brad Treliving to see what he and his team can do to jump right back in going into the second round of the draft and beyond today.