The 2025 NHL Draft opened Friday, June 27, with teams across the league making key selections to shape their future rosters. Front offices emphasized youth, potential and long-term development, with scouts and executives closely watching how the first round unfolded. 

The annual event continues to serve as a pivotal moment for rebuilding franchises and playoff contenders alike, offering a chance to add foundational pieces.

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 As expected, several top prospects came off the board early, drawing attention from fans and analysts around the league. 

Here's analysis on the New York Islanders' second 2025 NHL Draft first-round pick.

No. 16 New York Islanders Select: Victor Eklund, LW, Djugårdens IF

Scouting Report

An aggressive, speedy and skilled winger, Eklund turned heads with a high-end performance with Djugården this season. The younger brother of San Jose Sharks forward William Eklund finished with 31 points in 42 games, which is sixth-most among U19 forwards all-time in the Allsvenskan. The other players ahead of Eklund all play or played in the NHL including William Karlsson, Elias Pettersson, Filip Forsberg, Alexander Wennberg and record-holder Patrik Berglund. Eklund is 5-foot-11, but his tenacious, competitive drive limits concerns about his size. He has a very mature game on top of the quickness, skill and work ethic that leads me to believe he is going to find a top-six role in his peak years in the NHL.

Instant Analysis

I believe the Islanders tried to move up in the draft to get local boy James Hagens, but couldn't make it happen. What they do get, however, is a player I ranked inside my Top 10 at No. 8. I love Eklund. He's a super competitive winger who plays the game hard and at 100 miles an hour. He's quick and skilled, but still has that get-under-your-skin kind of way about him just in how he plays. Seth Jarvis has been a frequent comparable for Eklund. I think the Islanders got great value here, even if they ultimately couldn't write the Hollywood script many of us believed they were attempting with the potential trade-up.

No. 17 New York Islanders Select: Kashawn Aitcheson, D, Barrie Colts

Scouting Report

One of the meanest, most physical players in this draft, Aitcheson also had 26 goals during the OHL season from the blue line. The 6-foot-1, left-shot defenseman is one of the oldest first-year eligible players in the draft, but he’s a complete throwback player that teams feel could be of exceptional value in the playoffs. I don’t anticipate Aitcheson’s goal scoring will translate at the NHL level, but I do think he has the ability down the road to be a consistent 40-point defenseman who makes every opposing forward aware of his presence on the ice. His compete and physicality are special traits that teams will value highly.

Instant Analysis

Long Island is going to love Aitcheson. That physical edge he brings is going to be a major factor in games at the NHL level. He has a real fire in his belly when he plays and it explodes with some vicious checks. When you consider he also had time to score 32 goals over the regular season and playoffs this year, you have to love it. He was the No. 2 defenseman on my list and No. 11 overall. I think the Islanders got an absolute haul in this draft by landing two top-four defensemen and a high-end top-six winger. There's a lot to like about what they ultimately got after a difficult day in trading Noah Dobson.

The 2025 NHL Draft Order

Round 1

• 1. NY Islanders
• 2. San Jose
• 3. Chicago
• 4. Utah
• 5. Nashville
• 6. Philadelphia
• 7. Boston
• 8. Seattle
• 9. Buffalo
• 10. Anaheim
• 11. Pittsburgh
• 12. Pittsburgh (from VAN via NYR)
• 13. Detroit
• 14. Columbus
• 15. Vancouver
• 16. NY Islanders (From MON via CGY)
• 17. NY Islanders (From MON)
• 18. Calgary (from NJD)
• 19. St. Louis
• 20. Columbus (from MIN)
• 21. Ottawa
• 22. Philadelphia (from COL)
• 23. Nashville (from TBL)
• 24. Los Angeles
• 25. Chicago (from TOR)
• 26. Nashville (from VGK via SJS)
• 27. Washington
• 28. Winnipeg
• 29. Carolina
• 30. San Jose (from DAL)
• 31. Philadelphia (from EDM)
• 32. Calgary (from FLA)

Round 2

• 33. San Jose
• 34. Chicago
• 35. Nashville
• 36. Philadelphia
• 37. Washington (from BOS)
• 38. Seattle
• 39. Buffalo
• 40. Philadelphia (from ANA)
• 41. Montreal (from PIT)
• 42. NY Islanders
• 43. NY Rangers
• 44. Detroit
• 45. Anaheim (from CBJ via PHI)
• 46. Utah
• 47. Vancouver
• 48. Philadelphia (from CGY)
• 49. Montreal
• 50. New Jersey
• 51. Boston (from STL via PIT and EDM)
• 52. Minnesota
• 53. San Jose (from OTT)
• 54. Calgary (from COL via WSH)
• 55. Nashville (from TBL)
• 56. Tampa Bay (from LAK)
• 57. Seattle (from TOR via UTA and TBL)
• 58. Vegas
• 59. Pittsburgh (from WSH)
• 60. Anaheim (from WPG via NJD)
• 61. Boston (from CAR via COL)
• 62. Chicago (from DAL)
• 63. New Jersey (from EDM via UTA)
• 64. Toronto (from FLA)

Round 3

• 65. Vancouver (from SJS via VGK and NYR)
• 66. Chicago
• 67. Nashville
• 68. Philadelphia
• 69. Boston
• 70. NY Rangers (from SEA)
• 71. Buffalo
• 72. Anaheim
• 73. Pittsburgh
• 74. NY Islanders
• 75. Detroit (from NYR via UTA)
• 76. Detroit
• 77. Columbus
• 78. Utah
• 79. Montreal (from VAN)
• 80. Calgary
• 81. Montreal
• 82. Montreal (from NJD)
• 83. Edmonton (from STL)
• 84. Pittsburgh (from MIN via PHI and NSH)
• 85. Pittsburgh (from OTT via STL)
• 86. Toronto (from COL via NSH and SJS)
• 87. Carolina (from TBL)
• 88. Los Angeles
• 89. NY Rangers (from TOR via ANA)
• 90. New Jersey (from VGK)
• 91. Vegas (from WSH)
• 92. Winnipeg
• 93. Washington (from CAR)
• 94. Dallas
• 95. San Jose (from EDM)
• 96. Ottawa (from FLA)

Round 4

• 97. Ottawa (from SJS)
• 98. Chicago
• 99. New Jersey (from NSH)
• 100. Boston (from PHI via TOR)
• 101. Anaheim (from BOS via DET)
• 102. Seattle
• 103. Buffalo
• 104. Anaheim
• 105. Pittsburgh
• 106. NY Islanders
• 107. Chicago (from NYR)
• 108. Montreal (from DET)
• 109. Columbus
• 110. Utah
• 111. NY Rangers (from VAN via COL)
• 112. Florida (from CGY)
• 113. Montreal
• 114. New Jersey
• 115. San Jose (from STL via CBJ)
• 116. Buffalo (from MIN via ANA)
• 117. Vancouver (from OTT via EDM)
• 118. Colorado
• 119. Detroit (from TBL)
• 120. Los Angeles
• 121. Minnesota (from TOR)
• 122. Vegas
• 123. Washington
• 124. San Jose (from WPG via DAL)
• 125. Carolina
• 126. Dallas
• 127. Tampa Bay (from EDM)
• 128. Florida

Round 5

• 129. Florida (from SJS)
• 130. Pittsburgh (from CHI via TOR and WSH)
• 131. Nashville
• 132. Philadelphia
• 133. Boston
• 134. Seattle
• 135. Buffalo
• 136. Anaheim
• 137. Toronto (from PIT)
• 138. NY Islanders
• 139. NY Rangers
• 140. Detroit
• 141. Minnesota (from CBJ)
• 142. Utah
• 143. Vancouver
• 144. Calgary
• 145. Montreal
• 146. Dallas (from NJD)
• 147. St. Louis
• 148. Pittsburgh (from MIN via NYR)
• 149. Ottawa
• 150. San Jose (from COL)
• 151. Tampa Bay
• 152. Los Angeles
• 153. Toronto
• 154. Vegas
• 155. Washington
• 156. Winnipeg
• 157. Philadelphia (from CAR)
• 158. Dallas
• 159. Anaheim (from EDM)
• 160. Florida

Round 6

• 161. New Jersey (from SJS)
• 162. Chicago
• 163. Nashville
• 164. Philadelphia
• 165. Boston
• 166. NY Rangers (from SEA)
• 167. Buffalo
• 168. Anaheim
• 169. Pittsburgh
• 170. NY Islanders
• 171. NY Rangers
• 172. Detroit
• 173. Columbus
• 174. Utah
• 175. Vancouver
• 176. Calgary
• 177. Montreal
• 178. New Jersey
• 179. St. Louis
• 180. Minnesota
• 181. Ottawa
• 182. Nashville (from COL)
• 183. Carolina (from TBL)
• 184. Los Angeles
• 185. Toronto
• 186. Vegas
• 187. Vegas (from WSH)
• 188. Winnipeg
• 189. Carolina
• 190. Dallas
• 191. Edmonton
• 192. Florida

Round 7

• 193. Tampa Bay (from SJS)
• 194. Chicago
• 195. Buffalo (from NSH)
• 196. Los Angeles (from PHI)
• 197. Chicago (from BOS)
• 198. Seattle
• 199. Buffalo
• 200. Anaheim
• 201. Pittsburgh
• 202. NY Islanders
• 203. NY Rangers
• 204. Detroit
• 205. Columbus
• 206. Tampa Bay (from UTA)
• 207. Vancouver
• 208. Calgary
• 209. Montreal
• 210. San Jose (from NJD)
• 211. Detroit (from STL)
• 212. Tampa Bay (from MIN)
• 213. Ottawa
• 214. Colorado
• 215. Tampa Bay
• 216. Los Angeles
• 217. Toronto
• 218. Columbus (from VGK)
• 219. Buffalo (from WSH via SJS)
• 220. Winnipeg
• 221. Carolina
• 222. Dallas
• 223. Edmonton
• 224. Florida

How To Watch The 2025 NHL Draft

The first round of the 2025 NHL Draft will be televised exclusively on the NHL Network as well as ESPN and ESPN+ beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday, June 27. Rounds 2-7 will be on NHL Network and ESPN+. 

FloHockey's Top 100 NHL Prospects

Matthew Schaefer Tops Chris Peters' Final Top 100 before the NHL Draft, see the full list here. 

NHL Prospect Coverage On FloHockey

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Don't miss the latest new prospect guides, rankings and more from Chris Peters and the FloHockey staff.

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