NHL Draft Live Blog: Follow the latest ahead of the first pick


NHL Draft Day has arrived as TSN.ca has you covered with all the latest news and notes as the first round is underway. 

Key Links: Trade Tracker  Signing Tracker  Draft Tracker 


Penguins make another trade, select Horcoff with Kings’ 24th pick

The Pittsburgh Penguins continue to stay busy at the 2025 NHL Draft, acquiring the 24th pick from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for the 31st and 59th overall selections.

Pittsburgh would later select American forward William Horcoff from the University of Michigan with the newly acquired pick.

More to come.


Senators trade down with Predators

The Ottawa Senators traded the 21st overall pick to the Nashville Predators for the 23rd pick and the 67th pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, the team announced.

The Predators selected defenceman Cameron Reid from the Kitchener Rangers with the pick they acquired from the Senators, before Ottawa took University of Wisconsin defenceman Logan Hensler two spots later following one season of NCAA hockey.

Reid, 18, registered 14 goals and 40 assists in 67 games played for Kitchener in his second season with the team, while Hensler, 18, scored two goals and eight assists in 32 games as a freshman. He was also named to the NCAA B1G All-Rookie Team. 

Hensler, a Woodbury, Minn. native, win the gold medal as a member of the United States’ World Junior team in 2025.

The Woodbury, Minn., helped the United States win gold at the 2025 World Juniors in Ottawa. He also has a U17 gold medal and U18 silver medal. 

Reid, a native of Aylmer, Ont., is now the second player taken by Nashville in the first round of this year’s draft after they took Brady Martin with the fifth overall pick from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.


Flyers swing trade with Penguins for 12th pick

The Philadelphia Flyers moved up in the first round, acquiring the 12th overall pick from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for picks No. 22 and 31.

Philadelphia later selected Jack Nesbitt from the Windsor Spitfires with the pick.

Nesbitt, 18, recorded 25 goals and 39 assists in his sophomore season in the OHL season last year, adding a goal and nine assists in 10 playoff games. The Sarnia, Ont. native finished with the fifth-highest point total among Spitfires skaters.

A 6-foot-4 centre, Nesbitt represented Canada at the U-18 World Championships, tallying five points to help the team win gold.

Earlier in the draft, Philadelphia selected Brampton Steelheads captain Porter Martone with the sixth overall selection.


Bennett stays in Florida

The Panthers locked up reigning Conn Smythe winner Sam Bennett to an eight-year, $64 million extension on Friday night.

A pending unrestricted free agent, Bennett helped the Panthers capture their second straight Stanley Cup championship, leading all players in the postseason with 15 goals. 


Sabres re-sign Quinn

The Buffalo Sabres re-signed forward Jack Quinn to a two-year contract extension with an AAV of $3.375 million on Friday. 

Quinn, 23, had 15 goals and 39 points in 74 games with Buffalo last season. 


Jackets land Coyle, Wood from Avalanche

They missed out on Noah Dobson, but the Columbus Blue Jackets made a deal on Friday afternoon.

The Blue Jackets acquired forwards Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forward Gavin Brindley, a 2025 third-round selection and a conditional second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. 

TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun says the condition on the pick in 2027 is that the Blue Jackets have two second-round picks that year so they can send the lower pick to Colorado. 

Coyle, 33, appeared in 19 games for the Avs last season after being acquired at the trade deadline from the Boston Bruins. He had two goals and 11 assists. He added another goal in seven playoff contests.

A native of East Weymouth, MA, Coyle is headed into his 14th NHL season. He is 50 games away from the 1,000 games played mark.

Coyle is headed into the final year of a six-year, $31.25 million deal.


How close did Columbus get on Dobson?

As TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reported earlier on Friday, the last two teams standing in the Noah Dobson sweepstake were the Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens with the latter team winning out.

What did the New York Islanders want from Columbus?

Well, The Athletic‘s Aaron Portzline reports the team asked for both of its two first-round picks tonight (Nos. 14 and 20), as well as a roster player and another piece.

Ultimately, the Jackets wouldn’t meet that price.


Giroux, Sens still talking

After their provincial rival retained a veteran forward ahead of July 1 earlier on Friday when the Leafs re-signed John Tavares, can the Ottawa Senators do the same?

Postmedia‘s Bruce Garrioch reports the team and Claude Giroux are still talking, but gaps remain. The belief is that both sides want to get a deal done.


New deal for Dobson

New Montreal Canadiens defenceman Noah Dobson is signing an eight-year deal worth $9.5 million per season, TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston confirms.

The deal makes Dobson the joint-14th highest-paid blueliner in the NHL.


Dobson heads to Habs

The Noah Dobson sweepstakes came to a head quickly as expected and he’s on his way to the Montreal Canadiens.

ESPN’s Kevin Weekes was first with the deal.

More to come.


The new Free Agent Frenzy list

TSN has unveiled its Top 50 NHL UFA List with only days ahead of Free Agent Frenzy.

Click here to read.


Lagesson staying with Red Wings

Defenceman William Lagesson is returning to the Detroit Red Wings for two years, the team announced on Friday.

Lagesson, 29, split last season between the Wings and the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins. The Gothenburg native skated in seven NHL games.

He has appeared in 107 NHL games over six seasons with the Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers.

Lagesson has 12 assists for his career.


Details on Tavares’s new deal

John Tavares’s new four-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs comes with a full no-movement clause in the first two years, TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reports.

In the final two years, the deal includes a five-team trade list.

A native of Oakville, Ont., Tavares has spent the past seven seasons with the Leafs. His new deal will take him to the age of 38.


Tavares staying with Leafs

With a GIF of Jack Torrance, the Toronto Maple Leafs have announced the return of John Tavares for four years.

Tavares confirmed it himself moments later.

Tavares will get $4.38 million per season.


Vlasic clears waivers

After being waived on Thursday for the purposes of a buyout, veteran defenceman Marc-Edouard Vlasic has cleared waivers and will not be bought out by the San Jose Sharks.

Vlasic, 38, had one year remaining on an eight-year deal.

He appeared in 1,323 games for the Sharks over 19 seasons, but injuries limited him to just 84 over the past two seasons.


Labour peace in the NHL

The NHL-NHLPA CBA extension is confirmed, TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun confirms.

The last-minute hang-up has been officially put to bed and the CBA is good for another four years.

A presser is scheduled for 1pm ET in Los Angeles.


Oilers lock up Frederic for eight

While Connor Brown could be leaving the Edmonton Oilers, Trent Frederic is staying.

The team has locked up their trade deadline acquisition from the Boston Bruins for eight year at $3.85 million per season.

The 27-year-old St. Louis native only dressed in one regular season game. He scored a goal and had three assists in 22 playoff contests.

Frederic is set to enter his eighth NHL season.


Brown likely to test free agency

Connor Brown and the Edmonton Oilers are unlikely to come to an agreement on a new deal ahead of July 1, Ryan Rishaug notes.

A 31-year-old native of Etobicoke, Ont., Brown spent the past two seasons with the Oilers. He appeared in all 82 games this past season, scoring 13 goals and adding 17 assists. He had nine points in 20 playoff games.

A veteran of 10 NHL seasons, Brown also suited up for the Washington Capitals, Ottawa Senators and his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs.

Brown played on a one-year, $1 million deal last season.


More on Dobson

TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston believes a trade of the Islanders rearguard could come about fairly soon.

Johnston notes that the Blues no longer appear to be in the running for the 25-year-old Summerside, PEI native.


Dobson talks heating up?

As noted below, Noah Dobson’s future with the New York Islanders is up in the air as he negotiates a new contract as a restricted free agent.

Now, TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports there’s “a real sense a trade could happen by tonight given the possibility of a first-round pick from tonight being included in the trade.”

LeBrun lists the St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets as being among the team’s with interest.

 


No shortage of picks in play

Utah’s fourth-overall pick is one of many potentially in play in trade talks as the first round approaches Friday night.

TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reported Thursday that the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have picks No. 11 and 12, Montreal Canadiens (Nos. 16 and 17), Philadelphia Flyers (Nos. 6, 22 and 31), and Nashville Predators (Nos. 5, 23 and 26) are all keeping their options open ahead of the draft, though the Flyers are planning to hold on to pick No. 6. 

Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell revealed Thursday he’s been asked about both of his first-rounders at Nos. 14 and 20 overall, but the offers have not made sense from a value standpoint as of yet. Waddell even revealed that he’s been offered the opportunity to pick as high as eighth overall – a selection currently owned by the Seattle Kraken.

One reason for all the activity? Waddell says the draft is anyone’s guess after the first seven picks.

“After that, the guy that goes eighth, we might have 20th on our list,” Waddell said, per the team’s website. “It doesn’t mean it’s a bad draft. It’s just after the first group of players, there’s certainly a drop off.”

Depending on how things shake out, Waddell might be more inclined to move once the draft is already underway.

“You listen to every deal. I’ve made a lot of deals on draft day (in my career),” Waddell said. “(With pick No. 14), we might have three or four guys that we’re very comfortable with, so we (can) move back to 17 or 18. We know we’re going to get one of those guys and pick up another asset. … But I’m also a believer that if there’s a guy on that list and you really want him, you just step up and take him.”
 


Utah open to moving No. 4 pick

The Uath Mammoth swung a massive trade Wednesday to land JJ Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres and as the team looks to leap into the playoffs, the No. 4 pick could be available in further trade talks.

“Look, we’re pumped that we’re in line to get a good player in the draft,” Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong told NHL.com. “We’re looking to get better in any way, whether it be the draft, by trade or free agency. We barely missed the playoffs last year and we want to make the next step. We just have to make sure we keep everything in front of us.

“We’ve been a team that’s tried to put together a team of people with the same age, ultimately, together, and not just create a team for dollar signs. It’s something where you’re just trying to add one piece at a time. You can’t do it all, right? We’ve got young players who are 21, 22, 23. You look at the Stanley Cup Final, and you’ve got star players that are 27, 28, 29, 30. And so our guys still have to go through that maturing process. It takes a little time to go through, you know. At the same time, if we can help build around them and put them with players that complement them and, at the right age, grow with them, you pursue it.”

While moving the fourth overall selection has not been ruled out, Armstrong said it’s unlikely given the history of draft trades.

“Realistically you almost never see a trade made in the top four. It’s almost an impossible trade to make,” Armstrong said. “Yeah, we’re moving forward to look at, you know, picking. At the same time, if there are options out there, we’re going to look at them. We’re going to look at all options.”

The Mammoth, who signed Peterka to a five-year deal after sending Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring to the Sabres for him, have just under $15 million in cap space remaining, per PuckPedia, with 20 players under contract.

The team could be a major player in free agency, though Armstrong said he’s weary of being one of the teams “that win the summers and won’t win in the winter.”
 


Countdown to Free Agent Frenzy

TSN’s daily Countdown to Free Agent Frenzy has been launched for the day with updates on Alex Pietrangelo’s health being a question mark for the Vegas Golden Knights, if the Buffalo Sabres could deal another restricted free agent in Bowen Bryam and Evgeny Kuznetsov’s agent stating the veteran is eyeing an NHL return.

Like Dobson, Byram appears to be potentially available as contract talks stall with the Buffalo Sabres. 

Read those updates and more here.

 


Islanders on the clock

After winning the draft lottery in April, the New York Islanders hold the first overall pick in tonight’s draft. 

New general manager Mathieu Darche is widely expected to select Erie Otters defenceman Matthew Schaefer first overall.

As Schaefer is set to arrive though, the Islanders appear to be considering a split with their current top defenceman, Noah Dobson.

“Well, there’s always been an understanding this would be an ‘either or’ situation,” TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston said Thursday on Insider Trading. “Either the Islanders were signing their restricted free agent Noah Dosbon to a deal that bought some of his UFA years, which start next year, or they would be trading him.

“After having discussions with his agent, the feeling right now is that the Islanders are looking at the trade market, certainly engaging with other teams to see what that might look like.

“Look, it’s going to be a complicated deal. There’s a lot of teams interested in this player. 

“But who can pay the price? Who can get the kind of agreement for him? I can tell you that the Montreal Canadiens and St. Louis Blues are among those that have been involved to this point with Dobson.

“But at this stage, it’s a little too soon to say exactly which direction it’s going to go or if anyone else jumps in there because they first have to make a trade with the Islanders and then, ultimately, get the player signed to complete a deal.”

Reports have indicated that Dobson could be looking for as high as an $11 million cap hit on his next deal.

The 25-year-old blueliner recorded 10 goals and 39 points in 71 games with the New York Islanders last season while averaging 23:16 of ice time. He is coming off of a three-year, $12 million contract that carried an annual cap hit of $4 million. 

Dobson has a career season during the 2023-24 campaign, recording 10 goals and 70 points in 79 games while averaging 24:31 of ice time. 

The Canadiens own back-to-back picks in the first round at Nos. 16 and 17 overall and are reportedly willing to part with one or both of those picks to land a roster player. 


 

McKenzie’s Draft Rankings

TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie released his final draft rankings this week with Michael Misa and Porter Martone sliding in behind Matthew Schaefer at the top of his board.

Get caught up with the full list below or read his full breakdown for more analysis. 

 

1 Matthew Schaefer Erie (OHL) D 6’1 ¾ 183 17 7 22
2 Michael Misa Saginaw (OHL) C/LW 6’0 ¾ 184 65 62 134
3 Porter Martone Brampton (OHL) RW 6’2 ¾ 208 57 37 98
4 Anton Frondell Djurgardens (SWE) C 6’1 198 29 11 25
5 Caleb Desnoyers Moncton (QMJHL) C 6’0 ½ 178 56 35 84
6 Jake O’Brien Brantford (OHL) C 6’1 ¾ 172 66 32 98
7 James Hagens Boston C (NCAA) C 5’10 ½ 177 35 10 35
8 Brady Martin S.S. Marie (OHL) C/RW 6’0 178 57 33 72
9 Roger McQueen Brandon (WHL) C 6’5 ¼ 197 17 10 20
10 Victor Eklund Djurgardens (SWE) RW 5’11 161 42 19 31
11 Radim Mrtka Seattle (WHL) D 6’5 ¾ 207 43 3 35
12 Jackson Smith Tri-City (WHL) D 6’3 ¼ 195 68 11 54
13 Kashawn Aitcheson Barrie (OHL) D 6’1 ½ 196 64 26 59
14 Carter Bear Everett (WHL) LW 6’0 179 56 40 82
15 Logan Hensler Wisconsin (NCAA) D 6’2 ¼ 192 32 2 12
16 Justin Carbonneau B-Boisbriand (QMJHL) RW 6’1 191 62 46 89
17 Jack Nesbitt Windsor (OHL) C 6’4 ¼ 185 65 25 64
18 Braeden Cootes Seattle (WHL) C 5’11 ¼ 183 60 26 63
19 Cole Reschny Victoria (WHL) C 5’10 ½ 183 62 26 92
20 Lynden Lakovic Moose Jaw (WHL) LW 6’4 ¼ 190 47 27 58
21 Cullen Potter Arizona State (NCAA) C 5’10 172 35 13 22
22 Ben Kindel Calgary (WHL) RW/C 5’10 176 65 35 99
23 Sascha Boumedienne Boston U (NCAA) D 6’1 175 36 3 12
24 Cameron Reid Kitchener (OHL) D 511 ¾ 193 67 14 54
25 Malcolm Spence Erie (OHL) LW 6’1 203 65 32 73
26 Milton Gastrin MoDo (SWE J20) C 6’0 ½ 185 40 18 42
27 Will Horcoff Michigan (NCAA) C/LW 6’4 ¾ 190 18 4 10
28 Blake Fiddler Edmonton (WHL) D 6’4 209 64 10 33
29 Bill Zonnon B-Boisbriand (QMJHL) RW 6’1 181 64 28 83
30 Eric Nilson Djurgardens (SWE J20) C 5’11 ½ 156 37 12 38
31 Ryker Lee Madison (USHL) RW 5’11 ½ 181 51 28 61
32 Henry Brzustewicz London (OHL) D 6’1 ¾ 203 67 10 42
                 
33 Jack Murtagh USA NTDP (USHL) LW 6’0 ¾ 200 44 20 45
34 Joshua Ravensbergen Prince George (WHL) G 6’5 ¼ 190 51 3.00 .901
35 Alexander Zharovsky Ufa (MHL) RW 6’1 163 45 24 50
36 Daniil Prokhorov St. Petersburg (MHL) RW 6’5 209 43 20 27
37 Cole McKinney USA NTDP (USHL) C 6’0 200 47 22 51
38 Jakob Ihs-Wozniak Lulea (SWE J20) RW 6’2 ¼ 184 40 23 57
39 Vaclav Nestrasil Muskegon (USHL) RW 6’5 187 61 19 42
40 Will Moore USA NTDP (USHL) C 6’2 ¼ 175 51 22 44
41 Ivan Ryabkin Muskegon (USHL) C 5’11 201 21 15 24
42 Haoxi (Simon) Wang Oshawa (OHL) D 6’5 ½ 215 32 0 2
43 Eddie Genborg Linkoping (SWE J20) LW 6’1 179 28 19 34
44 Max Psenicka Portland (WHL) D 6’5 185 24 1 7
45 Jack Ivankovic Brampton (OHL) G 5’11 178 43 3.05 .903
46 Mason West Edina (USHS) C 6’5 ¾ 208 31 27 49
47 Cameron Schmidt Vancouver (WHL) RW 5’7 ¼ 161 61 40 78
48 Shane Vansaghi Michigan State (NCAA) RW 6’2 216 36 6 16
49 Jacob Rombach Lincoln (USHL) D 6’6 ¼ 196 52 3 18
50 Matthew Gard Red Deer (WHL) C 6’4 ¾ 192 66 19 36
51 Carter Amico USA NTDP (USHL) D 6’5 ¼ 225 13 0 3
52 Tyler Hopkins Kingston (OHL) C 6’1 181 67 20 51
53 Ethan Czata Niagara (OHL) C 6’1 ¼ 175 68 21 55
54 Nathan Behm Kamloops (WHL) RW 6’1 ½ 192 59 31 66
55 Kurban Limatov Moskva (MHL) D 6’4 190 46 8 23
56 Peyton Kettles Swift Current (WHL) D 6’5 ¼ 190 53 5 14
57 Semyon Frolov Moskva (MHL) G 6’3 203 13 2.05 .915
58 Pyotr Andreyanov Moskva (MHL) G 6’2 207 37 1.75 .942
59 Aleksei Medvedev London (OHL) G 6’2 ¼ 178 34 2.79 .912
60 Conrad Fondrk USA NTDP (USHL) LW 5’11 ¾ 193 40 13 27
61 Theodor Hallquisth Orebro (SHL) D 6’2 172 41 5 22
62 Charlie Trethewey USA NTDP (USHL) D 6’1 200 53 6 19
63 Theo Stockselius Djurgardens (SWE J20) C 6’2 176 40 22 51
64 David Bedkowski Owen Sound (OHL) D 6’5 214 35 3 7
                 
65 Vojtech Cihar Karlovy Vary (CZE U20) LW 6’0 170 43 4 9
66 Tomas Poletin Pelicans (SWE J20) C 6’1 ¼ 200 25 13 20
67 Luca Romano Kitchener (OHL) C/RW 5’11 ¼ 177 67 25 51
68 Malte Vass Farjestad (SWE J20) D 6’1 ¾ 184 40 2 11
69 Adam Benak Youngstown (USHL) C 5’7 ¼ 160 53 16 54
70 Kristian Epperson Saginaw (OHL) LW 5’11 ½ 183 58 27 80
71 Michal Pradel Tri-City (USHL) G 6’4 ¼ 195 14 2.41 .899
72 Hayden Paupanekis Kelowna (WHL) C 6’4 198 32 11 19
73 Ben Kevan Des Moines (USHL) RW 6’0 ¼ 182 47 13 42
74 Mace’o Phillips USA NTDP (USHL) 6’6 234 60 2 6
75 Lasse Boelius Assat (SM Liiga Jr.) D 5’11 ¾ 179 34 4 18
76 Brandon Gorzynski Calgary (WHL) LW 6’1 ½ 185 68 17 42
77 Mason Moe Madison (USHL) C 6’1 185 51 17 43
78 Viktor Klingsell Skelleftea (SWE J20) LW 5’9 ½ 188 43 17 39
79 Jan Chovan Tappara (SM Liiga Jr.) C 6’2 185 39 11 23
80 John Mooney USA NTDP (USHL) RW 5’7 157 51 10 51
                 
HM Lirim Amidovski North Bay (OHL) RW 6’1 174 67 19 32
HM Sean Barnhill Dubuque (USHL) D 6’5 214 54 4 12
HM Quinn Beauchesne Guelph (OHL) D 6’0 185 49 6 24
HM Charlie Cerrato Penn State (NCAA) C 6’0 190 38 15 42
HM Kieren Dervin Kingston (OHL) C 6’1 183 10 1 3
HM Arvid Drott Djurgardens (SWE J20) RW 6’0 187 40 18 36
HM Artyom Gonchar Magnitogorsk (MHL) D 6’0 143 50 7 25
HM Owen Griffin Oshawa (OHL) C 5’10 172 62 22 51
HM Alex Huang Chicoutimi (QMJHL) D 6’0 161 64 7 40
HM Dmitri Isayev Yekaterinburg (MHL) LW 5’9 148 44 22 45
HM Atte Joki Lukko (SM Liiga Jr.) C 6’2 190 40 15 32
HM Jan Kucharcik Slavia (CZE Jr.) C 6’3 164 25 6 16
HM Tommy Lafreniere Kamloops (WHL) C 5’11 170 68 24 56
HM Sam Laurila Fargo (USHL) D 6’0 ¼ 184 57 8 41
HM David Lewandowski Saskatoon (WHL) C 6’1 176 52 15 39
HM Zeb Lindgren Skelleftea (SWE J20) D 6’1 198 38 4 19
HM Brady Peddle Waterloo (USHL) D 6’3 203 62 3 10
HM Liam Pettersson Vaxjo (SWE J20) D 6’2 170 39 6 21
HM Will Reynolds A-Bathurst (QMJHL) D 6’3 192 64 4 14
HM Cooper Simpson Shakopee High (USHL) LW 6’1 179 31 49 83

 

 





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