5/5/2025

(Secaucus, NJ)

The first live drawing of the NHL Draft Lottery lived up to the hype. The New York Islanders made the jump from the tenth best odds to picking first overall. San Jose after picking Macklin Celebrini first overall last year, owns the rights for the second pick. Chicago with hopes of building around Connor Bedard pick third, while the Utah Hockey Club made the ascension from the 14th best odds to picking fourth.

The lottery was captivating with a ping pong ball draw on live television on ESPN and Sportsnet (Canada), bringing North American Hockey fans to climactic suspense. National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman said of the lottery, “it was dramatic…it worked the way it was supposed to in terms of the process. But the result was unpredictable”. To witness the lottery unfold live brought a standard of intrigue the league can model. In the end, the New York Islanders swooped in from the tenth best odds to pick first in the draft.

With the Islanders winning the lottery, they are in line to select Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer who is anticipated to be a cornerstone blueliner. The 2025 draft class is loaded with talent from forwards primarily, yet overall shapes to not be as strong as previous classes.

The Seattle Kraken are slotted to pick in the eighth overall pick for the second straight year. Last year, the Kraken drafted Spokane Chief defenseman Berkly Catton. The Spokane blue liner is set to play in the WHL Final against Medicine Hat starting this week, after tallying 38 goals and 71 assists this season. The Kraken have plenty of talent to work with already on top of the draft. Seattle acquired plenty of talent growth through AHL affiliate Coachella Valley. Matty Beniers, Tye Kartye, and Shane Wright represent part of the forwards that have made their way to the NHL roster. Seattle also had contributions from Coachella newcomers Jani Nyman, Ryan Winterton, and Cale Fluery.

Kraken General Manager Jason Botterill mentioned the Kraken will take an aggressive approach to the offseason. The intrigue remains for what the Kraken will do with not only the picks from this year’s draft, but five first round picks in the next three years. The pressing need for Seattle is having a true number one scorer. Will they search for one in the draft? Or will they go with spending in free agency? Only time will tell.

Here is a look at the NHL Draft Order, after the lottery including the points from the team awarded each pick.

1. New York Islanders (82) (Won Draft Lottery)

2. San Jose Sharks (52)

3. Chicago Blackhawks (61)

4. Utah Hockey Club (89) (Advanced from 14th Pick)

5. Nashville Predators (68)

6. Philadelphia Flyers (76)

7. Boston Bruins (76)

8. Seattle Kraken (76)

9. Buffalo Sabres (79)

10. Anaheim Ducks (80)

11. Pittsburgh Penguins (80)

12. New York Rangers (85)

13. Detroit Red Wings (86)

14. Columbus Blue Jackets (89)

15. Vancouver Canucks (90)

16. Montreal Canadiens (via Calgary Flames) (CGY: 96)

Stay tuned to ESN for more updates on the latest of the NHL and the Seattle Kraken.

www.elisportsnetwork.com