Happy NHL Draft Day to all who celebrate!
It's been a wild few days leading up to tonight's event, with rumors flying around like wildfire. This person gets traded, that one wants out, this prospect's stock is falling, etc. It's total sensory overload. But we love it, and that's why we keep coming back.
The NHL Draft begins tonight, Friday, June 27, at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN and stream on ESPN+ when all the first round picks are made. Rounds 2-7 will take place tomorrow, Saturday, June 28, at noon ET and will be broadcast on NHL Network and stream on ESPN+.
The New York Islanders hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, followed by the San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, Utah Mammoth, and Nashville Predators to round out the top 5.
I was so fascinated by this class way before all the rumors started picking up, so let's find a few high-value wagers to place on my 2025 NHL Draft Best Bets and Predictions.
NHL Draft Predictions, Picks, Odds, Preview: Friday, June 27
- Anton Frondell Selected #2 (+150)
- Michael Misa Selected #3 (+170)
- Brady Martin Selected #4 (+170)
- Kashawn Aitcheson Selected in the Top 10 (+225)
- Cameron Schmidt Selected in the First Round (+600)
Anton Frondell Selected #2 (+150) / Michael Misa Selected #3 (+170)
If what I’m reading is true… we’re in for a wild ride.
Center Anton Frondell has been the hottest prospect among NHL circles, and his draft stock keeps rising.
Even to unprecedented territory.
It seemed like Michael Misa getting picked by the San Jose Sharks at pick two was virtually a lock. But Frondell has impressed so many that the chatter is that the Sharks are considering Frondell.
I don’t necessarily agree with that sentiment. As good as Frondell is, Misa has been a dynamo, raking in over 130 points and 60-plus goals this junior season.
Not only that, he can play the wing, which you can then pair him alongside Sharks cornerstone Macklin Celebrini for an electric duo.
If the Sharks let him slip to Chicago? You then have Connor Bedard and Misa on the same team. Does San Jose really want the Blackhawks to outrun its rebuild? It sounds egregious to me, but NHL General Managers are notorious for overthinking to the point of detriment.
On DraftKings, Frondell is at +150 to be the second pick, while Misa is +170 to be the third. Less than a week ago, Misa was at +800 to be taken third. Take that however you will.
Brady Martin Selected #4 (+170)
It seems like ever since the NHL Combine, the Utah Mammoth have been enamored with Brady Martin.
Martin is exactly that type of player you don’t want to face. He is a full-on pest who can throw the body around like it’s nothing.
Elite Prospects compares him to Conn Smythe winner and two-time Stanley Cup Champion Sam Bennett, who has developed into one of the game’s best physical players.
During his draft year, Bennett was drafted third overall.
The only thing holding him back is his skating, but skating can always be improved.
It should also be noted that Utah has a knack for grabbing players like this, as it drafted Barrett Hayton a few years ago and also held onto Lawson Crouse for nine seasons when the franchise was in Arizona.
Here’s the thing, though. Utah has been dangling its pick like a carrot to a rabbit on a treadmill. The Islanders may jump on that to pick James Hagens, and the Wild seemed interested, with Marco Rossi to dish out.
I would just be careful. If the Mammoth keeps the pick, Martin is the pick, and I don’t think it’s rather close. At the very least, a half unit is worth the price of admission.
Kashawn Aitcheson Selected in the Top 10 (+225)
I’m getting a vibe that Kashawn Aitcheson sneaks his way into the top 10.
The 6-foot-2 left-handed defenseman has been the talk of the town as of late, generating plenty of buzz.
From all the notable draft sites, Aitcheson is ranked as high as 10th by Daily Faceoff, and has been ranked 11th by FloHockey and 13th by Bob McKenzie.
Elite Prospects called him “Jacob Trouba with a one-timer,” so essentially a throwback defenseman who loves to throw his body around and level opponents with brutalizing hits. Along with that, he has a wicked shot.
However, he’s a lot more aggressive on the offensive end than most defensemen. Physical, with an offensive touch? You mean to tell me that one of Philadelphia, Boston, Seattle, Buffalo, or Anaheim isn’t at least intrigued?
Even though the vibe is strong, his ranking among draft boards steers me away from making a big wager. Quarter unit it is then.
Cameron Schmidt Selected in the First Round (+600)
This is a player that, if he were perhaps three inches taller, he’d be a top 10 pick.
I love Cameron Schmidt, and I hate that elite players get penalized for their size. The same thing happened to Gracyn Sawchyn last season, Lane Hutson the year before, and Alex DeBrincat in his draft year.
Elite Prospects labeled him as a turbocharged version of DeBrincat. And you’re telling me he’s at +600 to be drafted in the first round?
Spare me.
For someone his size, he’s surprisingly physical, makes a great forecheck, and has a booming shot, scoring 40 times this past season.
The problem has been working on the defensive end, which draws a lot of teams away, for a decent reason. But he’s 18 years old. The only defensive specialists at his age are in the top one percent.
Maybe I’m trying to speak it into existence, but for someone of this skill, I can’t imagine a team willingly passing on him in the later part of the first round.
Shame me if he’s not, but it’s too good of a play to pass up on.
