New York Islanders win 2025 NHL Draft Lottery, rights to no. 1 pick

The New York Islanders are now on the clock.

The Islanders won the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery on Monday and will have the no. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

“This is incredible. I guess it’s lucky No. 13 right now, right?” Islanders director of pro scouting Ken Morrow said, according to NHL.com. “The hockey gods smiled on us, and I can’t tell you how thrilled I am for Islander fans, for our ownership, for the entire Islander organization.

“It’s adding to the tradition that the Islanders have, a great fan base, a new arena, terrific ownership, and better days are ahead here.”

New York, who had a 3.5% chance of winning the lottery, moved up from no. 10. They will have the first overall selection for the fifth time in franchise history and first since taking John Tavares with the no. 1 pick in 2009. The Islanders also selected Rick DiPietro first in 2000, defenseman Denis Potvin in 1973 and forward Billy Harris in 1972.

The San Jose Sharks, who had the best chance of winning the lottery at 18.5 percent, will select second. The Chicago Blackhawks will have the third pick, and the Utah Hockey Club will select fourth after moving up 10 spots as a result of winning the second draw.

Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman from Erie in the Ontario Hockey League, topped FCHockey’s Spring ranking for the 2025 draft in March. Schaefer had 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 17 games before his season was ended by a broken clavicle sustained representing Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. He also had six points (two goals, four assists) to help Canada to gold at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Michael Misa, a forward from Saginaw in the OHL, is ranked second. He won the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as the Ontario Hockey League’s leading scorer for the 2024-25 season with 134 points (62 goals, 72 assists) in 65 games — the highest single-season total by an OHL player since Patrick Kane’s 145-point campaign with the London Knights in 2006-07. Misa’s 62 goals also tied Kane for the third-most by an NHL Draft-eligible player in OHL history, trailing only Eric Lindros (71, 1990-91) and Tony Tanti (81, 1980-81).

Here is a look at the order for the 2025 draft:

1. New York Islanders
2. San Jose Sharks
3. Chicago Blackhawks
4. Utah Hockey Club
5. Nashville Predators
6. Philadelphia Flyers
7. Boston Bruins
8. Seattle Kraken
9. Buffalo Sabres
10. Anaheim Ducks
11. Pittsburgh Penguins
12. New York Rangers
13. Detroit Red Wings
14. Columbus Blue Jackets
15. Vancouver Canucks
16. Montreal Canadiens (via Calgary Flames)

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New York Islanders win 2025 NHL Draft Lottery, rights to no. 1 pick

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