The NHL Entry Draft came about on June 27, and the New York Islanders chosen defensemen Matthew Schaefer with this yr’s primary decide.
Schafer, a local of Hamilton, Ontario, most not too long ago performed for the Erie Otters within the OHL. In 17 video games performed within the 24-25 season, he had seven objectives and 15 assists and was a +21.
He’s drawn comparisons to a different former Islander, Devon Toews.
Ought to we anticipate Schaefer to begin lighting the league on fireplace? Effectively, the current monitor report of primary picks has been blended. Right here’s a take a look at who’s been picked first since 2019.
2020 – Alexis Lafreniere, LW, New York Rangers
Lafrenière was drafted with the primary total decide within the first COVID-affected NHL Draft. It was performed by way of Zoom and came about in October.
New York gained the primary total decide within the lottery after going 37-28-5 in an abbreviated common season and making the playoffs.
Earlier than the draft, Lafreniere was taking part in within the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League for the Rimouski Océanic. He posted 112 whole factors in his final season with 35 objectives and 77 assists.
Since getting into the NHL instantly within the 2020-21 season, Lafreniere has been a good contributor to the Rangers. His highest level whole in a season got here in 2023-24, when he had 28 objectives and 29 assists. In October of 2024, he signed a seven-year $52 million contract extension with New York.
Final season, Lafreniere had 17 objectives and 28 assists in 82 video games performed.
Up to now, he has 193 whole factors in his profession. Three gamers drafted under Lafreniere have extra factors than he has to this point of their careers: Tim Stützle, Lucas Raymond, and Seth Jarvis.
2021 – Owen Energy, D, Buffalo Sabres
In one other COVID-affected season and draft, the Sabres chosen Canadian defenseman Owen Energy with the primary total decide.
Buffalo entered the draft lottery with one of the best odds on the first total decide after going 15-34-7 in a shortened season.
Energy had performed one season on the College of Michigan earlier than being drafted by the Sabres, the place he had three objectives and 13 assists in 26 video games performed. He returned to Michigan the next season and had three objectives and 29 assists.
After his sophomore season in school, he performed eight video games within the NHL on the finish of Buffalo’s 2022 season, scoring two objectives and one help.
The next season, Energy had 4 objectives and 31 assists in 79 video games performed and was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Group.
In October of 2023, Energy signed a seven-year $58 million extension with the Sabres.
Some important gamers have been additionally drafted after Energy, together with Wyatt Johnston, Mason McTavish, Matthew Knies, and Luke Hughes.
2022 – Juraj Slafkovsky, LW, Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens drafted Slafkovsky first total in 2022 out of the Finnish Elite League.
Whereas Montreal had performed within the Stanley Cup Finals only one yr earlier than the draft, they’d a 22-49-11 report within the 2021-22 season, incomes them the primary total decide.
Slafkovsky, 17, from Košice, Slovakia, turned the very best drafted Slovakian in NHL historical past. He had 5 objectives and 5 assists in 31 video games performed the earlier season for Turun Palloseura.
In his first season within the NHL, he performed in solely 39 video games, partially attributable to his participation within the Olympics at midseason. On the 2022 Video games, Slafkovsky helped Slovakia earn its first-ever medal in Olympic Ice Hockey.
The next season, Slafkovsky performed in all 82 video games, scoring 20 objectives and recording 30 assists.
In July of 2024, he signed an eight-year $60 million extension with the Canadiens.
He’s the factors chief for his draft class, with Logan Cooley two factors behind and teammate Lane Hutson in third place.
2023 – Connor Bedard, C, Chicago Blackhawks
Bedard was one of the crucial hyped prospects of the post-Crosby, post-Ovechkin period within the NHL.
An ESPN article before his draft, which was titled ‘How Connor Bedard turned hockey’s subsequent younger famous person,’ stated he was probably the most hyped draft decide since Connor McDavid. It additionally detailed the sellout crowds he drew within the WHL and cited a supply that claimed Bedard had introduced the minor league an extra $1.5 million in income in his remaining season.
In his remaining season with the WHL’s Regina Pats, Bedard had a whopping 71 objectives and had 72 assists in 57 video games performed.
The Blackhawks, in determined want of a brand new younger identification on the time, earned the primary total decide in that draft after a 26-49-7 season. They earned the primary total decide regardless of having the third-best odds with followers claiming the draft had been ‘rigged’ for Chicago.
Since getting into the league, Bedard has primarily lived as much as the hype however has didn’t elevate the Blackhawks to the next stage than they have been when he was drafted. Since selecting first in ‘23 they’ve had the second and third total picks within the following two drafts.
On this previous common season, Bedard had 23 objectives and 44 assists in 82 video games performed. He was a -36 on the ice. General, he has 128 factors in 150 video games performed to this point.
Within the two years since this draft, solely a handful of gamers have grow to be notable outdoors of Bedard. Adam Fantilli, who was picked third total by Columbus, has 81 factors by means of 131 video games and Matvei Michkov has 63 factors by means of 80 video games performed.
2024 – Macklin Celebrini, C, San Jose Sharks
Whereas much less hyped than Bedard, Celebrini had his justifiable share of buzz going into the 2024 Draft.
Celebrini performed on the famed Shattuck’s St Mary’s prep faculty in Minnesota for 2 seasons, it’s a widely known NHL manufacturing facility that’s been known as the ‘Hogwarts of Hockey’. He was a five-star recruit when he dedicated to play for Boston College Terriers within the NCAA.
After one season at BU, he gained a slew of awards together with his convention’s participant of the yr and rookie of the yr awards, he was additionally Hockey East’s scoring champion. Celebrini turned the youngest participant to win the Hobey Baker award, school hockey’s Heisman equal.
San Jose gained the primary total decide after a 19-54-9 season.
In his first yr with the Sharks, Celebrini had 25 objectives and 38 assists in 70 video games performed.
San Jose completed close to the underside of the standings once more final yr, incomes the second-overall decide regardless of having one of the best odds for the highest decide.
