NHL Sets Draft Order Through First 28 Picks After Round 2 of Playoffs

With the conclusion of the conference semifinals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, teams that have been eliminated are now shifting their focus towards the future and the upcoming NHL Draft.

The National Hockey League announced on Monday that the draft order for the first through 28th overall selections has been finalized. This establishes the draft positions for all 12 teams that were knocked out during the first two rounds of the post-season.

While the first 16 picks were determined during the draft lottery held earlier in May, the subsequent 12 picks (17-28) were set based on a combination of factors: each team`s elimination date from the playoffs, their final regular-season point total, and their divisional placement.

Teams that did not win their respective divisions were ordered inversely based on their regular-season point standings. Following those teams, the four division winners who were eliminated were placed in inverse order according to their regular-season point totals.

All four teams that won their divisions (Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets, and Vegas Golden Knights) were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs. Consequently, they have been slotted into picks 25 through 28, ordered inversely based on their regular-season point standings.

The final four positions in the draft, picks 29 through 32, are yet to be determined and will be finalized based on the results of the Stanley Cup Final and the conference finals. Pick 29 will go to the team that loses in the conference finals with the fewest regular-season points. Pick 30 will be awarded to the other losing team from the conference finals. The team finishing as the runner-up in the Stanley Cup Final will receive the 31st pick, and the Stanley Cup champion will make the 32nd and final selection of the first round.

The conference finals are set to begin, with the Florida Panthers taking on the Carolina Hurricanes and the Edmonton Oilers facing the Dallas Stars.

Here is the finalized order for the first 28 picks of the 2025 NHL Draft:

1. New York Islanders
2. San Jose Sharks
3. Chicago Blackhawks
4. Utah Mammoth
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 (from Calgary Flames)
17. Montreal Canadiens
18. Calgary Flames (from New Jersey Devils)
19. St. Louis Blues
20. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Minnesota Wild)
21. Ottawa Senators
22. Philadelphia Flyers (from Colorado Avalanche)
23. Nashville Predators (from Tampa Bay Lightning)
24. Los Angeles Kings
25. Chicago Blackhawks (from Toronto Maple Leafs)
26. Nashville Predators (from Vegas Golden Knights via San Jose Sharks)
27. Washington Capitals
28. Winnipeg Jets