In the Atlantic Division, all eight teams took different paths this year at the 2025 NHL Draft. Each club made decisions that could define their roster for years to come. Here’s a closer look at what every Atlantic Division team did during this year’s NHL Draft, and what it might mean for their future.
Boston Bruins
The Bruins first selection, at 7th overall, was James Hagens. This Boston College forward is one quick defender who does his job right while being a point-per-game player last season. In the second round, William Moore -- who will join Hagens at Boston College next season -- has good stick skills and a hard shot. Liam Pettersson was up next in the second round, a Swedish defender who sets up breakouts effectively.
In the third round, Boston selected its first forward, Cooper Simpson. He can stickhandle with a good wrist-shot and has committed to the University of North Dakota for next season. In the fourth round, Vashek Richards-Blanar was the Bruins' choice, another defender who has some size to him. With their fifth round pick, the team selected Cole Chandler at center who has great hockey sense and can make snap decisions well. In the 6th round, it was Kirill Yemelyanov, a forward who knows defense comes first.
The Bruins went for defenseman this draft who have good stick skills and can get the puck out of their zone before pitching in offensively.
Buffalo Sabres
At 9th overall, the Sabres' first selection of this draft was defenseman Radim Mrtka. At 6'6", this defender can shut opponents down and then help out offensively. Their next pick came in the third round. David Bedkowski is another big body at 6'5" and is described by scouts as an aggressive defenseman.
In the fourth round, Buffalo chose Matous Kucharcik, another tall player -- this time on offense, although he's solid defensively too. Samuel Meloche was next in line, a goaltender with speedy reflexes and a .900 SV% in the QJMHL last season. Noah Laberge went in the fifth round, and this defenseman shuts down plays and then sets up the next offensive rush in one succession.
Ashton Schultz went next in the sixth round, a forward who also plays well defensively. In the seventh round, Melvin Novotny, is their first forward that is all offense. Yevgeni Prokhorov, another goaltender, this one with size. Ryan Rucinski was their last pick, a forward that doesn't have the height, but doesn't back down from a battle.
Overall, the Sabres really looked to add defensive depth and find another defenseman to go along with Rasmus Dahlin, even their forwards have defensive skills and they picked up 2 goalies. Buffalo went full defensive mode this year.
Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings first selection came 13th overall. Carter Bear is a physical forward who gets in the crease and doesn't back down, putting up 82 points in his 56 games in the WHL last season. In the second round, it was Eddie Genborg, another physical forward who isn't afraid to get close to the net. With the third round pick, Michal Pradel, there's just no point in screening this 6'5" goaltender.
The Red Wings had two fourth-round selections: Brent Solomon, a winger with a good shot and Michal Svrcek, a winger on the smaller side but still a force that won't back down. Nikita Tyurin was their fifth round pick, a defenseman that likes to play keepaway. Will Murphy was their sixth round pick, a 6'4" defenseman who utilizes open spaces well. With their last pick in the seventh round, center Grayden Robertson-Palmer can open spaces and find oppourtunities.
The Red Wings got a bit of a mixed bag here -- some forwards, some defenseman, and a goalie. Overall, their forward selections were physical and their defenseman good at puck protection.
Florida Panthers
The Panthers first selections didn't come until the fourth round. Mads Kongsbak Klyvo went 112th overall, a fast winger with a good shot. Shea Busch was next, another forward with a good shot. In the fifth round it was Shamar Moses, another winger with a good shot and can find open space for passes. Arvid Drott went in the 6th round, you guessed it, a fast winger.
The Panthers had two picks in the final round. First up was Brendan Dunphy, a defenseman picked, at 6'5", he makes himself a presence to opponents. Yegor Midlak was last for them, a big goaltender at 6'6". The Panthers solely went for fast forwards that can get the puck off their stick quickly and find the back of the net, while picking up 2 big bodies on the back end.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens first pick came in the second round: Alexander Zharovsky, a winger with stickhandling skills who put up 50 points in 45 games in the MHL last season. They had three third-round selections -- Hayden Paupenekis, a 6'5" forward who plays defensively, using his size to his advantage. Bryce Pickford might be a defenseman, but he can score, with 20 goals in his 48 games played in the WHL last season. Arseni Radkov, meanwhile, is a 6'4" goaltender with good lateral mobility.
John (LJ) Mooney was their fourth round selection. While just 5'7", this forward is quick on his feet. Alexis Cournoyer went in the 5th round, another 6'4" goaltender with a .942 SV% in his 21 games played in the QJMHL last season. With two sixth-round selections, Carlos Handel is a defenseman that can find the right passing lanes to set up plays while Andrew MacNiel is a taller defenseman. Maxon Vig was their last pick, a defenseman with 32 points in his 62 games played in the USHL last season, along with 85 penalty minutes.
The Canadiens looked for a lot of defensive depth both in size for their defenseman and goalies, as well as forwards bringing the stick skills.
Ottawa Senators
Ottawa's first pick came in at 23rd overall. Logan Hensler is a 6'3" defenseman but love to jump in and help offensively skating for the University of Winsconsin. Next up in the third round, they acquired Blake Vanek, a winger who's got good hands and feet. In the fourth round, Lucas Beckman is considered smaller in terms of this year's draft class among goalies but overall in his two games with Canada's World Junior team had a .955 SV%.
Dmitri Isayev went in the fifth round, a short winger who gets pucks tape to tape to set up plays. It was Bruno Idzan to go in the sixth round, another winger with playmaking abilities. With their final pick in the seventh round, Andrei Trofimov was selected, and he is another smaller goalie alike to Beckman.
Overall, the Senators went for playmaking forwards and undersized goalies with Hensler being the outlier in their draft class.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Their first pick didn't come until 56th overall but Ethan Czata is big and aggressive, putting up 55 points in 68 games in the OHL last season. In the fourth round they picked up Benjamin Rautianen, a center with a good shot and Aiden Foster, a very physical center who had 136 penalty minutes in his 68 games played in the WHL last season. Everett Baldwin was their fifth round selection, a defenseman who's a great skater and and can shut down opponents opportunities.
They had four seventh-round selections starting with Caleb Heil, a goalie on the smaller side; Roman Luttsev, another center with good skating abilities; Grant Spada, a 6'5" defenseman who is physical and wins puck battles; and Marco Mignosa, a winger who had defensive skills but can also create plays. The Lightning went for physicality and defensive mindsets.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs first pick came in the second round, 64th overall, Tinus Luc Koblar is a playmaker to add to their depth. They grabbed Tyler Hopkins as well, a forward who loves puck battles and winning them. In the fifth round, Toronto drafted William Belle, a 6'4" forward with good defensive skills and Harry Nansi, another playmaking forward. Rylan Fellinger went in the sixth round, a 6'4" defenseman who knows his job and sticks with it. With their last pick, Matthew Hlacar, another big forward.
The Leafs looked for size and playmakers here and defenseman that do their job.