The 2025 NHL Draft brought plenty of intrigue for the Metropolitan Division, as teams balanced immediate roster needs with long-term potential. Some clubs took big swings on high-upside prospects, while others played it safe, targeting reliable talent to fill key organizational gaps.
From first-round headliners to hidden gems in the later rounds, the Metro’s eight teams approached the draft with different strategies, and the results could have a major impact on the division’s future. Here’s how the Metropolitan Division fared at the 2025 NHL Draft.
Carolina Hurricanes
While the Hurricanes didn't have a first round pick, they made three selections in the second round, Carolina picked up Semyon Frolov first, a 6'3" goalie from Russia. They then selected two forwards. Charlie Cerrato (No. 49) plays in the NCAA and is marked as a two-way center who put up 42 points in his 38 games played with Penn State this past season. Ivan Ryabkin (No. 62) is also a center, but more of a playmaker with a great one-timer.
In the third round, they picked up two defenseman from Russia, aiming for aggressiveness here with Kurban Limatov and Romann Bausov who is 6'5". They then picked up Viggo Nordlund, a forward, in the 6th round at No. 183 overall who is known for his speed and stick skills. With their final pick in the 7th round, Filip Ekberg (No. 221) is a heavy offensive player, who put up 27 points in his 19 games played with the Sweden U18 team.
The Hurricanes main pick-ups were height and aggressiveness here on the defensive side of things, scooping up big defensive players, before going and adding some offensive depth with playmakers.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets got two first round selections: the first was Cayden Lindstrom at 14th overall, a 6'4", highly skilled center known for his shooting skills. With their 20th overall selection, many were surprised at their pick when they scooped up goaltender Pyotr Andreyanov, who is sharp and quick in his crease.
In the third round they went for Malte Vass, a defender with physicality. At 160th overall, they scooped up Owen Griffin, a center who can play quite well defensively despite his size at 5'10". They went back and forth with their picks, next selecting tall defender Victor Raftheim 173rd overall whereas Jeremy Loranger, 198th overall draft pick, is another small center like Griffin.
Columbus wanted a bit of everything with their picks. Their top priorities seemed to be size and adding depth to their goalies after trading Daniil Tarasov this week, before moving on to some smaller centers and physical defenders.
New Jersey Devils
The Devils picked up two forwards in the second round, Conrad Fondrk (No. 50) and Ben Kevan (No. 63), both from the USHL. Fondrk is a speedy center with a good shot and Kevan is a playmaking winger with speed as well.
In the third round they selected Mason Moe, another playmaking forward. In the 4th round they then went for goaltender Trenten Bennett from the OHL. Standing at 6'8", Bennett put up a .923 SV% through his 6 games played with the Owen Sound Attack this past season.
The Devils then went back to their forwards with Gustav Hillstrom, another center known for his playmaking abilities. With their final selections in the sixth round, David Rozsival -- you guessed it, a playmaking forward. Sigge Holmstrom was their last pick and their first defender selected this year, although he's known for being quite offensive. It's pretty easy to pick up on what the Devils wanted in depth this year.
New York Islanders
The Islanders didn't just pick up Matthew Schaefer first overall and say they were done. By now, we've all heard of Schaefer and how good he is defensively. The Islanders also had 2 more picks in the first round and kept adding to their depth, scooping up Viktor Eklund 16th overall, this winger is full speed, at 17th overall they selected Kashawn Aitchenson, another defender who is known for his powerful and quick hits before his opponents even see him coming.
With their one pick in the second round, they went for Daniil Prokhorov, a 6'6" physical forward. In the third round it was Luca Romano, another forward who is known for his skating abilities. Tomas Poletin was selected in the 4th round, an aggressive forward. Sam Lurilla was up next in the fifth round, a talented defender who can slip into plays unnoticed and capitalize on his chances. In the sixth round, they picked up goaltender Burke Hood known for being able to track puck movement well.
The Islanders didn't just take their first overall selection and go with Schaefer and call it a day. With or without Schaefer, they had a solid draft. After selecting him, they were able to make a pick every round and add depth everywhere: aggressive defenders, fast forwards, size, skating. The Islanders really got it all this draft.
New York Rangers
The Rangers made their first pick in the second round and went for Malcom Spence, who was projected to go higher than his 43rd overall selection. Spence is a physical winger with a sharp one-timer and will make himself known when he's on the ice. The Erie Otter put up 73 points in his 54 games played last season.
The Rangers got two picks in the 2nd round including Sean Barnhill, a 6'5" defender with some speed. Artyom Gonchar was up next at 89th overall, a defenseman known for his passing abilities and being able to sneak through the offensive zone. In the 4th round, Mikkel Eriksen went 111th overall, as a skater with good hockey sense and patience when it comes to making plays.
Zeb Lindgren went in the 5th round, and is another defenseman who loves to move the puck around. In the 6th round, Samuel Jung is a winger who put up 22 goals, 32 points and had 50 penalty minutes last season with the Karpat U20 team. Evan Passmore went next, a 6'5" defenseman with physicality. With their last selection they went for Felix Farhammar, another defender who loves passing.
This was a quite interesting draft for the Rangers, as they seem to have added depth in all the places that need to be fixed. They're a team who loves to pass more than shoot, have a tall 4th line with physicality that can get them into trouble. Besides Malcolm Spence, they really just went for what they know.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers' first round was a good one. Wiith their first pick they were able to select Porter Martone at 6th overall, a playmaking winger who will fit right in with the Flyers up-and-coming rookie group, Martone put up 89 points through his 57 games played with the Steelheads (OHL) this past season. At 12th overall they got Jack Nesbitt, an aggressive center with height.
The Flyers then had four picks in the 2nd round, starting with Carter Amico at 38th overall, a physical defenseman that can set up a give-and-go. Jack Murtagh was selected at No. 40, a speedy forward that can get the puck and rip it. At No. 48 they selected Shane Vansaghi, another physical player, this forward creates space and has a great shot as well. At 57th overall, Matthew Gard is a center that has great defensive awareness.
Their next selections came in the 5th round, picking up Max Westergard 132nd overall, this speedy skater can produce, with 50 points in 41 games with the Sweden U20 team last year. Luke Vlooswyk at 157th overall is a defenseman that loves a good board battle and winning them. With the Flyers, 6th round pick, Nathan Quinn is a center that uses open space well. The Flyers did well with this draft class, adding some physicality that will pair up well with their already young core being built.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins had three first-round picks. At 11th overall, they selected Benjamin Kindel, a winger that loves to make a great play, Kindel put up 99 points in his 65 games played with the WHL Hitmen last season. At 22nd overall, Bill Zonnon is another playmaker on wing, with 83 points in his 64 games in the QJMHL last season. At Np. 24, the Penguins selected William Horcoff, a center who can screen well and isn't afraid to get physical to do it.
In the second round, the Penguins picked up Peyton Kettles, a tall defenseman that sticks to his job and can box players out. In the third round the Penguins got Charlton Trethewey, a heavy-hitting defenseman with a sharp shot; Gabriel D'Aigle, a big goalie that doesn't give a chance for rebounds; and Brady Peddle, another physical defenseman that doesn't let opponents out of a board battle unscathed.
In the fourth round, Travis Hayes is another forward that loves to get into the crease. During the fifth round Pittsburgh selected Ryan Miller, a center with good defensive senses; Quinn Beauchesne, a defender that doesn't sit still; and Jordan Charron, another forward that gets dirty in puck battles. In the sixth round, Carter Sanderson, a forward to keep an eye on in the NCAA next season. With their final pick in the seventh round, Pittsburgh selected Kale Dach, a playmaking forward.
Overall, the Penguins had an interesting draft, trading higher picks in exchange for a surplus in later rounds, picking up the same profiles, defenders that love a puck battle and forwards that love the crease and setting up plays.
Washington Capitals
The Capitals first pick, 27th overall was Lynden Lakovic, a sharp shooter with some size, Lakovic put up 58 points in 47 games played in the WHL this past season. In the 2nd round, Milton Gastrin is a playmaking forward that can set up plays but still get back to help defensively.
The Capitals third round selection, Maxim Schafer, loves to get physical at 6'4". Their next pick came in the fifth round, 155th overall: Jackson Crowder, another physical forward that will get the puck and then set up his linemates. In the sixth round, Aron Dahlqvist, another physical player, but this time a defender, at 6'4", 205lbs. It's pretty clear here that the Capitals wanted to add some physicality and size into their depth.