The opening night of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft took place Friday from the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, the central location of this season’s proceedings.
In a change to the traditional format, each of the 32 NHL clubs had its team management and representatives at separate locations, usually from their team facilities.
And while there were no major trades of players currently in the NHL during the first round, there were four deals involving draft selections.
The Canadiens Made a Blockbuster Move Before the Draft
Earlier in the day, the Montreal Canadiens stunned fans by acquiring defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders in a sign and trade deal. The 25 year old right shot defenseman signed an eight year contract extension worth $76 million as part of the transaction. Dobson had 39 points in 71 games last season and immediately addresses Montreal’s need for a top pairing defender.
The Flyers and Penguins Made the First Draft Night Trade
After the NHL Draft got underway, the Philadelphia Flyers made an aggressive move up the board, acquiring the 12th overall selection from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for the 22nd and 31st picks. The Flyers, who already held the sixth overall pick, clearly had their sights set on a specific player they feared wouldn’t last until their next selection.
The Penguins had just selected Benjamin Kindel of the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen with the 11th pick when they dealt the next pick to the Flyers. Kindel, a 5 foot 10 center known for his speed and playmaking ability, gives Pittsburgh another skilled forward to add to their prospect pool. The 18 year old recorded 99 points in 65 games this past season and was named a WHL Eastern Conference First Team All Star.
Philadelphia then used the 12th pick on Jack Nesbitt, a center from the Windsor Spitfires who put up 64 points in 65 games this past season. The 6 foot 4 forward brings size and skill that the Flyers covet in their prospect development.
With the 22nd selection, the Penguins took left wing Bill Zonnon of the Rouyn Noranda Huskies in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. Pittsburgh general manager Kyle Dubas, who now holds multiple picks in the first two rounds, appears to be stockpiling assets as the team transitions into a new era following years of playoff disappointments.
The Nashville Predators and Ottawa Senators Made the Next Trade
Not long after the Philadelphia Pittsburgh swap, the Nashville Predators and Ottawa Senators got together on a trade that saw Nashville move up just two spots. The move cost them an additional third round pick, as the Predators acquired the 21st pick from Ottawa in return for the 23rd and 67th picks, signaling their desire to grab a specific player before another team could.
With the 21st pick, the Predators selected defenseman Cameron Reid of the Kitchener Rangers. Reid, who posted 54 points in 67 games in the OHL, is known for his offensive upside and smooth skating ability. The 6 foot 1 defender fits Nashville’s recent trend of drafting skilled, puck moving defensemen to build their blue line of the future.
The Senators, who came into the draft with only six picks, added an extra selection by moving back just two spots. With the 23rd pick, they took Logan Hensler, a defenseman from the University of Wisconsin. The 6 foot 2, 192 pound Hensler brings a more physical presence than Reid and had 12 points in 32 games for the Badgers last season. Ottawa’s decision to add an extra third round pick while still landing a player they coveted shows the value teams place on accumulating draft capital.
The Los Angeles Kings and the Pittsburgh Penguins Traded Picks With One Another
The Penguins, who had already been wheeling and dealing throughout the night, weren’t finished just yet. In their second trade of the evening, they moved back up into the first round by acquiring the 24th pick from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for the 31st and 59th picks.
With the 24th pick, the Penguins selected University of Michigan forward William Horcoff, who is the son of former Edmonton Oilers forward Shawn Horcoff. The younger Horcoff, standing at 6 foot 5 and 203 pounds, brings size and skill that the Penguins have been lacking in their prospect pool. He recorded 10 points in 18 games for Michigan as a freshman and is considered a project with high upside.
The selection carries extra significance given his father’s 15 year NHL career, which included over 1,000 games played. Will Horcoff was also a standout quarterback in high school, receiving Division I football offers before choosing to pursue hockey. His combination of size, athleticism, and hockey IQ made him an attractive option for Pittsburgh, who were willing to trade back into the first round to secure his rights.
For the Kings, moving back seven spots in the first round while adding a second round pick fits their recent strategy of accumulating multiple selections to build organizational depth. Los Angeles has been one of the NHL’s most successful drafting teams in recent years, and this trade gives them more opportunities to find hidden gems in the later rounds of the draft.
The Carolina Hurricanes and Chicago Blackhawks Completed the Final Trade
Finally, the last trade of the opening night saw the Carolina Hurricanes and Chicago Blackhawks complete a deal for the second consecutive year at the draft. Carolina traded the 29th overall pick to Chicago for picks 34 and 62, plus a fifth round pick in 2027.
The Blackhawks then used the 29th pick to select Mason West of Edina High School in Minnesota, one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft. West, who stands 6 foot 6 and weighs 218 pounds, is a true two sport athlete who was also a three star quarterback recruit with Division I football offers from Miami, Marshall, Kent State, and South Dakota. He ultimately chose hockey and is committed to Michigan State.
West’s combination of size, athleticism, and raw potential made him a polarizing prospect. Some scouts ranked him in the top 20, while others were concerned about his limited high level hockey experience. He split time between Edina High School and the Fargo Force of the USHL, showing flashes of dominance but also inconsistency. For Chicago, a team in the midst of a rebuild centered around Connor Bedard, taking a high upside swing on West makes sense.
The Hurricanes, who have built one of the NHL’s deepest prospect pools through savvy drafting and development, opted to move back and acquire additional picks rather than reach for a player at 29. This marks a continuation of their strategy of accumulating assets and betting on their scouting staff’s ability to find value later in the draft. With three picks in the first 62 selections after this trade, Carolina positioned themselves well to add multiple impact prospects to their system.
