NHL draft odds: Who will hear their name called early?
The 2025 NHL Draft starts Friday, an exciting time for franchises building their future.
The Islanders hold the first pick after having only a 3.5% shot at winning the lottery. General manager Mathieu Darche confirmed that New York won't be trading out of the top spot, and all signs point to the Islanders selecting defenseman Matthew Schaefer from the Erie Otters.
Schaefer is a -10000 favorite (99% implied probability) at theScoreBet/ESPN Bet to hear his name called first.
The Sharks pick second, a year after selecting Macklin Celebrini first overall. For a while, it looked like Saginaw Spirit forward Michael Misa was a lock to go No. 2, but the odds suggest San Jose may head in a different direction.
Misa was as short as -10000 to get picked second on June 12. However, those odds have lengthened to -350, opening the door for Swedish centerman Anton Frondell to land in San Jose. Frondell opened at +1100 to go second, but he's now down to +230.
If the Sharks take Misa, and the odds imply there's a 77.8% chance they do, Frondell will likely join Connor Bedard in Chicago.
3rd overall odds
| Player (Position) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Anton Frondell (C) | -240 |
| Michael Misa (C) | +260 |
| Porter Martone (RW) | +900 |
| Caleb Desnoyers (C) | +1000 |
| James Hagens (C) | +1800 |
| Brady Martin (C) | +2200 |
In theScore's final mock draft, Caleb Desnoyers was projected to go No. 3 to the Blackhawks, with his well-rounded skill set and potential Selke Trophy-level defense considered a perfect complement to Bedard and Frank Nazar.
While Porter Martone is also an option at three, there seem to be too many difference-making centermen available who can create a Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl-type combo in Chicago.
To be drafted in the top 10
| Player (Position) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Brady Martin (C) | -1800 |
| Jake O'Brien (C) | -1200 |
| Radim Mrtka (D) | -250 |
| Roger McQueen (C) | -250 |
| Kashawn Aitcheson (D) | +225 |
| Victor Eklund (RW) | +225 |
| Jackson Smith (D) | +300 |
| Carter Bear (LW) | +450 |
| Justin Carbonneau (RW) | +600 |
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds' Brady Martin and Brantford Bulldogs' Jake O'Brien are expected to be drafted inside the top 10. However, theScore's mock draft has O'Brien falling to the Penguins at pick No. 11.
Kashawn Aitcheson is an interesting prospect to land inside the top 10 at +225. A few defensive-needy teams selecting early in Round 1 could be intrigued by Aitcheson's physical style of play, most notably the Kraken (eighth pick) and the Sabres (ninth pick). Aside from Schaefer, who will be long gone by the time Seattle picks, there aren't many defensemen available.
Radim Mrtka and Jackson Smith are two other blue-liners in the mix to be a top-10 pick.
Round 1 of the NHL draft begins at 7 p.m. ET on Friday from Los Angeles.