2025 NHL Draft Report Cards: The Best, Worst, and Most Unexpected Picks
By Rachel Doerrie | June 29, 2025, 8:00 AM ET
The 2025 NHL Draft has finally wrapped up—after what felt like an unnecessarily long process. A strong word of criticism goes to the 26 teams that pushed for a decentralized format this year. That idea gets a flat-out “Z” grade—not even an “F.” Let’s hope centralized drafts return going forward.
Every team has received a draft grade, no matter how many players they picked. These grades reflect how well each team maximized the value of their selections. For example, a club with three first-round picks could score lower than a team with just three total picks—if they reached on selections and passed up better available talent. On the flip side, a team that made fewer picks but found strong value with each one might earn a better grade.
Grades are based on team needs, available talent, and how smartly teams navigated their draft positions. Choosing a player to fill a need while bypassing a higher-ranked player hurts the overall evaluation. Teams drafting early—especially in the top 16—missed the playoffs for a reason, so they need to maximize talent acquisition. The same applies to franchises with multiple first-rounders, which are usually a result of trading away star players during a rebuild or reset.
Trade strategies also influenced evaluations. Teams that traded down and still secured strong talent earned higher grades than those who traded up for a specific player. Case in point: the Montreal Canadiens used several picks to acquire and re-sign top defenseman Noah Dobson. That move fits their long-term vision and factored positively into their overall draft grade.
Up next is a full breakdown of every NHL team’s performance and grade from the 2025 draft
