The 2025 NHL Entry Draft will take place on June 27–28, 2025, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. This will be the 63rd draft for the National Hockey League. The draft will feature a mix of prospects from junior, collegiate, and European leagues.
Players eligible for selection are those born between January 1, 2005, and September 15, 2007. In addition to North American players, undrafted international players born in 2004 (who haven’t played a full season in North America) can also be selected. Players who were drafted in the 2023 draft but did not sign with an NHL team and were born after June 30, 2005, will also be eligible to re-enter the draft.
NHL draft order and the Playoffs
NHL playoffs affect the draft order—but only for playoff teams, as per the Flames Nation. The 16 teams that miss the playoffs are ranked in reverse order of their regular-season standings, meaning the worst team gets the highest draft pick. After the non-playoff teams, the next picks go to the playoff teams that didn't win their divisions. These teams are also ranked in reverse order of their regular-season performance.
The teams that lose in the Conference Finals are ranked next, followed by the team that loses in the Stanley Cup Final. The Stanley Cup winner receives the final pick in the draft, 32nd overall. The draft order can be altered slightly by the draft lottery, which impacts only the first round. For the rest of the rounds, the order remains consistent according to the regular season standings.
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Do NHL Draft picks go straight to the NHL?
NHL draft picks do not always go straight to the NHL, as per Hockey Answered. Most players, especially younger ones, are assigned to junior leagues, minor leagues (such as the AHL), or college hockey. After being drafted, players typically continue their development for several years before making the NHL roster, unless they are exceptionally talented and ready for the league right away.
As for college hockey players, most are drafted before they start their NCAA careers. The NHL draft usually takes place before they even play a game in college. NHL teams draft players from the U.S. and Canadian junior leagues, as well as the NCAA. College players can still be drafted, but those who are not drafted before entering college are often considered less likely to become top NHL prospects.
After completing college, some players may be signed as free agents, especially if they were not drafted. These players can choose which NHL team to sign with based on their preferences. However, once a player signs with an NHL team, they can no longer play college hockey.
Read More: How many NHL teams make the playoffs?
FAQs on NHL
A. The draft order is primarily determined by their regular-season standings, with the worst-performing teams having the highest chances of winning the lottery and securing higher draft picks.
A. Sixteen teams compete in the NHL playoffs each year.
A. The first NHL season took place in 1917–18.
A. The Montreal Canadiens hold the record with 25 championships.
A. The NHL playoffs consist of four rounds, with each round being a best-of-seven series format.
