June 27, 2025, 07:16 PM ET
The NHL Draft will showcase the harvest of new players in the league. In 2025, New York Islanders came out first in Matthew Schafer.
Find out how the past five No. 1 picks in the NHL Draft have changed over each rookie season.
Editor’s Pick
2 Related
Macklyn Celebrity (2024-25)
The San Jose Sharks chose Secreini for the first overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft after Celebrity compiled a record-breaking freshman season at Boston University. In his first year with the Sharks, Celebrini notched 25 goals and 38 assists, finishing third in the Calder Memorial Award poll and was selected to the All-Rookie Team.
Connor Bedard (2023-24)
Bedard burst into the scene after the Chicago Blackhawks chose him first in the 2023 NHL Draft. Bedard was awarded the 2024 Calder Trophy as the NHL Rookie of the Year after leading or co-leading both goals (22), assists (39) and points (61) for both the rookie and Blackhawks. Bedard became the second-largest player in NHL history (276 days) and traced only Nathan Mackinnon (224 days) of Colorado Avalanche Center in 2013-14 as a rookie leader (completely or tied) in all three categories.
Juraj Slafkovsky (2022-23)
The Montreal Canadiens took Slafkovsky in their first choice of the 2022 NHL Draft. From Slovakia’s Kosice, Slavkovsky became the first player to be born in Slovakia and was selected for the first place pick. Slafkovsky scored his first point (wrist shot goal) in his fifth career game. He finished his rookie season with 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) in 39 games.
Owen Power (2021-22)
Power was the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft selected by the Buffalo Sabres. After two seasons at the University of Michigan, he officially joined the NHL after signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Sabres on April 8, 2022. Power played eight games and scored two goals and assists at the end of the 2021-22 campaign, earning a spot in the 2022-23 NHL All-Rookie team. Power led all rookie defense with 35 points (4 goals, 31 assists) in 79 games during the 2022-23 season.
Alexis Lafrenniere (2020-21)
Lafreniere was the New York Rangers’ top pick in the 2020 NHL Draft after being named the most valuable player in Quebec’s major junior hockey league of his most valuable season. Lafreniere tallied 21 points (12 goals, nine assists) in 56 games as a newcomer for the Rangers.
For the latest news, power rankings, statistics, schedules, and more, please visit the ESPN NHL hub page.
