Sharks select OHL star forward Michael Misa at No. 2 overall in 2025 NHL Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Another young star has entered the mix in San Jose.
The Sharks further fortified their young core by selecting standout forward Michael Misa No. 2 overall in the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday.
THE PICK IS IN! 🦈
The @SanJoseSharks have selected Michael Misa with the second overall selection!
📺: 2025 Upper Deck #NHLDraft on @espn, @ESPNPlus, @Sportsnet and @TVASportspic.twitter.com/DkuWOLALTv
— NHL (@NHL) June 27, 2025
The 18-year-old Misa spent the previous season dominating the OHL, recording a league-high 134 points in 65 appearances for the Saginaw Spirit. Misa’s 134-point campaign is the OHL’s highest single-season total since three-time Stanley Cup champion Patrick Kane’s 145-point tally in 2007.
Misa did a little bit of everything up front for the Spirit, logging 62 goals and 72 assists in his standout 2024-25 campaign, not only living up to, but exceeding the hype after being drafted No. 1 overall in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection.
Michael Misa (2025) has 17 goals in his last 13 games.
57 in 57 on the season. He's gross. pic.twitter.com/vEep32FUHy
— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) March 2, 2025
The 18-year-old center demonstrated remarkable consistency on the score sheet last season, recording multi-point games in 46 of his 65 appearances for Saginaw.
A year after selecting superstar center Macklin Celebrini No. 1 overall in the 2024 draft, once again the Sharks have capitalized on a premium draft pick by adding another blue chip prospect to San Jose’s stockpile of promising youngsters.
As the Sharks seek a return to NHL prominence, Misa joins Celebrini, Will Smith, William Eklund and Yaroslav Askarov as San Jose’s foundational building blocks moving forward.
The Edmonton Oilers announced they re-signed Trent Frederic to an eight-year contract extension.
Frederic's new deal carries an average annual value of $3.85 million and lasts through 2032-33. The Oilers turned a trade deadline acquisition into a longtime piece of the puzzle.
In fact, Frederic is now one of three Oilers players under contract through at least 2030. The other two are center Leon Draisaitl and defenseman Darnell Nurse.
Draisaitl, 29, begins a new eight-year contract on July 1 with an NHL-high $14-million cap hit. His deal also expires in 2033. Nurse, 30, has five years remaining on an eight-year deal with a $9.25-million cap hit. Both players have no-move clauses in the rest of their contract, although Nurse's clause becomes a 10-team no-trade list in 2027-28 onward.
With Frederic's signing, Edmonton has about $12.35 million in projected cap space, according to PuckPedia. A good chunk of that will likely go to defenseman Evan Bouchard, a pending RFA with arbitration rights. They also have five pending UFAs, including Corey Perry and Connor Brown.
Although only three players are signed through 2030, that could change.
If Bouchard re-signs for at least five seasons, he'll be on that list. And superstar captain Connor McDavid, 28, enters the final year of his contract and can sign an extension as of July 1. He's prioritizing family and a long window to win on his next contract, whether it's with the Oilers or elsewhere.
There were some trade rumors and speculation this week regarding Nurse, who had 33 points in 76 games and eight points in the playoffs. TSN's Ryan Rishaug reported there's nothing to those rumors at this point.
Frederic, 27, had eight goals and seven assists for 15 points in 58 games this past regular season. All those points came with the Boston Bruins, which traded him to Edmonton on March 4.
Frederic, who dealt with an injury, played one regular-season game with the Oilers before adding a goal and four points in 22 playoff contests. He ranked fourth among Oilers forwards in hits during the post-season, with 85, and fifth in blocked shots, with 15. He averaged 11:24 of ice time on the Oilers in the playoffs, although he averaged 13:50 with the Bruins before the trade.
Since the Bruins drafted the center 29th overall in 2016, he's played 338 career games and recorded 55 goals and 54 assists for 109 points.
Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
The day is finally here.
On Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET, the 2025 NHL Entry Draft will begin. Team general managers, draft prospects, and fans alike have been preparing for and awaiting this day for a long while, and there is already a ton of buzz around this, potentially, being a very interesting draft.
And one of the teams generating the most buzz? Kyle Dubas's Pittsburgh Penguins.
After the decision by the New York Rangers to give Pittsburgh their 12th overall pick in this year's draft - which officially completed the J.T. Miller and Marcus Pettersson trades - the Penguins are slated to select back-to-back at 11th and 12th overall. The team has never selected back-to-back before, and they'll have the opportunity to add two impact players who could play a big part in their future.
But, it might not go down the way you think.
There are several reports that the Penguins are willing to either trade up in the draft or pony up one of those picks for the "right young player," as per Darren Dreger. Whatever way they decide to go, they'll be getting two good young players - but, obviously, the door is open for them to draft a game-changer, should they decide to move up.
So, with that said, here are two draft scenarios for the Penguins - and who I think they'll select in these scenarios.
2025 NHL Mock Draft: Final First-Round Predictions For Schaefer, Martone And MoreThe 2025 NHL draft kicks off Friday evening, so it’s time to get in the spirit by conducting the final mock draft of the season.
It should be emphasized that, despite all the buzz around the Penguins, they very well could play it safe and do exactly this. So, what would happen if the Penguins stay put?
Truthfully, the odds are that the Penguins are going to get a pair of difference-making players regardless. Names are bound to fall, and we believe one will.
Given the alleged focus on centers in this draft class, it's entirely possible that the Penguins could snag Swedish left wing Victor Eklund, who is - arguably - one of the most skilled players in the draft. Eklund registered 19 goals and 31 points in HockeyAllsvenskan last season, and he played alongside top-five draft hopeful Anton Frondell.
Penguins Draft Prospect Profile: Victor EklundWith the 2025 NHL Entry Draft approaching fast, POHO and GM Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins have their work cut out for them.
Drawing comparisons to NHL forwards such as Jesper Bratt and Travis Konecny, the relentless forward would be a very solid choice for the Penguins at 11 - and, seemingly, a very realistic one.
As for the 12th overall spot? There's a good chance that spot belongs to defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, who the Penguins have had conversations with.
The hard-hitting left defender - contrary to popular belief - isn't just known for his meanness, physicality, and shutdown ability. He is also known for his booming shot, ability to aid the transition game, and steady offensive production, as he finished seventh overall in OHL scoring among defensemen with 26 goals and 59 points in 64 games.
If the Penguins draft back-to-back at 11 and 12 - again - they'll be getting two good players. And they could also be getting a potential high-end forward and a top-four defenseman, which are both things they desperately need in their system.
Penguins Draft Prospect Profile: Kashawn AitchesonWith the 2025 NHL Entry Draft approaching fast, POHO and GM Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins have their work cut out for them.
It is, perhaps, unwise to read too much into speculation around draft day. Teams purposefully leak things, and misleading narratives are told left and right, to try to throw other teams off in hopes of a given team being able to land who they want.
But, as Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects said, this year seems to feel a bit different.
Y'all wouldn't believe the stuff that's floating around out there right now.
— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) June 26, 2025
If even a fraction of it happens, we're shaping up for a very fun Friday.
As mentioned before, there is a lot of talk about the Penguins potentially moving up in the draft in order to be able to select an elite talent. Having the Rangers' first-round pick gives them quite a bit more flexibility to do so.
And it's something I believe is going to happen.
It has also been reported that the Chicago Blackhawks - who are currently slated to draft third overall - are trying to take a step this year and are open to dealing their third overall pick for some NHL help. They are also one of the teams rumored to be interested in Penguins' veteran winger Rickard Rakell, who had a career season with 35 goals and 70 points in 2024-25.
If you do the math, it's not all that difficult to see a package from the Penguins involving Rakell and their 11th overall pick to Chicago for their top-three pick.
Can The Penguins Trade Up For Blackhawks' Third Overall Pick?It has been rumored that the Pittsburgh Penguins would like to trade up in the 2025 NHL Draft.
It's possible that more would have to be involved to get a deal across the finish line, but - given that the Penguins would still have that 12th overall selection and that they're in the midst of a rebuild - a move like this certainly makes sense. And it will be one of the biggest storylines to watch out for on Friday.
If the Penguins do bump up to third overall, I think their guy is Frondell. Frondell has steadily climbed the draft board after his season with Djurgardens IF - alongside Eklund - that saw him put up 11 goals and 25 points in 29 games.
He was putting up such numbers after a slow start and as a 17-year-old in HockeyAllsvenskan, and this was just one season after registering 18 goals and 39 points in 29 games as part of J20 Nationell in 2023-24 - again, dominating despite his young age.
It will be interesting to see whether or not the Penguins do move up - and, if they do, how far they are interested in moving up. Dubas is known to be enamored with right wing Porter Martone as well, so it's possible that Pittsburgh could look to even just move up a handful of spots in order to land him.
Regardless, things should be interesting. And I do think they will try to move up.
NHL Trade Rumors: Penguins Have Prime Target In Utah ForwardThe Pittsburgh Penguins are currently retooling their roster. While there certainly is a chance that they could end up trading away some of their key players before the off-season is done, they also should not be afraid to acquire players who could help them in the long term.
Here are my final predictions for the first-round draft order on Friday:
1. D Matthew Schaefer - New York Islanders
2. C Michael Misa - San Jose Sharks
3. C Anton Frondell - Pittsburgh Penguins (traded by Chicago Blackhawks on draft day)
4. C James Hagens - Utah Hockey Club
5. RW Porter Martone - Nashville Predators
6. C Caleb DeSnoyers - Philadelphia Flyers
7. C Brady Martin - Boston Bruins
8. D Radim Mrtka - Seattle Kraken
9. C Jake O'Brien - Buffalo Sabres
10. C Roger McQueen - Anaheim Ducks
11. LW Victor Eklund - Chicago Blackhawks (traded by Pittsburgh Penguins on draft day)
12. D Kashawn Aitcheson - Pittsburgh Penguins (from New York Rangers)
13. C Justin Carbonneau - Detroit Red Wings
14. D Jackson Smith - Columbus Blue Jackets
15. LW Carter Bear - Vancouver Canucks
Five NHL Draft Comparables: Will We See The Next Hughes, Hischier, Bennett, Getzlaf And Jarvis? With the 2025 NHL draft quickly approaching, teams around the league are finalizing their draft boards in hopes of landing the best young talent from around the hockey world.
16. C Cole Reschny - Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary)
17. D Logan Hensler - Montreal Canadiens
18. C Braeden Cootes - Calgary Flames (from New Jersey)
19. LW Lynden Lakovic - St. Louis Blues
20. RW Malcolm Spence - Columbus Blue Jackets (from Minnesota)
21. C Jack Nesbitt - Ottawa Senators
22. D Blake Fiddler - Philadelphia Flyers (from Colorado)
23. C Ivan Ryabkin - Nashville Predators (from Tampa Bay)
24. C Cullen Potter - Los Angeles Kings
25. RW Alexander Zharovsky - Chicago Blackhawks (from Toronto)
26. G Joshua Ravensbergen - Nashville Predators (from Vegas via San Jose)
27. C Eric Nilson - Washington Capitals
28. D Sascha Boumedienne - Winnipeg Jets
29. RW Daniil Prokhorov - Carolina Hurricanes
30. D Cameron Reid - San Jose Sharks (from Dallas)
31. C Cole McKinney - Philadelphia Flyers (from Edmonton)
32. RW Ryker Lee - Calgary Flames (from Florida)
Get your hands on The Hockey News' Draft Preview Issue today by clicking here.
2025 NHL Draft: Islanders, Canadiens, Penguins Hold Pivotal Points In Round 1Every NHL draft, there are pivot points that affect what happens next.
Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
Feature image credit: Michael Augello-The Hockey News
Ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks revealed new sweaters for their upcoming centennial season. They will wear these during home games during the 2025-26 season.
Chicago has always been known for having one of the most recognizable uniforms in all of sports, and this new sweater celebrates what has made it so iconic.
Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on XINTRODUCING OUR 2025-26 CENTENNIAL JERSEY‼️
In 1955, we created something special—a red sweater with black and white stripes that would become the most beloved and iconic jersey in all of sports. Seventy years later, it remains largely unchanged proving that true classics
Vinnie Parise (@VinnieParise) on X🚨 Chicago Blackhawks centennial sweaters 🚨
(Courtesy of Chicago Blackhawks via Fanatics)There is a gold outline surrounding the crest, which is inspired by the gold-trim sweaters that the Blackhawks used to wear in their earlier days.
The new centennial patch is on the shoulder to signify it as the jersey worn by the team in its 100th year of existence.
A new twist to the jersey is a lace-up collar, which has become popular around the National Hockey League. This is to mark a mash-up of the past and future of the franchise.
Chicago has had Stanley Cup success over the course of their history, including recently. All six of their victorious seasons are hemmed inside the jersey. Fans can always remember the years in which the Stanley Cup returned to Chicago.
“The Blackhawks sweater has consistently been voted the best jersey in sports by players and fans alike. For our Centennial season, we wanted to honor that iconic symbol of Chicago’s hockey heritage that has remained largely unchanged since 1955,” Danny Wirtz said in a statement. “While the classic elements of the jersey stay the same, thoughtful design details make this jersey unique – melding past and present while proving that the best traditions transcend trends.”
Being an original six team, having an iconic sweater has always been a part of the identity for the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team. Now, for the special season ahead, there is a new twist to their home jersey for everyone to enjoy.
Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.
The wait is over, and the 2025 NHL draft starts Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
Most NHL franchises look to alter their course with big trades, draft picks and a new outlook.
There’s no better time than right before the festivities to do a mailbag, answering some questions surrounding the NHL draft and the players involved. Let’s look at some of the questions you sent my way via X, messages and in comments on THN.com.
What’s behind everyone dropping James Hagens right at the end of the year?
I think the reason Hagens has dropped a bit in the last few weeks is that he’s been on everyone’s radar for so long, so he’s been a bit overscouted.
This is the same player we watched at the World Men’s Under-18s two years ago as a 16-year-old before setting the scoring record at the tournament last year. Having aged out of that tournament this year as a late-2006 born player, Hagens became an effective player at the World Junior Championship. We’ve seen him on the big stage so many times in recent years that some people are just used to how he plays.
We’ve seen two elite-level talents play in the NCAA and win the Hobey Baker Trophy as freshmen: Adam Fantilli and Macklin Celebrini. Hagens didn’t put up Hobey Baker numbers, but he was a point-per-game center on one of the country's most dominant teams. He showed he can add a bit more physicality to his game on top of his silky smooth hands and slippery skating, to which we’ve become accustomed.
Hagens finished the year at No. 3 on my board and No. 5 on The Hockey News editor in chief Ryan Kennedy’s draft board. Not everyone is underrating him, but those who do could be in for a reality check when he blossoms into one of the draft’s most impressive offensive players.
Where would Michael Misa rank in last year’s draft?
For reference, my NHL draft rankings last year were as follows:
Where Misa fits in there feels immediately clear to me. He’s behind Celebrini, but I would at least have the debate between the two centers. Demidov likely also slides ahead of Misa (and Schaefer), but I would easily have him ahead of Catton and Lindstrom. Matthew Schaefer would be the top defender in the class, ahead of Buium for me.
Even a year later, the order of my top five wouldn’t change, so there is no need to add in Artyom Levshunov or Zayne Parekh. The top two for this year, Misa and Schaefer, would be easily the third and fourth players in this group.
Five NHL Draft Comparables: Will We See The Next Hughes, Hischier, Bennett, Getzlaf And Jarvis? With the 2025 NHL draft quickly approaching, teams around the league are finalizing their draft boards in hopes of landing the best young talent from around the hockey world.
Why is Henry Brzustewicz not ranked on your list?
Among the players unranked on my list, Brzustewicz and David Bedkowski get asked about the most.
The two OHL defensemen are off the list for very different reasons. To be clear, both players will be drafted and deservedly so. There is a world where I would take them in a draft if the situation called for it. Unfortunately, they are valued much lower for me than the consensus, and if I were to get to them, it would be very late in the draft.
Let’s start with Bedkowski. The bruising blueliner is one of the more physical and intimidating players in the draft, punishing players all over the ice. His willingness to throw his weight around is admirable. The concerns I have with his on-puck game are quite substantial, though. He panics a bit under pressure and tends to just fire the puck to nowhere at times. So much of his game must come a long way to reach the point where his physicality is realistically effective. It’s not to say that it won’t come, but he’ll need to work with a skills coach and watch plenty of film.
With Brzustewicz, it’s almost the opposite. His game with the puck is quite solid, and he showed more creativity and skill whenever he got the opportunity.
That said, it’s tough to overlook his defensive habits and some of his often-questionable decision-making. He often tried to push play to the middle, but there were so many times a pass had no recipient, or he wasn’t patient with the puck. There could be a very good player here, but must work on getting his details right. He strikes me as a player who will have a very good CHL career, look great in the AHL but lose his game a bit in the NHL.
2025 NHL Mock Draft: Final First-Round Predictions For Schaefer, Martone And MoreThe 2025 NHL draft kicks off Friday evening, so it’s time to get in the spirit by conducting the final mock draft of the season.
Who are the top five defense-first blueliners?
This year’s defense group has different tiers and categories. Schaefer’s alone at the top, and a group of five or six players follow before getting to a bunch of what I’ve deemed specialists. When it comes to defensive hockey and shutdown defense, there are a number of players who fit that mold.
In one of my latest articles, I covered the top five, plus an underrated player and some honorable mentions for 12 categories, and best shut-down defender was one of them. Here is the top five:
1. Radim Mrtka
2. Blake Fiddler
3. Sascha Boumedienne
4. Matthew Schaefer
5. Jackson Smith
Underrated: Sean Barnhill
These six defenders all play defensive hockey in their own way. Barnhill could have easily made the list, but there hasn’t been much buzz around the big, mobile blueliner, so he fit right into the underrated slot. Mrtka has a boatload of potential as a shutdown guy, and Fiddler has an excellent floor. Boumedienne, Schaefer and Smith are all elite movers who use that to cut down play. Be sure to check out the full “Top Traits” article covering shooters, playmakers, motors, two-way forwards, and so much more here.
Which player do you think realistically outplays his draft position the most?
This is an interesting question because I could have easily said LJ Mooney or Adam Benak. They are two of the most skilled and cerebral players in the draft class who likely would have been top-15 talents had they been six-feet or even close, but they are 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-8, respectively. If they hit, they could be wickedly good, and teams will regret not taking them before the mid-late portion of the draft.
The question was centered around what’s realistic, though, so that slightly changes things.
Eric Nilson comes to mind initially as a highly intelligent, tactical center who understands how to come out on top just about every shift. His biggest issue is that he needs to add some weight to his frame, but his agile, swift playmaking based on his IQ is very impressive.
Cullen Potter also comes to mind. He’s one of the fastest skaters in the class and a slick and precise playmaker.
Potter was a play-driving beast for Arizona State as one of the youngest players in the NCAA, but because he didn’t have much help around him, he couldn’t benefit from the playmaking side of his game. He scored as many goals as Hagens this year in the NCAA and brought an effective transition and playmaking game.
The final name I’ll add here is Sascha Boumedienne, the defenseman from Boston University. His mobility is so smooth and crisp, and he’s developed into such a solid all-around defender. His offensive game was muted a bit as he adjusted to the NCAA, but when he had the chance to play against his age group at the U-18s, he set the record for scoring by a blueliner. He’s got some things to refine, but if Boumedienne hits, he could be the second-best defender in the class.
2025 NHL Draft Rankings: Ferrari's Final Top 80The 2025 NHL draft cycle nears the end, and it’s been a unique class.
Which team makes the surprise pick that throws everyone off?
I wish I knew. The Nashville Predators have three picks in the first round, so maybe they take a chance and go off the board. The Montreal Canadiens or Pittsburgh Penguins could be the surprise of the round as they each possess back-to-back picks and could trade up to grab a top-end prospect. There is sure to be a surprise, but it’s only a surprise because no one saw it coming.
Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
While there are plenty of teams trying to take the next step right now and the competition to land quality centers is fierce, a new option has just landed on the market, and it’s an option that has proven chemistry with Montreal Canadiens’ rookie Ivan Demidov.
Last season in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg, Demidov spent time skating alongside former NHL player Evgeny Kuznetsov. After finishing his contract with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2023-24, the pivot decided to sign a new contract with the Raleigh-based outfit with a $3.9 M AAV. Still, days later, the parties mutually decided to part ways, and he was put on unconditional waivers.
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The Russian then headed back home to Russia, where he signed a four-year pact with SKA on July 24, 2024. In 39 games under Roman Rotenberg, the pivot put up 37 points, picked up 38 penalty minutes, and finished his season with a plus-13 rating. However, in early April, the club and the player agreed to part ways, and the contract was terminated.
On Thursday, Kuznetsov’s agent Shumi Babaev announced that his client has decided he wants to return to the NHL next season, and he has reportedly already had talks with multiple teams who could potentially be interested.
The 33-year-old has played 743 games in the NHL with the Washington Capitals and the Hurricanes, picking up 575 points in the process. His most productive campaigns came skating alongside fellow Russian Alexander Ovechkin when he gathered 83 points in 79 games. That was in the 2017-18 season, when the Caps won the Stanley Cup. In these playoffs, he scored 32 points in just 24 games. However, Ovechkin was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy after recording 27 points, including 15 goals.
The end of Kuznetzov’s tenure in Washington was a rocky one, as he joined the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program in February 2024. There hasn’t been any confirmation as to what prompted him to enter the program, but he was banned from playing for Russia for four years in 2019 following a positive drug test for cocaine. That same year, he was also suspended for three NHL games for “inappropriate conduct”.
After he was cleared to return, the Caps placed him on waivers, where he went unclaimed and was assigned to Hershey in the AHL before being traded to Carolina. There’s no denying that Kuznetsov could be an interesting option for Demidov on the ice, but only if his issues with the ice are behind him.
Given what Jeff Gorton said to the media on Thursday about not being careful not to bring a player that wouldn’t be a good fit in the room, the Canadiens would have to be satisfied that there is no chance of his behavior becoming an issue.
Photo credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
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