The selection board is complete after the first round of the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - The 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles may have been decentralized, but the buzz in the city was anything but muted. Scouts, executives, agents, and reporters all converged for a whirlwind weekend of picks, trades, and intense speculation. This year’s format spread teams and prospects across separate venues, but it didn’t stop big moves—and bigger rumors—from dominating the conversation.
RG Media was on the ground in L.A., taking in the action and speaking with sources to piece together what really happened behind the scenes. From trade talks to draft-day surprises, here’s what we heard.
Islanders Aggressively Pursued James Hagens
One of the most aggressive stories out of draft weekend was the New York Islanders’ determined pursuit of James Hagens, a consensus top offensive talent in this year’s class. According to several scouts and executives, the Islanders explored multiple trade packages in an attempt to move into the top five, offering a mix of picks and players. Yet teams holding high selections were simply not willing to pass on the chance to draft a franchise-altering prospect. This left the Islanders frustrated and forced them to pivot to other options later in the draft.
Canadiens Paid Big to Land Zharovsky
The Montreal Canadiens stunned many when they packaged the 41st and 49th overall picks to move up to the 34th spot and draft Russian forward Alexander Zharovsky. League sources confirmed the Canadiens felt immense pressure to jump the line, as Zharovsky was a hot commodity expected to go in the next couple of picks.
The hefty price paid reflected the urgency to secure a player the team believes has first-round skill despite slipping to Day 2. The Canadiens’ front office viewed Zharovsky as too talented to risk missing out on, prioritizing his elite puck-handling and scoring upside.
Noah Dobson Trade Agreed Upon Before the Draft
The Canadiens’ blockbuster acquisition of defenseman Noah Dobson from the Islanders was another focal point of the weekend. Multiple sources indicated the trade had been agreed upon in principle as early as the day before the draft officially began.
The Islanders reportedly offered the Columbus Blue Jackets a chance to submit a better offer for Dobson but could not secure a deal. This left the path clear for Montreal to land the top-pairing defenseman they’d been targeting, adding significant stability and offensive upside to their blue line.
Kyrou’s Name Still Circulating
One storyline that refuses to die down is the future of Jordan Kyrou in St. Louis. League executives and scouts told RG Media that Kyrou’s name continues to come up in trade conversations. There’s legitimate interest across the league in the dynamic winger, who posted impressive numbers last season.
However, with St. Louis still weighing its direction, it remains unclear if the club will commit to moving Kyrou before the start of next season—or opt to keep the 26-year-old as a key part of its forward core.
Oilers Exploring Mike Matheson Trade
The Edmonton Oilers have made it known they want to upgrade their defense, and sources confirmed they’ve expressed interest in Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson. The Oilers are said to value Matheson’s mobility and ability to carry the puck out of the defensive zone—qualities they feel could complement their high-octane offense led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Matheson’s name is one to watch as Edmonton looks to solidify its back end, while word is out that the Oilers could consider moving Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to make cap space.
**EDIT: Nugent-Hopkins is not being shopped, but teams continue to inquire.
Mitch Marner Talks Intensifying
Perhaps the juiciest rumor swirling around L.A. was the intensification of trade talks involving Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner. Several sources described negotiations as heating up, with the Vegas Golden Knights emerging as a leading candidate for a potential sign-and-trade deal. While nothing is imminent, optimism is building that a framework could come together soon.
A Marner move would send shockwaves across the league and reshape the landscape of both the Maple Leafs and Golden Knights moving forward.
Byram, Miller Could Move After Free Agency
While big trades didn’t materialize for Bowen Byram or K’Andre Miller during the draft, sources expect their names to resurface in July. The belief is that if teams miss out on free-agent defensemen Ivan Provorov or Vladislav Gavrikov, they’ll quickly turn to trade options.
Both Byram and Miller are viewed as impact defensemen who could slot into a top-four role immediately, and with multiple contenders needing help on the blue line, the phones are expected to ring after July 1.
Pressure Builds to Bring Back Centralized Draft
One of the strongest themes RG Media picked up on was growing dissatisfaction with the decentralized draft format among NHL executives and agents. Many described the experience as “disjointed” and “lacking the drama” of a traditional draft weekend where everyone gathers in one place.
The prevailing feeling is that general managers will face enough pressure to change course for 2026, with Montreal and Vegas already viewed as potential hosts for a return to a centralized, arena-packed draft experience that fans, players, and teams all crave.
Marco D'Amico
