The 2025 NHL Draft is scheduled to take place in late June 2025, with expectations that the event will be hosted at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, as reported by Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period on October 9. The league is yet to confirm both the exact location and dates. In April 2025, the NHL will conduct its annual draft lottery, which includes two draws that determine the order for the 16 teams that did not qualify for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Notably, the team finishing at the bottom of the rankings can fall no lower than the third overall selection, while teams may only move up a maximum of ten spots depending on the lottery results. Additionally, no single team can secure the lottery more than twice within a five-year timeframe.

On October 23, NHL Central Scouting unveiled its preliminary list of players to watch, highlighting James Hagens from Boston College as a potential top pick for the 2025 draft. Hagens, an 18-year-old two-way center known for his quick skating and high hockey IQ, is among his team’s leading scorers and is also ranking highly among NCAA point leaders. As the NHL season progresses and several teams hover near the bottom of the overall standings, it is plausible that these franchises could position themselves for lottery consideration by season’s end. Teams such as the Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens, who have recently celebrated lottery victories, find themselves in need of that coveted first-overall pick to elevate their roster. This article will explore five teams that might be seen as more deserving of the first pick, leaving aside the Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, and Ottawa Senators, who despite having impressive young talent are still in search of breakthrough playoff success.

Interestingly, the Anaheim Ducks have never had the privilege of selecting first overall in their franchise history. Their former top player, Paul Kariya, was drafted fourth overall in 1993, while notable superstars Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry were selected 19th and 28th overall, respectively, in the 2003 draft. Currently, the Ducks are in the midst of a rebuilding phase, centered around promising young talents such as Leo Carlsson (second overall in 2023), Pavel Mintyukov (10th overall in 2022), Mason McTavish (third overall in 2021), and Trevor Zegras (ninth overall in 2019). According to rankings by The Athletic on August 29, the Ducks possess the third-best draft pipeline, indicating a successful drafting strategy. Despite this, their incremental progress in recent years suggests that the team could benefit from integrating skilled veterans. Securing the top prospect in this year's draft could potentially provide them with a franchise cornerstone while offering fans a reason for optimism following a lengthy absence from the postseason.