Complete Summary of the First Round of the NHL Entry Draft

This year's NHL Draft in Montreal was a spectacle. Between Gary Bettman attempting to speak French through a waterfall of boos to Shane Wright dropping three spots, this year's draft featured a tornado of shocking & exciting events. Montreal pulled off a quick couple of trades after shocking the hockey world by taking Juraj Slafkovsky #1 Overall started the mayhem. After that, there was no telling what would happen next.

The first-round draft festivities would simmer a little after a turbulent opening sequence. The first-round would commence as follows:

1. LW Juraj Slafkovsky, MTL
2. D Simon Nemec, NJD
3. C Logan Cooley, ARI
4. C Shane Wright, SEA
5. C/LW Cutter Gauthier, PHI
6. D David Jiricek, CBJ
7. D Kevin Korchinksi, CHI
8. C Marco Käsper, DET
9. C Matthew Savoie, BUF
10. D Pavel Mintyukov, ANA

The 11th pick initially belonged to the San Jose Sharks, but newly appointed GM Mike Grier would trade their 11th overall selection to the Arizona Coyotes for three draft picks; 27th, 34th, and 45th overall in this year's draft. Grier opting for volume at the cost of a higher pick could pay off for them. Meanwhile, Arizona is looking to stockpile high-end talent after selecting Cooley 3rd overall. With their newly acquired 11th overall pick, GM Bill Armstrong told ESPN's Emily Kaplan they traded up in the draft in order to draft a specific player:

11. C Conor Geekie, ARI
12. D Denton Mateychuk, CBJ
13. C Frank Nazar III, CHI
14. C/RW Rutger McGroarty, WPG
15. RW Jonathan Lekkerimaki, VAN
16. C Noah Ostlund, BUF
17. RW Joakim Kemell, NSH
18. D Lian Bichsel, DAL
19. LW Liam Ohgren, MIN
20. LW Ivan Miroshnichenko, WSH
21. D Owen Pickering, PIT
22. C Nathan Gaucher, ANA
23. RW Jimmy Snuggerud, STL
24. RW Danila Yurov, MIN

The Toronto Maple Leafs traded their 25th overall pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for G Petr Mrazek & the 38th overall pick; no salary retained for Mrazek.

25. D Sam Rinzel, CHI
26. RW Filip Mesar, MTL
27. C Filip Bystedt, SJS
28. C Jiri Kulich, BUF

The Edmonton Oilers traded their 29th overall pick, Zach Kassian, a 2024 3rd round pick, and a 2025 2nd round pick in exchange for the final pick (#32) in the first round.

29. D Maveric Lamoureux, ARI
30. C/RW Brad Lambert, WIN
31. LW Isaac Howard, TBL
32. LW Reid Schaefer, EDM

MUST READ

11 hours ago  |  By Graham Montgomery Two Maple Leafs Reporters Have Tense Altercation on Mitch Marner's Market Value

12 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Nashville Predators Practice Takes a Nasty Turn as Players Fight On the Ice Due to Mounting Frustration

14 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks John Gibson Reportedly Willing to Waive No-Trade Clause for One Specific Team

15 hours ago  |  By Daniel Lucente Toronto Maple Leafs on the Verge of a Significant Forward Trade Per Top NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman

16 hours ago  |  By Daniel Lucente Connor Bedard Rapidly Losing His Confidence: Comments at Practice Worrying Fans

18 hours ago  |  By Daniel Lucente Johnny Gaudreau's Wife Meredith Has Emotional Reaction to Beautiful Fan Tribute to Her Late Husband

20 hours ago  |  By Daniel Lucente Brad Marchand Traded by the Boston Bruins? Top NHL Insider Lists Him as a Possible Player to Move

21 hours ago  |  By Graham Montgomery Florida Panthers' Aaron Ekblad Loses His Cool and Insults Fan

MORE STORIES