2025 NHL Draft Guide: How To Watch, Draft Order, Trade Rumours

The 2025 NHL Draft is on the horizon, representing a very important weekend for all franchises, including your very own Montreal Canadiens.

Here’s a handy guide to everything you need to know ahead of the draft, including recent trade rumours, potential draft targets, and more.

2025 NHL Entry Draft Information

When: The first round of the draft is set to begin at 7 pm ET on Friday, though there’s usually some pre-draft coverage built into the schedule.

The first round tends to last roughly three hours, however, the timing may be a little different this year given that they’ve changed the setup considerably. The second round of the draft will take place on Saturday, starting at 12 pm ET.

Where: Unlike any other year, the NHL decided to make the 2025 NHL Draft a remote event.

The top prospects are expected to attend the ceremony held by the NHL at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, but general managers, scouts, coaches, and all other executives will participate via a virtual portal. If it sounds odd, that’s because it is, but don’t worry, the NHL has already decided to revert to their original draft weekend setup as early as next year.

How To Watch The 2025 NHL Entry Draft

Several networks will carry the draft, including ESPN, ESPN+, TVA Sports, and Sportsnet. The NHL Network and SN1 will also provide coverage of Day 2.

First Round Draft Order

The New York Islanders won the Draft Lottery, and will have the pleasure of picking first overall.

As of Friday morning, the Montreal Canadiens own a pair first-round picks: 16th and 17th overall. In total, the Habs own 12 picks heading into the draft, and though they’re not picking as high as they did in the last three seasons, their draft pick value is surprisingly high.

Montreal Canadiens Draft Order

Beyond the 16th and 17th overall selections, the Habs also own a pair of second-round picks, as well as a trio of third-round picks.

The complete Canadiens draft order is as follows: 16th overall (via Calgary), 17th overall, 41st overall (via Pittsburgh), 49th overall, 79th overall (via Vancouver), 81st overall, 82nd overall (via New Jersey), 108th overall (via Detroit), 113th overall , 145th overall, 177th overall, and 209th overall.

To view the complete 2025 NHL Entry Draft order for every team, click here.

2025 NHL Entry Draft Resources

Draft pick value – The cost of moving up (or down) at the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

What type of value could the Canadiens provide by packaging both first-round picks in a trade?

Most likely first-round draft targets for the Habs, including Carter Bear and Logan Hensler.

Latest Montreal Canadiens Rumours

Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes has a history of making significant trades at the draft, and there’s a strong possibility he may trade one or both of his first-round picks on Friday.

New York Islanders defenceman Noah Dobson, in particular, has been linked to the Canadiens ahead of the draft, though there have been some whispers that they’ve also kicked the tires on a potential trade involving St-Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou.

ON TOPIC: Latest Canadiens Rumour – Noah Dobson and Jordan Kyrou

Montreal is also looking to improve their centre depth, but they’re not in any hurry to fill the gap in the lineup, especially if the market prices are elevated, which is often the case in the lead-up to the draft. The situation is complicated by the opening of free agency on July 1.