2025 NHL Draft - Fantasy hockey insight and analysis on the top picks - ESPN

With the book closed on the first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, we're again afforded the opportunity to evaluate what several prominent prospects offer within the fantasy hockey arena. While this draft might lack the more obvious spark of previous iterations as far as household names are concerned, those prospect pundits-in-the-know suggest this version possesses quality over quantity. Beyond the top pick, most top picks play at the center position, and many of whom will prove versatile and valuable to fantasy managers in years to come.

Additional analysis provided by ESPN's Rachel Doerrie.

Matthew Schaefer, D, New York Islanders, Erie (OHL) Selected: 1, Rank: 1

Rachel Doerrie: «A dynamic presence at both ends of the ice, the 6-foot-2 blueliner skates with ease and elite mobility to shut down opponents in all situations, while creating offense with quality transition play. ...»

This young defender is going to be a star, it's only a matter of when. With Noah Dobson headed to Montreal, the Islanders are clearly pegging Schaefer to take over as a prominent blue-line component and top power-play anchor. Compared to Ottawa's Jake Sanderson by prospect analyst Shane Malloy, the current Erie Otter is lauded for his superior skating, hockey IQ, and physical play.

Most significant to fantasy managers, Schaefer projects to execute himself as a top-15 defenseman by checking categorical boxes across the board. Probably not next season, even if the dynasty-league gem cracks New York's lineup, but eventually. Keep in mind, the young lad doesn't turn 18 until September. For what it's worth, in Sanderson's third NHL season, at the age of 22, the aforementioned Senators' blueliner erupted for 2.4 fantasy points/game in ESPN standard