Concerns mount around 2025 NHL draft with league 'closely monitoring' LA protests: Report

While protests continue in Los Angeles, California, the 2025 NHL draft has some concerns setting in. It's going to be located in LA, which is the epicenter of an American political event.

As ICE continues its advances in the area, thousands of protestors and law enforcement have descended on Los Angeles. That could have wide-reaching effects on the draft.

On Wednesday, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli reported on X that the league is "closely monitoring the ongoing civil unrest" in Los Angeles, with the draft just a little over two weeks away. The locations for the draft, Peacock Theater and LA Live, are both within a curfew right now.

"This is the NHL's first decentralized draft outside of the pandemic, so teams will be located in their home markets," Seravalli added. "But the top 100 prospects are scheduled to be in LA."

The curfew restricts movement and activity between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. PT. The draft begins at 7 p.m. ET and will undoubtedly go well into the night, making it a bit of a logistical nightmare with the curfew.

What is the 2025 NHL draft order?

The NHL draft order is determined by a lottery, just like the NBA and MLB. Determining the order is not as simple as just reversing the standings. Similarly to the NBA, the team picking first is not remotely near the worst team in the sport.

The New York Islanders won the NHL's draft lottery with the 10th-best odds, which is not quite as shocking as the Dallas Mavericks taking the top pick in the NBA. The rest of the 2025 NHL draft order is as follows:

2. San Jose Sharks
3. Chicago Blackhawks
4. Utah Mammoth
5. Nashville Predators
6. Philadelphia Flyers
7. Boston Bruins
8. Seattle Kraken
9. Buffalo Sabres
10. Anaheim Ducks
11. Pittsburgh Penguins
12. New York Rangers
13. Detroit Red Wings
14. Columbus Blue Jackets
15. Vancouver Canucks
16. Montreal Canadiens (from Calgary Flames)
17. Montreal Canadiens
18. Calgary Flames (from New Jersey Devils)
19. St. Louis Blues
20. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Minnesota Wild)
21. Ottawa Senators
22. Philadelphia Flyers (from Colorado Avalanche)
23. Nashville Predators (from Tampa Bay Lightning)
24. Los Angeles Kings
25. Chicago Blackhawks (from Toronto Maple Leafs)
26. Nashville Predators (from Vegas Golden Knights via San Jose Sharks)
27. Washington Capitals
28. Winnipeg Jets
29. Carolina Hurricanes
30. San Jose Sharks (from Dallas Stars)

The 31st and 32nd picks will go to the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers, depending on who wins the Stanley Cup Final.

About the author

Zachary is a journalist covering NFL, Professional Golf, esports, and Major League Baseball at Sportskeeda. He has a degree in writing/editing from Southern Adventist University (USA), and in his spare time, he likes to play games such as Minecraft, Pokémon and Fortnite, or watch sports.

Ever since he was a youth football wide receiver, Zachary has been an avid NFL fan. He loves the Carolina Panthers, with Cam Newton being his all-time favorite player (with respect to the close second, Steve Smith). If you ever meet Zachary, prepare to hear all about how underrated Newton was and how he single-handedly dragged the Panthers to Super Bowl 50.

Zachary is also a big fan of top golfers like Tiger Woods, Wyndham Clark, and Scottie Scheffler. He enjoys watching them and hopes that Woods can return to form soon and win again.

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Edited by Ribin Peter