Overview

• The league held its first non-pandemic semi-virtual draft at Los Angeles’s Peacock Theater, with executives picking remotely from their home offices.
• New York Islanders opened with defenseman Matthew Schaefer at No. 1, followed by high-scoring forward Michael Misa to San Jose and Swedish forward Anton Frondell to Chicago.
• Canadian franchises targeted key needs in the mid-rounds as Vancouver took centre Braeden Cootes at 15, Calgary selected centre Cole Reschny at 18, and Ottawa traded down to No. 23 to choose defenseman Logan Hensler.
• Los Angeles Kings general manager Ken Holland and other executives voiced a preference for the traditional in-person draft, citing concerns over the remote format.
• The draft now shifts into rounds two through seven on Saturday, with teams continuing their selections under the decentralized system.