O'Brien would be a steal at this point in the draft, as Buffalo could try to replace center Dylan Cozens for the long haul with the sharpshooting O'Brien. He's coming off a 32-goal, 66-assist season in the OHL.

The Flyers dropped the maximum two spots as their worst-case scenario played out in Monday’s lottery. The hockey gods can be cruel. Despite finishing with the fourth-worst record, the Flyers dropped to the sixth slot in the 2025 NHL draft after Monday’s lottery played out in nightmare fashion for the Orange and Black.

The Islanders were awarded the No. 1 pick via the draft lottery held Monday night at the NHL Network's studio in Secaucus, New Jersey. New York entered with the second-lowest odds of winning the top pick at just 3.5%. The Isles last picked first overall in 2009, when they selected center John Tavares.