Daily Nuggets

Daily Nuggets: Golden Knights Draft Guide; Latest Marner Update

Published

3 weeks ago

June 24, 2025

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 27: Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner (16) carries the puck on his stick during the second period of the NHL regular season game between the Las Vegas Golden Knights and the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 27, 2024 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Gavin Napier/Icon Sportswire)

Good morning, folks. On Monday, the league announced the order of selection for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The Vegas Golden Knights don’t have a first-round pick, but they’ll be active on the second day of the Draft. That is, they don’t have a first-round pick as of the morning of the 24th– things tend to happen pretty fast at this time of year. And with Free Agency looming, everything seems to be coming up Vegas in the Mitch Marner sweepstakes.

Elsewhere in the Daily Nuggets, Trevor Zegras finally left the trade block, finding a new home alongside his old pal. The New Jersey Devils are the perfect suitor for disgruntled Buffalo Sabres winger JJ Peterka. Original Misfit Nate Schmidt is having his moment in the sun, and the Edmonton Oilers desperately need a goaltending upgrade.

I’d like to apologize for going AWOL this past week. I’ve been preparing for a long journey. On Saturday, I’ll load up all my belongings in a covered wagon and embark on the Oregon Trail, praying to avoid Cholera– or worse, Dysentery.

I’m mostly kidding.

There is some truth there: I’m relocating from Philadelphia to Las Vegas, and the migration officially begins this weekend. I fear nothing good would come of me driving a Uhaul 2,500 miles, so I’m shipping most of my things. However, I am making the drive instead of shipping my car, because apparently I hate myself.

Enough from the peanut gallery. Let’s get to the news!

Golden Knights News

On Monday, the NHL revealed the full order of selection for the 2025 draft. The Golden Knights don’t have a first-round selection, as they sent it to San Jose in the Tomáš Hertl trade. However, they do have six picks on the second day of the Draft.

First round– no selection
Second round– 58
Third round– 91 (from Washington)
Fourth round– 122
Fifth round– 154
Sixth round– 186
Sixth round– 187 (from Washington)
Seventh round– no selection

If you tuned in eagerly awaiting the newest episode of the Mitch Marner Saga, you’re in luck. On Monday’s episode of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman continued to highlight the connection between Marner and the Golden Knights. According to Friedman, the Golden Knights are the “team to beat.”

NHL News, Rumors, & National Hockey Now

Edmonton Journal: The Oilers have refused to address their goaltending issue for years, but they can’t avoid it any longer. They need a significant upgrade in net– but how?

The Athletic ($): The Golden Knights are one of the strongest teams down the middle. Sean Gentille and Dom Luszczyszyn ranked the VGK’s center depth second out of the 32 teams in the league, behind only the Edmonton Oilers. Here’s the rest of the ranking for the less fortunate teams:

Philly Hockey Now: Well, that escalated quickly. On Monday, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Anaheim Ducks might finally part ways with Trevor Zegras. Within the hour, the Flyers acquired the disgruntled forward, reuniting Zegras with his old friend Jamie Drysdale.

New Jersey Hockey Now: What would be better than the Devils acquiring a young star winger? Stealing him from their fiercest rivals, the New York Rangers. The Buffalo Sabres are begrudgingly shopping JJ Peterka’s RFA rights, and New Jersey is the perfect landing spot.

Florida Hockey Now: During the Stanley Cup Playoffs, defenseman Nate Schmidt upped his game for the Panthers. Now, the Original Misfit is bringing that same energy to the ensuing celebrations, including the Stanley Cup Parade.

Boston Hockey Now: There are two routes when it comes to signing young players. On Monday, the Bruins took the road most traveled, signing defenseman Mason Lohrei to a two-year bridge deal.