Los Angeles Kings to host 2025 NHL Draft

The National Hockey League announced Saturday that the Los Angeles Kings and the city of Los Angeles will host the 2025 NHL Draft.

The 2025 Draft will be held at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater, June 27-28, 2025. This will be the second time Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Kings have hosted the Draft, the last time being in 2010 when Taylor Hall went No. 1 overall to the Edmonton Oilers.

Top prospects will be in attendance at the Peacock Theater and joined by fans and media. NHL club executives, scouts and coaches will participate in the event virtually.

“The NHL Draft is an amazing showcase of the future stars of the National Hockey League so it’s only fitting for it to be held in Los Angeles – a city filled with stars,” said Steve Mayer, President, of NHL Events & Content. “With the support of the Kings, LA Tourism and Upper Deck, the prospects and our fans can expect a first-rate event with a new look and creative approach. We are excited to share more details in the coming months.”

Prospect analyst Steven Ellis has Matthew Schaefer ranked No. 1 overall in his latest 2025 NHL Draft Rankings. Ellis stated, “Unlike some others on this list, a long-term injury shouldn’t hurt Schaefer’s rating. That’s because scouts absolutely love everything he brings to the table. He’s so smart, so skilled, and the results at just about every single level have been so promising. You can see some similarities between Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes in the way he plays.”

“We have a proud tradition of holding world-class events in our city, and we are both honored and excited to once again be hosting the NHL Draft in Los Angeles,” said Kings’ President Luc Robitaille. “We would like to thank the NHL for working with us to present this event in its latest format and showcase the future stars of our sport to our great fans and the entire hockey community.”