Throughout the 2025 NHL Draft on June 27-28, Ezra Gennello has boots on the ground gathering interviews, inside scoops, and more from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Follow along this live thread for all things Muskegon Lumberjacks at the NHL Draft.

For a preview of possible Lumberjacks draft picks, head to our 2025 Draft Preview Story.

Day Two:

Rounds 2-7 of the NHL Draft come on Saturday afternoon. Lumberjacks fans can expect a fair amount of Lumberjacks selected, starting with Ivan Ryabkin and Luka Radivojevic early in the day.

Second Round - Ivan Ryabkin #62 (CAR)
The third Lumberjack to be selected by the Carolina Hurricanes (Brendan Woods, 2012 | Andrei Svechnikov, 2018), Ivan Ryabkin has the potential to be the biggest steal of the 2025 draft. His power shot and high IQ are complemented by an elite ability to find teammates and create opportunities for them. If a passing lane isn't open, Ryabkin has no problem firing a shot past the goalie from anywhere in the offensive zone.
 

Sixth Round - Carter Sanderson #169 (PIT)
There is a lot to love about Carter Sanderson. His physicality, leadership, and work ethic set him apart from most in the USHL last season. The Penguins got a hard-working, dedicated forward with their 6th-round selection.

 


Seventh Round - Melvin Novotny #195 (BUF)
Gearing up for his first season with Muskegon next year, Novotny will do so as a member of the Buffalo Sabres organization. The Swedish forward is a deadly threat in the offensive zone and looks to adjust his game to the North American ice with the Jacks before making the jump to the NHL with Buffalo.
   

Day One:

First Round - Vaclav Nestrasil #25 (CHI)
For the second straight season, the Muskegon Lumberjacks are represented in the first round thanks to a selection from the Chicago Blackhawks. Last year, it was Sacha Boisvert at #18. This season, Vaclav Nestrasil joined the Chicago organization at #25th overall.
 

Pre-Draft - Heading into night one and the first round, the vibe around the Muskegon Lumberjacks is that the team could repeat the same outcome of the 2024 NHL Draft with a pair of players selected in the first round. Ivan Ryabkin joined the Lumberjacks midway through the season as the #3-ranked European Skater on the NHL Central Scouting Mid-Season Rankings. Though his stock has dipped, it isn't because of his production on the ice. Over a point per game in the regular season, Ryabkin carried that momentum into the Clark Cup Playoffs. Many experts believe Ryabkin could go in the first round to a team that has multiple picks or is willing to take a chance on the tremendous ceiling.

Prediction: I really, really love the Idea of Washington at 27. They have taken their fair share of Russian-born skaters (some would say it has worked out), and are poised for a retool more than a rebuild. Imagine replacing Ovechkin on the power play with another sharpshooting, heavy, Russian skater.

Vaclav Nestrasil has watched his stock grow all season long. Between his size, skill, and soft skills, he has shown why he deserves to be a first-round NHL pick. Nestrasil is going to play college hockey at UMass Amherst (HEA), where he will continue to develop his physicality and elevate his already strong skating to the next level. The thought around Vaclav is that there are teams out there that really like what he brings to the table, and are willing to call his name on night one.

Prediction: No NHL team is closer to Muskegon than the Chicago Blackhawks. Just like last season, they enter the draft with a pair of picks in the first round. We know Mike Doneghy and Kyle Davidson love their Jacks after they took Sacha Boisvert at #18 last season. Look for them to take Vaclav to add to what is shaping up to be a bright future at the United Center.

A player who has every right to have his name in the conversation for the first round is Luka Radivojevic. Not only was he a very highly touted prospect when he joined the Lumberjacks out of the SHL, but he also continued to showcase his smooth skating and offensive ability. He played in his second World Junior Championship this year with Team Slovakia and was named a top-three player. Then, I led Slovakia as the captain of the Under-18 team at the U18 Championships in Texas back in April.

Prediction: The Nashville Predators have three first-round picks and are most likely going with a forward with at least one of the first two. Adding a puck-moving defenseman with the third first-round selection is not a bad idea. Especially considering the direction the game is going, with skill taking the front seat over physicality.