Over the years the NHL hasn't been the most diverse of leagues, heavily dominated by Europeans, and whites, but the 2025 NHL draft heavily reflects the positive changes, and ever growing diversity in today’s NHL. There have been some great players of colour in the NHL, including P.K Subban, Wayne Simmonds, and even players now who continue to make their mark on the sport, Quinton Byfield and K.J Miller, but as time goes on, the diversity only begins to get better.
Malcolm Spence, Bill Zonnon, Cameron Schmidt, Kashawn Aitcheson, are just some of the players of colour drafted in the first couple of rounds of this year's draft, and are representing their heritage and pride to bring diversity to the league. The league which is often seen as a league full of white dominated Scandinavians and Canadians is now a league full of different cultures, heritages, and amazing stories, and most of all, new role models for those players of colour who never really had anyone to look up to as kids.
This year the Pittsburgh Penguins draftee Bill Zonnon stated how his love for hockey came from Canadiens legend P.K Subban, and highlights how the ever growing diversity in the league will only grow with more and more inspiring role models for the minorities who may not have had role models in hockey 20 years ago.
But this year's draft, with yet another increase in players from all different cultures from all around the world is a massive step for the NHL, and becoming a more diverse league only means a bigger growth in the love for the sport which isn't recognised enough. A great year for hockey, and a great year for diversity in the NHL.
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