The Winnipeg Jets selected Boston University’s Sascha Boumedienne with the 28th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft Friday night at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
“This is a guy that can develop,” ESPN NHL writer Emily Kaplan said of Boumedienne.
In October, Boumedienne earned a ‘B’ ranking in the NHL Central Scouting Preliminary Player to Watch List, projecting him to be selected in the second or third round.
Following a stellar second half of the season with the Terriers, and a record-breaking defensive performance for Team Sweden at the Under-18 Men’s World Championship, his stock soared, earning him the No. 18 ranking among North American skaters in his draft class, leading to his first round pick.
He has a “similar skating style to his dad,” analyst Kevin Weekes said. “Very effortless skate…very controlled. But the thing about it is he plays with some snarl too. He plays with a little physicality in his game.”
Boumedienne is no stranger to the NHL. His father, Josef Boumedienne, played for the New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Washington Capitals, and later worked as a scout for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without him,” Boumedienne said of his dad.
The blue-liner made the jump to BU a year ahead of schedule. He finished the season tallying a respectable 13 points, 10 of which came in the second half of the season.
“I knew it was gonna be a challenge,” Boumedienne said. “I trusted my teammates and my coaches.”
Surrounded by NHL prospects, Boumedienne contributed to the Terriers’ talented defensive core, which included Capitals Prospect Cole Hutson, college hockey’s rookie of the year, and Canucks prospect Tom Willander, a fellow swede whom Boumedienne paired with for most of the spring.
Boumedienne played in all 40 games while being one of the youngest players in college hockey, having only turned 18 this past January.
Shortly after his collegiate season, he broke the record for most points by a defenseman at U-18 Worlds, recording 14 points in five games for Sweden.
“I love playing for Team Sweden,” Boumedienne said. “We have a strong group with the 07’s…it’s really special to see my friends going [in the draft].”
Boumedienne was one of three Swedish U-18 standouts selected in the first round, alongside Blackhawks prospect Anton Frondell and Islanders prospect Victor Eklund.
The defender is set to stay with BU for at least another year to continue his rapid development.
With the acceleration of his improvement, both Terrier fans and Winnipeg fans alike will have a player to watch out for, anticipating that his momentum will carry into this coming season.
