Prospect Info: 2024 25 Devils DRAFT Thread

[Billdo]

2025 Draft Profile:

C Ivan Ryabkin, Muskegon USHL
A prospective top 5, if not even higher, pick coming into this season, Ivan Ryabkin's draft year has been nothing short of a disaster. He followed up an excellent D-1 season with Dynamo Moscow's MHL affiliate by...essentially burning all bridges with the team. His poor conditioning, poor engagement, poor body language, and horrid sense of entitlement quickly soured the organization, stifling any shot at an extended KHL look. His MHL performance nose-dived over a lack of concern, even leading to some healthy scratches, and he eventually bailed to the USHL in an attempt to save his draft stock.

This, up front, does not sound like a player I would like, but I believe there's still reason to believe. Let's talk skills first. Ryabkin never stopped being a top 5 (well, maybe more top 10 now) talent in the draft. His playmaking is some of the best in the class in spite of how goal-weighted his USHL totals are, and his one timer is heavy and accurate. Ryabkin's vision and creativity are otherworldy, and while he doesn't always apply them productively, he's capable of wowing with his puck movement. His skating is fluid and steady, being able to not just handle at speed but attack defenders head-on, though his pace leaves you wanting more.

Most intriguingly, though, is that Ryabkin is a full blown psychopath. It's not just that he's physical, sure, he finishes checks, but he's outright dirty. Ryabkin will headshot players, slewfoot, board, throw elbows, tackle behind play, basically do anything; if it's illegal, he's tried it. He doesn't always have the game sense for when to pull these stunts either, sometimes randomly taking someone out. What isn't random, though, is how fierce of a teammate he is. Yes, the player who I said can be pouty and have poor body language is a hyper competitive teammate. Ryabkin will be the first person to stand up for his linemate and lay out whoever hit him. Think Kadri level passion here.

Ryabkin and his enigma of a draft year have proven to be immensely hard for the scouting world to fully grasp, and who's to say I'm not the wrong one for still believing in him? I don't fault anyone for looking at all the red flags and wanting to pass on him, but at the same time, I think it's quite comical that his pure hockey ability is being underrated over it. This is an exceptionally talented playmaking center, with very solid goal scoring upside, who can play a nasty, heavy forechecking game. The question is over whether or not he can get it together, not if he's fundamentally good enough to make it. Things like his conditioning and entitlement will need to put into check, and I imagine the pace instantly improves if the former does, but I want to believe I'm seeing progress with body language and engagement, even if he'll still throw plays away at times. Ryabkin will need a ton of patience and likely annoy the crap out of people even at his best, but I would kill to pick this kid up at 50. Absolutely, positively everything we need to add all in one player, and it would be near all time value to land him mid 2nd should he hit.

This is what I want lol

 

[Forge]

2025 Draft Profile:

C Ivan Ryabkin, Muskegon USHL
A prospective top 5, if not even higher, pick coming into this season, Ivan Ryabkin's draft year has been nothing short of a disaster. He followed up an excellent D-1 season with Dynamo Moscow's MHL affiliate by...essentially burning all bridges with the team. His poor conditioning, poor engagement, poor body language, and horrid sense of entitlement quickly soured the organization, stifling any shot at an extended KHL look. His MHL performance nose-dived over a lack of concern, even leading to some healthy scratches, and he eventually bailed to the USHL in an attempt to save his draft stock.

This, up front, does not sound like a player I would like, but I believe there's still reason to believe. Let's talk skills first. Ryabkin never stopped being a top 5 (well, maybe more top 10 now) talent in the draft. His playmaking is some of the best in the class in spite of how goal-weighted his USHL totals are, and his one timer is heavy and accurate. Ryabkin's vision and creativity are otherworldy, and while he doesn't always apply them productively, he's capable of wowing with his puck movement. His skating is fluid and steady, being able to not just handle at speed but attack defenders head-on, though his pace leaves you wanting more.

Most intriguingly, though, is that Ryabkin is a full blown psychopath. It's not just that he's physical, sure, he finishes checks, but he's outright dirty. Ryabkin will headshot players, slewfoot, board, throw elbows, tackle behind play, basically do anything; if it's illegal, he's tried it. He doesn't always have the game sense for when to pull these stunts either, sometimes randomly taking someone out. What isn't random, though, is how fierce of a teammate he is. Yes, the player who I said can be pouty and have poor body language is a hyper competitive teammate. Ryabkin will be the first person to stand up for his linemate and lay out whoever hit him. Think Kadri level passion here.

Ryabkin and his enigma of a draft year have proven to be immensely hard for the scouting world to fully grasp, and who's to say I'm not the wrong one for still believing in him? I don't fault anyone for looking at all the red flags and wanting to pass on him, but at the same time, I think it's quite comical that his pure hockey ability is being underrated over it. This is an exceptionally talented playmaking center, with very solid goal scoring upside, who can play a nasty, heavy forechecking game. The question is over whether or not he can get it together, not if he's fundamentally good enough to make it. Things like his conditioning and entitlement will need to put into check, and I imagine the pace instantly improves if the former does, but I want to believe I'm seeing progress with body language and engagement, even if he'll still throw plays away at times. Ryabkin will need a ton of patience and likely annoy the crap out of people even at his best, but I would kill to pick this kid up at 50. Absolutely, positively everything we need to add all in one player, and it would be near all time value to land him mid 2nd should he hit.

 

[StevenToddIves]

2025 Draft Profile:

RW Alexander Zharovsky, Ufa MHL
As has been a trend with Russian-based prospects this year, there's a lot of talent to be had, but not a lot of refinement yet, and Alexander Zharovsky is no exception. We are talking exceptional handling ability, deception, and creativity, like next level elite. Load up any highlight reel of the player and you'll be blown away by what you see. His ability to bait defenders and finesse the puck through traffic is top of the class, and his problem solving and flashes of higher level playmaking are exceptional. In terms of pure talent level, Zharovsky is likely not that far behind players that will go top 5 this year.

There are two elements to his game that must progress in the coming years in order for him to have a career: his skating and the maturity of his game. Now, with his skating, it's not to say he lacks shiftiness or any sort of higher gear, but he's one of those players who is fairly low pace/methodical in general, and with the puck on his stick, he only leans into it more. There's really no separation ability here, a lot of his success is coming from vision and skill (which, fundamentally, isn't bad since you'd always bet on skating being more likely to improve down the road, but this player will be closed in on quickly if he doesn't get anywhere with it).

Secondly, his game exudes a high degree of immaturity at this point. He's incredibly loose with the puck at times, creative to a fault, overcomplicating plays, and inconsistent with his effort level. There are flashes of wanting to backcheck or pressure defenders on the forecheck, but we don't see it with any sort of regularity yet. On top of all of this, he plays in a bit of a joke division in the MHL, so he isn't exactly being challenged to improve upon any of these things either.

Ultimately, the bet with Zharovsky is that he's at the very beginning of his development curve and both his mobility and habits will improve over time. I like to describe these players as stash and forget prospects; don't project them on a roster, don't bank on them hitting, just revisit them 4-5 years down the road and see what happens. I should note he did see some playoff KHL action at the end of the season, and while there were definitely still some issues, we at least saw a glimpse of him maybe being able to play in a more structured environment.

The baseline skill is elite and, factoring in anti-Russian bias on the floor, will likely lead him to being one of the most talented players still available when he's selected. For us, I've been begging Tom to take upside picks for a few years now and would appreciate seeing him select the 6'1" winger out of Russia. We seem to favor hockey sense and pro league showings with our early picks, so while his game isn't exactly Tom-coded, coupled with the preestablished Ufa connection, there might be reason to believe we'd at least think about him at 50.

Outstanding write-ups of Zharovsky and Ryabkin -- we're all lucky to have you, Evan!

I think both of these players slip into the 2nd round because, quite frankly, it's a huge gamble taking either one in the 1st round. GMs and scouts, in my experience, are truly phobic about taking potential "busts" in the 1st round because it's something the media will make sure follows them around for the rest of their careers. In today's draft landscape, the mix of the words "red flags" and "Russian" sends most NHL front offices running for the hills.

As such, the Devils would be wise to snatch up either Ryabkin or Zharovsky (or both) if they are available with their 2nd round picks. Of course this is contingent on no other potential high-end forward dropping because, needless to say, in the miraculous alternate dimension where Kindel or Reschny is still available in the 50s, you take them no matter what.

But Reschny and Kindel will not be around that late. Ryabkin or Zharovsky, quite conceivably, could. And if they are, I might jump off a cliff if we pass on them for a 6'5 Scandinavian RW with minimal hockey sense and a big shot.

 

[StevenToddIves]

2025 Draft Profile:

C Jake O'Brien, Brantford OHL
No mistake should be made, Jake O'Brien's combination of passing vision/puck skills/offensive hockey IQ are absolutely elite and as good as any player in the entire 2025 NHL Draft. As good as Misa, as good as Hagens, as good as anyone. He's also a 6'2 right-shot center who racked up 98 points (66 assists in 66 games) and, with a June birthday, is one of the younger players in the class. So, how is it possible that such a talent could potentially drop out of the top 10 picks altogether?

Well, O'Brien's elite talents are mitigated by multiple areas of his overall game which must improve in order for him to succeed in top 6 role at the NHL level, and this is not a player-type who can conceivably carve out a bottom 6 role if he's not fit for a scoring line. This dichotomy makes O'Brien perhaps the most fascinating case study in the entire 2025 draft and, to my personal dismay, probably the most difficult prospect to describe in a few short paragraphs in literally years.

Let's start with the good. O'Brien is not simply a good passer -- he's almost supernatural. Eyes behind his head? Radar? Sonar? Echolocation? I think he's got all of those things. He sees plays before they develop, and has the rare combination of natural misdirection, opponent-manipulation and creativity to actually manufacture a play into development. He's special. He's able to slow down the game any time he's in any space whatsoever in the offensive zone by anticipating -- all at once -- defensive and teammate positioning, and can extend that time with an almost magical set of hands. He's certainly a pass-first player, but a marked improvement in his shot -- which I would now classify as "excellent" -- has elevated him into a true dual threat. In space and on the PP there is, quite simply, no deadlier offensive player in the 2025 draft.

Now, let's touch on the caveats. O'Brien is not a very good skater. I wouldn't call him "poor", but he's probably a tick below average, even at the OHL level. This hampers his transition and defensive game to a great degree, and though his hands are exquisite enough to turn defenders inside out, once he achieves this he lacks the burst to separate. Additionally, despite a 6'2 height he is reed-thin at maybe 160-165 pounds and clearly lacks physical strength. Though his compete level is great (and not in question), he is easy for physical opponents to knock off the puck, a non-factor in loose puck battles, and can struggle in all the greasy factors of the game. As such, O'Brien dominated all year on the power play -- scoring an unbelievable 1/2 of his overall points on the man advantage -- but was really only a "pretty good" player at 5x5, often not looking like a 1st round pick at all (much less top 10) at even strength.

So, where do you draft O'Brien? Honestly, it's the stumper of the 2025 draft. If he develops physically and can add a couple gears to his skating, he could potentially outscore Misa and Hagens in the NHL 15-20 years down the road. Or, he could wind up being a PP specialist a coach has to bury in the line-up at even strength -- not exactly something you'd want to spend a #6 overall pick on. He's scary to pass on because of the immense talent, but scary to draft because of the huge improvements needed. I'm certainly rooting for the kid, because when he's on his game he's incredibly fun to watch.

 

[StevenToddIves]

2025 Draft Profile:

LD Cameron Reid, Kitchener OHL
Cameron Reid is the easiest draft pick an NHL team will ever make. His floor is as high as you'll see for a D pick outside the top 15 -- there's virtually no doubt this kid will be a two-way, minute-munching, all-situations middle-pair defenseman at any level. His ceiling -- though maybe not superstar-caliber -- is also quite impressive. He's simply a flawless player who is very, very good at every aspect of hockey without possessing a singular "elite" talent and maybe a tick below the size NHL front offices like in their blueliners at 6'0-190.

Reid's best attributes, however, fall barely shy of elite. His skating and hockey IQ -- on either side of the puck -- are both extremely high end. The kid can fly, his top speeds blow past OHLers with stunning regularity, and his edges and 4-way mobility are nothing short of beautiful to watch. He's incredibly smart, and his positioning, gaps, misdirection and anticipation are so good he seems clairvoyant on the ice.

It's almost boring to describe Reid because he simply checks every box imaginable. He's an excellent defender, he's an excellent offensive producer, he's excellent in transition. He's an excellent shooter, passer and puck-handler. His work ethic and team ethic are excellent. If he has one weakness it's that his physical strength is good but not excellent, so he can be out-muscled by the most physical opponents.

Ultimately, Cameron Reid is an excellent pick anywhere after the top 10 because he's a no-doubt NHLer who is essentially plug-and-play in any blueline role or game situation. Is he a Matt Schaefer-type future Norris candidate? No, so he's not the sexiest pick in the world. Personally, I can't see anything wrong with taking an always-in-the-right-place, always-doing-the-right-thing-and-doing-it-well player, especially one who skates so phenomenally. He's absolutely a very smart pick for any and every NHL team.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Quick question for my fellow draft-folk here, because I'm really uncomfortable with ranking Jake O'Brien too high or too low.

You're GM of Philly drafting #6 or Boston drafting #7 -- both of which desperately need a scoring center. Jake O'Brien is available and Misa, Hagens, Frondell and Desnoyers are all off the board. Do you take a chance on O'Brien's immense offensive upside?

Honestly -- though I normally assert myself by this point in the draft year -- I have no idea if I would or not. He's scary to pass on but scary to draft.

 

[NiWa]

Quick question for my fellow draft-folk here, because I'm really uncomfortable with ranking Jake O'Brien too high or too low.

You're GM of Philly drafting #6 or Boston drafting #7 -- both of which desperately need a scoring center. Jake O'Brien is available and Misa, Hagens, Frondell and Desnoyers are all off the board. Do you take a chance on O'Brien's immense offensive upside?

Honestly -- though I normally assert myself by this point in the draft year -- I have no idea if I would or not. He's scary to pass on but scary to draft.

If you need a C, you'd pick between O'Brien, Martin and McQueen.
Winger-wise, you have Eklund and Bear to consider.

My gut would say yes, Philly could consider O'Brien the frontrunner. He's the most offensively gifted among those Centers.
If they were already set at C, you'd think they would take Eklund there.

Boston it's more open, they could also pick one of the Ds: Aitcheson, Smith or Mrtka.

 

[evnted]

Quick question for my fellow draft-folk here, because I'm really uncomfortable with ranking Jake O'Brien too high or too low.

You're GM of Philly drafting #6 or Boston drafting #7 -- both of which desperately need a scoring center. Jake O'Brien is available and Misa, Hagens, Frondell and Desnoyers are all off the board. Do you take a chance on O'Brien's immense offensive upside?

Honestly -- though I normally assert myself by this point in the draft year -- I have no idea if I would or not. He's scary to pass on but scary to draft.

in another class id probably be more critical of obrien, but this year i would be comfortable taking him in that range (even if i personally have him ranked a smidge back of it). like you discussed, the playmaking sense is almost not of this planet, thats a tool id be willing to singularly bet on

i think for a team like philly, there are only so many players who could mentally keep up with michkov, and hed be one. i imagine the team taking him would envision him potentially being the elias pettersson of this class (right or wrong lol maybe more of a krejci type upside realistically speaking)

i also like brady martin in that range and expect he could go there, too. all the comparisons are being made to sam bennett because of this postseason run (and sure, hes in the mold) but i see some mike richards there and think hed be solid for both teams

 

[NiWa]

If you need a C, you'd pick between O'Brien, Martin and McQueen.
Winger-wise, you have Eklund and Bear to consider.

My gut would say yes, Philly could consider O'Brien the frontrunner. He's the most offensively gifted among those Centers.
If they were already set at C, you'd think they would take Eklund there.

Boston it's more open, they could also pick one of the Ds: Aitcheson, Smith or Mrtka.

Wait - I assume Schaefer is also off the board, so that means Martone is still available?
Guess you'd have to pick him then.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Wait - I assume Schaefer is also off the board, so that means Martone is still available?
Guess you'd have to pick him then.

Not sure Martone is a no-brainer over some of the other players available there. This draft has few players with scary upside but a lot of risk and along with O'Brien I would say Martone and McQueen and Lakovic really stand out in that respect. I'm not sure I'd draft any of that quartet over a Martin or Bear.

 

[Goldenhands]

RW/C Benjamin Kindel, Calgary WHL
The 2025 draft is shaping up to be one of the weirdest classes I've ever seen, both in its make-up and general public assessment. Often criticized for both a lack of elite talent outside of the top handful of picks and a lack of depth afterwards, one would think any player with potential top-line, scoring-star talent at the NHL level would get even greater attention than in most years. For some reason which is impossible to define, multiple players who fit this description have been unduly been given lukewarm hype by the hockey draft community. Headlining this list is Benjamin Kindel.

The more I watch Kindel, the more I realize he is absolutely worth a pick as high as the top 7 overall. He's just a brilliant hockey player and lacks any discernible flaw. His finest attributes are his hockey IQ, which is elite for this or any draft, and his compete level, which is undeniable in a player who elevates his entire team every time he steps on the ice in any situation. Now, with many players for whom "character and smarts" are their standout attributes, there's usually some flaw which causes the draft community to overlook them -- whether it be subpar stats, or subpar skating, or subpar 200-foot play, or diminutive size.

Kindel scored the lights out, with a 35g-64a-99p line in the WHL. He's an excellent skater who combines more excellent marks across the board in passing vision, shooting and puck handling. He's a two-way forward who shines in virtually any situation. Though a wiry 5'10-175, he's not tiny by any degree of the imagination. So, why is his consensus ranking generally in the #20-#25 range?

The answer is: I have no answer. Kindel might just be the best outlet passer in the draft -- he's a courageous and smart puck-distributor who immediately sees passes and lanes and routes several players ranked top 10 in the 2025 class can only dream of. His intangibles and ability to defend give him a high floor of at least an NHL 3rd liner. Though he's a pass-first mentality guy, he'll take it to the net himself and beat goalies with a litany of moves and release angles. This kid is a stud. We're talking steal of the draft kind of stuff if he falls anywhere near his consensus ranking.

I think of one play I saw him make where he was fighting two much larger defenders in the crease to deflect a shot. The rebound ricocheted into the air, and his stick was being tied up by a defender. So, Kindel simply kneed the puck up into the air in front of him soccer-style, then freed his stick and swatted it out of the air top shelf. That's an elite move, being unable to score in the fraction of the moment he needed to score, but instead having the presence of mind to delay the moment. That's elite hockey IQ and creativity.

Benjamin Kindel is a name to keep your eye on for the 2025 draft, and then a player to keep your eye on for many, many years afterwards. It's a complicated draft, but these facts are simple.

Kindel is for me a poor man Helenius and I loved Helenius alot last draft. The hockey IQ stands out while you watch him, he is also very competitive, but the lack of size is a real issue as he gets pushed around rather easily and has a tendency to be too fency at times, turning the puck over.

By comparison, Helenius was built much stronger, was winning puck battles against growth men, often initiating contacts and his game was obviously much more pro leveled. I would add that Helenius was a better overall skater as well.

Kindel's talent level and IQ are pretty high, but physically, kid is hard to project and certainly wont make your team tougher to play against so the reason why he will likely drop in the 2nd half of a weak draft.

Personally, as a Habs fan, I would not considere him in the 1st round at all, I would rather target size and grit for bottom 6 roles. But I understand the love for the player as he is exciting and fun to watch.

Edit: Have you dressed your list yet or is it upcoming? Love your work BTW.

 

[Billdo]

Outstanding write-ups of Zharovsky and Ryabkin -- we're all lucky to have you, Evan!

I think both of these players slip into the 2nd round because, quite frankly, it's a huge gamble taking either one in the 1st round. GMs and scouts, in my experience, are truly phobic about taking potential "busts" in the 1st round because it's something the media will make sure follows them around for the rest of their careers. In today's draft landscape, the mix of the words "red flags" and "Russian" sends most NHL front offices running for the hills.

As such, the Devils would be wise to snatch up either Ryabkin or Zharovsky (or both) if they are available with their 2nd round picks. Of course this is contingent on no other potential high-end forward dropping because, needless to say, in the miraculous alternate dimension where Kindel or Reschny is still available in the 50s, you take them no matter what.

But Reschny and Kindel will not be around that late. Ryabkin or Zharovsky, quite conceivably, could. And if they are, I might jump off a cliff if we pass on them for a 6'5 Scandinavian RW with minimal hockey sense and a big shot.

If anything it will be taking a 6'5 Western Canadian Neanderthal who posted a season of 7 goals, 11 assists, and 142 PIMs because we "nEeD tO bE tOuGhEr To PlAy AgAiNsT."