Shakir ONeal
Jimmy Hughes
- Sep 21, 2017
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I’m convinced we would have at least another cup since 03 with you gentlemen drafting at the helm of the Devils
Prospect Info: 2024 25 Devils DRAFT Thread
- Thread starter StevenToddIves
- Start date
2025 Draft Profile:
RD Radim Mrtka, Seattle WHL
In a 2025 draft class is fraught with risk, Radim Mrtka might be the safest pick in the draft taken outside the top 2 overall. He's a 6'6-205 behemoth at the always-coveted position of RD who has clear potential to be a shut-down stud on the defensive side of the puck while also chipping in to a productive degree on the offensive side of the puck. He's really without any alarming weaknesses and he's a high character player who, by all indications, is only going to get stronger and better with time.
The first thing certain to get one's attention is the young Czechia native's rare and highly coveted combination of size and skating. Though not an elite skater, Mrtka is certain ly a good and mobile defenseman for a player of any size. His stops and starts and edge-work is better than that of most young men of his immense size, and his long, powerful strides give him a separation gear in open ice.
Defensively, Mrtka is simply dominant at the WHL level. What strikes scouts watching him is that he is more of a cerebral defenseman than simply a kid to overly rely on his huge, powerful frame. His gaps and positioning are excellent, his head is always on a swivel and he excels in anticipating his defensive responsibilities. He's a smart kid who plays with high level compete. In board and net-front battles he's unbeatable at the junior levels, and he's just going to get stronger and add more core strength. His physicality is more functional than aggressive -- he's terrific at using body-positioning and shoulder-checks to separate opposing puck carriers from pucks, and once Mrtka gains possession he shines at using an effectively efficient passing game to quickly get pucks up ice.
Though Mrtka is not an intimidator by any means, the opposition should be careful not to light a fire under him. The few times I've seen Mrtka's adrenaline boil, it was quickly followed by several opponents' bodies flying haywire around the ice surface. This kid is seriously powerful on his skates.
With the puck, Mrtka shows more potential than some give him credit for. He is an excellent puck handler, though most of his puck-handling skills rely on his long reach and ability to puck-protect than his good-but-not great hands. He's a very smart passer, but we shouldn't confuse him with Nick Lidstrom in this respect. Strangely, I'd say the weakest aspect of his game is his shot, which is ok in power and accuracy, but not particularly impressive in either respect. He's willing to join the rush though he's a defense-first player by all means, and he's good in transition but prefers smart passes over weaving through traffic himself.
When he's engaged in the offensive zone, Mrtka is extremely effective. He's got the puck-carrying ability, reach and skates to beat a defender one-on-one, and he holds pucks in the zone wonderfully. Opposing forwards trying to cover him at the point are often embarrassingly mismatched -- Mrtka can swat them away effortlessly and get to high-danger scoring areas in a heartbeat.
Radim Mrtka is a smart pick for any team, even as early as the #6-#10 overall range. He's a slam dunk to become an ace NHL shut-down defender, a 25-minute per game muncher who simply shuts the opposition down. And though his offensive game is a work in progress, he clearly thinks defense first. With all responsible amateur defenders who take a shut-down role more seriously than their draft status, the stats should be taken with a grain of salt. This player clearly has the skills and abilities to develop into a 40+ point NHL RD, a 2PP type. There's no risk with this player, we know he'll be good, the only question is how good.
RD Radim Mrtka, Seattle WHL
In a 2025 draft class is fraught with risk, Radim Mrtka might be the safest pick in the draft taken outside the top 2 overall. He's a 6'6-205 behemoth at the always-coveted position of RD who has clear potential to be a shut-down stud on the defensive side of the puck while also chipping in to a productive degree on the offensive side of the puck. He's really without any alarming weaknesses and he's a high character player who, by all indications, is only going to get stronger and better with time.
The first thing certain to get one's attention is the young Czechia native's rare and highly coveted combination of size and skating. Though not an elite skater, Mrtka is certain ly a good and mobile defenseman for a player of any size. His stops and starts and edge-work is better than that of most young men of his immense size, and his long, powerful strides give him a separation gear in open ice.
Defensively, Mrtka is simply dominant at the WHL level. What strikes scouts watching him is that he is more of a cerebral defenseman than simply a kid to overly rely on his huge, powerful frame. His gaps and positioning are excellent, his head is always on a swivel and he excels in anticipating his defensive responsibilities. He's a smart kid who plays with high level compete. In board and net-front battles he's unbeatable at the junior levels, and he's just going to get stronger and add more core strength. His physicality is more functional than aggressive -- he's terrific at using body-positioning and shoulder-checks to separate opposing puck carriers from pucks, and once Mrtka gains possession he shines at using an effectively efficient passing game to quickly get pucks up ice.
Though Mrtka is not an intimidator by any means, the opposition should be careful not to light a fire under him. The few times I've seen Mrtka's adrenaline boil, it was quickly followed by several opponents' bodies flying haywire around the ice surface. This kid is seriously powerful on his skates.
With the puck, Mrtka shows more potential than some give him credit for. He is an excellent puck handler, though most of his puck-handling skills rely on his long reach and ability to puck-protect than his good-but-not great hands. He's a very smart passer, but we shouldn't confuse him with Nick Lidstrom in this respect. Strangely, I'd say the weakest aspect of his game is his shot, which is ok in power and accuracy, but not particularly impressive in either respect. He's willing to join the rush though he's a defense-first player by all means, and he's good in transition but prefers smart passes over weaving through traffic himself.
When he's engaged in the offensive zone, Mrtka is extremely effective. He's got the puck-carrying ability, reach and skates to beat a defender one-on-one, and he holds pucks in the zone wonderfully. Opposing forwards trying to cover him at the point are often embarrassingly mismatched -- Mrtka can swat them away effortlessly and get to high-danger scoring areas in a heartbeat.
Radim Mrtka is a smart pick for any team, even as early as the #6-#10 overall range. He's a slam dunk to become an ace NHL shut-down defender, a 25-minute per game muncher who simply shuts the opposition down. And though his offensive game is a work in progress, he clearly thinks defense first. With all responsible amateur defenders who take a shut-down role more seriously than their draft status, the stats should be taken with a grain of salt. This player clearly has the skills and abilities to develop into a 40+ point NHL RD, a 2PP type. There's no risk with this player, we know he'll be good, the only question is how good.
@StevenToddIves I didn’t love the pick at the time (would have preferred Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Dickinson or Buium) I quickly changed my mind though. What a unicorn!! I’m really excited about this kid’s future. I’m curious how you feel about the aforementioned players one year later. Where do you think they would go in a redraft?
A quick redraft of 2024 at the top, for me, would go like this:
1 C Celebrini
2 W Demidov
3 LD Buium
4 LD Dickinson
5 LD Silayev
6 RD Parekh
7 W Catton
It's important to state that Lindstrom and Iginila drop a bit more for injury reasons than anything else, and either could end up being top 5 players in the class. I'm still very skeptical of Sennecke at #3, I think he's an NHLer in all likelihood, but I don't see him scoring as much at the highest levels as Catton or Hage. Speaking of Hage, I'd say my biggest risers of the class are him and Solberg, either of whom would threaten for the top 10 in a re-draft. Lastly, we should touch on Parekh who had an absolutely extraordinary draft+1 season in the Canadian Junior circuit. He still has challenges to face in shoring up his 200-foot game, but he left no doubt he can become an elite offensive defenseman at the highest levels.
How big is the gap between Buium to Dickinson to Silayev at this point? I know Buium especially is just a completely different player stylistically than Sliayev.
I was stunned Anaheim took Sennecke at 3OA. I remember you pumping the tires of both Hage and Solberg so I’m not surprised their arrow is pointing up. You’re usually right. lol….
The concern about Lindstrom was his track record of being injury prone. It stinks that black cloud continues to follow the kid. Hopefully he doesn’t wind up like Nolan Patrick- tons of promise and potential but completely derailed by not staying healthy.
Lindstrom has incredible potential which -- he's still a teenager -- has not diminished. But the inherent problem with doing a "re-draft" less than a year later is you're forced to plot your lines on the development arc. Lindstrom could easily wind up being one of the top 3 or 4 players from the 2024 draft, he just has a long way to go.
My problem with Sennecke was not Sennecke but rather the fact that the way his narrative completely changed from the player we actually saw when we were watching him on the ice. This is much like the case of Porter Martone this year -- reading the descriptions you'd think Martone is some hybrid of Matt Tkachuk and Tom Wilson, when the fact is he's effectively not even half as physical as Carter Bear or Brady Martin. Similarly, Sennecke was cited for this purported massive upside -- you can find several reports calling him the "forward with the greatest upside in the draft" -- in a draft with Demidov, Catton and Iginla. This was nothing short of absurd. My personal projection for Sennecke is still, without a doubt, positive -- I see a 2nd line scoring winger who can slot up to the top line in the right situation. But certainly not a guy you take 3rd overall with Demidov on the board. And even if a team was scared off by Demidov's Russian-ness, you can't be a knowledgable hockey person and watch Sennecke and Catton and not realize Catton is more dangerous. It was just a poor pick in my estimation. However, Anaheim more than made up for it getting -- to me -- their runaway top prospect in Stian Solberg 20-or so picks later.
As for the LD you mentioned, I'd put Buium, Dickinson and Silayev in three separate categories. All three categories are, quite simply, a different awesome. Buium has the potential to be one of the highest scoring D in the NHL, while also providing excellent defense. Dickinson has the potential to be a prototypical, big NHL 1D like a Pietrangelo or Doughty -- playing shut-down D while also putting up excellent point totals. Silayev has the potential to be one of the top shut-down defenders in the world while also being capable offensively.
We are not even mentioning huge-upside 2024 class D Levshunov, Solberg, Parekh and Yakemchuk. All four of those guys have huge potential. 2024 was just a terrific year for defensemen.
2025 Draft Profile:
LW Carter Bear, Everett WHL
He may not be the best player in the draft, but it's not much of a secret that Carter Bear is my favorite player in the draft. As a draft analyst for many years, it's tough to guarantee anything beyond the first handful of picks in a draft, and sometimes not even then. But I'm fully willing to state that, barring injury or catastrophe, Carter Bear is an absolute lock to be a terrific NHL player for many, many years.
There is literally no downside. At the very least, Bear will be among the top bottom 6 forwards in the league. Why? Well, quite simply he doesn't just have one of the best compete levels in the 2025 class, but one of the best we have ever seen. The kid seems to have infinite reserves of frenetic energy -- you'll never see him quit on a puck, a defensive assignment, a backcheck, a forecheck... anything. He's strong and fierce enough to go toe-to-toe with anyone, he doesn't care how much size he's giving away. No one is more desperate to score in a net front scrum, no one is quicker to stand up for a teammate. Despite being just decent sized at 6'0-180, with Bear you sometimes don't feel like you're watching a hockey player so much as a gladiator on skates. He might be the best amateur F in one-on-one puck battles to come along all decade. He's a freak.
Also, this is not just a grinder. He's smart, defensively aware, anticipating the game at a high pace. Though not a high-vision Kucherov or Kaprizov, he's an excellent passer in all three zones and rarely makes judgement errors. His combination of work ethic and understanding the game are absolutely rare.
And, he can flat out score. Bear has an excellent shot and is an excellent puck handler. Neither are an elite skill, but they both translate quite appropriately to an NHL 2nd line role, maybe even a 1st with the right development and linemates. It's easy to envision him one day as a Zach Hyman-type for superstar scorers to skate with. He's mostly north/south, but he can flash some impressive skills when inspired. Carter Bear put up a ridiculously impressive 40-42-82 line in just 56 games in a season which was marred by injury.
Bear is not a perfect player, and the one element which could use improvement is his skating. He's an average skater, but if he can gain a couple of gears his style of play would benefit immensely. He's also, as stated, not a line-driver type or dynamic player, though he is obviously a player who makes everyone on his team around him far better.
Carter Bear is a player you win with. He's smart, he battles, he scores dirty goals, he plays 200 feet, he can crash creases on the PP and create havoc on the PK. You can slot him in on a scoring line or a checking line. Opposing goalies will hate him and opposing defensemen will fear him. He's that 6'0-180 guy with freak strength who hits and fights like he's 6'5-240.
I'm going to close this by saying that one of the most undervalued elements in hockey players is the ability to win one-on-one puck battles. How much of every NHL game is a fight for loose pucks? This is Bear's most elite ability (aside from, or tied to, compete level). It's just incredible how often there are several players in a scrum or in traffic, and POW! Out skates Bear with the puck. I believe this will translate at any level, and Bear is just elite in this. Often NHL scouts just check off their skill-sheets without adding paying attention to these weird talents, like they did with Joe Pavelski's deflection ability or Nicky Lidstrom's ability to keep pucks in the zone. Or, maybe they'll just factor it into another category, like compete level. But we have to imagine how much it frees up an elite scorer to know their winger is winning 3/4 of puck battles, even against high end defenders. It's huge.
I would take Carter Bear in the top 5 of this, or pretty much any, draft. He's a surefire NHLer who could very well wind up being a high-scoring 1st line professional. He makes everyone around him better and strikes abject fear into the opposition. He's going to be a fan favorite for whichever team is lucky enough to draft him.
LW Carter Bear, Everett WHL
He may not be the best player in the draft, but it's not much of a secret that Carter Bear is my favorite player in the draft. As a draft analyst for many years, it's tough to guarantee anything beyond the first handful of picks in a draft, and sometimes not even then. But I'm fully willing to state that, barring injury or catastrophe, Carter Bear is an absolute lock to be a terrific NHL player for many, many years.
There is literally no downside. At the very least, Bear will be among the top bottom 6 forwards in the league. Why? Well, quite simply he doesn't just have one of the best compete levels in the 2025 class, but one of the best we have ever seen. The kid seems to have infinite reserves of frenetic energy -- you'll never see him quit on a puck, a defensive assignment, a backcheck, a forecheck... anything. He's strong and fierce enough to go toe-to-toe with anyone, he doesn't care how much size he's giving away. No one is more desperate to score in a net front scrum, no one is quicker to stand up for a teammate. Despite being just decent sized at 6'0-180, with Bear you sometimes don't feel like you're watching a hockey player so much as a gladiator on skates. He might be the best amateur F in one-on-one puck battles to come along all decade. He's a freak.
Also, this is not just a grinder. He's smart, defensively aware, anticipating the game at a high pace. Though not a high-vision Kucherov or Kaprizov, he's an excellent passer in all three zones and rarely makes judgement errors. His combination of work ethic and understanding the game are absolutely rare.
And, he can flat out score. Bear has an excellent shot and is an excellent puck handler. Neither are an elite skill, but they both translate quite appropriately to an NHL 2nd line role, maybe even a 1st with the right development and linemates. It's easy to envision him one day as a Zach Hyman-type for superstar scorers to skate with. He's mostly north/south, but he can flash some impressive skills when inspired. Carter Bear put up a ridiculously impressive 40-42-82 line in just 56 games in a season which was marred by injury.
Bear is not a perfect player, and the one element which could use improvement is his skating. He's an average skater, but if he can gain a couple of gears his style of play would benefit immensely. He's also, as stated, not a line-driver type or dynamic player, though he is obviously a player who makes everyone on his team around him far better.
Carter Bear is a player you win with. He's smart, he battles, he scores dirty goals, he plays 200 feet, he can crash creases on the PP and create havoc on the PK. You can slot him in on a scoring line or a checking line. Opposing goalies will hate him and opposing defensemen will fear him. He's that 6'0-180 guy with freak strength who hits and fights like he's 6'5-240.
I'm going to close this by saying that one of the most undervalued elements in hockey players is the ability to win one-on-one puck battles. How much of every NHL game is a fight for loose pucks? This is Bear's most elite ability (aside from, or tied to, compete level). It's just incredible how often there are several players in a scrum or in traffic, and POW! Out skates Bear with the puck. I believe this will translate at any level, and Bear is just elite in this. Often NHL scouts just check off their skill-sheets without adding paying attention to these weird talents, like they did with Joe Pavelski's deflection ability or Nicky Lidstrom's ability to keep pucks in the zone. Or, maybe they'll just factor it into another category, like compete level. But we have to imagine how much it frees up an elite scorer to know their winger is winning 3/4 of puck battles, even against high end defenders. It's huge.
I would take Carter Bear in the top 5 of this, or pretty much any, draft. He's a surefire NHLer who could very well wind up being a high-scoring 1st line professional. He makes everyone around him better and strikes abject fear into the opposition. He's going to be a fan favorite for whichever team is lucky enough to draft him.
devilsblood
Quiet, my GF is reading.
- Mar 10, 2010
- 29,829
- 14,080
Was just looking up some of last years guys and saw Parekh's stat line and thought, yeah that's really good....... but then noticed he's a d-man. Are there any recent comparable point production seasons from d-men in the CHL?
Also noticed his team mate Misa who is draft eligible this year, with a near gpg season and over 2 ppg. Not quite a McDavid like season, but close. Kind of weak showing in the playoffs though. I assume he's at least top 10 this year?
devilsblood
Quiet, my GF is reading.
- Mar 10, 2010
- 29,829
- 14,080
Sennecke did have a big +1 season. Led his team in goals and points. Over 1.5 ppg. Then had a big playoffs, helping lead his team to the OHL championship round. His draft status may have been bumped up due to a strong playoffs last year, and he had an even stronger one this year. His arrow is definitely point up as well.
Parekh is showing every sign of being an elite offensive defenseman, but the question is whether he'll be able to improve his 200-foot game to develop into at least an average defender at the NHL level. Right now, he's a bit of a liability back there and his matchups need to be closely monitored. But his offensive game is no joke -- Parekh's scoring upside is huge.
As for Misa, it's pretty safe to say he's a lock for the top 3 and is a very strong bet to go #2 overall to San Jose. I cannot see any way whatsoever he falls below #4 overall.
Sennecke was certainly very good in his draft+1. In 56 games, he put up a line of 36g-50a-86p.
But let's compare that to some other CHL players taken later in the 2024 draft.
Berkley Catton --57 games: 38g-71a-109p.
Sam Dickinson (a defenseman!) -- 55 games: 29g-62a-91p
Liam Greentree -- 64 games: 49g-70a-119p
Igor Chernyshov -- 23 games -- 19g-36a-55p
Kevin He (4th round) -- 62 games: 36g-39a-75p
Now, let's add in some CHL Fs eligible for the 2025 draft likely to be taken outside the top 3 picks:
Carter Bear -- 56 games: 40g-42a-82p
Caleb Desnoyers -- 56 games: 35g-49a-84p
Jake O'Brien -- 66 games: 32g-66a-98p
Cameron Schmidt -- 61 games: 40g-38a-78p
Brady Martin -- 57 games: 33g-39a-72p
Benjamin Kindel -- 65 games: 35g-64a-99p
Now, all of these point totals aside from Catton and Greentree, who were scoring at a far higher rate, are in the ballpark with Sennecke. Included are defensemen (Dickinson), players who are known for excellent two-way play which is Sennecke's weakness (He, Chernyshov), and players who are far younger.
None of this is to say Sennecke will not be a good NHLer. I think he will indeed succeed in the pros. My only point is that I wouldn't consider him one of the better players on the above lists, and thus he was a bit of a reach at #3 overall, especially considering his complete game needs refining and his strong point is simply scoring and offense.
Hollywood Nosebleed
Registered User
- Oct 10, 2014
- 241
- 348
This kind of reminds me of Attu Raty. He ways looked at as a top prospect to start the year but fell to the second round. McQueen being 6’5 probably keeps him in the mid 1st tho.
McQueen could go as high as the top 5 and I don't see him falling out of the top 10 or, at the very latest, 12. The majority of NHL GMs go absolutely haywire over big centers, and when you factor in McQueen's high-end scoring ability? Well, someone's going to pull the trigger early.
devilsblood
Quiet, my GF is reading.
- Mar 10, 2010
- 29,829
- 14,080
Still he led his team in goals and points, with very nice yoy improvement, and then had a big playoffs leading his team on a deep run.
I can't say I knew him at all before looking him up, but it looks like he had a big year, especially if we don't ignore his playoffs.
Like I said last year and will stick to, Sennecke is a very good prospect. But at #3 overall, that was a huge reach. He's not in the same stratosphere as Demidov, and he's not close to Catton. I would still rank him behind significantly lesser-regarded Fs like Hage and Chernyshov. But again, that's just me.
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