Prospect Info: 2024 25 Devils DRAFT Thread

[evnted]

2025 Draft Profile:

C Milton Gastrin, MoDo J20
When talking about pro's pro draft eligibles, Milton Gastrin might be at the top of the list. His projection is essentially a wish list of things general managers want in their bottom 6: smarts, compete, skating, play driving, two-way play, etc. He has decent size, decent production, and an incredibly mature game for his age. Gastrin positively impacts play in all three zones, with or or without the puck, making a ton of good decisions along the way. He's hard on pucks, plays a heavy game down low, and loves to push play up the ice. You'd be hard pressed to find someone who genuinely dislikes him.

In saying that, though, I should mention his skill level is...just alright. Gastrin is quite good about driving the net for scoring chances, which he needs to be since he isn't exactly a high end scorer; beyond that, I haven't generally been a fan of his shot selection. His handling is also rather inconsistent, and he can be prone to turnovers, both forced and inadvertent (i.e. fumbling pucks). The playmaking game is certainly better, even showcasing some craftiness, but still not without lapses of judgment. To me, the best aspect of his offensive game is how hard he forechecks to pry pucks out and get them to linemates.

I spent pretty much all season feeling like I should like Gastrin more than I do. The strengths of his game are the building blocks that this board loves to bet on, but I've had so many viewings where I'm just asking myself 'so what?' with the player. While I do love much of what he offers, the draft isn't necessarily about finding the best and most well-rounded player today, it's about finding the best bets for tomorrow. There's little question that Gastrin will be able to slot on an NHL roster one day, but I do wonder how many players picked after him will be able to catch up and even surpass him in the long run. Ultimately, this class has a ton of 3rd-line-at-best type prospects, so while I have no problem with Gastrin as a low maintenance, easy plug and play option in the late 1st/early 2nd round, for me personally, I'd probably look for a player with a bit more specialization or more impressive flashes.

 

[evnted]

2025 Draft Profile:

C Eric Nilson, Djurgardens J20
Continuing the trend of do-all, versatile 3rd line center prospects, Eric Nilson checks the boxes while offering a little bit more optimism on the offensive side of things. He's a competitive two-way player with great positional sense and a knack for disrupting the opposition both defensively, by forcing turnovers, and offensively, by taking sticks out of lanes. He's a confident and shifty player on the puck with good judgment of when to challenge defenses. He flashes some pretty exceptional playmaking vision at times, even if the execution isn't always there right now. I particularly love his ability to spin off contact and get pucks from the boards to middle ice. He has excellent instincts and vision under pressure, and can even show off a little feistiness.

In the scouting world, calling lack of strength a weakness is usually a no-no, not because it isn't true, but because it's lazy and applicable to basically every prospect in any given class. In this case, I believe Nilson is the exception. Coming in at 6ft even and 166lb, Eric Nilson absolutely needs to bulk up if he's going to be able to scale his game to the NHL. He's simply too skinny and too weak right now to be able to play into contact and target puck carries the way he wants to. Thankfully, he'll be headed to college this upcoming season, MSU specifically, so that will be a great opportunity to hit the gym. A lot.

In spite of being a fan of Nilson's, I do have to acknowledge that his projection might fall within the scope of good but not quite good enough. The pace isn't always as high as it probably needs to be to project him to a checking line role, he sometimes has a tendency to get pushed to the perimeter, and he doesn't really have great size or hard skill to bet on. I'd like to believe a heavier frame will help alleviate some of these concerns, and it probably will to a degree, but we'll need to see him continue to drive middle ice more and clean up his intermittent overhandlings/inefficient puck movement. Still, I like him as a late 1st rounder, which might be a bit aggressive, and think he's an excellent option for pick 50.

 

[evnted]

2025 Draft Profile:

C/LW Theo Stockselius, Djurgardens J20
Next in line for the Swedish 3rd line center discussion, Theo Stockselius is probably the furthest from his long term outlook, but with the greatest foundation from which to build on. The player offers an imposing 6'3" 196lb frame, exceptional positional sense and anticipation, and tremendous on and off puck timing and vision. His playmaking game, though not often flashy, is incredibly efficient and scalable given how well he can slip pucks through triangles. He's remarkably quick to turn defensive stops into offensive counterattacks, oftentimes making it look pretty effortless. He's a smooth skater, but certainly not fast or high tempo.

The reason Stockselius's projection is so in flux, and the reason I'd argue he's most commonly ranked the lowest of the trio, is because he doesn't really understand the tools he has at his disposal. The size isn't the advantage it could be right now. In reexamining some tape from the U18s, the physical play is probably a bit better than I initially made it out to be from prior viewings, but he seems to only be scratching the surface of how to use it to fend off pressure and create separation. His pace, again, was a little better in later season viewings, but his play style in general can come off as incredibly passive and primarily focused on connecting plays, not driving pucks himself. I don't want to say his game lacks intensity, but it certainly doesn't abound with it either.

In the simplest possible terms, Stockselius needs a bit more...oomph to his game. More direct carries to the net, more physical play, heavier puck possessions, higher tempo play, so on. He's certainly capable of doing all this, it's not like he's lacking smarts or tools, and we've even seen it (sparingly) in flashes, but there needs to be more assertiveness. There's a lot to unlock with this player, and his tremendous mind for the game offers some encouragement that he can get there. Consensus might say it's too early, but I would be on board with picking Stockselius in the 2nd round.

 

[StevenToddIves]

On some level he sounds a bit like Boquist sort of project player?

Not sure if Boqvist would be my comparison.

Romano is certainly a likable player. I think he could fall strictly based on the most inane stat which causes many players to fall, which is that dreaded one inch between 5'11 and 6'0. His 25g-26a-51p line in 67 games wasn't exactly eye-popping but with a late June birthday Romano is one of the younger players in the class and he played mostly a 2nd line role in Kitchener behind 20-year old Adrian Misaljevic on a very solid and deep Rangers' team. The combination of these factors all hint at *sleeper* from my experience, especially when you consider Romano's speed, heart and all around tool-kit. He'd be a nice grab for the Devils in the 2nd round, but unfortunately in recent years NJ has been one of those teams which seems to overvalue that dreaded one inch between 5'11 and 6'0.

 

[My3Sons]

Not sure if Boqvist would be my comparison.

Romano is certainly a likable player. I think he could fall strictly based on the most inane stat which causes many players to fall, which is that dreaded one inch between 5'11 and 6'0. His 25g-26a-51p line in 67 games wasn't exactly eye-popping but with a late June birthday Romano is one of the younger players in the class and he played mostly a 2nd line role in Kitchener behind 20-year old Adrian Misaljevic on a very solid and deep Rangers' team. The combination of these factors all hint at *sleeper* from my experience, especially when you consider Romano's speed, heart and all around tool-kit. He'd be a nice grab for the Devils in the 2nd round, but unfortunately in recent years NJ has been one of those teams which seems to overvalue that dreaded one inch between 5'11 and 6'0.

Boquist was a mid size player with good wheels and enough talent to be a potential high end project. Your description of Romano sounds somewhat similar.

 

[StevenToddIves]

2025 Draft Profile:

C/LW Theo Stockselius, Djurgardens J20
Next in line for the Swedish 3rd line center discussion, Theo Stockselius is probably the furthest from his long term outlook, but with the greatest foundation from which to build on. The player offers an imposing 6'3" 196lb frame, exceptional positional sense and anticipation, and tremendous on and off puck timing and vision. His playmaking game, though not often flashy, is incredibly efficient and scalable given how well he can slip pucks through triangles. He's remarkably quick to turn defensive stops into offensive counterattacks, oftentimes making it look pretty effortless. He's a smooth skater, but certainly not fast or high tempo.

The reason Stockselius's projection is so in flux, and the reason I'd argue he's most commonly ranked the lowest of the trio, is because he doesn't really understand the tools he has at his disposal. The size isn't the advantage it could be right now. In reexamining some tape from the U18s, the physical play is probably a bit better than I initially made it out to be from prior viewings, but he seems to only be scratching the surface of how to use it to fend off pressure and create separation. His pace, again, was a little better in later season viewings, but his play style in general can come off as incredibly passive and primarily focused on connecting plays, not driving pucks himself. I don't want to say his game lacks intensity, but it certainly doesn't abound with it either.

In the simplest possible terms, Stockselius needs a bit more...oomph to his game. More direct carries to the net, more physical play, heavier puck possessions, higher tempo play, so on. He's certainly capable of doing all this, it's not like he's lacking smarts or tools, and we've even seen it (sparingly) in flashes, but there needs to be more assertiveness. There's a lot to unlock with this player, and his tremendous mind for the game offers some encouragement that he can get there. Consensus might say it's too early, but I would be on board with picking Stockselius in the 2nd round.

Great write-ups of all the Sweden Jr players, @evnted -- thanks!!

I've seen Gastrin ranked as a first rounder, which I disagree with. I like him anywhere after the first 35 or so picks, however. Nilson's sneaky upside makes him an interesting pick anywhere outside the top 40 but, to me, there's some risk there, too. Stockselius I agree is worth consideration as soon as the late 2nd round.

 

[StevenToddIves]

2025 Draft Profile:

C Ethan Czata, Niagara OHL
In the rounds 2 or 3 one of the many decisions a GM has to make is whether to swing for the fences on upside or more safely build organizational depth by drafting high-floor players who might lack in star qualities. I do not believe either decision is *wrong*, so long as the scouting is sound. Ethan Czata certainly belongs in the second category, as his entire game is tailored towards an NHL bottom 6 C role, and as such his chances of becoming this are quite good. But those looking for high-scoring upside are probably apt to look elsewhere.

Czata is a defense-first center who is extremely smart and competitive and not afraid to throw his projectable 6'1-175 frame around. His finest attribute is an irreproachable team et hic and understanding of the game, which combine to see him as one of the more responsible players in this class. His positioning is terrific, his gaps are terrific, he's always willing to help his defensemen out down low, even to the detriment of his offensive numbers. He's tough and feisty and backs down to no one.

The reason Czata is not often highlighted in top 30 draft lists is, quite frankly, that with the exception of passing his offensive tools are pretty much average-to-just-above-average across the board. He's a pretty good skater with decent hands and an ok shot. But it must be stressed that his passing vision is certainly a plus tool, I'd say it's excellent in all three zones. This is a kid who sees the ice exceptionally well and is smart enough to incorporate deception and misdirection despite the fact he can't blow by you or dangle around you with any regularity.

Though I've generally seen Czata ranked in the late 2nd to late 3rd range, I think he's a very smart pick anywhere after the first 35 or so players are off the board. He's a natural center with the size and ability to very clearly project to an NHL bottom 6, and his outstanding two-way acumen and high intelligence on ice elevate his natural tool kit. Throw in some intriguing playmaking upside and a mean streak and I think there's some bona fide sleeper potential here.

 

[StevenToddIves]

2025 Draft Profile:

RW Shamar Moses, North Bay OHL
Shamar Moses is the prototypical One Flaw Player, but the problem is the one flaw is a pretty crucial one. In a vacuum -- which is to say, once established in the offensive zone -- Moses stands out with a 6'1-205 frame, high-end passing and shooting and puck handling abilities, and a great understanding of how to both find space and use it. The problem is, to put it bluntly, he's a poor skater with poor acceleration which sees him often late to pucks and areas where he can make the most of his myriad abilities.

There's no soft way to put this, because for the most part this is a very likable player. Obviously, this is a big kid who shows good compete and features a very high hockey IQ. He's among the top 10 or so forwards in the entire draft class when it comes to pure passing vision and puck skills, he's manipulative and deceptive as hell, and though he's a pass-first player by choice he can also rocket the puck. Were Moses even an average skater, he'd be on myriad 1st round lists for the 2025 class.

The NHL game is largely predicated on skating and although we will occasionally see a winger make it without the tool, there are far more forgettable names than Dave Andreychuks out there. As such, though I really like Shamar Moses as a player, I'm not sure I'd draft him until the very late rounds and he'll probably be gone by then.

 

[StevenToddIves]

2025 Draft Profile:

RD Evan Passmore, Barrie OHL
There's little doubt Evan Passmore will be gone in the first 75 picks of the NHL Draft. Quite simply, he's a 6'4-210 very physical RD who skates very well. NHL front offices love this type of player, even if he offers little in the way of offensive ability and his most optimal outcome is as an NHL 5/6 D.

Passmore is a very basic player who does certain things very well. He's rangy and terrific at the poke-check, he's punishing to play against and he clears creases with a vengeance. Passmore moves around the ice very well and shuts down passing lanes with his huge frame. Once he traps you along the boards or down low, he's a virtual lock to win most one-on-one puck battles. Passmore plays hard and stands up for his smaller teammates.

Not to harp on the kid for not being a player he is clearly not, but his puck skills are average to below-average across the board. What he needs to and could improve are his reads, gaps and positioning -- none of which are terrible, but Passmore can currently be beat by high skill players in open ice. He succumbs to manipulation and deception -- while Passmore possesses a decent hockey IQ, he often "takes the bait" as it were.

I see Evan Passmore as a solid pick after the first 75 players are off the board, though I suspect his combination of size and skating will see him go far higher. His floor is dependent on increasing his on ice awareness and defensive fundamentals and as for his ceiling, well... that's not why you draft him.

 

[StevenToddIves]

2025 Draft Profile:

C Tyler Hopkins, Kingston OHL
Tyler Hopkins is a player who possesses a multitude of desirable tools, but those tools don't always work in tandem as of yet. He's pretty raw for sure, but Hopkins is also a natural center with good skates and a projectable 6'1-185 frame. He works hard and shows some good anticipation and understanding of the game -- maybe not "high-end hockey IQ", but certainly coachable.

Hopkins tallied 51 points despite being strictly a middle-6 forward for a strong and deep Frontenacs squad. He shows some intriguing skills across the board, though it usually comes in flashes and he has trouble with shift-to-shift consistency. Hopkins will hit top gear and blast past defenders on one play, though his hands have trouble keeping up with his feet and he'll fumble the puck away on the ensuing play. He shoots pretty well and makes some borderline high-end passes on one shift, then misses the net and turns the puck over trying to do too much on the next shift.

Where Hopkins really shines is where he's given a definitive role and set loose in that role. He's ferocious on the back check and really supports his defensemen down low. I'd say he's one of the best penalty killers in the entire OHL, combining a dog-on-a-bone mentality with the willingness to block shots and play physical against bigger opponents. This gives me great hope that Hopkins can be honed into a tremendous bottom 6 center at the professional level. If the offensive skills develop and mesh, I think there might be some middle-6 sleeper upside with this player, and he might be available into Rounds 3 and 4.

 

[StevenToddIves]

2025 Draft Profile:

RW Lirim Amidovski, North Bay OHL
As time has been an issue for me this year, I've been unable to spend a lot of time writing about players I really like who will likely be available in rounds 5 through 7. Lirim Amidovski, however, is a kid who deserves some attention as a player flying completely under the radar who could have some Brandon Tanev- type impact on an NHL bottom 6 somewhere down the line.

Amidovski is not skilled except in functional ways -- he is an exclusively north/south player who can hit the open man, make one puck handling move but probably not a second, and shoot the puck fairly well without being a sniper. Clearly, a future top-line NHLer is not what he is.

However, Amidovski is a 6'1-175 lightning bolt on skates. He's fast as hell, physical as hell, and a relentless forechecker who creates havoc for the opposition all over the ice. He's a high-motor speedster with extreme physicality and no fear, banging and crashing all across the 200-foot ice surface. Amidovski fills his own checklist with everything he needs to one day crack the big show -- he's terrific defensively and one of the better penalty killers in the OHL.

The fact that Amidovski is not likely to crack many top 100 lists does not mean he is worthy of attention. In the NHL, all great picks are not made in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd rounds. Some are made in the 5th, 6th and 7th where Liam Amidovski will offer a very solid floor and a whole lot of heart.

 

[StevenToddIves]

2025 Draft Profile:

RD David Bedkowski, Owen Sound OHL
Maybe the meanest defender in the entire 2025 class, Bedkowski is a 6'5-215 who spends half of every game trying to crush and intimidate the opposition. It is difficult to convey how much fear a Bedkowski hit or two can drive into the opposition. He's pretty much a panzer tank on skates, and as such less courageous opponents often completely alter their game to "dump, duck and cover" whenever he is on the ice. If you miss Marty McSorely and Darius Kasparitus, that's a pretty good indication of the style of defense Bedkowski likes to play.

What makes Bedkowski intriguing is that his hockey skills actually offer an upside which can transcend the trope of the defensive enforcer role. He's a pretty decent skater who can actually dangle a bit and passes effectively, especially in space. His greatest offensive tool is his shot, which is an absolute cannon from the point. Though far from a slippery or clever player, if Bedkowski has any space to wind up it's immediately a high danger opportunity for his team.

Defensively, Bedkowski is good-not-great in predictable ways. In the crease and greasy areas he is, of course, a monster who few forwards will challenge and nearly none can beat. His gaps and positioning are good but need work, as his relentless search to hit something hard sometimes sees him drifting far out of position. He's above average in terms of general hockey IQ but elite opponents can out-think and deceive him into overcompensatory mistakes.

Bedkowski's consensus draft ranking seems to generally lie in the #50-#100 range, but I can't see any way a player like him gets through the top 40 picks. NHL GMs and front offices lose their minds a bit at the idea of a punishing, shut-down behemoth on their 3rd pair, especially when they are right-shots. Many draft-inks turn their nose at players like Bedkowski but ultimately, it's a pretty solid bet we will hear his name in the NHL some day.

 

[StevenToddIves]

2025 Draft Profile:

C/LW Anton Frondell, Djurgardens Allsvenskan
In a draft year filled with risks and drought with uncertainty, there should be no doubt in anyone's mind that, not long from now, Anton Frondell will be an excellent NHL forward. The only questions are: how good and at what position, center or wing? But we are also talking about a 6'1-205 physical, two-way beast with a ton of hockey IQ and compete and, quite notably, the best shot in the entire draft class. As such, there's probably no place too early to draft him once ostensible top pick Matt Schaefer is off the board.

Anton Frondell has nearly everything an NHL scout could want from a top 5 pick. He sees and anticipates the game excellently and he's already NHL-mature in his positioning and ability to find soft spaces in the offensive zone to get his lethal shot off. He's a terrific puck handler either in space or in tight -- maybe not elite by way of hands, but he is also wonderful at using his big frame to block off defenders which plays up this trait. He's not an elite vision passer, but again we are dealing with a superbly smart player who finds the open man and hits him and is able to incorporate basic levels of deception and manipulation. Frondell rarely makes mistakes with the puck.

This of course ties into Frondell's complete 200-foot game, which is very solid. He's a competitor and constant-assessor who is always thinking and working and supporting his defensemen. He's more of a catch-and-release player than a dangler or weaver which minimizes his capacity for mistakes, but he's also savvy enough to play the east/west game in space. In tight, he can shift to a more/comfortable north/south with no shortage of using his outstanding physical strength to win puck battles and bang in rebounds.

It's probably necessary to talk more about Frondell's shot, because it's just a rocket. His game is tailored to finding the soft space where he can unwind an absolute rocket -- this kid can fire a bacon cheeseburger through a pack of hyenas. But even in tight, Frondell has become an ace at deftly maneuvering to shooting position and getting off quick, laser-like wristers.

Anton Frondell has a few things to work on. His skating is pretty good once he gets going, but those first few steps need a lot of work, and may mean the difference between an NHL organization keeping him up the middle or shifting him to the wing to shorten his ice and give greater utilization to his offensive tools. Either way, Anton Frondell is a glorious prospect worthy of a top 5 pick in this draft. Whether or not you believe he sticks at center probably determines if you would want to select him as early as possible #3 overall. But either way, the NHL squad which picks Anton Frondell will have an outstanding hockey player for many, many years to come.

 

[evnted]

2025 Draft Profile:

LW Eddie Genborg, Linkoping J20
If you love physicality, Eddie Genborg is your man. This player is an absolutely crushing force on the forecheck. He uses all 6'1.5" 205lb of his frame to make life miserable for defenders. He'll even crunch players in open ice, too. But make no mistake, Genborg is far from a goon; his physicality has a purpose, be it to wear down the opposition, force quick decisions, or simply intimidate puck carriers trying to get around him. The saying 'take a hit to make a play' exists because of players like Genborg who finish every check they can.

Genborg does have offensive ability, but it's a bit limited. His best moments come from just outside the crease, fighting defenders for position. The player is quite good at winning these battles and finding loose pucks for greasy tap-ins. While he has sporadic moments of playmaking or one-on-one plays off the rush, there really isn't a ton else to his game, at least in terms of what can be projected to higher levels. He can fight through contact, yes, but the handling ability and problem solving isn't always there to lead to anything. And while his archetype should be good at getting pucks from the boards to middle ice, I don't really see that in him.

Most problematic, though, is his skating. Genborg is not a very fast player, nor is he explosive, nor is he particularly agile. This leads to problems on both ends of the ice. Offensively, he'll struggle to shake pressure and find open space to operate with. Defensively, while he does drop back, he can't always keep up with puck carriers and has to resort to collapsing on the net. Even his bread and butter isn't always there; how punishing can a player be if he can't catch you?

Truthfully, I had higher hopes for this player earlier in the year. Obviously his core identity is still present, but I was hoping to see a game that was more projectable to a middle 6 role, one where he could provide meaningful secondary production on top of being a heavy, physical presence on the forecheck. Beyond net-front scoring, I'm not sure the skill level is there, and most definitely his skating ability is not, so at this point I'm not sure if he'll be more than a bottom of the lineup presence who provides great physicality, which is useful, but well below my hopes for a lite version of Tom Wilson. Grabbing Genborg at pick 50 would be a bit too rich for me, but I could tolerate him at 64.

 

[evnted]

2025 Draft Profile:

RW Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, Lulea J20
Toolsy and with a projectable frame, Jakob Ihs-Wozniak is a prime scoring winger prospect. He showcases a wide variety of shooting abilities, be it one-timers, locked and loaded wristers, snap shots off the rush, you name it, all of which are threatening. But he's not only a goal scorer, Ihs-Wozniak flashes some solid handling ability, even under pressure, and a sneaky good playmaking game, particularly in terms of give-and-go's in transition and spotting linemates around the net from below the goal line. His great vision and overall skill level is a breath of fresh air in a draft that's otherwise fairly lacking in that department.

Let's be real, with how I talk about other prospects in this mold, I'm sure everyone knows I'm not a fan of his, so I'll try to wrap this up a little more quickly. The foot speed isn't great, the compete isn't great, the passive off puck game isn't great, the decision making with the puck isn't great, the physical engagement isn't great, there's just a lot of red flags here. Too often, way too often, his best moments come either on the man advantage or when he has a ton of space to work with, which isn't what you want to see when trying to project a player.

Ihs-Wozniak will likely still go early-ish this year because the class is devoid of players who are talented enough to slot in a top 6 role and, regardless of how much I'll complain about him, he could be a complementary goal scorer on one of your top two lines. But to me, when your entire value is based on putting the puck in the back of the net, the rate at which you have to score to justify your deployment is basically impossible to reach, and with this player specifically, he just doesn't seem to want it enough.

 

[evnted]

2025 Draft Profile:

C Gustav Hillstrom, Brynas J20
Calling a bit of an audible here because his consolidated ranking is nowhere near that of the other two, but I believe Gustav Hillstrom is a name worth knowing. This player is a relentless forechecker with great size, skating, and compete. It's not just that he has a quick and powerful stride, he's actually quite good on his edges and with crossovers. He's constantly pressuring puck carriers, giving next to no breathing from for them to stop and assess their surroundings, and on top of that, his reach takes away that much more space. He works very hard in puck battles, lobbing his entire 6'2" frame into the mix, and he knows how to combine both his stick and body to dig pucks out and create separation.

Hillstrom might even be a better defensive presence. He backchecks with the same intensity as he forechecks, perhaps more so with how relentlessly he'll stickcheck players, and his elite play anticipation shines away from the puck. Hillstrom proactively takes away passing lanes and showcases a mature sense of defensive position. He can be faulted for being overzealous in chasing higher skill players, but some of that is just a byproduct of his elite motor and desire to impact play.

The offensive upside isn't super high, but that's not to say there's none. Hillstrom is quite good at driving the net for tap-in opportunities, and he's also effective with posting up outside the crease for tips and rebounds. He's a capable passer, not likely a player who will rack up a lot of assists at the next level, but one who won't hold his line back either.

There has to be something I'm missing because he keeps being left off international teams, wasn't invited to the combine, isn't getting a whole lot of discussion in draft circles, etc. He's not a top offensive threat, no, but I don't see a whole lot to be concerned about, and an extended SHL stint this year should at least somewhat legitimize his projection. Who knows. I like the player, I really like the fit for our team, and I don't care what the consensus says, I'm fine targeting him in the 2nd round. This is the type of player contending teams need on a checking line.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Great group of write-ups, @evnted -- Sweden is happy we've been paying attention to them.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

2025 Draft Profile:

RW Lirim Amidovski, North Bay OHL
As time has been an issue for me this year, I've been unable to spend a lot of time writing about players I really like who will likely be available in rounds 5 through 7. Lirim Amidovski, however, is a kid who deserves some attention as a player flying completely under the radar who could have some Brandon Tanev- type impact on an NHL bottom 6 somewhere down the line.

Amidovski is not skilled except in functional ways -- he is an exclusively north/south player who can hit the open man, make one puck handling move but probably not a second, and shoot the puck fairly well without being a sniper. Clearly, a future top-line NHLer is not what he is.

However, Amidovski is a 6'1-175 lightning bolt on skates. He's fast as hell, physical as hell, and a relentless forechecker who creates havoc for the opposition all over the ice. He's a high-motor speedster with extreme physicality and no fear, banging and crashing all across the 200-foot ice surface. Amidovski fills his own checklist with everything he needs to one day crack the big show -- he's terrific defensively and one of the better penalty killers in the OHL.

The fact that Amidovski is not likely to crack many top 100 lists does not mean he is worthy of attention. In the NHL, all great picks are not made in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd rounds. Some are made in the 5th, 6th and 7th where Liam Amidovski will offer a very solid floor and a whole lot of heart.

Have yet to have this confirmed or corrected. Is Amidovski any relation to former Trenton Titans goalie Bujar Amidovski?

 

[evnted]

2025 Draft Profile:

LD Jacob Rombach, Lincoln USHL
The ultimate identity player, Jacob Rombach is quite easy to envision on an NHL roster. It might not be very far up the lineup, but the steady 6'6" 210lb defender projects to be an elite defensive presence. He showcases tremendous positional sense and timing, taking away forecheckers' options before they even realize they've been closed in on. He's a beast along the boards and in puck battles, and perhaps unusually for a player of his archetype, he's tremendous with retrievals as well. Rombach is as defense-first as they come, and he regularly uses his long reach to disrupt possession.

You'll hear people complain about a lack of offensive upside and I just think to myself...ok? No one's drafting this player to produce, they're doing it to get a high end play stopper, which he is. In the realm of real issues, the skating is sufficient if not fairly decent for his size, but in terms of league average, it can't be considered a strength. He's a solid breakout passer, but I don't always love every play he opts for, nor do I think he's the best handler either. I also think, for a defender of his profile, you'd expect him to be harder to play against than he actually is. A little bit more bite and a little bit more jump to his step will go a long way for keeping up with attackers.

Still, there isn't that much to complain about here. He's smart, consistent, reliable, and competes. The team targeting Rombach will likely be hoping for at least a penalty killing #5 defender, and while there's no guarantee he's more, I really can't imagine they won't come away with that. I don't think there's much of a match for us specifically. He's a solid late 1st/early 2nd round prospect, and I mean I wouldn't hate grabbing him if he was still available at 50, but I believe there are comparable tier forward swings that we should be looking for instead.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Have yet to have this confirmed or corrected. Is Amidovski any relation to former Trenton Titans goalie Bujar Amidovski?

Not that I know of, no.

 

[evnted]

2025 Draft Profile:

RW Vaclav Nestrasil, Muskegon USHL
Raw and rare are the two words that come to mind when thinking about Vaclav Nestrasil. He's a 6'5.5' 185lb power playmaker who, truthfully, came out of nowhere this season, but the progression of his game has been nothing short of incredible. The crux of his offensive game is based some impressive playmaking vision and ability, but he flashes a little bit of everything: he incorporates fakes and deception with the puck, he's got a hefty release on shots from in tight, he's an outstanding net-front presence, and he incorporates moments of pretty slick handling. But his utility doesn't stop there, he's an impressive physical presence and he competes quite hard defensively, regularly backchecking against the rush and using his stick and positioning to take away passing lanes. This player was getting regular penalty kill reps by season's end.

So, things probably sound a little too good to be true, and this takes me back to the word: raw. These are all things Nestrasil can do, but they aren't all things he's always doing, be it in isolation or in combination. He certainly had way more good showings than bad, particularly as the season wore on, but there were still some pretty quiet outings and games where he kept making mistake after mistake. As you'd expect for a young player of his frame, he can be a little clumsy and he can't always cleanly skill chain to the level you'd want to see from him yet. I also don't love his speed. The skating as a whole is a solid foundation for his size, he's certainly agile enough, but given that he lacks separation ability and raw strength, he can struggle to shake pressure.

The takeaway of this report should be that you aren't drafting the player for what he is today, you're banking on the toolkit he offers, the flashes he shows, and the aggressive development trajectory he's displayed continuing into college. And in a draft with such little high end talent outside of the first couple picks, I think that's a worthy bet early on. I am quite high on this player, maybe even too high. In spite of his consensus ranking being closer to our zone in the 2nd round, I like him just outside of lotto range. I know we all want a center, but this kid would be straight money in our top 6. And, should all else fail, there's an easily projected physical B mode for the bottom 6. If we're lucky enough to have Nestrasil available at 50, and I definitely don't expect it, I would love to pick him.

 

[evnted]

2025 Draft Profile:

RW Ryker Lee, Madison USHL
You know how there's always that player who's so unbelievably elite at one skill that you kind of think he has to pan out over it? That's Ryker Lee and his handling ability. It is otherworldy how good his hands are, and that's not even a tool I typically value (by itself, I should add, because I generally consider it a component of shooting and passing). His ability to maintain possession of the puck under pressure, to quickly strip pucks off the opposition, to misrepresent where he's sending a puck, it's all so incredible, and he's typically doing this all in motion, too. He shows off some exceptional creativity and manipulation, regularly drawing in pressure only to make them look bad as he makes a slick move around them. While he may lean playmaker overall, Lee is a true dual threat attacker who is capable of both scoring off a quick snapshot as well as threading highlight reel worthy passes.

The glaring, and unfortunately I mean glaring, issue to Lee's game is his skating. It's not for lack of trying, he competes quite hard and the skating has in fact gotten better over the course of the year, but he still doesn't generate a lot of speed, nor is he particularly explosive, nor is he that fluid of a mover. He shows some good intent when it comes to start-and-stops and quick cuts back and forth, but as a lighter winger coming in at just over 6' tall, the mobility issue alone could derail his career outlook. I'll also add, though not as pressing to me, he's not a great off puck presence. I've seen him grilled over this and I don't really see why, he competes on the backcheck, he pressures defenders, it's not like there's nothing there, it's just not, nor will it ever be, a primary component of his game.

Ultimately, as has been a trend in these profiles, I believe anyone who has internal drive and flashes legitimate top 6 upside should be aggressively ranked because there just isn't the same level of talent available this year. Lee is no exception to that; I like him in the early 20s and think he'll be one of the better offensive options available once we get out of lotto range. I wish Lee was a better skater, absolutely, but in the same breath, he'd probably be discussed as a consensus top 10 talent if so because the skill level is simply that good. I don't really think he'll make it to our pick, and if he does it's not like Tom's gonna take him anyway, but I think he'd be an excellent infusion of skill to our farm.