2025 DRAFT Discussion

[GarlicbreadTB]

Considering how difficult the rest of the games are. Not impossible we're drafting 5th or around there.

 

[schuelma24]

Considering how difficult the rest of the games are. Not impossible we're drafting 5th or around there.

yeah. Not likely, but not impossible. We'll be favored in exactly 1 of the remaining games, so it's not like we're guaranteed 10+ more points.

I think most likely is 7-9th, which would still put us in good position for Eklund/O'Brien and maybe Frondell. (and maybe McQueen but I'm not a fan and I doubt Yzerman is either.)

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

I'm just full team Eklund at this point.

 

[Barry Amsterdam]

I’d be stoked if we get 5th 6th and martone dropped to us

 

[wingerdinger]

If we drop down far enough into Jake O'Brien range Im going to be dizzy. The kid has massive potential I think he'd be my #3 behind Schaeffer and Misa and the gap between him and Misa isnt that big.

 

[ElProfessor]

Would have the 10th best lotto odds if the season ended today. Hardest schedule in the league to finish the season. Things sort of falling apart anyways.. Could be a very nice pick.

I haven’t spent a ton of time looking at anything other than LHD in this draft. But Kawshawn Aitcheson is an A++ prospect to me.

He’s like a Left-handed Doughty/Vladdy. Hits like a truck. Fights every other game. Great puck skills. Great shot. Great skater, defender.

He’s only like 6’1” and left-handed. So morons are going to overlook him. But he’s a stuuud.

…..

Edvinsson/Aitcheson — Seider
Edvinsson/Aitcheson — ASP
Al. Johansson + Wallinder, Buium, An. Johansson

+ Cossa and Augustine

Just forget about defense and goaltending for the next decade

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

I'm just full team Eklund at this point.

He is the one player I have no strong opinions on. I will be totally fine if we take him, but I probably won't lobby to take him. He is a solid, safe, perfectly respectable player to take in the top 10. I get the attraction of high floor options. Personally I would shade towards forward prospects with some chance of playing in the middle if possible.

 

[lilidk]

I’d be stoked if we get 5th 6th and martone dropped to us

Remind me Zadina situation.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

He is the one player I have no strong opinions on. I will be totally fine if we take him, but I probably won't lobby to take him. He is a solid, safe, perfectly respectable player to take in the top 10. I get the attraction of high floor options. Personally I would shade towards forward prospects with some chance of playing in the middle if possible.

With Kasper and Danielson looking like they’ll be at least average 2C’s with above average defense I’m putting less emphasis on centers this draft. If the best player available is a center? Great. If not? I’m ok with it as well.

I’m not sure what to make of McQueen because I only saw him last season. I didn’t get long term center vibes though. He played like a north-south winger. I saw some of Byfield in his game and I don’t know if that’s a good thing.

Bear feels like a sleeper to me. He’s that buzzsaw kind of average to below average sized guy that gets his points by sheer determination. The prospects he reminds me of are Coronato and Jarvis. I think he’ll be a producer at the next level. Maybe middle 6, maybe top 6.

After our last discussion I did some more digging into O’Brien and I think he’s my favorite guy outside of the top 4. He’s going to take 3 years to make it to the NHL but I think he has real top line potential. I believe his playmaking will translate up very well.

Frondell is another guy I feel iffy about. I know some will be drawn to him as a center, and others because his points he got later in the season. The thing is, he didn’t really start scoring until he was paired with…Viktor Eklund. I haven’t watched enough Swedish hockey this season to say if Frondell made Eklund better or vice versa. I was terribly unimpressed by Frondell at the start of the year though. He showed flashes of Veleno brain.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Here’s a discussion about Frondell vs Eklund. It starts around the 8 minute mark.

 

[Winged Wheel Willy]

Would have the 10th best lotto odds if the season ended today. Hardest schedule in the league to finish the season. Things sort of falling apart anyways.. Could be a very nice pick.

I haven’t spent a ton of time looking at anything other than LHD in this draft. But Kawshawn Aitcheson is an A++ prospect to me.

He’s like a Left-handed Doughty/Vladdy. Hits like a truck. Fights every other game. Great puck skills. Great shot. Great skater, defender.

He’s only like 6’1” and left-handed. So morons are going to overlook him. But he’s a stuuud.

…..

Edvinsson/Aitcheson — Seider
Edvinsson/Aitcheson — ASP
Al. Johansson + Wallinder, Buium, An. Johansson

+ Cossa and Augustine

Just forget about defense and goaltending for the next decade

Of course this is not an exact science, but if we were to pick him in the top10, then it'd very likely be a horrific selection. First off, he is a late birthday. He fights yes, but usually only smaller guys. He's not the answer to Tkachuk and if you project him on the top pair, you'll be heavily disappointed cuz he lacks breakout skills (i do not see his puck skills as great by any means) and hockey sense to live up to that. Most scouts have him slotted as a physical presence on the 3rd pair with his unlikely ceiling as a #4 which would take 3-4yrs anyway. That aint Doughty or even Vlasic. So there are reasons most rankings project him in the late teens/twenties, some even have him as a 2nd rounder. But I prob agree with you that he could go off the board relatively early cuz GMs always reach for dmen, especially good athletes.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

So are we drafting Smith or Aitcheson?

 

[ElProfessor]

Of course this is not an exact science, but if we were to pick him in the top10, then it'd very likely be a horrific selection. First off, he is a late birthday. He fights yes, but usually only smaller guys. He's not the answer to Tkachuk and if you project him on the top pair, you'll be heavily disappointed cuz he lacks breakout skills (i do not see his puck skills as great by any means) and hockey sense to live up to that. Most scouts have him slotted as a physical presence on the 3rd pair with his unlikely ceiling as a #4 which would take 3-4yrs anyway. That aint Doughty or even Vlasic. So there are reasons most rankings project him in the late teens/twenties, some even have him as a 2nd rounder. But I prob agree with you that he could go off the board relatively early cuz GMs always reach for dmen, especially good athletes.

Not what I see.

And most “scouts” who publicly air their opinions on players for free are about as useful as McDonald’s employees with magazine subscriptions

 

[ElProfessor]

13 games left. 11 against playoff teams. We’ve got a real chance to challenge SEA/PHI for 5th best lotto odds before this collapse is over.

Hard to see us having worse than 7th best lotto odds, really.

 

[wingsfannnn9191]

At this stage for what’s best longterm we’re better off going on a 10 game loss streak since the teams behind us seem to not want to win either. Rather get 6 or 7th than 11-13

Unfortunately for us it’s not the 2026 draft but might as well try and give us the best odds to move up and land a Schaefer or misa or someone else that can actually be a 1st line player someday and not just a sure nhler that plays on the 3rd line

This season’s over

 

[HoweFan]

If we stay where we are I’ve decided on Brady Martin

 

[Realgud]

Draft sim now up to date with the current standings/picks @HoweFan

 

[Frk It]

10 (1). Victor Eklund - RW
42 (2). Cameron Reid - LD
74 (3). Vaclav Nestrasil - RW
77 (3). Mason Moe - C
118 (4). Mateo Nobert - C
138 (5). Carlos Handel - D
170 (6). Lev Katzin - C
202 (7). Jordan Gavin - LW
212 (7). Elijah Neuenschwander - G

Nestrasil’s (much) younger brother looks kinda interesting.

 

[Run the Jewels]

Draft sim now up to date with the current standings/picks @HoweFan

 

[Run the Jewels]

Set randomness to "would crash HF" and it was a pretty good time.

10 (1). Michael Misa - C/LW
42 (2). Jake O'Brien - C
74 (3). Victor Eklund - RW
77 (3). Carter Bear - LW
118 (4). Kashawn Aitcheson - LD
138 (5). Jakob Ihs-Wozniak - RW
170 (6). Henry Brzustewicz - RD
202 (7). Cole McKinney - C

 

[Barry Amsterdam]

Draft sim now up to date with the current standings/picks @HoweFan

Love the site btw. Anyway to implement a draft lottery before the picks?

 

[Realgud]

Love the site btw. Anyway to implement a draft lottery before the picks?

I don't plan to add too many features as I think the website fulfills its purpose pretty well for what it is at the moment but if multiple people request a certain feature that wouldn't require a complete overhaul of the whole thing, I will definitely consider it.

Having said that, I do think a draft lottery could be fun. I think I will try doing something about it soon, or at least before the summer.

 

[Our Lady Peace]

I don't plan to add too many features as I think the website fulfills its purpose pretty well for what it is at the moment but if multiple people request a certain feature that wouldn't require a complete overhaul of the whole thing, I will definitely consider it.

Having said that, I do think a draft lottery could be fun. I think I will try doing something about it soon, or at least before the summer.

I am laughing my ass off at the super legit and totally anonymous reviews of your draft simulator. Almost spat my Subway out all over the steering wheel

"I can draft my son with every pick. 10/10" - Kris Draper

 

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

Been though it, love the style.

 

[OneMoreTry]

Set randomness to "would crash HF" and it was a pretty good time.

That looks almost like mine - but I got Schaefer at #10.