2025 DRAFT Discussion

[SantosHalper]

Thanks for the write up, it is appreciated. One question: do you feel confident he's a center in the NHL, or is he more likely to play on the wing? Not necessarily an issue for me, just curious.

Thanks again.

Well he can win face-off's at good rate but i think it comes down to the skating. How well he can improve it but im feeling confident that skating will improve. Im no skating coach but common sense would say muscle to the legs and technique training would improve explosiveness. First steps gets faster and he moves better from the forecheck to D-zone, if somehow the puck battle is lost but the way this team is being built. That shouldn't happen often.

 

[lilidk]

Well he can win face-off's at good rate but i think it comes down to the skating. How well he can improve it but im feeling confident that skating will improve. Im no skating coach but common sense would say muscle to the legs and technique training would improve explosiveness. First steps gets faster and he moves better from the forecheck to D-zone, if somehow the puck battle is lost but the way this team is being built. That shouldn't happen often.

How is he compering to Martin?

 

[deca guard]

ide luvvvvvvvvv coming out of this draft with another top 6 center hopeful !
load up at C & D and everything else will fall into place , even if it eventually
takes signing a big ticket ufa winger

 

[Fyodorov]

Are you looking at the same draft class as the rest of us???

what about this draft class prevents drafting a higher ceiling player

 

[Run the Jewels]

General trade question: would you be willing to trade the 12th OA pick to Calgary for their 18 and 22 OA picks? I don't know how these values tend to work and these type of trades don't happen often enough for me to place a lot of meaning on them. That may get you Nesbitt and Gastrin or perhaps Kindel.

Does this appeal to anyone or would you prefer to either keep the 12OA pick or trade it for more of a plug and play NHL player?

 

[GoBoltz56]

General trade question: would you be willing to trade the 12th OA pick to Calgary for their 18 and 22 OA picks? I don't know how these values tend to work and these type of trades don't happen often enough for me to place a lot of meaning on them. That may get you Nesbitt and Gastrin or perhaps Kindel.

Does this appeal to anyone or would you prefer to either keep the 12OA pick or trade it for more of a plug and play NHL player?

In this draft, I'd definitely do it.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

what about this draft class prevents drafting a higher ceiling player

the fact that none of them have high ceilings

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

General trade question: would you be willing to trade the 12th OA pick to Calgary for their 18 and 22 OA picks? I don't know how these values tend to work and these type of trades don't happen often enough for me to place a lot of meaning on them. That may get you Nesbitt and Gastrin or perhaps Kindel.

Does this appeal to anyone or would you prefer to either keep the 12OA pick or trade it for more of a plug and play NHL player?

I absolutely would, which tells me that Calgary wouldn't. The reason we want to trade the pick is the reason we should not expect anyone to want it. It only gains value if there is a faller. If someone good falls, however, we would likely want to use the pick

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Just finished watching Canada - Finland game, Draper and 1 other scout was present. No sight of Stevie.

I put Nesbitt under microscope and this is what i saw.

- Likes to hit, i counted 8 hits in the game.
- I counted 2 takeaways, neutralzone.com has counted 4.8 per game average in OHL.
- Mauls bodies in puck battles, slashes, crosschecks to lower back, really making the opponent pay the price.
- Active on forecheck.
- 1st steps needs improvement, skating is not bad once he gets it going. But that engine needs to start faster.
- More muscle, once that and those 1st steps been improved. Absolute freight train.
- Strong puck protector, wide shoulders and long arms. Looks taller than 6'3".
- Directs traffic in the D-zone. Every time there is chance points spots for the linemates to cover.

I appreciate your write up but I didn’t see what you saw. Also keep in mind that a powerhouse Canada was playing team Norway with a shooter tutor in net.

I’ll write more tomorrow, but Nesbitt wasn’t very impressive to me. Braeden Cootes and his motor were way more impressive.

Also side note, Martin’s skating looked very sloppy against Norway.

 

[newfy]

My hope is that Detroit goes away from Draper's love of high floor low ceiling good character players and goes for high ceiling higher risk player. Detroit is still in desperate need of elite offensive talent.

I also would hate if Detroit drafted another Seider/Raymond/Edvinsson/Kasper this year. Those guys suck

 

[newfy]

As for the Nesbitt/Rasmussen comparisons, if Detroit drafted a Rasmussen who hit and fought, I think everyone would be happy with what he brings to the table

 

[SantosHalper]

How is he compering to Martin?

Martin is faster and he was gritty but in Andy Copp-gritty sort a way gritty, i was expecting a bit more in that department.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

As for the Nesbitt/Rasmussen comparisons, if Detroit drafted a Rasmussen who hit and fought, I think everyone would be happy with what he brings to the table

He plays nothing like Rasmussen. This isn't on you necessarily, but we really need to expand the scope of our frame of reference beyond Wings players and prospects. Nesbitt doesn't look anything like Ras playing hockey.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

Martin is faster and he was gritty but in Andy Copp-gritty sort a way gritty, i was expecting a bit more in that department.

His OHL play is very physical (much more so that Copp when adjusting for competition) but he hasn't been nearly as physical in the two games I have watched this tournament. Ogee mentioned he didn't like his skating. I think his skating looked better than it did earlier in the year. I like Martin but wish that the puck followed him a bit more.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

I appreciate your write up but I didn’t see what you saw. Also keep in mind that a powerhouse Canada was playing team Norway with a shooter tutor in net.

I’ll write more tomorrow, but Nesbitt wasn’t very impressive to me. Braeden Cootes and his motor were way more impressive.

Also side note, Martin’s skating looked very sloppy against Norway.

Probably because Martin isn't a strong skater technically. It is easy to get drunk on Cootes skating, especially when playing against his age group. It will clearly translate, I just don't thing be brings a ton more than skating and motor. At his size I think that puts him as a third-line winger at the NHL level. Now that said, that is probably a reasonable projection for a lot of these forwards who will be on the board at 12 and you could argue that with his feet, Cootes has the greatest probability of hitting that projection.

With this class I find it very easy to be underwhelmed by a lot of players. I find it much more difficult, however, to propose an alternative that I really love and would go to the mat for at 12 OA.. For this reason I can understand SantosHalper going to bat for someone like Nesbitt.

 

[FMichael]

As for the Nesbitt/Rasmussen comparisons, if Detroit drafted a Rasmussen who hit and fought, I think everyone would be happy with what he brings to the table

Wait - there's a Rasmussen that hits/fights?

What kind of sorcery is this?

 

[Frk It]

Probably because Martin isn't a strong skater technically. It is easy to get drunk on Cootes skating, especially when playing against his age group. It will clearly translate, I just don't thing be brings a ton more than skating and motor. At his size I think that puts him as a third-line winger at the NHL level. Now that said, that is probably a reasonable projection for a lot of these forwards who will be on the board at 12 and you could argue that with his feet, Cootes has the greatest probability of hitting that projection.

With this class I find it very easy to be underwhelmed by a lot of players. I find it much more difficult, however, to propose an alternative that I really love and would go to the mat for at 12 OA.. For this reason I can understand SantosHalper going to bat for someone like Nesbitt.

Yeah I have a hard time really putting in the time to dig into this class for a lot of these reasons. Most of these forwards sound like (different versions of) 3rd line types.

Again why I would take a crack at Lakovic and Carbonneau despite their flaws, if they hit you could actually get an impactful player.

Also helps make the case for Aitcheson, may as well add a guy who is passionate and plays with some bite to round out our defense.

 

[newfy]

He plays nothing like Rasmussen. This isn't on you necessarily, but we really need to expand the scope of our frame of reference beyond Wings players and prospects. Nesbitt doesn't look anything like Ras playing hockey.

Theres some comparison to be had there, I like Nesbitt more style wise for sure but big guys that need to work on their first step, a net front game that gets talked up in junior etc.

My point though was mostly that if Ras was exactly what he is right now but he fought 5 times a year (even if he didnt win, just show up), people would hardly ever complain about him. Nesbitt isnt some big heavyweight, but he has a way more natural mean streak than Rasmussen

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Probably because Martin isn't a strong skater technically. It is easy to get drunk on Cootes skating, especially when playing against his age group. It will clearly translate, I just don't thing be brings a ton more than skating and motor. At his size I think that puts him as a third-line winger at the NHL level. Now that said, that is probably a reasonable projection for a lot of these forwards who will be on the board at 12 and you could argue that with his feet, Cootes has the greatest probability of hitting that projection.

With this class I find it very easy to be underwhelmed by a lot of players. I find it much more difficult, however, to propose an alternative that I really love and would go to the mat for at 12 OA.. For this reason I can understand SantosHalper going to bat for someone like Nesbitt.

I've been mostly luke warm on this draft class this entire season as well. Getting a guy that has 3rd line upside at 12th overall is about as unexciting as it gets at the draft, and while this team needs an upgrade on 3rd line whoever we pick won't be ready for 2+ years.

I guess we get back on the "who do we trade #12 for" train?

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

Theres some comparison to be had there, I like Nesbitt more style wise for sure but big guys that need to work on their first step, a net front game that gets talked up in junior etc.

My point though was mostly that if Ras was exactly what he is right now but he fought 5 times a year (even if he didnt win, just show up), people would hardly ever complain about him. Nesbitt isnt some big heavyweight, but he has a way more natural mean streak than Rasmussen

That is fair, and I think people would also like to see him hit more and to hit without stopping his feet. I truly believe that you can't teach aggression. It is almost immutable. If you take Lakovic for example, you should be willing to live with a player who will never be as aggressive as you want him to be.