2025 DRAFT Discussion

[wingsfannnn9191]

Bit off topic but what are the thoughts on Cleveland ? Is he pretty much a bust at this point? Was thinking if someone actually still believed in him and we can move him for a second and draft Simon wang 6’6 Chinese Dman who turns 18 only late July could be worth a swap?

Again if anyone actually wants Cleveland I’m sure we couldn’t deal him for a 50ish pick

 

[Holden Caufield]

Harley can play defense.

____

Jackson Smith, to me, is Jakub Kindl.

I compare him more to Chychrun.
All the tools, size and skating. Very high pedigree from a young age. Continued to show well in his draft year, but questions about some irratic plays seems like he might fall out of top 10.

He was 17 years old last season. And high risk plays often pay off in junior. Lots of time for development and going to Penn State next year I think will help. His interviews he sounds like a smart kid, so I think it’s too early to label him a finished product.

The talent is there. It would be a swing for upside type pick. Not necessarily a bad thing IMO.

 

[Frk It]

The more I look into him, the more I find Cullen Potter pretty interesting.

I wonder if we will go for one of the forwards who are among the best skaters in Potter or Cootes.

 

[lilidk]

Bit off topic but what are the thoughts on Cleveland ? Is he pretty much a bust at this point? Was thinking if someone actually still believed in him and we can move him for a second and draft Simon wang 6’6 Chinese Dman who turns 18 only late July could be worth a swap?

Again if anyone actually wants Cleveland I’m sure we couldn’t deal him for a 50ish pick

he is only 20 and playing in NCAA . It's too early to call him bust. If Wang is available in the second , we should consider

 

[lilidk]

I don't think we have anything nice outside Buchelnikov on the left side. They probably should go after Bear or Lakovic

 

[Winger98]

I don't think we have anything nice outside Buchelnikov on the left side. They probably should go after Bear or Lakovic

Lombardi. By the time whoever we draft is actually in the league our needs might be entirely different. I wouldn't have roster need be a driving force in who we draft.

 

[lilidk]

Lombardi. By the time whoever we draft is actually in the league our needs might be entirely different. I wouldn't have roster need be a driving force in who we draft.

Ok 2 very good small , fast prospects, one of them probably going to get traded . We have Raymond and MBN on the right side

 

[Steve Yzerlland]

Lombardi. By the time whoever we draft is actually in the league our needs might be entirely different. I wouldn't have roster need be a driving force in who we draft.

BPA should always be the philosophy. We don't have the luxury to draft for need.

 

[lilidk]

BPA should always be the philosophy. We don't have the luxury to draft for need.

But that's why centers and defansman going first and skilled Wings getting behind., like Lakovic I believe is better than Smith , but most likely will be drafted later

 

[wingsfannnn9191]

he is only 20 and playing in NCAA . It's too early to call him bust. If Wang is available in the second , we should consider

Only 20 but all I’ve ever seen around here is what a bust he is lol figured might as well go for someone bigger and younger

 

[wingsfannnn9191]

Ok 2 very good small , fast prospects, one of them probably going to get traded . We have Raymond and MBN on the right side

Like nygard but he hasn’t proven anything yet , maybe he winds up being a third line rw? I’d just take whoever is there that we like

 

[deca guard]

more reading n video has me down to carbo & smith .
carbo size with shot/ruggedness/good north-south speed is a fantastic add

MBN - KASPER - CARBO

 

[lilidk]

Only 20 but all I’ve ever seen around here is what a bust he is lol figured might as well go for someone bigger and younger

In here Cleveland and Draper busts , Wallinder is a future star. Mantha , Hronek and Ericsson were horrible, not many but some hated Bertuzzi, because he has his opinion. People here too emotional and not patient. 2018 draft was the best ever until couple years later. We have no idea how all this kids will progress

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

What specifically don't you like about his IQ or what would you like to see him do differently on the defensive side of the puck?

Panic threshold is one of my big complaints about him. His puck poise and panic when dealing with the forecheck were legitimately negatives when I saw him. Handling passes was shaky at times at the U18s and he bungled easy passes into his feet and created a few unforced turnovers.

IQ is another. I don’t think his reads in his own zone were anything better than average. He was very reactionary. His gap control was lacking as well. His instincts of when and when not to pinch seemed off. Gap control is teachable but I can’t think of many prospects that started out with below average IQ and it becoming a strength.

What I see with Smith is good athleticism, great skating, but a brain better suited to a winger. I would be legitimately disappointed if he is the pick because I think his points in junior come from his athletic and skating advantage. When that margin is reduced as he moves up levels and competition gets better then so will his effectiveness.

 

[deca guard]

Panic threshold is one of my big complaints about him. His puck poise and panic when dealing with the forecheck were legitimately negatives when I saw him. Handling passes was shaky at times at the U18s and he bungled easy passes into his feet and created a few unforced turnovers.

IQ is another. I don’t think his reads in his own zone were anything better than average. He was very reactionary. His gap control was lacking as well. His instincts of when and when not to pinch seemed off. Gap control is teachable but I can’t think of many prospects that started out with below average IQ and it becoming a strength.

What I see with Smith is good athleticism, great skating, but a brain better suited to a winger. I would be legitimately disappointed if he is the pick because I think his points in junior come from his athletic and skating advantage. When that margin is reduced as he moves up levels and competition gets better then so will his effectiveness.

struck serious fear into me with this comment because of seeing so many slow thinking nhl dmen , quincy / brendan smith / kindl / etc , chewed up by the nhl forecheck . i loved smith but he just couldnt think at high enough nhl speed to play top 4 . and the point about jackson getting by as a teen on athleticism/great skating is VERY SCARY ! i fear carbo because getting his goals in the weak Q . its making me like my safety valve pick of cootes more n more , and hoping he becomes an elite 3C that can play in all situations and move up when needed . and the thing about a player like cootes is he makes half as much as a player like misa . thusly you can end up with a stronger bottom half roster than a top heavy team with a couple big stars , the design i prefer so not to become too dependant on a few top guys
EDIT - and coots is 18 , obviously , meaning his hands n forearms can get stronger as he becomes full grown . that adds up to a better shot thusly boosting his goal totals . CAPTAIN OF TEAM CANADA , AND BIG GAME CLUTCH ! im down to coots n carbo .

- CARBO A RUGGED BIG BODIED GOOD SKATING POWER WINGER WITH EXTREME CONFIDENCE AND GREAT SHOT IN TOP 6
- BC A ROCK SOLID ALL AROUND ALL SITUATIONS CENTER

 

[deca guard]

 

[stillwater]

So, this is just two guys, in their parents basements discussing their expert opinions on the 2025 NHL draft?

 

[deca guard]

2025 NHL Draft: Top 10 centers | NHL.com

Misa, Hagens, Frondell among best prospects at position

www.nhl.com

 

[lilidk]

So, this is just two guys, in their parents basements discussing their expert opinions on the 2025 NHL draft?

Those two are excellent and know what they talking about

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

Panic threshold is one of my big complaints about him. His puck poise and panic when dealing with the forecheck were legitimately negatives when I saw him. Handling passes was shaky at times at the U18s and he bungled easy passes into his feet and created a few unforced turnovers.

IQ is another. I don’t think his reads in his own zone were anything better than average. He was very reactionary. His gap control was lacking as well. His instincts of when and when not to pinch seemed off. Gap control is teachable but I can’t think of many prospects that started out with below average IQ and it becoming a strength.

What I see with Smith is good athleticism, great skating, but a brain better suited to a winger. I would be legitimately disappointed if he is the pick because I think his points in junior come from his athletic and skating advantage. When that margin is reduced as he moves up levels and competition gets better then so will his effectiveness.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

I enjoy hearing people's opinion of him because I really struggle with him. I think he can get better in the defensive zone for sure. I have seen him defend well in one-on-one situations with pretty good regularity. I think things get tougher though when the puck is elsewhere in the zone. I am not expecting him to be elite in this regard but I think we are acting like he has no capacity to get better which is really strange.

I also don't have issues with his control of the puck, especially for a defensemen of his size. The biggest issue I have with him, however, is his ability to quickly move the puck in transition. He is clearly over-reliant on his skating when he should be looking to pass the puck. This is the mother of 90% of his turnovers. He is the complete opposite of Mrtka in this regard. His processing will be better over time, but I question just how much better it will get and whether it will get good enough to play further up the lineup. As an Aitcheson fan, I am not about to act like Aitcheson is a brilliant passer of the puck.

Anyways, he gives me Broberg vibes for sure. I don't think there are a lot of upside swings in the middle of the first, but he is one of them.

 

[lilidk]

Left wing/center , more skilled but smaller and slower Kasper
Bear Larkin Raymond

 

[RedHawkDown]

So, this is just two guys, in their parents basements discussing their expert opinions on the 2025 NHL draft?

Yes, the nepotism hires with high school degrees and 30 years of CTE on NHL teams seem to have done so much better, haven’t they?

Wonder when people will realize working in pro sports is not based on talent and merit whatsoever.

 

[stillwater]

Yes, the nepotism hires with high school degrees and 30 years of CTE on NHL teams seem to have done so much better, haven’t they?

Wonder when people will realize working in pro sports is not based on talent and merit whatsoever.

It would appear the same goes for message board posting.

 

[RedHawkDown]

It would appear the same goes for message board posting.

Of course. None of us are claiming to be experts. But the constant pretending that just because soemone is not employed by an NHL team that their opinion is useless is laughable.

This isn’t medical school. There’s no science or base standards to picking prospects. Some guys employed by NHL teams, like Tyler Wright, are horrible at their jobs and get re hired because of nepotism. Yzermans brother has a job because of nepotism.