NHL Entry Draft: 2025 Draft Pick Watch

[Kocur Dill]

Well we don't have a lot of history with top 10 picks. Pavel Brendl and Jamie Lundmark in a draft full of busts. Lias in another draft full of busts. Kakko and Lafreniere---disappointing but both legit NHL players.

Speaking of the last two---Kakko's play bumped up after being moved to Seattle and has leveled off in the latter part of the year. But anyway it's not like they're not good players. I think sometimes things come too easy to top tier prospects. You look at guys like Cuylle and Rempe for instance. They're both 100% committed to getting better. They were never guaranteed anything and that helped motivate both to work harder to make it. Lafreniere and Kakko---things were given to them---maybe not power play time but neither of them has ever spent a moment in the AHL.....never really has even come up. They walked onto a NYC area team and everything that goes with that and never had to work that hard for their spots.

Looking at Rempe--I think he's still got a lot of improving he can do but from where he was when he was drafted to where he is now it's like light years. The guy is putting in the time and he's motivated. He doesn't need to be pushed. My sense is that neither Alexis or Kaapo are anywhere near as motivated. Part of development is also the player. The more a player wants the more he'll work for it.

I just want to point out on thing you wrote and its not what you wrote, but something ive been chewing on since day one that we saw red flags with Lias.

NYR obviously scouted Chytil hard. Proof in the pudding that we traded for Hajek later. One of our scouts was hounding that Czech squad.

The fact we chose Lias with Necas still available, who was tied to Chytils hip is an Epic gaffe that just goes hand in hand with other gaffes our Scouting Dept or whoever over-rides them at the draft table commits almost religiously.

We could have had Necas and Chytil. But chose the brat that threw his Medal and pouted non-stop from day one. Because his father was a high motor swiss army knife player who is highly respected in the pro hockey community and somehow that projected onto Lias character which eventually proved to be the polar opposite. Confusing competitiveness with ego.

 

[eco's bones]

I just want to point out on thing you wrote and its not what you wrote, but something ive been chewing on since day one that we saw red flags with Lias.

NYR obviously scouted Chytil hard. Proof in the pudding that we traded for Hajek later. One of our scouts was hounding that Czech squad.

The fact we chose Lias with Necas still available, who was tied to Chytils hip is an Epic gaffe that just goes hand in hand with other gaffes our Scouting Dept or whoever over-rides them at the draft table commits almost religiously.

We could have had Necas and Chytil. But chose the brat that threw his Medal and pouted non-stop from day one. Because his father was a high motor swiss army knife player who is highly respected in the pro hockey community and somehow that projected onto Lias character which eventually proved to be the polar opposite. Confusing competitiveness with ego.

Yeah they f***ed that up. It wasn't the greatest draft----there are a bunch of underwhelming 1st rounders and several busts. There are even a couple players I would prefer to Necas they could have taken---Suzuki and Thomas and Jason Robertson fell into the second round.

I also think Lias had this immature and self destructive gene. He was fantastic at the WJC's that year he threw his medal into the stands. If I remember he was the captain of the Swedish team and had a lot of goals and played the last game or two with a separated shoulder. He epitomized being a leader for that team......and then afterwards that all fell apart. He wanted everything handed to him on a plate and Chytil and Howden just flat out outworked him. They wanted it more. Don't ask me what happened between the WJC's and his pro career. I have no idea. It's like two different persons.

 

[NikC]

maybe trade the #1 pick in a blockbuster deal for an impact player?

it's not like they can draft or develop anyone properly....

 

[bobbop]

At the moment, 11th in the lottery standings based on point percentage. I’ll update tomorrow AM.

 

[Kocur Dill]

At the moment, 11th in the lottery standings based on point percentage. I’ll update tomorrow AM.

Toronto has to decide...Marner or Knies.

Since we havent made a top 10 pick worth a damn since Staal, maybe the rights to Knies isnt such a bad idea.

From the limited games Ive seen, the kid isnt afraid to drive the net and play in the danger zones. This team is lacking in that Dept outside Cyulle and Bedard of which Cools is mid 6 capable, Beds seems bottom 6 at best.

 

[bleedblue94]

Toronto has to decide...Marner or Knies.

Since we havent made a top 10 pick worth a damn since Staal, maybe the rights to Knies isnt such a bad idea.

From the limited games Ive seen, the kid isnt afraid to drive the net and play in the danger zones. This team is lacking in that Dept outside Cyulle and Bedard of which Cools is mid 6 capable, Beds seems bottom 6 at best.

Toronto isn't moving knies, dear Lord.

 

[eco's bones]

the highest we can pick right now is 14. It would mean we beat both Tampa and Florida and Utah doesn't get any points in its last 3 games.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Toronto has to decide...Marner or Knies.

Since we havent made a top 10 pick worth a damn since Staal, maybe the rights to Knies isnt such a bad idea.

From the limited games Ive seen, the kid isnt afraid to drive the net and play in the danger zones. This team is lacking in that Dept outside Cyulle and Bedard of which Cools is mid 6 capable, Beds seems bottom 6 at best.

Clearly its Knies you keep.

 

[Roo Returns]

Toronto has to decide...Marner or Knies.

Since we havent made a top 10 pick worth a damn since Staal, maybe the rights to Knies isnt such a bad idea.

From the limited games Ive seen, the kid isnt afraid to drive the net and play in the danger zones. This team is lacking in that Dept outside Cyulle and Bedard of which Cools is mid 6 capable, Beds seems bottom 6 at best.

Marner is cashing out as a UFA unless he has a Conn Smythe playoffs. I don't see Toronto getting past a Florida team whether in round 1 or 2.

Florida who the Rangers play next are still fighting for seeding so that's good news for the draft position. Monday should be a loss. Tampa may still be trying to win the division on Thursday. Good news.

Absolute best case scenario is the Rangers finish in the 9-10 range and win a top 3 pick. Shafer is the dream.

 

[17futurecap]

Pending we go 0-2 to get better spots we need

Buffalo 5 points (@TB, vs TOR, vs PHI)
Pittsburgh 4 points (vs BOS, vs WASH)
Ducks 4 points (vs COL, @ MIN, @ WPG)
Islanders 2 points ( @ NJ, vs WASH, @ CLB)
Wings 1 point ( vs DAL, @ NJ, @ TOR)

Best we can do is the 7th spot going into the lottery.

 

[n8]

Pending we go 0-2 to get better spots we need

Buffalo 5 points (@TB, vs TOR, vs PHI)
Pittsburgh 4 points (vs BOS, vs WASH)
Ducks 4 points (vs COL, @ MIN, @ WPG)
Islanders 2 points ( @ NJ, vs WASH, @ CLB)
Wings 1 point ( vs DAL, @ NJ, @ TOR)

Best we can do is the 7th spot going into the lottery.

I don't see us beating Tampa or FLA so I'm hoping we drop at least 2 spots.