NHL Entry Draft: 2025 Draft Pick Watch

[UnSandvich]

I know nothing about this group of prospects. Tell me, HFboard friends. Who should we pick? I need to know whether I should scream at my TV or not when we do or don't pick someone.

Ideally? Nobody in the 1st bc we shouldn't be keeping our 1st or trading Miller.

 

[McRanger92]

Roger McQueen kind of sounds like a Tage Thompson esque player. Big size and big skill center. Dropping out of the top 10 for a back injury is a little yikes but upside is upside and its a position where we badly need it given the organizational depth chart. Maybe if we trade KAM for a pick in that range, we let Pittsburgh have #12 and use our 2026 pick to play in the offer sheet waters. Interesting dynamic all around tbh. Curious to see how it plays out.

 

[Mac n Gs]

McQueen is the exact type of mistake that wouldn't surprise me in the least for this franchise to make, so sure, why the hell not.

 

[Savant]

Aitcheson plays all out. He might be as mean and nasty as anyone in the draft. He looks to make the big hit......he'll fight anyone anytime. He was also like tied for being the leading scorer on his team as a 17/18 year old defender and if I'm remembering correctly his Barrie team had a lot of older already drafted guys including a couple first round forwards. His physical game is something no one will have to worry about or teach him. If anything you might have to get him to tone it down a bit like we have with Rempe but I'd rather that than someone that doesn't really have that quality at all. He's competitive to the hilt. I like guys like that.

That’s the issue though. If you tone him down, he’s not necessarily worth with draft position. I don’t know how well he translates. He will throw himself out of position too. Think there is a lot of risk there

 

[Savant]

Roger McQueen kind of sounds like a Tage Thompson esque player. Big size and big skill center. Dropping out of the top 10 for a back injury is a little yikes but upside is upside and its a position where we badly need it given the organizational depth chart. Maybe if we trade KAM for a pick in that range, we let Pittsburgh have #12 and use our 2026 pick to play in the offer sheet waters. Interesting dynamic all around tbh. Curious to see how it plays out.

I mean I still take him over any non-Schaefer Dman in this draft. Especially if we don’t have a 1 in 2026, I’d roll the dice.l depending on the board. Cayden Lindstrom went 4 in a better draft. If you could get McQueen at 12? I think I would

 

[McRanger92]

I mean I still take him over any non-Schaefer Dman in this draft. Especially if we don’t have a 1 in 2026, I’d roll the dice.l depending on the board. Cayden Lindstrom went 4 in a better draft. If you could get McQueen at 12? I think I would

I support the line of thinking on McQueen

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

nashville is gonna reach for mcqueen. im not worried about it. feeling like cootes is gonna be the guy unless we trade for Utah’s pick, then it’s either Hagens or Frondell

 

[Savant]

I support the line of thinking on McQueen

Yeah I mean either way you are rolling the dice. You can have a chance at the 2nd best Dman in a notoriously bad Dman draft, or you can take an injury risk on a guy with 1C/2C potential. I'd rather take the center

 

[Lion Hound]

nashville is gonna reach for mcqueen. im not worried about it. feeling like cootes is gonna be the guy unless we trade for Utah’s pick, then it’s either Hagens or Frondell

Nasville seems to be in on the Swedes. Frondell especially.

 

[eco's bones]

That’s the issue though. If you tone him down, he’s not necessarily worth with draft position. I don’t know how well he translates. He will throw himself out of position too. Think there is a lot of risk there

Well he's an 18 year old. You're not going to find an 18 year old that doesn't need some correction.....even the Crosby's, McDavid's and MacKinnon's. The guy is willing.....he's a type that will try to impose his game on his opponents. There really aren't all that many players in the NHL who do that as a natural part of their game.

This draft for me is maybe average at best and I'm really not into picking up a bunch of smaller guys. I don't think that's where our team should be going. We should be looking to emulate winning Cups in every way we can including the types of players we draft. What I do see in this draft is some larger size D particularly who have real potential. Aitcheson is good size.....he's not huge like some of the others but leading his team in scoring.....being a physical leader on a team that's got at least 10 NHL draftees already on it kind of tells me he's both a leader on the ice and off and ready to step up in every situation. Not an easy player to play against. The Rangers have been too soft. It's among the reasons we fell short against Tampa in 2022 and fell short again against the Panthers in 2024.

 

[Savant]

Well he's an 18 year old. You're not going to find an 18 year old that doesn't need some correction.....even the Crosby's, McDavid's and MacKinnon's. The guy is willing.....he's a type that will try to impose his game on his opponents. There really aren't all that many players in the NHL who do that as a natural part of their game.

This draft for me is maybe average at best and I'm really not into picking up a bunch of smaller guys. I don't think that's where our team should be going. We should be looking to emulate winning Cups in every way we can including the types of players we draft. What I do see in this draft is some larger size D particularly who have real potential. Aitcheson is good size.....he's not huge like some of the others but leading his team in scoring.....being a physical leader on a team that's got at least 10 NHL draftees already on it kind of tells me he's both a leader on the ice and off and ready to step up in every situation. Not an easy player to play against. The Rangers have been too soft. It's among the reasons we fell short against Tampa in 2022 and fell short again against the Panthers in 2024.

Drury has been (trying in) making the team less soft. Our issue now is we don’t have enough output either. I’m not taking a Dman, in a draft where we know it’s a bad Dman draft, just because he hits things. Look at this team right now. We have grinders. We have lost A TON of scoring. That is something that is much harder to draft. Especially if we don’t have a pick next year.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

That’s the issue though. If you tone him down, he’s not necessarily worth with draft position. I don’t know how well he translates. He will throw himself out of position too. Think there is a lot of risk there

Certainly. Significant boom potential too though.

Like if he hits you're talking a 15+ goal/40+ pt Radko Gudas. There are 0 of these players in the league right now.

Drury has been (trying in) making the team less soft. Our issue now is we don’t have enough output either. I’m not taking a Dman, in a draft where we know it’s a bad Dman draft, just because he hits things. Look at this team right now. We have grinders. We have lost A TON of scoring. That is something that is much harder to draft. Especially if we don’t have a pick next year.

They finished 7th in GF 5v5 last year and were 2nd after the new year.

Unless you believe that the PP thing is going to carry over (it won't) their output is way better than you think it was.

Mind you, this was with nearly everyone having a down year.

 

[n8]

These picks aren't based on any extensive research. Just from rankings, drafting, and vibes.

12OA
Tier 1 picks: McQueen or O'Brien
probably end up with: Smith, Aitcheson, Martin, Mtrka, Lakovic

43, 70, and 89 OA range
Tier 1: Horcoff, Cerrato, Moore
Tier 2: West, Gästrin, Nestrasil, Lee, Vansaghi, Brzustewicz, Amico, Wang
Tier 3: Trethewey, Lafreniere, Epperson, Fondrk

104, 118 range
Barnhill, Idzan, Moses, Passmore, Klingsell, Hamilton, Stockselius

148, 166, 171 range
Gorzynski, Boelius, Farhammar, Sumpf, Frolov, Lombardi

203
Katzin, Busch, Free, Arrowsmith,

Honorable mention
Ivan Tkach-Tkachenko for the best draft name

 

[Savant]

Certainly. Significant boom potential too though.

Like if he hits you're talking a 15+ goal/40+ pt Radko Gudas. There are 0 of these players in the league right now.

There’s a reason there a 0 players like that in the league. If it was a good bet, he’d be going 1.

They finished 7th in GF 5v5 last year and were 2nd after the new year.

Unless you believe that the PP thing is going to carry over (it won't) their output is way better than you think it was.

Mind you, this was with nearly everyone having a down year.

I don’t think there’s a ton of evidence this team is going to be better next year. And by the time these guys are ready Panarin is probably gone too, and the other guys are obviously going to be older.

 

[Lion Hound]

These picks aren't based on any extensive research. Just from rankings, drafting, and vibes.

12OA
Tier 1 picks: McQueen or O'Brien
probably end up with: Smith, Aitcheson, Martin, Mtrka, Lakovic

43, 70, and 89 OA range
Tier 1: Horcoff, Cerrato, Moore
Tier 2: West, Gästrin, Nestrasil, Lee, Vansaghi, Brzustewicz, Amico, Wang
Tier 3: Trethewey, Lafreniere, Epperson, Fondrk

104, 118 range
Barnhill, Idzan, Moses, Passmore, Klingsell, Hamilton, Stockselius

148, 166, 171 range
Gorzynski, Boelius, Farhammar, Sumpf, Frolov, Lombardi

203
Katzin, Busch, Free, Arrowsmith,

Honorable mention
Ivan Tkach-Tkachenko for the best draft name

Arrowsmith has to be up there for best draft name!

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

Arrowsmith has to be up there for best draft name!

dream on

 

[n8]

Arrowsmith has to be up there for best draft name!

Only if his first and middle name was Steven and Tyler

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

There’s a reason there a 0 players like that in the league. If it was a good bet, he’d be going 1.

I don’t think there’s a ton of evidence this team is going to be better next year. And by the time these guys are ready Panarin is probably gone too, and the other guys are obviously going to be older.

The reason is guys who play like him generally don’t score like he does.

I agree with you on the risk and warts and there’s a reason why guys of his profile are some of the most common misses - teams will always shoot their shot on someone like him because of the boom potential. Most years I’d stay away but in a draft year like this, probably best to go big or go home.

As for next years team- new coach bump, full season of miller (this gets glossed over by everyone) and extended rest. I don’t think this teams biggest problems are even at forward. By the time Panarin is gone the cap is also going to be way higher. Tons of space.

 

[Hythlodaeus]

I know nothing about this group of prospects. Tell me, HFboard friends. Who should we pick? I need to know whether I should scream at my TV or not when we do or don't pick someone.

If we get Aitcheson, O’Brien, or McQueen I’m ecstatic, those are all potential future all stars. If we get Smith or Bear, I’m relatively happy.

 

[bhamill]

dream on

BOOM

 

[Overcast]

These picks aren't based on any extensive research. Just from rankings, drafting, and vibes.

12OA
Tier 1 picks: McQueen or O'Brien
probably end up with: Smith, Aitcheson, Martin, Mtrka, Lakovic

43, 70, and 89 OA range
Tier 1: Horcoff, Cerrato, Moore
Tier 2: West, Gästrin, Nestrasil, Lee, Vansaghi, Brzustewicz, Amico, Wang
Tier 3: Trethewey, Lafreniere, Epperson, Fondrk

104, 118 range
Barnhill, Idzan, Moses, Passmore, Klingsell, Hamilton, Stockselius

148, 166, 171 range
Gorzynski, Boelius, Farhammar, Sumpf, Frolov, Lombardi

203
Katzin, Busch, Free, Arrowsmith,

Honorable mention
Ivan Tkach-Tkachenko for the best draft name

Farhammar is a sick ass name too

 

[n8]

Farhammar is a sick ass name too

Another fun name to draft is goaltending prospect MANS GOOS

 

[Draft Guru]

McQueen is the exact type of mistake that wouldn't surprise me in the least for this franchise to make, so sure, why the hell not.

if McQueen is there at 12 you turn that card in as quick as possible and run up to the stage to announce your pick

 

[The Crypto Guy]

if McQueen is there at 12 you turn that card in as quick as possible and run up to the stage to announce your pick

Absolutely, it’s crazy some people dont want him at 12. Guy would be top 3 if he wasn’t hurt this season.

 

[Mac n Gs]

if McQueen is there at 12 you turn that card in as quick as possible and run up to the stage to announce your pick

I strongly disagree there, and I think people are falling in love with the idea of the size/skill combo rather than the actual outcomes from it. He’s already older for this class, and we don’t need to rehash his injury history, but I’m glad that it appears to be a misdiagnosis of a more severe injury. Back injuries for a kid that age still scare me. Even with Vilardi, he only just had his first full-ish season in his D+8.

By all accounts, he comes across as a super likable kid that works hard off the ice. I just honestly am not that impressed with the on-ice product. I obviously haven’t watched all of his games, but I saw that Steve K pointed out somewhere that a huge chunk of his offense came in bunches against really bad competition and the rest dried up against stiffer comp. He’s obviously watched more than me, so I’ll go with his observation there.

If we had more leeway with our farm system, I’d be totally on board with taking the massive swing there. I don’t want to deal with another project that you hope hits his ceiling. I’m going to keep banging the drum for a kid like Cootes because the agility and acceleration are higher-end, he’s an absolute puck hound and super smart defensively, and he has a seriously underrated wrist shot. The playmaking stands out with better comp as you’ve seen when he’s with Team Canada. It makes way too much sense with what the Rangers need in the system and how they want to play.