Prospect Info: - 2025 DRAFT Thread | Page 19 | HFBoards - NHL Message Board and Forum for National Hockey League

Prospect Info: 2025 DRAFT Thread



  • Speaking of the Blue Jackets. A lot of talk about drafting a goalie with one of their two first-round picks. I went into this weekend think they’d speak to every top goalie and defensemen around their range. That was true. Not only did the Blue Jackets have a meeting with Joshua Ravensbergen, he revealed that goalie coach Brad Thiessen met with him on multiple occasions during the season. From my past experience, when this happens, there’s genuine interest.
  • Now with that said, the Blue Jackets we know are open to trading one or both of their picks. They own the 14th and 20th picks upcoming. We don’t know what will happen between now and the draft. But if they make at least one of those picks, we cannot rule out a goalie. They’ve kept tabs on Ravensbergen all season. We’ll see if that’s enough to take him. They also met with Mans Goos and Jack Ivankovic as well. It’s not as cut and dried as to who they’re targeting like it was last season when they eventually chose Cayden Lindstrom fourth overall.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tunnelvision

Interesting. He might be a realistic option then but I still refuse to believe what Scheig is trying to imply there :laugh:(picking Ravensbergen or any goalie with either #14 or #20). And I say this without really knowing much about his technical skills, hockey sense/tracking, mental strength, work ethic etc. Now I need to go game highlights and watch at least half of the goals he's allowed this year to get a general impression of what kind of talent he is.

I just noticed that the Jackets' next pick after #20 will be in 3rd round, and that a bunch of teams have two or more picks in the 21-40 range:

PHI -- 22, 36, 40
NSH -- 23, 35
CHI -- 25, 34
WSH -- 27, 37
SJ -- 30, 33

One possible plan is to trade pick #20 to one of those teams and draft a goalie with an early 2nd?
 
I really hope we don't pick a goalie in the 1st, it's amazing how your odds of success there don't meaningfully improve from picking one later. And the Steve Mason comparisons I heard for Ravensbergen were supposed to be encouraging and did not have that effect on me. :laugh:

From Pronman's poll of scouts and execs:

Executive 1: “Ravensbergen is a late one/high two type of goalie. The two Russian goalies, Semyon Frolov and Pyotr Andreyanov, look so good on video. If we felt comfortable taking Russians, we would have them as second-round picks.”
Executive 4: “I’m a little hesitant on the Ravensbergen hype. He had a lot of tough stretches this season. We don’t have any goalie rated in the first, but the closest would be one of the Russian goalies, and we would lean towards Frolov.”

It sounds like there is a real opportunity with the Russian goalies. And by the time you're in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, you should have a big tolerance for risk, given how your pick is likely to not make it as a difference maker in the NHL. I understand the hesitancy in drafting players that you can't scout in person. There is real added risk there. But that level of risk should be something you're willing to stomach in the 2nd and 3rd round, take a swing.

I also like the sounds of Jack Ivankovic, especially since Jet has defied the odds at 6'0. And Måns Goos, because that is a fun name to say.
 
I don’t know how you are supposed to pronounce it, but I know how I’m going to.
:pickle:
Roughly Mons Goose.

To me as a Swede, Måns is just a funny-sounding name in general. It helps that it's also used in expressions such as skrytmåns, meaning braggart. Not as funny as Jöns, but pretty close. Goos, if it's meant to be pronounced like gos (in accordance with the laws of gods and men), means cuddling.

Man's Goose is way better, though.
 
Maybe the wrong place to post this but honestly at this point I don't really care who we draft, mostly because this season will be our first season to really see Lindstrom develop, so whoever we pick will more than likely have a backseat in my mind to him. I'm personally all aboard the "trade em for the best possible return" train but the closer we get to the draft the more likely I think we just end up taking the picks or just trading the picks to move back and get more picks.

I'm just so over getting hyped up for prospects phase and I really wanna see the young guys on the roster take the next step and see guys like LDBB and Brindley turn the page from AHL guys to bonafide NHLers.

We are so overdue as a franchise to see a few of these kids turn into superstars. Hopefully we already have a few like Marchenko but I'm not holding my breath until they get a few seasons of that level of play under their belts.
 
I’d be really interested in a move for Marco Rossi from Minnesota. He fits more of the age range that should be the focus of our possible contention window. I think the player that should be the primary focus is Fantilli.

I’d do like Sillinger + 20 for Rossi + a 2nd. That way we get a roster player and we aren’t waiting like 60 + picks for our next one.

I’m still getting hyped over prospects because I enjoy them. That’s just me though. I can understand the impatience though 100%.

I think it’s important that we keep our pipeline stocked for two reason. I’m not a believer in a lot of them but we can also keep assets stockpiled for future use. I’m not a fan of moving big assets at this stage because I feel like that’s something that could backfire on us and we aren’t left with a lot of assets to course correct. I’m not saying just draft them to draft them. I’m saying a player or two could surprise you but you also have formidable assets that could have value around the league when you need to bring in more established players.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CBJx614
I’d be really interested in a move for Marco Rossi from Minnesota. He fits more of the age range that should be the focus of our possible contention window. I think the player that should be the primary focus is Fantilli.

I’d do like Sillinger + 20 for Rossi + a 2nd. That way we get a roster player and we aren’t waiting like 60 + picks for our next one.

I’m still getting hyped over prospects because I enjoy them. That’s just me though. I can understand the impatience though 100%.

I think it’s important that we keep our pipeline stocked for two reason. I’m not a believer in a lot of them but we can also keep assets stockpiled for future use. I’m not a fan of moving big assets at this stage because I feel like that’s something that could backfire on us and we aren’t left with a lot of assets to course correct. I’m not saying just draft them to draft them. I’m saying a player or two could surprise you but you also have formidable assets that could have value around the league when you need to bring in more established players.
Don't get me wrong I'm a big believer in keeping the pipeline stocked at all times. I feel like I've been on a never ending hype train of the next big guy coming through the system since Filatov. Filatov, Mason, Brassard, Johansen, PLD, Jiricek and now with Fantilli and Lindstrom.



And yeah we've had some guys work out, but the Jackets never had a core of young game changing talent like so many of these true perennial contenders have. I truly think we're so close.... If our young core of guys like KJ, Fantilli, Marchenko, Voronkov, Mateychuk and Lindstrom(he should be a core guy) can prove to be not just middle six talents but true game changing talents I think we're on the precipice on being not only a perennial playoff team but a contender for the East. Hell we only need one or two of them to take that next step consistently and I think we're good enough to be in the playoff talks on a yearly basis

*All depending on what we do to the defense and goaltending, hopefully trading our picks for help!

But this is getting off topic and probably should be in the off-season thread so I digress.
 
Last edited:
new pronman mock has the jackets taking smith at 14 and nesbitt at 21

i’m hoping they trade both picks, but if they actually do make both, that’s about the best outcome that i could realistically expect.
I'd be very happy with Jackson Smith at 14. Nesbitt's skating makes him seem like an unlikely DW pick.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AnonCommentary
At this point I would like to see us draft to build a giant talent pool to trade from if we actually keep the picks. Something like Aitcheson at 14 and Hensler at 20 or Bear at 14 and Carbonneau at 20. That way we can really force a competition for roster spots and let part of the system over ripen and to the point we can trade roster players to fill holes. I still would rather trade both picks to move up to 7/8 and pick up someone like Eklund, Mcqueen or or Martone.
 


Transcript of CBJ focused content.

All right. Let's talk a little bit about the Blue Jackets. You guys have done a couple of mock drafts at the Athletic.


I think one that you and Corey Pronman did together, you had the Blue Jackets going forward and then D. One that you did yourself, you had the Blue Jackets going with a pair of D. They've got the 14th pick and they've got the 20th pick that once belonged to the Minnesota Wild.


So what do you think the possibilities are for the Blue Jackets in that range?


Well, I think there's a lot of possibilities. There are really a couple of shelves that exist in this draft. I think you've got that top two that I talked about off the top with Michael Misa and Matthew Schaefer.


I believe those are the two best players at their positions in this draft class. And then you've got that cluster of centers that I mentioned off the top. Those centers aren't going to be available when 14 rolls around.


But I think what's going to happen as teams prioritize those centers and as teams maybe prioritize those next best D after a Matthew Schaefer, whether that's for Radim Mrtka or Kashawn Aitcheson. What's going to happen is that the top wingers in the class I think will be available at 14 or the bulk of the top four or five wingers in the class will be available at 14. And then after Aitcheson and Mrtka, there's sort of a third tier, if you will, that has emerged amongst the defensemen that includes players like Cameron Reid and Logan Hensler, who I sort of also mentioned off the top.


Those are the names that I think that Blue Jackets fans should be zeroing in on here over the next month or so as we lead into the draft. I think Reid makes a lot of sense for the Blue Jackets and the way that they've scouted. The comp coincidentally that I've used for Cam Reid all year is actually Denton Mateychuk.


I think there are a lot of lines to draw between Denton Mateychuk and Cam Reid. Matejchuk was maybe a little bit more accomplished in terms of pedigree at the same age than Cam Reid was, but Denton Denton Mateychuk went 12th and Cam Reid is likely to go in that sort of 18 to 20 range where that second pick is for the Blue Jackets. He's a player who I think fits there.


Logan Hensler is another. He played with James Hagens in the 2006 age group at the NTDP, which allowed him to play college hockey at the University of Wisconsin this year. Wisconsin struggled and had an up and down year.


Hensler had an up and down year. But there was a time where we were also talking about Logan Hensler as a top 10 pick in this class as one of the premium D prospects in this class. I still think he's going to play in the NHL.


I think he'll take a step next year and be an impact guy at Wisconsin. And I still think we're talking about a legit prospect in that sort of range for the second pick closer to 20, more so maybe than the pick at 14. The best players available at 14, I think, are likely to be the wingers that fit in after the top centers in this draft.


So names like Carter Bear of the Everett Silver Tips, Lynden Lakovic is a player that I could see the Blue Jackets being very drawn to. Lynden, if he's available at 14 and there's no guarantee that Lynden doesn't go 12 or 13, but Lynden, if he's available at 14, I would imagine, would be a player that they'll have firmly in their conversation. Carter Bear, Justin Carbonneau of the Blaineville-Boisbrand Armada of the QMJHL scored 40 goals this year


Six-foot-one pro-built winger, can score tons of skill, plays sort of firm over pucks and is strong over pucks. Those are the types of names that I think they'll start to zero in more at 14. I think there's maybe a bit of a long shot, but there might be a long shot chance that a player like Victor Eklund, who's a 5'11 winger who played for Djurgården with Anton Frondell, with Djurgården in Hockey Al Svenskan, the second tier of pro over in Sweden this year.


He's viewed by most as kind of a 10-11 guy, but smaller wingers, 5'11 wingers do tend to slip and it wouldn't be out of the question for him to be available there at 14. I think that would be excellent value if he were there. So there are a number of names, but all still, we're talking about very, very good players.


Players who had 80, 90 points in junior this year as forwards, or in Cam Reid’s case, defensemen who had 50, 60 points in junior this year. That's the kind of range of a player that you're looking at there. More of the middle six or second pairing projection than the true sort of first line first pairing types that you'd hope to get in the top ten.


But I think all of those kids that I just mentioned have a very, very good chance to be very good NHL players.


You spoke about Lynden Lakovic with some conviction there as it relates to potentially being a Blue Jackets target. What do you like about that player and maybe the fit?


Yeah, a big, big left shot winger. I know that in Columbus, their wing, if you look at their depth chart on the wing, it's more in the sort of right shot wingers, which is a bit of a luxury. Most teams are looking for the opposite.


You look at the Anaheim Ducks last year, taking Beckett Sennecke, a right shot winger, third overall, because those right shot wingers do tend to be a little bit harder to come by. I think he fits into the depth chart in terms of, could play up and down your lineup.


He's a big, strong kid. You move him and shake his hand and sort of bump into him around the rink. You quickly realize like this kid's a man. I think he's closer to the timeline than the Blue Jackets envision for themselves. And he's not the type of player that has to be in a top six role or has to be a bottom six role. I think because of his size, because of his skill level, because of his strength over pucks, I think you can really mold him into a bit of a power forward.


There were scouts this year who wanted to see him play harder and be more physical and really impose his will a little bit more than he did. Players like Carbonneau and Bear, scouts don't have those same concerns about. And it's not a concern with Lynden.


He's a competitive kid. He plays hard. It's not a critique of Lynden, but there is a belief that Lynden maybe has another level still to find.


And on top of that, he's just a little bit bigger and a little bit heavier than players like Bear and Carboneau. And Bear and Carboneau look like men as well. Like these are three of the bigger, stronger, more athletically mature kids in the entire draft.


And Lynden even looks like a sort of a step or two beyond those kids. Now, part of that is his birthday. He has played three years in the WHL with the Moose Jaw Warriors.


He is a late 06, so there should be. He should be further ahead than some other kids in a lot of ways. And he is.


But the more I talk to people, the more that range is where he's expected to go which is sort of 11, right outside the top 10 to 15, I think one of those four or five teams in that range is going to take him.
 
  • Like
Reactions: EspenK
1749588393349-png.1048468


It's funny how prospects work. Here's the Red Wings with their suffering stockpile, which included Kronwall, Zetterberg, and Datsyuk. Contrast that with the Oilers who had three can't miss guys in Jani Rita, Alexei Semenov, and Jason Chimera.

If we get out of the business of drafting entirely I won't complain. Just keep rolling over the picks into elite players and young players. We can let the amateur scouts go.

I liked what St. Louis did in nabbing Broberg and Holloway. Edmonton should have matched that, but the Oilers also did one nice thing in trading a 4th for Podkolzin. Teams give up on players right around age 23, it happens a lot.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LJ7
I think there's maybe a bit of a long shot, but there might be a long shot chance that a player like Victor Eklund, who's a 5'11 winger who played for Djurgården with Anton Frondell, with Djurgården in Hockey Al Svenskan, the second tier of pro over in Sweden this year.


He's viewed by most as kind of a 10-11 guy, but smaller wingers, 5'11 wingers do tend to slip and it wouldn't be out of the question for him to be available there at 14. I think that would be excellent value if he were there.
Yes please 🙏
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Ad

Ad