2025 Draft Thread

[Doggy]

Ravensbergen looked good in the CHL/USA Prospects Challenge.

Pulled this off The Hockey News:

A few weeks back, I consulted with one of my longtime scouting sources about Ravensbergen. My inquiry was: is Ravensbergen a first-round talent the likes of Jake Oettinger, Jesper Wallstedt, and Yaroslav Askarov or is his draft grade a reach?

“To me, it is [a reach],” replied the scout. He did acknowledge that Ravensbergen’s size is desirable, but his athleticism leaves much to be desired.

 

[CannonFire1]

Pulled this off The Hockey News:

A few weeks back, I consulted with one of my longtime scouting sources about Ravensbergen. My inquiry was: is Ravensbergen a first-round talent the likes of Jake Oettinger, Jesper Wallstedt, and Yaroslav Askarov or is his draft grade a reach?

“To me, it is [a reach],” replied the scout. He did acknowledge that Ravensbergen’s size is desirable, but his athleticism leaves much to be desired.

Fair enough. I've only seen him in one game, and I don't claim to be a goalie scout.

Whether it is Ravensbergen or someone else, I hope CBJ drafts another goalie this year.

 

[Doggy]

Fair enough. I've only seen him in one game, and I don't claim to be a goalie scout.

Whether it is Ravensbergen or someone else, I hope CBJ drafts another goalie this year.

Legit quality NHL goalies can come from anywhere in the draft (or perhaps undrafted). The rule should be to take one at least every other draft. I think they make a good long-shot pick in the last three rounds.

Connor Hellebuyck 5th rounder
Juuse Saros 4th rounder
Sergei Bobrovsky undrafted
Darcy Kuemper 6th rounder
Jonathan Quick 3rd rounder

 

[Doggy]

Huh. This is literally the first time I’ve heard of Matthew Schaefer.

Goal and assist in first World Juniors game.

 

[punk_o_holic]

The Score just released their 1st mock of 2025.

Had Blue Jackets picking Kashawn Aitcheson(LHD/Barrie/OHL) at 12.

Physicality and compete make Aitcheson a player that general managers will fall in love with. Though the Toronto native is on the older side of the draft class, he's produced well over the past two seasons and plays with a mean streak that makes him unique. He has 10 goals and 25 points in 33 games this season, plus 213 penalty minutes in his 120-game OHL career.

 

[alphafox]

The Score just released their 1st mock of 2025.

Had Blue Jackets picking Kashawn Aitcheson(LHD/Barrie/OHL) at 12.

Physicality and compete make Aitcheson a player that general managers will fall in love with. Though the Toronto native is on the older side of the draft class, he's produced well over the past two seasons and plays with a mean streak that makes him unique. He has 10 goals and 25 points in 33 games this season, plus 213 penalty minutes in his 120-game OHL career.

If we manage to end up outside the top 8 I would rather trade back and take one of the goalies + Assets. Between 11-20 I think you can justify Ravensbergen or even Ivankovic. Maybe if you can't, make a trade for roster help with the MN 1st you package some pieces together to move up and use that pick to grab a goalie or try to trade up if Hagens, Martone or McQueen are in range.

 

[Doggy]

For those of you interested in goalies, what about Petteri Rimpinen. I know he's only about 6'1" and is a re-draft in 2025 but he really really popped to me in the World Juniors. Was wicked impressed by him. Looked at his stats in Liiga this season and he is #2 in GAA and #1 in Save Percentage.

I guess I am not overly excited about Ravensbergen and looking for alternatives.

 

[DEF]

Get both.

 

[alphafox]

For those of you interested in goalies, what about Petteri Rimpinen. I know he's only about 6'1" and is a re-draft in 2025 but he really really popped to me in the World Juniors. Was wicked impressed by him. Looked at his stats in Liiga this season and he is #2 in GAA and #1 in Save Percentage.

I guess I am not overly excited about Ravensbergen and looking for alternatives.

I am a fan of drafting a goalie in the first 3 rounds every year. If you hit on a goalie it can turn a bad team into a good team, a good team into a great team, and a great team into an all time team. Right now we are getting adequate goaltending from Elvis but if we could replace him with a guy as good or better on an elc in the next few years we could be looking at something special.

 

[majormajor]

I am a fan of drafting a goalie in the first 3 rounds every year. If you hit on a goalie it can turn a bad team into a good team, a good team into a great team, and a great team into an all time team. Right now we are getting adequate goaltending from Elvis but if we could replace him with a guy as good or better on an elc in the next few years we could be looking at something special.

The best goalie in our franchise history wasn't even drafted, and we acquired him for a couple picks a couple years into his NHL career.

The best goalie in the NHL right now, an MVP candidate, was drafted in the 5th round.

It really is a crapshoot, and I would probably not put a lot of top 3 round picks into goalies.

It would be great to draft a great goalie on an ELC but it seems like such a rarity for that to work out for teams. They're all so up and down and very few establish a consistent high level when they're still that young. Really with drafting goalies you're talking about guys who might be good around the year 2030 or 2032.

It seems like your odds are better by trading those picks for a young goalie already in the NHL.

 

[Doggy]

The best goalie in our franchise history wasn't even drafted, and we acquired him for a couple picks a couple years into his NHL career.

The best goalie in the NHL right now, an MVP candidate, was drafted in the 5th round.

It really is a crapshoot, and I would probably not put a lot of top 3 round picks into goalies.

It would be great to draft a great goalie on an ELC but it seems like such a rarity for that to work out for teams. They're all so up and down and very few establish a consistent high level when they're still that young. Really with drafting goalies you're talking about guys who might be good around the year 2030 or 2032.

It seems like your odds are better by trading those picks for a young goalie already in the NHL.

Agree. Yes there are legit starting goalies drafted in the first three rounds but same can be said for guys drafted after the third round. Plenty of goalies drafted in the first three rounds who disappoint.

I did a quick look at the top ten goalies based on accumulated Save Percentage over the last five years (150 games played minimum):

1st rounder (2): Vasilevskiy and Oettinger
2nd rounder (1): Demko
3rd rounder (1): Sorokin
4th rounder (3): Shesterkin, Saros and Swayman
5th rounder (1): Hellebuyck
6th rounder (2): Ullmark and Kuemper

Now the argument could be made that fewer goalies are taken in the earlier rounds. From 2010-2017 (I felt like once we get to the 2017 draft these goalies are just now starting to establish themselves as legit #1s: Swayman, Skinner, etc: How many are "hits"...starters...

1st: 2 of 6 hits - 33%
2nd: 7 of 22 - 32%
3rd: 9 of 33 - 27%
4th: 3 of 23 - 13%
5th: 3 of 22 - 13%
6th & 7th: 3 of 60 - 5%

 

[AnonCommentary]

Central Scouting: 2025 Midterm rankings

 

[DankoCBJ]

Radim Mrtka is an interesting d-prospect to watch. Really big right-shot czechia defenceman. Sounds familiar? Maybe, but this one can skate.

Big upside here!

 

[koteka]

A guy that intrigues me is Malcolm Spence. But we are playing too well and he’ll probably be gone when we pick. But if we fall off a little bit and pick 10th or 11th, a physical guy who could become a defensively responsible middle 6 wing with scoring who will battle along the boards sounds pretty good to me.

 

[Aaaarrgghh]

A guy that intrigues me is Malcolm Spence. But we are playing too well and he’ll probably be gone when we pick. But if we fall off a little bit and pick 10th or 11th, a physical guy who could become a defensively responsible middle 6 wing with scoring who will battle along the boards sounds pretty good to me.

He's a guy with a high floor and lower ceiling, no? I feel like the Blue Jackets have a sizeable enough prospect pool to go more on upside.

 

[majormajor]

He's a guy with a high floor and lower ceiling, no? I feel like the Blue Jackets have a sizeable enough prospect pool to go more on upside.

I'd say swing on upside with every pick.

You need other types of players too but the best approach to get them is to maintain the cap flexibility to sign them or trade for them as needed. You don't have to draft it all.

 

[Aaaarrgghh]

I'd say swing on upside with every pick.

You need other types of players too but the best approach to get them is to maintain the cap flexibility to sign them or trade for them as needed. You don't have to draft it all.

That's easy for us to say, but teams do go for safer picks on occasion (jobs on the line and all that). I'm just saying that I believe Columbus are in a position with their roster and prospect pool where it makes a lot of sense for them to swing on upside.

 

[koteka]

He's a guy with a high floor and lower ceiling, no? I feel like the Blue Jackets have a sizeable enough prospect pool to go more on upside.

I’d say if we are drafting about 12, he’d be a good pick. He isn’t projected to be a super star, but he plays a smart 200 foot game and skates well. We made a risky pick last year. This year I am cool with someone we expect to be a contributor. I mean if he is a better, younger, and healthier version of Boone Jenner, would anyone complain about that?

 

[koteka]

Another potential mid teens guy is Braeden Cootes. High motor guy. Plays a 200 fit game. Very competitive. Made a captain of his WHL team at 17. A guy who relentlessly battles for pucks could be a good add to this team.

@majormajor - have you seen Cootes play live? He is in your neck of the woods.

So my mid teens guys now, in alphabetical order, and certainly subject to change, are: Braeden Cootes, Radim Mrtka, Malcolm Spence.

 

[tunnelvision]

Another potential mid teens guy is Braeden Cootes. High motor guy. Plays a 200 fit game. Very competitive. Made a captain of his WHL team at 17. A guy who relentlessly battles for pucks could be a good add to this team.

I know a forward with similar size who not only is even more competitive and has a higher motor than Cootes but also hits harder and has more explosive feet. That's Carter Bear. Every time I watch him I think of a faster version of Nick Foligno, he's so versatile, smart and effective. Such a likable prospect.

But he won't be available in mid teens so we would need to trade up to get him. I think I'd start calling teams if he falls out of top-5. As of today he's a better prospect for me than Martone.

I'm pretty sure Mrtka will go in top-10 too.

 

[koteka]

I know a forward with similar size who not only is even more competitive and has a higher motor than Cootes but also hits harder and has more explosive feet. That's Carter Bear. Every time I watch him I think of a faster version of Nick Foligno, he's so versatile, smart and effective. Such a likable prospect.

But he won't be available in mid teens so we would need to trade up to get him. I think I'd start calling teams if he falls out of top-5. As of today he's a better prospect for me than Martone.

I'm pretty sure Mrtka will go in top-10 too.

I think Mrtka will go top 10 too, but right now the consensus seems to be a little later.

I haven’t looked at Bear yet. Has an awesome last name. I think a high motor guy with a 200 ft game and a high floor that we are in no rush to put in the NHL is one thing we could use in this draft. The kind of guy that in 2029 we add to a already strong line up after he has over cooked in the AHL.

 

[cbjthrowaway]

recalibrating my expectations for the pick to be more in the 13-20 range:

• forwards: cameron schmidt is small but the kid just feels like a special player. i guess there's risk there but he just feels too talented to fail, and i bet he falls in the draft. feels like a caufield or debrincat type but also plays with some real bite. also love lakovic and bear but doubt either are around for the CBJ pick.
• defensemen: feels like a lot of boom-or-bust guys in this range, like haoxi wang's story and the size/skating combo is tantalizing enough to reach for a bit. could also see logan hensler having a chychrun arc (falling from elite prospect to mid-first, then being an early contributor and top-four guy)
• goalies: really, really like ravensbergen, but this feels like a good goalie draft and i think ivanovic will be there in the second