2025 Draft Thread

[alphafox]

First Option should be trades given that this is a weak draft and our team youth. I would be happy to add roster help immediate or to move up into the top 6 for someone like McQueen or Frondell. If we can't make a deal and end where I think we will I'd like something like this

Our Pick 10-14: Draft one of Logan Hensler, Jackson Smith or especially Radim Mrtka
MN Pick: Jack Murtaugh or Joshua Ravensburg

 

[Doggy]

1) They can't all go top ten
2) I keep hearing "weak draft" and then hearing about all these really good prospects. Maybe it's not top three heavy like Bedard, Fantilli and Carlsson was but I bet when you get into the 7-10 area and beyond it starts to feel like most drafts

 

[Aaaarrgghh]

1) They can't all go top ten
2) I keep hearing "weak draft" and then hearing about all these really good prospects. Maybe it's not top three heavy like Bedard, Fantilli and Carlsson was but I bet when you get into the 7-10 area and beyond it starts to feel like most drafts

I just envisioned Don Waddell stepping up to the stage for the #12 pick and realising there are no players left in the draft.

 

[koteka]

The consensus top ranked player is a left D? I guess Buffalo is winning the draft lottery.

 

[Doggy]

 

[stevo61]

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.

You got my attention with this post and I've slowly been trying to pay more attention to him. I'm still a believer in Spence as mentioned awhile ago but after you put Bear on the radar I've become a believer. At this point I don't know where we will draft but Id love this style of player. I don't know that it's a perfect comparison (I don't usually like making them) but when I started watching him I thought of Travis Konecny

 

[Mikey09]

First Option should be trades given that this is a weak draft and our team youth. I would be happy to add roster help immediate or to move up into the top 6 for someone like McQueen or Frondell. If we can't make a deal and end where I think we will I'd like something like this

Our Pick 10-14: Draft one of Logan Hensler, Jackson Smith or especially Radim Mrtka
MN Pick: Jack Murtaugh or Joshua Ravensburg

I also see Logan Hensler as a real possibility and i would be sooo happy to get him or Aitcheson with that first pick or Brady Martin in case they are gone and anyone of Spence, Nesbitt, McKinney, Fiddler, Behm or Tretheway with Minny’s pick.

 

[Doggy]

Anyone have an opinion on goalie Alexi Medvedev? I don't want to add another smurf goaltender but am not a fan of these monster tall goalies either. Kid is a top five goalie prospect and probably the youngest in his draft class. Yes he plays for powerhouse London but the kid is putting up really really good numbers and the scouting reports on him are excellent.

 

[tunnelvision]

You got my attention with this post and I've slowly been trying to pay more attention to him. I'm still a believer in Spence as mentioned awhile ago but after you put Bear on the radar I've become a believer. At this point I don't know where we will draft but Id love this style of player. I don't know that it's a perfect comparison (I don't usually like making them) but when I started watching him I thought of Travis Konecny

To be honest, now that I've seen more games of Bear, Martone and other highly ranked players, maybe I shouldn't have spoken in absolutes about Bear certainly going in the top-10. He hasn't done a whole lot lately, last night vs Victoria he mishandled pucks constantly for no apparent reason, failed to cover his guy on the backcheck and lost his edge easily in too many occasions. He looked out of gas, might be playing through something.

I also like the type of game Spence brings but if we ended up drafting in the top-10 and picked him, I probably wouldn't be a happy camper. I just haven't seen enough skill to justify a relatively high ranking. Could be a good choice in mid or late teens though.

Meanwhile Martone has produced nicely and looked pretty special at times with his vision and offensive instincts, and he can protect puck and go to the net in a way that will work in pro hockey as well, so in that sense he might be viewed a "safe bet" as a prospect. But then there is the consistency and a lack of pace issues that continue to annoy me, which is why I still kinda want to challenge the opinion that there's a clear top tier of Schaefer, Misa, Hagens and Martone, followed by a bunch of less valuable guys. There are other talented forwards who play at important positions and have qualities that likely attract NHL scouts, Desnoyers and O'Brien for example. I'm not surprised they are high on several public lists.

I don't have a very accurate picture of Desnoyers yet but in my viewings O'Brien has shown he can actually play center, he definitely has tools and intelligence for it. He seems well-rounded, reliable and positionally sound defensively, and on offense can make precise and skilled plays with great hands and superb vision. He isn't weak physically either but I wouldn't say it is a strength. If I had to name one less impressive aspect of his game I guess it would be the lack of pace. He seems able to slow things down in transition but can rarely turn it up a notch, even though in full speed he doesn't look slow to me. For those who have watched him, would David Krejci be a too generous comp?

 

[stevo61]

To be honest, now that I've seen more games of Bear, Martone and other highly ranked players, maybe I shouldn't have spoken in absolutes about Bear certainly going in the top-10. He hasn't done a whole lot lately, last night vs Victoria he mishandled pucks constantly for no apparent reason, failed to cover his guy on the backcheck and lost his edge easily in too many occasions. He looked out of gas, might be playing through something.

I also like the type of game Spence brings but if we ended up drafting in the top-10 and picked him, I probably wouldn't be a happy camper. I just haven't seen enough skill to justify a relatively high ranking. Could be a good choice in mid or late teens though.

Meanwhile Martone has produced nicely and looked pretty special at times with his vision and offensive instincts, and he can protect puck and go to the net in a way that will work in pro hockey as well, so in that sense he might be viewed a "safe bet" as a prospect. But then there is the consistency and a lack of pace issues that continue to annoy me, which is why I still kinda want to challenge the opinion that there's a clear top tier of Schaefer, Misa, Hagens and Martone, followed by a bunch of less valuable guys. There are other talented forwards who play at important positions and have qualities that likely attract NHL scouts, Desnoyers and O'Brien for example. I'm not surprised they are high on several public lists.

I don't have a very accurate picture of Desnoyers yet but in my viewings O'Brien has shown he can actually play center, he definitely has tools and intelligence for it. He seems well-rounded, reliable and positionally sound defensively, and on offense can make precise and skilled plays with great hands and superb vision. He isn't weak physically either but I wouldn't say it is a strength. If I had to name one less impressive aspect of his game I guess it would be the lack of pace. He seems able to slow things down in transition but can rarely turn it up a notch, even though in full speed he doesn't look slow to me. For those who have watched him, would David Krejci be a too generous comp?

Bear seems like he's got a decent amount physical development to go through and then maybe can be the Robin to a Batman like a Zach Hyman. I havent done any meaningful deep dive on anyone or know specifically where I'd rank Bear but I wouldnt be shocked if a team loved him and took him fairly early. Hagel is another name I've seen for him and I'd understand the risk of taking him early but man, teams kill for the type of player he has the potential to be.

 

[Aaaarrgghh]

Thanfkully, I haven't looked much into the draft, but Jake O'Brien does look interesting. Playmaking centre with room to grow physically. Carter Bear is also intriguing, of course. The one I really thought sounded like he'd be ideal for Columbus is Jackson Smith, but he'll most likely not be available to them.