Prospect Info: 2025 DRAFT Thread

[NotWendell]

I know that long-term, a top 10 pick would be more useful than a first-round exit, but...

 

[tunnelvision]

The progression matters a lot to me, and I just don't watch enough junior (less these days) to have a good sense of that. The difference between a player who is gradually working on his weaknesses and experimenting and learning, and a player who is making the same mistakes ad infinitum and simply lacks hockey sense, that is everything. I'll be relying on you and Simon and the hockey prospect guys to tell me about the progression they see.

My sample sizes are smaller for sure so I'll be hesitant to talk about players' progression with great confidence. I saw a few games from first half of the season and now watched 2 playoff games. I posted this in December and still agree with a lot of what I observed then:

He's looked good recently.

Skilled skater in all directions, very good in transition plays particularly. On the offensive end can separate from opponents with smooth mohawk moves, and passes and shoots pretty well but as a playmaker and shooter hasn't looked that dangerous yet. Skating skill and acceleration seem a bit more limited in d zone, so because of that and the lack of high-end vision he sometimes gets into trouble in breakout plays. But generally speaking he's a smart and effective puck mover.

Not much to complain about his defensive IQ and tools either. Rush defense, stick checking and occasional hard body checks are probably the best defensive traits. Compete level is somewhat inconsistent, I'd like to see more aggression in net front and effort to eliminate secondary chances.

He was the 3rd best D on HP's Nov list (#17 overall), and 2nd best behind Schaefer on EP's Dec list (#6 overall). I get why scouts like him. Well-rounded D with projectable tools and no obvious red flags. Based on the knowledge I have today I think I would be fine with drafting him if he happens to be in our range in June.

Same strengths and weaknesses, but it doesn't have to mean he hasn't learnt anything. Just hard to notice clear improvements or changes from my limited point of view.

I've had an impression that sometimes players can play their game the same way all year without doing any major adjustment, and then later in the offseason decide they should have a different approach or something for next year. It may deceive scouts who are trying to figure out prospects' willingness to learn from mistakes / general progression odds, solely based on viewings from their draft year.

Mateychuk was defensively more responsible and much less of a rover in his D+1 compared to draft season, and while his PPG didn't go up, it seemed that change of mindset helped him to become a more mature all-around player. Smith could have a similar near-term development plan, but I don't have a crystal ball or enough info about his character and people around him to make that prediction.

Anyway, we might get more viewings of him before draft if/when he joins Canada's U18 team. Interesting to see and hear if he'll be the exact same player there.

 

[Nevins]

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.

It looks like he's close to 6'3'' now

 

[Long Live Lyle]

I know that long-term, a top 10 pick would be more useful than a first-round exit, but...

Not necessarily. There’s something to be said for playing playoff hockey. My guess is that our experience in 2017 and 2018 helped us in 2019 (and in the bubble in 2020 for that matter).

Seems like it’s moot now though.

 

[majormajor]

It is about learning how to win as a group. Our players must crawl before they walk, and they must walk before they run. And yet we have fans insisting that they do not crawl or walk, because it would slightly hurt our draft position. We should hope they play better in the remaining games and learn whatever they can, so they can win these games in coming seasons.

 

[Cowumbus]

Bear's injury seems pretty serious.

Interesting read:

Achilles Tendon Ruptures in National Hockey League Players: Return to Sport and Performance Impact - PMC

Few studies assess rates of return to play and postinjury performance in National Hockey League (NHL) players who sustain Achilles tendon ruptures. Our objective was to determine the rate of return to play and performance impact among NHL players ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

I'm wondering if it might put him down in range of our 2nd 1st?

I think so, but what are the odds we actually keep that pick? If they do keep it I think the later 1st would be worth the risk.

 

[Xoggz22]

Who do you like the most of these 3: Carbonneau, Lakovic or Zonnon?

Three players with different attributes that appear to be developed (or certainly more so than others in the tool box), but all appear to have a pretty high ceiling and would meet my definition of high risk high reward potential. If I have to pick one, I likely go with Bill Zonnon. I like his package the best and the fact that he appears to be more physically engaged than either Carbonneau or Lakovic. Has good size, very good skater and a solid IQ. Worst case he's a plus 3rd line type guy.

Honestly, I think any of the three would be worth a shot, but I'd rank them Zonnon, Carbonneau, Lakovic.

 

[tunnelvision]

Has good size, very good skater and a solid IQ. Worst case he's a plus 3rd line type guy.

I have to disagree about that part as he looks technically pretty awkward. People who have watched him more say his full speed is alright when he gets there but acceleration is a problem. He seems to lose momentum quickly while pivoting or doing sharp turns with the puck. But on the other hand has a solid set of hands and good reach which might compensate in his playmaking, even at pro level. I don't know yet how strong and inside driven he actually is, but if there's a good chance he becomes a LDBB type playmaking C who manages to protect puck a little better and win more net front/corner battles + has higher motor, then could be a great mid/late 1st option.