Prospect Info: 2025 DRAFT Thread

[Aaaarrgghh]

I wouldn't bother with any proposals/ideas that have us moving top half of the lineup players for draft picks. I'm not saying it is or isn't good value in the generic sense, but it's certainly not where this club is at. We have to win this coming year.

Oh, I agree. I just made the suggestion by going along with if they are truly intent on moving up for Martone and Boston is the only realistic partner for such a move. Then they are going to have to move roster players, since Boston don't want to rebuild as long as they have McAvoy and Pastrnak.

With that said, I expect Waddell to move one or both picks for immediate help next season. If I had to wager a guess, I'd say that he will push hard to acquire Rasmus Andersson.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

Rumor has it that Eklund is falling into the 10-15 range.

 

[Xoggz22]

I have to believe Chicago is looking for size and a C. They are very small and I just wonder if Bedard doesn't end up on the wing. Their center depth hurts, they are still a ways from competing and they need some size in that lineup.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Rumor has it that Eklund is falling into the 10-15 range.

E10-15?

 

[AnonCommentary]

NHL Mock Draft 2025: Could Anton Frondell Unseat Michael Misa At No. 2? - FloHockey

Chris Peters unveils his latest Mock Draft, predicting all 32 picks in the first round.

www.flohockey.tv

Carbonneau and Boumedienne. Martone falls to 8 but that’s highly unlikely in this exercise as stated by Peters.

Hagens or Martone? Mrtka or Aitcheson? Pronman and Wheeler debate 2025 NHL Draft

As we draw nearer to draft day, here's this year's edition of Pronman versus Wheeler.

www.nytimes.com

So, Corey, we’ll start with you this time: What makes you prefer Aitcheson to Mrtka?

**Pronman**: Aitcheson is a nearly 6-foot-2 defenseman who skates well, scored 26 goals in the OHL this season, 39 points the previous season, and offense isn’t his calling card. He’s a super physical and competitive player who provides a unique role. I think he, Mrtka and Jackson Smith project as second pair defensemen on good teams. Mrtka reminds me a lot of Simon Edvinsson and Dmitri Simashev. He’s an excellent all-around player, but the special part of his game is his frame. I would rather bet on the player whose special trait is his compete in Aitcheson.

Bultman: Scott, what elevates Mrtka for you?

**Wheeler**: I would rather bet on the high-end skating right-shot D in a nearly 6-foot-6 profile, and would argue that the special part of his game is the mobility as much as the size. He’s one of the better-skating D in the class for me, and the league is trending toward his profile. Despite Aitcheson’s high goal totals, I also have questions about just how much offense he’s going to have at the next level.

If they’re both top-four five-on-five guys, penalty killers and PP2 quarterbacks, I expect that Mrtka will have a higher impact in those kinds of minutes. I think he’s got a chance to develop into more than that, too. Mrtka is also a June ’07, whereas Aitcheson is a September ’06, and I think Aitcheson’s closer to maxing out in some areas than Mrtka is in terms of development.

**Pronman**: I don’t think Scott and I have seen Mrtka’s skating similarly in our conversations this season. He’s graded him as a premier skater. I think it’s good, but not elite feet — maybe it is for his size, but not overall.

On Prokhorov (I know he was mentioned recently)

I understand why teams covet the player type. I just wouldn’t use a first-rounder on a Toropchenko.

**Pronman**: My point was that I think he could at least be that. He reminds me more of Lawson Crouse than Toropchenko. When he played up age groups, for example, with Russia’s U20 team toward the end of the year, he looked like he had more than sufficient skill for the NHL. How much different is his profile from Charlie Stramel’s (Stramel a center, Toropchenko bigger)?

**Wheeler**: I think there are some similarities there as well. I didn’t have Stramel rated in the first round either, though.

 

[AnonCommentary]

I don’t know how legit this individual is but Mark Scheig retweeted him and Im not sure he’d retweet a bunch of randoms he doesn’t know about.



This ranking is the result of numerous discussions I've had over the past two weeks with several NHL scouts, with whom I regularly exchange insights. Additionally, I've been working behind the scenes, using my phone to gauge the market with several of my contacts across the league to find out what's brewing.

So, here's the result of all my work, my picks, and the inside scoop on what could happen at next Friday's draft.



The Inside Scoop on the Draft

Players whose stock is rising one week before the draft:



* Jackson Smith

* Brady Martin

* Kashawn Aitcheson

* Victor Eklund

* Logan Hensler

* Lynden Lakovic

* Braeden Cootes

* Jack Nesbitt



Players whose stock is falling one week before the draft:



* Anton Frondell

* Roger McQueen

* Justin Carbonneau



What I'm Hearing About the Top Prospects:

* Anton Frondell could fall out of the Top 5.

* Kashawn Aitcheson shouldn't go past the 12th pick to the New York Rangers.

* Roger McQueen shouldn't go past the 13th pick to Detroit.

* Jackson Smith could sneak into the Top 10 and even challenge Radim Mrtka as the second defenseman chosen after Matthew Schaefer.



Buzz from the Montreal Canadiens and Other League Teams:



Teams looking to make a "splash" by trading for a high pick (Top 10) if possible:



* NY Islanders

* Chicago

* Utah

* Boston

* Buffalo



Teams actively looking to add a high-caliber player on draft day:



* Montreal

* Utah

* Boston

* Buffalo

* Detroit

* Columbus

* Los Angeles



Regarding the Montreal Canadiens:



* If the Canadiens only draft once, expect to see Carter Bear or Lynden Lakovic.



* If the Canadiens draft twice, Justin Carbonneau will undoubtedly become a Montreal Canadien.



* If the Canadiens can move up 4 to 6 spots, it will be to draft in order of priority:



1 Roger McQueen

2 Radim Mrtka

3 Kashawn Aitcheson



* If the Canadiens move up to positions 4 or 5, it's solely for Caleb Desnoyers.



Regarding Transactions:



Don't rule out the possibility of Trevor Zegras joining a potential Top 6 in Montreal, but it's not the Canadiens' priority. The team continues to explore the market for a true number 2 center.



My Final Top 17 for the 2025 NHL Draft, after compiling all the information received, here is my final ranking:



1 New York Islanders: Matthew Schaefer

2 San Jose: Michael Misa

3 Chicago: Porter Martone

4 Utah: Caleb Desnoyers

5 Nashville: Brady Martin

6 Philadelphia: James Hagens

7 Boston: Jake O'Brien

8 Seattle: Radim Mrtka

9 Buffalo: Anton Frondell

10 Anaheim: Jackson Smith

11 Pittsburgh: Viktor Eklund

12 New York Rangers: Kashawn Aitcheson

13 Detroit: Roger McQueen

14 Columbus: Logan Hensler

15 Vancouver: Carter Bear

16 Montreal: Lynden Lakovic

17 Montreal: Justin Carbonneau



Enjoy draft day, everyone!

 

[majormajor]

I don’t know how legit this individual is but Mark Scheig retweeted him and Im not sure he’d retweet a bunch of randoms he doesn’t know about.



This ranking is the result of numerous discussions I've had over the past two weeks with several NHL scouts, with whom I regularly exchange insights. Additionally, I've been working behind the scenes, using my phone to gauge the market with several of my contacts across the league to find out what's brewing.

So, here's the result of all my work, my picks, and the inside scoop on what could happen at next Friday's draft.



The Inside Scoop on the Draft

Players whose stock is rising one week before the draft:



* Jackson Smith

* Brady Martin

* Kashawn Aitcheson

* Victor Eklund

* Logan Hensler

* Lynden Lakovic

* Braeden Cootes

* Jack Nesbitt



Players whose stock is falling one week before the draft:



* Anton Frondell

* Roger McQueen

* Justin Carbonneau



What I'm Hearing About the Top Prospects:

* Anton Frondell could fall out of the Top 5.

* Kashawn Aitcheson shouldn't go past the 12th pick to the New York Rangers.

* Roger McQueen shouldn't go past the 13th pick to Detroit.

* Jackson Smith could sneak into the Top 10 and even challenge Radim Mrtka as the second defenseman chosen after Matthew Schaefer.



Buzz from the Montreal Canadiens and Other League Teams:



Teams looking to make a "splash" by trading for a high pick (Top 10) if possible:



* NY Islanders

* Chicago

* Utah

* Boston

* Buffalo



Teams actively looking to add a high-caliber player on draft day:



* Montreal

* Utah

* Boston

* Buffalo

* Detroit

* Columbus

* Los Angeles



Regarding the Montreal Canadiens:



* If the Canadiens only draft once, expect to see Carter Bear or Lynden Lakovic.



* If the Canadiens draft twice, Justin Carbonneau will undoubtedly become a Montreal Canadien.



* If the Canadiens can move up 4 to 6 spots, it will be to draft in order of priority:



1 Roger McQueen

2 Radim Mrtka

3 Kashawn Aitcheson



* If the Canadiens move up to positions 4 or 5, it's solely for Caleb Desnoyers.



Regarding Transactions:



Don't rule out the possibility of Trevor Zegras joining a potential Top 6 in Montreal, but it's not the Canadiens' priority. The team continues to explore the market for a true number 2 center.



My Final Top 17 for the 2025 NHL Draft, after compiling all the information received, here is my final ranking:



1 New York Islanders: Matthew Schaefer

2 San Jose: Michael Misa

3 Chicago: Porter Martone

4 Utah: Caleb Desnoyers

5 Nashville: Brady Martin

6 Philadelphia: James Hagens

7 Boston: Jake O'Brien

8 Seattle: Radim Mrtka

9 Buffalo: Anton Frondell

10 Anaheim: Jackson Smith

11 Pittsburgh: Viktor Eklund

12 New York Rangers: Kashawn Aitcheson

13 Detroit: Roger McQueen

14 Columbus: Logan Hensler

15 Vancouver: Carter Bear

16 Montreal: Lynden Lakovic

17 Montreal: Justin Carbonneau



Enjoy draft day, everyone!

You can use the quote feature to more easily separate your words from who you're quoting. Your call, I appreciate the posts.

 

[Cheddarcheese]

i would love for the blue jackets to package up the 1st round picks and move up in the draft, i would throw in next years first to get a 1st pick. would that be enough for the 1st pick ?

13th
20th
2026 first ?

i would be okay to add any of our prosepct too

or

find a package to move up to grab hagens,

 

[Misfire Puck]

McKenzie's final draft rankings out.

With 'prodigious talent and boundless potential,' Matthew Schaefer tops McKenzie's NHL Draft Ranking | TSN

If, as expected, Matthew Schaefer is taken No. 1 overall by the Islanders, it will be unprecedented. That is, no No. 1 pick will have ever played so few games in his draft year as Schaefer.

www.tsn.ca

 

[majormajor]

i would love for the blue jackets to package up the 1st round picks and move up in the draft, i would throw in next years first to get a 1st pick. would that be enough for the 1st pick ?

13th
20th
2026 first ?

Doesn't get you 1st or 2nd, generically it gets you 3/4/5 but that's only if one of those clubs really wants to trade back.

find a package to move up to grab hagens,

It wouldn't be crazy for Hagens to slip to 8, and our two picks is in the right neighborhood to snag a 7/8/9 pick. But I personally wouldn't pick him.

 

[Cheddarcheese]

Doesn't get you 1st or 2nd, generically it gets you 3/4/5 but that's only if one of those clubs really wants to trade back.



It wouldn't be crazy for Hagens to slip to 8, and our two picks is in the right neighborhood to snag a 7/8/9 pick. But I personally wouldn't pick him.

who do you like ?

im all in on

Schaefer
hagens
mcqueen
spence
horcoff

mid rounds

paupanekis
stockselius

 

[majormajor]

who do you like ?

im all in on

Schaefer
hagens
mcqueen
spence
horcoff

mid rounds

paupanekis
stockselius

Among players that might make it to 14, I like the D Mrtka and Smith, and Victor Eklund. Lakovic is only 20th in Bob's poll, so there's a good chance he'd be there at 14 and I think there's high upside there.

I didn't see Horcoff or your mid round favorites. My sleeper that I really like is Prokhorov.

Spence I've seen and he seemed meek, a lot of points and good size, nominally, but it seems like he might not get strong enough for the NHL.

 

[JacketsFanWest]

Rumor has it that Eklund is falling into the 10-15 range.

Odd since Eklund did really well as an 18-year-old playing in the Allsvenskan playoffs for Djurgården and he stayed in the lineup (Djurgården won and was promoted to the SHL).

Eklund and Frondell were on the 3rd line for the semifinals, but Frondell was moved down to being the extra player for the finals while Eklund stayed on the 3rd line.

That doesn't seem have impacted Frondell in the NHL draft though.

DIF had a very veteran lineup, and they weren't going to risk not getting promoted back to the SHL, so that shows how defensively responsible Eklund is.

I was hoping DIF would have two players in the top 10, but if they can manage 3 in the 1st round, that's still impressive.

 

[cbjthrowaway]

i’ve been on team “trade the pick” but if eklund is available they should run to the (virtual) podium to take him imo

 

[GoJackets1]

If we do pick at 14, Mrtka is far and away my number one hope there.

 

[koteka]

Spence I've seen and he seemed meek, a lot of points and good size, nominally, but it seems like he might not get strong enough for the NHL.

I saw somewhere, likely Reddit, that Spence had a bad tongue injury that led to some problems for him this year. I can’t find a credible source who has said it. Anyway, I like Spence at 20, and especially if he has had some weird injury that may have impacted him mentally or physically this season.

 

[AnonCommentary]

I saw somewhere, likely Reddit, that Spence had a bad tongue injury that led to some problems for him this year. I can’t find a credible source who has said it. Anyway, I like Spence at 20, and especially if he has had some weird injury that may have impacted him mentally or physically this season.

It was from The Athletic podcast reported by Scott Wheeler

Not in Corey's confidential, but Scott, you had something on Malcolm Spence.

Yeah, there was just something coming out. There were a couple of things that caught my eye about Spence coming out of the combine. The first was that I just heard that he interviewed really well and that he was one of the standouts in terms of the interview process.

But the second was that he was down 11 pounds from his listing, his 201 pound listing heading into the combine. He was relisted now at 190 pounds. And I sent out a couple of texts to people sort of saying, is there something to this?

How is he down 11 pounds? And what I got back was actually something that I hadn't heard. I'd known that he was wearing a bubble earlier in this season, but I hadn't actually asked or connected the dots on why he was wearing a bubble.

And it sounds like he had a pretty serious infection on his tongue. He actually split his tongue wide open in a game in the OHL earlier this year. And then after getting the tongue basically stitched back together, there was a growth on the tongue and they had to lance it.

And there were multiple sort of procedures that followed. And it sounds like he had trouble breathing when he was playing. And this became a real issue for Malcolm Spence over the course of the year and one that, frankly, I wasn't even aware of until a couple of days ago.

And as part of that process, he was struggling to eat and he lost all that weight. And so that's where the 190 pound listing comes from. I would have fully expect that he's going to sort of get that back and play at 205, 210 pounds in the NHL kind of thing.

 

[majormajor]

I saw somewhere, likely Reddit, that Spence had a bad tongue injury that led to some problems for him this year. I can’t find a credible source who has said it. Anyway, I like Spence at 20, and especially if he has had some weird injury that may have impacted him mentally or physically this season.

That might explain it. He was getting pushed around by smaller guys.

 

[Cheddarcheese]

Among players that might make it to 14, I like the D Mrtka and Smith, and Victor Eklund. Lakovic is only 20th in Bob's poll, so there's a good chance he'd be there at 14 and I think there's high upside there.

I didn't see Horcoff or your mid round favorites. My sleeper that I really like is Prokhorov.

Spence I've seen and he seemed meek, a lot of points and good size, nominally, but it seems like he might not get strong enough for the NHL.

Do you think we keep both picks ? im so intrested in what they do friday!