2025 DRAFT Thread

[theguardianII]

Trade Pettersson to the Islanders for 1rst overall and select Misa. Make it work for both teams

 

[Casino Royale]

McQueen is the dream, but cannot imagine he gets to 15, maybe 12 or lower but 12th,13th,14th all likely to take him.


Unlikely the Canucks make this selection but they should based on the names that'll still be available, lots of impact players that'll be on an ELC if you're patient.

 

[SelltheTeamFrancesco]

With the release of Elite Prospect's draft guide, I've been able to continue work on my list of interesting players from this draft.

Link to the spreadsheet if anyone is interested.

Not a fan of Ben Kindell?

 

[VIPettersson]

McQueen is the dream, but cannot imagine he gets to 15, maybe 12 or lower but 12th,13th,14th all likely to take him.


Unlikely the Canucks make this selection but they should based on the names that'll still be available, lots of impact players that'll be on an ELC if you're patient.

if he drops to 12 would you trade to move up? what would you be willing to give up?

 

[Vector]

Not a fan of Ben Kindell?

I have predilection towards size.

 

[F A N]

Pronman had Carter Bear in his latest mock draft going 15th

Ethan's nephew.

I'm a bit concerned about his achilles injury. I was really high on Krebs in his draft year and he didn't pan out. Bear is also an older prospect.

 

[lawrence]

if he drops to 12 would you trade to move up? what would you be willing to give up?

it depends how high we regard him as. willing to add a 3rd, and a prospect not named Myinio, Willander or Lekkermaki.

 

[lawrence]

With the release of Elite Prospect's draft guide, I've been able to continue work on my list of interesting players from this draft.

Link to the spreadsheet if anyone is interested.

thank you for taking your time and putting this list together. I know something like this is not easy to do and takes time.

from what I read about Jackson smith, hes actually not an offensive dman, and more of a 2way guy as far as I know.

 

[lawrence]

I'm a bit concerned about his achilles injury. I was really high on Krebs in his draft year and he didn't pan out. Bear is also an older prospect.

Bear barely missed the 2007 cutoff (48 days) – hardly a red flag. Scouts rate his offensive skill higher than Martin, Reschney, Cootes, or Kindel. He generates 4.5+ high-danger chances nightly. Yes, Dupont's influence is a factor, but right now, Bear is an offensive machine. Plus, he's a physical checker who finishes hits. Drafting him at 15th would be awesome.

 

[Vector]

thank you for taking your time and putting this list together. I know something like this is not easy to do and takes time.

from what I read about Jackson smith, hes actually not an offensive dman, and more of a 2way guy as far as I know.

Elite Prospects doesn’t call him an offensive defenceman. The full quote is:

A dynamic offensive creator, explosive four-way mover, physical shutdown presence, and more all in the same skill set. All roads lead to the NHL, but which pathway will he take?

Reads like a two-way player to me.

 

[Agent007]

Ethan's nephew.

I'm a bit concerned about his achilles injury. I was really high on Krebs in his draft year and he didn't pan out. Bear is also an older prospect.

For what it’s worth his Achilles injury was not a full tear but a partial tear and apparently he’s back on the ice and expected to be ready for whatever development camp his team may have.

 

[wetcoast]

Bear barely missed the 2007 cutoff (48 days) – hardly a red flag. Scouts rate his offensive skill higher than Martin, Reschney, Cootes, or Kindel. He generates 4.5+ high-danger chances nightly. Yes, Dupont's influence is a factor, but right now, Bear is an offensive machine. Plus, he's a physical checker who finishes hits. Drafting him at 15th would be awesome.

Bear is a great prospect who most likely will do very well in the NHL, if he is there and even if other centers are there that I like the Canucks need to take a good hard look.

Frankly I doubt he drops to 15h though.

Good writeup on him here.

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Carter Bear

Upside Hockey's NHL Draft profile series: Aces Edition, Vol. 9

upsidehockey.substack.com

 

[lawrence]

Bear is a great prospect who most likely will do very well in the NHL, if he is there and even if other centers are there that I like the Canucks need to take a good hard look.

Frankly I doubt he drops to 15h though.

Good writeup on him here.

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Carter Bear

Upside Hockey's NHL Draft profile series: Aces Edition, Vol. 9

upsidehockey.substack.com

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Carter Bear

Upside Hockey's NHL Draft profile series: Aces Edition, Vol. 9

upsidehockey.substack.com

I’m using ai to break down this article.

Player Profile:

• Name: Carter Bear
• Position: Primarily Wing (wore an "A" for Everett)
• Size: 6'0", 176 lbs
• Birthdate: November 4, 2006
• Team: Everett Silvertips (WHL)
• 2023-24 Stats: 56 GP, 40 G, 42 A, 82 Pts, +33, 77 PIM
• Draft Rankings: #10 NA Skaters, #15 (McKenzie), #22 (Button)

Context:

• Everett was the WHL's best regular-season team but eliminated in Round 2 (7 games by Portland).
• A major reason for the playoff exit was Bear's season-ending injury (ruptured Achilles tendon) on March 7th.

Physical Attributes & Playing Style:

• Gritty & Physical: Hard-nosed, rugged, uses physicality to gain position, create space, and win puck battles.
• High Motor: One of the hardest-working players in the draft class. Motor "never quits".
• Competitive: Highly competitive, energetic, drives an unmatchable pace.
• Fearless: Plays through contact, willing to take hits, battles hard in all hazardous areas (corners, net front). Never gives up on plays (multiple effort guy).
• Tenacious: Forechecks with purpose, intensity, and desperation. Attacks puck carriers at full throttle. Constant irritant for defensemen retrieving pucks. Throws big hits.

Offensive Strengths:

• Goal-Scoring Instincts: Finds space in the slot, drives the net for rebounds, battles for positioning in front, cleans up "garbage".
• Finishing Ability: Scores like pros - soft hands in tight, excellent hand-eye for tips. Strong catch-and-release wrister, sharp snap shot (precision in tight), blistering one-timer.
• Playmaking: High-end vision, awareness, and creativity. Manufactures space for himself and teammates. Bait pressure with delays.
• Passing: Spots unique seams. Delivers pucks through traffic (sauces, slips between feet, soft touch). Transfers puck effectively across ice/through crease to high-danger areas.
• Hockey IQ: Fantastic knowledge of positioning to create offense, get shots off, and be an option.

Defensive Strengths:

• Elite Details: Puck pursuit and defensive details in all three zones are elite.
• Disruptive: Disrupts retrievals, intercepts breakouts, snuffs entries. Applies near-insurmountable pressure.
• Awareness & Positioning: Keen awareness, consistently well-positioned, anticipates well.
• Defensive Plays: Gets into lanes, intercepts passes, lifts sticks, pokes pucks, blocks shots (puts body on line).
• Battling: Launches into battles, throws weight to dislodge pucks, separates man from puck.

Skating & Puck Skills:

• Skating Mechanics: Stride mechanics and edgework are a work in progress/slightly deficient.
• Speed: Generates excellent straight-line speed due to work ethic and tenacity.
• Puck Skills: More than adequate. Good control at high speed, ability to weave through traffic, tight puck protection, can walk defenders.

Areas for Development & Concerns:

• Shot Power & Selection: Needs to upgrade power in release and work on shot selection for the NHL.
• Age: Late birthday (Nov 4, 2006) works slightly against him in draft context.
• Size for Style: Not ideal size for someone who plays such a rugged, physical style.

Projection:

• Possesses the grit and skill to be a top-line winger in the NHL someday.
• Expected to be a first-round pick in the upcoming NHL draft.

 

[beachcomber]

He’s not Swedish so pass.

 

[Vector]

@lawrence

AI summaries of other articles are not acceptable to post here as they do not fully link back to the source articles. As per Rule 6;

6) Streams/Copyrighted Material/Illegal Topics:
Do not post any of the following:
• Links to or requests for links to illegal streams
• Discussions of illegal streaming services or proxies
• Large portions of ANY article. The reader must have incentive to visit the source.
• Excerpts from any publication without providing editorial commentary
• Discussions of piracy techniques

 

[bossram]

I'm most intrigued with Lakovic for guys plausibly in the 15 range. And I don't think anyone would ever mistake me for the guy hollering to just take the big guy. Almost always I've been advocating drafting smaller players with better scoring profiles.

But, am I missing something here? Production is solid. He is huge. And not just for a guy his size, relative to anyone in the class, he has plus hands, shot, and skating. I've read different reports that like his passing and transition game. Very interesting package.

If he hits his ceiling, he could be the "unicorn" type of playoff player.

I know he had an issue and suspension for an undisclosed "off-ice" incident. Some kind of unsaid character concerns?

 

[Vector]

I'm most intrigued with Lakovic for guys plausibly in the 15 range. And I don't think anyone would ever mistake me for the guy hollering to just take the big guy. Almost always I've been advocating drafting smaller players with better scoring profiles.

But, am I missing something here? Production is solid. He is huge. And not just for a guy his size, relative to anyone in the class, he has plus hands, shot, and skating. I've read different reports that like his passing and transition game. Very interesting package.

If he hits his ceiling, he could be the "unicorn" type of playoff player.

I know he had an issue and suspension for an undisclosed "off-ice" incident. Some kind of unsaid character concerns?

Main downside, according to Elite Prospects, is that he doesn’t effectively use his size and is rather soft.

Physical skills are the biggest question with Lakovic. He has the size and skating to play a power forward game, but he’s moreof an open-ice skill player. He ends up on the outside of too many battles, struggles to control contact along the walls, and is largely ineffective on the forecheck. Becoming a mean player isn’t necessary, but he will have to learn to use his frame better to win and protect pucks to create cycle offence in the NHL.

 

[F A N]

Bear barely missed the 2007 cutoff (48 days) – hardly a red flag.

I'm not saying it is a red flag but it is something to consider. Like Tij Iginla is about 3 months older and had a much more impressive 23-24 season. And I note that if memory serves Iginla ranked ~#9/10. I think Bear is a good prospect but if we're relying on his offensive production we should consider the fact that he's an older prospect.

 

[lawrence]

I'm not saying it is a red flag but it is something to consider. Like Tij Iginla is about 3 months older and had a much more impressive 23-24 season. And I note that if memory serves Iginla ranked ~#9/10. I think Bear is a good prospect but if we're relying on his offensive production we should consider the fact that he's an older prospect.

That’s why he went six in a stronger draft and bear is a good pick up at 15.

 

[wetcoast]

Main downside, according to Elite Prospects, is that he doesn’t effectively use his size and is rather soft.

Physical skills are the biggest question with Lakovic. He has the size and skating to play a power forward game, but he’s moreof an open-ice skill player. He ends up on the outside of too many battles, struggles to control contact along the walls, and is largely ineffective on the forecheck. Becoming a mean player isn’t necessary, but he will have to learn to use his frame better to win and protect pucks to create cycle offence in the NHL.

This my concern as well but frankly I've been concentrating more on centers as its a huge need for our system and frankly Lakovic just doesn't inspire me with his size not being utilized.

I don't need him to play like a Tom Wilson but he needs to take advantage of all of his tolls and skills and he simply doesn't enough with his size for me.

 

[wetcoast]

I'm not saying it is a red flag but it is something to consider. Like Tij Iginla is about 3 months older and had a much more impressive 23-24 season. And I note that if memory serves Iginla ranked ~#9/10. I think Bear is a good prospect but if we're relying on his offensive production we should consider the fact that he's an older prospect.

He had pretty good production the year before in Everett where older players got bigger roles and the skillset is more important than anything else.

Bear has a very transferable pro skillset just not sure where his ceiling is as I think it's a second line winger with value like Garland maybe a bit higher overall if he hits it.

 

[ManVanFan]

I hope the Canucks make a pick at 15 this year.

 

[bossram]

Main downside, according to Elite Prospects, is that he doesn’t effectively use his size and is rather soft.

Physical skills are the biggest question with Lakovic. He has the size and skating to play a power forward game, but he’s moreof an open-ice skill player. He ends up on the outside of too many battles, struggles to control contact along the walls, and is largely ineffective on the forecheck. Becoming a mean player isn’t necessary, but he will have to learn to use his frame better to win and protect pucks to create cycle offence in the NHL.

I've got the EP Guide too. They rate his other skills very highly, so combined with the size I am surprised he is not a top-10 pick.

Seems like part of his issue with physical play is that he's kinda tall/gangly and hasn't filled in. 6'4 190 is very thin. That seems like something that can pretty easily be corrected, and he already has all the other tools.

 

[just22]

I hope the Canucks make a pick at 15 this year.

I hope so too, if anything just to make draft day more exciting and seeing if anyone falls to the Canucks.

 

[Jerry the great]

I've got the EP Guide too. They rate his other skills very highly, so combined with the size I am surprised he is not a top-10 pick.

Seems like part of his issue with physical play is that he's kinda tall/gangly and hasn't filled in. 6'4 190 is very thin. That seems like something that can pretty easily be corrected, and he already has all the other tools.

Especially after the year the Protas' just had.