2025 DRAFT Thread

[MS]

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.

Incredibly boom/bust player.

Maybe there's a 1% he turns into Tage Thompson? Maybe there's a decent chance he turns into Anthony Mantha?

But there's also a pretty good chance he turns into 'biggest bust of the 1st round' if he's taken high enough. Some nice tools in terms of size/skating/shot but a very unfinished product, soft and weak defensively, and an older player for this draft who has had 3 full WHL seasons already.

He's one of those 'hope he goes before we pick' guys to me because he's a guy that scares you to take him and scares you to pass on him - his toolset normally isn't available this deep into the draft.

 

[docbenton]

Incredibly boom/bust player.

Maybe there's a 1% he turns into Tage Thompson? Maybe there's a decent chance he turns into Anthony Mantha?

But there's also a pretty good chance he turns into 'biggest bust of the 1st round' if he's taken high enough. Some nice tools in terms of size/skating/shot but a very unfinished product, soft and weak defensively, and an older player for this draft who has had 3 full WHL seasons already.

He's one of those 'hope he goes before we pick' guys to me because he's a guy that scares you to take him and scares you to pass on him - his toolset normally isn't available this deep into the draft.

He has nice skills on highlight reels but in shift videos you can see he's not as involved as other bigger and high skill players like McQueen or Carbonneau. I tend to like players who are always in the play.

 

[bossram]

Incredibly boom/bust player.

Maybe there's a 1% he turns into Tage Thompson? Maybe there's a decent chance he turns into Anthony Mantha?

But there's also a pretty good chance he turns into 'biggest bust of the 1st round' if he's taken high enough. Some nice tools in terms of size/skating/shot but a very unfinished product, soft and weak defensively, and an older player for this draft who has had 3 full WHL seasons already.

He's one of those 'hope he goes before we pick' guys to me because he's a guy that scares you to take him and scares you to pass on him - his toolset normally isn't available this deep into the draft.

But is his lack of physical + defensive play because he's lazy? Or does he not know how to leverage his (long and gangly at this point) body physically yet? If it's the latter, it's a huge opportunity.

 

[MS]

But is his lack of physical + defensive play because he's lazy? Or does he not know how to leverage his (long and gangly at this point) body physically yet? If it's the latter, it's a huge opportunity.

I haven't watched him a ton but what I've seen he looked like quite a soft/passive player. But maybe he could grow into being a more assertive player?

It's a really tough projection.

A guy like Carter Bear is really straight ahead - he's going to be a prototype two-way NHL winger and have a Nino Niederreiter-type career where he scores 20-30 goals and 45-60 points every year for 15 years. McQueen and Lakovic are just ???? between the general rawness and McQueen's injury concerns.

 

[Agent007]

I haven't watched him a ton but what I've seen he looked like quite a soft/passive player. But maybe he could grow into being a more assertive player?

It's a really tough projection.

A guy like Carter Bear is really straight ahead - he's going to be a prototype two-way NHL winger and have a Nino Niederreiter-type career where he scores 20-30 goals and 45-60 points every year for 15 years. McQueen and Lakovic are just ???? between the general rawness and McQueen's injury concerns.

Thoughts on Cootes potential?

 

[StreetHawk]

I haven't watched him a ton but what I've seen he looked like quite a soft/passive player. But maybe he could grow into being a more assertive player?

It's a really tough projection.

A guy like Carter Bear is really straight ahead - he's going to be a prototype two-way NHL winger and have a Nino Niederreiter-type career where he scores 20-30 goals and 45-60 points every year for 15 years. McQueen and Lakovic are just ???? between the general rawness and McQueen's injury concerns.

Back injury, fracture is a concern. Has size which is a bonus. It’s not a great draft so I can see teams in around 10 still taking a swing with him. Was a ppg guy in the W in 23/24 just missing the draft by like 3 weeks.

 

[wetcoast]

Thoughts on Cootes potential?

Kid is player and will be a good NHL one, the question will be his ceiling or if he turns out to be an elite 3rd line center who can sub into the top 6 on occasion.

My guess is that at 15 there will be better options still there, even at center like Cole Reschny maybe.

Development also isn't linear so projecting some of these guys is really hit and miss and even the experts don't have a high success rate in predicting these things..

 

[F A N]

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

Right. So there is a difference in talent rather than them being similar.

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.

The problem for me is that he's not a great skater, doesn't have an elite shot, and his size is average. (I wonder if he will be attending the draft combine given his achilles injury. If he does attend the combine I would be interested in his measurements.

I've rated these type of players highly in the past and they don't tend to develop into star players (or even desirable top 6 players) so I might just be a bit jaded here. Garland, for example, has always been small so he's learned to "use his size" to his advantage. It really comes down to who is available of course.

 

[bossram]

Listening to Canucks Talk, they noted that both Allvin and JR are not attending the draft combine.

I was getting into looking at possible options at 15, but yeah...that pick is 100% being traded. Won't be anything to look for on draft day 1.

 

[Vector]

Listening to Canucks Talk, they noted that both Allvin and JR are not attending the draft combine.

I was getting into looking at possible options at 15, but yeah...that pick is 100% being traded. Won't be anything to look for on draft day 1.

This is why I do that draft tracker. Just gives me a better idea of who's interesting in the 2nd round and onwards.

 

[VIPettersson]

Listening to Canucks Talk, they noted that both Allvin and JR are not attending the draft combine.

I was getting into looking at possible options at 15, but yeah...that pick is 100% being traded. Won't be anything to look for on draft day 1.

Maybe reading the tea leaves a bit but I wonder if Lekkerimaki's healthy scratch and them not going to the draft combine coincide?

 

[bossram]

Maybe reading the tea leaves a bit but I wonder if Lekkerimaki's healthy scratch and them not going to the draft combine coincide?

I don't think Lekk is really a factor.

He hasn't been great in the playoffs and he was banged up earlier IIRC. Scratched for performance.

 

[StreetHawk]

Listening to Canucks Talk, they noted that both Allvin and JR are not attending the draft combine.

I was getting into looking at possible options at 15, but yeah...that pick is 100% being traded. Won't be anything to look for on draft day 1.

Have they attended any of the prior draft ones between 2022-2024? Just curious. Some GMs care, others not so much. But, GMs like to get together to discuss players in person, which is a reason to attend, even if they themselves don't put a lot of stock in the combine.

 

[SelltheTeamFrancesco]

The more I look at this draft and the players that will likely be around at 15 don’t inspire a ton of confidence. I think BPA for me at 15 will likely be a defenseman. If something like Rossi+52 for 15th+ is being offered you do it in a heart beat. The gap between 15 and 52 isn’t that wide especially if you have competent amateur scouting.

 

[Jay26]

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

Me too. I get that we need to win now but the long term ability to contend matters as well. You don't want to just build a team for today, you want to build a core that contend for years. That involves using your draft picks and drafting talented players.

In fact, I hope for a change we trade up. This team could use a Roger McQueen in the worst way.

EDIT: Just saw the post above about management not attending the combine, Yeah, chalk up ANOTHER year without a 1st round pick. All just to tread water lol. Whatever.

 

[bossram]

Have they attended any of the prior draft ones between 2022-2024? Just curious. Some GMs care, others not so much. But, GMs like to get together to discuss players in person, which is a reason to attend, even if they themselves don't put a lot of stock in the combine.

Yes.

 

[lawrence]

Me too. I get that we need to win now but the long term ability to contend matters as well. You don't want to just build a team for today, you want to build a core that contend for years. That involves using your draft picks and drafting talented players.

In fact, I hope for a change we trade up. This team could use a Roger McQueen in the worst way.

EDIT: Just saw the post above about management not attending the combine, Yeah, chalk up ANOTHER year without a 1st round pick. All just to tread water lol. Whatever.

I’m not even gonna bother reading up on anymore prospects. What’s the point?

lol guys, I think our 2nd round pick is also gone.

 

[Deeds26]

 

[Attack Vector]

Interesting, I think Radim Mrtka will slip on draft day because he’s planning two more years of high school hockey and then going to College. He might be 4 years way until he goes pro and that will turn off a lot of teams with a top 10 pick.

 

[Vector]

 

[Vector]

Blackhawks deciding not to take any players out for dinner is strange. Davidson’s reasoning is that it doesn’t effective the draft board and they learn nothing. The entire point of it is to gauge interest from the player in a more relaxed, casual setting and maybe get the player excited to join your organization. It just makes them look cheap and cold.

 

[rypper]

I think that would be the best part of being an NHL prospect, getting so many free meals.

 

[Jerry the great]

Blackhawks deciding not to take any players out for dinner is strange. Davidson’s reasoning is that it doesn’t effective the draft board and they learn nothing. The entire point of it is to gauge interest from the player in a more relaxed, casual setting and maybe get the player excited to join your organization. It just makes them look cheap and cold.

Davidson going full Costanza. He’s going to do the opposite of what they’d been doing previously

 

[Vector]

 

[Russian_fanatic]

Apparently were the onky team he dined with. I can see mutual interest.

I can see him developing into a Bo Horvat. He's a good ol canadian kid.