HF Habs: 2025 NHL Draft: Part II

[Team_Spirit]

Anyone watched Mrtka?

I bet the Habs are looking at Ds.

 

[montreal]

Solid Hit 1:52
Shot 3:31
Nice Rush/Draws Call/Mixes It Up 3:59
Net Front Presence 4:25
Point Shot 5:08
Tynan Lawrence ('26 Draft) Goal 5:26
Another Point Shot 5:59
Roughing Penalty 6:52
Wrap Around Chance 9:32
Plays Goalie 11:08

 

[Bigtrout]

Who are some players to look out for in the 10-20 range? It's starting to look like this is where both our picks will end up

 

[montreal]

Who are some players to look out for in the 10-20 range? It's starting to look like this is where both our picks will end up

When people post this then you get the thread derailed with they will end up picking so and so. There's a lottery, tons of shit teams and lots of hockey left and trades so it's all a moot point at this time.

I do like Ivan Ryabkin, he's lazy though but he's got some real nasty to his game.

 

[Nevins]

Who are some players to look out for in the 10-20 range? It's starting to look like this is where both our picks will end up

Right défense: Radim Mrtka ,Blake Fidldler
Centre: Jake Obrien,Brady Martin
Forwards: Carbonneau, Bear, Zonnon, Lankovic

 

[Habs7631]

Right défense: Radim Mrtka ,Blake Fidldler
Centre: Jake Obrien,Brady Martin
Forwards: Carbonneau, Bear, Zonnon, Lankovic

What about Hensler being available in the teens? You think he goes top 10?

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Anyone watched Mrtka?

I bet the Habs are looking at Ds.

I believe they will target gritty middle six forwards and possibly a RHD like Mtrka if he is there.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

When people post this then you get the thread derailed with they will end up picking so and so. There's a lottery, tons of shit teams and lots of hockey left and trades so it's all a moot point at this time.

I do like Ivan Ryabkin, he's lazy though but he's got some real nasty to his game.

Entirely agree on the first part.

I don't see them liking Ryabkin at all as he appears to be lazy and has some serious discipline issues.Seems to be the type of player that they consistently turn away from. There is a lot to like though as he does have the skill and some bite and if he falls into the mid teens he will be awfully hard to ignore. This is the upside with culture building as you can mold a young problem player into a a good young man in a locker room where there is no where to hide your bad attitude. These are all kids and nobody should close the book entirely on an 18 year old hockey player who has some bad habits if you truly believe that there is a path to curing him of his poor decisions/attitude. If the latter is how HuGo feel about him then perhaps he is a Hab at the end of the day.

 

[JadedRandom]

When people post this then you get the thread derailed with they will end up picking so and so. There's a lottery, tons of shit teams and lots of hockey left and trades so it's all a moot point at this time.

I do like Ivan Ryabkin, he's lazy though but he's got some real nasty to his game.

Completely agree on this.

I also like Ryabkin. He's very physical and I like his toolset from the games I've watched. But the work ethic that he shows on a nightly basis is wildly fluctuating, and that to me is a bit of a red flag despite the very real fact that Ryabkin still has boatloads of time to clean-up his act and start behaving like a pro.

Aside from that, a guy that has really caught my eye recently is russian defenseman Maxim Agafonov.

I watched him play a game or two against SKA in the VHL in December and I liked his style of play a lot. I found that Agafonov used his size/reach well in those games, that he was good in transition and overall solid defensively despite not being the best skater nor flashing "+" skill. Agafonov's "quietly in control" type of no-nonsense defensive play was just pleasing to my eye for some reason.

Which led me to watch some more recent VHL games of Agafonov's in January, and he was impressive in those too despite not registering points. I'd like Agafonov to take more risks at times, and show some more creativity/proactivity with the puck on his stick, but his core skills as a defenseman, his "base" is very solid in my opinion and could lead to some form of NHL success with proper development.

Simply put, Agafonov has a lot of pro attributes to his game and I think he could/should be consideration for us in the middle-rounds if we want to add some more RD depth without "breaking the bank" in terms of draft pick investment.

 

[Nevins]

What about Hensler being available in the teens? You think he goes top 10?

He could or between 10-14

 

[SOLR]

Entirely agree on the first part.

I don't see them liking Ryabkin at all as he appears to be lazy and has some serious discipline issues.Seems to be the type of player that they consistently turn away from. There is a lot to like though as he does have the skill and some bite and if he falls into the mid teens he will be awfully hard to ignore. This is the upside with culture building as you can mold a young problem player into a a good young man in a locker room where there is no where to hide your bad attitude. These are all kids and nobody should close the book entirely on an 18 year old hockey player who has some bad habits if you truly believe that there is a path to curing him of his poor decisions/attitude. If the latter is how HuGo feel about him then perhaps he is a Hab at the end of the day.

I don't think you can cure lazy in any culture setting.
But is he lazy or he's undisciplined? A lot of evaluation confusion there.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

What about Hensler being available in the teens? You think he goes top 10?

I'm not a huge Hensler fan. He seems like a tweener. He has some offensive skill, but not enough to be an offensive defenseman at any level. He's OK defensively but nothing that screams shutdown D. He isn't particularly physical, but isn't totally soft either.

He's big, skates really well and has some puck handling ability but nothing special.

I'd prefer to go with a high energy forward like Brady Martin or Cootes over Hensler. Or, a big guy like Lakovic. Or try to trade into top 8. Or trade one of our picks for immediate help & pick an energy forward.

We might be able to get a guy like Charlie Trethewey early 2nd round depending on where Pens/Habs pick fall. Or just grab Carlos Handel (Halifax/Q) or Carson Cameron (Petes/OHL) later in the draft.

There's other options out there, so Hensler isn't someone we must grab.

 

[montreal]

I will have vids on Hensler since he faces Hage this weekend

 

[SOLR]

I will have vids on Hensler since he faces Hage this weekend

I suspect we'll see some grimaces on Hensler's face then.

 

[montreal]

Anyone watched Mrtka?

I bet the Habs are looking at Ds.

assuming he plays against Thorpe tonight I should have a vid after the game.

 

[waitin425]

The East is tight enough that we could make the playoffs or finish just ahead of Buffalo. ~7th or 8th is not out of the question.

Huge range of players to scout when you think we could be anywhere between 8th and 32nd(please god).

 

[Lockin17]

Charlie Tretheway is droping big time these days ..
PITT 2nd ?

IF Mrtka and Bear are available with our first pick which one you pick ?

I Take Bear 100%

IF Mrtka and Bear are available with our first pick which one you pick ?

I Take Bear 100%

 

[Habs7631]

I'm not a huge Hensler fan. He seems like a tweener. He has some offensive skill, but not enough to be an offensive defenseman at any level. He's OK defensively but nothing that screams shutdown D. He isn't particularly physical, but isn't totally soft either.

He's big, skates really well and has some puck handling ability but nothing special.

I'd prefer to go with a high energy forward like Brady Martin or Cootes over Hensler. Or, a big guy like Lakovic. Or try to trade into top 8. Or trade one of our picks for immediate help & pick an energy forward.

We might be able to get a guy like Charlie Trethewey early 2nd round depending on where Pens/Habs pick fall. Or just grab Carlos Handel (Halifax/Q) or Carson Cameron (Petes/OHL) later in the draft.

There's other options out there, so Hensler isn't someone we must grab.

Hmmm ok

He still seems to be the consensus #1RD in this draft. Do you think at this point that’s because of his pre-season rankings? Like he hasn’t done anything to hurt his stock too much?

From I’ve been reading about this draft class and the way it’s going, Mrtka might rise all the way to getting drafted before Hensler by the time the season is done.

 

[NeptunesTrident]

I'm not a huge Hensler fan. He seems like a tweener. He has some offensive skill, but not enough to be an offensive defenseman at any level. He's OK defensively but nothing that screams shutdown D. He isn't particularly physical, but isn't totally soft either.

He's big, skates really well and has some puck handling ability but nothing special.

I'd prefer to go with a high energy forward like Brady Martin or Cootes over Hensler. Or, a big guy like Lakovic. Or try to trade into top 8. Or trade one of our picks for immediate help & pick an energy forward.

We might be able to get a guy like Charlie Trethewey early 2nd round depending on where Pens/Habs pick fall. Or just grab Carlos Handel (Halifax/Q) or Carson Cameron (Petes/OHL) later in the draft.

There's other options out there, so Hensler isn't someone we must grab.

With the description you use to describe Hensler, it makes me think of Jeff Petry. Is that a fair comparison?

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Hmmm ok

He still seems to be the consensus #1RD in this draft. Do you think at this point that’s because of his pre-season rankings? Like he hasn’t done anything to hurt his stock too much?

From I’ve been reading about this draft class and the way it’s going, Mrtka might rise all the way to getting drafted before Hensler by the time the season is done.

It's not that deep of a draft. Basically, there's a top 7: Hagens, Schaefer, Misa, Martone, Desnoyers, Frondell & Eklund (not in order).

Then 2 talented problem children: McQueen (injury) & Ryabkin (can be lazy).

It drops off after that. I don't see Hensler being of interest to us. I think Montreal tries to move up or trades 1 or both picks. Or, trade the top 20 pick for a top 10 protected pick in 2026.

 

[Goldenhands]

Charlie Tretheway is droping big time these days ..
PITT 2nd ?

IF Mrtka and Bear are available with our first pick which one you pick ?

I Take Bear 100%

IF Mrtka and Bear are available with our first pick which one you pick ?

I Take Bear 100%

Mrtka has games where he looks like a future top 3-4 and has games where he struggles with his handlings and shows some defensive holes. He still looks good and promising overall, but will need to show more consistency, there is alot of projection to do in this case at that point IMO, he isnt a surefire top 4, but has the raw tools to be one. He is a 6'6 kid still growing into his body, coordination still a work on progress.

With Bear you know what you get, a quality middle 6, extremmely strong and relentless on pucks with some translatable tools. Thats his floor, maybe some teams view him as a top 6, personally Im still unsure about his celling.

It's not that deep of a draft. Basically, there's a top 7: Hagens, Schaefer, Misa, Martone, Desnoyers, Frondell & Eklund (not in order).

Then 2 talented problem children: McQueen (injury) & Ryabkin (can be lazy).

It drops off after that. I don't see Hensler being of interest to us. I think Montreal tries to move up or trades 1 or both picks. Or, trade the top 20 pick for a top 10 protected pick in 2026.

Thats the way I see it as well, a strong top 7, then a drop. I like Lakovic, Bear, Mrtka, but thats another tier of prospects.

 

[HuGort]

I'm not a huge Hensler fan. He seems like a tweener. He has some offensive skill, but not enough to be an offensive defenseman at any level. He's OK defensively but nothing that screams shutdown D. He isn't particularly physical, but isn't totally soft either.

He's big, skates really well and has some puck handling ability but nothing special.

I'd prefer to go with a high energy forward like Brady Martin or Cootes over Hensler. Or, a big guy like Lakovic. Or try to trade into top 8. Or trade one of our picks for immediate help & pick an energy forward.

We might be able to get a guy like Charlie Trethewey early 2nd round depending on where Pens/Habs pick fall. Or just grab Carlos Handel (Halifax/Q) or Carson Cameron (Petes/OHL) later in the draft.

There's other options out there, so Hensler isn't someone we must grab.

Basically agree. Only way I would select Hensler if he fell to second round

 

[Habs7631]

Elite Prospects January top 32 rankings.

 

[Cubebrick]

I'm not a huge Hensler fan. He seems like a tweener. He has some offensive skill, but not enough to be an offensive defenseman at any level. He's OK defensively but nothing that screams shutdown D. He isn't particularly physical, but isn't totally soft either.

He's big, skates really well and has some puck handling ability but nothing special.

I'd prefer to go with a high energy forward like Brady Martin or Cootes over Hensler. Or, a big guy like Lakovic. Or try to trade into top 8. Or trade one of our picks for immediate help & pick an energy forward.

We might be able to get a guy like Charlie Trethewey early 2nd round depending on where Pens/Habs pick fall. Or just grab Carlos Handel (Halifax/Q) or Carson Cameron (Petes/OHL) later in the draft.

There's other options out there, so Hensler isn't someone we must grab.

From my viewings, what I dislike about Hensler is that I think he's got it all plus the brain and can be as complete a dman as one wishes, but the constant refusal to engages and commit to any given situation makes him so frustrating to watch.

He can skate yet floats as D2 behind the play most of the time. When there's a d-zone breakout to be made, he holds on to the puck or dishes it to the other dman instead. He can shoot it yet will make the safest pass in the o-zone. He can hit but when an occasion to do so is served on a silver platter, he backs off and controls the gap instead. Blocking passing and shooting lanes isn't constant.

I'm not sure if he just lacks drive or if he's scared shitless of making mistakes, but he's so passive out there when he's got the tools to be much better than what he displays.

He'll become a safe NHL dman but unless he starts playing with more gusto, he won't become more than just that placeholder safe dman.

 

[Nevins]

Lynden Lakovic, a 6'4'' left winger skates very well, good hockey IQ and excellent shot. With Bear, Jack Obrien, Carbonneau, he would be one of my choice at rank 16. Unfortunately, he is currently injured long term.


https://www.toutsurlehockey.com/tslh-espoirs/lynden-lakovic-long-absence-expected-2025-draft/