HF Habs: 2025 NHL Draft: Part II

I’m not too concerned about Bear’s injury. Achilles injuries generally heal quite well, especially for young guys. If it was his back or knee(s), I’d be more concerned.

I wouldn’t call Mrtka overrated at all. He’s rated high because he’s a huge, mobile RHD that is good everywhere, and is starting to show high-end offensive upside on top of all that. That is always going to be appealing to teams. I think he’s a rare high floor, high ceiling type of prospect, and he’s a RHD to boot, with no skating concerns. You have to take the swing if you get the chance. I doubt we do, tbh. I think he goes top 10.

I like Reschny, like I said, but I would really hate to take anymore smallish forwards. We have more than enough of them to the point that it’s already a problem, as we are seeing this series against WSH. Also, I don’t think his upside is crazy high, most likely a 2nd liner, or a low-end 1st liner, if all goes well. He’s a player who is kind of lacking in the way of tools - he mostly gets by on smarts. Again, we have more than enough of those types, and you can’t have too many of those type of guys on the roster. There needs to be a balance, and you need the toolsy type of players to complement them.

I really like Hensler. Another big, mobile RHD with smarts and I think a lot of runway to develop more offense. He’s got the best of both worlds - tools, and smarts. I think he’s got the potential to be a Ryan McDonagh type of do-it-all top-pairing D, a solid #2D like McDonagh. Floor-wise, he’s a safe pick too, imo. Good chance he’s at least a solid top-4 D, even if his offense never really pans out. He had a solid year in NCAA.

I’m not too high on Spence - underwhelming numbers for an older player in this draft class. And he seems like a guy getting by more so on work ethic, intensity, and size, rather than so much skill and talent. That’s all well and good, and should serve him well in terms of his NHL chances, but to me that screams future bottom-sixer. One of those type of players that’s fine to end up with, but you don’t want to be looking for that in the first round, especially higher. Late first round would be fine though, but underwhelming.

I honestly wouldn’t mind Aitcheson either, but he just seems kind of underwhelming to me. I don’t see much in the way of high-end upside, although he’s probably a safer pick. I’m also kind of wary of guys who focus more on the defensive side of things in juniors - seems like it doesn’t translate very often. Upside is likely a #3 or #4 type of guy with limited offense at the NHL level, something like a Romanov. Would be fine to get that from a mid first rounder, but again, not sure I’d be specifically looking for that in the 16-20 range.

Lastly, Lakovic is very enticing, imo. A big winger with high-end skill, fantastic skating, and can play both a finesse game or a rough and physical style. Great puck protection skills and reach, great hands, great shot. Great in transition. Seems like he could have even more offensive potential than he’s shown if he keeps improving. I see a lot of parallels between him and Beckett Sennecke from last year, except Lakovic is a lot stronger, and is much more willing to mix it up and get physical, and isn’t a perimeter player like Sennecke. He’s also a lot more engaged defensively and off the puck. On the other hand though, he’s probably not quite as skilled as Sennecke in terms of puck skills and offensive creativity.

Pretty excited about this draft, especially since we’re going to have two picks in the middle of the 1st round. There’s going to be some great prospects available. It’s going to be very interesting to see which way Hughes and co ends up going with these picks, and exactly who will be available by the time we pick.
Lakovic looks soft to me. Has no bite to his game. He's not the type who drags his team into the fight. Decent hands but not good. Plus a winger. Nobody I want unless he slides to Pitt 2nd.

Mrtka I would take at 16. He's big right D. I see him as #4 D. Bear I got burned on Krebs. Too much a gamble unless he slides. Reschny is a center with better hands. I take him over Bear.
 
Lakovic looks soft to me. Has no bite to his game. He's not the type who drags his team into the fight. Decent hands but not good. Plus a winger. Nobody I want unless he slides to Pitt 2nd.

Mrtka I would take at 16. He's big right D. I see him as #4 D. Bear I got burned on Krebs. Too much a gamble unless he slides. Reschny is a center with better hands. I take him over Bear.
Really dont think Mrtka is gonna be there at 16!
 
Bear injury scares me too much. Unless he slides to our second first. Mrtka I think is overrated but will be solid player in NHL. I could take Mrtka at 16 though. He has size and is right D.

At 17 be Reschny for me. Hensler I am not that high on and Lakovic all I see is size. Spence could be good here also. Aitchison I like also, has hard shot and hits hard.

I would package our second with Jackets second and try get Wild pick at 21. Mrtka, Reschny, Spence would make a great draft.
I have no concern about Bear injury, unless the medical staff have concerns but that we won't know. What I like about Bear is the combination of talent, compete level and playing bigger than his size. These are very unique attributes to find all in one player and the type of players that could establish himself as a core player down the road. Something like a mix of Jason Robertson(shot, offensive IQ) / Brendan Gallagher(compete and playing style).
 
Really dont think Mrtka is gonna be there at 16!
I know, we were just speculating if he's there at 16. Which he won't be.

Aitcheson I like at 16. He has good hard shot. Going to score a lot of goals from Blueline. He rugged also.

Fiddler is a great skater, big right D. I might package a 3rd with Pitt 2nd to move up and draft him.
 
I have no concern about Bear injury, unless the medical staff have concerns but that we won't know. What I like about Bear is the combination of talent, compete level and playing bigger than his size. These are very unique attributes to find all in one player and the type of players that could establish himself as a core player down the road. Something like a mix of Jason Robertson(shot, offensive IQ) / Brendan Gallagher(compete and playing style).
Good chance he loses half a step though
 
With our deep prospect pool, i’ll shoot for boom or bust on tough prospects to get. Big players/powerforward. All in on Mcqueen or Bear if our targets are home. West could be a good target too
 
Looks like Sasha Boumedienne is putting the U-18 tournament spotlight to good use.

Doesn't he have good size and skating but struggled for awhile adjusting to the NCAA?

If he keeps it up at the U-18, could he be an option at 16/17?

I doubt he'll be there early second round but with how similar 15-35 feels it could still be possible.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Ad

Ad