HF Habs: 2025 NHL Draft: Part II

[Garbageyuk]

I have a hard time getting a read on Hensler... but in general guys that go to college tend to get devalued. I think he would be a fine pick. It's a tough league to play in as a young guy.

The interesting thing is that both those guys could be gone... I think it will get pretty wide open pretty quickly.

The tools with Hensler are just crazy. He’s a big smooth skating two-way RHD with elite 4-way mobility, gap control, and rush defense - the latter two being the best in this draft class, imo. His defensive game is just polished, and he has moderate to above average offensive upside as well. He’s a safe pick, but has a high ceiling as well. Very likely to be at least a solid top-4 defender, with a great chance to be a top pairing guy, or even a #1D if his offense continues to develop.

I think the reason why people around here aren’t sold is because they just glance at his stat line and are underwhelmed. Guys like Hutson, Buium, and Levshunov are the exception, not the rule, and he’s much better defensively than all three of these guys at the same age.

It’s hard to score in college, especially as a two-way D that prioritizes the defensive side of things. He also played on a pretty shit team, so he wasn’t going to pick up too many assists either way.

Lastly, he’s better offensively than a guy like Ryan McDonagh was at the same age; in fact, he’s better offensively than McDonagh was as a D+1.

I’d be ecstatic if the Habs could snag him at 16/17.

 

[DemidovSZN]

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

The tools with Hensler are just crazy. He’s a big smooth skating two-way RHD with elite 4-way mobility, gap control, and rush defense - the latter two being the best in this draft class, imo. His defensive game is just polished, and he has moderate to above average offensive upside as well. He’s a safe pick, but has a high ceiling as well. Very likely to be at least a solid top-4 defender, with a great chance to be a top pairing guy, or even a #1D if his offense continues to develop.

I think the reason why people around here aren’t sold is because they just glance at his stat line and are underwhelmed. Guys like Hutson, Buium, and Levshunov are the exception, not the rule, and he’s much better defensively than all three of these guys at the same age.

It’s hard to score in college, especially as a two-way D that prioritizes the defensive side of things. He also played on a pretty shit team, so he wasn’t going to pick up too many assists either way.

Lastly, he’s better offensively than a guy like Ryan McDonagh was at the same age; in fact, he’s better offensively than McDonagh was as a D+1.

I’d be ecstatic if the Habs could snag him at 16/17.

Sounds like Reinbacher, trade up to 5 for him

 

[Kaiden Ghoul]

I like Cootes better than Nesbitt, but I don't think the Habs would take Cootes. We already have Beck and Kapanen that are 200 foot right shot depth centers. They need to bring in some different elements. Preferably a lefty too since Hage is also a right shot.

Cootes has more potential to create play than Kapanen and Beck no ?

 

[Kaiden Ghoul]

C's always go a bit higher than ranked.

maybe Cootes and Ryabkin?

Ryabkin if they want to swing for the fence but I guess that's depend how the interview and combine goes... He have already many red flags from what I've read

 

[Kaiden Ghoul]

How much have you watched these guys? They both project as bottom-six to middle-six guys at the NHL level, if everything goes well. They both have rather pedestrian numbers and the tools aren’t all that great apart from Nesbitt’s size.

Cootes is lacking in the size, skating, hands, shot, playmaking, and overall offensive skill departments. His best areas are off-puck play (board battles, forechecking, positioning), physicality, versatility (can play all three forward positions), and defensive play. He projects as a high energy bottom-six utility forward at the NHL level. Best case is probably a guy like Adam Henrique in his prime. Most likely is a guy like Scott Laughton.

Nesbitt is an average skater, has an average shot, and average hands, playmaking, and overall offensive skill. He’s lacking in terms of speed, and high-end skill. Best areas are physicality and off-puck play, but not to the same extent as Cootes. And size - that’s honestly his most alluring attribute, but his lack of anything else high end really limits his upside, imo. And in contrast to Cootes above, he doesn’t seem to play with all that much pace or energy. He’s not crazy dominant physically even at the junior level either.

Could either of them develop unexpectedly and become a top-six player? Sure, but you can say that about any prospect, and I don’t think it’s very likely with either of these two.

I’d hate both as our pick at 16/17, tbh. To me, these are guys you’d take late 1st round or even early 2nd.

Barely watch, more reading might start to watch soon, that's why I was asking cause from what I've read, they look kinda promising as top 6/9 guys that's bring more than points come playoff time

 

[skidcells]

Everyone in this thread ends up falling in love with some prospect that everyone has listed in the later rounds and hopes the Habs draft him. Henry Brzustewick is that guy for me this year. I really hope we get him with the early second/trade up into late first to secure him.

 

[Hickflyer]

I like this draft and think Montreal should keep both picks. I also think they should move down with one of the firsts to move up with one of the second picks.

 

[Non Player Canadiens]

never heard of him

 

[montreal]

I don't see any skating issues with Cootes,

 

[WinterLion]

Year end prospect rankings:

1. Ivan Demidov
2. David Reinbacher
3. Jacob Fowler
4. Michael Hage
5. Oliver Kapanen
6. Adam Engstrom
7. Owen Beck
8. Logan Mailloux
9. Florian Xhekaj
10. Yevgeni Volokhin
11. Jakub Dobes
12. Joshua Roy
13. Sean Farrell
14. Bogan Konyushkov
15. Jared Davidson
16. Vinzenz Rohrer
17. Tyler Thorpe
18. Filip Mesar
19. Luke Tuch
20. Filip Eriksson
21. Sam Harris
22. Logan Sawyer
23. William Trudeau
24. Owen Protz
25. Rasmus Bergqvist
26. Aatos Koivu
27. Riley Kidney
28. Quentin Miller
29. Ben Merrill
30. Makar Khanin
31. Mikus Vecvanags
32. Luke Mittelstadt
33. Emmett Croteau
34. Alexander Gordin
35. Dmitri Kostenko
36. Daniil Sobolev
37. Jack Smith

Not ranked: Lucas Condotta (27 years old); Rafael Harvey-Pinard (waiver eligible), Emil Heineman (graduated); Lane Hutson (graduated); Cayden Primeau (waiver eligible);

I disagree with the bolded part, Volokhin just had a very impressive season as a 19 yrs old kid in the 2nd best league in the world, facing a ton of shots and high end scoring chances on a pretty weak team. Some games he was the only reason why Sochi still was alive... He is pretty consistent in the net, rarely giving up weak goals. Im no goaltenders expert, but technically he looks great, compact and his compete level top notch.

I do believe that we have 3 bluechip goaltending prospects, now who ends up as the best one? Impossible to say at that point, but I would say all 3 have incredible potential and could end up as impactful NHL starters.

One of the 3 will be traded down the road, but thats just incredible value picks in the mid rounds. We have guys who know what they are doing...

I'm curious about our organizational needs. Everyone seems to assume it's C & RD... I'm not so sure.

I think more than anything we need some more big game players... and probably another special talent. More size and grit would be great too.

I could see us swinging for the fences a bit.

Ryabkin would be a great fit if they like him. Spence too. Aitcheson? Wang? Carbonneau is dripping with skill... but I'm not sure his head is on straight...

I think it's time for the Habs to really put their development pipeline to the test. Get to work guru Bobrov.

 

[Doublechin]

I'm curious about our organizational needs. Everyone seems to assume it's C & RD... I'm not so sure.

I think more than anything we need some more big game players... and probably another special talent. More size and grit would be great too.

I could see us swinging for the fences a bit.

Ryabkin would be a great fit if they like him. Spence too. Aitcheson? Wang? Carbonneau is dripping with skill... but I'm not sure his head is on straight...

I think it's time for the Habs to really put their development pipeline to the test. Get to work guru Bobrov.

By far our top organizational need is another top 6 center, Hage to me will 75% end up on the wing.

Beck is the closest thing we have to an absolute center but he doesn't strike me as ever being able to give you more than 40ish points a season which is ok but not what I'd want at the 2C

Even if we trade for a 2C, it still is our top need, beyond that, I actually think it's another big winger with top 6 potential to fill in the 2nd line with the 2C and Demidov. Beyond Hage, no forward that we have currently has a high chance of becoming a top 6 potential

I get the high demand for RD but I like the depth with Mailloux and Reinbacher, I'd feel in a short term gap meanwhile to take over for Savard and get them to fight for the 3rd RD spot if either is ready next year

The year after the other should be NHL ready

 

[montreal]

organizational need is pointless for the draft, no one knows what moves Hughes has planned over the next 2 off-seasons as they are about to have a ton of cap space to go with all the picks/prospects, so there's no telling who will be here in 2-3 years so drafting anyone based off need is not a good approach at all imo cause we could see lots of changes coming.

 

[calder candidate]

The tools with Hensler are just crazy. He’s a big smooth skating two-way RHD with elite 4-way mobility, gap control, and rush defense - the latter two being the best in this draft class, imo. His defensive game is just polished, and he has moderate to above average offensive upside as well. He’s a safe pick, but has a high ceiling as well. Very likely to be at least a solid top-4 defender, with a great chance to be a top pairing guy, or even a #1D if his offense continues to develop.

I think the reason why people around here aren’t sold is because they just glance at his stat line and are underwhelmed. Guys like Hutson, Buium, and Levshunov are the exception, not the rule, and he’s much better defensively than all three of these guys at the same age.

It’s hard to score in college, especially as a two-way D that prioritizes the defensive side of things. He also played on a pretty shit team, so he wasn’t going to pick up too many assists either way.

Lastly, he’s better offensively than a guy like Ryan McDonagh was at the same age; in fact, he’s better offensively than McDonagh was as a D+1.

I’d be ecstatic if the Habs could snag him at 16/17.

I’m always looking to draft BPA and the most upside because stay at home D and bottom 6 even if they are very important they can to found later in the draft, via trade or waivers…
Hensler is the kind of player where I’m torn because he is a safe player on the ice so he might seem vanilla because there isn’t a lot of highlight but the mobility and the defensive play is very good and might be closer to elite. because we have two pick I would have no issue taking Hansler even if he might have a lower celling offensively he might be the next Slavin which is very valuable and underrated.

 

[TheBuriedHab]

Cootes has more potential to create play than Kapanen and Beck no ?

Yes. Cootes has more upside than both. I just have a hard time seeing him be that much better than both in their primes. But if they took Cootes at 16/17 I wouldn't cry, my main gripe was with Spence at that range.

Ultimately I think Cootes is gone before our pick anyway. Those centers always tend to rise up the boards as the draft approaches. NY. Vancouver, Pitt I think would all have a hard time passing on him if all the other Cs are gone.

 

[rien]

Sounds like Reinbacher, trade up to 5 for him

With your logic, Cameron Schmidt is the same as Michkov.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Bryce Pickford - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Bryce Pickford, 2006-04-02 Edmonton, AB, CAN Canada. Most recently in the WHL with Medicine Hat Tigers. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

This dude put up most numbers, mainly goals for a d man and specifically in the post season.

Second year eligible, so at soonest a 3rd, but could be later.

I'd take a chance on him and if he improves, might be a decent trade chip in the future or worst case he's another depth piece on RD

 

[Naslund]

organizational need is pointless for the draft, no one knows what moves Hughes has planned over the next 2 off-seasons as they are about to have a ton of cap space to go with all the picks/prospects, so there's no telling who will be here in 2-3 years so drafting anyone based off need is not a good approach at all imo cause we could see lots of changes coming.

Organizational need is indeed mostly pointless now. These picks will most likely be made, but the chance that these players play for our team is minimal. They will be used as assets in trades to bulk up the Suzuki core (Suzuki, Caufield, Demidov, Slaf, Guhle, Hutson, Reinbacher (probably), Newhook (possibly), Mailloux (possibly) and Hage (possibly)). I think Hage is the last draftee that will be part of this core. The rest of the team when we will go for it will come from trades/UFAs.

That's why drafting a LD like Aitcheson, or a left-handed winger like Bear, may be the most logical thing to do, as they may be BPA on draft day, even though their positions are organizational strengths for us at the moment and for the future.

 

[Kaiden Ghoul]

Yes. Cootes has more upside than both. I just have a hard time seeing him be that much better than both in their primes. But if they took Cootes at 16/17 I wouldn't cry, my main gripe was with Spence at that range.

Ultimately I think Cootes is gone before our pick anyway. Those centers always tend to rise up the boards as the draft approaches. NY. Vancouver, Pitt I think would all have a hard time passing on him if all the other Cs are gone.

Would not be mad with Spence also

 

[overlords]

what's Brzustewicz like? His profile seems like a valuable one if he isn't completely scatterbrained on the d side, but I've only hockeydb scouted him. A lot of rankings have him around the pittsburgh 2nd rounder.

 

[TheBuriedHab]

Would not be mad with Spence also

I think there's a good chance one of, if not both Bear and Carbonneau would be there. I'd take both ahead of Spence quite easily.

My hope is we get out of the first round with a combination of Bear/Carbonneu + Hensler/Smith.

 

[Kaiden Ghoul]

I think there's a good chance one of, if not both Bear and Carbonneau would be there. I'd take both ahead of Spence quite easily.

My hope is we get out of the first round with a combination of Bear/Carbonneu + Hensler/Smith.

Bear for sure but I'm resigned he will be there at our pick, Carbonneau I do not like his red flags.

Also doubt Hensler and Smith will be there, I think they go top 15 with Mrtka and Schiffer obvs

Any combo of that and I'm happy
the top 4 D with a C
2 C
Spence and a C

Edit idk why but I was sure Bear was a C, we are kinda loaded on LW on the top 6

 

[TheBuriedHab]

Bear for sure but I'm resigned he will be there at our pick, Carbonneau I do not like his red flags.

Also doubt Hensler and Smith will be there, I think they go top 15 with Mrtka and Schiffer obvs

Any combo of that and I'm happy
the top 4 D with a C
2 C
Spence and a C

Edit idk why but I was sure Bear was a C, we are kinda loaded on LW on the top 6

Well Pronman's first mock has all 4 of Bear, Carbonneau, Hensler and Smith available at our pick at the moment. Things will change obviously after the combine, but as of now, it's not out of the question.

 

[Garbageyuk]

Cootes has more potential to create play than Kapanen and Beck no ?

Beck, yes. Kapanen is a strange case where I feel he may have a lot of untapped potential, but is also not very likely to reach it. In any case, the season he had in Sweden this year is more impressive than anything Beck has done to date.

I’m not at all excited about Beck, unlike some around here. I mean, there’s a good chance he’s an NHL player at some point, but I think his ceiling is super low - a bottom-six guy at best, something like Laughton or what Poehling is right now in the best case, imo.

Whereas, Cootes is likely to be a bottom-sixer as well, but I feel there is more of a chance for him to become a middle-six or low-end 2C, something like prime Adam Henrique like I said.

If we could be assured he reaches this best case scenario, I’d take him without question, but there’s no guarantee, and I don’t feel the chances are high enough for me to want to take him. There are going to be other prospects with much higher ceilings available.

 

[AHShadow]

The tools with Hensler are just crazy. He’s a big smooth skating two-way RHD with elite 4-way mobility, gap control, and rush defense - the latter two being the best in this draft class, imo. His defensive game is just polished, and he has moderate to above average offensive upside as well. He’s a safe pick, but has a high ceiling as well. Very likely to be at least a solid top-4 defender, with a great chance to be a top pairing guy, or even a #1D if his offense continues to develop.

I think the reason why people around here aren’t sold is because they just glance at his stat line and are underwhelmed. Guys like Hutson, Buium, and Levshunov are the exception, not the rule, and he’s much better defensively than all three of these guys at the same age.

It’s hard to score in college, especially as a two-way D that prioritizes the defensive side of things. He also played on a pretty shit team, so he wasn’t going to pick up too many assists either way.

Lastly, he’s better offensively than a guy like Ryan McDonagh was at the same age; in fact, he’s better offensively than McDonagh was as a D+1.

I’d be ecstatic if the Habs could snag him at 16/17.

I do not remember what was said about Chychrun at the draft, but didn't he also start pretty high beginning of the year and got drafted mid-1st kinda like Hensler? In hindsight, he still should've went top 10.

Could that be a comparable? Cause if so, we should 100% be drafting Hensler.

Right now my top 3 picks are:
1. Carter Bear
2. Kashawn Aitcheson
3. Logan Hensler

I'm actually sad that Bear started skating recently, which means there's less chances he falls all the way down to 16. EP brass also said he'll finish in their top 10 rankings.