HF Habs: 2025 NHL Draft: Part II

[themilosh]

It's the consensus view on him. Yeah, he's done it at times but his default mechanism is just perimeter flashy offensive stuff.. Benoit Pouliot, Anthony Mantha types. Personally, I don't see Tigers change their stripes and I've been fooled too many times hoping a big guy will learn to play between the dots. If you draft him, you have to be OK with a Mantha type player. I personally can't stand those guys.

“Lakovic is an intriguing prospect. He’s a big body forward who can be elusive on open ice with his effortless stride. He’s difficult to check when he’s handling the puck due to his long reach and stature. He has excellent puck touch for a big man and contributed 27 goals and 31 assists in 47 games for Moose Jaw this year. With the Warriors not qualifying for the playoffs, his season has come to an end. Lakovic is a late birthday (Dec. 12, 2006). He has aged out of being eligible for the U18 World Championship, and his style of play will be debated in scouting meetings leading up to the draft. For his stature, he isn’t physically overpowering, he’s more of a finesse forward.” – Jason Bukala, Sportsnet

“When we first highlighted Lynden Lakovic in early October, emphasis was on his growth as a playmaker. He had the flashes the previous season, but he was starting to control games with his willingness to draw pressure before dishing, deception, and a diverse passing skill set. And that was coupled with dynamic rushes and an NHL shot. Nearing the halfway point of the season, it’s safe to say that Lakovic’s growth as a playmaker is for real. But we did have some questions about his physical game. Yes, he’s tall and electrifying with the puck, but he always ended up on the outside of battles and didn’t use his body much. He challenged that perception at the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge…Not sure anyone did more for their stock in that game than Lakovic. This was a different version than the Moose Jaw version, showcasing a lot more willingness to use his body, engage opponents along the wall, and control contact on retrievals. Given that, it should be no surprise that he, along with Ben Kindel, were the CHL’s best chance creators at 5-on-5 in this game.” – Mitch Brown, Elite Prospects
January 2025 – Lakovic is an intriguing player due to his combination of skating, size, playmaking, and raw skill. Lakovic cannot really be considered a power forward at this time. His game doesn’t centre around driving inside or using his body and physicality to gain the net front. Instead, Lakovic creates most of his value through playmaking, puck carrying, and rush offence.

At the CHL/USA Prospect Challenge, Lakovic showed more of the things that NHL teams look for, displaying energy on the forecheck, dropping the shoulder on the rush, and finding quality looks for his teammates. The question with Lakovic is whether he’ll be able to develop a more physical, consistent game, and—with the trade deadline departure of Brayden Yager —whether he’ll have the support to do so. Luke Sweeney
Lakovic was the best player on a poor Moose Jaw team, but his body of work plus his athleticism is impressive. He's a 6-foot-4 winger who skates quite well for his size. He has a powerful and fluid stride and can easily avoid checkers. He's a creative offensive player with the hands to make defenders miss often. Lakovic sees the ice well enough but scouts aren't fully convinced on that aspect of his game. He's more of a scorer than a passer with a legit mid-range shot. His compete level is mediocre. It won't hold him back at the top level, but I wouldn't call him a hard-to-play-against type who makes full use of his big frame and he plays too much on the outside. He projects as a top-six winger. - Pronman

Lankovic gives me Armia vibes... but who am I to say? Pas necessaire.

We must target as such: assuming no trades
#16: Hensler 1RHD
#17: Ryabkin 2C
#40: Threthewey 3RHD

The reason I want to load up on RHDs is to guarantee we are set at a position if scarcity currently plaguing the NHL.

We go this route, our trade value power becomes exponential -
Depth:
1RHD: Reinbacher
2/3RHD: Hensler
3/2RHD: Mailloux
3RHD: Threthewey

 

[McGees]

We have a different vision of the player, I saw him get into the middle and use his frame to win pucks quite a few times. He is more Max Pacioretty than Benoit Pouliot, kid is a powerful skater with great hands, easily one of the top transitional players in that draft. Can pass, can shoot, there is alot of upside there. He is my prime traget for a trade up in the 8-12 range, he and Eklund, but I think Ekklund goes higher than the concensus currently have him going.

He’s on my list too. Not necessarily trade up but one of 3-4 targets.

 

[The Last Red]

That’s what Beck is…

I don’t think he’s that high floor.

 

[Goldenhands]

He’s on my list too. Not necessarily trade up but one of 3-4 targets.

I think he is way gone before 16th OV, but great if he drops.

 

[le_sean]

It's the consensus view on him. Yeah, he's done it at times but his default mechanism is just perimeter flashy offensive stuff.. Benoit Pouliot, Anthony Mantha types. Personally, I don't see Tigers change their stripes and I've been fooled too many times hoping a big guy will learn to play between the dots. If you draft him, you have to be OK with a Mantha type player. I personally can't stand those guys.

“Lakovic is an intriguing prospect. He’s a big body forward who can be elusive on open ice with his effortless stride. He’s difficult to check when he’s handling the puck due to his long reach and stature. He has excellent puck touch for a big man and contributed 27 goals and 31 assists in 47 games for Moose Jaw this year. With the Warriors not qualifying for the playoffs, his season has come to an end. Lakovic is a late birthday (Dec. 12, 2006). He has aged out of being eligible for the U18 World Championship, and his style of play will be debated in scouting meetings leading up to the draft. For his stature, he isn’t physically overpowering, he’s more of a finesse forward.” – Jason Bukala, Sportsnet

“When we first highlighted Lynden Lakovic in early October, emphasis was on his growth as a playmaker. He had the flashes the previous season, but he was starting to control games with his willingness to draw pressure before dishing, deception, and a diverse passing skill set. And that was coupled with dynamic rushes and an NHL shot. Nearing the halfway point of the season, it’s safe to say that Lakovic’s growth as a playmaker is for real. But we did have some questions about his physical game. Yes, he’s tall and electrifying with the puck, but he always ended up on the outside of battles and didn’t use his body much. He challenged that perception at the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge…Not sure anyone did more for their stock in that game than Lakovic. This was a different version than the Moose Jaw version, showcasing a lot more willingness to use his body, engage opponents along the wall, and control contact on retrievals. Given that, it should be no surprise that he, along with Ben Kindel, were the CHL’s best chance creators at 5-on-5 in this game.” – Mitch Brown, Elite Prospects
January 2025 – Lakovic is an intriguing player due to his combination of skating, size, playmaking, and raw skill. Lakovic cannot really be considered a power forward at this time. His game doesn’t centre around driving inside or using his body and physicality to gain the net front. Instead, Lakovic creates most of his value through playmaking, puck carrying, and rush offence.

At the CHL/USA Prospect Challenge, Lakovic showed more of the things that NHL teams look for, displaying energy on the forecheck, dropping the shoulder on the rush, and finding quality looks for his teammates. The question with Lakovic is whether he’ll be able to develop a more physical, consistent game, and—with the trade deadline departure of Brayden Yager —whether he’ll have the support to do so. Luke Sweeney
Lakovic was the best player on a poor Moose Jaw team, but his body of work plus his athleticism is impressive. He's a 6-foot-4 winger who skates quite well for his size. He has a powerful and fluid stride and can easily avoid checkers. He's a creative offensive player with the hands to make defenders miss often. Lakovic sees the ice well enough but scouts aren't fully convinced on that aspect of his game. He's more of a scorer than a passer with a legit mid-range shot. His compete level is mediocre. It won't hold him back at the top level, but I wouldn't call him a hard-to-play-against type who makes full use of his big frame and he plays too much on the outside. He projects as a top-six winger. - Pronman

I mean 4 PIMs tells the entire story. If you’re that big in the CHL and all you do is manage 4 PIMs, you’re a perimeter player.

 

[Goldenhands]

I mean 4 PIMs tells the entire story. If you’re that big in the CHL and all you do is manage 4 PIMs, you’re a perimeter player.

Nick Suzuki 8 PIM.

 

[Team_Spirit]

Brutal reality of the '25 crop?

 

[le_sean]

Nick Suzuki 8 PIM.

Nick Suzuki isn’t a 6’4 winger. Completely different roles and responsibilities.

Suzuki also didn’t have a season long suspension as baggage.

 

[Habsrule]

Schaefer
Misa
Desnoyers
Martone
Frondell
Hagens
O’Brien
Mrtka
Eklund
Smith
Martin
Bear
McQueen
Hensler
Aitcheson
Reschny
Cootes
Carbonneau
Lakovic
Reid
Fiddler
Potter
Spence

That’s my list of players I want to draft. I’d be very happy if the Habs used there 2nd and 3rd round picks to trade up to get a third really good prospect.

 

[The Last Red]

At 16-17, I'm still aiming at top 6 forward, top 4 D,s....there's no world for me that makes me believe Zonnon is anything but a bottom 6 at best. Cannon of a shot. But feet and overall skillset does not scream top 6.

You’re probably not gonna get that in this draft.

 

[Quatre Vingt Treize]

Exactly... now if Eklund was there... it might be a bit different for me anyway...

Could happen

 

[JadedRandom]

Brutal reality of the '25 crop?

View attachment 1043407

Nah, 2025 is a better draft than 2018 10-to-20 in my opinion.

A more likely median outcome is 2011.

Some abject and miserable misses, some partial hits, some good players, and some great players.

But I personally did a bit of an exercise with friends where we'd each get a number of teams (roughly given depending on pick amounts) and had to do a top 3 rounds mock draft based on each team's needs, current roster, pipeline, and more.

To determine the order of team-picking we rolled dice.

I rolled a nat-20 followed by another nat-20 on the tiebreak to start, and guess which team I chose to draft for first. Yeah, I know, I'm predictable like that.

After we had attributed each 32 team we adjourned for a couple days, did research for the teams we'd gotten, and then did our own chill little in-person mock draft with a nice board and everything.

With multiple teams to draft for and not being allowed to "give way" for the Canadiens with any of the picks I made for the teams I was responsible for, I couldn't pull-off what I'd consider to be "big steals" based on my list (and that got frustrating after a while), but hey, I tried my best.

Anyways, with no trades allowed this is what my top 3-round picks ended up looking like for Montreal:

16- Lakovic (nice pick but not the gritty+skilled forward I wanted, #15 on my late-May list)
17- Hensler (not the most exciting pick but good, #17 on my list lands at exactly #17)
41- Genborg (have him #39, high-upside F with size)
49- Limatov (#46 for me, top-4 D upside with size, decent skating and high-end physicality)
79- Hopkins (BPA for me at #75, rounds-out the positions as a C, decent size/skill combo)
81- Gorzynski (BPA at #76, good playoff performance in WHL and underrated skill IMO)
82- Svrcek (liked him at the U-18s this year for Slovakia, smallish but skilled, #77 for me)

I also had Minnesota, St. Louis, New Jersey, and Boston (f*** the snake draft, I had #1 pick but also last pick, guess who they let me have) as teams to choose for.

And I'm ashamed to say but the Boston picks were unfortunately probably my "best value for the pick" of all teams I had to manage (Desnoyers, Trethewey, Czata, Andreyanov).

 

[BenchBrawl]

If we get a Tarasenko, it would be a glorious draft.

I don't have my hopes too high on that.

 

[yianik]

Carter Bear is pretty interesting. Blue collar game, but he produces points. Easy to see the Gallagher comparisons. Could see a trade up to get him, and he doesn't need to hit Gallagher in his prime numbers to be very useful to the team, especially post season, though would be nice.

 

[skidcells]

Carter Bear is pretty interesting. Blue collar game, but he produces points. Easy to see the Gallagher comparisons. Could see a trade up to get him, and he doesn't need to hit Gallagher in his prime numbers to be very useful to the team, especially post season, though would be nice.

Carter bear is the only player that excites me that has a chance to be there where we draft if he falls.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

We have a different vision of the player, I saw him get into the middle and use his frame to win pucks quite a few times. He is more Max Pacioretty than Benoit Pouliot, kid is a powerful skater with great hands, easily one of the top transitional players in that draft. Can pass, can shoot, there is alot of upside there. He is my prime traget for a trade up in the 8-12 range, he and Eklund, but I think Ekklund goes higher than the concensus currently have him going.

I concur on Eklund, if he ends up in the 8-10 spots then I would try to move up for him as well. Doubt he gets past Pittsburgh at 11.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Carbonneau commits to BC next year.

 

[Whitesnake]

You’re probably not gonna get that in this draft.

Carbonneau, Bear, Lakovic, Aitkeson, Fiddler, Martin, Smith, Reshny, Cootes, Nesbitt, Potter....not all of them will reaach that potential...but they have a higher potential than Zonnon.

 

[Leto]

Carbonneau commits to BC next year.

Interesting. Given the rumours, all eyes on Martone, Misa, McKenna, Desnoyers and co.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Carbonneau commits to BC next year.

Makes me want to take him if he's available even more. That will give him more time to develop and the Habs more time to evaluate him. If he stayed in the Q, they'd have 2 years to sign him, which I'm sure they would since he'd be a 1st round pick. But this way, it gives them and him 4 years.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Carbonneau commits to BC next year.

That's more interesting. Last thing I want is for players like him to lag with useless development time wasted in the Q.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Lalancette is saying that Carbonneau's decision isn't made yet. It's possible he will go to BC next year, but he has yet to make the decision to leave Blaiville-Boisbriand.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

I don't know if it's going to have legs or not, but top CHL players going the college route after they get drafted is definitely going to be the model for a while. The really top ones like McKenna probably won't even wait that long .

 

[Adam Michaels]

 

[tooji]

Brutal reality of the '25 crop?

View attachment 1043407

I was ready to take Dobson top 5 that year