HF Habs: 2025 NHL Draft: Part II

[koivalev]

Prokhorov is cool but just like Lakovic with his 4 PIM. You have to try to never pass the puck to get such low assist numbers in the MHL.

I get it and I don't think he'll be a top 6 guy by any means, but if you come out of a draft with a bigger, more aggressive William Carrier, especially when the playoffs roll around I don't think you'd be disappointed.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I get it and I don't think he'll be a top 6 guy by any means, but if you come out of a draft with a bigger, more aggressive William Carrier, especially when the playoffs roll around I don't think you'd be disappointed.

I would if I used a top 15 pick on it.

 

[McGees]

Could live with that? It’s the ideal scenario.

Bear I love but prefer others over Hensler

 

[Kennerback]

I get it and I don't think he'll be a top 6 guy by any means, but if you come out of a draft with a bigger, more aggressive William Carrier, especially when the playoffs roll around I don't think you'd be disappointed.

He is avowedly raw. And I don’t know if he’s a teachable kid to fine-tuning his game. But with what I only see, I’ll readjust my view on Prokhorov when I find out he’s really 6’1.75 and not 6’5.75 that seems so comfortable skating and light on his skates. This is not McCarron. You just can’t teach his insatiable drive to crash the net with the puck and to hurt people.

At the very least if McCarron was worth a shot at 25, why not Prokhorov.

 

[TheBuriedHab]

For the Braeden Cootes fans

 

[The Last Red]

Canadiens never interviewed Cole Reschny, Aitcheson or Boumedinne.

Kent Hughes’s former agency represents Aitcheson so they have all the information they need about him.

 

[Kennerback]

Also because one of the sub-plots of the combine was forward Mason West who has a chance to play pro football as a qb. He’s huge 6’6. He’s a nice skater and has good vision. His passes are nice and crisp. There’s upside there for sure. But like Lakovic, he plays like a prey not a predator. You can tell the guy’s a QB not a linebacker. He needs to use his body more.

 

[koivalev]

I would if I used a top 15 pick on it.

In a draft this weak I think if you get an elite bottom 6er that can drive possession and has that absolute dog in him, who would body check a nuke if he could, at 16 or 17 you'd be pretty happy with it.

 

[WeThreeKings]

In a draft this weak I think if you get an elite bottom 6er that can drive possession and has that absolute dog in him, who would body check a nuke if he could, at 16 or 17 you'd be pretty happy with it.

I would not, no. Artyukhin 2.0 ain't worth that value.

 

[VirginiaMtlExpat]

I am not convinced they are desperate for a 2nd line center. I am sure they want to try and get one but they also want to see if young Demidov can drive the 2nd line.

I believe that the team is progressing under HuGo's regime, despite some bad luck related to injuries, through an analytical opportunistic approach and avoidance of desperation. They have come a long way from Bergevin cap hell. They should continue this way, agile and opportunistic, while weary of overpayment. Some team will run into cap trouble or will overextend to get a marquee free agent and will want relief or may want Price to achieve the cap floor. Just keep drafting for value, talent, and team vulnerabilities, while staying agile and plugged in with other GMs.

 

[WinterLion]

I like Cootes a lot but I like Gastrin also. I feel like both have 2nd line C upside and a high floor to be at least good energy players.

I know Gastrin is lower on lists but I think they are pretty close. To me Gastrin has a bit better upside and speed while Cootes has a bit more of that "Canadian kid" type jam.

Both a bit Vanilla... but might be great picks.

 

[JadedRandom]

It's the biggest crapshoot draft in years.

I genuinely don't care about any of these prospects. We are drafting depth players if we stick to 16 and 17. Still important to hit...but meh.

I disagree, there are a LOT of high-upside players in the top-50. The top-10 is not as defined as other years, but the depth is interesting.

A guy like Zharovsky, whom I have at #39, could be a PPG+ winger in the NHL with great development.

Reschny, Kindel, Potter, all have first-line upside if they adapt/develop their game well.

Reid I see as having Josh Morrissey-lite upside if he hits.

Lakovic could be a first-liner too.

Plus, there are also lots of guys with some "elite" aspects to their games that could surprise with further development (West, Nestrasil, Gastrin, etc.).

I know that you're not high on this draft, but there are still some guys that will be useful and important parts of the team that could be available at #16-17.

They should be interested in him. Like the article said, he's so young for the class, he's got a ton of athletic growth left and there's offensive upside to his game.

Fiddler's problem is that his skills are still VERY RAW offensively, inconsistent as hell, and his hockey sense offensively isn't well-developed.

Fiddler has the skating, size, and strength to really make something of himself in the NHL considering his defensive game is already mature.

But it would take a lot more development offensively for Fiddler to "make it" as an offensive top-4D or first-pairing D in comparison to any of the guys I've rated higher in my list for this draft (Schaefer, Smith, Aitcheson, Hensler, and Reid).

I could see a world in which Fiddler ends up a great defenseman overall, but I could also see a world in which his skills/reads/hands remain unpolished even as a pro and Fiddler ends up a third-pairing defenseman or maybe even a journeyman.

 

[Schooner Goon]

I like Cootes a lot but I like Gastrin also. I feel like both have 2nd line C upside and a high floor to be at least good energy players.

I know Gastrin is lower on lists but I think they are pretty close. To me Gastrin has a bit better upside and speed while Cootes has a bit more of that "Canadian kid" type jam.

Both a bit Vanilla... but might be great picks.

Cootes is actually known for his speed while Gastrin likley won't go in the 1st round because of his lack of speed. Both are competitors and known for playing with lots of jam and strong defensive play. Offensive upside and ability to finish is limited for both. They have both been captains and ooze of character.

 

[Quatre Vingt Treize]

Kent Hughes’s former agency represents Aitcheson so they have all the information they need about him.

Yup, they said it could be a ploy. Last year they avoided Demidov to throw teams off

 

[Kennerback]

I would not, no. Artyukhin 2.0 ain't worth that value.

I love the comparison. They’re both high energy, hit everything that moves, massive players. That’s basically what Prokhorov is if his offense doesn’t pan out. Arthyukin was about a half notch above Boogaard in offensive skill. And Artyukhin could fight so there’s a bonus there. I don’t know if Prokhorov can.

You might be completely right. He could become that. My gamble that he could become more is that Prokhorov is a better skater in tight spaces. Can turn and change direction quickly. His shot is more dangerous. His stickhandling is much better. That’s why he can get to the net without losing the puck in every which way. But some of this is just a hunch.

 

[Doublechin]

I love the comparison. They’re both high energy, hit everything that moves, massive players. That’s basically what Prokhorov is if his offense doesn’t pan out. Arthyukin was about a half notch above Boogaard in offensive skill. And Artyukhin could fight so there’s a bonus there. I don’t know if Prokhorov can.

You might be completely right. He could become that. My gamble that he could become more is that Prokhorov is a better skater in tight spaces. Can turn and change direction quickly. His shot is more dangerous. His stickhandling is much better. That’s why he can get to the net without losing the puck in every which way. But some of this is just a hunch.

Prokhorov has shown better scoring than Atyukhin ever has as a junior or a pro

 

[The Last Red]

In a draft this weak I think if you get an elite bottom 6er that can drive possession and has that absolute dog in him, who would body check a nuke if he could, at 16 or 17 you'd be pretty happy with it.

Braeden Cootes, as Martin will obviously be long gone by then.

 

[Doublechin]

Braeden Cootes, as Martin will obviously be long gone by then.

There seems to be traction that if Vancouver keeps the pick they are taking Cootes at 15 unless someone unexpectedly falls

 

[WinterLion]

Cootes is actually known for his speed while Gastrin likley won't go in the 1st round because of his lack of speed. Both are competitors and known for playing with lots of jam and strong defensive play. Offensive upside and ability to finish is limited for both. They have both been captains and ooze of character.

Yeah! I like them both! The type of guys I could see us targeting and I think both actually have more offensive potential. Size scares me a bit with cootes, but not that much. His frame is projectable.

I actually like Gastrin's skating. I think he'll be a 1st rounder, but we'll see.

I have them pretty close personally but the draft day list is the only real list that matters.

 

[koivalev]

I would not, no. Artyukhin 2.0 ain't worth that value.

If that's what you think a "better William Carrier" is that's fine, but I think you're wrong on that

 

[Trabdy2]

The more I dive in on the prospects ranked in this range, the more I'm starting to think that Cootes won't fall below Vancouver at #15.

 

[TheBuriedHab]

I mean if they pick Prokhorov at 16, I'm definitely not upset that we took a gamble on a 6'5 220lb PF that skates real good. He does everything I ideally want the winger opposite of Demidov to do. Be a mutant, skate, hit people, park his ass Infront of the net and score.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I mean if they pick Prokhorov at 16, I'm definitely not upset that we took a gamble on a 6'5 220lb PF that skates real good. He does everything I ideally want the winger opposite of Demidov to do. Be a mutant, skate, hit people, park his ass Infront of the net and score.

Id still like someone who can give him the puck in scoring areas. That's really the caveat for me. Why was his playmaking outlet so bad at such a weak level.

 

[DemidovSZN]

Also because one of the sub-plots of the combine was forward Mason West who has a chance to play pro football as a qb. He’s huge 6’6. He’s a nice skater and has good vision. His passes are nice and crisp. There’s upside there for sure. But like Lakovic, he plays like a prey not a predator. You can tell the guy’s a QB not a linebacker. He needs to use his body more.

He's a 17 years old who wasn't fully committed to hockey until right now, he still has a tons of eras to his game to develop. He compares himself to Tage Thompson, I actually can see it so he most likely will never be the physical type but he will learn to use his body better to be efficient.

 

[le_sean]

Kent Hughes’s former agency represents Aitcheson so they have all the information they need about him.

Hopefully they focus on the fact that he’s not an NHL-level skater