HF Habs: 2025 NHL Draft: Part II

[Pompeius Magnus]

If he slides to the 2nd round, okay. But no way at 16/17. The skating is bad and he benefitted a lot from his elite linemates. You’re essentially hoping he turns into an Adam Lowry type. I don’t think that’s good enough for mid-1st

I don't see the skating as much of an issue now, he got about 300% better from his rookie season, where he truly was terrible. I could actually see it becoming a big asset, once he gets in pro shape.

 

[WeThreeKings]

no way imo, elite speed/skating and shot but nothing else imo from the little i've seen. His skating is so great but it's like he doesn't know what to do with the puck once he gets there other then shoot and that is a good option for him but I just would have major concerns about the IQ. I could be wrong since I didn't get to see much of him in the NCAA and if we do pick, i will of course see a ton of him.

As a 2nd round pick though, he'd be great. Mid first round is just way too early. It'd be like another shot at the Mesar pick, if people like comps.. although he is a shooter more than a playmaker.

I made the mistake of going on another deep dive this morning ( I do that a lot) and now I REALLY want us to get Nesbitt I see a ton of upside in that kid and he's only starting to scratch the surface.

I hate the skating and when I look at his production, I find it hard to say.. this, this is how he is going to put points up in the NHL level.

 

[vokiel]

no way imo, elite speed/skating and shot but nothing else imo from the little i've seen. His skating is so great but it's like he doesn't know what to do with the puck once he gets there other then shoot and that is a good option for him but I just would have major concerns about the IQ. I could be wrong since I didn't get to see much of him in the NCAA and if we do pick, i will of course see a ton of him.

He's got some pretty decent hands, but I do observe from his October Prospect Shifts game that he has issues participating in the game's flow a lot. It could be low IQ yes, but it could also be because he's a freshman at Arizona State. I have 2 more games at Propect Shifts from him. Could be a good boom or bust type.

 

[Apfle Strubble]

Alright, I'm manifesting. The Habs will make it out like bandits as the picks will be Eklund and Bear at 16 and 17

 

[skidcells]

Alright, I'm manifesting. The Habs will make it out like bandits as the picks will be Eklund and Bear at 16 and 17

I’d love that but even in that case I see them picking a forward and a D and won’t go bpa.

 

[vokiel]

Alright, I'm manifesting. The Habs will make it out like bandits as the picks will be Eklund and Bear at 16 and 17

If that's the case, I don't think anyone will argue they were not BPA.

 

[WeThreeKings]

If that's the case, I don't think anyone will argue they were not BPA.

A few people will, early next season, with whoever was picked after that is doing better.

 

[vokiel]

A few people will, early next season, with whoever was picked after that is doing better.

Yeah we always do, cynical at worst, as usual

 

[Team_Spirit]

ICYMI

 

[JackZap]

heres to hoping its 2015 all over again

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

That is absolutely not true as many on here were all over the Demidov hype before Grant said anything. Grant has zero insight into the Montreal Canadiens, that is a fact that even he admits. I am not saying that posters didn't also want Michkov but to say that Grant was the first to recognize that Demidov might be as good or better than Michkov was not a revelation that took everyone by surprise. It was an obvious narrative that he was 100% going to jump on. If you were not aware of Demidov at the time that you heard Grant say this then that is a you thing. Many of us were aware of him and were watching him close the gap all season long. You make it seem as though Grant is out there hunting for prospects across arenas around the world. He is no different than most of our posters who don't go to games. The difference is that he is searching for hyperbolic narratives in order to induce traffic. If he was the first to bring it to your attention then that is why....not because he is some scouting savant. I would not claim to be special either if I was the first to identify a prospect through videos as it is not a valid way to scout and the amount of luck required to hit when you have never seen a player live nor have you met him or his coaches or his family is astronomical. So yes, he deserves some credit for identifying Demidov in such a public manner but it does not prove anything nor does it deserve accolades of any sort. Demidov has been a well known top prospect for years now.

You can't qualify Grant's typical hyperbolic nature for insider information when it turns out to be somewhat correct just like you shouldn't call him a buffoon for expecting the Habs to draft McLeod or for defending McLeod, Kotkianiemi and McCarron for as long as he did. He is just a guy saying stuff that might happen and he has no evidence that these things will happen. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't but do not conflate the positives with inside knowledge as that is intellectual dissonance on display for all to see.

You're missing the point. It's not that he was the first to point out demidov, it was the fact that he was one of the first people to proclaim that the habs have no real interest in michkov because they're all in on demidov. I would like you to show me proof that other people were saying that exact thing. There's proof of grant saying it in 2023 spring. So show me proof of others saying it

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

I've had enough time to catch up on some players, but much like last year my knowledge of prospects is limited. Wouldn't be able to produce a full first round mock.

I'm not super passionate about what I've seen overall, so I'm mostly fine with the names I've seen being mocked, insinuated and coped to the Habs' range. The only player I have reservations about is Nesbitt at this point, Aitcheson to a lesser degree.

 

[koivalev]

I've got a feeling a trade up for Desnoyers is coming, especially since it seems like Chicago likes Frondell and Utah likes Brady (and Nashville seems to like Hagens). I guess then the issue becomes Philly almost certainly wanting Desnoyers if he's there.

I think I remembered seeing that Boston was considering moving down for more picks. Maybe 16+17 could go to them for 7+ (residual value would be ~pick 36 which they don't have, or 51+61+) then Utah might be open to trading back if they feel like Brady will be there at 7 (value would be 7+51+61+, or more likely 7+41+).

 

[Kennerback]

I've had enough time to catch up on some players, but much like last year my knowledge of prospects is limited. Wouldn't be able to produce a full first round mock.

I'm not super passionate about what I've seen overall, so I'm mostly fine with the names I've seen being mocked, insinuated and coped to the Habs' range. The only player I have reservations about is Nesbitt at this point, Aitcheson to a lesser degree.

I see Nesbitt as basically a bottom-6 center. Perhaps has enough IQ that if his skating would improve he could be more. Idk. Wish he was a bit more physical.

 

[McGees]

I've got a feeling a trade up for Desnoyers is coming, especially since it seems like Chicago likes Frondell and Utah likes Brady (and Nashville seems to like Hagens). I guess then the issue becomes Philly almost certainly wanting Desnoyers if he's there.

I think I remembered seeing that Boston was considering moving down for more picks. Maybe 16+17 could go to them for 7+ (residual value would be ~pick 36 which they don't have, or 51+61+) then Utah might be open to trading back if they feel like Brady will be there at 7 (value would be 7+51+61+, or more likely 7+41+).

I’d put our chances at 0.1%

 

[WinterLion]

I made the mistake of going on another deep dive this morning ( I do that a lot) and now I REALLY want us to get Nesbitt I see a ton of upside in that kid and he's only starting to scratch the surface.

Now that the dust is settling... Nesbitt does check so many boxes... but you need to believe in the development path. We have been burned so many times with these types that I think we are all scared, but he really would be a great fit if he works out. He will probably go somewhere very close to where we are picking...

I wonder how important it is to get a D in the 1st? He would be a great 2nd F to take.

 

[WinterLion]

heres to hoping its 2015 all over again

That year was aided by the Bruins picking 3 "creative" picks back to back to back... at 13,14,15...

 

[WinterLion]

I see Nesbitt as basically a bottom-6 center. Perhaps has enough IQ that if his skating would improve he could be more. Idk. Wish he was a bit more physical.

He is a project, but also has a pretty nice floor... definitely not a pick you make unless you think he is still improving... Cootes is way more seasoned and also projects to play C (among others)

 

[le_sean]

Now that the dust is settling... Nesbitt does check so many boxes... but you need to believe in the development path. We have been burned so many times with these types that I think we are all scared, but he really would be a great fit if he works out. He will probably go somewhere very close to where we are picking...

I wonder how important it is to get a D in the 1st? He would be a great 2nd F to take.

Only box he checks is size. He’s a 3C when we already have Beck and Kapanen in the system.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

ICYMI

View attachment 1050766

Watch Carter Bear + Victor Eklund drop at 16 & 17 just to see the Habs draft large sized forwards like Prokhorov, Nesbitt and do a repeat of the Bruins in 2015 by passing on the BPA.

 

[WinterLion]

Only box he checks is size. He’s a 3C when we already have Beck and Kapanen in the system.

Yeah fair point...

The fact is that anyone who has a very good chance of being a 2C is probably gone at 6-7...

Also I think adding size, toughness and tenacity to the middle 6 is one of the biggest organizational needs...

But I do see what you are saying and agree generally that we might use picks 41 & 49 to target those guys..

 

[WinterLion]

My dream is that we somehow find a way to nab Frondell

 

[le_sean]

Watch Carter Bear + Victor Eklund drop at 16 & 17 just to see the Habs draft large sized forwards like Prokhorov, Nesbitt and do a repeat of the Bruins in 2025 by passing on the BPA.

I don’t even care who is available and who is not. If those two are the picks at 16 and 17, I’ll be some pissed off. Might as well just re-hire Bergevin and Timmins at that point.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

I don’t even care who is available and who is not. If those two are the picks at 16 and 17, I’ll be some pissed off. Might as well just re-hire Bergevin and Timmins at that point.

The funniest thing is that I remember the 2015 draft like yesterday. Barzal & Connor dropping was a shock they were obvious top 10 talent. I remember some people questioning Barzal cockiness and lack of defensive game + his low offensive production but his offensive potential was off the chart. Kyle Connor had literaly no obvious weakness other than playing in the USHL and being older than other prospects. And then the Bruins with 3 straight picks, decided to be cute and draft for 3 reach (I know Zboril had some hype but still) just to see NYI, WPG in disbelief that they dropped at 16 & 17. If the Bruins adjusted on the fly or even less controversial traded down one of the pick it would not have looked that bad.
I remember wanting Kyle Connor so bad with the Habs but I knew trading up was near impossible with a late 1st and no 2nd round pick.

Anyway, this is a proof that some random fans can do better than some NHL scouting. That was IMO a franchise defining moment for the Bruins. Instead of become a perennial cup winner they stagnated. The fact they also drafted Pastrnak at 24th overall the year prior softened the blow for them but somehow also make it lookd even worse. Imagine having Pastrnak, Connor and Barzal with mid/late picks in back 2 back draft.

 

[le_sean]

The funniest thing is that I remember the 2015 draft like yesterday. Barzal & Connor dropping was a shock they were obvious top 10 talent. I remember some people questioning Barzal cockiness and lack of defensive game + his low offensive production but his offensive potential was off the chart. Kyle Connor had literaly no obvious weakness other than playing in the USHL. And then the Bruins with 3 straight picks, decided to be cute and draft for 3 reach (I know Zboril had some hype but still) just to see NYI, WPG in disbelief that they dropped at 16 & 17. If the Bruins adjusted on the fly or even less controversial traded down one of the pick it would not have looked that bad.
I remember wanting Kyle Connor so bad with the Habs but I knew trading up was near impossible with a late 1st and no 2nd round pick.

Anyway, this is a proof that some random fans can do better than some NHL scouting. That was IMO a franchise defining moment for the Bruins. Instead of become a perennial cup winner they stagnated. The fact they also drafted Pastrnak at 24th overall the year prior softened the blow for them but somehow also make it lookd even worse. Imagine having Pastrnak, Connor and Barzal with mid/late picks in back 2 back draft.

On top of all that, Senyshyn, who the Bruins took in that range, was often rated in the 30-40 area. An absolute clusterf*** of a draft. It prevented a Bruins dynasty