HF Habs: 2025 NHL Draft: Part II

[HuGo Burner Acc]

Thank goodness Calgary finished where they did

 

[Riggins]

Not really, they talked a little more about Spence’s tongue injury. It was split open and got pretty big stitches and he couldn’t eat so he lost like 15-20 pounds, definitely had an impact on his season. Spoke about Carbonneau, Wheeler thinks he’s 60% not there when we pick at 16 and 40% he’s still there.

They also talked about Cameron Reid a bit. Basically "how can the Habs draft this guy when they already have Hutson?" and Wheeler came to his defense. Wheeler brought up names like Devon Toews and Josh Morrissey even if he doesn't have Reid in that tier. Also said Colorado's D wasn't all that big when they won. (He didn't convince me). He thinks Reid goes ahead of the likes of Hensler, Fiddler, Boumedienne.

I fed them a question asking who they thought the Habs would pick if they had one choice between Bear and Lakovic. They passed it to Wheeler and he went on to compare the two. Mentioned him and Pronman make little side bets for fun and one of them is which of these guys gets picked first. Wheeler gets the sense Lakovic goes higher on draft day because of the Bear achilles injury, even though he ranks Bear higher. Lakovic is more charismatic, better in interviews. Bear more reserved.

 

[DemidovSZN]

They also talked about Cameron Reid a bit. Basically "how can the Habs draft this guy when they already have Hutson?" and Wheeler came to his defense. Wheeler brought up names like Devon Toews and Josh Morrissey even if he doesn't have Reid in that tier. Also said Colorado's D wasn't all that big when they won. (He didn't convince me). He thinks Reid goes ahead of the likes of Hensler, Fiddler, Boumedienne.

I fed them a question asking who they thought the Habs would pick if they had one choice between Bear and Lakovic. They passed it to Wheeler and he went on to compare the two. Mentioned him and Pronman make little side bets for fun and one of them is which of these guys gets picked first. Wheeler gets the sense Lakovic goes higher on draft day because of the Bear achilles injury, even though he ranks Bear higher. Lakovic is more charismatic, better in interviews. Bear more reserved.

Oh, that was your question

Great one.

 

[McGees]

I fed them a question asking who they thought the Habs would pick if they had one choice between Bear and Lakovic.

Did Basu spend 45 minutes forming his answer?
I kid, I kid.

 

[BenchBrawl]

The physical game in the playoffs persuaded me; if we keep both picks, they better draft the biggest, strongest players. Roll the dice on Prokhorov. We need a guy like that badly.

Even the defense must get more physical, in the 2021 mold. Reinbacher and Guhle are OK, Hutson is Hutson, but beyond that we need more tall defenders. Mailloux would fit but not sure if he's gonna be incorporated long-term. Draft 6 4+ defenders with your 3rd+ round picks and hope one blossoms.

 

[Quatre Vingt Treize]

I like this list... it's definitely gutsy. I get the love for Horcoff, Gastrin and Zonnon ... of course there are some weird takes... fun! This draft will be fun! Day 2 is gonna be crazy!

A lot of wild cards available in second round. Hope our management can hit on another one. ie. Hutson

 

[RationalExpectations]

Is it me or this draft is looking better and better

From my perspective it s only that everybody was being fed a Rhetoric saying it was a weak draft because teams are supposedly all putting their picks on the market but now everybody realizes it is a very Standard draft with potentially good players all over round 1.

I really believe however that after top 2 the lists will be very different for each team and hence it is possible that a Team like BOS or PIT with very little prospect pool says if my Target has been taken before my Pick, I prefer to drop back a few spots to have more bullets (which usually does not happen top 10)

 

[Benstheman]

From my perspective it s only that everybody was being fed a Rhetoric saying it was a weak draft because teams are supposedly all putting their picks on the market but now everybody realizes it is a very Standard draft with potentially good players all over round 1.

I really believe however that after top 2 the lists will be very different for each team and hence it is possible that a Team like BOS or PIT with very little prospect pool says if my Target has been taken before my Pick, I prefer to drop back a few spots to have more bullets (which usually does not happen top 10)

Yeah I think Boston, Seattle and Pittsburgh may be good targets to move up. If a center is still disponible at 7, I’d overpay to get there.

If we consider Schaeffer, Misa and Martone are locks for the top 5, one of Frondell, Desnoyers, Hagens, Martin or O’Brien should be disponible at 7-8.

 

[Playmaker09]

The physical game in the playoffs persuaded me; if we keep both picks, they better draft the biggest, strongest players. Roll the dice on Prokhorov. We need a guy like that badly.

Even the defense must get more physical, in the 2021 mold. Reinbacher and Guhle are OK, Hutson is Hutson, but beyond that we need more tall defenders. Mailloux would fit but not sure if he's gonna be incorporated long-term. Draft 6 4+ defenders with your 3rd+ round picks and hope one blossoms.

Reactionary moves like this are how you end up drafting Tyler Biggs and signing David Clarkson and Jeff Finger to some of the worst contracts in the cap era.

The last two teams to win back-to-back cups like Florida (Pittsburgh, Tampa) were in no way built like them. You just need to be good.

 

[RationalExpectations]

Yeah I think Boston, Seattle and Pittsburgh may be good targets to move up. If a center is still disponible at 7, I’d overpay to get there.

If we consider Schaeffer, Misa and Martone are locks for the top 5, one of Frondell, Desnoyers, Hagens, Martin or O’Brien should be disponible at 7-8.

In my opinion it won t happen but you never know.
I would think the draft will unfold as follows :
NYI : Misa (they have been looking for a 1C for years and have even moves Barzal to the wing)
SJS : Schaeffer (BPA)
CHI : Desnoyers (they will want a true C to have a one two punch with Bedard or Even move him on the wing)
UTA : Martin (searching for their Bennett, copy cat league)
NSH : Hagens (Top 6C Potential has been missing in NSH)
PHI : Martone (getting bigger next to Michkov Luchanko)
BOS : OBrien (Center for the Future)
SEA : Mrtka (Need for RHD)
BUF : Frondell (happy to grab a Center at this stage)
ANA : McQueen (they are so stacked in terms of prospect that they can afford the gamble)
PIT : Smith (they need everything, go BPA)
PIT : Eklund (BPA)
DET : Lakovic / Carbonneau (getting bigger)
CBJ : Hensler (RD Need)
VAN : Cootes (Horvat v2)

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

Too bad Benak is so damn small, there's really a lot to like about his game. Plus skating, excellent pace, plus playmaking, attention to details as a center, intelligent two way game, etc. He reminds me of a young Plecanek and that's high praise for me. But you know, all that in a 5ft7 164 pound frame Still, we could do worst in the second round if he's still there IMO. At least he's not a fat and lazy chain smoker like Martin Reway was.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Too bad Benak is so damn small, there's really a lot to like about his game. Plus skating, excellent pace, plus playmaking, attention to details as a center, intelligent two way game, etc. He reminds me of a young Plecanek and that's high praise for me. But you know, all that in a 5ft7 164 pound frame Still, we could do worst in the second round if he's still there IMO. At least he's not a fat and lazy chain smoker like Martin Reway was.

I have Benak at 51 so late 2nd, early 3rd.

 

[koivalev]

I think there's a higher chance than people think that Eklund is available when we pick

 

[WeThreeKings]

I think there's a higher chance than people think that Eklund is available when we pick

and a high chance we'd pass anyway.

The news about Bear with the achilles and the combine interviews, that might align the stars perfectly for us.

 

[le_sean]

and a high chance we'd pass anyway.

The news about Bear with the achilles and the combine interviews, that might align the stars perfectly for us.

NHL teams are hilarious

"Oh this First Nations kid is an introvert." Yeah, no shit. It’s like they have no concept of the outside world.

 

[WeThreeKings]

NHL teams are hilarious

"Oh this First Nations kid is an introvert." Yeah, no shit. It’s like they have no concept of the outside world.

They can continue to be stupid as long as it benefits us.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

NHL teams are hilarious

"Oh this First Nations kid is an introvert." Yeah, no shit. It’s like they have no concept of the outside world.

Like a lot of Americans.

 

[koivalev]

and a high chance we'd pass anyway.

The news about Bear with the achilles and the combine interviews, that might align the stars perfectly for us.

Would be a mistake. Would love Bear too, if we came away with those two it would be a coup.

Also am I the only one now overly impressed with Mrtka? I get the runway argument but I don’t love his toolbox. I know RD are way overvalued (especially in this draft) but I'm not sure I'd take him top 15.

 

[le_sean]

Would be a mistake. Would love Bear too, if we came away with those two it would be a coup.

Also am I the only one now overly impressed with Mrtka? I get the runway argument but I don’t love his toolbox. I know RD are way overvalued (especially in this draft) but I'm not sure I'd take him top 15.

I think there’s a lot of runway with him. Like Tyler Myers without the brain farts. I’d be happy to have him, just a complete disruptor defensively.

 

[koivalev]

I think there’s a lot of runway with him. Like Tyler Myers without the brain farts. I’d be happy to have him, just a complete disruptor defensively.

Fair enough, maybe I've only caught his bad games because I haven't loved his decision making and positioning.
Between him and Smith (who, like Mrtka in my viewings at least, has his fair share of lapses), I think Smith is the better prospect with more tools. Would be curious to hear others' thoughts on comparing the two.

 

[le_sean]

Fair enough, maybe I've only caught his bad games because I haven't loved his decision making and positioning.
Between him and Smith (who, like Mrtka in my viewings at least, has his fair share of lapses), I think Smith is the better prospect with more tools. Would be curious to hear others' thoughts on comparing the two.

I like Jackson Smith a lot. Reminds me of Harley. I have him ahead of Mrtka but I understand the NHL’s obsession with big RDs

 

[Gustave]

In his latest mock draft, Pronman has us taking Carter Bear and Lynden Lakovic

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6429388/2025/06/17/nhl-mock-draft-2025-seven-rounds-pronman/

Remind me again guys; is Pronman the one worthy of attention to his mocks the closer we get to the draft? Or am I thinking of someone else?

There’s one of those that gets fed info as we grow closer and closer to the draft…

 

[le_sean]

Remind me again guys; is Pronman the one worthy of attention to his mocks the closer we get to the draft? Or am I thinking of someone else?

There’s one of those that gets fed info as we grow closer and closer to the draft…

Yes, while he has weird takes on players after they are drafted, I find he’s pretty tuned into the league and team strategies when he does mocks.

But I assume EP is waiting to burst into this thread like Kool-Aid Man to tell you that Pronman is Satan.

 

[Seb]

Remind me again guys; is Pronman the one worthy of attention to his mocks the closer we get to the draft? Or am I thinking of someone else?

There’s one of those that gets fed info as we grow closer and closer to the draft…

You're thinking of Margarita Bob. It's coming out next week.

 

[Gustave]

Yes, while he has weird takes on players after they are drafted, I find he’s pretty tuned into the league and team strategies when he does mocks.

But I assume EP is waiting to burst into this thread like Kool-Aid Man to tell you that Pronman is Satan.

I think Pronman isn’t that important as a scout, but he does have the hot hand in his last mock. He gets the insights, I’m sure it’s a function of who he works for.