HF Habs: 2025 NHL Draft: Part II

[Kobe Armstrong]

The thought of Nesbitt and Hensler is grossing me out, Nesbitt is another Quartexx guy too

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

Foot soldiers, huh?

From 2 of the scouts polled by Bobby Margherita:

If the air of unpredictability on how the top 10 will unfold is noticeable, it’s nothing compared to how chaotic the draft may look beyond the top 10 or dozen prospects.

“The quality of the player you get between 11 and 20 may not be that different than the player you get between 20 and 30 or even 30 to 40,” said a scout. “I really like the top 10 to maybe 15, but after that it’s a whole lot of average.”

Added another: “When you have no idea who gets selected from about 20 to 60, or in what order, and even the 10 to 30 order looks like it’s all over the place, well, that says to me it’s a below-average group. Lots of support players and foot soldiers, who are important to have, but very few difference-makers and generals who move the needle in a big way.”

Yeah there is a clear top-13/14 and then we will get the first 2 cracks at the leftovers.

I would move both of our 2nds + mid prospects to move each pick up into the top-13, unless we have confidence that Bear will be there.

 

[koivalev]

The thought of Nesbitt and Hensler is grossing me out, Nesbitt is another Quartexx guy too

I would not like that pick, especially with how many bigger bland Cs there are in this draft I don't think we need to use 16/17 on any.

 

[AHShadow]

From Bob's list, I'd be ok with any 2 of Bear, Hensler, Carbonneau and Lakovic. And then Cootes, Reschny and Nesbitt would be the bottom 3.

TBH as long as we get Bear, I'd be very very happy with anyone else at 17.

 

[le_sean]

I would not like that pick, especially with how many bigger bland Cs there are in this draft I don't think we need to use 16/17 on any.

I wouldn’t be a fan either but it seems like NHL scouts see something in his game. I just see a 3C.

 

[vokiel]

I'd go Lakovic / Cootes if Bob's list comes to be precise.

 

[Vachon23]

Carbo and Cootes for me if the draft goes like this

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

2 of Bear, Carbo, Cootes, and Reschny is fine for me

 

[BeliveauFan4ever]

The top-13 looks like a lock at this point, I don't see anyone with potential to jump past Aitcheson except Bear.

Our picks are looking like whoever is left between Bear, Hensler, Lakovic, Cootes

Sad.

Seven picks in the first three rounds felt like an embarrassment of riches a year ago.

Things shifted. Martin…out of reach.

At the start of this thread, Habs were picking 13 and 16. I thought: That sucks.

Now the 13 looks good.

 

[koivalev]

View attachment 1054104

From Bob's list, I'd be ok with any 2 of Bear, Hensler, Carbonneau and Lakovic. And then Cootes, Reschny and Nesbitt would be the bottom 3.

TBH as long as we get Bear, I'd be very very happy with anyone else at 17.

I'd be going Bear and Kindel there

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

Seven picks in the first three rounds felt like an embarrassment of riches a year ago.

Things shifted. Martin…out of reach.

At the start of this thread, Habs were picking 13 and 16. I thought: That sucks.

Now the 13 looks good.

I wonder if Jackson Smith could fall to 16 like Guhle did, a faller like him or Eklund, even if it isn't an ideal position for us, would make the draft much sweeter. Then we can take whatever project/reach we want with the other 1st and not have too much stake on it.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

I think a team like Ottawa will end up trading up to take Aitcheson actually, some team will overvalue him as "the meanest player in the draft" and see him as a must have if he makes it to 12/13

Ottawa has Sanderson, Chabot and Kleven at LD so I doubt that they will be looking for a LHD. You are definitely correct in saying that it just takes one team to make this decision.

I also think the "meanest player in the draft" narrative is ridiculous. His physicality is grossly exaggerated and he will go multiple games at a time with little to no evidence of "meanness". I do not know a single person who regularly watches him live that does not think that he is overrated in this draft.

He may very well have a great career and become more consistent with his physicality but other than his ridiculous clapper I have left the game wanting more from him. He just seems like the type of player that will drive Marty nuts and will take a long time to develop into a reliable defender. All of Mrtka, Smith, Hensler, Reid and Fiddler are far superior skaters and much better defensive players than Aitcheson at this point in their development.

I think Aitcheson is a boom or bust prospect and a very risky pick.

 

[BeliveauFan4ever]

I wonder if Jackson Smith could fall to 16 like Guhle did, a faller like him or Eklund, even if it isn't an ideal position for us, would make the draft much sweeter. Then we can take whatever project/reach we want with the other 1st and not have too much stake on it.

There’s usually a surprise or two in Rd 1, and this year seems ripe for at least a couple.

Smith is LD, but if he’s there, gotta grab him.

 

[AHShadow]

I wonder if Jackson Smith could fall to 16 like Guhle did, a faller like him or Eklund, even if it isn't an ideal position for us, would make the draft much sweeter. Then we can take whatever project/reach we want with the other 1st and not have too much stake on it.

Smith feels like a Harley pick when he fell to 18. Honestly coming out of any of the top 13 picks + Bear would be an insane haul for us.

 

[Shutdown]

Nesbitt is the only guy in our range who i said i wouldn't be interested in but that's based on two games that i watched. i wasn't impressed with his abilities with the puck in stride. i find his processing to be slow. he's undoubtedly good around the net.

if he's our pick, it's because the scouts believe in his ability to improve his game in transition, and i'll hope for that. if he's not our pick, i'll go back to calling him a future bust.

 

[Vachon23]

 

[Shutdown]

cue the mid-afternoon friday trade for a pick in the 20s

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Interesting to see Nesbitt so high on Bob's list. I'll admit I've only seen a few clips of Nesbitt's play, and it's been hard to be excited about a player who seems to have foot speed issues. Are the foot speed issues being overstated?

It would be pretty cool to add a 6'4" center prospect into our pipeline, but I'm not a fan of picking guys with below average skating ability so high in the draft.

Foot speed can be very correctable depending on the cause for the skating issues.

A high IQ can negate skating issues as well, I am not sure where I would rank Nesbitt's IQ though as I have not done a deep dive on him.

 

[rien]

The thought of Nesbitt and Hensler is grossing me out, Nesbitt is another Quartexx guy too

He just became my favorite prospect.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Worst scenario would be we pick some lame ass colorless defender who isn't even violent or have any 1st pairing upside. That would piss me off.

 

[themilosh]

Ryabkin is not worth the gamble at 16/17. Not a chance in hell we draft him that early. Hugo will be tarred and feathered if that happens.

In this draft, theres a pretty big drop off after top 3-12. Our target(s) should be RHD first, C second. Ryabkin is a pretty good boom or bust prospect. I have him as a potential 2C with 1C upside or a complete bust.. we dont need a "Beck"/Evans 2.0. Take the chance if the RHD is not available.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Stock is gonna take a big hit here.. 5 years.

 

[montreal]

Bear, Cootes are my hopes

 

[sampollock]

I have a top 12.. and I don't anticipate any of the top 12 falling to us except Bear because of the injury and being introverted.

Aitcheson probably 3rd/4th D man off the board.

Freidman just mentioned Cootes getting late hype and plays C.

cootes is small

 

[Kennerback]

Use 17th + prospect to move up, grab McQueen or whoever you think will help the Top 6 the most.

Use 16th to pick best F prospect left that is over 6 feet.

Use 41st and 49th to move up to 22-32 range, draft Prokhorov.

You get 3 F prospects in one draft, all of them adding size. At least one will hit, 2 if we're lucky, 3 if we hit the jackpot.

I thought Prokhorov was still on another planet (like 3rd Round). The fact he’s now on the cusp of the 1st Round is not good. It means some teams might like him at 20…