2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[u2wojo]

PPG play in the NCAA especially as a true freshman is not mediocre he’s faced better competition and better teams than any CHL player.

This and his WJC performance was exceptional. Small sample size....but...tied for 7th in scoring in a tourney that no one (except a German passed over in the draft) in the top 20 hasn't been drafted already. Most guys a year if not 2 older than him and he finished 2 points off leading the tourney in points and one apple from equalling the vaunted Ryan Leonard (who is 15 months older).

As to the college production for true frosh, Cole Caufield, Berniers, and Boldy were only a point a game guys as frosh (Berniers and Boldy as Sophs too). We are shopping down a little different aisle than Celebrini, Fantilli, Colley, or Will Smith who were more productive as frosh, but went higher or in deeper drafts than this one.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

PPG play in the NCAA especially as a true freshman is not mediocre he’s faced better competition and better teams than any CHL player.

He was on by far the most stacked team in college on a line with two of the best players in college, I expected more out of him given his supposed talent. He’s several tiers below Celebrini who dummied college playing with lesser talent.

Hagens had a Shane Wright type draft season, and that’s he is going to drop.

 

[TheFridge]

Would take Frondell over Desnoyers if thats who they're deciding between and just hope you hit a ceiling outcome of a Draisaitl/Barkov/Kopitar type player

Draisaitl is one the best playmakers/passers *in league history*. He's just turned into an elite finisher because he's become the triggerman in Edmonton for McDavid. Frondell won't be that. Maybe he could be a Kopitar-lite.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Draisaitl is one the best playmakers/passers *in league history*. He's just turned into an elite finisher because he's become the triggerman in Edmonton for McDavid. Frondell won't be that. Maybe he could be a Kopitar-lite.

Yeah, when I said type player I meant traits and style, not that he'll be as good as Draisaitl

 

[TheFridge]

Yeah, when I said type player I meant traits and style, not that he'll be as good as Draisaitl

What are his similar traits to Draisaitl? Size? Frondell probably has a better shot than Draisaitl but what makes Draisaitl absolutely elite is what keeps people from thinking Frondell will become elite: hockey sense.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

What are his similar traits to Draisaitl? Size? Frondell probably has a better shot than Draisaitl but what makes Draisaitl absolutely elite is what keeps people from thinking Frondell will become elite: hockey sense.

Similar traits seem to be the size, the shot, the flexibility to potentially play center or wing...is it fair to say that Frondell might have another level to his development just from dedicated nutrition and fitness once he turns pro? similar to what they talked about with Levshunov

 

[TheFridge]

Size matters. The Blackhawks forward pool seems to target smaller/faster players and lacks size. If you want to win playoff hockey you need size. Look at the Panthers lineup..chock full of 6'2 and 210 wingers and centers.

The Hawks and Panther's rosters right now are the same size and weight on average. With Bedard, Moore and Nazar on the roster and Teravainen the Hawks have 4 players who are sub-6' tall.

 

[TheFridge]

Similar traits seem to be the size, the shot, the flexibility to potentially play center or wing...is it fair to say that Frondell might have another level to his development just from dedicated nutrition and fitness once he turns pro? similar to what they talked about with Levshunov

The concerns that I keep seeing online about Frondell all stem from his hockey sense; play recognition, playmaking, etc. I can't recall a player who was physically gifted with questionable hockey sense having their projection take off after being drafted. I can think of a lot of guys who teams would regret drafting as high as they did based on the tools without the brain.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

The concerns that I keep seeing online about Frondell all stem from his hockey sense; play recognition, playmaking, etc. I can't recall a player who was physically gifted with questionable hockey sense having their projection take off after being drafted. I can think of a lot of guys who teams would regret drafting as high as they did based on the tools without the brain.

so he has no hockey sense but great draft year production?

 

[TheFridge]

so he has no hockey sense but great draft year production?

That's the issue with him. His Allsvenskan production, in an historical context, is incredibly strong. But he was inconsistent through the year, slowed down a lot at the end (and in the playoffs) and his international play has been a mixed bag.

He's like the inverse Hagens of this draft. Very strong regular season team play that's buoying an otherwise inconsistent overall resume the last two years.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

That's the issue with him. His Allsvenskan production, in an historical context, is incredibly strong. But he was inconsistent through the year, slowed down a lot at the end (and in the playoffs) and his international play has been a mixed bag.

He's like the inverse Hagens of this draft. Very strong regular season team play that's buoying an otherwise inconsistent overall resume the last two years.

If he was more consistent, would he be in conversation for pick 1 or 2?

 

[TheFridge]

If he was more consistent, would he be in conversation for pick 1 or 2?

I think the issue is more, what's causing the inconsistency? Is he inconsistent because he doesn't compete? Not based on what I've read/seen. He seems to be inconsistent because he doesn't drive play, so his production will pick up or wane based on who he's playing with.

 

[BHawks77]

The concerns that I keep seeing online about Frondell all stem from his hockey sense; play recognition, playmaking, etc. I can't recall a player who was physically gifted with questionable hockey sense having their projection take off after being drafted. I can think of a lot of guys who teams would regret drafting as high as they did based on the tools without the brain.

Not sure I agree with you. Frondell has real ability to get open for shot or a pass, playes quick passes to advance the play, supports linemates well and is good defensively.

On top of that great shot, physical, good compete and wont quit on playes.

And thats against men. Playmaking needs to develop for sure.

 

[TheFridge]

Not sure I agree with you. Frondell has real ability to get open for shot or a pass, playes quick passes to advance the play, supports linemates well and is good defensively.

On top of that great shot, physical, good compete and wont quit on playes.

And thats against men. Playmaking needs to develop for sure.

I mean, I'm not personally saying he has bad hockey sense. The consensus from his detractors that I've seen and read is that his hockey sense is a question mark/concern. I think that does track with how he's performed at different tournaments and levels.

 

[ColbyChaos]

players like Hagens could probably be acquired via trade or FA when we are trying to compete, won’t be easy to come by a center like Des or a big winger like Martone again

Sure when they are 30 you are absolutely right but players in their prime aren’t

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Isn't Desnoyers thought of as a more vanilla type prospect? Solid ceiling but maybe not that elite upside? or is that selling his offensive game short?

 

[Kevin Musto]

Isn't Desnoyers thought of as a more vanilla type prospect? Solid ceiling but maybe not that elite upside? or is that selling his offensive game short?

No, I think that's the right assessment.

I think if enough offense were to carry over, then Dylan Cozens is his ceiling.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

No, I think that's the right assessment.

I think if enough offense were to carry over, then Dylan Cozens is his ceiling.

If you were to do a floor/base/ceiling case for Desnoyers and Frondell, what would they be?

 

[TheFridge]

No, I think that's the right assessment.

I think if enough offense were to carry over, then Dylan Cozens is his ceiling.

He doesn't play anything like Cozens and what even is Cozens currently? Is he a 70-point centre? A 50-point centre?

 

[Kevin Musto]

He doesn't play anything like Cozens and what even is Cozens currently? Is he a 70-point centre? A 50-point centre?

That'll be the thing with Desnoyers.

Like maybe he hits 70 once in a blue moon... but I don't see it happening on a consistent basis.

I think 40-50 is where he'll be more often than not.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

That'll be the thing with Desnoyers.

Like maybe he hits 70 once in a blue moon... but I don't see it happening on a consistent basis.

I think 40-50 is where he'll be more often than not.

so it would be Kotkaniemi at 3rd overall basically

 

[Kevin Musto]

If you were to do a floor/base/ceiling case for Desnoyers and Frondell, what would they be?

Floor for Desnoyers is like a Jason Dickinson. Not last year's Dickinson, obviously, but his first two years in Chicago. Ceiling somewhere between a Danault or Cozens.

Frondell maybe projects to something like Barbashev. So like 40-50 points... maybe hits 60 once.

Provided he can win draws in the NHL, Desnoyers probably sticks at center. Frondell, imo, has to be a wing in the NHL.

 

[ndgt10]

Calling Hagens a 1st overall talent is an exaggeration

Feel free to put your money where your mouth is haha

 

[Deputy McRizzy]

Feel free to put your money where your mouth is haha

View attachment 1043399

Do people actually bet on this shit?

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

Hagens is really talented

Do people actually bet on this shit?

People bet on everything. It's a problem.