2025 NHL Draft Thread

[JLarucci23]

Just gotta be top 3. Any combo of Schaefer, Hagens and Misa and were golden. IMO, Hagens has been the best player on team USA. So he's bumped up a bit recently for me, to where I may have him slightly over Misa.

 

[clydesdale line]

Didn't see this posted.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Didn't see this posted.

He has a lot to prove because his stock has been dropping like a rock

 

[pvr]

If Schaefer is drafted, then top 6 is set from 2026 on. Working him in along with Rinzel (AHL 25-26) and Levshunov (NHL/AHL 2025-26) will be the difficulty. Hopefully he goes to college for one year. Trade Korchinski for an equivalent NHL-ready young forward in an old fashioned real hockey trade.

Initially 2026-27:
Vlasic-Jones
Allan/Schaeffer-Levshunov
Schaefer/Allan-Rinzel
Extras DelMastro/Kaiser

Eventually (how quickly tbd):
Schaefer-Levshunov
Vlasic-Rinzel
Allan-Jones/replacement
Extras DelMastro/Kaiser

That could be a versatile, big, tough, and top defense for a decade.

 

[TheFridge]

Ryabkin went to Muskegon thinking they would be absorbed into the OHL immediately. Poor kid.

 

[Castle8130]

If Schaefer is drafted, then top 6 is set from 2026 on. Working him in along with Rinzel (AHL 25-26) and Levshunov (NHL/AHL 2025-26) will be the difficulty. Hopefully he goes to college for one year. Trade Korchinski for an equivalent NHL-ready young forward in an old fashioned real hockey trade.

Initially 2026-27:
Vlasic-Jones
Allan/Schaeffer-Levshunov
Schaefer/Allan-Rinzel
Extras DelMastro/Kaiser

Eventually (how quickly tbd):
Schaefer-Levshunov
Vlasic-Rinzel
Allan-Jones/replacement
Extras DelMastro/Kaiser

That could be a versatile, big, tough, and top defense for a decade.

No chance the Hawks keep all 6 defensemen. Very likely the Hawks keep 3-4 and dispose of the leftovers

 

[ColbyChaos]

If Korchinski is not good enough to be on the team long term plans then why are people so insistent that we’d get a good forward prospect back? Don’t make the same mistake Stan did and trade away prospects too early just draft a damn forward our d pipeline is already more than fine and the strongest position of our pool as is

 

[ClydeLee]

If Korchinski is not good enough to be on the team long term plans then why are people so insistent that we’d get a good forward prospect back? Don’t make the same mistake Stan did and trade away prospects too early just draft a damn forward our d pipeline is already more than fine and the strongest position of our pool as is

It's a matter of resources if you draft Shaefer and Vlasic is already here longterm... you have a top 4 of LD already set. You have two good looking invested RD, who could not turn out in the NHL, but it's not thinking this guy isn't capable of being a top 4 LD, trash him to get rid of him. It's a view of assets

 

[Putt Pirate]

If we do draft Shaefer 1st then we will still have great suckage for the following draft. That is about all the suck I can handle after the Dollar Bill days........

 

[TheFridge]

If we do draft Shaefer 1st then we will still have great suckage for the following draft. That is about all the suck I can handle after the Dollar Bill days........

Doesn't matter who we draft 1st this year, if we do draft 1st, they aren't stepping into the lineup and being highly impactful next year.

 

[Castle8130]

If Korchinski is not good enough to be on the team long term plans then why are people so insistent that we’d get a good forward prospect back? Don’t make the same mistake Stan did and trade away prospects too early just draft a damn forward our d pipeline is already more than fine and the strongest position of our pool as is

The worst thing the Hawks could do is not draft the best player available. If Schaefer is the best player available, you draft him. When you draft for position over best player available (Levshunov over Demidov), you become the Buffalo Sabres. Who cares about what our needs are when we draft high.

You are telling me you want to draft Levshunov over Demidov because we need a defenseman, then the following year draft Hagens over Schaefer because you need a forward??? Backwards logic. Also, the Hawks have an abundance of undersized forwards that have little trade value. Adding Hagens to that crop is the same logic as not adding a defenseman to a fully stocked defensive prospect pool

 

[TheFridge]

The worst thing the Hawks could do is not draft the best player available. If Schaefer is the best player available, you draft him. When you draft for position over best player available (Levshunov over Demidov), you become the Buffalo Sabres. Who cares about what our needs are when we draft high.

You are telling me you want to draft Levshunov over Demidov because we need a defenseman, then the following year draft Hagens over Schaefer because you need a forward??? Backwards logic. Also, the Hawks have an abundance of undersized forwards that have little trade value. Adding Hagens to that crop is the same logic as not adding a defenseman to a fully stocked defensive prospect pool

The amount of people that lament not picking Demidov when two other teams directly after CHI also didn't pick him is crazy. He was so clearly the BPA after Celebrini that three teams picked someone else.

 

[GIADF]

The amount of people that lament not picking Demidov when two other teams directly after CHI also didn't pick him is crazy. He was so clearly the BPA after Celebrini that three teams picked someone else.

It's pretty easy to see why based on prospect rankings going into the draft. Lindstrom if I were the GM would have been on my do not draft list due to his back injuries. So then looking at Lev, Demidov, and Senneckle who went 3 OA

Demidov
2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #2 by Elite Prospects
2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #3 by ISS Hockey
2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #2 by FCHockey
2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #2 by TSN/Craig Button
2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #2 by McKeen's Hockey
2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #2 by TSN/McKenzie
2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #2 by NHL Central Scouting

Sennecke
Drafted 2022, 1 #8 by Oshawa Generals in the OHL Priority Selection
2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #9 by Elite Prospects
2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #11 by ISS Hockey
2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #16 by FCHockey
2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #11 by TSN/Craig Button
2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #14 by McKeen's Hockey
2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #11 by TSN/McKenzie
2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #13 by NHL Central Scouting\

Levshunov
Drafted 2022, 8 #111 by Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL Entry Draft
2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #4 by Elite Prospects
2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #2 by ISS Hockey
2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #10 by FCHockey
2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #8 by TSN/Craig Button
2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #6 by McKeen's Hockey
2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #3 by TSN/McKenzie
2024 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #2 by NHL Central Scouting

 

[Castle8130]

The amount of people that lament not picking Demidov when two other teams directly after CHI also didn't pick him is crazy. He was so clearly the BPA after Celebrini that three teams picked someone else.

The 2 teams that did not pick Demidov, had differing reasons. Both were smaller market teams, that didn't have as many resources as the Hawks. Getting a Russian player to play for them while using such a high pick is very risky. There is no gurantees. Also Anaheim picked Sennecke, who I'd also rather have over Levhunov. Columbus picked for need. They are set at wing with their current roster and really wanted the big Center-man in Cayden.

Demidov was also a consensus 2nd oa on Bob Mckenzie's poll;

"In the case of Demidov, he is, in the eyes of our scouting panel, the clear consensus No. 2 choice behind Celebrini. Six of the 10 scouts surveyed had him at No. 2. All 10 had him in their top five. No other prospect in the draft, save Celebrini, had Top 5 unanimity"

 

[TheFridge]

The 2 teams that did not pick Demidov, had differing reasons. Both were smaller market teams, that didn't have as many resources as the Hawks. Getting a Russian player to play for them while using such a high pick is very risky. There is no gurantees. Also Anaheim picked Sennecke, who I'd also rather have over Levhunov. Columbus picked for need. They are set at wing with their current roster and really wanted the big Center-man in Cayden.

Demidov was also a consensus 2nd oa on Bob Mckenzie's poll;

"In the case of Demidov, he is, in the eyes of our scouting panel, the clear consensus No. 2 choice behind Celebrini. Six of the 10 scouts surveyed had him at No. 2. All 10 had him in their top five. No other prospect in the draft, save Celebrini, had Top 5 unanimity"

The Ducks literally used a top-10 pick on Mintyukov, who is currently on their roster and Columbus has five Russians on their NHL roster right now.

You cite Bob's list, which had Sennecke 11th and Levshunov 3rd but then say you'd have taken Sennecke over Levshunov too. So do you value Bob's list or do you not?

 

[ello]

The Ducks literally used a top-10 pick on Mintyukov, who is currently on their roster and Columbus has five Russians on their NHL roster right now.

You cite Bob's list, which had Sennecke 11th and Levshunov 3rd but then say you'd have taken Sennecke over Levshunov too. So do you value Bob's list or do you not?

Mintyukov played in the CHL, apples to oranges

 

[TheFridge]

Mintyukov played in the CHL, apples to oranges

And Demidov flew to a combine in Florida to explicitly state to NHL teams that he planned to come over after his contract ended this year.

Not really apples to oranges at all. You want players who are coming over. That's the point.

 

[ClydeLee]

Mintyukov played in the CHL, apples to oranges

Not at all. Demidov has this year, and is coming to NA. everyone in the league knew that. Before Michkov even came over early...

To say still now this is some different situation, is asinine. It's not valid. It was never valid. You need to drop it last summer. It was even idiotic for the 5 teams that skipped Michkov

 

[ello]

And Demidov flew to a combine in Florida to explicitly state to NHL teams that he planned to come over after his contract ended this year.

Not really apples to oranges at all. You want players who are coming over. That's the point.

Everyone knows that CHL Russians are much more of a guarantee to play pro NA hockey, but run with whatever suits your narrative

 

[ClydeLee]

Everyone knows that CHL Russians are much more of a guarantee to play pro NA hockey, but run with whatever suits your narrative

If you don't think Demdoiv is a 100% garnutee as much as any player drafted last draft, you're just beyond lost here.

 

[TheFridge]

Everyone knows that CHL Russians are much more of a guarantee to play pro NA hockey, but run with whatever suits your narrative

It's not my narrative. It's Demidov's. He explicitly said he would not sign an extension in Russia and that he was coming over. He told it to NHL execs faces *in the US*.

 

[Castle8130]

And Demidov flew to a combine in Florida to explicitly state to NHL teams that he planned to come over after his contract ended this year.

Not really apples to oranges at all. You want players who are coming over. That's the point.

The Russian factor for Demidov was very few scouts got to see him. There were literally teams that got to see him maybe a couple times throughout the year.

Mintyukov got a ton of looks from scouts. The entire reason the Hawks staff took Levshunov is because they had an arsenal of resources looking at him all year and had to take the word of their 1 Russian scout on demidov. NHL teams hate relying solely on tape to draft a player

 

[TLEH]

If Korchinski is not good enough to be on the team long term plans then why are people so insistent that we’d get a good forward prospect back? Don’t make the same mistake Stan did and trade away prospects too early just draft a damn forward our d pipeline is already more than fine and the strongest position of our pool as is

This team is f***ing terrible it needs every and all good players possible. There is no luxury of selecting by position.

 

[Chuck Testa]

Martone didn't really impress me at all with his showing at the WJHC. IMO it's (in no order):

Schaefer, Hagens, Misa top 3.

 

[Mjul Qvist]

Martone didn't really impress me at all with his showing at the WJHC. IMO it's (in no order):

Schaefer, Hagens, Misa top 3.

Now tell me who impressed you from Canada at the WJHC? Martone played in three games. In first he played around 14min, against Latvia 7min and in last game he played almost 15min where he scored a goal. Lets forget about these games and see how he plays rest of the season.