2025 NHL Draft Thread

[Dead Meat]

lol @ a Ty Rattie sighting - cheers

 

[Muffinalt]

Is anyone concerned with Martone's feet?

 

[Mjul Qvist]

Is anyone concerned with Martone's feet?

Haven´t read anything about them that makes me concerned. Blackhawks could use some Matthew Tkachuk type of player in future?

 

[HawksDub89]

Is anyone concerned with Martone's feet?

He’s an average skater, not bad. So no.

 

[TLEH]

Guys, some of these drafts were ~<2 years ago. How has Andrew Cristall's stock skyrocketed? Or Perreault's? Or Musty's? These are players who we knew could score as juniors in their draft years who are still playing junior (or college). No one is going to care that Cristall put up 130 points in his final WHL season if he can't score in the NHL. He might as well be Ty Rattie right now.

People can proclaim the Hawks made the wrong pick(s) when these players get to the NHL and start producing -- if they ever do.



Perreault is an especially annoying name to come out because people somehow believe their view of him is vindicated because he's scored in college. No one ever doubted he would be a good college player -- especially while being glued to elite college talents like Smith, Hagens, Gauthier and Leonard.

We'll get a much better sense of what Perreault can be when he's not playing with those guys in pro hockey.

I get your point. I think the overarching thing is that guys who DON'T score in junior don't magically just score in the pros. The guys that do score in junior aren't guaranteed to do that in the pros, but they have a way better shot.

 

[HawksDub89]

Haven´t read anything about them that makes me concerned. Blackhawks could use some Matthew Tkachuk type of player in future?

Exactly. I’m kind of over the whole “needs to be an unbelievable skater to be a hawk” narrative.

There’s a massive difference between “can’t skate” and average skater.

Boisvert is proof they’ll draft an average skater if they like the other traits.

 

[TheFridge]

I get your point. I think the overarching thing is that guys who DON'T score in junior don't magically just score in the pros. The guys that do score in junior aren't guaranteed to do that in the pros, but they have a way better shot.

To me it's not a matter of a guy scoring or not scoring. Obviously players that don't score in Junior likely aren't going to score in the NHL. But it's how they score that will translate. Cristall for instance is simply more talented than 99% of WHL players. But is he going to score when the talent distribution equalizes, his perimeter play is more isolating and suddenly his athletic traits (or lack thereof) hold him back? Same thing applies to Perreault.

 

[Muffinalt]

Exactly. I’m kind of over the whole “needs to be an unbelievable skater to be a hawk” narrative.

There’s a massive difference between “can’t skate” and average skater.

Boisvert is proof they’ll draft an average skater if they like the other traits.

That wasn't point of my question, and actually share your opinion.

I'm asking only of Martone independently. Ill never forget Laf's case where I was sure he's gonna be generational but then he's heavy feet were more problematic than thought before.

 

[ello]

If in November 2024 you’re still attributing Perreaults success to his teammates you don’t watch prospects enough

 

[TLEH]

To me it's not a matter of a guy scoring or not scoring. Obviously players that don't score in Junior likely aren't going to score in the NHL. But it's how they score that will translate. Cristall for instance is simply more talented than 99% of WHL players. But is he going to score when the talent distribution equalizes, his perimeter play is more isolating and suddenly his athletic traits (or lack thereof) hold him back? Same thing applies to Perreault.

Thats my entire point. Guys that play up your lineup in the pros score at a high rate, and almost all of those guys scored at a high rate in junior. If your argument is that if Perreault doesn't score then he's in Switzerland then I'll probably agree with you but I think the risk isn't that dissimilar to a guy with a higher floor just becoming a 4th line checker. I'd rather take the bet on the scoring translating. Its not like Cristall even went that high, I'd rather have him scoring at the rate he is in the WHL than whatever a lot of the other guys in the 2nd are doing.

 

[hawksrule]

Perreault (along with Leonard) are off to much slower starts now that the team they’re on isn’t nearly as stacked as last year.

So let’s hold off on declaring victories and losses. And I’m no fan of the Moore pick.

Perreault has 18 points in 11 games.

 

[TLEH]

Perreault has 18 points in 11 games.

Yeah Perreault still looks great.

 

[Wieters]

Perreault (along with Leonard) are off to much slower starts now that the team they’re on isn’t nearly as stacked as last year.

So let’s hold off on declaring victories and losses. And I’m no fan of the Moore pick.

Perreault has more points through the 11 games BC has played this year than he did through 11 games BC played last year, he's doing that against a tougher schedule this year than last, and BC has as many first round picks now as they did last year and more second round picks. So, not sure what you're talking about.

 

[MHO]

Yeah Perreault still looks great.

I made this point before. Points isn't everything. McGroarty significantly outproduced Nazar last season on the same team and Nazar right now is tearing up the AHL with 16 points in 13 games and McGroarty has been quiet with 3 points in 12 games. The one tool that Nazar has on McGroarty is skating and that clearly makes a difference at higher levels.

Will Perreault end up being a better NHL player than Moore? Maybe. But the knock on Perreault at the time was skating and Moore was the best skater in the draft. So let's wait a year or 2 before declaring anything.

 

[TLEH]

I made this point before. Points isn't everything. McGroarty significantly outproduced Nazar last season on the same team and Nazar right now is tearing up the AHL with 16 points in 13 games and McGroarty has been quiet with 3 points in 12 games. The one tool that Nazar has on McGroarty is skating and that clearly makes a difference at higher levels.

Will Perreault end up being a better NHL player than Moore? Maybe. But the knock on Perreault at the time was skating and Moore was the best skater in the draft. So let's wait a year or 2 before declaring anything.

I agree. Its not everything. I watched that Michigan team a lot and was constantly reporting that Nazar was not receiving favorable deployment.

Perreault's scoring was just that much better than anyone available at that range and I think the skating thing is a bit overblown for him anyway. Of course comparing him to Moore's skating, anyone will look bad.

No one is saying its done and dusted, but waiting until it is to form an opinion is kinda boring.

 

[ClydeLee]

No one is saying its done and dusted, but waiting until it is to form an opinion is kinda boring.

It's how people treat Nick Lardis... a guy scoring scoring and scoring when you know he can score at those levels is kinda boring.

What's interesting and worth saying he is improving his stock, is if he is breaking the questionable layers he had. Is he getting to the front of the net, improving 2way play, and then some. That's the markings of being a good prospect. Unless you are a sure thing top line player, you need more than scoring

 

[MHO]

I agree. Its not everything. I watched that Michigan team a lot and was constantly reporting that Nazar was not receiving favorable deployment.

Perreault's scoring was just that much better than anyone available at that range and I think the skating thing is a bit overblown for him anyway. Of course comparing him to Moore's skating, anyone will look bad.

No one is saying its done and dusted, but waiting until it is to form an opinion is kinda boring.

Sure you can form an opinion but forming the opinion only using numbers isn't always best. Like I'm already done with Misiak because he looks invisible in every game I've seen. I don't care what his number are. There's that guy Protas who's playing in Windsor who is putting up numbers but the dud can't skate even if he's 6'5, I don't know what his NHL prospects are.

Unfortunately, college, junior, and AHL hockey isn't broadcast much so it's hard to watch these guys play but I try to look at tape more than production.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

2025 NHL Draft Top 32 Prospects Ranking, November 25, 2024 - HockeyProspect.com

HockeyProspect.com is excited to announce our first 2025 NHL Draft Ranking of the season. This list includes a top 64 ranking (link), with the top 32

hockeyprospect.com

1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Hagens
4. Frondell
5. Martone

The 2025 NHL Draft currently appears to be a weaker class than usual, and this assessment aligns with feedback we’re receiving from NHL team scouts so far. Specifically within Europe, in the USHL and the NTDP. The QMJHL, WHL & NCAA have decent talent pools comparing to their usual draft classes, while the OHL has a good class of eligible players. However, there is a noticeable shortage of high-end talents in this draft class and it starts early in our list.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

2025 NHL Draft Top 32 Prospects Ranking, November 25, 2024 - HockeyProspect.com

HockeyProspect.com is excited to announce our first 2025 NHL Draft Ranking of the season. This list includes a top 64 ranking (link), with the top 32

hockeyprospect.com

1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Hagens
4. Frondell
5. Martone

Yeah this draft is a bit of a mess. I do like Misa a lot. I think is ceiling is Aho which would be an excellent get.

It would be tough drafting another dman since we’ve spent so much capital on it. The hawks pool really needs a high end forward.

 

[TheFridge]

Hagens and Martone were setting records at the U18s 6 months ago. Misa and Martone are both off to extremely impressive starts in the OHL. I find it funny when there isn't a clear cut #1 prospect available, the draft is considered "weak" as a result it seems. Any of Hagens, Martone and Misa would have challenged for 2nd overall last year behind Celebrini. They are all clearly better than the 2nd best forward available last year, whether you think that was Demidov, Sennecke or Lindstrom.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

Hagens and Martone were setting records at the U18s 6 months ago. Misa and Martone are both off to extremely impressive starts in the OHL. I find it funny when there isn't a clear cut #1 prospect available, the draft is considered "weak" as a result it seems. Any of Hagens, Martone and Misa would have challenged for 2nd overall last year behind Celebrini. They are all clearly better than the 2nd best forward available last year, whether you think that was Demidov, Sennecke or Lindstrom.

There’s also a real lack of depth after the top 5 that continues as well. So you’re not getting a guaranteed superstar and late firsts are worth a lot less.

Like there’s a huge gap between Celebrini and Hagens. Celebrini tore up college and didn’t have high end wingers flanking him. Hagens hasn’t come close to that playing with some of the best talent college has to offer in Leonard and Perreault.

Martone has skating concerns. McQueen has injury issues. There’s a major drop off in talent after the top 5. So yes, it is in fact a weak draft. 2024 wasn’t super strong, but there was definitely better depth across the board.