2025 NHL Draft Thread

[Muffinalt]

I think we are going to get a really nice prospect again as long as we are top 4.

I have it as Schaefer, Martone, Hagens and Misa right now, but would be very happy with either. Especially the top two.

Also love Desnoyers. Screams winning player. Would be nice to trade up for him somewhere into the top 10.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Now a quarter of the way through the season you might feel a slight sting. That’s pride f***ing with you. F*** pride. It only hurts, it never helps. Fight through that sh*t because three years from now when you’re kicking it with a loaded group of young players, you’re gonna say Tanking was right

 

[Kevin Musto]

I'm not gonna lie, Martone is kind of like a more physical Dylan Strome

 

[Crow]

I'm not gonna lie, Martone is kind of like a more physical Dylan Strome

God help us all

 

[ColbyChaos]

Perhaps there are others, but Perreault is the obvious one who comes to mind.

Cristall as well (don’t want to go full Musto though)

 

[MHO]

I watched the USA-CHL challenge and my favorite player was Cameron Schmidt. Dude was a dog and just looked like a player. He's listed at 5'7 156 but didn't look that small and he sure doesn't play small. I don't think you can justify taking a player that size at the top of the draft but I'd be doing somersaults if they can get him with Toronto's pick or another 1st/2nd they may acquire at the deadline.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Now a quarter of the way through the season you might feel a slight sting. That’s pride f***ing with you. F*** pride. It only hurts, it never helps. Fight through that sh*t because three years from now when you’re kicking it with a loaded group of young players, you’re gonna say Tanking was right

exactly and hopefully Danny understands this because I think KD does to do it in the first place, but Danny needs to stay out of the way with forcing them to exit rebuild too soon to get attendance and tv viewership up, the tank will be worth the wait and will dictate the ceiling of this team

 

[Toews2Bickell]

If Schaefer is a sure fire 1D and he’s available when the Hawks pick, logjam at D and need for a forward be dammed. Take BPA, this team still sucks bad. It’s in no position to be passing on BPA.

As @HawksDub89 said, that defensive group makes this franchise a true contender in a few years. But that’s the key, still a few years and that means more time to sign/trade for/draft impact forwards. Just need to have them in place once Schaefer and Levshunov are ready and still playing on ELCs or second contracts.

Seems like some in the media think the competitive window revolves around Bedard, but it’s more likely around Levshunov and whoever is picked in the top five this year.

Also, if Nazar actually does land somewhere between a Trochek and Point type of center, then that will make a huge difference. Obviously remains to be seen.

Colorado media probably thought their window was going to be dictated by MacKinnon but it was the emergence of Makar that got them into the elite tier, same thing could be the case here and what takes them for eventually good to eventually cup contender

 

[Muffinalt]

I'm not gonna lie, Martone is kind of like a more physical Dylan Strome

To be fair, a more physical Strome is an incredible player. That's what we've wanted from him all along.

I was a little nervous about Martone's skating at first, but im loving the player now. He does it all, and seems super smart. He's my favorite forward so far.

 

[Kevin Musto]

I'm starting to see why Kyle was so willing to trade our 2025 1st round pick for Demidov

I don't think the Blackhawks think highly of this draft class

 

[Hattrick Kane]

I'm starting to see why Kyle was so willing to trade our 2025 1st round pick for Demidov

I don't think the Blackhawks think highly of this draft class

The top 4 are alright. After that, it’s pretty dire. Think 2018.

 

[GIADF]

I’d rather have a top 4 pick in this draft over Demidov.


But at the time that came up I don’t think anyone would have expected a top 4 pick to look like a lock a 1/4 of the way into this season.

 

[Kevin Musto]

The top 4 are alright. After that, it’s pretty dire. Think 2018.

That's the thing. They seem alright.

Guys you'd like to take in the 3-6 range. Not 1st overall caliber talent.

I'll keep an eye on Schaefer because of his age. He has a chance to make bigger strides by the end of the season than everyone else. So maybe he eventually starts to look like a true elite talent come playoff time. Too early to say right now.

 

[dj Mahoney]

Some are comparing Schaefer to alltime greats on D . Is he the obvious #1 ?

 

[CallMeShaft]

On December 1st of last year, the four worst teams according to points percentage were Sharks, Hawks, Ducks, and Jackets (in order). Those four finished the season in that same order.

In 2022, the four worst teams at this point finished as the four worst teams. Only change was we were 2nd worst on December 1st and finished 3rd worst.

Outside of pulling a 2019 Blues, we're probably pretty locked in on one of the top 4 picks already.

 

[dreadpirateroberts]

Some are comparing Schaefer to alltime greats on D . Is he the obvious #1 ?

There is still plenty of time left, but he’s certainly playing his way into that consideration. If he’s the BPA on their board, I wouldn’t be upset if they took him. However, you need to supply Bedard with help ASAP and that probably is via trade. With the way they’ve been playing, I expect they’ll be in top 5 contention again next year and hopefully the hockey gods will bless us with McKenna.

 

[dj Mahoney]

There is still plenty of time left, but he’s certainly playing his way into that consideration. If he’s the BPA on their board, I wouldn’t be upset if they took him. However, you need to supply Bedard with help ASAP and that probably is via trade. With the way they’ve been playing, I expect they’ll be in top 5 contention again next year and hopefully the hockey gods will bless us with McKenna.

If Schaefer is that good you gotta pick him . Then UFA to fill spot next to Bedard and tons of picks still held .

 

[statswatcher]

schaefer levshunov
korchinski rinzel
or some combination thereof is a crazy future top four assuming each name hits its ceiling.

 

[MHO]

schaefer levshunov
korchinski rinzel
or some combination thereof is a crazy future top four assuming each name hits its ceiling.

Alex Vlasic ain't no slouch either on the bottom pair

If Schaefer is that good you gotta pick him . Then UFA to fill spot next to Bedard and tons of picks still held .

Agree but let's see what the word is on the other forwards as well come draft time. It's also possible to get something from the surplus of young, cheap defensemen that the Hawks have. I feel like San Jose and Montreal are just two examples of teams that have a lot of young forwards but not enough young D.

 

[dj Mahoney]

Lots of options on the bottom 4 , Del Mastro , Allan , Kaiser . STANLEY CUPS in the future

 

[MicronMega]

Schaefer is an incredible player. But, how do you ignore the holes upfront when you already have Korchisnki, Levshunov, Rinzel, Vlasic etc? How will you ever pay that much on the back end and not score goals?

 

[Mjul Qvist]

I watched the USA-CHL challenge and my favorite player was Cameron Schmidt. Dude was a dog and just looked like a player. He's listed at 5'7 156 but didn't look that small and he sure doesn't play small. I don't think you can justify taking a player that size at the top of the draft but I'd be doing somersaults if they can get him with Toronto's pick or another 1st/2nd they may acquire at the deadline.

He might be 2025 draft version of Stankoven.

 

[statswatcher]

Schaefer is an incredible player. But, how do you ignore the holes upfront when you already have Korchisnki, Levshunov, Rinzel, Vlasic etc? How will you ever pay that much on the back end and not score goals?

i'm not sold on korchinski as a top pair LD. vlasic still staying steady is a good thing, but ideally i wouldn't rely on him for that spot either. we don't really know what rinzel or lev will look like as finished products yet. if (and i know that word is being thrown around a lot here) shaefer is a sure fire number one, there are a lot worse problems to have than lacking top line forward talent when (on paper) you have your defense settled for the next decade before you've even stopped tanking in earnest.

i can understand the desire to get bedard help, but i also get the feeling passing on demidov was a mistake made chasing positional need, and i don't want them to compund that mistake this draft. if the pick to make last draft was a forward but they took a defenseman, i don't want them to pass on a BPA defenseman this year trying to fill a hole they should have filled last go around.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Vlasic is six years older than Schaefer, Kaiser is five years older, Allan and Del Mastro are four years older, Korchinski is three years older.

If your scout is pounding the table for Schaefer, you shouldn't just not take him even if a Forward is more ideal from a fit standpoint. Ten years from now you'd feel pretty silly if you passed up the best Defenseman in the League (for the sake of hypothetical here) because you had Wyatt Kaiser already. We'll see.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

schaefer levshunov
korchinski rinzel
or some combination thereof is a crazy future top four assuming each name hits its ceiling.

even if korchinski is moved or whatever you got vlasic rinzel as a 2nd pair which would be a minutes eater in a 7 game playoff series, take schaefer as a hedge on korchinski if hes truly got heiskanen/dahlin upside and figure out forward via trades/ufa and 26/27 draft where they should still be a lotto team