2025 NHL Draft Thread

[deytookerjaabs]

The big argument? From who? Lol

Lev is doing something well if he's leading his team in scoring (2nd overall, 1st as a d-man) and in +/- rating to help Michigan State improve its status vastly between the two seasons. I think this doesn't get enough attention, Lev improving/carrying the team.

MSU really isn’t very good when Levshunov isn’t on the ice.

if Levshunov played for Michigan instead of Michigan State then he would be the strong consensus 2nd best player in the class.

(etc.....)

From people posting on the forums, that's who.

 

[ClydeLee]

IF THE TEAM IS IN LAST PLACE WINNING THE LOTTERY FOR FIRST OVERALL DOESNT COUNT FOR THE TOTAL

Oh i hammer that constantly, but We arent garnuteed to finish last just because they currently are.

I will hope the NHL lotto gods, aka bettman, that give us a drop to 3 this year, to return that favor for a big jump to #1 next year

 

[Castle8130]

Starting to look into the Hawks 2 picks in the 20-35 range. A couple of names that are intriguing. Braedon Cootes, Nathan Behm, Kshawn Aitcheson, Kurban Limatov, Benjamin Kindel, and Jake O'brien. I'd be happy with any 2 of these

 

[pvr]

Low wrist shots are great for deflecting and tipping in pucks. It's not a bad skill to have at the point.

We spent more than a decade watching Keith launch slap shots into the pads of forwards on the power play (and just in general). Anything will be better than that.

 

[CallMeShaft]

We spent more than a decade watching Keith launch slap shots into the pads of forwards on the power play (and just in general). Anything will be better than that.

I remember those shots going high and wide personally.

Either way though, Keith could never get his shot through. It's a real positive when a defenseman can do that. Especially low shots, hard for the goalie to track, easy to deflect in.

 

[Castle8130]

Question for the average fan in this forum;

Hypothetically, let's say the Hawks get the 1st oa pick this year. Bob Mckenzie's scout poll states 8/10 scouts voted Matthew Schaefer as the #1 oa pick. The 2 scouts that don't have Schaefer #1, have him #2. The 2 scouts that didn't put Schaefer #1, have Hagens #1. The lowest Hagens is ranked is 3rd oa (only by 2 scouts).

Would you be bothered if the Hawks select Hagens over Schaefer given the information above?

I ask this because last year Demidov was voted higher than Levshunov in a similar fashion, but there was no dominant opinion on who the right pick is. It seems to me like there are more people upset with Levshunov over Demidov than there are people happy with the pick

 

[Mrfenn92]

Question for the average fan in this forum;

Hypothetically, let's say the Hawks get the 1st oa pick this year. Bob Mckenzie's scout poll states 8/10 scouts voted Matthew Schaefer as the #1 oa pick. The 2 scouts that don't have Schaefer #1, have him #2. The 2 scouts that didn't put Schaefer #1, have Hagens #1. The lowest Hagens is ranked is 3rd oa (only by 2 scouts).

Would you be bothered if the Hawks select Hagens over Schaefer given the information above?

I ask this because last year Demidov was voted higher than Levshunov in a similar fashion, but there was no dominant opinion on who the right pick is. It seems to me like there are more people upset with Levshunov over Demidov than there are people happy with the pick

What is your opinion on your question?

 

[Castle8130]

What is your opinion on your question?

It would bother me personally, yes

 

[ello]

It would bother me personally, yes

I’d be less upset. We need scoring more than anything so that’s why Lev over Demidov was extra frustrating especially considering I personally think Demidov is more talented

Schaefer is my number 1 but Hagens really isn’t all that far behind and we need franchise forwards BAD. Would be a shot that could make sense, imo.

 

[GIADF]

Draft Schaefer, sign Marner.

 

[Taze em]

Draft Schaefer, sign Marner.

Marner in, Jones out, draft Schaefer.

Dach Bedard Marner
Bertuzzi Nazar Teravainen

Vlasic Korch
Shaeffer Levshunov/Rinzel

Would be a tidy piece of work.

 

[Muffinalt]

I’d be less upset. We need scoring more than anything so that’s why Lev over Demidov was extra frustrating especially considering I personally think Demidov is more talented

Schaefer is my number 1 but Hagens really isn’t all that far behind and we need franchise forwards BAD. Would be a shot that could make sense, imo.

Same. I was bothered because I thought Demidov was much better and especially because Levshunov showed some real questions marks.

Schaeffer and Hagens are so close and without too many questions, I'd be really fine with either, and Misa too.

Just have to pick top 3.

 

[TLEH]

If you win 1.01 then you just take Schaefer. KK is still too much of an unknown. I think he’s gotten better but I’m not sure what he is going to be. He isn’t a defensive dynamo and he doesn’t produce a lot of offense. Seth Jones is trash. Hopefully we can move him with 4 years left. Allan is a steady 5 or 6 type. Maybe a defensive 4 if he develops. EDM has sort of stagnated this year when asked to play more defensively. Levshunov still too much of an unknown. Kaiser has struggled. Rinzel I love but you never know what a guy is until pro hockey.

Schaefer - Levshunov
Vlasic - Rinzel
KK - UFA RD/Allan
Kaiser/EDM/Allan

Or

Vlasic - Lev
Allan - Rinzel
KK - UFA RD/Kaiser/EDM

Top one looks way better… but then you’re subtracting a Hagens/Misa from the mix. If they land Schaefer for real then they need to have a discussion about trading Kevin for a forward that is 20-21 and close to helping a roster as well.

 

[ColbyChaos]

If we take Schaefer Bedard may as well request a trade since he will never get any competent linemates.

It’s funny how we desperately needed to take lev over Demidov last year since he was an elite RD and now suddenly when a new toy rolls around Lev isn’t good enough and we need a guy with number 1 D potential. Nevermind that Schaefer benefits hard from being the only good Dman in what is otherwise a porous class of Dmen just like Drysdale and Byram did which saw them being talked up as Norris level Dmen as well only for neither to even be a top pairing guy.

We have no forwards besides Bedard that even project as top 6ers with that same doomed logic. You can win without a #1 Dman you can even win with only four good Dmen. We talk about Korchinski not producing yet we act like we will get a stud forward for him? Look at the abysmal return Jiricek got and imagine it being even worse if we give up on KK

We have a forward group that can barely even score outside of Bedard. We don’t need to be the 2010s predators and have a super stacked Dcore and lose a ton of games 2-1 for the next decade. Trust in the d prospects we already have and do something to benefit the face of the franchise for once.

 

[hawksfan50]

Sonething new to keep an eye on...Recently Brampton signed its 4th round OHL Priority Draft selection...Aidan Lane who fell that low despite serious top round talent because he had committed to Harvard for 25/26 ..but this was before the NCAA changed the eligibility rules...much like Jack Pridham the Hawks draftee signed with Kitchener after the NCAA c rules changed ,and has really shinexd for them, Lane has had immediate impact for Brampton...especially with Martone and Reikopf away on team Canada at the World Juniors..
Lane had another goal tonight giving him 3g 2a in 5GP for tge 17 year old 2025 draft eligible..off to a very good OHL start...he is +3 to date..

The only ranking I see for him is at #57 listed on eliteprospects.com..but that was based on him still playing for St.Andrews College which is just the Prep School level of hockey ( he was team Captain there) ..apparently he left school,pkayed 2 USHL games with no points then signed with Brampton of the OHL with good results so far..With Martone and Reikopf away they probably are giving him a featured role..whether that gets reduced after thec2 star forwards return after thexWJHC,I do not know ..but if Lane continues to shine he could rocket up the charts if not by mid-term rankings then by fibak rankings ..how far he rises is too early to tell..but a key factor is if he has spurted in growth ...the articlexI saw when Brampton signed him was that he was just 6'0..another article said 6'1 but eliteorospects.com now lists himat 6'2 193 ..If he is that big already and continues scoring like he has so far he certainly will rise probaly into round one ..thus he could bexa target for is with our 2nd first rounder with that Leafs pick..
The scouting g report I saw o him says very skillex and soft hands .so an intriguing new name to follow and see if he gets on our target list for the 2nd first or for the early 2nd rounder.

 

[ello]

If we take Schaefer Bedard may as well request a trade since he will never get any competent linemates.

It’s funny how we desperately needed to take lev over Demidov last year since he was an elite RD and now suddenly when a new toy rolls around Lev isn’t good enough and we need a guy with number 1 D potential. Nevermind that Schaefer benefits hard from being the only good Dman in what is otherwise a porous class of Dmen just like Drysdale and Byram did which saw them being talked up as Norris level Dmen as well only for neither to even be a top pairing guy.

We have no forwards besides Bedard that even project as top 6ers with that same doomed logic. You can win without a #1 Dman you can even win with only four good Dmen. We talk about Korchinski not producing yet we act like we will get a stud forward for him? Look at the abysmal return Jiricek got and imagine it being even worse if we give up on KK

We have a forward group that can barely even score outside of Bedard. We don’t need to be the 2010s predators and have a super stacked Dcore and lose a ton of games 2-1 for the next decade. Trust in the d prospects we already have and do something to benefit the face of the franchise for once.

This is why I thought the argument of "2025 is the draft of forwards therefore Lev makes the most sense" was so dumb at the time. These are 17 year old kids. You have no idea who's going to develop in what way a year from now.

 

[TLEH]

If we take Schaefer Bedard may as well request a trade since he will never get any competent linemates.

It’s funny how we desperately needed to take lev over Demidov last year since he was an elite RD and now suddenly when a new toy rolls around Lev isn’t good enough and we need a guy with number 1 D potential. Nevermind that Schaefer benefits hard from being the only good Dman in what is otherwise a porous class of Dmen just like Drysdale and Byram did which saw them being talked up as Norris level Dmen as well only for neither to even be a top pairing guy.

We have no forwards besides Bedard that even project as top 6ers with that same doomed logic. You can win without a #1 Dman you can even win with only four good Dmen. We talk about Korchinski not producing yet we act like we will get a stud forward for him? Look at the abysmal return Jiricek got and imagine it being even worse if we give up on KK

We have a forward group that can barely even score outside of Bedard. We don’t need to be the 2010s predators and have a super stacked Dcore and lose a ton of games 2-1 for the next decade. Trust in the d prospects we already have and do something to benefit the face of the franchise for once.

Schaefer is good because Schaefer is good, not because there aren't other D.

 

[TheFridge]

If we take Schaefer Bedard may as well request a trade since he will never get any competent linemates.

It’s funny how we desperately needed to take lev over Demidov last year since he was an elite RD and now suddenly when a new toy rolls around Lev isn’t good enough and we need a guy with number 1 D potential. Nevermind that Schaefer benefits hard from being the only good Dman in what is otherwise a porous class of Dmen just like Drysdale and Byram did which saw them being talked up as Norris level Dmen as well only for neither to even be a top pairing guy.

We have no forwards besides Bedard that even project as top 6ers with that same doomed logic. You can win without a #1 Dman you can even win with only four good Dmen. We talk about Korchinski not producing yet we act like we will get a stud forward for him? Look at the abysmal return Jiricek got and imagine it being even worse if we give up on KK

We have a forward group that can barely even score outside of Bedard. We don’t need to be the 2010s predators and have a super stacked Dcore and lose a ton of games 2-1 for the next decade. Trust in the d prospects we already have and do something to benefit the face of the franchise for once.

Neither guy ever contended for first overall like Schaefer is and Byram is just 23, while Drysdale is 22. Duncan Keith was just establishing himself in the NHL at 23. The amount of people on here that don't seem to understand for the overwhelming majority of players, their prime doesn't start when they get into the league; their prime is like 25-30/31/32. It's why you have teams like Buffalo that throw away very good players literally just before they become elite players.

 

[Geoist]

Everyone talking Hagens vs. Schaefer and I'm sitting over here watching Misa highlights on YouTube.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

I just don’t see it with Hagens. I’d take Misa before Hagens. I don’t think Hagens will be bad per se, just that a high offensive ceiling likely isn’t there. And that’s what the Hawks are looking for in forwards.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

Question for the average fan in this forum;

Hypothetically, let's say the Hawks get the 1st oa pick this year. Bob Mckenzie's scout poll states 8/10 scouts voted Matthew Schaefer as the #1 oa pick. The 2 scouts that don't have Schaefer #1, have him #2. The 2 scouts that didn't put Schaefer #1, have Hagens #1. The lowest Hagens is ranked is 3rd oa (only by 2 scouts).

Would you be bothered if the Hawks select Hagens over Schaefer given the information above?

I ask this because last year Demidov was voted higher than Levshunov in a similar fashion, but there was no dominant opinion on who the right pick is. It seems to me like there are more people upset with Levshunov over Demidov than there are people happy with the pick

Personally? God yes.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

I've had Schaefer 1 and Misa 2 forever. Hagens is a good prospect but you take those two in that order.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

If we take Schaefer Bedard may as well request a trade since he will never get any competent linemates.

It’s funny how we desperately needed to take lev over Demidov last year since he was an elite RD and now suddenly when a new toy rolls around Lev isn’t good enough and we need a guy with number 1 D potential. Nevermind that Schaefer benefits hard from being the only good Dman in what is otherwise a porous class of Dmen just like Drysdale and Byram did which saw them being talked up as Norris level Dmen as well only for neither to even be a top pairing guy.

We have no forwards besides Bedard that even project as top 6ers with that same doomed logic. You can win without a #1 Dman you can even win with only four good Dmen. We talk about Korchinski not producing yet we act like we will get a stud forward for him? Look at the abysmal return Jiricek got and imagine it being even worse if we give up on KK

We have a forward group that can barely even score outside of Bedard. We don’t need to be the 2010s predators and have a super stacked Dcore and lose a ton of games 2-1 for the next decade. Trust in the d prospects we already have and do something to benefit the face of the franchise for once.

I didn't like Lev at 2 before the draft. I love Schaefer. At first overall you take the best prospect. Full stop.

 

[Pertti]

Question for the average fan in this forum;

Hypothetically, let's say the Hawks get the 1st oa pick this year. Bob Mckenzie's scout poll states 8/10 scouts voted Matthew Schaefer as the #1 oa pick. The 2 scouts that don't have Schaefer #1, have him #2. The 2 scouts that didn't put Schaefer #1, have Hagens #1. The lowest Hagens is ranked is 3rd oa (only by 2 scouts).

Would you be bothered if the Hawks select Hagens over Schaefer given the information above?

I ask this because last year Demidov was voted higher than Levshunov in a similar fashion, but there was no dominant opinion on who the right pick is. It seems to me like there are more people upset with Levshunov over Demidov than there are people happy with the pick

McKenzie's BS is for fans. Blackhawks pay good money for it's scouts to pick BPA.

Would it bother me, no I don't follow juniors, so I don't know how different juniors are, just wait them to hit NHL before making decision.

 

[ClydeLee]

Personally? God yes.

If you already personally have Shaefer #1 and did so for some time, would that poll impact you? Being upset, sure I get, but did the 8/10 scouts impact you.

This question/ thought about a poll influence seems to act like people's minds weren't made up. I don't think if a poll was 5/5 that would of changed people's minds that already have their conclusions.

For instance I dont think i saw anyone citing/saying, they were for Lev... but changed their mind because of that poll to Demidov. Not here nor like chgo comments or elsewhere.