2025 NHL Draft Thread

[HawksDub89]

Martone is a distant 4th for me personally. His skating worries me. Schaefer is a no doubter at 1 OA and I would be happy with Hagens or Misa at 2 or 3.

I’m not sure how this “Martone can’t skate” narrative got started.

He’s not Jack Hughes, but he’s also not Strome. He’s fine.

 

[ello]

I’m not sure how this “Martone can’t skate” narrative got started.

He’s not Jack Hughes, but he’s also not Strome. He’s fine.

Gotta be the post WJC effect. Gauging draft stock from a 4-7 game stretch intuitively makes no sense but it happens every year. Zadina potted 7 goals as a draft eligible then followed that up with a 0 goal performance the next year. The volatility is insane.

Martone probably touched the puck like 20 times all tournament. Hard to gauge a players skillset when they cant get into a groove.

I remember Mackinnon looked like a lower IQ/skill player in his draft year at the WJC and Drouin has surpassed him on plenty of lists until Mack's Mem Cup performance: Craig Button's top-75 for 2013 NHL draft (March 4th)

 

[kmwtrucks]

SJ, Nash Seattle all won. That helps the tank

 

[Hattrick Kane]

SJ, Nash Seattle all won. That helps the tank

It’s a three way race to the bottom. SJ is 4 points up, Nashville is 5, Buffalo is 7. Everyone else is over 10 up.

Dead last is a guaranteed top 3 pick. Don’t need to win this year.

 

[CallMeShaft]

After tonight's games, Tankathon has us listed as having the 6th toughest strength of schedule remaining. Sharks are at 16 and Nashville has the easiest schedule remaining, all the way down at 32nd for strength of schedule.

So Nashville should have a pretty easy ride for the rest of the year, Sharks are middle of the pack regarding competition, and the Hawks have a lot of hard matches ahead.

 

[Kevin Musto]

After tonight's games, Tankathon has us listed as having the 6th toughest strength of schedule remaining. Sharks are at 16 and Nashville has the easiest schedule remaining, all the way down at 32nd for strength of schedule.

So Nashville should have a pretty easy ride for the rest of the year, Sharks are middle of the pack regarding competition, and the Hawks have a lot of hard matches ahead.

Hope the team has a big therapy budget

These boys are gonna need it

 

[kmwtrucks]

After Nash Thursday, next 8 vegas minn, FL, edm, TB TB CAR CAR. That’s pretty tough

 

[OhCaptainMyCaptain]

Great night for the tank!

 

[ploppsdman]

Your takes just keep getting worse.

I'm advocating for a top D prospect for top F prospect trade. I don't care how they get there, they'd just better get there AND if #3 overall wants to give me a great asset to jump a few spots, perfect.

6 D and there is only so much ice, fellas. Chicago is coming close to having a logjam at the AHL level. You better do something.

 

[Pez68]

I'm advocating for a top D prospect for top F prospect trade. I don't care how they get there, they'd just better get there AND if #3 overall wants to give me a great asset to jump a few spots, perfect.

6 D and there is only so much ice, fellas. Chicago is coming close to having a logjam at the AHL level. You better do something.

A log jam. Lol

Have you even looked at the AHL roster?

 

[CallMeShaft]

I'm advocating for a top D prospect for top F prospect trade. I don't care how they get there, they'd just better get there AND if #3 overall wants to give me a great asset to jump a few spots, perfect.

6 D and there is only so much ice, fellas. Chicago is coming close to having a logjam at the AHL level. You better do something.

Think Pez's criticism had more to do with the hypothetical trading of the 1st overall pick.

Outside of a gigantic overpay, if you get 1st overall, you hold onto it.

I agree with trading a top D prospect in the scenario where we get Schaefer. Vlasic is playing at a top pairing level. We've got Korchinski, who was a high pick. Allan is coming into his own. There isn't room on the left side for Schaefer atm. And we currently have Jones (who I hope is traded), Lev (recent 2nd overall pick), Rinzel (killing it in the NCAA this year), and Crevier (showing that he can at least hack it on the 3rd pair); so it's not like you can just move a lefty over to the right side.

Not to mention we would still need help up front. KK just makes logical sense to be the one to move in that hypothetical scenario. Trade him for help up front.

But don't not pick Schaefer just because we're already loaded on the future backend. Go BPA at that spot and figure the rest out later.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

Think Pez's criticism had more to do with the hypothetical trading of the 1st overall pick.

Outside of a gigantic overpay, if you get 1st overall, you hold onto it.

I agree with trading a top D prospect in the scenario where we get Schaefer. Vlasic is playing at a top pairing level. We've got Korchinski, who was a high pick. Allan is coming into his own. There isn't room on the left side for Schaefer atm. And we currently have Jones (who I hope is traded), Lev (recent 2nd overall pick), Rinzel (killing it in the NCAA this year), and Crevier (showing that he can at least hack it on the 3rd pair); so it's not like you can just move a lefty over to the right side.

Not to mention we would still need help up front. KK just makes logical sense to be the one to move in that hypothetical scenario. Trade him for help up front.

But don't not pick Schaefer just because we're already loaded on the future backend. Go BPA at that spot and figure the rest out later.

You dont even need to make a trade next year. If Jones goes in the offseason, you have at least one season to see who’s trending better before you go trading Korchinski or whoever. Doubly so if they dump Murphy off or buyout Brodie.

 

[WarriorofTime]

I'm advocating for a top D prospect for top F prospect trade. I don't care how they get there, they'd just better get there AND if #3 overall wants to give me a great asset to jump a few spots, perfect.

6 D and there is only so much ice, fellas. Chicago is coming close to having a logjam at the AHL level. You better do something.

There is no AHL Logjam. Hawks have 12 defensemen under NHL Contract right now. You typically keep 7 on NHL roster. Injuries open up another spot. You can keep up 8 if you need.

Martinez is expiring UFA this year. Phillips is expiring RFA that they likely part ways with. Murphy is a trade candidate prior to start of next season (will have 1 year left). Brodie can be banished to shadow realm (will have 1 year left). Possible that Jones waives and is traded prior to start of next season as well.

Reserve list Defensemen:
1) Janne Peltonen Aug 15, 2027, random 2nd divison former 7th round pick, obviously not bringing over.
2) Ty Henry - 6th round 18 year old OHL player, obviously playing Junior
3) Taige Harding - likely try and sign (August 15, 2025 Free Agent)
4) Sam Rinzel - likely try and sign (on reserve list for two more years, but ready to go pro)
5) Connor Kelley - probably let lapse, maybe sign, former 7th round at Providence (August 15, 2025 Free Agent)

If Phillips and Martinez go, you sign Rinzel and Harding, you're right back to 12 signed Defensemen.

You could start a year with a run of

NHL
Vlasic-Jones
Korchinski-Murphy
Allan-Crevier
Kaiser
Brodie* (waive/wait around for someone else to be traded/IR'd)

AHL
Del Mastro-Levshunov
Harding-Rinzel
rando-rando
rando
rando

No roster limit in the AHL

Room for someone that is still waiver-exempt to be sent down (Allan/Korchinski) depending on their level of play.. or just waive Kaiser/Crevier depending on their level of play, and if the one who doesn't make the team gets claimed, oh well, and if not, still have AHL spots.

All adding Schaefer would do is potentially force the issue even more for someone else in terms of getting Brodie out of there, trading Murphy away, finding what teams Jones waives his NMC for and kicking tires around on that more. As a Number 1 pick, you'd give him a shot to make the team. If he's a Number 2 or 3 pick, then there's less of a marketing push to keep him on the NHL, in which case a Slide is simple enough.

 

[CallMeShaft]

You dont even need to make a trade next year. If Jones goes in the offseason, you have at least one season to see who’s trending better before you go trading Korchinski or whoever. Doubly so if they dump Murphy off or buyout Brodie.

I agree, said something similar in another post here.

Schaefer shouldn't be in the NHL next season. He's like 2 weeks away from being eligible for the 2026 draft and he's gonna miss months due to his injury. He'll rightfully spend another year in the CHL.

That gives the Hawks time to make a decision or try to boost the value of a D they'd be looking at moving to make room for MS. Still think logically it'd be Korchinski, he's alot like MS but with a lower floor/ceiling. And we wouldn't be hurting for offensive defensemen if we had MS, Lev, and Rinzel; at least one of those guys would already be likely missing PP time considering you only really need one D on each unit.

 

[hawksrule]

Chicago says no.

It'd be something like Chicago trading 1st overall for 3rd overall and San Jose's early 2nd or whatever.

Should take a lot more than a 2nd to move off the 1oa, but it’s a moot point because it won’t happen anyway.

 

[TLEH]

if you move #1 you introduce two variables. Schaefers NHL career and the career of whoever you pick. GMs generally don’t like having an opportunity to look stupid twice in one deal.

I think there is merit in the discussion that a player might not hit his ceiling if he’s pushed down the lineup because of other really good players. I also think that other than Vlasic the rest of our D core is an unknown. Said this before but this roster sucks. You just have to take the best player.

 

[Hawkaholic]

I’m not sure how this “Martone can’t skate” narrative got started.

He’s not Jack Hughes, but he’s also not Strome. He’s fine.

Yeah, no idea where this is coming from, he's a perfectly fine skater. There are better skaters available at the top of the draft, but none of those guys have the size/skill combo that Martone has, so you sacrifice a bit of one for more of the other.

 

[Mjul Qvist]

Yeah, no idea where this is coming from, he's a perfectly fine skater. There are better skaters available at the top of the draft, but none of those guys have the size/skill combo that Martone has, so you sacrifice a bit of one for more of the other.

Matthew Tkachuk isn´t the best skater out there or Sam Reinhart fastest. Pretty solid players both though. But have to say that Victor Eklund is someone who you would think Davidson and Doneghey likes.

 

[giza]

Last year, it was down to 2. This year, much tougher......load up on another high end D man? Power forward. Slick skating forwards like Misa and Hagens. Big heavy, defensively aware center Frolund.....dang, this is tough.

 

[Hawkaholic]

Matthew Tkachuk isn´t the best skater out there or Sam Reinhart fastest. Pretty solid players both though. But have to say that Victor Eklund is someone who you would think Davidson and Doneghey likes.

Exactly, not that you draft for need, but this team could use some size as well, so thats just a plus for Martone in my books. Not only do I think he is at least a top 5 pick, he has something we really need too.

 

[deytookerjaabs]

Who drafts a top 5 guy then right away thinks "he'll be so good I'm trading these other guys away."

You don't start thinking about that stuff until you have a logjam of bonafide relatively healthy NHL'ers who have already turned the corner on their development.

Anything could happen with any pick.

 

[hawksfan50]

Ok it us easy forxaklof us to go with Schaefer as the#1overal who we shoukd draft if we get luckyvand stay at#1afterlotgo or move up to#1if somehow wakeup-frog SJ and orNashvole to finish #2or#3..
IFwe finish 2or 3 and drop two spots..it means we draft 3 orchestra
.
So we have to have a 5 target scenario list for all tgese possible draft slotcoutcones post lotto.

Schafer is the no brainer for#1 but you can make arguments for the next 4 or 5 players on most list after Schaefer.

My own list differs from consensus because I THINK James Hagens is not all he is cracked up to be if you look simplyvat the stats..

His WJC was not as good as was Celebrini's comparing drFt year WJC's (Celebrini 1.68 ppg...Hagens only 1.21 ppg..of course small sample set..

In the Ncaa in his freshman year Celebrinniwas so much better than what Hagens. Is producing ...
Not even close (unless Hagens rockets points in the remainder of the season..

Lsst night got 1a but this putschom only slightly ahead of Ryan Leonard by 1 point..but Leonard has a loit more goals (13to 5)
.Tgeir ppgs are not even that great
..Hagens at 1.11 and Leonard at 1.05...

Their linemate Gabe Perrault has better ppg at 1.35...

Also when you look at faceoff prowess..Hagens not listed in top 75 for NCAA Mens hockey div.1 faceoff wins..
Could not find his faceoff win %..but he mist be underwater since he cannoteven make the top 75 in draw wins..

Then there is his shooting %.. a pedestrian bit over 8%...he us fast bit not as fast as Misa is or as Oliver Moore is..

That he plays on a stacked line with Leonard and Perrault ...well you will pick up assists galore ...but he should have put up more goals on feeds from talent like them.

That he gets top PP time and top minutes also pad even the stats he has put up..

Finally..h bis only 5'10.5 ...so size willbe an issue projecting hom forvthe pros.

I just do not think he is that "great" enough to merit 2nd overall...

Do not see him dominating the game.

A good player...yes but Not as good as a #2 or#3 overall rating according to My look at what he brings and what he does not bring.

I think Misa and Maroine definitely are top 5 picks..

I have Misa at#2 and Martone at#4 .
I value a real "hockey player" with absolute certain "pro" details showing both in the statsand on the video clips of his game more than any ranking list..

That is why I put Caleb Denoyers T #3 overall..
.2 way C
.Best Defensive forward in the draft
. Big C...6'2 173 but with runway to add to the frame and get even better/stronger..
.High motor abd pace ..always moving feet ..
.Always gets to open space eludes 6
checkers..deceptive ..changes speeds.. can slow down to find open guys..
. Gets to high danger scoring areas..good slot paper..
.Good use of linemates..elevates their scoring..
.Hgh hockey I.Q.
. as good with the puck as without it..ability to
get open with the puck or without it.
.high conpete level and leadership

.Best faceeoff winning% of any first round talent ..***Very Important for the Hawks to have.
.Leads QMJHL in ppg and close to the lead in points.
.Goal scorer and playmaker with All that otger stuff in the details ..

. Has gotten better as thecseason has progressed.

So the question is:

Though a consensus top 10...mostly 6-8 on several lists..why is he not in most top 5 lists ?

.Bias agaivstt the Q as an inferior Junior league?

.That he is not considered "explosice" in speed ..though there is no problem ..he is not slow..He looks above averageat least but if you combine the elusiveness ,I see mo problem on entries i to the o-zone at all..

We have seen countless players
with emite speed who fIl to score mich despite that.

This list of things Denoyers does exceptionally well is soo deep in great details that this so called lack of explosive sled does not concern me at all..
OK...there was a concern of scouts asking if hos upside is ONLY a superior 2C but not enough scoring to be a 1C...but his prodiction this season looks very capable of being a IC .

Certainly has a very high 2C floor...L out a guarantte he willbe one of the best NHL 2C 's i the league once he hits the show.
But because hiscoffensove finish and pkaymaking have greatly improved since the Hkinka,I think further upside is there to thevlint he can reach a 1C ceiling.

In any case this is the type of hockey pkayer all teams covet..and thet Hawks NEED.

Right now I still put Misaahead of him give his elite offesive skills,talent and elite speed and explosiveness. .but sometimes p layers so blessed may slack off
certain games or certain shifts in a game..you get artistes who play hockey ..In contrast Denoyers is both a smart and effective "hockey player" focused onalktge details .not ever going to slack.

ANYWAY ..If we cannot get Misa at#2 because we drayt at#3..we could do worse if we passed on a sure help like Denoyers ...with all the correct details he would bring to all situations...5x5 PK..PP..
Scouts do have a concern about Denoyer"s linger distance shot which elite..but he makes uo for that with one -timers from open spaces...or decent wristers closer in ...
His goal stats do not suggest that shoitkbgcabd scoring willbe any sort of problem,just that he is not likely to score releasing shots that elue the blockers in the shoiting labrs..but rather he somehow gets to more open areas where the blockers defending just are not I thecshot path..That ability IS just as much a valued skill as Nekute shot tgat gets blocked too often or gets forced into a miss off the net.

Anyway ..we could do a lot worse...

If a team takes others leaving Denoyers for us in scenarios we draft at #4or#5 ...then we get Denoyers anyway.

Maybe sone will prefer Anton
Frondell..If I put Hagens at#5 then Frondell goes#6onmy list ..But maybe by sesdonend I reverse them.

Maybe there is a wildcard...Big C RogerMcQueen has been hurt and missed a lot of the season..ifvhecreturnsxand expires in dominating.. maybe he joins the cobsiderationfor #4 or#5 ..The suze is the allure for tge C position.. but he van also skate and has sjilk..Can he sjowcenough of he gets back u tine to put him i the top5 consideration.. he still will go 6-8 probaly anyway.