2025 NHL Draft Thread

[Hattrick Kane]

Press up 6-5 now!? WHAT?

Sharks are worse than we are now. Calling up the kids effect I guess.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Stunningly impressive tanking by the Sharks.

 

[Taze em]

There’s no way we can out tank the sharks. The funny thing is they’ve gotten al these feel good stories this year while people haze the Hawks, but they’ve always been way way worse. Hawks Special Teams are way too good to tank that hard.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

There’s no way we can out tank the sharks. The funny thing is they’ve gotten al these feel good stories this year while people haze the Hawks, but they’ve always been way way worse. Hawks Special Teams are way too good to tank that hard.

Celebrini produces at 70 point rate: oh dear sweet gorgeous

Bedard produces at 70 point pace: you f***ing donkey

 

[kmwtrucks]

With buffalo and the predators both winning, the sharks and the hawks are at 34 points. Sharks have 2-3 games in hand. Then the next two teams are at 41. Preds buff, then 42 ducks. It’s kind of becoming a two team race, but pretty hard to see the Hawks finishing worse than the sharks.

 

[Chuck Testa]

With buffalo and the predators both winning, the sharks and the hawks are at 34 points. Sharks have 2-3 games in hand. Then the next two teams are at 41. Preds buff, then 42 ducks. It’s kind of becoming a two team race, but pretty hard to see the Hawks finishing worse than the sharks.

The Sharks did the same bullshit last year ffs. Blown games that they had clear leads in down the stretch to finish dead last.

Georgiev is one TV trash goaltender. As long as the Hawks don't slip to 4 or 5 I'll be satisfied but man as has been said the Sharks are f***ing near impossible to out-tank.

 

[Mjul Qvist]

Celebrini produces at 70 point rate: oh dear sweet gorgeous

Bedard produces at 70 point pace: you f***ing donkey

I guess the argument is that Celebrini is more complete player? Bedard has more offensive upside than Celebrini while Celebrini is better all around player and center.

 

[GIADF]

It's a two team race to the bottom between the Sharks and Hawks. I can't see Nashville or Buffalo stooping to their level of low given they're both 7 points up in the standings. If anything maaaaaaybe Anaheim really falls off hard but they're currently up 8 points on the Sharks and Hawks.

As long as the Hawks finish second to last to guarantee a top 4 pick I'll be happy.

 

[Drumman44]

I guess the argument is that Celebrini is more complete player? Bedard has more offensive upside than Celebrini while Celebrini is better all around player and center.

He’s 48.7% at the dot too

 

[Mjul Qvist]

He’s 48.7% at the dot too

Connor is 32,3% and sometimes an adventure without the puck. Celebrini´s game is better all around.

 

[hawksfan50]

Hypothetical: If you knew for a fact Schaefer would become exactly like Rasmus Dahlin (the last comparable d prospect), would you draft him first overall?

Well itbis Not a fact that Schaefer will be just lijexRasnisxDahkun..

I can only look to my own eyectest AND the scouting reports I read who think Schaeferxsjoujd go#1overall..

I just honk zscarfer IS the best dman in this 2025 clas by a lot..notceven close.. And that I see a dman with size,speed,and top endcskiks plusxax2 way game ..has it all except maybe an elite point shot ..but few have his skill taking pucks to the netb or into the sllot for shotsvon goal fro.the back-end...few can shutdown entry attempts like he can before they cN get into hisxd-zone..few can go end to end on rishrsxand finis as he can. He just cobtrokscthevice ..So good oln oose puck retrieval and exitibgvhisczobe with the puck...He has alk the combo of ability and details you want ina #1D gane-changinng/gane controlling dman.

These are always harder to find that good forwards unless there is a generatuonal one like McDavid.

So you goita take Schaeffer ifvyou get the chance at#1or unless some team perplexing takes a forward at #1 and leaves him for you at#2.

So he definitely is my top 1st target for the Hawks.

 

[Castle8130]

Schaefer is the unanimous #1 by all 10 scouts from Bob Mckenzie. 7/10 said there is a significant gap between him and the next best player. You take Schaefer and run if you get #1

 

[BHawk21]

Schaefer is the unanimous #1 by all 10 scouts from Bob Mckenzie. 7/10 said there is a significant gap between him and the next best player. You take Schaefer and run if you get #1

That makes it pretty concrete.

Have to take Schaefer if we end up 1.

 

[kmwtrucks]

Matthew Schaefer a unanimous No. 1 in Bob McKenzie's Mid-season NHL Draft Ranking | TSN

"As far as I’m concerned,” one NHL head scout said, “[Matthew Schaefer] is No. 1 and he’s staying there - even if he never plays another game this season."

www.tsn.ca

they also say that 2nds this year are more like 3rds in a strong year. sounds like the pridham trade was a win.

 

[Castle8130]

Matthew Schaefer a unanimous No. 1 in Bob McKenzie's Mid-season NHL Draft Ranking | TSN

"As far as I’m concerned,” one NHL head scout said, “[Matthew Schaefer] is No. 1 and he’s staying there - even if he never plays another game this season."

www.tsn.ca

they also say that 2nds this year are more like 3rds in a strong year. sounds like the pridham trade was a win.

This draft is pretty bad. The top 10 is mediocre at best, but with terrible depth

 

[Kevin Musto]

Matthew Schaefer a unanimous No. 1 in Bob McKenzie's Mid-season NHL Draft Ranking | TSN

"As far as I’m concerned,” one NHL head scout said, “[Matthew Schaefer] is No. 1 and he’s staying there - even if he never plays another game this season."

www.tsn.ca

they also say that 2nds this year are more like 3rds in a strong year. sounds like the pridham trade was a win.

That was an L

They could've drafted Kevin He

 

[hawksfan50]

I agree...gotta take Schaefer at#1-IF ee end up with that pick..

I have on my wish list
Michael Misa at #2and Caleb Desnoyers #3
Porter Martone #4 ....if we rise in the standings to finish 3rd last and drop 2 victory lotto draws then I would takecAntin Foindellat #5

Luckily we shoukdvnot be worrying about any chance we land at #6 .

Notice . I DO NOT HAVE Hagens in my Hawks target list = bad fot for our needs..

Reasons
1.= size.. another smurf at 5"10...no please..no vanother small forward..

.2.Not that dominant on draws.

3.Concern over paucity of GOAKS at NCAA level...more heavily skewed to assists at B.U....so farvoff Celebrini freshman goal totals in hisdraft year...thisis a real concern...

4. Has a privileged career..USNTDP is basically an American all-star top junior team
...cannot compare to being asked to be "the guy" to carry a regular junior team....then
at Boston College he with Leonard and Perrault and still he has fewer goals than expected with that kind of talented wingers..
At this past WJC he put up goodvnumbers but not that exceptional ...playing with Leonard and Perraukt..so again a privileged situation.

5. He is a good skater but not ellite speed llike Misa has ...

6..Maybe he is #2 on a lot but I think he may be over-rated given my concerns above .
He is a goid player but not in my viewca slam dunk to be the most impactful pro star unless he gets the right situational complimentary tent on his line.

7.I an not sure he can improve much more than what he brings now ..

So I donnotsee proper fit with the Hawks given our plethora of undersized forwards and sonevof the issues I have pointed out.other .

Michael Misa isa better fit:

1. 6'1, 185 now ..so better size ...and shouldf ill out the frame to 10 -15 lbs more ..so extra muscle should help his game even more.

2.Elite explosive speed..
3. High goal scoring balanced by equally good
Playmaking...1.97 ppg (best in OHL) nearly a Goal a game 37 g in 38GP..38 a...9Pp goals 13Poa ...6GWG 3SHG ...
4. 2nd inOHL points (1 behind leader)
5.Good 2cway player...+30
6.Takeaxa lit of faceoffs ..853a /38GP = 22.4 draws per game ..FOW% = 54.2%
Such a well rounded gifted pkayer...
I think hevfitsvour 2C need .

So hevranks #2on my target list.

At #3 only list for fit solving Hawks need is Caleb Desnoyers ...very impressive improvement over D-1 season in 23/24.

ANOTHER fit for bigger 2C...

1.6'2 173 on most lists.. but hevloks far bigger already to my eyes..maybe closer to 6'3 ..at least 6'2.5 to my eyes...looks heavier than 173lbs ..interesting to find out his measures at the combine ..

2.Not elite speed but good ...what stands out is how smooth he skates.. swoops around checkers to open spaces or on tape passes..
Great on transitions..2 on1s..break'aways ...great use of his linenates..give and goes..

3.Plays with pace... feet always moving..but can also change the pace..slow it down to letv linemates get open then dish it to them..

4. Very good shot accuracy ...21.2 % shooting..
(Misa is at 20.67%)...but Desnoyers greatly improved over hiscD-1shoting % (14 3%)..
Desnoyers got off to a slow start but heated up in Decenber and January so far ...so almost matching pace withMisa on assists but behind in goals pace (Misa at .974 G/ game ;,Desnoyers .676 G/game) ...

5.Desnoyers is also a great 2 way player, but think even better than Misa defensively... Desnpyers may be one of the best defebsive forwards in the draft ..excellent at stopping entry rush attempts before it gets to the d-zone...very good on the board battles and puck battles ..very good in reads and so many fine details both defensively and offensively..Very consistent 2 way play..

Coaches will love this type of player ..notbjust athletic but thevhigh 2 way hockey I.Q.,pace,and compet level l but with skills to score and drive a line..

Just so many.things to like and I think he can get even better as kerpins developing.

6.Very good faceoff win% 63.7% !!!
1 caveat is he only hastaken342v draws to date (won 124) = 9.24 draws per game..why Monkton does not usevhom more on drawsviscamystery to mrvgiven his win%; in contrast, Misa has taken a lot more draws
462w/862a =:54.2%..
Maybe Saginaw has no other good draw specialists? Maybe Moncton does...or maybe they only let Dessnoyers take draws his strong hand side?

Inany case as for draws ,I guess it depends on whether a team puts more value on a much higher doninating draw win% over a good win % off a muckh larger test sample size.

Look ...Misa and Drsnoyers both have their outstanding attributes which are different.. depends what a team values more for a 2C role that may actually be able to drive a more productive line than Bedard can or will drive in future and be better defensively andcstsrt with the puck by winning draws.

Nothing wrong with 2 "top lines"..


In any case I see either Misa or Desnoyersxas better fits at Center forcthecJawks than Hagens.

Maybe a team in a diferent situation=Nashville may want to trade up for Hagens...They havec3 firstv rounders.. Maybe if Hawks draft at #2 ,trade down 1 or 2 spots and still get a better fit at future 2C than Hagens wold be. In their needs case.?

All I am saying is KD better not draft another smurf iforward despite his talent which may be over-,rated or will not get much better than what he brings already..

 

[HawksDub89]

I guess the argument is that Celebrini is more complete player? Bedard has more offensive upside than Celebrini while Celebrini is better all around player and center.

Right, but this has always been the case. (Celebrini being more complete)

Some of the insane recency bias that was happening in November was laughable.

I will say Celebrini is producing more than I thought he would. But I still think Bedard has a higher offensive upside in his prime.

 

[fiddytranslator]

snip

I agree—if we end up with the #1 pick, we’ve got to take Schaefer.

Here’s my wish list:

1. Michael Misa (#2)
2. Caleb Desnoyers (#3)
3. Porter Martone (#4)

If we rise in the standings and end up 3rd last, dropping two spots in the draft lottery, I’d target Antin Foindell at #5. Thankfully, it doesn’t look like we’ll need to worry about falling to #6.

Why Hagens isn’t on my list for the Hawks:
I don’t see him as a fit for our needs, and here’s why:

1. Size: At 5'10", he’s another undersized forward, which we don’t need more of.
2. Faceoffs: He hasn’t been dominant on draws.
3. Scoring Concerns: His NCAA stats lean heavily toward assists rather than goals, especially compared to someone like Celebrini, who posted better goal totals as a freshman.
4. Privileged Situations: He’s benefited from playing on stacked teams, like the USNTDP and Boston College (with Leonard and Perrault), yet his goal-scoring numbers are underwhelming given the talent around him.
5. Skating: He’s a good skater but lacks the elite speed of someone like Misa.
6. Overrated Potential: While he’s good, I don’t see him as a lock to become a dominant pro unless he’s surrounded by the perfect linemates.
7. Limited Upside: I’m not confident he has much room to grow beyond his current skill set.

In summary, Hagens may be a great player, but he’s not the right fit for the Hawks given our existing lineup and needs.

Why Michael Misa is a Better Fit​

1. Size: At 6'1" and 185 pounds (and still growing), he has the frame to develop into a strong, physical presence.
2. Elite Speed: He’s explosively fast, which stands out on the ice.
3. Balanced Scoring: Nearly a goal per game (37 goals, 38 assists in 38 GP), with strong power-play and shorthanded numbers.
4. Consistency: 2nd in OHL scoring, with a +30 rating to show his two-way impact.
5. Faceoffs: He’s taken 862 draws with a 54.2% win rate, averaging 22.4 faceoffs per game.

Misa checks all the boxes for what we need in a 2C. He ranks #2 on my list.

Why Caleb Desnoyers is a Strong #3 Choice​

1. Size: Listed at 6'2", 173 pounds, but he looks bigger—possibly closer to 6'3" and heavier.
2. Skating: Not elite speed, but smooth and agile. He excels in transitions, creating scoring chances and opening lanes for teammates.
3. Pace: Plays with high energy but can slow things down when necessary to make plays.
4. Accuracy: Improved his shooting percentage significantly this season (21.2%). While behind Misa in goals per game (.676 vs. .974), his overall improvement is notable.
5. Two-Way Play: One of the draft’s best defensive forwards. He excels at stopping rushes, winning puck battles, and making smart reads.
6. Faceoffs: A dominant 63.7% win rate on 342 draws (9.24 draws per game). While he hasn’t taken as many draws as Misa, his efficiency stands out.

Desnoyers offers a different but equally valuable skill set. His combination of size, defense, and hockey IQ makes him a great fit as a 2C for the Hawks.

Final Thoughts​

Both Misa and Desnoyers offer significant advantages over Hagens for our team. It ultimately depends on what we prioritize—Misa’s speed and scoring or Desnoyers’ defensive prowess and smooth playmaking.

If another team, like Nashville (with three first-round picks), values Hagens more, we could explore a trade to move down a spot or two and still get the right fit for us.

KD needs to avoid another undersized forward, even if talented, and prioritize players who bring the physicality and versatility we need.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Desnoyers is 6th on the McKenzie consensus.

No. 6: Caleb Desnoyers. The Moncton Wildcat is viewed as perhaps the most complete two-way centre in the draft who projects in the NHL as a second-line centre or, worst case scenario, an elite third-line shutdown centre.

“Think a Phil Danault-style player,” said one scout.

Desnoyers was ranked as high as No. 5 by one scout and no lower than No. 10. He’s viewed as a safe and secure pick. If you believe his offence will pop at the pro level, he’s a top five consideration.

Hawks probably need to chase more upside with a top 3 pick.