2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[pvr]

Sorry...forgot to run theTankathonNHL Draft Simulator before the Utah Game ladt night(doing it 10 times over ladt 10 Games..

10 to go Result =Hawks draft at#3
9to go (belated) =Hawks #3 again
8 games remaining still...
Will post 3rd lotto draw sim prior to next game..

But you all should be prepared for drafting 3rd or4th which has greater probability than is getting #1or#2...

BTW....Nashville got#2 in both attempts at the lotto draw resukt so far in this 10 game resukt experiment.

So far looking like Misa destined to Nashville...
But he is -7 after 2GP these playoffs as Saginaw down 2 games to Brantford after 1st 2GP in this playoff series.

A completely pointless endeavor.

 

[Bubba88]

I really don't care about drafting a certain position with a Top5 Pick.

I want what they think will be the best Player. We may not see them in the NHL for 1-3 years. Maybe Frondell is the guy we might need most. Maybe we can make a trade for a Center nobody expects to Happen.

Just make sure to be Ready when a Chance opens up.

 

[Mjul Qvist]

Less worried about 1st overall, more worried they just have a top 2 pick period with the drop off from 1-2 to 3 and beyond. Really I just want Misa more than anything. He's everything this roster needs for the future.

Picking in top 4 guarantees you high quality of talent and that is something this organisation needs. How these youngsters develop is something we really don´t know. Who knows if Frondell or Hagens is the best player few years after the draft? I would love to have Misa but I´m ok anyone between Misa, Schaefer, Hagens, Frondell or Martone.

 

[hawksfan50]

You mean Musa who is -7 after just 2 games in the OHL playoffs as his Saginaw team down 3 games to ...?
But even if he and his line being scored on so moch when the intensity ramped up in playoffs is an aberration considering he had a hogh Plus stat for tge regular season it dies gove sone pause of concern...Hawks need a better defending 2 wY center than we have with tgex2 shrimps (Bedard and Nazar) and their high negatives i ES ...
ANYWAY...chances of getting Misa at # 2are far less than Hawks get the #3 or# 4after lotto...so whikrvthe hope is to lNd Schaefercat#1orMisa at #2 the reality is we had better make the right choice at #3or#4 whoch are the most likely scenarios...

Rule out Hagens= not anotgercshrinp Center...please?

And Frondell has no transition gMe ...greatvomce in o-zone..good in d-zone but no transition puck carry from neutral zone to o-zine..a major lacking for the Center we need.

MARTONE ISXawibger notca Center..

So for me the decision at #3 or#4 is between Desnoyers McQueen or O'Brien..

Desnoyers is the morevlokizhed all round 2 way C..
Great on draws..Best defensive forwardci the draft ,great hockey IQ..a goid connector with use of linemates and for 2 on1 rush chances..accurate abd efficient shooter..so goidvi the details but projects more as a good 2C or 1b type C. Who score important gamevonthe kine goals or primary assists...A very goid Lk around and details pmayer but maybe not eying a Toews like 30g + 40 -45 assists ceilingcat the NHL level..

McQueen is the Big Cebterwith power and skill ..but missing 50 games this season set back his development.. So still lots of areas to improve on..but projecting once he becomes matured in that big frame ,maybe you get a dominating C lije a Draisaitk?Or maybe he never develops to that level?

O"Brien with a June birtdate still has a good runway to go..but he IS tge best paser/playmaker in thecdraft..Bitcwhoke he makes a PP lethal, he is so far a low volume shooter(though good accuracy) and so the concern is to be more productive in ES and to shoot more himself..But the upside is tantalizing.. Good defendive effort but has to worknon defensive reads to be a better 2 wY C as some think he can be.

I expect both O"Brien and McQueen both will explode next season to be top scorers in their junior leagues..but Drsnoyers because he is so reliable defensively at C,might be able to step right in to the NHL..

Desnoyers coukd be used asa 1C to help Bedard (W) ..or sx a 2C to .gove kine 2 a 2 wY help at C.Also a good pk guy..

So hard to know which of these 3Centers KD woukd prefer drafting at#3 or#5...

 

[Deputy McRizzy]

Picking in top 4 guarantees you high quality of talent and that is something this organisation needs. How these youngsters develop is something we really don´t know. Who knows if Frondell or Hagens is the best player few years after the draft? I would love to have Misa but I´m ok anyone between Misa, Schaefer, Hagens, Frondell or Martone.

Obviously, I just think Misa/Schaefer are THAT much better than anyone behind them. It will suck if they end up 3rd or 4th.

Hagens - he'd be another small forward and it's going to be hard to be a good playoff team when your top 3 forwards in Bedard, Nazar, and Hagens are 5'10, 5'10, and 5'11.

Martone - average skater. Bedard's lack of great skating is already holding him back. How's that going to work with Martone if they're on the same line and both just average skaters?

 

[TeeEyeFiddyTree]

• Original word count: 408 words
• Misspelled words: 78
• Misspelled percentage: 19%

You mean Misa, who is -7 after just two games in the OHL playoffs, as his Saginaw team is down 3 games to...?

But even if he and his line are being scored on so much when the intensity ramped up in the playoffs, it’s an aberration considering he had a high plus-minus stat for the regular season. It does give some pause for concern. The Hawks need a better defending two-way center than we currently have with the two shrimps (Bedard and Nazar) and their high negatives at even strength.

Anway, the chances of getting Misa at #2 are far less than the Hawks getting #3 or #4 after the lottery. So while the hope is to land Schaefer at #1 or Misa at #2, the reality is we’d better make the right choice at #3 or #4, which are the most likely scenarios.

Rule out Hagens — not another shrimp center... please?

And Frondell has no transition game... great work in the offensive zone, good in the defensive zone, but no transition puck carry from the neutral zone to the offensive zone. That’s a major lacking for the center we need.

Martone is a winger, not a center.

So for me, the decision at #3 or #4 is between Desnoyers, McQueen, or O'Brien.

Desnoyers is the more polished all-around two-way center. He’s great on draws, the best defensive forward in the draft, with great hockey IQ. He’s a good connector with linemates and for 2-on-1 rush chances. He’s an accurate and efficient shooter, so good with the details, but he projects more as a solid second-line center or 1B-type center. He can score important game-winning goals or primary assists, but he might not have the ceiling of a Toews-like 30+ goals and 40-45 assists at the NHL level.

McQueen is the big center with power and skill, but missing 50 games this season set back his development. There are still a lot of areas to improve, but once he matures in that big frame, he could become a dominating center, maybe even like Draisaitl. Or maybe he never develops to that level.

O’Brien, with a June birthday, still has plenty of room to grow. He is the best passer/playmaker in the draft, which makes him a lethal power-play weapon. However, he’s been a low-volume shooter (though with good accuracy), so the concern is that he needs to be more productive in even-strength play and shoot more himself. But the upside is tantalizing. He shows a good defensive effort but needs to work on his defensive reads to be a better two-way center, as some believe he can be.

I expect both O’Brien and McQueen to explode next season and become top scorers in their junior leagues. But Desnoyers, because he’s so reliable defensively at center, might be able to step right into the NHL.

Desnoyers could be used as a 1C to help Bedard (as a winger) or as a 2C to give line 2 two-way help at center. He’s also a good penalty-killer.

So, it’s hard to know which of these three centers KD would prefer drafting at #3 or #5.

 

[hawksfan50]

Turning to our 2nd pick of round 1and our first pick (2nd pick in roubd 2) ,KD could of course use them together to try to movevup...but I do not see much difference psst thevtop 10 or 11 to justify doing that if 12 or later is all he can move up to from the 2 picks we have late first earlyv2nd.

Right now the Leafs pick we own in round 1 sits at #27 ...our own pick in round 2 sits at #34...

I am putting forward 3 candidates for these 2 picks ...but it is possible that due to strong finishes maybe 1 or 2 of the 3 could go higher than #27 ..do not know if Leafs will continue climbing or will drop back maybe 2 or 3 spits by finish kine..

My 3 targets for the Leafs pick we own :

(C)Alexander Zharovsky MHL Russia ...watching tape on him you can see how he is the best skater on the ice...Very good puckvskikks and puck control as he weaves through checkers to make plays abd scoring chances for himself and others..Also good responsible defensive habits. A riser ..Very gifted in my opinion.. Develooing into maybe star material...6'1 but only listed at 163lbs so needs to add mass to his frame ..

(C )Cole Mckinney USNTDP ... another with a strong 2nd half and finish to his season... 2 way cebter ...face off specialist..pk specialist ...but now developed into a good scorer.... 6'0 198..
eg.9 g 9a on last 10GP...Should be a first rounder

MIkton Gastrin(W() Swedish Jrs... Many lists have him in the 25 to early 30s..so not a surprise he could be a target ..

I do not think any of these 3 last till #34..
But if one of them still there...grab him.

Now at #34:

Maybe KD takesa RISK here..

Big 6'5 Danil Prokhorov a Russian Jr. Is the most
divisive and frustrating prospect in thecdraft.. Atvtines he looks unstoppable..a Big power Winger taking pucks to the net and scoring goals ...At other times focus lost and he is not engaged the game..bt the size speed powrr when he gets determined is very intriguing..the question is his inconsistency shift to shift and game to game ..talent and physical attributes are there ..but does he want it bad enough? Maybe a top player in this draf if he can correct this inconsistencies ..but maybe a bust if the lazy bad habits keep manifesting..

Safer choices maybe a couple of good skating good size Russian dmen...more on them in anotger post to follow.

 

[statswatcher]

You mean Misa, who is -7 after just two games in the OHL playoffs, as his Saginaw team is down 3 games to...?

But even if he and his line are being scored on so much when the intensity ramped up in the playoffs, it’s an aberration considering he had a high plus-minus stat for the regular season. It does give some pause for concern. The Hawks need a better defending two-way center than we currently have with the two shrimps (Bedard and Nazar) and their high negatives at even strength.

Anway, the chances of getting Misa at #2 are far less than the Hawks getting #3 or #4 after the lottery. So while the hope is to land Schaefer at #1 or Misa at #2, the reality is we’d better make the right choice at #3 or #4, which are the most likely scenarios.

Rule out Hagens — not another shrimp center... please?

And Frondell has no transition game... great work in the offensive zone, good in the defensive zone, but no transition puck carry from the neutral zone to the offensive zone. That’s a major lacking for the center we need.

Martone is a winger, not a center.

So for me, the decision at #3 or #4 is between Desnoyers, McQueen, or O'Brien.

Desnoyers is the more polished all-around two-way center. He’s great on draws, the best defensive forward in the draft, with great hockey IQ. He’s a good connector with linemates and for 2-on-1 rush chances. He’s an accurate and efficient shooter, so good with the details, but he projects more as a solid second-line center or 1B-type center. He can score important game-winning goals or primary assists, but he might not have the ceiling of a Toews-like 30+ goals and 40-45 assists at the NHL level.

McQueen is the big center with power and skill, but missing 50 games this season set back his development. There are still a lot of areas to improve, but once he matures in that big frame, he could become a dominating center, maybe even like Draisaitl. Or maybe he never develops to that level.

O’Brien, with a June birthday, still has plenty of room to grow. He is the best passer/playmaker in the draft, which makes him a lethal power-play weapon. However, he’s been a low-volume shooter (though with good accuracy), so the concern is that he needs to be more productive in even-strength play and shoot more himself. But the upside is tantalizing. He shows a good defensive effort but needs to work on his defensive reads to be a better two-way center, as some believe he can be.

I expect both O’Brien and McQueen to explode next season and become top scorers in their junior leagues. But Desnoyers, because he’s so reliable defensively at center, might be able to step right into the NHL.

Desnoyers could be used as a 1C to help Bedard (as a winger) or as a 2C to give line 2 two-way help at center. He’s also a good penalty-killer.

So, it’s hard to know which of these three centers KD would prefer drafting at #3 or #5.

 

[clydesdale line]

You mean Misa, who is -7 after just two games in the OHL playoffs, as his Saginaw team is down 3 games to...?

But even if he and his line are being scored on so much when the intensity ramped up in the playoffs, it’s an aberration considering he had a high plus-minus stat for the regular season. It does give some pause for concern. The Hawks need a better defending two-way center than we currently have with the two shrimps (Bedard and Nazar) and their high negatives at even strength.

Anway, the chances of getting Misa at #2 are far less than the Hawks getting #3 or #4 after the lottery. So while the hope is to land Schaefer at #1 or Misa at #2, the reality is we’d better make the right choice at #3 or #4, which are the most likely scenarios.

Rule out Hagens — not another shrimp center... please?

And Frondell has no transition game... great work in the offensive zone, good in the defensive zone, but no transition puck carry from the neutral zone to the offensive zone. That’s a major lacking for the center we need.

Martone is a winger, not a center.

So for me, the decision at #3 or #4 is between Desnoyers, McQueen, or O'Brien.

Desnoyers is the more polished all-around two-way center. He’s great on draws, the best defensive forward in the draft, with great hockey IQ. He’s a good connector with linemates and for 2-on-1 rush chances. He’s an accurate and efficient shooter, so good with the details, but he projects more as a solid second-line center or 1B-type center. He can score important game-winning goals or primary assists, but he might not have the ceiling of a Toews-like 30+ goals and 40-45 assists at the NHL level.

McQueen is the big center with power and skill, but missing 50 games this season set back his development. There are still a lot of areas to improve, but once he matures in that big frame, he could become a dominating center, maybe even like Draisaitl. Or maybe he never develops to that level.

O’Brien, with a June birthday, still has plenty of room to grow. He is the best passer/playmaker in the draft, which makes him a lethal power-play weapon. However, he’s been a low-volume shooter (though with good accuracy), so the concern is that he needs to be more productive in even-strength play and shoot more himself. But the upside is tantalizing. He shows a good defensive effort but needs to work on his defensive reads to be a better two-way center, as some believe he can be.

I expect both O’Brien and McQueen to explode next season and become top scorers in their junior leagues. But Desnoyers, because he’s so reliable defensively at center, might be able to step right into the NHL.

Desnoyers could be used as a 1C to help Bedard (as a winger) or as a 2C to give line 2 two-way help at center. He’s also a good penalty-killer.

So, it’s hard to know which of these three centers KD would prefer drafting at #3 or #5.

We've missed you!

 

[Mjul Qvist]

We don´t have a clue who KD will pick (least not yet) and what are their preferences coming to the draft. We can throw names and say who they should pick or not but no one is more right or wrong at the moment. I find it kind of amusing to have so strong opinions here where most of us (none of us?) don´t really have a good insight of these young players.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Aside from Shane Wright, when was the last time the team picking 1st overall didn’t go with the consensus highest rated player?

If the Hawks pick 1st they’re taking Schaefer and will adjust accordingly.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

Aside from Shane Wright, when was the last time the team picking 1st overall didn’t go with the consensus highest rated player?

If the Hawks pick 1st they’re taking Schaefer and will adjust accordingly.

Hischier? That was 2017. There was a lot of debate about Jones being 1st overall in 2013 as well.

Moral of the story being if it’s close between two players, it’s possible to go off the board. It’s close this year.

 

[Giovi]

Hischier? That was 2017. There was a lot of debate about Jones being 1st overall in 2013 as well.

Moral of the story being if it’s close between two players, it’s possible to go off the board. It’s close this year.

The thing is, according to Bobby Mac's polling of 10 NHL scouts, it isn't close.

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

It was a common refrain.

Not only did Schaefer garner all 10 first-place votes, seven of the 10 scouts declared there is a “substantial” gap between the Stoney Creek, Ont., native and the rest of the 2025 draft class. Two others described the gap as “moderate,” but one said it was only “minuscule.”

Things could change, I suppose. But at mid-season, there was some distance between Schaefer and the field.

 

[TeeEyeFiddyTree]

• Total Words: 494
• Total Typos: 38
• Typos as Percentage: 7.7%

Turning to our 2nd pick of round 1 and our first pick (2nd pick in round 2), KD could, of course, use them together to try to move up. But I do not see much difference past the top 10 or 11 to justify doing that if 12 or later is all he can move up to with the 2 picks we have: late first, early 2nd.

Right now, the Leafs' pick we own in round 1 sits at #27, and our own pick in round 2 sits at #34.

I am putting forward 3 candidates for these 2 picks, but it is possible that, due to strong finishes, maybe 1 or 2 of the 3 could go higher than #27. I do not know if the Leafs will continue climbing or will drop back maybe 2 or 3 spots by finish time.

My 3 targets for the Leafs pick we own:

• (C) Alexander Zharovsky, MHL Russia: Watching tape on him, you can see how he is the best skater on the ice. Very good puck skills and puck control as he weaves through checkers to make plays and create scoring chances for himself and others. Also, good responsible defensive habits. A riser. Very gifted in my opinion. Developing into maybe star material. 6'1", but only listed at 163 lbs, so he needs to add mass to his frame.
• (C) Cole McKinney, USNTDP: Another with a strong 2nd half and finish to his season. 2-way center. Faceoff specialist. PK specialist. But now developed into a good scorer. 6'0", 198 lbs. Example: 9 G, 9 A in his last 10 GP. Should be a first-rounder.
• Mikton Gastrin (W), Swedish Jrs: Many lists have him in the 25 to early 30s, so it's not a surprise he could be a target.

I do not think any of these 3 will last till #34, but if one of them is still there, grab him.

Now, at #34:

Maybe KD takes a risk here...

Big 6'5" Danil Prokhorov, a Russian Jr., is the most divisive and frustrating prospect in the draft. At times, he looks unstoppable: a big power winger taking pucks to the net and scoring goals. At other times, he loses focus and is not engaged in the game. But the size, speed, and power, when he gets determined, is very intriguing. The question is his inconsistency, shift to shift and game to game. Talent and physical attributes are there, but does he want it bad enough? Maybe a top player in this draft if he can correct these inconsistencies, but maybe a bust if the lazy, bad habits keep manifesting.

Safer choices could be a couple of good skating, good-size Russian defensemen... more on them in another post to follow.

 

[Muffinalt]

Turning to our 2nd pick of round 1 and our first pick (2nd pick in round 2), KD could, of course, use them together to try to move up. But I do not see much difference past the top 10 or 11 to justify doing that if 12 or later is all he can move up to with the 2 picks we have: late first, early 2nd.

Right now, the Leafs' pick we own in round 1 sits at #27, and our own pick in round 2 sits at #34.

I am putting forward 3 candidates for these 2 picks, but it is possible that, due to strong finishes, maybe 1 or 2 of the 3 could go higher than #27. I do not know if the Leafs will continue climbing or will drop back maybe 2 or 3 spots by finish time.

My 3 targets for the Leafs pick we own:

• (C) Alexander Zharovsky, MHL Russia: Watching tape on him, you can see how he is the best skater on the ice. Very good puck skills and puck control as he weaves through checkers to make plays and create scoring chances for himself and others. Also, good responsible defensive habits. A riser. Very gifted in my opinion. Developing into maybe star material. 6'1", but only listed at 163 lbs, so he needs to add mass to his frame.
• (C) Cole McKinney, USNTDP: Another with a strong 2nd half and finish to his season. 2-way center. Faceoff specialist. PK specialist. But now developed into a good scorer. 6'0", 198 lbs. Example: 9 G, 9 A in his last 10 GP. Should be a first-rounder.
• Mikton Gastrin (W), Swedish Jrs: Many lists have him in the 25 to early 30s, so it's not a surprise he could be a target.

I do not think any of these 3 will last till #34, but if one of them is still there, grab him.

Now, at #34:

Maybe KD takes a risk here...

Big 6'5" Danil Prokhorov, a Russian Jr., is the most divisive and frustrating prospect in the draft. At times, he looks unstoppable: a big power winger taking pucks to the net and scoring goals. At other times, he loses focus and is not engaged in the game. But the size, speed, and power, when he gets determined, is very intriguing. The question is his inconsistency, shift to shift and game to game. Talent and physical attributes are there, but does he want it bad enough? Maybe a top player in this draft if he can correct these inconsistencies, but maybe a bust if the lazy, bad habits keep manifesting.

Safer choices could be a couple of good skating, good-size Russian defensemen... more on them in another post to follow.

Lol nice summary in the quotes hahah.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

fif has a dedicated translation account...generational poster

 

[Callidusblackhawk]

Am I the only one confused on how Schaefer has held onto his #1 ranking all year? Even if he looked like a prime Lidstrom in the games he played this year it was only 19 games...

 

[TheFridge]

Am I the only one confused on how Schaefer has held onto his #1 ranking all year? Even if he looked like a prime Lidstrom in the games he played this year it was only 19 games...

I don't know about the only one but Schaefer was just that good in the games he played. He was the best player on the ice at the US-Canada showcase. He was Canada's best D (maybe best player) in the game plus he played at the WJC and then he got off to a really strong start in Erie too. Internationally, he's shown really well at the U18s and Hlinka too. I think most scouts see him as an excellent defender with game-breaking transitional play. I don't think he's going to be a Makar or a Hughes offensively, but I think a lot of the scouts see him as a Norris-level D through his prime.

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

Am I the only one confused on how Schaefer has held onto his #1 ranking all year? Even if he looked like a prime Lidstrom in the games he played this year it was only 19 games...

Broken collarbone has no long term impact on Shaefers evaluation.

 

[TheFridge]

Broken collarbone has no long term impact on Shaefers evaluation.

He was referring to the sample size, not the long-term health outlook.

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

He was referring to the sample size, not the long-term health outlook.

I get that, but the small sample size was caused by the collarbone which had no long term impact on his potential. This isn't a Cayden Lindstrom sutuation with a bad back.

 

[TheFridge]

I get that, but the small sample size was caused by the collarbone which had no long term impact on his potential. This isn't a Cayden Lindstrom sutuation with a bad back.

Right but I the idea is more that, if Schaefer had played the whole season, there was opportunity for maybe some of his shortcomings to garner more concern/be over-analyzed, as is the case with every prospect. As it stands, Schaefer got off to a really strong start and then his season was effectively over less than halfway through it.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Am I the only one confused on how Schaefer has held onto his #1 ranking all year? Even if he looked like a prime Lidstrom in the games he played this year it was only 19 games...

1. This draft class sucks.
2. Schaefer is super young. Nearly eligible for next year's draft. He has tons of runway.
3. Only player in the class where he's had moments of looking like a genuine game breaking talent. Still something he needs to do on a more consistent basis, instead of flashes, but it's within him and again the age thing. Good chance in a few years he's pulling off magic every shift.

 

[Callidusblackhawk]

Right but I the idea is more that, if Schaefer had played the whole season, there was opportunity for maybe some of his shortcomings to garner more concern/be over-analyzed, as is the case with every prospect. As it stands, Schaefer got off to a really strong start and then his season was effectively over less than halfway through it.

Or for his play to just fall off a bit. I'm not concerned about the collarbone at all. We all watched Kane come back from that and play great en route to a cup.

 

[ello]

O’Brien is super interesting to me at 3/4