2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[WarriorofTime]

If you are good at managing assets smartly, the high floor guys aren't too bad as guys to include in trades when you can include 21 year old ELC NHL player with middle six potential alongside draft picks for top line winger signed for a couple years

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

Usually high floor players at that range have a lower ceiling and we have more than enough of those guys. Time to take some swings

absolutely, but he has an NHL 1st line ceiling

swing for the fences

this system is already filled to the brim with high floor, low ceiling prospects

In the twenties I'd love Potter. KK+? Not so much.

 

[Kevin Musto]

In the twenties I'd love Potter. KK+? Not so much.

I don't see why Korch would need to be included.

Toronto 1st, and then Chicago has plenty of 2nd rounders to bundle. Maybe even include bum Reichel or Allan.

 

[TheFridge]

absolutely, but he has an NHL 1st line ceiling

swing for the fences

this system is already filled to the brim with high floor, low ceiling prospects

What is this based on? Because it's not based on his ability to score in college or vs his peers.

 

[Kevin Musto]

What is this based on? Because it's not based on his ability to score in college or vs his peers.

based on my eyeballs

elite skating, puckhandling, and incredible rate of improvement from beginning to end of the season

he can simply do things other guys in this class can't

shades of Johnny Gaudreau

 

[TheFridge]

based on my eyeballs

elite skating, puckhandling, and incredible rate of improvement from beginning to end of the season

he can simply do things other guys in this class can't

shades of Johnny Gaudreau

The only thing I've seen out of Potter that is elite is his skating.

What are the things he can do that no other guy in the class can? And how is he going to translate that to the NHL as an undersized wing that has produced at an elite rate in his career to date?

 

[Kevin Musto]

The only thing I've seen out of Potter that is elite is his skating.

What are the things he can do that no other guy in the class can? And how is he going to translate that to the NHL as an undersized wing that has produced at an elite rate in his career to date?

I implore you to watch any of his games from the latter half of the season

He has that star aura where when he's moving up the ice, he's the most talented player out there

I make no promises at all that it translates to the NHL, but if it does you have an all star

Meanwhile you look at someone like Frondell where if it translates, and the odds are high that it does, you have a very good 3rd liner

It's a classic boom/bust scenario with Potter

 

[TheFridge]

I implore you to watch any of his games from the latter half of the season

He has that star aura where when he's moving up the ice, he's the most talented player out there

I make no promises at all that it translates to the NHL, but if it does you have an all star

Meanwhile you look at someone like Frondell where if it translates, and the odds are high that it does, you have a very good 3rd liner

It's a classic boom/bust scenario with Potter

So your scouting report on him is based off aura and vibes?

 

[statswatcher]

So your scouting report on him is based off aura and vibes?

i keep trying to tell people that's what the eye test is. musto is just such a blatant example that he lays the whole enterprise bare.

 

[Kevin Musto]

So your scouting report on him is based off aura and vibes?

I already cited the skating and puck handling lol

What do you want from me? An essay?

 

[Mjul Qvist]

I implore you to watch any of his games from the latter half of the season

He has that star aura where when he's moving up the ice, he's the most talented player out there

I make no promises at all that it translates to the NHL, but if it does you have an all star

Meanwhile you look at someone like Frondell where if it translates, and the odds are high that it does, you have a very good 3rd liner

It's a classic boom/bust scenario with Potter

If you look at your recent takes on some of the young players the odds are high that this prediction goes sideways. Why do you think scouts in general thinks that Frondell is top 5-7 talent this year? Central Scouting have him first in international skaters. You think they see his ceiling is 3rd liner?

Again I respect your opinion but you make it sound like universal truth. I bet you haven´t even seen his play in Allsvenskan at all this year.

 

[Kevin Musto]

If you look at your recent takes on some of the young players the odds are high that this prediction goes sideways. Why do you think scouts in general thinks that Frondell is top 5-7 talent this year?

If I had to guess, they're looking at a really safe high floor prospect playing pro hockey in one of the weakest draft classes we've had in a long time.

They like the certainty.

I bet you haven´t even seen his play in Allsvenskan at all this year.

lol

 

[Mjul Qvist]

lol

The way you see him makes me wonder though.

 

[Mjul Qvist]

 

[Castle8130]

Potters got the speed of the Flash and the vision of Daredevil (clearly not his ears because he straight up ignores his teammates beaver claps). He brings shades of Oliver moore. His first step explosiveness is elite and has great puck skills. Both better than Moore, but moore has better top speed and more meat to him.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Why did Hagens draft stock drop this year? From what I recall he was #1 projected after last years draft

11 goals + 26 assists for 37 pts in 37 games as a 17/18 yr old in NCAA to me was impressive and far from something that should be viewed as negative

What little I saw of him he looked dynamic/dangerous on ice

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

Why did Hagens draft stock drop this year? From what I recall he was #1 projected after last years draft

11 goals + 26 assists for 37 pts in 37 games as a 17/18 yr old in NCAA to me was impressive and far from something that should be viewed as negative

What little I saw of him he looked dynamic/dangerous on ice

As a draft guy I've had Schaefer as my 1A. Misa is my 1B. Hagens is my guy at 3.

 

[bwanajamba]

Why did Hagens draft stock drop this year? From what I recall he was #1 projected after last years draft

11 goals + 26 assists for 37 pts in 37 games as a 17/18 yr old in NCAA to me was impressive and far from something that should be viewed as negative

What little I saw of him he looked dynamic/dangerous on ice

He was very ordinary in NCAA after the WJC and his game hasn't developed much from the beginning of the year. Probably a certain degree of prospect fatigue going on. He will almost certainly still be a top 5 pick though

Wait, sorry, what I meant to say is there is a conspiracy by jealous Canadian media figures who are out to get him, and when he falls from his rightful #1 position on draft day it will only be because NHL teams aren't brave enough to defy the internet hockey scouting industrial complex

 

[u2wojo]

As a draft guy I've had Schaefer as my 1A. Misa is my 1B. Hagens is my guy at 3.

I agree with this...and probably lean towad Schaefer as 1, Misa as 2, and Hagens 3 and then cross your fingers and hope we get it right at 4 cause there are 3 or 4 compelling arguements to be had.

I think Hagens "drop" has been a bit of unrealistic expectations about what a barely turned 18 year old is supposed to look like against pretty good 20-22 year old competion. Part of it was also Schaefer in his roughly 1/3 of an OHL season and WJC prelims/game+ and Misa in the OHL have been really really good.

 

[Castle8130]

Why did Hagens draft stock drop this year? From what I recall he was #1 projected after last years draft

11 goals + 26 assists for 37 pts in 37 games as a 17/18 yr old in NCAA to me was impressive and far from something that should be viewed as negative

What little I saw of him he looked dynamic/dangerous on ice

He has been good this season, but he isn't an elite skater for being undersized and he gets nudged off the puck easily. Scouts are likely catching onto some of his poor decisions with the puck in the offensive zone as well. When you add it all up, you start to question whether this guy is projectable as a 1st line center or more of a 2nd line guy. You'd want more production from a 1st oa player as well. Being undersized with less tools, you'd expect production to be higher than what he has produced this year. He is still top 3 by most draft lists and I bet NHL teams see him as such still. From what Scott Powers has said, it doesn't seem like Hagens is in the Hawks top 3 right now.

 

[Castle8130]

Potters got the speed of the Flash and the vision of Daredevil (clearly not his ears because he straight up ignores his teammates beaver claps). He brings shades of Oliver moore. His first step explosiveness is elite and has great puck skills. Both better than Moore, but moore has better top speed and more meat to him.

I wanted to show you what I mean by poor vision. In the 2 images below, Potter decides to not pass the puck and take a shot on goal.


You can see the defender is clearly in between Potter and Horcoff, but the defender is most definitely closer to Potter giving Horcoff a much better scoring opportunity than if Potter decides to curl drag and shoot (which he does and the goalie stops it with ease). I know the defender is in between the two, but at this level, you should be able to get the puck around the defender, whether thats through his legs or around him.

In this second image, Potter had just received a pass by Will Moore and Moore was getting open for a give and go chance. Right now, Potter has drawn a defender to him. The correct play here is backhand a pass to Will Moore for a high danger opportunity because the guy on Potters back has just as much momentum as Potter. Instead Potter try's to move to his forehand, but the guy that has been pestering him disrupts the play resulting in no scoring chance for the Americans.

Here are two examples where Potter makes the correct play, but doesn't connect with either of his line-mates.

In this image, Potter is at a bad angle and try's to shovel a pass to Horcoff. This is the correct play, but Potter puts a bit too much on the pass and they miss a scoring chance. This really should be an easy tap in goal. I know there is a defender there, but he is facing Potter and giving up a lot leeway with putting a lot of his weight on his front skate with his stick on the wrong side of his body.

In this last image, this should be an easy light saucer pass that Moore can handle. Now this is the fault of both Moore and Potter. The defender is clearly committing to Potter and giving up an obvious passing lane. Instead of a light saucer pass, Potter puts some heat on it (not enough to make it impossible for Moore to one-time. In fact Moore probably should've gotten a shot off) and Moore whiffs. Potter should have feathered a lighter pass here as there was a lot of space for Moore to do something.

 

[Kevin Musto]

I wanted to show you what I mean by poor vision. In the 2 images below, Potter decides to not pass the puck and take a shot on goal.


You can see the defender is clearly in between Potter and Horcoff, but the defender is most definitely closer to Potter giving Horcoff a much better scoring opportunity than if Potter decides to curl drag and shoot (which he does and the goalie stops it with ease). I know the defender is in between the two, but at this level, you should be able to get the puck around the defender, whether thats through his legs or around him.


View attachment 1025640



In this second image, Potter had just received a pass by Will Moore and Moore was getting open for a give and go chance. Right now, Potter has drawn a defender to him. The correct play here is backhand a pass to Will Moore for a high danger opportunity because the guy on Potters back has just as much momentum as Potter. Instead Potter try's to move to his forehand, but the guy that has been pestering him disrupts the play resulting in no scoring chance for the Americans.

View attachment 1025644


Here are two examples where Potter makes the correct play, but doesn't connect with either of his line-mates.

In this image, Potter is at a bad angle and try's to shovel a pass to Horcoff. This is the correct play, but Potter puts a bit too much on the pass and they miss a scoring chance. This really should be an easy tap in goal. I know there is a defender there, but he is facing Potter and giving up a lot leeway with putting a lot of his weight on his front skate with his stick on the wrong side of his body.


View attachment 1025647


In this last image, this should be an easy light saucer pass that Moore can handle. Now this is the fault of both Moore and Potter. The defender is clearly committing to Potter and giving up an obvious passing lane. Instead of a light saucer pass, Potter puts some heat on it (not enough to make it impossible for Moore to one-time. In fact Moore probably should've gotten a shot off) and Moore whiffs. Potter should have feathered a lighter pass here as there was a lot of space for Moore to do something.


View attachment 1025652

He does the right thing inthe first image.

How many times do we see that play unfold in the NHL where they force the pass and the D picks it off and we're all left yelling SHOOOOT.

Having the confidence to rip that is a positive trait. Potter isn't a passenger, he likes to be the man.

You're right on the second image though. That should be a backhand pass.

 

[Castle8130]

He does the right thing inthe first image.

How many times do we see that play unfold in the NHL where they force the pass and the D picks it off and we're all left yelling SHOOOOT.

Having the confidence to rip that is a positive trait. Potter isn't a passenger, he likes to be the man.

You're right on the second image though. That should be a backhand pass.

The first image is 100% a pass. The defender has planted his feet (fully committing to Potter) and given Horcoff the easiest one timer chance of his life. I could've made that pass

 

[Kevin Musto]

The first image is 100% a pass. The defender has planted his feet (fully committing to Potter) and given Horcoff the easiest one timer chance of his life. I could've made that pass

okay, buddy

 

[ColbyChaos]

Why did Hagens draft stock drop this year? From what I recall he was #1 projected after last years draft

11 goals + 26 assists for 37 pts in 37 games as a 17/18 yr old in NCAA to me was impressive and far from something that should be viewed as negative

What little I saw of him he looked dynamic/dangerous on ice

If Hagens played great for 17 games and missed the rest of the year with an injury he would have kept his projected spot