2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[Kevin Musto]

Do you think Misa could get 80-90 points ?

I think Misa and Martone are within the same realm of upside.

I give Misa the edge because of the skating, he's also going to score a lot more whereas Martone is a playmaker.

I think they both have the upside to be 1st line wingers, but they play very differently.

 

[Larmer83]

He's captain for a reason.

Also wouldn't surprise me if he was captain of the next World Juniors team.

If we're picking 3 or 4, and he's available, he's clearly a cut above the rest, and I'm thrilled to hear from Powers that he's on the menu for the Hawks.

Highest IQ in the draft and built like a unit.

The skating obviously doesn't align with KD's preferences, but you can't build a team through the draft. You have to take the highest value player. Even if you decide in 5 years that Martone doesn't fit the style of the roster, you can trade him for someone who does, and I predict he'll be worth more than anyone else available at 3 or 4.

No, it doesn't. But from my untrained eye it seems as if there was a difference in Martone's skating pre vs post World Juniors. Seems to me I recall some questions about his health at the WJC.

To me he appeared to be a better skater prior to the Worlds and afterwards he looked Maroon slow. His OHL numbers at the end of 2024 were 54 points in 26 games or 2.08 ppg. In 2025 he had 44 in 31 or 1.42 ppg. Pretty dramatic difference.

 

[Castle8130]

The way Scott Powers article mentions the prospects, it looks like Misa is the Hawks preference. I know I’ve been the Desnoyers guy, but it is super close between a bunch of guys at the top and Id be cool with Misa. Desnoyers been cold in the latest series against Rouyn and Frondell’s production at the u18s is alarming. I always liked Martone, but worry if he can adapt to faster paced environments. He’s fine against heavier opponents, but fast paced games can give him issues. I still like him a lot and there isnt a bad pick in the top 4, unless we draft a forward at 1.

Im going to guess KD is looking for more size in the draft to surround Bedard and Nazar. A few guys the Hawks could look at in the 25-34 range:

- Bill Zonnon: Big gritty center

- Jack Murtagh: Brings some size and is a better U18 player for USA

- Milton Gastrin: Not huge, but is strong and projects as a center.

- Shane Vansaghi: More of a depth forward that is noticeably large

- Will Horcoff: Another big winger playing for USA that plays a gritty less skilled style of play

- Vaclav Nestrasil: Big winger that plays with speed. He is a KD type with the size and speed he brings.

- Daniil Prohkorov: This might be my favorite selection. He is a HUGE Russian winger that looks great on tape. His name has been buzzing by Pronman and Mckegg.

- Jacob Ihs Wozniak: His stock has declined through the season, but he has been very productive in the Sweden U20 league.

 

[Mjul Qvist]

Desnoyers been cold in the latest series against Rouyn and Frondell’s production at the u18s is alarming.

I wouldn´t put too much weight on his three games there. He has shown enough in Allsvenskan this season. Even he has been quiet in terms of offense you can see that his game will translate well in pro hockey. I see some Barkov in his game though but not claiming that he will be anywhere as good as Barkov is.

Milton Gastrin is someone I would look with that pick from Toronto if he is available. You could never have too many centers in your pipeline.

Watch Ivar Stenberg in 2026. He is in my opinion Sweden´s best forward on that U18 squad. Really good skater and plays in all situations. Although not the biggest guy out there he is very strong on puck. He can do it all kind of winger.

 

[Castle8130]

I wouldn´t put too much weight on his three games there. He has shown enough in Allsvenskan this season. Even he has been quiet in terms of offense you can see that his game will translate well in pro hockey. I see some Barkov in his game though but not claiming that he will be anywhere as good as Barkov is.

Milton Gastrin is someone I would look with that pick from Toronto if he is available. You could never have too many centers in your pipeline.

Watch Ivar Stenberg in 2026. He is in my opinion Sweden´s best forward on that U18 squad. Really good skater and plays in all situations. Although not the biggest guy out there he is very strong on puck. He can do it all kind of winger.

Ivar has looked VERY good. He looks like he can be the 2nd oa pick next year. Another thing to note on the 2026 draft class is the Canadien defensive class looks strong. Carels, Lin, Verhoeff, Rudolph, and Villenueve. All look like 1st round picks at the moment. We’ll see about the forwards, but from a long way out, defense looks like the strength of next years crop.

One other thing i noticed about next years group. It looks kind of weak down the middle early on. Mckenna, Stenberg, Belchetz, Preston, and Berchild are all wingers. Rooerbreck or however you spell it is listed as a center but is playing wing in this U18 tourney. So if your one of those people that say “we should draft this position this year, because next year that position doesn’t have many good players”, you might hope we address center.

 

[Ace Card Bedard]

Watching Brady Martin in the U18's yesterday, he looks really good.
Great hustle, skating looks good, stick handling and vision look really good.

I know he won't drop far enough for our later 1st but I would love to see KD trade up to get him.

 

[Muffinalt]

Watching Brady Martin in the U18's yesterday, he looks really good.
Great hustle, skating looks good, stick handling and vision look really good.

I know he won't drop far enough for our later 1st but I would love to see KD trade up to get him.

Love him and his style would be so nice to compliment our forwards. But yeah, have to trade up/down into the top 15.

 

[kmwtrucks]

heard frondell has not looked very good. he did fly a very long flight and landed just before his first game.

 

[HawksDub89]

heard frondell has not looked very good. he did fly a very long flight and landed just before his first game.

I haven’t been too impressed to be completely honest, but it’s a very small sample size and tough circumstances for him. (Travel)

 

[Space umpire]

The X factor if Hawks getc#3or# 4 is do they bet on upside and tge health goibf forward for RogerMcQueen?

Because if he had been healthy and played ed this development draft yearhe could have challenged Scaeferxas tge #1prospect of the class..Because as one scout put it...he can do everything Hagebs can but is 6'5 and not 5'10 ...hexwill get even strobgerxand faster as he develops into his frame and he is also more dynamic than Hagebs...yet despite Hagens not taking g charge and not driving pkay as mich as expected and not producing as mich as expected they still believe Hagebs will alert himself better nextcseadon but the upside due to the size stuck transport and skill and physicality with McQueenis so goidxa projection that the only reason they still have Hagebsxat #4 and McQueen at #5 is the limited sample sizectjisxseason due to the long period out with injury and obviously not back to full health yet for tge few games he played after he got back ..Tge EO scouts cannot theycsay asess tge medical situation because they do not have access to the medical reports.. So they can only still rely on just tge potebtial for this unique combination of size skill physicality Ns skatibg (very goidcforvhiscsize( that McQueen has..

So if Hawks cannot get Schaefer or Misa who rank#1and#2 on almost all lists,then at #3or#4 do tgey take Size+Skill with eitger Martone or take a risk tgat McQueen makes it to full health again and the pitentional of a Diminant Big Center that every franchise would desire?

They have Marribe at #3 despite tge inconsistent shift to shift efforts.. but tgey say when he has goidxshifts theycare realky good and so maybe more development and coaching will get Martone to becone a more consistent player..tgectalent us there ...but 1 content I found concernibgbon Martone..the scout fromEP connenti g in a YouTube said Martoneis more a connective pkayer than a play driver..So hecwill need the right linemates to transport the puck upto him for attacking thebo-zone..They did say hexwas very goodxarkubdcthe net and I front-facing the net and for deflections ..So Martone has sone good aspects but also some question marks ..

If tgecJawksxarexsarisfiedcwith the medical reports and risks on McQueen,I think I would go for the potential of McQueen over the hogher floor of Martone.

Martine could be an 80 poibts top linecwibger bit McQueen coukd becaxdominatibg Big withvachigher ceiling but aksobcoukd be a total bust IFvthe medical risks turn sour ..

Do you gamble on Great vs.
merely goid potential ifvl the former has higher risk dueto injury history ?

Hawks likevotgercteans will check deep into the medical reports ...if they think too risky they coukd pkay it safer.. but id satisfied that fill health can be achieved?maybevthey Do go forvthe hogher ceiling potential woth McQueen?

They have noth Denoyers at#9 and Jake O'Brien #10 on their ranking...I hD them higher at #3and #4, though not still sure which goes ahead of the other.
They say Denoyers has onlyvax2C not a 1C ceking ..but that provides a lotvof certainty for a complete pkayer contributing well as a 2C
.They like the runway for P"Broen who they admit is an ekitevpaser ..but tgecrestbifbhisvgame is still raw and jeviscso lanky
.so they ate not as confident he does fill tge frame and gets faster stribgercand with the confidence from that vanes his game into a more dynamic player ..

So if Haekscget only #3 or#4 after lotto, I hope KD does not take another shrimp (Hagens) but goes for size up front t with McQueen or Nartone...Or maybevhe trades down?

Please stop with McQueen. Big guys with bad backs have short careers. I’d put cash that he stays on the board until all/most “potential” 1st line types are gone. Likely 6th to 9th depending on how you rate the others.

 

[Space umpire]

Yeah a lot of outlets just like to glaze every prospect. They act like everyone has top 6 upside. Reality isn't EA Sports. I like that St Laurent has realistic projections, and he backs it up.

Misa would never play center in Chicago anyway. He'd be on Bedard's wing.

In a stronger draft, would Misa be ranked at #4? Sure. But in this year's class he's pretty firmly at the #2 spot.

You think Bedard stays at C over Misa?
Not questioning the opinion, I just find Bedard too weak as a C and think he would excel as an Ovie like spot up shooter.

 

[Kevin Musto]

You think Bedard stays at C over Misa?
Not questioning the opinion, I just find Bedard too weak as a C and think he would excel as an Ovie like spot up shooter.

I'm not in the camp of people that are down on Bedard at C.

I still firmly believe he's our franchise 1C.

 

[Malaka]

You think Bedard stays at C over Misa?
Not questioning the opinion, I just find Bedard too weak as a C and think he would excel as an Ovie like spot up shooter.

They would be on different lines I thought someone projected. I don’t know how well they compliment eachother another armchair coach/gm can speak to that

 

[Kevin Musto]

They would be on different lines I thought someone projected. I don’t know how well they compliment eachother another armchair coach/gm can speak to that

I would play Misa and Bedard on the same line.

Misa is a net front guy, and Bedard obviously isn't playing that role.

I don't see why they wouldn't work together.

 

[Muffinalt]

Please stop with McQueen. Big guys with bad backs have short careers. I’d put cash that he stays on the board until all/most “potential” 1st line types are gone. Likely 6th to 9th depending on how you rate the others.

I think he makes a lot of sense for Anaheim at 8. He's clearly their type and they have a lot of forwards already so they can afford the gamble.

On talent alone McQueen is definitely top 5ish, so the medical access is going to decide it for the teams.

You think Bedard stays at C over Misa?
Not questioning the opinion, I just find Bedard too weak as a C and think he would excel as an Ovie like spot up shooter.

I personally think Misa is going to be bouncing between W and C a lot in his career. Or he will have to learn a much more responsible game at C in his own zone.

But Bedard at C creating for Misa who has a really good snap shot and quick wristers, who likes to float in for goal and blow the zone with speed to create space for Connor... It's a really good match actually. They would need a really active, defensively capable net front guy as the third on the line.

 

[BlackRaven]

I think he makes a lot of sense for Anaheim at 8. He's clearly their type and they have a lot of forwards already so they can afford the gamble.

On talent alone McQueen is definitely top 5ish, so the medical access is going to decide it for the teams.



I personally think Misa is going to be bouncing between W and C a lot in his career. Or he will have to learn a much more responsible game at C in his own zone.

But Bedard at C creating for Misa who has a really good snap shot and quick wristers, who likes to float in for goal and blow the zone with speed to create space for Connor... It's a really good match actually. They would need a really active, defensively capable net front guy as the third on the line.

I like Spellacy as the 3rd guy on that line. Not even as close to as skilled but can skate and be a bull in front and get back on D for those two, and also play a protector role. It is all on how hard he is willing to work. He is more like a 3rd to 4th liner but can be the right piece with those two.

 

[TheFridge]

Cole Reschny should be a target for the Hawks with their 2nd first round pick. He'll be off the board before the Hawks make the pick, so they'll have to trade him. If you want to talk about a kid that's trended up all season, he'd be the one.

 

[ChicagoHockeyFan]

Nestrasil would be perfect with the leafs first.

 

[Muffinalt]

I like Spellacy as the 3rd guy on that line. Not even as close to as skilled but can skate and be a bull in front and get back on D for those two, and also play a protector role. It is all on how hard he is willing to work. He is more like a 3rd to 4th liner but can be the right piece with those two.

Love Spellacy but he doesn't really have the skill you'd want on the top line. I think Vanacker/Boisvert makes more sense.

Let's see how the lottery goes though, this could be moot by Monday haha.

 

[Cold Steel on Ice]

Anyone have much info on Sacha Boumedienne for Sweden at the U18 tournament? Playing at Boston U and has like 14 points in 5 games as a defenseman in the tournament so far.I watched Sweden USA game and he looks very poised and sound defensively.Maybe a contender for the Leafs pick.

 

[Larmer83]

Anyone have much info on Sacha Boumedienne for Sweden at the U18 tournament? Playing at Boston U and has like 14 points in 5 games as a defenseman in the tournament so far.I watched Sweden USA game and he looks very poised and sound defensively.Maybe a contender for the Leafs pick.

Very young as a freshman at BU so I guess it shouldn't surprise that he struggled in his own zone. That got better later in the season. With Cole Hudson and Tom Willander he did not get prime PP time. Good skater and good passer. Little physicality. Needs to get stronger. Nothing jumps out as far as his skill that says draft this guy. If he's available with the Toronto 1st rounder, there's got to be an alternative at forward.

 

[MicronMega]

Nestrasil would be perfect with the leafs first.

I think if the Hawks can get Schafer or Misa...Nestrasil and Nesbitt. That would be a great draft. Trade up with the 34th pick+ to get the later two players.

 

[Castle8130]

Some very interesting information revealed on the Athletic podcast today. When talking about 1st oa, they said Schaefer is a heavy favorite to go 1, but there is a scenario or 2 where they think a forward would be picked at 1.

In regards to the top forwards of the class, Pronman and Wheeler were talking with scouts on who they think is the top forward in the class. They heard a variety of names. All of Misa, Frondell, Desnoyers, Hagens, Martone, and O'Brien were mentioned as a scouts top forward in the draft class. Misa was the more common answer, hence they think he will be the top forward selected. The guy they think that is most likely to dethrone him as the top forward picked is Frondell. Having said that, they said the over under % chance Misa is taken as the top forward was 35%. That is noticeably low, but thats more credence to how much of a toss-up the top forward in the class is