2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[RememberTheRoar]

I think people are going to be pretty disappointed when the Hawks pass on Martone based on this poll. I see them getting a center this draft. It is very much up in the air on whether Bedard will be a center long-term and you rarely get in a position like this to draft a premium position. Frondell, Desnoyers, or Misa are the guys I see the Hawks clinging to

It sure seems like they’re not necessarily sold on one of Bedard or Nazar being a center long term based on the names Davidson is reportedly interested in.

 

[ChicagoHockeyFan]

Having your top 2 centers both be sub 6 foot is not a winning formula. Would be a good idea to add a center with more size

 

[Kevin Musto]

Personally I think a lot of people are sleeping on O’Brien, he has shown tremendous progression over the past two seasons, good size with the frame to add muscle, good skater, very cerebral player and young for the age group. On top of all that, you know the Hawks have seen him a ton since he has played the past two season with Lardis and Vanacker.

We're mostly just discussing the Scott Powers names, and he isn't one of them

 

[statswatcher]

We're mostly just discussing the Scott Powers names, and he isn't one of them

some of us are. one of us is fabricating lies about one of said names out of thin air for no other reason than because he decided some time in the last year to dislike that name in particular.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

We're mostly just discussing the Scott Powers names, and he isn't one of them

And Scott Wheeler

I think the Blackhawks’ decision comes down to three names: Misa, Desnoyers and Frondell. They already have a lot of 5-foot-10/11 forwards with speed and skill and I don’t think it makes sense for them to add another one in Hagens. And as much as the Blackhawks fan base anecdotally seems to want Martone for his size-skill-power combination, he doesn’t fit their profile because he doesn’t have the plus-skating piece.

 

[Kevin Musto]

And Scott Wheeler

he is right about Martone

it would go against what Kyle looks for

but if his staff bullies him enough, it could happen

 

[RememberTheRoar]

he is right about Martone

it would go against what Kyle looks for

but if his staff bullies him enough, it could happen

I think I’d like him too, but seeing him fall below 5 on a lot of the recent mocks makes it seem like he’s not a slam dunk

 

[Darkstar]

Personally I think a lot of people are sleeping on O’Brien, he has shown tremendous progression over the past two seasons, good size with the frame to add muscle, good skater, very cerebral player and young for the age group. On top of all that, you know the Hawks have seen him a ton since he has played the past two season with Lardis and Vanacker.

I'm always a bit skeptical of forwards that feast on the PP but are quiet in 5x5.

 

[Muffinalt]

I can't help but be more and more disappointed we fell to 3. Misa is no perfect but he would've been such a clear stylistic fit and no brain pick. The others though, they all have such strong negatives.

Martone is such an antithesis to what type of player KD/D like. He's not fast and he doesn't have much compete. If he's the pick, the FO really went against their usual MO.

I think Hagens is more of a KD type pick. He's a plus skater and he competes fine. But he has the questions about handling physicality and not improving that much, and cerebral playmakers haven't been the favorite of KD/D either.

Desnoyers has the compete qualities but not the plus skating. Frondell is the same but worse. They're the type of players KD liked with later picks, but minus the most important factor - skating, so I think they aren't crushes of the FO.

I think KD has to be trying super hard to trade up. Or trade out. Or trade down for Eklund/McQueen/Martin - who are the KD picks. I see a higher probability of some kind of a trade than just standing pat.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

I can't help but be more and more disappointed we fell to 3. Misa is no perfect but he would've been such a clear stylistic fit and no brain pick. The others though, they all have such strong negatives.

Martone is such an antithesis to what type of player KD/D like. He's not fast and he doesn't have much compete. If he's the pick, the FO really went against their usual MO.

I think Hagens is more of a KD type pick. He's a plus skater and he competes fine. But he has the questions about handling physicality and not improving that much, and cerebral playmakers haven't been the favorite of KD/D either.

Desnoyers has the compete qualities but not the plus skating. Frondell is the same but worse. They're the type of players KD liked with later picks, but minus the most important factor - skating, so I think they aren't crushes of the FO.

I think KD has to be trying super hard to trade up. Or trade out. Or trade down for Eklund/McQueen/Martin - who are the KD picks. I see a higher probability of some kind of a trade than just standing pat.

I agree with most of this, I’d just add also potentially moving the pick for someone established who can actually help allow Bedard to play his game.

Falling to 3 and having Carle say no really suck.

 

[TheFridge]

Frondell pick would be very similar to the thinking behind picking Levshunov.

Draft is full of highlight reel high IQ's, danglers, speedsters, scorers, etc, all of whom have a small chance of elite play translating to the NHL even if they become good NHL'ers over time.

Frondell can already do things as a forward against adults that most scorers struggle with if ever get to. He's not a highlight reel guy. Lev wasn't a highlight reel D either. I saw a Boisvert comparison? Not even close, very different players.

I think it's almost polar opposite thinking.

Levshunov was an incredibly raw player, with very little experience against high-end competition, that was producing and being impactful at every level he ascended through.

Frondell on the other hand has a very mature game, pro-ready game already and it's more the high-end upside that's the question.

 

[TheFridge]

Funny because Kane's stats are probably in a similar ballpark with Sam Gagner being involved in so many. I recall something like Mr. 8 pts had joked he was the reason Kane went 1st overall.

It wasn't just Kane and Gagner. Sergei Kostitsyn was on that line too and he was just as dangerous as the other two (albeit, a year and a half/two years older than both).

Kane was clearly the best of the three though. The way he dissected teams in the OHL was disgusting. It was absolutely disgusting.

 

[TheFridge]

The more I think about it, the more I want Hagens. He was the guy going into the draft. He didn't light the world on fire at BC but he was still a PpG. He was very good at the WJC. He's going to go back next year and be the guy for that team. He's got a chance to be a dynamic playmaker to pair with Bedard, or a guy that can carry his own line if you want to keep them separated. If he was 5'9" I'd be concerned about the size going forward but at 5'11" I think that's overblown.

Plus, with Hagens going back to college next year (you'd assume), it leaves us with a better shot at McKenna.

 

[Kevin Musto]

I can't help but be more and more disappointed we fell to 3. Misa is no perfect but he would've been such a clear stylistic fit and no brain pick. The others though, they all have such strong negatives.

Martone is such an antithesis to what type of player KD/D like. He's not fast and he doesn't have much compete. If he's the pick, the FO really went against their usual MO.

I think Hagens is more of a KD type pick. He's a plus skater and he competes fine. But he has the questions about handling physicality and not improving that much, and cerebral playmakers haven't been the favorite of KD/D either.

Desnoyers has the compete qualities but not the plus skating. Frondell is the same but worse. They're the type of players KD liked with later picks, but minus the most important factor - skating, so I think they aren't crushes of the FO.

I think KD has to be trying super hard to trade up. Or trade out. Or trade down for Eklund/McQueen/Martin - who are the KD picks. I see a higher probability of some kind of a trade than just standing pat.

I maintain that Kyle shouldn't be looking for fit.

You draft BPA, and get the best asset. For me that's Martone.

If you don't like his fit, you can always trade him.

But the important thing is to pick the guy that can give you the biggest return in the future.

As @RememberTheRoar points out, you can circumvent that future scenario altogether by making that trade at the draft for an established player that fits now. I'm more than fine with letting someone else make the pick at 3 if they can give us what we're looking for.

 

[deytookerjaabs]

I think it's almost polar opposite thinking.

Levshunov was an incredibly raw player, with very little experience against high-end competition, that was producing and being impactful at every level he ascended through.

Frondell on the other hand has a very mature game, pro-ready game already and it's more the high-end upside that's the question.

Just exactly how much more "high end" is the 2nd tier Swede league competition level versus the NCAA?

Both are leagues where, at the very least, 17/18 year olds are on the ice with guys a few years or more developed beyond them.

 

[Darkstar]

The more I think about it, the more I want Hagens. He was the guy going into the draft. He didn't light the world on fire at BC but he was still a PpG. He was very good at the WJC. He's going to go back next year and be the guy for that team. He's got a chance to be a dynamic playmaker to pair with Bedard, or a guy that can carry his own line if you want to keep them separated. If he was 5'9" I'd be concerned about the size going forward but at 5'11" I think that's overblown.

Plus, with Hagens going back to college next year (you'd assume), it leaves us with a better shot at McKenna.

I'm not the biggest Hagens fan, but I think he has more high end offensive potential than a number of the other names mentioned.

 

[Wally1112pac]

I'm leaning towards Matrone but would also be happy with Hagens.

 

[TheFridge]

Just exactly how much more "high end" is the 2nd tier Swede league competition level versus the NCAA?

Both are leagues where, at the very least, 17/18 year olds are on the ice with guys a few years or more developed beyond them.

I didn't mean to suggest the Allsvenskan was high-end (though, it is a better league without question than the NCAA). Frondell has represented Sweden at numerous international events and always played up beyond his age group. Meanwhile, Levshunov was playing pond hockey in Belarus before playing in the USHL, and that was just two years ago.

 

[hawksfan50]

Justcsaw an article by the hockeyvwritersxthat Flyers coukdctake Brady at #6...Craig Button also was so impressed by Martinat u18s he said he could go top 5..

so if there is a latecriser it is this impressive kid.

Listed at 6'0 178 he pkaysvlike a libebacjer of 240 ..nobody hits harder orcas often..But I did see 1 listu by Central Scoutibg earlier in the year where hewas at 186lbs..

But it does nit matter hevpkays bigger than any listed weight..The most physical and intense tenacious trekentless hogh motor uber conpetevguy in the draft ..and yet he dis put up decentboints (72 in 57 Games) with a terribkecSoo team (14th of 20 teamsvonOHL league standibgs and a team not good on the Pp ...not compared to the talent of Brantford or Saginaw or other top offebsive producing teams with good Pos which helps pileup pkayers piubtsvif featured onacgodPp )..he had no t moch talent help.. So he was easily the best player on a very pir team and THAT context has to be wished in to evaluate why he "onky" put up 72 loibts onhisx57GP in regukarxsesson..Sure Misa was over 2 poibts a game and Martinson over 1.2 lintscz game..But the context man..the context.. No Oarekh to run a good Pp in the Soo like Misa had no Chernyshov to cash in feeds fromMisa or Patekh...and on an on..look at the context ofcavpkayer's circumstances...lotscof talent help or little talent help..This can explain a lot ofbpintsvorodictuon differential..
But Martin had such a high ratio ofvhisvlints Not coning from the Pp that you gotta KNOW he is goi g to be a great 5x5 player and help teams that way..It is just that with better talent he coukd Add more points too I f played with talent on the Pos.
We know Hawks Op was quite good in converting extra man sad Antares.. so tge focus shoukd be rather to help that 5x5 hame where Hawks lagged bFly.
Mart in had tge best ratio of Non-Pp pints to totL piibtscNo no top ten forward prospects (( HE WILK BE a top 10 pick now after impressing everyone who saw homat u18s..maybe top 6..maybe #3IF Hawks cNnot land Misa by SJ either passing ona Cebter to the Martine for help ontheir wing to balance out their top 6 since they already have their 1C and 2C goibg forward..(Celebrinni andSmith).

So yes.. we still coukd get Misa..but ironically Misa finished bDly ..puti gbuo a -16 his last 10GP ..whike Martin kept getting better both in production rate and with a +14 i his last.10HP..

So no question Martin was and ISca drFt riser.

He ckeckscavlitvof boxes you want to help your team..but other candidates have Questions. With Martin ,no questions. YOU kNOW you are getting a unique HOCKEY PLAYER who oozes "Pro" ...he can pkay big minutes...play all situations ..tikt thevice by relentless forecheck...get pucks back via back-check ...the awY and transition to attack the other way.. He showed not ekite soeed but plus speed..
I think he deserves tobbr considered even as high as #3forvthe next bestvoption of Misa off tge board before Hawks pick
.
Desnorwrs shlukd be considered too bri ging a different skill/abikity toolbox..

The the 3 other candidates...Martine Hagens and
Frobdekl have more issues with sone flaws and/or sone "fit" issues that make one question them for helping rge Hawks ice the best lineup.
We cannot see Martin pkay Nymore thi s season.. but we can look at Drsnoyers abd how he oerformsvinthe Q ChMpuonship Final Series and probably I tge Memmorial Cup.

That will be interesting because you want to see what he can do vs.the OHL ChMluon teamand vs. The WHL Champion team there.

Moncton is playing Rinouski for tge Q Championship ...but will also face them again as Rinouski hosts the Memorial Cup.

So close eyes on Frsnoydrs..


Tgen see i f he deserves to be tge #3or go with the RISER =Brady Martin.

 

[ColbyChaos]

Fantilli/Carlsson both comfortably ahead. Both were legit 1st overall caliber prospects

The people talking Schaefer up to be a Makar level prospect are going to suffer whiplash from the disappointment. A lot closer to an ekblad tier defender vs a heiskanen hughes makar

 

[MTU34]

The people talking Schaefer up to be a Makar level prospect are going to suffer whiplash from the disappointment. A lot closer to an ekblad tier defender vs a heiskanen hughes makar

He’s not going to be Hughes or Makar but for my money he’s the best draft eligible defenseman since Dahlin. He’s a lot better than Ekblad ever was

 

[HawksDub89]

The thing about Schaefer is we’ve seen such a small sample size and he’s so young for the 25 class that it’s very difficult to project what he could be.

 

[Kevin Musto]

The thing about Schaefer is we’ve seen such a small sample size and he’s so young for the 25 class that it’s very difficult to project what he could be.

This is true.

But he has flashes of game breaking talent which is more than I can say for anyone else in the draft.

In a better year, his absence probably would've caused him to slip one or two spots, but the competition just isn't there.

 

[Kevin Musto]

When Kyle was talking about positional tiebreakers and what not... we assumed he meant valuing center over wing.

But what if he meant defenseman? Does he dare take a defenseman at 3?

The only reason we're not talking about it is because Powers hasn't mentioned one yet. But I wonder if that changes.

 

[MTU34]

When Kyle was talking about positional tiebreakers and what not... we assumed he meant valuing center over wing.

But what if he meant defenseman? Does he dare take a defenseman at 3?

The only reason we're not talking about it is because Powers hasn't mentioned one yet. But I wonder if that changes.

I doubt it. Jackson Smith has that kind of upside but he’s wayyyyyy too raw to do that at 3