2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[Toews2Bickell]

Leafs are way too soft. They have to tear it down at this point, right? Your best player is a complete no show, your 2nd best player is a complete no show. You have no top pairing Dmen. They have some good components, but the top guys just can't ever get it done.

Yes, and the sell to the fanbase would probably not take much if they lose this series

 

[Kevin Musto]

out of Hagens, Desnoyer and Frondell who is the most likely to remain at center?

Frondell is a winger so it won't be him.

I think Hagens and Des both can play center in the NHL, but I think both could play higher up the lineup as wings. Neither is a 1C.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Frondell is a winger so it won't be him.

I think Hagens and Des both can play center in the NHL, but I think both could play higher up the lineup as wings. Neither is a 1C.

What could happen is that Bedard is kicked to RW and Nazar is his center, then you're looking at this draft as a way to find your 2C, so Desnoyers or Hagens, and look to 2026 to find a linemate for them...and then you got 2 spots left to fill with Boisvert, Moore, Lardis, UFA, trades (Isaac Howard?) etc

 

[MTU34]

out of Hagens, Desnoyer and Frondell who is the most likely to remain at center?

Frondell is probably a winger. I don’t think either of Desnoyers or Hagens should have difficulty projecting as centers in the NHL. If I had to pick one that’s most likely to stick it’s Desnoyers because of the physical tools

 

[dj Mahoney]

out of Hagens, Desnoyer and Frondell who is the most likely to remain at center?

Desnoyer

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Maybe in a year we're looking at a projected top 6 of

Lardis-Nazar-Bedard
Boisvert-Hagens/Desnoyer-2026 1st

 

[Kevin Musto]

What could happen is that Bedard is kicked to RW and Nazar is his center, then you're looking at this draft as a way to find your 2C, so Desnoyers or Hagens, and look to 2026 to find a linemate for them...and then you got 2 spots left to fill with Boisvert, Moore, Lardis, UFA, trades (Isaac Howard?) etc

While possible, if you're drafting someone like Desnoyers he's probably at least 2 years away from playing in the NHL.

Anything can happen, but I'm a firm believer in Bedard and Nazar cementing themselves as 1C and 2C.

In which case, you're not really doing yourself a favor by going out of your way to draft a center at 3 because by the time they get here there might not be any center spots open. Even the bottom 6 could feature Greene, Boisvert, etc. at center.

I just don't think position should be a factor in the decision.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

While possible, if you're drafting someone like Desnoyers he's probably at least 2 years away from playing in the NHL.

Anything can happen, but I'm a firm believer in Bedard and Nazar cementing themselves as 1C and 2C.

In which case, you're not really doing yourself a favor by going out of your way to draft a center at 3 because by the time they get here there might not be any center spots open. Even the bottom 6 could feature Greene, Boisvert, etc. at center.

I just don't think position should be a factor in the decision.

It's a potential hedge on Bedard not working at center in the NHL, no? And thats fine if he's 2 years away, go get McKenna lol

 

[clydesdale line]

out of Hagens, Desnoyer and Frondell who is the most likely to remain at center?

Out of the 3 of them, Desnoyers. But I believe all 3 can and will do it.

 

[Cold Steel on Ice]

You can’t have enough centres and defensemen as prospects. Desnoyers is improving with every playoff game. Last time the Hawks picked a French Canadian at the 3rd pick it worked out pretty well.

 

[Kevin Musto]

It's a potential hedge on Bedard not working at center in the NHL, no? And thats fine if he's 2 years away, go get McKenna lol

Bedard is 0.85ppg across two seasons as a center. He's still a teenager.

I just can't comprehend why anyone would call him a winger.

 

[featherhawk]

out of Hagens, Desnoyer and Frondell who is the most likely to remain at center?

Desnoyers

 

[Darkstar]

Desnoyers and Boisvert can be the new French connection.

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View attachment 1036057

Gotta pick Carbonneau also to make that a thing.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Coming out of this rebuild with Nazar as our 1C would suck.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Coming out of this rebuild with Nazar as our 1C would suck.

Brayden Point sucks?

 

[Mjul Qvist]

Tell me he doesn't sound like a typical KD/D pick?

Hes my pick at 3 as well.

Besides Misa he might be the best fit with Bedard. They targeted Demidov last year and now they sure could get someone who has skills to play and think the game same way as Bedard. I have zero problem if Hagens is the pick. A lot of good options there.

 

[Mjul Qvist]

The entire body of work that Hagens has put in the past two years is extremely impressive, but Misa had the better draft year. What do you put more stock in?

It hard to compare players when they play in different leagues. Scouts have said that evaluating young players who play in different leagues and level is difficult. Who knows what Hagens numbers would have been if he had played in OHL? But I believe that draft year do weight heavily more in scouts papers.

Imagine taking Nolan Patrick 1st overall because of his great D-1 year, and completely ignoring his disappointing draft year.

He was still picked 2nd overall and that disappointing draft year was because of injury and we know how that ended.

 

[pvr]

Besides Misa he might be the best fit with Bedard. They targeted Demidov last year and now they sure could get someone who has skills to play and think the game same way as Bedard. I have zero problem if Hagens is the pick. A lot of good options there.

Hagens just seems so soft to me. Zero physicality.

Starting at 4:15, the play along the boards, he turns his head even though he’s fully protected. Gets lucky with the puck and scores.

 

[TheFridge]

But I didn't say Hagens had a bad year, so once again what's your point?

Your point is that D-1 years don't matter.

But that's stupid.

My point is, how much stock should you put into a D-1 (because it does matter)?

 

[Sinbad]

Saw this on twitter and thought it was interesting

Pretty big regression in Martone’s production in the second half of the year.

And Michael Misa is the final boss of consistency this year

How are these numbers impacted by quality of opponent?

 

[x Tame Impala]

Brayden Point sucks?

Ignoring that small exaggeration, Point isn’t enough of 1C to get his team out of the first round playing with Kucherov. Now that Hedman isn’t a Norris winner and Tampa lost its depth which means Vasilevsky plays worse too, Point isn’t capable of picking up that slack. Great player but if he’s your team’s 2nd best player and top center it’s not good enough to win a Cup.

 

[Sinbad]

Martone is not a warrior, but Brady Martin is an uber warrior. Again, if he played on a better team with better support, he would have obviously put up more than 72 points in approximately the same number of games as Martone or Desnoyers.

But it's not just about points. With Desnoyers, you get a potential future Selke winner. He has such good defensive habits, reads, and instincts. He uses his positioning to best intercept pucks or close off rush attacks and is in the correct position like few others I’ve seen at this age. He's already ahead of the game defensively and much more effective both ways than Martone. Less points per game, but a better net differential advantage.

With Martin, you get a more difficult offensive comparison because he had no help in the Soo. He was by far their best player and had little talent to help him. Put him on better teams, and his production would likely be 15-25 points higher. But what you get from him is the relentless compete and work ethic.

So, it's really a question of style. More cerebral and instinctual two-way play with Desnoyers, or the more physical, straight-line, determined, and focused forechecking, taking it to the net, creating chaos, and hustling to hit and knock off the puck with Martin.

Either of Desnoyers or Martin could be better fits for the Hawks than the candidates currently listed at #3, unless you allow for Jake O'Brien's longer runway to improve. Given his relative youth (June 2007 birthdate), he isn't yet at the level in some aspects, but he will become one once he fills out, gets stronger, adds more speed to his game, and improves his defensive reads. Still, because he is the best passer in the draft, he put up 98 points despite playing only 2C. Yes, nearly half of his points came on the power play, but if he had centered Lardis and Conlin at 5v5, he would have had more even-strength points.
So, you've got to understand the players' roles, how much help they have around them, and what else they bring to the table beyond point production.

I just worry about Martin not bringing enough focus consistently. He can slack off on certain shifts. He has a lot of high skill, but you also want consistent work ethic. And he doesn't fit the KD speed/pace tests.

Frondell definitely looks too slow and not a good puck transporter through the neutral zone. I don't see KD breaking his skating priority to take him.

So, if we cannot get Misa, we either trade down, trade up to get Misa, or stand pat and choose one of: Desnoyers, Martin, or O'Brien. With the first two, you know what you’re getting, albeit with differing styles of play, but consistency is there. Both are 200-foot players. You can trust them for why you drafted them. With O'Brien, there’s more to unlock. He has some aspects down already (passing/playmaking), but he needs to take his shooting to a higher level (he has a good shot, just needs to shoot more). On the power play, he easily compiles assists, but in a potential 1C role next season in Brantford, he will need to show less deference to setting up plays on the PP and score more goals, both on the PP and at 5v5. When he does that, you should see his highest production level and project him to reach a true 1C star level as a pro.

But maybe KD won’t gamble on that potential and will settle for someone he can rely on, albeit at a lower-than-top-star potential, but good enough for a solid 2-way, consistent 2nd-line NHL potential as you know Desnoyers or Martin can give you.

First just let me say, this is a great service you are providing, Fiddy actually has some great insight but it is so difficult to try a decipher what he/she is trying to communicate. So kudos!

The only thing I would take exception to in the above post is the comment on O’Brien needing to shoot more, the kid did have almost 0.5 gpg this past season as a draft eligible. As you mentioned (Fiddy) the strength of his offensive game is playmaking, he obviously recognizes that and is playing to his strength. Additionally, he was out there this season on the power play with a 71 goal scorer in Lardis, so O’Brien obviously recognizes the strength of his teammates and is capitalizing on those strengths as well, that’s just smart hockey.

 

[WarriorofTime]

If Bedard not a center, Hawks need to tank another season and position themselves as one of three most likely options for McKenna and absent that, someone else. Even if #3 pick is a hit, probably won't be a hit the ground running kind of hit. Lock up Bedard, lock up Nazar, let the others sort themselves out, position self for another high pick.

Very worried about impatience. You can have a very promising 2022-2026 Draft Foundation if you play it right. Trying to backfill players from 2019-2021 drafts right now is where things will go off the rails if they aren't being savvy.

 

[Deputy McRizzy]

If Bedard not a center, Hawks need to tank another season and position themselves as one of three most likely options for McKenna and absent that, someone else. Even if #3 pick is a hit, probably won't be a hit the ground running kind of hit. Lock up Bedard, lock up Nazar, let the others sort themselves out, position self for another high pick.

Very worried about impatience. You can have a very promising 2022-2026 Draft Foundation if you play it right. Trying to backfill players from 2019-2021 drafts right now is where things will go off the rails if they aren't being savvy.

Doesn't the 2026 have quite a few high end C options in addition to McKenna? They should be bad enough to easily be in the hunt for a top 5 pick.

You need to let the kids play if they earn the spot and no more intentional tanking by hitting the cap floor with terrible overpaid old guys who are just collecting a check. That's bad for the locker room and culture in general. No more guys like Foligno, Perry, Brodie, etc.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Doesn't the 2026 have quite a few high end C options in addition to McKenna? They should be bad enough to easily be in the hunt for a top 5 pick.

You need to let the kids play if they earn the spot and no more intentional tanking by hitting the cap floor with terrible overpaid old guys who are just collecting a check. That's bad for the locker room and culture in general. No more guys like Foligno, Perry, Brodie, etc.

Yeah to be clear, I think the “kids” will tank just fine on their own. Agree they should push and battle each other for roster spots. If they surprisingly play really well and the team has a pretty big rise that’s ok/good. Just don’t want to go too hard on trade market for RFAs/average UFAs and get some pdo lucky season that is meaningless.