2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[Chelios]

Just because they didn't play in the NHL, doesn't mean they couldn't be capable. GM's/coaches tend to put them in the AHL to develop and learn both sides of the puck, even though they could have a bigger impact on an NHL team than Kruger could have at age 34.

Just take the L man.

 

[Larmer83]

Is there a thread on this board that doesn't have f***ing Mitch Marners name pop up?

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Is there a thread on this board that doesn't have f***ing Mitch Marners name pop up?

if there was one prospect in this draft that you had to comp to mitch marner who would it be

 

[Castle8130]

We need Kruger at the draft combine stat

 

[Kevin Musto]

if there was one prospect in this draft that you had to comp to mitch marner who would it be

Maybe Ben Kindel?

 

[RaquetPeanutSteering]

if there was one prospect in this draft that you had to comp to mitch marner who would it be

I know it's a joke, but Hagens is a very good Marner comp. I've held onto that for a while going back to his time USNTDP. He has the goods to be a similar style and output player as MM and Jack Hughes.

A lot of people are selling his talent quite short because he was only a PPG player as an 18 year old in college. That and his size, but man I think he's going to be good, pretty quickly. We do need to get bigger and tougher to play against, but there would be far worse things than ending up with him.

 

[Drumman44]

A lot of people are selling his talent quite short because he was only a PPG player as an 18 year old in college. That and his size, but man I think he's going to be good, pretty quickly. We do need to get bigger and tougher to play against, but there would be far worse things than ending up with him.

We should air drop propaganda leaflets over Long Island so they'll take him first overall.

 

[Mjul Qvist]

Was Frondell considered a top 5 guy a year ago? Because Hagens and Martone have maintained top 5 status for 12-18 months? now and they should be the benchmark at pick 3 for that reason imo

If we look at McKenzie´s lists Frondell was 3rd in September´24, 5th in January and 4th in his latest. So the answer is yes.

But Frondell is the same size as Pasta and Nylander today. Those guys had so much more room to grow at 18.

What has this to do with anything? Again even if Frondell is now bigger doesn´t mean he doesn´t have much more room to gain strength. Sometimes genetics aren´t just equal.

 

[goldenbladz]

The pace of play is higher in hockeyallsvenskan in which Kruger is a top, top player. He’d dominate the CHL.

just an honest question, as i don't watch the Euro leagues, but do the players dive and embellish as much playing one another in these Euro leagues or save that for the International tournaments and haven't the officials caught on to this? i noticed some of the officials in the WHC calling diving/embellishment

 

[Toews2Bickell]

If we look at McKenzie´s lists Frondell was 3rd in September´24, 5th in January and 4th in his latest. So the answer is yes.



What has this to do with anything? Again even if Frondell is now bigger doesn´t mean he doesn´t have much more room to gain strength. Sometimes genetics aren´t just equal.

Ah okay. So he has more or less stood the test of time as far as evaluations are concerned. Feel like you can get these risers that have had less eyes on them for the last year and also a bit of shiny new toy syndrome...Hagens is probably going through some of that right now, a PPG college season where he has more or less retained a top 3-4 ranking is considered a cause for concern by some

 

[hawksfan50]

We saw Porter Martone play for Canada yesterday in the winter Sweden..
Played only 8:45 TOI...of course not used only or Pk situations.
However on the shiftsche did play you do immediately notice the size ...He did not get a shotvon goal or set-up a team-mate for a scoribg chances...but on thevitger hand did notvkok "lost" or overwhelmed.. Sure..notca speedster buthe did not look as slow as sone reports were suggesting..I focused on him 1 shift where Sweden was threatening in the Canada d-zone and he surprisingly stuck with his check (Lucas Raymond)...so it looked lijecwhen he does apply himself he is not goibg to be as nich a defebsive worry as I had thought from analysts perhaps over criticizing defebsive play from hom...I guessctgecussuexis consistency of effort. WHEN HE is focused and tries it looks OK to me...but offensively did notcsee mich to suggest anything that soecial...realize he only got linitedxminutes ...so hardcto judge on that.Had he pjated with Crosby or McKinnon maybe we coukd see more from hom than what he did do ..

Supposed to be more a finesse and skill big guy..but looked more power forward type ...straight line rushes up tgecwing..which Sweden had notrouble closing him off on the boards. Though.
I think the biggest surprise I saw was that he liked more agike for a big guy than I thought...was doing a lot of quick pivots and swivekswithout the puck to get into better defensive positions ...

It is just hardxto judge him off such a limited bottonnrike ..

I think tge majority of mocks have Hawks ending up with either Martone Desnoyerx or Frlnselk at #3...(Unless the Craig Button mock scenario of SJ takibg Martone materializes in which case Hawks do get Misa)...
I still insist tge best NHL prosoecr my eyes have seen abd cannot get out of my mind was the 3 zone impact I saw from Brady Martin at tgecu18s where he just doninated shifts Ironically it was not his NHL pro shot that dazzled...in fact hexwas off a kot on that but finished strong with 2 goals in tge God Nedak Gane to give hin 3 goals in the tournament.. If his shot had be "on" he could have had ended with 6 or7 goals givebvtge chances he created for hinselfcor was set up on...Rather it was his relentless excellence of his firecheckibgv...puck hounding; retrievals,puck battle wins,possessions holding onto pucks through checks on him,just a lit of exckent details tgat screamed NHL pro with this guy. And tge cherry on too,tgwpohysicality and big punishing hits ...tge fact his work ethic/conpete is off the charts good Createsxso nabyvscoribg chances firxeitger hinsekfvor his linenates...
In the Soo he pkayed for a bad team with not much to help him...But At u18s he had ,some better support but it was clear he was th e best player on Canada and compared to Fribdekk I that Gokd Mrdak game not even close. Frondelk was notvinoactful and looked slow.. coukd not detect anything special.. but Martin looked very special.
Akk this despite one of his best reported atrei bites ,his shot,being mostly "off" on sibe ofctge goidxscoribgchabces he eitger created for himself or was st up on by tean-mates..

I woukd draft him at#3 such a high floor cannot moss..

Do others have a higher ceiling as piibtcoriducers?Maybe...but I still think 72 piibts pkaying with little support aroubdchon woujdchave been a much higher production stat if heinstead was on a much better team lije every other usual suspect in the top group of candidates s for #3 were oriviledgex to have payed in compared to his situation in the Soo.
I just think he brings more to thetable overall than all the other #3 candidates .

None of the mock drafts I have seen from the usual top draft experts Button,Pronman,Wheeler,Elite Prosoects,Plazcek ,and others who write on the draft prospects have Martinas high as #3.. but no question tgat after hisvoerformance at u18s seeing g how inoactful a player he can be ...the unique package of physicality;compete plus leadership and take gamevover skills,you wibder why he shoukd not be in the mix at #3?
Hevis in my books.He passed my eye test and and made Frondelk look like a nothingburger in the eye test comparison.
But KD will of course not take hinat #3.

Now Martone or Desnoyers are in contrast on sobe of tbise mocks at #3.

The issue is...Martonecis a wobger.. If Hawks want a winger with the #3 then they will take Martone.

If they want a Center then they probably take Denoyers....Even though Moncton has used Drsnoyers more intense on the wing ingames I have watched in tge Q Final series witb Rimouski.

Ironically Martin used at LW at u18s by Canada...but we know hevokayex Center forctge Soo alk season..so I think both Ddsnoyers and Martin are versatile and can pkayveitger C or on the Wing.

Now Desnoyers went without a goal vs. Rimouski in 6GP in that Q Final series but did get 6a ...playedcok but I woukd not say hexwss best player on the ice or bestvpjayervon his team.. a few flashes of brilliance and mostly solid defensively except for 1 off lousy exams (in which his whole team also were no shows)...but overall no consistent wow factor ...Maybec1 orc2 wow flashes ...one of his assists was world class..but overalnI wanted to see more impact fron homand did not.Mayve he shows better at the Memorial Cup?

Anyway ...I doubt KD will take my choice at #3,Brady Martin..so wexwill have to hope who he picks will develop to the ceiling the rankers think he can which justifies tgeir rank higher than Martin now...

But beyond pure production...Martin brings so mich More ...tangible physicality and compete ..the intangible "leader by example" and "gamer" qualities...The OVERALL impact he brings to tilt thebice..He will make any team much better...that I know

So you cannot just look at 72 pints vs.98 Point guysvorv84vpijnt guys.. Youshoukd consider everything fron situation to the entire package.

Drafting involves what you know ,see and hope will be a ceiling for...but maybe your hope never gets to a ceiling g you thought he might achieve once projectexvyeard down the road in an NHL career.
Hard to guess which of any of Martobe Drznoyers or Frondel hits ceilings expected fron then as high picks ...if any of them actialky star as pros.
With Martin you know whatever celing he geyscto when you add tge impact ofcalk the rest he brings to a team,you will have sobetbibg special and useful and even more important you will have acplauoff type hamer who will impact when intensity and physicality ramp up in pkayoffs.

I just think Martin isa unique opportunity typecofvpjayer Hawks medians currently lack up front..

But KD not smart enough to realize it and so will stick with 1vofvtgevusualbsuspects after dream starvpicks Schaefer and Misa go off tge board.

Worsevhecwilk pick another shrimp in Hahensxat #3. .touting g he stick witb his board as best BPA despite the size concerns.
And Haksxwilk again I tgst case be unbalanced to the shrimp side =stupid.. = wring rister construction..if slave to sone BPA rankibg GM rule that makes no sense for a team stocked with smallish talent up front and soon to be added fro the pipeline e.

If KD drafts Hagens =cause for firing.

If I am wrong and KD shocks the HOckey Expert Ranker world and yes Marton at #3,then I will praise his insight and courage to ignore the consensus rankers and mocks..

But I just do not expect KD will deviate from the usual 4 candidates all rankedxaheadvof Martin on almost all lists or almost all mock drafts.

I do not think Martin gets past #6 ..Lots of spec Flyers want him.

Marton isxa sparkplug..sonething Hawks need to inspire a team shift after shift....period after period...gane after game. No slacking off ...Bedard and all of them can learn from this PRO work ethic..Not saying he is Hossa ...but Hossa was hardest worker and consistent leader by example every game .. Martin has similar qualities...Who woukd not want such an inspired leader by example for their team?
KD should not settle for maybe or Junior hopes he hits ceiling down the line in the NHL ...
but for what the eyes see and know a player can bring because he is already playing like a PRO ..tge tangible PLUS the intangibles..the Extra "it" and "hit" he brings to a club.

Kd should but he won't realize this need for the Hawks .
So Martin becomes a key cog for amotger team .

 

[kmwtrucks]

assuming Schfaer is 1 or 2 and there is outside possibility that hagens or martone got 1-2.
then for me its
Misa
frondell or Desoyners
martone.

for 25th. 34 picks guys that could project in that range
spence
nesbit
hensler i would be ok taking another RD if one fell into one of out picks.
wozniak
prokhorov
ryabkin
horcoff
murtagh
moore
zharovsky

 

[kmwtrucks]

button has Lyden Lakovic at 25. dont see any way a 6-4" wing that can skate makes it to 25 but that would be a perfect fit for the hawks

 

[unbridledid]

button has Lyden Lakovic at 25. dont see any way a 6-4" wing that can skate makes it to 25 but that would be a perfect fit for the hawks

What a cool name... LL.

 

[TeeEyeFiddyTree]

• Total Words: 1,773
• Total Misspellings: 55 (approx.)
• Misspellings as Percentage: 3.1%

We saw Porter Martone play for Canada yesterday in the Winter Sweden game. He played only 8:45 TOI, of course, mostly not used in offensive or PK situations. However, on the shifts he did play, you immediately notice his size. He didn’t get a shot on goal or set up a teammate for a scoring chance, but on the other hand, he did not look "lost" or overwhelmed. Sure, he’s not a speedster, but he did not look as slow as some reports suggested. I focused on him during one shift when Sweden was threatening in Canada's defensive zone, and he surprisingly stuck with his check, Lucas Raymond. So, it looked like when he applies himself, he won’t be as much of a defensive worry as I thought from the analysts who perhaps over-criticized his defensive play. I guess the issue is consistency of effort. When he’s focused and tries, it looks fine to me. But offensively, I didn’t see much to suggest anything special. I realize he only got limited minutes, so it's hard to judge based on that. Had he played with Crosby or MacKinnon, maybe we would’ve seen more from him.

He’s supposed to be more of a finesse, skill-based big guy, but he looked more like a power forward type—straight-line rushes up the wing, which Sweden had no trouble closing off on the boards. However, I think the biggest surprise I saw was that he looked more agile for a big guy than I thought. He was doing a lot of quick pivots and swivels without the puck to get into better defensive positions.

It’s just hard to judge him off such a limited bottom-six role.

I think the majority of mock drafts have the Hawks ending up with either Martone, Desnoyers, or Friesen at #3. (Unless the Craig Button mock scenario, where SJ takes Martone, materializes, in which case the Hawks do get Misa.) I still insist the best NHL prospect I’ve seen and can’t get out of my mind was the three-zone impact I saw from Brady Martin at the U18s, where he dominated shifts. Ironically, it wasn’t his NHL pro shot that dazzled; in fact, he was off quite a lot on that, but he finished strong with two goals in the gold medal game, giving him three goals for the tournament. Had his shot been "on," he could’ve ended with six or seven goals given the chances he created for himself or was set up on. Rather, it was his relentless excellence in his forechecking, puck hounding, retrievals, puck battle wins, holding onto pucks through checks—just a lot of excellent details that screamed "NHL pro." And the cherry on top: physicality and big, punishing hits. The fact that his work ethic and compete level are off the charts makes him a player who creates so many scoring chances, both for himself and his teammates.

In the Soo, he played for a bad team with not much to help him. But at the U18s, he had better support, and it was clear he was the best player on Canada. Compared to Frondell in that gold medal game, there was no comparison. Frondell was ineffective and looked slow, with nothing special to detect, whereas Martin looked very special.

All this despite one of his best reported attributes, his shot, being mostly "off" on the side of the goal-scoring chances he either created for himself or was set up for by teammates.

I would draft Martin at #3—such a high floor, you can’t miss.

Do others have a higher ceiling as point producers? Maybe, but I still think 72 points playing with little support around him would have been a much higher production stat if he were on a much better team like every other usual suspect in the top group of candidates for #3, who were privileged to have played in much better situations compared to his time in the Soo. I just think he brings more to the table overall than all the other #3 candidates.

None of the mock drafts I’ve seen from the usual top draft experts—Button, Pronman, Wheeler, Elite Prospects, Plazcek, and others—have Martone as high as #3. But no question, after his performance at the U18s and seeing how impactful a player he can be, with the unique combination of physicality, compete, leadership, and game-changing skills, you wonder why he shouldn’t be in the mix at #3. He’s in my books. He passed my eye test and made Frondell look like a non-factor in the eye test comparison. But KD will, of course, not take him at #3.

Now, Martone or Desnoyers are in contrast on some of those mocks at #3.

The issue is, Martone is a winger. If the Hawks want a winger at #3, they will take Martone. If they want a center, they probably take Desnoyers. Even though Moncton has used Desnoyers more on the wing in the games I’ve watched in the Q Final series with Rimouski.

Ironically, Martin was used at LW at the U18s by Canada, but we know he played center for the Soo all season. So, I think both Desnoyers and Martin are versatile and can play either C or on the wing.

Desnoyers went without a goal against Rimouski in six games in that Q Final series but did get six assists. He played okay, but I wouldn’t say he was the best player on the ice or the best player on his team. A few flashes of brilliance and mostly solid defensively, except for one off lousy game (where his whole team was a no-show). But overall, no consistent wow factor. Maybe he shows better at the Memorial Cup?

Anyway, I doubt KD will take my choice at #3, Brady Martin, so we’ll have to hope whoever he picks will develop to the ceiling the rankers think they can, justifying their rank higher than Martin now.

But beyond pure production, Martin brings so much more: tangible physicality, compete, and the intangible "leader by example" and "gamer" qualities. The overall impact he brings to tilt the ice. He will make any team much better. That I know.

So, you can’t just look at 72 points vs. 98-point guys or 84-point guys. You should consider everything, from the situation to the entire package.

Drafting involves what you know, see, and hope for in terms of a ceiling, but maybe your hope never reaches the ceiling you thought he might achieve once projected years down the road in an NHL career. Hard to guess which of any of Martone, Desnoyers, or Frondell will hit the expected ceiling for high picks—if any of them actually become stars as pros.

With Martin, you know that whatever ceiling he reaches, when you add the impact of all the rest he brings to a team, you’ll have something special and useful. Even more importantly, you’ll have a playoff-type hammer who will impact when the intensity and physicality ramp up in the playoffs.

I just think Martin is a unique opportunity type of player the Hawks desperately need up front.

But KD isn’t smart enough to realize it, and so will stick with one of the usual suspects after dream star picks Schaefer and Misa go off the board.

Worse, he’ll pick another shrimp in Hagens at #3, touting he sticks with his board as the best BPA despite the size concerns. And the Hawks will again, in that case, be unbalanced to the shrimp side = stupid = wrong roster construction if he's a slave to some BPA ranking GM rule that makes no sense for a team stocked with smallish talent up front and soon to be added from the pipeline.

If KD drafts Hagens, that’s cause for firing.

If I’m wrong, and KD shocks the hockey expert world by taking Martone at #3, then I’ll praise his insight and courage to ignore the consensus rankers and mocks.

But I just don’t expect KD to deviate from the usual four candidates all ranked ahead of Martin on almost all lists or mock drafts.

I don’t think Martin gets past #6. Lots of speculation the Flyers want him.

Martone is a sparkplug—something the Hawks need to inspire a team shift after shift, period after period, game after game. No slacking off. Bedard and all of them can learn from his PRO work ethic. Not saying he’s Hossa, but Hossa was the hardest worker and a consistent leader by example every game. Martin has similar qualities. Who wouldn’t want such an inspired leader by example for their team?

KD should not settle for "maybe" or a Junior hopeful who hits his ceiling down the line in the NHL, but for what the eyes see and know a player can bring because he’s already playing like a PRO—the tangible PLUS the intangibles, the Extra "it" and "hit" he brings to a club.

KD should, but he won’t realize this need for the Hawks.

So Martin becomes a key cog for another team.

 

[Mjul Qvist]

Craig's List: Lots of prospects down the middle ahead of NHL Draft | TSN

TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button has 13 centres in the top 32 of his latest Craig's List draft prospect ranking and shines the spotlight on Brady Martin, Cole Reschny and Braeden Cootes.

www.tsn.ca

James Hagens at 8 is kind of ridiculous isn´t it?

 

[Sinbad]

I dont see it happening, he struggled to take a shift in the NHL 5+ years ago. The best CHL players would be capable to good NHLers right now.

I am simply questioning a league where a 34 year old Marcus Kruger, who couldn't do anything in the AHL 7-8 years ago, is one of the top scorers.

That same league that Kruger played in has Maxime Fortier, Liam Hawel, Max Martin, George Diaco, Carter Souch and Matthew Struthers playing for various teams, all of those players are relatively recent CHL graduates who were important pieces of their last CHL teams and high(er) level producers… Kruger produced at a higher rate than everyone one of them this past season.

 

[crazyhawk]

He has Martin up high now .... interesting ... could Fiddy be on to something?

 

[bwanajamba]

He has Martin up high now .... interesting ... could Fiddy be on to something?

Button always has his eccentricities. Some team in the 5-10 range is going to love him. But having him over the likes of Desnoyers and Hagens is too rich imo. I don't totally love Hagens but on pure talent, which is presumably how Button is ordering this list, I don't know how you can rank 7 guys in the draft ahead of him.

 

[MTU34]

Craig's List: Lots of prospects down the middle ahead of NHL Draft | TSN

TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button has 13 centres in the top 32 of his latest Craig's List draft prospect ranking and shines the spotlight on Brady Martin, Cole Reschny and Braeden Cootes.

www.tsn.ca

James Hagens at 8 is kind of ridiculous isn´t it?

I find it absolutely hilarious that he said verbatim on a broadcast during the U18s that the tournament wouldn’t change his list much. Lo and behold it comes out and Brady Martin jumps 14 spots

 

[x Tame Impala]

Craig's List: Lots of prospects down the middle ahead of NHL Draft | TSN

TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button has 13 centres in the top 32 of his latest Craig's List draft prospect ranking and shines the spotlight on Brady Martin, Cole Reschny and Braeden Cootes.

www.tsn.ca

James Hagens at 8 is kind of ridiculous isn´t it?

Button seems like a buffoon whenever I see him on TV

 

[Kevin Musto]

Craig's List: Lots of prospects down the middle ahead of NHL Draft | TSN

TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button has 13 centres in the top 32 of his latest Craig's List draft prospect ranking and shines the spotlight on Brady Martin, Cole Reschny and Braeden Cootes.

www.tsn.ca

James Hagens at 8 is kind of ridiculous isn´t it?

Frondell at 3 is even more ridiculous.

but it's hard to put any stock in Button's opinions. He only watches tournaments, and never justifies his rankings. It's just a list with no observations.

 

[kmwtrucks]

not sure if it was mentioned here but with marchand going to ECF fl owes boston 2027 1st so I think we lock in on 2026 which is preferable for the hawks imo. generally consider a strong draft. plus getting players in your system earlier is better then later. plus 2 deep suns in a row. Bennett and eckblade UFA and 37 year old Bob and they have traded away alot of picks so they have very little in the way of assets to trade at the deadline. as I read it. we get the 2026 if FL has it. other wise we get 2027 and Boston gets 2028.

 

[dj Mahoney]

I'm not a Button fan at all but I am expecting some team to fall in love with Martin's leadership qualities and grit . He seemed to be flying solo in SSM and what did was very impressive. This just helps Blackhawks chances of getting real good talent with our later picks with all the movement in rankings.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Have a bad feeling Hagens will be the underrated American guy that makes people look silly in a few years when he's drafted behind a whole bunch of "Just a Guy" players.