2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[ColbyChaos]

I’m starting to think Martin at 3 might be the best pick now.Getting Roenick vibes from him.He has shown he is among the best in his age group in international play.Unless Misa falls to 3.

Like drafting Dach at 3 move

 

[RaquetPeanutSteering]

Picking a guy like Martin at 3 would be such a disasterously bad decision. He tries hard and people love that, but skill-wise he's a guy that goes in the teens in a deep draft.

 

[hawksfan50]

Again...the KD comment that Hawks list is different than most public rankibgs suggests he may be takibg someone lower than the usual suspects i the 3-5range for our#3..

There is no perfect pkayer..maybe no superstar potential except Scaefer maybe..

Even Misa is nit oerfect= as the -16 over hisvlast 10Gp and drop from over 2 pts a gamevyp just 1.3 points a gMe in lsdt 10Gp showed was not his best hockey..Maybe an jonjury he was pjaying through...bit in any case he was 1 who did not elevate in his final set of impressions at endbofvhis sesson..so not perfection.

Maybe Hawks choose someone further down thectop 10...like Jake O'brien who is not top 5 on most public rankings..

But still P'broen put 4th once Tralee scouting N.A. list ...

And alk the scouts agree O'brien probably has the best skill of any in the draft ..best paser/playmaker,A+for vision and Hockeyvsense..suoorts in alk 3 zones.. Goid conoetecand pace but he has short strides and crossovers to gain sone speed and that limits seoarationspeed..Also very lanky skinny forvhosc6'2frame..Nedds odd weight and strength especialky lowr body to get more piwrr and drive and lengthen his stride.. Needsxto work o skating..bit tge Kane-like pasdibgcabd vision and puck handling hands sjikksxalk there at bestvinvdraft level..Bit can gevimprovev5x5 scoring and not be supported reliant for picking up points?

I have pointed out that he pjayed 2C 5x5 and was not often with Lardisc5x5..That hevonly got Vanacker back as one of hoscwibgers at almost the mid-sesson ..and it took Vanackerxacfew weeks to finally get tyecristvoff Nd goibg full bore again.. So you have gotvto think They both movevuoto line 1 as the go to dup this sesdon inBrantfordxamd morec5x5 scori g will cone from O'broen

You also need to view O'brien's YOUNGER age = 8mpnths younger than Martone andv7 younger than Hagebs asxa consideration to ask how mich better will he be as he adds that mass and gains a not more maturity over the coursevof this coming season...I that sense he may have an eve highervupside thanMartobevor Hagens ...he is almost a sesson behind in hockey terms ..a huge age difference.


So I can see tge projection of what he could be causing KF to gamble on that development curve runway ahead..

If they think they can add more heftband strength to the lanky frame and improve hos sjatibg stride with more powrrand acceleration the final product for O'Brien could be best forwardcoutvofvtjis draft ..Notvthere now..butvtgebpitential is theteonce he fully develops out.

Tgecsjikl IS THERE..Bestcskill in the draft.

So bet on s lit morevupside.. you bet onO'brien..

Onthebitger hand best floor is Brady Martin..You know what you are getting.. Hecwill add morecweight..6'0 178 as listed but playsvlijev7'4 240..Physical..Best hittervi the draft..high gigs gigh conpeyevlevel and work habits. QUITE speedy actualky fron what I saw atvu18s.Si maybe not as fastxas Misa but when you tKevoucks away from attackers and go thebitgercway you already have separation from them because they were going north and he hasctgevpuck back goibg south and they get left behind anyway.. Wibsctge puck races and puck battles even at his average size..But he does have decebtvskiks sich that he creates chances off his superiorchustkecandcworj ethic pn forecheckscand vack-check transitions.. he can drivectgebpuck with piwer past checkersvor through checkers. He can get to the dirty areas. Can svorevin a variety of ways and does create changes forcteam-mates..Justcaxterrfic pro-loje pkayer tgatvtheboposxdo not lijecgoubgcagaivst.

Again he might bec20 -30 lonts back of Martobevandvotgers but hevpjayed with no helobona bad Soo team..you havecto look at the situations cobtext..some prospects pkayexfor top or highly ranked teans and he pjayex on bad team with lessctakentcariubdvhom.

Ask if Martobecwoukdvhavevhadhisc98 poibtsbin57Gp if hecwas on that Soo team?
Maybe Martin gets 98 piintsvlijevO'Brien had pkayong on the Brantford Po with Lardis and that lethal power play?

Neither Martin or O'brien rank as top 5 on Most rankibgblistscoutvthere..but maybe KD prefers what tgey for sure will add to the mix on the Hawks oncectgeyvarecreadyvfirvtyecShow...

A betvon that high foir forcMartin and the potebtial high ceiling for O'brien as top 6 Cebters..

The rabkingbis quite useless especialky this draft as different teams have differing needs and the BPA moniker is quite useless except for maybe Schaefer and perhaps Misa ..
After that a wide range of Plateaus and pitential ahead type bringing differing sets of abilities.

None of these lplayersxexcept maybe Miisa or Martone is NHL ready in 25/26 season...
Martobe hasctge most developed body to withstandcthe NHL game ..Misaxhas already had 4 PHL sessobsxco ing in as an exceptional status 15 year old ...So nothing more for homto learn at OHL level...Depends if team drafting him wants to rish hon right to NHL or take a more cautious approach...maybe he goes 1 year In Ncaa?

Schaeferxiscone of the very you gest I this draft woth hos September 2007 birthdate...So while he may have franchise suoerstatdon ahead,he needs more time for playing a season as an 18 year old before even thinking 9f the mental change pkayong NHL merit woukd be a mistake to rish su h a young kid to the NHL.

These kids will all need sone tome to marinate.

So for tge Hawks...let us just draftca goid pkayer...whoever it is...
But with KD dropping hints that our ranking is different than most public lists,you wlukd havecto think he us tRgetyong O'brien for the potential or Martin for the certain fkiir knowing what you are getting..OR that he is going to RISK on McQueen and his future health...

McQuuen= big swings but pote tiak k stroke-out if health goes South again.

O'Brien =best skilk i the draft but needs to add sone elenents=fill out lanky frame...ad strength...improve sjatibg speed.
Martin...add weight..but since he pays Bigger than his average size,it probably is not that important as it is for O'briebns case...
But you know you getcan imoactful player who will help the teM increase they currently lack.

You can Keats get goidvojayers ...good to great NHL career guys eve pasta top ten..
Examples...Kucheiriv 58th overall rd 2 in hus drat..

Matt Boldy y was a 2nd rounder too .
Brad Marchand was a 3rd rounder.

Marchand hot 100 poubtsvonly once I hus career..But always an I oactful pkayer 60s to 80scpoints.. Plus alk tge extras he brought gs ..
Despite beibg 5'9..

Kucherov ..great great poibtscprodiction..

You could do a lot worse than Body if you picked a bust at #3lije lijectgecdusastercwithb Kirby Dach..If alk we get is a good player not a st R at a level like Bokdy that still is a goid pick ...but you ne etc know..maybevour 2nd rounder turns into a Kucherov.
AND IT MAY TAKE YEARS to find outvofvyou picked badly or were genius...

 

[MHO]

I was on the Desnoyers train but after last night, I'm less so. I get the risk with taking Mcqueen but I really like his game. I won't be upset if they pass on him with his back and everything but if he ends up becoming the best player out of the draft, I'm going to be mad.

 

[Drumman44]

I was on the Desnoyers train but after last night, I'm less so. I get the risk with taking Mcqueen but I really like his game.

This is what Columbus thought with Cayden Lindstrom

 

[HawksDub89]

I was on the Desnoyers train but after last night, I'm less so. I get the risk with taking Mcqueen but I really like his game. I won't be upset if they pass on him with his back and everything but if he ends up becoming the best player out of the draft, I'm going to be mad.

What happened last night? Lol

Did he murder someone?

 

[MHO]

What happened last night? Lol

Did he murder someone?

It was the first time I watched him in an extended period of time. He's just not as dynamic as I thought he was.

 

[HawksDub89]

It was the first time I watched him in an extended period of time. He's just not as dynamic as I thought he was.

Fair enough.

I thought he was fine last night. Had some moments. He’s not a highlight reel type of prospect.

 

[clydesdale line]

Fair enough.

I thought he was fine last night. Had some moments. He’s not a highlight reel type of prospect.

Agreed. I also think its evident he's playing injured.

 

[giza]

I think the Hawks and Islanders will pull off a big deal with the Islanders getting both Schaefer and the hometown center and Barzal coming to the Hawks.

 

[Kevin Musto]

I think the Hawks and Islanders will pull off a big deal with the Islanders getting both Schaefer and the hometown center and Barzal coming to the Hawks.

Would you prefer 6 years of Barzal, or Martone's entire career?

Personally I would need something else in addition to Barzal to move the needle.

 

[HawksDub89]

I think the Hawks and Islanders will pull off a big deal with the Islanders getting both Schaefer and the hometown center and Barzal coming to the Hawks.

Sounds great for NYI

 

[MTU34]

I'm really high on Tynan Lawrence right now

Hope he has a great draft year

He’s phenomenal. Could end up going VERY high. For me he’s the only real center at the top of that draft right now (I think Roobroeck is a winger)

 

[MTU34]

I’m starting to think Martin at 3 might be the best pick now.Getting Roenick vibes from him.He has shown he is among the best in his age group in international play.Unless Misa falls to 3.

I love Martin but you can’t do that at 3. If we’re at 6 or 7 maybe but we’re not

 

[ColbyChaos]

I think the Hawks and Islanders will pull off a big deal with the Islanders getting both Schaefer and the hometown center and Barzal coming to the Hawks.

Yuck

 

[Kevin Musto]

He’s phenomenal. Could end up going VERY high. For me he’s the only real center at the top of that draft right now (I think Roobroeck is a winger)

The playmaking is looking really elite right now.

He can pull off high skill saucers with laser accuracy. And he's an August kid too, so he's among the youngest in his class.

Wouldn't surprise me if he ended up as the McKenna consolation prize at 2.

I love Martin but you can’t do that at 3. If we’re at 6 or 7 maybe but we’re not

Yeah he's a very easy player to like, but the offensive upside just isn't there at 3.

You're looking at a guy that's good for around 40 points.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

The playmaking is looking really elite right now.

He can pull off high skill saucers with laser accuracy. And he's an August kid too, so he's among the youngest in his class.

Wouldn't surprise me if he ended up as the McKenna consolation prize at 2.

Yeah he's a very easy player to like, but the offensive upside just isn't there at 3.

You're looking at a guy that's good for around 40 points.

How would you grade the top 3 in 2026 relative to 2023?

 

[Crow]

I think the Hawks and Islanders will pull off a big deal with the Islanders getting both Schaefer and the hometown center and Barzal coming to the Hawks.

I would bet there is a less than 1 in 1000 chance of this happening and it seems like a weird thing to dream up when everything seems to point to the hawks staying with their rebuild.

Happy Birthday to him though.

 

[Kevin Musto]

How would you grade the top 3 in 2026 relative to 2023?

I don't put much stock in D-1 years. I'll compare them next year.

But 2023 was a really good group.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

I don't put much stock in D-1 years. I'll compare them next year.

But 2023 was a really good group.

As it stands right now, it sounds like a higher end class than this year if you have a player being a nice consolation prize if Chicago doesn't get McKenna

 

[Chuck Testa]

Like drafting Dach at 3 move

I hated that pick from the moment it happened.

I mean overall that seems like it was a pretty bad draft, but still.

 

[Kevin Musto]

As it stands right now, it sounds like a higher end class than this year if you have a player being a nice consolation prize if Chicago doesn't get McKenna

It could be. But I've seen plenty of great D-1 performances and then they look mediocre the year after.

But I do get a good feeling from Lawrence.

 

[giza]

I would prefer Barzal now and have a real #1 center and have Bedard be his wing where he belongs. None of these guys beyond Schaeffer are veyr high end. If there was ever a draft to sell some future for a better present, it’s this one.

 

[ColbyChaos]

I would prefer Barzal now and have a real #1 center and have Bedard be his wing where he belongs. None of these guys beyond Schaeffer are veyr high end. If there was ever a draft to sell some future for a better present, it’s this one.

Yay we have a real #1 center for 3-4 years before inevitably falls off!

 

[Toews2Bickell]

I would prefer Barzal now and have a real #1 center and have Bedard be his wing where he belongs. None of these guys beyond Schaeffer are veyr high end. If there was ever a draft to sell some future for a better present, it’s this one.

just draft Frondell, Hagens or Desnoyers...send them back and hope to take another blue chip forward prospect in 2026...Barzal does nothing for the team long term