2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[Kevin Musto]

Musto hasn’t stopped crying

I can live with Desnoyers as the pick provided he goes to college

 

[Mrfenn92]

I can live with Desnoyers as the pick provided he goes to college

Tried to trade down to 6. Pick 3 for Tyson Foerster and pick 6. But couldn’t close it.

Was offered Tippett instead

 

[dj Mahoney]

Just took Caleb Desnoyers with the third pick in a mock draft im participating in

He looks to be back again in the conversation , especially if he has been playing hurt .

 

[dj Mahoney]

I can live with Desnoyers as the pick provided he goes to college

French College ? Not sure if he's a good with the English as Sasha is ?

 

[HawksDub89]

I can live with Desnoyers as the pick provided he goes to college

Ditto.

I’m guessing this will matter to NHL teams too. I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t play college hockey next year.

 

[RaquetPeanutSteering]

Sucks that I feel so strongly that Hagens would have been utterly destroying teams like London and Medicine Hat, yet we are debating between him and a guy at the same position (currently playing Wing) who has struggled playing outside of the Q, all because he is a few inches taller.

Just feels like shades of Kane Vs Turris all over again, which I found utterly ridiculous at the time. Height and position trumping pure talent is such a joke to me.

 

[Sinbad]

Does Desnoyers have size in the same way Korchinski has size...just a tall, slenderish build, to me it seems like the answer is yes, and if that is the case I'm taking Hagens or Frondell if I want a potential center...or if you want to make a deal for Rossi or another young top 6 center and take Martone then thats fine too

The kid just turned 18, he won’t stay at 172 lbs forever!

 

[Kevin Musto]

Ditto.

I’m guessing this will matter to NHL teams too. I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t play college hockey next year.

I think if Chicago drafts him, they would mandate it.

They can pull the strings to get him to what they deem is the best program/fit for him.

 

[MTU34]

I think if Chicago drafts him, they would mandate it.

They can pull the strings to get him to what they deem is the best program/fit for him.

I’d be floored if he doesn’t jump. He’ll have his pick of the top schools out East.

He certainly looked like a kid that knew he played his last game for Moncton tonight

 

[MTU34]

He was solid. I think he’s clearly hurt. The two way side of his game has been off this whole tournament. He looks timid.

Agreed that he was not the puck hound he usually is. Seemed like everything Moncton was able to create offensively was through him though. Very easily his best game of the tournament

 

[The Dark Knight]

Thinking about targets at 25 or with our 2nds, a few names are sticking out to me:

Lynden Lakovic (probably long gone by 25)
Vaclav Nestrasil
Cole McKinney
Mason West

 

[PCAisBest]

Outside of a really abysmal combine I just don't see the Islanders passing on Hagens.

And sadly, the more interviews I listen to I would rather the Hawks draft him then misa.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Thinking about targets at 25 or with our 2nds, a few names are sticking out to me:

Lynden Lakovic (probably long gone by 25)
Vaclav Nestrasil
Cole McKinney
Mason West

I think inevitably there will be someone that should've gone around 15 that you'll be able to snag at 25.

We'll also see if Chicago makes that pick at all. Could be one that Kyle trades for Howard or some other roster piece.

 

[bwana63]

Mason West is pretty intriguing. with our prospect pool and ton of picks, it's very tempting to take a flyer on West. not sure about 25, but I'd burn our first 2nd. just to be clear, by flyer I mean earlier than projected

 

[unbridledid]

Outside of a really abysmal combine I just don't see the Islanders passing on Hagens.

And sadly, the more interviews I listen to I would rather the Hawks draft him then misa.

What does he do better than Misa ? From what I gather...his skating is comparable, and he
is a better playmaker .. More of a long term fit at the center position ?

 

[TheFridge]

What does he do better than Misa ? From what I gather...his skating is comparable, and he
is a better playmaker .. More of a long term fit at the center position ?

I don't know that Misa is a better playmaker than Hagens. Misa has a better frame to stick at centre in the NHL and he's a better two-way forward.

The discourse I'm seeing at the moment is that Hagens could very well end up the most talented player to come from this draft (including Schaefer) but there's more risk perceived risk with him at the moment than either Schaefer or Misa in terms of projecting to the NHL. Likely due to his size and his adjustment to the NCAA.

 

[MHO]

I wouldn't dislike it but I just don't think 25OA gets it done for Howard. Only because there are so many teams with multiple 1sts that could be offered to Tampa for him. I think it's going to take more when you look at the market and what other teams would have to offer.

 

[TheFridge]

I wouldn't dislike it but I just don't think 25OA gets it done for Howard. Only because there are so many teams with multiple 1sts that could be offered to Tampa for him. I think it's going to take more when you look at the market and what other teams would have to offer.

What is the market for Howard? He's a year out from UFA and teams already know he'll wait them out if he doesn't want to sign there. The only way Tampa even gets a 1st round pick for him would be if they create a market for him amongst teams that Howard would sign with and we don't know how large that market is. As of right now, Tampa is slated to get the 63rd pick in the 2027 draft when Howard walks. So that's what you're competing with right now as far as an offer.

 

[Callidusblackhawk]

I wouldn't dislike it but I just don't think 25OA gets it done for Howard. Only because there are so many teams with multiple 1sts that could be offered to Tampa for him. I think it's going to take more when you look at the market and what other teams would have to offer.

Multiple 1sts? If that's the price walk away lmao. There's no way they get multiple 1sts.

 

[MHO]

Multiple 1sts? If that's the price walk away lmao. There's no way they get multiple 1sts.

I meant that there are a bunch of teams that have an additional 1st to offer. Like Columbus has 14 and 20 and they can offer 20. Or Philly has 6 and 22 and could offer 22. The market for any player is somewhat related to how many teams are interested and what teams have to offer. If the Flyers are interested and they offer 22 and we offer 25, well then...

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

I think they might galaxy brain this and go with O'Brien

I would lose it. At 3? Oof.

 

[RaquetPeanutSteering]

Multiple 1sts? If that's the price walk away lmao. There's no way they get multiple 1sts.

My one thought is that a clear match in Nashville has 23 which obviously trumps 25. Both teams have a fairly strong history of trades, so I believe theirs is the one offer we would have to get creative to beat.

 

[ndgt10]

Who is Howard?

 

[Kevin Musto]

I would lose it. At 3? Oof.

He plays with Lardis and Vanacker and yet his name has never come up once among Hawks insiders

If they liked him that much, I feel like we'd know

 

[PCAisBest]

What does he do better than Misa ? From what I gather...his skating is comparable, and he
is a better playmaker .. More of a long term fit at the center position ?

He's a much better playmaker and probably the highest compete in this draft class.

Imo, I see Hagens as a top line center. I'm not too worried about his size and see him as a Kane/Hughes type.

Misa is see more as either a good first line center or an elite second line center on a playoff team. His stats are a little over blown compared to Hagens who was playing against older players.
Misa's high end is Pat LaFontaine, while his floor is a second line Matty Beniers type altho I'm higher on Misa then beniers, who is closer to a one year wonder bust then somebody you need to win playoff games.

There's alot to like about both, but I think Hagens is the more talented of the two. I'm also not buying into the media burial of Hagens who was completely on another level when playing against players his own age while still managed a ppg against players older then him. Anybody using that against him is stupid. If he stays in college another year he will dominate it.