2025 NHL DRAFT Thread
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Kevin Musto
Hard for Bedard
- Feb 16, 2018
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In Wright's case he was trending down all year.
Fantilli was a weird case of Anaheim making a mistake for no reason.
oooh that is a juicy scenario..Everyone contributes a little and gets the guy they want and a bonus for Blackhawks is they move up but not through the lottery and then can still move up next yr and get a lucky bounce for McKenna
PatFoleyBarTab88
Registered User
You can turn on Rockford every other night and Korch was two handing guys behind the play and mugging people plenty the second half of the ahl season. Kinda reminds me of how Keith had a reputation for being a "psycho" in the ahl haha.
I think that stuff matters so much. There's a lot of young players that get sent down and try to score their way out or don't like their deployment and their development stalls. Then there are also some players that are willing to be nasty and get their wires crossed on the ice and embrace whatever team (structurally and culturally) they are on even if they are this highly touted skillzy prospect that people were expecting to run a powerplay for the NHL club. Those are guys I want to fill the organization with. Listen to how grateful/happy he is to be playing with EDM and Allan in Rockford. Skilled player with a blue collar work ethic, some bite, bought in already. Stupid to trade him now.
unbridledid
Registered User
- Jun 8, 2011
- 735
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You think Fantilli is that much better than Carlsson ? I though Carlsson really
had a nice year last year from all I read.
PatFoleyBarTab88
Registered User
Still have forsling ptsd who I was infuriated when we let him go to Florida. Not that I am some hockeystradomas, I was also infuriated when we got rid of Slaeter Kooooookooooo!
Carlsson was very good for the ducks last year
Kevin Musto
Hard for Bedard
- Feb 16, 2018
- 21,840
- 31,640
I don't think there's a wide gap between them (at least currently) but I do think Fantilli is the better player.
The Hawks actually traded Forsling to Carolina in a deal that saw DeHaan end up in Chicago. Carolina then waived him a couple years later and Florida swooped in and got him for free.
Also, I personally am not seeing this nastiness you are talking about with Korchinski and actually one of my biggest complaints with him is that he is baby s##t soft in his own end. Perhaps it is due to a lack of strength and confidence in his own physical play but regardless this is a huge summer for KK, he needs to come to camp with a significant increase of muscle. I’m not saying I am ready to give up on him but he needs to take some big strides this coming season or he could very find himself firmly behind the likes of Vlasic, EDM, Kaiser and Allan for the LHD positions.
unbridledid
Registered User
- Jun 8, 2011
- 735
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I agree with what you are saying, and I think K2 will rise to the occasion.
PatFoleyBarTab88
Registered User
In Chicago I agree, but in Rockford Korch showed some bite the past several months.
I feel like EDM is gonna be a reliable staple on the blueline, I love Kaisers skating and gap control, and Allan is inconsistently very good at settling games down...But Korch is more skilled than all of those guys and I just hope he can make the strides needed to at least lock up the third spot.
dj Mahoney
Registered User
- Apr 11, 2021
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- 1,267
Korchinski is somewhat similar to prospect to Schaefer , as well as sadly having a parent die so young .He's been rushed a bit hopefully Kevin will rebound .
I know people disagree with NHL draft reporters but IMO Wheeler from athletic is fairly solid. i looked at his last top 70 from this year and last. Hawks are weakest at C and then probably RD? Rinzel lev and Crev compares to KK, vlasic, kasier, Del mastro allen harding. We have alot of Wings and LD and G.
if you look the below numbers this drafts is strongest compared to last at G (would be shocked if we took one in the top 64) then Center then RD then LW RW and LD. So even thou its a weak draft if stronger in our areas of need.
14 LD 9
22 C 29
11 RD 9
0 G 6
9 LW 7
14 RW 11
if you look the below numbers this drafts is strongest compared to last at G (would be shocked if we took one in the top 64) then Center then RD then LW RW and LD. So even thou its a weak draft if stronger in our areas of need.
14 LD 9
22 C 29
11 RD 9
0 G 6
9 LW 7
14 RW 11
Kevin Musto
Hard for Bedard
- Feb 16, 2018
- 21,840
- 31,640
Desnoyers to wear 'C' for 2025-2026 - Moncton Wildcats
The Moncton Wildcats are proud to announce that Caleb Desnoyers has been named the 39th captain in Moncton Wildcats history for 2025-2026, 30th anniversary season. The announcement was officially made on June 2 during the team’s Community Celebration and Awards Ceremony outside the Avenir...
chl.ca
The absolute mistake it would be to draft this guy 3rd overall.
The next 2 years he's going to be in the QMJHL.
In that time Misa, Martone, Hagens, Potter, Smith, will be developing in the NCAA.
O'Brien, Martin, Bear, McQueen, Aitcheson will be in the OHL/WHL... potentially NCAA.
Eklund and Frondell will be in the SHL.
Meanwhile Desnoyers will be in a zero competition boys league with only 20 drafted players.
HawksDub89
Registered User
- Apr 17, 2019
- 1,611
- 2,516
Desnoyers to wear 'C' for 2025-2026 - Moncton Wildcats
The Moncton Wildcats are proud to announce that Caleb Desnoyers has been named the 39th captain in Moncton Wildcats history for 2025-2026, 30th anniversary season. The announcement was officially made on June 2 during the team’s Community Celebration and Awards Ceremony outside the Avenir...
The absolute mistake it would be to draft this guy 3rd overall.
The next 2 years he's going to be in the QMJHL.
In that time Misa, Martone, Hagens, Potter, Smith, will be developing in the NCAA.
O'Brien, Martin, Bear, McQueen, Aitcheson will be in the OHL/WHL... potentially NCAA.
Eklund and Frondell will be in the SHL.
Meanwhile Desnoyers will be in a zero competition boys league with only 20 drafted players.
It’s a disappointing decision for sure.
ColbyChaos
Bring back bullying on HFboards
ChicagoHockeyFan
Registered User
- Mar 3, 2019
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I do think Korchinski showed a very different game from AHL to NHL. I wouldn't say he was overtly physical between whistles in Rockford at end of year but he was very active in after whistle activities. Rockford as a whole was a more scrappy team then the hawks after the whistle as well
PatFoleyBarTab88
Registered User
Not gonna be Frondell. Any discussion of Frondell at 3 is a waste of time.
From Cam Robinson's last executive poll:
"Despite whispers that some clubs may view Frondell as the top forward in the class, not a single participant in our poll mentioned the Swedish centre, at least not in response to this question.
Frondell, who surged in the back half of the HockeyAllsvenskan season to produce the most productive U18 campaign in the league’s history, hit a wall at the U18 World Championships. His struggles on the international stage didn’t go unnoticed, with multiple clubs reportedly taking note of the dip in performance when the lights were brightest.
When asked which player had the most difficult path to reaching their upside in conjunction with their likely draft slot, Frondell was the only player mentioned multiple times."
"Finally, Frondell was mentioned again by an executive. But the complexities of his season changed the tone. “Frondell immediately comes to mind. He was truly impressive for moments this year, but then no-showed here (U18 Worlds). Sure, there are excuses for it, but it feels like that’s what you expect from him now. Sometimes great, sometimes nothing.”"
From Cam Robinson's last executive poll:
"Despite whispers that some clubs may view Frondell as the top forward in the class, not a single participant in our poll mentioned the Swedish centre, at least not in response to this question.
Frondell, who surged in the back half of the HockeyAllsvenskan season to produce the most productive U18 campaign in the league’s history, hit a wall at the U18 World Championships. His struggles on the international stage didn’t go unnoticed, with multiple clubs reportedly taking note of the dip in performance when the lights were brightest.
When asked which player had the most difficult path to reaching their upside in conjunction with their likely draft slot, Frondell was the only player mentioned multiple times."
"Finally, Frondell was mentioned again by an executive. But the complexities of his season changed the tone. “Frondell immediately comes to mind. He was truly impressive for moments this year, but then no-showed here (U18 Worlds). Sure, there are excuses for it, but it feels like that’s what you expect from him now. Sometimes great, sometimes nothing.”"
wheeler just mentioned him along with Caleb D and Martin as guys that have impressed in interviews. So who knows. he only turned 18 a month ago and missed a big chunk of the year. had to take the Red eye to the tournament after it had started a week earlier.
TeeEyeFiddyTree
Registered User
- Mar 31, 2025
- 19
- 88
Yes, of course the Hawks could try to move up in a trade with the NY Islanders to get the #1 pick and take Misa.
Will the trade attempt be successful?
Misa seems like the very best solution for a 1C, with Bedard moving to 1RW.
However, if the attempt to move up fails, then at #3 there's a wide variance of opinion as to who the Hawks should take for the best fit—and who will actually turn out to be the BPA (Best Player Available) from the remaining candidates after Schaefer and Misa go off the board.
There’s a difference of opinion on whether Martone is #3 in terms of either BPA or best fit for Bedard to form a top-line duo.
Some say Martone, some say Frondell—even as a winger for Bedard at center.
The problem with Frondell, even if you think he's BPA at #4, is that opinions differ on whether he will be best as a center or on the wing as an NHL pro.
Those who think Frondell can be a center compare him to Barkov in style. But of course, at 6’0” and 196 lbs, he's smaller than Barkov.
Still, they describe a 200-ft player—neither are speedsters, but both are mature, responsible checkers and board dominators. Power centers.
Except some doubt that Frondell is best at center. His best games this season came on the wing.
There are also consistency issues with Frondell. Some stretches he looks fantastic; others, he plays poorly.
For example, he had a poor finish to his season, got benched during the Akalivaskan finals/playoffs, and was underwhelming at the U18s.
To the eye test, he looked slow at U18s.
Some scouting reports criticize his lack of speed, causing a weakness in puck transition or falling behind on 2-on-1s. There are holes in his game and consistency concerns.
Some scouts project that he’ll improve and can reach a high ceiling as a top-2 line pro.
But others think the lack of speed might limit him to a 3rd-line role.
Hagens is still #3 on many lists as BPA—but he’s a poor fit for Chicago. Another small center? No way.
Some scouts also don’t believe he’s the best player available at #3, given that he underwhelmed compared to the preseason hype where he was seen as a #1 or #2 BPA.
So he drops to around #5 on many rankings.
In any case, he’s not the right fit for the Blackhawks.
They need more size, power, and jam—combined with talent—to either help Bedard as a winger or drive a top line as a center.
So as I said before, I doubt KD can clearly identify the BPA—too much difference of opinion at #3.
Thus, the best fit for need comes into play.
Among the candidates from picks 3–7, the question is:
Best fit for Bedard on the wing, OR best fit to drive line 1 as C with Bedard on the wing?
A lot of talk centers around Desnoyers as a 200-ft center for either line 1 or line 2.
But he fizzled late in the playoffs—went 9 games without a goal before finally scoring (also had 1 assist) in Moncton's semi-final Memorial Cup elimination.
He also went -7 in his last 10 GP.
However, reports indicate he was playing through injury—so maybe disregard that poor stretch.
Desnoyers does not assert himself in games but lets the game come to him.
There are habits to like, but questions about his ceiling.
He might only be a Toews-type player, which is good—but I don’t know if a Toews-like player is the perfect fit for Bedard on the wing.
You may want a better playmaker to unleash Bedard’s generational shot.
If Frondell is ultimately a better winger or a shoot-first center, he might not be ideal for Bedard either.
Desnoyers isn’t much of a playmaker either.
Best fits might be:
- Martone as the playmaking winger to set up Bedard at center
- Or the best fit of all: Jake O'Brien, who has the furthest development to go but also the longest runway due to his June 2007 birthdate.
Many scouts think he has the highest ceiling of any pure center in the draft.
You’d like to see more even-strength effectiveness.
While he played top minutes in all situations (PP1, PK1), he was not Brantford’s top-line center and only played with Lardis on the PP—rarely together at even strength.
So it’s unfair to compare him to other top-line candidates who played with better linemates.
You now need to project what O’Brien might do next season as Brantford’s 1C.
He’ll need to increase even-strength scoring and shoot more (he was very pass-first).
He has a great shot and high shooting efficiency—so it’s not the shot itself, but the volume you want to see improve.
Martone may be more NHL-ready to help this season if they plan to keep Bedard at center and want someone to set him up.
O’Brien needs to add weight to his 6'2", 172-lb frame—maybe 20 more pounds before he’s ready.
So even though he may have the highest ceiling, he's further from being NHL-ready.
Still, the wait on O’Brien could pay huge dividends. He already has elite passing and playmaking skills.
If he adds a more assertive mentality and increases his shot volume, he could become a very projectable 1C star.
So, if KD can’t move up for Misa, and Misa goes 1 or 2, I think Jake O’Brien could be the #3 pick for his high potential.
The issue:
How long will the wait be for O’Brien to gain that extra 15–25 lbs?
Maybe he adds 10 lbs this summer and is up to 190+ by the start of the 2026–27 season.
Just one more year of waiting.
Martone might help this season—but will he handle the pressure of playing on line 1?
Maybe KD buys time by signing a free-agent winger, and Martone starts lower in the lineup.
The Hawks have 2nd/3rd-line centers Martone could play with initially.
So: immediate help with Martone, or wait for the draft pick to fully mature into a top-line player?
Finally, the longshot riser: Brady Martin.
Doubt KD sees him as a #3 candidate, like most rankings.
But in 3–4 years, Martin could turn out to be the most impactful pick—especially for a playoff-bound team.
He has a unique combo of physicality, compete, and skill. He creates chances from forechecks, stops, and backchecks.
Some coaches may typecast him as a checking-line guy, but he’s a 2C for his team.
The Soo were a bad team—little support for Martin.
His assist rate was strong at U18s.
He has a wrist shot that beats goalies, though his high shot rate resulted in a lower shooting % than others.
He currently ranks as high as #6 on some lists.
He brings more than stats—his compete level and physicality are elite, something the Hawks can use.
Still, I think KD will target higher-production players: Martone or O’Brien.
He likely won’t give Martin credit for doing so much on a bad team.
So whoever drafts Martin (maybe at #6 or #7?) will get a very good player—likely a high-floor 2C who fans and coaches will love.
But I think KD wants that 85–100 point ceiling talent.
Maybe Martone as a set-up winger for Bedard gets there.
Or maybe O’Brien as the 1C with Bedard at RW forms a duo that hits 85–100 points each.
I think one of those two is KD’s target—if he can’t move up for Misa.
He shows up only has high as #6n a fewvkists now...
ChicagoHockeyFan
Registered User
- Mar 3, 2019
- 531
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PatFoleyBarTab88
Registered User
Ok well let's stuff Brady Martin on an international flight row 26 middle seat and see how he plays the next day. My guess is he's gonna play pretty pissed off and somebody is gonna pay for the current state of commercial air travel!
I'm not out on him over it but it firmly breaks the tie for Martone in my personal wishlist I think. I'm sure he has his reasons that aren't whatever Musto is saying about shrinking from competition (that isn't his personality at all) but the potential for two more years in the Q is pretty ugly.
I could change my tune if they change the AHL rules and he can go to Rockford for his D+2. But I don't want them to have to make another Korchinski's Choice. And I don't think playing in the Q again will push him the way college would.
eklund2chicago
Registered User
- Jan 19, 2021
- 86
- 318
Why is it a waste of time? He’s literally the betting favorite to be the pick and just because no one thinks he’s the top forward doesn’t mean that hawks doesn’t think he’s the second best forward after Misa.
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