Pre-Game Talk: 2025 NHL Draft Thread

[PerryTurnbullfan]

I think Granberg and Hedqvist need to be on the Blues radar as overage late round picks. I’m not sure why the weren’t drafted in the first place. Impressive talents at the WJCs

 

[Beauterham]

So... scrolling a bit through Elite Prospects draft page and noticed this player:

Artyom Vilchinsky - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Artyom Vilchinsky, 2006-09-16 Vladivostok, RUS Russia. Most recently in the MHL with SKA-1946 St. Petersburg. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Stats aren't that impressive besides that he's a 6'4" defenseman and apparantly 243 lbs as an 18 year old... Jesus. What did they fed him growing up?

 

[TheOrganist]

So... scrolling a bit through Elite Prospects draft page and noticed this player:

Artyom Vilchinsky - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Artyom Vilchinsky, 2006-09-16 Vladivostok, RUS Russia. Most recently in the MHL with SKA-1946 St. Petersburg. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Stats aren't that impressive besides that he's a 6'4" defenseman and apparantly 243 lbs as an 18 year old... Jesus. What did they fed him growing up?

I mean, it’s Russia. He’s probably been on a juicing program since he was 12.

 

[PocketNines]

I mean, it’s Russia. He’s probably been on a juicing program since he was 12.

Icarus (2017) highly recommended documentary details their extensive cheating approach

 

[TheOrganist]

Icarus (2017) highly recommended documentary details their extensive cheating approach

I watched it too. Enlightening. I am an Ovechkin fan but…

 

[Linkens Mastery]

We're still sitting around the 9th-11th overall pick if we keep up what we're doing I'm still hoping we can snag one of Hensler or Jackson Smith. Tho there are a couple forwards around that spot in like as well.

 

[PocketNines]

I watched it too. Enlightening. I am an Ovechkin fan but…

I figured you had. I am absolutely not an Ovechkin fan

 

[kimzey59]

We're still sitting around the 9th-11th overall pick if we keep up what we're doing I'm still hoping we can snag one of Hensler or Jackson Smith. Tho there are a couple forwards around that spot in like as well.

I might be over-prioritizing handedness, but Jackson Smith really doesn't interest me. LHD is probably the deepest position in our prospect pool right now.

Conversely, I think Hensler would be an amazing pick.

Still really curious where Mrtka ends up in the overall rankings, though. That package is just so damn tantalizing(yes, even at #9 I'd be considering him right now; right shooting defenders with that size and skating ability are the rarest commodity in the NHL).

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

I might be over-prioritizing handedness, but Jackson Smith really doesn't interest me. LHD is probably the deepest position in our prospect pool right now.

Conversely, I think Hensler would be an amazing pick.

Still really curious where Mrtka ends up in the overall rankings, though. That package is just so damn tantalizing(yes, even at #9 I'd be considering him right now; right shooting defenders with that size and skating ability are the rarest commodity in the NHL).

Yep, especially with so few picks this year (so far) you really gotta hope that they get positional value out of their first round pick, because it’s likely the only one that will really matter for awhile. Two-way center or RHD or bust. No wingers, no LHD, no goalies.

That said, we absolutely should take a goalie with one of our later picks this year. The cupboard is getting a bit bare, especially since Cranley doesn’t seem to be a guy for us.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Yep, especially with so few picks this year (so far) you really gotta hope that they get positional value out of their first round pick, because it’s likely the only one that will really matter for awhile. Two-way center or RHD or bust. No wingers, no LHD, no goalies.

That said, we absolutely should take a goalie with one of our later picks this year. The cupboard is getting a bit bare, especially since Cranley doesn’t seem to be a guy for us.

At least one goalie this year and at least one next year.

 

[SirPaste]

Yep, especially with so few picks this year (so far) you really gotta hope that they get positional value out of their first round pick, because it’s likely the only one that will really matter for awhile. Two-way center or RHD or bust. No wingers, no LHD, no goalies.

That said, we absolutely should take a goalie with one of our later picks this year. The cupboard is getting a bit bare, especially since Cranley doesn’t seem to be a guy for us.

I really disagree. We will likely be picking in the top 15 or somewhere there abouts. They need to stick with BPA and really do their best to get some actual elite talent in the pipeline regardless of position.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

I might be over-prioritizing handedness, but Jackson Smith really doesn't interest me. LHD is probably the deepest position in our prospect pool right now.

Conversely, I think Hensler would be an amazing pick.

Still really curious where Mrtka ends up in the overall rankings, though. That package is just so damn tantalizing(yes, even at #9 I'd be considering him right now; right shooting defenders with that size and skating ability are the rarest commodity in the NHL).

Fiddler intrigues me too. Big, mobile RHD who looks to be shutdown top 4 guy.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Fiddler intrigues me too. Big, mobile RHD who looks to be shutdown top 4 guy.

I’m becoming an O’Brien fan. He would be a great center pick up. Excellent passer.

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

I really disagree. We will likely be picking in the top 15 or somewhere there abouts. They need to stick with BPA and really do their best to get some actual elite talent in the pipeline regardless of position.

If you want n elite player in that range you’re hoping for either a very strong draft or injury/attitude concerns. This is a fine but not great draft. The only faller so far is Ryabkin, but he’s looking better since moving to Muskegon, so he might start climbing again.

But we took a faller in Kostin and got nothing from it. Jiricek was also a faller and folks here have been lukewarm on him so far (even tho I hardily disagree). In a weaker draft year, that’s a game worth playing tho, so

 

[Frenzy31]

If you want n elite player in that range you’re hoping for either a very strong draft or injury/attitude concerns. This is a fine but not great draft. The only faller so far is Ryabkin, but he’s looking better since moving to Muskegon, so he might start climbing again.

But we took a faller in Kostin and got nothing from it. Jiricek was also a faller and folks here have been lukewarm on him so far (even tho I hardily disagree). In a weaker draft year, that’s a game worth playing tho, so

I think Kistin busted (still will play 300 games) because he played in the AHL too soon. Should have spent time in the CHL and developed his skill a bit more. He would have had a more impactful career.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

I think Kistin busted (still will play 300 games) because he played in the AHL too soon. Should have spent time in the CHL and developed his skill a bit more. He would have had a more impactful career.

This is I think both a contributory factor to his sucking and also a symptom of the underlying issue that he is too headstrong and has overinflated sense of how good he is. He didn't want to play in CHL. He didn't want to to accept role we wanted him to play. So while going to AHL too early hurt him, it was self-inflicted by the player who thought he knew better than everyone else.

 

[SirPaste]

If you want n elite player in that range you’re hoping for either a very strong draft or injury/attitude concerns. This is a fine but not great draft. The only faller so far is Ryabkin, but he’s looking better since moving to Muskegon, so he might start climbing again.

But we took a faller in Kostin and got nothing from it. Jiricek was also a faller and folks here have been lukewarm on him so far (even tho I hardily disagree). In a weaker draft year, that’s a game worth playing tho, so

That is all true but with our solid pipeline depth I think this is the year to either try to trade up(I know we have a lack of picks so easier said than done) or take a big swing on a guy who might have a lower floor but very high ceiling, Blues tend to stick with the safer picks of the high floor type prospects, it has worked out for them but we really need to get a potential game breaker in the system IMO.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

That is all true but with our solid pipeline depth I think this is the year to either try to trade up(I know we have a lack of picks so easier said than done) or take a big swing on a guy who might have a lower floor but very high ceiling, Blues tend to stick with the safer picks of the high floor type prospects, it has worked out for them but we really need to get a potential game breaker in the system IMO.

Not a good draft compared to last few.

 

[SirPaste]

Not a good draft compared to last few.

I will take your word for it as at this point other than some of the top guys I haven't even really looked into it too much. I am not familiar with the class at all yet so not sure if it is a possibility or what's even out there but that would be my goal going into the draft.

 

[PocketNines]

In the games I have watched Jackson Smith this year he has been on RD

he is listed as LD. This writeup is very accurate from what I have seen, he has a bit of a muffin from the point but he fires it a bunch (I noticed a lot of right point shots). He is an excellent skater.

WHL: Jackson Smith - Neutral Zone - Men's

Jackson Smith (D, L, 6’3″, 195, Tri-City Americans, 05/07/2007) Jackson Smith is a two-way defenseman with elite skating, defensive reliability, and a high hockey IQ, making him a top prospect... Read more

neutralzone.com

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

I will take your word for it as at this point other than some of the top guys I haven't even really looked into it too much. I am not familiar with the class at all yet so not sure if it is a possibility or what's even out there but that would be my goal going into the draft.

It’s top heavy. Finland, the US, and Russia are very light this year. Sweden and Canada are ok. Not a depth draft like the last two years. Better for goalies! Hint hint