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Pre-Game Talk: 2025 NHL Draft Thread

Blanick said:
  • Lakovic - I don't like him, has size but doesn't use it
  • Mrtka - Too High, Just raw potential at this point
  • Hensler - Too Low, Potentially lower ceiling then Mrtka but safer IMO.
  • Spence - Not a Top20 guy IMO.
  • Carbonneau - Plays too much of an individual game for my liking.
  • Fiddler - Too High
  • Bear - Too low. I really like Bear's game. He plays with intensity and pace.
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Appreciate the feedback. I get where you are coming from, but this was my thinking:
  • I don't love Lakovic, but I don't love annyone after him either. He is big and skilled though, so that is good foundation.
  • Mrtka even if he doesn't fully realize potential, he has legit chance at becoming Tyler Myers-type player, which is I think better outcome than pretty much all of the D below him.
  • Hensler I liked much better a year ago. I don't love his progression and question how much more growth we will see.
  • Spence looks like good middle 6 winger to me. Reminds me in some ways of slightly bigger Jake Neighbours.,
  • Your Carbonneau critique sounds like a young David Perron. A better skating Perron would be nice mid-1st pick.
  • Fiddler is admittedly super raw. He is RHD with size and skating and can excel in transition, but there admittedly is risk there. I watch him and think maybe he should be higher.. and then he fumbles puck and it's in the back of his net.
  • Bear plays with intensity and pace, but I don't see the offensive sense or creativity I would want from an average size winger closer to top 10.
EDIT: Forgot to address Martone and O'Brien.
  • Martone I don't love his feet or pace. He can be dominant in juniors but I question his ultimate upside. His talent is obvious, but I have reservations. which caused me to put him below 3 guys I think can each be a 1C.
  • O'Brien I think will continue to rise in leadup to draft. Highly productive, nice size for a center, not super fast but has good feet, like the skill and motor. I see echoes of Robert Thomas in him.
 
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The Blues currently sit 8th worst in the league based on points percentage. I am highly intrigued by Ryabkin. He's being compared to Demidov and Michkov but got off to a slow start this year in Russia before coming over to the USHL. I'd be thrilled if the Blues draft him.
 
Bye Bye Blueston said:
Appreciate the feedback. I get where you are coming from, but this was my thinking:
  • I don't love Lakovic, but I don't love annyone after him either. He is big and skilled though, so that is good foundation.
  • Mrtka even if he doesn't fully realize potential, he has legit chance at becoming Tyler Myers-type player, which is I think better outcome than pretty much all of the D below him.
  • Hensler I liked much better a year ago. I don't love his progression and question how much more growth we will see.
  • Spence looks like good middle 6 winger to me. Reminds me in some ways of slightly bigger Jake Neighbours.,
  • Your Carbonneau critique sounds like a young David Perron. A better skating Perron would be nice mid-1st pick.
  • Fiddler is admittedly super raw. He is RHD with size and skating and can excel in transition, but there admittedly is risk there. I watch him and think maybe he should be higher.. and then he fumbles puck and it's in the back of his net.
  • Bear plays with intensity and pace, but I don't see the offensive sense or creativity I would want from an average size winger closer to top 10.
EDIT: Forgot to address Martone and O'Brien.
  • Martone I don't love his feet or pace. He can be dominant in juniors but I question his ultimate upside. His talent is obvious, but I have reservations. which caused me to put him below 3 guys I think can each be a 1C.
  • O'Brien I think will continue to rise in leadup to draft. Highly productive, nice size for a center, not super fast but has good feet, like the skill and motor. I see echoes of Robert Thomas in him.
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Lackovic-great hockey name by the way…is a forward version of Petro. Very well could be one of the most talented players in the draft period. BUT he plays like he is 5’3”. I don’t know if he will get there either and engage. Does someone need to kick his puppy or what? He could carve out a middling offensive career and Jamie Benns son sits on top of him in 10 years or he could be the skating bulldozer with elite hands and shot we never had. Hes passive enough to be a Blues pick. Hopefully, we have the cast around him that will let him do his thing.
 
Memento said:
Honestly, if we're in range, I'd go straight for McQueen. Only reason he's not going top five is because of injury, but centers with his size, skating, and offensive skills are rare.
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he’s on the Nolan Patrick path. I don’t back injuries are a good gamble, personally, but aside from that the healthy version of McQueen is a good one. Big player, bigger risk
 
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Blanick said:
McQueen's skating worries me, Frondell will be gone top5. If we land at 8 I think we have a very good shot at Desnoyers though.
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He’s a far better skater than Martone and more skilled. Watched him quite a bit last year. Kind of a wild card like Lindstrom as to whether or not the injury is passed him. You could be a genius if you are right. We could use a 6’5” number one center.
 
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PerryTurnbullfan said:
He’s a far better skater than Martone and more skilled. Watched him quite a bit last year. Kind of a wild card like Lindstrom as to whether or not the injury is passed him. You could be a genius if you are right. We could use a 6’5” number one center.
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I wouldn't say McQueens skating is better. They both have significant mechanical aspects they need to improve. However, with McQueen, you have to add in the back issues, which scares me because he doesn't shy away from the physical game.

Idk I just get severe Bjugstad vibes from McQueen. Not saying there is anything wrong with that. Just want more from projected top5 pick.
 
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Blanick said:
I wouldn't say McQueens skating is better. They both have significant mechanical aspects they need to improve. However, with McQueen, you have to add in the back issues, which scares me because he doesn't shy away from the physical game.

Idk I just get severe Bjugstad vibes from McQueen. Not saying there is anything wrong with that. Just want more from projected top5 pick.
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With McQueen, it’s also a matter of playing on a so so team and still create offense. I haven’t seen Martone play without the benefit of a good team around him. Same can be said with Hagens and Misa. McQueen has two drafted players on his team one was a traded defensive defenseman and the other a goalie.
 
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