Pre-Game Talk: 2025 NHL Draft Thread

[LetsGoBooze]

Who do you guys prefer between Desnoyers and O’Brien? I think I prefer O’Brien. He sees the ice at a really high level. Needs to get better at playing through contact, but you’d have to think that will come as he fills out. Desnoyers is a good all around player, but I don’t see a high end skill like O’Brien’s playmaking. I’m also a bit concerned with the level of competition Desnoyers is facing. The pace is noticeably slower in his games IMO.

A few of us gave our exact opinions on this a few days back, go back one page.

 

[LGB]

A few of us gave our exact opinions on this a few days back, go back one page.

Not many direct comparisons of the two against each other, which is what I’m interested in.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Not many direct comparisons of the two against each other, which is what I’m interested in.

My opinion, when I look at guys in the draft its what tools stand out as prolific and an NHL level? For O’Brien, I see a playmaking skill and IQ skill that are both prolific and the rest of his tools look like they could be in NHL level. With Denoyers, I see a compete skill that is very prolific. The rest of his tools look to be NHL level across the board. Across the board is very rare. I’m seeing a Steve Yzerman lite type which may be the most complete player I got to see in my lifetime. Even if both players don’t hit their ceilings, I don’t see where either of them would hurt you on your third line. Neither one of these players are flashy outside of O’Brien making a pass few others will see, but they both have the “it” factor that you look for in my opinion of an NHL player.
In the US vs Canada games earlier this year, who centered the number 1 line for Canada and proved why? Look forward to the juniors when the season is over. Things may sort themselves out more.

On a side note…locked on prospects picked Mrtka for the Blues over both of these players and Hensler for that matter…??? go back to building model planes in air tight room…