2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

It’s a weaker draft, yes, but there is always value to be found. There are guys who will be taken in rounds 2-7 this year who will have long NHL careers, just like there are every year. There are guys who will be taken on day two who we’ll look back on and think “how did anybody let them slip that far?”, just like every year (and especially in “weak” years).
I don’t disagree with you. There’s talent to be found in the OHL WHL, etc. free agent market. There is just a lot more longshots this year or questionable tools. The thing you can’t gauge is how much that players gonna grow in many different ways. this could possibly be the best year to make the Holloway and Broberg move.
 
If we do make the playoffs, and win a round, which is a BIG IF, we would be picking no higher than 25. I could very well see us trading that pick in a package for a RD or a young Center. Or, even trading back and trying to pick up a 3rd or 4th. And if no good offers, you make the pick and take your chances on finding another Thomas, Bolduc or Snuggs. Time will tell.
 
If we do make the playoffs, and win a round, which is a BIG IF, we would be picking no higher than 25. I could very well see us trading that pick in a package for a RD or a young Center. Or, even trading back and trying to pick up a 3rd or 4th. And if no good offers, you make the pick and take your chances on finding another Thomas, Bolduc or Snuggs. Time will tell.
Winning a round doesn’t change draft position. If you win 2 you pick 29-32, but otherwise it’s just regular season record.
 
Winning a round doesn’t change draft position. If you win 2 you pick 29-32, but otherwise it’s just regular season record.
Are you sure? I thought that the first 8 teams that lose are then ranked in slots 17-24 based on their regular season finish. Then the next four losers are slotted into 25-28, also based on regular season finish, and then 29-30 and 31,32. In each set of losers, regular season finish determines draft order. Again, I very well could be wrong, but I thought that's how it worked.

Edit: Nevermind, you are right. The first 12 teams that lose are slotted based on regular season. Then the last 4 as you mentioned are the last grouping. My mistake!
 
Are you sure? I thought that the first 8 teams that lose are then ranked in slots 17-24 based on their regular season finish. Then the next four losers are slotted into 25-28, also based on regular season finish, and then 29-30 and 31,32. In each set of losers, regular season finish determines draft order. Again, I very well could be wrong, but I thought that's how it worked.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TruBlueFan1970
Honestly would go for Europeans for the fifth and sixth round picks. There's always value to be found in Europe, and we have enough prospects in total that it's worth taking a risk on a couple of dice rolls, especially in what's supposed to be a very weak draft.

As for the first-round pick...if we're making the playoffs, there's a lot of ways we can utilize it. Selecting a player in the first, trading it for either a young RHD or a future pick(s) in another draft, etc.
 
Honestly would go for Europeans for the fifth and sixth round picks. There's always value to be found in Europe, and we have enough prospects in total that it's worth taking a risk on a couple of dice rolls, especially in what's supposed to be a very weak draft.

As for the first-round pick...if we're making the playoffs, there's a lot of ways we can utilize it. Selecting a player in the first, trading it for either a young RHD or a future pick(s) in another draft, etc.
I'm at the point where we should solely look at russians at the point of the draft lmao. Hope to hit on Goaltending and random skilled fwds ala Korotky/Vorobyov/Susuyev
 
  • Like
Reactions: Memento
Also, if we pick in the late teens, depending on whose available. I'd love to see us target Kashawn Aitcheson. Big, mobile, physical D with offensive ability. I know, he's a lefty, but still, can never have enough quality big defenseman. By the time he'd be ready, fowler, leddy, suter, Faulk and maybe parayko might all be gone. I think he'd be a smart gamble in the later teens early 20's depending
 
  • Like
Reactions: Blueswin
Honestly the further down the draft order we slip, I'd start looking at the USNDT players: Cole McKinney, Will Moore, and Jack Murtagh. They'll have longer runways since they're going to college, but I think they've been unfairly maligned because they aren't quite at the level of some of the past draft classes. They've all got good size, skating, and good-to-great statistical profiles. Murtagh and McKinney in particular have a lot of attributes I'd be looking for if we hang on to the pick.
 
Honestly the further down the draft order we slip, I'd start looking at the USNDT players: Cole McKinney, Will Moore, and Jack Murtagh. They'll have longer runways since they're going to college, but I think they've been unfairly maligned because they aren't quite at the level of some of the past draft classes. They've all got good size, skating, and good-to-great statistical profiles. Murtagh and McKinney in particular have a lot of attributes I'd be looking for if we hang on to the pick.
I love Mckinneys game. Not sure if we'd need a late 1st or 2nd for him though.
 
So I caught a game of Ryabkin Madison vs Muskegon game with Ryker Lee, Netrasil, Mason Moe, etc. I like Ryabkin more than any of these other players and he is money at the dot. He may be worth the gamble, if we end up with a later pick as a top 6 center. He is a very talented player. He stood out with this pack on the ice.
 
So I caught a game of Ryabkin Madison vs Muskegon game with Ryker Lee, Netrasil, Mason Moe, etc. I like Ryabkin more than any of these other players and he is money at the dot. He may be worth the gamble, if we end up with a later pick as a top 6 center. He is a very talented player. He stood out with this pack on the ice.
In the game I watched, he looked like a passenger for most of his shifts. He was just kinda floating around most of the time, gave up early, etc. Now, this was early in his USHL season, so maybe he’s gotten better as he’s gotten adjusted (which would make sense), but I wasn’t super impressed at the time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bye Bye Blueston
In the game I watched, he looked like a passenger for most of his shifts. He was just kinda floating around most of the time, gave up early, etc. Now, this was early in his USHL season, so maybe he’s gotten better as he’s gotten adjusted (which would make sense), but I wasn’t super impressed at the time.
He's known for being wildly inconsistent. I may have just caught him on a good day. Nestrasil doesn't look bad. I don't know if he is anything better than a 3rd line player though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MortiestOfMortys
Blake Fiddler could be interesting. RHD 6'4" 209. Edmonton Oil Kings WHL

Blake Fiddler is an A-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's players to watch list and a projected first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

"Fiddler has an excellent set of physical tools and can handle and transport the puck," Central Scouting's Tim Campbell said. "He's a playmaker from the blue line who can get shots through but also jump down and create scoring chances. He has the puck on his stick often and handles it with good composure in all situations."
 
  • Like
Reactions: Blueswin
For the people interested, here's the current consolidated rankings as mentioned on Elite Prospects (by clicking on the various players you can see their personal ranking, so I just did that and listed them in the correct order).


001Matthew SchaeferDOHL6'1.75"183LSEP07
002Michael MisaCOHL6'0.75"184LFEB07
003James HagensCNCAA5'10.5"177LNOV06
004Porter MartoneRWOHL6'2.75"208ROCT06
005Anton FrondellCHockeyAllsvenskan6'1"198LMAY07
006Roger McQueenCWHL6'5.25"197ROCT06
007Victor EklundRWHockeyAllsvenskan5'11"161ROCT06
008Caleb DesnoyersCQMJHL6'1.5"178LAPR07
009Jackson SmithDWHL6'3.25"195LMAY07
010Malcolm SpenceLWOHL6'1"203LSEP06


011Carter BearLWWHL6'0"179LNOV06
012Jake O'BrienCOHL6'1.75"172RJUN07
013Radim MrtkaDCzechia6'5.75"207RJUN07
014Lynden LakovicLWWHL6'4.25"190LDEC06
015Justin CarbonneauRWQMJHL6'1"191RNOV06
016Cameron ReidDOHL5'11.75"193LAPR07
017Logan HenslerDNCAA6'2.25"192ROCT06
018Brady MartinCOHL6'0"178RMAR07
019Benjamin KindelCWHL5'10"176RAPR07
020Cullen PotterCNCAA5'10"172LJAN07


021Braeden CootesCWHL5'11.25"183RFEB07
022Ivan RyabkinCMHL5'11"201LAPR07
023Bill ZonnonRWQMJHL6'1.5"185LOCT06
024Cameron SchmidtRWWHL5'7.25"161RJAN07
025Cole ReschnyCWHL5'10.5"183LAPR07
026Kashawn AitchesonDOHL6'1.5"196LSEP06
027Blake FiddlerDWHL6'4"209RJUL07
028William MooreCNTDP6'2.25"175LMAR07
029Jack MurtaghLWNTDP6'0.75"200LAUG07
030Sascha BoumedienneDNCAA6'1"175LJAN07


031Joshua RavensbergenGWHL6'5.25"190RNOV06
032Milton GästrinCJ20 Nationell6'0.5"185LJUN07
033Jack NesbittCWHL6'4.25"185LJAN07
034Shane VansaghiRWNCAA6'2.25"210ROCT06
035Cole McKinneyCNTDP6'0"200RMAR07
036Jakob Ihs-WozniakCJ20 Nationell6'2.25"184RFEB07
037Eric NilsonCJ20 Nationell5'11.5"156RMAY07
038Benjamin KevanRWUSHL6'0.25"182RJAN07
039Adam BenákCUSHL5'7.25"160LAPR07
040Ryker LeeRWUSHL5'11.5"181RNOV06


041Nathan BehmRWWHL6'1.5"192RAPR07
042Carter AmicoDNTDP6'5.25"225RMAR07
043Henry BrzustewiczDOHL6'1.75"203RFEB07
044Charlie TretheweyDNTDP6'1"200RAUG07
045Kurban LimatovDMHL6'3"198LMAR07
046Simon (Haoxi) WangDOHL6'5.5"215LJUL07
047Conrad FondrkCNTDP5'11.75"193LJUN07
048Jack IvankovicGOHL5'11"178LMAY07
049Luca RomanoCOHL5'11.25"177RJUN07
050Eddie GenborgRWJ20 Nationell6'1"179LAPR07


051Alexander ZharovskyRWMHL6’1”163LFEB07
052William HorcoffCNTDP6'4.75"190LJAN07
053Kristian EppersonLWOHL5'11.5"183LMAY06
054Arvid DrottRWJ20 Nationell5'11.75"183RAUG07
055Viktor KlingsellRWJ20 Nationell5'9.5"188LFEB07
056Ethan CzataCOHL6'1.25"175LMAY07
057Pyotr AndreyanovGMHL6'0"207LJAN07
058Tomas PobezalCSlovakia5'9"178LSEP06
059Gustav HillströmCSHL6’1.5”174RJAN07
060Vaclav NestrasilRWUSHL6’5”187RAPR07


061Matthew GardCWHL6'4.75"192LAPR07
062Zachary MorinLWQMJHL6'1"181LJAN07
063Luka RadivojevicDUSHL5'9.25"165RJAN07
064Maxim AgafonovDMHL6'2"198RAPR07
065Alexei MedvedevGOHL6’2.25”178LSEP07
066Dakoda Rhéaume MullenDNCAA6'0.5"182LDEC06
067Vojtěch ČihařLWCzechia U206'0"175LMAR07
068L.J. MooneyCNTDP5'7"162RMAR07
069Jacob RombachDUSHL6'6"200LAPR07
070Peyton KettlesDWHL6'5.25"190RSEP07


071Topias HynninenCLiiga5'10"176LDEC05
072Harry NansiRWOHL6'2.75"186RSEP07
073Michal SvrcekLWJ20 Nationell5'10"178LJAN07
074Tomas PoletinLWU20 SM-sarja6'1.25"200LAPR07
075Jimmy LombardiCOHL6’0”175LFEB07
076Alex HuangDQMJHL6'0"170RJUL07
077William BelleRWNTDP6'3.25"219RJAN07
078Jamiro ReberCSHL5'10"176LSEP06
079Shamar MosesRWOHL6’1”200RMAY07
080Tyler HopkinsCOHL6’1”179LJAN07


081Semyon FrolovGMHL6'3"203LJAN07
082Melvin NovotnyLWJ20 Nationell6'1"187LAPR07
083Owen ConradDQMJHL6'2.5"214LMAR07
084Carlos HändelDQMJHL6'0.5"172RMAR07
085Theo StockseliusCJ20 Nationell6’2”181LJUL07
086Lasse BoeliusDU20 SM-sarja6'0.5"181LMAR07
087Bruno OsmanisRWHockeyAllsvenskan5’11”170RDEC06
088Hayden PaupanekisCWHL6’4.25”196RFEB07
089Cooper SimpsonLWUSHS-MN6’0.25”180LFEB07
090Mateo NobertCQMJHL6'0"166LAUG07


091Reese HamiltonDWHL6'0"172LMAR07
092Max PsenickaDCzechia6’4”176RJAN07
093Nathan QuinnCQMJHL5’11”173RAUG07
094Anthony Allain-SamakéDUSHL6'0.75"178LSEP07
095Phillippe VeilleuxLWQMJHL5'9"168LMAR07
096Filip EkbergRWOHL5'9.75"166LAPR07
097David BedkowskiDOHL6'4.5"215RDEC06
098Mason MoeCUSHL6’1.25”186LMAR07
099Malte VassDJ20 Nationell6’1.75”184LMAR07
100Jordan GavinRWWHL5'11"183LNOV06


EDIT: replaced EP-info on position/weight and length with Central Scouting info.

EDIT 2: added some text colors: undersized/small/overage=red (5'10" or under and under 160 Lbs) or orange (under 6'0" with exception of the reds and players 160-169 Lbs), Youngest eligible (Aug+Sep07)=green. Young (May-July07)=mint green. Oldest 1st year eligibles (Sep06-Nov06)=yellow.

EDIT 3: Some observations. The consolidated ranking ranks quite a lot of undersized players, usually a lot more than are actually drafted in the top-100. Also it's quite noticible that in the top of the list there are a lot of older first time eligibles.
 
Last edited:
For the people interested, here's the current consolidated rankings as mentioned on Elite Prospects (by clicking on the various players you can see their personal ranking, so I just did that and listed them in the correct order). Still need to replace EP-info with actual Central Scouting info.


001Matthew SchaeferDOHL6'2"183LSEP07
002Michael MisaC/LWOHL6'1"185LFEB07
003James HagensCNCAA5'11"176LNOV06
004Porter MartoneRWOHL6'3"207ROCT06
005Anton FrondellCHockeyAllsvenskan6'0"196LMAY07
006Roger McQueenFWHL6'5"192ROCT06
007Victor EklundLWHockeyAllsvenskan5'11"161ROCT06
008Caleb DesnoyersCQMJHL6'2"172LAPR07
009Jackson SmithDWHL6'3"190LMAY07
010Malcolm SpenceLWOHL6'2"201LSEP06


011Carter BearC/LWWHL6'0"176LNOV06
012Jake O'BrienCOHL6'2"170RJUN07
013Radim MrtkaDCzechia6'6"198RJUN07
014Lynden LakovicFWHL6'4"190LDEC06
015Justin CarbonneauRWQMJHL6'1"192RNOV06
016Cameron ReidDOHL6'0"174LAPR07
017Logan HenslerDNCAA6'2"196ROCT06
018Brady MartinCOHL6'0"174RMAR07
019Benjamin KindelRWWHL5'10"176RAPR07
020Cullen PotterLWNCAA5'9"168LJAN07


021Braeden CootesCWHL6'0"183RFEB07
022Ivan RyabkinCMHL6'0"198LAPR07
023Bill ZonnonLWQMJHL6'2"190LOCT06
024Cameron SchmidtRWWHL5'7"157RJAN07
025Cole ReschnyFWHL5'10"187LAPR07
026Kashawn AitchesonDOHL6'1"198LSEP06
027Blake FiddlerDWHL6'4"209RJUL07
028William MooreCNTDP6'2"161LMAR07
029Jack MurtaghC/LWNTDP6'0"185LAUG07
030Sascha BoumedienneDNCAA6'2"183LJAN07


031Joshua RavensbergenGWHL6'5"192RNOV06
032Milton GästrinC/LWJ20 Nationell6'1"185LJUN07
033Jack NesbittCWHL6'4"183LJAN07
034Shane VansaghiRWNCAA6'2"216ROCT06
035Cole McKinneyCNTDP6'0"190RMAR07
036Jakob Ihs-WozniakFJ20 Nationell6'3"185RFEB07
037Eric NilsonCJ20 Nationell6'0"154RMAY07
038Benjamin KevanFUSHL6'0"183RJAN07
039Adam BenákCUSHL5'7"161LAPR07
040Ryker LeeFUSHL6'0"181RNOV06


041Nathan BehmLW/RWWHL6'2"198RAPR07
042Carter AmicoDNTDP6'5"205RMAR07
043Henry BrzustewiczDOHL6'1"194RFEB07
044Charlie TretheweyDNTDP6'1"190RAUG07
045Kurban LimatovDMHL6'3"198LMAR07
046Haoxi WangDOJHL6'6"212LJUL07
047Conrad FondrkCNTDP5'11"174LJUN07
048Jack IvankovicGOHL5'11"179LMAY07
049Luca RomanoCOHL5'11"168RJUN07
050Eddie GenborgFJ20 Nationell6'2"185LAPR07


051Alexander ZharovskyRWMHL6’1”163LFEB07
052William HorcoffCNTDP6'4"181LJAN07
053Kristian EppersonLWOHL6'0"185LMAY06
054Arvid DrottRWJ20 Nationell6'1"187RAUG07
055Viktor KlingsellLWJ20 Nationell5'10"183LFEB07
056Ethan CzataCOHL6'1"174LMAY07
057Pyotr AndreyanovGMHL6'0"207LJAN07
058Tomas PobezalCSlovakia5'10"179LSEP06
059Gustav HillströmCSHL6’2”176RJAN07
060Vaclav NestrasilRWUSHL6’5”190RAPR07


061Matthew GardFWHL6'4"192LAPR07
062Zachary MorinLWQMJHL6'2"174LJAN07
063Luka RadivojevicDUSHL5'10"165RJAN07
064Maxim AgafonovDMHL6'2"198RAPR07
065Alexei MedvedevGOHL6’1”165LSEP07
066Dakoda Rhéaume MullenDNCAA6'0"181LDEC06
067Vojtěch ČihařLWCzechia U206'1"187LMAR07
068L.J. MooneyRWNTDP5'6"146RMAR07
069Jacob RombachDUSHL6'6"201LAPR07
070Peyton KettlesDWHL6'5"194RSEP07


071Topias HynninenCLiiga5'10"176LDEC05
072Harry NansiCOHL6'3"179RSEP07
073Michal SvrcekCJ20 Nationell5'10"176LJAN07
074Tomas PoletinLWU20 SM-sarja6'1"196LAPR07
075Jimmy LombardiCOHL6’0”179LFEB07
076Alex HuangDQMJHL6'0"161RJUL07
077William BelleFNTDP6'4"218RJAN07
078Jamiro ReberC/LWSHL5'10"176LSEP06
079Shamar MosesRWOHL6’1”203RMAY07
080Tyler HopkinsCOHL6’1”181LJAN07


081Semyon FrolovGMHL6'3"203LJAN07
082Melvin NovotnyFJ20 Nationell6'1"187LAPR07
083Owen ConradDQMJHL6'3"209LMAR07
084Carlos HändelDQMJHL6'1"170RMAR07
085Theo StockseliusFJ20 Nationell6’2”181LJUL07
086Lasse BoeliusDU20 SM-sarja6'0"179LMAR07
087Bruno OsmanisRWHockeyAllsvenskan5’11”170RDEC06
088Hayden PaupanekisFWHL6’4”198RFEB07
089Cooper SimpsonFUSHS-MN6’1”179LFEB07
090Mateo NobertCQMJHL6'0"168LAUG07


091Reese HamiltonDWHL6'1"170LMAR07
092Max PsenickaDCzechia6’4”185RJAN07
093Nathan QuinnCQMJHL5’10”168RAUG07
094Anthony Allain-SamakéDUSHL6'0"165LSEP07
095Phillippe VeilleuxC/LWQMJHL5'9"165LMAR07
096Filip EkbergLWOHL5'10"168LAPR07
097David BedkowskiDOHL6'5"214RDEC06
098Mason MoeFUSHL6’1”185LMAR07
099Malte VassDJ20 Nationell6’1”179LMAR07
100Jordan GavinC/LWWHL5'11"179LNOV06
I just don’t see that many sub-5’11” guys going in the first round. They’re skilled dudes, but the league has been ignoring the tiny speedsters for a few seasons now. They’ve got a pretty low hit rate.
 
I just don’t see that many sub-5’11” guys going in the first round. They’re skilled dudes, but the league has been ignoring the tiny speedsters for a few seasons now. They’ve got a pretty low hit rate.

Agree. Every year you see too many undersized players in the consolidated list.
 
Just for entertainment purposes only! Don't lose your s**t! GM calls and says I will trade my first round pick for Dalibor Dvorsky with their turn to draft. Which guy or guys still need to be available for you to make that trade?
 
The same guys, but I would put O'Brien and Hagens in that mix. That's my top six. I just can't do that with McQueen or Martone.
I wouldn’t do it for those 2 because I don’t think o’brien has enough upside to offset Dvo’s 2 year head start. And I’m just not sold that Hagens will be impact center. Still questions on dvo, but he should be ready to play 3c within next year.
 
I wouldn’t do it for those 2 because I don’t think o’brien has enough upside to offset Dvo’s 2 year head start. And I’m just not sold that Hagens will be impact center. Still questions on dvo, but he should be ready to play 3c within next year.
I've watched enough O'Brien to think he is a Doug Weight clone. He's my horse this year. I'm not 100% on Hagens and regret typing that. Going to have to go with my top 5.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bye Bye Blueston

Ad

Ad