2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[Mike Liut]

The Blues should definitely take Ivan Ryabkin if he's there at 19. He was a top 5 pick preseason. Who knows what really happened in Russia this year but I do know that Russia gets very punitive with players who don't show interest in staying for at least a few years post draft. I think that maybe the case with Ryabkin.

He’s definitely an intriguing prospect. Do the Blues want to gamble with a possible HR pick? Or play it more safe?

 

[greybush314]

He’s definitely an intriguing prospect. Do the Blues want to gamble with a possible HR pick? Or play it more safe?

I think we have the prospect depth to take a big swing. I'm also kind of skeptical we even make the pick but that's not fun for this discussion

 

[kimzey59]

The Blues should definitely take Ivan Ryabkin if he's there at 19. He was a top 5 pick preseason. Who knows what really happened in Russia this year but I do know that Russia gets very punitive with players who don't show interest in staying for at least a few years post draft. I think that maybe the case with Ryabkin.

Not that I particularly want him but it’s going to be interesting to see what he has to say at the combine if he shows up.


The skill set package is very enticing, I’m just not sold on his work ethic(and his 2-way game needs a ton of work).

 

[Mike Liut]

Not that I particularly want him but it’s going to be interesting to see what he has to say at the combine if he shows up.


The skill set package is very enticing, I’m just not sold on his work ethic(and his 2-way game needs a ton of work).

Yup, our style of play requires a good 2 way center

 

[simon IC]

Not that I particularly want him but it’s going to be interesting to see what he has to say at the combine if he shows up.


The skill set package is very enticing, I’m just not sold on his work ethic(and his 2-way game needs a ton of work).

That alone throws up red flags for me.

 

[BlueMed]

Not that I particularly want him but it’s going to be interesting to see what he has to say at the combine if he shows up.


The skill set package is very enticing, I’m just not sold on his work ethic(and his 2-way game needs a ton of work).

The Blues organization is really big on character and maturity, which is likely why they took Neighbours much earlier than he was projected. I cannot see them taking Ryabkin who has character/work-ethic concerns.

 

[greybush314]

The Blues organization is really big on character and maturity, which is likely why they took Neighbours much earlier than he was projected. I cannot see them taking Ryabkin who has character/work-ethic concerns.

That label gets thrown on all Russians. Same things were said about Tarasenko and he worked out just fine. Ryabkin has top 5 quality talent and could be insurance in case Dvorsky doesn't pan out.

 

[Mike Liut]

That label gets thrown on all Russians. Same things were said about Tarasenko and he worked out just fine. Ryabkin has top 5 quality talent and could be insurance in case Dvorsky doesn't pan out.

If the Blues do their DD and like him, I’m down.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

That label gets thrown on all Russians. Same things were said about Tarasenko and he worked out just fine. Ryabkin has top 5 quality talent and could be insurance in case Dvorsky doesn't pan out.

You’ll have to show me anywhere that questioned Tarasenko’s character during his draft eligible year. I remember the opposite.

 

[LetsGoBooze]

The Blues organization is really big on character and maturity, which is likely why they took Neighbours much earlier than he was projected. I cannot see them taking Ryabkin who has character/work-ethic concerns.

3 of the top 5 ranking publications had Neighbours ranked between 23-31. We took him at 26, i would say he went right around where he was projected. We in no way were reaching for him, had to take him with our pick if we wanted him.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

That alone throws up red flags for me.

He had issues earlier, but helped lead his team to USHL title. I had been down on him, but liked what he did in playoffs. He is among group I’d consider at our pick.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

You’ll have to show me anywhere that questioned Tarasenko’s character during his draft eligible year. I remember the opposite.

I kinda remember some stirrings about Vladi when it took him a couple years to come over. I wasn’t worried at all, but I also remember a little bit of negativity toward him when he stayed in Russia for two full seasons post-draft. And then he came over in the middle of the 2012-13 season, which is counter to the idea that Russians don’t leave for the NHL mid-season.

We call him Tank for a reason cuz he is a load and built like a brick shit house. Maybe some hack like JR bashed Tank for being fat and lazy or some shit.

I remember it, though. Don’t feel like digging up a link.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

That alone throws up red flags for me.

Me three.

 

[BlueMed]

3 of the top 5 ranking publications had Neighbours ranked between 23-31. We took him at 26, i would say he went right around where he was projected. We in no way were reaching for him, had to take him with our pick if we wanted him.

The Hockey Writers consolidated several pre-draft rankings one month prior to the draft, and Neighbours' rankings were listed as follows.

• NHL Central Scouting: 26th (among NA skaters)
• Craig Button, TSN: 43rd
• ISS: 26th
• McKeen’s Hockey: 30th
• Andrew Forbes (The Hockey Writers): 34th
• Josh Bell (The Hockey Writers): 32nd
• Larry Fisher (The Hockey Writers): 48th

His average predicted draft position of the latter 6 rankings is 35.5, which is 9.5 spots later than where he was actually drafted. Maybe "much higher" was a stretch, but I'd be hard-pressed to believe that his grit and personality didn't play a role in him getting picked a little higher than expected.

Citation:
Reimer, D. (2020, May 21). Jake neighbours - 2020 NHL draft prospect profile - the hockey writers NHL Entry Draft Latest News, analysis & more. The Hockey Writers. Jake Neighbours - 2020 NHL Draft Prospect Profile - The Hockey Writers NHL Entry Draft Latest News, Analysis & More

 

[Davimir Tarablad]

The Blues organization is really big on character and maturity, which is likely why they took Neighbours much earlier than he was projected. I cannot see them taking Ryabkin who has character/work-ethic concerns.

I think we’ve got the type of organization that can work through those sorts of concerns if they’re only mild concerns. So I wouldn’t put it past him being drafted by us as I’d be confident we’ll have done the leg work to view that as not an issue.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

I kinda remember some stirrings about Vladi when it took him a couple years to come over. I wasn’t worried at all, but I also remember a little bit of negativity toward him when he stayed in Russia for two full seasons post-draft. And then he came over in the middle of the 2012-13 season, which is counter to the idea that Russians don’t leave for the NHL mid-season.

We call him Tank for a reason cuz he is a load and built like a brick shit house. Maybe some hack like JR bashed Tank for being fat and lazy or some shit.

I remember it, though. Don’t feel like digging up a link.

I think you’re conflating randos on a message board with actionable scouting for the draft. There were concerns whether he’d come to the NHL (although he said all along it was his dream) and some paranoia on the message bird from a few. But if there were any character questions affecting his draft stock, someone needs to show me a record of this. It would be there. I don’t believe it exists.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

I think you’re conflating randos on a message board with actionable scouting for the draft. There were concerns whether he’d come to the NHL (although he said all along it was his dream) and some paranoia on the message bird from a few. But if there were any character questions affecting his draft stock, someone needs to show me a record of this. It would be there. I don’t believe it exists.

Huh?

What you’re saying is that you want some “authority” to tell you what to think.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

Huh?

What you’re saying is that you want some “authority” to tell you what to think.

Are you being deliberately obtuse? A poster claimed there were character questions about Tarasenko that hurt his draft stock. I am disputing that. Your vague recollections about message board comments doesn’t constitute the NHL scouting reports containing such concerns.

My last post is me saying if such character questions existed then, there would be a historical record NOW. So…show me. I don’t believe it exists.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Are you being deliberately obtuse? A poster claimed there were character questions about Tarasenko that hurt his draft stock. I am disputing that. Your vague recollections about message board comments doesn’t constitute the NHL scouting reports containing such concerns.

My last post is me saying if such character questions existed then, there would be a historical record NOW. So…show me. I don’t believe it exists.

Then move on.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Are you being deliberately obtuse? A poster claimed there were character questions about Tarasenko that hurt his draft stock. I am disputing that. Your vague recollections about message board comments doesn’t constitute the NHL scouting reports containing such concerns.

My last post is me saying if such character questions existed then, there would be a historical record NOW. So…show me. I don’t believe it exists.

I don’t see the problem you’re experiencing. I replied with a vague recollection.

 

[kimzey59]

That label gets thrown on all Russians. Same things were said about Tarasenko and he worked out just fine. Ryabkin has top 5 quality talent and could be insurance in case Dvorsky doesn't pan out.

I don't know if I think that's true.
There's always a "flight risk" issue which could be construed as a "character" issue, but personally I think that's a very different issue than "effort level" and "work ethic". There are PLENTY of Russian prospects that don't have those types of issues(look no further than Toro).

With Ryabkin, the skinny on him early in the year was that he was milking his amazing season the year before and not giving full effort. Granted, that's from Russian sources so I'm not sure how much weight to put on them. That said, even in the USHL it was visible that his defensive game is no where close to par and he shied away from the physical game. I'd actually compare him a bit to Kyrou from what I saw down there. Tremendous offensive skills("good Kyrou"), but he's got more than a little "bad Kyrou"(soft, not playing defense, fairly invisible) in him also. It wouldn't be the worst thing ever if we end up taking him, but I think there's going to be a pretty obvious option that falls to us at 19. I'm really not looking to over-think this years pick, which is why I lean against Ryabkin.

 

[aceoutdoor]

Many prospect watchers were dogging Neighbors pre draft. I remember Elite Prospects said "The list of concerns is is lengthy and likely insurmountable". Well Jake has already proved them dead wrong.

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

A thing to consider with Ryabkin: where is he going to play next year? He’s in the USHL now, but he doesn’t have a NCAA commitment, and he hasn’t been drafted into the CHL. Is his expectation that he will jump right into the AHL or go back to Russia?

Either way, I think he’s off my draft board at this point. He’s a very talented player with a ton of untapped potential. But I don’t see any of the traits that we love in our prospects. He doesn’t play a mature game, he’s only been a captain for one 7-game tournament, and he got chased from a league that is designed to be sympathetic towards players like him. In my viewings of him in Muskegon, he floats a lot instead of being actively engaged. I get “Filly don’t do rebounds” vibes from him as a player, and I don’t think there’s room for that here.

 

[LetsGoBooze]

The Hockey Writers consolidated several pre-draft rankings one month prior to the draft, and Neighbours' rankings were listed as follows.

• NHL Central Scouting: 26th (among NA skaters)
• Craig Button, TSN: 43rd
• ISS: 26th
• McKeen’s Hockey: 30th
• Andrew Forbes (The Hockey Writers): 34th
• Josh Bell (The Hockey Writers): 32nd
• Larry Fisher (The Hockey Writers): 48th

His average predicted draft position of the latter 6 rankings is 35.5, which is 9.5 spots later than where he was actually drafted. Maybe "much higher" was a stretch, but I'd be hard-pressed to believe that his grit and personality didn't play a role in him getting picked a little higher than expected.

Citation:
Reimer, D. (2020, May 21). Jake neighbours - 2020 NHL draft prospect profile - the hockey writers NHL Entry Draft Latest News, analysis & more. The Hockey Writers. Jake Neighbours - 2020 NHL Draft Prospect Profile - The Hockey Writers NHL Entry Draft Latest News, Analysis & More

I always just reference elite prospects cause its great for stats as well. TSN, McKeen, and Central all had him at some mix of 23,26,31. I think Neighbours was always going to go at some point in the 1st, glad we grabbed him. For sure a great culture guy.

 

[Beauterham]

I always just reference elite prospects cause its great for stats as well. TSN, McKeen, and Central all had him at some mix of 23,26,31. I think Neighbours was always going to go at some point in the 1st, glad we grabbed him. For sure a great culture guy.

Not per se aimed at you, but in general as some people don't seem to know: there isn't a 'complete' Central Scouting ranking, it's divided into multiple parts. The one where they ranked Neighbours 26th consisted only the skaters playing in North America and didn't include goalies and international skaters. If CS had a full list Neighbours would've probably be ranked somewhere between 40 and 50.