2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

Hard to imagine NYI dropping in the standings too much - none of the teams who below them seem likely to do much better. They're 9th in points percentage, and imo they might drop to #8, but hard to imagine them going any lower than that unless they install Skarek as the starting goalie.
 
Victor Eklund please and thank you.
Can't like this enough. Kids gonna be a stud energy first line winger.

Eiserman-Ritchie-Eklund would go crazy. Got your automatic sniper, great playmaker and defensively responsible center, and a high energy and compete winger who scores and playmakes. Can't build a more balanced line than that.

Just gotta get into the top 8, so even if Eklund goes higher we'd get one of Desnoyers, Mcqueen, or maybe even Martone if he falls. All just as good options in my opinion but it falls off pretty hard after that.
 
Hard to imagine NYI dropping in the standings too much - none of the teams who below them seem likely to do much better. They're 9th in points percentage, and imo they might drop to #8, but hard to imagine them going any lower than that unless they install Skarek as the starting goalie.

At the same time, Sorokin or not, do we see this team winning even 8, heck 6, of the remaining 18 games?

I give the teams behind us with more scoring talent the edge down the stretch.

I've got my post-TD "Not even 50 goals in the final 21 games" watch going on, 'cause I'm really expecting this team to have BIG problems scoring down the stretch.

The past two games have been anything but unexpected.

It's not even difficult to think we'll average less than 2 goals scored per game from here on out.

Can't like this enough. Kids gonna be a stud energy first line winger.

Eiserman-Ritchie-Eklund would go crazy. Got your automatic sniper, great playmaker and defensively responsible center, and a high energy and compete winger who scores and playmakes. Can't build a more balanced line than that.

Just gotta get into the top 8, so even if Eklund goes higher we'd get one of Desnoyers, Mcqueen, or maybe even Martone if he falls. All just as good options in my opinion but it falls off pretty hard after that.
Victor Eklund please and thank you.

I've really liked him the past two seasons.

But his teammate Frondell has been coming on REAL strong over the second half of the season and he was the player topping the Swedish ranks heading into the season.
 
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Can't like this enough. Kids gonna be a stud energy first line winger.

Eiserman-Ritchie-Eklund would go crazy. Got your automatic sniper, great playmaker and defensively responsible center, and a high energy and compete winger who scores and playmakes. Can't build a more balanced line than that.

Just gotta get into the top 8, so even if Eklund goes higher we'd get one of Desnoyers, Mcqueen, or maybe even Martone if he falls. All just as good options in my opinion but it falls off pretty hard after that.

Biggest problem is Eklund weighs about 160lbs, can his style hold up? I'd love to add Frondell instead. 6' 200lbs and not yet 18 years old and a natural center.

Frondell
Ritchie
D Nelson

No center issues for years if that hits.
 
Hard to imagine NYI dropping in the standings too much - none of the teams who below them seem likely to do much better. They're 9th in points percentage, and imo they might drop to #8, but hard to imagine them going any lower than that unless they install Skarek as the starting goalie.
We could definitely go lower than 8th. Pitt, phi, ducks and Seattle all have a realistic chance of passing us. I would bet on us finishing with the 5-6 overall pick. This team is not very good and will not score many goals in the last 18 games.
 
Biggest problem is Eklund weighs about 160lbs, can his style hold up? I'd love to add Frondell instead. 6' 200lbs and not yet 18 years old and a natural center.

Frondell
Ritchie
D Nelson

No center issues for years if that hits.
Yea I’d agree that I’d pick Frondell over Eklund but I think we’ll be picking 7-8 and Frondell mostly goes 3-5. I don’t really see a way we get him unless we absolutely stink it up the rest of the wya which is possible.
Was just saying that getting into that 7-8 to get Eklund should be a priority/necessity.
 
For the draft folks, I saw some chatter a few weeks ago that the Rangers made their first round pick trade Top 13 protected because there was a clear top 13 and then a steep falloff after that.

Does that align with your opinions?
 
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How does the draft lotto work? i stopped paying attention since the Islanders made the playoffs but I believe you can only pick first if you bottom 10?

ETA

I found it

As a result of Draft Lottery rule changes made effective in 2021, a team may only move up a maximum of 10 spots from their finishing position. That means only the bottom 11 teams have a shot at the No. 1 overall pick.

So we still have a shot at like top 2 or 3 if we move on down a few spots
 
top of the draft seems to fluctuate a fair bit - sounds like Hagens is falling a bit and Frondell rising. Might see Hagens drop to 5 or 6
 
How does the draft lotto work? i stopped paying attention since the Islanders made the playoffs but I believe you can only pick first if you bottom 10?

ETA

I found it

As a result of Draft Lottery rule changes made effective in 2021, a team may only move up a maximum of 10 spots from their finishing position. That means only the bottom 11 teams have a shot at the No. 1 overall pick.

So we still have a shot at like top 2 or 3 if we move on down a few spots
We're going to end up 15th, win the lottery, and at #5 we'll take late-riser Nino Dal Strome. Book it.
 
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We're going to end up 15th, win the lottery, and at #5 we'll take late-riser Nino Dal Strome. Book it.
I’ve been watching his cousin , might be a late riser as well , out of Alaska-Massapequa Griff Chyzowski…

I wonder what happens when Canada puts a tariff on drafted to USA based teams
 
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The Kraken and Ducks are playing pretty good hockey lately and would love to see them move past us. Rooting for wins for the Sabres, Bruins, Flyers, and Pens. TBH, hoping for an entertaining games against the Pens and see improvement on special teams, d pairings, and individual growth for players like Tysp, Holmstrom, Duke, Reilly whatever the result is.
 
I’m actually excited for this draft. Feel like we have a really good chance to add a good top end Talented prospect to Ritchie and Eiserman.

Also, people are already going crazy for the 2026 and 2027 drafts which are stacked but I feel like this draft you can find talent after the first round.
 
Hagens story would be something as a backdrop to the JT saga
It's unreal this team could have had a legit chance at picking this homegrown game changing prospect if Lou did the right thing and sell, but no now we are scrambling to fight for that 8th seed so we can have another early exit, or in all likely just miss out and get a 16th pick
 

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