Confirmed with Link: 2025 NHL DRAFT Thread: The Isles Have Won the 2025 Draft Lottery

[seafoam]

Never a fan of drafting a goalie that high.

It wouldn’t be my first choice with a second 1st rounder, but Ravensbergen is very athletic for his size and technically sound already.

His body control for a 6’5” 18 year old is very tight, akin to Sorokin when his game is really on.

 

[NC 1972]

Just throwing this out there, my first time visiting Tankathon this year and sure enough one shot and we win the lottery.

 

[xECK29x]

It wouldn’t be my first choice with a second 1st rounder, but Ravensbergen is very athletic for his size and technically sound already.

His body control for a 6’5” 18 year old is very tight, akin to Sorokin when his game is really on.

its one of the weakest goalie drafts I've seen in a while, just based on draft round ups, I don't think he sniffs even the 2nd round.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

I don't hate our draft class on lines.com right now, some great value in later rounds with Radivojevic and Pobezal that late.

2025 NHL Mock Draft | NHL Draft Rounds - Lines.com

Full round 2025 NHL mock draft projections, with trades and compensatory picks based on weekly team projections and college and amateur player rankings.

www.lines.com

Kashawn Aitcheson (would swap with Jake O'Brien or Mrtka personally)
Jakob Ihs Wozniak
Max Psenicka
Anthony Allain-Samaké
Tomas Pobezal
Luka Radivojevic
Roope Vesterinen

I took a look at this and based on the NYI results given there, here's what I think any sane staff would do in light of the options left on the board...

1st) I do not see Aitcheson going before either of O'Brien or Mrtka. Particularly the Isles could use either of those prospects more than Aitcheson.

2nd) This is definitely the right pick here. Granted, they have Boumedienne going 49th and if you're taking O'Brien 10th, you might want to consider the solid Dman here. Being a pureblood frosh at BU this season, the Isles' current staff know him well. But Ihs-Wozniak looks like a goal-scorer and is good in traffic.

3rd) The pick really isn't half bad. Just fine at that spot. But if you have a shot at Nestrasil - everyone's favorite USHL riser - you gotta grab him. Tough, mean, and increasingly potent offensively throughout the winter. He's headed to the NCAA next season:

4th) This is where you start going for the risks you like and the needs your system may have. But I clearly go for Zharovsky, Gorzynski, or Westergard here - and admittedly, without thinking twice on any of them.

5th) Pobezal is a very good pick at this spot. I'd probably pick him there myself. He's long been considered Slovakia's top man for this draft and put up 15 goals this winter in Slovakia's top men's league. IF I were to desire a Dman here though, then Hallquisth would be the guy. Tall, strong (not heavy, just strong), mean, a righty shot, and very well thought of in Sweden. Will likely be in the SHL next season.

Then again, I'd have a hard time skipping over Mooney:

6th) Radivojevic in the 5th is just fine. He has his detractors but has been a minute-muncher for SVK internationally at all phases. His USHL play showed us where he's at. Heading to BC. One to watch. This said, I think the Czech goaltender out in Portland may be the top goalie outside of Ravensbergen and overager Rimpinen. Would be worth considering:

7th) Vesterinen is a smaller overager who spent the season in the Finnish Liiga, putting up 25 points in 49 games. Really not bad for an 18/19-year-old. Not bad at all. BUT... Katzin is a first line winger for Team Canada right now at the U18 Worlds and has looked fantastic. And Griffin (it's misspelled below) not only had a fine season with Oshawa (51 points in 62 games), but it aboslutely killing it in the playoffs (12-9-21 in 14 games) while being thrown out on the ice for every situation imaginable. You want a jack-of-all-trades with untapped offensive upside - he's your guy!

SIDENOTE:
I basically just looked at the picks shortly after the ones they made for us. All in all, tons of potential to have a fine draft.

 

[xECK29x]

Stebetak coud be a guy that moves up a few rounds in a poor goalie draft if he does well at the U18, he is the slated starter for Czechia.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Stebetak coud be a guy that moves up a few rounds in a poor goalie draft if he does well at the U18, he is the slated starter for Czechia.

He's not at the U18 Worlds. Psenicka isn't either.

Their Portland Winterhawks won Game 7 in the WHL playoffs on the first day of the Worlds and he's currently down 2-0 in the series against Spokane.

They won't make it at all to this tourney. They were supposed to have key roles.

 

[xECK29x]

He's not at the U18 Worlds. Psenicka isn't either.

Their Portland Winterhawks won Game 7 in the WHL playoffs on the first day of the Worlds and he's currently down 2-0 in the series against Spokane.

They won't make it at all to this tourney. They were supposed to have key roles.

Not according to EP:

Meet the Team: Czechia's 2025 Under-18 World Hockey Championship roster

Honza Zoufal breaks down the Czechia roster for the 2025 Under-18 World Championships.

www.eliteprospects.com

Ondřej Štěbeták, G, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

Ondrej Stebetak was one of the main reasons why Czechia reached the Hlinka Gretzky Cup final, as he shut the net with a 94.7 save percentage. Upon his arrival in Portland, he immediately became the team's number one goalie. He should be the team's number one in this tournament as well.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Not according to EP:

Meet the Team: Czechia's 2025 Under-18 World Hockey Championship roster

Honza Zoufal breaks down the Czechia roster for the 2025 Under-18 World Championships.

www.eliteprospects.com

Ondřej Štěbeták, G, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

Ondrej Stebetak was one of the main reasons why Czechia reached the Hlinka Gretzky Cup final, as he shut the net with a 94.7 save percentage. Upon his arrival in Portland, he immediately became the team's number one goalie. He should be the team's number one in this tournament as well.

What the heck are you talking about?

Stebetak and Psenicka are in Portland right now. They have not seen a minute of U18 Worlds action.

Aside from viewing the game sheets at the IIHF site for the tournament, you can view this quite easily right at Eliteprospects, which naturally brings us EP Rinkside.

Here's Stebetak:

***
Every outlet that wrote previews (as in, BEFORE the tournament) for these teams mentioned the key players who were expected to be there and would, if there, play chief roles.

Every outlet knew that a number of the players are still active for their various pro or junior teams. That doesn't deviate from mentioning them.

Here's the McKeen's "Players to watch" write-up for Stebetak:

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

 

[xECK29x]

What the heck are you talking about?

Stebetak and Psenicka are in Portland right now. They have not seen a minute of U18 Worlds action.

Aside from viewing the game sheets at the IIHF site for the tournament, you can view this quite easily right at Eliteprospects, which naturally brings us EP Rinkside.

Here's Stebetak:
View attachment 1026231
View attachment 1026233

***
Every outlet that wrote previews (as in, BEFORE the tournament) for these teams mentioned the key players who were expected to be there and would, if there, play chief roles.

Every outlet knew that a number of the players are still active for their various pro or junior teams. That doesn't deviate from mentioning them.

Here's the McKeen's "Players to watch" write-up for Stebetak:
View attachment 1026235

You are right I’m way wrong, for some reason I thought the tournament started next week.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

You are right I’m way wrong, for some reason I thought the tournament started next week.

Well, the Czechs sure do wish Stebetak and Psenicka were there. They've not been the same without them, having finished 4th in the group.

 

[doublechili]

Any thoughts on Ben Kindel? Has a good enough toolbox (while lacking great size), but seems to be a really intelligent player with vision and sense. He's the kind of guy teams will refuse to take in the top 10 or 15 and then will end up being a really good NHL player. FWIW, both of his parents played professional soccer and were on the Canadian national team, and he was a high end soccer player himself. A few things about that. Kids who have 2 parents as elite athletes seems like a good thing (worked for Chara, among others). Kindel played at the national level in soccer for Canada as late as 2022, so whatever development you see with him in hockey is the result of him splitting time between two sports at an elite level (kind of an Anders Lee situation there). Finally, he played attacking midfielder in soccer, which is the position in soccer that probably demands the highest on field intelligence/sense/creativity/vision. IDK where he's slated to go, but if they decide to trade back a bit he could be a good option.

[edit - actually now seeing some things saying he could be a riser and potentially a top 15 pick - so maybe he's a consideration at 10? He seems like a guy who might need a couple of years to develop and get strength, but then you could have a Suzuki]

How Ben Kindel, through soccer and sense, has become a top 2025 NHL Draft prospect

As a 17-year-old, Kindel registered 43 goals and 114 points in 76 games for the Calgary Hitmen this season.

www.nytimes.com

 

[scott99]

Brady Martin is having a great U18s, I think he goes top 10 now, maybe before the Isles pick, but he would be a great pick for the Isles.

 

[Konk]

Brady Martin is having a great U18s, I think he goes top 10 now, maybe before the Isles pick, but he would be a great pick for the Isles.

I've been trying to tell ya'll!

I wouldn't hesitate to take him above O'Brien, Aitcheson, Smith, Lakovic, etc.

 

[seafoam]

I've been trying to tell ya'll!

I wouldn't hesitate to take him above O'Brien, Aitcheson, Smith, Lakovic, etc.

He’s a better prospect than all of those players and it’s been that way for months.

 

[Konk]

He’s a better prospect than all of those players and it’s been that way for months.

It's been like that since day one, but O'Brien got a boost being on a more loaded team and piling on PP assists. I figured if Martin got a bigger stage like this he would finally get his due.

Hopefully someone takes O'Brien first. I'd rather have the farm boy who plays like a pitbull than the pink pony girl.

 

[seafoam]

It's been like that since day one, but O'Brien got a boost being on a more loaded team and piling on PP assists. I figured if Martin got a bigger stage like this he would finally get his due.

Hopefully someone takes O'Brien first. I'd rather have the farm boy who plays like a pitbull than the pink pony girl.

O’Brien reminds me of Ryan Johansen and not in a good way.

 

[doublechili]

Any thoughts on Ben Kindel? Has a good enough toolbox (while lacking great size), but seems to be a really intelligent player with vision and sense. He's the kind of guy teams will refuse to take in the top 10 or 15 and then will end up being a really good NHL player. FWIW, both of his parents played professional soccer and were on the Canadian national team, and he was a high end soccer player himself. A few things about that. Kids who have 2 parents as elite athletes seems like a good thing (worked for Chara, among others). Kindel played at the national level in soccer for Canada as late as 2022, so whatever development you see with him in hockey is the result of him splitting time between two sports at an elite level (kind of an Anders Lee situation there). Finally, he played attacking midfielder in soccer, which is the position in soccer that probably demands the highest on field intelligence/sense/creativity/vision. IDK where he's slated to go, but if they decide to trade back a bit he could be a good option.

[edit - actually now seeing some things saying he could be a riser and potentially a top 15 pick - so maybe he's a consideration at 10? He seems like a guy who might need a couple of years to develop and get strength, but then you could have a Suzuki]

How Ben Kindel, through soccer and sense, has become a top 2025 NHL Draft prospect

As a 17-year-old, Kindel registered 43 goals and 114 points in 76 games for the Calgary Hitmen this season.

www.nytimes.com

Just thinking more about Kindel. It's amazing to me that this kid was on Canadian national teams in two different sports. And it's not like he was a sprinter and a wide receiver, or some other related thing. To split time between two very different sports like hockey and soccer and play at an elite level and be selected for a national team in both is just insane. Now that this kid is focusing 100% on hockey, including in his training, diet, etc., I'll bet he ends up being a really good pro. Watch him drop and some team like TBL takes him and he turns into another Brayden Point....

 

[SI]

Brady Martin is having a great U18s, I think he goes top 10 now, maybe before the Isles pick, but he would be a great pick for the Isles.

How much stock can you put in this tournament? Many top potential picks do not play in this tournament.

I like what I have read about Jake O'Brien - what are the thoughts of posters who follow this a bit more? Is he a top 10 talent? If the first 9 go as they do, Scahefer, Hagens, Misa, Frondell, Mortone, Eklund, Desnoyers, McQueen, Smith... who do guys like?

I did see Cole Reschny play in Victoria this winter - he had a nice game, 3 points against a very bad Kamloops team. Nice player, not sure I would be too excited. I would like t

 

[GM4Hire]

Martin looks like a good player but I see more of a passer , energy guy. Never seen Cizikas when he was that age but reminds me of him.
He certainly should go before Jackson Smith , who I don’t see much from in this U18 tournament.

 

[Konk]

How much stock can you put in this tournament? Many top potential picks do not play in this tournament.

It's not just this one tournament, as Martin's played extremely well all year long in the OHL, albeit on a weak team. Martin's game is a known commodity, so it's not so much a coming out party at the U18s, as it is a chance to see how much more his game can be elevated when he's playing with other skilled players. His performance at the U18s indicates perhaps there's more skill and hockey sense than some have given him credit for.

So like you normally would, take the complete year's performance into consideration and it helps complete the picture a bit more clearly. The U18s are a piece of that.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Just thinking more about Kindel. It's amazing to me that this kid was on Canadian national teams in two different sports. And it's not like he was a sprinter and a wide receiver, or some other related thing. To split time between two very different sports like hockey and soccer and play at an elite level and be selected for a national team in both is just insane. Now that this kid is focusing 100% on hockey, including in his training, diet, etc., I'll bet he ends up being a really good pro. Watch him drop and some team like TBL takes him and he turns into another Brayden Point....

I've been imagining a blockbuster deal in which our 1st, Dobson, and Duclair would be moved to Montreal for Newhook, Mailloux, Filip Eriksson, and picks 16, 17, and 49.

And it's exactly because I've thought that with those midround firsts, you can grab two of Reschny, Cootes, Potter, or yes, Kindel.

Your point on his background is VERY interesting.

It is pretty amazing that, despite average size and skating, a player who put up 99 points in the Dub in his draft year is widely being talked about as a pick outside of the top 18.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

How much stock can you put in this tournament? Many top potential picks do not play in this tournament.

The scouting community puts a huge amount of stock into this tournament.

It doesn't always include the absolute top guys but it does always include a number of 1st round topics, so those who perform here often see their profile boosted.

This tourney definitely means a lot for players who tend to go in the the mid-to-late rounds.

Guys like Potter, Looney, Reschny, Boumedienne, Ekberg, and yes, Martin, are liking seeing a bump up in their projected draft spots.

I like what I have read about Jake O'Brien - what are the thoughts of posters who follow this a bit more? Is he a top 10 talent? If the first 9 go as they do, Scahefer, Hagens, Misa, Frondell, Mortone, Eklund, Desnoyers, McQueen, Smith... who do guys like?

I do not see Smith as a top 9 player for anyone.

McQueen is the candidate in that grouping who is most likely to drop.

Amazing though that the #1 overall guy is likely going to be a player who hasn't played since the WJC.

I did see Cole Reschny play in Victoria this winter - he had a nice game, 3 points against a very bad Kamloops team. Nice player, not sure I would be too excited. I would like t

This is one of the most offensively capable prospects at the U18 Worlds and has been one of the top prospects whatsoever since 2025 started.

He also made noise at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer.

We keep understanding him as small, but he is 5'10" and 187 lbs. That size is of no concern.

Button has him at 11 (that's the highest I've seen him) and I'm thinking he's got a good feel for this one.

 

[doublechili]

I've been imagining a blockbuster deal in which our 1st, Dobson, and Duclair would be moved to Montreal for Newhook, Mailloux, Filip Eriksson, and picks 16, 17, and 49.

And it's exactly because I've thought that with those midrounders, you can grab two of Reschny, Cootes, Potter, or yes, Kindel.

Your point on his background is VERY interesting.

It is pretty amazing that, despite average size and skating, a player who put up 99 points in the Dub in his draft year is widely being talked about as a pick outside of the top 18.

I like that strategy (trade down) and your MTL deal.

Kindel also had 8g - 7a - 15pts in 11 playoff games, BTW.

 

[MJF]

So, who do we like at 10 when we don't get a dented ping pong ball?