2025 NHL DRAFT

[herzausstein]

I think on a list like the above, we're going to find that half of those top listed players - the 9F and 2D - simply won't stick in the NHL at all. The way we develop players. Sure, today we perceive upside as you all have listed.

I won't be surprised if we end up getting only about 3 F and just 1 D out of that group, however. Even while not disagreeing with the upsides mentioned as of today. We're just that bad at developing players at the top level.

I feel alot better about the dmen making the NHL than the forwards tbh. We can find bottom 6 anywhere is a Trotz theme and odds are we will continue to bring in vets like Jankowski, McCarron, Smith, and Sissons which will limit roster spots for the bottom 6 players. Gibson, Molendyk, and Chystyakov all have NHL toolkits and we usually do better with defenseman than forwards. We haven't exactly produced alot of top 6 forwards with our drafting and development.

I can see a few outright busting: Wood (skating), Kemell (shot not translating), Fink (size), Edstrom (a former VGK pick and we haven't had luck with them), etc. Hopefully we get more hits then misses but even with mid round 1sts you'll end up with quite a few misses. Only a couple of our prospects were taken in the mid teens. Most of them were after 20th overall where it is even more of a crapshoot.

 

[PredsV82]

It is a “2 way” Center that Trotz always wants one that can play Defense and chip in 40 points a season

 

[hockey diva]

Does Trotz and company even watch other games? The league has changed. It’s about speed and scoring, not being “hard to play against”. I feel like we are stuck in a mindset that went out a decade ago.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Does Trotz and company even watch other games? The league has changed. It’s about speed and scoring, not being “hard to play against”. I feel like we are stuck in a mindset that went out a decade ago.

Not to defend Trotz, but disagree. Speed is important but insufficient. Florida just won Cup with “hard to play against”. How fast is Vegas who won year prior? Playoffs are a grind. You need speed and skill, but you need to be physical too.

 

[BigFatCat999]

Oh, Craig Button did a Mock draft and Hagens is down to 6th

 

[Scoresberg]

Oh, Craig Button did a Mock draft and Hagens is down to 6th

Button's list is not the only list I've seen Hagens dropping. Desnoyers seems to gaining more and more momentum as we head towards the draft and could really rocket his ranking with a dominant U18 performance. When you think about it, Hagens is actually one candidate I could see dropping as NHL scouts (especially ours) love to OVERVALUE the U18 performances.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Button's list is not the only list I've seen Hagens dropping. Desnoyers seems to gaining more and more momentum as we head towards the draft and could really rocket his ranking with a dominant U18 performance. When you think about it, Hagens is actually one candidate I could see dropping as NHL scouts (especially ours) love to OVERVALUE the U18 performances.

Moncton was 53-9-2 with a 294-144 goal differential this year and are ranked #1 in the CHL. Upsets do happen, but I think nobody is expecting Desnoyers to play in the U18 this season either.

 

[Scoresberg]

Moncton was 53-9-2 with a 294-144 goal differential this year and are ranked #1 in the CHL. Upsets do happen, but I think nobody is expecting Desnoyers to play in the U18 this season either.

You are actually right. How long do the QMJHL playoffs go for?

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

You are actually right. How long do the QMJHL playoffs go for?

Well the Memorial Cup starts May 22, so they go for "pretty close to that" anyway.

 

[herzausstein]

I really don't think we can gain so many places that we dont end up with one of Hagens, Desnoyers, Misa, Frondell, or McQueen. I have my preferences but I think I'll end up ok with any of em.

 

[Scoresberg]

Philly making a coaching change 9 games before their end of the season. Hopefully, they'll get a boost from the change here and stay above us in the standings.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

I really don't think we can gain so many places that we dont end up with one of Hagens, Desnoyers, Misa, Frondell, or McQueen. I have my preferences but I think I'll end up ok with any of em.

Unless Trotz trades the pick for Brayden Schenn...

 

[ILikeItILoveIt]

Does Trotz and company even watch other games? The league has changed. It’s about speed and scoring, not being “hard to play against”. I feel like we are stuck in a mindset that went out a decade ago.

We should redefine Hard-to-play-against. A new definition = the guy flies by you and scores.

 

[triggrman]

You can have physical players that have skill and power. We just don't.

 

[Gnashville]

I get a feeling this is going to be reminiscent of the Seth Jones draft. We pick 4th/5th thinking we will get a franchise changing Center and we end up with Schaefer

 

[Kat Predator]

The good thing is that the pen ink plan has left us really needing defensemen with talent (and who are taller than 4') as well.

 

[Soundgarden]

I get a feeling this is going to be reminiscent of the Seth Jones draft. We pick 4th/5th thinking we will get a franchise changing Center and we end up with Schaefer

At that point take him, he's ranked 1st and won't drop to us. We need talent at every position at this point.

I'm more afraid of winning out of a spot to draft someone good.

 

[hockey diva]

At that point take him, he's ranked 1st and won't drop to us. We need talent at every position at this point.

I'm more afraid of winning out of a spot to draft someone good.

It's such a Perd thing to do.

 

[triggrman]

With Josi on a vacation far away do we need to draft a defenseman?

 

[Kat Predator]

With Josi on a vacation far away do we need to draft a defenseman?

Whoever we draft, just hope that Barry likes the kid. Otherwise he'll be passing through here like a bullet train.

 

[Soundgarden]

We need to draft a defenseman anyway, but we do have 4 other top 60 picks.

 

[Scoresberg]

The good thing is that the pen ink plan has left us really needing defensemen with talent (and who are taller than 4') as well.

This. I mean people like Statsney and he IS a good skater but tiny. Last night I watched him having a race with Holloway where they were both equally fast but Holloway muscled him off the puck and took it to the net. He had, what, 2-3 inches and 20 lbs on Statsney? And he was just as fast.

The point is there are players who are bigger AND fast. They don't always have to be small which is what our organization seems to think.

 

[herzausstein]

Center with 1st pick
Dmen with atleast one of the other first round picks. Fiddler is a big RD. Also wouldn't be upset with another center like Ryabkin.

Grab a goalie in the 2nd and more defenseman. Then best of what's left.

Or we try and package some 2nds to move up our later 1st.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Center with 1st pick
Dmen with atleast one of the other first round picks. Fiddler is a big RD. Also wouldn't be upset with another center like Ryabkin.

Grab a goalie in the 2nd and more defenseman. Then best of what's left.

Or we try and package some 2nds to move up our later 1st.

I think this is the right draft to make it all about taking the 1C hopeful with our 1st pick. Even if we win the lottery! Yes, Schaefer is ranked #1. But he's not like some slam-dunk generational 1OA guy either. He has risen to the top in a relative weaker draft year, but I don't think the accolades are pouring in for him to be the next Bobby Orr. We really need the 1C.

Imagine Schaefer is going to be the next... who?... Ryan Suter? Roman Josi even? Maybe an occasional Norris Trophy candidate? A Pietrangelo/Morrissey/McAvoy level of player? That's really good. But... I'm still willing to roll the dice on the 1C. You can go ahead and argue those kinds of non-generational #1D are more important than a non-franchise-superstar more generic 1C. But given our history and our ability to draft good D in later rounds, I'm taking the shot at the potential 1C guy no matter what.

 

[Kat Predator]