2025 NHL Entry Draft Thread

[King'sPawn]

While the regular season may not have started yet, there are already discussions of how the season will end. Might as well talk about what happens after that: the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

The season has already started. Back in August, there was the Hlinka Gretzky tournament, which is where all players who are draft eligible (or younger) compete Internationally.

Currently, the Kings have a 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th round picks.

I figured the first player I'd do a video on is Adam Benak. He's small at 5-foot-7, but he's very high-skilled. Speaking of the Hlinka Gretzky tournament, he actually has the all-time lead in scoring this tournament. Granted, he has played more games, but he's still tied for 9th all-time in points-per-game.

There aren't a lot of preliminary rankings at the moment. He may fall mid-to late first round due to his size.



Anyway, if there are 2025 draft prospects to talk about. We can make it this thread!

Click to read more...

 

[Mcsorley47]

Who will the Kings draft this year?

Kashawn Aitcheson.

You’re welcome!

While the regular season may not have started yet, there are already discussions of how the season will end. Might as well talk about what happens after that: the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

The season has already started. Back in August, there was the Hlinka Gretzky tournament, which is where all players who are draft eligible (or younger) compete Internationally.

Currently, the Kings have a 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th round picks.

I figured the first player I'd do a video on is Adam Benak. He's small at 5-foot-7, but he's very high-skilled. Speaking of the Hlinka Gretzky tournament, he actually has the all-time lead in scoring this tournament. Granted, he has played more games, but he's still tied for 9th all-time in points-per-game.

There aren't a lot of preliminary rankings at the moment. He may fall mid-to late first round due to his size.



Anyway, if there are 2025 draft prospects to talk about. We can make it this thread!

I saw 5’7 and stopped reading.

I think the organization has finally gone a different direction.

 

[Faterson]

there are already discussions of how the season will end. Might as well talk about what happens after that: the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

Jesus! I guess I should start preparing for Christmas 2025, then.

I dunno... Czechs & the Kings don't seem to be a good match. Even worse than Russians & the Kings. Have there ever been any notable Czechs on the Kings? Frk & Čechmánek come to mind. See? Ah, yes... Modrý. I wish Dvořák would reverse the trend.

 

[King'sPawn]

Jesus! I guess I should start preparing for Christmas 2025, then.

I dunno... Czechs & the Kings don't seem to be a good match. Even worse than Russians & the Kings. Have there ever been any notable Czechs on the Kings? Frk & Čechmánek come to mind. See? Ah, yes... Modrý. I wish Dvořák would reverse the trend.

I still think Cechmanek dropped the ball for not legally changing his name to Czechmanek.

I looked it up because I was interested after you brought it up. It's interesting - LA has had only 18 Czech born players all time play for them. They actually have one on the roster now: David Rittich

The other 17
Roman Cechmanek
Milan Hnlincka
Jaroslav Bednar
Martin Frk
Frantisek Kaberle
Petr Kanko
Peter Klima
Robert Lang
Jaroslav Modry
Jan Nemecek
Petr Prajzler
Pavel Rosa
Martin Straka
Tomas Vlasak
Jan Vopat
Roman Vopat
Tomas Zizka

They have also drafted the following Czech-born players (some overlap of the above list):
Jakub Dvorak
Lukas Parik
Patrik Bartosak
Dominik Kubalik
Tomas Hyka
Petr Kanko
Jaroslav Bednar
Frantisek Kaberle
Tomas Zizka
Pavel Rosa
Jan Nemecek
Tomas Vlasak
Robert Lang
Martin Maskarinec
Rostislav Vlach
Petr Prajsler
Jan Blaha

So yeah, 18 all time doesn't seem like much. But there have also been only 259 Czech born players in the entire NHL all time play at least one NHL game (235 skaters, 24 goalies). It's just not a huge pool.

Obviously Benak is just one player and there are hundreds of draft eligibles. I'm not going to make a huge case for any player at this point. I just think, relative to the rest of the league, the Kings have had a normal share of Czech born players.

But it's also why I start on these threads early if I can. There's a lot to cover

 

[Faterson]

I just think, relative to the rest of the league, the Kings have had a normal share of Czech born players.

Well, I just find it interesting that Slovakia, being half the size of Czechia, has delivered so many notable players for the Kings, while the Czechs have basically delivered none. (I became a Kings fan when Pálffy, Stümpel & Višňovský were playing here.)

The other 17

Some of them are household names over here (Straka, Lang, Kaberle – he also had a famous father), but as you'd admit, no one would associate them with being Kings players.

They actually have one on the roster now: David Rittich

I know, but he's only been here one year as a backup.

I had high hopes for Frk, but nothing came out of it.

Not to mention the Kubalík & Bartošák fiascos.

It's weird how Pařík evaporated out of the Kings' goalie system after being so highly touted.

There just isn't much there to talk about when it comes to Czechs & the Kings.

(One name is jumbled up in your list: it's Milan Hnilička.)

I still think Cechmanek dropped the ball for not legally changing his name to Czechmanek.

Not really, because that's exactly how Czech is spelled in original Czech: Čech = Czech, and he's Čechmánek. RIP, anyway.

 

[johnjm22]

I just hope we actually have our 1st round pick.

 

[Fat Elvis]

A buddy was lucky enough to win Jan Nemecek's jersey way back in the day. Was sandwiched between Rosa and Luc.

 

[King'sPawn]

Made a video on Jackson Smith. He's a 6-foot-3 left-shot defenseman. He plays on the WHL's Tri-City Americans and played for Team Canada in the Hlinka Gretzky Tournament. He's tied on the team lead with 4 points in 2 games so far this season.

This was his game against Slovakia back in August.

 

[King'sPawn]

Here is a video discussing Bob McKenzie's top-20 draft-eligible prospects list (preliminary edition):



Here is the article itself: James Hagens in pole position for top spot at 2025 NHL Draft | TSN

 

[kovacro]

Craig’s List: James Hagens the early favourite for No. 1 in 2025 NHL Draft | TSN

James Hagens could be the first American to go first overall in the NHL draft since the New Jersey Devils selected Jack Hughes with the top pick in 2019.

www.tsn.ca

 

[SaltyElkHunter]

Top 7 pick!!! McQueen or bust!!!

 

[kilowatt]

Well I guess we can be excited for a potential top 10 pick unless some things go REALLY right for us this year

 

[King'sPawn]

Sascha Boumedienne, a 6-foot-2 two-way defenseman. He has played in the United States for the past few years and is committed to Boston University this year (so he'll be teammates with Jack Hughes). However, in international play, he represents Team Sweden. Here he is playing against Team USA in the bronze medal game for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup

 

[King'sPawn]

Just to track a few players I've made video on:
Adam Benak has 5 points (2 G, 3 A) in 5 games in the USHL.
Jackson Smith has 4 [pomts (0 G, 4 A) in 3 WHL games.
Sascha Boumedienne's regular season with BU starts on 5 October in the NCAA (as he's teammates with Jack Hughes).

Again, it will be much harder to narrow down players the Kings are likely to pick with the season not started yet, but I'm kind of trying to go through a variety of different players.

So far I've went with a smaller, skilled guy (Benak), and a couple offensive defenseman.

I don't know if anyone is particularly interested in any prospects that you'd want me to consider making video on (assuming I can get footage). I saw Aitcheson, and I believe he's more of a physical defender. If you think the Kings will go nuts with goaltending, there's Ziemmer's teammate from Prince George, Joshua Ravensbergen. Basically my weekend involves me getting up every 2.5 hours to record games in Europe, and I try to record CHL games during the day. So, I have quite a bit of coverage.

Of course, this also assumes the game I record actually has the player playing. There have been multiple times in the past where, by chance, the player was promoted/demoted to another league for one or two games and I didn't get it.

 

[KingsOfCali25]

Bumping this after the start of the season lol

 

[AnThGrt]

This draft is not 2023 level at the top, but some real nice names in the top 5-10. Do not think we will be that bad, but getting a top 5 in this draft would be nice.

 

[King'sPawn]

Sorry for the delay in making videos. Since he was mentioned earlier in the thread, and I was interested in some of the numbers, I made a video on Kashawn Aitcheson

Here's my video of him:


A few superficial things I'll point out. I'm sure I'll write a lot more in MM about him later this year, but:
- He's already wearing a letter
- This is a relatively long video (28+ minutes). Granted, I added pauses, but he eats up a lot of minutes
- He's playing in all situations (even strength, penalty kill, powerplay, etc)
- Despite his high PIM count, he doesn't seem to be terribly undisciplined. I captured the very end of the game where he unloads on Porter Martone at the end.

Of course, I'm welcome to suggestions. Of Elite Prospects' top 100 consolidated rankings (Elite Prospects - NHL Draft Center CONSOLIDATED RANKING TOP 32), I know I have at least 68 (I recorded some more video and haven't revised my list yet).

This is who I have from the top 100 list:
Porter Martone (RW)
Matthew Schaefer (D)
Michael Misa (C/LW)
Ivan Ryabkin (C)
Logan Hensler (D)
Caleb Desnoyers (C)
Cole Reschny (F)
Sascha Boumedienne (D)
Jake O'Brien (C)
Kashawn Aitcheson (D)
Émile Guité (LW)
Radim Mrtka (D)
Jackson Smith (D)
Cameron Schmidt (RW)
Adam Benák (C)
Luka Radivojevic (D)
Jakob Ihs-Wozniak (F)
Lynden Lakovic (F)
Justin Carbonneau (RW)
Reese Hamilton (D)
Brady Martin (C)
Braeden Cootes (C)
Milton Gästrin (C/LW)
Bill Zonnon (LW)
Cullen Potter (LW)
Cameron Reid (D)
Viktor Klingsell (LW)
Benjamin Kindel (RW)
Artyom Vilchinsky (D)
Blake Fiddler (D)
Jack Ivankovic (G)
Benjamin Kevan (F)
Jesper Kotajärvi (D)
Owen Conrad (D)
Zachary Morin (LW)
Love Härenstam (G)
Melvin Novotny (F)
Max Westergård (F)
Oscar Davidsson (LW)
Alex Huang (D)
Jan Chovan (C)
Carter Bear (C/LW)
Vít Záhejský (C/RW)
Karl Annborn (D)
Edison Engle (D)
Nathan Behm (LW/RW)
Tomas Poletin (LW)
Luca Romano (C)
Sam Spehar (F)
Eric Nilson (C)
Aiden Lane (RW)
Malte Vass (D)
Lev Katzin (C)
Chase Jette (F)
Kale Dach {C}
Cooper Simpson (F)
Oliwer Sjöström (D)
Isak Sörqvist (G)
Michal Svrcek (C)
Tyler Hopkins (C)
Nicolas Sykora (F)
Tanner Lam (RW)
Matthew Lansing (C)
Dominik Pavlík (C)
Andreas Straka (C)
Quinn Beauchesne (D)
Arvid Drott (RW)
Carter Murphy (D)

 

[Peter James Bond III]

This draft is not 2023 level at the top, but some real nice names in the top 5-10. Do not think we will be that bad, but getting a top 5 in this draft would be nice.

Especially with the draft being in LA.

KP - thanks for Aitcheson video and your list.
I’m hoping the Kings get a top defensemen in round 1, unless they clearly have a forward they like better. Kings don’t really have any top 4 defensemen in the system. I suppose Woolley can emerge. Lots of upside.

 

[Herby]

I just saw the NTDP play this past weekend, and while it was only an exhibition, it sure seems like this is a down year for elite talent at the NTDP. William Moore (BC commit) was who I was told was the guy to watch, and he was the only guy that had the look of a guy who may go high (top 10) in the draft, but that may be more because of measurables and athletic ability. There certainly isn't anything resembling a Hughes, Caufield, Hagens or Cooley type talent in this group.

Some people told me that Charlie Tretheway (BU) is very good, even perhaps another Brock Faber, but I didn't feel like he had the strongest game vs Michigan. It is very difficult for me to project the type of game sense that Brock Faber has to any other player, one of the best in the defensive zone I've ever seen, and obviously the offense has been there too.

William Horcoff (Michigan), who's dad Shawn played in the NHL for a long time is going to be one of those project kids who somebody may take early, betting on the come. He is a big boy, with some nice bloodlines. He has to be around 6'5, its going to take some time for this one if it hits. He seems like somebody the Kings staff would be in to.

Going to Wisconsin/Minnesota game in two weeks, Minnesota is loaded with potential NHL talent but Wisconsin has the high-end 2025 guy in d-man Logan Hensler. But it's kind of been a disaster for the Badgers to start the year.

 

[King'sPawn]

I just saw the NTDP play this past weekend, and while it was only an exhibition, it sure seems like this is a down year for elite talent at the NTDP. William Moore (BC commit) was who I was told was the guy to watch, and he was the only guy that had the look of a guy who may go high (top 10) in the draft, but that may be more because of measurables and athletic ability. There certainly isn't anything resembling a Hughes, Caufield, Hagens or Cooley type talent in this group.

Some people told me that Charlie Tretheway (BU) is very good, even perhaps another Brock Faber, but I didn't feel like he had the strongest game vs Michigan. It is very difficult for me to project the type of game sense that Brock Faber has to any other player, one of the best in the defensive zone I've ever seen, and obviously the offense has been there too.

William Horcoff (Michigan), who's dad Shawn played in the NHL for a long time is going to be one of those project kids who somebody may take early, betting on the come. He is a big boy, with some nice bloodlines. He has to be around 6'5, its going to take some time for this one if it hits. He seems like somebody the Kings staff would be in to.

Going to Wisconsin/Minnesota game in two weeks, Minnesota is loaded with potential NHL talent but Wisconsin has the high-end 2025 guy in d-man Logan Hensler. But it's kind of been a disaster for the Badgers to start the year.

Thank you. I was interested in seeing the USNTDP, albeit with underwhelming numbers.

I did get some more footage of them playing. Maybe I'll look into making video of Moore or Trethaway. Not sure if they'll be immediately next though.

 

[Mcsorley47]

Especially with the draft being in LA.

KP - thanks for Aitcheson video and your list.
I’m hoping the Kings get a top defensemen in round 1, unless they clearly have a forward they like better. Kings don’t really have any top 4 defensemen in the system. I suppose Woolley can emerge. Lots

I'll touch on a few of these guys.

Aitcheson. Love him. Workhorse. But, he's not likely to be a first round prospect for us. I think he tops out as a solid #4-5 and I know the rest of my team feels the same way. In our next ranking, you're likely to see him in that 40-50 range, where I think he fits best.

If you watch Kashawns hockey fights, its shows you really who he is; their either caused by a hit or he goes after someone for hitting his guy.

Every team needs a guy like this and he'll be gone by 17-24 range.

 

[Mcsorley47]

That quote was from Brock Otten above.

Here are some of his fights - not sure if I'm allowed to post them, if not just tell me and I'll remove it.

Marc Boudreau vs. Kashawn Aitcheson, December 9, 2023 - Brampton Steelheads vs. Barrie Colts | HockeyFights - big hit

Nicholas DeAngelis vs. Kashawn Aitcheson, October 5, 2024 - Sudbury Wolves vs. Barrie Colts | HockeyFights

HockeyFights - Nicholas DeAngelis vs. Kashawn Aitcheson, October 5, 2024 - Sudbury Wolves vs. Barrie Colts

www.hockeyfights.com

Kashawn Aitcheson vs. Reed Gee, February 9, 2024 - Barrie Colts vs. Brampton Steelheads | HockeyFights

HockeyFights - Kashawn Aitcheson vs. Reed Gee, February 9, 2024 - Barrie Colts vs. Brampton Steelheads

www.hockeyfights.com

Nolan Collins vs. Kashawn Aitcheson, January 18, 2024 - Sudbury Wolves vs. Barrie Colts | HockeyFights - big hit

Kashawn Aitcheson vs. Daniil Sobolev, November 16, 2023 - Barrie Colts vs. Niagara IceDogs | HockeyFights

HockeyFights - Kashawn Aitcheson vs. Daniil Sobolev, November 16, 2023 - Barrie Colts vs. Niagara IceDogs

www.hockeyfights.com

 

[Schrute farms]

That Aitcheson kid has some fighting spunk -- seems to really like it and relishes the role.