2025 NHL Entry Draft Thread

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This thread was page 3 and pretty dormant for 3+ months. Add 3 months for now and it's June and draft time. We now know 1st rd pick survived the TDL....but, we're not out of the woods, if it will be dealt prior to the draft. Will go with that they are keeping it.

With the arrival of Kuzmenko and his first game today...loving the skill and ability to instantly make the PP look alive and a threat. Great puck possession and creating so many chances. Kuz didn't even have 1 practice?
Impressive. Hopefully he's on the scoresheet tomorrow in Vegas and Kings win.

Thinking with the reported Gavrikov long term extension close, there will be a Russian presence here for years, which is rare. If Kuzmenko does well, a chance he will sign...but hard to believe if they would qualify that 5.5M. Maybe they don't qualify and get him on a better cap. I like that he's playing for a contract and they are not on the hook for another 5.5.

That being said, was looking at rd 1 prospects and Russian Ivan Ryabkin is rated between 10 - 25, with a chance of slipping rd 2. I'd seriously look closely at taking him, if available. 6' 200 lbs, still 17. Turns 18 April 25. He started in the MHL this year, but came over to play in the USHL in Muskegan and has a ppg there, over 16 games. 50 pim. Think he was suspended for something. Last yr in the MHL, led his team with 58 pts in 44 games (breaking the record by Michkov!)....Igor Chernyshov (2nd rd 2024 Sharks) had 28 pts in 22 games with his team, last yr. So, I'm sure Ryabkin was heavily scouted and anticipated to be a 1st rd in '25. Chernyshov came over to OHL and has an INSANE 44 pts in 18 games! 17 goals 27 assists 44 pts. This surely must be the highest ppg in OHL....Greentree has 120 pts in 62 games. So, consider Ryabkin had more pts than Chernyshov last year and Chernyshov is now destroying the OHL. He was on my list, as rd 1 was going by and the Kings dealt 21 for 26...as players went off the board, I had Greentree, Chernyshov and EJ Emery. Glad the Kings took Greentree. Chernyshov would have been good too.

Ryabkin has immense skill and is patient with the puck...makes beautiful plays...has some power to his game. Great release and hands in tight. Can play W or C. I like that he's already in the USA...had size, strength, high end skills. He could join the Reign next year, as far as I know. With Gavy here several years, the possibility of Kuzmenko here, would love to add some more elite skill Russians.

It's been said he's considered 'divisive', in that he has some history with players and coaches.
I didn't see any specifics...but not going to dig into more than a few minutes of having looked for
what they were. I'm sure the Kings know and if he will not make the grade for a character guy.
If he doesn't pass, then fine. I like the idea of getting top end skill into the system and the sooner, the better. Didn't have any forward adds to AHl this year...except Jamsen and Pinelli last year.
I would think Kenny Connors signs and will be on the Reign next year...not sure about Jared Wright or Jack Hughes...both having poor seasons. Kaleb Lawrence is an ECHL / AHL tweener this year. Koehn Ziemmer should join the Reign this coming year as well. Greentree, a year away. If they could get a prospect like Ryabkin in this coming year, that would be awesome. Please don't resign all these vets...Gawdin, Malott, Hudon. I understand having some, but they keep the Pinelli's from a top6 role until their 3rd year. Ridiculous. Other teams are graduating their picks by year 3 to the NHL.



 
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Around where the Kings will be picking:

- Ryabkin has top 10 tools but has some history with questionable behavior in Russia and looks out of shape
- Lakovic is another guy who has top 10 tools but looks disengaged away from puck at times. Reminds a little of Jeff Carter silky smooth big and skilled, but question marks as well.
- Carbonneau is highly skilled competitive with a motor and decent physique. Looks like a young Fiala, including the fact that he plays like on an island and makes questionable decisions sometimes
- Hensler is a big mobile defenseman, but kind of vanilla and tends to "hang back" rather than push the play. I see him more as a #5-6 D
- Aitcheson is a physical competitive defenseman with a good shot. I think he would be a nice pick at that range, he probably doesn't have upside beyond #4 and probably more of a #5 but he has so-called "bonus" value in that he brings a physical presence, a shot threat and a certain competitive swagger in that slot
- Spence is a very polished winger with size and pro-game. More of a middle six winger type but again a solid option and a likely NHL player. More of a complementary guy

There are a lot others, those are just some I'm familiar with. I know I said I want to Kings draft higher upside but I would stay away from Ryabkin unless they feel perfectly comfortable with his character. I think guys like Bear, O'Brien, Smith, Mrtka, Desnoyers, Martin will probably be gone by then.
 
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This thread was page 3 and pretty dormant for 3+ months. Add 3 months for now and it's June and draft time. We now know 1st rd pick survived the TDL....but, we're not out of the woods, if it will be dealt prior to the draft. Will go with that they are keeping it.

Even though the teams are staying home, I do wonder if there's some ownership/PR pressure for the Kings to make the pick since they are the de facto host. I still chuckle that the Devils had the Cory Schneider deal in place the night before the draft in NJ, but they waited to announce it while on the clock; Ie they were afraid fans wouldn't show up if they knew we weren't picking. Although it's a bit different now since 2013 was still when the draft was free to attend and that changed after 2016.

I thought last year's draft would be the last one I'd attend, but I already earmarked going up to LA for this one. Won't be as much fun without the teams present, but it's still a fun vibe as a draft geek.
 
We are picking somewhere around last years pick (#21). Any good prospects in the (15-25) range?

I heard it's a weak draft and between 15-30 is wash and anyone could go anywhere.
Liam Greentree's teammate, Jack Nesbitt, may be worth looking at. 6-foot-4 with skill.

Kashawn Aitcheson is a gritty LD. Certainly can be categorized as "all other things being equal, would fill a need" player.

Can go for stupid goalie depth and look at Koehn Ziemmer's teammate, Joshua Ravenspergen.

Raw skill wise there's Adam Benak. Last year was seen as a top-5 player, but size is an issue (5-foot-7).

Did some video on Cole Reschny a couple months back. I honestly lost some enthusiasm for writing when I thought the pick would be traded. He's a smaller/average-sized two-way forward.

Cameron Reid is an offensive defenseman but also Associate Captain for Kitchener, so there may be some additional maturity and leadership.

Still a lot of hockey to play though. On top of the regular playoffs in all leagues, there's the Memorial Cup and U18 WJC. I -think- I have footage on almost every player in the top 100, though Europe's tougher to get reliable games.

I was 2/3 of the way making a video on Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, but a chunk of the game recording got corrupted, and I dislike giving incomplete recordings. But he's also a skilled player. Problem is he shies away from contact, from what I remember. If you want size and skill though, he has a lot to offer.
 
Liam Greentree's teammate, Jack Nesbitt, may be worth looking at. 6-foot-4 with skill.

Kashawn Aitcheson is a gritty LD. Certainly can be categorized as "all other things being equal, would fill a need" player.

Can go for stupid goalie depth and look at Koehn Ziemmer's teammate, Joshua Ravenspergen.

Raw skill wise there's Adam Benak. Last year was seen as a top-5 player, but size is an issue (5-foot-7).

Did some video on Cole Reschny a couple months back. I honestly lost some enthusiasm for writing when I thought the pick would be traded. He's a smaller/average-sized two-way forward.

Cameron Reid is an offensive defenseman but also Associate Captain for Kitchener, so there may be some additional maturity and leadership.

Still a lot of hockey to play though. On top of the regular playoffs in all leagues, there's the Memorial Cup and U18 WJC. I -think- I have footage on almost every player in the top 100, though Europe's tougher to get reliable games.

I was 2/3 of the way making a video on Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, but a chunk of the game recording got corrupted, and I dislike giving incomplete recordings. But he's also a skilled player. Problem is he shies away from contact, from what I remember. If you want size and skill though, he has a lot to offer.
Thanks!

Who in your opinion would be the so called "fall guy" in the draft? We see it every year that one highly regarded prospect drops to a late 1st or early 2nd. Whi might be that player this year?
 
Thanks!

Who in your opinion would be the so called "fall guy" in the draft? We see it every year that one highly regarded prospect drops to a late 1st or early 2nd. Whi might be that player this year?
Benak has already fallen quite a bit, so my immediate answer would be him. But NikF gave a good rundown on some players as well, and he's given good insight on prospects and the draft over the years too.
 
Around where the Kings will be picking:

....
- Spence is a very polished winger with size and pro-game. More of a middle six winger type but again a solid option and a likely NHL player. More of a complementary guy
....
Spence!! Yes! The Kings need 2 guys named Spence. And they need to trade jersey #'s every game.
 

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