2025 NHL Entry DRAFT Thread

[kingsfan28]

If he's not signing with the Lightning, why would he sign with LA?

And if LA is one of the few places he'd go, why would the Kings trade a first +?

He's also already switched teams in college after 1 year.

I just don't think it would be wise to hitch any futures to a guy who just apparently wants the perfect destination. The Kings just dealt with Dubois on this.

Guys like that you walk away from and don't risk assets. You know he's gonna demand a spot on the top 6 and pp time. Sounds like a Rutger McGroarty situation all over again. Hard pass.

 

[King'sPawn]

Along with the ongoing playoffs throughout international leagues and in North America, there is one more tournament starting Wednesday - the IIHF U18 WJC.

Group A:
Canada
Finland
Latvia
Norway
Slovakia

Group B
Czech Republic
Germany
Sweden
Switzerland
USA

Because it's the U18, it generally has a LOT of draft eligibles (or players for future drafts).

 

[Herby]

I don't think Howard is a bad guy or lacks character. He just has no desire to play in the AHL when he has more appealing options available, like returning to MSU. He’s simply using the leverage a player in his position has under the current CBA. I don’t blame him. If my choices were between playing in the minors or returning for a senior year on a national title contender, and then having the freedom to sign anywhere I wanted at age 22, I’d probably take that route too.

Howard isn’t some elite prospect. He’s not a Celebrini, Makar, Caufield, or Fantilli-type Hobey winner, but plenty of lesser players, including our own Laf, have made the jump straight from college to the NHL without spending time in the AHL. More and more players are seeing this and opting for another year of school over the AHL, especially now that NIL deals can come close to matching what he’d make in Syracuse next season.

If teams are uncomfortable with this process and players choosing their best options rather than the teams best options, maybe they should reconsider drafting NCAA players

 

[Brodeur]

Along with the ongoing playoffs throughout international leagues and in North America, there is one more tournament starting Wednesday - the IIHF U18 WJC.

I'm using that tournament as an excuse to visit my friend in Dallas. If all goes to plan, I'll catch the semifinals. If I'm understanding the crossover correctly, it's a decent chance it'd be Sweden/somebody in the matinee and then USA/Canada in the night cap.

Unfortunately it sounds like the USNTDP has a couple mediocre classes back-to-back, so they might not be a guarantee to medal. Sweden and Canada will have the more interesting prospects, unfortunately some of them will be 2026 eligible.

 

[Herby]

I'm using that tournament as an excuse to visit my friend in Dallas. If all goes to plan, I'll catch the semifinals. If I'm understanding the crossover correctly, it's a decent chance it'd be Sweden/somebody in the matinee and then USA/Canada in the night cap.

Unfortunately it sounds like the USNTDP has a couple mediocre classes back-to-back, so they might not be a guarantee to medal. Sweden and Canada will have the more interesting prospects, unfortunately some of them will be 2026 eligible.

Yes, another really down class for the NTDP as far as elite talent. I thought the best prospect on the team when I saw them play this year was a 2026 draft eligible, JP Hurlbert a 2026 Michigan commit. He’s going to be a good prospect next year, but he’s no Kane, Hughes, Caufield, Matthews type, I think his standing out was more from the lack of elite talent in the 2007 group.

It will be interesting to see Will Horcoff playing for Team USA. Not sure if I can remember a player who played NCAA games playing in this tournament before. Usually it’s a chance to look at in-coming guys. I mentioned Horcoff earlier in this thread I think. The son of ex-NHL Shawn Horcoff, he is an intriguing 2nd/3rd rounder, a big boy with a bit more skill than I had expected but a lot of filling out and development to do. I could definitely see him as somebody the Kings could look to target as a long-term project down the middle. The Kings seem to value sons of former NHL players too (Turcotte, Madden, Helenius, Ward)