Prospect Info: 2025 NHL Entry Draft

[Hockey Duckie]

A Caleb Desnoyers scouting video by EP. The voice reminds me of one of the guys from Locked on NHL Prospects. I think both of them now work for EP and do Locked on NHL Prospects.

Summary: Great smarts, but average speed and needs more dynamism to his game to be an NHL top-6.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Here's a deep dive scouting prospect video on RD Radim Mrtka by Locked on NHL Prospects. He's the other guy for LoNP. The video is 33 minutes long with a couple of in-video ad breaks outside of YT's own ads.

Summary: Due to his 6'6 size, being a RD, quick adaptation to NA, and quick improvement to NA ice, then Mrtka will be pushing into the top-10 and a slight chance into the top-5 conversation. Thinks that the Ducks could be one of the teams that could use Mrtka.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Here's a deep dive scouting prospect video on RD Radim Mrtka by Locked on NHL Prospects. He's the other guy for LoNP. The video is 33 minutes long with a couple of in-video ad breaks outside of YT's own ads.

Summary: Due to his 6'6 size, being a RD, quick adaptation to NA, and quick improvement to NA ice, then Mrtka will be pushing into the top-10 and a slight chance into the top-5 conversation. Thinks that the Ducks could be one of the teams that could use Mrtka.

If we go dmen and not in position to get Schafer I don’t mind going Mrtka.

As it stands right now my top 3 realistic options (loosely on martone)

1. Martone
2. Desnoyers
3. Mrtka

 

[Hockey Duckie]

If we go dmen and not in position to get Schafer I don’t mind going Mrtka.

As it stands right now my top 3 realistic options (loosely on martone)

1. Martone
2. Desnoyers
3. Mrtka

I watched a video scouting report on C/LW Frondell and I like the hype on him too. Frondell grew an inch, going from 6'0 to 6'1, according to Central Scouting's mid-season report. He is 6'1 and 198 lbs as a 17-year old and doesn't turn 18 years old until May. Frondell's season has been slowed by the injury bug, but that could be in the Ducks favor if the Ducks are in the 6-10 range.

Here are some snippets from his MyNHLdraft player profile site:

Here is the most current MyNHLdraft mock, last update on Jan 22nd:

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Yeah I think some were getting a bit down on Frondell for a bit due to the injuries, but he seems to be impressing now that he's back. There's a good group of center prospects at the top of this draft.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

 

[JabbaJabba]

 

[Gliff]

We could see a huge jump in his rankings.

A lot of his hype is his potential being a 6'6 RHD that can skate pretty well. The offense has never really impressed, but he is splitting time between playing under 10 minutes a game against men, and junior. If he comes into the WHL and is a near PPG defensemen in the WHL he content for top 5.

Called this shit 3 months ago...

Mrtka has the 7th highest PPG for D+0 WHL defensemen in the last 15 years. He is also doing this on a team with only 1 drafted player (a 2023 3rd rounder), and only 1 player over PPG (48 in 47 games).
He is 6'6.
He moves around pretty well for his size.
He is one of the youngest kids in this draft as a June birthday.

I wouldn't be upset at all if the Ducks took him anywhere after 3/4.

 

[tomd]

Called this shit 3 months ago...

Mrtka has the 7th highest PPG for D+0 WHL defensemen in the last 15 years. He is also doing this on a team with only 1 drafted player (a 2023 3rd rounder), and only 1 player over PPG (48 in 47 games).
He is 6'6.
He moves around pretty well for his size.
He is one of the youngest kids in this draft as a June birthday.

I wouldn't be upset at all if the Ducks took him anywhere after 3/4.

Not disagreeing with anything you said but I'm just wondering what Mrtka will be as an NHLer. I'm not sure I see a shutdown guy nor do I see a guy who will provide a lot of offense at the next level. I worry that he'll be just a big guy who will top out as a 4-6 in the NHL. Given how bad this draft is after the top tier, Mrtka may be the best option available in the 8-12 range but he doesn't really excite me...yet.

 

[Gliff]

Not disagreeing with anything you said but I'm just wondering what Mrtka will be as an NHLer. I'm not sure I see a shutdown guy nor do I see a guy who will provide a lot of offense at the next level. I worry that he'll be just a big guy who will top out as a 4-6 in the NHL. Given how bad this draft is after the top tier, Mrtka may be the best option available in the 8-12 range but he doesn't really excite me...yet.

I've brought this up before, but the difference between a 25 point defensemen and a 50 point defensemen often largely depends on PP time.

Lindholm was never considered an offensive guy during his time in Anaheim. Compare him to a guy like Chara that was a 40-50 point defensemen every year in his prime and was considered an elite 2-way guy. The only difference was the PP. Their ESP was basically the same.

I doubt Mrtka will every get the PP time to be considered a true top pairing guy. I will take a Lindholm-ish 20 point defensive stalwart any day. Especially with the defensemen we already have in the system that are more suited for the PP.

 

[tomd]

I've brought this up before, but the difference between a 25 point defensemen and a 50 point defensemen often largely depends on PP time.

Lindholm was never considered an offensive guy during his time in Anaheim. Compare him to a guy like Chara that was a 40-50 point defensemen every year in his prime and was considered an elite 2-way guy. The only difference was the PP. Their ESP was basically the same.

I doubt Mrtka will every get the PP time to be considered a true top pairing guy. I will take a Lindholm-ish 20 point defensive stalwart any day. Especially with the defensemen we already have in the system that are more suited for the PP.

Again I agree but I'm just not sure what he is at the next level. To me he is a poor man's Silayev. I was a big proponent of Silayev last year but obviously scouts and GM's are looking for more of an impact player in the top 10. Silayev went 10th in a stronger draft and I could see Mrtka going in the same spot (8-12). The fact that he is a RHD will boost his stock a little bit. If the Ducks are picking outside of the top 7-8 picks I'd be fine with Mrtka but I'd also be fine with O'Brien, Martin, Smith, Aitcheson, or frankly several others. More to be revealed as we head towards the junior playoffs and the U18 tournament.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I've brought this up before, but the difference between a 25 point defensemen and a 50 point defensemen often largely depends on PP time.

Lindholm was never considered an offensive guy during his time in Anaheim. Compare him to a guy like Chara that was a 40-50 point defensemen every year in his prime and was considered an elite 2-way guy. The only difference was the PP. Their ESP was basically the same.

I doubt Mrtka will every get the PP time to be considered a true top pairing guy. I will take a Lindholm-ish 20 point defensive stalwart any day. Especially with the defensemen we already have in the system that are more suited for the PP.

What is crazy is that Mrtka is piling up points without flash by just doing simple things. Yet, if we look at the rest of the defensemen currently on the team, none of them are able to produce like Mrtka. Even if you take away Mrtka's PP points (11 pp pts), he would still be leading defense in scoring with about 20 fewer games played.

Mrtka's size alone, at 6'6, on a smaller rink makes his stick radius so large to make up for any lack of top-end skating when defending. His ceiling and floor is rising since coming over to NA ice, which is why CSB Mid-Term list ranked Mrtka #6 on the NA list and the 2nd defenseman taken. LD Smith ranked 9th and RD Hensler 10th on that same list.

From WHL.ca:

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Again I agree but I'm just not sure what he is at the next level. To me he is a poor man's Silayev. I was a big proponent of Silayev last year but obviously scouts and GM's are looking for more of an impact player in the top 10. Silayev went 10th in a stronger draft and I could see Mrtka going in the same spot (8-12). The fact that he is a RHD will boost his stock a little bit. If the Ducks are picking outside of the top 7-8 picks I'd be fine with Mrtka but I'd also be fine with O'Brien, Martin, Smith, Aitcheson, or frankly several others. More to be revealed as we head towards the junior playoffs and the U18 tournament.

Mrtka does seem like another iteration of Silayev, but without the geo politics and the fact we can see Mrtka in-person on NA ice. Mrtka could be making the rise a la Sennecke. Mrtka's offense has taken off since going to the WHL, whereas in CZE league, he was used as a defensive presence. Found another YT scouting video on MrtKa.



It's been fun looking up on all these prospects and I think you can make the case for anyone of them to the Ducks. But a 6'6 right shot D whose offense has been unleashed in the WHL could be one of the high risers in the draft. And he doesn't turn 18 years old until June! Imagine more mass on him that could help improve his skating, shot, and potential physicality.

 

[ScarTroy]

Silayev was my favorite prospect in the draft after doing a deeper dive when we didn’t win the lottery. If Mrtka has a similar makeup I’d be stoked on that pick, even more so because he’s RD.

 

[TheDarkWingThatDucks]

Again I agree but I'm just not sure what he is at the next level. To me he is a poor man's Silayev. I was a big proponent of Silayev last year but obviously scouts and GM's are looking for more of an impact player in the top 10. Silayev went 10th in a stronger draft and I could see Mrtka going in the same spot (8-12). The fact that he is a RHD will boost his stock a little bit. If the Ducks are picking outside of the top 7-8 picks I'd be fine with Mrtka but I'd also be fine with O'Brien, Martin, Smith, Aitcheson, or frankly several others. More to be revealed as we head towards the junior playoffs and the U18 tournament.

I went down an O’Brien rabbit hole last night, I like.

 

[shach1]

enjoy

 

[GunnarStahl]

Frondell is on fire, now ranked second for points per game by a draft eligible in HA. only behind Elias Pettersson. He is doing this while playing a strong two-way game and fighting for minutes and overcoming injuries. Also worth noting he is not a super old player in this draft, if anything he is a bit younger.

I'm starting to think it's time to add him to the top tier.

 

[Rasp]

Frondell is on fire, now ranked second for points per game by a draft eligible in HA. only behind Elias Pettersson. He is doing this while playing a strong two-way game and fighting for minutes and overcoming injuries. Also worth noting he is not a super old player in this draft, if anything he is a bit younger.

I'm starting to think it's time to add him to the top tier.

He has been ranked 5th for me for a lot of the year. Definitely can see him fitting in with the style of play we are going for but his injury history is concerning because I don't want to deal with another injury prone player

 

[GunnarStahl]

He has been ranked 5th for me for a lot of the year. Definitely can see him fitting in with the style of play we are going for but his injury history is concerning because I don't want to deal with another injury prone player

My impression wasn't that he is injury prone, I think his early season injury, which if I recall wasn't of concerning nature, gave him no momentum to come into his draft year.

I dont think the injury question needs to be had with him in the same vein as it does with a Lindstrom or McQueen.

Am I missing any info on his injury history, he seems to have played full seasons previous.

 

[Rasp]

My impression wasn't that he is injury prone, I think his early season injury, which if I recall wasn't of concerning nature, gave him no momentum to come into his draft year.

I dont think the injury question needs to be had with him in the same vein as it does with a Lindstrom or McQueen.

Am I missing any info on his injury history, he seems to have played full seasons previous.

He isnt in the same category at all as Lindstrom and McQueen. I just see the issues we have had with Zegras, McTavish and Carlsson and would prefer we draft a more durable player. He possible could end up having no issues at all but its just something I factor in.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

He isnt in the same category at all as Lindstrom and McQueen. I just see the issues we have had with Zegras, McTavish and Carlsson and would prefer we draft a more durable player. He possible could end up having no issues at all but its just something I factor in.

Zegras
2021-22 (Eakins): 75 games played
2022-23 (Eakins): 81 games played
2023-24 (Cronin): 31 games played
2024-25 (Cronin): 32 games played (out of 54 games)

Mac
2022-23 (Eakins): 80 games played
2023-24: (Cronin): 64 games played
2024-25: (Cronin): 48 games played (out of 54 games)

Carlsson
2023-24: (Cronin): 55 games played (missed some games due to load mgmt)
2024-25: (Cronin): 48 games played (out of 54 games)

Maybe it's not our players, but someone who is running down into injuries, perhaps?

Frondell is a 17-year old with a May birthdate at 6'1 and 198 lbs. (On EP, he's listed at 6'0. CSB mid-term lists him at 6'1.) His injuries seem behind him and his play has taken off b/c of it. I would be very concerned if his play didn't take off like our very own RD Tristan Luneau, which is why he fell to the 2nd round (53rd OA) instead of being picked around the likes of Korchinski (7th OA), Mintyukov (10th OA), and Mateychuk (12th OA). I didn't realize that Craig Button had Frondell as his #2 OA on his mid-term ranking.