Prospect Info: 2025 NHL Entry Draft

[Rasp]

The #2 prospect projects as a 2nd-line center? Horrible draft?

Lots of scouts have said its a poor draft year

We should all be hoping that McQueen gets healthy soon and has a strong finish. That would at least give the draft a decent top 5.

McQueen is a do not draft. He has a lumbar spine injury like what Lindstrom has. If he didnt have that injury he would be challenging for #1 with the package he has.

 

[tomd]

Lots of scouts have said its a poor draft year


McQueen is a do not draft. He has a lumbar spine injury like what Lindstrom has. If he didnt have that injury he would be challenging for #1 with the package he has.

I think we are saying the same thing. Healthy and a strong finish? Top 5. Doesn't play again this year? DND.

 

[Rasp]

I think we are saying the same thing. Healthy and a strong finish? Top 5. Doesn't play again this year? DND.

He is supposedly targeting to play in February but that doesnt change my position. He got this injury in 2023 and his recovery time off this year has already been pushed back from December to February.

A bulging disc injury at 17 is something I want to stay away from.

 

[tomd]

He is supposedly targeting to play in February but that doesnt change my position. He got this injury in 2023 and his recovery time off this year has already been pushed back from December to February.

A bulging disc injury at 17 is something I want to stay away from.

Fair enough...a top 4 pick and we won't have to worry about it

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Sportsnet's 2025 NHL Draft Rankings: January Edition

For the first time on his list this season, Sam Cosentino has someone unseating James Hagens at No. 1. But at least four players are making a case for the top spot, while a few other players crack the top 32 for the first time.

www.sportsnet.ca

Desnoyers up to #5 and touted as a potential top 3 pick. He belongs in that top group

 

[Anaheim4ever]

Caleb Desnoyers is pushing into the top group for me, I love everything I read and see about him. Run away top scorer on the best team in the CHL (as a 17 year old) and already a proven winner. High pace, lots of skill, works his butt off and gets the most praise for his IQ on both sides of the puck.

Caleb The Destroyer will be his nickname in Anaheim. He's French from QMJHL so Madden probably already excited about drafting him lol. Ducks are due for a Forward from Q to finally pan out for them: Morand, Comtois, Gaucher, Groulx.

 

[Rasp]

Matthew Schaefer a unanimous No. 1 in Bob McKenzie's Mid-season NHL Draft Ranking | TSN

"As far as I’m concerned,” one NHL head scout said, “[Matthew Schaefer] is No. 1 and he’s staying there - even if he never plays another game this season."

www.tsn.ca

Some interesting take aways from this.

Martone is ranked higher than draft lists are saying. Two scouts had him 2nd and three had him 3rd.

McQueen is rated 7th based on being healthy, which he isnt. One scout had him as a "no draft" if the draft was tomorrow. They seem to echo what I have been saying about him.

Pick 1-8 are "quite strong" but there is a drop off after them and another drop off between 15-20. We should have a top 8 pick which is great.

One scout went so far as to say a lot of the players who will be drafted in the bottom half of the first round would in prior years be better suited to being second-round picks. “It’s all relative of course,” the scout said, “but I’d say the second rounders this year would be third rounders in previous years where there was greater depth.”

This shows how weak the draft's depth really is. Having a late first rounder this year really isnt as valuable as you would normally think it is.

Trading that 2nd for Cutter was a great deal since the players available are 3rd round quality.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Some interesting take aways from this.

Martone is ranked higher than draft lists are saying. Two scouts had him 2nd and three had him 3rd.

McQueen is rated 7th based on being healthy, which he isnt. One scout had him as a "no draft" if the draft was tomorrow. They seem to echo what I have been saying about him.

Pick 1-8 are "quite strong" but there is a drop off after them and another drop off between 15-20. We should have a top 8 pick which is great.

One scout went so far as to say a lot of the players who will be drafted in the bottom half of the first round would in prior years be better suited to being second-round picks. “It’s all relative of course,” the scout said, “but I’d say the second rounders this year would be third rounders in previous years where there was greater depth.”

This shows how weak the draft's depth really is. Having a late first rounder this year really isnt as valuable as you would normally think it is.

Trading that 2nd for Cutter was a great deal since the players available are 3rd round quality.

Losing a 2nd round pick this year hurts more b/c the talent level is considerably weaker. We own two 3rd-round picks, but according to what you said, those third round picks are fourth round talents.

I'd be looking for high schoolers or USNTDP guys to stash in college to give the prospects a longer runway to develop. Could also draft a Euro too as their time to sign is also longer. The CHL guys have only two years develop to sign or go back into the draft.

 

[tomd]

Losing a 2nd round pick this year hurts more b/c the talent level is considerably weaker. We own two 3rd-round picks, but according to what you said, those third round picks are fourth round talents.

I'd be looking for high schoolers or USNTDP guys to stash in college to give the prospects a longer runway to develop. Could also draft a Euro too as their time to sign is also longer. The CHL guys have only two years develop to sign or go back into the draft.

IMO this draft is going to produce relatively few NHLers after the first 12-15 picks so I'm not at all lamenting not having a 2nd this year. In fact, I hope PV can avoid getting any more picks in this draft at the TDL and acquire 2026 picks instead.