2025 NHL Entry Draft

[ScarTroy]

I don’t give a f*** which league Madden prefers, as long as he keeps doing what he’s been doing. He has a phenomenal track record

 

[Gliff]

That's not a fair comparison. There are significantly more NHL players from OHL than QMJHL so every team drafts more from OHL.

We definitely like drafting from the Q because of Madden but that would be because he is from Quebec and is more plugged into the local league than other scouts would be.

Eh, the OHL was 17% of picked players last year. 45% of our 1st rounders have been from the OHL.

I know it would be a better sample to look at 1st rounders over the last 15ish years instead of the whole draft just last year, but thats way too much work lol.

He definitely picks from the Q a lot in the 2nd round, but it isn't enough that we should count on it.

I don’t give a f*** which league Madden prefers, as long as he iris doing what he’s been doing. He has a phenomenal track record

Agreed.

 

[Rasp]

I think its fair to say we arent making the playoffs this year so looking towards the draft we should have another top 10 pick.

Right now we have pick 7 but the standings predictions have us with pick 8 at the end of the season. There has been talk about a top 8 this year before a drop in quality but I feel like there is a top 6 then a drop.

Since the Vancouver game right before the deadline we have won 2 games and lost 7. With 14 games left to play, 11 of those games will be against play off teams or teams pushing for a play off spot.

There is a good chance we go on a L streak through these last games which could push our pick into that top 6.

 

[Gliff]

I think its fair to say we arent making the playoffs this year so looking towards the draft we should have another top 10 pick.

Right now we have pick 7 but the standings predictions have us with pick 8 at the end of the season. There has been talk about a top 8 this year before a drop in quality but I feel like there is a top 6 then a drop.

Since the Vancouver game right before the deadline we have won 2 games and lost 7. With 14 games left to play, 11 of those games will be against play off teams or teams pushing for a play off spot.

There is a good chance we go on a L streak through these last games which could push our pick into that top 6.

This year is a year where I don't care. The guy the Ducks would draft at 5 could easily still be there at 9/10.

I really will be fine with any of the following after the top 4:
Frondell
Desnoyers
Eklund
McQueen
Mrtka
O'Brien

I really don't want Jackson Smith, but who is gonna criticize the Ducks when they take a LHD lol.

 

[tomd]

The Ducks love late risers so O’Brien or Martin it is...

 

[Hockey Duckie]

The Ducks love late risers so O’Brien or Martin it is...

You left out 6'6 RD Mrtka. Mrtka's sonic rise was due to him leaving the Czechia league to go to the CHL (WHL, Seattle). He was projected as a late first round pick to late teens before coming over to the CHL.

 

[Rasp]

You left out 6'6 RD Mrtka. Mrtka's sonic rise was due to him leaving the Czechia league to go to the CHL (WHL, Seattle). He was projected as a late first round pick to late teens before coming over to the CHL.

View attachment 995891

Mrtka has cooled off a fair bit the last few weeks. He went from 1.0 ppg to 0.81 ppg so he either hit a wall or is being utilised differently

 

[tomd]

You left out 6'6 RD Mrtka. Mrtka's sonic rise was due to him leaving the Czechia league to go to the CHL (WHL, Seattle). He was projected as a late first round pick to late teens before coming over to the CHL.

View attachment 995891

I still have a hard time seeing what he'll be at the NHL level. Not against taking him but I just don't really understand what type of player he can become. This is a weak draft so he could go top 10 though.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Mrtka has cooled off a fair bit the last few weeks. He went from 1.0 ppg to 0.81 ppg so he either hit a wall or is being utilised differently

Maybe playing 28 minutes a night is finally hitting him? His offense is a simple game and often collects assists by putting the puck onto the net.

I still have a hard time seeing what he'll be at the NHL level. Not against taking him but I just don't really understand what type of player he can become. This is a weak draft so he could go top 10 though.

A two-way player with a huge stick-wing span as a 6'6 RD. Still needs to develop his defense better and add a physical element to his game, but he has shown a lot more promise on NA ice than in the Czechia league.

Here's a good discussion on LD Jackson Smith vs RD Radim Mrtka

 

[tomd]

Maybe playing 28 minutes a night is finally hitting him? His offense is a simple game and often collects assists by putting the puck onto the net.



A two-way player with a huge stick-wing span as a 6'6 RD. Still needs to develop his defense better and add a physical element to his game, but he has shown a lot more promise on NA ice than in the Czechia league.

Here's a good discussion on LD Jackson Smith vs RD Radim Mrtka

Thanks for the link. Smith reminds me a lot of Mintyukov while Mrtka reminds me of Silayev but without the defense and hitting. Smith has the higher upside based on his offense but Mrtka probably has a higher floor.. I thought Smith was better defensively and had more physicality but I guess he doesn't. Both are major projects which would concern me taking them in the top 10. Definitely wouldn't take either of them in the top 8.

 

[Gliff]

Thanks for the link. Smith reminds me a lot of Mintyukov while Mrtka reminds me of Silayev but without the defense and hitting. Smith has the higher upside based on his offense but Mrtka probably has a higher floor.. I thought Smith was better defensively and had more physicality but I guess he doesn't. Both are major projects which would concern me taking them in the top 10. Definitely wouldn't take either of them in the top 8.

With the Ducks current defensive situation I would have no problem with a defensive project if they think he has top pairing potential in 5 years.

It isn't like they will have a legit shot at the roster for a while, especially any LHD.

You know this is going to be the year we win the lottery and its a LHD at the top lol.

 

[tomd]

With the Ducks current defensive situation I would have no problem with a defensive project if they think he has top pairing potential in 5 years.

It isn't like they will have a legit shot at the roster for a while, especially any LHD.

You know this is going to be the year we win the lottery and its a LHD at the top lol.

I’m fine with that but no one is saying that either Smith or Mrtka have top pairing potential.

 

[duxfan1101]

 

[Gliff]

I’m fine with that but no one is saying that either Smith or Mrtka have top pairing potential.

No one said it about Lacombe either. I really don’t care about the public perception when it comes to defensemen. I have 100% trust in the Ducks drafting.

 

[tomd]

No one said it about Lacombe either. I really don’t care about the public perception when it comes to defensemen. I have 100% trust in the Ducks drafting.

No doubt they are the best and the brightest and the smartest guys in the room all rolled into one.

 

[Gliff]

No doubt they are the best and the brightest and the smartest guys in the room all rolled into one.

Ya, you're probably right. Better to go off the opinion of scouts not employed by NHL teams. Silly me.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

With the Ducks current defensive situation I would have no problem with a defensive project if they think he has top pairing potential in 5 years.

It isn't like they will have a legit shot at the roster for a while, especially any LHD.

You know this is going to be the year we win the lottery and its a LHD at the top lol.

This is kinda how I’m starting to feel with where our pick likely land and what’s potentially available.

Smith, Mrtka and Hensler…. Couple forwards I wouldn’t mind like des / eklund

also still pretty open to using the pick for trade for top 6 player…. As free agency is still a fairly long shot for us to fix that hole.

 

[Gliff]

This is kinda how I’m starting to feel with where our pick likely land and what’s potentially available.

Smith, Mrtka and Hensler…. Couple forwards I wouldn’t mind like des / eklund

also still pretty open to using the pick for trade for top 6 player…. As free agency is still a fairly long shot for us to fix that hole.

Ya but no one is going to trade a top 6 player that the Ducks idealy should be looking at for a top 10 pick in this draft. Like would you trade Z or McTavish for a top 10 pick? I wouldn't.

 

[tomd]

Ya, you're probably right. Better to go off the opinion of scouts not employed by NHL teams. Silly me.

In fairness, you're getting ahead of yourself...we have no idea what the Ducks board looks like. We'll have more to discuss once we know where the Ducks are picking. All I'm saying is that the general consensus is that this is a weak D crop after Schaeffer. It would not surprise me if only one D was picked in the top 8.

 

[GunnarStahl]

Draft Jackson Smith's then run a Left side of
J. Smith
T. Smith
K. Smith