Prospect Info: 2025 NHL Entry Draft

[Trojans86]

If OBrien falls to us I have a hard time seeing us passing on him. He is a total Verbeek player with a great motor and good enough size at 6’2. If he fills out he will be a great playoff style player with enough skill and iq to play up and down the lineup.

 

[tomd]

If OBrien falls to us I have a hard time seeing us passing on him. He is a total Verbeek player with a great motor and good enough size at 6’2. If he fills out he will be a great playoff style player with enough skill and iq to play up and down the lineup.

Some very divergent views of him on the prospects board thread. I don't think he is what you think he is.

 

[Trojans86]

Some very divergent views of him on the prospects board thread. I don't think he is what you think he is.

People arguing he isn’t physical, which I agree, but every time I watch him he is a puck hound and constantly taking away time and space. Cagliari never hit anyone but was great defensively because of his motor and effort. Ritchie would hit people but was horrible defensively because he had zero motor.

 

[tomd]

People arguing he isn’t physical, which I agree, but every time I watch him he is a puck hound and constantly taking away time and space. Cagliari never hit anyone but was great defensively because of his motor and effort. Ritchie would hit people but was horrible defensively because he had zero motor.

Very talented but to me he is a top six or bust player. And his inability to produce 5x5 is very concerning. That said, he could go anywhere from 5-12 in the draft.

 

[Anaheim4ever]

Boom or bust doesn't that apply to McQueen as well ?

 

[Gliff]

Boom or bust doesn't that apply to McQueen as well ?

Different type. His bust scenario is based on his health.

Not sure if that makes it better or worser, but forsure different.

 

[tomd]

Boom or bust doesn't that apply to McQueen as well ?

I think it does but McQueen is light years more physical and can more easily play up and down the lineup than O'Brien. O'Brien is very much like Zegras in a lot of ways...both good and bad.

 

[Trojans86]

Very talented but to me he is a top six or bust player. And his inability to produce 5x5 is very concerning. That said, he could go anywhere from 5-12 in the draft.

I disagree because he still has good size (will have to fill out) and a great motor. Those guys usually have high floors and if things don’t work out well they can effectively play the 3rd line. He is known to be very good defensively, despite not being a big hitter. At 8 I would prioritize iq/shot/playmaking over hitting.

 

[tomd]

I disagree because he still has good size (will have to fill out) and a great motor. Those guys usually have high floors and if things don’t work out well they can effectively play the 3rd line. He is known to be very good defensively, despite not being a big hitter. At 8 I would prioritize iq/shot/playmaking over hitting.

OK but that's not a Verbeek type player IMO. We'll see what happens though. This draft is going to be very unpredictable after the first few picks.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

OK but that's not a Verbeek type player IMO. We'll see what happens though. This draft is going to be very unpredictable after the first few picks.

Verbeek chose Carlsson over Fantilli, who was assumed to be Verbeek's ideal type player. For first two drafts under Verbeek, our late first/early 2nd were tall, shutdown forwards. Last year, we went with an offensive jitterbug in 5'11 C Lucas Pettersson.

 

[tomd]

Verbeek chose Carlsson over Fantilli, who was assumed to be Verbeek's ideal type player. For first two drafts under Verbeek, our late first/early 2nd were tall, shutdown forwards. Last year, we went with an offensive jitterbug in 5'11 C Lucas Pettersson.

So really then there is no verbeek type player...that’s fair as long as we are consistent.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

So really then there is no verbeek type player...that’s fair as long as we are consistent.

Let's say that Verbeek has slowly been evolving in his draft picks. He has had time to reflect on the Gaucher pick and who was still available after him as well as Myatovic. Now, if we can only get him to start investing in NCAA guys in the first three rounds, then that would help the team out better because they can develop better physically, play at a higher level, and can take 4 to 5 years time to develop if a 2nd rounder or below.

Collegiate drafted prospects that are promising or could be promising:
2019, Rd 2: LD Jackson LaCombe... spent 4 years in college
2019, Rd 4: LD Henry Thrun... spent 4 years in college and traded away for a 2024 3rd round pick (RW Maxim Massé)
2020, Rd 2: RW Sam Colangelo... spent 4 years in college
2020, Rd 3: RD Ian Moore... spent 1 year in USHL and 4 years in college
2021, Rd 3: F Pastujov (He was drafted going to the NCAA, but then switched to the OHL to get training with renown skating coach Barb Underhill)