Prospect Info: Caps Prospects General Discussion Thread - 2024-25

[qcal1427]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6194607/2025/03/25/nhl-draft-prospects-2025-rankings-top-64/?source=nhltw

Starting to come around a bit on this year's depth. Gastrin, Nesbitt, Cootes, Zonnon and McKinney are all fairly well-rounded middle six center types. All players that could be at home in an initial bottom six role with the ability to play higher. The system is certainly crowded up front, albeit less so at center, so a D/G makes more theoretical sense but BPA as always.

I like Zonnon (as an aside, feel like you also don't see a lot of Bills these days) but Nesbitt, Cootes, and McKinney all have not scored enough for me. Nesbitt especially did not put up good D-1 numbers at all and hasn't scored as much as you would like riding shotgun to Protas and Greentree.

I would rather they go with another "toolsy" guy in that range. I really like Lee for example, Benak maybe a bit less. Wang I'd rather use the 2nd on but also intrigues me. I trust the development staff -- give me a guy with one or two clear weaknesses but also one or two clear strengths rather than a sort of all-around OK guy.

Ryabkin would be interesting if/when he falls

 

[Langway]

Nesbitt didn't consistently play with LG/IP at 5v5. On the PP more often but I don't hold his numbers against him too much. He's got a lot of filling out to do but the raw frame and some elements of upside are there. Not tremendous but in this draft they're probably not getting someone pretty flawless absent Ravensbergen sliding. That seems doubtful. Even Ryabkin has character/temperament questions.

The numbers for Cootes don't pop but he played on a weak team and led them. McKinney has been sort of on fire lately and likewise leading his team. Not earth-shattering talents but some pro style 3C types that can do a bit of everything. In a weaker draft it's not a terrible outcome depending on what sort of upside options are otherwise palatable. Still plenty of time for further juggling but it's hard to figure what sort of bolder upside plays make sense.

A numbers approach could lead to someone like Schmidt I guess but he seems like he'd struggle to distinguish himself in a deep system on the wings. Ditto Reschny, even if a center, or Benak at their sizes. I still think it's a pretty thin first but those various centers make it moderately more interesting IMO.

 

[usiel]

Appreciate the conversation on the late 1st rounders. Picking 40ish with Boston's pick seems like another good shot to draft a NHLer

 

[Cush]

Always interesting

 

[Langway]

Button has always loved him some Schmidt.

Genborg could be a late riser depending on U18 production. One of the more physical players. Fiddler could be a solid upside play if he slides (seems unlikely he won't go in the first all things considered). Also pretty young as a July birthday.

Bear/Lakovic/Kindel out of the Dub would all be solid gets.