Official 2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[Flyerfan4life]

Chicago is at 2 as per final standings.

see its happening..

 

[JABEE]

If you’re selling me on a top prospect in 2025 by saying he’s tall, I don’t want to hear it. Haven’t we learned from Sam Morin and passing on Cole Caufield/Zeev Buium?

 

[captainpaxil]

The guy who scares me is mrtka he has the flyers dream profile and he's mentioned in a lot of top ten mocks. Center or martone in the top 6

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Looking forward to next year, Ryan Roobroeck would be a very nice consolation prize for the team that doesn’t win the McKenna sweepstakes

 

[MayonnaiseOreo]

I want a high skilled 1C because we haven't had many in the past 25 years but if we can get Schaefer, you have to do it. We had a couple years with old man Pronger as a 1D and you saw how huge of a difference that made. You have to take someone that can lock down that 1D position for 15 years when you get the chance.

 

[Larry44]

I want a high skilled 1C because we haven't had many in the past 25 years but if we can get Schaefer, you have to do it. We had a couple years with old man Pronger as a 1D and you saw how huge of a difference that made. You have to take someone that can lock down that 1D position for 15 years when you get the chance.

... this time, you mean...

 

[Random Forest]

There is no defenseman in any draft that I’ve ever had >30% confidence in becoming a 1D, and Schaefer won’t be my first (Landon Dupont might actually be though). You could get your franchise defender or you could get an Ekblad, S. Jones, or O. Power.

Sometimes you have to swing for that fence because the best forward isn’t a can’t miss prospect, but I have greater confidence in Misa being a 1C than I do Schaefer being a 1D this year.

 

[MayonnaiseOreo]

I wouldn't be mad with either. I'm offense biased because I played wing growing up and our team's offense has been mostly sad since 2012. I do agree that defensemen seem harder to project in terms of how good they'll be, especially because they typically take longer to develop. I don't think we're going to have a shot at Schaefer anyway so this is all super hypothetical.

 

[Magua]

There is no defenseman in any draft that I’ve ever had >30% confidence in becoming a 1D, and Schaefer won’t be my first (Landon Dupont might actually be though). You could get your franchise defender or you could get an Ekblad, S. Jones, or O. Power.

Sometimes you have to swing for that fence because the best forward isn’t a can’t miss prospect, but I have greater confidence in Misa being a 1C than I do Schaefer being a 1D this year.

Dahlin is about the surest 1st overall talented defenseman, with the track record, in the last 15 years. Schaefer is not that. I said the other day that I’d have to think about prospect Luke Hughes (who I had 1st) and Schaefer. It’s not a style comp fwiw.

But I had Power like 6th in his class, and it wasn’t a great one. His flaws were talked about here: sloppy footwork and ugly defense for a 6’6 guy (of course he got the 2-way label). More skilled than Ekblad, but it’s pretty logical average skating for a high pick defenseman was a problem for both. Even Seth Jones’ skating profile isn’t as clean as you’d like. I think Jack Han wrote an article about his issues pivoting and back skating. But he peaked so high, he’s just a weird case study.

I’d say Schaefer is all-around a pretty plus skater: loads of recovery/activation speed, above average laterally, strong gap work. It’s possible Misa is more a low end 75-80 point 1C. I like him, but there’s a gear missing when I watch him that should make it obvious he’s The Guy. He’s very good at a lot, but he’s not as individually explosive or dominant as you’d think by the stats. He could move better (maybe it develops). Gun to my head, Schaefer’s age/experience and tools are an edge. I feel more interested in watching him. But it’s a tough one. I’m not convinced he’s truly elite creatively either — Parekh and Buium even last class had more — but defensemen (not named Quinn or Lane) with high base level skills and high pace can unveil more with NHL forwards. Pace matters a metric ton to me. But I’m always wary of defense this high.

 

[Tripod]

Flyers urgent NEED is a stud Dman, period

.....do what needs to be done and draft Schaefer !

PERIOD

Huh? They have Seeler, and Andrae

 

[Nabrules]

Have a couple of the Brantford-Oshawa games saved. Started watching G5 last night. O’Brien is pretty good but not top 7 good. Not really fast, but he's skilled and shifty.

Noah Powell plays on the Gens’ 2nd line with Barlow. Looks pretty good: skates well, can carry-pass the puck, goes to the net. We are well stocked with grinder-tweeners!

Simon Wang looked pretty good too. Huge and can really skate. Defends well, stands up at the blue line, moves the puck.

On the GWG by Campbell, Wang picked a pass and went up ice very quickly. [Edit; of course they didn't use the full zone entry by Wang, only the final set up.] Wang has decent hands too. Don’t know enough to compare him to other prospects but guys that big used to be gangly and spazzy but he seems pretty smooth.

Ontario Hockey League

appreciate the report but that's not what NHL teams are saying. Wheeler and Pronman said nhl teams starting to have him top 5 range.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

appreciate the report but that's not what NHL teams are saying. Wheeler and Pronman said nhl teams starting to have him top 5 range.

I think the worry with O’Brien is that he’s a bit of a power play merchant. It’s one thing to pick apart CHL defenses that are short handed.

Saw this post by a user named alternatesideparking that was interesting

“Just throwing this out there, but only 23 percent of O’Brien’s assists were primary 5v5, which is by far the lowest rate among the top CHL draft-eligibles. For added context, Hagens was at 50% for BC, Desnoyers at 45%, Reschny at 42% and Martone at 38%”

I wish more advanced stats were easily available for junior leagues. O’Brien will probably go top 10 and may be good, but there are probably better options in the Flyers range.

 

[DAVIDE1333]

I love hockey but cannot analyze the game the way some of you can. I swear there's better analysis on the NHL and the draft here than there is in the Flyers' organization. Not every evaluation (draft, NHL player, contract) that is a consensus on these boards hits, but the team would be a lot better if they just polled and took the advice of this site.

 

[BernieParent]

If you’re selling me on a top prospect in 2025 by saying he’s tall, I don’t want to hear it. Haven’t we learned from Sam Morin and passing on Cole Caufield/Zeev Buium?

Of course they haven't learned.

 

[Flyerfan4life]

I love hockey but cannot analyze the game the way some of you can. I swear there's better analysis on the NHL and the draft here than there is in the Flyers' organization. Not every evaluation (draft, NHL player, contract) that is a consensus on these boards hits, but the team would be a lot better if they just polled and took the advice of this site.

we do pretty good for a bunch of non dentists...

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Saw a mock where Flyers took O’Brien at 4 and shuddered. I’d like him…if we were in the 7-10 range

As long as it’s one of Schaefer, Misa, Frondell, Hagens, Martone or Desnoyers I’m content.

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

If Flyers stay at 4, that basically guarantees Frondell or Hagens.

 

[BernieParent]

Saw a mock where Flyers took O’Brien at 4 and shuddered. I’d like him…if we were in the 7-10 range

As long as it’s one of Schaefer, Misa, Frondell, Hagens, Martone or Desnoyers I’m content.

Depending on the commentator, the Flyers are the Free Space of mock drafts where a mediocre (preferably ruff and tuff) prospect can be parked so preferred franchises can get better options.

 

[Flyerfan4life]

If Flyers stay at 4, that basically guarantees Frondell or Hagens.

#buckle in...

 

[BiggE]

Mrtka scares me, not because he’s a bad player, but because he’s the kind of player the Flyers brainlesstrust savors over.

Basically, I’m prepared to be massively disappointed.

 

[Sombastate]

Mrtka scares me, not because he’s a bad player, but because he’s the kind of player the Flyers brainlesstrust savors over.

Basically, I’m prepared to be massively disappointed.

I actually love Mrtka, but even the Flyers can't be dumb enough to take him in the top 6, can they?

I'm higher on Mrtka than most (i have him at 9), but even dropping to 6, Martone or reaching a bit for O'brien makes way more sense than Mrtka, but f*** if i know, man

 

[Gregor Samsa]

I feel confident that if they reach for someone it is most assuredly a center so I think O’Brien is the worst case scenario and even he could become a good player; I just like the odds with the other guys more

 

[BillDineen]

Flyers have a higher probablity of picking 1 or 2 than 4. Most likely outcome is 5 which is where the discussion should be around in these mocks imo.

 

[DAVIDE1333]

Flyers have a higher probablity of picking 1 or 2 than 4. Most likely outcome is 5 which is where the discussion should be around in these mocks imo.

I think it's ridiculous they have a 65% chance of picking 5th or 6th.

 

[renberg]

I think the worry with O’Brien is that he’s a bit of a power play merchant. It’s one thing to pick apart CHL defenses that are short handed.

Saw this post by a user named alternatesideparking that was interesting

“Just throwing this out there, but only 23 percent of O’Brien’s assists were primary 5v5, which is by far the lowest rate among the top CHL draft-eligibles. For added context, Hagens was at 50% for BC, Desnoyers at 45%, Reschny at 42% and Martone at 38%”

I wish more advanced stats were easily available for junior leagues. O’Brien will probably go top 10 and may be good, but there are probably better options in the Flyers range.

The ES/PP scoring differential has been noted by some scouts. Not to be too Flahr-ish but at 6'2"/172#, I'm a bit concerned about his slight frame. Guys this light get knocked around and hurt too easily. Now perhaps he fills out by the time he's 22 but he can suffer some damage before that. Also some guys just can't put on muscle and weight. CIP-Zamula.