Official 2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[bauer]

#buckle in, cuz thats totaly not whats gunna happen

 

[bauer]

correct me if I’m wrong, but if TOR, VGK, WPG and WSH all lose this round then the COL pick is 22?

 

[Gregor Samsa]

No clue what to expect with the later 1sts and 2nds plus I don’t know the players as well so unless they are grabbing guys that were expected to be 3rd and 4th rounders I’ll be okay with the slew of picks and just view them as lottery tickets

 

[10robinho10]

2025 NHL Draft Slovak prospect Ján Chovan is the only Slovak player with the invitation to the NHL Combine

 

[IronMarshal]

We'll see. It depends how many top guys jump to college. I'm sure a lot of the CHL guys won't have the academic qualifications/levels to pass the standards of college.

I think some guys (like Powell?) go from USHL to college, then leave for the CHL in mid year. You have to pass your courses to play varsity and keep your scholarship, don't you?

Big time college s find a way for their top athletes to stay in school academically. The problem comes when they get into legal problems

 

[IronMarshal]

I don’t remember any whispers about Briere liking Michkov, Bonk, or Luchanko when they were drafted. Were there any rumors?

There was chatter about the Flyers being high on Luchanko. Kind of like Desnoyers now.

 

[Appleyard]

Big time college s find a way for their top athletes to stay in school academically. The problem comes when they get into legal problems

Stay in sure... but not get in!

There have been a few bigger name prospects who went CHL after committing to colleges in last few years because they couldn't reach the academic minimum.

 

[IronMarshal]

Stay in sure... but not get in!

There have been a few bigger name prospects who went CHL after committing to colleges in last few years because they couldn't reach the academic minimum.

Yes, I saw your previous post after I wrote this. I’m in Rome right now so I read to get caught up from where I left off LOL. I agree they have to get in first and some won’t make it. It is why so many good high school football players end up in the JuCo football factories to try to qualify for Division 1 college fb teams.

 

[Appleyard]

Yes, I saw your previous post after I wrote this. I’m in Rome right now so I read to get caught up from where I left off LOL. I agree they have to get in first and some won’t make it. It is why so many good high school football players end up in the JuCo football factories to try to qualify for Division 1 college fb teams.

The interesting thing for me is which of the CHL guys will have basically stopped school at 16! Wonder how many scrambling to pick up online courses etc to get GPA to acceptable point.

 

[PDX Flyer]

The interesting thing for me is which of the CHL guys will have basically stopped school at 16! Wonder how many scrambling to pick up online courses etc to get GPA to acceptable point.

I don’t think they let kids drop out of school to play. I’m only familiar with the Winterhawks but they still have to take classes. Canada might be different but in the US you are still 17-18 in high school.

Wouldn’t be surprised if kids start going the prep school route if they need to get grades up for a good school.

 

[Appleyard]

I don’t think they let kids drop out of school to play. I’m only familiar with the Winterhawks but they still have to take classes. Canada might be different but in the US you are still 17-18 in high school.

Wouldn’t be surprised if kids start going the prep school route if they need to get grades up for a good school.

There are guys in CHL and USHL who are not taking any classes... can assure you of that!

Education is only compulsory until age 16 in Canada aside from Ontario, NB and Manitoba. Quite a few hockey players take the option to stop at 16. Almost all the WHL and Q players have the option to leave school at 16.
In the US a lot of states you can leave education at 16 or 17. And you can get parental consent often to drop out at 16-17 even in places where compulsory until 18.
And then... well... even where compulsory until 18, being in education until age 18 does not mean getting a 2.3 GPA either! (Does not even mean finishing school in many cases)

 

[MrGuyPerson]

Interestingly enough the OHL coaches poll came out few weeks back. They voted O'Brien ahead of Martone in basically every offensive Category: Smarts, Playing making and stick Handling.

For good reason. The more I watch this kid the more I like what I see and I imagine others will feel the same. Obviously star isn't guaranteed, but definitely possible. Impact player at the minimum feels very likely. Obviously he is a bit slow north to south and his shooting is only alright, but he does literally everything else at a high level. I might actually have him jump Frondell and behind only Hagens in my preferences. Like I have been so impressed that if there is a suprise pick in the top 5, I would put money on it being O'Brien.

He just has such a super well rounded game. Hands, IQ, and 2 way play are his biggest visible strengths. His 2 way play has impressed me the most. He generates tons of turnerovers that lead to transition scoring opportunities. Great motor on the back check. Excellent awareness of when he needs hang back and cover for the D. Plays the body when needed, not a wrecking ball, but does hit. A 100% center at the next level. He plays the position exactly how you are supposed to with the play making ability and vision to potentially be a great center. Also, I can't know for sure without talking to the kid, but just from watching him play the consistent motor and responsible play leads me to think this kid has the mentality of a leader.

It does hurt a small amount that he doesn't really have the international comp expierence, but he has looked awesome in the OHL this season and he did look very good in the OHL Prospects game. If I had to give an NHL comp for what I think his Realistic NHL comparison would be I think it would be a player that is somewhere between or at the level of Scott Laughton(Low end)and William Karlsson(High end). If I had to project what his abosolute ceiling would be assuming he ends up a full on star I would have to say I think 2 players come to mind. The first is Mitch Marner. A center position version that is slightly more physical, but the hands, IQ, and defense ability remind me of him. The second is Jonathan Toews

 

[BillDineen]

For the Avs pick as a possibility:

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

How soon until Briere says we don't need to draft any centers because we have enough?

 

[Nabrules]

For good reason. The more I watch this kid the more I like what I see and I imagine others will feel the same. Obviously star isn't guaranteed, but definitely possible. Impact player at the minimum feels very likely. Obviously he is a bit slow north to south and his shooting is only alright, but he does literally everything else at a high level. I might actually have him jump Frondell and behind only Hagens in my preferences. Like I have been so impressed that if there is a suprise pick in the top 5, I would put money on it being O'Brien.

He just has such a super well rounded game. Hands, IQ, and 2 way play are his biggest visible strengths. His 2 way play has impressed me the most. He generates tons of turnerovers that lead to transition scoring opportunities. Great motor on the back check. Excellent awareness of when he needs hang back and cover for the D. Plays the body when needed, not a wrecking ball, but does hit. A 100% center at the next level. He plays the position exactly how you are supposed to with the play making ability and vision to potentially be a great center. Also, I can't know for sure without talking to the kid, but just from watching him play the consistent motor and responsible play leads me to think this kid has the mentality of a leader.

It does hurt a small amount that he doesn't really have the international comp expierence, but he has looked awesome in the OHL this season and he did look very good in the OHL Prospects game. If I had to give an NHL comp for what I think his Realistic NHL comparison would be I think it would be a player that is somewhere between or at the level of Scott Laughton(Low end)and William Karlsson(High end). If I had to project what his abosolute ceiling would be assuming he ends up a full on star I would have to say I think 2 players come to mind. The first is Mitch Marner. A center position version that is slightly more physical, but the hands, IQ, and defense ability remind me of him. The second is Jonathan Toews

I think stylistically he reminds me most of Elias Pettersson. Same great vision and smarts, who always cares defensively. I'm hoping O'Brien has a less difficult time bulking up.

I think in his draft year Pettersson was 158 and ultimately got to 180ish. Good thing is O'Brien is already 170.

 

[TheKingPin]

With Tocchet being hired, is it more likely that we draft Martin…

Charlie liked JOB, but still said tier 3. Lacks foot speed and is not physical at all, but high end playmaking and IQ. I’m sure it’s just attention bias, but I think a few of these guys may hit since they are missing a few things now, but maybe can develop them if given the chance. No way TK gets traded, especially with Tocchet here now, but I’d love to get another top 10-15 pick and take a faller.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Elias Pettersson also lead his pro team in scoring and set the Allsvenskan scoring record for a draft eligible that still stands today (better than Nylander, Pastrnak, Frondell, Eklund, Bratt)...

There's a reason these outlier size/speed guys succeed despite their deficiencies. Their skill level is off the charts.

 

[flyersnorth]

Yes, I saw your previous post after I wrote this. I’m in Rome right now so I read to get caught up from where I left off LOL. I agree they have to get in first and some won’t make it. It is why so many good high school football players end up in the JuCo football factories to try to qualify for Division 1 college fb teams.

Enjoy Rome! I was there in March and I didn't want to leave.