Official 2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[BillDineen]

This thread has improved 100% with the travel talk.

After doing a year long world trip (25 countries, 366 days) that ended last year, I am off again for most of June. Portugal, Sweden, Finland (most of my time will be spent there), a quick stop in the Netherlands and then a couple nights in Venice before back to Canada.

I’m moving to Malaysia in 2027 to begin a life abroad. Travel is the life for me.

I have been a perpetual traveller since summer 18, including throughout covid (and never caught it). Over 50 airbnb stays, most 1 month or more. At least 5 more years of this planned going around the world Westward (End of summer Canada, Fall Caribbean/Latam, ski trip in between, Spring Asia to Europe early summer). 82 countries down.

 

[Appleyard]

I have been a perpetual traveller since summer 18, including throughout covid (and never caught it). Over 50 airbnb stays, most 1 month or more. At least 5 more years of this planned going around the world Westward (End of summer Canada, Fall Caribbean/Latam, ski trip in between, Spring Asia to Europe early summer). 82 countries down.

Wow. 82 is a lot. Think I am at around 39 sovereign nations now and that feels like a lot!

I met a guy in Sao Tome who was one of the 400 or so people on earth to visit every country on earth... 70ish year old doctor called Custodio. Very interesting man!

His favorite was Morocco, least favorite was Kiribati I believe... as he said it was the saddest, most miserable place he had ever been even though paradise on paper.

 

[bauer]

Yeh, the level of English is by far the highest in Southern Europe... tbh in Lisbon and Porto the level of English amongst basically everyone under 50 years old is what you would expect in Scandinavia really.

The main reason aparently? They sub and dont dub TV aha.

I always thought about moving overseas someday but was always a bit nervous because I don’t speak anything other than English. Apple, you’re in that region, could a person live comfortably in Scandinavia without knowing any of the languages? Norway in particular is very high on my list.

 

[Young Sandwich]

His favorite was Morocco, least favorite was Kiribati I believe... as he said it was the saddest, most miserable place he had ever been even though paradise on paper.

He must not be into fishing if he didn't like Kiribati! They have some of the best saltwater flyfishing in the world. I have never been myself so can't say what it's like otherwise, but I know people who have gone every year for decades just to fish. I'd imagine staying only at remote fishing lodges may cloud the opinion of the overall state of Kiribati though...

 

[Appleyard]

I always thought about moving overseas someday but was always a bit nervous because I don’t speak anything other than English. Apple, you’re in that region, could a person live comfortably in Scandinavia without knowing any of the languages? Norway in particular is very high on my list.

Not there anymore... but lived in Copenhagen for 14 months and still work for a Danish organisation.

I think the non-English speaking countries in Europe that you can move to and not know any of the language and for sure get by easily are:

Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands (though they can get arsey about you not speaking Dutch), Portugal, Austria and Belgium... are probably the seven with the best levels of English from my experience. Those 7 I think if in a mid-sized town you would never have any issues and it might be rare you run into someone who at worst doesnt understand what you are saying even if their vocab is low. Quite common for a lot of older people in those countries to not speak well BUT be able to understand a lot.

Finland, Germany, Switzerland probably round out top 10... I would say you will generally be fine in cities but countryside... good luck aha.

 

[Chuck Downie]

If you are in Lisbon sent me a PM and will buy you a drink if I am around.

Will do!

 

[Appleyard]

He must not be into fishing if he didn't like Kiribati! They have some of the best saltwater flyfishing in the world. I have never been myself so can't say what it's like otherwise, but I know people who have gone every year for decades just to fish. I'd imagine staying only at remote fishing lodges may cloud the opinion of the overall state of Kiribati though...

Yeh, he said he liked a lot of the Pacific and places like Fiji, Samoa, Tonga were great...

but that spending a week in Kiribati was grim. He said everyone was basically suicidal in terms of their general outlook on life. He said similar about Micronesia, Palau and Nauru... everyone wants to leave and that they didnt even know what the future held and there was a very real feeling that they might all have to leave those places forcefully soon... as subsistence is getting harder (so more poverty as high cost to buy imported things) and sea levels rising.

 

[Fight4yourRight]

If you can when in Naples... go to Pompeii... incredible to see. Only maybe an hour on the train.

Naples is a very interesting city in itself though. Bit wild though in parts. Saw an attempted murder within 5 minutes of arriving for the first time.

Florence is also very beautiful but you cant move for tourists.

I love Malta. Awesome place to be.

Genoa is the same way (I found anyway).

Especially around the port. I made a few wrong turns from my AirB (which was a many times renovated 11th century building btw!) and ended up down a very narrow alleyway lined with a multinational array of prostitutes and what I swear was a pimp with an eyepatch. I could have sworn I was a sailor back in the 13th century.

 

[Appleyard]

Genoa is the same way (I found anyway).

Especially around the port. I made a few wrong turns from my AirB (which was a many times renovated 11th century building btw!) and ended up down a very narrow alleyway lined with a multinational array of prostitutes and what I sweat was a pimp with an eyepatch. I could have sworn I was a sailor back in the 13th century.

My favourite crazy one so far was in Belgrade. Maybe 13 years ago or so.

We were in a very strange hostel (the co-owners when we asked what they did in their spare time said "football hooligans... professional hooligans" IE they got paid by a fangroup to be front line hooligans) where one of the co-owners had a DJ booth and blasted out dance music with no dancefloor to all of the ~7-8 residents of said hostel...

but we were fine with it as the hostel provided free beer. Yeh. Crazy.

And me and a friend went out onto the fire escape for a smoke.

And the older owner (non-DJ) came out onto the escape, was being strange... then pulled out a ~2ft long machete from his tracksuit pants and just stared at us, then in broken English said "you want try?" and handed us the machete 1 by 1. We both waved it in the air, said something along the lines of "Nice machete" then went back inside... if we were not both so drunk I swear we would have freaked when he pulled it out... I half-think he expected us to for his own amusement... but we both just stared back at him confused.

That trip we also had a man show us his gold plated gun in a nightclub...

 

[Curufinwe]

Is there a website that shows the 2025 draft slots? It seems like CapWages only goes up to 2024.

CapWages | NHL Salary Data

This is basic, but does the job

Full 2025 NHL Draft Order

Pro Hockey Rumors has the details on which teams own which of the 224 picks in the 2025 NHL draft.

www.prohockeyrumors.com

6. Philadelphia Flyers
22. Philadelphia Flyers
~30. Philadelphia Flyers

36. Philadelphia Flyers
40. Philadelphia Flyers
45. Philadelphia Flyers
48. Philadelphia Flyers

68. Philadelphia Flyers

132. Philadelphia Flyers

164. Philadelphia Flyers

196. Philadelphia Flyers

 

[BiggE]

At the time, I was a US citizen working remotely for a firm based in NYC.

Croatia was beautiful but just not my kind of lifestyle. That doesn’t mean it’s bad or anything of course. It just means any info I give is going to be skewed. That’s not fair to you. Montenegro I’ve never seen.

Southern Italy is something I would STRONGLY suggest you attempt to immerse yourselves in before uprooting your lives. I have never been to Apulia to the best of my recollection, but I have family in Calabria and spent some time in places like Scilla and Amantea. Maybe it varies from east to west coast, but I found it to be a completely different animal compared to the north. There was some culture shock for me personally. Nothing off-putting. But definitely different in ways I don’t think would fit my personality well permanently.

My wife’s family is from the Sorrento area, Massa Lubrense to be specific. I would avoid Naples, but the Sorrento area to the south is gorgeous.

 

[chadateit]

We are looking to move to either Portugal or Italy in the next few years. Being just a few hours flight away from basically any major European area is pretty sweet and that's what we want to take advantage of.

I looked at Panama as an option. I would love it mainly for the year-round kitesurfing (and hot weather to go with it). It's also a quick flight back to Canada if we need to come home. My girlfriend isn't keen on the vaccines you would need for Panama (I already had them all from going there before and other places), and potentially taking the antimalarial. Night terrors are a real side effect that my friends have had (but I did not). but honestly you don't need to take the antimalarial daily. Just use a super dose if you actually get malaria.

Also cost of living is way cheaper.

But we both prefer Europe for long-term living.... so that's probably what we'll do.

I will be living in Spain within a few years. We should chat sometime. I spend a fair bit of time on the west coast of Spain just above Portugal. I love the life there. The Mediterranean countries just know what life is about.

 

[chadateit]

Yeh, right in the centre of Lisbon! The Algarve is very cool too. Different as not technically full on Atlantic Coast.

The sea temperature in Portugal does not drop that low... it doesnt drop below around 15c all year! People are often out surfing on Christmas Day.

For example this is the main beach just south of Lisbon: Costa da Caparica Beach Water Temperature / May 2025/ Portugal | World Beach Guide

From Lisbon down the country has basically Central California winters... not quite LA or Santa Barbara but warmer than places like Monterray... maybe similar to San Luis Obispo looking at the map?

Even in Winter almost no days drop below 10c air temp... average day from December-February is about 12-14c air temp.

I love Morocco. Helps my girlfriends family are from there... but just a very special country.

Oh shit. I thought you were up in Scandinavia. Another Iberian flyers person. I will happily buy you a couple beers in Portugal sometime.

 

[Sombastate]

Canes win leaves the Avs pick at 23rd worst. If Florida wins, it becomes 22nd

Does it also become a higher pick if/when the Jets lose? or no because Stars and Jets are both better than Aves?

 

[Gregor Samsa]

I’ve given up on videos and scouting and will just consult the I Ching to see who the Flyers should draft

 

[macleish1974]

I worked for a super high tech company with corporate being hq-ed in Germany. Traveled there probably 300 times over 40 years. A major subsidiary was in Switzerland, been there maybe twice a year for those 40 years. I was stuck in Zurich, Switzerland for 2 weeks during 9/11. Been over all over Europe for conferences .

So with all that traveling, my ideal of leisure was puttering up and down the ICW on our sailboat or powerboat. Nothing special, just enough ice and booze for a weekend, or a week or two while on vacation. Mostly Maryland Eastern Shore or scoot over to Annapolis and Baltimore inner harbor.

The only place I really wanted to visit but never did was Flin Flon….how stupid is that? That was 1975, now not so much.

Bobby Clarke factoid: he wore No. 11 for the Bombers

 

[BillDineen]

Does it also become a higher pick if/when the Jets lose? or no because Stars and Jets are both better than Aves?

No. Florida finished with fewer points than the Avs and the final 4 teams draft in the last 4 spots (rest set after 2nd round)

 

[Appleyard]

Oh shit. I thought you were up in Scandinavia. Another Iberian flyers person. I will happily buy you a couple beers in Portugal sometime.

Used to be. Lived in Copenhagen for a while. (awesome city, and can be in Swedish SHL cities within an hour) Been a busy few years.

Copenhagen, DK
Manchester, UK
Cambridge, UK
Lancaster, UK
Birmingham, UK
Amsterdam, NL
Leiden, NL
Lisbon, PT

since 2019. 8 Cities in 7 years... (and been in Lisbon for over a year now)

Maybe Ireland or maybe even the US next! Lot of plates in the air. But I love Portugal. Would live here forever. They just need a permanent ice rink...

 

[BigToe]

(and been in Lisbon for over a year now)

I need a Gyokeres scouting report

 

[FLYguy3911]

I need a Gyokeres scouting report

A Swedish striker? You would.

 

[Appleyard]

I need a Gyokeres scouting report

I am not allowed to watch Sporting unless they are playing Benfica. (GF is from a Benfica family AND in my old job I got close with quite a few guys who work at Benfica... actually once got an email from Rui Costa... great claim to fame... I had to ask him to sign off on something, seemed a great guy actually.)

Thinking about it I should really have just been as in love with football as I am hockey... then I could have been a nepo hire... my great-uncle is still working at Everton in his 70s...

 

[BigToe]

A Swedish striker? You would.

I’d be trying to get Leao if I was in charge, breh.

 

[FLYguy3911]

I’d be trying to get Leao if I was in charge, breh.

Not a striker though.

 

[Appleyard]

I’d be trying to get Leao if I was in charge, breh.

One of my favourite players on earth to watch right now.

 

[Appleyard]

Not a striker though.

Neither was pure LW Henry when Arsenal signed him.