Official 2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[Kelmitchell2]

The team that takes Martin will be anointed the worst drafting team in the league.

He’s the least talented, worst top 10 pick I’ve seen since doing it. I can’t even pretend.

I honestly think Martin is a 4th line caliber player, I don't see the upside with him at all, I have zero interest

 

[CerpinTaxt]

I honestly think Martin is a 4th line caliber player, I don't see the upside with him at all, I have zero interest

I know nothing about Martin and wanted to see his player profile. Only 6 foot. Perhaps it's the intangibles?

 

[Kelmitchell2]

I know nothing about Martin and wanted to see his player profile. Only 6 foot. Perhaps it's the intangibles?

He throws the body around alot, there isn't much else there

 

[Flyerfan4life]

When we draft Brady Martin at #6, I will almost guarantee that he will be given the Jett treatment. 9-game NHL tryout, "reluctantly" sent back. This org is driven by outside perception that they try to push narratives that are not based in reality.

100% Jett is a roster player this year..

this Org. has no stomach to develop according to a timeline...

 

[Kelmitchell2]

100% Jett is a roster player this year..

this Org. has no stomach to develop according to a timeline...

Jett is nowhere near ready, the only nhl ready thing he has going for him is speed, his face-off isn't all that great, his offensive awareness is pretty low for a top 15 pick, his defensive awareness is so so, but that's due to his speed to get back into the play, his playmaking is a C-hair above average, but imo he shouldn't be with the big club for another year at minimum

 

[CerpinTaxt]

Jett is nowhere near ready, the only nhl ready thing he has going for him is speed, his face-off isn't all that great, his offensive awareness is pretty low for a top 15 pick, his defensive awareness is so so, but that's due to his speed to get back into the play, his playmaking is a C-hair above average, but imo he shouldn't be with the big club for another year at minimum

Butt he plays the right way probably

 

[Kelmitchell2]

Butt he plays the right way probably

Be a f***ing flyer baby

 

[Magua]

He throws the body around alot, there isn't much else there

In 3 games, I didn’t see any noticeable hits. It’s like forward Hagg. His pace — skating and mental — is so far behind the play that he can barely make positive impacts with physicality.

 

[Beef Invictus]

Wasn’t sure where to post this

Is this good

 

[Beef Invictus]

In 3 games, I didn’t see any noticeable hits. It’s like forward Hagg. His pace — skating and mental — is so far behind the play that he can barely make positive impacts with physicality.

A worst case scenario is an improved version of Rinaldo. The people who liked him always cited his speed, but didn't bother noticing he was almost always using it to chase a play he missed.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

I doubt Bear or McQueen fall to 22 because of injury concerns but that’s kinda my hope

Just take one of Hagens/Frondell/Desnoyers at 6 as I doubt Martone makes it there so one of them should be available

 

[Flyerfan4life]

A worst case scenario is an improved version of Rinaldo. The people who liked him always cited his speed, but didn't bother noticing he was almost always using it to chase a play he missed.

i always liked him, id rather have him then Fisto...

 

[Kelmitchell2]

In 3 games, I didn’t see any noticeable hits. It’s like forward Hagg. His pace — skating and mental — is so far behind the play that he can barely make positive impacts with physicality.

I agree completely lol personally I don't see what is making him a first rounder let alone a top 10 pick

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

2025 NHL Final Top 128 Rankings With 21 Prospect Tiers

Upside Hockey gives a different perspective with Trevor Curtis’s 2025 NHL Final Top 128 Rankings featuring prospect tiers

upsidehockey.substack.com

Having McQueen above Hagens is a f***ing choice.

 

[BigToe]

Is this good

idk

 

[Larry44]

He throws the body around alot, there isn't much else there

Ryan Hartman 2.0

 

[Kelmitchell2]

Ryan Hartman 2.0

Even that is being very generous, id say like gerry mayhew 2.0 lol

 

[Larry44]

Even that is being very generous, id say like gerry mayhew 2.0 lol

Do NOT take the name of Mayhew in vain!

 

[Magua]

Today was Cullen Potter Day. It's hard to evaluate true 17 year old freshman, but he didn't look out of place at all, and I watched him against Duluth and Michigan twice. It's very rare to do that well at that age. Probably explodes next year -- didn't even play PP1 in the late season game. Better passer than his splits show.

He's not Bear -- his ceiling seemed higher -- but he's another guy in this awful draft I unequivocally really like. Similar to Bear in the motor and pace. I don't think Potter is any less skilled than Eklund, and frankly, he moves even better and actually has some center projection. Maybe he gets shifted to wing because of size, but it's absolutely nothing to do with positional soundness. Great at timing center lane exits, and he has a lot more anticipation off-puck than someone like O'Brien.

Really dart-y and crafty bouncing inside and out. Great hands and puck transporter. Legit high end first steps and edges, kinda like Catton last year. Lot of similarities to him honestly, even if I'm not saying he's quite as good. You can't convince me Potter isn't more talented than Desnoyers and O'Brien and those guys. Way better watch. It's funny how this class is going to work having a fool's gold 6th overall.

 

[BigToe]

Today was Cullen Potter Day. It's hard to evaluate true 17 year old freshman, but he didn't look out of place at all, and I watched him against Duluth and Michigan twice. It's very rare to do that well at that age. Probably explodes next year -- didn't even play PP1 in the late season game. Better passer than his splits show.

He's not Bear -- his ceiling seemed higher -- but he's another guy in this awful draft I unequivocally really like. Similar to Bear in the motor and pace. I don't think Potter is any less skilled than Eklund, and frankly, he moves even better and actually has some center projection. Maybe he gets shifted to wing because of size, but it's absolutely nothing to do with positional soundness. Great at timing center lane exits, and he has a lot more anticipation off-puck than someone like O'Brien.

Really dart-y and crafty bouncing inside and out. Great hands and puck transporter. Legit high end first steps and edges, kinda like Catton last year. Lot of similarities to him honestly, even if I'm not saying he's quite as good. You can't convince me Potter isn't more talented than Desnoyers and O'Brien and those guys. Way better watch. It's funny how this class is going to work having a fool's gold 6th overall.

Shot selection? Playmaking?

 

[Rebels57]

2025 NHL Final Top 128 Rankings With 21 Prospect Tiers

Upside Hockey gives a different perspective with Trevor Curtis’s 2025 NHL Final Top 128 Rankings featuring prospect tiers

upsidehockey.substack.com

Having McQueen above Hagens is a f***ing choice.

Hagens is overscouted and being nitpicked. Reminds me of what happened to Barzal.

 

[Magua]

Shot selection? Playmaking?

What? Potter? I watched 3 full games, and I didn’t have any issue with either. He wasn’t afraid to shoot, but he has a nasty drag release, and I didn’t have an issue with the selection. Lot of crafty work skating the puck middle or wall to drag a defender and create a passing lane. Assist numbers undersell the vision and touch. Saw more dynamic playmaking than these other guys.

 

[BigToe]

What? Potter? I watched 3 full games, and I didn’t have any issue with either. He wasn’t afraid to shoot, but he has a nasty drag release, and I didn’t have an issue with the selection. Lot of crafty work skating the puck middle or wall to drag a defender and create a passing lane. Assist numbers undersell the vision and touch. Saw more dynamic playmaking than these other guys.

I need the dynamic playmaking timestamps. Maybe I'm missing something.

 

[Magua]

I need the dynamic playmaking timestamps. Maybe I'm missing something.

Did you watch the Duluth game? That was the best of the 3, and it was late season, not early like the Michigan games, which were also fine. I’m not saying he’s an elite passer or he’s heavily skewed that way. But it’s good, and he’s versatile enough to take his own looks at the net. What I like the most is the skill and skating to actually create windows at the college level. Someone like O’Brien has great vision, but he has to settle for windows already there. If they’re not there?

Think you’re underselling the short area passes too. I saw enough facilitating for teammates.

 

[BigToe]

Did you watch the Duluth game? That was the best of the 3, and it was late season, not early like the Michigan games, which were also fine. I’m not saying he’s an elite passer or he’s heavily skewed that way. But it’s good, and he’s versatile enough to take his own looks at the net. What I like the most is the skill and skating to actually create windows at the college level. Someone like O’Brien has great vision, but he has to settle for windows already there. If they’re not there?

Think you’re underselling the short area passes too. I saw enough facilitating for teammates.

Nah, I'll watch it though. He felt more like an above averageish playmaker to me. Everything felt fairly straight forward. I don't think he's bad or anything, I think I have him at 14 or 15? Just didn't see anything outside skill and skating that popped much.