Official 2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[FLYguy3911]

Average athleticism/skating at 5’10 isn’t a great combo.

Yeah but he has an NHL 25 toe drag.

 

[captainpaxil]

Any thoughts on Mason West? Late bday, 6'6, from Minnesota. Seems like a high upside pick

Mason West - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Mason West, 2007-08-03 Edina, MN, USA USA. Most recently in the USHL with Fargo Force. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

What makes him interesting is he also plays QB. That kind of vision translates. What scares me is high school hockey where just being that big makes a huge difference.
We've got a bunch of second round picks take an upside flyer if we don't trade them off

 

[FLYguy3911]

Mark Alt was also a three star QB. It didn't translate to the ice.

*This kid has a better draft profile

 

[apadilla]

Last year the Kings traded their 21st (OA pick) to Montreal for their 26th, 57th and 198th. If the Kings were considering a similar trade this year, the team to hook up with is Philly. They have 3 1st round picks and 4 2nd rounders. Something like:

LA's 24th

for

Philly's 31st (if Canada falls again or 32nd if they don't) and their final pick in the 2nd round 48th.

Could such a deal be worth it for Philly?

 

[BernieParent]

Last year the Kings traded their 21st (OA pick) to Montreal for their 26th, 57th and 198th. If the Kings were considering a similar trade this year, the team to hook up with is Philly. They have 3 1st round picks and 4 2nd rounders. Something like:

LA's 24th

for

Philly's 31st (if Canada falls again or 32nd if they don't) and their final pick in the 2nd round 48th.

Could such a deal be worth it for Philly?

Sure. What's LA's motivation?

The Flyers would also throw in their 6th (they have no 7th this year) so they can get their geriatric advisors home extra early).

 

[FLYguy3911]

The CHL is going to turn into an u18 league.

 

[Appleyard]

The CHL is going to turn into an u18 league.

I dont think so in general. USHL has had this pathway set up for years and it is a marginally older league than CHL.

Most 18-19 year olds are just not ready to play in NCAA unless they are a top ~50 prospect in an NHL draft or very physically developed. And ofc only so many spots to for NCAA.

Most say, ~3-5th rounders might have development hurt tbh if go at 18.

One worry though is that some Colleges really dont do too much due diligence and try and rush guys already even when agents, junior team and NHL team say they are not ready... because they worry 1 more year might mean they sign pro.

I do think the quality of the CHL will suffer though... the Q is already diluted and the OHL and WHL will have the same issue soon. Losing say ~30 18 year olds and probably ~60 19 year olds a year across the 3 leagues is basically 90 less top 6/4 players... on only 61 teams? Yeh.

CHL and USHL teams are just going to plunder BCHL, NAHL, AJHL, SJHL, MJHL, OJHL and CCHL more in terms of their 18-19 year olds... a lot of top guys in those leagues are kind of interchangeable with 3rd pairing or bottom six OHL/USHLers tbh and so often comes down to preference and politics.

Also, I guess CHL will expand import rules more in next few years and limit restrictions to more USHL style, as the CHL import draft is VERY inhibitive.

Teams know just how much worse they will be with "talented" 16-17 year olds (guys who realistically project to AHLers etc) than less talented 19 year olds (Guys who are future ECHLers or SPHLers etc)... as outside the top kids the gap due to age and development is pretty big. And 75% of teams in win now mode always.

 

[Appleyard]

I mean, it will never happen but what probably would be the best way forward is... (in my own personal opinion)

CHL and USHL unite under one banner. Re-draw regional restrictions/rules. Contract leagues to say ~15-16 teams each max.

Across a 76 team infrastructure (ignoring USNTDP)

There are 4-5 teams in the Q, 3-4 teams in the USHL, 2-3 teams in the OHL and WHL that struggle with attendance and finances already... that is like 15 teams that frankly are never even competing and without them the leagues might be stronger, and would be higher quality...

Not going to put which teams etc I think should be the ones to contract... but it would help some teams in all 4 leagues with travel costs too!

It is easier to get from Manitoba and eastern Alberta to the USHL Western Conference teams than it is to go to Vancouver and Pacific North West!

Youngstown would have an easier travel schedule in the OHL. Some of the Northern OHL teams as well as the would find it easier playing Muskegon and Green Bay... some of the western QMJHL teams would make life easier for themselves in Eastern OHL conference...

and also then potential STRONG expansion teams in some areas would be far more possible. Manchester for example, right now hard for the East Coast of the US to have top level junior hockey due to restrictions and travel... such an approach would take away half those issues.

 

[Appleyard]

I also think it is hilarious the constant talk about Martone being so older for his draft year...

he outperformed Sennecke last season AND this season. Sennecke went 3rd overall (a reach tbh) and Martone has been better every season of organised hockey they have played despite being almost 11 months younger...

he outperformed Hage, Luchanko, Beaudoin, Vanacker, O'Reilly etc his whole career in same region despite being youngest of bunch.

He has been the best 2006 born Ontarian alongside Greentree for the last few years...

 

[FLYguy3911]

I dont think so in general. USHL has had this pathway set up for years and it is a marginally older league than CHL.

Most 18-19 year olds are just not ready to play in NCAA unless they are a top ~50 prospect in an NHL draft or very physically developed. And ofc only so many spots to for NCAA.

Most say, ~3-5th rounders might have development hurt tbh if go at 18.

One worry though is that some Colleges really dont do too much due diligence and try and rush guys already even when agents, junior team and NHL team say they are not ready... because they worry 1 more year might mean they sign pro.

I do think the quality of the CHL will suffer though... the Q is already diluted and the OHL and WHL will have the same issue soon. Losing say ~30 18 year olds and probably ~60 19 year olds a year across the 3 leagues is basically 90 less top 6/4 players... on only 61 teams? Yeh.

CHL and USHL teams are just going to plunder BCHL, NAHL, AJHL, SJHL, MJHL, OJHL and CCHL more in terms of their 18-19 year olds... a lot of top guys in those leagues are kind of interchangeable with 3rd pairing or bottom six OHL/USHLers tbh and so often comes down to preference and politics.

Also, I guess CHL will expand import rules more in next few years and limit restrictions to more USHL style, as the CHL import draft is VERY inhibitive.

Teams know just how much worse they will be with "talented" 16-17 year olds (guys who realistically project to AHLers etc) than less talented 19 year olds (Guys who are future ECHLers or SPHLers etc)... as outside the top kids the gap due to age and development is pretty big. And 75% of teams in win now mode always.

I say that a bit tongue in cheek. It won’t literally become an u18 league, but the best prospects in those leagues will be u18 players as soon as next year and that’s something the CHL/NHL agreement prevented for years which made those the best junior and development leagues in the world. We are going to have to adjust our parameters for prospect evaluation. We are going to see some gaudy 16 and 17 year old stat lines.

I'm kind of surprised it turned this way this fast. I originally thought the CHL-NCAA route would have been most appealing for the 19 year old tweener that played three years of junior, too good for that level, but not good enough for the NHL. Seems like the trend is going to be two years in the CHL and then college for 1-2 years. And I think the competition for these kids will be so intense, they are going to guarantee early playing time.

And now we have Verhoeff, who just chose the CHL over NCAA not too long ago, and he's jumping to the NCAA after one year of Junior and leaving guaranteed usage in Victoria to play his draft year for a program that has sketchy recent track record with prospects. If he goes 2nd like projected with McKenna also going the college route, does accelerating your schooling to play college hockey in your draft year become the next trend?

And apparently there are many more names to come (possibly waiting for NHL feedback before making a final decision).

 

[FLYguy3911]

Was hoping Villeneuve and Carbonneau would be the ones that did this.

Carbonneau is apparently going to BC I heard.

Think Desnoyers and Schaefer are the only top picks not to be rumored anywhere. Schaefer will be able to call his shots and Desnoyers will be our 3C next year.

 

[JojoTheWhale]

I say that a bit tongue in cheek. It won’t literally become an u18 league, but the best prospects in those leagues will be u18 players as soon as next year and that’s something the CHL/NHL agreement prevented for years which made those the best junior and development leagues in the world. We are going to have to adjust our parameters for prospect evaluation. We are going to see some gaudy 16 and 17 year old stat lines.

I'm kind of surprised it turned this way this fast. I originally thought the CHL-NCAA route would have been most appealing for the 19 year old tweener that played three years of junior, too good for that level, but not good enough for the NHL. Seems like the trend is going to be two years in the CHL and then college for 1-2 years. And I think the competition for these kids will be so intense, they are going to guarantee early playing time.

And now we have Verhoeff, who just chose the CHL over NCAA not too long ago, and he's jumping to the NCAA after one year of Junior and leaving guaranteed usage in Victoria to play his draft year for a program that has sketchy recent track record with prospects. If he goes 2nd like projected with McKenna also going the college route, does accelerating your schooling to play college hockey in your draft year become the next trend?

And apparently there many more names to come (possibly waiting for NHL feedback before making a final decision).

If Title IX goes, the number of schools with interest is going up for sure. Now your investment level is lower.

SMU for example has a hockey team already. If those money schools get in on it, all hell will break loose. There's no way to avoid it.

 

[Appleyard]

I say that a bit tongue in cheek. It won’t literally become an u18 league, but the best prospects in those leagues will be u18 players as soon as next year and that’s something the CHL/NHL agreement prevented for years which made those the best junior and development leagues in the world. We are going to have to adjust our parameters for prospect evaluation. We are going to see some gaudy 16 and 17 year old stat lines.

I'm kind of surprised it turned this way this fast. I originally thought the CHL-NCAA route would have been most appealing for the 19 year old tweener that played three years of junior, too good for that level, but not good enough for the NHL. Seems like the trend is going to be two years in the CHL and then college for 1-2 years. And I think the competition for these kids will be so intense, they are going to guarantee early playing time.

And now we have Verhoeff, who just chose the CHL over NCAA not too long ago, and he's jumping to the NCAA after one year of Junior and leaving guaranteed usage in Victoria to play his draft year for a program that has sketchy recent track record with prospects. If he goes 2nd like projected with McKenna also going the college route, does accelerating your schooling to play college hockey in your draft year become the next trend?

And apparently there are many more names to come (possibly waiting for NHL feedback before making a final decision).

I feel like so, so few 17 year olds are capable of playing NCAA though. Maybe 10 per draft on average or something similar?

Will be interesting to see.

Some colleges are great and realistic. Others will promise some poor 17 year olds slated to go 40th overall the world and damage their progression.

At least a lot of the bigger agents are realistic and smart though... but ofc if a kid and family disagree with what agent is saying about best for development etc... well they just leave that agent aha. Big guys are fine with that and part of business of being a good agent... smaller agencies though might not be so altruistic.

Especially as the ecosystem realigns.

In a funny way some USHL teams are kind or benefitting short term... some good players returning for another year unexpectedly either as their school have committed to CHLer a year older so will be less opportunity until some guys leave, or to see how things lie in a year and maybe transfer.

 

[BiggE]

Did a 3 round mock at FC just now, I’d be pretty happy if the Flyers got these guys:
6 Martone RW
22 Bear C/W
31 Hensler D
36 Gastrin C
40 Brzustewicz D
45 Zharovsky RW
48 Fondrk C
68 Medvedev G

It was between Martone & Frondell at 6, but I just think Martone is the BPA at that point. Bear at 22 is a steal IMO and Hensler is solid value at 31.

 

[WolfOfBroadStreet14]

Anyone have a scouting report on Ivan Ryabkin? I know he’s fallen a great deal on draft boards.

 

[iceman42]

Anyone have a scouting report on Ivan Ryabkin? I know he’s fallen a great deal on draft boards.

Selfish top end offensive talent when he wants to play. Outside of the USHL he's not really been a big producer.

 

[Appleyard]

Selfish top end offensive talent when he wants to play. Outside of the USHL he's not really been a big producer.

Tbf his production from age 13-17 was comparable to Michkov, Demidov, Kucherov etc at the same age at the same levels!

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

I guess we’ll see who it is but it appears Penn State landed somebody else noteworthy.

They’ve been linked to Porter Martone.

 

[FLYguy3911]

I guess we’ll see who it is but it appears Penn State landed somebody else noteworthy.

They’ve been linked to Porter Mortone.

Maybe Misa also. They got his brother.

 

[BigToe]

Maybe Misa also. They got his brother.

Why not Misa and Martone

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

Maybe Misa also. They got his brother.

It sounds like Martone looking at some Penn State sites. Also sounds like McKenna is headed to Michigan State.

 

[BiggE]

Tbf his production from age 13-17 was comparable to Michkov, Demidov, Kucherov etc at the same age at the same levels!

I would absolutely take him if he was on the board at 31. You aren’t getting a sure thing at 31 so might as well reach for a high risk/high ceiling player.

 

[JojoTheWhale]

It sounds like Martone looking at some Penn State sites. Also sounds like McKenna is headed to Michigan State.

Oh the money is here already?

I don’t know how you look at the history of college football and basketball and do anything but assume the majority of CHL stars are headed to US colleges. The bagmen won’t be from the SEC this time, but the process is the same.

There are going to be people who think the traditional system can hold. Look at college football real closely before you make that argument. It’s all a cash grab. Even the traditional Bowl games. They just hid it a little better.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Why not Misa and Martone

Jackson Smith follows Penn State hockey…

 

[iceman42]

The NHL is going to have to do some changes in regards to NCAA players and their rights. They either extend it a year after college or they are going to have to work out an arrangement with the NCAA similar to Jrs.