Official 2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[ValeriKamensky]

If you can’t skate won’t play in this league

Mason West is a great skater, especially for his size

 

[Appleyard]

Have a feeling he will be there in 2nd round tbh. Would be a great pick swing wise with one of Flyers early 2nds.

 

[Appleyard]

Always an interesting exercise.

 

[Evergreen]

I've watched a lot of Hagens over the past few months and I'm not incredibly impressed tbh. I'm not worried about his size, but I just don't see him being an elite level scorer at the NHL level. He forces a lot of plays that often end up working out at the college/junior level, but won't work so well in the NHL.

I'm kind of hoping he is taken before our pick because I would not feel particularly confident with him as our pick and I'm worried we'd take him just because he was a (mostly) consensus top-6 guy, kind of like how we took Nolan Patrick because he was a consensus top-2 guy in 2017. I'm hoping Martone or Frondell is available at 6, but I somehow doubt it.

Disclaimer: I'm obviously not a pro scout so I could end up being completely wrong on these guys haha.

 

[Appleyard]

Dahlen is basically the only other who has managed over 0.50... and frankly he would have been a 50+ point NHL forward if he had any interest in playing anywhere but Timra.

Damn, forgot Wennberg as well... albeit he did have 1 60 point year.

 

[iceman42]

Dahlen is basically the only other who has managed over 0.50... and frankly he would have been a 50+ point NHL forward if he had any interest in playing anywhere but Timra.

Damn, forgot Wennberg as well... albeit he did have 1 60 point year.

I think this is one thing about the NHL draft that makes it hard, or fun depending on your level of masochism, to predict 17-18 year olds NHL trajectory. You have some playing with mature men and others play against those the same age. Add to that the leagues, including the CHL, the talent level fluctuates.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

So apparently Buccigross jumped the gun on Gavin McKenna to Michigan State tweet. He very well could still end up there but he’s just visiting there in the upcoming weeks as of now. He’s apparently visiting two other schools as well. I think the assumption is that those schools are Michigan & Penn State.

 

[Don Nachbaur 26]

So apparently Buccigross jumped the gun on Gavin McKenna to Michigan State tweet. He very well could still end up there but he’s just visiting there in the upcoming weeks as of now. He’s apparently visiting two other schools as well. I think the assumption is that those schools are Michigan & Penn State.

It would be a great "get" for PSU

 

[Danko]

Decentralized draft is dumb

 

[Appleyard]

Doing a piece on Frondell, deep dive for PHLY...

and the more into the piece I get the more I think he will be able to play C in the NHL.

He just exclusively plays in the middle of the ice when he has the puck, even from wing. He instinctively goes to the deep fwd spot in the DZ... you can just tell he was a kid who grew up playing C since when he laced up skates.

Yeh, he is shoot first. But Mathews and Draisaitl are and two of the best Cs in the league.

 

[DownieFaceSoftener]

I'd be interested in that. I am not always sure how to line up Frondell's playstyle + production. More familiar with juniors.

 

[FatTugboatFlahr]

So apparently Buccigross jumped the gun on Gavin McKenna to Michigan State tweet. He very well could still end up there but he’s just visiting there in the upcoming weeks as of now. He’s apparently visiting two other schools as well. I think the assumption is that those schools are Michigan & Penn State.

Hockey team is going to win a title before the football team at this rate.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

For some reason I associate McKenna with Patrick Kane so it would be poetic justice in a way if the Flyers won the draft next year

 

[WolfOfBroadStreet14]

Doing a piece on Frondell, deep dive for PHLY...

and the more into the piece I get the more I think he will be able to play C in the NHL.

He just exclusively plays in the middle of the ice when he has the puck, even from wing. He instinctively goes to the deep fwd spot in the DZ... you can just tell he was a kid who grew up playing C since when he laced up skates.

Yeh, he is shoot first. But Mathews and Draisaitl are and two of the best Cs in the league.

How is Frondell in draws?

 

[Danko]

who are the top 3 we want to draft? i've got like my lunch break to get caught up

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

Hockey team is going to win a title before the football team at this rate.

Yeah we’ll see. I think the Big Ten for hockey next year is shaping up to be a blood bath given their programs are seemingly poaching most of these CHL players. I think more dominos will fall after the draft & such too.

Fortunately for us that live in the area within the Big Ten media footprint will get some of these games on the Big Ten Network next year.

 

[Appleyard]

How is Frondell in draws?

Above average but not elite.

 

[Appleyard]

I'd be interested in that. I am not always sure how to line up Frondell's playstyle + production. More familiar with juniors.

I get why people think he might not stick at C... his transition game is so "off the puck based" and he is maybe best as an F2 in the OZ.

BUT he just loves being in the middle of the ice. He cant help but go there even at LW. I dont think any C prospect in the draft probably got as high a proportion of EV points in their draft year between the circles tbh.

Just a guy who is hard to compare as well. He is a shoot first C when there who loves center ice and can go to the net. Not a million miles away from Matthews, Draisaitl, prime Eric Staal stylistically in OZ...

but all those 3 guys were/are good NZ puck carriers. While in NZ as a C Frondell plays more like Mikko Koivu, Joe Pavelski, Paul Stastny, Ryan O'Reilly and Elias Lindholm... rare "off the puck" Cs who in NZ are kind of playing more of a "winger" role.

and then in DZ he is happy to play as a C and quite good at it...

so an interesting blend.


I will say though... despite his size and speed Roope Hintz sucked as a puck-carrier in transition early in career and now is good!

 

[Flyerfan4life]

can it just be draft day alrrady...

 

[Appleyard]

Frondell also gets a lot of primary assists... but not too many of them are super pretty etc. Just functional getting pucks to soft ice and free players.

I do love just how much he tries to get the puck to home plate. Whether on his stick or passing.

I think the range of possibilities for him are basically from a 30 goal, 50 point LW who scores around the net and in slot... to a lower-end shoot-first 1C (Hischier, Hintz, Aho level)...

Just a very interesting player in terms of how he plays as not many players really have his "style".

Zetterberg when he played LW with Datsyuk is maybe the closest "stylistically" I can get. IE a C playing LW. Albeit Zetterberg was a better skater and passer. But in terms of where he goes to, the plays he tried to make... yeh... Benn also does some similar things when in his hybrid LW/C role.

 

[WolfOfBroadStreet14]

can it just be draft day alrrady...

Don’t wish your life away my friend

 

[Gregor Samsa]

McQueen with passing medicals would be great. I can easily see Utah or Nashville picking him if that’s the case

 

[TheKingPin]

McQueen with passing medicals would be great. I can easily see Utah or Nashville picking him if that’s the case

Him passing would be great for him and also for us. Either he becomes an actual option or maybe someone feels better about grabbing him ahead of us.

 

[Larry44]

McQueen with passing medicals would be great. I can easily see Utah or Nashville picking him if that’s the case

Yeah, he's a health-based wildcard. If McQueen goes top 5, it'll mean another good option for the Flyers drops.

I'm waiting to see who has the highest grip strength at the Combine before making my predictions on the Flyers' pick at 6, LOL!

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Yeah, he's a health-based wildcard. If McQueen goes top 5, it'll mean another good option for the Flyers drops.

I'm waiting to see who has the highest grip strength at the Combine before making my predictions on the Flyers' pick at 6, LOL!

I think we’ll know right away who the Flyers are picking as soon as Nashville picks it’s just impossible to say who it will be now as picks 3-5 can go in many ways.

The scariest scenario to me is if Hagens, Frondell, and Desnoyers are off the board and it’s between Martone and the O’Brien tier. I know the Flyers desperately need centers but Martone is one of 4 blue chip prospects in this draft, with a high floor and a high ceiling. He would be too good to pass over IMO but who knows what the Flyers think. O’Brien may turn into a great player but he’s a scary pick with high boom/bust potential. A “healthy” McQueen would be nice and throw a wrinkle into the draft