Post your 2025 draft list

[Star Platinum]

Martone strikes me as the unique forward talent in the lot, yet his stock definitely hasn’t risen and seems to be slipping…I don’t get it.

I think if Martone didn't have a reputation for inconsistent effort, he'd have a lock on #3

 

[Shroud of Orrin]

In con sis tancy…the disease that’s killed 10,000 players..:

 

[The don godfather]

McQueen could be the best player in the draft.

 

[viceroy]

McQueen could be the best player in the draft.

And Cayden Lindstrom could be the best player in the '24 draft.

 

[BrettM]

1.New York Islanders-D Matthew Schaefer(Erie OHL)

2.San Jose Sharks-F Michael Misa(Saginaw OHL)

3.Chicago Blackhawks-F Porter Martone(Brampton OHL)

4.Utah Mammoth-F Caleb Desnoyers(Moncton QMJHL)

5.Nashville Predators-F James Hagens(Boston College NCAA)

6.Philadelphia Flyers-F Anton Frondell(Djurgardens U20 Sweden)

7.Boston Bruins-D Radm Mrtka(Seattle WHL)

8.Seattle Kraken-D Blake Fiddler(Edmonton WHL)

9.Buffalo Sabres-F Brady Martin(Soo OHL)

10.Anaheim Ducks-F Jake O’Brien(Brampton OHL)

11.Pittsburgh Penguins-D Jackson Smith(Tri-City WHL)

12.New York Rangers-F Victor Eklund(Djurgardens IF Sweden)

13.Detroit Red Wings-D Kashawn Atcheson(Barrie OHL)

14.Columbus Blue Jackets-F Roger McQueen(Brandon WHL)

15.Vancouver Canucks-D Logan Hensler(Wisconsin NCAA)

16.Montreal Canadiens-F Cole Reschny(North Dakota NCAA)

17.Montreal Canadiens-F Ivan Ryabkin(Muskegon USHL)

18.Calgary Flames-F Lyndon Lakovic(Moose Jaw WHL)

19.St.Louis Blues-D Sascha Boumedienne(Boston U NCAA)

20.Columbus Blue Jackets-F Malcolm Spence(Erie OHL)

21.Ottawa Senators-F William Moore(USNTDP)

22.Philadelphia Flyers-F Carter Bear(Everett WHL)

23.Nashville Predators-D Alex Huang(Chicoutimi QMJHL)

24.Los Angeles Kings-F Shane Vansaghi(Michigan State NCAA0

25.Chicago Blackhawks-F Braeden Cootes(Seattle WHL)

26.Nashville Predators-D Haoxi Wang(King OJHL)

27.Washington Capitals-F Jack Nesbitt(Windsor OHL)

28.Winnipeg Jets-F Cameron Schmidt(Vancouver WHL)

29.Carolina Hurricanes-F Justin Carbonneau(Blainville-Boisbriand QMJHL)

30.San Jose Sharks-D Cameron Reid(Kitchener OHL)

31.Philadelphia Flyers-F Jack Murtaugh(USNTDP)

32.Calgary Flames-F Tomas Poletin(Pelicans Finland)

 

[The don godfather]

1.New York Islanders-D Matthew Schaefer(Erie OHL)

2.San Jose Sharks-F Michael Misa(Saginaw OHL)

3.Chicago Blackhawks-F Porter Martone(Brampton OHL)

4.Utah Mammoth-F Caleb Desnoyers(Moncton QMJHL)

5.Nashville Predators-F James Hagens(Boston College NCAA)

6.Philadelphia Flyers-F Anton Frondell(Djurgardens U20 Sweden)

7.Boston Bruins-D Radm Mrtka(Seattle WHL)

8.Seattle Kraken-D Blake Fiddler(Edmonton WHL)

9.Buffalo Sabres-F Brady Martin(Soo OHL)

10.Anaheim Ducks-F Jake O’Brien(Brampton OHL)

11.Pittsburgh Penguins-D Jackson Smith(Tri-City WHL)

12.New York Rangers-F Victor Eklund(Djurgardens IF Sweden)

13.Detroit Red Wings-D Kashawn Atcheson(Barrie OHL)

14.Columbus Blue Jackets-F Roger McQueen(Brandon WHL)

15.Vancouver Canucks-D Logan Hensler(Wisconsin NCAA)

16.Montreal Canadiens-F Cole Reschny(North Dakota NCAA)

17.Montreal Canadiens-F Ivan Ryabkin(Muskegon USHL)

18.Calgary Flames-F Lyndon Lakovic(Moose Jaw WHL)

19.St.Louis Blues-D Sascha Boumedienne(Boston U NCAA)

20.Columbus Blue Jackets-F Malcolm Spence(Erie OHL)

21.Ottawa Senators-F William Moore(USNTDP)

22.Philadelphia Flyers-F Carter Bear(Everett WHL)

23.Nashville Predators-D Alex Huang(Chicoutimi QMJHL)

24.Los Angeles Kings-F Shane Vansaghi(Michigan State NCAA0

25.Chicago Blackhawks-F Braeden Cootes(Seattle WHL)

26.Nashville Predators-D Haoxi Wang(King OJHL)

27.Washington Capitals-F Jack Nesbitt(Windsor OHL)

28.Winnipeg Jets-F Cameron Schmidt(Vancouver WHL)

29.Carolina Hurricanes-F Justin Carbonneau(Blainville-Boisbriand QMJHL)

30.San Jose Sharks-D Cameron Reid(Kitchener OHL)

31.Philadelphia Flyers-F Jack Murtaugh(USNTDP)

32.Calgary Flames-F Tomas Poletin(Pelicans Finland)

Bruins will draft a forward.

 

[Kent Nilsson]

I don’t see how Chicago would pass on Porter Martone.

Martone would be a great winger for Bedard.

What hurt Martone stock was the WJ showcase which he kinda toned his own game down, as he was better away from the puck in that tournament.

You would have to say he

Martoned down his game

 

[Quatre Vingt Treize]

1. Brady Martin
2. Michael Misa
3. Matthew Schafer
4. Anton Frondell
5. Porter Martone
6. Caleb Desnoyers
7. Radim Mrkta
8. James Hagens
9. Kurban Limatov
10. Roger McQueen
11. Carter Bear
12. Jackson Smith
13. Victor Eklund
14. Kashawn Aitcheson
15. Mason West
16. Jake O’Brien
17. Tomas Pobezal
18. Alexander Zharovsky
19. Braeden Cootes
20. Jacob Ihs Wozniak
21. Logan Hensler
22. Cole McKinney
23. Joshua Ravensbergen
24. Lynden Lakovic
25. Matthew Gard
26. Cullen Potter
27. Milton Gastrin
28. Cameron Reid
29. Jack Murtagh
30. Eric Nilson
31. Conrad Fondrk
32. Nathan Behm

You really like Pobezal

 

[wetcoast]

Bruins will draft a forward.

Came here to say that the Canucks will draft a center not another Dman

 

[wetcoast]

You really like Pobezal

17 is way too high for him.

 

[Hinterland]

My (personal and rather controversial) top64:


1.) Matthew Schaefer
2.) Michael Misa
3.) Porter Martone
4.) Anton Frondell
5.) Ben Kindel
6.) Bill Zonnon
7.) Roger McQueen
8.) Caleb Desnoyers
9.) Radim Mrtka
10.) Victor Eklund
11.) Jake O'Brien
12.) Brady Martin
13.) James Hagens
14.) Kashawn Aitcheson
15.) Braeden Cootes
16.) Cole Reschny
17.) Sascha Boumedienne
18.) Logan Hensler
19.) Justin Carbonneau
20.) Will Horcoff
21.) Lynden Lakovic
22.) Cullen Potter
23.) Jack Nesbitt
24.) Carter Bear
25.) Cameron Reid
26.) Malcolm Spence
27.) Blake Fiddler
28.) Ryker Lee
29.) Henry Brzustewicz
30.) Jack Murtagh
31.) Joshua Ravensbergen
32.) Cole McKinney

33.) Vaclav Nestrasil
34.) Will Moore
35.) Ivan Ryabkin
36.) Vojtěch Čihař
37.) Hayden Paupanekis
38.) Cameron Schmidt
39.) Shane Vansaghi
40.) Jacob Rombach
41.) Matthew Gard
42.) Carter Amico
43.) Tyler Hopkins
44.) Ethan Czata
45.) Nathan Behm
46.) Peyton Kettles
47.) Alexei Medvedev
48.) Luca Romano
49.) Theodor Hallquisth
50.) Charlie Threthewey
51.) David Bedkowski
52.) Eddie Genborg
53.) Tomas Polentin
54.) Owen Griffin
55.) Kristian Epperson
56.) Ben Kevan
57.) Lasse Boelius
58.) Brandon Gorzynski
59.) Will Sharpe
60.) Filip Ekberg
61.) Eduard Bondar
62.) Lucas Beckman
63.) Samuel Meloche
64.) Michal Pradel

 

[uncleben]

My (personal and rather controversial) top64:


1.) Matthew Schaefer
2.) Michael Misa
3.) Porter Martone
4.) Anton Frondell
5.) Ben Kindel
6.) Bill Zonnon
7.) Roger McQueen
8.) Caleb Desnoyers
9.) Radim Mrtka
10.) Victor Eklund
11.) Jake O'Brien
12.) Brady Martin
13.) James Hagens
14.) Kashawn Aitcheson
15.) Braeden Cootes
16.) Cole Reschny
17.) Sascha Boumedienne
18.) Logan Hensler
19.) Justin Carbonneau
20.) Will Horcoff
21.) Lynden Lakovic
22.) Cullen Potter
23.) Jack Nesbitt
24.) Carter Bear
25.) Cameron Reid
26.) Malcolm Spence
27.) Blake Fiddler
28.) Ryker Lee
29.) Henry Brzustewicz
30.) Jack Murtagh
31.) Joshua Ravensbergen
32.) Cole McKinney

33.) Vaclav Nestrasil
34.) Will Moore
35.) Ivan Ryabkin
36.) Vojtěch Čihař
37.) Hayden Paupanekis
38.) Cameron Schmidt
39.) Shane Vansaghi
40.) Jacob Rombach
41.) Matthew Gard
42.) Carter Amico
43.) Tyler Hopkins
44.) Ethan Czata
45.) Nathan Behm
46.) Peyton Kettles
47.) Alexei Medvedev
48.) Luca Romano
49.) Theodor Hallquisth
50.) Charlie Threthewey
51.) David Bedkowski
52.) Eddie Genborg
53.) Tomas Polentin
54.) Owen Griffin
55.) Kristian Epperson
56.) Ben Kevan
57.) Lasse Boelius
58.) Brandon Gorzynski
59.) Will Sharpe
60.) Filip Ekberg
61.) Eduard Bondar
62.) Lucas Beckman
63.) Samuel Meloche
64.) Michal Pradel

Is no Jackson Smith purposeful or an accidental oversight?

 

[rocketdan9]

My Final Mock draft

1. NYI - Misa. The full package center
2. SJS - Schaefer - Best D. Slick moves.
3. CHI - Martone - Sarnia Sting collection?
4. UTA - Martin - Campfire rumor
5. NSH - Hagens - Best friend Stiga
6. PHI - Frondell - One timers w/ Michkov
7. BOS - Desnoyers - Grew up a Bruins fan

8. SEA - Mrtka
9. BUF - Eklund
10. ANA - O'Brien
11. PIT - McQueen
12. NYR - Aitchenson
13. DET - Cootes
14. CBJ - Ryabkin
15. VAN - Bear
16. MTL - Spence
17. MTL - Carbonneau
18. CGY - Smith
19. STL - Vansaghi (hometown)
20. CBJ - Hensler
21. OTT - Kindel
22. PHI - Reschny
23. NSH - Fiddler
24. LA - Lakovic
25. CHI - Ravensbergen
26. NSH - Nestrasil
27. WSH - Potter
28. WPG - Nesbitt
29. CAR - Moore
30. SJS - Gastrin
31. PHI - Ihs-Wozniak
32. CGY - Zonnon

 

[shaner8989]

1. NYI - Schafer
2. SJS - Misa
3. CHI - Hagens
4. UTA - Martone
5. NSH - Martin
6. PHI - Frondell
7. BOS - Desnoyers
8. SEA - Smith
9. BUF - Eklund
10. ANA - O'Brien
11. PIT - McQueen
12. NYR - Aitchenson
13. DET - Cootes
14. CBJ - Myrka
15. VAN - Bear
16. MTL - Spence
17. MTL - Carbonneau
18. CGY - Ryabkin
19. STL - Potter
20. CBJ - Nesbitt
21. OTT - Kindel
22. PHI - Reschny
23. NSH - Horcoff
24. LA - Lakovic
25. CHI - Ravensbergen
26. NSH - Nestrasil
27. WSH - Nobert
28. WPG - Lee
29. CAR - Zonnon
30. SJS - Hensler
31. PHI - Rimpinen
32. CGY - Cerrato

 

[Hinterland]

Is no Jackson Smith purposeful or an accidental oversight?

I'm probably being unfair because Smith played for a team that frankly wasn't very good but I really don't like his decision making/hockey IQ. We don't have to talk about his ceiling. It's probably closer to Schaefer's than anybody else's. Smith has incredible hands and his combination of speed and mobility is pretty solid for a big man, too.

I think he's a boom or bust type of prospect though because I've yet to see him make smart decisions with the puck on a nightly basis. He may be fun to watch but most of his plays are clear cut junior league plays he's never gonna pull off vs men, let alone in the NHL. I get it...he didn't have a lot of support on his team and probably felt the need to do a lot on his own. I fully understand him taking additional risks on a few occasions but to me he never really displayed the vision necessary to make the right play at the right time, relieve pressure with good outlet passes, see open passing lanes, create chances for his teammates etc. I think that his decision making, maybe his hockey IQ in general, is a work in progress and he's gonna have to adjust his playing style as early as next season as he stops playing vs kids.

Some team is gonna draft Smith early and probably well inside the top10 because of his upside alone. That team may or may not get rewarded down the road but I think that either way Jackson Smith is a project in need of good coaching over the next few years as he tries to adjust to a more mature, more pro suitable playing style.

 

[Chuck Downie]

1. NYI - Schafer
2. SJS - Misa
3. CHI - Hagens
4. UTA - Martone
5. NSH - Martin
6. PHI - Frondell
7. BOS - Desnoyers
8. SEA - Smith
9. BUF - Eklund
10. ANA - O'Brien
11. PIT - McQueen
12. NYR - Aitchenson
13. DET - Cootes
14. CBJ - Myrka
15. VAN - Bear
16. MTL - Spence
17. MTL - Carbonneau
18. CGY - Ryabkin
19. STL - Potter
20. CBJ - Nesbitt
21. OTT - Kindel
22. PHI - Reschny
23. NSH - Horcoff
24. LA - Lakovic
25. CHI - Ravensbergen
26. NSH - Nestrasil
27. WSH - Nobert
28. WPG - Lee
29. CAR - Zonnon
30. SJS - Hensler
31. PHI - Rimpinen
32. CGY - Cerrato

Rimpinen fan

 

[TheUnusedCrayon]

Edit: spelling in preface lol

Preface: I haven't scouted nearly as much as I've wanted this year. Just haven't had time with work and kids. I obviously haven't scouted enough individuals but these were the ones I managed to get to. Anyways here's my wild list.

-----------



#1 - Michael Misa - top forward in the draft. Interchangeable with Schaeffer for the #1 spot but I just feel his upside is a slight bit higher so I have him at #1 due to the fact he's a bit more complete of a player and has a slight bit more star potential. Very good forward, good skating, good hands, good shot, good playmaking. Can drive the play. His best quality however is his anticipation which puts him above all of the other forwards. He's quick to anticipate an offensive play and will quickly move to get himself into offensive positions. Has the raw skill to be a star forward and in my opinion has the IQ as well. Still a tiny bit raw in his risky play but overall is a very good prospect. Should project to be a first line player if he reaches his potential. Tier 1


#2 - Matthew Schaeffer - one of the best defensive prospects in the last years as he has the unique ability to be good defensively while providing offense. Very complete player but to me he's far more impressive on the defensive side than the offensive side. People made comparisons of him to Makar and that's really pushing it. Offensively Makar had phenomenal puck handling ability at his age but Schaeffer was also far better defensively than Makar. Both had great skating though and Schaeffer's engagement defensively is where he really shines. Uses his skating really well to place him as an outstanding defensive prospect but I wanted to see him use his skating more to handle the puck. You see flashes of it and he has the ability but he often defers for really simple defensive plays to move the puck instead of skating the puck out of trouble as often as he should. Currently projects as a #2 defenseman but if he puts the pieces together (and he should) he could easily shape up to be a #1 defenseman almost similar to a Petreangelo type. I'm really impressed with his skating, his defensive engagement (still needs to work a tadddd bit on making the right decision defensively but he's far and away ahead of everybody his age so that's nitpicking) and his shot from the point. Great prospect. As somebody who is hyper critical of defensemen he didn't disappoint me, which I often am because I find they tend to either sacrifice defense or offense as prospects. My one worry about this kid is that he often will skate full tilt into oncoming physical play so I wonder if he will end up injury prone. Tier 1


#3 - Victor Eklund - love this player. Great motor, smart IQ and good hands. Very quick decision maker that has a knack for making smart NHL level plays. Very good anticipation skills and knows when to jump up into plays and when to stay idle from his own end. If you land this kid you're happy with your draft choice. He has an NHL ready game. Uses his body very well. This is a very very safe pick in my opinion. Very low risk and high ceiling. His floor is a 3rd line winger, realistically he is a 2nd line winger and has a very good chance and in my estimation will be a first line winger. Already NHL ready prospect. This is the type of player you win hockey games with. This kid already wins so many battles at his size, once he bulks up he's going to be an absolute beast on the forecheck as he already is. Tier 2


#4 - Porter Martone - good energy and effort both of offensively and defensively, supports the play well, has a lot skill and in general should be a good player. He has a lot of skill and should project to be a good player if he develops well. Not too many flaws in his game when he's playing well. He is one of those players that doesn't seem elite in any areas but good in a lot of areas. Tier 3


#5 - Jake O'Brien - best playmaker in the draft with some elite tools passing the puck but has flaws. Average skater. Not a good motor despite being engaged. He's too economical in his movements and while he understands the game defensively and can anticipate plays, he sometimes gets watching the puck too much and opts to play lanes instead of engaging with body or sticks, which can work in junior but not nearly as much at the NHL level. His ability to use his body to open up playmaking and pull apart defenses is elite. It's what makes him a top pick in the draft. Very similar style to Henrik Sedin which is why I love this player. Super quick decision making, knows when to change angles but is simply flawed in his skating and parts of his defensive game. He's worth a high pick though. Has the tools to be a top line center. His offense is ready for the NHL and to put up points consistently at the NHL level, it's just his skating ability, ability to protect the puck in dangerous areas (which he tends to handle often), and his defensive tendencies which makes him a potential liability towards the defensive end of the game. Love this kid but there is danger towards picking him. With the correct development however he should net you a huge win in the draft. He's a smart player that sometimes is just riddled with overconfidence. Tier 3


#6 - Carter Bear - a high energy 6'0" player who commits to every play. Great motor on this kid which moves him up my list as I love his style of play. What's even better is the kid not only has the style of play you love to see where he's an absolute dog on a bone, but he has the skill to go with it. Above average playmaking, good hands, decent skating and a quick shot. He uses his hands to set up his shot as well as he will change angles to manipulate goaltenders as well. Sometimes could have a bit more vision, but he makes up for it in intangibles. Throws a hit almost every play where he looks like a more skilled Kiefer Sherwood. One of my favourite players in the draft and I'm surprised people aren't giving him much credit considering everybody seems to like the kid (maybe injury related). The one area of weakness in his game is that he sometimes needs to slow the game down instead of going a million miles a minute but I usually attribute that to a lack of maturity which you see in so many prospects offensively. Most players have that trait at this age but that's what separates somebody like Jake O'Brien in this draft class as he has that ability that most of the forward class have this year. Tier 3


#7 - James Hagens - very good engagement and a very good skater but to me still lacks some decision making skills, defensively has a tendency to puck watch. Has good raw skills but I don't see the super high end talent that makes him a star. Loses a lot of battles despite putting in good efforts. Just had a tendency to skate into traffic but not intending to take on defense. This is where I don't like his decision making. When given space though he's a good playmaker. Top 10 pick but I see his ceiling being a 2nd line center, not a top line player like most people see. He has the tools just lacks some thinking and isn't elite in anything which drops him down my board. This far down the board will probably annoy a lot of people but I think this kid is living off of his reputation. Tier 3



#8 - Roger McQueen - lots of potential here. Huge player that towers over same aged talent in the WHL. Strong on faceoffs. Good hands. Above average IQ. Will use his size to his advantage which is great to see. Above average off puck offense, average off puck defense. Has the tools to be a phenomenal player but lacks skating ability currently and is injury prone. Worth a swing in my opinion. I don't think given the injury history you let him slip past spot 15 in the draft but very likely to be taken before that, potentially even top 10 due to size and potential. He has the potential to be a top 3 player in the draft but a lot of stars need to align for this to happen and with the risk of the injury I think he slips to mid first round. I'd likely have him lower on my board but the ceiling is just so high on this player. Tier 3



#9 - Justin Carbonneau - fluid skating, big bodied player who has a good set of hands and good vision and playmaking. Has a good motor and good anticipation skills and it's his anticipation which boosts him up the draft for me. A lot of people are sleeping on this pick it seems. He's a pretty complete player but could use some work in tighr spaces. He has the hands just needs refinement. I'm not a fan of him on the powerplay however as he opts to be a tip-first guy instead of fading out to the wing. I think with his skill set he should roam a bit more in the offensive zone but that's coaching adjustments not really a negative on the player. He has a heavy shot. Tier 4





#10 - Lynden Lakovic - lanky forward who has a decent base of raw tools. Has decent playmaking, has a decent shot and decent but inconsistent set of hands. He has flashes of being amazing and flashes where you wish he was more polished. Overall he has a decent ceiling being a big forward. He seems like a safer version of Roger McQueen to me but less of a ceiling. Likely 2nd line player if he pans out. He could easily be interchangeable with McQueen though, just depends on what you draft for at the spot you're in. He has good engagement. Better defensively than McQueen though. Tier 4







#11 - Cullen Potter - very good skater, knows how to use his speed. Supports the play well, is engaged defensively, knows who to play man to man vs zone and fights hard for pucks. Doesn't have the raw tools as some of the other top players in the draft but his skating and IQ makes up for it. His shot is good but needs more work on his hands and playmaking. I anticipate him being a 2nd-3rd line player but if he figures out how to be more patient and to hold onto pucks instead of making low-risk plays offensively he'd be miles ahead of where he is now. He's got a good floor though. Will play in the NHL as he's a good forechecker and a hard worker. Tier 4



#12 - Logan Hensler - 2-way defenseman who has above average puck control and does best when he carries the puck. Has above average skating ability and can walk a line and quarterback a powerplay. Defensively he needs a bit of work however. Is prone to having inconsistent gap control but has a good stick. Isn't the strongest along the walls and along the walls he could use a bit of work offensively. Excels breaking out of the zone and holding onto the puck at the point. I project top 3 defenseman. Potential to be a #2 if development goes very well but he's still quite raw. Would like a bit more IQ both offensively and defensively as I feel he's average in both areas. He has the potential to be more dynamic but would like to see more of that ability consistently. Not overly physical. Wouldn't be surprised to see him go mid first round or top 12. Has a higher floor and Radim Mrtka but not as high of a ceiling as Mrtka I project to be better defensively. Towards the end of the year he was moving his feet a lot better with the puck which was setting up his offense more. Tier 4



#13 - Radim Mrtka - giant 2-way defenseman (more defense than offense). Has good skating for his size, good edge work but poor acceleration. If he had more explosiveness he would be a bigger threat offensively but he's aware of his limitations so he tends to defer to simpler offensive plays. Will jump up in the play which I like and has a decent level of risk to his game. His giant reach helps him defensively and he has great engagement away from the play. Needs more work on individual board battles though. Could use his body more efficiently but I feel that's something that can be taught. I predict he goes near the later end of top 10 as he's a tall RHD but realistically is a 10-15 pick. Slight risk to the pick but potentially huge dividends if he hits his true potential of being a number 2 defenseman. Likelier projection however is a #3 or 2nd line RHD. If he can learn to use his body more efficiently could really pan out because he has a set of hands. With that said he is a project as he has deficiencies in his game whether that be through his engagement, thinking ability, skating ability, etc. The more I watch of him the lower I tend to drop him down the board because I become more uncertain of his game translating to the NHL but he should pan out and be useful. The more I watch the more I feel he needs more years of development. Tier 4






#14 - Caleb Desnoyers - a forward that is effective when he has the puck but has some deficiencies without it. His strength to me is his ability to play make even though he has a good shot. One thing that is above average with him compared to his peers is he understands that stopping up and changing angles to open up the ice helps sets his game up. This is good IQ however I dislike his IQ when away from the puck both offensively and defensively. He puck watches and tends to glide around a lot. When he gets on his horse he's an effective player but you don't see it often enough which hurts him quite a bit. He doesn't support the play well enough in my opinion as he will often glide in behind defenders as opposed to moving into an open lane. But with the puck this guy has the skill and talent necessary to be a top 6 forward. He's just raw and is years away from the NHL. I worry about his engagement on both ends of the ice without the puck. However he has good hands, one of the better playmakers in the draft and has effective finishing. His inconsistency is where I struggle putting him in the top 10 (where I think he will go). He'd be way up my board if he had better details (top 7). Doesn't drive play enough to be a top 5 pick like some have him ranked. Has great skill but I really think so many people are overrating him as a prospect. Tier 4




#15 - Kashawn Aitcheson - big, physical 2-way defenseman. Above average defensively but really uses his size well. Not afraid to fight. Will also jump up into the play offensively which is what you like to see. Not the best hands but has a heavy slapshot. He's a decent skater, good for his size. Would like to see him have a bit of a better stick defensively to cover lanes. 1 on 1 he has a good stick but off puck I'd like to see a bit of a better stick. He takes risks which is good to see in a prospect. Could have some more raw tools to work with but I wouldn't be surprised to see him go mid first round. I project top 4 defenseman. Reminds me a lot of Darnell Nurse with his style of play except he jumps up into the play a bit more similar to Owen Power. Really good off-puck in the offensive zone. Knows to head to open space to give options for the forwards. Tier 4




#16 - Anton Frondell - let's get one thing out of the way first, he has the best shot in the draft. Super heavy. His one-timer is phenomenal. The one reason why I don't have him as high up on my board is simply because he lacks in other areas. He's not a work horse, his skating is slightly below average, his playmaking isn't great and I don't see high level IQ and anticipation skills. What I do see is a powerplay specialist however and one that will easily be effective in that role. I however don't see him as anything other than a complimentary goal scorer who will absolutely be reliant on being next to a good player. He can't play in the bottom six and he doesn't create enough on his own to elevate him to top 10 prospect for me. Off the puck he will go to threatening areas though which is good. I just think his value down the line won't be as high as say a top 4 d-man or line-driving top 6 forward. Reminds me a lot of Brock Boeser when he's having his off years. Will score goals, however at the cost of needing to be forced up the lineup which ultimately brings down your top 6 because defensively he isn't great and doesn't make the players around him better. Tier 5


#17 - Braeden Cootes - 6 foot player that has raw skill and a great motor. He's a good prospect but what he lacks is decision making. I love his tenacity but sometimes he commits at the wrong time, is poor at supporting the puck carrier away from the play and overcommits to the opponent's puck carrier allowing himself to be pulled out of position. He has the raw tools but how to use them I feel is where he falters a bit. I understand why people love this player as he has a lot of traits that are admirable but they also come with a lot of learning necessary to become an NHL player. Could pan out to be a 2nd line center however he will need the right environment and patient coaching to educate him. One thing I think he excels in however is his vision. He will sometimes spot the cheeky passes necsssary to get some nice primary assists. If he can become more consistent with his decision making he could be a great pick up in this draft. Tier 5



#18 - Cameron Schmidt - has a lot of tools that you like to see. Elite shot and great hands. 5'7" though and that will cause him to slip in the draft. 8.5/10 off puck offense, 6/10 off puck defense. He's smart off puck defensively but sometimes lacks the real drive to haul ass to get back defensively. His skating is above average but not elite. I love that he is always taking risks and plays with confidence. That alone puts him higher on my list simply because a forward needs to be cutting to the middle of the ice to be a top player in the league and he does this all of the time, and a lot of times to a fault, but I'd rather see him try at this age than only showing signs of perimeter play. Size is definitely a concern but his offensive tools in my opinion puts him around mid first round status for me however I wouldn't be surprised to see him go late first round or be a surprise that drops to the 2nd round given his height and risky play. I actually have him as one of the better forwards in the draft however his height moves him down for me. I think he's worth a crack despite his size around this range. Tier 5







#19 - Bill Zonnon - love this player. He's not the most skilled but he will be an NHL player as he is such a smart defensive player. You can make the argument he's ranked a bit high but I love players that have phenomenal motors. He's great off puck both offensively and defensively. Plays a simple offensive game but does so many things that are right and uses his hustle effectively. The type of player that helps you win playoff games be size he's always hustling into lanes whether it be to support a play or to help defensively. He processes the game pretty quickly, just needs a bit more raw tools such as pick handling ability and a better shot to really become successful. I project him as a shutdown 3rd line center but if the stars align he might end up a 2nd line shutdown center. His playmaking is fine but he doesn't display enough confidence with his hands and his shot is average. The only way you hate this pick is if he is chosen too high. If taken in the latter third of the 1st round you are going to get great value out of this player. Tier 5




#20 - Cameron Reid - a very interesting d-man. Good two way play but is plagued by his timing of when to pinch and jump up into the play. This is where he needs refinement. I love the aggressiveness of his game but it will not work at the NHL level but with that said I think it is very coachable. He has a good defensive stick and I'm not worried about him defensively only until he jumps into play at a poor time in the offensive zone. When facing rushes he's a smart defender. In the offensive zone he roams a bit too much but again that's coachable. Can rush the puck up the ice effectively. He's just such an interesting player because he can anticipate plays in the neutral zone and defensive zone but in the offensive zone he just does a bit too much. Good skating where he has good agility but his top end speed could be a bit faster. He's a slightly bit more toolsy Logan Hensler but also slightly less refined. Tier 5


#21 - Jack Nesbitt - massive 6'4" center with a decent set of mits and a good shot. Willing to go to the dirty areas and has decent vision. Engaged defensively. Does he have the highest ceiling? No. But he provides a good set of details towards the game that will make him a useful player. If he can learn to use his size a bit more offensively I think it'll unlock another tier of offense for him. Would like to see some quicker thinking from him but he has a lot of tools to work with and has a good motor. For some reason something about this player screams late development to me. I wouldn't be surprised to see this be a bit of a sleeper pick. Love his defensive efforts off puck. I definitely understand why people have him lower on their board than I do but I'm admittedly optimistic on this player. Tier 6



#22 - Shane Vansaghi - slower moving 6'2" forward who has a solid set of hands and above average playmaking. Strong along the walls and has flashes of great finishing but is a bit inconsistent. His biggest flaw is his skating. If he can improve his skating I could see him being a decent 2nd line power forward but not every player is able to improve their speed effectively. Has an above average motor and will hit like a truck but sometimes lacks the anticipation of plays which hurts his draft stock. I did see an improvement with his skating over the season so that's promising. I like his play style and effort level. Wouldn't surprise me if he was the hidden gem of this draft. He has traits that are very projectable such as his size, wall work, hands and vision. He was also not utilized a tonne (likely due to his decision making) so if given more rope I could see him having a much better productive growth. If he hits his ceiling I can see 2nd line (long shot) but if he doesn't he will be a very effective bottom 6 player. Decent ceiling and high floor which is why I have him up my board over players who have a higher ceiling but more risk to them. Tier 6


#23 - Cole Reschny - has the skill but in my opinion is very inconsistent in anticipation needed to be a better offensive player. Has a very bad tendency to stand next to defenders off puck which greatly limits his offense. Also can get bodied off the puck very easily because he's only 5'10". I think in the offensive zone he's slow to recognize cycle opportunities, but has good poise with the puck when given space and has very good playmaking skills. Just had too many red flags offensively. Skating is average but his motor skills are inconsistent . If he hits his potential then he could maybe end up a 2nd line forward as his playmaking is good and has good vision but I just don't see him challenging the middle of the ice and being good enough off puck offensively to be as good as he should be. He's very weak along the walls, doesn't have high end speed and needs work off puck which has me doubting his projectability. Certainly has the playmaking ability to be an NHL player and if he can iron out these deficiencies he can become a steal in the draft but he is a project. It's a shame because his playmaking is high end and when given time and space he's a really effective player. Size and details offensively lower him on my board despite good playmaking abilities. Tier 6




#24 - Jackson Smith - watched a game of him earlier in the year and the amount of mistakes he made defensively were probably at about a 75% rate. Overcommitted, out of position, getting dangled, giving up the middle of the ice, giving up on a play that led to a goal, not using his stick effectively, etc. The kid has great skating and has no idea how to use it. Defensively he will need some stars to align to become an NHL player where the coach doesn't want to rip his hair out. He has the tools but his thinking isn't good. He forces bad passes, doesn't use his stick effectively and just makes a lot of errors in general but his raw toolset is just so damn good so people will want to take a chance on this project. He excels in rushing the puck up the ice but that's only when given time and space to get out of the zone. When forechecked he panics with the puck and throws the puck away. He is a boom or bust player unless he absolutely gets placed with the perfect coaching to navigate him out of his mistakes. He has all of the tools but IQ is one of the hardest things to figure out so I anticipate bust in this player, or at the very least he will come into the NHL with hype and find short term success and then have a very inconsistent NHL career. Definitely improved later in the year offensively but was still plagued by poor decision making. My guess is he goes top 15 however I wouldn't swing that big personally. Could there be offense there? Absolutely. Could there also be a turnover machine? Also absolutely. His style of game requires a ridiculous amount of skill and skating ability at the NHL level and although his skating is there, his hands are nowhere close to being able to weave through a good defensive NHL team so that's why I'm banking on bust. Will be interesting to see if I'm right in 5 years. Tier 6




#25 - Brady Martin - had a lot of high hopes scouting this player as it seems a lot of people love his game. I personally am not a huge fan. I think he's missing a lot of details in his game. I think his hands are decent but nothing spectacular, has a good shot and good finish but I don't see a huge motor to his game offensively or defensively to get him to where he needs to be. I am really disappointed in his lack of jump. I don't think his back checking is good. I think his playmaking is pretty average or maybe slightly above average but again nothing spectacular. I really don't see top 10 potential at all. I personally wouldn't select him until late 1st round. I think a player of his style needs to have strong details to be successful at the NHL level. Reminds me a lot of Vasily Podkolzin and his projectability is about where I see Podkolzin is currently in the NHL. If he wasn't as lazy defensively I'd push him up my board but he really is lazy defensively. I was hoping for another Carter Bear with harder hitting the way people have hyped him up. A player with his style needs to have details and a huge motor and I don't see either in him so I don't think he will project super well despite being a great hitter. Tier 7


#26 - Henry Brzustewicz - mobile 6'1" defenseman who has two way ability but definitely leans more towards the defensive aspect of the game. I really love his tenacity off the puck defensively. He has good attention to detail and understands where to go and to use his stick. Offensively he leaves a bit to be desired. Isn't as offensively gifted like his brother is, however defends better than him. I like him but he will likely top out as a #4 defenseman, but he would be a very serviceable defenseman anywhere in the lineup aside from the #1 spot. I could see him being a defensive 30 point dman Tier 7



#27 - Blake Fiddler - 6'4" defensive defenseman with a good first pass. He's got above average anticipation skills when it comes to the defensive side of the game but is sometimes prone to not establishing position first when it comes to attacking the incoming player. On rushes when he's playing the man he is effective but not super effective in terms of playing the lanes which is what you'd like to see in a defensive player. He's very good at knocking pucks off of sticks due to his height, but he's also not the fleetest of feet, having a bit below average speed. Laterally he can move pretty well but his top end speed is poor which limits his defensive game. There's certainly aspects to his game that you like and if he can improve his skating this will be a sure top 4 player but he definitely needs to get more pace. He does a good job in front of the net. I can see him getting selected in the first round but personally I'd rather take higher ceiling players, especially since he's not a guarantee to be an NHL player as he still needs to improve his skating. Also because he's aware of his lack of acceleration he tends to back up too much defensively and gives too much room on odd man rushes. Tier 7



#28 - Malcolm Spence - another player I'm not convinced is worth a 1st round pick. Agitating skilled player but doesn't create much for himself and makes a lot of low IQ plays. Fairly lazy defensively and will be prone to being a penalty fiend. Off the puck I do like that he goes to the net and isn't afraid of the dirty areas but to me he screams big player taking advantage of junior sized competition. A lot of plays he makes won't work in the NHL and I don't see enough of a motor to make up for deficiencies. Tends to float around a lot. I anticipate once he plays against stronger players that he will become a liability. I personally would wait until the 2nd to take a swing on him. Doesn't seem like a safe bet at all to me. You're praying that his skill carries him but there's just so many holes in his game that makes him not worth a first round pick. But he's a big player and has some good hands when given time and space. Tier 7


#29 - Alexander Zharovsky - I'll be the first to admit this player is probably too high up on my board, however the pure raw skill this kid possesses is very high which is why I have him in my first round. His skating is good with really quick explosiveness. His hands are near top of the draft. What hurts him is his decision making, plain and simple. He just rushes the game too much and forces things forward when he can and has the ability to slow it down. He has all the first line talent in the world, just needs to mature his game which makes him a long shot in the NHL but if this pick lands, you're looking at a great player. He supports the play defensively which is a bit of an unexpected bonus. Knows when to back up the defenders on his team. Good hustle as well. Very boom or bust. Tier 8


#30 - Milton Gastrin - speedy 6'1" two-way center who has good engagement and back checking ability. Scans the ice a tonne defensively which is great to see, even though he may not position himself appropriately 100% of the time. However when he is in position he's engaged and eliminates his assignment from the play very well. Offensively, he has average hands but he's got a decent shot. I'm not quite sure how much of a playmaker he's going to be at the NHL level as I don't see him having a mature enough game with the puck as I'd like. He needs a lot of time and space to be effective and he plays a really simple offensive game. If you're drafting him you're looking at getting him to be more of a defensive player similar to an Ilya Mikheyev where he can bring that breakaway speed from time to time with limited offense but with a good defensive game. Not sure if his ceiling is really high enough to have him be a top 6 player, however I think he has a good chance of being a bottom 6 nhl'er. For that alone I'd wait til 2nd round to draft him but it wouldn't surprise me if people saw potential in his flashes of offense and thought it could translate to the pro level. Tier 8

#31 - Quinn Beauschesne - smooth skating 6 foot defenseman who has the ability to make some nice plays and walk the line but needs work on offensive transitions and his hands in tight spaces. He has flashes of nice offense, has a decent shot, but with his smooth skating you'd like to see him carry the puck a bit more and be less of a pass first type of defenseman. Has good agility to jump up into the play and make some nice reads. I would like to see him get stronger and more confident with the puck. Likely going 2nd round around the middle. I'm guessing he will be a #4 or 5 defenseman if he pans out. Has the ability to be upwards of #2 if the stars align but that's a long shot but still possible. The potential is there it's a matter of his development. Tier 8

#32 - Jacob Rombach - giant LHD who is good positionally and will be a stay at home defenseman but lacks good gap control due to confidence in his skating. His skating is decent for a big man, but average overall and needs improvement. He tends to wave his stick at the puck with not much purpose. If he learns to use his stick better he will be better defensively but for a tall defender to understand positioning that's a big bonus. Offensively he plays extremely safe but has flashes of great puck carrying ability but is afraid to take on defenders. If he figures this part out and learns to utilize his size effectively he could become a 2 way threat but right now he's just a solid defensive prospect. If he can improve his skating I think everything will come together for him. Still a bit of a project due to his skating but if he does that he's a safe bet for the NHL. Mid to late 2nd rounder, possible 3rd liner depending on those around him. Tier 8.


#33 - Ryker Lee - 6 foot forward who has a good motor but is a tiny bit aloof with it. Backchecks well and commits to the defensive game but doesn't scan enough defensively to utilize that determination effectively. He's got a decent shot and decent set of hands, willing to invite contact to spin off of it in corners which is good but really needs work off the puck in the offensive zone. Drifts behind defenders and doesn't present well to support the play. In the neutral zone however he's good to really push up ice to transition well but again, doesn't scan well enough to be effective off the wall in the defensive zone on the breakout. He has talent but is a bit of a project. I could see potential third line player upside but there's certainly some areas for improvement. Probably a first half of the second round pick for me. Tier 9

#34 - Eric Nilson - fairly raw prospect still but has great finishing ability as he has a very good shot and one timer. Hard nosed player with good defense, just doesn't have strong decision making when under pressure which makes his game less translatable to me at the pro level. Could become a great complimentary third line scorer however. Tier 9



#35 - Adam Benak - 5'7" forward who has great off puck instincts in the offensive zone and is a great transition playmaker and puck carrier. The reason why I have him above Mooney is simply because I feel he handles pressure on the walls far better. Long shot prospect due to size but has top 10 skill. Just lacks size which makes him a horrible projection to the NHL at 5'7".



#36 - LJ Mooney - very small forward at 5'7" and unfortunately doesn't play bigger than he is. Has first line talent and work ethic and IQ but with his size just gets bullied around a lot. If he was 6 feet tall he'd be a sure fire NHL pick but unfortunately with his size he's hampered a lot. I'd take him somewhere in the 2nd round. I like him as a player but a long term NHL career at that size is very difficult to obtain. Tier 9



#37 - Sascha Boumedienne - smooth skating LHD with a decent breakout pass. Where he drops in ranking is his lack of awareness on the ice when holding onto the puck and when he does have the puck it's usually really quick to leave it when he has the skating to skate the puck out sometimes. Plays a super safe game offensively and even though he will jump up backdoor offensively, he prefers not to hold onto the puck. His skating is a huge tool however just doesn't know how to use it. Defensively he also drops in my ranking as positionally he will get himself to the right area but doesn't engage properly in a defensive manner to be good defensively. Could be a strength thing but both offensively and defensively is very limited when they should both be strengths from his skating. I could see him become a bottom pairing defenseman with some offensive upside but I'd like to see more poise with the puck because when he utilizes his good first pass he's very effective. Certainly a project that could land well but requires lots of development. Tier 9.



#38 - William Horcoff - big defensive forward with little upside offensively, but really solid defensive player. I wouldn't classify him as a first rounder because his offensive upside isn't great, however I could see this player being a 4th line guy and penalty killer. Solid work ethic, just lacks raw tools to be a huge offensive threat but at the end of the day he has the physical tools so if he can develop the skill necessary he may stand out to be a great 3rd liner if the stars align but currently I see 4th line but a bit of a safer pick. I like this player, just don't know if I'd swing on him where somebody else may. I'd be happy with this pick in the third round and later but I anticipate somebody will swing on him in the 2nd. Tier 10


#39 - Benjamin Kindel - smaller right winger that has good hands and good shot with good playmaking but lacks good skating and a good motor and displays poor IQ at times. Off the puck he tends to be stationary or he will move to areas where he will limit his own scoring chances (such as standing right next to the goaltender instead of out into the slot when wide open). He has the tools when it comes to his hands and shot but isn't great defensively and for a smaller player I don't see the evasiveness necessary to be a very good player in the NHL. Personally I think he will be drafted 1st round and that's where I expect him to go but with his projectability I think he realistically is a 2nd rounder. Not a fan of how he supports the play off puck on both ends but with the puck you can see he has skill and when given time and space he's effective but with limited time he works himself into trouble. Personally if I'm GM I'm not touching this player with a 10 foot pole as he is small, lacks the things necessary to be a good smaller player such as skating and has super poor defensive IQ and very poor engagement on the walls. He could put up points in the NHL if given the chance but will quickly lose ice time because he would hurt the team in so many ways in other aspects of the game. Love his offensive ability and playmaking, hate everything else non-related. Tier 9




#40 - Vaclav Nestrasil - ridiculously tall 6'6" winger who is only 185 pounds. The kid has good hands but when time and space is taken away and he doesn't get enough time to look up his hands become really ineffective and he will opt to blind pass or attempt a risky pass to an area he believes his teammates will be at. The kid can skate and stick handle when given lots of room which shows a pretty big upside but his decision making and effective use of his size is lacking. I'm guessing that will improve with time and strength training however. He is a boom or bust type of player. He will either be an NHL player with a decent career (barring injuries) or he will get a few games and then never play again. Defensively you'd think he'd be great with having such a long stick but he lacks anticipation and awareness so that ultimately the other team just passes through and around him. His effort is there, just is a pretty big project. He's definitely several years away from NHL play. Tier 10





#41 - Cole McKinney - 6'0" two way center who has some skill but not a very high ceiling. If he pans out I see 3rd line center. Has good aggression and good skating but doesn't have a lot of tools to go with it when he's pressured. His biggest downfall is the ability to make quick decisions. Often times when pressed against the wall he isn't quick enough to move it to keep momentum going for his team. Would like to see more creativity to his game. Tier 10





Nathan Behm - 6'2" winger with very poor skating. Has raw offensive tools but absolutely no mobility to use them because his explosiveness is horrible. His hands need work but he has a good shot. At this present time he stands zero chance within the next 3 years of making the NHL. He would need to get twice as fast to become an NHL player. Lacks anticipation, defensive awareness, speed and tenacity. Tier 12


Max Psenicka - tall 6'5" RHD with good skating. That's about all he has because his hands are poor and struggles handling a puck. If he wasn't big and could skate, he'd go undrafted. Average defense. Giveaway machine. Likely a 3rd round pick purely due to size and skating ability. This is a hope and a prayer of a player. Doesn't support the play well, doesn't support his defensive player with the puck. Tier 12

 

[Empoleon8771]

This would be my top-20 mock, with noting that it gets pretty blurry for me after about 20:

1. NYI: Schaefer
2. San Jose: Misa
3. Chicago: Frondell
4. Utah: Martone
5. Nashville: Hagens
6. Philly: Desnoyers
7. Boston: O'Brien
8. Seattle: Martin
9. Buffalo: Mrtka
10. Anaheim: McQueen
11. Pittsburgh: Eklund
12. Pittsburgh: Aitcheson
13. Detroit: Smith
14. Columbus: Carbonneau
15. Vancouver: Bear
16. Montreal: Reschny
17. Montreal: Lakovic
18. Calgary: Kindel
19. St. Louis: Cootes
20. Columbus: Nesbitt

I personally do not like Hensler at all and wouldn't have him in my top-20, possibly not even my 1st round at all. I also have Spence basically at the border here, I was trying to put him in the top-20 but I didn't have anyone else that I wanted to knock out.