Way too early 2025-26 NHL Draft discussion

[Fistfullofbeer]

It's probably fair to create this thread with how we are toiling in the rankings.

I wanted to mention Carter Bear from the Silvertips as someone I can see the Kraken go for if they are picking in the 6-10 range if he is still available.

I think the top-4 will be some order of Hagens, Schaefer, Misa and Martone. Beyond that, its pretty uncertain. I think Schmidt has the skill to become a Gaudreau-like player despite his size. I know we need size on our team but man, if he hits his ceiling, he would be an electric top-line winger. Beyond those 6 I mentioned, well, need to follow the prospects more ..

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[kihei]

I haven't done any research yet, though I have heard of Hagens. I know the BPA is the mantra, though a flawed one, but this time around I hope the best player available comes with size.

 

[luapejrug]

Jackson Smith

 

[Dead Coyote]

Hagens is the one I want the most but I think he probably goes #1. I've seen more than enough Misa and Martone to the point where I think they're obviously good players, but they just aren't going to be the elite kind of player we need offensively. I view them more as elite 2 way #2s I think. Mind you we could really use that so it's not like I'd be unhappy. I probably wouldn't be unhappy with any of the forwards in the top 5.

Guy I want for our range is Viktor Eklund. Kid is lighting it up as an 18yo in Allvensken (Swedish Div 2 Men's League) and had a great WJC and U19 showing too. He's a fantastic skater and doesn't have any real holes in his game, will battle at both ends of the ice and has a great shot and good IQ and vision. I like that he's already playing against men and being productive offensively while doing it. He plays both wings too which is nice.

Other two guys I'm keeping an eye on right now are Topias Hynninen who is an overager who went undrafted last year, he was mostly used in a checking role in the Finnish men's league Liiga, was on a few draft radars and showcased some skill when he was playing against his peers. He's since exploded offensively in Liiga as a 19yo and is ranked around the 3rd round among those who have him. I liked him last year in my viewings just because he's another guy who can skate really well and has that drive and competitiveness.

Second guy is Jamiro Reber, another overager who is much younger and missed the cutoff for the 2026 draft by only a few days. He had good numbers in the U20 Swiss league last year but didn't show much in the WJC. This year he's doing really well in the Swedish Men's league, SHL. .5 PPG and trusted in all situations, solid player, good playmaker, good skater, has the same kind of energy I was talking about as the previous too. I've gotten to watch him more because he's on the same team as OFM and I think he's a solid prospect. IDK how far he can go at the highest level but he's a guy that you want to root for because he's out on the ice giving it his all and only got the opportunity because of injury. He's also pretty sturdy for a small guy and if he grows a few inches I could see that being big for his development. He's also currently 2nd in scoring for U20s which is pretty good even if he gets beat out by ppg by a bunch of the others who were drafted last year.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Hagens is the one I want the most but I think he probably goes #1. I've seen more than enough Misa and Martone to the point where I think they're obviously good players, but they just aren't going to be the elite kind of player we need offensively. I view them more as elite 2 way #2s I think. Mind you we could really use that so it's not like I'd be unhappy. I probably wouldn't be unhappy with any of the forwards in the top 5.

Guy I want for our range is Viktor Eklund. Kid is lighting it up as an 18yo in Allvensken (Swedish Div 2 Men's League) and had a great WJC and U19 showing too. He's a fantastic skater and doesn't have any real holes in his game, will battle at both ends of the ice and has a great shot and good IQ and vision. I like that he's already playing against men and being productive offensively while doing it. He plays both wings too which is nice.

Other two guys I'm keeping an eye on right now are Topias Hynninen who is an overager who went undrafted last year, he was mostly used in a checking role in the Finnish men's league Liiga, was on a few draft radars and showcased some skill when he was playing against his peers. He's since exploded offensively in Liiga as a 19yo and is ranked around the 3rd round among those who have him. I liked him last year in my viewings just because he's another guy who can skate really well and has that drive and competitiveness.

Second guy is Jamiro Reber, another overager who is much younger and missed the cutoff for the 2026 draft by only a few days. He had good numbers in the U20 Swiss league last year but didn't show much in the WJC. This year he's doing really well in the Swedish Men's league, SHL. .5 PPG and trusted in all situations, solid player, good playmaker, good skater, has the same kind of energy I was talking about as the previous too. I've gotten to watch him more because he's on the same team as OFM and I think he's a solid prospect. IDK how far he can go at the highest level but he's a guy that you want to root for because he's out on the ice giving it his all and only got the opportunity because of injury. He's also pretty sturdy for a small guy and if he grows a few inches I could see that being big for his development. He's also currently 2nd in scoring for U20s which is pretty good even if he gets beat out by ppg by a bunch of the others who were drafted last year.

I would love to end up with Schaefer but that is unlikely to happen unless we are picking in the top-2. I expect Hagens and Schaefer to be gone by the time we pick.

The team will have a good idea with Martone since he plays with Rehkopf. My only concern with Eklund is size. We have a lot of undersized forwards in the top-6 and could definitely use someone bigger who has skill, can go to the dirty areas and drive the net.

I would be pretty surprised if Martone is not in the NHL by 2026-27, which could be perfect for us since we are likely to have Catton in the NHL by then as well. The more I think about it, the more I am looking forward to that season.

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

I have always looked at RD-man Logan Hensler as a good pick by the Kraken but the club needs some forwards with size. Martone would be good choice but with team having a tonne of Forwards I would like them to go Defense since the teams lack a top tiered youngster coming up through the ranks. Maybe the Kraken can address the Forward with size later on possibly 4th round. I guess everything hinges on where the Kraken finally end up in the standings. I'm sure if the Seattle team is outta contention for a play-off spot by the end of February some players will be jettisoned hopefully for decent returns of 2nd,3rd and 4th rounders if not higher

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

I have always looked at RD-man Logan Hensler as a good pick by the Kraken but the club needs some forwards with size. Martone would be good choice but with team having a tonne of Forwards I would like them to go Defense since the teams lack a top tiered youngster coming up through the ranks. Maybe the Kraken can address the Forward with size later on possibly 4th round. I guess everything hinges on where the Kraken finally end up in the standings. I'm sure if the Seattle team is outta contention for a play-off spot by the end of February some players will be jettisoned hopefully for decent returns of 2nd,3rd and 4th rounders if not higher

From everything I have read there is a significant step down from Schaefer to the other D-men. Whether that be Jackson Smith or Logan Hensler. If we end up picking in the 5-6 range, I would guess we go forward unless we really like Smith.

 

[Dead Coyote]

I would love to end up with Schaefer but that is unlikely to happen unless we are picking in the top-2. I expect Hagens and Schaefer to be gone by the time we pick.

The team will have a good idea with Martone since he plays with Rehkopf. My only concern with Eklund is size. We have a lot of undersized forwards in the top-6 and could definitely use someone bigger who has skill, can go to the dirty areas and drive the net.

I would be pretty surprised if Martone is not in the NHL by 2026-27, which could be perfect for us since we are likely to have Catton in the NHL by then as well. The more I think about it, the more I am looking forward to that season.

Definitely possible, the top 5 is a bit of a mixed bag at the moment. But the majority of scouts *currently* at least have Schaefer in the mid 5-10 range. I've seen people have Misa and Martone mostly in the top 5 even though I would take Schaefer over both. Honestly I'd be happy with Martone too but I think a team will bite on him before us, watching BS go to Anaheim last year 3rd ovr when I didn't even have him top 10 opened my eyes a bit that teams will grasp for that size and skill combination and not care as much about the downsides of the players game.

And to be fair, there are plenty of reasons to do that. Personally I just really prefer guys who are good skaters, acceleration and speed is so important in todays game and just multiplies all your other skills by so much. I don't think Martone's skating is super bad but it's definitely not an asset.

Of course, rankings change so much over the course of the season it's hard to even gauge where prospects are in the scouting community right now. I'm just hoping we're in the top 10 and can grab a good piece.