Who are the Brad Marchant / Tom Wilson / Tough Cookie's / Agitator Types in the 2025 NHL Draft ?

[Quatre Vingt Treize]

If you're looking for someone who's possibly mean, dirty, or willing to cross the line a little bit, I'd suggest Ryabkin. I think his nastiness will endear him to NHL scouts.

Nesbitt is a physical player as well, but I'm not sure he's actively mean. Tough to find players that enjoy hurting people, these days.

Is Nesbitt offensive enough to play in top 6 someday?

 

[WhatTheDuck]

William Belle has the toolkit to be an intimidating forechecking presence.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Marchand is not tough. He is a soft rat

 

[Jacob]

Aitcheson seems to love throwing big hits and fighting. He looks for it.

 

[Vladislav Bahktov]

William Belle has the toolkit to be an intimidating forechecking presence.

 

[MS]

Aiden Foster of Prince George is a first-rate shit disturber who was probably borderline to get drafted most of the year but his numbers did improve considerably in the second half and he now has 6 points in 6 games in the playoffs and I think has probably solidified himself as a guy who will go in the 5th or 6th round. Has a very projectable frame at 6'2 175 and is a pretty decent, rangy skater who will probably improve more on that front as he gains more strength. 18 fights over the past two seasons.

Dawson Gerwing of Kelowna is a 2006 who will probably get drafted this year - put up pretty decent numbers especially after the trade to the rockets and is legit tough, has some new-age enforcer potential.

 

[Favin]

Mason West maybe

 

[Ford Prefect]

He's very physical and mean. Overly so with his 50 PIMs in his first 14 games in NA.

Some of those PIMs were from questionable hits. He also got 2 suspensions. Don't get me wrong, I think he has a mean streak and would love to grab him at below market value this summer, but charging defenseless players doesn't make you tough.

 

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

Mason West maybe

Dual Athlete.

I'd stay away with high picks.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Some of those PIMs were from questionable hits. He also got 2 suspensions. Don't get me wrong, I think he has a mean streak and would love to grab him at below market value this summer, but charging defenseless players doesn't make you tough.

Yeah, I think Ryabkin gets this weird rep of some goon.

He’s a skill guy that throws a few dirty hits.

He’s not an agitator.

 

[newfy]

Fighting /= toughness lol

He’s Austin Watson

Yeah if he's Auston Watson he's worth bringing up in this thread. Watson crushed guys his whole career and fought a tonne even if he wasn't never the best fighter. He could actually play a regular shift too.

Nesbitt having 9 fights in the OHL before his draft is definitely worth bringing up in a thread like this.

Brady Martin, McQueen and Aitcheson (might be the toughest all around in the draft) are worth mentioning too. Eklund has some rat to his game as well but I wouldn't say he's tough, fairly tough for a top 8ish pick though