2025 NHL Draft Thread

[Samonadreau]

New Jersey is Falling off a cliff, may miss the playoffs. Start looking in the 14-16 range.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by YyjFlames

I'm curious what the Flames think about Cameron Schmidt. He got off to a super hot start to the season (23 goals in first 20 games), but hasn't kept it up (11 in next 31). He's also really small at 5'7.

Flames probably see quite a bit of him with Lipinski in Vancouver, so their book will be good. Because of his size and mediocre pace after the hot start, I could see him falling to the 3rd round or later even though most mid term rankings still have him in the first round, most near the end.

He's one of those highly talented prospects that a lot of teams will probably like but because of his size and scoring drop off, they'll go with another guy.

He's an intriguing guy, especially if he falls.

I have him at the bottom of my top ten, total boom or bust pick i think. Star or washing dishes. Not sure he has an in between.

[Wastedyouth]

https://nhlentrydraft.com/news/roger...ck-2025-draft/

Not a very glowing review of McQueen.

Not sure I would be spending a top 20 pick on this kid all things considered.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

https://nhlentrydraft.com/news/roger...ck-2025-draft/

Not a very glowing review of McQueen.

Not sure I would be spending a top 20 pick on this kid all things considered.

Pretty much everyone else have him top five. Skill and a shot you csnt teach but skating you can. He is a decent skater get that to good and a lot of his transition problems will dissipate .

Weird summary since wearing down opposition and extending possession in the offensive zone is somehow bad?

I would have no problem taking him top ten.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

https://nhlentrydraft.com/news/roger...ck-2025-draft/

Not a very glowing review of McQueen.

Not sure I would be spending a top 20 pick on this kid all things considered.

He injured my kid a while back McQueen can beat it.

Had dinner with a buddy just meow who’s kid going high . So fascinating they are already talking to the kids and what is going on behind the scenes. It’s ten times more exiting than the hockey. Even the WHL draft was nuts.

[Sandman]

Mar.8th Ryabkin Watch:

One win, one loss this weekend for the Muskegon Lumberjacks, both overtime games with a score of 4-3. Ryabkin gets no points in either game, and was a combined -4. He also had no points in on March 1st against Cedar Rapids, a 2-1 win. He is now at 16gp/9g/7a/16pts,-2, 50 PIM.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

https://nhlentrydraft.com/news/roger...ck-2025-draft/

Not a very glowing review of McQueen.

Not sure I would be spending a top 20 pick on this kid all things considered.

Whoever wrote that article doesn't know what he's talking about. Like I said in my write-up on McQueen, he needs to gain more strength in his lower body, and he may never be a burner, but his skating is certainly NOT "below average". He has to get more explosive, and work on his acceleration, but he's a good skater (unless his injury is affecting him this season).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GacWSmI-is

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Whoever wrote that article doesn't know what he's talking about. Like I said in my write-up on McQueen, he needs to gain more strength in his lower body, and he may never be a burner, but his skating is certainly NOT "below average". He has to get more explosive, and work on his acceleration, but he's a good skater (unless his injury is affecting him this season).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GacWSmI-is

Yeah his skating isn't a huge concern at this point, the only worry I have is as a center he doesn't really use his wingers all that well, he'll probably get moved to wing at the NHL level, as long as he shows no ill effect from the back injury he probably still go top 10

[Svartsengi]

Noticed Roger McQueen wasn't in the line up today for Brandon. Hitmen beat them 4-1 does anyone know why McQueen didn't play?.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Svartsengi

Noticed Roger McQueen wasn't in the line up today for Brandon. Hitmen beat them 4-1 does anyone know why McQueen didn't play?.

Apparently banged up on Friday:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1898821179672236287

[Svartsengi]

Banged up is a little vague hopefully its not McQueen's back again.

[FusionX]

Will be an interesting story going into the draft... obviously depends a bit on what's happening now but a lot of teams (maybe even us perhaps if he drops into the mid-teens via NJ hopefully) have to decide if he's worth the risk.

I think for us, if it's mid-teens, I'd take that risk.

[sch19lks]

I like McQueen’s game, but the injuries are starting to pile up. Too risky to draft him high IMO

[sureLoss]

Yeah, McQueen is going to have to release his medical records and get examined by a lot of team doctors this summer.

The last McKenzie ranking had a scout quoted as McQueen being a Do Not Draft candidate until they got clarity on his health.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Star center ? He’s hardly ever played and isn’t even PPG.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Whoever wrote that article doesn't know what he's talking about. Like I said in my write-up on McQueen, he needs to gain more strength in his lower body, and he may never be a burner, but his skating is certainly NOT "below average". He has to get more explosive, and work on his acceleration, but he's a good skater (unless his injury is affecting him this season).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GacWSmI-is

The guys at FC do a great job. The article itself indicates the struggles the kid will have to be an impact player pretty clearly.

He has a shot and size.

That's not worth a high draft pick in my opinion. He's got a lot of lost development time already and a lot to fix.

Big pass.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Seems like he has a lot to work on his game and his health. Looks like he’s projecting to be a winger if he makes it to the NHL.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

The guys at FC do a great job. The article itself indicates the struggles the kid will have to be an impact player pretty clearly.

He has a shot and size.

That's not worth a high draft pick in my opinion. He's got a lot of lost development time already and a lot to fix.

Big pass.

Totally fine with anyone who has the opinion that he's not worth a high-pick, with his injuries, I'm not sure if I would be willing to spend a top-10 pick on him, due to his health.

If you go to FC and read the reviews from all of their scouts, the opinions on his skating fluctuate wildly- one scout rates him a 8/10 for speed. Perreira (who wrote the above article) rates it a 4/10. The scout I trust the most, Aaron Vickers, rates his skating a 6/10. That's all I'm saying- his skating isn't bad.

PS: I wasn't going after you at all, I respect your opinion very much.

[Sandman]

Mar.9th Update:

It's safe to say that C Anton Frondell is back in the groove after suffering an injury earlier this season, as he is chewing up Sweden's Allsvenskan (their second-tier men's league) with an incredible 19 points in the last 11 games, for 29gp/11g/14a/25pts,+11, 16 PIM. He isn't even getting top-line minutes.

C James Hagens has cooled down a bit, with only 7 points in his last 10 games for Boston College. 34gp/9g/25a/34pts,+22, 22 PIM. Still a very impressive output, and he's playing a sound defensive game in the process, but those numbers are nowhere near Celebrini/Eichel/Fantilli territory.

LW Victor Eklund is also cruising in the Allsvenskan with Djurgardens, and is getting the hang of playing with men, posting 11 points in his last 10 games (and really flexing his goal-scoring muscle), for 42gp/19g/12a/31pts,+16, 37 PIM. Ek might be the most fiery player available in this class, and has an amazing motor- he is unaware that he stands only 5'11",161lbs, and we're thankful for that.

D Logan Hensler has put up 2 points in the last 10 games for the U of Wisconsin, bringing him to 32gp/2g/10a/12pts,-13, 27 PIM. Don't let the numbers fool you, Hensler is a smooth, two-way puck-mover with an offensive bent to his game.

C William Moore is up to 47gp/21g/20a/41pts,-4, 4 PIM, with 15 points in 17 games against USHL competition. He's a big, physical, two-way C, but might be tumbling down some draft lists.

LW Cullen Potter has been impressive for Arizona State this season, and with 8 points (5 goals) in the last 10, the 5'9" winger is up to 32gp/13g/8a/21pts,-2, 6 PIM. He's diminutive, but manages to tilt the ice in the Sun Dog's favour, with a killer transitional game.

D Sascha Boumedienne, like Hensler, is a two-way, puck-mover who is learning the ropes in the NCAA, with Boston U- and like Hensler, he has an underlying offensive game. In the last 10 games, he has 4 points, to put him at 34gp/2g/8a/10pts,+8, 29 PIM. Boumedienne is still working on his skating, though.

C Milton Gastrin, a jack of all trades, is on a steady pace this season, with 39gp/18g/23a/41pts,+6, 16 PIM, and has played 7 games in the SHL, with no points.

C Jack Murtagh, a favorite of mine, is one of the youngest players in the draft, with an Aug.22nd birthday, and has brought his stat-line up a bit, to 40gp/18g/23a/41pts,+11, 24 PIM, playing for the NTDP.

Another NTDP favorite of mine, C Cole McKinney, is up to 43gp/19g/27a/46pts,+16, 53 PIM, with 10 goals and 17 points coming against USHL competition. He's a feisty and physical two-way center.

After a rather slow start, 6'3" LW Jakob Ihs-Wozniak is back to showing why he should be picked in the first-round, with 29 pts in his last 17 games, for 39gp/22g/34a/56pts,+24, 14 PIM in the J20. He has played 12 games for Lulea of the SHL, with 1 point.

5'7" C Adam Benak also started slow in the USHL for Youngstown, but after 18 points in his last 15 games, he is up to 51gp/15g/36a/51pts,even, 30 PIM. He may be diminutive, but his hockey sense is huge, and he can push pace.

Yet another USHL player I like (I know, we're supposed to stay away from American products), winger Ben Kevan is up to 45gp/12g/29a/41pts,-16, 43 PIM for the Des Moines Buccaneers. Kevan was one of the stars in December's WJAC, with 6 goals (2nd in the tourney) and 8 points (4th) in 5 games. He's another fiery two-way player who hasn't been able to properly showcase himself on one of the USHL's worst teams.

D Charlie Trethewey is up to 49gp/6g/10a/16pts,-3, 33 PIM for the NTDP, with only 5 points in the last 14 games. He's a physical, two-way blueliner, but may have played his way out of the first-round.

6'2",216lb power-winger Shane Vansaghi had a hot start in the NCAA with Michigan State, even getting some first-round nods on some lists, but after only 6 points in the last 20 games (he had 10 points in his first 12), he has 34gp/6g/10a/16pts,+11, 28 PIM.

C Eric Nilson, who is a hard-nosed, two-way C like his Dad (former Flame Marcus), is still trucking along at about a ppg pace, with 36gp/12g/26a/38pts,+21, 56 PIM.

C Conrad Fondrk, another hard-nosed, two-way C, has dropped to 40gp/13g/14a/27pts,-1, 6 PIM (12 points in 15 games against the USHL, though). It's tough for players who are relegated to playing on lower-lines in the NTDP, as their numbers are affected by playing lower minutes, when they could have a starring role on a USHL team. I think Fondrk fits this to a T, and I hope scouts recognize.

Russian D Kurban Limatov (6'3",198lbs) has cooled off a bit, with only 6 points in his last 15 games (1 KHL game under his belt), and is at 42gp/8g/14a/22pts,+9, 38 PIM. Even though his season isn't over yet, he is 12th all-time in scoring by U-18 D in the MHL.

LW Viktor Klingsell, who has dazzled in international competition for Sweden, has only 40gp/12g/19a/31pts,-2, 6 PIM, but he plays for a bad team.

Big, 6'4" C Will Horcoff (son of Shawn) had a hot start in the NCAA for Michigan (5 points in his first 5 games), but has only 5 points in his last 13, for 18gp/4g/6a/10pts,-4, 6 PIM. Horcoff will still get second-round consideration, as he's a huge advantage-creator with his physicality, and exceptional two-way smarts.

Swedish wrecking-ball, W Eddie Genborg (6'2",190lbs) impressed enough in his stint in the J20 (26gp/18g/15a/33pts,+18, 26 PIM) that he has been gifted a high number of games in the SHL (27gp/2g/0a/2pts,-1, 4 PIM). He reminds me a little bit of Micheal Ferland, but perhaps not as mean.

Swedish power-forward Arvid Drott (6'1",187lbs), who has an August 11th, 2007 birthday, is up to 38gp/18g/17a/35pts,+21, 14 PIM.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Totally fine with anyone who has the opinion that he's not worth a high-pick, with his injuries, I'm not sure if I would be willing to spend a top-10 pick on him, due to his health.

If you go to FC and read the reviews from all of their scouts, the opinions on his skating fluctuate wildly- one scout rates him a 8/10 for speed. Perreira (who wrote the above article) rates it a 4/10. The scout I trust the most, Aaron Vickers, rates his skating a 6/10. That's all I'm saying- his skating isn't bad.

PS: I wasn't going after you at all, I respect your opinion very much.

No worries! I assumed we were having a discussion not an argument and always will!