2025 NHL Draft Thread

[the-rasta-masta]

Tankathon has a 2025 draft lottery simulator based on projections for next season, with the Flames sitting in 4th best lottery odds. They have SJ, Columbus and Anaheim as teams finishing worse than us. Certainly a lot of lottery wins in the simulation when you get up the that 4th position.

https://www.tankathon.com/nhl

Looking at our roster, I think our forward group still looks like one that on its own could potentially push for a playoff spot, if we see second half of Huberdeau carry on, full season Kuzmenko helping the PP, and some continued developement from Pospisil, Zary, Pelletier, and Coronato. Always opportunity for players like Stromgren, Klapka or some out of nowhere player like we saw with Pospisil this year to make an impact.

Defense and Goaltending remain the question marks. I'd find it surprising to go through a full season without growing pains for Wolf especially behind the D grouping in front of him, but you never know, he's been a difference maker at every level. I think our D group looks more like puck movers, with offence mostly expected from Weegar, Andersson, and maybe Miromanov. Bean can chip in, maybe Parekh makes the team. But question marks for me are on the defensive side of things with only Bahl being a real shutdown guy.

Based on that I'd probably predict a 6-10 place finish in the lottery standings, but also think maybe SJ or Columbus take a step in terms of the tankathon rankings.

[Stillman16]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

I'm only going off what a scout told me, have you've seen him personally?

Don't know if retaining your spot counts, but Chicago moved up from 3rd to first in 2023, and retained their spot this year (so was the second lottery win).

If the retaining your spot at 2nd overall counts, Chicago wouldn't be able to win the lottery....Looks like retaining your spot doesn't count (see below)

"The 2024 NHL Draft Lottery marked the third year for the implementation of a limit on how many times a team can win a lottery draw. No single team can advance in the draft order by reason of winning a Lottery Draw more than two times in any five-year period. This limitation will not affect a club’s ability to retain its presumptive draft position in any Draft Lottery, nor would it preclude the possibility of the club moving down in draft order to the extent other clubs advance by reason of winning the Lottery Draws. For purposes of clarity, the limitation would attach to the team, not the specific pick. An example is outlined here." link https://records.nhl.com/draft/draft-...Dyear%20period.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

I'm only going off what a scout told me, have you've seen him personally?

Yes, saw him a couple times when they played the 67’s. Great vision, great passer, could shoot the puck more.

[fotze2]

There’s another crop of Calgary kids gonna go next year. Jackson Smitty with tri-cities is in the Yakemchuk mold. Second overall in the dub draft last year.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by the-rasta-masta

Tankathon has a 2025 draft lottery simulator based on projections for next season, with the Flames sitting in 4th best lottery odds. They have SJ, Columbus and Anaheim as teams finishing worse than us. Certainly a lot of lottery wins in the simulation when you get up the that 4th position.

https://www.tankathon.com/nhl

Looking at our roster, I think our forward group still looks like one that on its own could potentially push for a playoff spot, if we see second half of Huberdeau carry on, full season Kuzmenko helping the PP, and some continued developement from Pospisil, Zary, Pelletier, and Coronato. Always opportunity for players like Stromgren, Klapka or some out of nowhere player like we saw with Pospisil this year to make an impact.

Defense and Goaltending remain the question marks. I'd find it surprising to go through a full season without growing pains for Wolf especially behind the D grouping in front of him, but you never know, he's been a difference maker at every level. I think our D group looks more like puck movers, with offence mostly expected from Weegar, Andersson, and maybe Miromanov. Bean can chip in, maybe Parekh makes the team. But question marks for me are on the defensive side of things with only Bahl being a real shutdown guy.

Based on that I'd probably predict a 6-10 place finish in the lottery standings, but also think maybe SJ or Columbus take a step in terms of the tankathon rankings.

Obviously early for projections, but the default mock draft for 2025 has the Flames selecting Roger McQueen. I am sure these players will be jostling for position over the the next several months, but it's fun to think about.

https://www.tankathon.com/nhl/mock_draft

[Mephisto]

Interested to see how the ‘25 class shakes out and where he Flames ultimately pick. To me Hagens, Martone, Ryabkin and Frondell seem like piayers that would immediately jump to the top of our prospect pool. McQueen has the size and skill also - we’ll see if he can step it up this year to make it to the top 3.

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

I believe teams are not allowed to advance via the draft lottery any more than twice within a 5 year period.

So, given we have never advanced via the lottery, technically we could do it the next two years.

I think

This is what I was told by somebody at the league when I asked.

[butterfly]

I wonder what projection system Tankathon is using.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Obviously early for projects, but the default mock draft for 2025 has the Flames selecting Roger McQueen. I am sure these players will jostling for position over the the next several months, but it's fun to think about.

https://www.tankathon.com/nhl/mock_draft

Yeah things will likely change a lot, it's no surprise some older players are at the top of the rankings, McQueen for example was born 2 weeks two late for this past draft.

[Sandman]

Porter Martone is going to be an absolute FORCE. He's a 6'3"RW power forward who just put up 71 points in 60 games in the OHL for Mississauga in his D-minus-1 year, along with the 11th-best U-18 output all-time, with 17 points in 7 games. Hard-nosed and competitive.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Porter Martone is going to be an absolute FORCE. He's a 6'3"RW power forward who just put up 71 points in 60 games in the OHL for Mississauga in his D-minus-1 year, along with the 11th-best U-18 output all-time, with 17 points in 7 games. Hard-nosed and competitive.

Agreed but he is going to be one of the oldest players in the draft. Still going to be a great pick, just something to note.

[Jay Random]

One of the oldest players, and also one of the most physically mature.

A guy like Martone can certainly be a force, but he has to understand that means something different when playing against grown men, many of whom are his own size.

I am firmly convinced that Eric Lindros’s career was cut short because he came into the NHL thinking he could skate through players like he did in junior. That's where the string of concussions got started.

[sch19lks]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

One of the oldest players, and also one of the most physically mature.

A guy like Martone can certainly be a force, but he has to understand that means something different when playing against grown men, many of whom are his own size.

I am firmly convinced that Eric Lindros’s career was cut short because he came into the NHL thinking he could skate through players like he did in junior. That's where the string of concussions got started.

I agree on the Lindros point and I agree on the older player sentiment.

But watching Martone play, he’s on another level. Even as a 17 year old in the O. Yes, he’s big, but it’s not like he’s going to get smaller. He also doesn’t rely on bullying guys with his size so much. He does do it, but the way he handles the puck reminds me so much of Mitch Marner. Plus he has a wicked wrist shot. He might be my #1 for 2025. I have Hagens higher, but the American flight risk thing seems to be developing into a real thing

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by the-rasta-masta

Tankathon has a 2025 draft lottery simulator based on projections for next season, with the Flames sitting in 4th best lottery odds. They have SJ, Columbus and Anaheim as teams finishing worse than us. Certainly a lot of lottery wins in the simulation when you get up the that 4th position.

https://www.tankathon.com/nhl

Not Sure how up to date that is but it has Nashville missing the Playoffs. Pretty bold after the moves the made. I think they should swap Nashville and NJ

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Porter Martone is going to be an absolute FORCE. He's a 6'3"RW power forward who just put up 71 points in 60 games in the OHL for Mississauga in his D-minus-1 year, along with the 11th-best U-18 output all-time, with 17 points in 7 games. Hard-nosed and competitive.

We need a C. There are times when you can simply go BPA and take what you get, and there are times where you have to look at position, as long as the talent is there. And the talent is there - this year is full of high-end Cs, and we have to come away with one of them with our first pick.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Not Sure how up to date that is but it has Nashville missing the Playoffs. Pretty bold after the moves the made. I think they should swap Nashville and NJ

MIN is solid too, and are capable of making the playoffs, but I think NSH is a much better team. I wouldn't be surprised though, if 5 teams make it from the central. I suspect it might take 98 points this year, and there will be a few teams scrambling to get in.

[Roof-Daddy]

Two 1sts (hopefully) next year and I hope to hell BPA at both spots is a high end C prospect that projects as a C in the NHL too.

I don't think the Flames will be bad enough to draft top 5 but imagine a year from now having one of: Hagens/Frondell/Ryabkin/McQueen and one of: Moore/Reschny/Mckinney/O'Brien

[cral12]

My way too early wish for 2025 is that we finish bottom 6 and land one of:

Hagens/Frondell/Ryabkin/McQueen/Martone/Misa

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by cral12

My way too early wish for 2025 is that we finish bottom 6 and land one of:

Hagens/Frondell/Ryabkin/McQueen/Martone/Misa

Misa would be cool seeing as how we just drafted his brother, but he's a winger so that part would kind of suck NGL

[Bonded]

https://forums.hfboards.com/threads/...mance.2968462/

Now this just a guy on a message board but lends some credence that the Flames are good at drafting.