2025 NHL Draft Thread

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Is 2025 considered to be a strong draft class? It seems like there are quite a few players that have been hyped for a while, at least in the top 10.

Early looks are 1st round should be very forward heavy, 2nd round likely a lot of defenseman. Talent in the top 10 could be even better than last years draft class but again it's early.

And I agree with Bob, Schaefer could very well go #1, he's elite in so many ways.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Early looks are 1st round should be very forward heavy, 2nd round likely a lot of defenseman. Talent in the top 10 could be even better than last years draft class but again it's early.

And I agree with Bob, Schaefer could very well go #1, he's elite in so many ways.

Early draft reports describe Schaefer’s skating/speed and stick handling as especially elite. I think of two types of “elite” skaters when it comes to defencemen in the NHL today:

1. The ones that make it seem effortless and smooth where they can close gaps on most players while looking like they are barely moving their feet - I see this in guys like Hanifin and Dahlin. I also think Parekh is similar to this type of skater.
2. The ones with explosive acceleration and quick feet. They can blow by other players when they change gears in quick order. This type of skater amongst defencemen is very rare and more of a new development in the NHL. Makar is obviously the gold standard in this type of defenceman and he stands several levels above everyone else.

What’s exciting about Schaefer is that I would put him more in the 2nd category. He flies by people when attacking the zone including when he goes wide to the outside. I’m not saying he’s the next Makar - just that his offensive style and skating strengths are of a similar type. If you lookup Schaefer’s highlights, you’ll notice how many of them are him carrying the puck from end to end on a rush where he flies by everyone on the ice. You’ll see several times he creates his own breakaways with his speed and stick handling - a rare ability for a defenceman. If you lookup pretty much every other defenceman’s highlights (in either the NHL or the junior leagues), the vast majority of them are clips of them making plays in the offensive zone - this includes guys like Quinn Hughes, Rasmus Dahlin or Zayne Parekh. The only other defenceman who I see a high frequency of “coast-to-coast” highlights from is Cale Makar.

Of course, the flames desperately need a centre in this draft more than anything so even if they were picking 2nd overall… I’m not sure if they would take a defenceman but if Schaefer builds on his game even more from last season, it could be a really tough player to pass on.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by sch19lks

Roger McQueen with 4 goals tonight in Brandon’s season opener. I’d absolutely love this guy as a Flame. 6’5” centre with a ton of skill? Yes please

Love to see that kind of start for him. I mentioned in a previous post that I was struggling to think of many #1 centres in the NHL that were 6’5” or taller. Thought of one and that’s Tage Thompson. Watching highlights of McQueen and he does have a lot of the same attributes as Thompson (hands, shot and speed for his massive frame). However, most of McQueen’s goals last year were from him being the net front presence. That’s not a bad thing of course - he goes to the net hard all the time and is obviously tough to move from the front of the net. But I would love to see him as the play-driving centre for the Wheatkings this year. He should have that opportunity with Danielson moving on. McQueen is such an intriguing prospect. I’ll be cheering for him to do well and for Calgary to potentially have a shot at him.

[Monahammer]

Really want to own a flames McQueen jersey.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by looooob

9 Centers- perfect. grab 2

There is a list for 2026 with 12 centers in the top 20.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by sch19lks

Roger McQueen with 4 goals tonight in Brandon’s season opener. I’d absolutely love this guy as a Flame. 6’5” centre with a ton of skill? Yes please

Add to that, plays like a power forward, and western Canadian.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Add to that, plays like a power forward, and western Canadian.

And a bad-ass name.

[dammage79]

Hagens, Frondell, Ryabkin, McQueen. Let's hope we get one of them. That's a really nice crop of centers.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Hagens, Frondell, Ryabkin, McQueen. Let's hope we get one of them. That's a really nice crop of centers.

It's way too early and things will change, but as it stands Schaefer is by far the best dman in the draft (which is weak on blueliners). So I think he goes top 3. Which means if you are in the bottom 5 - you should get one of those centres.

[dammage79]

Apparently according to McKenzie when he released the list Frondells injury won't affect his draft stock. I.E he won't be put long enough to mis the entire season and will play this year.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Hagens, Frondell, Ryabkin, McQueen. Let's hope we get one of them. That's a really nice crop of centers.

Unless Wolf screws it up and goes all Vezina on us, we should be in the position to get one.

Which wouldn't be the worse thing.

[Royle9]

McQueen has a 4g performance in game 1.
Yep, that’ll do.

[Sandman]

There might be better players available, but as of right now, McQueen is my fave. He looked poised beyond his years at last year’s Hlinka- finishing in the top-10 in scoring, despite being younger than most.

[SuperMatt18]

Plus he would be wearing Red and Yellow in Flames colors and we could call him Lightning McQueen.

It's perfect.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Sandman

There might be better players available, but as of right now, McQueen is my fave. He looked poised beyond his years at last year’s Hlinka- finishing in the top-10 in scoring, despite being younger than most.

Sandman liking the big guy. Colour me shocked haha

[dammage79]

Can't go wrong with any of them IMO. Upside is pretty good across the board.

McQueen/Honzek would be a redwood line for the ages if Honzo tracks anything like his game last night.

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

Honzo with three assists tonight as well. This guy is tracking well. It’s tough to proclaim any kid a bust after one season at such an early juncture in their careers.

But yeah McQueen has a great name and 6’5 centermen are always a dream for my team come the grind of playoff hockey. Barkov at 6’3 and 220 is a good reason for floridas most recent success.

McQueen looks like he could be a player. How’s his playmaking? Defence details? Skating? Compete?

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Ziggy Lidstrom

Honzo with three assists tonight as well. This guy is tracking well. It’s tough to proclaim any kid a bust after one season at such an early juncture in their careers.

But yeah McQueen has a great name and 6’5 centermen are always a dream for my team come the grind of playoff hockey. Barkov at 6’3 and 220 is a good reason for floridas most recent success.

McQueen looks like he could be a player. How’s his playmaking? Defence details? Skating? Compete?

Here's what I think in regards to McQueen, anyone can feel free to add or correct:

-In the past, the knock was that his skating mechanics were lacking, and that might have hurt his top speed- this was evident at 2023's Hlinka. These days, it seems most scouts agree that his skating has improved, and he's now referred to as being a strong skater with excellent agility and 4-way mobility who can beat defenders wide.
-He's nowhere as mean as a Cayden Lindstrom for example, but he uses his size well in puck protection, winning battles, and in front of the net. He's tenacious, and competes well for pucks, but in the past he has shown occasional lapses in intensity. 50 PIM in 53 games last year shows he has a slight chip on his shoulder.
-Can't comment on whether or not he's made any strides in the current season in regards to his defense, but this has been an area of concern up to this point- as has his play without the puck. Not a big worry, as many kids his age show these deficiencies. He can play C or W, and his two-way play will determine if he's a true C in the pros.
-McQueen is 4 months older than Lindstrom was in his draft year, with an October 2nd birthday- meaning he missed the cutoff to being drafted this past summer by only a few weeks. This is one reason as to why he's slipped a few spots in preliminary rankings. Lindstrom had 42 points in 61 games in his D-minus-1 year, while McQueen had 51 points in 53 games in his- with much less talent surrounding him.
-McQueen is highly skilled, and a very proficient stickhandler. He exhibits top-notch IQ and vision for playmaking, but he already owns an NHL-caliber shot, and looks to be leaning towards being a scorer- with 4 goals and 6 points in 2 WHL games thus far in the 2024-25 season, 4 goals and 7 points in the Hlinka, and 4 goals and 5 points in last year's WHL playoffs. He's good in front of the net and can score garbage goals, but he's got good hands in-tight.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Here's what I think in regards to McQueen, anyone can feel free to add or correct:

-In the past, the knock was that his skating mechanics were lacking, and that might have hurt his top speed- this was evident at 2023's Hlinka. These days, it seems most scouts agree that his skating has improved, and he's now referred to as being a strong skater with excellent agility and 4-way mobility who can beat defenders wide.
-He's nowhere as mean as a Cayden Lindstrom for example, but he uses his size well in puck protection, winning battles, and in front of the net. He's tenacious, and competes well for pucks, but in the past he has shown occasional lapses in intensity. 50 PIM in 53 games last year shows he has a slight chip on his shoulder.
-Can't comment on whether or not he's made any strides in the current season in regards to his defense, but this has been an area of concern up to this point- as has his play without the puck. Not a big worry, as many kids his age show these deficiencies. He can play C or W, and his two-way play will determine if he's a true C in the pros.
-McQueen is 4 months older than Lindstrom was in his draft year, with an October 2nd birthday- meaning he missed the cutoff to being drafted this past summer by only a few weeks. This is one reason as to why he's slipped a few spots in preliminary rankings. Lindstrom had 42 points in 61 games in his D-minus-1 year, while McQueen had 51 points in 53 games in his- with much less talent surrounding him.
-McQueen is highly skilled, and a very proficient stickhandler. He exhibits top-notch IQ and vision for playmaking, but he already owns an NHL-caliber shot, and looks to be leaning towards being a scorer- with 4 goals and 6 points in 2 WHL games thus far in the 2024-25 season, 4 goals and 7 points in the Hlinka, and 4 goals and 5 points in last year's WHL playoffs. He's good in front of the net and can score garbage goals, but he's got good hands in-tight.

Just my opinion.

McQueen is miles better than Lindstrom at everything except skating, the age factor is a slight concern, but because of his size and overall game it's a small concern. I'm told he got a late start as well and didn't start playing organized hockey till he was 9 or 10.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Here's what I think in regards to McQueen, anyone can feel free to add or correct:

-In the past, the knock was that his skating mechanics were lacking, and that might have hurt his top speed- this was evident at 2023's Hlinka. These days, it seems most scouts agree that his skating has improved, and he's now referred to as being a strong skater with excellent agility and 4-way mobility who can beat defenders wide.
-He's nowhere as mean as a Cayden Lindstrom for example, but he uses his size well in puck protection, winning battles, and in front of the net. He's tenacious, and competes well for pucks, but in the past he has shown occasional lapses in intensity. 50 PIM in 53 games last year shows he has a slight chip on his shoulder.
-Can't comment on whether or not he's made any strides in the current season in regards to his defense, but this has been an area of concern up to this point- as has his play without the puck. Not a big worry, as many kids his age show these deficiencies. He can play C or W, and his two-way play will determine if he's a true C in the pros.
-McQueen is 4 months older than Lindstrom was in his draft year, with an October 2nd birthday- meaning he missed the cutoff to being drafted this past summer by only a few weeks. This is one reason as to why he's slipped a few spots in preliminary rankings. Lindstrom had 42 points in 61 games in his D-minus-1 year, while McQueen had 51 points in 53 games in his- with much less talent surrounding him.
-McQueen is highly skilled, and a very proficient stickhandler. He exhibits top-notch IQ and vision for playmaking, but he already owns an NHL-caliber shot, and looks to be leaning towards being a scorer- with 4 goals and 6 points in 2 WHL games thus far in the 2024-25 season, 4 goals and 7 points in the Hlinka, and 4 goals and 5 points in last year's WHL playoffs. He's good in front of the net and can score garbage goals, but he's got good hands in-tight.

Sounds a lot like Phil Esposito