2025 NHL Draft Thread

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Flames will probably draft twice in round 1 at this draft, both in the 20's with Florida's pick and NJs pick. The Flames pick will end up in the low teens and go to Montreal. Ouch

Way too early top say Calgary can't be bottom 10. They are currently 2 points above 10th place. Lots of time to go.

Especially if they trade Andersson or their goaltending slips even a little bit.

Calgary needs to pick early this year and get a centre. The rebuild depends on it.

[ThatHighGuy]

This would be a massive waste of a year if the Flames finish just outside the bottom 10 and have to give up their pick to Montreal. Curse you Treliving!!!!

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Flames will probably draft twice in round 1 at this draft, both in the 20's with Florida's pick and NJs pick. The Flames pick will end up in the low teens and go to Montreal. Ouch

Florida wins the cup, so pick 32; they beat the Devils in the conference finals, so pick 30. Flames finish 10th worst, but a team below them wins the lottery pushing the Flames pick to 11, so the Habs get the pick. The lottery winner is the Oilers.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Florida wins the cup, so pick 32; they beat the Devils in the conference finals, so pick 30. Flames finish 10th worst, but a team below them wins the lottery pushing the Flames pick to 11, so the Habs get the pick. The lottery winner is the Oilers.

Might as well mentally.prepare for it now haha

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Flames will probably draft twice in round 1 at this draft, both in the 20's with Florida's pick and NJs pick. The Flames pick will end up in the low teens and go to Montreal. Ouch

What about this team makes you think they won't be in the lottery mix this year? That is a bold statement to think they will be draftin gin the low teens. They have a woeful PP, will obviously be selling some assets at the deadline with a handful of UFAs and have seen a hot start evaporate to what is an entertaining brand of losing hockey.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

What about this team makes you think they won't be in the lottery mix this year? That is a bold statement to think they will be draftin gin the low teens. They have a woeful PP, will obviously be selling some assets at the deadline with a handful of UFAs and have seen a hot start evaporate to what is an entertaining brand of losing hockey.

Because it's what we want and need, and also finishing in the low teens while the other two picks are late in the 1st round is basically the worst case scenario.

I'm kind of being facetious, but apparently that's being missed by some.

But at the same time, I don't think this team is as bad as some make it out to be either. Time will tell.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

What about this team makes you think they won't be in the lottery mix this year? That is a bold statement to think they will be draftin gin the low teens. They have a woeful PP, will obviously be selling some assets at the deadline with a handful of UFAs and have seen a hot start evaporate to what is an entertaining brand of losing hockey.

Well, they are currently still in a playoff spot, even with the recent slow play.

The Western Conference looks really weak this year. They could be a relatively poor team and still finish 11th.

I fully expect they can and will finish bottom 10, but it's not a certainty if they continue getting decent goaltending.

[dammage79]

I have to check myself whenever I start questioning thing around the time like roster deployment or lines or why the GM isn't aggresively trying to address the center position.

The team as it's built is designed to have have some serious holes. The team is designed to win by outowkring the other team nightly. It's just not going to happen. The level of talent that tips the scales in close games just isn't on this roster....or they're not mature enough in their young career to be that over the top talent.

Just have to remember this is year 1 of a plan. And expectations shouldn't really be applied. Just want some steady, positive progression from the 24 and younger players. That's it.

The vets are doing their own thing and the coaching staff and management haven't given them the filler they'd ideally want to be a contending team.

This is all by design. The draft is Connie's baby and he's right rope walking the rebuild by trying to let the veterans roster (that's what it is) play their way to wherever they end up in the standings.

[cral12]

fwiw, to help get some traction at Upside's Substack, made a couple of Sandman's posts here into articles/eNewsletters:

Center(s) of Interest:
https://upsidehockey.substack.com/p/...er-of-interest

Draft Musings:
https://upsidehockey.substack.com/p/...-draft-musings

[cral12]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Conditions

(A) if Panthers 2025 first transfers to Flames then

(1) if both Flames and Panthers 2025 firsts are not in top 10 then Canadiens receive more favorable of Flames, Panthers picks;

or

(2) if Flames 2025 first is in top 10 and Panthers 2025 first is not in top 10 then Canadiens receive Panthers 2025 first;

(B) if Panthers 2025 first does not transfer to Flames then

(1) if Flames 2025 first is #1 overall then Canadiens receive Flames 2025 third and more favorable of Flames, Panthers 2026 firsts;

or

(2) if Flames 2025 first is #2-10 then Canadiens receive Flames 2025 first;

or

(3) if Flames 2025 first is not in top 10 then Canadiens receive Flames 2025 first and

(a) if Panthers 2025 first is not in top 10 and (b) Panthers 2025 first has been transferred to another team and (c) Panthers 2025 first is more favorable than Flames then Canadiens receive Flames 2025 fourth)

(A) happens as long as Florida doesn't pick top 10 because the pick was top 10 protected in the Tkachuk trade

(B) happens if Florida picks top 10 which is unlikely to occur it seem right now.


Worst case scenario for (A) would be for the Flames 1st to pick just outside the top 10 and Panthers late 1st round, because that means the Flames would transfer their 1st to Montreal

I've added this to the bottom of OP in this thread.

[Sandman]

Here's my annual "look at this Russian" post:

LHD Kurban Limatov, 6'4",187lbs.

It's still early, but his ppg of 0.75 (12 points in 16 games) is one of the best U-18 seasons for a D in MHL history. He has a powerful stride, but sometimes looks like he needs some technical refinement, and some work on his startup. Still, he wins plenty of races. He's an excellent passer (even cheeky at times) with high IQ and vision, and his shot looks excellent, though it has room to add a bit more velocity. He is very aggressive in snuffing the rush proactively in the neutral zone using his body and stick, which is a good thing as he can sometimes get running around defensively, and his decision-making can be shaky. Check him out, if you get time (it's 18:28 long):

https://www.google.com/search?q=kurb...UvHt8yDoc,st:0

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Florida wins the cup, so pick 32; they beat the Devils in the conference finals, so pick 30. Flames finish 10th worst, but a team below them wins the lottery pushing the Flames pick to 11, so the Habs get the pick. The lottery winner is the Oilers.

Just shoot me.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Here's my annual "look at this Russian" post:

LHD Kurban Limatov, 6'4",187lbs.

It's still early, but his ppg of 0.75 (12 points in 16 games) is one of the best U-18 seasons for a D in MHL history. He has a powerful stride, but sometimes looks like he needs some technical refinement, and some work on his startup. Still, he wins plenty of races. He's an excellent passer (even cheeky at times) with high IQ and vision, and his shot looks excellent, though it has room to add a bit more velocity. He is very aggressive in snuffing the rush proactively in the neutral zone using his body and stick, which is a good thing as he can sometimes get running around defensively, and his decision-making can be shaky. Check him out, if you get time (it's 18:28 long):

https://www.google.com/search?q=kurb...UvHt8yDoc,st:0

These are tough to judge based on one game's worth of shifts, but he seemed to turn around and chase a guy on a 2-on-1 rather than skate backwards. Definitely a different approach to stuffing an odd man rush, but it worked I guess.


His skating does look raw, but he does move well. He really can thread the needle well. Really soft hands. Thanks for the vid Sandman!

[Sandman]

D Matthew Schaefer had 4 points (2g, 2a) tonight in a 9-3 victory over Niagara. With 5 points in his last 2 games, with a +7, his season totals are now 6gp/3g/5a/8pts,+9, 6 PIM.

[cral12]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Here's my annual "look at this Russian" post:

LHD Kurban Limatov, 6'4",187lbs.

It's still early, but his ppg of 0.75 (12 points in 16 games) is one of the best U-18 seasons for a D in MHL history. He has a powerful stride, but sometimes looks like he needs some technical refinement, and some work on his startup. Still, he wins plenty of races. He's an excellent passer (even cheeky at times) with high IQ and vision, and his shot looks excellent, though it has room to add a bit more velocity. He is very aggressive in snuffing the rush proactively in the neutral zone using his body and stick, which is a good thing as he can sometimes get running around defensively, and his decision-making can be shaky. Check him out, if you get time (it's 18:28 long):

https://www.google.com/search?q=kurb...UvHt8yDoc,st:0

Our chief rankings scout at Upside has him already ranked 27th:
- NHL Central Scouting had him as a 4th-5th render

https://twitter.com/user/status/1855059286138732878

[Sandman]

Good call!!!

[Roof-Daddy]

I know it's not the right draft, but there is a 16 year old leading the WHL scoring race by 6 points right now.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I know it's not the right draft, but there is a 16 year old leading the WHL scoring race by 6 points right now.

But he's just a winger

[Sandman]

Nov.9th:

Porter Martone was serving a one-game suspension for checking from behind tonight, and was only able to post 1 point in his prior 2 games. As a result, he has slipped to second place in the OHL scoring race with 15gp/16g/16a/32pts,+10, 26 PIM.

After 5 goals and 10 points in his last 5 games, Michael Misa has moved into first place in OHL scoring, with 17gp/21g/12a/33pts,+12, 6 PIM. He is first in goal-scoring by 5.

LW Malcolm Spence has 9 points in his last 5, and sits in a tie for 13th in OHL scoring.

Some say RW Justin Carbonneau has been rounding out his game, and with 9 points in his last 5 games, he has moved into a tie for 7th in Q scoring with 17gp/9g/17a/26pts,-1, 18 PIM.

With 12 points in his last 5 games, C Caleb Desnoyers has moved into a tie for 12th in Q scoring, with 14gp/12g/12a/24pts,+20, 4 PIM. He is second in plus/minus, behind teammate Julius Sumpf (+23).

LW Bill Zonnon has 6 points in his last 3, and sits tied for 10th in scoring, with 18gp/9g/16a/25pts,+10, 8 PIM.

C Carter Bear has 8 points in his last 4 games, and is in a tie for 5th in WHL scoring, with 18gp/14g/15a/29pts,+15, 16 PIM.

Tied with Carter Bear for 5th is LW Nathan Behm (7 points in his last 5), with 18gp/13g/16a/29pts,+14, 10 PIM.

RW Cameron Schmidt is one point behind those two (11 points in his last 5 games, including 6 goals), with 16gp/18g/10a/28pts,+6, 10 PIM, but is 1st overall in goals.

LW Cole Reschny has 14 points in the last 10 games, and is tied for 17th in scoring, with 18gp/7g/17a/24pts.+3, 14pts.

With 10 points in his last 6 games, D Jackson Smith is tied for 5th in scoring by D in the WHL, with 16gp/1g/17a/18pts,+12, 20 PIM. He's going to be a big riser.

Will Sharpe is tied for 13th in D scoring with 15gp/2g/13a/15pts,+2, 10 PIM.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Nov.9th:
With 10 points in his last 6 games, D Jackson Smith is tied for 5th in scoring by D in the WHL, with 16gp/1g/17a/18pts,+12, 20 PIM. He's going to be a big riser.

Tri was supposed to be poor to middling this year but have just won ten in a row due to a large part from Smith.