2025 NHL Draft Thread

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Slovak Edition, Vol. 4):

LHC Andreas Straka (6'1",183)
Quebec (QMJHL): 45gp/ 9g/ 20a/ 29pts, -8, 18 PIM

There may be reason to believe that Andreas Straka (ranked #82 for NA Skaters by Central Scouting) has more going for him that he's showing in his stats this season. First of all, the Quebec Remparts are 14th out of 18 teams in the Q, and Straka doesn't typically play top-line minutes on that squad, so he doesn't have a whole lot to work with. The Remparts obviously thought well enough of him to take him with the 4th-overall pick in the 2024 CHL Import Draft. He has represented Slovakia in the 2024 U-18's (1 goal and 3 points in 7 games), and was tied with Michal Svrcek as the second-leading scorer on the team at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup (4 points in 4 games). Straka is a well-rounded power-forward who can play all three forward positions, in any situation, but his standout defensive game is what he's most known for. Most of his assets grade as average, or slightly above, but I like this kid.

Straka has a great net-front presence, showing proficiency at gathering rebounds, and has soft hands in-tight. He drives the middle with the puck for dangerous chances, and makes himself available for passes in the slot. He owns a good shot with a deceptive release, but he gets most of his goals within 10 feet of the net. Earlier this season, he made the highlight reel by scoring with a beautiful Michigan wrap-around. Straka is hard-working and intense, never gives up on a play, and gives second-and third efforts. He's relentless and tenacious on the forecheck, causing breakdowns on the other side of the puck; he brings energy to his team, and pushes pace .Physically, he asserts himself often, throws hits to dislodge pucks, and uses his frame to win puck battles. He plays a heavy game along the boards, and is a load to handle down low- he is also a pest who draws plenty of penalties. Speed-wise, he possesses above-average mobility, but he elevates his quickness with his high-end work-ethic, and his activity rate. He shows an explosive short-burst at times, and can accelerate to top-speed rapidly, but lacks the ability to separate in open-ice very often. He can cut inside to the net using his smooth edges, and has the ability to make quick turns and pivots. In the playmaking department, he may not be the most creative or dynamic, but he seems to be able to funnel pucks to the slot via the pass consistently. He uses deft small-area slip-passes to alleviate pressure and to maintain possession for his team- most of his more dangerous passes come off the rush. He plays a bit safe and simple, but he's a smart distributor who can find his teammates through traffic with cross-ice feeds.

Straka's puck-skills could use some work, as he sometimes has difficulty catching and handling while in flight, and relies more on power-moves to beat opponents than 1-on-1 stickhandling skill. Still, he manages to locate lanes through the neutral zone to rush the puck through transition, but he's content with dump-ins to make entry. Straka is very reliable in his own end, with a defensive game that is polished, detailed, and well-honed. He is fairly rangy, and has a long reach with an active stick that he wields with keen awareness in defensive situations, using it to cut off lanes against both the rush, and the cycle. His positioning is pristine, and his anticipation is top-notch, evidenced by how proficient he is at intercepting passes, blocking shots, and making clean recoveries off of errors and turnovers. Straka has plenty of offensive potential in my book, but he may be a bit limited in that regard; his ceiling might be that of a bottom-six defensive specialist who can chip in some offense and provide a physical presence- and there's nothing wrong with that. Look for him in the 4th, or 5th-round.

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by Sandman

One of my favorites for the Draft, C Brady Martin, has hit a bit of a hot streak of late, and was named first star tonight, with 2g and 3a to bring his totals to 48gp/27g/29a/56pts,+18, 62 PIM. Impressive, considering he plays for the 16th-placed Soo Greyhounds (by win %).

Clearly percentage-driven. The rest of the league should totally ignore him and let him fall to Calgary. Because, uh, the Flames are the league's home for muckers with limited skill. Or something.

Anyway, let him fall! I don't want the Flames to take him or anything, what're you talking about?

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Ba'alzamon

Clearly percentage-driven. The rest of the league should totally ignore him and let him fall to Calgary. Because, uh, the Flames are the league's home for muckers with limited skill. Or something.

Anyway, let him fall! I don't want the Flames to take him or anything, what're you talking about?

Oh, I’m picking up what you’re laying down, my friend!

[Monahammer]

Pick 1 this year: best center available (hopefully one of Martin, Cootes, Bear, O'Brien, Ryabkin).

Pick 2 this year: Ben Kindel or Cole Reschny, if either are available.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Pick 1 this year: best center available (hopefully one of Martin, Cootes, Bear, O'Brien, Ryabkin).

Pick 2 this year: Ben Kindel or Cole Reschny, if either are available.

Agree - but with pick 2 if any of the aforementioned centers are still available then taking any of them would still be fine too.

[Monahammer]

I've noticed that the draft simulator quality is notably worse this year. Is it just lack of excitement with the upcoming draft driving it? There were like 5 solid simulators last year, this year we're basically stuck with the FC simulator and the rankings haven't been updated at all.

[mile]

Originally Posted by the fonz

when is lindstrom back? If he returns and struggles a bit, i could see that hurting mcqueen's draft stock and he falls outside of the top 10.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1894794623874187527

[Sandman]

Brady Martin Watch, February 26th:

Martin is named second star in a 6-3 win over Sudbury, with 2g, 1a, and a +3, for 49gp/29g/30a/59pts,+21, 62 PIM. I know plus/minus is a useless stat, but his +21 on a team as bad as the Soo is NUTS!! The next highest on the team is +3.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Brady Martin Watch, February 26th:

Martin is named second star in a 6-3 win over Sudbury, with 2g, 1a, and a +3, for 49gp/29g/30a/59pts,+21, 62 PIM. I know plus/minus is a useless stat, but his +21 on a team as bad as the Soo is NUTS!! The next highest on the team is +3.

Dude it’s going to break your heart when he goes mid teens. Save yourself!

[flamesgod]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Brady Martin Watch, February 26th:

Martin is named second star in a 6-3 win over Sudbury, with 2g, 1a, and a +3, for 49gp/29g/30a/59pts,+21, 62 PIM. I know plus/minus is a useless stat, but his +21 on a team as bad as the Soo is NUTS!! The next highest on the team is +3.

This isn’t directed at you because I hear it a lot. Plus/minus is not a useless stat. Kind of like goal differential is not a useless stat. Where this narrative came from is beyond me. When Gaudreau Lindholm and Tkachuk were a line in 21/22 I think they were all around + 60. That’s dominant, and that’s exactly what they were. It’s not a useless stat at all. In fact I’d say it’s very important. It contains variables for sure, and no it isn’t perfect, but still very meaningful.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by flamesgod

This isn’t directed at you because I hear it a lot. Plus/minus is not a useless stat. Kind of like goal differential is not a useless stat. Where this narrative came from is beyond me. When Gaudreau Lindholm and Tkachuk were a line in 21/22 I think they were all around + 60. That’s dominant, and that’s exactly what they were. It’s not a useless stat at all. In fact I’d say it’s very important. It contains variables for sure, and no it isn’t perfect, but still very meaningful.

I totally agree, I was just being sarcastic. I always include this stat when I do updates.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Slovakia Edition, Vol. 5):

LHC Michal Svrcek (5'10",176lbs)
Brynas (J20): 29gp/ 14g/ 16a/ 30pts, +9, 10 PIM
Brynas (SHL): 11gp/ 1g/ 2a/ 3pts, +1, 2 PIM

Michal Svrcek (ranked # 69 for EU Skaters by Central Scouting) is a Slovakian import playing in Sweden, who has represented his home country in last summer's Hlinka-Gretzky Cup (tied for second on Team Slovakia, with 3 goals and 4 points in 4 games), and at the 2024 U-18's (1 goal in 7 games). He is a 200-ft player who is well-rounded, and plays with energy and intensity. Svrcek is an excellent skater, with speed that gives him a clear advantage in junior, and he can keep up with the play in the men's league; he can even outskate many of his opponents there. His quickness is augmented by his sky-high work-ethic, and his activity rate. It's reasonable to suggest that he could be a real burner in the future, as he isn't yet achieving the most speed out of a stride that is a bit short and choppy; he needs more extension, a deeper knee-bend, and further upgrades to his lower-body strength. He is slippery and elusive, with solid edgework that gives him the ability to pivot quickly, make tight turns, and spin off of checks.

Svrcek forechecks with tenacity and an active stick to slow down breakouts, and to limit time and space for puck-carriers. He possesses keen offensive awareness, and can spot lanes that he can exploit with his quickness, as well as seams for his accurate passing ability. He has a modicum of creativity, as well as an abundance of hockey IQ, and is a developing offensive-driver, but needs work on his decision-making. Though his shot is fairly hard, and his release is quick and deceptive, he could improve his goal-scoring with a tweak of his shot-selection, as he gets blocked a lot, and misses the net often. He can score from any angle, showing pinpoint accuracy at times, and owns soft, silky mitts to beat goalies in-tight. Though he lacks size, he doesn't keep to the perimeter- he attacks the net with the puck, and positions himself in the slot for high-danger chances. He can beat opponents wide to the net, and will even sometimes drop a shoulder and lean into a defender in an attempt to power his way to the crease, with mixed results- he most likely has a higher rate of success against junior competition, than against men in the SHL. In transition, he contributes to the breakout with short-area passes to connect plays through the neutral zone, and handles the puck quite well with layers of deception, and slick 1-on-1 moves.

Though he doesn't back down from the rough stuff, his size is sometimes detrimental- he can lose battles for loose pucks along the boards, and often struggles to establish position in front of the net. He's not a very physical player, and must resort to using his stick and his smarts to win pucks. Defensively, there's also some work to be done, as he seems to lack awareness and aggressiveness in his own zone. His positioning is touch-and-go, but he seems to be adept at protecting the middle- although he has trouble handling bigger opponents, especially in front of his net. He uses his stick to disrupt plays, and his speed comes in handy to take away time and space from attackers. Obviously, there's a need for Svrcek to get a lot stronger, but upgrades have to made to his decision-making, and defensive presence. The potential is there for him to make it as a middle-six player (he will probably have to switch to the wing, a position he already plays on occasion) in the NHL, but he may be a bit of a project. Look for him in the middle-rounds.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by flamesgod

This isn’t directed at you because I hear it a lot. Plus/minus is not a useless stat. Kind of like goal differential is not a useless stat.

The big problem is that plus/minus is heavily affected by linemates and usage. By itself it tells you very little about an individual player.

I'll give you an example from the Flames team that won the Cup in '89. Of their four regular centres – Gilmour, Nieuwendyk, Otto, Hrdina – Otto had the worst +/–. You might guess that he was bad defensively. Actually, he had a relatively bad +/– because he was the team's best defensive centre and drew the toughest assignments. (He was also the centre whenever they were killing a 5-on-3, unless he was in the box himself.) Nieuwendyk was nothing special defensively at that point in his career, but he racked up big pluses because he didn't have to play against opponents' top lines.

Sometimes, on a really bad team, a big minus rating is practically a badge of honour. It means you're the least bad option at your position, and have the privilege of being caved in for more minutes than anyone else. In 1989–90, when the Quebec Nordiques were the joke of the league, Joe Sakic scored 102 points but was an awful –40 – worse than every other forward that played the whole season for the Nords.

Things like that make plus-minus a very fuzzy and noisy stat, and nobody relies on it for any kind of real analysis.

[Fan69]

Really like this player the more i watch him. I think his skating can be improved. Versatile. Gets in the trenches, pretty good skill and vision. Good shot. Can play center.

https://youtu.be/JP2EVFDFeu4?si=5iNmxa2OQUhIiEgu


Sorry not sure how to embed these without linking.

Zonnon and cootes would look good in red.

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Really like this player the more i watch him. I think his skating can be improved. Versatile. Gets in the trenches, pretty good skill and vision. Good shot. Can play center.

https://youtu.be/JP2EVFDFeu4?si=5iNmxa2OQUhIiEgu


Sorry not sure how to embed these without linking.

Zonnon and cootes would look good in red.

Depends on if Zonnon is a C or a wing.
He appers to have game breaker potential and he has the size to make an impact. Working on his skating and getting him to fill out...you could have a top line C.

I agree, we would be a wise pick.

Zonnon, Martin, Reschny...get me two of these three in the first round and I will be a happy camper.

[Sandman]

Zonnon has been playing C this season.

[aaronkarlpatton]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Zonnon has been playing C this season.

So zonnon and nesbit would be good first round targets?

Sent from my SM-G990W2 using Tapatalk

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Zonnon and cootes would look good in red.

absolutely. Two of my favourites in this draft class ... probably will never be superstars, but the kind of top/middle six forwards you win with.

[ICRed]

One guy who really impressed me in the WJC for Germany was Julius Sumpf. Even though he is a bit older, I really like his game as a C. Seems like he has a lot of scalable tools to be a solid pro 3rd/4th Line C. Potential Backlund replacement down the line. If he's available as a later round pick I think he'd be a no brainer.

[mile]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1895209441957753301