2025 NHL Draft Thread

[D as in David]

He still doesn't play centre for the Tigers. What's their thinking for keeping him on the wing?

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by D as in David

He still doesn't play centre for the Tigers. What's their thinking for keeping him on the wing?

He has always played wing from what everyone has said. I can’t see him being turned into a C in his draft year.

But that’s ok. He’s a generational talent and we need them at any position minus goalie.

It would be awesome if we finally got some luck but this isn’t the topic to discuss if the Flames should rebuild it takes away from what Sandman is doing and I’ve hijacked enough threads with my opinion.

Just wanted to share how amazing he has been and it’s not even his draft year lol.

[Paulie Walnuts]

It also sounds like he might be a Flames fan??? I’m just going to go sit in a corner

[Groot]

Do t worry, the hockey gods will shine upon us and rain down on Vegas, and the unprotected 1st Vegas will be top 10 and win the lottery selection. Make playoffs next year and still get McKenna.

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

Again thank you as always Sandman and all who contribute to this thread. So far I have to say McQueen without the back injury is a top talent but even without he may be a very valuable player. He strikes me as a Dave andrychuk type. Very valuable.

However the two so far that are really tantalizing me are Jack Obrien for our first pick and Ben Kindle with our next best pick.

Regarding OBrien I’m getting some really awesome vibes. Cerebral playmaking tall RHS centerman. I think you should move heaven and earth for a player profile like that. If a trade matches up with Buffalo for Anderson you make that deal. Like our first pick and Anderson to secure OBrien. He’s giving me some scheifle vibes going into his draft year. I’m gonna start watching some tape of him. He could end up playing around 200 210 and may even have another inch or two for height. That’s number one centerman measurable. Add in the play making and it’s heralding some really exciting attributes.

This draft has a lot of center options. I go OBrien, McQueen then Martin.


I went to a hitmen game recently and got to see kindle. He’s a real talent. He looks a lot bigger than 5’11. Really smart kid. Smooth. You can tell he’s not giving his all in this league but he’s smart enough to turn on the skill when the opportunity is there. I think he’s a a top six forward in the pros. He looks like he could be a center man but probably ends up on the wing. He doesn’t seem too interested in defence but he gets deep and doesn’t fly the zone too much. He has Center instincts at the wing.

Brady Martin is interesting. He’s fascinating because of how bad his supporting cast was and is. He looks like another strong option for us as a consolation. RHS centerman with decent size skating and skill. Good draft to have have multiple picks again.


Those Russian kids sandman shared are interesting. The fwd for Sarina and the lhs rw playimg in the khl seem like valuable players. Those tall dmen could be a good investment too.

Again a draft that’s decried for a lack of depth shows lots of promise later on. I like this draft and am happy to let Todd and co. Cook.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I'm definitely no expert, but this is my opinion on those questions:

1) I wouldn't take O'Brien over Desnoyers, Frondell, or Misa, but I really think with how he's dominated over the second half, he should definitely be in the conversation for 5-10 in the draft. He's 6'2", and might be the best playmaker in the draft.
2) Martin is now up to 71 points in 58 games, after putting up 25 points in the last 17 games, on the 14th-placed Soo Greyhounds (they have risen as a team as well). He's so damn good, I would put him closer to the first group of centers than the second.
3) I still think Ryabkin could go top-20, but both Cootes and McKinney (as well as Murtagh) aren't getting the love they deserve. I'm not sure the price is worth it to move up to get Martin, but I would consider it if O'Brien was available, given the lack of depth in this draft- giving up a later pick in the first round, plus another pick in the second isn't as big a deal as it usually would be. Don't forget though- there are other really good options at C as well, like Reschny, Bear, and Zonnon.
4) I really like Nesbitt, but I'm still suffering PTSD from Greg Niemisz, lol. I don't like Nesbitt nearly as much as Martin, but I might just stay put in that scenario. I think Nesbitt is helped a bit by the talent he has around him, though.

Love it. And I would guess that this is roughly how this plays out in the office. With the trade deadline in the rearview mirror, the GM is working on the plan for draft day. The priority is to land a "RHS C with 1st line potential" and gets a scouting report like this and then goes to the phones to start asking the questions about costs.

How I would guess that starts:
No point in calling the Sharks or Blackhawks as those teams are tanking for those picks.
Calling the Sabres and Predators makes sense as those teams are likely not happy with how this season has gone compared to their respective plans. If they are willing to deal, the cost will be big.
Kraken, Flyers, and Ducks are unlikely to be willing to move but of the 3, the Kraken are maybe open to the conversation as they have some cap issues on their roster (goaltending) and they want to be a playoff team right away.
Penguins may be willing to trade down to get more picks to try and restock their bare cupboards. Or they may be looking for a win-now roster player to bolster their aging core.

So, hopefully 4 potential trade partners and then you just need to figure out what they are looking for and if you can build a deal framework with any of them for draft day. (Keeping in mind that if the cost gets to be too high then you walk away and plan to let your scouts work with the picks you have.)

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Ziggy Lidstrom

Again thank you as always Sandman and all who contribute to this thread. So far I have to say McQueen without the back injury is a top talent but even without he may be a very valuable player. He strikes me as a Dave andrychuk type. Very valuable.

However the two so far that are really tantalizing me are Jack Obrien for our first pick and Ben Kindle with our next best pick.

Regarding OBrien I’m getting some really awesome vibes. Cerebral playmaking tall RHS centerman. I think you should move heaven and earth for a player profile like that. If a trade matches up with Buffalo for Anderson you make that deal. Like our first pick and Anderson to secure OBrien. He’s giving me some scheifle vibes going into his draft year. I’m gonna start watching some tape of him. He could end up playing around 200 210 and may even have another inch or two for height. That’s number one centerman measurable. Add in the play making and it’s heralding some really exciting attributes.

This draft has a lot of center options. I go OBrien, McQueen then Martin.


I went to a hitmen game recently and got to see kindle. He’s a real talent. He looks a lot bigger than 5’11. Really smart kid. Smooth. You can tell he’s not giving his all in this league but he’s smart enough to turn on the skill when the opportunity is there. I think he’s a a top six forward in the pros. He looks like he could be a center man but probably ends up on the wing. He doesn’t seem too interested in defence but he gets deep and doesn’t fly the zone too much. He has Center instincts at the wing.

Brady Martin is interesting. He’s fascinating because of how bad his supporting cast was and is. He looks like another strong option for us as a consolation. RHS centerman with decent size skating and skill. Good draft to have have multiple picks again.


Those Russian kids sandman shared are interesting. The fwd for Sarina and the lhs rw playimg in the khl seem like valuable players. Those tall dmen could be a good investment too.

Again a draft that’s decried for a lack of depth shows lots of promise later on. I like this draft and am happy to let Todd and co. Cook.

Is he. That scouting report wasn't very good either. Seems like he is more of a winger who grinds, and makes safe plays.

Skating and back issues might be the least of his concerns.

[cral12]

If yah wanna mock our mock as distraction from the game tonight, go ahead:

Upside Hockey's 2025 NHL Mock Draft

The March Madness Edition of our NHL Mock Draft

Many quotes/excerpts from our very own Sandman...

https://upsidehockey.substack.com/p/...nhl-mock-draft

[dissentowner]

Jake O Brien is the real deal. If we drop into the top 10 and can find a way to move down to get that kid I would be ecstatic.

[cral12]

Originally Posted by cral12

If yah wanna mock our mock as distraction from the game tonight, go ahead:

Upside Hockey's 2025 NHL Mock Draft

The March Madness Edition of our NHL Mock Draft

Many quotes/excerpts from our very own Sandman...

https://upsidehockey.substack.com/p/...nhl-mock-draft

Link to the full first round mock on our website if you prefer to bypass Substack (though going through Substack helps our stats out : )

Would the Flames realistically land these 2 lads from the Dub!?

https://www.upsidehockey.com/mock-drafts

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by cral12

Link to the full first round mock on our website if you prefer to bypass Substack (though going through Substack helps our stats out : )

Would the Flames realistically land these 2 lads from the Dub!?

https://www.upsidehockey.com/mock-drafts

I think I would take Kindel over Reschny, very narrowly.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Jake O Brien is the real deal. If we drop into the top 10 and can find a way to move down to get that kid I would be ecstatic.

I've got O'Brien right up there with Frondell, Desnoyers, and McQueen

Getting any of those 4 would be huge for the center depth

[Tkachukwagon]

Hagens a candidate to slide?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1902023240660439534

[cral12]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I think I would take Kindel over Reschny, very narrowly.

Man, believe it or not I had Kindel sitting in the Flames slot for a while in draft mode, then switched it to Reschny on final review, so I hear yah!

[cral12]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Jake O Brien is the real deal. If we drop into the top 10 and can find a way to move down to get that kid I would be ecstatic.

Definitely see a version of the multiverse where he even goes 5th or 6th. We currently have him ranked 8th.
https://www.upsidehockey.com/nhl-dra...draft-rankings

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by cral12

Link to the full first round mock on our website if you prefer to bypass Substack (though going through Substack helps our stats out : )

Would the Flames realistically land these 2 lads from the Dub!?

https://www.upsidehockey.com/mock-drafts

Very interesting to see where you are slotting in the various teams and their respective 'wants'. For example, the Sabres do not really need a C, so having them go for Martone makes sense.

Showing Misa slip to #5.... If I were Conroy I would be burning down the phone trying to get the Sabres pick to grab Misa at 4.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Wolven

Very interesting to see where you are slotting in the various teams and their respective 'wants'. For example, the Sabres do not really need a C, so having them go for Martone makes sense.

Showing Misa slip to #5.... If I were Conroy I would be burning down the phone trying to get the Sabres pick to grab Misa at 4.

And what could the Flames offer the Sabres to get Misa?

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

And what could the Flames offer the Sabres to get Misa?

That is probably starting with Parekh.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

That is probably starting with Parekh.

Yes, I was expecting some one would say starting with Anderson.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

And what could the Flames offer the Sabres to get Misa?

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

That is probably starting with Parekh.

The only way you're getting a top 5 pick with Misa on the board is Wolf...I'm not even sure Parekh gets it done.

And TBH I love Dustin Wolf but if the trade offer ended up being something like Misa + UPL for Wolf...it would be a lot to think about.

But it also would never happen. Way too risky of a deal from both sides. Flames can't trade a young fan favourite who projects to be a top 10 goalie in the league. Sabres couldn't risk trading a top 5 pick on a goalie, no matter how good his rookie season is, goalies are too unpredictable.