2025 NHL Draft Thread

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

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

I think it would depend heavily on where the Flames are drafting. If we slip into the top 10 then offering pick 10 has a lot of value.

At that point you are not needing to go crazy with Parekh or Wolf but instead look to Suniev as a prospect who is turning heads at UMass and has a couple of years development over a pick in this summer's draft.

Then the Sabres would have Suniev + Eklund instead of Martone.

(If Suniev isn't good enough then can a better winger prospect move the needle? Gridin or Battaglia.)

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

That is probably starting with Parekh.

And thats where you hang up.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

And thats where you hang up.

Parekh's upside is top-5 defenseman in the NHL.

Wolf's upside is top-5 goalie in the NHL.

Both are hard positions to find, just like C. There's only a handful of players that are worth Parekh or Wolf, and those players have no chance of being moved, making Parekh and Wolf untouchable.

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

Anyone have any reports on K’shawn Aitcheson?

25 goals , old school nasty defender.

Might be a solid pick for our pool. First round talent.

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by Ziggy Lidstrom

Anyone have any reports on K’shawn Aitcheson?

25 goals , old school nasty defender.

Might be a solid pick for our pool. First round talent.

His stat line worries me a bit. His assist production is basically the same as last season and he doesn't shoot much. His goal total spiked because he's shooting at over 15% (Parekh is at 13.9%, for reference).

I expect his goal total will fall next year the same way Morin's did.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Ba'alzamon

His stat line worries me a bit. His assist production is basically the same as last season and he doesn't shoot much. His goal total spiked because he's shooting at over 15% (Parekh is at 13.9%, for reference).

I expect his goal total will fall next year the same way Morin's did.

Quick! Tell the Oilers to sign him for $9.25 million!

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

Originally Posted by Ba'alzamon

His stat line worries me a bit. His assist production is basically the same as last season and he doesn't shoot much. His goal total spiked because he's shooting at over 15% (Parekh is at 13.9%, for reference).

I expect his goal total will fall next year the same way Morin's did.

Apparently it’s his willingness to be physical and skate well with some offensive potential via his shot that make him intriguing.

[Sandman]

Don't worry about those stats, Aitcheson is like a better, bigger, meaner, more violent version of Matt Dumba. He'll get you 40-50 points a year, and scare the hell out of the competition. He's going get a lot of attention come draft day.

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Don't worry about those stats, Aitcheson is like a better, bigger, meaner, more violent version of Matt Dumba. He'll get you 40-50 points a year, and scare the hell out of the competition. He's going get a lot of attention come draft day.

Don't get the wrong idea, I like the player. I just think it'll be more like 30 points than 40.

I think a PDO heater is leading to some misplaced superlatives about his offensive side, that's all. Much like Morin (who I also like btw).

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems Edition, Vol. 1):

RHC Nathan Quinn (5'10",168lbs)
Quebec (QMJHL): 52gp/ 17g/ 29a/ 46pts, -4, 23 PIM

Right-handed C Nathan Quinn (#56 NA Skaters, #48 by Button) has a lot going for him, including the fact that he's one of the younger players in the draft, with an Aug.29th, 2007 birthday- and he's currently second in scoring for the Quebec Remparts, who are in 14th-place out of 18 teams. He also gets to look forward to attending Northeastern University for the 2026-27 season, thanks to the new rule that allows CHL players to be eligible for the NCAA. Quinn is a well-rounded, all-situations, 3-zone center who may lack dynamism and flash in his mostly north-south game, but he shows glimpses of impressive skill and intelligence. He touches every part of the game in a positive way, puts teammates in advantageous positions consistently, and can drive play.

Quinn's straight-line speed is around average, but he's quick in spurts and light on his skates, making him slippery and elusive and giving him the ability to spin off of checks. He's highly cerebral and economical in his movements, sporting near-elite hockey sense that always keeps him a step or two ahead of the play, and always in position in the right place at the right time. Playmaking is his main forte' in the offensive third, exhibiting keen vision and awareness, with a knack for locating open space to operate out of, and the ability to spot lanes to pass through. He is adept at drawing pressure with patient delays, or the odd drop-pass or cut-back, using the seams he creates to connect with teammates across the ice, or through the crease. Though he is rather slight, he doesn't back down from the rough stuff, with the willingness to compete in the greasy areas and engage his opponents physically- sometimes even throwing thunderous hits. He seems to be a fixture in post-whistle scrums, and is pesky and disruptive on the forecheck. From both a goal-scoring and playmaking standpoint, his net-front presence is one of the pillars of his game. He gets most of his goals in-tight, as his shot is nothing special, and is used mostly as a tool for making plays for his teammates in the form of tips and rebounds. He is not afraid to cut inside to the middle, or go to the front of the net- often timing his appearance to coincide with the puck's arrival. He displays a good motor, with a high workrate, and employs a tenacious, determined approach.

One of Quinn's main calling cards is his detailed and impactful defensive game; he reads the play in his own zone well, and acts proactively to position himself to be able to force errors, cause turnovers, intercept passes, and get inside on opponents. He's highly active, from pressuring the point to supporting his D down low, to defending the front of his net. He is effective in taking away the middle, keeping attacks to the outside. Quinn has quick hands, and is a smooth puckhandler with plenty of slick one-on-one moves to turn defenders inside-out, topped off with some deception to manipulate their movements. He has a number of ways to contribute to transition, using his feet, handling, and deception, as well as his quick-touch passing; once the puck is over the line, he gets to work creating off the rush, and building plays. Scouts who find his offensive game scalable may want to take him as early as the 3rd-round, but he already has a decent NHL floor, due to his advanced own-zone game and puck-movement from defense to offense.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems, Vol. 2):

RHC Tommy Lafreniere (5'11",170lbs)
Kamloops (WHL): 65gp/ 24g/ 32a/ 56pts, -29, 20 PIM

Center Tommy Lafreniere (ranked #86 NA Skaters) is near the end of his first full-time season in the WHL; though he was eligible to play for Kamloops in 2023-24, he opted to go back to the U18 Prep circuit, where he posted 58 points in 30 games for the Yale Hockey Academy- good enough for 9th in league scoring. The Blazers are still rebuilding, and they are currently in 19th-place out of 22 teams in the WHL, with the 5th-worst goals-for, making Lafreniere's stat-line look even better. He has played up and down the Blazers' lineup, and has been given more opportunities and ice-time as the season has progressed, as the team has been dealing with injuries to some of their top players, and it should be mentioned that he's been playing mostly on the wing this year. Lafreniere, who was born in Montreal and raised in Whistler, is a shoot-first forward with a complete game- always involved, and usually in the thick of the play. He possesses the hockey sense to find soft spots in coverage to occupy, the knack for being at the right place at the right time to strike, and the offensive awareness to open seams by drawing pressure with cut-backs and delays.

Laf has excellent hockey sense, and though he doesn't possess any dynamic qualities or flashiness, he's a strong playmaker who sees the ice well, and makes quick decisions with simple plays. His skating is far from elite, but he has above-average speed in a straight-line, augmented by a high motor, a good quick-burst in small areas, and a peppy first-step. He is shifty and deceptive in his footwork, with a seamless change of pace and direction, and tricky shifts of weight to fool attackers. Game in, game out, he always puts in an honest effort with high motor on-and-off the puck, and although his lack of size occasionally hurts him in battles, he employs a physical game, plays with energy and brisk tempo, never gives up on a play, and pushes a lofty pace. On the forecheck, he is intense and disruptive- throwing hits to dislodge pucks, and even shows off his defensive instincts by snuffing the opposition's breakout. He makes his living in the dirty areas of the ice, and his uncanny ability to spot open pockets in the slot and around the net is a huge factor in his offensive game; most of his goals come from attacking in-tight, with soft hands for beating goalies, the hand-eye coordination for tipping shots, and the reflexes to clean up garbage in the crease. Although his shot could use more power, he gets a good whip on his quick release, and expertly uses screens to his advantage. He can seemingly score from any angle, but is very inside-driven. There's value in his transitional game, as he protects well when carrying, and works give-and-go sequences for clean entries.

Laf works hard on the backcheck, and is always in the face of opposing puck-carriers; he's more than just disruptive, he makes stops proactively with poke-checks and stick-lifts, and keeps opponents away from the middle. There's signs of an advanced defensive game, and though he isn't always mistake-free, he displays impactful decision-making, good habits, and a strong attention to detail; this is a standout area of his game, and a big selling point going forward. He scans thoroughly, processes the play quickly, and sprints to kill plays by forcing turnovers and uncontrolled plays, clogging lanes, blocking shots, and intercepting passes. He's active in the defensive third, defends his net, and supports his teammates in battle. There's a good chance that Lafreniere will be a winger at the NHL level, but he will always try to play in the middle of the ice in both ends like a center. For the next level, he needs to build up his speed, increase the power in his shot, and he has to bulk up considerably, as well as get stronger. It also wouldn't hurt to work on his puck-skills. There are questions about his NHL upside, with some saying he will be better suited to bottom-six defensive duty in the future, but that remains to be seen. Look for him in the third, or fourth round.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems, Vol. 3):

RD Carson Cameron (6'2",194lbs)
Peterborough (OHL): 60gp/ 7g/ 16a/ 23pts, -24, 22 PIM

D Carson Cameron (ranked #87 NA Skaters) may not be a "hidden gem" per se, as I'm sure NHL scouts are well aware of him by now. Cameron is a much better player than his stats, as he plays for the worst team (.346 win %) in the OHL, and one of the lowest-scoring clubs in the entire CHL, and his 23 points are incredibly only 12 away from the team lead. He's quite young, with a June 27th birthday, and is a smooth-skating, 200-ft righty with offensive potential, and a reliable puck-moving game. A favorite of mine, he is very reliable in all situations, and a calming presence for his team with his constant poise and high panic threshold. He executes clean, controlled retrievals consistently, followed by polished first-passes to set up the breakout- pre-scanning thoroughly while protecting the puck from forecheckers, applying deception to escape pressure, and using cutbacks and delays to buy time and space. He will gladly take a hit in this process to make the proper play. In transition, he holds tremendous value, with the ability to rush the puck up-ice, or to pass through the neutral zone effectively.

Cameron is very mobile, with excellent speed and agility, on a smooth, powerful stride. He joins the rush frequently and attacks the middle, and though he may not possess elite creativity and vision, he has very little to work with in Peterborough, and plenty of his ideas die on his teammates' sticks, or miss the mark due to their ineptness. He manages the play well from the top of the offensive zone, walking the line to open seams, and showing excellent distribution skills. He often pinches in to the play, expertly finding soft spots to fill, and will attack the net from the weak side for one of his snappy catch-and-release wristers, or sprint up the wall to make a pass to the slot. He will activate to keep pucks alive and extend offensive zone time, and will throw a hit to prevent the breakout. His point shot is dangerous, and he gets it through to the goalie consistently, creating second-chance opportunities for teammates. Cameron is a physical player who wins more than his fair share of puck battles, will levy hits to win possession, and is aggressive and overpowering in front of his net. He pushes pace, and is a minute-munching workhorse who can play in any situation, as well as both sides of special teams.

Cameron is usually a safe and reliable defensive player, but he can be sloppy at times. Though it's hard to evaluate a player on a team as bad as the Petes, he is an excellent penalty-killer who executes a solid shutdown game. With his swift four-directional speed, he's adept at snuffing rushes by mimicking his opponents' footwork, exerting tight gaps, angling attackers to the outside, stripping them of possession with well-timed pokechecks, and often finishing the play with contact. Cameron owns good awareness and anticipation, giving him the sense to act proactively in the form of picks and stick-lifts, which help him in defending his net. If he were on a different team, he would be able to showcase his abilities and talent much better, but scouts will know that- and while I would put him in the third-round, he could go as early as the second. Going forward, he would benefit by adding more power to his shot, and he needs to get stronger as he can be overpowered at times. It will be difficult for him to keep expanding his offensive game while playing on the Petes, but his best years are definitely ahead of him.

[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

ICYMI or didn't feel like clickin' on an outside link to the upside, Flames walked away with a Bear to go with our Wolf and Reschny from the Dub...

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems, Vol. 4):

LD Noah Laberge (6'1",185lbs)
Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL): 62gp/ 12g/ 21a/ 33pts, +17, 50 PIM

Smooth-skating D Noah Laberge (ranked #126 NA Skaters) is a valuable two-way contributor for the 11th-placed (out of 18 teams) Acadie-Bathurst Titan, who are 14th in goals-for in the Q, and displays NHL-projectable traits as a minute-munching workhorse. Though his age is a detriment, with an Oct.9th, 2006 birthday, he holds huge value as a player who can tilt the ice for his team- turning defense into offensive zone time with his exemplary transitional game, which is one of his best qualities. It starts in the defensive third, where he completes retrievals by pre-scanning, then employing layers of deception, shifty footwork, tight puck-protection, and deft stickhandling to make his escape from pressure. In first-pass scenarios and breakouts, he is calm and poised, putting his superb distribution ability on display, often achieving long-range connections with streaking teammates through the neutral zone using his high-end passing skill and sublime vision when moving the puck up-ice. Through the neutral zone, he works the give-and-go with teammates to open space, relocating to a more advantageous route. He can spearhead the rush for controlled entries by carrying, and has shown the ability to go end-to-end on occasion. Laberge catches well, with the hand-eye coordination to knock pucks out of the air right to his handling wheelhouse, and exhibits remarkable protection skill- opening his hips and turning his body against the grain to shield the puck from poke-checks, while handling outside of opposing attackers' reach.

Laberge is an effortless skater- fluid and agile, with seamless transitions, and polished mechanics. He exerts tidy edgework for quick pivots and tight turns, and can push pace with his swift feet, making his adversaries scramble. Using his quickness, he easily mirrors the footwork of oncoming rushers, deploying tight gaps and smart use of well-timed poke-checks, surfing across the ice to make the stop. He identifies threats early, takes away the middle, and suppresses attacks to the slot. He shows immaculate positioning and acute awareness, giving him the proactivity to get inside on opponents, lift sticks, and intercept passes. While he won't be confused with Kashawn Aitcheson, he is physical when he needs to be- using his frame to make room for himself, and overwhelming his foes in board battles. In the other end of the ice, he walks the line with purpose to locate passing seams and shooting lanes; he is highly active and involved, activates into the play frequently, and joins the rush often. He will attack the crease on the weak side off-puck for a high-danger look, or streak up the boards to get a better angle to pass to the slot. Known as "Burger" to his teammates, Laberge will skate into passes, and has a seeing-eye wrister that can find it's way through layers of traffic to the net, providing opportunities for teammates. He is adept at using his adversaries as screens, and owns a hard, accurate shot with a nice release. He distributes well, but looks right now to be more of a facilitator than a creator; he finds ways to extend offensive time, gets pucks deep, pushes plays to the slot, but many of his higher-end ideas go unrequited because of the team he plays for, and others simply fizzle out down the line. I think he might have a big breakout in the next few years, but even if he doesn't, he holds value as a two-way puck-mover. Like most kids his age, he needs to build his fundamentals, such as his speed and strength, but he could use a tune-up on his decision-making, as he can still be pressured in to mistakes, turnovers, and throw-aways. Look for him in the third, or fourth-round.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems, Vol. 5):

LHC Jimmy Lombardi (6'0",179lbs)
Flint (OHL): 61gp/ 13g/ 28a/ 41pts, -2, 42 PIM

Speedy pivot Jimmy Lombardi (ranked # 64 NA Skaters, # 74 by McKenzie) has earned more and more attention as the season has progressed, toiling for the 13th-place (out of 20 teams) Flint Firebirds, as a speedy, two-way center with skill and high motor. He plays a pacey, up-tempo game, with his skating being his most prominent physical asset. He holds tremendous value with his contributions to transition- one of his best selling-points, and a main pillar of his game. He owns some slick, highlight-reel quality stickhandling moves to deke and dangle around defenders, and wields deception quite well as a manipulation tool, but it's his composure under duress that helps him the most when transporting the puck. He can make a fool of opponents when skating with possession through the neutral zone, turning would-be checkers inside-out, and protecting the puck from their reach while leading the rush; he can also flex his passing skills while staying linked to teammates in give-and-go sequences, or by connecting plays to stretch the ice. He keeps his feet moving through contact, and fights through checks.

Lombardi has good hockey sense, standout playmaking vision, and advanced distribution skill to get the puck to teammates under and over sticks with saucer, or slip passes, and can make some dynamic plays at times. He displays good spatial awareness, and understands how to draw pressure in order to open seams to pass into, using button-hooks, cut-backs, and delays. His shot is also a strength, with a quick, accurate release, and the ability to score from seemingly any angle with pinpoint accuracy, but he will also shoot for second-chance opportunities for teammates. Despite not being the biggest player on the ice, he will sometimes bust out a power move and lean into a defender to barge his way inside to the net, and does the same to make room for himself along the wall. He owns silky mitts in-tight to deke out goalies, goes to the net hard to pick up garbage, and is most effective around the net; he seems to like passing low-to-high from below the goal-line for dangerous chances from the slot. Lombardi moves very well, with superb edges for pivoting away from checks, and changing speeds on a dime- he can beat defenders wide, blow through traffic, separate in open-ice, and win races to loose pucks. On the forecheck, he pushes pace and causes disruption as well as uncontrolled plays, stops breakouts in their early stages with pokechecks, and strips pucks aplenty. Defensively, he is focused and hard-working on the backcheck, and reads the play well, exerting smart positioning. He supports his D in battles, picks off passes, and is a general nuisance to puck-carriers- he is often tasked with penalty-killing duties, and performs well in this area. I wouldn't say he's a big hitter, but he's quite scrappy and competes hard for pucks in all three zones.

It's difficult to say what Lombardi's ceiling looks like, but he would have much better stats on a higher-scoring team with more talent to work with. He has a good base of translatable skills, showing ability in the defensive zone, and acumen in transition- and I believe he will be a big offensive contributor as early as next year. I think he has a decent shot at middle-six NHL duty in the future. For the next level, he has to bulk up and get stronger, and work on puck-control, as he sometimes has an issue holding on to the puck at top-speed. Look for him in the third, or fourth-round.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems, Vol. 6):

RW Jett Lajoie (6'0",179lbs)
Prince George (WHL): 66gp/ 14g/ 21g/ 35pts, +7, 40 PIM

There's not a whole lot of ice-time to be had if you're a supporting player on the Prince George Cougars, who sport a fairly deep and talented forward group, and sit 7th-overall in the WHL. RW Jett Lajoie (ranked # 70 NA Skaters) hovers around in the Cougars' middle-six mostly, and started the year with 12 points in the first 13 games- but his numbers started to regress as players were returned from NHL-camps. He will have to wait until next year to have his big offensive breakout, as older players depart for the pros. He is a scrappy, energetic, physical winger, who is fearless in battles, supports the play in all three zones, and flashes playmaking skill. With high-end motor and compete, he plays a fairly violent game and can dish out some thunderous hits against larger opponents. He is a constant physical threat, annoying and agitating his adversaries with his relentlessness and tenacity, and as a result- has to drop the gloves on occasion. Lajoie has plenty of hard-skill and a heavy game that creates advantages, and has a positive impact with his willingness to wade into the greasy areas, and battle for pucks in the trenches- doing a lot of the dirty work for his teammates. On the forecheck, he is highly aggressive, finishes his checks, and applies pressure on puck-carriers by being a general menace, and by pushing pace. Down low, he is very hard to deal with- almost oppressive.

Lajoie is not a huge scoring threat with his shot alone, as it's not very accurate or powerful, and the vast majority of his tallies come from his hard-work in attacking the net, or from planting himself at the net-front to battle for position and take abuse. He is not afraid to drive the middle or cut inside to pick up garbage, cash in deflections with his keen hand-eye coordination, set up a screen, and cause problems around the crease. In terms of his skating and puck-skills- both are above-average, but not always pretty; he can win races to loose pucks with sheer will and tenacity alone, and while he handles well, he can pressured into making mistakes with the puck and coughing up possession at times. His puck-protection is quite good though- he shields the puck from enemy sticks by angling his body away from attackers, and by using his one-handed reach to control the puck. Though he's mostly devoid of any real flash or dynamism, he shows the odd glimpse of creativity and teases more advanced playmaking ability than his usual deferment to keeping things plain and simple with quick touches. There is signs of vision in his passing game that go beyond facilitation, and he possesses above-average offensive awareness and good spatial manipulation to draw defenders, and to locate soft spots in coverage to fill.

Transition is another area where he has shown flashes of a more innovative playmaking game, but he usually relies on chip-and-chase sequences, or dump-ins, and skates mostly north-south routes. Lajoie's motor, pace, and physicality help him to be a nuisance to puck-carriers, and disruptive in defensive situations, but he needs improvement in his awareness in his own-zone to make better reads. As in other areas of the ice, he's highly active and aggressive, but sometimes out of position and other times chasing too much. He needs the usual- get bigger, stronger, and faster, but he has to develop his offensive presence a lot more, and I think he'll be a big producer in the next few years with the Cougars. There's already the profile here of a potential bottom-6 energy player, but there's hope for more. Look for him in the middle rounds.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems, Vol. 5):

LHC Jimmy Lombardi (6'0",179lbs)
Flint (OHL): 61gp/ 13g/ 28a/ 41pts, -2, 42 PIM

Speedy pivot Jimmy Lombardi (ranked # 64 NA Skaters, # 74 by McKenzie) has earned more and more attention as the season has progressed, toiling for the 13th-place (out of 20 teams) Flint Firebirds, as a speedy, two-way center with skill and high motor. He plays a pacey, up-tempo game, with his skating being his most prominent physical asset. He holds tremendous value with his contributions to transition- one of his best selling-points, and a main pillar of his game. He owns some slick, highlight-reel quality stickhandling moves to deke and dangle around defenders, and wields deception quite well as a manipulation tool, but it's his composure under duress that helps him the most when transporting the puck. He can make a fool of opponents when skating with possession through the neutral zone, turning would-be checkers inside-out, and protecting the puck from their reach while leading the rush; he can also flex his passing skills while staying linked to teammates in give-and-go sequences, or by connecting plays to stretch the ice. He keeps his feet moving through contact, and fights through checks.

Lombardi has good hockey sense, standout playmaking vision, and advanced distribution skill to get the puck to teammates under and over sticks with saucer, or slip passes, and can make some dynamic plays at times. He displays good spatial awareness, and understands how to draw pressure in order to open seams to pass into, using button-hooks, cut-backs, and delays. His shot is also a strength, with a quick, accurate release, and the ability to score from seemingly any angle with pinpoint accuracy, but he will also shoot for second-chance opportunities for teammates. Despite not being the biggest player on the ice, he will sometimes bust out a power move and lean into a defender to barge his way inside to the net, and does the same to make room for himself along the wall. He owns silky mitts in-tight to deke out goalies, goes to the net hard to pick up garbage, and is most effective around the net; he seems to like passing low-to-high from below the goal-line for dangerous chances from the slot. Lombardi moves very well, with superb edges for pivoting away from checks, and changing speeds on a dime- he can beat defenders wide, blow through traffic, separate in open-ice, and win races to loose pucks. On the forecheck, he pushes pace and causes disruption as well as uncontrolled plays, stops breakouts in their early stages with pokechecks, and strips pucks aplenty. Defensively, he is focused and hard-working on the backcheck, and reads the play well, exerting smart positioning. He supports his D in battles, picks off passes, and is a general nuisance to puck-carriers- he is often tasked with penalty-killing duties, and performs well in this area. I wouldn't say he's a big hitter, but he's quite scrappy and competes hard for pucks in all three zones.

It's difficult to say what Lombardi's ceiling looks like, but he would have much better stats on a higher-scoring team with more talent to work with. He has a good base of translatable skills, showing ability in the defensive zone, and acumen in transition- and I believe he will be a big offensive contributor as early as next year. I think he has a decent shot at middle-six NHL duty in the future. For the next level, he has to bulk up and get stronger, and work on puck-control, as he sometimes has an issue holding on to the puck at top-speed. Look for him in the third, or fourth-round.

Is he related to Matthew, Sandman?

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems, Vol. 7):

RHC Harry Nansi (6'3",179lbs)
Owen Sound (OHL): 67gp/ 7g/ 16a/ 23pts, -10, 14 PIM

Right-handed pivot Harry Nansi's name keeps coming up more and more in pre-draft chatter, despite his rather paltry numbers. Nansi (ranked #116 NA Skaters) is one of the youngest members of the 2025 draft class, with a Sept.10, 2007 birthday, and though he plays bottom-six minutes on the 16th-placed team in the OHL (out of 20), he always seems to stand out. He is a high-effort, high-motor power-forward with big potential- if he can fix his skating. Yes, it's true what they say about Nansi- he looks like a newborn baby deer on skates; his knock-kneed mechanics have to be overhauled, and his lower-body strength needs to be improved significantly if he wants to fulfill his potential. Though he can sometimes win races to loose pucks on sheer will alone, he lacks agility and balance, with poor first-step quickness- his deficient speed pervades almost every area of his game. Offsetting his lack of footspeed is his sky-high workrate; he is one of the hardest-working players in the draft, with a never-resting motor and an elevated activity rate, getting involved all over the ice. He is disruptive, as well as menacingly physical on both the forecheck and the backcheck to keep the opposition off-kilter, and he manages to push pace with a frenetic tempo.

Nansi is primarily a playmaker who sees the ice at a high level, and flashes high-end skill and vision. He sports excellent metrics at even-strength, and seems to make a highlight-reel play every game, even if it doesn't always lead to a goal. He funnels pucks to the middle and is highly effective on the cycle, with the skill to get passes to teammates over and under sticks through traffic on occasion, off of his forehand, or his backhand. He's not exactly set up for success in Owen Sound though, and most of his better ideas don't work out- not only because of the dearth of talent around him, but because of his lack of details, and poor stride. In transition, he has shown some value in his ability to move pucks, and creates advantages through connective playmaking, and working give-and-go sequences with teammates. He protects the puck extremely well while fighting off checks, and is a good stickhandler with the ability to deke and dangle his way around in traffic; he will even stop-up, delay, or cut-back to make the right play, and draw pressure away from teammates. Nansi is a physical player, and will bulldoze his way through checks, but he's so underdeveloped that he can be overpowered- even at 6'3".
He doles out some big hits, will take contact to make a play, imposes his will down low, and battles hard along the wall for possession.

Nansi makes an impact on his team's defense by hunting down puck-carriers aggressively, and causes turnovers with his intensity and tenacity, but his positioning could use some work- mostly due to his mobility issues. He shows some issues with his puck-control at top-speed sometimes, and he has really poor balance. His motor-skills and coordination are severely underdeveloped; he is extremely raw, and a huge project in need of a long runway for any team that drafts him, but there could be a big reward when all is said and done. Nansi's flashes of skill are enough to make scouts believe in his potential, but even if he doesn't fully develop his offensive game, he has a rather high NHL-floor as a bottom-6 energy player and checker. Look for him in the 4th, or 5th-round.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

Is he related to Matthew, Sandman?

I don't believe so.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems, Vol. 8):

LD Owen Conrad (6'3",209lbs)
Charlottetown (QMJHL): 64gp/ 7g/ 19a/ 26pts, -6, 32 PIM

Lefty Owen Conrad (ranked # 94 NA Skaters) has disappointed this season, when considering his offensive output from 2023-24; his 29 points in 59 games for the Charlottetown Islanders put him in the top-3 for rookie scoring by D last season, so I would have expected him to be closer to a point-per-game this year. A late first-rounder for the Islanders in the 2023 OHL Draft, Conrad's stats this season don't properly represent his abilities or potential in my opinion (I'm a fan of this kid), and I don't think his two-way capability should be overlooked. Offensive ability aside, he's already a fairly polished shutdown defender, but is very raw. He is a steadying presence on the blueline with his remarkable calmness and poise, and he is a known leader and character player, with high-end work-ethic and determination. He's a workhorse with the ability to log big minutes in important situations, excel in both special teams, and play a physical brand of hockey- throwing hits, and battling hard for pucks in the trenches.

Conrad is fairly mobile in all directions with a good top-speed when he gets going, but his explosiveness and acceleration are in need of an upgrade. Once he improves his lower-body strength, there's a chance his skating will become a strength, as his edges and mechanics are already sound; his stride looks fluid, and he is able to turn quickly, pivot smoothly, and transition seamlessly. An intelligent and dilligent defender, he never quits on a play and displays solid instincts and awareness in his own zone. He is solid rush-defender who puts up a tight gap to angle opponents to the outside, where he layers poke-checks on top of hard hits to snuff entries. He clogs lanes, blocks shots, intercepts passes, and protects his net aggressively- this side of his game is highly projectable, and may give him a high NHL-floor. He employs intelligent positioning and an active stick to disrupt plays, and suppresses attacks to the inside, while bringing his strength and physicality along the wall and down low. With the puck, he is poised and cerebral in limiting defensive-zone time by moving the puck quickly through transition, first by making plays to escape pressure in retrievals, then setting up the breakout with smart first-passes- or by stretching the ice with a long-bomb. He has an effective delay game at his disposal when needed, and displays good deception in his passes- always keeping possession for his team with few giveaways.

Conrad is a solid, albeit unspectacular handler, who will join the rush often, and activate in deep off of the line frequently, timing his pinches well to minimize risk. He displays good spatial awareness to locate open space to fill, lanes to pass through, and routes for relocation. He has at least a modicum of playmaking vision, but can be mostly classified as more of a distributor and facilitator at the present time- he's a skilled passer, but he stays a little too safe and risk-free right now. He would do well to take more calculated chances in an effort to make his flashes of play-creation much less rare. He needs work on his shot, as it's not very intimidating with it's lack of power and accuracy, and is right now being used as a playmaking device to set up his teammates with scoring chances. Though he shines in the defensive-third, he often looks like he's lacking urgency, so he needs work on his consistency and engagement. Offensively, his game might just be limited, but time will tell- many scouts think there's real upside in him. There's a ceiling here of a 2nd-pairing, two-way puck-mover who can potentially ride shotgun on the first-pairing, but he could make it as a bottom-pairing shutdown D who kills penalties. Look for him in the 3rd-round, but he could easily jump up to the 2nd.