2025 NHL Draft Thread

[DuckSauce]

I can’t remember if it’s been discussed - What is the word on Loranger?

Smaller right shot C playing for Sherwood Park in the BCHL… 101 points in 52 games (Suniev had 90pts in 50 games). They play against Okotoks this weekend.. I wonder if any Flames scouts will be checking him out.

[shutout]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

Are you saying you’d trade Wolf?

Only team that would want to trade for Wolf would be the Flyers that has a chance at a top 2 pick. Every other team has a young goaltender they believe in or need to have a high end skater before fixing the team with a goaltender that is entering his prime years.

I would trade Wolf for the second overall pick and take Misa.
Then draft Ravensbergen with the Panthers pick.

[Monahammer]

Oof. That's a hard one, not sure why I left wolf out of that statement initially.

I do think that we may encounter a development timeline player/club issue with Wolf in the future unless we really get some good pieces this draft that can jump into the league sooner rather than later. So maybe Shutout has the right overall play in mind. But I wouldnt want to let Wolf go.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by shutout

Only team that would want to trade for Wolf would be the Flyers that has a chance at a top 2 pick. Every other team has a young goaltender they believe in or need to have a high end skater before fixing the team with a goaltender that is entering his prime years.

I would trade Wolf for the second overall pick and take Misa.
Then draft Ravensbergen with the Panthers pick.

Buffalo would be the other IMO.

They like Levi and UPL but I'd bet they'd move for Wolf in a heartbeat.

[YyjFlames]

I can't believe trading Wolf for a magic bean is being discussed... unless that bean is McKenna.

Did you guys miss the 10 years between Kipper and Markstrom when the Flames were constantly trying to find a top goalie?

[dammage79]

It's conversation. I'm pretty certain we all know Wolf isn't on the table for anyone or anything or for a plethora of things.

It's as hard to acquire a top tier Goaltending prospect as it is to acquire that top line center you have to draft top 5 for.

Flames lucked into the magiciest bean that ever magic beamed with Wolf in the 7th round. You keep those lucky beans.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by YyjFlames

I can't believe trading Wolf for a magic bean is being discussed... unless that bean is McKenna.

Did you guys miss the 10 years between Kipper and Markstrom when the Flames were constantly trying to find a top goalie?

I'd say this is an overreaction to what was actually discussed.

And if you're measuring the gap between us acquiring a potential #1C and when we last had one, it would be longer than that, unless you're counting Monahan or 2/5 seasons of Lindholm.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

MacKinnon was the consensus #1 from start to finish if I remember correctly. Misa climbed the rankings throughout the year. He’s not even the consensus #1 at the moment.

I'm not sure many experts have him #1. Most have Schaefer.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Though I do not wish to trade Wolf, and feel you don't have to even if you do go out and tank, I can see both sides of the argument.


Maybe you subscribe to the notion of Wolf being able to push the team way up the standings on his own. Then what are we building here? Buffalo from the 90's under Hasek? Hasek was sure fun, but that team was otherwise boring, even if their roster was underappreciated. I wouldn't want to end up like that team did, though they did make the finals once. That's another 10+ years of mediocrity. So IF (underlined and bold to make the point here that this is a possibility) that is going to be Calgary's future, then I would 100% rather trade Wolf right now.


I just don't really believe a goalie will push you that far up. If you look at Wolf's body of work, it has been great, but I don't think that the Flames are in this position just because of him. I feel if they take out a peg or two, and 'deflate' the team, then the whole thing will come down like a house of cards. They are getting wins now because of Wolf + system + effort night in, and night out. Whenever one of those things sort of fails, this team loses. It isn't just one of them going right in my view, it is when any one of those 3 components isn't at a high enough level, this team loses.


I don't see a need to trade Wolf in order to draft high, if drafting high is the goal. (And full disclosure, I do hope that this team does put itself in a situation for a chance at McKenna/Dupont in the next 2 drafts. I do think it would be a quick 'down and up' as this organization has a lot of depth already and can become a very successful team.).

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Though I do not wish to trade Wolf, and feel you don't have to even if you do go out and tank, I can see both sides of the argument.


Maybe you subscribe to the notion of Wolf being able to push the team way up the standings on his own. Then what are we building here? Buffalo from the 90's under Hasek? Hasek was sure fun, but that team was otherwise boring, even if their roster was underappreciated. I wouldn't want to end up like that team did, though they did make the finals once. That's another 10+ years of mediocrity. So IF (underlined and bold to make the point here that this is a possibility) that is going to be Calgary's future, then I would 100% rather trade Wolf right now.


I just don't really believe a goalie will push you that far up. If you look at Wolf's body of work, it has been great, but I don't think that the Flames are in this position just because of him. I feel if they take out a peg or two, and 'deflate' the team, then the whole thing will come down like a house of cards. They are getting wins now because of Wolf + system + effort night in, and night out. Whenever one of those things sort of fails, this team loses. It isn't just one of them going right in my view, it is when any one of those 3 components isn't at a high enough level, this team loses.


I don't see a need to trade Wolf in order to draft high, if drafting high is the goal. (And full disclosure, I do hope that this team does put itself in a situation for a chance at McKenna/Dupont in the next 2 drafts. I do think it would be a quick 'down and up' as this organization has a lot of depth already and can become a very successful team.).

Anyone watching this season should realize that this isn't Wolf alone. Kadri has been constantly battling to get this team wins and Huberdeau has found a new form (not the same form he had in Florida but he is certainly playing his best hockey as a Flame). Coronato hitting 20 goals is also pushing the team up.

Trading away Andersson is likely not enough to sink the team. Trading Kadri would definitely do it, but that is not really an option until the 2026-27 season when his NMC changes.

Otherwise you are likely looking at moving Coleman and Backlund. Interesting enough, Backlund's NMC changes Jan 1, 2026 (half way through next season) to a 15 team no trade list. It's almost as if Backlund's thinking would be to go cup chasing via a trade next season.

Is trading Andersson and Backlund enough? Andersson, Backlund, and Coleman? Or do we need moar?????

Also.... Will the Sharks and Blackhawks actually turn things around or keep sucking? They were both supposed to be turning around this season but are firmly owning the bottom of the standings. (Same question about the other currently bad West teams: Ducks, Preds, Kraken)

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems Edition, Vol. 14):

LD Anthony Allain-Samake' (6'1",178lbs)
Sioux City (USHL): 54gp/ 0g/ 14a/ 14pts, -11, 28 PIM

D Anthony Allain-Samake' (ranked # 75 NA Skaters), a native of Gatineau, QB, has a lot of fans in the scouting world, who say he's an offensive-defenseman in the making- citing his skill and on-ice intelligence, with the disclaimer that he's one of the youngest players in this draft-class (with a Sept.10th, 2007 birthday), and is still very raw and unpolished. He chose to ply his trade this season with Sioux City of the USHL, who are currently 8th out of 16 teams, with a commitment to the University of Connecticut next season. Allain-Samake's best asset is perhaps his quick hands that supply him with superb stickhandling to deke and dangle through traffic with the puck glued to his blade, and he expands his effectiveness by using layers of deception to manipulate attackers into going in the wrong direction. His puck-protection is also impeccable, and he can steer the puck gracefully with one hand, while angling his body away from checks and fending off attackers with the other hand. Though his posture looks a little too upright, he is able to move fluidly in all directions, and possesses above-average speed. He is agile on his edges for good escapability, and transitions smoothly, but needs upgrades to his explosiveness, top-speed, and balance.

Allain-Samake' joins a lot of rushes, and though he has the speed to recover quickly, his forays into the action can leave his teammates hanging out to dry. He has yet to score a goal this year, but that may be due to the fact that he doesn't get inside nearly enough, and his shot doesn't look very intimidating. There's enough IQ and hockey sense here to give him the ability to make some dangerous plays, but he might lack the vision and creativity to ever be a true playmaker; most of what he does is is more on the safe and simple side, at least right now. He times his activations from the blueline well, darting up the wall to keep pucks alive, and will jump in on the weak-side for shot attempts, but seems to prefer staying back at the point to support the play and QB the offense from there most of the time. Despite this, he shows glimpses of awareness in being able to find open space in the offensive zone to fill and exploit, and deftly walks the line with deception to pry open passing seams. Though his gaps are too loose at times, he is adept at stopping the rush with an active stick, and manages to keep attacks contained to the perimeter in-zone, displaying air-tight defensive positioning and keen awareness. These actions effectively take away the middle from opponents, and he protects his net well by boxing his foes out from the crease. He escapes pressure on retrievals with slick stickhandling maneuvers, and makes a safe and intelligent first-pass, with calmness and poise under duress. He's a quality puck-mover and passer, which makes him a high-value contributor to transition, but he can also rush the puck through the neutral zone to spearhead the rush on occasion.

To facilitate, as well as punctuate his actions, Allain-Samake' finishes his checks and employs a reasonable amount of physicality to make room for himself, and doesn't back down from the rough stuff- he battles for pucks in the greasy areas, and uses reverse-hits to manufacture time and space. Going forward, he needs work on his decision-making- including building a better knowledge of when to activate and when to stay back, in order to eliminate giving up odd-man rushes. He can hold on to the puck for too long, thereby skating himself into trouble at times, and running out of room. It's all about potential with this kid, and scouts insist there's plenty of it that has yet to be unlocked- he's far from a finished product, but because of his age and the fact he is attending College in the fall, he has a longer runway than most, with a higher offensive ceiling than he's showing right now. Look for him in the 3rd, or 4th-round.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems, Vol. 15):

RHC Owen Griffin (5'10",172lbs)
Oshawa (OHL): 62gp/ 22g/ 29a/ 51pts, +3, 33 PIM

C Owen Griffin has a bit of a pedigree in junior hockey, having been selected 6th-overall by the Oshawa Generals in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection, but doesn't get much time on the top-line- though he did manage to pile up 13 points in the last 10 games of the season. In 2023-24, he struggled mightily as a rookie while playing fourth-line minutes for the Gens, posting only 6 points in 61 games. Size will always be a factor, but Griffin remains a solid, well-rounded, two-way pivot with a surprising physical game, and the ability to play in any situation- including both sides of special teams. Playmaking is his best weapon, with good vision and excellent hockey-sense, and the ability to think fast and make decisions to drive play. Adding to this is his top-notch passing-skill, giving him an arsenal of crisp, accurate feeds to funnel pucks to the slot consistently, and he can connect through the crease, and across the ice. Griffin expertly locates open space to operate out of, and patiently delays to wait for passing seams to develop using cut-backs, and he will drive defenses back off the rush to make room for a drop-pass to the trailer.

Despite his small stature, he's a net-front presence, fighting for positioning and digging for loose pucks- working hard for second-chance opportunities. He plays well around the crease, and will crash the net for rebounds. There's some power in his shot, but his release is lacking the quickness and deception needed to enable him to score from distance- the majority of his tallies come from the low-slot. Griffin exemplifies high-motor and compete- he hounds puck-carriers all over the ice, and will throw the body to separate his man from the puck. He's fearless, showing grit in hard areas, and will fight through contact, or take a hit to complete a play. On the forecheck, he pressures opponents aggressively with speed, physicality, and an active stick, making retrievals difficult for opposing defenders, and disrupting the breakout. Along the boards, he battles hard to win possession, giving second-and-third efforts, but his lack of size can be a hindrance- he needs to get a lot stronger and bulk up. He has a long, powerful stride that gives him above-average speed in a straight-line, but he must keep improving his top-gear; there's an explosive burst he has at his disposal that enables him to win races, and helps him remove time and space in off-puck scenarios. With his strong edgework, he is slippery and elusive, with a sharp turning radius and a rapid change of pace to deceive attackers. His off-puck awareness is a strength, and his intelligent positioning in all three zones is a huge asset; he employs a detailed game, knowing where to be at all times to positively affect, and support the play, as well as to disrupt and frustrate his adversaries.

Griffin works hard on the backcheck and excels defensively, aiming to stop the rush early in the neutral zone with a well-timed stick to poke-check pucks away from attackers, and intercept passes. He possesses keen awareness in the defensive-third, with spotless positioning and plus-level hockey sense, and shows proficiency on the PK. With his aggressive mindset, he attacks puck-carriers to force errors, turnovers, and uncontrolled plays- but he's also proactive in applying stick-lifts before the puck arrives, and will shadow potential threats. He's a bit chippy too, and will dole out cross-checks, as well as hacks and whacks to distract opponents and agitate. Griffin has some scalable traits in his game, but getting bigger and stronger is a must, with attention needed on his shot-release, and skating. Look for him in the middle-rounds.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems, Vol. 16):

LW Brandon Gorzynski (6'2",181lbs)
Calgary (WHL): 68gp/ 17g/ 25a/ 42 pts, +27, 16 PIM.

Hitman Brandon Gorzynski (ranked # 81 NA Skaters) is a native of Scottsdale, Arizona, and was taken by Calgary in the 2022 WHL US Priority Draft, with the 15th-overall pick. He is a two-way power-winger who plays with a high-tempo to push pace, and projects as a bottom-six defensive player in the pros- but make no mistake, he will be a difference-maker. Gorzynski forechecks like a dog on a bone, throwing puck-carriers off-kilter with his break-neck pace, intimidating by throwing big hits, and charging at opponents full-tilt to remove time and space- forcing errors and uncontrolled play. He is an excellent skater, especially for a player his size, displaying a powerful stride with a deep knee bend, and fluid mechanics. His mobility is amplified by his sky-high motor, compete, and relentless tempo- he is always engaged, giving second and third efforts, and wins battles in the hard areas of the ice. He's a very physical player, and throws his weight around, but is obviously disciplined when doing so, as he has only accrued 16 penalty-minutes this season. He can play through contact, and stays highly active.

Gorzynski's puck-skills are noteworthy; his hands are quick enough to keep up with his feet, and he keeps tight control of the puck at high speeds, with the ability to deke around defenders and to move around in small-areas. His puck-protection skills are excellent as well, using his long reach and angling his body away from attackers in full-flight. Off the puck, he skates intelligent routes to make himself a constant playable option for his teammates, and to consistently support the play in all three zones. Gorzynski is classified as being primarily a playmaker, but he has a nose for the net; he drives the middle off the rush, attacks the crease, and goes to the net to pick up garbage in-front, and to battle for position to cash in on second-chance opportunities. It has been said that he needs to improve his shooting mechanics to get more power, but he could obviously use a quicker, more deceptive release to improve his chances of scoring. Though he keeps things as simple as possible, he owns plus-level hockey sense and solid offensive awareness, using delays, cut-backs, changes of speed, and drop-backs to the trailer upon entry to open space. Building more deception in his game will be paramount for the next level, though. He excels in transition with the aforementioned puck-skills to weave around traffic, pushing extreme pace to drive defenses back, and possesses the off-puck awareness to make himself a passing option, in order to aid in puck-transportation. He's even effective in the early stages of the breakout, winning possession after retrieving the puck in the defensive zone by initiating contact, then starting the puck going in the opposite direction.

Gorzynski exerts enormous pressure on puck-carriers in the defensive-third by hustling hard, and sprinting to loose pucks; he's highly aware, and supremely disruptive. He is active in preventing entries, guards his net, gets into lanes, suffocates attackers by removing all time and space, and locks down threats proactively. He supports his D down low, and will cover their position in front of the crease when they have to abandon their post. Gorzynski might be best suited to bottom-six duty in the NHL, but he will be an impact player nonetheless. I like this kid, and I believe he could become a big-time producer for the Hitmen in coming years. Look for him in the 3rd, or 4th-round.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems, Vol. 17):

LW Ryan Miller (5'11",174lbs)
Portland (WHL): 50gp/ 16g/ 15a/ 31pts, -10, 48 PIM

Winger Ryan Miller (ranked # 118 NA Skaters) was taken 66th-overall in the 2022 WHL Draft by the Portland Winterhawks, who this season finished 12th out of 22 teams- but were 6th in goals-for, due to the talent they have at the top of their lineup. Miller is better than his numbers, and plays an up-tempo, pro-style two-way game, as a smallish, gritty winger with some bite. Despite his size, he wins more than his fair share of puck-battles through sheer will and compete alone, and one of his best traits is his overwhelming motor- he never gives up on a play, giving second, and third-efforts, and keeps his feet moving through contact. Another one of his best traits is is his dog-on-a-bone mentality, and he is a physical player with grit, who throws his weight around to dislodge pucks and wins inside position on larger players. He may be short in stature by NHL-standards, but he's a handful to deal with down-low, and plays a grinding game along the boards. He seems to always be in the thick of the play, and usually around the puck, showing solid awareness all over the ice, and a keen understanding of how to position himself advantageously.

Miller makes his presence felt in front of the net with his fierce battles for positioning, and by getting in opposing goalies' faces, blocking their sightlines and generally causing havoc. Most of his goals are scored in-tight, partly due to his shot, which isn't powerful enough to score from distance, or deceptive enough to fool goalies regularly. He's fearless, as well as inside-driven, and will occupy space in front of the net to pick up garbage, or cut inside for close-in shot opportunities. Though his stats don't seem to support it, he is known as a pass-first player, and shows plenty of signs of higher-end playmaking and vision; he can see through traffic and deliver cross-ice feeds, or connect with teammates through the crease. Most of the time, he relies too much on quick touches, and usually makes very basic plays, where he should be more patient to delay and better survey his options, or perhaps take more calculated risks to explore his abilities. He has solid IQ and hockey sense, employing good use of deception in his distribution, and his passing-game is considered to be an asset. His smarts shine through in his off-puck movement, in how he makes himself a constant playable option for passes, and supports the play in all three zones.

Miller may not be a burner, but he gets above-average straight-ahead speed on a long, fluid stride, with smooth edges to pivot instantaneously, spin off of checks, and make tight turns. His mobility is expanded by his unwavering effort in sprinting to loose pucks, launching himself at attackers in the defensive zone, and racing hard to intercept puck-carriers on the forecheck. He pushes extreme pace to overwhelm opponents, and keep them off-balance. Miller is impactful in the defensive-third, and very active with keen sense and awareness, as well as sound positioning. He is highly disruptive, and administers overwhelming pace and pressure- going from attacking the point one moment, to supporting his D down low the next. He shows a good attention to detail, with sharp anticipation to identify threats early, and lock them down proactively. In transition, he shows value with his passing-skill and awareness to stay connected to teammates through the neutral zone with quick, short-area feeds to send them over the line in both exits and entries. Right now, Miller looks more suited to bottom-six duty in the pros, with the potential for more if he can further develop his offensive game, which includes improving his shot and his release, and building some creativity in his passing game. The good news for any team that drafts him is that he's got a longer runway than most, as he is committed the U of Denver for the 2026-27 season. Look for him in later rounds.

[Nelson]

Based on the below lists, my favourite potential targets for the
Flames with the Devils’ and Panthers’ picks are: 1. Ben Kindel, 2. Cole Reschny, 3. Brady Martin, 4. Carter Bear.

Centres who will be previously taken based on rankings, organized from youngest to oldest (player - NHLe, points and league (DOB):

Jake O’Brien - 39.3, 98 points in 66 games in OHL (June 16)
Anton Frondell - 25.4, 25 points in 29 games in HockeyAllsvenskan (May 7)
Caleb Desnoyers - 34.9, 84 points in 56 games in QMJHL (Apr 11)
Michael Misa - 54.6, 134 points in 65 games in OHL (Feb 16)
James Hagens - 32.2, 35 points in 35 games in H-East (Nov 3)
Roger McQueen - 29.1, 20 points in 17 games in WHL (Oct 2)

Centres who may be available based on rankings, organized from youngest to oldest (player - NHLe, points and league (DOB):

Jack Murtagh - 17.9, 17 points in 21 games in USHL (Aug 22)
Jeremy Loranger - 20.7, 101 points in 52 games in BCHL (Jun 15)
Milton Gastrin - 42 points in 40 games in Swedish Junior (Jun 2)
Ivan Ryabkin - 25.3, 24 points in 21 games in USHL (Apr 25)
Ben Kindel - 37.7, 99 points in 65 games in WHL (Apr 19)
Cole Reschny - 36.7, 92 points in 62 games in WHL (Apr 6)
William Moore - 19.0, 18 points in 21 games in USHL (Mar 24)
Brady Martin - 33.4, 72 points in 57 games in OHL (Mar 16)
Cole McKinney - 25.6, 22 points in 19 games in USHL (Mar 16)
Braeden Cootes - 26.0, 63 points in 60 games in WHL (Feb 9)
Zach Morin - 15.0, 36 points in 56 games in QMJHL (Jan 25)
Jack Nesbitt - 26.1, 64 points in 65 games in OHL (Jan 12)
Cullen Potter - 22.6, 22 points in 35 games in NCHC (Jan 10)
Carter Bear - 36.3, 82 points in 56 games in WHL (Nov 6)
Bill Zonnon - 30.2, 83 points in 64 games in QMJHL (Oct 3)

[Tkachukwagon]

There are going to be some good centres available with the NJ and Florida picks.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Wolven

Anyone watching this season should realize that this isn't Wolf alone. Kadri has been constantly battling to get this team wins and Huberdeau has found a new form (not the same form he had in Florida but he is certainly playing his best hockey as a Flame). Coronato hitting 20 goals is also pushing the team up.

Trading away Andersson is likely not enough to sink the team. Trading Kadri would definitely do it, but that is not really an option until the 2026-27 season when his NMC changes.

Otherwise you are likely looking at moving Coleman and Backlund. Interesting enough, Backlund's NMC changes Jan 1, 2026 (half way through next season) to a 15 team no trade list. It's almost as if Backlund's thinking would be to go cup chasing via a trade next season.

Is trading Andersson and Backlund enough? Andersson, Backlund, and Coleman? Or do we need moar?????

Also.... Will the Sharks and Blackhawks actually turn things around or keep sucking? They were both supposed to be turning around this season but are firmly owning the bottom of the standings. (Same question about the other currently bad West teams: Ducks, Preds, Kraken)

I definitely agree with your points - completely, in fact (except Backlund - he is 164 games away from breaking Iginla's record for most games as a Flame - I think he re-signs another season, but yes, that trade clause did make me think he may chase a cup, or perhaps it was insurance from Conroy's perspective in case things aren't working out).


What I think trading a guy or two out could potentially do is two things:


1) Deflate this team. They play hard, and they have played hard for the vast majority of this season. Maybe a trade or two out of the leadership group will deflate them, and having zero 'steady' pairs on defence would further destabilize the roster construction (like when Bahl was out).


2) The 'pattern' from the last rebuild when it comes to effort/culture. I hope Conroy at the very least remains patient and doesn't start adding. The Flames around the halfway point of the 2013-14 season suddenly played with a tremendous amount of effort as well, and it last through the 2014-15 season (a longer sample size than what we have seen thus far). The following season was a bit up and down, but that level of compete (their culture) more or less was non-existent (or at least, not as high) any longer, with the exception of a season or two in their compete cycle. Are we just seeing another team 'energized' with a bunch of youth and older vets trying to make a point, but one that runs out of steam again simply because of the quality of the roster? I ended up writing a few paragraphs describing this, but it is probably beyond the scope of this thread. My point is simply that we have seen a winning hard-working culture come and go like the wind on this team. Are sure that building it at this stage is imperative? I used to think so - now I am not so sure.


One of the only things that I really appreciated during Feaster's tenure was how he called the losing culture on that era a 'disease', and that once the rebuild started, he was adamant that the culture be rebuilt too. I stood up and applauded that. Now I am not so sure - with hindsight anyway - that this was the correct time. Maybe you don't focus on the culture so much during a rebuild, but you focus on it after a couple of seasons? Really great examples both of why you should and you shouldn't. Perhaps an interesting discussion for another thread/time. I am just hoping that Conroy doesn't augment this team much and rather just sees what happens next season.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems Edition, Vol. 18):

RW Shamar Moses (6'1",203lbs)
North Bay (OHL): 61gp/ 12g/ 36a/ 48pts, -20, 33 PIM

RW Shamar Moses (ranked # 71 NA Skaters) was a first-round selection of the Barrie Colts, 19th-overall, in the 2023 OHL Draft- but was used mostly as a depth option in his time there. After a 2023-24 season that saw him post a respectable 25 points in 66 games for the Colts as an OHL rookie, he was traded to North Bay just five games in to the current season after posting no points. The move to the Battalion may have sent him to a team who were low in the standings (finishing 15th out of 20 teams), and offensively challenged (19th in goals-for), but it gave him more ice-time and responsibility to showcase his capabilities- and he took off, with 15 points in his first 12 games. Moses is a skilled power-winger, and though he's quite raw, he employs a pro-style game with few dynamic elements. Skating and pace are weaknesses; he is victimized by wonky mechanics in short, choppy stride that limit him to an average top-speed, with a need to improve his agility and balance.

Though his intensity has ebbs and flows, he owns a daunting physical presence; winning battles along the walls, dominating down-low, using his frame to make room for himself, and finishing his checks- putting mustard on his hits. When he's on, he displays high-motor, but his effort and engagement can be inconsistent- not only game-to-game, but shift-to-shift. He flashes higher-end play creation at times, and shows plenty of good ideas that go unrequited by teammates, but he consistently funnels pucks to the slot with deft feeds off of the wall, and is able to draw defenders in order to open passing seams, and to manufacture space for his teammates. With his sharp offensive awareness and keen play-reading abilities, he always seems to be well-positioned in all areas. He wields well-honed passing skills to connect on feeds over and under sticks with saucer passes or slip passes, and will drive the middle off the rush with the intent of dragging a defender or two with him, in order to open space for a drop-pass. Moses doesn't need much room to load up on his blistering shot that he can snipe corners with, and he has a nose for the net; he is not at all afraid to cut inside, or attack the crease. He's an effective and aggravating net-front presence who is very hard to move, and has a soft-touch in-tight for garbage goals, tap-ins, tips, and second-chance opportunities. As a playmaking device, he will fire at the net with the intent of creating chances for teammates as well.

Moses' handling skill is a plus, and he has some surprising 1-on-1 skills and deception to deke through traffic, dangle under triangles, and curl-and-drag around sticks, with the added benefit of having puck-protection skills that are well-developed. He can gain quick control of unstable passes sent his way, while in full-stride, and he exhibits tight puck-control in transit. In the defensive zone, he is very reliable, with sublime anticipation to sense oncoming plays, and the hustle to head them off- suffocating puck-carriers, intercepting passes, and throwing his weight around to dislodge pucks. He is a smart off-puck player, who supports the play well in all three zones, and skates intelligent routes to always remain a playable option for teammates. Fixing his speed will be very important going forward, and he must learn how to make decisions while playing at a higher pace. There are times when he tries to do too much, thus running out of space or hitting a wall, and he gets in trouble when he gets too fancy, or overcomplicates things. Inconsistency of effort is a big hindrance to his game right now as well, but I do think he may be underperforming his stats with the Battalion this season. If all works out, Moses could potentially make a good two-way power-winger in an NHL-team's middle-six. Look for him in the third-round.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems, Vol. 19):

LD Will Sharpe (6'1",194lbs)
Lethbridge (WHL): 35gp/ 3g/ 25a/ 28pts, -5, 22 PIM
Kelowna (WHL): 31gp/ 6g/ 10a/ 16pts, -41, 24 PIM

Lefty Will Sharpe (ranked # 65 NA Skaters) had the distinction in 2022 of being chosen in the first-round of the WHL Prospects Draft, with the 11th-overall pick- courtesy of the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Around the midway point of the current season, after turning some heads in the scouting community with his impressive production (28 points in 35 games), he was traded (along with Goaltender Harrison Bottiger and 5 draft-picks) to the Kelowna Rockets for well-known defenseman Caden Price. The move was a downgrade for Sharpe, with the Rockets finishing in 20th-place, and his old team ending up in 6th, out of 22 teams- although the two teams finished 16th and 15th in goals-for, respectively. He is a two-way D who's stock has plummeted since the trade; he has been very inconsistent with the Rockets, and perhaps had some difficulty with the change of scenery, putting up 3 points in his first 2 games- then 5 in his next 15. Sharpe is a superb passer in all three zones, who favors the give-and-go to open skating routes, and distributes well in the offensive zone, availing himself of his top-notch vision and high IQ. He shows incredible composure and poise with the puck, and connects to teammates with accurate feeds in-stride, but while he shows glimpses of creativity- he is more of a facilitator right now than a consistent play-driver.

Sharpe's true value might lie in his proficient puck-moving talents above all else, showing a solid and consistent first-pass, and the ability to sometimes really stretch the ice on his breakouts. His retrievals aren't always smooth or 100% controlled, but he has some one-on-one moves to give himself a sliver of room, and employs slick stick-lifts to make his escape. From there, he scans the ice with his head on a swivel, and he's adept at getting the puck moving out of the zone, either by carry or by pass. Using his solid puck-skill and tight protection ability, he can spearhead the rush for controlled entries, and will quarterback the play through the neutral zone with connective passing. He joins the rush frequently, although he can take himself too far out of position to recover, and will attack straight up the middle to the net. Though he isn't a burner, Sharpe is a smooth and fluid mover in all directions, and possesses above-average straight-ahead speed, with smooth edges to transition seamlessly, surf quickly across the ice laterally, make quick pivots, and turn with a tight radius. He is highly active in the offensive-third, and though he spends most of his time holding the line in the zone, he pinches in to the play fairly regularly to storm the crease for second-chance opportunities- sometimes leaving his partner hanging out to dry. He manages the play well from the line, staying in-motion to open passing lanes, and owns a hard and heavy point-shot (and a booming one-timer) that he uses frequently, and gets on net consistently to cause havok and create looks for his teammates. He can run a powerplay with aplomb, and can even play the bumper-position in man-advantage scenarios.

Though his gap sometimes appears to be too loose, he's excellent against the rush, and seems to have the sense and the timing (with speed to cut down angles) to know when to step up and make the stop, giving him the ability to kill entries. He is very disruptive at the line, and he is trusted with PK duty, but his in-zone defense is in need of refinement. He manages to stay on the right side of the puck for the most part, and displays an active stick to make a good number of poke-checks, but he does a lot of puck-watching and even looks lost at times. There's a lack of aggression and urgency in the defensive-third, and sometimes a lack of proper positioning, but he has shown the capacity to be physical along the boards, and the angling to force attackers to the outside. Overall, he will need to clean up his play in his own-zone for the next level, block some shots, and be much more intense and disruptive. He is a little chippy, with a fairly regular presence in post-whistle scrums, and will dole out some hacks, whacks, and crosschecks if the mood strikes. Going forward, he needs to work on his decision-making, particularly in knowing when to pinch, and when to stay back. He needs a lot more physicality in his overall game- right now, he relies on his stick and positioning to separate man from puck, but he would be far more effective if he could use his body more. Sharpe could potentially make it as a middle-six puck-mover who helps out on the PP, with the potential for more- and I see some huge seasons coming up for him in the WHL. Look for him in the third-round, with the slight possibility of moving up to the 2nd.

[Royle9]

Sandman - would it be too much to ask to throw out the names of guys around the flames picks today that would be a solid add? I’m now leaning towards a 0% chance at the playoffs so moving towards draft mode