2025 NHL Draft Thread

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Quappybla

U18 worlds going on, anyone not on team Canada to watch out for?

Players to watch at the U-18's:

CANADA
G Jack Ivankovic*
D Jackson Smith**
D Alex Huang*
D Quinn Beauchesne*
C Ethan Czata*
C Liam Kilfoil
RW Lukas Sawchyn
LW Lev Katzin
RW Cam Schmidt**
C Braeden Cootes**
C Matthew Gard*
C Brady Martin**
G Lucas Beckman

FINLAND
D Jesper Kotajarvi*
D Julius Saari
C Atte Joki
LW Matias Vanhanen
LW Max Westergard*
LW Jere Somervuori
D Lasse Boelius*
C Eetu Orpana

NORWAY
C Mikkel Eriksen*
LW Tinus Luc Koblar

SLOVAKIA
C Michal Svrcek
LW Alex Misiak
C Andreas Straka
C Jan Chovan*
D Luka Radivojevic*

CZECHIA
D Radim Mrtka**
RW Vit Zahejsky
LW David Rozsival
LW Tomas Poletin*
C Dominik Pavlik*
LW Vojtech Cihar*
C/W Matej Pekar
C Adam Benak*
D Max Psenicka*

GERMANY
D Carlos Handel*
LW David Lewandowski*
RW Rihards Griva
LW Gustavs Griva
LW Maxim Schafer

SWEDEN
D Oliwer Sjostrom
D Karl Annborn
D Sascha Boumedienne**
D Theodor Hallquisth
D Malte Vass
LW Jakob Ihs-Wozniak**
LW Filip Ekberg
C Anton Frondell**
RW Arvid Drott*
LW Eddie Genborg**
C Milton Gastrin**
LW Viktor Klingsell*
C Eric Nilson*
LW Melvin Novotny
LW/C Theo Stockselius
D Joe Wahlund

USA
D Blake Fiddler**
D Asher Barnett
D Donato Bracco
D Mace'o Phillips
D Drew Schock
D Charlie Trethewey**
C Will Horcoff*
RW Ben Kevan*
C Cole McKinney**
C Jacob Kvasnicka
RW LJ Mooney
C Will Moore**
C/LW Jack Murtagh**
C Teddy Mutryn*
C Andrew O'Neill
LW Cullen Potter**
C Matthew Lansing

* denotes potential top-2 rounds
** denotes potential first-rounder

[dammage79]

Gastrin and Ryabkin are still the 2 I think the Flames draft with their 2x 1sts.

[traptor]

This is how I have the centers ranked that might be in our range. I think Martin will be gone, so we will end up with Reschny.

1. Martin
2. Reschny
3. Ryabkin
4. Nesbitt
5. Cootes

There are some wingers that might be there that are hard to pass on like Bear and Kindle though

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems Edition, Vol. 47):

LHC Cole Chandler (6'2",174lbs)
Shawinigan (QMJHL): 64gp/ 13g/ 19a/ 32pts, +12, 40 PIM

Cole Chandler (ranked #172 NA Skaters) finished the regular season 8th in scoring for the Cataractes, but is currently tied for second in playoff scoring (behind only Matvei Gridin) for that club with 8 points in 9 games, and is second in plus/minus with a +7. He was Shawinigan's first-round draft choice in the 2023 QMJHL Entry Draft, 16th-overall, but only truly started to fulfill his potential in the second half the 2024-25 season; he put up 10 points in 25 games in an injury-riddled rookie year in 2023-24, and by the 30 game mark of the current campaign, he only had 7 points- but piled up 25 points in his next 34. He might be flying way under the radar, but he's a smart, well-rounded power-forward with a responsible two-way game. Chandler obviously has a sizeable frame, and even though his stride is not mechanically perfect (with a bit of an upright, short stride), he still manages to generate excellent speed in a straight-line, with the ability to win races at times, beat defenders wide, and separate from pursuers in open-ice. He needs work on his explosiveness, and his edgework- though he does own a quick change of pace and direction to bait attackers into opening space. His pace has improved since the start of the season, and he has cut down on the amount of times he gets caught gliding into the play, but he is still sometimes guilty of underperforming on both fronts.

Chandler is primarily known to be a playmaker who mostly employs a simple distribution game, but he is able to pull off some dynamic passes to connect on high-end plays at times- showing keen vision and potent hockey sense. He reads gaps well, and understands space-creation- using every trick in the book to draw pressure and shift the defense, including delays and cutbacks to bait defenders into breaking formation. He pre-scans thoroughly, reads the play well, and can see teammates through traffic, making sound decisions. A skilled passer with mostly precision feeds, he has a wide array of methods to connect with teammates, including saucers over blades, hooks around sticks, backhands, and deft slip-passes through triangles- and he sprinkles in some deception (such as fakes, look-offs, and shot-passes) to smooth the way. His shot isn't too special in terms of power and velocity, but he disguises his release to fool goalies, and can pick corners with precision. Most of his scoring opportunities come from attacking the middle off the rush, cutting inside off the cycle, and going to the net with his stick on the ice to await high-danger feeds in the low-slot- or right on the goalie's doorstep. He will take the puck to the net, but he will also plant himself in front of the crease without the puck to take abuse, and clean up garbage; he exhibits top-tier hand-eye coordination for re-directs in the slot. and will get his stick up to tip pucks past the goalie.

Bringing a hard-hat mentality to the rink, Chandler provides energy to his team and is always involved. He charges into puck-battles, and uses his frame to give himself adavantages, as well as to provide a bit more separation. A physical player, he will lean into opponents on the run to steal pucks, cut inside, or just to rub them out along the wall, and will throw hits to win possession. He forechecks with purpose, and sprints at puck-carriers to force pressure, push pace, pick pockets, and cause turnovers. While not elite-level, he exhibits good puck-skill with smooth handling, occasionally surprising defenders with deft one-on-one moves to move through traffic. Chandler is a perceptive defensive performer, with plus-level awareness in own-zone scenarios, and employs good details and smart positioning to shut down the opposition's best players- racking up steals, causing turnovers, and poking away pucks. He does a good job of taking away the middle from inside-attacks with an active stick and his sturdy frame. Chandler is still inconsistent in his pace, with his engagement, physicality, and intensity all having wide ebbs and flows. From what I've heard, he is keeping his feet moving more consistently, but he can still be caught gliding a bit too much. Like many kids his age, he tries to do too much on his own at times, and can hold on to the puck for too long while waiting for plays to develop; he also tries to force plays that aren't there. This might indicate a need to improve his decision-making, as well as his play-reading abilities. Another important area that is in need of refinement is his faceoffs, which sat below 50% this year. Even if his offensive game doesn't translate fully, his defense, size, and physicality still give him enough value to be taken in later rounds. I like this kid, and I feel like he's been overlooked a bit.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by traptor

This is how I have the centers ranked that might be in our range. I think Martin will be gone, so we will end up with Reschny.

1. Martin
2. Reschny
3. Ryabkin
4. Nesbitt
5. Cootes

There are some wingers that might be there that are hard to pass on like Bear and Kindle though

Reschny Kindel would be a huge influx of skill

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Reschny Kindel would be a huge influx of skill

Not sure what this fascination for kindel is coming from. Last thing we need is an undersized winger with skating issues. Reschny is gone by fifteen( possibly even top ten) so unlikely he is an option.

Cootes and zonnon, and fiddler or hensler are who we most likely come home with. Ryabkin and kindel i would be choked. Now if you got another second rounder and kindel is there then fine but how about we look at some centers which we actually need and players who tend to go top twenty.

Now you might get lucky and have your choice of martin or cootes at 18. A lakovic or mrtka might drop, but centers go and they go quick .

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Not sure what this fascination for kindel is coming from. Last thing we need is an undersized winger with skating issues. Reschny is gone by fifteen( possibly even top ten) so unlikely he is an option.

Cootes and zonnon, and fiddler or hensler are who we most likely come home with. Ryabkin and kindel i would be choked. Now if you got another second rounder and kindel is there then fine but how about we look at some centers which we actually need and players who tend to go top twenty.

Now you might get lucky and have your choice of martin or cootes at 18. A lakovic or mrtka might drop, but centers go and they go quick .

It would be pretty ####in dumb to come home from this draft spending another 1st on a rhd when it is the one position we are stacked at.

[Monahammer]

Also ryabkin easily has the highest potential of all players you listed, and its not even close.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

It would be pretty ####in dumb to come home from this draft spending another 1st on a rhd when it is the one position we are stacked at.

Ya granting parekh and brewski are what we think they are. I personally dont think our defence is as stacked as some do. Lw ya absolutely.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Also ryabkin easily has the highest potential of all players you listed, and its not even close.

Ryabkin may have the highest ceiling and also the lowest probability of getting there. Kid is a headcase, reason he has been dropping in the standings.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Ya granting parekh and brewski are what we think they are. I personally dont think our defence is as stacked as some do. Lw ya absolutely.

Sure but if you really need to take a d at least shoot for Aitcheson, a LHD who would compliment those players instead of compete with them.

I don't buy the headcase stuff. The kids country, which he just filed, is in absolute shambles. He had better numbers than Demidov in the mhl

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Sure but if you really need to take a d at least shoot for Aitcheson, and LHD who would compliment those players instead of compete with them.

Aitchesen will go top 15. Fiddler, reid and maybe hensler will be available for d. Would love to get another second and take a chance on the big wang.

Personally if we walk out with two i hope its Cootes and Zonnon.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Pronman has the Flames taking Cole Reschny at 18 and Malcolm Spence at 22 in his mock.

Top 5:
1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Desnoyers
4. Hagens
5. Frondell

I don't think he has Ryabkin in the first round at all.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Pronman has the Flames taking Cole Reschny at 18 and Malcolm Spence at 22 in his mock.

Top 5:
1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Desnoyers
4. Hagens
5. Frondell

I don't think he has Ryabkin in the first round at all.

Would happily take Reschny dont think he makes it to 18. However that might push someone unexpected to 18 as a consequence so hard to say.

Would take Zonnon or Murtagh over spence. I just think(doubled down on by many you tube pundits ) that he is basically a finished product. He hadnt changed almost at all from the start if the year.

Reschny and Zonnon? Oh i would be a happy camper.

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Pronman has the Flames taking Cole Reschny at 18 and Malcolm Spence at 22 in his mock.

Top 5:
1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Desnoyers
4. Hagens
5. Frondell

I don't think he has Ryabkin in the first round at all.

He mocks Mason West being taken in the late first by the Preds. I had never heard of him and from what I see online he is an interesting prospect with the chance to be a home run.

Sandman, any insight on him?

[looooob]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

He mocks Mason West being taken in the late first by the Preds. I had never heard of him and from what I see online he is an interesting prospect with the chance to be a home run.

Sandman, any insight on him?

I've seen that name pop up in a few mocks/ first round projected lists now...this is the big kid from Minnesota who also plays football I think?

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Pronman has the Flames taking Cole Reschny at 18 and Malcolm Spence at 22 in his mock.

Top 5:
1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Desnoyers
4. Hagens
5. Frondell

I don't think he has Ryabkin in the first round at all.

I'm not a big fan of Spence at all.
I'll preface it with the fact I haven't watched him a ton, but from what I have seen and watched he's a product of size more than anything. I'm still in favor of drafting skill/speed over size.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by looooob

I've seen that name pop up in a few mocks/ first round projected lists now...this is the big kid from Minnesota who also plays football I think?

Yes. He still hasn't made a decision if he wants pursue hockey or football in college. He has offers for hockey and football scholarships and says he will make a decision before the NHL draft combine.

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

He mocks Mason West being taken in the late first by the Preds. I had never heard of him and from what I see online he is an interesting prospect with the chance to be a home run.

Sandman, any insight on him?

At first I misread this and thought you were saying Pronman was making fun of the Predators for a decision he had them making in his mock draft and thought that was kind of childish.

And then... "oh. Mock. Duh."

This has been "The Banality of Ba'alzamon"

[DuckSauce]

Tell me more about Zannon.. I feel like he is a bit of a forgotten man in the mix of who is likely to be available around our picks. I have seen mixed information about whether he is LW or C.