2025 NHL Draft Thread

[Funkhouser]

I could see a scenario where NYI trades down in order to snag Hagens and another asset.

SJ offers Bystedt to move up to #1
Chi offers Boisvert or Moore to move up to #1

For an organisation like NYI who is asset poor, it may be the right move if Hagens is who they really want.

[Ped]

Just saw this online about kids of former pros eligible this year:


2025: Luka Radivojevic (Branko) William Horcoff (Shawn) Blake Fiddler (Vern) Sascha Boumedienne (Josef) Dakoda Rheaume Mullen (Manon) Gavin Cornforth (Mark) Cameron Aucoin (Adrian) Nicholas Sykora (Petr)


https://x.com/JMZygmunt11/status/1921363638901686410

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I think it's probably 2 out of those 3 personally. Dobson is younger, bigger, and potentially a better defensive player.

Dobson is definitely not better defensively. I think he has a bit of Tyson Barrie in him (in Barrie’s prime). Good offensive dman. End of story. There is a reason that Dobson does not kill penalties, he is not a top 4 dman in that regard, the Islanders have 4 better options to kill penalties with.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by HitterD

Two thoughts here if this is what the flames would be looking at. Do you take a C at 18 and pass on Bear (who still could be a C at NHL but more likely a wing with a bit of injury concern)

Or do you take Bear because he is BPA in that slot (IMO) and then go C with the pick at 22?

IMO, you still take BPA.

You have to remember that prospects are assets too. Not all of them need to play for your team; you can invest into them to bring in a need via trade later.

A 1st round prospect that continues to have their stock rise after being drafted whether it be a W, C, D, or G can be what closes a deal for when the next Jack Eichel becomes available.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

IMO, you still take BPA.

You have to remember that prospects are assets too. Not all of them need to play for your team; you can invest into them to bring in a need via trade later.

A 1st round prospect that continues to have their stock rise after being drafted whether it be a W, C, D, or G can be what closes a deal for when the next Jack Eichel becomes available.

Totally agree. These guys are in all likelihood years away from making the NHL. We don't know what the holes will necessarily be by the time they are ready,

You want the best possible asset period. You're pretty unlikely to get a top line center at #18, but the Flames need top line talent in the fold at every forward position.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Totally agree. These guys are in all likelihood years away from making the NHL. We don't know what the holes will necessarily be by the time they are ready,

You want the best possible asset period. You're pretty unlikely to get a top line center at #18, but the Flames need top line talent in the fold at every forward position.

Agreed. If Kindel doesn’t become a center but he is a Stankoven-type, that becomes a potential great asset in a Rantanen level trade

[Snuffleupagus]

Nm

[dammage79]

Position is apart of every team's BPA criteria. Thinking otherwise is weird. Recently, RHD and C have a premium. IMOat 18-32 team need and position will have added value to any teams evaluation. So C will be BPA for the Calgary Flames.

Hell, Conroy said it himself, if two or three players are close on their list and one is a center, Center wins out.

I bet some posters here are fretting over a Jankowski type pick.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Position is apart of every team's BPA criteria. Thinking otherwise is weird. Recently, RHD and C have a premium. IMOat 18-32 team need and position will have added value to any teams evaluation. So C will be BPA for the Calgary Flames.

Hell, Conroy said it himself, if two or three players are close on their list and one is a center, Center wins out.

That suggests while the Flames list is built on their criteria BPA, position isn't necessarily the major factor in determining BPA.

Conroy is saying that if there isn't too much difference between a Winger, d-man, or goalie with the next best available center on their list, they are taking a center because it is an organizational need.

To think otherwise is weird.

All that is being said is that if a W, D, or G is thought to be significantly better than the next C, go pick that guy. It sometimes happens, fallers etc.

[UKflames]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Misa could end up being a winger on the top line
I don’t frankly think there is much to your theory.

I still don't see him being happy about that personally.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (B's and C's Edition, Vol. 6)

LD Reese Hamilton (6'1",170lbs)
Regina (WHL): 39gp/ 3g/ 8a/ 11pts, -20, 23 PIM
Calgary (WHL): 20gp/ 1g/ 2a/ 3pts, -5, 10 PIM

After a D-minus-1 season in 2023-24 that saw D Reese Hamilton (ranked # 113 NA Skaters, # 62 by McKenzie) compile 31 points in 42 points for the Hitmen, much more was expected of him going into the current campaign, with most outlets anointing him a sure-fire first-rounder in 2025. Unfortunately, he hasn't shown the same dynamism as he did in his rookie season, nor is he applying the same high-event offensive style. A mid-November trade to the Regina Pats gave fans and scouts alike the hope that he could turn things around with a change of scenery, but it did very little in the way of improving his production; part of the problem may be the fact that his new team was the second-worst team in the WHL this season, and dead-last in scoring. Hamilton has the pedigree of being drafted 4th-overall by the Hitmen in the 2022 WHL Bantam Draft, and he didn't just forget how to play the style that brought him so much positive attention from scouts- there's still potential here. Even minus the offensive game, Hamilton (who played last summer's Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, putting up no points) is still a quality puck-moving D with skill and elite mobility. If he's not one of the fastest players in this summer's draft, than he's easily in the 90th-percentile, with top-flight quickness in all directions- making him a tough defender to beat. He can recover seamlessly to his post at the point after pinching down low, and wins the vast majority of his races; he has an impressive start-up, explosive acceleration, amazing lateral agility, and slingshots out of turns.

Hamilton displays excellent puck-skills, maintaining control in tight spaces, and handling smoothly while in-flight- he's quite dangerous when he puts his skating and quick hands together, and combines the two to solve problems on the fly. He carries with confidence and poise, exhibiting solid passing skill, with saucer passes over sticks, and perfectly-weighted feeds through traffic. Though he hasn't shown it consistently throughout the year, Hamilton is excellent defending the rush- mostly because he can skate faster backwards than most can move forwards, making it easy for him to match footwork with oncoming rushers, applying tight gap-control and an active stick to angle attackers to the outside. He then surfs across laterally with overwhelming quickness to seal off the boards, strip them of possession, and close them out. Exerting strong vision, he skates with his head up to read the play and process quickly, and makes mostly sound decisions- and while elite playmaking only comes in flashes these days in the offensive zone, he executes breakout passes with proficiency. After easily shaking off attackers in retrievals, he can stretch the ice with crisp, accurate outlets, delivering precise feeds to teammates on the fly; Scott Wheeler of the Athletic calls him a "zone-exit machine". He can see through traffic, and make difficult cross-ice passes to clear the zone. Even if he's not producing as he should, he's still a high-value puck-mover and transitional contributor through carry, or by pass. At his best, he can skate dynamic routes through the neutral zone, rushing the puck through exit and entry while spearheading the attack, or quarterback the rush from the back with connective passing, but he will often use rims, dump-ins, and chip-and-chase sequences to get the job done. He will not hesitate to join the rush as an extra attacker if he sees an opportunity.

Once installed in the offensive-third, he has the agility and handling to walk the line and run the offense from the top of the zone, and is known as a frequent activator who can locate slivers of open space in the slot; in games I've seen however, he seems more content to stay back at the line with an eye on defending as well as holding the zone, only pinching in when the coast is clear. In either scenario, he's always in-motion, and distributes well from the point. Hamilton owns a powerful shot from a distance, and can fire a sharp, deceptive wrister while in-flight, using feints and look-offs to deceive and manipulate- but he's not much of a space-creator. He battles hard in the greasy areas, and can throw some big hits, but one of the main knocks against him is that he is often outmuscled, and it pervades many areas of his game- most notably in the defensive zone, and in defending his net. He desperately needs to bulk up, and get stronger, but he also has to improve his details and positioning in his own-zone, and work on making better reads. I think Hamilton also needs to get his dynamism back and start taking more calculated risks, but as it stands, I think he'll still be chosen in the 2nd, or 3rd round, with scouts looking at his elite speed and puck-moving ability.

[The Original FFIV]

Hockey news draft preview won’t be available until late May. Anyone aware of any other publications that come out before that? Would like to dig in to what will be available at our spot.

[3thirty]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Hockey news draft preview won’t be available until late May. Anyone aware of any other publications that come out before that? Would like to dig in to what will be available at our spot.

Start on the first page of this thread.

[cral12]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

I could see a scenario where NYI trades down in order to snag Hagens and another asset.

SJ offers Bystedt to move up to #1
Chi offers Boisvert or Moore to move up to #1

For an organisation like NYI who is asset poor, it may be the right move if Hagens is who they really want.

Though we didn't have trades this is essentially the thought process in Upside's latest mock ; )

2025 NHL Mock Draft 2.0: Post-Lottery Edition:
https://upsidehockey.substack.com/p/...0-post-lottery

Flames left with some nice options in this scenario as well...

[dammage79]

7Getting McQueen AND Reschny? Wowwy wow wow.

[FanSince'01]

The comments today from Willie Desjardins about Basha probably being a top 15 pick if he was healthy last year really makes me hope McQueen falls to us at 18.

I know back injuries are a totally different beast, but the Flames also have some of the best medical and training staff in the league so I would be willing to take the risk here to potentially get a top flight centre, especially as it seems like bottoming out likely isn't in the cards.

[Bingo Jr.]

Originally Posted by FanSince'01

The comments today from Willie Desjardins about Basha probably being a top 15 pick if he was healthy last year really makes me hope McQueen falls to us at 18.

I know back injuries are a totally different beast, but the Flames also have some of the best medical and training staff in the league so I would be willing to take the risk here to potentially get a top flight centre, especially as it seems like bottoming out likely isn't in the cards.

Plus how sweet would McQueen look in Flames colours...

[dammage79]

They'll have to add a "Ka-Chow" badge somewhere on the jersey if he does become a Flame.

[Rick M.]

If McQueen falls to the Flames, I intend to call him Steve.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

If McQueen falls to the Flames, I intend to call him Steve.

Not “Lightning”?