2025 NHL Draft Thread

[ForeverFlameFan]

This draft reminds me of 2014, people said it would be weak but then it’ll turn out to have a lot of quality players.

[Tbull8]

Even if it’s the 2012 draft, which looks terrible even in hindsight, try to be the team that gets Forsberg, Wilson, Vasi

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

This draft reminds me of 2014, people said it would be weak but then it’ll turn out to have a lot of quality players.

There's definitely some quality and I bet there's a couple diamonds in the rough but it's fairly shallow overall. Like there isn't a strong Finnish contingent this year, the Swedish stock is a bit light but there's some real interesting players there. It's just ...thin. doesn't mean there's nothing but there's not a lot to chew on.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Watching the Florida Carolina series, I think we know what team we need to emulate.

Florida has only 3 roster players under 6’ and one of those is Marchand, who doesn’t play sub 6’. They only have him and Rodrigues in the lineup (Samoskevich is scratched). No d are under 6’.

https://www.nhl.com/panthers/roster

So I think while size shouldn’t be the predominant factor when making picks, it should be a consideration. Makes sense now when you see the team take swings on huckins and whynot instead of going with safer (and smaller) picks. Hate seeing picks go unsigned but if this is the model they are pursuing, I can understand it better.

But Tampa won before them and they were much smaller, particularly their skilled players. Maybe emulate that model?

[Paulie Walnuts]

Or just stick to our plan and in 5 years time other fan base will follow our model.

[dammage79]

FC has finally updated their mock draft builder.

Today's mock I had:

18 OA: C Ivan Ryabkin
29 OA : C Will Horcoff
54 OA: FW Philip Ekberg
80 OA : C Michael Svrcek
144: C Teddy Mutryn
176 OA: D Tomas Galvas.
208 OA: G Ivan Tkach-Tkachenko

[Icon]

Good ol' tkic tkach tkachenko!

[Royle9]

Mine would be a pipe dream:

18 OA: C Cole Reschny
29 OA : C Carter Bear
54 OA: C David Lewandowski
80 OA : C Filip Ekberg
144 OA: G Petteri Rimpenen
176 OA: D Luke Vlooswyk

[Icon]

My first 3 Flames picks of Mrtka, Bear, Moore seemed pretty good. After that I'll be honest I have no idea

[CanucksWorstNightmare]

I think Bryce Pickford deserves more attention , 47 pts in 48 gp and just turned 19 in April. Went undrafted last year but was ranked #73 in this years Midseason NHL Central Scouting rankings (North America) & #100 in their final rankings. Great skater / Smart / Tough / Good puck skills/ Great Defensively he has it all!! When you compare his production to Carter Yakemchuk's 49 pts in 56gp there's not much difference and thats last years 7th OV pick. I think this guy could easily go in the 2nd round or even jump into the late first. He had one hell of a playoff run (24pts in 18gp) after coming back from injury and scored 2 goals in the first game of the Memorial Cup. Grab this kid with your late 1st Craig you wont be disappointed I promise.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by CanucksWorstNightmare

I think Bryce Pickford deserves more attention , 47 pts in 48 gp and just turned 19 in April. Went undrafted last year but was ranked #73 in this years Midseason NHL Central Scouting rankings (North America) & #100 in their final rankings. Great skater / Smart / Tough / Good puck skills/ Great Defensively he has it all!! When you compare his production to Carter Yakemchuk's 49 pts in 56gp there's not much difference and thats last years 7th OV pick. I think this guy could easily go in the 2nd round or even jump into the late first. He had one hell of a playoff run (24pts in 18gp) after coming back from injury and scored 2 goals in the first game of the Memorial Cup. Grab this kid with your late 1st Craig you wont be disappointed I promise.

No, Flames won't burn a 1st on another RS D-man, especially a 19 yr old

[Hockey-and_stuff]

Originally Posted by CanucksWorstNightmare

I think Bryce Pickford deserves more attention , 47 pts in 48 gp and just turned 19 in April. Went undrafted last year but was ranked #73 in this years Midseason NHL Central Scouting rankings (North America) & #100 in their final rankings. Great skater / Smart / Tough / Good puck skills/ Great Defensively he has it all!! When you compare his production to Carter Yakemchuk's 49 pts in 56gp there's not much difference and thats last years 7th OV pick. I think this guy could easily go in the 2nd round or even jump into the late first. He had one hell of a playoff run (24pts in 18gp) after coming back from injury and scored 2 goals in the first game of the Memorial Cup. Grab this kid with your late 1st Craig you wont be disappointed I promise.

You'd be pretty daft to take a guy in the first round in his D+1 season. Maybe someone to target in the 4th and onward though.

[Tbull8]

I could see someone taking a chance on him that has an extra late 2nd or early to mid third

[Sandman]

We were discussing Pickford a few weeks ago. I mentioned that I did a write-up on him last year, and that I was really surprised that he wasn’t picked. I believe cral found my write-up and posted it. Kid had an awesome regular season, but he practically super-human in the playoffs- I could see him being picked in the third.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Sandman

We were discussing Pickford a few weeks ago. I mentioned that I did a write-up on him last year, and that I was really surprised that he wasn’t picked. I believe cral found my write-up and posted it. Kid had an awesome regular season, but he practically super-human in the playoffs- I could see him being picked in the third.

Every time I watch a hi-light of a MH game in the playoffs he is scoring a PP goal from the point.

I worry about the fact he is an older player.

But he wouldn't be the first to succeed.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Every time I watch a hi-light of a MH game in the playoffs he is scoring a PP goal from the point.

I worry about the fact he is an older player.

But he wouldn't be the first to succeed.

I don’t think he’s bad but he’s not spend a 1st rounder good.
Theres guys like him every draft, he’ll go somewhere late 2nd early 3rd.

[Sandman]

Agreed on both posts- 47 points in 48 games is a bit different for a kid in his D+1 year, than a first-time draft-eligible. His playoffs have been incredible though, with 13 goals and 24 points in just 18 games. With the depth of this draft being not as good as previous years, he could go a bit sooner than usual.

He's from Edmonton, but I still like the kid. He plays a gritty game, and he's as tough as nails.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Ryker Evans (my cousin) was passed up in his draft year and was selected 35th OA in 2021. I could see the same happening with Pickford if a team in the 2nd round deems him the best selection with what’s out there.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by dammage79

FC has finally updated their mock draft builder.

Today's mock I had:

18 OA: C Ivan Ryabkin
29 OA : C Will Horcoff
54 OA: FW Philip Ekberg
80 OA : C Michael Svrcek
144: C Teddy Mutryn
176 OA: D Tomas Galvas.
208 OA: G Ivan Tkach-Tkachenko

We won't be drafting 29th

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Ryker Evans (my cousin) was passed up in his draft year and was selected 35th OA in 2021. I could see the same happening with Pickford if a team in the 2nd round deems him the best selection with what’s out there.

I know Ryker. His Dad Mike is the elite skating coach up there with Fujita. My kid was told to emulate him at 12 so we'd go watch.
Ya there are some that possibly had a bad situation prior or last minute bloomers.