2025 NHL Draft Thread

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Love that Horcoff interview. Second thing out if his mouth is lots to learn.

"My dad taught me everything he knows about being an NHL pro... Needless to say, I still have a lot to learn."

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Goalie Edition, Vol. 13):

LCG Michal Pradel (6'5",194lbs)
Tri City (USHL): 14gp/ 9-4-0, 2.41 GAA, .899 SV%

Slovakian netminder, Michal Pradel (ranked # 3 EU Goalies, # 43 by Button) is another player who boosted his draft stock with his performance in the most recent U-18 Worlds. Pradel backstopped the surprising Slovakian Team at that event, taking his team all the way to the Bronze-Medal Game, where they unfortunately lost to the Americans in a squeaker, 4-3 in OT. He went 4-3-0 in that tournament, with a 2.46 GAA (6th-overall in the tourney), and a .914 SV% (tied for 5th-overall). Before coming over to play in North America for the Tri-City Storm of the USHL, Pradel played games with Slovakia's U18 National Team against U20 competition (6-4-0, with a 2.81 GAA, and a .920 SV%), and against men in the second-tier league (3-12-0, with a 4.59 GAA, and an .898 SV%), with a stop in the U20 league, playing 4 games for Barani Banska Bystrica (2-2-0, with a 1.99 GAA, and a .909 SV%). Last summer, he took part in Slovakia's entry in the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, playing 3 games, with a 3.77 GAA, and a .897 SV%.

Pradel's size and range are some of his best assets, with his 6'5" frame covering most of the net, while owning extra-long legs and an expansive wingspan to seal off the net when down in the butterfly. His limbs are lightning-quick, and he's highly mobile in his crease- whether sliding around on his pads, or darting around in the blue paint to stay square to the puck. He moves surprisingly well east-west, as well as forwards-backwards to challenge shooters at the top of his crease, and he also moves up-and-down in the butterfly with explosive speed- recovering almost instantly to his default stance. He rarely overcommits, or slides out of position, but there are plenty of times where he drops to his knees too quickly, leaving the top of the net exposed- this is one of his biggest flaws. Pradel can see over bodies easily, and bends low to see the puck through screens, while tracking the puck proficiently with traffic in front of him. He stays square to the puck, and makes micro-adjustments in his positioning to do so, possessing the ability to read the play and process at a high-level, which gives him the anticipation to act proactively, rather than purely reactively. He generally shows good timing, and even better reflexes. Pradel is strong mentally, and ultra-competitive, with the ability to re-set quickly after a goal, and showing remarkable calmness and poise under pressure. He battles hard when he has to, never gives up on a play, and fights hard in net-front scrambles. He plays well and keeps focus under a heavy workload, as he has shown in the USHL, as well as in international play.

There's a lot of rawness in his technique, and thus- there are flaws in his game that require attention. In addition to his tendency to drop early, he fails to seal off his posts as well as he should, despite employing a tight RVH, which leaves small holes that are exploitable for shooters. Rebound-control is another area in need of improvement, as he gives up too many dangerous second-chance opportunities, and has difficulty in deflecting pucks to the corner off of his blocker. Making things worse is the fact that he seems to lose sight of the puck at times when it bounces off of him, and he has difficulty in re-positioning himself to make the extra stop- even when he can see it. His long pads seal off the bottom of the net well, but not infallibly, as pucks can still squeeze underneath him on occasion. Pradel has shown some ability in playing the puck, but must keep his passes safe and simple; this gives him an added layer of value, with his ability to aid in his team's breakout. He has many NHL-projectable traits, and a few high-end tools to work with; I would say he's a mid-rounder, but I wouldn't be surprised if he was taken much earlier.

[Major Major]

Horcoff seems to be a normal looking dude. Mom must be a real looker.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by Major Major

Horcoff seems to be a normal looking dude. Mom must be a real looker.

What does this even mean?

[Canada 02]

Cole Reschny ('25 draft eligible) and Keaton Verhoeff ('26 draft eligible) both committed to NCAA North Dakota next season.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by Groot

What does this even mean?

I'm assuming that his mom is so good looking it made up for how ugly his dad is.

[Mindtravellee]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Cole Reschny ('25 draft eligible) and Keaton Verhoeff ('26 draft eligible) both committed to NCAA North Dakota next season.

Huge loss for the Royals. I was hoping they'd be able to build on this season.

Looks like its back to thr prospect pool

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Mindtravellee

Huge loss for the Royals. I was hoping they'd be able to build on this season.

Looks like its back to thr prospect pool

I heard the Royals is one of the most disliked to play with because the travel is oppressive. Not that that is the case here.

[Royle9]

I asked a very pointed question this morning regarding the Flames Draft plan as there was chatter from Frank that was a bit cryptic when it came to the Flames and moving their pick.
Frank in the same sentence referenced teams willing to move their top 10 pick and then the Flames also willing to move back. Here's what I can share:

"Calgary has looked at many scenarios involving moving up, however the cost to do so almost always includes a 2026 1st. With that said there have been discussions surrounding players and prospects to get them into the top 10 but the cost is steep"

"Calgary has also fielded lots of calls about moving back & recouping additional picks" and so there's a lot of scenarios where Calgary may entertain this if their guy is not available at 18.

There's a lot of additional fluff but those were the 2 big takeaways.
The one thing I'll add is that there seems to be a significant variation after the top 3 and there could be a few guys that go way higher than the consensus projection in the 1st round.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I asked a very pointed question this morning regarding the Flames Draft plan as there was chatter from Frank that was a bit cryptic when it came to the Flames and moving their pick.
Frank in the same sentence referenced teams willing to move their top 10 pick and then the Flames also willing to move back. Here's what I can share:

"Calgary has looked at many scenarios involving moving up, however the cost to do so almost always includes a 2026 1st. With that said there have been discussions surrounding players and prospects to get them into the top 10 but the cost is steep"

"Calgary has also fielded lots of calls about moving back & recouping additional picks" and so there's a lot of scenarios where Calgary may entertain this if their guy is not available at 18.

There's a lot of additional fluff but those were the 2 big takeaways.
The one thing I'll add is that there seems to be a significant variation after the top 3 and there could be a few guys that go way higher than the consensus projection in the 1st round.

I am a bit surprised that 3 is the shelf you're listing. I have 2 in my mind then it opens a bit between Hagens-Martone-Desnoyers, then the rest.
I could see a massive centre run going through the top 10 though:

JOB, Martin, Mcqueen, Desnoyers, Hagens, Bear... Maybe Reschny sneaks in up here depending on team needs.

I have been saying for a while I feel like Nesbitt will go way higher than people are thinking too.

JOB, Martin,

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I asked a very pointed question this morning regarding the Flames Draft plan as there was chatter from Frank that was a bit cryptic when it came to the Flames and moving their pick.
Frank in the same sentence referenced teams willing to move their top 10 pick and then the Flames also willing to move back. Here's what I can share:

"Calgary has looked at many scenarios involving moving up, however the cost to do so almost always includes a 2026 1st. With that said there have been discussions surrounding players and prospects to get them into the top 10 but the cost is steep"

"Calgary has also fielded lots of calls about moving back & recouping additional picks" and so there's a lot of scenarios where Calgary may entertain this if their guy is not available at 18.

There's a lot of additional fluff but those were the 2 big takeaways.
The one thing I'll add is that there seems to be a significant variation after the top 3 and there could be a few guys that go way higher than the consensus projection in the 1st round.

Sure hope we don’t go crazy and trade up in this draft, which is pretty mid by all accounts. Fan of trading down and accumulating more picks which would allow us to take some wild swings.

If there is that much variance, it’s a good indicator of how weak the draft class is as perceived by scouts

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I asked a very pointed question this morning regarding the Flames Draft plan as there was chatter from Frank that was a bit cryptic when it came to the Flames and moving their pick.
Frank in the same sentence referenced teams willing to move their top 10 pick and then the Flames also willing to move back. Here's what I can share:

"Calgary has looked at many scenarios involving moving up, however the cost to do so almost always includes a 2026 1st. With that said there have been discussions surrounding players and prospects to get them into the top 10 but the cost is steep"

"Calgary has also fielded lots of calls about moving back & recouping additional picks" and so there's a lot of scenarios where Calgary may entertain this if their guy is not available at 18.

There's a lot of additional fluff but those were the 2 big takeaways.
The one thing I'll add is that there seems to be a significant variation after the top 3 and there could be a few guys that go way higher than the consensus projection in the 1st round.

McKenzie's final pre-draft ranking and analysis could be a little more interesting this year... whether the execs and scouts give him the same variation.

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Sure hope we don’t go crazy and trade up in this draft, which is pretty mid by all accounts. Fan of trading down and accumulating more picks which would allow us to take some wild swings.

If there is that much variance, it’s a good indicator of how weak the draft class is as perceived by scouts

That's my feeling too: unless Reschny is there for the Flames at 18, trade down and grab an extra pick or two if they can.

Zary's draft was interesting for that, as COVID hampered scouting so there was a lot of variation in lists outside of the top 10, making it a good year to trade back and get a few extra shots. They ended up with an NHLer in Zary and a potential NHLer in the third round in Poirier (who McKenzie ranked art 33 that year).

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I am a bit surprised that 3 is the shelf you're listing. I have 2 in my mind then it opens a bit between Hagens-Martone-Desnoyers, then the rest.

I think the consensus rumour has the pick for Chicago as Hagens.
Could change, wouldn't surprise me but that's what's being heard.

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I think the consensus rumour has the pick for Chicago as Hagens.
Could change, wouldn't surprise me but that's what's being heard.

I like the big bodied, skilled Martone there if he gets by San Jose, as they've got a couple of quality second line potential centres in their system, but a one two punch of Bedard-Hagens could give them a 1A/1B line that they can continue to build around... especially with their high end D prospects.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I think the consensus rumour has the pick for Chicago as Hagens.
Could change, wouldn't surprise me but that's what's being heard.

I had not heard that yet but find it fascinating. Have to think they're aiming for who they believe will fit best with Bedard. I would have guessed Martone based on that.

It's extra interesting because I dont see Utah needing Martone. Guenther, Tij, But, Josh Doan, and to a lesser extent Crouse are all kind of giving them that heavy shooting winger player already. Nashville kind of similar- I feel like both teams are definitely aiming for centres here.

Does Martone slip down to 6 or 7 then? Hard to see based on his stats this year and last. Kid is a machine.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Goalie Edition, Vol. 14):

LCG Mans Goos (6'5",190lbs)
Farjestad (J20): 24gp/ 11-12-0, 3.17 GAA, .893%

Giant goalie Mans Goos (ranked # 4 EU Goalies) regularly faces a high-volume of shots in Farjestad, many of which are of the high-danger variety- so it's not necessarily fair to judge him on his stats alone. He finds ways to stay focused, calm, and poised under a heavy workload, and makes a lot of high-pressure, highlight-reel stops. His game lacks polish, and he needs plenty of work to develop the finer points of his game. Goos participated in the most recent edition of the U-18 Worlds, getting three games in with Team Sweden, going 2-1-0, with a 3.86 GAA, and an .877 SV%, which aren't exactly stellar numbers, but teammate Love Harenstam didn't fare much better on a leaky Tre Kronor squad. Goos was given a handful of games on the bench with Farjestad's SHL team this season, and elevated his game in the playoffs for his J20 crew, even though it didn't result in a winning record, going 0-2-0, with a 2.80 GAA, and a .903 SV%. Goos (who is relatively young, with a May. 5th, 2007 birthday) is a behemoth goalie who relies a lot on his size and range, but also possesses above-average athleticism and sharp reflexes. He's still young, and quite raw, with many aspects of his game in need of refinement; he doesn't place enough of an emphasis on structure, or technical skill.

Goos' gigantic frame covers the net almost entirely, and his extra-long legs wall-off the bottom of the net when he's down in the butterfly. He's effective in taking away the top of the net as well, wielding a quick glove-hand that snags a ton of pucks out of the air, and a proficiency in deflecting the puck to the corner off of his blocker- he might be the best in this draft-class at that skill. His reaction-speed is no less than stellar, which helps him to excel against breakaways and close-in shots. His lateral movement from post-to-post is borderline explosive, facilitated by powerful t-pushes, but while he moves around his crease with reasonable speed, his footwork and coordination are a bit clunky and erratic. There is work to be done to refine his edgework going forward, in order to achieve the optimum output in his mobility and quickness. When recovering to his feet after being down in the butterfly, he's a touch slow and clumsy, particularly when making a second save. He rarely takes himself out of position in his slides across the crease though, or when darting laterally on his feet, and he never seems to overcommit- showing good control of his movements, and excellent balance for a tall goalie. Goos tracks the puck through traffic easily, processes the play at a high level, and anticipates well- he often seems to know where the puck is going, getting set proactively. He follows shots from distance all the way in to the save, and stays on top of the play behind his net.

With a lack of optimum structure in his game, there are exploitable holes in his stance and positioning; he fails to seal off his posts adequately, leaves corners exposed to sharp-angle shots, and doesn't cover his five-hole well-enough with proper stick-placement when darting laterally. Despite owning a virtually elite blocker, and a dexterous trapper, he has plenty of work to do in his rebound control- particularly off of his pads. There are times when he struggles with second-chance opportunities, being off-balance or out of position in making the first save. The team that drafts Goos will have a bit of a project on their hands, but gambling on him could pay huge dividends. He already has tons of raw skill that just need to harnessed- he has huge upside, with plenty of projectable tools. Look for him in the 4th, or 5th-round.

[Tkachukwagon]

Interesting…

https://twitter.com/user/status/1931359433264685352

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I asked a very pointed question this morning regarding the Flames Draft plan as there was chatter from Frank that was a bit cryptic when it came to the Flames and moving their pick.
Frank in the same sentence referenced teams willing to move their top 10 pick and then the Flames also willing to move back. Here's what I can share:

"Calgary has looked at many scenarios involving moving up, however the cost to do so almost always includes a 2026 1st. With that said there have been discussions surrounding players and prospects to get them into the top 10 but the cost is steep"

"Calgary has also fielded lots of calls about moving back & recouping additional picks" and so there's a lot of scenarios where Calgary may entertain this if their guy is not available at 18.


There's a lot of additional fluff but those were the 2 big takeaways.
The one thing I'll add is that there seems to be a significant variation after the top 3 and there could be a few guys that go way higher than the consensus projection in the 1st round.

That explains Utah potentially trading 4th OA away.

Is Hagens the guy people don’t like in the top 3, or is it Martone?

EDIT: Hard to see Utah moving 4th OA if Martone is there.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Draft Thoughts (Goalie Edition, Vol. 14):

LCG Mans Goos (6'5",190lbs)
Farjestad (J20): 24gp/ 11-12-0, 3.17 GAA, .893%

Giant goalie Mans Goos (ranked # 4 EU Goalies) regularly faces a high-volume of shots in Farjestad, many of which are of the high-danger variety- so it's not necessarily fair to judge him on his stats alone. He finds ways to stay focused, calm, and poised under a heavy workload, and makes a lot of high-pressure, highlight-reel stops. His game lacks polish, and he needs plenty of work to develop the finer points of his game. Goos participated in the most recent edition of the U-18 Worlds, getting three games in with Team Sweden, going 2-1-0, with a 3.86 GAA, and an .877 SV%, which aren't exactly stellar numbers, but teammate Love Harenstam didn't fare much better on a leaky Tre Kronor squad. Goos was given a handful of games on the bench with Farjestad's SHL team this season, and elevated his game in the playoffs for his J20 crew, even though it didn't result in a winning record, going 0-2-0, with a 2.80 GAA, and a .903 SV%. Goos (who is relatively young, with a May. 5th, 2007 birthday) is a behemoth goalie who relies a lot on his size and range, but also possesses above-average athleticism and sharp reflexes. He's still young, and quite raw, with many aspects of his game in need of refinement; he doesn't place enough of an emphasis on structure, or technical skill.

Goos' gigantic frame covers the net almost entirely, and his extra-long legs wall-off the bottom of the net when he's down in the butterfly. He's effective in taking away the top of the net as well, wielding a quick glove-hand that snags a ton of pucks out of the air, and a proficiency in deflecting the puck to the corner off of his blocker- he might be the best in this draft-class at that skill. His reaction-speed is no less than stellar, which helps him to excel against breakaways and close-in shots. His lateral movement from post-to-post is borderline explosive, facilitated by powerful t-pushes, but while he moves around his crease with reasonable speed, his footwork and coordination are a bit clunky and erratic. There is work to be done to refine his edgework going forward, in order to achieve the optimum output in his mobility and quickness. When recovering to his feet after being down in the butterfly, he's a touch slow and clumsy, particularly when making a second save. He rarely takes himself out of position in his slides across the crease though, or when darting laterally on his feet, and he never seems to overcommit- showing good control of his movements, and excellent balance for a tall goalie. Goos tracks the puck through traffic easily, processes the play at a high level, and anticipates well- he often seems to know where the puck is going, getting set proactively. He follows shots from distance all the way in to the save, and stays on top of the play behind his net.

With a lack of optimum structure in his game, there are exploitable holes in his stance and positioning; he fails to seal off his posts adequately, leaves corners exposed to sharp-angle shots, and doesn't cover his five-hole well-enough with proper stick-placement when darting laterally. Despite owning a virtually elite blocker, and a dexterous trapper, he has plenty of work to do in his rebound control- particularly off of his pads. There are times when he struggles with second-chance opportunities, being off-balance or out of position in making the first save. The team that drafts Goos will have a bit of a project on their hands, but gambling on him could pay huge dividends. He already has tons of raw skill that just need to harnessed- he has huge upside, with plenty of projectable tools. Look for him in the 4th, or 5th-round.

He’s has an amazing name!