2025 NHL Draft Thread

[cral12]

NEW

Upside Hockey's 2025 NHL Draft Rankings — Preseason Edition

- finally sprang for our own domain name (vs using URL shorteners - Upside Hockey dot com was indeed available)
- nearly 300 prospects already highlighted in our mammoth rankings spreadsheet with many sheets/tabs to explore as E-Mac continues to build up the database of draft eligibles
- also added a simpler, minimalist 1st round rankings only table (it's just before the main spreadsheet, so keep scrolling if that's the one you want
- lots of videos linked in the mammoth spreadsheet version
- all the player names line to Elite Prospects profiles - your one-stop shop for the draft!
- any comments, feedback, sharing appreciated

https://www.upsidehockey.com/nhl-dra...draft-rankings

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by cral12

NEW

Upside Hockey's 2025 NHL Draft Rankings — Preseason Edition

- finally sprang for our own domain name (vs using URL shorteners - Upside Hockey dot com was indeed available)
- nearly 300 prospects already highlighted in our mammoth rankings spreadsheet with many sheets/tabs to explore as E-Mac continues to build up the database of draft eligibles
- also added a simpler, minimalist 1st round rankings only table (it's just before the main spreadsheet, so keep scrolling if that's the one you want
- lots of videos linked in the mammoth spreadsheet version
- all the player names line to Elite Prospects profiles - your one-stop shop for the draft!
- any comments, feedback, sharing appreciated

https://www.upsidehockey.com/nhl-dra...draft-rankings

I gave a thanks for the hard work but I have to say I'm perplexed with Matthew Schaefer at 12

[sch19lks]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

I gave a thanks for the hard work but I have to say I'm perplexed with Matthew Schaefer at 12

I believe that was their July ranking

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by sch19lks

I believe that was their July ranking

Ahh I see, Not as much but I'm still perplexed with Schaefer at 6

[sch19lks]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Ahh I see, Not as much but I'm still perplexed with Schaefer at 6

Me too. He’s top 5, arguably top 3 for me. He’s gonna be a stud

[My2Cents]

My early preference is to get another stud D men. I am all for the 3-5 rebuild so this is still early stages. Get another defenceman with the top pick. Build from the blue line out and defenceman take longer to develop. Focus on the centers later in the draft and get the stud center the following year.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by My2Cents

My early preference is to get another stud D men. I am all for the 3-5 rebuild so this is still early stages. Get another defenceman with the top pick. Build from the blue line out and defenceman take longer to develop. Focus on the centers later in the draft and get the stud center the following year.

The early view is that this is a very weak draft for D particularly in the early part of the 1st.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by My2Cents

My early preference is to get another stud D men. I am all for the 3-5 rebuild so this is still early stages. Get another defenceman with the top pick. Build from the blue line out and defenceman take longer to develop. Focus on the centres later in the draft and get the stud centre the following year.

Take the BPA. That's likely a centre, unless out goaltending is better than expected. Not that I have any idea what to expect.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by My2Cents

My early preference is to get another stud D men. I am all for the 3-5 rebuild so this is still early stages. Get another defenceman with the top pick. Build from the blue line out and defenceman take longer to develop. Focus on the centers later in the draft and get the stud center the following year.

As a general rule, I like this line of thinking - build the defense first, then build outward.

However, the draft is the draft, and you should take what you're given - BPA. And along with BPA, you have to be aware of where your organization is. The Flames just drafted a defenseman that looks like he is going to be a stud. Great, but that alone isn't enough. However, they also just acquired another kid that is looking like a stud (better than anyone imagined at this point), as well as another young defenseman who is looking really good, and would be making the team as a 21 year old, if they didn't have so many NHL bodies. All in all, the Flames have a very deep prospect pool on defense, including some high-end talent.

Conversely, they do not have a single center in the organization, under the age of 30, that projects to be top 9. None. They need at least 3, and probably more than that. Generally, you shouldn't let position dictate your draft focus. But the Flames are very deep everywhere but C, literally have NO Cs, and this draft is full of high quality Cs.

Don't overthink it - accept that the draft is going to give us exactly what we need here.

[robertsfanatic]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Conversely, they do not have a single center in the organization, under the age of 30, that projects to be top 9. None.

agreed with everything you said completely except for this part - you don't think Zary could be a 3rd line center at worst?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by robertsfanatic

agreed with everything you said completely except for this part - you don't think Zary could be a 3rd line center at worst?

They are going to try him there, and maybe he'll show he can play C. But he looks at this point to be better suited on the wing, IMO.

If we had a full complement of Cs, do the Flames try and make Zary a C, or do they leave him at wing? I think he is a winger who they are trying to convert, because they need to, not a C who is currently playing wing.

I also think that strong teams have an abundance of Cs (some of whom are playing wing). The last Canadian Olympic team had something like 10 Cs at forward, IIRC. You can't have too many Cs. And we have none, save a couple conversion projects.

[cral12]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Ahh I see, Not as much but I'm still perplexed with Schaefer at 6

Thx, Snuff - yah noted it in the write up as well: "Patrolling the blueline, Matthew Schaefer is getting a lot of attention and might just be another to displace Hagens; he's already moved up from 12th to 6th overall from our Early Rankings."

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by cral12

Thx, Snuff - yah noted it in the write up as well: "Patrolling the blueline, Matthew Schaefer is getting a lot of attention and might just be another to displace Hagens; he's already moved up from 12th to 6th overall from our Early Rankings."

I noticed you have your own domain now. Congrats

[Samonadreau]

One of the top Centers or bust.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

One of the top Centers or bust.

I agree, I think we need to start building down the middle, ASAP. We could still use a big, stud top-pairing D though- all of our D prospects are six-footers...

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I agree, I think we need to start building down the middle, ASAP. We could still use a big, stud top-pairing D though- all of our D prospects are six-footers...

I know it's early, but how would you rank Hagens, Frondell, Ryabkin, McQueen and Misa in terms of ceiling?

The Flames don't just need a center. They need a someone who can be a top-line center, IMO.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

I know it's early, but how would you rank Hagens, Frondell, Ryabkin, McQueen and Misa in terms of ceiling?

The Flames don't just need a center. They need a someone who can be a top-line center, IMO.

Flames need centers of all kinds. Not just top line projected. It's a real time problem. Backs and Kadri are getting long in the teeth and by the time the next crop is ready theres still going to be a gap. In between.

I still think they need to get a center in trade middle sic C at the very least around the 23-26 year old mark.

[dammage79]

I've got the centers ranked:
Hagens
mcQueen
ryabkin
Frondell


Misa

Its super early yet though.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Isn’t Misa a winger.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Isn’t Misa a winger.

He plays C/LW.