2025 NHL Draft Thread

[iloveicedhockey]

Thanks for the responses, all. I will add these to my want list for draft weekend, along with phillipe veilleux.

[sureLoss]

Scott Wheeler has a great write up (paywall):
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/639...shared_article

He surveyed 16 NHL scouts to ask them the following:

• Who do you like best and least from this group of defensemen: Radim Mrtka, Kashawn Aitcheson, Jackson Smith, Cameron Reid, Logan Hensler, Blake Fiddler, Sascha Boumedienne
• Based on what you know about Roger McQueen’s back, would you personally feel comfortable taking him in the top 10?
• Where would you rank Ivan Ryabkin on talent, and where would you consider actually taking him?

For the D, Mrtka seems to be well liked by the scouts. While least liked is a bit all over the place.

Seems like participating and interviews at the combine have given scouts a bit more confidence to take McQueen top 10 but some scouts still said they wouldn't take him top 10.

As for Ryabkin, based on talent alone those most scouts familiar with him and do not have him as "do not draft" think he is a 1st/2nd round pick but would wait till 3rd round or later to take him when you factor in the red flags. While a few still said they would take him late 1st or early 2nd.

[SuperMatt18]

I'd have no issue if the Flames took Ryabkin at 32 (depending who else is there).

Because he's the type of HR swing they need to take even if it's risky.

[devo22]

it's things like these that make Wheeler my favourite draft expert. Always interesting stuff.

[Tkachukwagon]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1936046677397262574

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Tkachukwagon

https://twitter.com/user/status/1936046677397262574

Was talking to my kid about this yesterday. Seems like a good indicator of a weak draft is when you have a number of goaltenders projected to go in the. Top two rounds, which appears to be the case with this draft.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Scott Wheeler has a great write up (paywall):
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/639...shared_article

He surveyed 16 NHL scouts to ask them the following:

• Who do you like best and least from this group of defensemen: Radim Mrtka, Kashawn Aitcheson, Jackson Smith, Cameron Reid, Logan Hensler, Blake Fiddler, Sascha Boumedienne
• Based on what you know about Roger McQueen’s back, would you personally feel comfortable taking him in the top 10?
• Where would you rank Ivan Ryabkin on talent, and where would you consider actually taking him?

For the D, Mrtka seems to be well liked by the scouts. While least liked is a bit all over the place.

Seems like participating and interviews at the combine have given scouts a bit more confidence to take McQueen top 10 but some scouts still said they wouldn't take him top 10.

As for Ryabkin, based on talent alone those most scouts familiar with him and do not have him as "do not draft" think he is a 1st/2nd round pick but would wait till 3rd round or later to take him when you factor in the red flags. While a few still said they would take him late 1st or early 2nd.

Could you elaborate on the rest of the dman question? Nevermind, I just got an athletic subscription. Very long article so hard to put here. I thought it would be a paragraph. Most seem to think Smith is the best.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Tkachukwagon

https://twitter.com/user/status/1936046677397262574

Nashville has had success with a smaller goalie in Saros. Wouldn't be surprised if they took a flyer on Ivankovic.

[Bingo]

Ellis updated ranking ...

1	M Schaefer	D	1.16

2	Michael Misa	C	2.11

3	James Hagens	C	4.00
4	Porter Martone	RW	4.42
5	Anton Frondell	C	5.21

6	C Desnoyers	C	6.16

7	Victor Eklund	LW	8.47
8	Jake O’Brien	C	9.21

9	Radim Mrtka	D	11.32
10	Brady Martin	C	11.58
11	Roger McQueen	C	11.68
12	Jackson Smith	D	11.95

13	Carter Bear	C	14.32

14	K Aitcheson	D	16.56
15	Braeden Cootes	C	17.61
16	J Carbonneau	RW	17.68
17	Lynden Lakovic	LW	18.11

18	Cole Reschny	C	19.95
19	Logan Hensler	D	20.79
20	Malcolm Spence	LW	20.83
21	Cameron Reid	D	21.00
22	Benjamin Kindel	RW	22.11

23	Cullen Potter	C	23.44

24	J Ravensbergen	G	26.31
25	Jack Nesbitt	C	26.88
26	Blake Fiddler	D	27.67
27	Bill Zonnon	Lw	27.72
28	S Boumedienne	D	28.21
29	Cam Schmidt	RW	29.00
30	Milton Gästrin	C	29.94
31	Ivan Ryabkin	C	32.06
32	Jack Murtagh	C	33.00
33	J Ihs-Wozniak	RW	33.81
34	William Moore	C	34.23

[D as in David]

Only seven more days! Should be lots of activity over the coming week.

[cral12]

Upside Update:
- getting some great exposure and feedback on our extensive resource that is our Final Rankings...
- working on our Final Mock Draft which can then subsequently be mocked
- hoping to release our digital/PDF Draft Guide this weekend (with a nice CP discount which equate to a former Flames jersey number. Stay tuned.)

Stay cool, CPers.

[JTech780]

Just putting this out there, but two of my favourite picks at 18, are Braeden Cootes and Bill Zonnon, and they came in 2nd and 1st in pull ups at the combine with 15 and 16.
So I m pretty sure that means that they will turn out significantly better than Sam Bennett.

[The Original FFIV]

Gonna put this in the draft chat

There is so much vanilla in this draft A lot of people trying to fix the center position with our 18 and 32 picks. I can’t see what is available fixing our need at C in this draft. Lots of middle six guys which may end up being third liners, which you can find in free agency.

I hope that Conny sees it the same way. Been thinking about this approach. Trade 18th down and a late first and hopefully a pick in the second. Then swing for the fences with the highest end skilled forward with our late firsts. If they don’t work out, take a comp 2nd round pick in 2027. And swing for the fences with the seconds we have (and hopefully accumulate).

It’s been said recently that safe is dead. This is the draft to take some wild chances.

[Icon]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Gonna put this in the draft chat

There is so much vanilla in this draft A lot of people trying to fix the center position with our 18 and 32 picks. I can’t see what is available fixing our need at C in this draft. Lots of middle six guys which may end up being third liners, which you can find in free agency.

I hope that Conny sees it the same way. Been thinking about this approach. Trade 18th down and a late first and hopefully a pick in the second. Then swing for the fences with the highest end skilled forward with our late firsts. If they don’t work out, take a comp 2nd round pick in 2027. And swing for the fences with the seconds we have (and hopefully accumulate).

It’s been said recently that safe is dead. This is the draft to take some wild chances.

Don't disagree with the idea of swinging for the fences. But if they do, trade down at 18 for a later 1st and a 2nd and pick Ryabkin as one of the picks.

That's about the best option for the swing for the fences pick while still covering your ass.

That said, I'd rather we trade up than down.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Gonna put this in the draft chat

There is so much vanilla in this draft A lot of people trying to fix the center position with our 18 and 32 picks. I can’t see what is available fixing our need at C in this draft. Lots of middle six guys which may end up being third liners, which you can find in free agency.

I hope that Conny sees it the same way. Been thinking about this approach. Trade 18th down and a late first and hopefully a pick in the second. Then swing for the fences with the highest end skilled forward with our late firsts. If they don’t work out, take a comp 2nd round pick in 2027. And swing for the fences with the seconds we have (and hopefully accumulate).

It’s been said recently that safe is dead. This is the draft to take some wild chances.

I'm not opposed to that, but in this draft as you move into the late 1st you don't necessarily find more upside. You have less upside, for the most part, and more risk.

The guys you are picking in the teens already have a lot of risk.

So you may be best to swing for the fences there.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I'm not opposed to that, but in this draft as you move into the late 1st you don't necessarily find more upside. You have less upside, for the most part, and more risk.

The guys you are picking in the teens already have a lot of risk.

So you may be best to swing for the fences there.

Risk is relative. There are some big burgeoning power forwards that I would love for us to take. And a guy like Ryker Evans. He figures his skating out in college and he could be a find. And if they don’t work out, try again with thr seconds in a couple years time.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Risk is relative. There are some big burgeoning power forwards that I would love for us to take. And a guy like Ryker Evans. He figures his skating out in college and he could be a find. And if they don’t work out, try again with thr seconds in a couple years time.

Ryker Lee? I agree, he could be a steal.

[dissentowner]

My top 5 hopeful picks that could be realistic for Calgary although some are going to require moving up.

1. McQueen - willing to risk the back issues for his ceiling. Would have to trade up.

2. Ben Kindel - My pick for the steal of the draft, his skating is smooth and his agility and edge work are top notch but he needs to get faster. Plays bigger than his size and can win faceoffs. He can play C or W in the NHL.

3. Kashawn Aitcheson - a LD that punishes opposition and makes crisp passes. Has a bomb for a shot. Would have to trade up.

4. Cole Reschny - Just a solid C, really athletic and has a very good 200 foot game. Don't see him having the offensive upside of Kindel but would be a solid 2nd line C down the road imo.

5. Cameron Reid LD - Reid is a fantastic two way D prospect who skates really well. Just a great athlete that fills a hole we need. Not the biggest guy at 6'0 190lbd right now but he is going to be a top 4 D in the NHL, no doubt.

[DropIt]

Rasmus and 18 to go get Brady Martin

Or take
-Aitcheson, Cootes, Lakovic at 18
-Horcoff, Ihs-Wozniak, Murtagh at 32

[Sandman]

Believe me, I would be ecstatic if we got Brady Martin, but he’s going top-10, maybe top-5, and we don’t have the assets to aquire him- unless we want to give up Parekh or Wolf.