2025 NHL Draft Thread

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Would be surprised if O’brien or bear or reschny were there in the twenties. Schmidt may or may not.

Bob's got Reschny @ 29, and given he's a part of the under-6' club, I'm feeling pretty confident we will have 2 shots to draft him. The under-6' guys are rarely climbers on draft day.

[cral12]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Bob's got Reschny @ 29, and given he's a part of the under-6' club, I'm feeling pretty confident we will have 2 shots to draft him. The under-6' guys are rarely climbers on draft day.

Our rankings guru Eldon MacDonald has him currently 36th in our just released rankings fwiw:
https://www.upsidehockey.com/nhl-dra...draft-rankings

[The Fonz]

Having 2 x 2nd rounders, we could potentially have 4 chances at him if he slips on draft day as smaller players often do.

[YyjFlames]

Reschny seems like a guy that Calgary will be all over. Hard working, 200 foot game, and he's all around the net even when he doesn't score. He's a little shorter, but he's not small and he's put on around 35 pounds since he was drafted into the WHL 2.5 years ago.

Might be that he's not putting up quite the numbers scouts expected, but Victoria's coach, James Patrick, seems to be focussing a lot on team defence and team support (which Calgary coaches). I could see Reschny exploding next year, while keeping his strong defensive game. Seems like he could be a steal.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by YyjFlames

Reschny seems like a guy that Calgary will be all over. Hard working, 200 foot game, and he's all around the net even when he doesn't score. He's a little shorter, but he's not small and he's put on around 35 pounds since he was drafted into the WHL 2.5 years ago.

Might be that he's not putting up quite the numbers scouts expected, but Victoria's coach, James Patrick, seems to be focussing a lot on team defence and team support (which Calgary coaches). I could see Reschny exploding next year, while keeping his strong defensive game. Seems like he could be a steal.

I keep saying Konecny, which as a late first round would be a great acquisition for the current team. Also a type of player the flames have apparently been interested in for years

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

I keep saying Konecny, which as a late first round would be a great acquisition for the current team. Also a type of player the flames have apparently been interested in for years

I think the Flyers see him as a key guy though.
Edit: I can't tell if you are saying if the Flames should use their late 1st to trade for Konecny or use it to draft a player that projects to be like him. Perhaps it's the latter.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Draft Thoughts (American Edition, Vol. 35):

RHC Mason West (6'6",208lbs)
Edina High (USHS-MN): 18gp/ 18g/ 14a/ 32pts, 8 PIM

When I read Mason West's name at #59 on Bob McKenzie's Mid-season list, and #50 for North American players on Central Scouting's midterm rankings, I had to find whatever I could on this kid- and I was able to watch two of his games from this season with Edina High, who were the 2024 Minnesota State High School Class AA Champions. West is also being scouted by some Div.1 Football teams, and has received some scholarship offers; he is a QB who led Edina to the Class AAAAAA Final, with close to a 66% completion rate for 2,625 yards and 28 touchdowns. Mason West, the hockey player, is the highest-rated High School hockey player so far for this summer's draft, and while it's difficult to get a read on prospects at that level, it's quite obvious that he's an amazing athlete- and a winner.

West is quite hard to miss, as he looks like a moving skyscraper compared to most of his peers, but he's also a remarkable skater for his size with a powerful stride on long legs and a deep knee bend; he is fast enough to catch up to streaking opponents and pick their pockets with a stick-lift. His edges and agility are smooth as well, with the ability to pivot rather quickly and change direction seamlessly. Though he can make plays at the High School level, it's a good bet that his calling-card will always be his shot and his finishing ability. He can fire off a pretty hard and heavy shot while skating full-tilt, and is a very inside-driven player- he constantly drives the net, and is often spotted patrolling the slot waiting for chances. As he displayed in a game against Wyzata, he has excellent hand-eye coordination to tip in shots from the point, and on his second goal, he gained entry, hit the trailer with a short pass, got the puck pack, and then showed off his hands by scoring far-side, high-glove from the high-slot. Edina uses him on the point while on the PP, and he is often out there for almost the full two minutes. He's a good QB in football, and he brings that mindset to man-advantage scenarios on the ice, showing good passing skill and vision, with crisp and hard feeds that he get through small spaces in traffic. He likes running the play from the half-wall, as he can be pressured into mistakes and giveaways on the point. In all situations, he shows sound positional awareness and always skates with his head up to scan his surroundings to find open space to get to high-danger areas. West's stickhandling isn't anything too special, but his puck-protection makes it difficult to strip the puck from him, as he handles well outside the reach of defenders. In the games I watched, he made a high number of seamless entries.

West supports teammates in puck-battles, and employs some proactive tactics in defensive situations, such as tying up an attackers' stick before the puck arrives. He takes away the middle of the ice effectively with his enormous range, blocking lanes, picking off passes, and removing time and space with his reach. He does much of the same in the neutral zone, and he can kill rushes by covering huge swaths of ice with his wingspan and his skating. I noticed plenty of times where he was staying too high in the defensive zone though, and even leaving early, in anticipation of the breakout. West displays good leadership with the way he is often seen directing traffic, but he needs to stop tapping his stick on the ice so much to call for a pass- he needs plenty of work on his faceoffs as well, as he didn't seem to be having a lot of success against High School players on the dot. I was a bit disappointed by his physical involvement in the first game I watched, although he threw a hit or two to dislodge the puck, pinned multiple opponents to the boards, and used his size as leverage to win positioning and make room for himself. I was happier with the second game I took in, as he was much more physical and made his presence felt. Still, he conducts a lot of his business with sound positioning, enormous range, and a smart stick. Look for him in the 3rd, or 4th-round of the draft.

Gee.. reading this totally reminded me so much of George Pelawa. Going to keep tabs on this kid from now on.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Would be surprised if O’brien or bear or reschny were there in the twenties. Schmidt may or may not.

If those guys are gone my guess would be Nesbitt, Martin, zonnon would probably be the guys the flames would be interested in. Nesbitt for me seems to have middle six c potential.

Bear has to be there. Are there any other animals in this draft? I want a lineup of all animal last names.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Bear has to be there. Are there any other animals in this draft? I want a lineup of all animal last names.

still sad we didn't draft Carson Rehkopf. Literally means Deerhead in German

[Sandman]

From now on, he shall be known as “Carson Deerhead”.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Sandman

From now on, he shall be known as “Carson Deerhead”.

Sounds violent.

First, headlights on car.
Then deer in headlights.
Then car's on deer head.
Ouch.

[kirant]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Gee.. reading this totally reminded me so much of George Pelawa. Going to keep tabs on this kid from now on.

As a more recent example, he also sounds a lot like Anders Lee: A two-sport forward who seems to be leaning to hockey over football. And, as a QB, the skills that let you muscle through tackles lets you push to the inside of the ice and fire off a shot.

I think he was even an Edina High player too.

Lee got to the NHL through exemplary work ethic. If West has the same mentality, he'd be an excellent player to pick up in the middle rounds.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by kirant

As a more recent example, he also sounds a lot like Anders Lee: A two-sport forward who seems to be leaning to hockey over football. And, as a QB, the skills that let you muscle through tackles lets you push to the inside of the ice and fire off a shot.

I think he was even an Edina High player too.

Lee got to the NHL through exemplary work ethic. If West has the same mentality, he'd be an excellent player to pick up in the middle rounds.

If I remember correctly, it was West's coach at Edina who also compared him to Anders Lee. Good call.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Monster Edition, Vol. 1):

LHC Matthew Gard (6'5",192lbs)
Red Deer (WHL): 46gp/ 10g/ 13a/ 23pts, -4, 50 PIM

The Red Deer Rebels are 17th out of 22 teams in the WHL, and only 1 team in the entire CHL (The Halifax Mooseheads) has scored less goals than their 115 tallies in 47 games to date. Scouts know that Rebels' center Matthew Gard is a far better player than his stats suggest, and would have much better numbers on a better club; he is ranked #52 by Bob McKenzie, and is #42 (NA Skaters) in Central Scouting's Midterm list. Gard is an underrated offensive contributor, as he does exhibit some creativity, as well as solid vision and hockey sense, but the team that he plays for drags down his numbers. Even without shiny offensive stats, Gard is a big power-forward who focuses on being a stalwart defensive player, and excels in that role.

Gard is a fairly straight-line player, and not very dynamic, but he's skilled and smart, and reliable in all three zones. He has flashes of high-end play-creation with acute passing skill that allows him to connect with teammates through layers of traffic on occasion. He has a keen knowledge of how to manipulate opponents through deception, and also how to bait them with the puck- drawing them in to manufacture open space elsewhere. He plays a physical game, going heavy on the forecheck in finishing his checks, causing havoc, and dominating in the greasy areas. Gard's skating is around average, but it's fluid, and will improve as he gets stronger; he can still beat defenders wide at times, occasionally separate in open ice, and win races to loose pucks. Defensively, he's a positionally sound, impactful sentry who reads his opponents remarkably well and plays a detailed game. With his enormous range and active stick, aided by his solid awareness and anticipation, he forces turnovers and takes away the middle of the ice from attackers. He will support his D down low, and provide a helping hand to teammates in winning puck-battles. Off the puck, he's intelligent, and always puts himself in good position to give his teammates short passing options, or to connect plays. Gard exhibits solid puck-protection to skate through checks and decent hands for stickhandling, making him a sound contributor to transition- but he prefers to pre-scan on the rush to work the give-and-go through the neutral zone. On the powerplay, he is usually stationed in front of the net, but he will also attack the crease in 5-on-5 situations to battle for position, bang in loose pucks, and cash in on tips and rebounds. Gard is also an excellent faceoff performer.

Though Gard has an excellent work-ethic and good motor, there are some who say he needs to learn to play with better pace. Improvements must be made to his offensive game, and he needs more power in his shot, but most importantly- he has to upgrade his skating a notch or two for the next level. If he can do that, he'll be a force- but even still, he might be suited more for 3rd-line defensive duty in the NHL, with the hope for more. Look for him in the 2nd-round. I'm a fan.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Monster Edition, Vol. 2):

RHC Hayden Paupanekis (6'4",198lbs)
Spokane (WHL): 39gp/ 11g/ 13a/ 24pts, -2, 29 PIM
Kelowna (WHL): 7gp/ 6g/ 4a/ 10pts, +1, 6 PIM

Righty Hayden Paupanekis played most of the season behind some talented players on a Spokane Chiefs squad who sit in 4th-place in the WHL, but has popped with more ice-time on the Kelowna Rockets- who are 18th out of 22 teams and 14th in goals-for. He is a big power-forward with a tantalizing base of tools, but is much more potential than finished product at this point. Paupanekis skates well for a big man, with sound fluidity and mechanics, but fairly average speed- his mobility will improve as he develops though, and his stride is considered projectable. His main weapons are probably his shot, and his ability to finish; he can fire off the catch with a hard and heavy wrister, but he will also crash the crease to pick up garbage. He positions himself well off-puck in danger areas as a pass option, and is inside-driven- with the ability to use defenders as screens. He plays well around the net, with nifty cross-crease passing, and connects on some smart low-to-high plays.

Paupanekis forechecks hard and heavy, disrupting puck-carriers and winning puck-battles down low- he's a load to handle. He sometimes flashes high-end skill and vision, and can surprise opponents with some of the more high-end passes through bodies; he knows how to draw pressure in order to open space, and makes dangerous passes off the wall to the slot. There's also signs of a skillful delay game, showing the patience to bait attackers while waiting for the right play to develop, and he manipulates by deceiving defenders with deft fakes in the head and feet, and shifts in weight. When carrying the puck, his handling doesn't look too fancy, but he employs superb puck protection and keeps his feet moving when taking contact to bull his way through checks, skate through hands, and to draw penalties. He's hard-working and stays active, and contributes to his team's transition by challenging his foes while streaking through the neutral zone, and can make entry by pass or by carry. Paupanekis plays a physical game, initiating contact early and often and using his size as leverage in puck battles, or to win positioning in front of the net. He doesn't drop the gloves often, but when he does, he shows that he's a tough kid who can fight. Defensively, he's effective in identifying threats early to thwart the oncoming rush, and keeps attackers to the outside. He's very disruptive and detailed, with plus-level defensive acumen, and his extra-long reach clogs up huge chunks of ice when combined with his deft stick-work. He supports his D down low, and throws his weight around to separate man from puck.

Despite this glowing review, Paupanekis is still quite raw, and will need some runway to develop. He needs to bulk up and get stronger, work on his skating, and learn to play with a more consistent level of pace. He's certainly not perfect or mistake-free, as he makes his share of forced plays and fumbles- he could stand to upgrade his puck-skills. His floor is that of a bottom-6 defensive C in the NHL, but he promises a lot more- especially since he's been with Kelowna. He's another one I like- look for him in the 2nd-round.

[WideReceiver]

Chinese-born Simon Wang is projected to make HISTORY in the upcoming draft.

Wang, who was born in Beijing, grew up playing hockey in China before moving to Canada as a teen. The 6-foot-6, 210-pound defenceman was recently projected by Bob McKenzie to be selected 31st overall. Currently, the highest draft pick of a Chinese-born player is 109th. That was Kevin He by Winnipeg last draft.

Let the jokes fly.

[Enoch Root]

Wang = big
big = good

[The Fonz]

Big wang = even better

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Monster Edition, Vol. 3):

LHC Jack Nesbitt (6'4",183lbs)
Windsor (OHL): 46gp/ 17g/ 25a/ 42pts, +11, 25 PIM

Jack Nesbitt is a big, gritty power-forward with NHL-projectable qualities who plays with energy, high-motor, and physicality. He flashes high-end playmaking and passing skill, and can see through layers of coverage to connect with teammates, but he also has a hard shot that he can fire off the catch along with a bomb of a one-timer. Though he's not a natural goal-scorer, he has the innate capacity to sniff out open spaces in high-danger to relocate to in order to get his chances- he likes the give-and-go to create seams, and he will dish off in order to power his way through coverage to the net. He's inside-driven, forechecks hard to suffocate opponents on retrievals, and he explodes off the boards to the middle with the puck; he is also capable of passing off the wall into the slot with speed and accuracy. Nesbitt goes to the net hard, and will battle for positioning while screening the goalie. He wins battles down-low, and makes quality plays around the crease with soft hands for finishing in-tight.

Skating-wise, Nesbitt is more or less average, but his skill in this area is projectable enough as he moves around rather fluidly with smooth mechanics on a long stride- still, his mobility will require some work. Nesbitt's stickhandling looks seamless, and enables him to skate some dynamic routes through transition that end up in clean, controlled entries, but some say his puck-control causes issues with his playmaking as he needs to keep one eye on the puck- which diminishes his ability to scan his options properly. There's still a good amount of manipulation by deception in his repertoire, and he's able to protect the puck well enough to barge through checks, while handling around sticks and out of the reach of his opponents. There's also flashes of surprising small-area skill, showing the ability to beat attackers (and goalies) 1-on-1. Nesbitt employs physicality, and is even a bit mean at times, but he's smart about it in the sense that he doesn't seem to take himself out of the play, doesn't overcommit when going for big hits, and doesn't take many unnecessary penalties. Still, he will not hesitate to rub an opponent out along the boards, or level an attacker in open-ice, and he will drop the gloves when challenged. Off the puck, he shows intelligence in all areas- by supporting the play, skating routes that open ice for teammates, getting open at the right time, and even by directing traffic at times.

Nesbitt might have a low NHL-floor because he displays a responsible defensive game, and he reads the play quite well from a defensive standpoint. He exerts his enormous range to cut off huge tracts of ice that are difficult for oncoming rushes to pass through, and he shows impeccable awareness in eliminating secondary threats. He covers a ton of ground in the defensive zone by pressuring the point, to denying chances in the slot, to helping his D down low, and he forces his prey to the outside- thereby taking away the middle from them. There's proactiveness in the way he lifts sticks, pins down threats, and gets inside on his opponents before the puck even arrives, and his positioning is usually immaculate. It could be said that Nesbitt benefits a lot from all of the talent he has around him in Windsor (Liam Greentree for example), but they also are better by having his presence in the lineup. If he can keep up his scoring numbers for the rest of the year, we could see him get picked in the late first round, or early second- he's a beauty.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Monster Edition, Vol. 4):

RW Vaclav Nestrasil (6'5",190)
Muskegon (USHL): 38gp/ 12g/ 15a/ 27pts,-3, 14 PIM

What makes Vaclav Nestrasil good enough to be ranked # 60 by Bob McKenzie, and # 46 (NA Skaters) by Central Scouting? Well, he's got the tantalizing mix of enormous size combined with shockingly good mobility that makes scouts drool. He may not be getting the most out of his stride, as it's still a bit choppy and short, but he moves very well with the ability to push supreme pace, and win races to loose pucks- it's quite a treat to watch. To augment his speed, he keeps his feet moving, tapping into his high workrate and tireless motor. His speed and pace make him intimidating off the rush, driving defensemen back while he gains the zone, and delays to wait for the play to develop. Transition is where Nestrasil shows the most value, and it's breathtaking how he drives the middle of the neutral zone, showing off his magnificent small-area passing-skill in connecting plays through give-and-go's. He handles quite well, and his puck-protection is superb- enabling him to power through checks along the boards, while making room for himself with a myriad of dekes and feints. He also understands how to draw attention, in order to open space to pass through.

Nestrasil is really starting to put it together in Muskegon, with 11 points in his last 10 games, to tie him for 31st in USHL scoring, and 7th for U-18 players in that league. He isn't the biggest goal-scorer, but he can rip a puck, and he's very inside-driven, with no fear in crashing the net to finish in-tight- he's an intimidating net-front presence. He skates with his head up to map out his surroundings, and finds his teammates in the slot; there's flashes of high-end skill and play-creation, and he's not at all afraid to attempt to make some of the more complex plays that he thinks up, even if a lot of those attempts don't work out. There's good ideas there that his abilities and timing need to catch up to. His hockey sense is well-developed, with good skill and an intelligent, detailed off-puck game; he can sneak his way into open space in high-danger areas, and arrives in the slot at the exact right time. Nestrasil uses his size well- imposing himself down-low, dominating along the wall, and flying in hard and heavy on the forecheck to disrupt and dislodge pucks. He's quite physical and a little violent at times, hitting his prey early and often, but doesn't take too many penalties in the course of these actions- he's smart and controlled. He uses his body as leverage in battles at the net-front and in retrievals, and wins inside position on attackers.

In the neutral zone, Nestrasil holds tremendous value in transition, but he also shows the smarts to proactively cut off plays defensively before they enter the zone, using his enormous range and well-timed stick to create pressure on puck-carriers, and sealing off entries with his body. He hounds puck-carriers in the zone, and keeps them to the outside, and he will support his D down low- even covering for them if they have to leave their post. Nestrasil is engaged and hard-working in his own zone, but will have a high ceiling if he can keep growing his offensive game, and start turning his "ideas" into goals for his team more often. This kid has big upside, and I think the best is yet to come. He is committed to UMass for the 2026-27 season, and may hear his name called in the 2nd, or 3rd-round of this summer's draft.