2025 NHL Draft Thread

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by dammage79

McQueen at wherever the Flames pick is totally worth the gamble. I still think like Lindstrom last year, the size and skating package keeps him locked in the top 10 . Add in a RHS and it's a certainty.

He hasn't played a game since, and McQueen hasn't either. Some big red flags.

Back injuries for big guys like that, and that early can linger forever. Especially big ones who you want to protect the puck that will be taking some crosschecks.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Lindstrom had back surgery in November and just started skating in the last week or so. He likely does not play this season

Yikes.

What about McQueen, is he expected back at any point this season?

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Yikes.

What about McQueen, is he expected back at any point this season?

Should be back in 2 weeks. He had a 6 week setback.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

And yet Lindstrom has now missed an entire season of development. Even for high end prospects that can sewer their entire career. Pass.

Cool, I get it. But we don't make the picks do we. MCQueen below pick 15 is worth the gamble. Unless it's known his injury is career threatening. Which it isn't right now.

[devo22]

we're picking in the 20s (as of now) ... if McQueen happened to slide that far (he won't), you race to the podium. Especially since we're double dipping in the second half of the first round. Easily worth the risk.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by devo22

we're picking in the 20s (as of now) ... if McQueen happened to slide that far (he won't), you race to the podium. Especially since we're double dipping in the second half of the first round. Easily worth the risk.

I guess you could look at it as a gamble worth taking. At that point in the draft, let’s say you have a 60-70% chance of any other player being a regular NHLer but a really low chance (say 5%) of that player turning into a star player in the league… and let’s say it’s an even lower chance of that player becoming a #1 center (say 1%). With a boom/bust prospect like McQueen, it might skew the percentages to something like this:

40% chance he’s a regular NHLer
15% chance he’s a star player
5% chance he’s a #1 center.

Increased odds with his injuries that he may never become an NHLer at all but, in the event he recovers properly from his injuries and he gets his development back on track, he might have a better chance than most players picked in that range of becoming a star player or even a #1 center.

You imagine there will also be some really safe prospects in that range whose odds of becoming a regular NHLer are closer to 80% but their chances of ever being a star player are more like 2%.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Finnish Edition, Vol. 2):

LD Jesper Kotajarvi (6'0",179lbs)
Tappara (U20): 24gp/ 5g/ 5a/ 10pts, +4, 38 PIM
Tappara (Liiga): 12gp/ 1g/ 0a/ 1pt, -2, 2 PIM

Defenseman Jesper Kotajarvi (ranked #32 for EU Skaters by Central Scouting) has been playing tag with fellow blueliner Lasse Boelius for who will be the top player out of Finland in the 2025 Draft, which might not be saying much for the state of hockey in that country. There's plenty of reason to believe though, that Kotajarvi is a much better offensive performer than his numbers show this season, as his 0.62 ppg in 2023-24 (23 points in 37 games) eclipse his 0.42 ppg from this year by a fair margin, and he has produced at every level he's played- he even had 4 games in the Mestis (Finland's second-tier Men's league) when he was just 15 years-old. Kotajarvi can play the right-side seamlessly, and he is an excellent skater who pushes pace and plays aggressively, with the speed to separate in open ice. He is slippery and elusive on his edges, giving him superb agility and lateral quickness to sidestep checks, and he can slip through contact with quick turns and cuts. He is an expert puckhandler who maintains control through traffic when under pressure, and doesn't slow down when in possession. Despite being below average in size for a rearguard, his puck-protection is exceptional.

Deception is a huge part of Kotajarvi's game, and he employs every feint imaginable to make room to move, including head-fakes, look-offs, toe-drags, and dekes, as well as changes in pace and direction, and shifts of weight in his stride. Cut-backs and delays are a way for him to create room for teammates, as well as himself, by drawing pressure to open space for distribution. He is a high-value transitional player, and can drive possession via pass or carry through controlled exits and entries; he can rush the puck through the neutral zone by himself while maneuvering through defenders with slick one-on-one expertise. He's a highly-skilled puck-mover, and can lead the rush from defense to offense, showing calmness and poise through his smooth retrievals to his deft breakout passes. With his team installed in the zone, he displays deception in walking the line to pry open passing seams, and exhibits a high level of vision and creativity on his smart passes. He's quite aggressive in activating in on the weak side for high-danger opportunities, and he will pinch up the boards to pass to the slot. There's a high-risk, high-reward factor in his offensive zone play, as sometimes mistakes can be made with the chances he takes.

Kotajarvi may not be the most physical player, but he finishes his checks, and will lower the boom once in a while with a bone-rattling hit. He is competitive and doesn't shy away from the rough stuff- he battles for loose pucks in all of the greasy areas, and 38 PIM in 24 games shows he's not gentle about it. Defensively, he shows good habits and a high workrate, but his details are lacking a bit, and I don't think he's making 100% of the stops he should be making. He's solid in his own zone positioning-wise, but sometimes has difficulty handling bigger players in front of his net. His gaps are tight, and he plays well against the rush in an effort to kill plays in the neutral zone, with excellent angling on the strength of a well-timed, active stick. I would go out on a limb to suggest that Kotajarvi may have a higher ceiling than Boelius, despite his rather poor stats, but he's a riskier pick in my view. Look for him in the third-round.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Finnish Edition, Vol. 3):

LW Max Westergard (5'11",163lbs)
Frolunda (J20): 38gp/ 18g/ 30a/ 48pts, +34, 60 PIM

Max Westergard, the 66th-ranked EU Skater by Central Scouting, is one of the youngest players in the 2025 Draft-class with a Sept.3, 2007 birthday, and though he plays in Sweden, he actually hails from Tampere, Finland. With 3 goals in 4 games, he was a standout in last summer's Hlinka-Gretzky Cup for Team Finland, and is currently 4th in scoring for U-18 players in Sweden's J20 league. Westergard, who can play center when needed, is a strong skater who plays at a high pace, and owns smooth edges and agility to outmaneuver attackers. Despite his size, he plays like a 6'2" power-forward, driving the net hard, taking contact to make a play, battling along the boards and in the corners for loose pucks, winning position in front of the net, and he will drop a shoulder and lean into a defender to power his way to the net. He's not a big hitter, but doesn't shy away from the rough stuff, and he will push opponents off the puck- he's all hustle and heart. Westergard displays good hockey sense and vision, with strong awareness of what is happening around him. He positions himself advantageously off-puck in high-danger to be open, and likes to lurk in the slot for chances. He knows where to be, and locates gaps in coverage to fill in order to get good looks.

Westergard is a playmaker first and foremost, and can see his teammates through layers of traffic- he reads the ice well, and can spot passing seams that few others can see. He uses this skill well when in close proximity of the net, with a penchant for connecting on threatening cross-ice feeds, and making low-to-high plays from below the goal-line. Most of his goals are scored in-tight as well, usually from within 10-15 feet of the net; he has soft hands to beat goalies 1-on-1, sharp hand-eye coordination for tips, good reflexes to finish second-chance opportunities, and a willingness to take abuse in front of the net. His shot is reasonably hard and heavy, his release is quick and deceptive, and he can score from any angle. Those same hands are also useful in terms of his solid puck-control; he can deke and dangle through defenders with deception, and employs good use of his frame to protect the puck. Westergard is aggressive and disruptive on the forecheck, and excels in transition with his passing, skating, and maneuverability to create clean entries- either by carrying, or by connecting plays through the neutral zone. He is just as hard-working and combative on the backcheck, exhibiting sound positioning and anticipation to kill plays and clog lanes. He's a puck-hound in all three zones who frustrates the competition with his intensity and high compete. There are times however, when he gets caught cheating for offense by leaving the zone early, so has to learn to be more controlled.

There are some who say that Westergard is propped up somewhat by his frequent linemate, 2026 Draft-eligible phenom Ivar Stenberg, but he has looked just fine in international competition without the luxury of playing alongside him. It is true though, that Westergard isn't really a play-driver, but rather a complimentary winger that feeds off of his linemates, but we all know that you need to be good to ride shotgun with the high-end players on your team. The real worry here is that if he doesn't make it in a top-6 role in the NHL, he may not have the defensive chops to be a bottom-6 checker. Westergard needs to polish his passing execution and timing, as he often tries to force plays that aren't there, and his decision-making needs some improvement for the next level. There's also a need for him to get faster and stronger, and work on the power of his shot. Look for him in the 3rd-round.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Finnish Edition, Vol. 4):

LHC Atte Joki (6'1",190lbs)
Lukko (U20): 35gp/ 11g/ 16a/ 27pts, +11, 4 PIM

Center Atte Joki (ranked #20 for EU Skaters by Central Scouting) was Finland's leading scorer in last summer's Hlinka-Gretzky Cup with 2 goals and 5 points in 4 games, but before anyone gets excited- 4 of those points came in one game against the Swiss. Joki has no real standout traits- he's one of those players who is good at everything, but not exceptional in any area. He's a high-energy, high-compete pivot with endless tenacity and a solid 200-ft game, and he's currently 3rd in scoring for U-18 players in the U20 league. Joki never gives up on a play, putting in second and third-efforts, with his size and strength being one of the pillars of his game. He uses his body to his advantage whenever he can to cause havoc and win battles along the boards, and in the corners- he's a load to handle down low, and is hard to deal with around the crease. Joki throws his weight around, and can levy some big open-ice hits.

Unfortunately, Joki's skating is average at best, and limits his effectiveness in making entries, chasing down loose pucks, or separating from checkers in open ice. The mechanics of his stride are sound though, and he compensates somewhat with his workrate, but needs to vastly increase his lower-body strength. Despite the deficiencies in his speed, he protects the puck well by shielding it with his body and handling outside the reach of would-be checkers, exhibiting good puck-control. This skill helps him to carry through the neutral zone in transition, while pushing his way through contact. Joki positions himself in front of the net to finish plays with his soft hands, winning position and taking abuse in the process. He uses his frame as leverage to barge his way through traffic to the slot, lean in to defenders to cut to the net, or to crash the crease for rebounds and tips. He causes havoc in the blue-paint, and drives goalies crazy by being a general nuisance, and by setting up an immoveable screen. Though he scores most of his goals in-close, he owns a hard shot with a quick, deceptive release, and is a high-volume shooter. On the forecheck, Joki is a nightmare, playing with intensity, and employing a heavy game.

Joki is reliable in any situation, and displays sound defensive awareness and engagement, hustling hard to to hound puck-carriers and disrupt play. He supports his D well, and will cover their spot if they need to leave their post. As he does on the forecheck, he approaches the backcheck with intensity, high motor, and physicality to separate man from puck. Though his game contains very little flash or dash, he does show glimpses of some underrated passing skill and playmaking at times. Even if Joki adds the required strength to his lower body to fix his skating, there is still some question about his upside- he might be more suited for 3rd-line duty in the NHL, which isn't the worst thing in the world. I'm thinking he'll be a mid-round pick, but with the lack of depth in this draft, he could be picked sooner.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Finnish Edition, Vol. 5):

LD Julius Saari (6'2",180lbs)
Jokerit (U20): 30gp/ 3g/ 1a/ 4pts,+16, 34 PIM
Jokerit (Mestis): 5gp/ 1g/ 0a/ 1pt, +2, 2 PIM

Defenseman Julius Saari (ranked # 35 for EU Skaters) is mainly a meat-and-potatoes stay-at-home rearguard with a physical game, and some quality puck-moving ability, but he keeps his play with the puck very safe and simple. Saari has earned himself some time with Jokerit's Mestis team this season (Finland's second-tier men's league), and I thought he looked pretty good in 4 games in last summer's Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, even though he went home with no points. He wields excellent range and an active stick, making it hard for opposing forwards to get past him, and his sound positioning contibutes to his solid defensive presence. He exerts tight gaps with astute angling through the neutral zone, combined with acute timing to close with a deft poke-check, or a stiff jolt- sometimes both. He identifies threats early, and takes proactive steps to cut off enemy space and eliminate his opponents' effectiveness, by clogging lanes, checking sticks, and smothering his man.

Saari skates quite well, on a long, fluid stride with strong edges to surf across the ice laterally with speed, pivot smoothly, and outmaneuver smaller attackers. He employs an edgy physical game with the willingness to throw big hits, and wins more than his fair share of battles in the greasy areas. He isn't afraid to dispense some nasty crosschecks, or to dole out some hacks and whacks, particularly when defending his net. One of the main pillars of his game, and perhaps the main thing that separates him from many of his peers, is the way he performs the process of making mostly seamless retrievals, followed by the frequency in which he is able to move the puck out of his zone safely, with poise and confidence. Saari moves the puck well, but doesn't try to do anything risky or dynamic, preferring to keep his play with the puck simple, and risk-free. He can connect plays expertly through transition, and will carry the puck through the neutral zone on occasion. When installed in the offensive zone, he usually supports the play from the line, but will occasionally pinch in to keep the play alive, or activate in an attempt to pry open space or create a scoring opportunity. Saari displays a hard shot from the point with a quick release that could perhaps use more power and deception, and he can get it on net with reasonable frequency, but it is used mostly to create looks for his teammates. That is really the extent of his playmaking ability, as he doesn't contribute much in this end of the ice, and lacks offensive awareness.

Saari is a workhorse who can log big minutes and play the PK, and shows himself to be competitive and hard-working. Like many of his peers at this age, his play is inconsistent- but Saari is inconsistent shift-to-shift, sometimes looking sloppy and mistake-prone. He does many things well, but his lack of offense makes it hard to project his game- most stay-at-home defenders that get drafted have at least some semblance of offensive numbers- even though the majority of his game looks like that of a modern-day defensive defenseman that scouts like. I think he could use some improvement on his puck-skills, as well as his offensive game, but he needs to get a whole lot stronger to handle the rigors of the pro-game- even if he ends up playing his pro career in Finland. I think that with the lack of depth in this draft, he could get picked in the middle rounds.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Finnish Edition, Vol. 6):

LHC Jasper Kuhta (6'2",181lbs)
HIFK (U20): 34gp/ 13g/ 24a/ 37pts, +18, 8 PIM

How does a player with mostly average skill and physical traits across the board put up the kind of numbers that C Jasper Kuhta (ranked #51 for EU Skaters) has managed to produce? Well for starters, he anchors a dominant line with a couple of dynamic offensive wingers, in Matias Vanhanen, and Jere Somervuori. Secondly, he is one of the older players in this draft class with an Oct.28th, 2006 birthday, so it's reasonable to say that he might be slightly more physically developed than some of his peers- and he's already above-average in size and physicality. One encouraging sign is that his linemates have spent less time in the Liiga than Kuhta's 8 games, with Vanhanen getting 5 games, and Somervuori getting 4. Kuhta gets almost twice as many assists as goals, but while he is effective in the offensive zone, his playmaking is nothing special and is certainly not flashy or dynamic, with usually safe and risk-free passes coming off of his stick. He does have a good understanding of how to open and utilize space; he's a smart player with reasonably good hockey sense and vision, but is as meat-and-potatoes as one can get.

Kuhta's speed is average, but is augmented somewhat by his high work-ethic and activity-rate, and his edges are fairly smooth to give him good agility and maneuverability. He is very inside-driven, and often makes a bee-line to the net once he sets foot in the offensive zone to set up a screen, battle for space, cause havoc, and to hopefully get his stick on some tips and rebounds. His hands are silky-smooth to beat goalies in-tight, and he has acute hand-eye coordination. When he's not at the net-front, he can usually be found lurking in the slot, or competing for pucks down low to make plays from below the goal-line. Kuhta forechecks hard to disrupt, as much as to agitate his opponents, battles hard in the trenches, and employs a physical game that includes throwing his weight around. Kuhta is a big difference-maker off-puck with the way he skates intelligent routes to create room for himself and his teammates; he stays open to be playable, checks sticks proactively, and will set a pick to help a teammate's progress. His stickhandling is nothing special, and his puck-skills need further refinement in order for him to be able to capitalize on his ideas, with greater execution of his playmaking vision. Most of the goals he scores come from within ten-feet of the net, as the velocity on his shot is average as well, with a need to utilize more deception in his release.

If Kuhta's offensive game doesn't continue to develop, at least he moves the needle in his own zone, with plus-level engagement and awareness. He reads the play well to proactively get in position to cut-off plays, intercept passes, and clog lanes. He works hard and uses his body to separate man from puck- he identifies threats and sticks to his man like glue before the puck can get to them. Kuhta is good at everything, but not elite in any area, and would do well to develop a few standout traits. Scouts love big, physical centers with defensive acumen though, so I could see him being picked in the middle rounds.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Finnish Edition, Vol. 7):

C/LW Eetu Orpana (6'1",194lbs)
Tappara (U20): 32gp/ 8g/ 12a/ 20pts, +7, 10 PIM

Eetu Orpana (ranked #64 for EU Skaters) is a smart center who plays a responsible defensive game. His minutes for Tappara (who are 12th out of 18 teams, but 8th in goals-for) fluctuate wildly, from 4th-line minutes, all the way up to 20+, but he's usually in the bottom-6. Orpana travelled with the Finnish team to last summer's Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, but he never got the opportunity to suit up for a game. Orpana contributes well to his team with his up-tempo checking ability, facilitated by his top-notch awareness in his own zone, and by his immaculate positioning. He employs an active stick to disrupt plays, pick off passes, and clog lanes, and he is a trusted penalty-killer, as well as a proficient faceoff performer. He supports his D down low, always puts in a solid workrate, and though he isn't the most physical player, he will rub an opponent out along the boards, or lay a hit when needed to dislodge the puck. Orpana reads the game well, and has solid IQ and vision, which makes his production this year quite disappointing.

Orpana is a good skater with above-average speed, but isn't getting the most out of his stride, as it's a bit short and choppy with a need for more extension. Still, he moves well and has pretty good acceleration, with strong edges that enable him to sidestep checks, and outmaneuver attackers. Though he hasn't shown himself to be the most creative or dynamic playmaker, he is more of a pass-first player than a goal-scorer, with good distribution skill to thread the needle through small spaces in traffic to teammates in high-danger. He seems to stick to short passes, and he likes making plays from below the goal-line to the slot. He forechecks hard to remove time and space from puck-carriers, and will go the net in search of rebounds, or to set up the screen; he battles hard for position, takes the required abuse, and has sharp hand-eye coordination to tip shots. He's not a huge scoring threat right now though, and he needs to develop more power and accuracy in his shot. Orpana provides his team with energy, sets an example by always hustling hard, and never gives up on a play- giving second, and third efforts. He's intense, engaged, and hard-working.

Orpana handles well enough, but he needs to learn how to better protect the puck, as he seems to sometimes be controlling too far out from his feet, and fails to angle the puck out of the reach of his opponents' sticks, or shield it well enough with his body. This leads to his pocket being picked at times, and the puck is often poked off of his stick. Though I believe he has better offensive skills than his numbers show, he could carve out a career as a bottom-6 defensive center if he improves his puck skills, and keeps developing his offensive game. If he gets drafted, look for him in later rounds.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Finnish Edition, Vol. 8):

LHC Jan Chovan (6'3",187lbs)
Tappara (U20): 33gp/ 10g/ 8a/ 18pts, +6, 6 PIM

Slovakian center Jan Chovan (ranked #12 for EU Skaters by Central Scouting, and #75 by McKenzie) is a big, two-way pivot who is smart and skilled, and shows up in big games- at least in international play. Last summer, he played in his second Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, putting up 6 points in 4 games to pace Team Slovakia, after supplying his team with 4 points in 4 games in that event back in 2023, when he was just 16 years old. More recently, Chovan was a member of Slovakia's entry in the World Junior Championship this past December, and was 5th in scoring for his team, with 2 points in 5 games. Unfortunately, he has not looked nearly as good in league play this season. Chovan is held back by a lumbering stride that gives him below-average mobility- he needs a long runway to get up to full speed, and often shows up late to the play. This deficiency pervades many areas of his game.

Chovan is more of a finisher than a playmaker, going hard to the net for rebounds, tips, and deflections, and makes a good screen that is hard to move over the opposing goalie. He owns a good wrist-shot with pinpoint accuracy that could use a bit more power, and a bullet of a one-timer. He's an intelligent player, but perhaps a bit limited offensively, and he doesn't drive play or dictate pace. Still, he shows an understanding of how to use delays and cutbacks to patiently draw pressure and open space for teammates. There's flashes of creativity when he plays on the PP, but he doesn't facilitate much 5-on-5, relying mostly on quick touches, without much possession time. He owns a smart, efficient small-area game to connect plays through transition with short, quick passes, and manages to contribute in this area, despite his mobility issues. There's nothing too special about his handling, but he's strong on the puck and protects well, angling his body to block his opponent's sticks, and carrying out of their reach. On the forecheck, he applies good pressure on puck-carriers, and despite his heavy feet, he manages to be disruptive while bringing his physicality. Chovan finishes his checks, and will drop a shoulder and lean into a defender while cutting to the inside. He battles for pucks in the greasy areas, and plays a heavy game along the wall, but it has been said that he needs better engagement in 50/50 contests, because he often loses more battles than he wins. To offset his mobility, he exerts near-perfect positioning and a high workrate, and always seems to be in the right place, at the right time off-puck to support the action and make himself a playable option.

Chovan plays a fairly detailed and projectable brand of defensive hockey, and shows well when on the PK. He is a solid, reliable presence in his own zone with superb anticipation of developing plays, and proactive positioning to counteract and disrupt enemy attacks. He gets into lanes, and supports his D in down-low battles with a high workrate and an active, well-timed stick- always skating with his head up to be aware of oncoming threats. Even if Chovan's offensive game doesn't develop, the team that drafts him has the hope that he will make it as a bottom-6 defensive center, as it's believed he may not have a high ceiling. We won't see what kind of player he can be until he improves his skating though, as it brings down many areas of his game. He also needs work on his faceoffs. Look for him in the 3rd, or 4th-round.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Finnish Edition, Vol. 9):

LW Tomas Poletin (6'1",196lbs)
Pelicans (U20): 25gp/ 13g/ 7a/ 20pts, +14, 14 PIM
Pelicans (Liiga): 5gp/ 0g/ 0a/ 0pts, -1, 0 PIM

Tomas Poletin (ranked #13 for EU Skaters, #67 by McKenzie, and #61 by Button) is actually from Czechia, but plays for the Pelicans hockey club in Lahti, Finland- and is a two-way power-forward with a heavy game that plays in all situations. He has represented his homeland in many international events, including the 2024 U-18 Tournament (2 points in 5 games), and last summer's Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, where he placed 4th in scoring for Team Czechia with 3 goals and 4 points in 5 games. Goal-scoring is his primary weapon, as he's not really a playmaker, and doesn't drive play. He attacks the net hard in search of tips and rebounds, and scores most of his goals within 10-15 feet of the net. He has great net-front presence, with soft hands and acute reflexes, and displays high-end spatial awareness to slip into soft spots in coverage to position himself in high-danger areas. His shot from further out is fairly hard and heavy, but it has been said that he misses the net a lot, and falls victim to a high number of blocks. Poletin is an above-average skater, and he's agile- making it difficult to pin him down. He has a nice explosive-burst at his disposal, and excellent edges to make quick cuts, and tight pivots.

Poletin employs a hard-nosed, pro-style power game that's simple but effective. He's hard and heavy on the forecheck, difficult to handle along the boards, makes life miserable for defenders down-low, and wins battles in the greasy areas. He will absorb a hit to make a play, take abuse in front of the net, and his disruptive play on the forecheck is a mainstay of his game. Poletin is also strong on the cycle, and even though he's not considered to be overly creative or dynamic, he reads the ice quite well- and completes upwards of 82% of his passes to the slot. He has a good awareness of his surroundings to make sound decisions, and his off-puck game is a strength; he seems to know where to be at all times to best support the action, and to be a playable option for his teammates. He recovers a high number of pucks in all 3 zones, because he is always in a position off-puck to be able to capitalize on his opponents' mistakes. Poletin is hard on the puck, and maintains possession through traffic for his team by protecting the puck extremely well, shielding it with his body, handling outside the range of his opponents, and keeping his feet pumping under physical pressure. This quality of his enables him to contribute to transition, along with his skating, and with the help of his deft small-area passing.

One of Poletin's most important traits is his high-end work-ethic; he's always engaged, and always in the middle of the action, displaying maturity and accountability. He's a leader by example, and has worn the "C" for his country in several international events. Poletin is reliable and aggressive defensively, showing immaculate positioning and keen awareness. He is highly disruptive and physical in his own zone, supporting his D down low in battles, and he wields an active stick to intercept passes, block lanes, and poke pucks off of sticks. As he does in the other 3 zones, he skates with his head up to scan his surroundings to identify threats. His defensive ability gives him a solid NHL-floor, but he has the skill and intelligence to potentially make it as a solid, middle-six power-winger. First, he will have to get faster and stronger to be able to handle bigger opponents in the pros, but has to further develop the power of his shot, as well as his shooting efficiency. I like this kid- look for him in the 2nd, or 3rd round.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Finnish Edition, Vol. 10):

LHC Dominik Pavlik (6'1",194lbs)
Karpat (U20): 20gp/ 3g/ 5a/ 8pts, -2, 8 PIM

Like Tomas Poletin, center Dominik Pavlik (ranked #60 for EU Skaters by Central Scouting) is from Czechia, but has been plying his trade in Karpat's system since the beginning of the 2023-24 season, and his situation is a bit complicated. After last season concluded, Pavlik was drafted by the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL in the first round of the 2024 CHL Import Draft, 53rd-overall, but opted to go back to Karpat in Finland for the 2024-25 season. Things have obviously not gone they way they were expected to go in Karpat, which shows in his rather meager stats, and despite the fact that it doesn't appear that he was being cheated in ice-time, he was playing mostly third-line, defensive duty. He signed with Moose Jaw in mid-December, but he hasn't yet played a game for them, as he's been out of action since November with an injury (he was expected to suit up for them on Dec.27th). Even though Moose Jaw lurks at the bottom of the WHL, they do have some talent at the top of their lineup- and it would be nice to see if he could turn his season around playing with them. Pavlik took part in last summer's Hlinka-Gretzky Cup for team Czechia, and put up 3 points in 5 games. He is a physical, two-way center with a nice power game.

Pavlik plays a pro-style, and exerts a complete game with very few real weaknesses; he is a well-rounded Jack-of-all-Trades who plays in all situations and both sides of special teams. Most of his physical traits are average to above-average, but his work-ethic and compete at both ends of the ice are sky-high. He is always engaged, with a high-end motor, and a good activity rate. He is a fluid skater with smooth edge work and above-average speed, who skates with a low center of gravity, which makes him sturdy and hard to knock off the puck. To augment this ability, he protects the puck well with his body and reach. Like a true power forward, he drives the net hard to convert rebounds and to create a moving screen, and he likes to occupy space in close vicinity to the net- most of the damage he does comes from below the dots, and he scores goals in-tight. Below the goal-line, he is a force, and he's a wrecking ball along the boards; he explodes off the wall to take the puck to the net, drives the middle lane off the rush, and leans into defenders to cut to the crease. He's a physical player with uncommon strength, and uses these qualities well to win battles in the hard areas. Even without the puck, he has an inate sense of where to be to maximize his effectiveness, and to be ready as a playable option for teammates. He's a quality finisher with soft hands to beat goalies one-on-one, but he also has a fairly hard shot with a quick, deceptive release.

Playmaking is not his greatest asset, and he's not really creative per se, but he has shown game-breaking ability in the past, and has a reasonably high IQ and sharp awareness to facilitate opportunities for teammates- or to finish them. Pavlik doesn't cheat the game in his own zone; he is highly aware defensively, and brings tons of hustle and compete. He's a willing shot-blocker, with the ability to play a shut-down role, as he does with Czechia's international teams; he supports his D down low, kills the cycle, helps to deny entries, and his play-reading sense tells where to be to proactively make stops, by taking sticks, and setting picks. He brings his physicality and a well-timed stick in performance of his defensive duties, and is an excellent penalty-killer. While he may not be a transition ace, he can connect plays through the neutral zone. Pavlik has the profile of an excellent 3rd-line C in the NHL, with the potential for more, as his numbers this season don't represent his true offensive capabilites. To reach his potential, he has to keep building his strength and speed, and hopefully- he will get some time with a team that will let him showcase his game better. Look for him in the 3rd, or 4th-round. He's another kid I like.

[Wastedyouth]

I know we already have so many D prospects, but I am ALL IN on Kashawn Aitcheson.

This kid is going to POP in the NHL and be a fan favourite no matter where he goes.

[Monahammer]

It really, really depends on where our picks are, specifically our 2nd 1st round pick, and who's available at the first.

Could definitely see us taking Aitcheson with the 1st pick if there conditions are there, but not if one of the higher potential centers falls far enough.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

I know we already have so many D prospects, but I am ALL IN on Kashawn Aitcheson.

This kid is going to POP in the NHL and be a fan favourite no matter where he goes.

One if the more polarizing players in the draft. Have seen him for the teens to the early second round. Some doubt his offensive ceiling. Wouldnt take him over cootes, ryabakin,zonnon or even nesbitt or moore lets say.

Hey sandman looking at Zonnon and spence why is one borderline top ten the other near second round? I dont see a lot of difference between them. Big wingers, high motor, i think zonnon actually has a better skill level.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Fan69

One if the more polarizing players in the draft. Have seen him for the teens to the early second round. Some doubt his offensive ceiling. Wouldnt take him over cootes, ryabakin,zonnon or even nesbitt or moore lets say.

Hey sandman looking at Zonnon and spence why is one borderline top ten the other near second round? I dont see a lot of difference between them. Big wingers, high motor, i think zonnon actually has a better skill level.

It's all about projectability, although I do think Zonnon will surprise come draft day. French players' offensive numbers don't get the same respect as kids from the other two leagues (mostly for good reason), and the big issue with Zonnon is his mobility- but I don't think it's all that bad. He plays an ultra hard-working power-game, and has been at C for a good chunk of the year.

Spence, on the other hand, already plays a mature, pro-style game, and has very few real weaknesses.

[Sandman]

Feb.21st Ryabkin Watch:

Ryabkin gets 5 and a Game for a hit to the head, and he also gets 1g, and was even. 13gp/9g/7a/16pts,+2, 48 PIM. His 1.23 ppg is 5th in the USHL.