2025 NHL Draft Thread

[cral12]

NEW
Upside Hockey's 2025 NHL Draft Rankings — Spring Edition
Our March Top 224 NHL Draft Rankings from Chief Scout Eldon MacDonald

Matthew Schaefer Maintains Number One Ranking
- but otherwise plenty of movement

Link: https://upsidehockey.substack.com/p/...t-rankings-3b0

[Canada 02]

I heard one hockey podcast had Hagens dropping out of the top 5, and the suggestion was this was not just one opinion but NHL scouts leaning in that direction

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Russian Edition, Vol. 14):

W Ruslan Karimov (6'0",201lbs)
Sarnia (OHL): 62gp/ 14g/ 14a/ 28pts, -7, 57 PIM

Russian Import Ruslan Karimov (ranked #216 NA Skaters) had a bit of fanfare coming in to this season, having been chosen 6th-overall in the 2024 CHL Import Draft after a 2023-24 campaign that saw him post 13 goals and 22 points in 25 MHL games with Sputnik Almetievsk as a 16-year-old on a bad team. This year, he's been toiling for the Sarnia Sting, who are currently 17th in the standings out of 20 teams, and also 17th in goals-scored. Despite playing on a young team, Karimov seems to have been relegated to middle-six duty, and only sporadically gets time playing with top-line talent, which may be one of the reasons behind his middling production (he is tied for 6th in rookie goal-scoring at least), but I believe he's much better offensively than his stats show. His 28 points are only 15 points off of the team lead. Karimov is a power-forward who may be the most energetic and hard-working player in this draft class; few players at the junior level can outwork him. He's a fast-paced, ultra-physical player- needless to say, I like him very much.

Karimov is a human wrecking ball, with constant physical engagement and uncommon strength, going from one hit to the next. He's like a pitbull in board battles, never gives up on a play, and wins possession with his overwhelming tenacity, unrelenting grit, and his bite. He drives opponents crazy, and is very difficult to play against; he hits everything that moves, throwing his weight around with hard bodychecks, and can blast opponents with thunderous open-ice hits. The young Russian plays on the edge, and sometimes goes over it. These qualities make him highly effective, and intimidating, on the forecheck, attacking tirelessly and grinding his opponents down to apply pressure and force uncontrolled plays. Most of his offense comes from his play around the net, scoring the majority of his goals in-tight, and generating looks from down-low. While he isn't showing himself to be a high-end offensive player in the OHL, and he may be lacking true creativity and playmaking vision, he does show some anticipatory awareness in the offensive zone, and employs a rather "North American" style. He attacks the net, and isn't at all afraid to crash the crease, or to bulldoze his way into open space in the slot for a chance at a shot on net, or a rebound. He positions himself at the net-front to battle for position, set up a screen, cause havok, and hopefully get his stick on a tip, or a loose puck. His hands are fairly soft in-tight, and he is adept at hunting down open spaces to fill below the dots. In addition, he owns a hard catch-and-release wrister, and a bomb of a one-timer.

If all else fails, Karimov is still a potent shutdown player, and a stalwart on the PK- which could be a big selling point going forward, and a future calling-card. He's just as relentless and energetic on the backcheck, as he is on the forecheck- he hunts down puck-carriers to completely smother them, and he brings his physicality to wear them down and punish them. This mentality serves him well in the neutral zone as well, making him the ultimate pest to streaking attackers, and giving him the capability to cause disruption to opposing teams' rushes. Karimov is not a burner, but he skates well, and can beat faster players to loose pucks with sheer will, and high-end workrate. His puck-skills are reasonably good, and he's a shifty enough skater to affect transition for his team in a positive way; he passes quite well, which aids him in supporting the rush, but he can also skate the puck through the neutral zone (albeit mostly in straight-lines), backing defensemen up with his high-paced approach to gain the line. Karimov has been known to go out of his way to chase a hit, and his offensive game is in question, but he has definite NHL-qualities and may be a safe pick, with an NHL floor as a 4th-line energy player, and penalty-killer. Still, there's potential for more. Look for him in the middle-rounds.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Russian Edition, Vol. 15):

LD Daniil Skvortsov (6'4",214lbs)
Guelph (OHL): 54gp/ 5g/ 13a/ 18pts, -18, 10 PIM

Yet another behemoth Russian defender, Daniil Skvortsov (ranked # 79 NA Skaters) has worn the "C" for Russia's U16, and U17 National Teams the last two seasons, before being taken 27th-overall in the 2024 CHL Import Draft by the Guelph Storm- who are second-last in the 20-team OHL, and are 13th in goals-for. He has a tantalizing toolkit with several NHL-translatable traits, but is still quite raw, and has yet to put it all together on a consistent basis. His profile is that of a two-way puck-mover with a dependable shutdown game. Like many of his Russian peers, he puts forth excellent mobility for a player of his size, with a fluid stride, and solid agility with good balance on his edges to pivot quickly, and transition seamlessly. Though he moves shockingly well in all directions, he could use better explosiveness.

Skvortsov exercises tight gap control and mimics his opponent's footwork, angling them to the boards and closing them out physically. He possesses enormous range to cut off large areas of the ice, and wields his stick (as well as his size and strength) extremely well. There are still improvements needed in his details and habits, but there's massive potential in his shutdown game. While he's active and aggressive to jump into lanes, he still waits for the play to come to him too often, and he needs more precise reads in order to act more proactively- although he displays some proficiency in setting picks. He blocks shots with his stick and body, intercepts passes, and keeps attackers in check at the net-front. While he's effective against both the rush and the cycle, he can struggle against speed, and sometimes gives aggressors too much room to move through the neutral zone. Skvortsov shows a ton of potential in the other end of the rink as well, and though he keeps things mostly safe and simple right now, he joins the rush frequently, and will activate deep off of the blueline to attack the net. He has some high-end ideas, and it's good that he has the confidence to try them out, but he has difficulty executing at times, and some of his plays die on his teammates' sticks. He owns a hard and heavy shot from the point, uses screens well, and gets it through to the net consistently.

One of the pillars of his game is his solid puck-movement, and he holds good value in his contributions to his team's transition; he distributes intelligently, protects the puck well, and displays solid puck-management skills, but he could stand to upgrade his stickhandling. Through the neutral zone, he connects with short passes and give-and-go sequences, but he can also streak right through the middle with the puck, if the mood strikes. In retrievals, he is prone to making mistakes when pressured as he doesn't pre-scan well enough at times, but his puck-protection comes in handy, and he can make some high-end breakout passes- his puck-movement out of the d-zone is usually solid. Skvortsov flashes first-round ability and physical traits, but just about every part of his game is inconsistent, and he will most likely be a bit of a project. The tools and potential are hard to pass up though. For the next level, he needs to put on more muscle, keep upgrading his skating, and work on his panic threshold, as he commits errors when under pressure. Look for him in the 3rd, or 4th-round.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Russian Edition, Vol. 16):

RW Alexander Pershakov (6'0",176lbs)
Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk (MHL): 33gp/ 21g/ 17a/ 38pts, +13, 10 PIM
Sibir Novosibirsk (KHL): 13gp/ 0g/ 1g/ 1pt, +1, 0 PIM

Left-handed RW Alexander Pershakov (unranked) is a bit older, with an Oct.19, 2006 birthday, and has already appeared in 13 games in the KHL (albeit with very little ice-time), but has been scratched for 27 other games. The bulk of his minutes this season have been with the MHL's Sbirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk, the "Siberian Snipers", where he wears an "A", and is 6th in points-per-game for players 18-and-under. Pershakov is a shoot-first winger, and an opportunistic scorer who feeds off of his linemates. I've read plenty of criticism regarding his skating, but he's obviously done a lot of work on it, as he can outskate many of his peers in the MHL, and keeps up just fine against men in the KHL. His stride looks a bit short and choppy at times, but his speed is above-average and he's light on his feet, with solid agility to make quick turns. He needs a bit of work on his mechanics, an increase in lower-body strength, and better explosiveness and top speed.

Pershakov is mostly an opportunistic scorer, and while he's not much of a play-driver, he does possess good offensive awareness with the capability of making some nice passing plays at times, showing a modicum of playmaking vision, and flashes of high-end passing skill. He can link together plays in the offensive zone and in transition, and can get the puck to teammates in high-danger, but he isn't a dynamic creator, or a high-end playmaker. He does appear to have become adept at making plays to the slot from below the goal-line, and he has the intelligence to be an off-puck threat. Pershakov possesses a hard and heavy shot with a deceptive release that is nearly NHL-caliber, and has a shooter's instincts in sniffing out space in the slot to dip in-and-out of, timing his appearance to coincide with the puck's arrival. He plays well around the net, and isn't the least bit afraid to cut to the middle, or to crash the crease in search of an ugly goal. His hand-eye coordination is unreal, and he can knock down pucks out of the air, right to his wheelhouse. His handling isn't anything special though, as he seems to mishandle and overskate the puck unforced more than usual. There's no problem with his work-ethic, as he's a high-effort player with an excellent motor, and he exerts a fairly physical game.

Pershakov's defensive game is a bit more difficult to define in my opinion, as his performances differ in his showings in the MHL, to his appearances in the KHL (as one would expect). He plays both special teams in junior, but he looks more passive in the d-zone when he's playing with the Snipers; his positioning is there, but he's far less active, and has a diminished impact. He stays a bit higher up in the zone to await the breakout, and departs the zone a little early- none of this is a big surprise when it comes to Russian junior players. In the KHL, he appears much more focused and engaged, as well as more mobile, intense, and disruptive. He goes from pressuring the point to force uncontrolled plays, to supporting his D down low, to guarding the net, and he even blocks shots willingly. In both leagues, he employs an active, well-timed stick, positions himself to take away the middle from attackers, and makes himself a playable option for the breakout. I'm not sure how translatable NHL scouts will see his game as being, and his age definitely works against him. Though he is very opportunistic, and relies on his teammates quite a bit, he still possesses a fairly well-rounded game- at least in junior. If he is selected in the upcoming draft, he will have to wait until the later rounds.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Russian Edition, Vol. 17)

RD Roman Bausov (6'5",179lbs)
MHK Dynamo St.Petersburg (MHL): 37gp/ 2g/ 9a/ 11pts, +10, 18 PIM

Righty Roman Bausov (ranked # 23 EU Skaters) has an enormous frame as his main selling point, but he's about as raw as one can get. He's built like a rail, and needs to fill out, as even though he's sturdy, he's not very strong. Bausov possesses sharp defensive instincts and sound positioning, but has trouble overpowering oncoming rushers. His enormous range and mobility effectively cut off huge swaths of ice, and aid him in making stops by suffocating attackers with his wingpan, active stick, and extra-long reach. There's immeasurable shutdown potential here; he reads the play in the defensive zone very well, and he's nearly impossible to get around, with his range giving him more room for error than most. He's adept at keeping opponents to the outside with his tight gap control, takes away the front of the net with his aggressiveness, and angles threats out of danger areas. He's forceful down low, blocks shots, and fills lanes.

Bausov keeps his distribution safe and simple, but he's very smart in finding outlets to clear the puck out of zone, to kickstart the rush. There's some deception in his hands and feet, and he uses delays and cutbacks to create time and space for teammates, and to patiently await the best option. His mobility is pretty good for a player of his size, mostly because his legs are so long that every step covers a wide tract of ice. Even still, he can win races, and looks impressively agile in making quick turns, transitioning seamlessly, and cutting across the ice laterally. When he fills out and gets stronger and more coordinated, he will be a force. Physicality is a tool for him to win possession; I wouldn't call call him a prolific hitter, and he's not really punishing or mean, but he finishes his checks and uses his frame to separate man from puck, and win inside position. His play in the offensive zone consists mainly of keeping pucks alive, getting pucks deep, and taking shots from the point- mostly to cause havok around the net, as his shot isn't that threatening. His puckhandling could use some attention, as his hands don't match the quickness in his feet; he doesn't carry much though, relying on quick possession, and deferring to others to do the puck-rushing. This is a player who probably won't even be coming to North America for a handful of years, as he's far more potential than finished product, and will need plenty of runway. Look for him in the late rounds.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by cral12

NEW
Upside Hockey's 2025 NHL Draft Rankings — Spring Edition
Our March Top 224 NHL Draft Rankings from Chief Scout Eldon MacDonald

Matthew Schaefer Maintains Number One Ranking
- but otherwise plenty of movement

Link: https://upsidehockey.substack.com/p/...t-rankings-3b0

Interesting how many Cs there are at the top of the list (6 of the top 10) whereas the rest of the first round only has 6 in the next 22.

Many people would argue that selections should be made for best player available instead of organizational need, but I think this draft for the Flames has to bring in a top tier C even if it leaves a "better" winger or D on the board.

At a glance I would group the first round Cs like this:
Misa, Frondell, Hagens, McQueen, Desnoyers, O'Brien appear to be a tier of their own as they are all ranked in the top 8.
Martin is then sitting at 12 and the only C in the second 10.
Nesbitt, McKinney, Cootes, Ryabkin, and Gastrin are all parked in the bottom third of the draft.

My questions to the experts:

• Is there a big drop off within the top 10 Cs? ie. O'Brien should be grouped with Martin instead of the top group.
• Is Martin significantly worse than the first group / better than the 3rd group?
• Are the Cs in that bottom group "good enough" or should the Flames be working hard to try to trade up?
• If the Flames make moves to trade up, is it worth assets get Martin instead of Nesbitt? Or are they close enough in potential that the Flames need to get into the top 10 or stay with their picks?

Looking at the teams, I wonder who would be open to trade.

• The Sabres need help now more than they need another prospect but it is unlikely the Flames suddenly become a good trade partner at the draft after the Sabres not wanting to trade with us at the TDL.
• The Penguins are in an interesting spot. Their prospect pipeline is decimated but they are still trying to win-now for Crosby. Maybe they would do a quality for quantity trade? It would either give them more prospects in the pipeline or trade chips if they want to keep trading to load up their roster.
• The Predators loaded up last summer to try to start contending and fell on their face. Maybe they go back to rebuilding or maybe they are open to making moves to try to get into the playoffs next season? Their RD depth is a weakness... maybe this is the Andersson draft day trade target?

[dammage79]

Saw a mocl draft where the Flames got Ryabkin at 20th and William Moore at 27th. I'd take that 1st round.

[1qqaaz]

I think I'd prefer Ben Kindel (Hitman) over Ryabkin. The Brayden Point totals are intriguing and the point totals are pretty gaudy. He'd have to put on some weight to progress as a center though IMO.

[devo22]

I honestly can't even put a finger on it, but I just don't want Ryabkin.

[dammage79]

It's just a random mock. I'm all about Ryabkin despite his strange draft season. I mean if we aren't cracking the top ten. You gotta take a swing with your two firsts if you don't trade them for an RFA center type player. Ryabkins worth a flyer at 20. I doubt he gets there though

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by devo22

I honestly can't even put a finger on it, but I just don't want Ryabkin.

I'm fairly certain if he's available to the Flames Conroy will be giddy to take him.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

I'm fairly certain if he's available to the Flames Conroy will be giddy to take him.

All depends on who else is still on the board. He's falling out of the 1st round in some rankings. Which I think is an overreaction but he probably deserves a 20-25 rank right now.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Wolven

Interesting how many Cs there are at the top of the list (6 of the top 10) whereas the rest of the first round only has 6 in the next 22.

Many people would argue that selections should be made for best player available instead of organizational need, but I think this draft for the Flames has to bring in a top tier C even if it leaves a "better" winger or D on the board.

At a glance I would group the first round Cs like this:
Misa, Frondell, Hagens, McQueen, Desnoyers, O'Brien appear to be a tier of their own as they are all ranked in the top 8.
Martin is then sitting at 12 and the only C in the second 10.
Nesbitt, McKinney, Cootes, Ryabkin, and Gastrin are all parked in the bottom third of the draft.

My questions to the experts:

• Is there a big drop off within the top 10 Cs? ie. O'Brien should be grouped with Martin instead of the top group.
• Is Martin significantly worse than the first group / better than the 3rd group?
• Are the Cs in that bottom group "good enough" or should the Flames be working hard to try to trade up?
• If the Flames make moves to trade up, is it worth assets get Martin instead of Nesbitt? Or are they close enough in potential that the Flames need to get into the top 10 or stay with their picks?

Looking at the teams, I wonder who would be open to trade.

• The Sabres need help now more than they need another prospect but it is unlikely the Flames suddenly become a good trade partner at the draft after the Sabres not wanting to trade with us at the TDL.
• The Penguins are in an interesting spot. Their prospect pipeline is decimated but they are still trying to win-now for Crosby. Maybe they would do a quality for quantity trade? It would either give them more prospects in the pipeline or trade chips if they want to keep trading to load up their roster.
• The Predators loaded up last summer to try to start contending and fell on their face. Maybe they go back to rebuilding or maybe they are open to making moves to try to get into the playoffs next season? Their RD depth is a weakness... maybe this is the Andersson draft day trade target?

I'm definitely no expert, but this is my opinion on those questions:

1) I wouldn't take O'Brien over Desnoyers, Frondell, or Misa, but I really think with how he's dominated over the second half, he should definitely be in the conversation for 5-10 in the draft. He's 6'2", and might be the best playmaker in the draft.
2) Martin is now up to 71 points in 58 games, after putting up 25 points in the last 17 games, on the 14th-placed Soo Greyhounds (they have risen as a team as well). He's so damn good, I would put him closer to the first group of centers than the second.
3) I still think Ryabkin could go top-20, but both Cootes and McKinney (as well as Murtagh) aren't getting the love they deserve. I'm not sure the price is worth it to move up to get Martin, but I would consider it if O'Brien was available, given the lack of depth in this draft- giving up a later pick in the first round, plus another pick in the second isn't as big a deal as it usually would be. Don't forget though- there are other really good options at C as well, like Reschny, Bear, and Zonnon.
4) I really like Nesbitt, but I'm still suffering PTSD from Greg Niemisz, lol. I don't like Nesbitt nearly as much as Martin, but I might just stay put in that scenario. I think Nesbitt is helped a bit by the talent he has around him, though.

[FBI]

Just wanted to say thanks to Sandman for providing all this info so I can still get quite excited about a 20th and 27th pick

[Paulie Walnuts]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1899878508496904546

I know this is 2025 but this is nuts. He’s doing it in the WHL as well.

We deserve some nice things.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Really hoping Flames get into a position to draft McKenna. Imagine watching his career here in Calgary? McKenna - Parekh - Wolf down the spine of this team for 10+ years?

[Roof-Daddy]

McKenna just extended his point streak to 38 games last night which beats Crosbys 37 game streak in the Q. Now the 2nd longest CHL point streak in 25 years.

Oh yeah, and it was a 7 point night lol

I recommend watching the highlights. Pure domination by a 17 year old.

[Mr.Coffee]

He’s going 1st so have to finish 32nd and hope for the best on a draw.

Seems risky, and not happening with Wolf and Parekh already on the roster.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

He’s going 1st so have to finish 32nd and hope for the best on a draw.

Seems risky, and not happening with Wolf and Parekh already on the roster.

Not happening with Wolf alone.