2025 NHL Draft Thread

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Why? You couldn't have prevented it from happening and nothing you do or say affects the outcome. Why would you allow yourself to be frustrated over it?

Ummmmm... isn't this what watching sports is all about?

[Tkachukwagon]

Originally Posted by stemit14

What is concerning is that Montreal has been known to draft high upside players with their later picks (i.e. picks outside the top 10) and they are a team that is deep at the wings and at defence just like the flames. They likely will be looking for skilled centers out of this draft as well. Which sucks because the most likely draft order right now is:

16th overall: Montreal (from Monahan trade)
17th overall: Montreal (their own pick)
18th overall: Calgary (from Markstrom trade)

I could absolutely see Montreal taking the two centers with the highest offensive upside with those two picks. Which could be very frustrating.

You just know they are going to take Justin Carbonneau with one of those picks. They can’t help themselves.

[howard_the_duck]

I think there's a ton of value to be had with Reschny.

He's ranked where he is because of size (IMO), but he's got a great motor and work ethic and a sturdy frame that projects a bit like Martin St-Louis.

I'm starting the car if he's available to the Flames at 18.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by DuckSauce

Tell me more about Zannon.. I feel like he is a bit of a forgotten man in the mix of who is likely to be available around our picks. I have seen mixed information about whether he is LW or C.

He is a big guy at 6.2 and 190. Probable playing weight between 205 and 210. Awkward skating style but a decent top speed. Good hands, good shot, doesnt mind mucking it up.

He was switched from lw to center this year and still managed to he top ten in scoring. That ability to switch, in my mind, without missing a beat says his iq and on ice awareness are pretty good, as well as being a team guy and coachable.

A lot of online prospect guys have him as somewhat underrated and often mention he show flashes of high end passing. He is ranked any where from 19 to close to 40.

Have been on the zonnon train for a while, like him over Murtagh as i think his iq is higher, while murtagh has better physical tools st this point.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

He mocks Mason West being taken in the late first by the Preds. I had never heard of him and from what I see online he is an interesting prospect with the chance to be a home run.

Sandman, any insight on him?

Here's my write-up:

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.

[Sandman]

I agree with loading up on centers in this draft, and I even suggested months ago that I too, would be fine with selecting a C with every pick. However, if a D like Radim Mrtka, Jackson Smith, or Kashawn Aitcheson is available, and we were to go with one of them, I would be absolutely fine with it. Those 3 would be hard to pass up, and they are all going to be massive difference-makers in the NHL. Plus:

-We have an amazing stable of D prospects, but they are all six-footers and not all that physically intimidating. I know there's many here who don't subscribe to the size theory, but it would be nice to have a blue-chipper or two on the backend with some size and/or snarl.

-If we were to take a D in the first round, we could always trade (potentially) one of young D for a young C.

-Coming away with Aitcheson and Reschny in the first would be solid (with the way Aitcheson is playing in the playoffs, he'll likely be taken before our pick anyway), then take someone like C Tyler Hopkins with our second rounder.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I agree with loading up on centers in this draft, and I even suggested months ago that I too, would be fine with selecting a C with every pick. However, if a D like Radim Mrtka, Jackson Smith, or Kashawn Aitcheson is available, and we were to go with one of them, I would be absolutely fine with it. Those 3 would be hard to pass up, and they are all going to be massive difference-makers in the NHL. Plus:

-We have an amazing stable of D prospects, but they are all six-footers and not all that physically intimidating. I know there's many here who don't subscribe to the size theory, but it would be nice to have a blue-chipper or two on the backend with some size and/or snarl.

-If we were to take a D in the first round, we could always trade (potentially) one of young D for a young C.

-Coming away with Aitcheson and Reschny in the first would be solid (with the way Aitcheson is playing in the playoffs, he'll likely be taken before our pick anyway), then take someone like C Tyler Hopkins with our second rounder.

I think I asked you a similar question a while back... but would you trade Aitcheson and Reschny for McQueen?

One of the mock drafts have the Sabres selecting McQueen, but I expect they would rather select D and W support over another C. When you are talking about it abstractly (8th pick for 18 and 22) I think most people say no, but when you start putting names on the players and weighing what those players bring, I wonder if it changes your assessment.

As an example of how it would play out for organizational need tilting the picks: Flames get McQueen and the Sabres pick Hensler (RHD) and Spence (LW). Is that awful to someone who is familiar with the players?

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems Edition, Vol. 48):

LW David Rozsival (6'0",185)
Bili Tygri Liberec U20: 30gp/ 17g/ 20a/ 37pts, +20, 8 PIM

Don't sleep on this one. Winger David Rozsival (ranked # 22 EU Skaters) finished the regular season 3rd in scoring for U-18 players in Czechia's U20 League, despite missing a few months of action due to injury; he was 1st in his age group by a large margin in ppg, with 1.23, with the next highest mark being 0.92 (though there were a few with under 10 games played that had a 1.00 ppg). He got a 5-game cup o' coffee over the course of the season in the Extraliga, Czechia's top men's league (no points), and made it back from injury in time to play 4 games for his U20 team in the 2nd-round of the playoffs, scoring 4 goals before they were eliminated from the post-season. Rozsival also made an appearance in last summer's Hlinka, where he tied teammate Vojtech Cihar for 7th in Team Czechia scoring, with a goal and an assist in 5 games. I hate to use the old cliche', but Rozsival is one of those, "good at everything, but not elite in any area" types, or perhaps a "Swiss Army knife", because he's quite well-rounded, can play in any situation (including both special teams), and makes an impact in all three zones. He is an excellent skater, and although he may not possess elite speed, he is definitely faster than the average junior player, and bumps his pace up a few notches with his high-end workrate. He has a peppy short-burst at his disposal to win races and sprint to loose pucks, with polished edges that allow him to sidestep checks, evade pressure, and make sharp lateral cuts across the ice.

Any profile you read on Rozsival will surely make mention of how amazingly strong on the puck he is, with exemplary protection ability, and well-developed puck-control. Though he's average-sized, it's very difficult to take the puck from him after it touches his blade- his presence on the ice extends possession and offensive-zone time for his team. With quick hands, his puck-skill is uncommon, giving him the ability to deke and dangle past defenders, and he can knock saucer passes down out of the air and gain control quickly while in-motion. His hockey sense is exceptional as well, giving him virtually infallible positioning in all three zones, with high-end awareness; he knows where to be at all times to best support the play on and off the puck, stay open and playable, and be consistently disruptive to his opponents. He reads the play around him well, and makes quick, viable decisions. Rozsival's offense is well-balanced between playmaking and goal-scoring, and while his numbers don't seem elite, his 1.23 ppg as a U-18 player are greater than that of countryman David Krejci's (1.20 ppg) at the same age, and ranks 49th all-time for ppg in a season by a U-18 player with 10 games or more. He has a quick and precise release, and soft hands in-close to beat goalies, getting his chances by finding gaps to fill in the slot, and by going to the net to pick-up loose pucks. In his playmaking, he exerts creativity and vision, finding teammates through traffic and across the ice, and understands how to create space by drawing pressure with patient delays, changes of pace, cutbacks, as well as stops and starts, and how to shift defenses on the cycle. There's a fair amount of deception in his game as well, to give him a little more breathing room to move around, and his passing skill is well-honed with an arsenal of slip passes through triangles, saucers over blades, and hooks around sticks.

Rozsival is fairly hard-nosed in battle, and will fight for pucks along the wall and in the corners, and will plant himself in front of the net to lock horns with opposing defensemen to win positioning. He forechecks vigorously, attacking puck-carriers with speed and tenacity to disrupt retrievals and snuff breakouts, turning recoveries into instantaneous offense. He is supportive of his team's play in all three zones, and instrumental through transition in advancing the puck up the ice via passing plays or by carries, and is dually disruptive to opponents in the neutral zone with his active stick and sharp anticipation. One of Rozsival's calling-cards, and an area that separates him from other players of his ilk, is his impeccable reliability in his own-zone, in addition to his his ability to disturb the opposition in the other two-thirds of the ice. He backchecks as hard as he forechecks, working to limit time and space for attackers, while also reducing time on defense for his team. Exhibiting top-notch awareness and anticipation, he blocks lanes proactively, wins inside position before his man can get the puck, causes turnovers, and tips away passes. He subs-in for roaming defensemen, and aids them in battles down-low. With Rozy, I think it's just a matter of how scouts view his offense translating, and to what degree; the rest of his game in the other two zones is scalable, in my opinion. Look for him in the third, or fourth-round.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Wolven

I think I asked you a similar question a while back... but would you trade Aitcheson and Reschny for McQueen?

One of the mock drafts have the Sabres selecting McQueen, but I expect they would rather select D and W support over another C. When you are talking about it abstractly (8th pick for 18 and 22) I think most people say no, but when you start putting names on the players and weighing what those players bring, I wonder if it changes your assessment.

As an example of how it would play out for organizational need tilting the picks: Flames get McQueen and the Sabres pick Hensler (RHD) and Spence (LW). Is that awful to someone who is familiar with the players?

I'm hoping that McQueen isn't like Couturier- more time in the IR than on the ice, but I would do it- I would also probably do it for O'Brien, Frondell, Desnoyers or Misa as well, simply because I believe we need a future #1C. Is Reschny a #1C? Probably not.

Just my opinion.

[Tbull8]

Just going on the Puckpedia pick value calculator, 18th + 25th gets you pick 9 or 10. So the proposal actually isnt that far off.
18+22 gets you 8 or 9

[stemit14]

I would love to see a move like that from Conroy. The flames have built a solid prospect base but need to get some more high end prospects. That move would be a quantity for quality trade. Risky move I guess but worth it IMO if it gets them one of McQueen, O’Brien, Frondell, Desnoyers or Misa.

[Tbull8]

If Conroy somehow got Misa without giving up Parekh Wolf or Coronato, name the new building after him

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I believe we need a future #1C. Is Reschny a #1C? Probably not.

Most of the players in this year's draft are probably not #1 Cs, and none of them is certain to be one. The strategy that makes the most sense, in the circumstances, is just to draft and develop a lot of centres that have the upside potential to reach that level. The odds are against each one of them individually, but if you draft for that kind of potential and develop well, you will eventually get the home run you need.

If you really, really need to hit the bullseye on the target range, you don't load your gun with just one bullet.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems Edition, Vol. 49):

LW Carter Klippenstein (6'3",181lbs)
Brandon (WHL): 58gp/ 14g/ 14a/ 28pts, +20, 50 PIM

Big-bodied winger Carter Klippenstein (ranked # 88 NA Skaters) was 11th in scoring and 4th in plus/minus over the regular season for the Wheaties, but he had a disastrous post-season- putting in 3 games with no points and a -5, before succumbing to injury as Brandon was eliminated in 5 games by the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He seemed to struggle with various injuries all year, and while I can't say for sure, I think he may have been playing through some of them. With 21 points in 66 games in his rookie year in 2023-24, I would've expected more from him than his 28 points in 58 games this season, and I believe there may be more in terms of offensive ability in his toolkit. Though he may never be a top-line scorer, he remains a hard-nosed power-forward with top-shelf defensive awareness, the versatility to play either C or W, and of course, a massive frame with a ton of room to fill out. A gym rat, he performed admirably in fitness testing in training camp this year, and set a team record on the versa-climber. Klipper plays a heavy game, and uses his frame to win battles along the boards, and can dish out some bone-rattling hits, but he will also play through contact. His play often draws the ire of opposing players, who make him the centerpiece of many post-whistle scrums, and he has to drop the gloves once in a while- but he's a pretty good scrapper. He exerts an ultra-high compete level, with the willingness to roll his sleeves up to outwork the opposition, and he provides his team with energy; he can swing the momentum of a game with one of his big bodychecks, and does a lot of the dirty work for his linemates in digging out pucks and gaining possession. In puck-battles, he gives second, and third-efforts to win pucks.

Klipper exhibits a modicum of hockey sense and awareness to be well-positioned in all three zones, but lacks dynamism; he plays more of a north-south style, and keeps things as simple and efficient as possible. One of his best physical traits is his skating- he moves very well for a big man, with surprisingly effortless edgework in his cuts, pivots, and changes of direction, and his speed is augmented by his high-end workrate. He employs a quick short-burst in tight areas when needed, to sprint to loose pucks, launch himself into battle, and create a bit of separation in open-ice. Klippenstein forechecks with purpose to push the pace and put supreme pressure on defenders, cause turnovers, and wreak havoc on the other team's breakout- he is relentless in puck-pursuit, and tenacious in battle. Offensively, he is a powerful net-front presence with fairly soft hands in-tight, as well as good hand-eye coordination for tipping pucks, and is almost impossible to move while serving up a big screen in front of the goalie. He can often be spotted attacking through the middle and crashing the crease, but he also has a quick, whippy release on his wrister from the slot- still, he could use more power and deception if he wants to score more often from distance. With the footspeed to outrace defenders to the puck, he excels at the chip-and-chase for entries, but he has sneaky puck-skill and protection ability that enables him to beat opponents one-on-one on occasion; he can carry through the neutral zone for clean entries at times, and can both stickhandle and shoot in tight-areas. Though he'll never be compared to Adam Oates, he's an underrated playmaker as well, with the competence to pull off some dynamic passes, including cross-ice, low-to-high from behind the net, and from off the wall to the slot. He flashes some playmaking vision too, with an eye for spotting teammates through traffic once in a while.

Klipper plays a very dependable two-way game, and is trusted by the coaching staff to kill penalties. He's highly disruptive with an active, well-timed stick, and the physicality to separate man from puck. With his mobility and solid edges, he gets into lanes, pokes away passes to the slot, and is active in all four corners of the zone. Upon recovery of the puck, he is able to make calm, poised plays to start the breakout going the other direction. With a November 26th birthday, age might be working against him, but he employs a very translatable game- and when he fills out, he's going to be a force. I think he has a better offensive game than he's shown this season, and I also believe he might be a big producer for the Wheat Kings over the next two seasons, but he still looks to be more suited for bottom-six duty in the pros, with his defensive acumen and physicality- and there's nothing wrong with that. Going forward, I hope he keeps growing his offense, while working on his decision-making, and his shot. I also hope that he keeps building his lower-body strength, in order to get faster. Look for him in later rounds, but don't be surprised if he's taken more in the middle.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Most of the players in this year's draft are probably not #1 Cs, and none of them is certain to be one. The strategy that makes the most sense, in the circumstances, is just to draft and develop a lot of centres that have the upside potential to reach that level. The odds are against each one of them individually, but if you draft for that kind of potential and develop well, you will eventually get the home run you need.

If you really, really need to hit the bullseye on the target range, you don't load your gun with just one bullet.

I agree to a certain extent, but the few players in this draft that have that true #1C potential are the players I mentioned. You can't draft a bunch of future #2's and hope that one turns out to be good enough to be a true top-line C. It happens, but most of the time- you have to draft early to get them.

[Sandman]

U-18 Worlds Notes:

-D Sascha Boumedienne (SWE) leads the tournament so far, with 1g, and 5a, for 6 points. It was against the Swiss though, who were blown out on Thursday by the Americans, 10-0.

-W Filip Ekberg (SWE) is second, with 4 goals and 1 assist.

-My boy Braeden Cootes is leading team Canada, with 5 points in their first game against the Slovaks, that they won 9-2.

-RW LJ Mooney (USA) has been dazzling in the first 2 games with 5 points, and C Jack Murtagh is 2nd in scoring for Team America, with 4 points.

-Finland's F Rasmus Pakarainen has 3 points in 1 game against Norway to lead the Finns.

-Also with 3 points in 1 game are Milton Gastrin (SWE), Cam Schmidt (CAN), Jakob Ihs-Wozniak (SWE), Brady Martin (CAN), Viktor Klingsell (SWE), and Adam Benak (CZE).

-Players with 3 points in 2 games are Cole McKinney (USA), Mikey Berchild (USA), Will Moore (USA), Richard Gallant (USA), Adam Novotny (CZE), and Jere Somervuori (FIN).

-Cullen Potter may only have 1 point in 2 games so far, but man is he electric. He has to be easily the fastest player in the draft, and his teammates don't seem to be able to keep up with his ideas.

-I love Jack Murtagh, Ben Kevan (1 point), and Cole McKinney. These kids have immense grit and skill at the same time.

-Will Horcoff has 2 points in 2 games, but scored the game-winner on Wednesday against the Czechs, after the Amerks were down 2-1 going into the third. He's a beauty.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I agree to a certain extent, but the few players in this draft that have that true #1C potential are the players I mentioned. You can't draft a bunch of future #2's and hope that one turns out to be good enough to be a true top-line C. It happens, but most of the time- you have to draft early to get them.

The question is, how certain can you be in determining that a 17-year-old player can never develop in to a top-line centre? Of course you can't get a #1 C by drafting a future #2. But you don't know which ones are the future #2's until the future actually arrives. There are always players, including centres, who aren't drafted in the top ten picks, despite having a high ceiling, because they are viewed as having a low probability of reaching that ceiling. Of course, most of the time they don't – which is the information scouts draw on to assess that probability. But a low probability is not the same as no chance.

I suspect that at least one player not on your very short list will eventually make the grade, and some of those on the list will not. That's usually the case, and that level of uncertainty is inherent in an 18-year-old draft.

[Nelson]

Cole Reschny would be an excellent fit, perhaps even the perfect fit based on who will likely be available. He had an NHLe of about 36.7 through the regular season, (excellent, especially for this draft class), plus his playoff production was even better, and he’s an April birthday (relatively young for the draft class)…Naturally, I think I know who Montreal’s taking at 16, with the Flames’ pick. I’m ready to be hurt.

Bill Zonnon has a nice NHLe of 30.2. But he, like Samuel Honzek, is old for his draft class. He’s an October 3rd birthday. So, I think that helps to contextualize Zonnon’s production.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Just going on the Puckpedia pick value calculator, 18th + 25th gets you pick 9 or 10. So the proposal actually isnt that far off.
18+22 gets you 8 or 9

What's this based off of? Because I don't recall that type of deal really happening. It seems really hard to move into the top 10.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

What's this based off of? Because I don't recall that type of deal really happening. It seems really hard to move into the top 10.

Hopes + Dreams