2025 NHL Draft Thread

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Reading all the scouting reports, and seeing some videos of McQueen add that to his injury history I just don't think he is worth the risk. He also seems to project more as a winger with the playstyle I have read in the scouting reports.

All factors you have to weigh.
But taking advantage of a guy dropping because an injury is the type of bet you consider to try and get a better player further down the draft.
Because if not for the injury he's in the top 6 or higher.

At some point the upside outweighs the risk.

I wouldn't use a top 10 pick on him.
But 18? Maybe. Depending on what they know and don't know about the injury.

[fotze2]

Rather no Lakovic if all all else was equal. Dad was bonkers and this seems Sus.

https://www.kelownacapnews.com/sport...season-3241583

[Yanda]

Unless they think one of the other centers is a homerun I would 100% take Mcqueen with 18 if he falls. I just dont trust the previous regime to develop those players, look how they handled Monahan and Bennett.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by fotze2

Rather no Lakovic if all all else was equal. Dad was bonkers and this seems Sus.

https://www.kelownacapnews.com/sport...season-3241583

Max Wanner, oilers prospect is a problem. The material just writes itself

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems Edition, Vol. 60):

LW/C Shawn Carrier (5'10",181lbs)
Halifax (QMJHL): 59gp/ 18g/ 26a/ 44pts, -14, 48 PIM

The Halifax Mooseheads squeaked into the QMJHL playoffs this spring, finishing the regular season in 16th-place out of 18 teams, while compiling the second-worst goals-for in the entire CHL (155 goals). Even more interesting was the Mooseheads' first-round victory in their series against the Drummondville Voltigeurs, though they were subsequently swept by the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the Quarter-Finals. F Shawn Carrier (ranked # 148 NA Skaters), who was selected 6th-overall by Moncton in the 2023 QMJHL Draft, was second in team-scoring for the Mooseheads, and only 2 points behind the leader, Liam Kilfoil, with 44 points in 59 games- quite impressive on a team like Halifax. Both Kilfoil and Carrier finished in a tie for 3rd in playoff scoring, both posting 5 points in 11 games, with Carrier racking up 32 penalty-minutes. Call him a "pocket power-forward"- he's a skilled, speedy, and energetic winger who plays a direct, north-south style, affects the play in all three zones, employs a physical game, and is trusted on both sides of special teams. His mostly chip-and-chase approach is facilitated by his breakaway speed and explosiveness, and his ability to put defenders on their heels with his supreme pace. There aren't too many players in the Q who can beat him in a race, or catch up to him after he blows by them, which draws a lot of penalties. His feet are always in-motion, and he displays excellent agility on his edges; he can beat defenders wide, and is highly elusive with quick changes of pace and direction to sidestep checks and spin off of hits- making him an even bigger problem for his opponents.

Carrier is a character kid, and his coaches call him a "heart and soul player"- he's intense, with a high-end motor and an overwhelming compete level. Despite being short in stature, he never backs down from the rough stuff, and in fact- he initiates contact early and often to create a bit of room, and to provide his team with advantages. With a robust board-game, he gets inside hands, wins battles in hard areas with grit and determination, plays through contact, and will bowl opponents over if they come between him and the puck. He plays much bigger than his size, leaning into opponents to push his way around, or drive inside as if he was 6'2", and he's like a wrecking ball- hitting hard, and hitting often, trying to put his targets into the 5th-row. On the forecheck, he's like a dog on a bone, finishing checks and causing turnovers with his tenacity and pace, and will even pin defenders to the wall to neutralize breakouts. He keeps his head on a swivel, and manages contact well. Primarily a playmaker, he leverages his ability to read gaps, and often changes pace and direction to open seams, hitting his teammates through traffic with skilled passing and acute timing; he possesses excellent anticipation, and can drive play. Carrier displays top-tier vision and a high IQ, but alot of his more complex ideas go unrequited in Halifax- although he does seem to have good chemistry with Kilfoil. He employs a mostly simple game that's devoid of much flashiness, but he is blessed with plus-level puck skill and tight protection ability that allows him to challenge opponents one-on-one with his repertoire of slick stickhandling tricks, and he can weave around traffic with deft fakes, hesitations, and feints. For extra spacing, he uses contact to push back in battles, and is proficient at using reverse-hits to make a little more room to operate.

Like any true power-forward, he drives the net with aplomb, shows no fear in attacking the middle with-and-without the puck for looks, and owns a hard shot with fair precision and a snappy release. Though he needs work on his finishing skills, he displays soft hands in-tight, keen hand-eye coordination for tipping shots, quick reflexes for converting rebounds, and a willingness to battle for positioning in front of the net. Carrier excels on the backcheck, from disrupting the opposing team's breakout, to upending their rush through the neutral zone, to snuffing their cycle, employing sharp defensive awareness in all areas, a well-positioned stick with good timing, and intelligent positioning. With his aggression and intensity, he racks up steals, causes turnovers aplenty, forces dump-ins, pokes away passes, and angles attackers away from danger. He is a trusted penalty-killer, and is said to be good in face-offs. He makes smart plays off of retrievals to kickstart the breakout, and is an important contributor to the Mooseheads' transition- and though he skates mostly straight-line routes in his carries, he pushes defenders back to create room for teammates. To push the puck up-ice, he will engage in give-and-go's to achieve clean entries, and isn't at all shy about dumping the puck-in or using chip-and-chase plays. Carrier plays a rather pro-style game, but will need to get stronger if he wants to employ the same style in the pros. He could maybe use a bit more dynamism in his offensive game (though it's hard to tell in Halifax) in order to be less predictable, but his only real flaw right now is his finishing skills, and his lack of size. Stylistically speaking, I have read that some scouts compare him to Brad Marchand, but he reminds me of a poor-man's Brayden Point, with his staunch 200-ft game. Look for him in the middle rounds, but any team would be wise to take him earlier, as he'll be ripping up the Q in a season or two.

[sch19lks]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Max Wanner, oilers prospect is a problem. The material just writes itself

F the Oilers, but Wanner was traded to Boston in the Frederic trade

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems Edition, Vol. 61):

LD Rio Kaiser (6'7",207lbs)
Peterborough (OHL): 25gp/ 1g/ 5a/ 6pts, -14, 42 PIM

German rearguard Rio Kaiser (ranked # 140 NA Skaters) was chosen in the 1st-round of the 2023 CHL Import Draft, 31st-overall, by the Peterborough Petes- who were able to bring the monster defenseman across the pond in January, right after he made a two-game appearance in the World Junior Championships for his homeland (0 points). Until that point, Kaiser had been playing in 3 different tiers of hockey (the same as he did in 2023-24), with 2 games in the U20 Junior league (no points and 27 PIM), 7 games in the second-tier pro league (2 assists in 7 games), and another 7 games in the top men's league (no points). Kaiser joined a Petes team that finished dead-last in the OHL this season, with the worst goals-for in the league- Willkommen in Kanada, junger Mann! While he was still adjusting to playing in North America when the season in Peterborough concluded, he has shown himself to be a humongous, physical defenseman with good mobility, who is still quite raw.

There are plenty of times when he's not moving his feet nearly enough, and he's seen gliding quite a bit, but he possesses surprising mobility when he gets going, with an elongated and powerful stride that looks projectable and fluid, on long legs. He accelerates reasonably well to a top-speed that allows him to keep up with smaller forwards on the rush. His agility and edges are also decent, giving him the capacity to make sharp cuts, and transition quickly. Kaiser is a punishing hitter, with a robust physical game and a willingness to drop the gloves; he's also a little mean, delivering an extra shot or two to his prey after a hit, and using crosschecks or slashes whenever he can. He throws his considerable weight around to dislodge pucks, dominates down-low, makes life difficult for opponents in front of the net, and can rock opponents in open-ice; his style intimidates and agitates, and he's a regular presence in post-whistle scrums. Attackers are hopelessly immobilized and neutralized when he ties them up and pins them to the wall- much like a fly in the spider's web. Kaiser was still trying to figure things out, but he can make some plays and can move the puck when given time and space. His breakouts are wildly inconsistent, but he has shown the ability to connect on some higher-end feeds when he gets the time to scan for options; even still, he usually keeps his passes short and simple, and will dump it out or clear the puck off the glass quite often. He will join the rush to attack soft spots in the slot, and has shown a willingness to activate into the play from the line. He owns a booming point shot that he gets on net with fair frequency to make plays for teammates, and he holds the line well to extend offensive-zone time for his team. Keeping his play safe and simple, he relies on risk-free distribution and dump-ins, as he gets in trouble when he tries to get too fancy.

Kaiser has improved his play against the rush by keeping his feet moving more, and was executing sound gap-control by the end of the year, with an active stick to angle opponents to the boards, then surfing across the ice quickly to close them out. At times, he's was still showing difficulty in-zone against the cycle, and was still guilty of planting his feet to puck-watch, which took him out of the play and made him late to engage attackers- his defensive awareness needs an upgrade. Even still, his enormous range is difficult for opponents to navigate when he stays active, and he uses his reach well- timing his poke-checks to disguise his wingspan. Through transition, he pushes the puck up-ice and supports the play with short passes, but can also carry through the neutral zone once in a while, showing decent puck-skills and control in-motion to evade defenders, and even challenge them one-on-one at times. Kaiser's age works against him, with an October 7th, 2006 birthday, and it seems widely accepted that he will be a bit of a project for the team that drafts him, but his blend of size, mobility, and physicality will definitely interest scouts. He still takes himself out of the play looking for the big hit, and has plenty of things in his game that he needs to clean up- particularly his on-puck play under pressure, and his mistakes in the defensive zone. Look for him in later rounds this summer.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems Edition, Vol. 62):

LW Aiden Young (5'10",181lbs)
Peterborough (OHL): 65gp/ 13g/ 20a/ 33pts, -11, 37 PIM

Winger Aiden Young (ranked # 200 NA Skaters) was known as a prolific offensive producer in lower levels, and wore a "C" on many of those teams, leading to him being chosen in the first-round of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection, 16th-overall, by the Saginaw Spirit. Another indication of how highly regarded Young was, is that he was the centerpiece coming back to Peterborough (along with 3 picks) in the trade that brought Canadiens prospect Owen Beck to Saginaw in January of 2024. Unfortunately for Young, the Petes were the worst team in the league this year, as well as the lowest-scoring, which destroyed his chances of showing what he can truly do offensively. Incredibly, his 33 points were good enough for 2nd in scoring on the Petes, and only 4 points away from the lead. Young is a skilled and intelligent 200-ft player who can contribute to both special teams, and desperately needs a change of scenery ASAP. With excellent offensive instincts and a sky-high IQ, he funnels pucks to the slot, and is able to manufacture space for himself and his teammates. He sees the ice well, makes quick decisions, and consistently puts his teammates in advantageous positions, although it often doesn't result in points on a weak Petes team- who are a black hole possession-wise. At this year's OHL Top Prospects Game, given time to work with in the offensive zone, he put up 2 assists and was one of the top players for either team, in my opinion. In any situation, he is a high-motor player, staying active and involved with a lofty compete level.

Young skates with his head up to scan his surroundings, and constantly shoulder-checks, exhibiting superb puck-skill and soft-touch passing ability to exert precision and poise in his playmaking, with near-pristine puck-management at top-speed. Despite his lack of size, he gets off the wall with the puck a lot, and often sneaks around in the slot undetected, with good timing to position himself to strike when the puck arrives for high-danger chances in-tight. He sniffs out space to occupy around the net, and drives the crease with purpose for loose pucks. He manages to get good zip on his shot, with a fair amount of deception in his release, but he needs to upgrade his power and precision. With NHL-caliber skating, his mobility is well above-average for the CHL, although he may not currently possess game-breaking speed; he owns a fluid and projectable stride that could perhaps use a bit more explosiveness, and he will most likely obtain it as he gets stronger. In addition, his edges are smooth and strong, giving him impressive maneuverability and amazing lateral agility. Young holds tremendous value in transition as the main driver for the Petes, with the speed and pace to push defenders back to make room at the top of the zone for trailers and open space down the middle, as well as the agility and handling to skate complex routes through the neutral zone. He has the patience to delay in order to wait for the right play to develop by drawing defenders towards him, but there's still a lot of chip-and-chase plays and dump-ins in Peterborough.

Even with his size disadvantage, he brings physicality in the form of hard bodychecks to separate man from puck, and wins more than his fair-share of board-battles. He will play through contact, wriggles free from pins, and will take a hit to make a play. On the forecheck, he attacks with tenacity and physicality, hounds puck-carriers relentlessly, and causes turnovers and uncontrolled play, with a high number of takeaways and steals from behind. Off the puck, Young is highly intelligent and well-positioned to not only support his team's play in all three zones, but also to disrupt and frustrate opponents in all areas. He works to be a constant playable option for his teammates. If all else were to fail, he would still be a highly responsible player, exhibiting advanced defensive awareness, with good habits and keen attention to detail. He backchecks diligently, pressuring attackers in all three zones- starting with disrupting retrievals, to hounding opponents on the breakout, to defending the cycle in the defensive zone. He supports his D down low, and subs-in for them at the net-front when they forced to leave their post. Most nights, Young is the best forward on the Petes, and would no doubt be talked about a lot more if he were on a different team, but because he plays for the lowly Petes, and also due to his size limitations, his draft-status will be negatively affected- and he may not even be drafted this summer. It's a shame, but if he's chosen, look for him in later rounds.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems Edition, Vol. 63):

LW Maxim Schafer (6'4",187lbs)
Eisbaren Berlin (DEL): 31gp/ 1g/ 2a/ 3pts, +2, 6 PIM
Eisbaren Juniors Berlin (U20): 15gp/ 12g/ 23a/ 35pts, 2 PIM

I read somewhere earlier this season that big winger Maxim Schafer (ranked # 102 EU Skaters) was turning some heads in the scouting world. While his NHL-upside is questionable, he's a fairly well-rounded player in Germany (and internationally), with the most meat-and-potatoes game possible, and can contribute in all situations. Schafer had a very busy season, with stops at last summer's Hlinka (1 assist in 4 games), the WJC (3 points in 5 games, to place 3rd in scoring for Germany), and the most recent U-18 tournament (3 goals in 5 games, while wearing an "A", placing 6th in scoring for the Germans). In between International events, he was 2nd in the German U20 league in points-per-game (2.33 ppg), and had stops in the second-tier men's league with Lavsitzer Fuchse (no points in 3 games), and in the top professional circuit for Eisbaren Berlin, with 3 points in limited minutes over 31 games. Perhaps the most alluring trait in Schafer's toolkit is that he skates very well for a player his size, with a solid top-speed when he gets going. He's not getting the most out of his stride though, as he's not extending fully, and he could use more explosiveness in his first few steps, with better acceleration. His edgework needs improvement as well, as does his short-area quickness. He's strong on his skates with good balance, and hard to move or push off of the puck.

Not a play-driver or a creator, Schafer makes his living in front of the net and employs a very simple, straight-forward game. He will plant himself in front of the net to battle for positioning, set-up an immoveable screen, and fish for second-chance opportunities. He drives the net off-puck with his stick on the ice for high-danger passes, and occupies space in the slot and around the net- looking for a chance to clean up garbage around the crease. While he's considered to be a hard-working and tenacious player, he's mostly a supporter in transition, relying on teammates to do most of the carrying, with his entries being mostly dump-ins, or chip-and-chase plays. Schafer plays a heavy game with plenty of grit, which is remarkable when considering how few penalties he takes, and is a fixture in post-whistle shenanigans. He finishes his checks, dishing out hits early and often, and consistently wins inside position along the boards, competes hard in battles, and digs pucks out for his linemates. Defensively, he shows an effort in backtracking and hustles hard on the backcheck; in the zone, he exhibits good positioning and exerts his enormous range and long reach to cause disruption, apply pressure on attackers, and intercept passes. He is engaged and intense in penalty-killing scenarios, removing space and time with his aggressiveness. He relentlessly hounds puck-carriers in all three zones, and forechecks with purpose- barreling in on opponents with intimidating speed and physicality. Even still, his effort and engagement have their ebbs and flows; he is too stationary at times against the cycle in the defensive zone, and he can be guilty of puck-watching at times. Schafer needs plenty of work on his puck-skill, as he has trouble with handling and controlling while in-motion, shows difficulty in tight-spaces, and struggles with his receptions at times when in full-flight. Schafer's upside is questionable at best, but I wouldn't doubt that there are scouts who love his size, mobility, and snarl. Look for him in later rounds, if at all.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Yanda

Unless they think one of the other centers is a homerun I would 100% take Mcqueen with 18 if he falls. I just dont trust the previous regime to develop those players, look how they handled Monahan and Bennett.

The current Flames regime is 80 per cent the same as the previous regime.

Flames braintrust 2023:

Murray Edwards
Don Maloney
Brad Treliving
Dave Nonis
Craig Conroy
Brad Pascall

Flames braintrust 2025:

Murray Edwards
Don Maloney
Brad Treliving
Dave Nonis
Craig Conroy
Brad Pascall

This notion on CP that the Flames are being run by dramatically different management than in the Treliving era is mistaken. Todays NHL management model is highly collaborative, and this is largely the same group that ran the team three years ago.

[iloveicedhockey]

Are you saying Treliving works for both us and the leafs?

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems Edition, Vol. 64):

LD Liam Pettersson (6'2",170lbs)
Vaxjo Lakers (J20): 39gp/ 6g/ 15a/ 21pts, -5, 8 PIM

I was surprised to see D Liam Pettersson ranked as the # 28 European Skater by Central Scouting, especially with no time-served on International teams- which is a little concerning. Even though he was given a 5-game audition in the SHL, he still spent an inordinate amount of time this season at the J18 level for a player ranked so high, with 1 game for Vaxjo's J18 Nationell affiliate (no points with 22 PIM), and 7 games in the lower J18 Region (5 assists in 7 games). He was assigned to the J18 Nationell team for their playoff push, and racked up 6 goals, 11 points, and 29 PIM in just 5 games. The Vaxjo Lakers of the J20 weren't a very good team this season though, as they were featured in relegation play, which might make his numbers there look more enticing. Pettersson is listed at 6'0", and 145lbs by some outlets, which is an old measurement, and that leads me to believe that he may have gone through a fairly recent growth spurt- which of course, can be hard to adjust to. Even without the growth spurt, it's obvious that he's quite physically raw, weighing only 170lbs at 6'2". Pettersson is an offensive defenseman with puck-moving potential, and can contribute in all situations.

Pettersson is definitely not a burner, but he skates well with a smooth and fluid stride, along with solid agility on his edges for smooth transitions, lateral quickness, and the ability to move around in tight areas. With finely tuned mechanics, he should easily be an NHL-caliber skater as he develops and gains strength. Walking the line effectively, he holds the zone well and stays active to open space, create passing seams, and establish shooting lanes. He keeps pucks alive to extend offensive zone time, and distributes well, but he will also activate into the play when he sees the opportunity. With a bullet of a shot from the point, he shoots to make plays but also has the power and precision to beat goalies, with a clever use of screens and plenty of deception to manipulate defenders, in the form of fakes and look-offs. Pettersson's puck-movement and transition game are big selling points; he shakes off pressure in retrievals with poise and patience, and he shows a good success rate with his proficiency in executing clean breakouts- which usually find their mark. He can stretch the ice on occasion with his outlet feeds, and hit his targets across the ice with crisp passes, but he can also skate the puck through exit and entry with his puck-control and footwork if he spots an opportunity. He's calm and composed under pressure with the puck, and understands space-creation, as well as how to draw pressure through delays and deception. Displaying well-developed puck-skill and passing ability, he has the vision and IQ to see through traffic, and to connect on some high-end feeds at times.

Defensively, Pettersson has plenty of work to do; he owns a long reach, and positions himself well in the defensive zone most of the time, but he lacks aggression and urgency, and needs to learn better details. When defending the rush, he gives attackers too much space to move around, and needs to vastly improve his angling, and tighten up his gap-control considerably. He can lose his man in a crowd, being seemingly deficient in both his decision-making and his awareness, and he's too weak to defend his net well enough. While he may not be physically strong, he still could be using his frame to his advantage, but he just doesn't initiate contact nearly enough; he loses a lot of board battles due to a lack of strength, but is also way too passive. There are plenty of projectable elements here, but plenty of things to work on- most notably, his mass and strength. Look for Petey in the later rounds.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Yanda

Unless they think one of the other centers is a homerun I would 100% take Mcqueen with 18 if he falls. I just dont trust the previous regime to develop those players, look how they handled Monahan and Bennett.

What was wrong with how they developed Monahan?

[dammage79]

Yeah what? Monahan was legit right out of the gates. And don't forget he was the highest scoring player out of that draft for years until Mak finally blew up. They did screw up Bennett. But he has some blame to shoulder for that too.

[Monahammer]

If McQueen is there at 18 you run to the podium.

[Toonage]

Just don't make him run to the podium

[dammage79]

Yeah, McQueen is worth the risk at 18.

If I was making the picks my preference would be
18. McQueen or Ryabkin
22-27. Gastrin-Ryabkin

I also suggest leaving "the board" list out of the equation this draft. I don't think there's a consensus pathway from 1st overall to 32 overall. It's gonna be all over the place compared to conventional lists.

[Enoch Root]

I continue to hope that McQueen falls to us at 18.

[Bingo]

Added two more rankings including FC hockey that blows out the list to 300 names.

Top Ten

Player	Position	Average
M Schaefer	D	1.14
Michael Misa	C	2.00

James Hagens	C	3.29
Porter Martone	RW	4.29
Anton Frondell	C	5.86

Victor Eklund	LW	7.00
C Desnoyers	C	7.57

Radim Mrtka	D	9.43
Roger McQueen	C	9.86
Jake O'Brien	C	10.57

Gap into Flames Range

11	Jackson Smith	D	11.43

12	Carter Bear	C	14.00

13	Brady Martin	C	16.57
14	Lynden Lakovic	LW	16.71
15	Cullen Potter	C	17.67

16	Malcolm Spence	LW	19.17
17	J Carbonneau	RW	19.50
18	Logan Hensler	D	19.86
19	Braeden Cootes	C	20.00
20	K Aitcheson	D	20.14
21	Cameron Reid	D	20.17
22	Cole Reschny	C	21.20

23	Benjamin Kindel	RW	22.83
24	Cam Schmidt	RW	24.00

[looooob]

Originally Posted by sch19lks

F the Oilers, but Wanner was traded to Boston in the Frederic trade

one of the 4 players named in the incident is still in their system however