2025 NHL Draft Thread

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by dammage79

It's a fun tool but it's always a WiP. Also goes to show how not strong this draft is . Pickins get real slim after pick 20 IMO. But, the Flames have made their made for this draft, time to sleep in it. But to be fair, Tod Buttons groups has a nice little run going to mining value out of drafts so we shall see how they do.

I can also see them trying to move up, or move the picks in the right trade. I know Conny likes the draft but really, it's not that strong of a draft.

I would disagree slightly. Yes their is a pretty noticeable drop by around twenty but the next tier of about twenty are all project type of guys. Hi iq, big equals good but skates like a five year old. Big great skater major questions to ceiling or iq. Guy like wang comes to mind late first early second ranking but s lot of questions none the less

To my mind their is some gold to be mined in the second round, by round three not much. Personal opinion of course.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

The FC mock is pretty unkind to us in pick position.

Yeah, that's pretty crazy.

NJD is not going to win their division, so they would have to make the final 4 to draft 29th. And FLA would have to win the division, then not go to the final 4, while all the other division winners did go to the final 4.

It could happen, but I wouldn't bet on it.

[FlamesAddiction]

I can't do mock drafts like that and not start picking by name.

Picked Bear for sure. It made sense with the pick and the name is too cool to turn down.

Couldn't pass on picking Donny Bracco. You know with a name like that, he has connections.

There is a goalie named Mans Goos. Had to take him.

Also took Liam Pettersson with the last pick because you just know that you can get the Canucks to overpay for him one day.

[Sandman]

Ryabkin Watch, Feb.12th:

After 2g, and 1a in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Tri-City Storm, he is up to 11gp/8g/5a/13pts,+1, 31 PIM. His 1.18 ppg is tied for 6th in the USHL.

[dammage79]

For a kid that's adjusting in a short period of time that's pretty decent. Not earth shattering but I'm willing to wager he ramps up in about a month.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Swedish Edition, Vol. 11):

RW/C Theo Stockselius (6'2",181lbs)
Djurgardens (J20): 33gp/ 17g/ 26a/ 43pts, +22, 48 PIM

You might be wondering why you haven't heard of Theo Stockselius yet, with stats as eye-popping as the ones he's posted this season- he's fairly young (with a July 24th birthday) and he has a big frame, but he employs very little power, and plays at a low pace. Despite being 13th in league scoring, he has yet to receive an invite for a call-up to one of Djurgarden's higher-tier teams- which might be telling. I've always thought of him as a perimeter player, so I was a bit surprised to him ranked #14 (EU Skaters) by Central Scouting, and #47 by Craig Button- especially after watching his performance in December's World Junior A Challenge, where he posted only 2 assists in 5 games.

Stockselius is a top-flight offensive player right now, with a high level of vision and IQ for making plays, but he also owns goal-scoring instincts and sharp finishing skills in the form of keen spatial awareness, soft hands, and good timing. He's often a step or two ahead of the competition with how well he reads the ice, and always puts himself in advantageous position. He possesses a high-end deception game, including deft shot-fakes for dangerous passes, and uses delay tactics to draw pressure in order to open space. Stockselius is good around the net, and will wade through traffic to get to the crease, but he also has pinpoint accuracy on his wrist-shot- which could perhaps use more power; he displays a solid catch-and-release, and his one-timer is a bullet. Despite playing at a low pace, he manages to be disruptive on the forecheck with his long reach, and exerts a quick short-burst to pick pockets and cause turnovers. His skating is average, but his mechanics are sound, and it could be theorized that most of his mobility issues will be cleaned up as he adds strength to his lower body. He will compete in the trenches for pucks, and can play physically when needed, but he's not a hitter, and he's not particularly intense or aggressive. Stockselius doesn't really drive play, and he often defers to teammates in transition by connecting plays in give-and-go's through the neutral zone, as he's not much of a "pacey" puck-carrier.

Stockselius is actually quite reliable defensively, and is used in all situations- including the PK. In his own zone, he uses an active, well-timed stick, along with exemplary positioning, to disrupt and cause turnovers. He may have a high-end brain, but possesses no real dynamic or flashy skill, and none of his tools are truly above-average. In addition, his low-pace style may not be translatable. I can't see him being picked before the 3rd, or 4th-round of this summer's draft.

[Ba'alzamon]

Stockselius? Does he have a cousin named Sharebainen?

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Swedish Edition, Vol. 12):

LW Viktor Klingsell (5'10",183lbs)
Skelleftea (J20): 33gp/ 10g/ 15a/ 25pts, -7, 4 PIM

Klingsell turned heads last summer with the 7th-best performance all-time at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, putting up 12 points in just 5 games on a dominant line for Team Sweden, with countrymen Milton Gastrin, and 2026 Draft-eligible Ivar Stenberg. His numbers in league-play this season are rather disappointing, but that might be a reflection of the team he plays for, as Skelleftea is not very good this year- he's a much better player than his stats suggest. He has earned a cup of coffee on Skelleftea's SHL team, with no points in 3 games, and he placed 5th in scoring in December's World Junior A Challenge (2nd for Team Sweden), with 7 points in 5 games. Klingsell is a pass-first, dynamic winger with confidence, flashiness and swagger.

Klingsell's vision and awareness are his primary strengths; he sees the ice quite well, and scans with his head up in flight to always have a mental map of the play. He sees his teammates through traffic and possesses uncanny spatial awareness to locate passing seams that few others could see, often funneling pucks right to the slot. He can make cross-ice feeds through bodies for dangerous chances and can distribute around the net, going from low-to-high and even through the crease. Every pass one can dream up is in his back-pocket, be it saucers over sticks, slip-passes through triangles, even bank-passes off the boards- and he pulls them off with confidence, poise, and patience. Though he leans towards playmaking, he isn't shy about attacking the net, or cutting inside to the slot to shoot. I wouldn't say his shot is intimidating, but he employs a quick, deceptive release, as well as pinpoint accuracy. Klingsell uses an arsenal of fakes, dekes, look-offs, and other feints to manipulate opponents into giving him room to move, but it's difficult to strip him of the puck because of his terrific puckhandling skill and array of dazzling 1-on-1 moves, as well as the way he manages to use his body to shield the puck from enemy sticks- even along the wall. He skates well, and is quite shifty, but he doesn't possess elite separation speed, and isn't an explosive skater. His edges are smooth and allow him to change pace and direction in order to side-step contact, and he's quite slippery.

Klinsell has shown the ability to drive play through transition, but too often he skates right into traffic, or holds on to the puck for too long when rushing through the neutral zone. His contribution to team defense ranges from average-to-poor; he is often late to the zone on the backcheck, is often too early in leaving, and doesn't do much in the way of being disruptive, as he's not overly aggressive. There have been questions about his pace, as he likes to slow the game down at times, but that will not translate well. Klingsell is not a physical player, and isn't aggressive, and he too often keeps to the perimeter in an attempt to make plays to the inside. His lack of size, pace, and physicality, along with his deficient defensive play, might keep him out of the top-3 rounds of this summer's draft.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Swedish Edition, Vol. 13):

LD Zeb Lindgren (6'2",192lbs)
Skelleftea (J20): 31gp/ 3g/ 12a/ 15pts, +2, 72 PIM

Lindgren is a mobile, puck-moving defenseman who is tied for 36th in scoring by D in the J20, and 9th in scoring by U-18 D, but he might have better numbers on a different team, as Skelleftea is not very good this season. His play in the J20 has earned him 5 games with Skelleftea's SHL club, and he has also made stops in last summer's Hlinka (1 assist in 5 games), and in December's World Junior A Challenge (3 points in 5 games), where he impressed. Lindgren is a reliable defender in all three zones, a sound puck-mover, and a calming presence for his team. He is solid against the rush with tight gap control and an active stick to deny entries. His long reach helps him in defensive situations to break up plays and and clog lanes. Defense is his first priority, and he executes a mostly solid shutdown game, with keen awareness and smart positioning; he stays glued to his man and checks sticks proactively before the puck arrives.

In the offensive zone, Lindgren facilitates by walking the line effectively to open space for himself and teammates, and he will pinch to keep the puck alive and extend the play. His passes are crisp and accurate, and he will jump into the play if he sees a safe opportunity. He owns a hard and heavy shot that he gets on net with good frequency, and provides teammates with offensive opportunities. Mobility wise, he covers a lot of ground quickly with a long, powerful stride and excellent speed in all directions, and he is quite agile as well. Despite rather average stickhandling, his puck-control is quite good and he protects well. He uses a number of tricks and feints in his body and stick to make room for himself, or to shake off pressure when retrieving the puck, and though he's not always mistake-free, his first-pass is usually sound, and he can help the breakout with some nifty stretch-passes at times. He makes sound decisions in these situations, and appears calm and poised when moving the puck. Lindgren is a competitive workhorse who can log big minutes in important situations, and though I don't see him as a big hitter, he can be physical in finishing his checks and doesn't shy away from the rough stuff.

I've read that his play in the men's league has yielded some positive possession results, and some nice passing numbers, but his on-puck play in the pros is still a work-in-progress, as he can be pressured into mistakes, and his retrievals and breakout passes are sometimes a mixed bag. His size and strength hold up just fine though, and he has no issues keeping up to the play with his plus-level mobility. There are instances where he tries to do too much, and other times when he's caught out of position, or offering up too much space in his gaps- but these are small issues. The main issue is his projection, as he might have a good NHL-floor as a bottom-pairing shutdown defenseman, but it's uncertain what his ceiling looks like. There's a good offensive game in his repertoire though, and if he keeps developing that side of his game, I could easily see him riding shotgun with a more dynamic partner in a team's top-4. Look for him in the 3rd-round.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Swedish Edition, Vol. 14):

LW Filip Ekberg (5'10",168lbs)
Ottawa (OHL): 36gp/ 9g/ 13a/ 22pts, -5, 2 PIM

Winger Filip Ekberg set the Allsvenskan record for the youngest player to ever record a point in that league, at the age of 15- and he scored a hattrick in that game. After being drafted 33rd-overall in the 2024 CHL Import Draft, Ekberg was expected to be a top player for a rebuilding Ottawa 67's squad (who are currently 16/20 teams in the standings), but has grossly disappointed- and by all accounts, he isn't even getting top-6 ice-time. Some were even projecting him to be a first-rounder in the 2025 Draft, but those projections have evaporated, as he's currently ranked as #136 (EU Skaters) by Central Scouting. Apparently, he missed training camp with an illness, on top of having to adjust to North American ice, as well as different surroundings on a new team. Ekberg skated in last summer's Hlinka for Team Sweden, posting 2 goals and 3 points in 3 games, and he put up a mediocre 3 points in 5 games in December's World Junior A Challenge.

Ekberg's playmaking acumen is perhaps his best asset, with his high-end vision and hockey sense driving his game- he skates with his head up to scan, and makes good decisions. He creates chances off the rush and causes havok on the forecheck to force turnovers. He drives the net hard, and when installed in the zone, he is always finding holes in coverage to fill while funneling pucks to the slot, and sending dangerous passes to the middle. Ekberg has a hard shot with a lightning-quick release and pinpoint accuracy that he can fire off on the fly, but he is also adept at scoring in-tight. His one-timer is powerful, as well. He exhibits uncanny awareness in all three zones, and intelligent off-puck positioning. Ekberg is an excellent skater who can push pace, and displays shiftiness in his edges- he is very slippery and hard to catch with quick changes of pace and direction, as well as deceptive shifts of weight. His hands and his skill match his feet, with some fairly dynamic stickhandling and slick 1-on-1 moves; he pairs these skills with delays to create space, and employs manipulation with deception tactics, such as look-offs, fakes, and dekes. He expertly plays the give-and-go to contribute to clean entries through transition, and he can skate some of the more dynamic routes to carry through the neutral zone.

Ekberg is not all finesse, as he's a bit hard-nosed and gritty with a surprisingly high battle-level, and some physicality mixed in. He will take abuse and absorb hits to complete plays, and will wade into the greasy areas to win puck battles against larger opponents. He will throw his weight around to dislodge pucks, but often ends up on the losing end of physical confrontations due to his lack of size and strength- still, he's game, and there is no issue with his motor, or his compete. Ekberg anticipates the play well enough to contribute defensively, but his impact is average at best- he needs to be more aggressive, as he's not very disruptive. Players with Ekberg's size are usually expected to have better numbers, or have some elite qualities, and I'm not really seeing that here. I think he'll be a mid-round pick at best this summer, and he may have to wait until even later to be chosen.

[Nelson]

So far, I want the Flames to get 2/3 of Cole Reschny, Carter Bear and Ben Kindel with their picks in the 1st round.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Nelson

So far, I want the Flames to get 2/3 of Cole Reschny, Carter Bear and Ben Kindel with their picks in the 1st round.

Same here, but I'm willing to add Ryabkin if he's falling.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Same here, but I'm willing to add Ryabkin if he's falling.

Hard call with him . Clearly the skill is there so whats the cause of the massive drop? Physical? Not likely.
Circumstantial? Not where he thought he would be? Disliking the coach?
Or is he an attitude? That usually cant be fixed.

P. S.
Would be pleasantly surprised if bear was there

[Ped]

Wheeler's February rankings are out.


https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/610...ler-midseason/


Top 10:


Schaefer
Misa
Hagens
Martone
Desnoyers
Frondell
McQueen
Mrtka
Eklund
Carbonneau

[robertsfanatic]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Same here, but I'm willing to add Ryabkin if he's falling.

i will start by saying that i have not really dug into this too much but why wouldn't we want this guy if he is available? he looks to be pretty skilled...

i assumed it was because he might not come to NA but he's here now.

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Hard call with him . Clearly the skill is there so whats the cause of the massive drop? Physical? Not likely.
Circumstantial? Not where he thought he would be? Disliking the coach?
Or is he an attitude? That usually cant be fixed.

P. S.
Would be pleasantly surprised if bear was there

It's obviously not the whole story, but one problem is Russia seemingly doesn't know how to develop centers. Think about it: if there was a Team Russia at the current tournament, who would be down the middle? Malkin and... Marat Khusnutdinov? They would get to converted wingers pretty quickly.

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by robertsfanatic

i will start by saying that i have not really dug into this too much but why wouldn't we want this guy if he is available? he looks to be pretty skilled...

i assumed it was because he might not come to NA but he's here now.

This is what Mckenzie had to say based on his scout surveying, so it looks like he just hasn't impressed enough at this point... He dropped him from 5 to 19.

But Ryabkin’s season got off to an inauspicious beginning and he terminated his contract with Dynamo Moscow to join the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL. He scored three goals in his first four games before getting a three-game suspension for slew-footing. He’s back playing now.

Scouts are still hopeful he’ll re-establish his game and move back up the ladder into Top 10 contention, but if he fails to get traction in the USHL, he could slip and slide some more.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/matthew-schae...king-1.2240142

And this is what Scott Wheeler had to say about him today, after dropping him from 5 to 17 on his list today:

His work rate wavers, though, and there were some rumblings about him not being the easiest kid to play with/coach even before this season. (...) It’s hard to find centers with his skill and offensive sense/intuition, and he remains a top player on talent in this class, but there’s a very wide range of opinions on him, he’d go lower than where I have him if the draft were held today (I wouldn’t even be surprised if he went in the second round), and he’s now going to have to continue to prove himself.

I thought about ranking him lower here and he may well finish further down my list. A lot rides on how he looks in the next couple of months — more so for him than maybe any other player in this class.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/610...ler-midseason/

[SuperMatt18]

Depends on how the draft goes and if the Flames 2 picks end in the 20s and Ryabkin is there then they should take him.

Attitude and personality be damned.

He's the type of home run swing you need to take to get a potential top line center if the team isn't going to be picking top 5.

[Tbull8]

Its almost comical how perfect Misa is for the flames, but they just arent going to be bad enough.
We have one of his best friend and his brother in the system. We desperately need centers

Pain

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Depends on how the draft goes and if the Flames 2 picks end in the 20s and Ryabkin is there then they should take him.

Attitude and personality be damned.

He's the type of home run swing you need to take to get a potential top line center if the team isn't going to be picking top 5.

Whether or not he's the guy to take that homerun swing on, I absolutely agree that, with 2 late 1sts, you have to use at least one of them taking a swing for the fences.