2025 NHL Draft Thread

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Swedish Edition, Vol. 17):

RD Karl Annborn (6'1",187lbs)
HV71 (J20): 32gp/ 2g/ 17a/ 19pts, +4, 10 PIM

I didn't come away with the best assessment of Annborn from last year's U-18 Championship (1 assist in 7 games), as I thought he was a dime-a-dozen stay-at-home defender who was way too "low-event", and "vanilla" to ever be drafted. It's true that he's a meat-and-potatoes shutdown defenseman who plays a very low-event style, but he's added a more exciting two-way, offensive element this season, and is a much more well-rounded player. Right now, he is tied for 16th in scoring by defensemen in the J20, and is 3rd for defensemen under-18, winning him the rank of # 31 amongst EU Skaters by Central Scouting, and earning him 2 games so far with HV71's SHL squad. Annborn looked like a different player in December's WJAC, and though he only posted 2 points in 6 games, he looked much more commanding and assertive, but still remarkably smart, efficient, and mostly risk-free. Instead of looking like a stay-at-home defender, he is now reliable in all three zones.

I'm surprised at how willing Annborn is these days to activate in the offensive zone, and by how much ground he covers when running the play from the blueline. He is so good at holding the line, and so smooth in keeping active to open passing seams and pry open space for teammates. His passes are safe and simple, but often dangerous, and he will pinch into the play to keep pucks alive, but also to search for chances when the coast is clear. There were plenty of instances where Annborn could be spotted sneaking in on the weak side, all the way to the net for a shot at challenging the goalie. I wouldn't say his shot is too threatening, but he can get it on net through traffic with consistency, creating havoc in front of the net, and providing teammates with opportunities. Annborn brings a calm, stabilizing presence to the backend- he doesn't get rattled, and is a highly effective shutdown defender who gets plenty of defensive-zone starts. His positioning is immaculate, his gap control is infallible, and his stick is a play-killer. His hockey sense is top-notch, and allows him to seal off plays proactively by lifting sticks and setting picks before the puck arrives. Annborn's retrievals are a thing of beauty, as he rarely makes a mistake, and performs this task with uncommon fluidity. From there, he makes smart, simple plays on breakouts, and has the same effectiveness in the neutral zone- keeping the play flowing in the right direction, and making the whole sequence look easy in the process.

Annborn is an above-average, fluid skater with excellent mobility in all directions, and is agile with smooth edges to elude attackers. His stickhandling is also well-developed, and his puck-control makes it very hard to steal the puck from him. He is not a ruthless hitter, but he finishes his checks and plays a reasonably physical style. I'm very impressed with the strides Annborn has made this season- he is a reliable player with a very high IQ, and excellent hockey sense. I would definitely classify him as a safe pick, but with no true high-end physical attributes, or any dynamic traits, I wouldn't say he has the highest ceiling. Perhaps he could ride shotgun on a second-pairing with a more flashy partner, and provide solid defense with quality puck-movement- but there may be potential for more. Look for him in the 3rd-round, with a chance at slipping into the 2nd.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Swedish Edition, Vol. 18):

LHC Mikkel Eriksen (5'11",185lbs)
Farjestad (J20): 33gp/ 16g/ 20a/ 36pts, +4, 8 PIM

One of the best things about C Mikkel Eriksen (who is actually Norwegian) is that he's the youngest player in the 2025 draft-class, with a Sept.13th, 2007 birthday. The nephew of Espen Knutsen (remember him?) has been impressive when representing his home country internationally, posting 4 goals and 5 points in the 2024 U-18 Tournament for Norway, and 4 points in 5 games in the 2025 WJC-D1A. He is ranked by Central Scouting as the # 94 EU Skater. Eriksen is very much a natural C with a sound 200-ft game, and is fairly balanced when it comes to offense. He is very middle-driven, and reads the ice well, with the ability to drive play. He owns solid instincts, as well as sharply-honed passing skills, with the vision to make high-value plays sending crisp, accurate feeds through traffic- often cross-ice, or cross-crease. He is also a good finisher who can score pretty goals, or cash in on garbage goals, going to the net for rebounds and loose pucks. Eriksen plays well around the crease, both in passing and shooting, and drives inside for chances. He employs a rather workmanlike approach, and isn't too flashy.

Eriksen has a fairly deep arsenal of shots to choose from, all with a quick and deceptive release, and moves intelligently off-puck- floating around in the slot, dipping in-and-out of high-danger to open space, and present his stick as a passing option. Skating-wise, he is well above average in the speed department with superb elusiveness on the strength of smooth edges, that provide him with shiftiness and escapability. With his quick acceleration and his balance, he can often blow by defenders, and separate in open ice. He has a number of slick 1-on-1 moves and deception tactics that add to his evasiveness, but he is also uncommonly hard on the puck, and protects so well that he can maintain possession even under physical pressure. Eriksen isn't really overwhelmingly physical, but he doesn't shy away from contact- he finishes his checks, battles for pucks in the trenches, and wins position in front of the net. Several times a game it would seem, he levies reverse-hits along the boards to make a little room for himself. From what I've seen, he's fairly good on faceoffs, and he plays a tight defensive game by reading his opponents well, and exerting pristine positioning to proactively cover his man and take his stick. He removes the middle as an option with excellent use of his stick, and pressures attackers all over the zone. His off-puck game is one of his finest attributes, as he seems to always be in the right place, at the right time, while always open and playable. He makes movements with the goal of opening up space by drawing opponents, even when not in possession.

Eriksen holds tremendous value as a transitional player- he can carry through clean exit and controlled entry, and traverses the neutral zone with pace to push back defenders. He skates intelligent routes, uses manipulation by deception, and makes quick, smart passes. Eriksen reminds me of some recent players from the J20 who were 2nd-rounders in 2023, in Felix Unger-Sorum, Felix Nilsson, and Oscar Fisker-Molgaard, but these players were a bit more dynamic than Eriksen, and perhaps more skilled. They also spent some time in higher leagues, and Eriksen has yet to be rewarded with a call-up. Eriksen needs to add an extra gear to his skating, and has to add strength, but I think he could possibly be a middle-six center (perhaps more likely a winger) in the NHL at some point. Look for him in the 3rd-round.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Holy hell.. Espen Knutsen! Funny enough, when the Flames drafted Emilio Pettersen and I was trying to remember former Norwegian players, I still didn't remember Knutsen. One of the great unforgettable hockey names that I somehow completely forgot about!

[Sandman]

IIRC, it was Knutsen who fired the puck that deflected off of Denis Gauthier’s stick that killed that little girl in Columbus. He was devastated.

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by Sandman

IIRC, it was Knutsen who fired the puck that deflected off of Denis Gauthier’s stick that killed that little girl in Columbus. He was devastated.

It was Derek Morris' stick

[Sandman]

Feb.14th Draft Update:

-C Mike Misa is still leading the OHL in scoring (by 12 points!), with over 2 ppg. In his last 10 games, he has posted 24 points, for 49gp/47g/56a/103pts,+37, 33 PIM.

-RW Porter Martone has put up 25 points in 16 games (which is a slump for him) since returning from the World Juniors, for 6th in the OHL, with 42gp/27g/52a/79pts,+16, 55 PIM.

-C Jake O'Brien has moved into 8th in the OHL scoring race, after putting up 21 points in the last 10 games, for 53gp/27g/49a/76pts,-6, 16 PIM. Pure playmaker, but he's decided to score some goals this year.

-LW Kristian Epperson, who is in his D+1, has slipped to 21st in OHL scoring after posting 10 points in the last 10 games, for 45gp/20g/41a/61pts,+39, 70 PIM. He is 7th-overall in plus/minus. Epperson is a yankee, but he's fierce and physical, and plays solid defense while riding shotgun with Mike Misa.

-LW Malcolm Spence has slipped to 32nd in OHL scoring, after posting 7 points in his last 10. 49gp/21g/32a/53pts,+10, 40 PIM. Physical winger with a pro-style, two-way game.

-C Brady Martin has picked it up offensively lately, with 16 points in his last 10 games, for 43gp/25g/23a/48pts,+13, 56 PIM. One of my favorites, he is a mean, physical, two-way C who's production has been stunted somewhat by playing on a rather bad team in the Soo Greyhounds.

-Another player I like, C Ethan Czata, has only managed 10 points in his last 15 games, to put him in 45th place in the OHL scoring race, with 52gp/18g/30a/48pts,-6, 58 PIM. He's got size (6'1") and plays a physical, two-way style.

-C Jack Nesbitt has 10 points in his last 15 games as well, for 53gp/18g/30a/48pts,+11, 49 PIM. He's 6'4",and a power forward with a physical style.

-Kitchener D Cameron Reid has slipped in the standings as well, but has 14 points in the last 15 games, for 54gp/10g/34a/44pts,+27, 29 PIM. He is 7th in scoring by D, and is tied for 17th-overall in plus/minus. He's a six-footer, but obviously plays an excellent two-way game for the second-best team by points in the league.

-C Tyler Hopkins is tied for 61st in OHL scoring, with 51gp/15g/27a/42pts,-2, 14 PIM, after 14 points in his last 15. He plays on Kingston's second line, but he's a speedster and a fine two-way player in his own right.

-C Luca Romano was once cruising along at near ppg pace, but he has slid considerably with only 9 points in his last 20 games. He's now tied for 73rd in scoring, with 53gp/19g/20a/39pts,+2, 14 PIM.

-Hard-nosed D Keshawn Aitcheson is 12th in scoring by D, with 14 points in the last 15 games. 48gp/17g/22a/39pts,+9, 73 PIM. He is 3rd in goals for defensemen.

-D Henry Brzustewicz has slid to 16th in scoring by D, with 10 points in the last 15. 50gp/9g/25a/34pts,+16, 64 PIM. Don't judge him on points, as he plays behind some of the CHL's best defensemen on a very deep London Knights squad. When some of the older D leave for greener pastures next year, he will explode offensively. Bru has it all- size, skating, snarl, and two-way acumen.

-D Carson Cameron is another blueliner whose numbers don't reflect his true ability. He plays for one of the CHL's worst (and lowest-scoring) teams, in the Peterborough Petes, but has still managed to place 40th in scoring by D, with 48gp/7g/14a/21pts,-22, 20 PIM. I would be shocked if he wasn't taken in the top-3 rounds of the draft.

-LW Shamar Moses, a 6'1" power-forward, also has 10 points in his last 15 games, for the 18th-placed North Bay Battalion. 48gp/11g/28a/39pts,-14, 31 PIM.

-C Caleb Desnoyers is second in ppg (1.51) in the Q, 7th in scoring, and second in plus/minus, with 45gp/30g/38a/68pts,+41, 26pts. This kid is an absolute beauty, with size, speed, and a dominant two-way game.

-RW Justin Carbonneau has moved up to 5th spot in the Q scoring race, with 48gp/36g/33a/69pts,+4, 49 PIM, after 10 points in his last 5 games. He's a 6'2" speedster with soft hands, and a bit of a chip on his shoulder.

-LW/C Bill Zonnon is tied with Desnoyers for 7th in scoring, with 50gp/26g/42a/68pts,+2, 26 PIM, after 10 points in his last 10.

-Carbonneau's co-pilot, C Mateo Nobert, is tied for 18th in Q scoring, with 48gp/24g/32a/56pts,-3, 22 PIM, after 10 points in his last 10. He's a playmaker with a fairly robust physical game, despite measuring only 6'0",168lbs.

-LW Philippe Veilleux has been eating the Q for breakfast lately, and with 35 points in his last 18 games since the beginning of January, he has skyrocketed into a tie for 3rd in Q scoring, with 51gp/33g/37a/70pts,-9, 12 PIM. It will be interesting to see where he's picked in the draft, as he's only 5'9",165lbs- but his hockey sense and vision are as big as a house.

-LW/C Zachary Morin has tumbled, with only 5 points in his last 15 games since the start of January. Many have this 6'2" power-forward in the 2nd round, but he is now 85th in Q scoring, with 42gp/14g/17a/31pts,-1, 10 PIM. In his defense, he plays for the 16th-ranked (out of 18 teams) Sea Dogs, so he doesn't have much to work with.

-Over in the WHL, C Ben Kindel is still rollin', with 23 points in his last 15 games, to tie teammate Oliver Tulk for 4th in scoring, with 51gp/29g/55a/84pts,+30, 26 PIM. He is also 18th in plus/minus. Kindel is rather diminutive (5'10",175lbs), and isn't exactly a speedster, but he's obviously a highly intelligent scorer with a sound two-way game.

-C Carter Bear is 8th in scoring, and 6th in plus/minus, with 47gp/37g/40a/77pts,+39, 52 PIM. Bear is the hardest-working player in the draft, and plays an incredible defensive game.

-C Cole Reschny has been smoking the 'dub, with 32 points in the last 17 games, since the beginning of January for 49gp/22g/51a/73pts,+34, 38 PIM, which puts him in a tie for 11th in scoring, and 10th in plus/minus. He's only 5'10", but weighs 190lbs, and plays a very pro-style game, with suffocating defense. If you want another Brayden Point, this may be it.

-RW Cameron Schmidt hasn't quite looked the same since missing some time in December with an injury. Since the beginning of January, he has 19 points (8 goals) in 17 games, which is far off of his torrid scoring pace from earlier in the season. He is tied for 29th in the scoring race, with 46gp/34g/25a/59pts,-12, 34 PIM. He's only 5'7",161lbs, but nobody told him that. He plays much bigger.

-LW Nathan Behm is tied with Schmidt for 29th in the scoring race, with 49gp/26g/33a/59pts,-18, 12 PIM, after 11 points in the last 10- he's been pretty consistent, which is amazing when one considers that Kamloops is one of the league's worst teams (19th out of 22 teams).

-C Brayden Cootes has been remarkably consistent as well, with 15 points in his last 12 games, to put him in 59th-place in the scoring race, with 47gp/21g/27a/48pts,-2, 14 PIM. Amazing, considering that Seattle is 17th out of 22 teams. Cootes is an intense two-way center.

-LW Lynden Lakovic returned Friday night from an injury that has taken him out of action for over two months, putting up 2 points for 32gp/18g/23a/41pts,-15, 4 PIM.

-6'4" center Hayden Paupanekis has put up 11 points in 16 games since joining the Kelowna Rockets, for 55gp/18g/17a/35pts,-18, 45 PIM.

-LD Jackson Smith is tied for 14th in scoring by D, with 53gp/2g/38a/40pts,+4, 40 PIM, after 6 points in the last 10. Smith, who hails from Calgary and looks like a Hemsworth brother, is a 6'3" speedster with a solid all-around game.

-LD Will Sharpe has 7 points in 15 games since joining the Kelowna Rockets (20th-overall), which is a steep fall from the 28 points in 35 games he had with Lethbridge (5th-overall). I still like Sharpe as a solid two-way defenseman, and I hope scouts see past his poor production with Kelowna.

-Behemoth defender, RD Radim Mrtka did himself a huge favor in coming across the pond to play in the WHL, as he is now at 27gp/3g/24a/27pts,-2, 28 PIM for the 17th-place Seattle Thunderbirds. He is 6'6", skates well, and plays a smooth two-way game.

-RD Blake Fiddler has put up 48gp/8g/16a/24pts,+6, 32 PIM, on the 12th-place Oil Kings.

-C James Hagens has 10 points in his last 10 NCAA games with Boston U, for 28gp/7g/23a/30pts,+18, 18 PIM.

-C Anton Frondell has 9 points in the last 6 games in the Allsvenskan, Sweden's second-tier league. 23gp/7g/8a/15pts,+6, 16 PIM. He is 4th in scoring for U-20 players in that league.

-LW Victor Eklund has 8 points in his last 10 games in the Allsvenskan, for 34gp/12g/11a/23pts,+9, 37 PIM. Eklund is a highly competitive sparkplug with superb speed and skill.

-RD Logan Hensler has posted 4 points in 9 games since the WJC for the NCAA's U of Wisconsin, for 26gp/2g/9a/11pts,-13, 21 PIM. Looks like he's starting to get acclimated to playing against men.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Swedish Edition, Vol. 19):

RHC Gustav Hillstrom (6'2",176lbs)
Brynas (J20): 37gp/ 16g/ 20a/ 36pts, +17, 14 PIM
Brynas (SHL): 13gp/ 1g/ 1a/ 2pts, -2, 0 PIM

C/RW Gustav Hillstrom (ranked # 40 for EU Skaters) is a two-way forward who is a well-rounded player, and shines in the defensive zone. He's a meat-and-potatoes power-forward, with very little flash, which doesn't explain his surprising offensive production (he is second in scoring for Brynas' J20 squad, and tied for 2nd amongst U-18 players in the SHL). Hillstrom looked more like a utility forward in last summer's Hlinka-Gretzky Cup (1 assist in 5 games) against U-18 competition, but by all accounts, he doesn't look out of place against men in the SHL this season, despite playing very low minutes. He shows flashes of higher-end playmaking vision, and has a decent release on his shot, but most of his goals (and opportunities) come from within 10-15 feet of the net.

Hillstrom is an average skater, but his speed is augmented by his extreme work-ethic and intensity. His stride is long, with a fairly deep knee bend, and looks fluid enough to be projectable as he gains more strength in his lower body. His agility and balance could use some work, but he has an explosive short-burst when needed. Hillstrom plays a physical game, wins inside position on opponents, and can outmuscle his adversaries in 50/50 puck battles. He finishes his checks, bullies opponents off the puck, and leans into defenders to leverage his way inside, but he isn't really a mean, punishing hitter. His puck-skill is nothing special, but he manages to control and protect well in-flight- still, there are some bobbles when catching. Hillstrom's work-ethic is highlighted by second, and third efforts, as he never gives up on a puck, and he provides his team with boundless energy. On the forecheck, he plays hard and heavy to pressure puck-carriers into turning over the puck, and he's hard to handle down-low. He goes to the net hard for rebounds and tips, and will crash the crease for loose pucks.

Hillstrom is hard-working and intense in his own zone, and displays tidy positioning as well as proactive awareness to cover attackers before they get possession. He breaks up plays aplenty, takes away the middle, and pushes opponents off the puck. He is a strong faceoff performer, and always on the right side of the puck with an active, well-timed stick. In transition, he mostly connects plays and executes short passes through the neutral zone, as he doesn't hold on to the puck for too long. Hillstrom is easily projectable as a bottom-six center in the NHL someday, but his offensive output this season tells me that there may be a lot more under the surface. Look for him in the 3rd, or 4th-round.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Swedish Edition, Vol. 20):

RD Theodor Hallquisth (6'2",172lbs)
Orebro (J20): 31gp/ 5g/ 12a/ 17pts, +14, 26 PIM

Righty Theodor Hallquisth showed very well in December's World Junior A Challenge, with 5 assists in 5 games, and put his two-way, puck-moving game on full display- revealing why he was ranked #22 (EU Skaters) by Central Scouting. Impressively, Hallquisth has earned 12 games on Orebro's SHL squad, despite being young by draft standards, with a June 14th, 2007 birthday. His 17 points in 31 games ties him for 29th in scoring by D in the J20, or 7th for scoring by D under-18. Hallquisth does a bit of everything, and can play in any situation, but he perhaps doesn't do anything at an elite level- nor is he flashy or dynamic in his approach. He is however, a workhorse who can log big minutes.

Hallquisth is very mobile, with excellent quickness, but could use upgrades to his top-speed and explosiveness- he has a long way to go before he's filled out, so this will improve naturally as he gets stronger. His edges are smooth and fluid, and help him to pivot, or change direction almost instantly. Despite being built like a bean-pole, he employs a physical style; he finishes his checks, and can throw some big hits at times, but will also absorb contact with composure to complete a play. He seems to win most of his 50/50 battles, and protects his net aggressively. He executes gap-control early, matching his opponents' footwork to close them out early, denying entry and finishing them with a pokecheck, usually followed by a hit. He's a reliable defender who takes away the middle from attackers, and plays heavy along the boards, but will also pin his adversaries in place, thus removing them from the play. With an active, well-timed stick, he breaks up plays, intercepts passes, and clogs lanes. He identifies threats early, and can anticipate and read defensive situations quickly to rack up takeaways. One of his specialties is his excellence in making calm, composed breakouts while shaking off layers of pressure in retrievals with cutbacks, delays to draw attention, deception, and 1-on-1 skill. His stretch-passes can be a mixed bag, but he usually makes a secure first-pass to kickstart the breakout- and makes the whole process look easy. Another specialty of his is his puck-moving ability through transition; he supports his team's attack and moves the puck quickly with short passes for controlled entries- though he is usually last to enter the zone.

Hallquisth walks the line effectively in the offensive zone, but he's more of a facilitator than a true creator- he needs to take more calculated risks, and maybe join the rush more often. He distributes well with smart, skilled passes, and will activate in on the weak side for chances, or pinch down to extend offensive zone time by keeping pucks alive. He will also jump in to the play to prevent the breakout with a hit. He flashes some vision, has good hockey sense, and can play some powerplay minutes as well. His shot is reasonably hard and heavy, but is more of a playmaking tool to create chances for his teammates- he has to get it on net with more frequency, though. Obviously, his greatest need is to increase his size and strength drastically, but he also needs to get a bit faster. Not sure what the ceiling is here, but he has the ingredients to play in an NHL bottom-six if he develops properly. Look for him in the 3rd, or 4th-round.

[DuckSauce]

Epic update Sandman - you rock!

[mile]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1890853821737259487

https://twitter.com/user/status/1890818223303467190

[Ba'alzamon]

I don't know how legit Western Hockey Scout is, but Misa #1 is certainly a correct take.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Ba'alzamon

I don't know how legit Western Hockey Scout is, but Misa #1 is certainly a correct take.

He now has 50g in 50 games, with Schaefer's injury and Hagens not doing much I doubt there's a chance Misa doesn't go #1

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by mile

https://twitter.com/user/status/1890853821737259487

https://twitter.com/user/status/1890818223303467190

Interesting list. McQueen all the way down to 21. Schaefer down to 5th overall.

Sandman - do you think these rankings are close to where you would put these prospects at this point?

[Sandman]

Ryabkin Watch, Feb.15th:

2a, and a +1 in a 5-4 victory over the NTDP. 12gp/8g/7a/15pts,+2, 33 PIM.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Interesting list. McQueen all the way down to 21. Schaefer down to 5th overall.

Sandman - do you think these rankings are close to where you would put these prospects at this point?

Not really close to my list, but I would put Misa #1 at this point. Schaefer is a huge favorite of the scouts though, injured or not- so I could still see him being ranked #1 on most lists.

I'm dying to do another Draft list, but I don't want to overload cral when he gets back from vacation....

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Swedish Edition, Vol. 21):

RD Linus Funck (6'3",183lbs)
Lulea (J20): 37gp/ 4g/ 14a/ 18pts, -6, 53 PIM

Linus Funck (ranked #34 for EU Skaters) is a big, two-way, puck-moving defenseman, who is currently 22nd in scoring for blueliners in the J20 league, or 6th in scoring for defensemen under-18. His puck-moving ability might be his greatest asset- from his outlets, to his distribution through transition. He performs sound first-passes out of the zone, and can stretch the ice on occasion with some long-bombs. Funck uses an arsenal of feints and other deception to elude forecheckers in retrievals while pre-scanning for options, and remains calm and poised throughout the process. He is a part of helping his teammates complete clean exits and entries by connecting plays through the neutral zone.

Mobility is an issue with Funck unfortunately, and his below-average 4-directional speed pervades many areas of his game; his stride is rather short and choppy, and his pace is deficient. Despite this, he handles well, and his puck-control doesn't seem to be an issue- he even displays some nifty 1-on-1 skill. With his team installed in the offensive zone, he walks the line with intelligence and decent passing-skill to execute crisp, accurate feeds to high-danger; he has a modicum of vision and hockey sense, and can spot seams through traffic, but he's not a dynamic play-creator. He owns a hard and heavy shot from the point that he gets on net fairly consistently, not only to test the goalie, but to create havok around the net, and to create chances for teammates. Though he doesn't try to do anything too dramatic, and he's not really flashy, he is a good enough offensive player to get PP minutes. Defensively, Funck exhibits solid positioning, a wide wingspan with an active stick, and enormous range to be a reliable presence on the backcheck. He gaps up early to kill oncoming rushes in the neutral zone, and wields sound awareness to break up plays on the cycle. Obviously, he has a sizeable frame, but he has the strength to match as well, and he's not at all afraid to use either to separate man from puck; 53 penalty-minutes in 37 games shows he's not Mr. Nice Guy in the process.

Funck has not yet had the opportunity to experience playing in one of Lulea's men's league teams, which can sometimes be telling, but his teammate Oliwer Sjostrom hasn't had any call-ups yet, either. There are small issues that need to be eradicated from his game, but they are the same issues that many young defensemen have- he can be caught coasting in the defensive zone at times while puck-watching, he can be pressured into mistakes, and he needs to add significant size and strength for the pros. Those are small issues however, when compared to his biggest deficiency- his mobility and pace, or lack thereof. He has plenty of work to do in this area, as he won't be able to keep up in the higher levels. Look for him in the 4th, or 5th round.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

He now has 50g in 50 games, with Schaefer's injury and Hagens not doing much I doubt there's a chance Misa doesn't go #1

pretty fascinating this. Schaefer was the unanimous #1 among scouts in McKenzie's midseason rankings, but I think it's hard to make that case when you combine his injury with Misas numbers and profile. If the draft were tomorrow, I wonder which one of them would go first.

As a whole, I still like this class from what I read, but it does get thin pretty quickly in comparison. Probably just because it's a horror class for Russia and a pretty weak class for the USNTDP as well ... that'll push guys into the 1st who would usually be 2nd rounders, I guess.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

He now has 50g in 50 games, with Schaefer's injury and Hagens not doing much I doubt there's a chance Misa doesn't go #1

Hagens has 31 points in 29 games at the college level, hardly doing nothing, after looking great at the world juniors.

Schaefer's injury won't mean anything if he comes back and plays well.

Misa, for some reason, doesn't excite the scouts as much as his stats suggest it should.

I think Hagens and Schaefer are still the front runners, but there's lots of season to play out.

[Ped]

Probably would depend on the team drafting #1 and where they see a greater need.

[Royle9]

Wish we were in the mix for Misa.
His gameplay is just phenomenal.