2025 NHL Draft

[Puck-Lurker]

Cool story bro.

[Daniel]

One thing with an alleged "bad" draft year is that these are 18-year-old kids, so you never know who might be a late bloomer. It's great to get a Crosby or McDavid, or even a Bedard, who comes ready to compete at the NHL level but some of these guys might really blossom with a year or two of experience, bulk, maturity. They still could end up with Robert Dome, part 2, or they could pull a guy at #8 or 9 who matures later and beomes a star. The NHL is like baseball in that way where draft picks rarely can make the jump to the big club right away. NFL and NBA guys come ready to go.

And... there's always the Kevin Stevens lucky break. He was a 6th round pick in 1983 by LA traded to the Pens for Anders Håkansson. He played 4 full seasons with Boston College, 1 as part of the USA Olympic team, and one season in Muskegon. He didn't become a regular until 1988 and didn't become the dominant power forward he was until 1990-91. Those don't happen often but when they do, it's nice.

I think the last of a Crosby or McDavid is what makes it a bad draft year. The drop off from the top to the bottom isn't that great and in deeper classes the 5th or 6th pick could be the number 1 overall this year. Look at the Crosby and Kessel drafts, there were a lot of guys we knew would be really good. This draft doesn't have the wow factor. Will probably be a good draft and if you think about it the wow factor only applies to maybe 2-3 teams.

[FLPensFan]

One thing with an alleged "bad" draft year is that these are 18-year-old kids, so you never know who might be a late bloomer. It's great to get a Crosby or McDavid, or even a Bedard, who comes ready to compete at the NHL level but some of these guys might really blossom with a year or two of experience, bulk, maturity. They still could end up with Robert Dome, part 2, or they could pull a guy at #8 or 9 who matures later and beomes a star. The NHL is like baseball in that way where draft picks rarely can make the jump to the big club right away. NFL and NBA guys come ready to go.

And... there's always the Kevin Stevens lucky break. He was a 6th round pick in 1983 by LA traded to the Pens for Anders Håkansson. He played 4 full seasons with Boston College, 1 as part of the USA Olympic team, and one season in Muskegon. He didn't become a regular until 1988 and didn't become the dominant power forward he was until 1990-91. Those don't happen often but when they do, it's nice.

I think the last of a Crosby or McDavid is what makes it a bad draft year. The drop off from the top to the bottom isn't that great and in deeper classes the 5th or 6th pick could be the number 1 overall this year. Look at the Crosby and Kessel drafts, there were a lot of guys we knew would be really good. This draft doesn't have the wow factor. Will probably be a good draft and if you think about it the wow factor only applies to maybe 2-3 teams.

Some have said it is improperly being labeled a bad draft. In reality, there's no Bedard or Celebrini level prospect in this year's draft, and there is a small set of top 6/top pair talent, maybe 8-12 picks deep. Doesn't mean the rest of the draft is poor, just that there is limited high end talent available, and that high end talent generally isn't viewed as "superstar" level material. Then, you add in that next year's hype on McKenna being "the best player since McDavid," and yet, I've heard very little about others who could push McKenna or force their way even into the top 5 picks.

[Daniel]

One thing with an alleged "bad" draft year is that these are 18-year-old kids, so you never know who might be a late bloomer. It's great to get a Crosby or McDavid, or even a Bedard, who comes ready to compete at the NHL level but some of these guys might really blossom with a year or two of experience, bulk, maturity. They still could end up with Robert Dome, part 2, or they could pull a guy at #8 or 9 who matures later and beomes a star. The NHL is like baseball in that way where draft picks rarely can make the jump to the big club right away. NFL and NBA guys come ready to go.

And... there's always the Kevin Stevens lucky break. He was a 6th round pick in 1983 by LA traded to the Pens for Anders Håkansson. He played 4 full seasons with Boston College, 1 as part of the USA Olympic team, and one season in Muskegon. He didn't become a regular until 1988 and didn't become the dominant power forward he was until 1990-91. Those don't happen often but when they do, it's nice.

I think the last of a Crosby or McDavid is what makes it a bad draft year. The drop off from the top to the bottom isn't that great and in deeper classes the 5th or 6th pick could be the number 1 overall this year. Look at the Crosby and Kessel drafts, there were a lot of guys we knew would be really good. This draft doesn't have the wow factor. Will probably be a good draft and if you think about it the wow factor only applies to maybe 2-3 teams.

Some have said it is improperly being labeled a bad draft. In reality, there's no Bedard or Celebrini level prospect in this year's draft, and there is a small set of top 6/top pair talent, maybe 8-12 picks deep. Doesn't mean the rest of the draft is poor, just that there is limited high end talent available, and that high end talent generally isn't viewed as "superstar" level material. Then, you add in that next year's hype on McKenna being "the best player since McDavid," and yet, I've heard very little about others who could push McKenna or force their way even into the top 5 picks.

Drafts seem to be about the top 5-10 rather than the overall group.

[john66]

Sid is not a Lebron type guy. Get over yourself.

[Gunnerfan]

I think that if you think Crosby et al have had zero impact on Sullivan staying, you are in serious denial.

Did not say or imply zero impact.

I said that blame belongs to the GM, when talking about whether a coach does or does not get fired. Its not like any of them will, or need to, ask permission to fire the HC. The GM, Dubas as is, would very likely ask an opinion or two on how its going from guys like Sid.

But the first to be told Sullivan is getting fired, is Sullivan.

Then your GM, any reasonable one, will go to the core franchise player(s) and inform them, explain the reasoning. And Sid is not one to be loud about it, one way or another. He knows how the hockey business works.

Suppose if any player tries to push Sully out, or worse, advocate for him being here forever.. it's still up to the GM to make the best decisions possible, regardless. He gets the credits if it turns out we'll, the blame if it doesn't. Your job, your responsibility.

Sully staying heavily in the minus column for me with Dubas.

Mostly attributing him staying to Sidney Crosby I don't think is plausible. This is Dubas. And Hextall. And to a much lesser degree Rutherford

I hear you, but isn't it more plausible that the ownership group also told GMKD that he can't get rid of Sully at this point? I think that's a far more likely scenario.

[Puck-Lurker]

I think that if you think Crosby et al have had zero impact on Sullivan staying, you are in serious denial.

Did not say or imply zero impact.

I said that blame belongs to the GM, when talking about whether a coach does or does not get fired. Its not like any of them will, or need to, ask permission to fire the HC. The GM, Dubas as is, would very likely ask an opinion or two on how its going from guys like Sid.

But the first to be told Sullivan is getting fired, is Sullivan.

Then your GM, any reasonable one, will go to the core franchise player(s) and inform them, explain the reasoning. And Sid is not one to be loud about it, one way or another. He knows how the hockey business works.

Suppose if any player tries to push Sully out, or worse, advocate for him being here forever.. it's still up to the GM to make the best decisions possible, regardless. He gets the credits if it turns out we'll, the blame if it doesn't. Your job, your responsibility.

Sully staying heavily in the minus column for me with Dubas.

Mostly attributing him staying to Sidney Crosby I don't think is plausible. This is Dubas. And Hextall. And to a much lesser degree Rutherford

I hear you, but isn't it more plausible that the ownership group also told GMKD that he can't get rid of Sully at this point? I think that's a far more likely scenario.

I can totally seeing that being a reality.

I don't - at this moment - think it's the case. I think Dubas is that enamored with Sullivan. But I may change my mind back again.

The thing with ownership possibly, telling Dubas he can't fire Sully, that would take some responsibility for the decision away from KD, but not all. He still *can* fire Sully, but if this is the reality, his own tenure is on thin ice. Even in this scenario, I hardly think it's all some black and white thing. And the firing would go through, to undo it, FSG the needs to fire Dubas pretty much, then rehire a frustrated Sullivan and have egg on their faces for walking back KDs decision. Just thoughts with no particular point I was trying to establish

[Victor]

Flyers have 11 total picks, 7 of them in the first 2 rounds. With the current standings, they would pick #5, #23, #25, #37, #41, #42 and #48. That's a lot of draft capital if they want to move up.

[pens_CT]

Flyers have 11 total picks, 7 of them in the first 2 rounds. With the current standings, they would pick #5, #23, #25, #37, #41, #42 and #48. That's a lot of draft capital if they want to move up.

Depends on what other teams think of the players available in the 2nd half of the first round/2nd round. I'm not sure that the teams above them want to move down. What that being said, I'm not sure you can draft seven guys in the first two rounds. I could see them moving some picks this year, for picks in 2026.

[Victor]

Flyers have 11 total picks, 7 of them in the first 2 rounds. With the current standings, they would pick #5, #23, #25, #37, #41, #42 and #48. That's a lot of draft capital if they want to move up.

Depends on what other teams think of the players available in the 2nd half of the first round/2nd round. I'm not sure that the teams above them want to move down. What that being said, I'm not sure you can draft seven guys in the first two rounds. I could see them moving some picks this year, for picks in 2026.

Fair point. They could even trade away of their 2nd rounders if a team wants to add. For example, if the Penguins don't get the Rangers' pick, they would pick #6 and #63 in the first 2 rounds. Columbus has picks #10 and #19, but no 2nd rounders.

We could see some movement from pick #16 and on, where some teams start to have multiple high picks.

[praxitas]

With St Louis using the offer sheet route against Edmonton last year, I wonder if GMKD will consider doing the same with all of our draft capital. Is there any teams up against the cap that have any young stud RFA's that need resigned?

[Victor]

With St Louis using the offer sheet route against Edmonton last year, I wonder if GMKD will consider doing the same with all of our draft capital. Is there any teams up against the cap that have any young stud RFA's that need resigned?

With the cap going up by 7.5M next season, it should be not difficult for teams to match most offer sheets their players might get. A team can go crazy and offer 11M for Bouchard, which would cost 2 1sts, a 2nd and a 3rd, and put Edmonton in a difficult spot since they have to resign McDavid the following season.

The RFA list this season has some interesting players other than Evan Bouchard:
JJ Peterka
Gabe Vilardi
Marco Rossi
Matthew Knies
Mason McTavish
Ryan McLeod

Luke Hughes
Bowen Byram
Noah Dobson
K'Andre Miller

Since Dubas reportedly will revamp the LD this offseason and he chooses to go with offer sheets, someone like Byram (Buffalo has lots of cap room though) or Miller (NYR don't have as much) could be interesting. Or someone like Nic Hague, from Vegas.

[BfromD]

With the Rags in a free-fall to close the season, it's looking more and more likely each day that their pick will fall in the Top13 triggering the conditional terms of the Petterson trade. I remember Dubas making it sound like the pick being moved to 2026 wasn't automatic but rather New York's decision if they are in that Top13. Does anyone know if that decision has to be made before, or can be made after, the 2025 draft lottery?

I have been hoping the Pens get the pick in 2026 this last month or so if for no other reason than it being more McKenna lottery tickets (I don't see how the Rangers are better next year with the trainwreck that they have become...).

[Puck-Lurker]

With the Rags in a free-fall to close the season, it's looking more and more likely each day that their pick will fall in the Top13 triggering the conditional terms of the Petterson trade. I remember Dubas making it sound like the pick being moved to 2026 wasn't automatic but rather New York's decision if they are in that Top13. Does anyone know if that decision has to be made before, or can be made after, the 2025 draft lottery?

I have been hoping the Pens get the pick in 2026 this last month or so if for no other reason than it being more McKenna lottery tickets (I don't see how the Rangers are better next year with the trainwreck that they have become...).

Rags need to tell Dubas 48hrs before the Draft whether they will give up their protected 2025 1st, or give an unprotected 2026 1st

Edit:
If it's like #12 or #13 I expect Rangers to give up the 2025 pick.

If they win the lottery and move up for a top 3 pick, then they'll keep it.

[BfromD]

Rags need to tell Dubas 48hrs before the Draft whether they will give up their protected 2025 1st, or give an unprotected 2026 1st

Thanks!

[BfromD]

Edit:
If it's like #12 or #13 I expect Rangers to give up the 2025 pick.

If they win the lottery and move up for a top 3 pick, then they'll keep it.

I agree.

I am hoping they finish #10, don't win the lottery, and keep it anyway thinking they will bounce all the way back from this aberration of a season. A "We would rather give up a pick in the mid-20s to early 30's next year than give up a top 10 selection in any draft..." mindset.

Then, obviously the hope is that this season wasn't an aberration after all, and the '26 pick is also a high one. I know alot can happen in an offseason, but I just don't see how they turn it around even with the rising cap as Igor and Lafreniere's deals kick in and with Zib and Kreider still on awful deals that are bound to get worse.

[Puck-Lurker]

Edit:
If it's like #12 or #13 I expect Rangers to give up the 2025 pick.

If they win the lottery and move up for a top 3 pick, then they'll keep it.

I agree.

I am hoping they finish #10, don't win the lottery, and keep it anyway thinking they will bounce all the way back from this aberration of a season. A "We would rather give up a pick in the mid-20s to early 30's next year than give up a top 10 selection in any draft..." mindset.

Then, obviously the hope is that this season wasn't an aberration after all, and the '26 pick is also a high one. I know alot can happen in an offseason, but I just don't see how they turn it around even with the rising cap as Igor and Lafreniere's deals kick in and with Zib and Kreider still on awful deals that are bound to get worse.

In principle, I would agree.

But man it does rely on a lot of "ifs"

Better to have one bird in hand, than ten in the sky.

[100565]

Several weeks ago I suggested Pens trade with Montreal to get Pens original 2nd round pick back to offer sheet at the second round level. I was wrong. 2025 offer sheets use 2026 draft picks. The Pens have their original 2nd round pick (plus 2 other second round picks). I think therr is a good chance KD does offer sheet a player at the second round level; however, it is highly unlikely it would be first round level (2026 1st round).

[FLPensFan]

With St Louis using the offer sheet route against Edmonton last year, I wonder if GMKD will consider doing the same with all of our draft capital. Is there any teams up against the cap that have any young stud RFA's that need resigned?

With the cap going up by 7.5M next season, it should be not difficult for teams to match most offer sheets their players might get. A team can go crazy and offer 11M for Bouchard, which would cost 2 1sts, a 2nd and a 3rd, and put Edmonton in a difficult spot since they have to resign McDavid the following season.

The RFA list this season has some interesting players other than Evan Bouchard:
JJ Peterka
Gabe Vilardi
Marco Rossi
Matthew Knies
Mason McTavish
Ryan McLeod

Luke Hughes
Bowen Byram
Noah Dobson
K'Andre Miller

Since Dubas reportedly will revamp the LD this offseason and he chooses to go with offer sheets, someone like Byram (Buffalo has lots of cap room though) or Miller (NYR don't have as much) could be interesting. Or someone like Nic Hague, from Vegas.

Yeah, the big problem is the cap going up so much the next two years, from $88M this year, to 95.5M next year, to 104M in 26-27, it's going to be hard to offer sheet someone by means of forcing them into cap problems if they accept. This was my whole concept with Dallas, because over a 2 year period they had Robertson, Johnston, Harley, Oettinger, Bourque, Stankoven, and Lundqvist all as RFAs, plus Benn who is said to likely be coming back. With a 4M cap increase, a team could have squeezed them. With a 7M cap increase, plus Johnston and Oettinger already signing and Stankoven traded away, it's unlikely to force them to give a player up.

That being said, teams are going to have internal limits on some players. If we go out and offer McTavish 6M AAV on an offer sheet for a guy with 1 20 goal season (this year) and one 50 point or more season (this year), they may balk at paying that price and let him walk. The Penguins could offer McTavish between 4.5M to 6.8M and have to give up a 1st and a 3rd. It would be easier to try and make a trade offer first, though.

Out of those names above, I would target McTavish, McLeod, Byram and Jack McBain, who is also an RFA. McLeod and McBain are both big bodied 3Cs that would add some size, and in McBain's case some toughness, to the lineup. McTavish I think could be a future 2C, and Byram would be a good young get for LD, even though concussions are still a concern.

[FLPensFan]

Several weeks ago I suggested Pens trade with Montreal to get Pens original 2nd round pick back to offer sheet at the second round level. I was wrong. 2025 offer sheets use 2026 draft picks. The Pens have their original 2nd round pick (plus 2 other second round picks). I think therr is a good chance KD does offer sheet a player at the second round level; however, it is highly unlikely it would be first round level (2026 1st round).

....unless he can acquire another 2026 first rounder. This is where hoping the Rangers finish inside the top 10 and keep the 2025 1st rounder comes into play. You miss out on potentially adding a second first round talent this year, but it makes it much easier for Dubas to give up his 2026 pick in an offer sheet if he has the Rangers 2026 pick in his back pocket. That's kind of what I have heard, that Dubas wants to acquire picks to be able to make an offer sheet to someone, but still have replacement picks from other teams to make up for it.

[Puck-Lurker]

Several weeks ago I suggested Pens trade with Montreal to get Pens original 2nd round pick back to offer sheet at the second round level. I was wrong. 2025 offer sheets use 2026 draft picks. The Pens have their original 2nd round pick (plus 2 other second round picks). I think therr is a good chance KD does offer sheet a player at the second round level; however, it is highly unlikely it would be first round level (2026 1st round).

....unless he can acquire another 2026 first rounder. This is where hoping the Rangers finish inside the top 10 and keep the 2025 1st rounder comes into play. You miss out on potentially adding a second first round talent this year, but it makes it much easier for Dubas to give up his 2026 pick in an offer sheet if he has the Rangers 2026 pick in his back pocket. That's kind of what I have heard, that Dubas wants to acquire picks to be able to make an offer sheet to someone, but still have replacement picks from other teams to make up for it.

Honestly, I think the Draft Lottery will dictate whether Rags keep the pick or give it up this year. If they move up 10 spots to a top 4 pick, they'll give us a 2026 first. Draft Lottery is in May somewhere, haven't seen a date announced yet. The condition provides that Rags have until late June (48hrs before draft day) to tell Dubas if they're keeping it or not.

If, as is mathematically far more likely, they don't win the draft lottery, and have a #12 pick or something, I expect they'll give this years pick away.

[Puck-Lurker]

If Pens pick 8 and 12.. McQueen and Aitcheson wouldn't be a bad shout.

Desnoyers would be gone by then. I'm expecting he gets selected top5

[pens_CT]

If Pens pick 8 and 12.. McQueen and Aitcheson wouldn't be a bad shout.

Desnoyers would be gone by then. I'm expecting he gets selected top5

My guess is the Rangers decide to send us their 2026 pick instead of this year's. Knowing the ego of the New York teams, they probably expect to be drafting in the mid to late 20s next year, so why give up something that could be the 11 overall this year. However stay away from McQueen, the back issue would pull him off of my draft board.

[Victor]

If Pens pick 8 and 12.. McQueen and Aitcheson wouldn't be a bad shout.

Desnoyers would be gone by then. I'm expecting he gets selected top5

Hopefully one of Desnoyers or Frondell is available at #7

[FLPensFan]

If Pens pick 8 and 12.. McQueen and Aitcheson wouldn't be a bad shout.

Desnoyers would be gone by then. I'm expecting he gets selected top5

Hopefully one of Desnoyers or Frondell is available at #7

Doubtful. This is one national source, but it leads credence to what I've been hearing about players dropping and rising ahead of the draft. Sportsnet ranking of the top 15 (completed the last week of March) was as follows:

1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Frondell
4. Hagens
5. Desnoyers
6. Martone
7. McQueen
8. Eklund
9. Bear
10. Mrtka
11. O'Brien
12. Martin
13. Smith
14. Hensler
15. Kindel

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/sc ... nhl-draft/