STL fan in MN 2025 Draft Ranking

[seattleblue]

I'm posting mine in this thread because we don't need a second thread for it

SEATTLEBLUE 1st ROUND TOP 27 DRAFT BOARD 2025

1. Matthew Schaefer, D
2. Michael Misa, C
3. Caleb Desnoyers, C
4. Anton Frondell, C
5. Brady Martin, C
6. James Hagens, C
7. Jake O’Brien, C
8. Porter Martone, RW
9. Victor Eklund, RW
10. Carter Bear, LW
11. Justin Carbonneau, RW
12. Kashawn Aitcheson, LD
13. Jackson Smith, LD
14. Cole Reschny, C
15. Henry Brzustevich, RD
16. Logan Hensler, RD
17. Roger McQueen, C
18. Malcolm Spence, LW
19. Ben Kindel, C
20. Lynden Lakovic, LW
21. Radim Mrtka, RD
22. Cameron Reid, LD
23. Braeden Cootes, C
24. Sasha Boumedienne, LD
25. Cullen Potter, C
26. Jack Nesbitt, C
27. Bill Zonnon, LW

[STL fan in MN]

I'm posting mine in this thread because we don't need a second thread for it

SEATTLEBLUE 1st ROUND TOP 27 DRAFT BOARD 2025

1. Matthew Schaefer, D
2. Michael Misa, C
3. Caleb Desnoyers, C
4. Anton Frondell, C
5. Brady Martin, C
6. James Hagens, C
7. Jake O’Brien, C
8. Porter Martone, RW
9. Victor Eklund, RW
10. Carter Bear, LW
11. Justin Carbonneau, RW
12. Kashawn Aitcheson, LD
13. Jackson Smith, LD
14. Cole Reschny, C
15. Henry Brzustevich, RD
16. Logan Hensler, RD
17. Roger McQueen, C
18. Malcolm Spence, LW
19. Ben Kindel, C
20. Lynden Lakovic, LW
21. Radim Mrtka, RD
22. Cameron Reid, LD
23. Braeden Cootes, C
24. Sasha Boumedienne, LD
25. Cullen Potter, C
26. Jack Nesbitt, C
27. Bill Zonnon, LW

Didn’t see this until now as it must’ve gotten pushed to the 2nd page pretty quickly. But very good list. Obviously we differ a bit on our views of Cootes but that’s fine.

[seattleblue]

I'm posting mine in this thread because we don't need a second thread for it

SEATTLEBLUE 1st ROUND TOP 27 DRAFT BOARD 2025

1. Matthew Schaefer, D
2. Michael Misa, C
3. Caleb Desnoyers, C
4. Anton Frondell, C
5. Brady Martin, C
6. James Hagens, C
7. Jake O’Brien, C
8. Porter Martone, RW
9. Victor Eklund, RW
10. Carter Bear, LW
11. Justin Carbonneau, RW
12. Kashawn Aitcheson, LD
13. Jackson Smith, LD
14. Cole Reschny, C
15. Henry Brzustevich, RD
16. Logan Hensler, RD
17. Roger McQueen, C
18. Malcolm Spence, LW
19. Ben Kindel, C
20. Lynden Lakovic, LW
21. Radim Mrtka, RD
22. Cameron Reid, LD
23. Braeden Cootes, C
24. Sasha Boumedienne, LD
25. Cullen Potter, C
26. Jack Nesbitt, C
27. Bill Zonnon, LW

Didn’t see this until now as it must’ve gotten pushed to the 2nd page pretty quickly. But very good list. Obviously we differ a bit on our views of Cootes but that’s fine.

I was working on it past 27 but I had no true enthusiasm for it as I see the ledge around there, so I just posted 27.

The top 16 I would be happy to get. I predict they pick Cootes and the one I am hoping for is the London defenseman

[STL fan in MN]

Going to go ahead and post a mock. I do so somewhat begrudgingly though as I think they’re near useless. Just near impossible to predict what 32 different groups will do. I mean, I’m now hearing Frondell could go 2nd…but I’m still going to guess 3rd. Who knows. And unlike 2023 when zero picks moved the day of the draft, I expect lots of movement up and down this year.

That said, let’s give it a go! I’ll put in () where I have each player ranked. A few are different than the ranking I did in the first post of this thread as I moved a few guys around but not much.

1 - NYI: Schaefer (1)
2 - SJ: Misa (2)
3 - CHI: Frondell (4)
4 - UTH: Desnoyers (3)
5 - NSH: Martone (7)
6 - PHI: Martin (6)
7 - BOS: O’Brien (9)
8 - SEA: Hagens (5)
9 - BUF: Mrtka (18)
10 - ANA: Smith (14)
11 - PIT: McQueen (11)
12 - PIT: Aitcheson (13)
13 - DET: Eklund (8)
14 - CBJ: Bear (12)
15 - VAN: Cootes (16)
16 - MTL: Carbonneau (17)
17 - MTL: Reschny (10)
18 - CGY: Nesbitt (21)
19 - STL: Hensler (19)
20 - CBJ: Lakovic (29)
21 - OTT: Reid (22)
22 - PHI: Spence (26)
23 - NSH: Kindel (20)
24 - LA: Boumedienne (24)
25 - CHI: Potter (23)
26 - NSH: Gastrin (25)
27 - WSH: Fiddler (28)
28 - WPG: Zonnon (27)
29 - CAR: Brzustewicz (15)
30 - SJ: Horcoff (42)
31 - PHI: Prokhorov (80ish)
32 - CGY: Lee (33)
33 - SJ: Nilson (34)
34 - CHI: Nestrasil (31)
35 - NSH: Ravensbergen (44)
36 - PHI: Murtagh (30)
37 - WSH: Zharovsky (40)
38 - SEA: McKinney (32)
39 - BUF: Ihs-Wozniak (36)
40 - PHI: Moore (38)
41 - MTL: Amico (39)
42 - NYI: Ryabkin (37)
43 - NYR: West (55)
44 - DET: Vansaghi (50)
45 - ANA: Wang (90ish)

[STL fan in MN]

I'm posting mine in this thread because we don't need a second thread for it

SEATTLEBLUE 1st ROUND TOP 27 DRAFT BOARD 2025

1. Matthew Schaefer, D
2. Michael Misa, C
3. Caleb Desnoyers, C
4. Anton Frondell, C
5. Brady Martin, C
6. James Hagens, C
7. Jake O’Brien, C
8. Porter Martone, RW
9. Victor Eklund, RW
10. Carter Bear, LW
11. Justin Carbonneau, RW
12. Kashawn Aitcheson, LD
13. Jackson Smith, LD
14. Cole Reschny, C
15. Henry Brzustevich, RD
16. Logan Hensler, RD
17. Roger McQueen, C
18. Malcolm Spence, LW
19. Ben Kindel, C
20. Lynden Lakovic, LW
21. Radim Mrtka, RD
22. Cameron Reid, LD
23. Braeden Cootes, C
24. Sasha Boumedienne, LD
25. Cullen Potter, C
26. Jack Nesbitt, C
27. Bill Zonnon, LW

Didn’t see this until now as it must’ve gotten pushed to the 2nd page pretty quickly. But very good list. Obviously we differ a bit on our views of Cootes but that’s fine.

I was working on it past 27 but I had no true enthusiasm for it as I see the ledge around there, so I just posted 27.

The top 16 I would be happy to get. I predict they pick Cootes and the one I am hoping for is the London defenseman

I also have a tier break at 27. And feel right round pick 17ish it gets super hard to predict. I top expect the Blues to pass on Brzustewicz but I’ll just be that much happier if they do end up with him (depending on who all else is still available as well).

[thegibby.]

If it came to it stl fan in MN, how far would you trade up for bear or reschney? I know thats a vague question because of price but i believe you gave a realistic grasp on what im asking. Thanks in advance

If either is still there around 15 I’m making calls. That said, the Blues don’t have the traditional assets that’d usually be included to move up as they’re missing both their 2nd and 3rd (which were very well spent so no complaints there) so they’d have to include a player or prospect and it’d have to be one a team around pick 15 would want.

In the end, I find it unlikely the Blues would be able to move up if they wanted to but you never know.

Penguins with back to back picks at 11 and 12….i can see them using one of those pics on Reschny.

Great stuff (again) as usual stl fan from MN. I do wonder if the Penguins would be interested in moving the 12 for the 19 and a decent prospect. Reason being Dubas is trying to move things in the right direction quicker. I'm with you on Jake O'Brien (I have him 11). Would be ecstatic if we could move and get him.

Just spitballing here.

MN wonder what you think of Cameron Schmidt? I know you have him in your later rounds; do you take him for us?

I do like Alexander Zharovsky too (but yeah we'd need a 2nd rounder). Also like what I'm reading on Eddie Genborg (also a 2nd rounder). Do you have anything to report on Harry Nansi? Reading: great motor, poor team; but does shoot right (RW).

PS I have a feeling somebody will reach and grab Simon Wang early.

Goaltending: I'd gamble on Trenten Bennett; and late.

Can Schmidt is perhaps the best skater in the draft. Either him or Potter IMO. And he’s quite skilled and has a plus shot too. But he’s 5’7”. You just can’t really get around 5’7” IMO. There’s a 5% chances he’s the next Johnny Hockey, a 5% chance he’ll make it for a bit in a support role and a 90% chances he doesn’t make it IMO. But I’d take a gamble on him in the 5th-7th rounds. My guess is he goes in the 3rd, maybe 4th or 2nd but if he’s still there in the 5th tben yeah, take the shot and hope he can surprisingly grow a couple inches.

I don’t know much at all about Nansi.

....pretty darn good write-up on Nansi. One of the youngest guys up for this draft; projected 6th, 7th rounder. probably breaks out next season with the more ice time.

https://neutralzone.com/nhl-scouting-re ... rry-nansi/

[zamadoo]

I'm posting mine in this thread because we don't need a second thread for it

SEATTLEBLUE 1st ROUND TOP 27 DRAFT BOARD 2025

Thanks for sharing (and MN for bumping).

Kindel is a guy who I've come to like. Reminds me of Oshie a bit. Maybe a cross between Oshie and ROR. Maybe not as good though.

I'd have a hard time passing on Mrtka if he were there at 19. Is he a Parayko, Chara, or Tyler Myers?

I imagine you've seen quite a bit of Mrtka and Cootes so I respect that you've ranked them where you have.

[seattleblue]

I'm posting mine in this thread because we don't need a second thread for it

SEATTLEBLUE 1st ROUND TOP 27 DRAFT BOARD 2025

Thanks for sharing (and MN for bumping).

Kindel is a guy who I've come to like. Reminds me of Oshie a bit. Maybe a cross between Oshie and ROR. Maybe not as good though.

I'd have a hard time passing on Mrtka if he were there at 19. Is he a Parayko, Chara, or Tyler Myers?

I imagine you've seen quite a bit of Mrtka and Cootes so I respect that you've ranked them where you have.

I feel really good about my top 16. Maybe a little in the air on Hensler's projected offensive potential but he skates so well. that plays on D.

Between 17-27 I have questions on all of them. Cootes benefited from a late strong showing for Canada but it was a small sample size. He has actually risen on my board to where I have him now. I just never saw what others rave about him and that's a red flag.

As for Mrtka, it's all a size play. You draft Mrtka because you think one day he will be a Chara. But he has several major issues, I don't like his skating style, it's hunched over, and I hate that he's a huge defenseman losing that many board battles. He is not driving offense, he is just out there so much he picks up assists. I think he is a bad puck handler. Bad. He isn't some great thinker of the game. So for me, I completely get it, 6'6 RHD with potential ... but I am leery of the rest of it. At a certain point on the board you have to take him but someone will take him long before the Blues pick at 19 so it's more like Radim Mootka.

[John Cocktoastin]

Thanks all for posting these. A lot of research and viewing goes into these - not to mention cajones to put it in writing.

I am appreciative of all the discussion. Now, I'm ready to get it over.

One last thing - whatever happens - we are in good hands. The Blues know how to draft in this range - and beyond. I am willing to bet a "redraft" in 5 years will show just that.

[zamadoo]

I'm posting mine in this thread because we don't need a second thread for it

SEATTLEBLUE 1st ROUND TOP 27 DRAFT BOARD 2025

Thanks for sharing (and MN for bumping).

Kindel is a guy who I've come to like. Reminds me of Oshie a bit. Maybe a cross between Oshie and ROR. Maybe not as good though.

I'd have a hard time passing on Mrtka if he were there at 19. Is he a Parayko, Chara, or Tyler Myers?

I imagine you've seen quite a bit of Mrtka and Cootes so I respect that you've ranked them where you have.

I feel really good about my top 16. Maybe a little in the air on Hensler's projected offensive potential but he skates so well. that plays on D.

Between 17-27 I have questions on all of them. Cootes benefited from a late strong showing for Canada but it was a small sample size. He has actually risen on my board to where I have him now. I just never saw what others rave about him and that's a red flag.

As for Mrtka, it's all a size play. You draft Mrtka because you think one day he will be a Chara. But he has several major issues, I don't like his skating style, it's hunched over, and I hate that he's a huge defenseman losing that many board battles. He is not driving offense, he is just out there so much he picks up assists. I think he is a bad puck handler. Bad. He isn't some great thinker of the game. So for me, I completely get it, 6'6 RHD with potential ... but I am leery of the rest of it. At a certain point on the board you have to take him but someone will take him long before the Blues pick at 19 so it's more like Radim Mootka.

Having only watched one full game of Mrtka, I think I mostly agree with your assessment. He surprisingly skates well backwards but does seem lumbering in shorter ranges (not too much different from Parayko). Seems to be positioned well and plays in all situations, and was #1D for Czech (I think). You're probably right in that he'll be gone before we pick.

I get the same sense about Cootes. Don't see him as a top-6 C in the NHL. I've got him and Spence in a similar category of "something just isn't there" even though they seem to play hard and smart - and I wonder about Bear for a similar reason in that he is ALL OUT every shift (eliteprospects says something like "playoff mode every game") which makes me think he's already at top gear without another gear left to go to. Now he does have some legit skill to go with it, so it's hard to knock him for it, but it does make me wonder...

Also agree on Hensler. Probably rather go with Brzustewicz (wow almost spelled that right without looking it up), but would be fine taking him at 19.

[STL fan in MN]

I'm posting mine in this thread because we don't need a second thread for it

SEATTLEBLUE 1st ROUND TOP 27 DRAFT BOARD 2025

Thanks for sharing (and MN for bumping).

Kindel is a guy who I've come to like. Reminds me of Oshie a bit. Maybe a cross between Oshie and ROR. Maybe not as good though.

I'd have a hard time passing on Mrtka if he were there at 19. Is he a Parayko, Chara, or Tyler Myers?

I imagine you've seen quite a bit of Mrtka and Cootes so I respect that you've ranked them where you have.

I see more Schwartz or Fabbri in Kindel. I know I compared Reschny to Schwartz too but they really do have pretty similar characteristics. And while the Fabbri comp may scare some, I bet 9 times out of 10 a Fabbri caliber talent doesn’t have the crummy injuries happen that happened to Fabbri.

I think I see Mrtka similarly to seattle - him being a 6’6” RD that can move pretty well and put up pts is something to consider but I see more of a Tyler Myers. I bet he goes closer to 10 than 19 though so honestly, I don’t really care much.

[Pierre McGuire]

I think the Islanders are going to do everything possible the get that #4 pick from Utah. They want Hagens bad.
I’m dead even on either Lakovic or Fiddler, I’d be extremely happy with either one. I don’t believe Cootes or Kindel will be able to impact the game like Fiddler will be doing 4-5 years from now.

[zamadoo]

I'm posting mine in this thread because we don't need a second thread for it

SEATTLEBLUE 1st ROUND TOP 27 DRAFT BOARD 2025

Thanks for sharing (and MN for bumping).

Kindel is a guy who I've come to like. Reminds me of Oshie a bit. Maybe a cross between Oshie and ROR. Maybe not as good though.

I'd have a hard time passing on Mrtka if he were there at 19. Is he a Parayko, Chara, or Tyler Myers?

I imagine you've seen quite a bit of Mrtka and Cootes so I respect that you've ranked them where you have.

I see more Schwartz or Fabbri in Kindel. I know I compared Reschny to Schwartz too but they really do have pretty similar characteristics. And while the Fabbri comp may scare some, I bet 9 times out of 10 a Fabbri caliber talent doesn’t have the crummy injuries happen that happened to Fabbri.

I think I see Mrtka similarly to seattle - him being a 6’6” RD that can move pretty well and put up pts is something to consider but I see more of a Tyler Myers. I bet he goes closer to 10 than 19 though so honestly, I don’t really care much.

I think maybe the Oshie comp was because he kept falling down similar skating as Oshie/ROR in the game I watched. But very smart player. I could see Schwartz as a comp. Man...Schwartz was so good for us. I remember seeing the stat with/without him in the lineup was drastic. I agree on Fabbri- he was quite the player his rookie year and before the injuries. Grabbing someone of that caliber at 19 would be swell.

[TheHighHat]

Going to go ahead and post a mock. I do so somewhat begrudgingly though as I think they’re near useless. Just near impossible to predict what 32 different groups will do. I mean, I’m now hearing Frondell could go 2nd…but I’m still going to guess 3rd. Who knows. And unlike 2023 when zero picks moved the day of the draft, I expect lots of movement up and down this year.

That said, let’s give it a go! I’ll put in () where I have each player ranked. A few are different than the ranking I did in the first post of this thread as I moved a few guys around but not much.

1 - NYI: Schaefer (1)
2 - SJ: Misa (2)
3 - CHI: Frondell (4)
4 - UTH: Desnoyers (3)
5 - NSH: Martone (7)
6 - PHI: Martin (6)
7 - BOS: O’Brien (9)
8 - SEA: Hagens (5)
9 - BUF: Mrtka (18)
10 - ANA: Smith (14)
11 - PIT: McQueen (11)
12 - PIT: Aitcheson (13)
13 - DET: Eklund (8)
14 - CBJ: Bear (12)
15 - VAN: Cootes (16)
16 - MTL: Carbonneau (17)
17 - MTL: Reschny (10)
18 - CGY: Nesbitt (21)
19 - STL: Hensler (19)
20 - CBJ: Lakovic (29)
21 - OTT: Reid (22)
22 - PHI: Spence (26)
23 - NSH: Kindel (20)
24 - LA: Boumedienne (24)
25 - CHI: Potter (23)
26 - NSH: Gastrin (25)
27 - WSH: Fiddler (28)
28 - WPG: Zonnon (27)
29 - CAR: Brzustewicz (15)
30 - SJ: Horcoff (42)
31 - PHI: Prokhorov (80ish)
32 - CGY: Lee (33)
33 - SJ: Nilson (34)
34 - CHI: Nestrasil (31)
35 - NSH: Ravensbergen (44)
36 - PHI: Murtagh (30)
37 - WSH: Zharovsky (40)
38 - SEA: McKinney (32)
39 - BUF: Ihs-Wozniak (36)
40 - PHI: Moore (38)
41 - MTL: Amico (39)
42 - NYI: Ryabkin (37)
43 - NYR: West (55)
44 - DET: Vansaghi (50)
45 - ANA: Wang (90ish)

Good stuff Minny.

It's hard to predict if Chicago is going center or Martone.

Utah could be very interesting to watch at #4.
Do they feel that Hayton has turned the corner to be their 2C for the near future?
If yes, do they trade that pick to the Isles like I mentioned in another thread.
Drafting another center or Martone wouldn't be the worst thing, They're in a great spot.

Nashville, Philly, and Boston all need, and should be drafting centers.

My guess is that Seattle is praying that Martone falls into their lap.
They already have 3 young centers in Beniers, Wright, and Catton.

Buffalo at pick 9 is another possible trade target if one of the top centers fall that far.
Same with Anaheim at 10

The Islanders and Flames would love to get one of the top centers out of this draft.
They both have the coveted RHD available to move into a spot to make it happen.

I agree with you that the other wingers besides Martone are going to fall into the teens because of the center run.

It could be a fun night, but it seems that all of the trade talk every year for draft night turns out to be nothing but speculation.
Not many bold GM's out there willing to roll the dice.

Have fun tonight boys and girls.

[a smell of green grass]

I'm envious. How do you know the prospects so well?

[seattleblue]

How many times must it be said. Life is finite and so is attention and we choose to spend it in this way instead of getting attention over the most pitiful of trolling ideas.