Wheeler: Hot Names Ahead of the NHL Draft

[TBone]

What I’m hearing ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft: Penguins trading up? Where does James Hagens land?

By Scott Wheeler
June 26, 2025

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Hot names right now

There are a few names that I’ve been hearing a lot in recent weeks and days that I wanted to draw some attention to: Russians Daniil Prokhorov, Alexander Zharovsky and Semyon Frolov, Acadie-Bathurst Titan defenseman Will Reynolds and Czech forward Vaclav Nestrasil. There are multiple teams prepared to take Prokhorov, a 6-5 winger with secondary scoring and a nose for the dirty areas, in the first round. Zharovsky got mixed reviews coming out of Dan Milstein’s Gold Star camp in Fort Lauderdale because of just how far behind the curve he is physically, but there are some that still rate him higher than people realize. I believe Prokhorov is gone in the early 20s and won’t be surprised if he goes late teens. Zharovsky and Nestrasil could both go late first, and if they don’t, they will be gone very early on Day 2. Frolov is viewed by some as the 1A or 1B goalie in this class to Joshua Ravensbergen. Don’t be surprised if Ravensbergen slips out of the first round, either. I’m less and less convinced the Predators take him with one of their late firsts.

Reynolds’ name came a little out of nowhere in the second half. He’s a big, strong, competitive D who can really skate, and while his production (16 points in 69 combined regular-season and playoff games) doesn’t scream second-rounder, I believe he’s going to go there now; multiple teams have him rated firmly there. It sounds like he’s a couple of inches bigger than his 6-foot-2.5 listing as well. Plus, he’s an August 2007 birthday, which puts him on the younger side of this class. His game translates to the NHL and what teams are now looking for in D.

“From (January) to now, he had his development trajectory skyrocket,” said one source on Reynolds.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/643538 ... ns-hagens/

[TBone]

Here's another article discussing names with scouts.

Posted here rather than cluttering the first page with too many topics.

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Scout Survey: What to expect at the 2025 NHL Draft

Expect the unexpected.

It’s an old, clichèd adage that fits the NHL Draft process perfectly, and 2025 should be no different.

There’s little consensus — outside of the first few picks — which should create a lot of excitement when the first round gets underway on Friday.

So, what will be the biggest surprise? Who will go too early? Who are some favorites from the 2025 draft class?

https://nhlentrydraft.com/news/scout-su ... nhl-draft/

[Pierre McGuire]

Good stuff…thanks for posting Tbone

[thegibby.]

I wonder what watching the Panthers in the last three finals does to the draft.

[zamadoo]

Thanks for sharing.

Prokhorov is big and seems to go to the front of the net. Not sure I'd take him in the 1st.
Zharovsky is intriguing. Good stick, skating, and awareness. Could be a player. Probably a 2nd day pick.
Nestrasil is also quite intriguing. Big, aggressive, smart, skilled, committed to UMass. Wouldn't mind having him in the prospect pool. Maybe not at #19OA though.