The Athletic Hockey Show - NHL Mock Draft 2025: projecting 32 first-round picks

Episode Date: June 20, 2025

The 2025 NHL Draft is now just one week away and on today’s Prospect Series episode, the guys make all 32 first round selections, projecting where the game’s top prospects could actually end up going on draft night.Hosts: Max Bultman and Corey PronmanWith: Scott Wheeler and FloHockey’s Chris PetersExecutive Producer: Chris FlanneryProducer: Chris Flannery Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the athletic hockey show prospect series. Hey, everybody, Max Boltman here alongside the athletic Scott Wheeler and Corey Pranman and Flow Hockey's Chris Peters for another episode of the athletic hockey show prospect series. Today is our mock draft episode, always an annual favorite of ours here. This is a predictive mock draft. So we are going to go one by one by one and kind of alternate who's making these picks. But this is what we think is going to happen. This is not an if I were a GM scenario. the pre-show lottery determined that I have the first pick for the New York Islanders,

and I'm not going to waste anybody's time here. I think they're going to take Matthew Schaefer. I think the value of at all situations, defensemen, obviously extremely high. I know he didn't play that many games. But as we've talked about on the show, when he did, he was really impressive. He also seems like a really impressive kid. And I just think he seems like the kind of kid you're going to build around in the next phase of your franchise. All right.

Next pick, we won't waste any time debating that one. I don't think anyone disputes that that Scott with the San Jose Sharks. Yeah, this one's interesting. I actually, this is one that I did some back and forth with a few people on this morning. I still think it goes chalk here and I'm going to go with Michael Mesa. But I had heard about a week ago, a few days coming out of the combine, I'd heard that they'd had some sneaky interest in Caleb Dainway and Anton Frundel and that they liked both Caleb D'Inway and Anton Frundel a lot and that this was at least a real debate for them. I'm still in checking in with the people I did this morning.

I'm less sure of that now. A couple of the people that I talked about it said they'd be surprised if it wasn't Michael Mesa here. But I just wanted to highlight that I do think that I do believe that there's actually a conversation that's been had here amongst the scouts and that they like a few of the players at the very top of the draft. But Michael Misa is still the consensus choice here. 6-1 center who had 134 points 60 goals we've we've talked about it uh i think he's the guy here if sateose didn't take misa what do you think that organization would be thinking if they decide to go towards one of denouye or frondeau i think the view would be that with denouye a in particular that he's kind of the perfect two-seat to slot behind macklin celebrini and that he

fits that role to a t maybe more than some of the other players do. But you're making a determination in either of those scenarios as to what you think of Will Smith as a center versus a winger. I think Will more likely ends up on the wing. If you're taking Michael Misa, though, I think you're at least opening it up to the chance that Michael Misa is also on the wing, whereas with Dain-YA, you're making a definitive choice about another player on your roster. I think one thing as well, and I think it's Will be Mesa as well. I think a variable bullies for Sad Jose is with Will Smith and Michael Mesa being two of your three foundational pieces along Macklin. They're very dynamic players, but they're not very hard to play against

type of players. And I could at least see the argument from their perspective of, wouldn't we like our second line center having a little bit more toughness in his game, a little bit more all-around play? You know, I think there's some debate, quite frankly, if you put Michael Misa and Will Smith on the same line, I'm not quite sure who the center is. You could make, I think, reasonable arguments either way. So I think that's the one variable that I think San Jose has to at least debate about presuming Schaefer goes one. But I tend to agree with you.

I think it's still likely Mesa. All right, so we're going to slot Misa in for the sake of the mock that goes to number three with Chris for Chicago. Yeah, and I think there's, you know, obviously should be a lot of, conversation among the Chicago brass in terms of what they're going to do. But ultimately, I think that as the winds have blown, I think they want to get, you know, bigger here. And I think that Anton Frundel helps them do that in one. And he also helps them in terms of still being a high offensive performer, a guy with good two-way value. You know, similar to the argument that we were

talking about with the sharks is that now you have, you know, some other conversations about, okay, is Connor Bedard a long-term center, is Frank Nazar a long-term center? There are a lot of different things. Because if Bedard is a long-term center, then that's your number one guy. But if he's not, and then Frundel is a natural number two.

But if he's not, then you potentially have a number one center option in Frundel if you think that he's going to be what, you're projecting him to be if you pick him here. So in the scenario that Corey described and that Scott described, where San Jose, decides they need more of a true to see there and they pass up Misa.

Corey, do you think is Misa like an auto pick for Chicago? Because I think I could argue that they actually have an even more extreme case of the situation you described in San Jose. Like Sellebrini is the more well-rounded guy. Badar is probably the one who more needs an insulator as like a true matchup center behind him. I think it probably still would be for Chicago. And I think if you look at a lot of the guys they've picked already, Sash Bavar,

all of her more, even how Nazar play to an extent. they have the hardworking two-way guys. They need somebody with talent, like legit high-end power play one type of talent. And I think they hope if that would happen, that Misa would be that guy. I think whether you take Frondell or Denoye or whoever else there,

I still think you're kind of hoping that there's that kind of offense. You know, we could pick apart Frondell and Denoye to an extent, but I think Frondel has the type of shot that could flank a first power play. I think it'd be interesting. I think both Bader and Fronnell. Rundell, you could say that about, there's only one puck, but I think they can be guys that

can run opposite ends of a power play potentially. So I think that'd be a fit. I also think with Chicago, one thing that's interesting is their manager, Kyle Davidson, told the media at Buffalo that they view Carter-Badard and Frank Nazar as their long-term top-term, which I completely buy. They are the top-two centers right now. They can be the top-two centers long-term and be very good top-two-line centers. But the question I have is, do they view them as the top-two-line centers when they're trying

to win a Stanley Cup or not. And particularly if they draft Rondell, he played wing most of the season this year versus men. So I'd be curious when they eventually bring him into Chicago where they view him in the lineup potentially. Yeah, the only scenario I can really see it, or the only recent example of a team that had those smaller centers that won the Stanley Cup is Tampa.

And it was Braden Poit and Anthony Sorrelli, and those are two high, high compete guys. I think both even a little bigger than the two were talking about. out, although point might be a little shorter. Shirelli's definitely bigger. And that, Tampa's often the example brought up when you talk about small centers, and people will say, well, you have to pick the right small centers. But I think Nazar plays in a way that leads somewhat analogous to point,

maybe not as high-end offense. But I don't think Badaard really fits the profile of either of them. He's kind of a unicorn, though. I think Scott mentioned this on another episode. You just kind of have to let, if he's unique, he's unique, and that's perfectly fine. I mean, he's an exceptional hockey player. So maybe that is the way they try to build. And maybe Frondell is a winger or Pardor Martone or whoever else they pick.

They just build it a different way. Yeah, maybe he's the model that we're giving for future centers more of his mold. All right, let's go to number four with the Utah Mammoth, and that's Corey. Yeah, the mock draft that I just did this week, I gave him Brady Martin after this scenario played out, which was Shaver, Misa, Frondell, 1, 2, 3. but I am conflicted on this. I do think the Brady-Martin-Rise is legitimate. I think if he doesn't go four, he's going five or six. I think it's, or maybe I'm not guaranteeing that.

Maybe he goes seven, maybe he goes eight. But I think the interest in this player is massive. And I think he's going very early in this draft. But the more conversations I have with people, ever since that went up, and I've tended to think that within the league, there's an emerging consensus that somewhat of a, consensus. It's not completely, but like it's the names that kind of Scott just said at the top there

where I think people think De Noye is more likely to go ahead on Martin if you just kind of pulled the league. And I kind of think they're both in play for Utah at four. And just kind of put in my, just thinking logically, like Brady Martin and Caleb Denaue played on their same team twice this year. And Caleb was way better both times, played bigger roles both times, fit the Holinka and the CHL NTP team. And, you know, I think just, when you look at what he did this year, the performance he had on Moncton, regular season, and the playoffs, while basically playing with half a hand most of the time.

After the NTTS series. Yeah. It happened there, I was told. And he had a shoulder injury that was mixed in there. I heard last week as well. I think, I don't think you can go buy this guy at four. So I'm going to tweak my projection there. a little bit. And I think, again, I think Brady Martin's definitely in play here. I think

Porter Martone's in play here. But my guess is they just go with Dinoe, and now you've got this really exciting center group of Logan Cooley and Caleb Dinaue. You can flex Barrett Hatton now to the wing if you want, or you can have him be a third-line center maybe for this team, or maybe Denaue is a third-line center on this team for all we know. But I think that makes a very exciting forward group that Utah is building. When you think about the debate between a Martin and a denouier, you're sacrificing edge to go denouet, but you're not really sacrificing anywhere else. More offense, just as every, more size, actually. He's still that complete profile.

He's just got a little less mean to him. The one argument I have heard from Martin at four, and I think as a player, it's a reach at four, my personal opinion. I think he's a great hockey player, but I think at four, it's an overstep for me for a guy who's 6-0, 9 elite skater, generally heavy elite offense. this year, even though I think there's legit skills, his game looks really good at the UA teams. The argument has been like, well, he's a playoff guy. He's the guy who win the playoffs. And, you know, Sam Bennett, yada, yada, yada, yada, the comparisons. And the argument that would be made to me is like, well, you don't get Q to 4.

You don't try to reinvent the wheel of 4. You don't, you know, draft. You don't do the, don't do Tyler Bouchet, Dylan Mcoraff type of move there and potentially it bites you in the ass. but the difference in this situation is Utah is on the cusp. They are not a typical team that's picking fourth overall. This is actually a good hockey club with good young players and a team that you could see if they make legit off-season moves could maybe even be in the playoffs next season.

And when Brady Martin's ready to be on this team in two or three years, this could be a legitimate playoff team by then. So that's the one argument I've heard that makes sense to me. For them in particular for Martin in the top five, I don't think Nashville makes sense. I don't think for Philly and make sense. I think there's better. players is for them, it's like, well, you're on the cusp. And if you feel like you're really

missing this kind of piece, this is where you could get this piece. All right. That brings us to number five in the Nashville Predators. That's me. I feel like Nashville really needs a center here. I mean, on talent, I think you can definitely make a very good case for Porter Martone. And they've shown us that they will draft a big skilled player with skating issues fairly recently. And Matthew would. But I just look at their system and say they need a center. Unfortunately, there is not a center with a whole lot of size here. You are, in my opinion, you would have to be between James Hagen's and Brady Martin here.

I don't know that Martin's that much bigger than Higgins. Like, it's a tricky one. I think if I was running this show, I would want it to probably be Higgins and take the little upside. But Corey did talk about the buzz around Brady Martin. So I think for our purposes, I'm going to say Brady Martin here. And I will look forward to you guys telling me what an idiot I am, Corey. Well, you just said you think there's no centers for you there that makes sense.

that have size. There's two. Jake O'Brien, Roger McQueen. Why not them? Well, I think with McQueen, it's the injury. I think the risk at five, and you talked about, I don't think it would be getting cute, but it's taking a bigger risk than you would need to take at five

with McQueen with the back. O'Brien, I think there's some validity to it, but I do think as skilled as he is, like we did see a guy who's fairly comparable to him and Kent Johnson go five. And I know you're pretty happy with Kent Johnson. I think he certainly had a great year this past year that maybe makes that look better.

But I think if you granted the Sam Bennett comp, I think you'd still probably take a Sam Bennett over a Kent Johnson where you're at right now. Now Hagan's is, I think, the differentiator. Like if it's Hagen's and you're willing to take that bet, that's where I would do it. I think it's a pace question between him and O'Brien that would make me lean more to Hagen's than O'Brien. But while O'Brien has the size, I don't think he has, I think he's responsible, but I don't think he's as like overall impactful, edgy around the net.

He does score around the net. he's not mean. He's not that kind of player. So that's where I would go, Martin, but I'm open to the conversation. I would add that I truly believe that Porter Martone is in the conversation here. They were in Brent. I know that they were in Brampton a lot this year to see him. The other thing I wanted to say to about the Brady Martin pick here, and similar to what Corey said earlier, is that I don't think the predators are currently in a position to,

Like, to me, a Brady Martin pick is drafting a role. I don't think you're drafting. He is a good prospect, and he is going to be a good NHL player. I think he's going to play a long time in the NHL. I don't think that moves the needle enough for Nashville in terms of what they can be. I think a Martone and O'Brien, a Hagen's. They're in a need of talent throughout. Like, you know, they have Matthew Wood, Tanner Mollendike, you know, guys that they've drafted in recent years that will potentially help them.

They are in a position here where they can hit a home run. And to me, this is like a ground rule double for me. So that's kind of how I feel. The Martone thing will be fascinating because I think you can really start going through unless he goes top four. You kind of start getting into this run of teams with Nashville of five. Philly at 6 and Boston at 7, who all have desperate needs for centers. And I think Martone's going to be in all of their mixes, but I think the questions that they're going to be asking themselves

are going to be very similar in this situation is we love this player, but how much do we love this player? All right. Let's take a quick break right there. That's the top five. We'll come back and we've got a lot more to get to. All right, we are back. And just a reminder, the top five, Matthew Schenner,

Schaefer to the Islanders, Michael Misa to the Sharks, Anton Frundel to the Blackhawks, Caleb D'Enoyer to the Mammoth, and Brady Martin to the Predators. That brings us to the Philadelphia Flyers at number six, Scott. Yeah, I think they'd love to get Brady Martin here if he's available. I think the two teams sort of here back to back, the Flyers and the Bruins are the teams that I've thought about consistently with Martin. We talked about Sam Bennett off the top, but I think the Mike Richards, former flyer captain, Mike Richards, is kind of a comp that I've used. a little bit for Brady Martin over the course of this season. I think there are some lines to draw there.

With Martin gone, I look at the other two available centers here without quite getting my head around Roger McQueen. I don't think they can afford to take a risk on Roger McQueen. I think they have to make sure that they get a player here. So it's really James Higgins or Jake O'Brien, I think, come just with more certainty in the projection at this point. And I'll go James Higgins. I know that skews them smaller in a,

prospect pool that's already a little bit small and an NHL roster that's already a little bit small. But I think there's enough of a gap between Hagen's and O'Brien, maybe not league-wide, but still amongst the consensus. And it sounds like there's a chance that James Higgins might fall a little bit. But I think the Flyers could take that swing and really sort of, if he hits, he's, he's the center of the future for Matt Veimichkov. And you find someone big and meaty to play on that other wing. All right.

Anyone have any disputes with that one? No, I don't really have a dispute. The one thing, Scott, I'll ask, you know, with thinking about, because I do think that the Mitchkov, thinking about Mitchcov long term is, you know, watching James Hagan's play with Gabe Perot and Ryan Leonard, did the one thing that I kept coming back to with that is that, you know, did he ever have a chance to even take charge with that group? Like, did he ever have a chance to be the driver of that line? And the thing is, if that is the case, is he a better driver than Mitch Cobb to be the driver of that line? And Mitchcov be kind of the finisher when we've seen that Mitchcoff can also be a pretty substantial playmaker in his own right. I do think that they have the hockey sense to figure it out together. But yeah, I just, I wonder too, just watching, like, you know, I think some of the complaints about Higgins was that he shrunk back to the background a little bit when he was with those two guys.

not all the time. There were plenty of times where he was in the mix, but I think it is an interesting dynamic when you have two guys that probably want to have the puck and off a lot. Yes. My bigger concern would be what's your, not to flip it back to you, but what's your ceiling as an organization if it's Jake O'Brien and Jet

Luchenko 1-2? And it does James Higgins at least give you the potential for a higher ceiling than what you're looking at with Luchengen? toe in O'Brien. Yeah. Well, that's a good, that's a good point. And the other thing is, too, is now how much of your core is under six feet. You know, like that.

Yeah. And that's, that's the other part where. And again, like, I don't, like, I don't really focus necessarily on the size component when it comes to fit with the rest of the team. Like, you look at, I think Chicago was looking at a situation where so many of their best prospects were sub six foot players. You know, some of these, these other teams, I think even, uh, just with Clayton Keller and Logan Cooley in Utah, they're looking to get, you know, they've gone, try to go hard for size.

And I don't think that the Flyers will go size for the sake of size. And I would agree that to me, James Hagan's is the much higher ceiling, offensive player than the guys that we're talking about. I know some would say maybe Jake O'Brien does have it, but I just think the hockey sense and vision and this, and just the total package of what James Higgins is as a player. will ultimately be better. My question is, will it fit with the way they're building?

Not only that, on your blue line, you have Cam York and Jamie Driesdale. So now the totality of your core is pretty small. And I'd be concerned about how that would withstand what we just saw the Florida Panthers do. I mean, and not even just the Florida Panthers, but a vast majority of teams in the league. And it just seems not that the Flyers reputation is always supposed to be 1975, It is that really they are at some point going to need to add that. And will they be able to add that through trades and other things like that? You'd have to make a lot of them at that point.

I think you have to prioritize size if you're the Flyers, regardless of whether it's Jake O'Brien or your core is even with 6-1 Jake O'Brien. He's elite. I mean, we've all seen him around the rank. He's a lean kid. I still think that priority is there. Travis Sandheim isn't enough. Owen Tippett isn't enough.

there just isn't enough size there regardless. All right. Let's get to number seven now. The Bruins. That's Chris. Yeah. And this was an area where I thought, you know, like maybe the Hagen slide stops here because there is such a high end, you know, the high end that you need there.

And the Bruins can find ways to insulate and add size. They just need talent at this point, really. And that's why I'll, I'll have Jake O'Brien go here as the next best available skill player. I do think Porter Martone is an absolute potential player for them. I just think that when you think about, you know, you've got past your neck, you've got some guys that you need to make sure you're getting the puck over to him. I do think that what Jake O'Brien showed this year to me, and yes, he does need to get stronger.

He needs to tack on muscle and different things, is that he is a legitimate offensive creator. He can make things happen. He can make guys around him better. And I think the other thing is he allows others to make him better too. he doesn't always need the puck. He doesn't always have to be the guy that's driving play. So I see a lot of capability there.

But I could say a lot of the same things about Porter Martone, the difference being that he's a wing. And I think the desperation for center in Boston trumps that in the end. And it is shocking to see Porter Martone based on the way that we had talked about him throughout the entire year, kind of in this position where he's still on the board. But I just think that that desperation for center is there. I could see a Roger McQueen situation. But I think the risk is too great for where the Boston Bruins are right now to take that swing.

I'm not convinced that they wouldn't. They'll take swings when they want to. But I just think that Jake O'Brien, in terms of the offense and the way that he creates, is a good fit for them. Very center heavy in the top seven here for us. I mean, it's Schaefer and six centers. I mean, obviously we'll see who sticks. But that is very interesting to note. And that's how we get the path to our tone still being on the board.

Corey, crack in at number eight. They take Martone here. They have their centers. They have Shane Wright. They have Maddie Baneers. They have Brickley Cadden. One of those guys who flexes to the wing probably can long term. But they take Martone and now they've got a top six that they're very happy with.

One thing I've thought about through this topic now is I know what the panel here thinks in terms of Roger McQueen and the risk that his draft would entail. We talked about this when we did our consensus list. but the NHL drafted Caden Lindstrom at 4 last year and I guess I would ask why we haven't mentioned his name more in this conversation I know there's some other really good centers in this year's draft but I feel like as a hockey player he's better than Jake O'Brien like there's ease so like it's just an it's interesting that we I think as a hockey player he's probably better than Brady Martin too so it's just it's interesting that we

haven't really talked about this seriously given that he kind of went through a full combine. He's trying to tell people that he's fine. Like, it's whether we believe it or not, I just think it's interesting. It's all doesn't mean we actually think it's going to happen. I think the scenario that we just play that is very realistic and that O'Brien, sorry, I thought O'Brien McQueen is still available at nine to Buffalo. Well, I think part of it, you mentioned the league drafted Lindstrom at four last year. The league also saw Lindstrom hardly play the entire season.

And I don't think that that is going to make anyone more comfortable with the situation, even though he did come back at the end, was reasonably productive at the memorial. Memorial Cup. Like, they also saw that. And they, I'm sure that gives teams fright. Absolutely. And I agree with that. I just, I just think it's interesting as all.

Yeah. And I, that's the, I think really in, in a world where Caden Lindstrom didn't have that, are we talking about it this significantly? I wonder. Because, and, and the thing is, too, is, is, you know, I, I just think with, with Roger McQueen, there's, there's still just so much of a, I, I feel like there's more of an unknown. I don't really know why.

it just does feel that way to me. Based on, you know, Caden Lindstrom, there was such real passion about the player and that we haven't necessarily seen for McQueen, even though he has the, like you said, I think there's a world where he is the better player and is the better player than Jake O'Brien and all this. But again, I think the back injury,

like we're not talking about a knee, we're not talking about a shoulder, we're talking about a back, and with a player with size, I understand the fear. We also got a little more of Caden Lindstrom in his drafter than we did out of McQueen. Not much, but 32 games is still a little more time to put some of that on tape than what McQueen got. To the point of some of that fear, this morning at the Athletic, this is releasing Friday,

and this morning at the Athletic, My Scout Survey came out. And one of the three questions that I asked Scouts this year was sort of the top 10, Roger McQueen. Would you forget your team, would you personally feel comfortable taking Roger McQueen in the top 10? And it did favor, yes, but there was a lot of apprehension amongst the 20 or so scouts that I surveyed. I believe the final result was eight or nine to four in terms of yes versus no, which meant that there were five people that they weren't quite sure about their decisions. So a pretty equal three-way split in terms of the responses that I got about McQueen. But the majority did say that they would feel comfortable. They would take Roger McQueen in the top 10, which is the back end of the range that we're entering into with these next.

two picks here. All right. So that brings us to nine for Buffalo. That's me. And I will take McQueen for Buffalo here for two reasons. The first is that I think this is the point of the draft where the gap between McQueen and the next player starts to get harder to justify. I think if I wasn't taking McQueen here, I'm probably taking a right D that's ready,

Merca. Scott, I know you love Merca. But I think when you talk about the upside there, I think Merca can be a very solid top 4D. McQueen at least has the potential to be maybe not quite Tage Thompson. but something in that vein, and I think that's a really appealing thing for a Buffalo team that's really small in their pipeline. And that's the other reason is just the makeup that they have. So because of the gap, because of the makeup of the Buffalo pipeline, I feel like Buffalo makes sense.

But I do have a little trepidation around the fact that it's not really an organization that feels like they can miss on a top 10 pick right now, at least in my view, but maybe you would disagree. I don't think if he misses, I don't think Kevin Adams is even around to face the consequences of that. By the time he's ready to play year, two years, three years, if they're not pushing for the playoffs, there's going to be a management change there anyways. So maybe that helps. Maybe that helps with the risk tolerance there. All right. Let's go to number 10. The Ducks.

That's Scott. Another thing that I think is relevant here is that if McQueen, I think, is at 10. I think the Ducks are a team that would be prepared with where their prospect pool is at. They'd be a team that would be prepared to take the swing on McQueen. I think they're a team that can afford to take. the swing on McQueen, even as they're trying to get better. They're going to try to get better by trying to get better at the NHL level, and I think they could afford that.

With the top forwards gone, though, I do think this is an interesting potential scenario for a Ducks team that has several young players on its NHL blue line as we speak, plus Tristan Luno and others who are trying to crack the NHL blue line, Stein Solberg around the corner and preparing to make the jump to North America. but I do think that with these forwards gone, that you're more likely to see a Kishon Aitchison here or a Jackson Smith here than you are to see a Justin Carbono

or Carter Bear or Wendon Leich, those types sort of jump into this range. The one caveat to that maybe being Victor Eklund, who's a right-shot winger, they prioritized a right-shot wing a year ago in taking Beckett Seneca. You can never have too many right-shot wings if you're an Anaheim Ducks organization with how many lefties they have up front.

But I'm going to pass on Eklund here and take Kishon, Acheson, who just gives them another physical, tough, competitive kid in the mold of Steyan Solberg a year ago. So you talked about the handedness there, but I do wonder about the like scoring versus playmaking, like versus like kind of profile factor here. I wonder if Anaheim could kind of use a pure score like Eklund because they do have cutter goatee, but a lot of. of their other young star forwards are either playmakers or more like responsible two way types or both when you talk about mctavish carlson seneca i'm missing somebody here but uh that to

me zegris i think they could use a pure goal score maybe even i think they might even tell you more than a defenseman when you factor all the guys they have in stolberg luno jackson lecombe came on really well pavill mitchie cavel and zell wigger i i'm not sure i view eckland frankly as a pure score. I think that's one of the things that this draft is really missing. There's no T. Jigginla in this range. There's no Cole Eiserman a little bit lower. This draft doesn't really have that big time score. Porter Martone and Justin Carbino. And there are a few guys who can really shoot it, scored 40 goals in junior this year. And that kind of a thing. Obviously, Mesa scored 60. But I don't think there is that, that quote unquote, sniper. Like, I wouldn't

qualify, I love Victor Eklund, but I wouldn't maybe qualify him as filling that need. All right. Number 11, the Penguins, that's Chris. Yeah, I think this is a bit of a, it's an interesting spot. It's a bit of a tough spot as well, kind of as we get to this range. And I think that Eklund absolutely could be an option here. But I think to me, the bigger need at this point when you're talking wing versus defensemen, I think they go defensemen. I think it'll come down to Redeem Murka and Jackson Smith here.

And I think it'll go Redeem Murkha as the option. I think there's a lot of potential for what Pittsburgh can do in this range, but they need everything, right? And I think that to build some more foundational building blocks, Owen Pickering took a step this year, but is he going to be a foundational piece for your team long term? I'm not so certain. I think the upside of Mercka with the potential that he could one day be,

you know, a top four defenseman, a guy that's going to give you, you know, the good mobility, the size, all those different things. I think he's going to play. And then, like, you know, he compliments a guy like in Owen Pickering who has size and who has, you know, so you're starting to build a bit of a bigger blue line. But I do think, like, I think you have to really consider Eklon because of the pure upside and the talent that he has and the competitiveness that he plays with. But I just think that if you're, as you're building your roster, you need to find that foundational defensemen of the guys that are available.

I think Redeem Mercke fits that the most for Pittsburgh. Okay, let's go to number 12. The Rangers, Corey. They'll take Jackson Smith here, and I think they look at their decision whether to give this pickup to Pittsburgh, which they have to decide 48 hours before, whether they're going to do this or not.

And I think if I was in their position, I don't know what they're thinking, but if I was in their position, I would say, what are the odds? I'm getting one of the premium forwards, ideally a center, which just seems unlikely, or one of the three legit defensemen,

that being Mercki, Aitchison, or Jackson Smith. And even without Victor Ecclund, going in the top 11, all takes as one true winger, Porter Martone, going in the top 11, and they can get one of the premium position guys to get to them at 12. It's the last one of them,

but they take the opportunity, and they bring in the highly mobile, highly skilled defensemen with size in Jackson Smith. and he's the kind of defenseman they've tended to target, and you're hoping he's going to be a very good top 4D for a long time. I think it's interesting, too, that we're hearing Keandre Miller's name pop up on the market, and if you get rid of him, there's going to be a huge need for someone like this.

And I think Smith, granted, not this year and probably not next year, but Smith over time can grow into a similar role, I think, for the Rangers. I think if McQueen goes top nine, like we have him here, there's a very good chance, and you rearrange these three defensemen however you like in terms of a mock draft, but I think there's a very good chance that these three D go to these three teams in the ducks, the penguins and the Rangers. I do wonder if one other team takes a D man higher, though, just based on history. It would be very much like the 2012 draft if we had just a bunch of D go in a row before we get to the next forward.

It would be the opposite this year, but it would be extremely unusual. if somebody didn't take a D at 7, 8, 9 before we get to the teens. But we'll see. Yeah. At what point is Seattle going to draft a high-end defenseman? Like, that's the thing. Like, I think Morton is an easy pick where we have them, but it's just like they haven't, they haven't really gotten that out of their draft.

They got Riker Evans, and he's been a player for them. But, like, you know, they just, that's one team I could see, maybe. I think the Sabres and Merca make some sense as well. Yeah, I agree about Buffalo. Seattle's going to be tough because I think there's just too many scenarios at eight. Now that Martin is in play here, that if one of these really highly talented forwards are going to get to eight. So I tend to agree with you at some point you need to draft a premium defenseman. All right.

Let's go to 13 here for Detroit. That's me. And I feel a lot of kind of deja vu from last year where it just kept being Michael Brancic-Neigard, every single mock. And people were like, well, you guys pick somebody else. in a similar way, I just feel like it checks too many boxes. The only thing, the only hesitation I have is it would be another small winger, which at the NHL level, they are a little heavy on.

Patrick Kane's not going to be there forever. Probably won't even be there by the time Victor Eklon makes the NHL, but still with Lucas Raymond and Alex to Brinket, that would be three sub six foot wingers in your top six. That's a little itchy. But I don't think there's a great alternative, and he checks so many other boxes for them, right? It's the high compete, the motor.

He is a good score. He can really shoot it. You know, you could question if the hockey sense is, like, great or if it's more good. But I still think at the end of the day, when you're comparing him against Carter Bear, Justin Carboneau, he checks at least as many, if not more boxes for the Red Wings. All right, number 14, that's Columbus. Scott. I'm going to go to Lyndon Leich here. Linden's a kid that I mock to the Blue Jackets in my most recent mock. And I just think it makes a lot, he makes specifically makes a lot of sense for them.

They're deep on the wings, and they have Kent Johnson as a left shot. winger, but they're they're in need of a left shot winger more than a right shot winger. And I really think the fit of a bigger player who can move up and down that Blue Jackets roster makes a lot of sense for them. Their power play has kind of crystallized now over the last couple of years. We know what Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson are now. And I think behind those guys, you start to wonder about, okay, who slots behind Marchenko and KJ and Fantilli and who can play sort of potentially with some of those guys or potentially play off of them in a middle six role. And I think Winden makes a lot of sense here.

And I think this is the sort of the start of the range that we're going to see him going. But six foot four winger who's got legit skill and can skate and can shoot it. There are questions about the consistency of his game throughout the year and the consistency of his competitiveness and his physicality throughout the year for a six foot four player. But in talking to him a little bit, I think he's committed to sort of sending a message next year. and being a bit of a different player. And I think he fits what the blue jackets are building. All right. And then 15.

That's the Canucks, Chris. Yeah, this is a tougher one. I'm debating, you know, really between two players for them that I think both would fit a similar need. And to me, it comes down to Braden Coots and Justin Carboneau. But the thing that, you know, I think the center, to me, like the center is interesting. I do think that Carbono, in terms of being harder, you know, has some power to his game, a right shot guy, a guy that is going to make an impact for them. I think that there's, you know, when you lose J.T. Miller and you lose kind of what he brings, and obviously there was a lot of other stuff that you wouldn't want to have anyone bring.

But I think that competitive drive and then the offensive capability, to me, Carbino is the guy that fits that the most. And so to me, I think that he's a guy that would be able to bring some of that competitive element that I think they need. Because, you know, Jonathan Lackaramaki is going to be, I think he's going to be a good player for them down the road. But he's struggled early. And some of it is because he's, you know, he's not that hard driving, hard-nosed kind of player. I think as you move forward, Carbono to me is the guy that kind of gives you a little bit more of that identity and could fit a real need there. All right, that's going to get us to the top 15. We will go a little quicker as this draft gets into the second half, and we're going to break right before we get to the back-to-back Canadians picks.

All right, we're back, and we are at the point of the draft where the Montreal fans will want to turn their radio dial up. Corey, we'll start it with you at number 16. So we didn't do any coordinating here. So I would imagine Montreal goes into this draft with a plan. I would do with 16 and 17. And obviously they have a plan, but in terms of, I think in an ideal world you're leaving with this draft with a center and a D at 16, 17, that probably makes some sense or two forwards.

Actually, I think there's good options at the two prime positions here available. You look at Montreal's team, and I'm debating Col Reschney here. debating Carter Bear here. But I think if you're Montreal, the one thing you really like by organization is how much skill you have. I mean, you watch that power play this year, especially even when they brought Ivan Demadov in it

towards the end of the year. And you've got your powerplay, I think, set for the next decade, with Devadov, Cole Coffield, Yeraj Slavkovsky, Nick Suzuki, Lane Hudson. Doesn't mean it's going to be those five without exception for the next decade,

but you feel really confident with the amount of skill you have your organization. So I don't think you feel compelled to bring in Nicole Reschney here. I think you could never have too many centers, though. So what Carter Bear is tempting here and the offense and the skill he brings, I think Braden Coots has plenty of skill as well to go with some tenacity. It can be a legit middle sixth center in the NHL.

So we're going to take Braden Coots here with the 16th pick. Does drafting Hage last year for them, does that give you any pause about like Coots' projection to play high enough in a lineup to pay off the 16th pick? I don't know if Hage is an NHL center. I would guess he's more. I think the way he plays probably projects more on the wing with his skating and skill. Like I think even the names we threw around for him last year were like Jordan Kairu and the like. I think like NACIS.

Not even saying he can't be a center, but I feel like that's just not, that just seems not to be what like the likelyest outcome. You know, just, but not I'm not going to rule it out either. Yeah. Well, I've got Montreal's 17th pick. So you talked about a center and a D. My tough thing with that is the next D, I think, to me would be. be Cam Reed. And I do think you could have Cam Reed and Lane Hudson on the same team. Like I think Reed plays a different enough style that that could work. But I also look at Montreal's

young D. And I don't know that that's the most pressing area to help. I do hear your point about the power play, but I do think they're still going to need more guys who can score five on five. And that's why I'm going to take Carter Bear, who does have a lot of skill. But I certainly think he's going to be able to create for them, whether he's on a power play or not just by being hard around the net. He can forecheck. I think he can win some battles that free up some of their skill, too. I think that's fair. I don't think it has to be either read. I think you could talk about Logan Hensler here. You could talk about Sasha Bumidian there as well, but I think Carter Bears, if he's not going here, he's going in the next pick. So I feel like this is, that's perfectly

reasonable as well. Despite the consensus maybe being nowadays that you can't have those sort of two smaller defensemen, I think Camryde, personally, I think Camryd makes a lot of sense at one of these two picks for the Habs. And I think he could fit in really nicely on the blue line relative to what else they have, whether it's Rinebacher. We'll see what they do with Mayu, Caden, Gouley. I think they would have actually a really, really nice mix there. All right. Well, let's go to number 18, Scott. That's the flames. The flames need more at center than maybe any other position within their pool. You start to look at who they've picked over the last few years. They've drafted a lot of defensemen that look a lot

alike, whether that's Henry Mews, Etienne Moray, Zane Perrek, a lot of the, they traded for Bruce Davich, a lot of sort of offensively inclined players. I think it was actually a bit of an issue for some of those guys when they were all on the same HL team this year in terms of sorting out that power play. So I'm going to steer clear of D here. I understand that Cam Reed and others are really fit into this range. But I think they go center here. They've got a decent amount coming on the wing plus what they've got established at the wing in Matt Cornado and others at the NHL level. They used a first round pick a year ago on a winger in Matt Vae Gridden.

Adar Sanayev's a winger and has had a really nice college career. There's there's things to build around there in terms of options on the wing moving forward. So I immediately circle Jack Nesbitt and Cole Reshny here, but I think there's enough of a skill gap with Reshny and Nesbit that this is where this is where Reshne stops. I think they take Reshny and you you wonder about the size maybe a little bit as a five, 10 and a half center. But Cole is one of the most complete centers in this draft class. I think he sticks as a center in the NHL because of his competitiveness and his sort of

defensive awareness, his defensive play. And then on top of that, I think he gives their pool, which lacks some skill up front. I think he gives them some smarts and some IQ and some skill up front as well. So I'll go with Reschney here. Rastey's a guy. I think that both of you guys have a little higher than this on your personal list. That being Scott and Corey, and I think Chris, you actually have him a little higher too. Is this a place where a situation where it's a size factor above all that keeps him from being higher in how we predict the draft to go?

Size and skating. But I think the issues and the strengths in this game are very similar to Nick Suzuki at the same age. It doesn't mean he's going to be Nick Suzuki. Yash, he argued Nick was a little bit better at the same age, just in terms of the profile. and there's a lot of similarities and there's a reason why that's why Nick went 15 in his draft year. Almost identical size and production to Seth Jarvis in the W.H.L. Even similar birthdays as well. Jarvis plays differently though.

And skates a lot better. Yeah, like he's like, yeah. That's why I think Suzuki plays is a closer analogy. But either way, I think we all like Rushney. Well, maybe not all I want to speak for Chris. Maybe he hates him. But no, I like him a lot. All right. Well, there you go.

Well, there you go then. All right. 19 is Chris. That's St. Louis. Will he take Cole Rush? Or no, I guess he can't take Cole Rush. I can't take him. I can't take him. No. And this is an interesting one, too. I think based on what's left on the board, you know, I think that St. Louis could really try to use and find a more of a puck-moving element to add to their blue

line. And that's why I will take Cam Reed here. I think that the offensive profile that he has, the hockey sense, the vision, the mobility, all of those things are going to allow him to potentially create a little bit more in a group, in a prospect group that really doesn't have anybody that I think projects the same way that he does. You know, Theo Lindstein is one of their top D prospects that they took in the first round. I don't think the offensive profile is really going to allow him to be much of a creator at the NHL level. like he'll move puck's fine, he'll defend well, different things. But I really do think that Cam Reed has a little bit more of that offensive upside that the blues could really use on their blue line.

You think about the different guys that they've had over the years when they've been able to move pucks like a guy like a Tori Krug and others. And I think they could use a little more of that kind of offensive capability from the back end. I like this pick. I think if Montreal, if he doesn't go to Montreal, the two teams and the teens that I really circled for Reid or. are the blues and the haps. All right. Number 20, that's Corey for the blue jackets. I'd be surprised if Columbus is a walk out of 14 and 20 with at least one defenseman,

and they didn't get that offenseman of 14. So they're going to get it here with Logan Hensler going at 20 to Columbus, 6-2 mobile puck mover. They're hoping could be maybe a second pair D for them one day. Would have like to get Camerade here, but he just goes one pick ahead. We kind of flip Chris off in the process here. and just what we take our next best D. All right.

For Ottawa at number 21, I'm going to go with Jack Nesbitt. I think now that they've traded for Dylan Cousins, they are really set for the long-term future at center with Tim Stutzel and Dylan Cousins. But I think is in a third-line role, that's how Jack Nesbitt's kind of best cast. I think he does have skill. He does have offense.

He is smart, but he's also that big body and he's got that edge to him. I wonder what you guys would think. This popped into my head about a week ago. How different is he then, or how different is his projection than how you see Nick Paul in the NHL? I think that's reasonable.

And obviously, Ottawa took Nick Paul and he's blossomed into the kind of, I mean, frankly, they probably regret trading away Nick Paul for how he could help them right now. So I'll go with Jack Nesbitt for the senators at 21. And at 22, I will follow the six for Jack Nesbitt and take the even bigger Dinole Prokerov, who I know Corey is a big fan of and others around the league are big fans of. We've talked about the flyers need to add size. After taking James Higgins at six, I think Nesbit, he's available makes a lot of sense here to continue to build that depth behind Hagen's,

or O'Brien, if it's O'Brien, behind Hagen's, O'Brien, Martin, whoever it is, Jetlucenko. I think Nesbitt, if he's here, makes a lot of sense. But with Nesbit off the board, one pick earlier, I think Prokerov, that sort of north-south physical game really fits in terms of filling a need for the Flyers. All right. Number 23, the Predators, Chris. Yeah, you know, with having picked Brady Martin, earlier in the in the day.

You know, I think that the way I would probably go with this one and look at this one is, is take a look at some of those next tier defensemen that are available. You know, Tanner Mollandike is definitely a guy that they're going to be excited about coming down in the near future here. So this one came down to me between Blake Fiddler and Sasha Bumadine. And I think the skating profile of Bumadine is helpful. I think that that's the guy. He really developed over the course of the season.

season. I liked what we saw from him as he progressed playing with Tom Vielander this year. More, you know, like the hockey sense needs to improve. I think his decision making needs to improve. But the foundation of skills that he's put together is going to allow him to, I think, move pucks effectively at the NHL, retrieve pucks effectively at the NHL and get pucks out of the zone. So I do think that, especially within a system that has routinely developed defensemen very well, I like getting somebody with a little bit more pop in their game than say a Blake Fiddler. But that that's where that's where I'm at. All right.

On to number 24. That's Corey for the LA Kings. And they'll take William Horcoff here, a huge forward with legit skill and in hockey sense. And his skating is a minor issue. But I think this is an organization that has shown over the years they're willing to prioritize. skill and hockey sense and trying to work on guys with skating issues. And I think you saw at the combine that Will has some legit athleticism in some room to grow there. And he looked really good in the second half in Michigan.

And this is a shot on some really intriguing traits. And we'll see how it goes for L.A. Horcoff was one of the guys I was considering for Chicago's pick at 25. But I think I was leaning the other way to this guy anyway. And that's Malcolm Spence, mainly because I think he has a little better pace than Horcoff does, which I think fits into Chicago's identity. But one of those complimentary players who I think can suit a lot of the skill that Chicago already has in the system. 26. That's Scott for the Predators.

Another, a lot of Nashville here. Yeah, the Preds are going to be happy to walk away from day one of the draft here with a forward, a defenseman, and a goalie. And we're going to take Joshua Ravensburg. And we dealt Errolslav Ascarov because his timeline didn't quite line up with UC Saros. in taking Ravensburg and we fill now an organizational need in net in the pipeline. And the timeline just fits a lot better with Soros and when he's going to begin to age out than Ascarov did. So I know that's another mock scenario that we've frequently had at the athletic, but I'm

going to stick with it here. And the preds get a guy from all three premium positions. All right. 27 is the Capitals. That's Chris. Yeah. I think the caps are another one of those teams where, you know, just continue to build, continue to find guys. And one of the better centers that's still available at this point to me is Milton Gastron.

He has a good, you know, good drive, good competitiveness. I think he kind of fits the way that they can play. I think his skating stride does not look pretty, but he gets there. Like it's like, it's really, I'm kind of fascinated by the way that he moves and how effective he seems to do it. And I just think that he's a guy at this range, you want to find guys that are going to fit into any sort of role. And I think he has the versatility and the down low play that will translate very well to the NHL level. And so ultimately, I think, you know, you're kind of in a situation here where you're looking for the best players and best player available. And you're a system that kind of has needs throughout.

And I think Milton Gastron Demise is one of the best available guys I think projects comfortably into the NHL. All right. The Jets at 28, Corey. I think Blake Fiddler fits a lot of what Winnipeg tends to covet and defensemen with his size, his mobility, his physicality. I think he'd measure him at the combine nearly 6'5. He's just so athletic. I think there's a little puck game there. He's not the most cerebral puck move for you'll ever see, but there's something there. You could kind of see a path to him to become a four defenseman in the NHL, and they'll take Fiddler here.

All right. At 29, the Hurricanes, I'm going to take Henrik. Bristevitz for them. I think as they begin to kind of age out of the prime defense that we've kind of come to know the hurricanes by, there's another core on the way, and that's headlined by Nikitian and Scott Morrow, but I think they can still keep adding kind of future reinforcements. Bristavits, good skater, can kind of play both sides of the ice, or play, you know, both ends of the ice. So I'll go with Bristevitz there, Corey. So your owner has told you in the past, you're not allowed to take a defenseman in the

first round. And the Carolina has gone around this by taking Scott Morrow and Dominic Bidinka and the high second round. So are you willing to bend your organizational rules here a little bit? I think they should be. I think that mandate has been in place long enough, and we're talking about pick 29. I don't think these are the days of picking them in the top like 10 every year. So I think it's more than reasonable to do it at 29.

Please don't fire me owner. All right. Scott at number 30 for the sharks. I think Bruce Davich, if he's available, actually makes a lot of sense here. the Sharks have Casper Haltonin and obviously Brustavich's common Daparte partner this year in Sam Dickinson. Now Brustavich is not going to play with Sam Dickinson at the NHL level, but there's clearly a trust there with the London Knights organization. With Brustavich gone just a pick earlier yet again, though, one player that I've thought about with the Sharks is Bill Zonan as a potential sort of up and down the lineup guy.

They've sort of begun to crystallize what their top six is going to look like, and then it's going to be about filling out maybe that myth. six, that third line. Bill's a player who plays with a lot of energy. He's got some pace to his game. He's got some playmaking and sort of vision to his game. And I think this is the range where Bill goes. He's going to go sort of in that 30 to 35 range, the end of day one, beginning of day two. So I will take bills on and as a complimentary piece to add to the mix of premium guys that the sharks have. All right. 31, Chris, the Flyers. Yeah. So I think when you, anytime you have three picks in the in the round you're you obviously want to make the most of your picks but i think that sometimes you feel a little bit emboldened to to take you know a swing um

and that's what i'm going to do here i'm going to go off the board at 31 and i'm going to go with the guy that i think is the next best available goalie that a lot of teams are going to be looking at and that is semyon frolov uh i have heard recently that there is there are a number of of goalie experts that have him ahead of Ravensburg. I also think that there is some organizational need here, obviously, with, you know, goaltending has not been good. Is this a big swing? Yes, but I think that this is getting ahead of what I assume will be a run on goalies

in the second round, similar to what we saw last year. And so, yes, it's another Russian goalie, which I'm sure. Flyers fans are going to, that's going to make them nervous. But I think this is an upside play. It's a long-term play. And it is a guy with some tremendous upset. With Prokhov, Meechkov, Frolov, Igor Zavragan, we're building a young U-23 Russian national team here in Philadelphia. Let's do it. Why not? All right. Corey, bring us home at number 32 with the flames. I just feel like, especially with where the organization is right now, you got to, I,

get a center here or get a winger with some size, I think that'd be ideal. So I'm between Cole McKinney here, I don't think they do Mason West too early, especially for a Canadian organization to go take Mason West here. So I'm leaning towards a Vaclav Nestrasil from Muskegon with the 32nd pick, point for game player in the USHL playoff, 6-6, he skates well, plays on both special teams. and that will be the last pick of the first round of Calgary trying to get a potential middle six winger with some size and speed.

All right, so that gives us our 32. I won't go back and read the whole thing, but you guys all have it in front of you with us. As you look at this round, is there anything that jumps out? I mean, for me, one of the things right off the bat, no Cullen Potter in these first 32. No Ben Kindle, who had 99 points in the WHL,

pretty rare for a hundred point guy, not to go in the first round, but speaks to the same reason for Potter, which is the 510, 511 listing. And I had the Hurricanes pick. I know, Corey, you had Potter mocked to the Cains in your seven-round mock. So maybe I'm the one who missed the very obvious landing spot here.

But is there a team or two that you feel like we should be watching for Cullen Potter? No. I think that's one organization that makes sense. I think he's in that. There's a bunch of guys in that late one high two conversation. conversation and he's one of them like you could have substitute out zonin or yep or shavitch or nestrasil you know for a number of other guys like a kindle or potter or you know cole mckinney or whoever else like there's just a bunch of guys in that conversation

like there is every year quite frankly i think there's a chance Shane van saggy goes in the late first here too yeah i thought the froloff pick was a little weird sorry chris like i think like zavragon's a better player than for all love is i think like so he might be but i mean i think you i think you you want to have as many bullets in the chamber in the goalie department and yeah i mean and that that's fine the other one i was considering there was did they take the risk and go with a mason west um you know as and that is absolutely a possibility i think in that range um you know but yeah i i think you know sometimes especially what i liked about the way that our mock went is i think you know

as we kind of get into these 20s picks, where you have, you know, the Pro Kurov pick, or you have, you know, wherever Ravensbergen is going to go. And then you have, like, guys like Bruce Tevich and Nestrasil. Like, these aren't, there's no real consensus in that range. So I think that a lot of, there's a lot of possibilities for where this is going to go. But I think, you know, there's, especially with the teams that have three first round picks. I mean, it seems like you have opportunities to just take a swing.

The other thing I would think about with the flyers, too, is the potential of trading back with that 30 first pick. See, and if you can get a couple more assets out of the deal. All right. Well, then that is going to do it for us on this mock draft episode of the Athletic Hockey Show Prospect series. Thanks for listening. You can catch more of Chris over at Flohockey and on his podcast called up. We got plenty more draft coverage coming over the next 10 days. So stay tuned here all the way through the draft next weekend.

We'll talk to you soon.