Latest news with #NHLDraftLottery
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why The Kovalchuk Precedent Won't Help The Ottawa Senators Retrieve Their Forfeited First-Round Pick
In November 2023, the NHL came down hard on the Ottawa Senators, announcing they would have to forfeit a first-round draft pick due to the mishandling of their July 2021 trade of Evgenii Dadonov to the Vegas Golden Knights. As a result of the Senators' screw-up, the subsequent March 2022 Dadonov trade between the Knights and the Anaheim Ducks was invalidated, embarrassing everyone involved. Carter Yakemchuk Ranked 26th Overall In Magazine's New NHL Prospect Rankings Ottawa Senators Make More Front Office Changes Ottawa Senators Prospect Parts Ways With Organization And Signs Back Home In Sweden The league gave Ottawa the choice of forfeiting its first-round pick in either the 2024, 2025, or 2026 Draft. New owner Michael Andlauer questioned how this had become his problem, and why the league or the former Sens ownership hadn't disclosed the issue before he bought the franchise. The mistake occurred on Pierre Dorion's watch, and he was immediately removed as GM, a move that was probably coming down the pike anyway. At the time, the question was which pick the Senators would give up: 2024, 2025, or 2026? We now know the Senators will forfeit their 2026 first-round pick. The Sens kicked the decision down the road last year, selecting defenseman Carter Yakemchuk in round one. GM Steve Staios suggested they would probably defer the forfeiture again this year. "It's highly likely we'll keep our pick," Staios told reporters at the Senators' end-of-season availability on May 5. In reality, their official decision had to be made at least two days earlier. According to if the Senators were going to forfeit this year's pick, they had to decide within 24 hours of the conclusion of the May 2 NHL Draft Lottery. So on May 5, keeping the pick was more than just 'highly likely' at that point. The announcement, though oddly coy, was the right decision in every way. Will RFA Fabian Zetterlund Get Paid On His San Jose Numbers Or The Ones In Ottawa? Fabian Zetterlund has only been an Ottawa Senator for a couple of months, and he's already asking the club for a raise. That wouldn't fly in a normal workplace, but that's how it goes in the NHL when you bring in a pending restricted free agent at the trade deadline. The Senators are a team on the rise, so, in theory, their first-round pick will be less valuable next season. And forfeiting the pick this year would have sent a poor message to the team and its ticket-buying fan base, who head into the summer with great expectations for next season. There's also the strategy of dragging things out in hopes that time heals all wounds. In short (pun intended), the Sens are hoping Commissioner Gary Bettman has a change of heart. When people discuss this possibility, they frequently harken back to the precedent of the New Jersey Devils getting their forfeited first-round pick back 11 years ago. That happened, but here's why that was a very different situation, and probably not a good comparison for the Senators. The league punished the Devils in 2010 for cap circumvention after signing Ilya Kovalchuk to a wild 17-year contract that would have taken him into his mid-40s. They ruled that the Devils would have to give up a first-round pick in either 2011, 2012, 2013, or 2014, along with a third-rounder in 2011 and a US$3 million fine. The Devils did what the Senators are doing, delaying the forfeiture as long as possible. But two big things happened in the summer of 2013. First, Jersey traded their 2013 first-round pick to Vancouver for goalie Cory Schneider. At that point, the die was cast, and the Devils would be forced to give up their pick in 2014. But two weeks after the Schneider trade, Kovalchuk surprised the hockey world by retiring from the NHL with 12 years still left on his contract. The 2012–13 NHL season was a lockout year, and Kovalchuk, who had spent half the season playing in the KHL, apparently got homesick. Shortly after his announcement, he signed a lucrative four-year deal with SKA St. Petersburg, with an eye on playing in the 2018 Olympics. So the Devils had to carry on without Kovalchuk in 2013–14, and the league appeared to sympathize with that. In March 2014, the Devils applied to the NHL for reconsideration and relief from their earlier penalty. Towering Utah Defenceman Would Be Ideal Senators Trade Target Injuries to Artem Zub and Nick Jensen highlighted the Ottawa Senators' need for greater quality of depth on the right side throughout the 2024-25 season. The NHL agreed. "The Devils recently applied to the League for reconsideration and relief from a portion of the original penalty, citing primarily changes in circumstances which, in the club's view, changed the appropriateness of the sanctions initially imposed," the NHL said in a statement. "After due and thorough consideration, the League has decided that a modification of the original circumvention penalty associated with the Kovalchuk contract is warranted and, accordingly, has amended the sanctions." The Devils got their pick back. They were awarded the 30th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, the final selection of the first round. Plus, their $3 million fine was also cut in half. The league still took its pound of flesh. The 30th pick could not be traded, and naturally, the Devils were ineligible for the draft lottery that year. The Devils missed the playoffs that season and likely would have selected around 11th overall. At that point, players like Dylan Larkin, Alex Tuch, and David Pastrnak were still on the board. Instead, with the 30th pick, the Devils selected John Quenneville. So that's the backstory on why the league reduced the punishment and gave the first-round pick back to the Devils. The star player in question had left the club with 12 years remaining on his contract, and, in a nutshell, the league took pity on them. So in the unlikely event the Senators do get their pick back, it won't have anything to do with the Kovalchuk precedent. That 2014 decision required a major shift in circumstances, and it's wildly different than anything that's happened (or could happen) in Ottawa. Steve Warne The Hockey News - Ottawa
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Mathieu Darche becomes Islanders GM with top NHL Draft pick in hand
Mathieu Darche becomes Islanders GM with top NHL Draft pick in hand (Image Source: Getty Images) The New York Islanders now have a new general manager at the helm in time for the big decision. ESPN's Emily Kaplan reports the team is bringing in Tampa Bay Lightning assistant GM Mathieu Darche as the Islanders' newest general manager. The hiring comes on the heels of the Islanders getting their first choice in the NHL Draft, an opportunity they fell into after trading up from the 10th spot. With Mathieu Darche at the controls, the team wishes to start anew and reverse its fortunes. Mathieu Darche brings championship experience from Tampa Bay Mathieu Darche is not new to success. Following appearances in portions of nine NHL seasons, Mathieu Darche entered the Tampa Bay Lightning's front office in 2019. He has since been an integral member of the team's hockey operations, assisting them in capturing consecutive Stanley Cups. His background in constructing a championship-contending roster made him an ideal fit for the Islanders, who need a clean slate. It is his first General Manager's job, and it arrives at an important time for the team. Mathieu Darche inherits from veteran GM Lou Lamoriello, who served for seven seasons. Lamoriello was not retained after another disappointing season. The Islanders did not make the playoffs and have not advanced past the second round since 2021 when they were swept by Mathieu Darche's old team, the Lightning. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 나이들어 시력이 안좋거나 흐릿흐릿! 노안교정 선택아닌 필수입니다! 부산백내장노안 전문안과 더 알아보기 Undo Now, Mathieu Darche must assemble a moribund roster, beginning with the No. 1 pick. Also Read: New York Islanders Limit GM Search To Marc Bergevin, Mathieu Darche Amid Brendan Shanahan Negotiations Islanders have first pick for first time since 2009 The Islanders find themselves in an unusual and dominant situation. Due to an unexpected boost in the NHL Draft Lottery, they now possess the first overall draft pick. They last had the top choice in 2009, when they took John Tavares. It was that selection that set the team up for the future then, and now Mathieu Darche is presented with the same chance of acquiring a game-altering player. With the draft looming and a new GM at the helm, the Islanders are moving into a new chapter. The fans are optimistic Mathieu Darche can utilize his championship background to construct a winner on Long Island. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Center options for Rangers with No. 12 pick in 2025 NHL Draft: Jack Nesbitt, Roger McQueen
Now that the interesting new NHL Draft Lottery is complete, the New York Rangers have an already documented decision to make on whether to retain the No. 12 overall pick or send it to the Pittsburgh Penguins to close the circle on a pair of trades made this season. If the Rangers hold on to this year's first-round pick, the decision to take the best center available seems to be the most likely course of action. Though this draft doesn't seem to be as deep as next year's, it's not often the Rangers find themselves with an opportunity to select this high in the first round. And that gives them the chance to land a quality center, even if several are gone by time that 12th pick is on the clock. Immediately following the lottery, held their own mock draft with draft gurus Adam Kimelman and Mike Morreale making their picks. Each projected the Rangers to select a big center, Jack Nesbitt and Roger McQueen. Assuming one or both of these centers fall to pick 12, let's breakdown the options between Nesbitt and McQueen. Advertisement Related: Why Rangers must take best center available if they keep No. 12 pick in 2025 NHL Draft Jack Nesbitt Windsor Spitfires; 6-foot-4, 185 pounds Analysis from Adam Kimelman: 'The Rangers need to get younger through the middle of the ice, and Nesbitt was able to use his size and skating to stand out on a strong Windsor team this season. He plays a smart 200-foot game to go with his strong offensive skill set.' Nesbitt may not have the same acceleration, but I see a lot of Filip Chytil in the Windsor Spitfires center. Aside from having the similar build and left handedness, the 18-year-old is basically a slower (yet efficient) but stronger version of Chytil, that projects to be solid 3C with 2C upside. He has enough momentum in his big stride to drive through the neutral zone. Though Nesbitt may not drive play at an elite level, he makes up for that in compete and high IQ, and is solid in all three zones. He's not afraid to get dirty to protect his net, and uses his smarts in the offensive zone to provide consistent puck support. Nesbitt has a deceptive shot, just like Chytil, and can find the open man when he draws attention as the puck carrier. Nesbitt's certainly not afraid to take a hit to make a play, but like Chytil, could protect himself better once he fills out. He'll have no problem over time gaining muscle and perhaps adding to his acceleration to be an effective forward in the NHL. Once he does, similarities to Jamie Benn have been stated already, a late pick who needed some seasoning in his own right. After finishing the season fifth on Windsor with 64 points (25 goals, 39 assists) in 65 games, Nesbitt had 10 points (one goal, nine assists) to go along with 30 penalty minutes in 12 OHL playoff games. Projected timeline to the Rangers lineup: 2-3 years Roger McQueen Brandon Wheat Kings; 6-foot-5, 197 pounds Analysis from Mike Morreale: Advertisement 'There's a lot to like about the right-handed center, who has size, a big shot and deft scoring touch to complement an extremely good motor. McQueen could be a steal at this point in the draft. He had 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) despite missing 51 games.' Once he fills out more and adds 15 pounds or so of muscle, the maturity of McQueen's game will dictate how quickly he's an effective NHL hockey player. He has great hands for his size and could be the guy who goes as high as sixth overall to the Philadelphia Flyers, per Kimelman's mock draft. McQueen has a strong shot that he can beat goalies from anywhere, even on the zone entry. On the power play, he is very effective on the half wall as a scoring threat. Opposing players have to respect his mix of size, hands and creativity. Simply, he's a handful. Before the season, McQueen was projected as a top-10 pick. However, McQueen is now viewed as a high-risk, high-reward player because he only played 17 games due to a back injury that sidelined him for five months. Teams will be enticed to take McQueen sooner, but if the injury leaves him sitting there at 12, Drury shouldn't hesitate. He's more of a play driver than Nesbitt, so that and his larger upside makes McQueen my pick if deciding between the two. Both should be effective, but McQueen seems to have the pedigree to be a solid right-handed top-six center. While his style compares to Kirby Dach, hopefully his injury history doesn't. It should be noted that McQueen returned in the WHL playoffs, scoring one goal in three games. Brandon lost in five games to Lethbridge in the first round. Projected timeline to the Rangers lineup: 1-2 years
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Draft Lotteries Suck for Die-Hard Fans
Good morning and welcome to another edition of Free Agent! Be sure to help somebody with their bag today, and you too might get drafted second overall. But you wouldn't be drafted first overall by the Dallas Mavericks or the New York Islanders, the biggest winners of this season's losers. (I cannot believe the NBA includes the losers of the Play-In Tournament in the lottery). Today we'll talk about why fans should hate draft lotteries, an angry letter about the NHL All-Star Game, team names and trademarks, and a lackluster sports "documentary." Locker Room Links Tank This It's draft season, which also means it's draft lottery season, where so much of your favorite team's history and success may rest in the hands of a pingpong ball—and I hate that. (Maybe I'm just grumpy because my Detroit Red Wings have never moved up under the NHL Draft Lottery and the Detroit Pistons got screwed out of drafting Victor Wembanyama.) Advertisement The point of the lotteries is to reduce tanking so that every team is trying hard to make the playoffs every year. But if the worst teams don't get a high draft pick, it just prolongs their suffering in the league basement. I'm not the only one noticing this tension: Fans obviously don't tank, even if some (not me!) are capable of rooting for it. If the die-hard fans who stick with their team through their worst times have to suffer through the team being worst in the league, they should at least get some optimism from a first overall pick. Players also don't tank, at least not for draft purposes: They have their next contract in mind, plus any performance bonuses in their current contracts, and can hold out hope a good team will want to pick them up in a trade—just look at all the examples of teams that won late in the NFL season and blew their chance at the No. 1 pick. Lastly, coaches don't tank: If they lose a lot, they get fired. Management doesn't praise a coach for leading the team to a high draft pick. Management sometimes tanks, yes, by trading today's talent away for tomorrow's draft picks ("Trust the process!"). But basing a system on the "My team would never tank, but we need to stop rewarding their team for doing it!" belief is a bad idea. Advertisement The point isn't that tanking doesn't happen—it does, and there are tweaks leagues can make to discourage it. But from a fan perspective, if our team sucks in a given season, we want to believe something good can come of it, and that our team might be able to quickly bounce back. There's no draft lottery in the NFL, but a team can go from drafting in the first five to the Super Bowl within a couple of seasons. But in the NHL and NBA, people expect a rebuild to take five years. How's that going to keep a distraught fan engaged with their bad team? That's not solely because of the lottery system, but it's a factor to consider along with rookie contracts and minimum draft ages. Sports are random enough on their own, and often the draft is enough of a lottery on its own, especially in the NHL and MLB where young draft picks are usually a few seasons away from the big leagues. Then there's the varying quality in draft classes: No.1 picks are not created equal. There are plenty of interesting alternatives to draft lotteries to consider—too many to go into detail in one newsletter. I want to know what you think now: Click here for a quick and easy two-question survey on draft lotteries and alternatives, no fuss required. I'll share the results next week. 5 for Fighting This may be the most upset anyone has ever been about the NHL All-Star Game, of all things. Advertisement Next season's NHL All-Star Game was supposed to be at UBS Arena on Long Island, home of the New York Islanders. The league canceled the event, though, and replaced it with a yet-to-be-determined international send-off event for the 2026 Winter Olympics (which will still take place at UBS Arena). That did not sit well with Gov. Kathy Hochul (a Democrat). Hochul wrote to Commissioner Gary Bettman to express her "disappointment" over the decision, which she lamented was made "without consultation with the State of New York." (God forbid a business make a decision without asking for the government's permission.) Hochul's letter claimed the event was "expected to bring millions in economic activity to the region," which seems a bit rich for an event that yes, probably would have sold out, but likely with tickets sold almost entirely to the 20 million people living in the New York City metropolitan area. The Hochul letter also tries to guilt the NHL by pointing out New York State spent $100 million on a new Long Island Rail Road station to serve the arena, "the first new LIRR station in nearly 50 years," which says a lot about New York's ability to build new things. Also, there was already a station half a mile away. To close, Hochul points out what Bettman already knows: New York is home to "three NHL franchises and the league's headquarters." In a time when laws are so vast and complex that an institution like the NHL can be investigated, harassed, and punished by the state for almost anything, that feels a bit like a veiled threat. Advertisement It's a lot of political hullabaloo for an event that hardly anyone cares about. Which Yeti Am I Writing About? Utah Hockey Club is out, Utah Mammoth is in. The Salt Lake City–based NHL team announced its permanent name last week, one year after the franchise's move from Arizona. The name is a pretty good choice, especially considering some of the original options were Utah Caribou and Utah Powder. But it wasn't the best choice, which would have been Utah Yeti. The audible alliteration would have been great, plus the mascot and the logo would probably have been really cool. The name was apparently a front-runner, too. But using the name would have been against the law, because the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejected the idea: It would have supposedly caused a lot of confusion with other products using yeti in their branding—most notably, YETI, the cooler company. Advertisement How this would have caused enough confusion to warrant rejection is beyond me. YETI has a distinct logo using a distinct font. As long as the hockey team used a significantly different font, it would have been no problem. Yes, the hockey team plays on ice, and yes, you put ice in YETI coolers, but that's about all they have in common. If America can figure out the difference between the Arizona Cardinals, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Louisville Cardinals, the Vatican's cardinals, and even the Stanford Cardinal, I think we can figure out the difference between a hockey team and a cooler company. Take a Seat—or Don't I usually recommend something to watch or do in this space, but this week I recommend something to skip: The Seat, a short documentary on Netflix about Formula 1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli taking over Lewis Hamilton's seat at Mercedes. Advertisement At 40 minutes, The Seat is basically a short episode of Drive to Survive—but we already had an episode of that focused on Antonelli (the same episode egregiously gave viewers the impression Mercedes driver George Russell won a race he was disqualified from). The Seat's marketing promised to take us inside Mercedes' decision making process, with access to previously unreleased WhatsApp messages. But the decision is made early in the documentary, and thanks to WhatsApp's sponsorship viewers get a subtle ad for using the messaging app for workplace purposes. (Did you know you can share lap times and files on WhatsApp? Your work messages can live right next to spam messages!) The Seat is basically a 40-minute promo video for Mercedes and Antonelli—who I already thought of as young and likeable, and still do. It's flashy and the visuals are pretty, but it doesn't provide much of anything new. Unless you're a Mercedes superfan, go ahead and skip. F1 drivers racing (and crashing) in life-sized LEGO cars, however, is obviously recommended. Replay of the Week We could all use a good dunk right now. Here's an insane one from Minnesota's Anthony Edwards, en route to a comeback victory against Golden State. That's all for now. Enjoy watching the real game of the week, Michigan against UCF on Friday in the NCAA softball tournament. The post Draft Lotteries Suck for Die-Hard Fans appeared first on
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 NHL Mock Draft 1.0: Who do Islanders take with No. 1 pick?
The 2025 NHL Draft is set for June 27-28 in Los Angeles at L.A. Live's Peacock Theater and the New York Islanders will have the No. 1 pick for the first time since selecting John Tavares first overall in 2009. The Islanders were the big winners from the NHL Draft Lottery on May 5, moving up nine spots from No. 10, when they had just a 3.5 percent chance to do so. It's the fifth time in franchise history the Islanders will select No. 1 overall. They also took took goalie Rick DiPietro first in 2000, defenseman Denis Potvin in 1973 and forward Billy Harris in 1972. Advertisement The other big winner from the Draft Lottery was the Utah Hockey Club, who moved up from 14 to 4 after winning the second drawing. As teams prepare for the draft, we take a look at some of the top-rated prospects and predict which names will be selected in the first 16 picks of the first round. Future mock drafts will include playoff teams that didn't participate in the draft lottery. Related: NHL playoff predictions: Picks for every 2nd-round series, 2025 Stanley Cup champion 2025 NHL Mock Draft 1.0 Credit: MIKE COPPER/ERIE TIMES-NEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK 1. New York Islanders: Matthew Schaefer, LHD (Erie Otters, OHL) Schaefer was limited to 26 games this season between the OHL, World Juniors, Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge because of a broken clavicle. Despite his injury, scouts loved what they saw from Schaefer and many consider him to be the best player in this draft class. Schaefer is hard to beat in 1-on-1 situations, and is projected to be a No. 1 defenseman in the NHL sooner rather than later. Schaefer could become the second Erie player to be selected with the first-overall pick after Connor McDavid (2015) a decade earlier. Since 2000, four defenseman have been selected with the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft: Owen Power (2021, Buffalo Sabres), Rasmus Dahlin (2018, Sabres), Aaron Ekblad (2014, Florida Panthers) and Erik Johnson (2006, St. Louis Blues). Advertisement 'Matthew Schaefer is the No. 1 defense prospect in this Draft Class,' Vice President of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr said. ' He is the complete package playing a dynamic style that generates results and influences the outcome of games. Schaefere easily projects as a future All-Star in the NHL.' 2. San Jose Sharks: Michael Misa, C/LW (Saginaw Spirit, OHL) Coming off one of the most impressive goal-scoring campaigns ever seen in the OHL, Misa knows where to get the puck and fire at will. Though he has the ability to play both center and wing, Misa projects more as a winger at the NHL level and has the best offensive instincts of any player in this draft. Misa is the first player in Saginaw history to win the Eddie Powers Trophy as the top scorer in the OHL, finishing the regular season with 134 points (62 goals, 72 assists). He tied John Tavares (2006-07) for the most points by an OHL player under age 18 since 2000. Advertisement 'Every time I saw Misa, I was very impressed with that complete game,' Central Scouting associate director David Gregory said. 'I was so impressed with how responsible a center he was on his side of the red line.' 3. Chicago Blackhawks: James Hagens, C (Boston College, NCAA) Hagens was the preseason favorite to be the top overall pick, but dropped partly due to other prospects finding ways to stand out. He had a point-per-game freshman season at Boston College (37 points in 37 games), and also had solid numbers (nine points; five goals, four assists in seven games) to help the United States win the gold medal at the 2025 World Junior Championship. Hagens plays a great two-way game and has the tools to be a No. 1 center on many NHL teams. 4. Utah Hockey Club: Porter Martone, RW (Brampton Steelheads, OHL) Martone possesses an excellent combination of skill, size (6-foot-3, 208 pounds) and power to have a long NHL career. He fell just short of 100 points (98) in his third OHL campaign, but he was entertaining every night for the Steelheads. Martone is a future top-six forward who can finish plays and play a physical game. Advertisement Also Read:: NHL Games Today: 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Schedule, Dates, Times, and Results 5. Nashville Predators: Anton Frondell, C/RW (Djurgardens, Allsvenskan) Injuries derailed the early part of the season for Frondell, but he returned to finish with one of the most productive seasons by a U-18 player in Allsvenskan (second-tier Swedish league) history. Frondell is an intriguing prospect with experience down the middle and on the wing. He has a fantastic shot release and is improving at attacking the puck. Frondell established himself as a potential top-5 pick after making up for lost time. 6. Philadelphia Flyers: Victor Eklund, RW (Djurgardens, Allsvenskan) Eklund seemed to always be involved in the puck play at the World Juniors, when he had six points (two goals, four assists) in seven games for Sweden. Eklund makes things happen with the puck that very few can. He has decent strength for a 5-foot-11, 161-pound frame. Eklund needs work defensively, but it shouldn't keep him from playing high up in the lineup. His skating also continues to get better. 7. Boston Bruins: Caleb Desnoyers, C (Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL) Desnoyers is a safe bet to become a two-way, top-six forward. Though he's not huge (6-foot-2, 172 pounds), Desnoyers plays physically, and is one of the smarter centers in this draft with his playmaking ability. He might not be the flashiest, but Desnoyers' ability to stay calm under pressure is an intangible teams can win with at the NHL level. 8. Seattle Kraken: Jackson Smith, LHD (Tri-City Americans, WHL) Smith is considered by many to be the second-best defenseman in the draft. Smith has so many things going for him, not the least of which is being a physical 6-foot-3 defender who skates well with great mobility. 9. Buffalo Sabres: Jake O'Brien, C (Brantford Bulldogs, OHL) O'Brien has the skills to be an impressive center in the NHL. He fell just short of 100 points with 98, and showed steady improvement as the season wore on. He has the work ethic and ability to be effective in all three zones. Advertisement Also Read:: NHL free agency: Top forwards available in 2025, including Mitch Marner 10. Anaheim Ducks: Justin Carbonneau, RW (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL) Carbonneau's game should translate to the NHL given his high-end attributes. He's a great skater with an excellent shot release who loves to make big, flashy plays. His willingness to do whatever it takes to generate offense will pay off for NHL teams. 11. Pittsburgh Penguins: Roger McQueen, C (Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL) McQueen may be a risky pick given his small sample size — he played just 20 games between the regular season and playoffs. But McQueen was productive, physical, fast and has plenty of skill. He's also 6-foot-5, scouts like that. He can intimidate, shoot, and pass all in the same shift. McQueen's pure talent is undeniable, and his upside should overcome concerns about a recent back injury. 12. New York Rangers: Kashawn Aitcheson, LHD (Barrie Colts, OHL) Rangers general manager Chris Drury has an interesting decision to make with this pick. As a result of a trade to acquire J.T. Miller, the Rangers can either keep this selection and trade an unprotected 2026 first-round pick to the Penguins, or give them this pick and retain their own first-rounder next year. Advertisement If the Rangers choose to keep the 2025 first, they can look to restock the prospect pipeline and Aitcheson has the potential to be an intimidating force in the NHL. He gives opponents nothing to work with, and his physicality is the biggest attribute of his game. He's a brutal player who is willing to get involved with just about anyone, registering 88 penalty minutes in the regular season. For teams looking to get tougher to play against, Aitcheson's raw talent and pure tenacity will be tough to pass up. 13. Detroit Red WIngs: Radim Mrtka, RHD (Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL) Mrtka began the season in the top professional league in Czechia before moving to the WHL, ahead of the World Juniors. He's a big 6-foot-6 defenseman with mobility, offensive skill and other elements to make him an effective NHL blueliner. 14. Columbus Blue Jackets: Brady Martin, C (Soo Greyhounds, OHL) Martin's game transcends the score sheet, as his play away from the puck is a major asset. He hits everyone in sight, and battles hard for the puck, never giving up on a play. A gamer, a winning player. 15. Vancouver Canucks: Logan Hensler, RHD (University of Wisconsin, NCAA) Once projected to be a potential top-5 pick in this draft, Hensler apparently was passed by other top prospects this season. Scouts want to see more from the 6-foot-2 mobile blueliner. He has good reach and can rough up opponents, while being solid in his own zone. Hensler projects as a second-pairing defenseman at the NHL level who plays a safe game. He won't be confused for a puck-rushing offensive defenseman. 16. Montreal Canadiens (via Calgary Flames): Carter Bear, C/LW (Everett Silvertips, WHL) Bear was one of the CHL's most dangerous forwards this year, registering 40 goals, 82 points and 77 penalty minutes in 56 games. A top-notch athlete who is difficult to play against, a lacerated Achilles tendon sustaine din March could impact his draft status.
