Again, I like the projection but really think he would've been there at #34
- Assman22

Nope and Wheeler and Pronman are the biggest overpaid forecasters around.

Not really. Kyle drafted so many guys with the same exact draft profile. Boisvert doesn't even make sense especially when Eiserman fell into his lap but it's in the past. I think they could've gotten Nessy in the 2nd round but again I'm not a GM and not keyed in on the conversations of the draft floor.
- Assman22

boisevert signed?

No.

Remember when I said that Hurricane pick was in play a month back or so?

wow we got three guys I wanted!

wow just wow

Mason West
A dual sport athlete, Edina H.S. QB is also a big hockey centre Mason West and the highest rated high schooler on the CSS North American list at # 50. The 17-year-old Centre-right wing ranked first in goals (27), second in points (49) in 31 games this his junior year. Currently playing in the USHL with Fargo. So he is currently in the process of which sport to pursue, since he will be getting scholarship offers from many different teams and no intention of attempting to to play two collegiate sports.Mason West is the highest rated high schooler on the CSS North American list at # 50. The 17-year-old Centre-right wing ranked first in goals (27), second in points (49) in 31 games this his junior year. Currently playing in the USHL with Fargo. So he is currently in the process of which sport to pursue, since he will be getting scholarship offers from many different teams and no intention of attempting to play two collegiate sports. That’s what currently is clouding his journey. He is oh so tall, but not really overly dominant. He uses his large long package to quickly generate a lot of power in protecting the puck, his hip pocket possessions much safer than his handling that needs more work. Plays strong on the cycle. He gets to the seams that open in coverage. Displays flashes of high end playmaking, and will funnel pucks down low, or quickly get them laterally circle to circle in the attack zone. He passed the puck off the boards low to high, used give-and-go passes to get to the net, and cut inside to the slot. Dominates at his size all over. Beside nice straight line speed, and those first three steps are not what guys this size display. There are still many areas for improvement that need to be developed further that might lead to his actually fulfilling his ceiling of a top six player, as a pro. Can he be more creative and add more explosion and use his higher end skills to their advantages? Will he feel more confident in his handling, hockey vision and awareness. Does he as a large player add some bite? You would love for him to achieve a second-line centre upside.

Wheeler's Profile is less optimistic:

A riser in this draft class, Nestrasil’s numbers don’t leap off the page but he started the year with eight points in his first 21 games and finished it with 34 points in his final 40 games. His minutes rose from 10-15 per game to 17-20 per game as the season progressed, too, and he also played well in the playoffs for Muskegon. He took such big steps in the second half that UMass moved his commitment up from 2026-27 to 2025-26. Scouts are intrigued by his rangy frame, his room for physical growth and his blend of work ethic and sneaky skill. I expect the college level to come with a learning curve next season but he skates well for his size, he gets in on the forecheck, he hunts and wins pucks with his body positioning and a great stick and he showed some playmaking sense and skill this year. The belief is that once he fills out his frame, he could become a pretty unique third-line winger with the right patience. I don’t see the 20s/30s range that some do, but he looks like a top 64 prospect to me.
- Revco38

Thanks, Rev. Worth mentioning Muskegon won the Cup this yr.

KD traded both 2nd's??
- Mr Ricochet

Yes and for a guy he could've gotten at #34 but he's Spellacy+ and that's the best way to look at this pick. This 100% was his guy for #34 and wasn't sure he'd make it there.

Again with 3 1sts who's it gonna be?
- SaskHawkFan

WTF? Was that necessary for both 2nds?

Wheeler's profile

West is one of the most interesting prospects in this draft. He’s a two-sport athlete at Edina High in both hockey and football. NHL Central Scouting ranked him 27th among North American skaters in their final rankings, but he’s also a three-star quarterback recruit who has offers to play football at Miami, Marshall, Kent State and South Dakota. He’s also an August birthday who is nearly 6-foot-6. He has been an honorable mention on my lists this year because I wanted to see him play in the USHL before slotting him. He played well enough for Fargo down the stretch (nine points in 10 regular-season games, his first games in the league) to warrant a second-round rating, though.

You can see some of the natural athleticism in his skating (which could still use another step but isn’t awkward for his size), handling and dexterity. He can make plays into space and can catch and tip pucks. He also sees the ice well and plays the game with good poise and his eyes up, though there’s even some room to grow and develop his game there as well. He’s also a natural center, though there are some who view him as a winger up levels. Teams are very intrigued by both his raw talent and athleticism and strength but also the runway he still appears to have ahead of him.

Jinxed all my favorites going in, but like West a lot. FB player like Spellacy, MN HS like Rinzel. Plenty of time for him to develop.

Nope and Wheeler and Pronman are the biggest overpaid forecasters around.
- wiz1901

Never been a Pronman fan. I personally know several of his current/former assistants that do all the leg work for him lol

Very risky pick. He may go the football route and Davidson will look extremely foolish.

Jinxed all my favorites going in, but like West a lot. FB player like Spellacy, MN HS like Rinzel. Plenty of time for him to develop.
- totem

Seems to be the theme of this draft. Every pick is going to take time to get to the NHL especially the latter two picks Nestrail and West.

Yes and for a guy he could've gotten at #34 but he's Spellacy+ and that's the best way to look at this pick. This 100% was his guy for #34 and wasn't sure he'd make it there.
- Assman22

You are fooling yourself at these guys being reaches...both at the bottom of the first, there is a real chance that the teams in those slots between take them JUST LIKE RAVENBERGEN is now gone.

Seems to be the theme of this draft. Every pick is going to take time to get to the NHL especially the latter two picks Nestrail and West.
- Assman22

True, after the top 6

Very risky pick. He may go the football route and Davidson will look extremely foolish.
- paulr

He has stated football will not go on after high school.

He has stated football will not go on after high school.
- wiz1901

As the sportsnet guys said what does he do when he’s offered a D1 scholarship?

He has stated football will not go on after high school.
- wiz1901

QBs don't tackle back.

He has stated football will not go on after high school.
- wiz1901

Fargo next year and the Michigan State. Very similar path to Rinzel.

Wouldn't mind seeing CHI draft D Sam Laurila from Fargo in the 4th or so.

WTF? Was that necessary for both 2nds?

Wheeler's profile

West is one of the most interesting prospects in this draft. He’s a two-sport athlete at Edina High in both hockey and football. NHL Central Scouting ranked him 27th among North American skaters in their final rankings, but he’s also a three-star quarterback recruit who has offers to play football at Miami, Marshall, Kent State and South Dakota. He’s also an August birthday who is nearly 6-foot-6. He has been an honorable mention on my lists this year because I wanted to see him play in the USHL before slotting him. He played well enough for Fargo down the stretch (nine points in 10 regular-season games, his first games in the league) to warrant a second-round rating, though.

You can see some of the natural athleticism in his skating (which could still use another step but isn’t awkward for his size), handling and dexterity. He can make plays into space and can catch and tip pucks. He also sees the ice well and plays the game with good poise and his eyes up, though there’s even some room to grow and develop his game there as well. He’s also a natural center, though there are some who view him as a winger up levels. Teams are very intrigued by both his raw talent and athleticism and strength but also the runway he still appears to have ahead of him.
- Revco38

Have only read about this West kid but worth noting that Rinzel was also thought to be overdrafted, Rev.

I posted after drafting Frondell that IMO this draft is when a much more critical analysis of KD will start. After completing the 1st rd I'm even more sure of it ....... I'm in that camp now too, IMO he drafted for floor not ceiling with a 3rd overall, but am trusting whatever KD is doing until he proves he doesn't deserve that trust.

Very risky pick. He may go the football route and Davidson will look extremely foolish.
- paulr

It is possible and the compensation would be a late 2nd rounder in 5 years

QBs don't tackle back.
- wizardofi

So you figure he gets QB killed in football?

So you figure he gets QB killed in football?
- wiz1901

If he plays for the Bears..........

So you figure he gets QB killed in football?
- wiz1901

I think he wants to hit things, hockey give him that option. With his size...

Calgary pick selector looks like either the Pringles guy or Monopoly guy sans the monical ffs!

Calgary pick selector looks like either the Pringles guy or Monopoly guy sans the monical ffs!
- Assman22

You don’t know who Lanny MacDonald is??

Jeez these 2 kids KD drafted profile a lot like Rinzel. We'll see how it goes but really like the potential upside on the kids.

I hope I'm right, but for now love the Frondell pick.

The Hawks get three quality forwards and people are getting their panties in a bunch that they reached???

These last guys picked are all icing on the cake if they reach the NHL.

I guess I don't see which options you watched getting selected AFTER them, where they YOUR guys?

If not the OTHER SCOUTING staffs didn't like them either.