ChatGPT draft analysis I didn't read

Top-Performing Draft Classes (Based on Avg NHL Impact Projection)

Steals of the Draft (NHL Role > Draft Position)

Risk-Heavy Picks (High Uncertainty vs. Slot)

Draft Superlatives

Team-by-Team Grades (Adjusted for NHL Sim Context)

Grade A–A-

• PIT – One pick, huge value.

• NSH – Smart, NHL-likely prospects.

• DAL – Ready to integrate into NHL sim systems.

• NYI – High floor, Martone could play soon.

• SJS – Great blend of positional discipline.

Grade B–B-

• DET – Misa & Mooney were smart gets.

• STL – Mix of foundational defense and upside.

• NYR – Volume-focused but well-structured.

• EDM – Hallquisth is a long-term bet.

• SEA – Better than it first appears; depth selections.

Grade C+ and below

• CBJ – Multiple picks but over-indexed on boom/bust.

• CHI – Drafted fringe-value players early.

• ANA – Lacked a clear strategy, reached on Eklund.

• CGY – Ryker Lee + Prokhorov = too conservative.

• FLA / CAR – Very low pick count, limited impact.

Final Notes & Sim Strategy Suggestions

Trends

• Many teams prioritized NHL readiness over raw ceiling — smart for a sim league.

• Defensemen were well-represented — a clear understanding of roster balancing.

Strategy Winners

• Teams that took projectable 2nd–3rd liners will benefit in sim rotations.

• Organizations with deep prospect pools may now shift toward depth management and goalie development.

Just for fun look what happened when I asked for an infographic (ignore the fact I forgot to change the league name

STHL Draft Review: Conservative Bets, Smart Depth, and One Franchise-Stealing Steal

By STHL Central Scouting — July 2025

The dust has settled on the 2025 STHL Entry Draft, and while the league’s general managers may not have moved heaven and earth via trades this year, they made their marks with a variety of high-floor role players, project picks, and at least one late-round steal that could define a franchise’s blue line for a decade.

In contrast to recent years where raw upside dominated early selections, 2025 saw a return to structure: safe picks in the first round, plenty of two-way forwards and sturdy defensemen in the second, and a quiet emphasis on pro readiness across the board.

PIT Makes One Pick — and Nails It

Will Horcroff, taken 17th overall by Pittsburgh, might not have been the flashiest selection on the board — but he’s undoubtedly one of the smartest. With NHL-ready puck protection, transition instincts, and a polished off-puck game, Horcroff projects as a future 2C who could step into a bottom-six role within a season.

Pittsburgh didn’t overthink it. One pick, one player. They left with a surefire pro.

Nashville’s Balanced Blueprint

With Jake O’Brien (6) and Malcolm Spence (38), Nashville crafted arguably the most realistic, high-floor draft of any franchise. O’Brien plays a prototypical middle-six center game — strong in the dot, efficient through the neutral zone — while Spence gives them a hard-nosed winger with penalty kill upside and a strong motor.

In a sim league like the STHL where depth and versatility matter just as much as stardom, this is the kind of draft that wins in April — not just in July.

Steal of the Draft: Ivan Ryabkin (59, STL)

Taken late in the fourth round, Ryabkin may not have been a consensus top-30 pick in the real-world mock boards, but he absolutely should’ve gone higher. The slick, right-shot defenseman is a puck mover with mobility and intelligence — a future power play QB on a good team.

St. Louis, already bolstered by Matt Schaefer at 1st overall, found themselves quietly cleaning up again at 59.

Risk Management: CBJ and SEA Go Bold

Not every team played it safe. Columbus took Caleb Desnoyers at 4 — a move that raised eyebrows across the scouting community. Though Desnoyers offers elite offensive flashes, concerns about his defensive zone play and ability to pace pro-level games led some to rank him lower.

Seattle’s pick of Jack Nesbitt at 13 falls into a similar camp. He’s a bet on projection more than production, and in a sim where development time matters, GMs may have to wait longer than expected for a payoff.

Top Draft Classes (Realism-Based)

Final Takeaways

• Teams leaned into projectability over flash — a reflection of mature front office models that favor simulation outcomes over hype.

• Defensemen dominated late: Ryabkin, Frolov, and Kettles all have a chance to become roster staples.

• Goalie scarcity remains — with only Jack Ivankovic (NYR) looking like a reliable netminder prospect.

Up next? Development camps and organizational reshuffles. But rest assured — some players taken in the back third of this draft will be playing real minutes in the STHL within three seasons.

And one of them just might win someone a title.