2025 NHL Draft Thread

[TheFridge]

Guys you don't trade your 1st round pick, especially what will likely be another top-10 pick, in the McKenna draft. You just don't do it.

 

[Hawkaholic]

It's possible I'm wearing my rose colored glasses. I think that the Hawks have too many players playing above where they should be and Nazar, a big free agent, and 2 top 4 picks would change that. We may sign a big fish - we may not. But neither you nor I can say that they definitley won't.

I'd be willing to bet that Misa, Martone, and Schaeffer play in the NHL next year. Hagens might stay in college for another year but we'll see about that. I'm not saying they'll contend for a cup nor even make the playoffs but I'm confident they'll be outside the bottom 5.

But back to the original point. When has a GM ever traded a top 4 pick for an unprotected 1st the next year? No matter how bad that team appears to be.

I'll bet a lot of money that Schaeffer won't be in the NHL, and Misa probably won't either. Martone I could see as he has the size, but more than likely no one from the draft plays in the NHL next year.

 

[MHO]

I'll bet a lot of money that Schaeffer won't be in the NHL, and Misa probably won't either. Martone I could see as he has the size, but more than likely no one from the draft plays in the NHL next year.

I guess we'll have to let time play this one out.

 

[u2wojo]

I guess we'll have to let time play this one out.

Not really....Schaefer will be 17 when training camps open and will have just turned 18 when the NHL season starts. Celebrini, Bedard, Carlsson, Fantilli, and Benson are the only forwards in the last 2 draft classes to go from the draft floor to playing most NHL games that season. The odds are real long for any player much less a barely 18 year old D man even playing in the NHL and even less of actually being impactful enough to change the fortunes of a bottom feeder.

 

[Castle8130]

I don't think it should be unpopular. I mean think about it. If you have 4th OA in 25, based on the trajectory of the Hawks, would you think there's a chance that they're picking nearly that high the next year? I know they're bad right now but I'd be shocked if they're near the top 5 in 26.

So I don't think any GM in the league would pass on any of those 4 players for a crazy chance at McKenna the next year.

Yeah you'd definitely have to add a bit to the 2026 unprotected 1st. Probably 2026 unprotected 1st + Leafs 1st round pick + our 2025 2nd round pick. I know the cost is high, but that's the price to take a shot at a guy like Michael Misa or James Hagens

 

[BHFAN92]

If Blackhawks get lucky and land the #1ova in 2025 draft I would draft Matthew Schaefer and not think twice. He is like a hybrid of Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes and will be a legit #1 Dman star. Kid has it all size 6'2, 185. edges, speed, puck handling Hockey IQ, and he isn't just a puck moving elite skater he is very good defensively. If Blackhawks could pare the Toronto 2025 1st and 2026 1st to move back into top 4 I would do it. Its time to hit the gas

 

[TheFridge]

If Blackhawks get lucky and land the #1ova in 2025 draft I would draft Matthew Schaefer and not think twice. He is like a hybrid of Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes and will be a legit #1 Dman star. Kid has it all size 6'2, 185. edges, speed, puck handling Hockey IQ, and he isn't just a puck moving elite skater he is very good defensively. If Blackhawks could pare the Toronto 2025 1st and 2026 1st to move back into top 4 I would do it. Its time to hit the gas

He's not the dynamic offensive player either Hughes or Makar are. But he projects as a better two-way guy.

If Hughes/Makar are the 80-100 point offensive D of the modern NHL, Schaefer would probably be a 60-70 point two-way work horse.

 

[MHO]

Not really....Schaefer will be 17 when training camps open and will have just turned 18 when the NHL season starts. Celebrini, Bedard, Carlsson, Fantilli, and Benson are the only forwards in the last 2 draft classes to go from the draft floor to playing most NHL games that season. The odds are real long for any player much less a barely 18 year old D man even playing in the NHL and even less of actually being impactful enough to change the fortunes of a bottom feeder.

I was thinking that if this scenario played out, the Hawks would end up with 2 of the forwards. Going into last year's draft, I felt that Celebrini was the only guy who would play pro the next year and in 23, I felt that all the guys in the top 3 could. I didn't anticipate Benson being one of them. Going into this year, I feel like Misa and Martone could realistically play in the NHL next year and Schaeffer just might. Dahlin did it in 18 and Ekblad in 14.

Now you're right - neither of them had franchise altering impacts in their rookie season. And I know you don't think the Hawks will sign a major free agent. But the draft is before free agency and GMs don't know what players will be added until after.

So do you think that adding Rantanen, Misa, Martone, Nazar, Dach, Slaggert, Korchinski, and Levshunov to this roster would not be enough to get them out of bottom 5 territory?

 

[Giovi]

There are a lot of posts the last page or so that make me very happy the authors are not actually the GM of the Hawks.

You don't trade away a pick that could potentially become McKenna. End of story.

 

[MHO]

There are a lot of posts the last page or so that make me very happy the authors are not actually the GM of the Hawks.

You don't trade away a pick that could potentially become McKenna. End of story.

I agree with the sentiment. But look at it from the other side. Would you trade let's say Misa or Hagens for a pick that MIGHT be McKenna or MIGHT end up like 14th the next season?

 

[BHFAN92]

I agree with the sentiment. But look at it from the other side. Would you trade let's say Misa or Hagens for a pick that MIGHT be McKenna or MIGHT end up like 14th the next season?

I would put #1 ova protection on it. It would have to be hell of an overpay though to get into top 4 again so its really just for fun and not based on reality

 

[u2wojo]

I was thinking that if this scenario played out, the Hawks would end up with 2 of the forwards. Going into last year's draft, I felt that Celebrini was the only guy who would play pro the next year and in 23, I felt that all the guys in the top 3 could. I didn't anticipate Benson being one of them. Going into this year, I feel like Misa and Martone could realistically play in the NHL next year and Schaeffer just might. Dahlin did it in 18 and Ekblad in 14.

Now you're right - neither of them had franchise altering impacts in their rookie season. And I know you don't think the Hawks will sign a major free agent. But the draft is before free agency and GMs don't know what players will be added until after.

So do you think that adding Rantanen, Misa, Martone, Nazar, Dach, Slaggert, Korchinski, and Levshunov to this roster would not be enough to get them out of bottom 5 territory?

I would lean toward 50/50 on that hypothetical being a bottom 5 team. I don't see either of Misa or Martone being impactful NHL players next season...you would be lucky if either played 12-14 sheltered minutes a game and put up 30-40 points and both would be better served dominating junior hockey another season.

Nazar, Dach, Slaggert are all TBD at this point pending a post TDL cameo and seeing some actual productivity in the NHL. I don't think there is generally a straight line between very good in the AHL to automatically very good in the NHL the next season. I suspect some transitional growing pains where maybe 1 or even 2 by seasons end could be good NHL players, but that probably comes with some lumps the first half of next season. Now if all 3 arrive at the TDL and look good....maybe.

Korch and Lev will be 21 and 20 respectively and are just as likely to be spending at least some time in the AHL as they are to take off and run in the NHL without some learning curve.

 

[hawksfan50]

Given the Hawks likelyvto get a top 3 pickgivennlikelihoodcthey finish lastvirx2nd last ,the rest of this disappointing season will be taken up by the debate on which of Martine,Misa or Schaefer should Hawks take of still on the boardwhen Hawks pick?

All 3 provide de "core" solution needs
:
Schaefer as a 1D and 1LD completes the 4 core D any team would drea of..Schaefer 1LD Vlasic 2LD .. Rinzel 1RD,Levshunov 2RD ...forcing $9.5 into less minutes and 3RD as 5th dman(that would be 26/27 season =last 4 seasons of $9.5 contract..
I agree Schaefer pkays 1 more season of Juniors after his draft before joining the Show ...

OR

Hawks take Martone ..giving them top line Big RW who has both the skills to score and create off his great ability to win puck battles and close to make steals and loosevpuck retrieval and instantly turn them into attack chances...THE Ttypof bog skilked winger with star dominating possession Hawks just lack up front..
However...thus still leaves a hugexhole for the good size center Hawks need who can both score abd drive one if tge top 2 lines.. but also do well on faceoff wins..
Boisvert has an elite shot but can hedrive a line AND win draws?...I believe he was only 44.9% on faceoff wins in an article I read in November..
Misa can driveca li e...gets dmen to back off with his great speed ,can score in various ways and is currently at 54.9% in the dot in the OHL..
So if we draft Misa you have to project honas one of tgex2 top centers for a future Hawks contender.

Thus Schaefer Martine and Misa all provide a needs sokution for a fiture core of stars Hawjsxwill need to fix onplace ona contender team down the line as they get inserted into the Show...butHawks can only draft 1 of tgse needs solutions.

IF we draft Schaefer the D core is secured..butcstill both a hole at 1 ofctge top C's and at a top Wing required for making Cuo ribs.

Thise needs would have to wait theu 2 more drafts....

If we go to a C or a W and fill that need,then searching for a 1LD ,or 2LD bringing ability to control a game Nd pace of pkay and supplying both offebnive production and defensive acumen coukd be harder to find than filling it Now with Schaefer.

So KD will have a tough choice to me as to preference.. C,W or LD each with star pitential abd filling core needs..but only can grab 1 solution per draft.

Remember.. if Hawks finish last and stay with tge #1pick after lotto,then Hawks still are in lotto business for #1in 2026 ..tgey can win a lotto tomorrow upto #1or#2..If Hawks finish 2nd last and move up 1 in Lotto...or finish 3rx last and move up to#1or#2via lotto,they will NOT be able to wina lotto for#1or#2in the 2026 or 2027 drafts ...

Hopefully Hawks finish dead lastxand stay in place so that they get another lotto shot at#1or#2 in 2026 draft.

As greatxas GavinMcKenna is ,he is not goibg to solve any of the 3 positional need types the Cup Core will demand.

He does not bring tge Size+Skill combo wexwill nerdcto complimentvour smaller sjilkex Center(probaly Nazar since Bedard will need to move to wing on that Cup contending squad...Tgey cannot go with 2 "small Centers in Bedarsand Nazar for top 2libes. Neitger can you pkay 2 small but skimkex guys on the same line...ok on PP..but Not for 5x5.

At 6'0 McKenna is average height but not the Big Winger we need to win board and puck battles and get steaks to start transitions or keep possessions extended in thebo-zone

We already have smaller skill with Bedard...Nazar,Lardis and Kantserov..so McKenna really despite great ability,is not goibg to be a pisitjobL solution we NEED.

Luckily 2026 s stacked with talent that can help fill 1 of the 2 remaining top needs after this025 2 draft. So if we do win thec20w6 lotto...I might move down 1 ..give up McKenna who likely will be consensus #1overall..

The objective for the next 3 drafts is to flll those 3 positional types Needs.
Kd will get only 1 of tgese 3 needs filled intge 2025 draft .

Which position type will he choose if 2 or all 3
on the board when we pick?

 

[Joemoe]

I'm not sure why people are/were expecting this team to be anything but dog shit 2-3 years into the rebuild. This is at least a 5 year process. This isn't Football, where you can draft guys and they immediately make a high impact.

Bedard really made people think wacky about this teams timeline, not only Hawk fans but fans of other teams as well.

 

[Muffinalt]

Love Martone. He's my favorite so far.

 

[pvr]

Love Martone. He's my favorite so far.

Could be the perfect linemate for Bedard. Like him better than Hagens. There, I said it.

 

[MTU34]

Could be the perfect linemate for Bedard. Like him better than Hagens. There, I said it.

Hagens is the better player, Martone is the better fit (at least imo)

 

[Praetorian Caps]

In 2026, the sun will rise in the east and McKenna will end up with Pittsburgh.

 

[clydesdale line]

Jesus some of these takes. Even without counting McKenna, the 2026 draft as a whole is going to be stronger. There's a reason Davidson didn't mind trading the '25 pick to get back into the lottery for Demidov. Other than Schaefer, I personally don't see a franchise changing talent in this draft.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

Schaefer is going one. I like Misa the most after him.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

Unpopular opinion; Hawks should trade their unprotected 2026 1st round pick + enough assets to land the 4th oa pick so we can scoop the faller between Hagens, Schaefer, Martone, and Misa. That would land us 2/4 elite talents in this draft and we can finally have incentive to put together a competent team for next year

Define enough assets.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Unpopular opinion; Hawks should trade their unprotected 2026 1st round pick + enough assets to land the 4th oa pick so we can scoop the faller between Hagens, Schaefer, Martone, and Misa. That would land us 2/4 elite talents in this draft and we can finally have incentive to put together a competent team for next year

I need you to understand that none of these forwards are guaranteed elite talents.

 

[HawksDub89]

If they take Misa, Martone or Schaefer I hope they consider playing college hockey next year.

None of those guys are immediate nhlers but also comically better than junior.

 

[TLEH]

Schaefer is the clear #1.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Yeah you'd definitely have to add a bit to the 2026 unprotected 1st. Probably 2026 unprotected 1st + Leafs 1st round pick + our 2025 2nd round pick. I know the cost is high, but that's the price to take a shot at a guy like Michael Misa or James Hagens

trading unprotected 1sts in a rebuild is usually a terrible idea, and McKenna is in 26 draft