2025 NHL Draft Thread

[belfour30]

If you watch some of schafers highlights this year. he is 6-2 and his birthday is sept IE 23 months younger then AL (assuming that is his real age) the youngest players in the draft. he looks like a # 1 to me. I wanted demidov last year but I think I want schafer this year. IMO we dont have a # 1 Lots of 2-3 guys. KK, AL, AV, Rinzel, then bottom pairing guys allen, kaiser,phillips del mastro.

assuming at some point Jones moves on.
Schafer AL
Vlasic rinzel
KK allen
kaiser, philips Extra. move Del mastro for a Center

of the top 4-5 forwards. Martone (skating) hagens (size) frondell mcqueen (injuries) I guess Misa does not have any real flaw . It hink Schafer goes #1

Move KK for a similar F, draft Schaefer would probably be ok with me if Misa and Martone are off when the Hawks pick.

 

[u2wojo]

Despite how bad the Hawks have been and they currently have the lowest points total in the league, it's not by much. I know it's early but 1 or 2 more wins and they're like 10th worst. And all it might take is Bedard to figure it out for them to trend up as their goal differential isn't all that bad.

My point is that it's very possible that they end up picking between 8 and 12 despite their current record. They're in a weird spot where selling vets might actually make them better because they have the talented kids below to replace them.

Yes it is a real fine margin between terrible and just regular old bad and for sure plugging in some of Nazar, Dach, Savoie, Slaggert, EDM, KK, Lev after the TDL in theory may give you an improvement in talent, but there will still be growing pains with those youngster (even if maybe more talented). Let's see how things playout into the new year with Jones/Brossoit out. Soda is playing great, but is there a regression in his game at some point? After seeing what he was last year, I still have my doubts that he went straight from terrible to really good and his reality is probably something in between those 2 extremes. Still have a lot of guys on the roster with significant injury history in Hall, Murphy, Mrazek where a couple injuries could put us more squarely in the terrible category.

Regardless, I think it is real important to end up in the top 4 in this draft as there is a pretty rapid drop off in prospects after Hagens, Misa, Martone, & Shafer.

 

[belfour30]

Regardless, I think it is real important to end up in the top 4 in this draft as there is a pretty rapid drop off in prospects after Hagens, Misa, Martone, & Shafer.

If Hagens or Schaefer are the BPA and only guy left out of that group when the Hawks pick, then you gotta take them even if they really don't fit.

 

[TheFridge]

There’s also a real lack of depth after the top 5 that continues as well. So you’re not getting a guaranteed superstar and late firsts are worth a lot less.

Like there’s a huge gap between Celebrini and Hagens. Celebrini tore up college and didn’t have high end wingers flanking him. Hagens hasn’t come close to that playing with some of the best talent college has to offer in Leonard and Perreault.

Martone has skating concerns. McQueen has injury issues. There’s a major drop off in talent after the top 5. So yes, it is in fact a weak draft. 2024 wasn’t super strong, but there was definitely better depth across the board.

A lack of depth? I'm looking at the rankings and the production of some of these players and it looks to be about as good as any draft, including last year.

Celebrini is a better prospect than Hagens generally, but he's also way more physically advanced which helped his transition to college.

If you were doing a ranking of each of the players over the last two years, the 2025 draft would have 3 of the top-4 forwards available, it would have the best D available and probably the best goaltender available too. But it doesn't have a consensus #1 right now. So it's "weak".

 

[u2wojo]

Last years draft went 10-12 guys deep where the concensus was they project to top of the lineup prospects. This year you are looking at half that at this point. A couple more forward prospects then last year and maybe just one D total as opposed to a half dozen last class. It is early (haven't even had the WJC data point) and guys will rise and fall and likely a few more of those top of the lineup projected prospects will emerge, but for now the last class was deeper while this classes top 4 or 5 are better (outside of Celebrini being the best option across either class).

 

[belfour30]

Also if you're not going to pick Schaefer and the 3 forwards are off the board, just trade down.

 

[u2wojo]

Also if you're not going to pick Schaefer and the 3 forwards are off the board, just trade down.

Or fire Davidson on the spot. Schaefer would be BPA and in the top 5 of the draft for a rebuilding team with massive holes everywhere (including LHD) we better be taking the best players with a chance to be elite. Taking Schaefer and having him Korch and Vlassic all end up top 3 D would be the most awesome problem ever and a way better position than ending up with a middle 6 forward.

Trading down for a team with a deep prospect pool, but signiifcant question on what exactly they have as elite top of the lineup guys is the exact oposite of what should be happening. Good news is Davidson's track record (of actual trades and rumors of attempted) shows he understands that.

 

[belfour30]

Or fire Davidson on the spot. Schaefer would be BPA and in the top 5 of the draft for a rebuilding team with massive holes everywhere (including LHD) we better be taking the best players with a chance to be elite. Taking Schaefer and having him Korch and Vlassic all end up top 3 D would be the most awesome problem ever and a way better position than ending up with a middle 6 forward.

Trading down for a team with a deep prospect pool, but signiifcant question on what exactly they have as elite top of the lineup guys is the exact oposite of what should be happening. Good news is Davidson's track record (of actual trades and rumors of attempted) shows he understands that.

yeah I'm with you.
I'm at the point where if Hagens or Schaefer are the BPA you just take them and then use Nazar/Korchinski as trade chips.

They don't have to get forwards with size in the draft.

I really wish they could get Brady Tkachuk but....probably not going to happen.

 

[Crow]

yeah I'm with you.
I'm at the point where if Hagens or Schaefer are the BPA you just take them and then use Nazar/Korchinski as trade chips.

They don't have to get forwards with size in the draft.

I really wish they could get Brady Tkachuk but....probably not going to happen.

I could see trading korch due to our defensive prospects but not nazar. I don’t think he is redundant in our system even if there were two of him.

 

[belfour30]

I could see trading korch due to our defensive prospects but not nazar. I don’t think he is redundant in our system even if there were two of him.

I don't think you could ice all of Bedard/Hagens/Nazar in your top 6 and expect to do anything in the playoffs.

 

[Crow]

I don't think you could ice all of Bedard/Hagens/Nazar in your top 6 and expect to do anything in the playoffs.

I see no reason why one like nazar couldnt be a third liner on a contender.

But if someone values him a ton and wants to trade their larger more physical forward who looks like a top 6 player I wouldn’t object.

 

[ClydeLee]

I don't think you could ice all of Bedard/Hagens/Nazar in your top 6 and expect to do anything in the playoffs.

Tampa from 2015... had their 2nd line literally 3 guys like that.

And Tampa in their cups still was that way. Especially the year Stamkos didn't play. You just need shutdown 2way bottom lines as well and size on D which their have.

 

[belfour30]

I see no reason why one like bazar couldnt be a third liner on a contender.

I really hope Boisvert and Vanacker are the overachievers of the non-top 10 picks.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

I don't think you could ice all of Bedard/Hagens/Nazar in your top 6 and expect to do anything in the playoffs.

The lightning had multiple forwards that you would consider small and still had one of the best runs of playoff success. There isn’t a hard and fast size rule as long as your “small” guys play hard and fast.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Is this draft deep enough that say Hawks got #1 they could trade down a few slots and still get same caliber player at #3-4?

 

[Crow]

Tampa from 2015... had their 2nd line literally 3 guys like that.

And Tampa in their cups still was that way. Especially the year Stamkos didn't play. You just need shutdown 2way bottom lines as well and size on D which their have.

I was thinking about that line too but didn’t mention it. Was pretty damn great for a few years.

 

[belfour30]

Is this draft deep enough that say Hawks got #1 they could trade down a few slots and still get same caliber player at #3-4?

They get #1 they should just take Misa imo.

I feel like the top 4 are all pick 'em.

They could go in any order.

 

[u2wojo]

Is this draft deep enough that say Hawks got #1 they could trade down a few slots and still get same caliber player at #3-4?

I think the draft is similar enough 1-4, that if there were a significant sweetener attached to the #3 or 4 pick to move down a spot or 2, I would do it. If someone loves Schaefer at #2 and offered 3 or 4 with a future 1st or an equivalent prospect, I would do that. Until/Unless the draft board changes, I have Hagens, Misa, Martone, and Schaefer relatively equal or in the ball park of each other enough that a 2nd premium asset to pass on one to be left with another would be a win.

 

[belfour30]

I think the draft is similar enough 1-4, that if there were a significant sweetener attached to the #3 or 4 pick to move down a spot or 2, I would do it. If someone loves Schaefer at #2 and offered 3 or 4 with a future 1st or an equivalent prospect, I would do that. Until/Unless the draft board changes, I have Hagens, Misa, Martone, and Schaefer relatively equal or in the ball park of each other enough that a 2nd premium asset to pass on one to be left with another would be a win.

I also could see this, but at the same time it would be hard for me to pass on Misa as he just fits what the Hawks need so badly. A guy that has a chance to play C with average or above size.

 

[kmwtrucks]

I know right now most people have hagen (nov 2006) and martone (OCT 2006) but I think MIsa (feb 2007) (schaefer sept 2007) go 1 and 2 in my book. 6-1 Center and 6-2 #1 D go ahead of what will probably end up as wings in the NHL

 

[belfour30]

I know right now most people have hagen (nov 2006) and martone (OCT 2006) but I think MIsa (feb 2007) (schaefer sept 2007) go 1 and 2 in my book. 6-1 Center and 6-2 #1 D go ahead of what will probably end up as wings in the NHL

Especially because Schaefer is a September Bday.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

I think the draft is similar enough 1-4, that if there were a significant sweetener attached to the #3 or 4 pick to move down a spot or 2, I would do it. If someone loves Schaefer at #2 and offered 3 or 4 with a future 1st or an equivalent prospect, I would do that. Until/Unless the draft board changes, I have Hagens, Misa, Martone, and Schaefer relatively equal or in the ball park of each other enough that a 2nd premium asset to pass on one to be left with another would be a win.

Lets say we get #1 and Flyers have say #3

They want guy real bad they expect will be gone and offer Hawks one of there additional 1st's in this draft (They have both Avs and Oilers)

Do you consider it?

Hawks would then have three 1st round picks again

 

[MTU34]

I know right now most people have hagen (nov 2006) and martone (OCT 2006) but I think MIsa (feb 2007) (schaefer sept 2007) go 1 and 2 in my book. 6-1 Center and 6-2 #1 D go ahead of what will probably end up as wings in the NHL

Hagens is a center at the NHL level. Don’t let the size fool you. 200 foot game is extremely advanced for a player of his age and skillset

Misa is probably the more likely of the two to end up having to move off center

 

[ello]

Tampa from 2015... had their 2nd line literally 3 guys like that.

And Tampa in their cups still was that way. Especially the year Stamkos didn't play. You just need shutdown 2way bottom lines as well and size on D which their have.

Palat and Kuch are 6ft?