2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

An interesting comparison with Cooley is that he was someone who by the end of his season was almost trying to do too much.

He was trying stuff with varying degrees of success, and looked at times like he needed to be reigned in.

But the key is he was trying. I've spoken to scouts who actually like that trait in players because even if the results aren't always there, it shows a willingness to try new things and diversify their moveset.

Conversly, I don't find that Hagens has much interest in experimentation. Sticks to what works, which is fine for now. What about in the NHL when he inevitably faces more adversity? Does he hit a wall?

I don't have the answers, just something interesting to think about.
Hagens constantly does spin-o-rama passes to nobody. It's so weird because Hagens head is almost always up, so his vision is terrific, but he chooses to pass to the other team more times than not. Serious hockey IQ and strength concerns from me and it feels like we have a ton of that in our system already. The very reason I am anti-Hagens with a top 4 pick.

Go check out @19Simon19 on youtube. His video details Hagens game very accurately
 
If we end up at 1 and take Schaefer, how do we get our 1C?

Is KK + really going to be enough?


You almost have to go after someone like Sam Bennett at that point, which isn’t ideal, but you just can’t go into next season with C depth as poor as the current situation.

Wonder if KK + Toronto 1st could get you Shane Wright. I’d probably do that and I think I read they need some young defenseman. Hawks have a surplus of second round picks, add one of those too if you must.
 
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You almost have to go after someone like Sam Bennett at that point, which isn’t ideal, but you just can’t go into next season with C depth as poor as the current situation.

Wonder if KK + Toronto 1st could get you Shane Wright. I’d probably do that and I think I read they need some young defenseman. Hawks have a surplus of second round picks, add one of those too if you must.
It seems like people are saying just draft Schaefer and trade other pieces (KK) as if it’s that easy or will be enough for a top end center.
 
Bedard already retired?
Bedard isn’t a center. Not now, and maybe not ever.

If he is drafted by the Hawks and somehow plays in the NHL next season (which I don’t believe is in his best interest given his late bday and essentially missing this season …college would be better, or second best juniors), Schaefer doesn’t change the team enough to make a real difference in the standings. There will be the 2026 draft likely top 5-7 pick to acquire one, if one doesn’t come through free agency. The problem is the developmental timeline. Free agent center is almost necessary.
 
People always say draft Schaefer and trade KK for a top end forward, as if KK would be enough. Maybe there's a world where we could flip the 1OA into a high end centre prospect? No idea who though

I truly think our dcore is good enough as is
 
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People always say draft Schaefer and trade KK for a top end forward, as if KK would be enough. Maybe there's a world where we could flip the 1OA into a high end centre prospect? No idea who though

I truly think our dcore is good enough as is
I think it's true that people can overrate the value of a guy who has yet to prove himself in the NHL.

I think if you swapped him for a forward, it would have to be for someone with a similar pedigree.

That's why I've mentioned someone like Conor Geekie before.
 
Bedard is more than capable of playing center. He's mostly played there in the NHL and he's generally been an elite player in this league. He's had a very up and down sophomore season, you can tell he needs to work on stamina in the worst way this offseason, but that's generally correctable over time.

He might not be a 2-way Selke level C, but he can make an impact playing center, especially if he's not being matched up against top lines.

Just yesterday, playing with Mikheyev and Donato (and not going up against Eichel), that line performed very well.


If we draft someone like Misa and he hits, maybe it allows Bedard to shift to wing. But Bedard can handle the role of a top line center more than well enough otherwise and we shouldn't be concerned we don't have a guy that can play that role for the future.
 
So we have a young d group that is the envy of the league. What do we do about
getting that #1 center we need ? Korchinski isn't going to get you Misa, and certainly
wouldn't get you the select few established #1centerman.

Comparing value is Schaefer that far ahead of Misa at this point ? Considering the season,
progression, and ceiling Misa has ?
you hope to be dogshit in 25, competitive but dogshit, and land McKenna
 
Unfortunately Sharks also lost today (8-1), so we're still 2pts up with a game in hand over them. And we own the tiebreaker.

They do, however, have a much easier schedule for the rest of the year. Tankathon has us at 6th hardest remaining schedule, Sharks are now down at 18th.
 
Unfortunately Sharks also lost today (8-1), so we're still 2pts up with a game in hand over them. And we own the tiebreaker.

They do, however, have a much easier schedule for the rest of the year. Tankathon has us at 6th hardest remaining schedule, Sharks are now down at 18th.

Don´t think 1st overall pick is necessity. Top 4 picks is guaranteed, there is no way Hawks can reach Predators 11 point gap in remaining eight games.
 
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Sorry...forgot to run theTankathonNHL Draft Simulator before the Utah Game ladt night(doing it 10 times over ladt 10 Games..

10 to go Result =Hawks draft at#3
9to go (belated) =Hawks #3 again
8 games remaining still...
Will post 3rd lotto draw sim prior to next game..

But you all should be prepared for drafting 3rd or4th which has greater probability than is getting #1or#2...

BTW....Nashville got#2 in both attempts at the lotto draw resukt so far in this 10 game resukt experiment.

So far looking like Misa destined to Nashville...
But he is -7 after 2GP these playoffs as Saginaw down 2 games to Brantford after 1st 2GP in this playoff series.
 
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Difficult team decision between Schaefer and Misa. If they’re rated relatively evenly, then it’s Misa.

Regardless, I don’t see either one in the NHL next season. Would love to give them a year more to develop. In Schaefer’s case he’s very young and missed most of this season, and the Hawks will be folding Levshunov and Rinzel into the lineup. With Misa, a year in college lifting weights and playing/learning in a more structured scheme would be beneficial. He could make the team undoubtedly, but best interest is to develop one more year.
 
Don´t think 1st overall pick is necessity. Top 4 picks is guaranteed, there is no way Hawks can reach Predators 11 point gap in remaining eight games.

Less worried about 1st overall, more worried they just have a top 2 pick period with the drop off from 1-2 to 3 and beyond. Really I just want Misa more than anything. He's everything this roster needs for the future.
 

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