Pre-Game Talk: 2025 NHL Draft Thread

[Bobby Orrtuzzo]

Would love to get Roger McQueen.

Doesn’t quite rhyme, but I like it

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Be Lames for James

 

[AyeBah]

Misa/ Martone are pushing for first, I think it will be a three man race

 

[Memento]

Misa/ Martone are pushing for first, I think it will be a three man race

Bet it's Martone that goes number one overall. Hagens would not be my choice with a number one overall pick, like what I mentioned in another thread. Not enough elite skating to go along with below-average size. Misa's a dynamic skater, and he could definitely make it a contest. But Martone is already 6'3", a true power-forward, and just turned eighteen. Considering how few true powerforwards there are...I'm betting he's the number one pick.

But my choice is still McQueen because I don't think we're going to pick in the top three. Top five, especially with more injuries? Sure, but not top three. And a 6'5" center who can shoot and skate well for his size? Yeah, I'd love that.

 

[AyeBah]

Please let us bottom out for a bottom 5-7 pick, this team stinks

 

[Mike Liut]

Please let us bottom out for a bottom 5-7 pick, this team stinks

Top 5 pick
Trade Saad, Leddy, Faksa for 2nds / 3rds

I’m down

 

[TK 421]

Top 5 pick
Trade Saad, Leddy, Faksa for 2nds / 3rds

I’m down

Nope, you hold out for 1sts on both Saad and Leddy and if teams don't meet the ask then they don't get them.

 

[Mike Liut]

Nope, you hold out for 1sts on both Saad and Leddy and if teams don't meet the ask then they don't get them.

I doubt you’ll get 1sts, but hopefully I’m wrong.

 

[HighNote]

I doubt you’ll get 1sts, but hopefully I’m wrong.

I could maybe see Leddy fetching a late 1st from a team going all in and wanting to bolster their bottom 4.

 

[TK 421]

I doubt you’ll get 1sts, but hopefully I’m wrong.

You may end up correct that they won't draw 1sts but our position should be that we require a 1st for either of them. They may not be sexy pickups to the average fan but NHL GM's love consistent vets and these two have been productive as 30+ players and both have very reasonable AAV's for what they provide which ups their value especially if we retain anything..

 

[Davimir Tarablad]

With full retention, I think a 1st is reasonable for either of Leddy/Saad. But I wouldn't count on both being traded at this TDL.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

With full retention, I think a 1st is reasonable for either of Leddy/Saad. But I wouldn't count on both being traded at this TDL.

Especially because they'd most likely be low 1st-roound pix.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

I think Schaefer will go first. It’s finally a toss up. 5 guys are right there

 

[Blanick]

I think Schaefer will go first. It’s finally a toss up. 5 guys are right there

This might be the first year in awhile where there is not a consensus #1 going into the draft. Like you said their could be argument for 4-5 guys right now. That being said there is a long season ahead so maybe someone separates themselves from the pack. As of right now I am not that excited by this years class in general, the talent level is significantly lower than the past few years.

 

[BrokenFace]

This might be the first year in awhile where there is not a consensus #1 going into the draft. Like you said their could be argument for 4-5 guys right now. That being said there is a long season ahead so maybe someone separates themselves from the pack. As of right now I am not that excited by this years class in general, the talent level is significantly lower than the past few years.

So maybe not a bad year to be drafting in spots 5-10 rather than the top 5?

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

This might be the first year in awhile where there is not a consensus #1 going into the draft. Like you said their could be argument for 4-5 guys right now. That being said there is a long season ahead so maybe someone separates themselves from the pack. As of right now I am not that excited by this years class in general, the talent level is significantly lower than the past few years.

I’m not excited about the defensive class. The forward class is solid. The Q and Sweden both have a stronger classes this year. The US and Russia are down this year.

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

Because of the Oiler offer sheets, we currently only have a 1st, 5th, and 6th round pick in this year’s draft. I would be surprised if we don’t manage to pick up one or two more, but outside of Faksa I don’t know where those picks come from right now.

Our needs as I see them today:

• Scoring. We don’t have a whole lot of scoring depth in our pool atm.
• Right shots. We’ve been obsessed with lefties for ages. Time to balance it out.
• Center depth. We won’t find a 1C this year probably, but we need more than just the two bona fide centers we have right now in Dvorsky and Stenberg.
• Goalie. It’s been a very long time since we’ve drafted a goalie. Time to restock that cupboard.

We have plenty of future bottom-6 contributors, and left-shot defensemen. Let’s skip that this year.

 

[sfvega]

As of right now, Blues are projected to pick at #12(3 way tie for 14th but we're not trending the right direction).
By the time Thomas gets back, we could easily be looking at something in the 5-10 range(I think SJ, Philly, Pittsburgh and Chicago have already wrapped up the top 4 spots).

So; who do we like in that 7-12 range?

Oh no, I'm not falling for that again. Spent the last two years hoping/projecting them rising in draft slot only for them to overachieve. I won't entertain the idea of a top 8 pick until we're on the clock. The franchise overachieves and the lottery hates us.

 

[Mike Liut]

I think Schaefer will go first. It’s finally a toss up. 5 guys are right there

I like Misa too.