Pre-Game Talk: 2025 NHL Draft Thread

[kimzey59]

There's a smooth-skating 6'6" LHD from Beijing in this draft, Haoxi 'Simon' Wang, committed to Boston University next season. Too bad the Blues don't currently have any 2nd or 3rd round picks. Kid has size and upside according to scouts.

Since he's actually a real prospect and committed to Boston U for next year(https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/885160/haoxi-wang), I'm going to assume this wasn't an attempt at humor and give a quick shoot out to two other Chinesse born prospects that look to have some upside: Xiang Wen(solidly built Offensive D at Shawnigan Lake Prep) and Louis Gu(goalie at Kelowna U18 Prep).


Chinese hockey is growing slowly, but it is starting to grow. Good for the game.

 

[Mike Liut]

There's a smooth-skating 6'6" LHD from Beijing in this draft, Haoxi 'Simon' Wang, committed to Boston University next season. Too bad the Blues don't currently have any 2nd or 3rd round picks. Kid has size and upside according to scouts.

We’ll have a couple 2nds after we trade Saad and Leddy

 

[Linkens Mastery]

We’ll have a couple 2nds after we trade Saad and Leddy

Both players have full NTC. I wouldn't hold my breath for either player to be traded before next offseason

 

[Majorityof1]

Both players have full NTC. I wouldn't hold my breath for either player to be traded before next offseason

And an extra year. They go to Partial NTCs after the draft. It's possible we could use that to leverage a trade. Give me 3 playoff teams you'd go to at the TDL or I'll trade you to one of the 16 teams in a few months.

The issue for me is retention. I don't think we'd retain for a whole extra year for just a 2nd. That means we'd need to find a team they'd waive to, who wants them for an extra year, can afford the cap hit now and next year, etc, or is willing to pay more for retention. It's too many moving parts to assume they'll for sure be moved before the next draft.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

And an extra year. They go to Partial NTCs after the draft. It's possible we could use that to leverage a trade. Give me 3 playoff teams you'd go to at the TDL or I'll trade you to one of the 16 teams in a few months.

The issue for me is retention. I don't think we'd retain for a whole extra year for just a 2nd. That means we'd need to find a team they'd waive to, who wants them for an extra year, can afford the cap hit now and next year, etc, or us willing to pay more fir retention. It's too many moving parts to assume they'll for sure be moved before the next draft.

Agreed