Pre-Game Talk: 2025 NHL Draft Thread

[Bye Bye Blueston]

I'll take #1 OA any year we can get it. Picking sooner is always better. Even in a weak draft. We messed up with Johnson ,but ge was still a 1000 game top 4 dman. And if we could have picked Toews with better scouting/forecasting.

It's not like we have a shot at a high lottery pick often to turn our noses up at one. A bird in the hand (#1 oa now) is worth more than 2 in the bush (maybe we get 1oa some future year with a stronger draft).

Exactly. Any of the top 4 would clearly be our top prospect.

 

[CurrentCS]

There is a clear TOP 4 in this draft which is pretty sure to be Hagens, Schaefer, Misa and Martone. I'd love for the Blues to snag one of these guys.

Then right now you have Roger McQueen likely 5th, maybe Frondell if he can stay healthy can get back into that 5th-7th range and then alot of ehhhh question marks for being so early in the draft still. I do like Desnoyers, Mrtka, O'Brien, Fiddler, Carbonneau, Murtagh, Rombach, Morin and Pavlik but aside from Desnoyers I wouldn't want any of them higher than like 15th overall with a number of them i wouldn't draft higher than the 2nd. The draft isn't deep at all, imo.

So for me you either have to shoot for a top 6 or 7 pick or go all out for the playoffs. Being that they look nothing near a playoff team currently, I'd love for them to suck as hard as possible the rest of the season and see what you can get for Saad, Leddy, Faulk and potentially Binnington.

Only take 1sts or 2nds from this draft or push them to 2026 and 2027 if possible.

 

[Memento]

I'll take #1 OA any year we can get it. Picking sooner is always better. Even in a weak draft. We messed up with Johnson ,but he was still a 1000 game top 4 dman. And we could have picked Toews with better scouting/forecasting.

It's not like we have a shot at a high lottery pick often to turn our noses up at one. A bird in the hand (#1 oa now) is worth more than 2 in the bush (maybe we get 1oa some future year with a stronger draft).

I'd rather the Blackhawks win the lottery this year with us picking second or third. I don't want them getting McKenna next year (which would piss me off and convince me the NHL is rigged). If the Hawks pick someone like Hagens (who doesn't strike me as a guy who will be a difference maker with below-average size and not-exceptional skating; he's a pretty distant fifth to me behind Martone, Misa, Schaefer, and McQueen), all the better.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Schaefer looking like best prospect this draft.

 

[Mike Liut]

Schaefer looking like best prospect this draft.

I hope somebody good falls to us at #25

 

[ChicagoBlues]

I hope somebody good falls to us at #25

You mean #32?

 

[Linkens Mastery]

You mean #32?

You mean #160?

 

[LetsGoBooze]

I hope somebody good falls to us at #25

The coach hype is overplayed, this team still has far too little elite talent. Even if we go on a bit of a surge, best I expect is a worse case scenario of just missing the playoffs and drafting around 15 once more. Gross.

Absolutely need our pick to match our current roster strength, if we keep over-achieving during what should be our down, re-tooling years, and we're gonna miss out on some higher end talent in the long run. Hate to see it. We absolutely need a top 10 pick coming out of this season.

 

[Mike Liut]

The coach hype is overplayed, this team still has far too little elite talent. Even if we go on a bit of a surge, best I expect is a worse case scenario of just missing the playoffs and drafting around 15 once more. Gross.

Absolutely need our pick to match our current roster strength, if we keep over-achieving during what should be our down, re-tooling years, and we're gonna miss out on some higher end talent in the long run. Hate to see it. We absolutely need a top 10 pick coming out of this season.

I was being facetious, but I agree, I’m thinking we draft around 15 also.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

I will say it again after the CHL/USA games. Caleb Desnoyers. Thomas and him up the middle…wow!

 

[kimzey59]

I will say it again after the CHL/USA games. Caleb Desnoyers. Thomas and him up the middle…wow!

Don't forget Dvorsky.
That would be a heck of a stacked center position if we can manage to make it happen(I have a feeling Desnoyers goes top 11, not sure we'll bad enough to draft that high).

 

[Mike Liut]

Don't forget Dvorsky.
That would be a heck of a stacked center position if we can manage to make it happen(I have a feeling Desnoyers goes top 11, not sure we'll bad enough to draft that high).

Yup

 

[Frenzy31]

So let’s say we are drafting 14-18. Would you move that pick? Move back and add capital or move it to someone wanting another 1st. Feel like it is a pretty weak draft year.

Lack of USA U18 talent is part of the issue I think.

 

[Mike Liut]

So let’s say we are drafting 14-18. Would you move that pick? Move back and add capital or move it to someone wanting another 1st. Feel like it is a pretty weak draft year.

Lack of USA U18 talent is part of the issue I think.

I’d move it for a young ascending player with term to fit the age of this core and rebuild. Probably not as easy as it sounds, but that’s what I’d look to do.

 

[Davimir Tarablad]

So let’s say we are drafting 14-18. Would you move that pick? Move back and add capital or move it to someone wanting another 1st. Feel like it is a pretty weak draft year.

Lack of USA U18 talent is part of the issue I think.

I wouldn't trade back to add capital, I don't think depth is an issue in our pool. Trying to move it for a youngish long term piece would certainly be ideal.

 

[kimzey59]

So let’s say we are drafting 14-18. Would you move that pick? Move back and add capital or move it to someone wanting another 1st. Feel like it is a pretty weak draft year.

Lack of USA U18 talent is part of the issue I think.

No thanks.
We need quality more than we need depth at this point.
In the 14-18 range, you're still looking at some fairly quality players(Charlie Tretheway, Blake Fiddler, Jake O'Brien and Billy Moore just to name a few).
Not to mention most of the "experts" haven't really gotten a good look at this years European class(their first good look is typically at the WJC's). The Europeans always seem to jump in the second half of the season, and this year will be no different(right now you have 5 Europeans(Frondell, Eklund, Mrtka, JIW and Milton Gastrin) and 1 Russian(Ryabkin) projected as 1st rounders, I guarantee you that changes by the end of the year).

 

[SirPaste]

So let’s say we are drafting 14-18. Would you move that pick? Move back and add capital or move it to someone wanting another 1st. Feel like it is a pretty weak draft year.

Lack of USA U18 talent is part of the issue I think.

If anything I think this is the year I would try to move up. As others mentioned and I have as well earlier in the thread, our prospect depth is solid but we need elite talent in the pipeline so I am ready for Army/Steen to take a big swing.

 

[STL fan in MN]

Yep. Definitely prioritize quality over quantity.

 

[DatDude44]

I really like Caleb Desnoyers.

Has some serious skill and offensive ability on top of a relentless dog on a bone mentality when pursuing the puck and plays with some p*** and vinegar, absolute prick to play against, our fanbase will love em lol.

 

[BlueSeal]

Hold on to picks and tactically offer sheet.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

I really like Caleb Desnoyers.

Has some serious skill and offensive ability on top of a relentless dog on a bone mentality when pursuing the puck and plays with some p*** and vinegar, absolute prick to play against, our fanbase will love em lol.

I fear we lost our chance at him the day we axed bannister.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

A couple nice centers we could get O’Brien for one