Pre-Game Talk: 2025 NHL Draft Thread

[Mike Liut]

Warts and all, I have him at 4. We need SCORING.

We have been adding some good size in our recent drafts, he’d fit right in. He can really pass too.

 

[LGB]

Also Cootes wasn’t really a guy on my radar because he’s generally lower in the rankings, but damn this kid is good.

 

[PocketNines]

Also Cootes wasn’t really a guy on my radar because he’s generally lower in the rankings, but damn this kid is good.

I'm not watching enough of his games even though he plays 20 miles away ... what am I missing? When I see him I just see a good player for this level. Given the Blues have a pick in the 8-16 range coming up Cootes definitely doesn't belong up there so the incentive to watch a bunch of him is lower. I will see him a week from tonight live again assuming Stancl healthy. He was good in the game I saw, just not special I guess is how I'd put it

 

[LGB]

I'm not watching enough of his games even though he plays 20 miles away ... what am I missing? When I see him I just see a good player for this level. Given the Blues have a pick in the 8-16 range coming up Cootes definitely doesn't belong up there so the incentive to watch a bunch of him is lower. I will see him a week from tonight live again assuming Stancl healthy. He was good in the game I saw, just not special I guess is how I'd put it

Plus skater, dynamic handler, hard worker, slightly undersized but makes up for it with good physical skills. Sometimes does too much and gives the puck away, but overall a lot to like IMO.

 

[kimzey59]

Warts and all, I have him at 4. We need SCORING.

I have him at #3(I prefer him to Hagens).
He moves us away from being a Wizard of Oz character.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Plus skater, dynamic handler, hard worker, slightly undersized but makes up for it with good physical skills. Sometimes does too much and gives the puck away, but overall a lot to like IMO.

I see a third line center. Watched him a few times. Not much of a playmaker. He always seem to play the puck to an area rather than a player. His overall tools are good but that just struck me as odd for a top round pick.

 

[LGB]

I see a third line center. Watched him a few times. Not much of a playmaker. He always seem to play the puck to an area rather than a player. His overall tools are good but that just struck me as odd for a top round pick.

I’ve seen some throwing pucks to areas. Also seen some optimistic passes that get picked off. I’ve seen him make some impressive passes though that I think show top 6 quality vision.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

I see a third line center. Watched him a few times. Not much of a playmaker. He always seem to play the puck to an area rather than a player. His overall tools are good but that just struck me as odd for a top round pick.

I think Coyotes would be late 1st in typical draft. This draft isn’t deep so he could go as high as teens. I see a middle 6 guy that coaches will like. High floor, low ceiling player. He isn’t someone I’d be happy with in range where we will likely be picking.

 

[LGB]

I think Coyotes would be late 1st in typical draft. This draft isn’t deep so he could go as high as teens. I see a middle 6 guy that coaches will like. High floor, low ceiling player. He isn’t someone I’d be happy with in range where we will likely be picking.

Why do you think he has a low ceiling?

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Why do you think he has a low ceiling?

I see undersized center without outstanding skill. He could best case be yani gourde type, which is nice player, but not top 10 pick.

 

[LGB]

I see undersized center without outstanding skill. He could best case be yani gourde type, which is nice player, but not top 10 pick.

It’ll be interesting to see how he measures. Listed at 6’0, but looks slightly undersized out on the ice. I personally am not concerned with the size because of the plus skating and physical skills.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

It’ll be interesting to see how he measures. Listed at 6’0, but looks slightly undersized out on the ice. I personally am not concerned with the size because of the plus skating and physical skills.

I like the player, just not top 10. I get why you like him. I think he is future nhl guy.

 

[LGB]

I like the player, just not top 10. I get why you like him. I think he is future nhl guy.

I’m not going to declare him a top 10 pick or anything. We’ll see where I’m at when the draft rolls around. Definitely one of my favorite players so far though.

 

[kimzey59]

I like the player, just not top 10. I get why you like him. I think he is future nhl guy.

Given what Granlund and Ceci returned; how sure are we that we can't get another 1st in a Suter trade(package him with Faksa, Tex or Joseph)?

Not sure Cootes is the guy I'd target with a lower 1st round pick( I'd probably go forward with ours(Martone/Desnoyers); Defense late(Fiddler/Tretheway), but that's just me); but I can't argue with him being in the mix.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Given what Granlund and Ceci returned; how sure are we that we can't get another 1st in a Suter trade(package him with Faksa, Tex or Joseph)?

Not sure Cootes is the guy I'd target with a lower 1st round pick( I'd probably go forward with ours(Martone/Desnoyers); Defense late(Fiddler/Tretheway), but that's just me); but I can't argue with him being in the mix.

I’m down with that. I don’t like him in top 10, but if we get an extra 1st he could be good option, especially if we took his teammate Mrtka or Hensler earlier. If we can get a center with our pick, which would be my preference, I too would prefer rhd with late one.

 

[BleedBlue14]

Given what Granlund and Ceci returned; how sure are we that we can't get another 1st in a Suter trade(package him with Faksa, Tex or Joseph)?

Not sure Cootes is the guy I'd target with a lower 1st round pick( I'd probably go forward with ours(Martone/Desnoyers); Defense late(Fiddler/Tretheway), but that's just me); but I can't argue with him being in the mix.

Well, considering we got Faksa for free, Tex for a 4th and were given a 3rd to take Joseph and outside of Faksa they have all been insignificant and Faksa is only remarkable as a 4C on a team that has one other center, I don’t love our chances.

Could probably get a mid round pick for Faksa and/or Suter. I think Suter gets anywhere from a 4-6 just based on experience and teams love to add depth defenseman at the deadline. Faksa would be a pretty easy sell at the deadline with retention. But then who in the world plays center for us? I guess if they want to give Dean a look it could make some sense.

I think we’d be lucky to get someone to take Joseph or Texier given the extra year, although I can’t see us needing the cap space anyways unless a trade completely out of left field comes up. I don’t see us shopping in the superstar bin this offseason and I don’t think any of the remaining players help push this team in the right direction and would want to sign here

 

[PocketNines]

Anyone who wants Fiddler needs to watch him more, because yeesh I've seen plenty of this while watching Jecho

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Anyone who wants Fiddler needs to watch him more, because yeesh I've seen plenty of this while watching Jecho


View attachment 973018

Yeah, I’ve seen plenty of that too. I can’t say I’m a fan at all. When you question whether or not he’s on the team, he is playing on that’s a bit of a problem….

 

[SirPaste]

Given what Granlund and Ceci returned; how sure are we that we can't get another 1st in a Suter trade(package him with Faksa, Tex or Joseph)?

Not sure Cootes is the guy I'd target with a lower 1st round pick( I'd probably go forward with ours(Martone/Desnoyers); Defense late(Fiddler/Tretheway), but that's just me); but I can't argue with him being in the mix.

We don't have anyone available at Granlund's level, he was having a fantastic year with 45 points in 52 games on the worst team in the league. He was always getting a 1st, given I thought it would be closer to the deadline but he was one of the best rental options for offense available this season