NHL 2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[Patdud]

Drafting Schaefer if he’s available lets you use lohrei in a trade as well, don’t forget. Can make a huge impact in netting that top line player in a trade now.

 

[BruinDust]

It’s not that simplistic, not when there isn’t some clear cut defenseman who is well above any other options. Given how close they are, and same goes for Martone, you take a center because there’s only one way to get one.

It is simplistic. It's you who are overthinking it trying to project out next year and the coming years.

Did the Bruins management ever think they'd be in this position today a year ago? Absolutely not. Next year they might be back to a solid team, or it might be another year of doggie-poo. You don't know what the future holds, neither does Bruins management.

I'm not risking getting a lesser player just to add a 2nd or 3rd round pick later in the draft (or more likely down the road in another draft).

You keep saying all the tops guys are close, but everything I read says Schaefer is cut above the rest. I really don't know, I have practically no viewing of any of these guys. Why do you keep saying using this pick on a center is the ONLY way to get one? You don't know who might shake loose in the trade market. You don't know where the Bruins will be picking next year or any coming year.

Here's another one for you because you keep talking about next year. I don't think anyone they take in this draft plays next year, not even Schaefer.

Just take the best player.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

It is simplistic. It's you who are overthinking it trying to project out next year and the coming years.

Did the Bruins management ever think they'd be in this position today a year ago? Absolutely not. Next year they might be back to a solid team, or it might be another year of doggie-poo. You don't know what the future holds, neither does Bruins management.

I'm not risking getting a lesser player just to add a 2nd or 3rd round pick later in the draft (or more likely down the road in another draft).

You keep saying all the tops guys are close, but everything I read says Schaefer is cut above the rest. I really don't know, I have practically no viewing of any of these guys. Why do you keep saying using this pick on a center is the ONLY way to get one? You don't know who might shake loose in the trade market. You don't know where the Bruins will be picking next year or any coming year.

Here's another one for you because you keep talking about next year. I don't think anyone they take in this draft plays next year, not even Schaefer.

Just take the best player.

I think two guys most likely play next year, but that’s not what I’m talking about when I say next year. If you think the Bruins are not going to be bottom five bad going forward, then this is your one chance to grab a top flight center.

We’ve done this quite a bit in the threads with people caterwauling that Sweeney didn’t get a 1C to replace Bergeron. Look at how the top tier centers have been acquired. Eichel is the one who was traded. But who else? You want to count Tavares that’s fine I guess. What other top tier elite centermen have been traded or gotten via UFA?

 

[ODAAT]

It is simplistic. It's you who are overthinking it trying to project out next year and the coming years.

Did the Bruins management ever think they'd be in this position today a year ago? Absolutely not. Next year they might be back to a solid team, or it might be another year of doggie-poo. You don't know what the future holds, neither does Bruins management.

I'm not risking getting a lesser player just to add a 2nd or 3rd round pick later in the draft (or more likely down the road in another draft).

You keep saying all the tops guys are close, but everything I read says Schaefer is cut above the rest. I really don't know, I have practically no viewing of any of these guys. Why do you keep saying using this pick on a center is the ONLY way to get one? You don't know who might shake loose in the trade market. You don't know where the Bruins will be picking next year or any coming year.

Here's another one for you because you keep talking about next year. I don't think anyone they take in this draft plays next year, not even Schaefer.

Just take the best player.

Not often do NHL teams snag a bonafide #1 via UFA, here is the list of UFA this summer , not one would I put as a true #1, a few 2/3 in Bennett and Duchesne but not often does a UFA, recognized #1 C hit the market, those players are typically drafted.

2025 Top 50 Free Agents

Below is a list of the Top 50 Free Agents for 2025, representing both restricted and unrestricted free agents. The list below will be updated bi-weekly, until the end of the regular season. Any pla…

hockeycomparables.com

 

[BruinDust]

I think two guys most likely play next year, but that’s not what I’m talking about when I say next year. If you think the Bruins are not going to be bottom five bad going forward, then this is your one chance to grab a top flight center.

Once again, you keep projecting what the Bruins are going to be next year and the coming years as the basis for how you approach this year's draft. I think that is asinine approach to drafting in a 32-team salary cap league. This Bruins team could be just as bad (or worse) next year. You don't know and neither do I. Neither does Don Sweeney for that matter.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Once again, you keep projecting what the Bruins are going to be next year and the coming years as the basis for how you approach this year's draft. I think that is asinine approach to drafting in a 32-team salary cap league. This Bruins team could be just as bad (or worse) next year. You don't know and neither do I. Neither does Don Sweeney for that matter.

Of course I am. I guarantee every team in the league is projecting their futures when they make decisions as well. Even without being that specific, if they were to get a top-4 pick this year probabilities would certainly say it’s very unlikely they do so in the next few years.

I’m curious - is this how you feel about NFL teams taking a QB? Not the reaches at the bottom of the top 10 that happen, but top 5 type of picks?

 

[BruinDust]

Of course I am. I guarantee every team in the league is projecting their futures when they make decisions as well. Even without being that specific, if they were to get a top-4 pick this year probabilities would certainly say it’s very unlikely they do so in the next few years.

I’m curious - is this how you feel about NFL teams taking a QB? Not the reaches at the bottom of the top 10 that happen, but top 5 type of picks?

"Projecting their futures"? What team bottoms out the way the Bruins have this season is predicting this is a sure-fire one-off? As if there is no way possible this could happen again next year, or the year after?

Once you get past that little Sacco bump in Nov/Dec, they've been a clear bottom 3 team right alongside two other franchises that are on the verge of multiple Top 5 picks. There is a very real chance the Bruins could be back in this range next year and maybe multiple years. I suspect any coach who comes in will need a half season if not a full season to clean this group up defensively and that is just for starters. To be honest its an arrogant approach to drafting that you are suggesting, how could this franchise possibly pick high two years in a row? Let's go with positional need because we won't be back here next year guaranteed, right? Wow. What are expecting this off-season? Some sort of UFA spending spree to add 4 or 5 quality pieces? Have you seen this year's UFA class. I'm just hoping on July 1st Sweeney decides to skip the festivities and take a nice afternoon nap and not make any major blunders like the two he made last July 1st.

Sorry but this isn't the NFL. Centers aren't QBs. And your not drafting 22-year olds. And quite frankly I don't follow the NFL close enough to answer your question.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

"Projecting their futures"? What team bottoms out the way the Bruins have this season is predicting this is a sure-fire one-off? As if there is no way possible this could happen again next year, or the year after?

Once you get past that little Sacco bump in Nov/Dec, they've been a clear bottom 3 team right alongside two other franchises that are on the verge of multiple Top 5 picks. There is a very real chance the Bruins could be back in this range next year and maybe multiple years. I suspect any coach who comes in will need a half season if not a full season to clean this group up defensively and that is just for starters. To be honest its an arrogant approach to drafting that you are suggesting, how could this franchise possibly pick high two years in a row? Let's go with positional need because we won't be back here next year guaranteed, right? Wow. What are expecting this off-season? Some sort of UFA spending spree to add 4 or 5 quality pieces? Have you seen this year's UFA class. I'm just hoping on July 1st Sweeney decides to skip the festivities and take a nice afternoon nap and not make any major blunders like the two he made last July 1st.

Sorry but this isn't the NFL. Centers aren't QBs. And your not drafting 22-year olds. And quite frankly I don't follow the NFL close enough to answer your question.

You’re making all these arguments without knowing the players at the top of the draft at all. For the record, possibly in another thread, I said after Misa and Hagens I’d take Schaefer, and maybe even take him at 2.

I don’t think thinking the Bruins aren’t going to be in the bottom five of the league next year is “arrogant”. I think you plan as if that’s the case. Then if it happens again for whatever reason, ok, but you’ve got your center. We need a center - everyone does. We don’t have one. This is the best way to get one, and realistically the only way to get one without being really lucky and getting an Aho in the second round.

Apparently we’re just going to disagree about the importance of a top tier 1C, and how they are acquired. Nothing I can do to convince you there so that’s ok. But the analogy to QBs is apt, and even more stringent, as quarterbacks move around even more than top centers do.

 

[BruinDust]

You’re making all these arguments without knowing the players at the top of the draft at all. For the record, possibly in another thread, I said after Misa and Hagens I’d take Schaefer, and maybe even take him at 2.

I don’t think thinking the Bruins aren’t going to be in the bottom five of the league next year is “arrogant”. I think you plan as if that’s the case. Then if it happens again for whatever reason, ok, but you’ve got your center. We need a center - everyone does. We don’t have one. This is the best way to get one, and realistically the only way to get one without being really lucky and getting an Aho in the second round.

Apparently we’re just going to disagree about the importance of a top tier 1C, and how they are acquired. Nothing I can do to convince you there so that’s ok. But the analogy to QBs is apt, and even more stringent, as quarterbacks move around even more than top centers do.

Doesn't matter what I know about the players at the top of the draft, this is just general drafting philosophy. Take the best player you can. Don't get cute. I admit I'm not a draft junkie I haven't spent any time on these prospects. I said this in another reply to someone else.....if they think had the 1st pick and they felt Mesa (as an example) is the best player available, then take him. I don't have issue with that. But don't pass on the best player to take the 2nd or 3rd best player just to add a small asset like a later round pick and full-fill some perceived positional need along the way. I see GMs at the draft do the slide back for an extra pick and I think it's foolish most of the time, just take the guy you like the best and be done with it.

Yeah, I think believing this team isn't a bottom 5 team next year is very optimistic. In any event, weighing who you take in the draft of 18-year olds against where you assume you will be picking in future years is a bad approach.

And if we want to talk positional need over the long-term (which is what drafting 18-year olds is), I'd argue they need a top end left-shot D far more than they do a centerman. At least some of their top young prospects are centermen (Poitras/Minten/Letourneau). Maybe not that "top tier" label you like to use, but what does this franchise have on the left side of the D in the system? Top tier LD?, they don't even have any mid-tier LD in the pipeline. You could make the same argument about trying to acquire a No.1 D-man that you can a top line center.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Doesn't matter what I know about the players at the top of the draft, this is just general drafting philosophy. Take the best player you can. Don't get cute. I admit I'm not a draft junkie I haven't spent any time on these prospects. I said this in another reply to someone else.....if they think had the 1st pick and they felt Mesa (as an example) is the best player available, then take him. I don't have issue with that. But don't pass on the best player to take the 2nd or 3rd best player just to add a small asset like a later round pick and full-fill some perceived positional need along the way. I see GMs at the draft do the slide back for an extra pick and I think it's foolish most of the time, just take the guy you like the best and be done with it.

Yeah, I think believing this team isn't a bottom 5 team next year is very optimistic. In any event, weighing who you take in the draft of 18-year olds against where you assume you will be picking in future years is a bad approach.

And if we want to talk positional need over the long-term (which is what drafting 18-year olds is), I'd argue they need a top end left-shot D far more than they do a centerman. At least some of their top young prospects are centermen (Poitras/Minten/Letourneau). Maybe not that "top tier" label you like to use, but what does this franchise have on the left side of the D in the system? Top tier LD?, they don't even have any mid-tier LD in the pipeline. You could make the same argument about trying to acquire a No.1 D-man that you can a top line center.

They have Brunet and Loke Johansson for “mid tier” prospects. Both are performing above their station already. Groenewold is a LHD too. We have Lohrei and Zadorov locked down either with control or contract for several years. Obviously won’t mention Hampus given your thoughts on him.

1C is incredibly more important than 1LD. Especially when you have McAvoy already. I can’t even believe this is anything of a debate to be honest. Just look at the playoff caliber teams and especially the contenders and who they have up top versus their top pairs. A lot more variation in quality of the latter.

 

[BruinDust]

They have Brunet and Loke Johansson for “mid tier” prospects. Both are performing above their station already. Groenewold is a LHD too. We have Lohrei and Zadorov locked down either with control or contract for several years. Obviously won’t mention Hampus given your thoughts on him.

1C is incredibly more important than 1LD. Especially when you have McAvoy already. I can’t even believe this is anything of a debate to be honest. Just look at the playoff caliber teams and especially the contenders and who they have up top versus their top pairs. A lot more variation in quality of the latter.

What exactly are my thoughts on Hampus other than I'm am very concerned with his hockey future. You might be mistaking me for someone else.

Honestly I don't give two shits about Loke or Brunet or Groenwold at this point. They are nothing at this stage, inconsequential. I'd say the same about 90-95% of Boston's prospects.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

What exactly are my thoughts on Hampus other than I'm am very concerned with his hockey future. You might be mistaking me for someone else.

Honestly I don't give two shits about Loke or Brunet or Groenwold at this point. They are nothing at this stage, inconsequential. I'd say the same about 90-95% of Boston's prospects.

You said we don’t even have mid-tier prospects at LD. I named two of them.

 

[BruinDust]

You said we don’t even have mid-tier prospects at LD. I named two of them.

Either way, they have nothing even remotely close to what Schaefer is projected to be.

We have philosophical differences in how to approach the draft at the top end, philosophical differences in the valuation of prospects, philosophical differences in what this franchise is lacking in the prospect pool, and philosophical differences in the relevancy of centers and D-men in today's NHL. You equate top centers to NFL QBs, I'd argue the center ice position has never been less relevant than it is in today's NHL. Especially from the offensive blue-line in it really doesn't matter anymore. It's just F1, F2 and F3. From the blue-line back it really depends on what defensive system your team employs. Means more IMO to a passive forecheck and collapsing zone style than it does a style with more forechecking and more movement and man-to-man coverage the defensive zone.

Meanwhile, you get a top tier D-man playing 25 mins a night with all 4 lines who can control the game and it can impact your entire team.

All that to say I have zero issue with them taking a center in this years draft.....as long as he's the best player available at their pick.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Either way, they have nothing even remotely close to what Schaefer is projected to be.

We have philosophical differences in how to approach the draft at the top end, philosophical differences in the valuation of prospects, philosophical differences in what this franchise is lacking in the prospect pool, and philosophical differences in the relevancy of centers and D-men in today's NHL. You equate top centers to NFL QBs, I'd argue the center ice position has never been less relevant than it is in today's NHL. Especially from the offensive blue-line in it really doesn't matter anymore. It's just F1, F2 and F3. From the blue-line back it really depends on what defensive system your team employs. Means more IMO to a passive forecheck and collapsing zone style than it does a style with more forechecking and more movement and man-to-man coverage the defensive zone.

Meanwhile, you get a top tier D-man playing 25 mins a night with all 4 lines who can control the game and it can impact your entire team.

All that to say I have zero issue with them taking a center in this years draft.....as long as he's the best player available at their pick.

I don’t know how you can say the center position is less relevant today, specifically around the top two center positions. Look at who has won cups recently, look at who has finished jn the top four recently, and look at who are contenders this year. There is a pretty big commonality among them.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Once again, you keep projecting what the Bruins are going to be next year and the coming years as the basis for how you approach this year's draft. I think that is asinine approach to drafting in a 32-team salary cap league. This Bruins team could be just as bad (or worse) next year. You don't know and neither do I. Neither does Don Sweeney for that matter.

You are right about them having significant jeopardy next year between Lindholm\McAvoy injuries and Swayman ability to regain his form.

BPA is the way to draft. The 2024 U18 Gold Medal game is on YouTube. That game
had Hagens, Schaefer, Desnoyers and Martone in it. Worth watching to at least watch the players compete in the same game.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

You are right about them having significant jeopardy next year between Lindholm\McAvoy injuries and Swayman ability to regain his form.

BPA is the way to draft. The 2024 U18 Gold Medal game is on YouTube. That game
had Hagens, Schaefer, Desnoyers and Martone in it. Worth watching to at least watch the players compete in the same game.

And he did that with only 5 points in 7 games the first year as an underage.

 

[BlackFrancis]

View attachment 1008369
And he did that with only 5 points in 7 games the first year as an underage.

Also had a pretty impressive u20 performance at 18 years old. Better than Hughes, though Jack was 6 months younger for his.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

View attachment 1008369
And he did that with only 5 points in 7 games the first year as an underage.

He spit the bit in the U18 Gold Medal game playing against a depleted U18 Team Canada and no Russia.

Didn't bear down in OT in the Finland game and end it and only highlight in the NCAA PO was scoring against a version of a late 1970's Catholic Conference All Star Team
in Bentley (I am doing a disservice to the 1979 CC All Stars actually).

 

[LJReborn]

Are Hagens and Misa definite centers in the Bruins world?

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Are Hagens and Misa definite centers in the Bruins world?

Have you seen our centers lately? Lol.

 

[LJReborn]

Have you seen our centers lately? Lol.

I hear you, I didn't mean they wouldn't make the team haha, but they have a "type". I would love it if they started to view smaller centers more highly even though Misa is 6-1

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

I hear you, I didn't mean they wouldn't make the team haha, but they have a "type". I would love it if they started to view smaller centers more highly even though Misa is 6-1

I know what you mean. I think Hagens is certainly a center. Misa is up in the air long term but they’d draft him as a C. Frondell and McQueen more if that prototypical size.

 

[Bodit9]

Posted this is another thread but probably belongs here:
"M. Schaefer if you get #1, people seem to forget we also don't have a true #1 D man ... argue all you want but C. Mac isn't one because he can't run a powerplay."

I'm not against Misa but still think Schaefer is more impactful.

I watched Schaefer highlights and he reminded me of Makar.