2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[saintunspecified]

Regardless of where we finish the most important thing is evaluating and developing talent properly. Buffalo has had a top 5 pick practically every year for over a decade now, and still sucks. I would much rather slowly move our vets for picks/prospects and slowly integrate those young players into the lineup. In 3-4 years we could have a vastly different team that is a legit cup contender.

Yeah. I think the question really is amateur scouting. If NYI had the scouts Dallas appears to have, I'd feel great about it.

I really think the bloom is off the rose a bit for Hagens. He's seen as being a little too passive, and there are worries about him going up against much bigger players. So if NYI really wanted to go up and get him, I think they could. I don't know whether that would be a great idea, but I also no longer think it can't be done.

 

[WangMustGo]

Yeah. I think the question really is amateur scouting. If NYI had the scouts Dallas appears to have, I'd feel great about it.

I really think the bloom is off the rose a bit for Hagens. He's seen as being a little too passive, and there are worries about him going up against much bigger players. So if NYI really wanted to go up and get him, I think they could. I don't know whether that would be a great idea, but I also no longer think it can't be done.

I think Hagens is the 3rd best prospect in this draft. I’m a huge fan of Misa, he is bound for stardom. Schaefer also looked great before his injury. I’d be very happy with Hagens, but again developing the talent will be key. Plenty of great players picked outside of the top 5, find that talent and this team will have long term success, failure to do that will result in Buffalo 2.0.

 

[leeroggy]

Yeah. I think the question really is amateur scouting. If NYI had the scouts Dallas appears to have, I'd feel great about it.

I really think the bloom is off the rose a bit for Hagens. He's seen as being a little too passive, and there are worries about him going up against much bigger players. So if NYI really wanted to go up and get him, I think they could. I don't know whether that would be a great idea, but I also no longer think it can't be done.

If I'm moving up for anyone, it's Frondell. Otherwise, if we make the playoffs and pick 16th, we're looking at Hensler or Spence, or maybe trade back and look for Murtagh.

But a lot of you need to get comfortable with the playoffs, because we are going to get in, ahead of the Rangers, which should soften the blow.

Unlike the other teams in this race besides the Rangers, none of them have experience making a SUCCESSFUL run to the playoffs and it shows right now in how they are playing, except for Montreal, who is looking like us right now.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

No worries folks.

Like Eiserman last summer, Hagens is falling to wherever we're picking.

It's in the cards.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

If I'm moving up for anyone, it's Frondell. Otherwise, if we make the playoffs and pick 16th, we're looking at Hensler or Spence, or maybe trade back and look for Murtagh.

Spence is a heck of a player.

The staff has been viewing Hensler all season long (teammate of Finley and Schulz, for those late to the party).

Murtagh has some all-round goods and is headed to BU next fall. McKinney is actually the USTDP player who is really on the rise since the holidays.

And we can't forget that the U18 Worlds always has a big impact on the draft. For this "meh" US team, it could see a number of players jump up a few spots if the team manages to medal again.

 

[saintunspecified]

No worries folks.

Like Eiserman last summer, Hagens is falling to wherever we're picking.

It's in the cards.

No way. Hagens' floor is too high. At worst he's, what, something like Granlund. But imo he moves better.

 

[JRD76]

I know fans here hate small guys and I like to root for the little guys so if the isles make the playoffs and he drops because of his size. I would take a swing at Cameron Schmidt

 

[Konk]

I'm still firmly in the Brady Martin camp. He's too good all-around and has unrealized offensive upside. I think he could be a cornerstone, not just a middle-6er. His relentless work ethic and skate-through-a-wall leadership would be a huge addition.

 

[doublechili]

I know fans here hate small guys and I like to root for the little guys so if the isles make the playoffs and he drops because of his size. I would take a swing at Cameron Schmidt

I looked him up - 5'7" is not ideal, but he's apparently a dynamic/fast skater which helps a lot. If he grows even an inch or two and has a solid frame, he'll be fine. If you're picking in the range where prospects have higher risk factors, better to roll the dice on size rather than hoping some big guy learns how to play hockey!

 

[Bill Herlyn]

I'm still firmly in the Brady Martin camp. He's too good all-around and has unrealized offensive upside. I think he could be a cornerstone, not just a middle-6er. His relentless work ethic and skate-through-a-wall leadership would be a huge addition.

Martin would be great pick in the 10-12 range. A sleeper is Carter Bear, who had a bad injury and could slip in the draft from the 10-15 range to the 20's according to Cam Robinson and Chris Peters and who has great skill and character if the Isles draft 15-20.

 

[SI90]

I'm still firmly in the Brady Martin camp. He's too good all-around and has unrealized offensive upside. I think he could be a cornerstone, not just a middle-6er. His relentless work ethic and skate-through-a-wall leadership would be a huge addition.

 

[Konk]

Yeah he's a wrecking ball, but I love his whole game. I see a more physical Robert Thomas.

 

[scott99]

Martin would be great pick in the 10-12 range. A sleeper is Carter Bear, who had a bad injury and could slip in the draft from the 10-15 range to the 20's according to Cam Robinson and Chris Peters and who has great skill and character if the Isles draft 15-20.

I’m a huge Carter Bear fan, hopefully his injury isn’t too bad. But I like Brady Martin as well.

 

[leeroggy]

How come no one has brought up Justin Carbonneau here? Tankathon has him at #15.



Might well be a nice target if we slip a little more.

 

[SI90]

How come no one has brought up Justin Carbonneau here? Tankathon has him at #15.



Might well be a nice target if we slip a little more.

I’d be surprised if he wasn’t a top20-25 pick.
He’s on a really young team with a few draft eligible guys this year who are leading the way for them. He’s by far the best and most effective one though. A lot of his scouting reports peg him as more of a playmaker but he’s been an elite goal scorer this year.
Maybe because most people view the Q as an inferior overall league than the WHL and OHL is why they don’t talk as much about him or his production?

He’s definitely one to watch.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

How come no one has brought up Justin Carbonneau here? Tankathon has him at #15.



Might well be a nice target if we slip a little more.

He's been good in many ways. People are still trying to figure out if his goal-scoring will translate at the pro level.

He's one of the older kids in this draft and I think most see him in that 15-22 range.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

I’m a huge Carter Bear fan, hopefully his injury isn’t too bad. But I like Brady Martin as well.

His 1.46 PPG in the Dub looks mighty impressive.

Of course, it's only good for 13th overall (in PPG) in that league and five or six of the players above him aren't drafted yet either (one being McKenna).

 

[boredmale]

So after the last bunch of games, I have given up(now watch us go on a run and make it). Hopefully we can finish like 13th or 14th(or even lower if possible) and somehow win the lottery. If we pick 3rd or 4th we get one of the top 4 guys. Not that I am in anyway an expert but looking at the prospects seems like there is a clear cut top 2, then a slightly lower teir of 2 guys at 3 and 4 then it drops off again

All that being said some people saying Hagens might drop to 5 or 6 so we will see.

 

[SI90]

So after the last bunch of games, I have given up(now watch us go on a run and make it). Hopefully we can finish like 13th or 14th(or even lower if possible) and somehow win the lottery. If we pick 3rd or 4th we get one of the top 4 guys. Not that I am in anyway an expert but looking at the prospects seems like there is a clear cut top 2, then a slightly lower teir of 2 guys at 3 and 4 then it drops off again

All that being said some people saying Hagens might drop to 5 or 6 so we will see.

I would be surprised if Hagens fell out of the top3 but it’s possible. It all depends on the order and the teams. If Schaefer and Misa go 1-2 and teams that pick 3-4 are intrigued by Skill and Size, you could see Martone and McQueen go 3-4.

I personally have Hagens Misa and Schaefer 1A 1B and 1C

Gun to my head I think Misa becomes the best of the bunch but wouldn’t shock me if either or all 3 of them became elite players.

Schaefer looks like a franchise 2way defender that can put up big offense. Teams drool over that and rightfully so.


If Hagens starts dropping, I hope a team on the board 4-6 would consider trading down and we come up and get him. Would be unreal.

Eiserman and Hagens are actually close despite player At BU and BC respectively. They were amazing together for the US development team. Not holding my breath though.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

I would be surprised if Hagens fell out of the top3 but it’s possible. It all depends on the order and the teams. If Schaefer and Misa go 1-2 and teams that pick 3-4 are intrigued by Skill and Size, you could see Martone and McQueen go 3-4.

Craig Button dropped his list yesterday.

Always one to do his own thing in certain respects, he currently has Hagens at 6.

Craig’s List: Michael Misa climbs to No. 2 after exceptional OHL season | TSN

The Saginaw Spirit forward is on the rise in Craig Button's fourth NHL draft prospect ranking of the season after winning the OHL scoring race and topping the 60-goal mark.

www.tsn.ca

If Hagens starts dropping, I hope a team on the board 4-6 would consider trading down and we come up and get him. Would be unreal.

Eiserman and Hagens are actually close despite player At BU and BC respectively. They were amazing together for the US development team. Not holding my breath though.

What we fans need to watch right now is if we land bottom 14 (seems likely). If so, the draft lottery suddenly becomes an important event for this fanbase.

Getting into that 4-6 area would be gigantic for this franchise, even if there's a fairly strong possibility that Lou would move the pick to bring in a young impact forward now.

 

[SI90]

Craig Button dropped his list yesterday.

Always one to do his own thing in certain respects, he currently has Hagens at 6.

Craig’s List: Michael Misa climbs to No. 2 after exceptional OHL season | TSN

The Saginaw Spirit forward is on the rise in Craig Button's fourth NHL draft prospect ranking of the season after winning the OHL scoring race and topping the 60-goal mark.

www.tsn.ca

What we fans need to watch right now is if we land bottom 14 (seems likely). If so, the draft lottery suddenly becomes an important event for this fanbase.

Getting into that 4-6 area would be gigantic for this franchise, even if there's a fairly strong possibility that Lou would move the pick to bring in a young impact forward now.

Button is historically biased a bit when it comes to American players.

Top15 isn’t terrible. If we can add an impact player to Eiserman Ritchie I think it would be huge for us moving forward.

 

[Taswell]

Looking at our remaining games, good chance we could go 3-6 the rest of the way. Wonder if that is good enough to drop us into the top 7 or so.

 

[Zeeker]

People keep talking about moving up - unfortunately the time for that has passed. We won too many games the last couple weeks.

The bottom eight is virtually locked in, barring a complete freefall. I think the best we can hope for is picking ninth, but I wouldn’t be surprised to pick as poorly as 13th or 14th.

 

[doublechili]

People keep talking about moving up - unfortunately the time for that has passed. We won too many games the last couple weeks.

The bottom eight is virtually locked in, barring a complete freefall. I think the best we can hope for is picking ninth, but I wouldn’t be surprised to pick as poorly as 13th or 14th.

I think 7th or 8th is about as likely as 13th or 14th. But yeah, most likely they end up in the 9-12 range.

Funny enough, right now MTL would have the 14th pick - except they're in the WC2 spot!

 

[doublechili]

Big picture thought. If it's true that this year's draft is pretty meh, then the way to go is to focus on skill/talent and not be caught up with size. Also look to Europe. I think prior "weak" drafts will bear that out to some extent.

If you draft some 6'2" point-per-game forward from the CHL, chances are you've got yourself a future bottom 6 forward.