2025 NHL DRAFT

[Armourboy]

I don't think any of us would be that shocked to see us finally draft this high for them to pick the one guy who stinks at the NHL level.

 

[Soundgarden]

Take this for what it worth... but the organization is head over heels for Roger McQueen. If he is available at 5 they will take him. They see Schaefer and Misa as the clear 1-2, but from 3-8 they don't see much of a drop off and they like McQueen the most.

 

[Scoresberg]

I seriously think that McQueen is one of the top talents in this draft. Assuming ALL of Misa, Frondell and Hagens are gone by our pick, I honestly don't know the best direction to go from there. Desnoyers doesn't impress me that much, Martone's a slow winger etc..

Whereas McQueen is a huge center who's a good skater and has some soft hands. BUT his injury history is a massive red flag and this is a draft pick we cannot screw up.

All-in-all, if they deem McQueen healthy, I won't be too upset if we end up with him ASSUMING all the guys I listed above are gone by 5.

 

[Flgatorguy87]

Does McQueen have a little Joe Thornton to his game? What is his comp?

 

[Scoresberg]

Does McQueen have a little Joe Thornton to his game? What is his comp?

I think McQueen himself said that he models his game after Ryan Getzlaf. Although, I'd have to say McQueen looks like a better skater to my eye. I see a lot of Tage Thompson in there with the big shot too.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Does McQueen have a little Joe Thornton to his game? What is his comp?

I think guys like Thornton and Getzlaf were more aggressive physically and also maybe more playmakers? I don't watch the whole games, so far McQueen seems to get a lot of goals in close driving the net or assists via rebounds, he seems more inclined to shoot first and take pucks to the net, which I don't think is a bad thing. And he can be a bit physical even if not outright aggressive yet like those guys were?

The names mentioned more often as modern comparables are the "new age" big centers who don't produce like those legends? Kirby Dach, Logan Brown, Morgan Geekie, maybe Dylan Cozens?

I don't know, I think it's just difficult to really compare looking at highlight reels. I think I've now seen every point he has ever scored in the WHL! But at the end of the day, that's not a whole lot of points, even though it looks impressive when they are bunched together in a video clip, or when he has had a few big games like he has. I'd be more curious to know what he looks like in all those other games when he's NOT on the scoreboard, because there seem to be a good number of those too that we never really hear about. Consistency and injury issues could be overcome, though.

Anyway, let's just see how the Combine stuff goes in a couple weeks. If we don't see him participating in any of the testing, well, even if no medical info gets leaked out, then that'll still say something about his health.

 

[Scoresberg]

Anyway, let's just see how the Combine stuff goes in a couple weeks. If we don't see him participating in any of the testing, well, even if no medical info gets leaked out, then that'll still say something about his health.

Yeah, I mean in a draft like this one, I think you can try to make that pick. It's too bad that we dropped down to 5 and don't control anymore what happens with the first four picks - all premium centers might be gone by our pick. Although, I don't believe that will be the case as I strongly believe that Martone will go with one of the top-four picks.

BUT, you also cannot afford to miss with this pick. If McQueen's health status truly is so unstable then you're better off leaving him to one of the teams that CAN afford the risk. Even if we don't land a true 1C with our picks (Desnoyers, O'Brien, Martin) WE have to make this one count. If the org thinks the McQueen's back can hold an NHL career, hey, I'm not a doctor it's not like I'm going to argue with them. If they say it's good, then I'll believe it. Out of that bunch McQueen has by far the most raw talent.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Yeah, I mean in a draft like this one, I think you can try to make that pick. It's too bad that we dropped down to 5 and don't control anymore what happens with the first four picks - all premium centers might be gone by our pick. Although, I don't believe that will be the case as I strongly believe that Martone will go with one of the top-four picks.

BUT, you also cannot afford to miss with this pick. If McQueen's health status truly is so unstable then you're better off leaving him to one of the teams that CAN afford the risk. Even if we don't land a true 1C with our picks (Desnoyers, O'Brien, Martin) WE have to make this one count. If the org thinks the McQueen's back can hold an NHL career, hey, I'm not a doctor it's not like I'm going to argue with them. If they say it's good, then I'll believe it. Out of that bunch McQueen has by far the most raw talent.

I like the Tage Thompson comparison. I guess the general thinking is that NONE of SJ, Chicago, or Utah are supremely biased towards taking a center also. And the #1 pick projects to be a D. So I think it's very much possible that 2 or 3 of Frondell, Hagens, and McQueen will be available at our pick! It would be one thing to take McQueen when the others are all off the board... but it won't shock me if it becomes a decision between 2 of them.

Anyway, like Thompson, it could take a while for McQueen to become a consistent NHLer, so if we're looking ahead to what he might be when he's 23, 24, 25 then by that time the injury could be a long ways in the rearview mirror. I suspect if we do take him, we might have to put up with a few years of hand-wringing while guys we passed on initially start off better. But like Thompson, it could still work out in the end.

Only about what, 6 or 7 weeks left until the draft... we're getting there!

 

[herzausstein]

You would think Glass and his injury woes would've taught us a lesson or two

 

[Scoresberg]

I like the Tage Thompson comparison. I guess the general thinking is that NONE of SJ, Chicago, or Utah are supremely biased towards taking a center also. And the #1 pick projects to be a D. So I think it's very much possible that 2 or 3 of Frondell, Hagens, and McQueen will be available at our pick! It would be one thing to take McQueen when the others are all off the board... but it won't shock me if it becomes a decision between 2 of them.

Anyway, like Thompson, it could take a while for McQueen to become a consistent NHLer, so if we're looking ahead to what he might be when he's 23, 24, 25 then by that time the injury could be a long ways in the rearview mirror. I suspect if we do take him, we might have to put up with a few years of hand-wringing while guys we passed on initially start off better. But like Thompson, it could still work out in the end.

Only about what, 6 or 7 weeks left until the draft... we're getting there!

Yeah, but I remember Thompson coming to the NHL in his D+2 year and he was already very good then. The production wasn't there at first, it came later, that's true.

I actually think the same could be applied to McQueen as well. He has already played on four different seasons in the WHL so it's not like playing there for two more would benefit him a lot. He could go straight to the AHL but one season in the W is what I would do and after that AHL/NHL.

 

[jumb0]

Pronman mock...all centers

5: Hagens
26: Jack Nesbitt
30: William Horcoff

 

[Flgatorguy87]

Pronman mock...all centers

5: Hagens
26: Jack Nesbitt
30: William Horcoff

I mean surely one hits...right? right???

 

[wmupreds]

If Hagens is available and we go McQueen, I would be.. upset. But at the end of the day, what do I know.

 

[Flgatorguy87]

If Hagens is available and we go McQueen, I would be.. upset. But at the end of the day, what do I know.

I'd agree with this. If it's Martone, Desnoyers, McQueen available and we go with McQueen, then I would be less upset and less surprised.

 

[Scoresberg]

I'd agree with this. If it's Martone, Desnoyers, McQueen available and we go with McQueen, then I would be less upset and less surprised.

For me, I can get behind going McQueen before Desnoyers. Martone, I have some reservations as well.

 

[Flgatorguy87]

For me, I can get behind going McQueen before Desnoyers. Martone, I have some reservations as well.

I agree. I like Martone more but would be less surprised because I think Trotz wants C. I also think it's unlikely Martone is available to us, so it's probably a moot point.

 

[herzausstein]

Current prospect depth charts
center- 5th overall 2025, svechkov, edstrom, surin, Nilsson
Rhd - Barron, ufko, Gibson
Lhd - wilsby, Molendyk, Chystyakov,
Rw - Evangelista, kemell, wood, Fink, Marquess, Norringer
Lw - L'Heureux, stiga, Schaefer

Center isn't where I'd put all my 1st round picks tbh. Granted surin and or nilsson could become wingers but we have bigger issues at defense

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

The main problem with picking all centers is that probably fewer than 1 in 3 players who are listed as centers at junior ages end up sticking as centers as NHLers? Lots of the higher end talented forwards get played at center at younger ages. But not that many stay there for the duration. Whereas D are D.

It looks mostly like this year's draft is shaping up to give us a reasonable shot at getting 1 or 2D out of our top 4 picks anyway. I just hope we actually do pick players with all 4 of those picks, not try to bundle them. We need to add the 4 prospects from the top end of this draft.

 

[Flgatorguy87]

I still think Surin is a winger long term. Drafting center just means you have a shot at keeping them at C, but worst case you can likely transition them to winger. I would be shocked if we actually draft all centers with our 3 1st round picks, but I seriously wouldn't hate it.

 

[herzausstein]

I still think Surin is a winger long term. Drafting center just means you have a shot at keeping them at C, but worst case you can likely transition them to winger. I would be shocked if we actually draft all centers with our 3 1st round picks, but I seriously wouldn't hate it.

Meh I see edstrom and Svechkov being pretty decent locks for bottom 6 centers. Should be able to get a middle 6 center in free agency easy enough if surin doesn't pan at center or if svechkov/edstrom don't get elevated.

 

[Flgatorguy87]

Meh I see edstrom and Svechkov being pretty decent locks for bottom 6 centers. Should be able to get a middle 6 center in free agency easy enough if surin doesn't pan at center or if svechkov/edstrom don't get elevated.

Yeah, I agree, but think that's why I am ok with trying for lots of swings at the Center options. I don't think we have any top 6 centers and certainly not top line centers in our current prospect pool.

 

[Armourboy]

Meh I see edstrom and Svechkov being pretty decent locks for bottom 6 centers. Should be able to get a middle 6 center in free agency easy enough if surin doesn't pan at center or if svechkov/edstrom don't get elevated.

You say that but go look at the trade boards and see how many threads there have been about needing a 2C. Finding one isn't hard, finding a good one is a different matter.

 

[herzausstein]

Yeah, I agree, but think that's why I am ok with trying for lots of swings at the Center options. I don't think we have any top 6 centers and certainly not top line centers in our current prospect pool.

I'd consider whoever we draft with our 5th overall as our best option for a top 6 C. I just not sure i see any of the Cs that'll be available at our later picks that would project better than what we got. I see lots of dmen that are better than what we got though.

 

[ShagDaddy]

If Hagens is available and we go McQueen, I would be.. upset. But at the end of the day, what do I know.

I guess it depends on whether you want your long term 4th line center or a player they will lose on waivers in 3 or 4 years.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

You say that but go look at the trade boards and see how many threads there have been about needing a 2C. Finding one isn't hard, finding a good one is a different matter.

Top 6 C and top 4 RHD seem to be the 2 hardest areas for teams to fill. Taking multiple shots at them is good idea. I'd like to see us pick 2 C with our top 4 picks and 2 D, at least 1 right handed.