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2025 NHL DRAFT

Honestly these guys all have a “flaw” we could nitpick at:

Hagens: is he too short to be a first line centre?

Frondell: played on powerhouse team in second tier league, numbers inflated? 1 goal only at world juniors?

Desnoyers: injury concerns? BOTH wrists hurt and other small injury too

McQueen: back injury? Misdiagnosed?

At the end of the day, ya gotta go with who you feel most comfortable with at 5 overall.
They are all great prospects and they may all hit or they may all miss. Or half and half. Nobody knows.

Either way I’m excited for the anticipation of having such a high pick and love to predict what could happen as you all do. But when it’s all said and done we WILL walk away with a stud prospect and the best in our system.

To me, that’s a win on a crappy season. Let’s hope for the best and trust Barry and company land us a gem.
None of those negative attributes are in the same ballpark as McQueens Damage History/ market rash

No one cares about Desnoyers shoulder / arm injury and the fact he was so productive despite it, means he is a true blue chip prospect . The best we would have ever had in our system
 
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None of those negative attributes are in the same ballpark as McQueens Damage History/ market rash

No one cares about Desnoyers shoulder / arm injury and the fact he was so productive despite it, means he is a true blue chip prospect . The best we would have ever had in our system
It was wrists my friend. You don’t even know the injury but are so hyped up on this guy.
Yes Desnoyers would be the best we have NOW, as I said any of these guys would be. But ever? Dude… David Legwand was rated much better than Desnoyers. Whether he panned out or not. Same with Seth jones.

And what about Aidan fink? And don’t leave gunnarwolfe in the shadows either.
 
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It was wrists my friend. You don’t even know the injury but are so hyped up on this guy.
Yes Desnoyers would be the best we have NOW, as I said any of these guys would be. But ever? Dude… David Legwand was rated much better than Desnoyers. Whether he panned out or not. Same with Seth jones.

And what about Aidan fink? And don’t leave gunnarwolfe in the shadows either.

Again, the injury only helps justify Desnoyer's draft pedigree. His injury status is much more benign than Mcqueen's.

When you couple Mcqueen's injury history with rather pedestrian draft year production it should be a major red flag.

Aiden Fink was 4th highest scoring forward in College Hockey (and the highest scoring from his draft class), great pedigree
 
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This is how i think it will go :
Schaefer/Misa are locked as 1 or 2

Chicago will look for more of a two-way forward, so Martone/Frondell. They already have Bedard so Hagens is too similar.

Utah kinda in the same situation as Chicago, Cooley as their "Bedard". So two-way forwards: Frondell/Martone/Martin.

And boom we have Hagens available at #5. Only problem is he is too "soft" for Barry so he will obviously take Mcqueen.

Philly will take Hagens as a no-brainer and we will all question why Barry has a job as a gm.

Thank you and sorry.
 
This is how i think it will go :
Schaefer/Misa are locked as 1 or 2

Chicago will look for more of a two-way forward, so Martone/Frondell. They already have Bedard so Hagens is too similar.

Utah kinda in the same situation as Chicago, Cooley as their "Bedard". So two-way forwards: Frondell/Martone/Martin.

And boom we have Hagens available at #5. Only problem is he is too "soft" for Barry so he will obviously take Mcqueen.

Philly will take Hagens as a no-brainer and we will all question why Barry has a job as a gm.

Thank you and sorry.
Considering Hagens' size, I think there are some serious doubts on whether he can be a center in the NHL or if he'll end up on the wing.

Trotz has been pretty adamant that he wants a CENTER with the top-five pick (even tried to trade up to the top-five in -23). Hagens obviously has top-three skill in this draft class but the odds are he's not going to be an effective center in the NHL. At least on a contending team.
 
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Hagens measuring at only 5'10.5'' ... not too many centers that size in the NHL.
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3 - Brayden Point (5-10, 183 pounds) – C – Tampa Bay Lightning

I’ll never understand how the Lightning were able to uncover this gem in the third round of the 2014 draft. Point isn’t just one of the best “small” players in the league, he’s one of the top guys in the game today. The 25-year-old missed an extended period of time with an injury, but he’s back and rolling again. He’s picked up 56 points in 46 games during Tampa’s last two playoff runs.

7 - Sidney Crosby (5-11, 200 pounds) – C - Pittsburgh Penguins

I still have a hard time believing Crosby is 34 years old. He’s never been the flashiest of super stars, but he’s been so efficient throughout his career. His goal production is a little low so far this year, but he’s still rolling at more than one point per game. Crosby has four goals and 16 assists in 19 games this season. He’s going to go down as one of the all-time greats.

10 - Claude Giroux (5-11, 185 pounds) – C – Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers’ three leading scorers are all below six feet. Giroux, Cam Atkinson (5-8) and Travis Konecny (5-10) have all made an impact this year. Giroux’s level of consistency has been remarkable. Yes, his production dipped over the last couple of years, but there was no way he was going to be able to keep producing 85-plus point seasons into his mid-30s. He has a very healthy 29 points in 32 clashes in 2021-22.

11 - Jack Hughes (5-11, 175 pounds) – C – New Jersey Devils

Hughes missed time with an injury, but he’s made a big-time impact on the Devils roster this season. New Jersey’s two leading scorers are both listed at 5-10 (Jesper Bratt and Andreas Johansson), but neither of those players is better than Hughes. The 20-year-old has 15 points in 16 games this season. He’s quickly developing into an electric offensive threat.

15 - Joe Pavelski (5-11, 195) – C – Dallas Stars

Someone should tell Pavelski that 37-year-old forwards aren’t supposed to produce this much offense. He put up 51 points in 56 games with Dallas last year and he’s already up to 27 points in 29 games this season. He leads the team in points and he’s tied for the team lead in goals (12). Assuming he stays healthy, he should continue to score points for a Stars team competing for a playoff spot.

20 - Nick Suzuki – (5-11, 205 pounds) – C – Montreal Canadiens

After going to the Stanley Cup Final last year, the Habs have been a mess this year. Suzuki hasn’t taken the next step many expected him to take, but he doesn’t have much help around him. I still think he’s going to be a quality two-way center for a very long time. He leads the team in scoring with seven goals and 19 points in 34 games.
27 - Alex Kerfoot (5-10, 181 pounds) – C – Toronto Maple Leafs

Kerfoot gets the nod because Mitch Marner is listed at 6-feet on the nose (yeah, right). The Leafs center is a quality depth forward that also finds a way to get under the opponent’s skin at times. He’s put up a very respectable 19 points in 31 games this season.

29 - Jean-Gabriel Pageau (5-11, 180 pounds) – C – New York Islanders

The smaller players on the Islanders roster have struggled this year. Pageau, Anthony Beauvillier and Kyle Palmieri haven’t produced as much as we expected them to. Of course, starting the season on a 13-game road trip and having your roster decimated by Covid hasn’t helped.

32 - Cole Perfetti (5-11, 177 pounds) – C – Winnipeg Jets

Don’t get it twisted, Perfetti has a very high ceiling, but he’s not there yet. He’s only played two games for the Jets and he’s failed to register a point. The Jets don’t really have a smaller player that makes a significant impact on their team.
 
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Considering Hagens' size, I think there are some serious doubts on whether he can be a center in the NHL or if he'll end up on the wing.

Trotz has been pretty adamant that he wants a CENTER with the top-five pick (even tried to trade up to the top-five in -23). Hagens obviously has top-three skill in this draft class but the odds are he's not going to be an effective center in the NHL. At least on a contending team.
I mean in the post you replied to mentions Bedard and he is 5'10". If Hagens has the skill to be a center in this league he will be just fine.
 
.

3 - Brayden Point (5-10, 183 pounds) – C – Tampa Bay Lightning

I’ll never understand how the Lightning were able to uncover this gem in the third round of the 2014 draft. Point isn’t just one of the best “small” players in the league, he’s one of the top guys in the game today. The 25-year-old missed an extended period of time with an injury, but he’s back and rolling again. He’s picked up 56 points in 46 games during Tampa’s last two playoff runs.

7 - Sidney Crosby (5-11, 200 pounds) – C - Pittsburgh Penguins

I still have a hard time believing Crosby is 34 years old. He’s never been the flashiest of super stars, but he’s been so efficient throughout his career. His goal production is a little low so far this year, but he’s still rolling at more than one point per game. Crosby has four goals and 16 assists in 19 games this season. He’s going to go down as one of the all-time greats.

10 - Claude Giroux (5-11, 185 pounds) – C – Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers’ three leading scorers are all below six feet. Giroux, Cam Atkinson (5-8) and Travis Konecny (5-10) have all made an impact this year. Giroux’s level of consistency has been remarkable. Yes, his production dipped over the last couple of years, but there was no way he was going to be able to keep producing 85-plus point seasons into his mid-30s. He has a very healthy 29 points in 32 clashes in 2021-22.

11 - Jack Hughes (5-11, 175 pounds) – C – New Jersey Devils

Hughes missed time with an injury, but he’s made a big-time impact on the Devils roster this season. New Jersey’s two leading scorers are both listed at 5-10 (Jesper Bratt and Andreas Johansson), but neither of those players is better than Hughes. The 20-year-old has 15 points in 16 games this season. He’s quickly developing into an electric offensive threat.

15 - Joe Pavelski (5-11, 195) – C – Dallas Stars

Someone should tell Pavelski that 37-year-old forwards aren’t supposed to produce this much offense. He put up 51 points in 56 games with Dallas last year and he’s already up to 27 points in 29 games this season. He leads the team in points and he’s tied for the team lead in goals (12). Assuming he stays healthy, he should continue to score points for a Stars team competing for a playoff spot.

20 - Nick Suzuki – (5-11, 205 pounds) – C – Montreal Canadiens

After going to the Stanley Cup Final last year, the Habs have been a mess this year. Suzuki hasn’t taken the next step many expected him to take, but he doesn’t have much help around him. I still think he’s going to be a quality two-way center for a very long time. He leads the team in scoring with seven goals and 19 points in 34 games.
27 - Alex Kerfoot (5-10, 181 pounds) – C – Toronto Maple Leafs

Kerfoot gets the nod because Mitch Marner is listed at 6-feet on the nose (yeah, right). The Leafs center is a quality depth forward that also finds a way to get under the opponent’s skin at times. He’s put up a very respectable 19 points in 31 games this season.

29 - Jean-Gabriel Pageau (5-11, 180 pounds) – C – New York Islanders

The smaller players on the Islanders roster have struggled this year. Pageau, Anthony Beauvillier and Kyle Palmieri haven’t produced as much as we expected them to. Of course, starting the season on a 13-game road trip and having your roster decimated by Covid hasn’t helped.

32 - Cole Perfetti (5-11, 177 pounds) – C – Winnipeg Jets

Don’t get it twisted, Perfetti has a very high ceiling, but he’s not there yet. He’s only played two games for the Jets and he’s failed to register a point. The Jets don’t really have a smaller player that makes a significant impact on their team.
Many of those guys aren’t really centers.
 
My final Top 50:

1. Schaefer
2. Misa

3. Desnoyers
4. Martin
5. Martone
6. Hagens
7. Smith
8. Mrtka
9. Eklund
10. Frondell
11. O’Brien
12. McQueen
13. Carbonneau

14. Reid
15. Reschny
16. Nesbitt
17. Fiddler
18. Bear
19. Gastrin
20. Hensler
21. Aitcheson
22. Spence

23. Ihs Wozniak
24. Nestrasil
25. Zonnon
26. McKinney
27. Boumedienne
28. Horcoff
29. Nilson
30. Lakovic
31. Brzustewicz
32. Cootes
33. Kindel
34. West
35. Potter
36. Murtagh

37. Prokhorov
38. Moore
39. Limatov
40. Paupenakis
41. Genborg
42. Ryabkin
43. Lee
44. Gard
45. Griffin
46. Agafonov
47. Hillstrom
48. Psenicka
49. Czata
50. Stockselius
 
Thoughts from combine:

I’ve warmed up to McQueen given the new back info, assuming it’s accurate. And too many saying he would be top 5 and has a high center ceiling.

Frondell in VO2 max shows he’s a beast. IMO this is the top test at the combine- hockey is full on effort for 1 minute with quick recovery time, rinse, repeat.

Hagens says he wants to win a cup.. for the Islanders. Maybe a slight knock against him as a future flight risk but wouldn’t overthink it.

Desoyners work through injuries is really impressive and the intangibles are real.

Bottom line: Barry gets the center he wants of the center’s available at 5. Be happy with whichever it is.

Time to start talking about our next three picks which are perhaps more important to our future because the path is less obvious.
 
Hagens is almost 6 feet, there are a bunch of successful 5'10 players and more specifically centers in the league, Crosby and Bedard among them. If Hagens has the talent that's been putting him at the top of the draft lists for over a year it shouldn't be a problem.
 
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Hagens is almost 6 feet, there are a bunch of successful 5'10 players and more specifically centers in the league, Crosby and Bedard among them. If Hagens has the talent that's been putting him at the top of the draft lists for over a year it shouldn't be a problem.
It’s not just his height. He had a good but not great year at BC, in contrast to Celebrini at BU the year prior. He is obviously a heckuva player, but I see him more at Granlund level than a legit 1C.
 
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