Craig Button List Spring 2025

[Mathieukferland]

 

[Stewie Griffin]

That's really high for Schmidt

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

20 of the top 24 are Canadian according to him. 21 Canadians in the first round.

All the notable Americans ranked low.

How does this compute with that Canada’s share of NHL’ers drops virtually every year?

Absolute clown.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

I'd gladly take Jackson Smith at 14th.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

20 of the top 24 are Canadian according to him. 21 Canadians in the first round.

All the notable Americans ranked low.

How does this compute with that Canada’s share of NHL’ers drops virtually every year?

Absolute clown.

Ranking Hagens that low is a bit disrespectful, but Craig is always bold with his rankings. He's not just going to copy everyone else, I respect him more for that tbh.

To be fair, it is a very weak US group for the 2025 Draft, not surprised that Craig and others would have them lower.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Ranking Hagens that low is a bit disrespectful, but Craig is always bold with his rankings. He's not just going to copy everyone else, I respect him more for that tbh.

To be fair, it is a very weak US group for the 2025 Draft, not surprised that Craig and others would have them lower.

It's Hagens, it's Hensler, it's McKinney, it's Potter. I could keep going. What a shock they are all ranked lower than the consensus, and he stacks the list with every Canadian player who has a pulse.

I don't think it's a weak US group. Maybe that's the narrative that allows for this nonsense.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

It's Hagens, it's Hensler, it's McKinney, it's Potter. I could keep going. What a shock they are all ranked lower than the consensus, and he stacks the list with every Canadian player who has a pulse.

I don't think it's a weak US group. Maybe that's the narrative that allows for this nonsense.

Compared to a relatively meh Canadian group, the US group is extremely weak. Of course, this is all right now, how they turn out in 5 years is much different.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Compared to a relatively meh Canadian group, the US group is extremely weak. Of course, this is all right now, how they turn out in 5 years is much different.

Really, was the American group stronger last year, for instance?

You are overdoing that. It may be slightly weak, but not to the extent you're suggesting, nor the extent Button is suggesting.

Faulty narrative. Should we ignore Cole McKinney just had a 17 game point streak (for a freaking defensive minded center)? That's worth the 44th best slot in the draft?

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I mean, this happens most years. Button is preaching what he knows, and that isn't Anerican players playing in the USHL or NCAA.

 

[Rebels57]

I see Button is still pretending to be an expert.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Really, was the American group stronger last year, for instance?

You are overdoing that. It may be slightly weak, but not to the extent you're suggesting, nor the extent Button is suggesting.

Faulty narrative. Should we ignore Cole McKinney just had a 17 game point streak (for a freaking defensive minded center)? That's worth the 44th best slot in the draft?

Look at how high I was on Hagens a year ago.

fun exercise and I’ll say it won’t be clear who was best after careers are finished

Gun to my head at this very second- I take Bedard for my team since he’s the only one who’s played in the NHL. Too safe, he’s had success and you’re getting a likely HOFer.

but long term career? I’m going off the board and saying

1. Hagens
2. McKenna
3. Bedard
4. Celebrini

Bonus:
Bedard- most goals
McKenna- most points

Not only would I put him 4th on that list. I’d rank him 4th in this draft class now.

I’m American.

Not everyone is biased. He’s been pretty disappointing in terms of showcasing upside you want in a top 1, 2, 3 pick and he didn’t get better throughout the year.

 

[Castle8130]

Look at how high I was on Hagens a year ago.

Not only would I put him 4th on that list. I’d rank him 4th in this draft class now.

I’m American.

Not everyone is biased. He’s been pretty disappointing in terms of showcasing upside you want in a top 1, 2, 3 pick and he didn’t get better throughout the year.

Definitely disappointing, but there are some good players to pick from US;

Top 15 pick range;

Hagens
Hensler
Potter

End of 1st range;

Murtagh
Amico
Fiddler
Mckinney

2nd round range;

Moore
Fondrk
Kevan
Vansaghi
Trethaway

 

[SI90]

It's Hagens, it's Hensler, it's McKinney, it's Potter. I could keep going. What a shock they are all ranked lower than the consensus, and he stacks the list with every Canadian player who has a pulse.

I don't think it's a weak US group. Maybe that's the narrative that allows for this nonsense.

Jack Murtagh seems to be the only one in range. Craig maybe a little Button hurt over the US prospects dominance in recent years.
I’ll still never forgive him for calling Oliver Wahlstrom “Mike Bossy”

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

I've seen some bad games for Hagens, but I'd still keep him at second overall, third at worst at this point in time. Think his lack of elite, top tier college production is overshadowing his play a bit much for some pundits, but that's just me.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Jack Murtagh seems to be the only one in range. Craig maybe a little Button hurt over the US prospects dominance in recent years.
I’ll still never forgive him for calling Oliver Wahlstrom “Mike Bossy”

Craig over obsessed over the US guys in 2018 and 2019. Some of which he was right about and some of which he was wrong about.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Really, was the American group stronger last year, for instance?

You are overdoing that. It may be slightly weak, but not to the extent you're suggesting, nor the extent Button is suggesting.

Faulty narrative. Should we ignore Cole McKinney just had a 17 game point streak (for a freaking defensive minded center)? That's worth the 44th best slot in the draft?

Seems like the disconnect for many is is that it’s a weak usntdp team this year, which makes them assume bad year for Americans when overall it’s not a bad year once you add in Hagens, Hensley, Potter, etc..

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Hagens has had the Shane Wright or Phil Kessel glare for a couple of seasons now. All of the "warts" are being magnified. That's not to say some of the criticisms aren't valid, but it's a bit over the top at this point.

 

[JackSlater]

It would take a lot for someone to convince me of Martone or McQueen over Hagens. I don't think Button is the guy to do it.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

The most "right" vs every one else Button has ever been was the year he had Connor and Boeser in his top 10. Both American.
Also- he had Virtanen in the 40's when no one else did. Virtanen's Canadian.
Button might be way off on his own tangent sometimes but I don't think he gives a rip where any of the prospects are from.
Seems a lot more likely he just doesn't care for this year's crop of Americans, and he's not the only one.

 

[MS]

I see Button is still pretending to be an expert.

Again, he's literally the definition of an expert. He was a long-time, very successful NHL scouting director, a former NHL GM, and watches these guys play a ton. You might not agree with how he sees things, but it would be close to impossible to be more of an expert than Button is.

The pretenders are guys like Pronman and Wheeler.

 

[bert]

20 of the top 24 are Canadian according to him. 21 Canadians in the first round.

All the notable Americans ranked low.

How does this compute with that Canada’s share of NHL’ers drops virtually every year?

Absolute clown.

Fella take a breather. Like a good break. These two factors have nothing to do with one another like 0. A draft year doesnt represent total NHL participation. He is clearly a homer for Canadian players. NHL teams dont care where players are from we will see what the draft results look like.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Seems like the disconnect for many is is that it’s a weak usntdp team this year, which makes them assume bad year for Americans when overall it’s not a bad year once you add in Hagens, Hensley, Potter, etc..

I must say though, it’s a bad year if you slot them all in their low range!

 

[Frk It]

The most "right" vs every one else Button has ever been was the year he had Connor and Boeser in his top 10. Both American.
Also- he had Virtanen in the 40's when no one else did. Virtanen's Canadian.
Button might be way off on his own tangent sometimes but I don't think he gives a rip where any of the prospects are from.
Seems a lot more likely he just doesn't care for this year's crop of Americans, and he's not the only one.

Believe he also had ASP (Swede) way higher than everyone else.

 

[LeProspector]

Believe he also had ASP (Swede) way higher than everyone else.

How is that remotely on the level of him having Connor/Boeser top-10 in ‘15 and Virtanen in the 40’s in ‘14? When the majority of people had ASP top-10.

Guy hasn’t played a game in the NHL yet….

 

[Frk It]

How is that remotely on the level of him having Connor/Boeser top-10 in ‘15 and Virtanen in the 40’s in ‘14? When the majority of people had ASP top-10.

Guy hasn’t played a game in the NHL yet….

I was just saying it’s not always Canadians that he has higher than the consensus.

I don’t think everyone had ASP top 10? I know hockeyprospect.com had him in the 20’s, for example.