The 2025 Draft Thread

[sabremike]

From what I gather the top 4-5 guys are interchangeable and projected to top out at "Hall Of Very Good" (nowhere close to franchise caliber) and the rest is nothing at all to write home about. Is that a fair assessment?

 

[Chainshot]

From what I gather the top 4-5 guys are interchangeable and projected to top out at "Hall Of Very Good" (nowhere close to franchise caliber) and the rest is nothing at all to write home about. Is that a fair assessment?

It's still early. Often in seasons like this, some players will wind up as big risers and the media space scouts will claim to have a better feel for how these guys will work out. I think Martone could be special in terms of how he has size and sand and skill to his game. He's not Corey Perry dink level but his game other than the dinkness has some comps. He's a big player who plays up to his size and has amazing skills.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

It's still early. Often in seasons like this, some players will wind up as big risers and the media space scouts will claim to have a better feel for how these guys will work out. I think Martone could be special in terms of how he has size and sand and skill to his game. He's not Corey Perry dink level but his game other than the dinkness has some comps. He's a big player who plays up to his size and has amazing skills.

And his dad was a former Sabres draft pick

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

If this is the truth and we have a top 3 pick ..it should be traded

Not disagreeing with you. We need veteran help, now.

But iirc the last top-10 pick traded for a veteran player was Corey Schneider going from Vancouver to NJD for 9OA in 2013. It almost never happens.

 

[toddkaz]

I would expect Hagens, Martone and Shaefer to go 1-2-3 at this point and we pick 5-7

 

[Fjordsen]

I would expect Hagens, Martone and Shaefer to go 1-2-3 at this point and we pick 5-7

Misa

 

[Chainshot]

And his dad was a former Sabres draft pick

I actually watched his father play in the OHL with the Petes. It's like having watched Keith Primeau in NF and now his son is playing for the Habs... feeling old.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

I actually watched his father play in the OHL with the Petes. It's like having watched Keith Primeau in NF and now his son is playing for the Habs... feeling old.

Too bad that Noah Milley sucks or else you’d feel really old.

 

[Chainshot]

Too bad that Noah Milley sucks or else you’d feel really old.

Norm is younger than Martone's dad.

Swinging back around to the thread topic:

https://thehockeynews.com/news/2025-nhl-draft-rankings-ferraris-top-64-before-the-world-juniors

Ferrari with a nice synopsis of the 2025 draftees likely going to the U20's starting next week.

 

[Jim Bob]

Who are the best NHL prospects at 2025 World Juniors? Ranking the top 25 players

A look at the World Junior players in the tournament from the perspective of their NHL projections.

www.nytimes.com

1. Gavin McKenna, LW, Canada (2026 draft eligible)​

Before he left for the World Juniors, McKenna led the CHL in scoring and in shots on goal as a 16-year-old. He’s the runaway favorite to be the No. 1 pick in 2026 and would have been projected to go first in 2025. McKenna’s a dynamic, playmaking winger who is just the eighth player to play for Canada at the World Juniors in their draft-minus-one season.

T-2. James Hagens, C, USA (2025 draft eligible)​

Hagens is the U17 and U18 worlds single-tournament points record holder, the highest-scoring U19 player in college hockey this season and one of three real contenders for No. 1 in this year’s draft. He’s a high-end skater and playmaker, can drive a line, has dominated these age groups for years and should be one of the top players at this year’s tournament.

T-2. Porter Martone, RW, Canada (2025 draft eligible)​

Martone has dominated the OHL this season, entering the World Juniors scoring at a two-point-per-game rate. He’s a big winger with high-end offensive skills and a strong interior game. Despite being a draft-eligible forward, he will likely be asked to play a big role on Canada’s power play.

T-2. Matthew Schaefer, LHD, Canada (2025 draft eligible)​

Schaefer has been exciting scouts all season between his play in multiple international events and the OHL. He’s an excellent skating defenseman with good size and legit offensive skills as well. He makes an impact at both ends of the ice, and despite being a 17-year-old, could play a notable role for Canada. He has the traits to become a No. 1 defenseman in the NHL.

T-16. Viktor Eklund, RW, Sweden (2025 draft eligible)​

Eklund is one of the top draft eligibles in the tournament and the best one from Europe. He’s an excellent skating winger who is both very skilled and highly competitive. He is on the smaller side, though.

T-24. Adam Novotny, LW, Czechia (2026 draft eligible)​

Novotny is a 2026 draft eligible and one scouts are very excited about. He is quite skilled and also a good skater with a high compete level.

 

[toddkaz]

If we aren't picking top 5-7 I wouldn't be opposed to trading back in the draft.

From reading all the draft reviews it seems like there is a lot of movement from 7-20 in the draft.

Doesn't seem like a consensus after the first 5-6 players.

Misa
Martone
Scheifer
Hagens
Frondell

Seems to be the consensus for top 5 and after that its another 10 prospects that are moved around the list.

 

[Fjordsen]

If we aren't picking top 5-7 I wouldn't be opposed to trading back in the draft.

From reading all the draft reviews it seems like there is a lot of movement from 7-20 in the draft.

Doesn't seem like a consensus after the first 5-6 players.

In general, I am not against trading pick for a legit player.

 

[toddkaz]

In general, I am not against trading pick for a legit player.

That would be my first choice or package for a 1st line player but I try to leave that out from the draft thread or it turns into not the draft thread

If we trade back to 15 to 20 and get a player that also works but its rare to see that.

 

[Team Cozens]

I would expect Hagens, Martone and Shaefer to go 1-2-3 at this point and we pick 5-7

We always pick #8

 

[toddkaz]

Now 3rd overall.

 

[OkimLom]

Now 3rd overall.

View attachment 949034

While it would be interesting to see what they can do with the current defensive corp in terms of moving someone out, I’d choose Misa for the pick here. Just an elite talent at the forward position, something we really need.

You can’t go wrong here with Schaefer, just a preference.

 

[MagnumForce2]

Tough to be talking about the draft already, but it’s slowly turning into a reality. A reoccurring one.

 

[Fjordsen]

Tough to be talking about the draft already, but it’s slowly turning into a reality. A reoccurring one.

I'm already tired of him.

 

[paulmm3]

I'd love any one of Hagens, Martone, or Misa probably in that order. I'm not a scout myself but of the 10+ scouting services I've read I agree with Deep Blue Metallic that they make up a pretty clear top 4 with Schaefer at this point. I'd prefer we don't go defense if we pick top 4.

 

[debaser66]

But the Sabres will go on a run in March and end up in the 10-12 range. "We showed what we can do. We're a young team and just need to start next season on the right foot. This is the most important offseason of our careers."

This is what's probably gonna happen.
But it will be more like the usual 7 to 9 range.
They know to dissapoint, also if they suck it seems they suck in a non elite prospect year.

 

[Jim Bob]

Now 3rd overall.

View attachment 949034

Has a team ever had 4 LHD that were all taken in the top 5 of the draft?

 

[Fjordsen]

Has a team ever had 4 LHD that were all taken in the top 5 of the draft?

I'm sure this won't happen to us.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

If we stick around in top-4 territory, I'm taking Martone if he's available.

 

[Speedy Cerviche]

I'm sure this won't happen to us.

Not unless you are moving the surplus out

 

[Der Jaeger]

Finally getting around to watching some college and CHL hockey in the past few weeks, as we've been traveling and I've had slow days at work.

Hagens: I don't like the Hughes comparisons because I don't see it. He's a really poor man's Crosby. He likes to support low in the offensive zone and get in and around the net. He's also very good below the goal line. Makes some of the best and smartest 5 foot passes I've seen in a while, which go somewhat unnoticed but free up his linemates. Puck support in the defensive zone is very good. Mature game, doesn't give up a lot defensively and has an active stick. PKs as a freshman at BC. Doesn't have a ripper of a shot but he places pucks well. Passing vision and instincts are elite. Smaller but I personally never see that as a big negative if the hockey IQ is there.

Misa: Way more comparable to Hughes than Hagens. Slick, smart, and creative. Does some thing with the puck that you don't often see, especially in tight quarters. Saginaw is a PEP partner, and Misa trains with the system, and you can tell. His ability to react in tight quarters really fast is best in the draft. Smart offensive player who got better when moved to center. Still likes to blow the zone and take chances, but he's such a good skater he can recover quickly.

Martone: Better version of Boldy. Big winger with a ton of skill. Does stuff you would think a smaller forward would do with the puck. Great shot. Isn't a jack hammer of a power forward but can play that game. Uses his body well to get position and is hard to stop in tight. For a player who profiles as a big power forward goal scorer, he's a tremendous passer. A new age power forward with size and skill.

I'm down for any of the three though I prefer Hagens.