The 2025 Draft Thread

[Chainshot]

I wonder how much this changes his status and actual draft position.

He should be returning around the end of the OHL regular season so he'll have playoff rounds for viewing upon his return. Consider Jiricek a few years ago, I doubt he falls much if at all.

 

[Chainshot]

Martone obviously represents something we don't have as a skilled power forward. I'd argue James Hagens also represents something we don't have in an exceptionally high IQ playmaking center. I see a decent NHL comparable for Hagens as Jack Hughes. I understand the argument for Martone but I would rather push Cozens to wing and roll with Hagens-Tage as our top two C. I look at it as kind of "would you rather have Martone on Cozens' wing or Cozens on Hagens' wing" and I'd pick the second option.

Of course, moot point as we'll be picking 8th.

I agree, wholeheartedly. That said, I don't expect Buffalo to be picking first - they will get pushed down the draft order yet again - and Hagens will likely already be gone when they come to the podium.

 

[Chainshot]

And let's face it, there are two guys who would be right in Adams'/Forton's fetish zone -

Anton Frondell - 6'/195 lbs but a center
Victor Eklund - 5 11"/161 lbs and a winger

We know. We already know.

 

[Faceboner]

And let's face it, there are two guys who would be right in Adams'/Forton's fetish zone -

Anton Frondell - 6'/195 lbs but a center
Victor Eklund - 5 11"/161 lbs and a winger

We know. We already know.

Frondell wouldn't be bad neither would misa sucks that McQueen got injured was expecting him to have a great draft year and be in the top 3 due to his size/vision/skill combo but looks like he will be a mid to late first gamble. Any way our first will have immense value unless we win the lottery we should trade it for immediate help maybe a guy in 25-26 age range who is a bonafide top 6f/no.3 rhd

 

[Chainshot]

Frondell wouldn't be bad neither would misa sucks that McQueen got injured was expecting him to have a great draft year and be in the top 3 due to his size/vision/skill combo but looks like he will be a mid to late first gamble. Any way our first will have immense value unless we win the lottery we should trade it for immediate help maybe a guy in 25-26 age range who is a bonafide top 6f/no.3 rhd

McQueen looks like he'll be back with about 20 games in the season and then the playoffs. He looked so good for Brandon last year in the WHL playoffs (4 goals in 4 games).

 

[Faceboner]

McQueen looks like he'll be back with about 20 games in the season and then the playoffs. He looked so good for Brandon last year in the WHL playoffs (4 goals in 4 games).

Wouldn't mind swing on him if he drops back

 

[Chainshot]

Wouldn't mind swing on him if he drops back

Waves of 6'5" shooters.

 

[Faceboner]

Waves of 6'5" shooters.

On the other hand if we miss out on hagens I wonder if Dallas wouldn't be opposed to moving Robertson as he doesn't seem to be hitting that 90 point mark anymore

 

[Chainshot]

On the other hand if we miss out on hagens I wonder if Dallas wouldn't be opposed to moving Robertson as he doesn't seem to be hitting that 90 point mark anymore

Buyer beware there - since his knee injury, his speed and burst stats have really tanked.

A guy I wonder at with some of their earlier drafting is Ryabkin at say the usual Sabre 8-hole. They've drafted (and signed) both Kisakov and Novikov out of Dynamo's system and for the moment have both in Rochester (I do wonder about Kisakov's future there since he's not added much mass to his frame and just seems to get bounced around). Ryabkin is already over 200 lbs per EP, had an amazing MHL season last year. He's a smart player, the wheels are very good, the wrist shot is top notch and he ATTACKS.

If they are around 8... I'm hoping he's there and hasn't said he wouldn't come if drafted.

 

[Chainshot]

 

[Chainshot]

Well, this just put washing Muskegon on my platter.

 

[Jim Bob]

Top 2025 NHL Draft prospect Matthew Schaefer to miss three months with broken clavicle

Schaefer has 22 points in 17 games with the OHL’s Erie Otters this season.

www.dailyfaceoff.com

 

[Jim Bob]

NHL mock draft: Martone leads post-WJHC projections

Our first mock draft of the 2025 cycle takes a look at the 16 lottery picks following the World Junior Championship.Selection order is based on points percentage through games on Jan. 5.!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void...

www.thescore.com

If Martone is off the board, Misa wouldn't be a bad consolation prize.

 

[Fjordy]

NHL mock draft: Martone leads post-WJHC projections

Our first mock draft of the 2025 cycle takes a look at the 16 lottery picks following the World Junior Championship.Selection order is based on points percentage through games on Jan. 5.!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void...

www.thescore.com

If Martone is off the board, Misa wouldn't be a bad consolation prize.

Misa might even be better than Martone in some ways, who knows. But we'll still get neither.

 

[Jim Bob]

Misa might even be better than Martone in some ways, who knows. But we'll still get neither.

Misa is going to be different. And all the reasons that Kris Baker is high on Martone for the Sabres is why I would much prefer Martone over Misa.

Building a team is about getting the right guys in the room and not just the most offensively talented players in the room.

 

[Fjordy]

Misa is going to be different. And all the reasons that Kris Baker is high on Martone for the Sabres is why I would much prefer Martone over Misa.

Building a team is about getting the right guys in the room and not just the most offensively talented players in the room.

I agree, but I don't agree that Misa is not a right player, just like Martone.

 

[Fjordy]

Top 4 or trade.

 

[toddkaz]

Top 4 or trade.

Don't worry we will be 8th again.

I agree, unless its Hagens, Misa, Schaefer or Martone trade the pick.

Interested to see how McQueen finishes the season.

If its 8+ trade the pick for an NHL ready player. We need talent now not wait 3-4 years for the drafted player to make a difference.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Don't worry we will be 8th again.

I agree, unless its Hagens, Misa, Schaefer or Martone trade the pick.

Interested to see how McQueen finishes the season.

If its 8+ trade the pick for an NHL ready player. We need talent now not wait 3-4 years for the drafted player to make a difference.

The only person I’d want is Ryabkin.

 

[dickiedunnwrotethis]

Top 4 or trade.

I think I'd be more inclined to trade if we're top 4. For two reasons. First, we'd more likely to get a better return. Second, our record of putting high draft picks in positions to succeed is not high. If we're drafting in the 6-8 range I would run up to the stage and grab Carter Bear: good hockey sense, decent skills and ELITE compete. Like Benson, the kind of player you will win with.

 

[Fjordy]

I think I'd be more inclined to trade if we're top 4. For two reasons. First, we'd more likely to get a better return. Second, our record of putting high draft picks in positions to succeed is not high. If we're drafting in the 6-8 range I would run up to the stage and grab Carter Bear: good hockey sense, decent skills and ELITE compete. Like Benson, the kind of player you will win with.

Not sure about that, I think there are 4 top players and I like Hagens, Misa and Martone. I don't know much about Schaefer but he seems like the best defenseman in the draft based on reviews even though he's a LD. Overall I'd trade any pick for a proven player, I'm tired of drafts, it's just hard to find a deal.

 

[dickiedunnwrotethis]

Not sure about that, I think there are 4 top players and I like Hagens, Misa and Martone. I don't know much about Schaefer but he seems like the best defenseman in the draft based on reviews even though he's a LD. Overall I'd trade any pick for a proven player, I'm tired of drafts, it's just hard to find a deal.

I'll try again. Those top four players are the consensus top four players in the draft. If we land a top 4 pick I would be much more inclined to trade it than say pick 8 because of its increased trade value. In summation: I see good reasons to trade a 6-8 pick. I see even better reasons to trade out of a top 4 pick (because of the value). But in a scenario where we used our 6-8 pick and took Carter Bear, I wouldn't be disappointed.

 

[Fjordy]

I'll try again. Those top four players are the consensus top four players in the draft. If we land a top 4 pick I would be much more inclined to trade it than say pick 8 because of its increased trade value. In summation: I see good reasons to trade a 6-8 pick. I see even better reasons to trade out of a top 4 pick (because of the value). But in a scenario where we used our 6-8 pick and took Carter Bear, I wouldn't be disappointed.

Ok, and I'll try to explain. I'm willing to trade any spot in this draft, including 1-4 or 5-10. I think you can find a good deal with 1-4 picks as well as 5-10 (even if we add something else, I don't care). The first priority is to get better right now. We have a lot of prospects, but little quality on the roster. I have no idea what kind of player Bear is, even if he is good and competitive, I haven't studied this draft much yet.

 

[Chainshot]

We've discussed this before - teams very rarely trade top 10 picks for players. They do make mistakes and trade firsts prior to a season to wind up with that outcome, but actual player moves are rare - I can think of three in the last 10 years. That's the Debrincat move by the Sens, the OEL deal by Vancouver, and the weirdness of the Lias Andersson pick for Stepan and Raanta. Of the more recent ones, both blew up in the acquiring teams' faces.

 

[Fjordy]

We've discussed this before - teams very rarely trade top 10 picks for players. They do make mistakes and trade firsts prior to a season to wind up with that outcome, but actual player moves are rare - I can think of three in the last 10 years. That's the Debrincat move by the Sens, the OEL deal by Vancouver, and the weirdness of the Lias Andersson pick for Stepan and Raanta. Of the more recent ones, both blew up in the acquiring teams' faces.

Although it seems there was serious smoke around Columbus with their #4 and Necas. Now this choice looks... questionable. Didn't take Demidov, didn't get Necas. But trades are rare, but we have a situation where I'm ready for any trade. But Adams won't trade, another GM might.