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The 2025 Draft Thread

It looks like Buffalo will probably pick 3-7.

Schaefer and Misa go 1-2 After that Hagens seems to have the edge at 3. Then Martone, Frondell and Desnoyers and McQueen.


So I guess our focus should be on Hagens, Martone, Frondell, Desnoyers and McQueen 3-7. If we fall to 8-9 Its Jackson Smith and Victor Eklund. Given there is no risers in the draft that seems like the order right now.

Would be happy anywhere 3-7 and getting one of those 4 players.
 
toddkaz said:
It looks like Buffalo will probably pick 3-7.

Schaefer and Misa go 1-2 After that Hagens seems to have the edge at 3. Then Martone, Frondell and Desnoyers and McQueen.


So I guess our focus should be on Hagens, Martone, Frondell, Desnoyers and McQueen 3-7. If we fall to 8-9 Its Jackson Smith and Victor Eklund. Given there is no risers in the draft that seems like the order right now.

Would be happy anywhere 3-7 and getting one of those 4 players.
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From the start of the year, Desnoyers and Bear are very much risers on some lists. If in the playoffs Everett treats the Western Conference of the WHL the way they have in the regular season, it wouldn't surprise to see Bear moving up from the 7-8 spot he has landed on a lot of the public space lists.
 
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Chainshot said:
From the start of the year, Desnoyers and Bear are very much risers on some lists. If in the playoffs Everett treats the Western Conference of the WHL the way they have in the regular season, it wouldn't surprise to see Bear moving up from the 7-8 spot he has landed on a lot of the public space lists.
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Isn’t Bear out for the season with an Achilles?
 
Frondell looks like the type of player I want to add.

How is McQueen’s IQ? I don’t want another big fast guy who lacks IQ.

And what if Hagens doesn’t end up at center? Do we really need another smaller winger?

For me, I’m really having a hard time focusing on anyone but Desnoyers or Frondell for the Sabres.

Not really a Martone guy…might be somewhat annoyed if we pick him.
 
Doug Prishpreed said:
Frondell looks like the type of player I want to add.

How is McQueen’s IQ? I don’t want another big fast guy who lacks IQ.

And what if Hagens doesn’t end up at center? Do we really need another smaller winger?

For me, I’m really having a hard time focusing on anyone but Desnoyers or Frondell for the Sabres.

Not really a Martone guy…might be somewhat annoyed if we pick him.
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Some light reading on McQueen's injury stuff - McQueen nears return from back injury
 
Doug Prishpreed said:
Frondell looks like the type of player I want to add.

How is McQueen’s IQ? I don’t want another big fast guy who lacks IQ.

And what if Hagens doesn’t end up at center? Do we really need another smaller winger?

For me, I’m really having a hard time focusing on anyone but Desnoyers or Frondell for the Sabres.

Not really a Martone guy…might be somewhat annoyed if we pick him.
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Frondell would be my pick out the players you listed. That said, I'm not that nervous about Hagens. We need size and truculence for sure, but we also desperately need hockey sense and play-making ability. Hagens can offer that whether at center or on the wing.

McQueen's hockey IQ is fine (not elite). I've watched his game since peewee and he's never really been a play-driver and I don't believe he will be in the NHL. He's a goal scoring type of center, not a facilitator. Just not what I think we need.

With you on Martone. Desnoyers also makes me nervous. Does he have an elite trait or is he a jack-of-all-trades type that more often than not don't set the NHL on fire?
 
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dickiedunnwrotethis said:
Frondell would be my pick out the players you listed. That said, I'm not that nervous about Hagens. We need size and truculence for sure, but we also desperately need hockey sense and play-making ability. Hagens can offer that whether at center or on the wing.

McQueen's hockey IQ is fine (not elite). I've watched his game since peewee and he's never really been a play-driver and I don't believe he will be in the NHL. He's a goal scoring type of center, not a facilitator. Just not what I think we need.

With you on Martone. Desnoyers also makes me nervous. Does he have an elite trait or is he a jack-of-all-trades type that more often than not don't set the NHL on fire?
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Watching McQueen in last year's playoffs, still sort of wondering if he's a center at the next level. Finisher for sure, curious to see him in this year's 'dub playoffs.

We keep talking past the guy who is the posterboy for Sabre drafting of late - Eklund. :biglaugh:
 
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Sabres 100% need to draft a player whose fail case is still a useful NHL forward. Someone with the size and physicality to at least be able to lock down a 3rd line role. If they can’t land Misa or Hagens, they won’t land a sure fire top six scorer. Nobody else in the draft is that good. Desnoyers would be my pick from the next set because his profile matches some very successful NHL players. Players without flash tend to get underdrafted, even though flash rarely translates to the NHL.
 
truthbluth said:
Sabres 100% need to draft a player whose fail case is still a useful NHL forward. Someone with the size and physicality to at least be able to lock down a 3rd line role. If they can’t land Misa or Hagens, they won’t land a sure fire top six scorer. Nobody else in the draft is that good. Desnoyers would be my pick from the next set because his profile matches some very successful NHL players. Players without flash tend to get underdrafted, even though flash rarely translates to the NHL.
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Sounds like Wahlberg in a year or two ? and why have you not mentioned Martone who is in that same mold ?

Draft smart and hockey IQ from now on as well. No more empty between the ears like the GM, unfortunately I'm putting that on Forton and Adams.
 
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Chainshot said:
From the start of the year, Desnoyers and Bear are very much risers on some lists. If in the playoffs Everett treats the Western Conference of the WHL the way they have in the regular season, it wouldn't surprise to see Bear moving up from the 7-8 spot he has landed on a lot of the public space lists.
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Whose play suits Buffalo the most? I prefer Buffalo take a center. I think Misa is gone when Buffalo picks. Hagens looked great at the WJC. Hagens or Desnoyers seems to be the pick?
 
truthbluth said:
Sabres 100% need to draft a player whose fail case is still a useful NHL forward. Someone with the size and physicality to at least be able to lock down a 3rd line role. If they can’t land Misa or Hagens, they won’t land a sure fire top six scorer. Nobody else in the draft is that good. Desnoyers would be my pick from the next set because his profile matches some very successful NHL players. Players without flash tend to get underdrafted, even though flash rarely translates to the NHL.
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Draft Pundits seem to think Martone can be a top line winger. I prefer centers but doesn't he have the tools?
 
toddkaz said:
Draft Pundits seem to think Martone can be a top line winger. I prefer centers but doesn't he have the tools?
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Martone is legit. I’d prefer Desnoyers and Frondell due to position value, but he’s right there. I believe all three of those guys have high floors. Chain is right though, we should only be looking at Eklund or Hagens.
 
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toddkaz said:
Whose play suits Buffalo the most? I prefer Buffalo take a center. I think Misa is gone when Buffalo picks. Hagens looked great at the WJC. Hagens or Desnoyers seems to be the pick?
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I'm not keen on taking players that high based on perceived fit so just eval who they think is BPA. Some of these guys in the 4-10 range shouldn't be rushed and having them take a couple of years can mean a whole different HC and serious roster changes for the parent club.
 
truthbluth said:
Martone is legit. I’d prefer Desnoyers and Frondell due to position value, but he’s right there. I believe all three of those guys have high floors. Chain is right though, we should only be looking at Eklund or Hagens.
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It seems like its going to be Schaefer and Misa 1-2. Things can change when the draft comes but that seems to be the consensus putting Misa out of our reach unless Buffalo wins the draft.
 
truthbluth said:
Martone is legit. I’d prefer Desnoyers and Frondell due to position value, but he’s right there. I believe all three of those guys have high floors. Chain is right though, we should only be looking at Eklund or Hagens.
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If they are really looking to rile up the locals, need to put Jackson Smith and Kashawn Aitcheson into the mix too. :biglaugh:
 
Der Jaeger said:
I've never been a fan of the lottery. Teams are going to work to get what they want anyway. I think the NFL's system of just letting teams play and draft based on record is the best way to go.

Had that happened, here's what happens for the 2014-2015 drafts:

2014:
Buffalo: Ekblad
Florida: one of the "Sam's"
Edmonton: Draisaitl
Calgary: one of the "Sam's"

2015:
Buffalo: McDavid
Arizona: Eichel
Edmonton: Strome

Results:
Buffalo likely never gets into the situation they are in. McDavid's greatness gets them in at least one year.
Florida: not a ton of change, basically a similar team without Ekblad
Edmonton: not a powerhouse but still a good team which makes the playoffs
Calgary: no change
Arizona: having a franchise center who they can market could've allowed them to stay in the Phoenix area.

Buffalo likely never becomes what they are, and Arizona gets a shot at being saved. So, I'm not really sure what de-incentivizing tanking does for the league.
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A fact virtually nobody remembers is that the McJesus year Sabres finished two points better than they did the prior season (and came incredibly close to avoiding the wooden spoon). You can intentionally put together a bad roster but they are all still pro hockey players and aren't going to go out and deliberately play bad for a draft pick.
 
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