The 2025 Draft Thread

[Doug Prishpreed]

Speaking of McQueen -

Amazing!

Speaking of injured, sizable centers coming into the draft - how do folks compare him and Lindstrom? Looks like he’s recovering better than Lindsrom from his back or whatever it was.

Imagine him and Tage and Benson playing together?

 

[Chainshot]

Amazing!

Speaking of injured, sizable centers coming into the draft - how do folks compare him and Lindstrom? Looks like he’s recovering better than Lindsrom from his back or whatever it was.

Imagine him and Tage and Benson playing together?

The stress fracture thing for McQueen is different than Lindstrom's herniated disc. I had a classmate who was a kicker in football who had the same thing McQueen does/did and is now fine after being diagnosed and resting it. He was just constantly aggravating it when he would train or lift - when he stepped away to let it rest, he mended and hasn't been an issue since. It sounds like McQueen's fracture has healed up fine and now he's back doing wild things like that goal. I'm interested to see him in the WHL playoffs again. He was interesting last year in the opening round against Savoie and the Warriors - tied for the team lead in points, lead them in goals in the series.

 

[toddkaz]

If you are picking 7 and McQueen is on the board how can you be unhappy?

I break in down into 3 tiers

If Buffalo picks 1-2 Misa
If Buffalo picks 3-5 Hagens
If Buffalo picks 6-8 McQueen

Thats how I have it depending where they pick. Of course there is no guarantee those players are there unless you pick first.

 

[nickdawg95]

Martone all the way

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Martone all the way

Even if they win the lottery?

Buffalo winning the lottery would definitely become a huge discussion point around the entire NHL media if it happened. Lots of opinions I’m sure.

 

[Ace]

Even if they win the lottery?

Buffalo winning the lottery would definitely become a huge discussion point around the entire NHL media if it happened. Lots of opinions I’m sure.

Would be a real time saver to see whose opinion isn’t “draft Misa” so I can spend one hour blocking every one of their twitter accounts and never looking back.

First one to say they should draft another left handed d first overall and trade Power for a high end forward gets unblocked every 24 hours to be cursed at and then blocked again. It combines something they shouldn’t do with something they are incapable of doing…and would deserve rocks thrown through windows. Ooh…I can get younger and have the same f***ing problem and need the GM can’t address in the D core but be even further away from it mattering? Sign me up twice!

 

[Zman5778]

Would be a real time saver to see whose opinion isn’t “draft Misa” so I can spend one hour blocking every one of their twitter accounts and never looking back.

You think it's that cut and dry between Misa and Hagens?

 

[Der Jaeger]

Even if they win the lottery?

Buffalo winning the lottery would definitely become a huge discussion point around the entire NHL media if it happened. Lots of opinions I’m sure.

If Buffalo wins the lottery, it’s Misa. I’d take Misa even if Buffalo didn’t have Dahlin or Power.

You think it's that cut and dry between Misa and Hagens?

Yes. And I really like Hagens. Misa put it into overdrive after the WJC snub.

 

[TageGod]

I am very interested in what the top 5 pick is worth. if Sabres get #1 do they drop back a few spots or just take their guy.

 

[truthbluth]

If Buffalo wins the lottery, it’s Misa. I’d take Misa even if Buffalo didn’t have Dahlin or Power.

Yes. And I really like Hagens. Misa put it into overdrive after the WJC snub.

Did Misa get better, or did he just get Chernyshov? Hard to say, but he's certainly been en fuego.

I like Misa better, but I think it's pretty close, and I wouldn't fault a team, including the Sabres, for preferring Hagens, whose had the opposite 2nd half of the season from Misa, in every way. Coaches split him from Leonard and Perreault to spread the talent. So he's been carrying a line with Teddy Stiga and a rotating third forward. And I wonder if Stiga, who is a puck carrier and distributer himself, is a good linemate. I like Hagens a lot, and I'd bet on his upside.

 

[jc17]

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.

Idk, I feel like historically teams get bitten by this mentality

That's how you get virtanen over ehlers and nylander,
Bruins 2015 draft, Rasmussen over Necas


Obviously cherry picked but I think if you through top 3-8 selections, the busts are not guys that were too small, it's guys with "high floors" that actually weren't good enough

 

[RefsIdeas]

If the Sabres fall out of the top 4, I think my early favorite is Desnoyers. His combination of hockey IQ/playmaking skills are attractive.

Only downside is I’d have to listen to WGR callers absolutely butcher his name for years to come.

 

[truthbluth]

Idk, I feel like historically teams get bitten by this mentality

That's how you get virtanen over ehlers and nylander,
Bruins 2015 draft, Rasmussen over Necas


Obviously cherry picked but I think if you through top 3-8 selections, the busts are not guys that were too small, it's guys with "high floors" that actually weren't good enough

I think maybe the problem is in identifying what players actually have high floors. Virtanen, if I recall, had a substance abuse problem. Boston arguably took big swings in 2015. Rasmussen went over Necas, and so did Tippett, Mittelstadt, and Glass. Bad scouting and bad luck are just that.

My issue is that there’s a fairly substantial chance that none of Helenius, Ostlund or Rosen carve out even moderate NHL careers.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Would be a real time saver to see whose opinion isn’t “draft Misa” so I can spend one hour blocking every one of their twitter accounts and never looking back.

First one to say they should draft another left handed d first overall and trade Power for a high end forward gets unblocked every 24 hours to be cursed at and then blocked again. It combines something they shouldn’t do with something they are incapable of doing…and would deserve rocks thrown through windows. Ooh…I can get younger and have the same f***ing problem and need the GM can’t address in the D core but be even further away from it mattering? Sign me up twice!

I was more talking about the national media - they already had a discussion on TSN on whether Buffalo would take another LHD and a few guys said they’d be crazy to pass on the next Makar.

I’m lucky that I truly don’t care who they draft, but I do think Buffalo winning would force everyone in the entire NHL landscape to discuss what they would do if they were Adams because it’s an interesting pickle.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Did Misa get better, or did he just get Chernyshov? Hard to say, but he's certainly been en fuego.

I like Misa better, but I think it's pretty close, and I wouldn't fault a team, including the Sabres, for preferring Hagens, whose had the opposite 2nd half of the season from Misa, in every way. Coaches split him from Leonard and Perreault to spread the talent. So he's been carrying a line with Teddy Stiga and a rotating third forward. And I wonder if Stiga, who is a puck carrier and distributer himself, is a good linemate. I like Hagens a lot, and I'd bet on his upside.

Misa is a PEP player, and he's been at some of the camps my son attended. Super focused and intense kid. Doesn't take reps off. I suspect he was really pissed about the WJC snub.

 

[Chainshot]

Misa is a PEP player, and he's been at some of the camps my son attended. Super focused and intense kid. Doesn't take reps off. I suspect he was really pissed about the WJC snub.

Agreed - his uptick in production coincided with being left off the U20 team and then accelerated when Chernyshov arrived. But it was already him taking over games prior that helped that happen. Some players find interesting motivations - this does seem to be a case of Hockey Canada lighting a fire.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Sabres have the 11th toughest SOS left.

Caps
Hurricanes
Panthers
Leafs
Lightning x 2
Sens x 2
Flyers x 2
Pens
Bruins
Blue Jackets

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Hard to find anyone with Hagens at 2 since Bob’s list was released, when he said 7 or 8 teams had him there. I’m guessing it would be much more split now…Misa could even take that spot on Bob’s list by the next one

 

[Der Jaeger]

Agreed - his uptick in production coincided with being left off the U20 team and then accelerated when Chernyshov arrived. But it was already him taking over games prior that helped that happen. Some players find interesting motivations - this does seem to be a case of Hockey Canada lighting a fire.

I love how he responded.

Sabres could use some of that.

 

[toddkaz]

Sabres have the 11th toughest SOS left.

Caps
Hurricanes
Panthers
Leafs
Lightning x 2
Sens x 2
Flyers x 2
Pens
Bruins
Blue Jackets

On paper that looks like 3-4 wins but who knows. We pick anywhere from 3-8 right now. I don't think we pick worse than 8th but it is possible. I would say the highest odds are 4-6 for drafting. If we pick 4-6 we should get an impact player. One of Desnoyers, Hagens, Frondell or Martone should be there.

Is it wrong to say we don't want Frondell because we are going to heavy into European players with Kulich, Ostlund, Helanius in the pipeline?

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

On paper that looks like 3-4 wins but who knows. We pick anywhere from 3-8 right now. I don't think we pick worse than 8th but it is possible. I would say the highest odds are 4-6 for drafting. If we pick 4-6 we should get an impact player. One of Desnoyers, Hagens, Frondell or Martone should be there.

Is it wrong to say we don't want Frondell because we are going to heavy into European players with Kulich, Ostlund, Helanius in the pipeline?

I think we’re locked into that 4-6 pick now, and I’d replace Hagens on your list (he’ll be 2 or 3) with McQueen.

So unless Adams goes way off consensus, we should be getting one of Frondell, Martone, McQueen, or Desnoyers.

 

[toddkaz]

I think we’re locked into that 4-6 pick now, and I’d replace Hagens on your list (he’ll be 2 or 3) with McQueen.

So unless Adams goes way off consensus, we should be getting one of Frondell, Martone, McQueen, or Desnoyers.

I actually think Hagens could fall. His size and he hasn't had an outstanding year in college. From what I have read good but not great.

Hagens will probably go number 3 but I don't think its out of the realm a GM decides to take someone else like Martone at 3.

Has Hagens play left the door open for someone else?

 

[ValJamesDuex]

If the Sabres fall out of the top 4, I think my early favorite is Desnoyers. His combination of hockey IQ/playmaking skills are attractive.

Only downside is I’d have to listen to WGR callers absolutely butcher his name for years to come.

Interesting scouting report. 2 Way player, maturity, Couturier comparison...

Caleb DESNOYERS

Center6’2/172LeftMoncton Wildcats/QMJHL Related: Roger McQueen Caleb Desnoyers was taken first overall in the 2023 QMJHL Draft, he made an immediate impact, playing around 20 minutes a night …

hockeywiz777scouting.com

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I actually think Hagens could fall. His size and he hasn't had an outstanding year in college. From what I have read good but not great.

Hagens will probably go number 3 but I don't think its out of the realm a GM decides to take someone else like Martone at 3.

Has Hagens play left the door open for someone else?

He had kind of a slow start but I think he has been really great. The other two have just been even better, stealing his thunder a bit.

I think Nashville would kill to draft him, but we see the smaller kids fall every year so not crazy to think he might fall to as much as the fifth spot. Highly doubt he makes it to 6 though.

 

[Chainshot]

He had kind of a slow start but I think he has been really great. The other two have just been even better, stealing his thunder a bit.

I think Nashville would kill to draft him, but we see the smaller kids fall every year so not crazy to think he might fall to as much as the fifth spot. Highly doubt he makes it to 6 though.

Saw someone graphing Hagens production over time and he's been steadily declining in points per game over time. That may be part of why some have others passing him in their rankings. It's also a bit of draft fatigue - we see guys who are at the top of lists early get more scrutiny for what they don't do or don't have than guys who are risers and still thought of as all potential, roses, and sunshine.