Who's YOUR 1st overall pick - 2025 NHL Draft

[Pavel Buchnevich]

If Hagens was Canadian and playing in the OHL, he would clearly be 1st overall. It shows the bias, but it is also expected since OHL is the most famous and scouted league in the world. They have a good draft class this year and it seems there has been an orgasm. Schaefer doesn't look like 1st overall talent, he is in the same class as EJ, Ekblad, Power, etc. Just because he can play half of the game, doesn't mean he is warrant of 1st overall special talent.

The Canadians come up with a player that they claim is better than Hagens and then he breaks the scoring record at every international tournament he plays at. Rinse. Repeat. Then they are forced to admit they were wrong, but they’ll be back a year from then with a new one. None of these guys have ever outplayed him head to head at these tournaments. The latest is a player who has had two great months after a pretty mediocre year last year. Somehow that makes him a 1OA lock and there’s nothing Hagens can do because this player has talent that they can’t even describe, but surely it’s at least better than Hagens and specifics about why aren’t allowed because that would reveal the real agenda.

 

[HoweFan]

If I’m ranking the players right now I’d have Schaffer slightly over Hagens. By the end of this tournament I think it might switch. If I’m in charge of drafting for the Wings I’d likely take Hagens. I’m Canadian but I don’t give a damn where he’s from.

 

[FLAMESFAN]

I guess we'll see how Hagens looks today. I am confident that Schaefer would have stepped up.
The injury should rightfully have Hagens back on top though, especially with a good game.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

The Canadians come up with a player that they claim is better than Hagens and then he breaks the scoring record at every international tournament he plays at. Rinse. Repeat. Then they are forced to admit they were wrong, but they’ll be back a year from then with a new one. None of these guys have ever outplayed him head to head at these tournaments. The latest is a player who has had two great months after a pretty mediocre year last year. Somehow that makes him a 1OA lock and there’s nothing Hagens can do because this player has talent that they can’t even describe, but surely it’s at least better than Hagens and specifics about why aren’t allowed because that would reveal the real agenda.

What Hagens can do is elevate his game to another level. Maybe the wjc will help, but i'm mostly talking about his Ncaa season. Is he the favorite for the Hobey Baker? Why not? Celebrini won it in a cakewalk. Celebrini was 17 for the entire season, and considered an average (at best) #1 pick. When is the last time a guy who was the 3rd best player on his team was taken #1OA?
This year reminds a bit of 2022. Maybe a better group at the top, but it's a wide open race for #1. Someone outside that group of 4 could still 'Slavkovsky' the 2cnd half of this season and go #1.

 

[Kingpin794]

If Hagens was Canadian and playing in the OHL, he would clearly be 1st overall. It shows the bias, but it is also expected since OHL is the most famous and scouted league in the world. They have a good draft class this year and it seems there has been an orgasm. Schaefer doesn't look like 1st overall talent, he is in the same class as EJ, Ekblad, Power, etc. Just because he can play half of the game, doesn't mean he is warrant of 1st overall special talent.

I wouldn't say clearly. There isn't really anything separating the big 4. I'm personally not a fan of singling out ONE guy as the top pick unless they really are head and shoulders above the rest like a McDavid or McKenna. There are tiers of players that are essentially on equal footing. I don't think anyone is going to go wrong with picking Hagens, Misa, Schaefer, or Martone. Also think its a bit disingenuous to say Schaefer can only play half the game when he's playing for Stan Butler. He has plenty of offensive upside.

 

[wetcoast]

As of right now, I would go Schaefer, Hagens, Misa, Martone.

This is my order as well and I've had Schaefer as my #1 for a couple of months now.

That being said Hagens is going to be an excellent NHLer.

 

[wetcoast]

If Hagens was Canadian and playing in the OHL, he would clearly be 1st overall. It shows the bias, but it is also expected since OHL is the most famous and scouted league in the world. They have a good draft class this year and it seems there has been an orgasm. Schaefer doesn't look like 1st overall talent, he is in the same class as EJ, Ekblad, Power, etc. Just because he can play half of the game, doesn't mean he is warrant of 1st overall special talent.

I dunno both Porter and Martone are around the 2 PPG mark would hagens be that much higher?

Schaefer just tilts the ice and the moe you watch him play the more one sees that but for some reason people who know better look back at stat from last season and forget the tragedies in his personal life and that Dmen mature slower than forwards.

But even the statheads must acknowledge that a +21 in 17 games for a draft year Dman is something special one would think as it's no Fabbro illusion when you watch him play.

All that being said most NHL teams will take the safe bet and draft Hagens.

 

[Juxtaposer]

If Hagens was Canadian and playing in the OHL, he would clearly be 1st overall. It shows the bias, but it is also expected since OHL is the most famous and scouted league in the world. They have a good draft class this year and it seems there has been an orgasm. Schaefer doesn't look like 1st overall talent, he is in the same class as EJ, Ekblad, Power, etc. Just because he can play half of the game, doesn't mean he is warrant of 1st overall special talent.

Real NHL scouts and execs seem to vastly prefer Schaefer to Hagens at a rate of 7 to 2.

I'm quite curious what "he can play half of the game" is supposed to mean. Are you trying to suggest he isn't good defensively?

 

[wickedwitch]

I'm quite curious what "he can play half of the game" is supposed to mean. Are you trying to suggest he isn't good defensively?

I think it means defensemen get more TOI, up to half the game.

 

[S E P H]

Real NHL scouts and execs seem to vastly prefer Schaefer to Hagens at a rate of 7 to 2.

I'm quite curious what "he can play half of the game" is supposed to mean. Are you trying to suggest he isn't good defensively?

And scouts are wrong all the time...

Do you want me to post how most Bob MacKenzie scouts had Yakupov 1st overall?

 

[Juxtaposer]

I think it means defensemen get more TOI, up to half the game.

I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt, but if that's what he meant it's a very weird way to put it.

And scouts are wrong all the time...

Do you want me to post how most Bob MacKenzie scouts had Yakupov 1st overall?

Got it. Scouts are wrong but you definitely never are.

 

[S E P H]

I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt, but if that's what he meant it's a very weird way to put it.


Got it. Scouts are wrong but you definitely never are.

I am wrong all the time as well.

 

[Juxtaposer]

I am wrong all the time as well.

As am I. And, as you pointed out, so are scouts. All I'm saying is that Schaefer seems to be pulling away from Hagens in the eyes of the folks that do this for a living, and their opinion, while not the end all be all, should be taken into account.

Hagens absolutely can yank this thing back with a great performance today against Canada and in the medal rounds, followed by a step up when he gets back to the NCAA. Hell, I'm rooting for him to do it. I'm just not personally sold on him as a a future NHL star.

 

[Faceboner]

It's hagens for me still people have to remember Hughes played in the ushl his draft year as that is his closest comparable on terms of physical stature hagens is a little bit sturdier already but he isn't macklin however he is still displaying great iq with good skating and vision along with solid two way ability I see his low end comparable as a hischier which would be an incredible turn out Schaefer is impressing but I think hagens has a longer curve as he isn't near the same physical development as other players and will shine much like Hughes after he got a few good pro off seasons in and his skill will explode after he reaches his physical maturity he has the iq, vision and skating to be an elite 1c the question is do people think shaefer will reach his elite 1d potential and if his ceiling is higher which I don't think is the case

 

[Faceboner]

What Hagens can do is elevate his game to another level. Maybe the wjc will help, but i'm mostly talking about his Ncaa season. Is he the favorite for the Hobey Baker? Why not? Celebrini won it in a cakewalk. Celebrini was 17 for the entire season, and considered an average (at best) #1 pick. When is the last time a guy who was the 3rd best player on his team was taken #1OA?
This year reminds a bit of 2022. Maybe a better group at the top, but it's a wide open race for #1. Someone outside that group of 4 could still 'Slavkovsky' the 2cnd half of this season and go #1.

Celebrini was far from an average 1oa pick people were still hyped after Bedard, fantilli, Carlsson and michkov celebrini showcased elite iq along with skating and gamebreaking talent in a historic NCAA campaign however hagens might not reach what celebrini did as he isn't nearly as physically developed as celebrini also him being the 3rd best has more to do with him being the youngest player between him Leonard and Perreault who are also high-end talents with that said he ends up better than both of them

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

What Hagens can do is elevate his game to another level. Maybe the wjc will help, but i'm mostly talking about his Ncaa season. Is he the favorite for the Hobey Baker? Why not? Celebrini won it in a cakewalk. Celebrini was 17 for the entire season, and considered an average (at best) #1 pick. When is the last time a guy who was the 3rd best player on his team was taken #1OA?
This year reminds a bit of 2022. Maybe a better group at the top, but it's a wide open race for #1. Someone outside that group of 4 could still 'Slavkovsky' the 2cnd half of this season and go #1.

Weren’t you arguing with me a month ago that he has fundamental goal scoring problems because his SH% was low? Oops, I guess that’s starting to solve itself. Funny how that works. Almost like it’s very random whether the puck goes in the net, and the claim was always disingenuous.

First of all, Celebrini didn’t win the Hobey in a cakewalk. It’s largely believed that he won it because of a combination of he was the best prospect (this has been a big perception issue the NCAA has tried to correct in recent years after some very average prospects won it in prior years) and because the BC contingent all pretty much negated each other (and it didn’t help that the highest scoring one Perreault got injured late in the season and that hurt his candidacy).

What is even this idea that Hagens is the third best player on his team? You seem to be inventing a completely fantasy narrative. Hagens has 1 more point than Leonard in the same number of games (and 3 less than Perreault, probably the best scoring prospect in the sport not yet in the NHL).

He’s also a year and a half younger than these players. Two drafts behind. They are two of the 10 best prospects in the sport most likely. Besides, I think Jacob Fowler may have something to say about that claim too that he’s third best on his own team, but I guess all you’ve heard about is that he plays on a line (most of the time, not every game) with two other good players.

Hagens has a +/- of 15. That’s easily best on BC, and third best in the country. BC have played by far the hardest schedule in the country this season and probably the second hardest ever based on SOS during the first half. They are more defensive this season than prior years and their second half of the season schedule has plenty of cupcakes. Don’t you worry, he’ll eat against the Latvia’s and Germany’s of the NCAA in the second half.

The idea he hasn’t been one of the best players in college hockey so far this season is ridiculous. And the idea that he has to be the absolute best player in college hockey this season to go 1OA because it’s happened before for others is probably even crazier. He’s not competing with a pool of NCAA players in this draft for 1OA.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Real NHL scouts and execs seem to vastly prefer Schaefer to Hagens at a rate of 7 to 2.

I'm quite curious what "he can play half of the game" is supposed to mean. Are you trying to suggest he isn't good defensively?

We all know NHL scouts are easily amenable to the shiny new toys that come around and aren’t the brightest bunch overall.

The idea that Hagens has size issues is pretty funny. I guess they are just magically relevant now for Hagens but weren’t for Celebrini for mysterious reasons. We’re talking about players that are maybe within a few quarters of an inch (for all we know Hagens is now taller).

And skating is an issue? Definitely not someone I’d trust for an accurate review of Hagens. He’s easily one of the best skaters in the 2025 draft.

 

[Wieters]

What Hagens can do is elevate his game to another level. Maybe the wjc will help, but i'm mostly talking about his Ncaa season. Is he the favorite for the Hobey Baker? Why not? Celebrini won it in a cakewalk.

Celebrini did not win the Hobey in a cakewalk. It's not like he was definitively the best player in college hockey last year and levitated over
everyone else.

• Will Smith had a higher PPG than Celebrini did (1.73 for Smith vs. 1.68 for Celebrini).
• Cutter Gauthier had more goals than Celebrini (38 for Gauthier vs. 32 for Celebrini).
• Gabe Perreault had more assists than Celebrini (41 for Perreault vs. 32 for Celebrini).
• Ryan Leonard had a better +/- than Celebrini (36 for Leonard vs. 25 for Celebrini).
• Celebrini's team was also not the best in the country.

So why did Celebrini win it? For one, even an American organization like the NCAA is vulnerable to falling prey to the hype machine that is a 17-year-old Canadian who is projected to go 1OA.

But the more likely reason why Celebrini won it is because the four players referenced above all played for the same team: BC. So they were dinged for playing with each other on such a loaded roster. Nevermind that Celebrini was playing on BU with Lane Hutson and a dozen other drafted NHL players.

And what do you know? Hagens is now getting dinged for the exact same thing. His point total/assists are dissected because of his teammates.

 

[Faceboner]

We all know NHL scouts are easily amenable to the shiny new toys that come around and aren’t the brightest bunch overall.

The idea that Hagens has size issues is pretty funny. I guess they are just magically relevant now for Hagens but weren’t for Celebrini for mysterious reasons. We’re talking about players that are maybe within a few quarters of an inch (for all we know Hagens is now taller).

And skating is an issue? Definitely not someone I’d trust for an accurate review of Hagens. He’s easily one of the best skaters in the 2025 draft.

Size isn't particularly height like EP is tall but has slight weight its a combo of both celebrini is was noticeably sturdier his DY

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Size isn't particularly height like EP is tall but has slight weight its a combo of both celebrini is was noticeably sturdier his DY

I don’t think he’s that slight. I agree with your general idea you claimed above that because he’s a little smaller it might take him a year or two like Hughes or Bedard, but I think weight-wise he’s closer to a Bedard than a Hughes. Hughes was 160 pounds when he got drafted. Bedard 185. Hagens was listed at 178 to start the season.

 

[StreetHawk]

As of right now, I would go Schaefer, Hagens, Misa, Martone.

You look at the player who can have the biggest impact when they are pros. I doubt Misa would go first.

LHD Schaefer who has some offensive ability and can play big minutes. 6’2 so good size.

Martone is a big body. 6’3 and 207 and not even 18. Should play at 220 lbs post elc. But a winger.

Hagens is a skilled C. But 5’10.

If they are all close in upside, probably comes down to who wins the lottery.

SJ probably doesn’t need Hagens so likely go Schaefer or Martone.

Nash, probably need to go premium position of D or C.

Detroit, probably go C.

 

[Faceboner]

You look at the player who can have the biggest impact when they are pros. I doubt Misa would go first.

LHD Schaefer who has some offensive ability and can play big minutes. 6’2 so good size.

Martone is a big body. 6’3 and 207 and not even 18. Should play at 220 lbs post elc. But a winger.

Hagens is a skilled C. But 5’10.

If they are all close in upside, probably comes down to who wins the lottery.

SJ probably doesn’t need Hagens so likely go Schaefer or Martone.

Nash, probably need to go premium position of D or C.

Detroit, probably go C.

As the Sabres I pick hagens and move cozens to the wing but I think we turn it around and get in range of a wild card spot to much talent that got discombobulated we turn it around though

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

You look at the player who can have the biggest impact when they are pros. I doubt Misa would go first.

LHD Schaefer who has some offensive ability and can play big minutes. 6’2 so good size.

Martone is a big body. 6’3 and 207 and not even 18. Should play at 220 lbs post elc. But a winger.

Hagens is a skilled C. But 5’10.

If they are all close in upside, probably comes down to who wins the lottery.

SJ probably doesn’t need Hagens so likely go Schaefer or Martone.

Nash, probably need to go premium position of D or C.

Detroit, probably go C.

Hagens is 5’11 per the official BC website.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Schaefer will bust . Feel it in my gut

 

[StreetHawk]

Hagens is 5’11 per the official BC website.

See what he officially measures at the combine. With nhl vs nfl, the nfl combine is official as these are 20-23 year olds. They are done growing. NHL is 17/18 year olds who might be able to grow a little more post combine.