2025 NHL Entry Draft Thread

[Mr Peabody]

Was listening to a draft evaluator (Shane) on NHL XM last week and he claimed there was a definite top 8, a next group of 4 and then it weakens.  He said it’s an historically weak draft after the top few and compared it to 1999 which had the fewest draftees who played 200 games in X amount of years of tracking. 

[DarthEbriate]

Seriously, this is the last time the Sabres draft in the top 5 for 15 years. Not the last this time, or the this time before that one… this time is the one. 

[WhenWillItEnd66]

1 hour ago, Mr Peabody said:

Was listening to a draft evaluator (Shane) on NHL XM last week and he claimed there was a definite top 8, a next group of 4 and then it weakens.  He said it’s an historically weak draft after the top few and compared it to 1999 which had the fewest draftees who played 200 games in X amount of years of tracking. 

Sounds like our 1st rounder could be better used to trade for a need then.

[SabreFinn]

Are there any Tkachuk alike players in the top10?

[Flashsabre]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/sportsnets-2025-nhl-draft-rankings-january-edition/

[LGR4GM]

1 hour ago, Mr Peabody said:

Was listening to a draft evaluator (Shane) on NHL XM last week and he claimed there was a definite top 8, a next group of 4 and then it weakens.  He said it’s an historically weak draft after the top few and compared it to 1999 which had the fewest draftees who played 200 games in X amount of years of tracking. 

 

48 minutes ago, WhenWillItEnd66 said:

Sounds like our 1st rounder could be better used to trade for a need then.

That is not what this quote is telling us. We will draft in the top 8 at a minimum and top 5 is likely. This draft has a stronger top than the 2020 draft IMPO. 

33 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/sportsnets-2025-nhl-draft-rankings-january-edition/

Caleb Desnoyers at 5 is very interesting. 

[French Collection]

I just looked at Bob’s list. The only disturbing name I saw near the top was #8 Viktor Eklund. This team has a history of picking 8th and getting 5’11” 161 lb forwards.

[Huckleberry]

18 minutes ago, French Collection said:

I just looked at Bob’s list. The only disturbing name I saw near the top was #8 Viktor Eklund. This team has a history of picking 8th and getting 5’11” 161 lb forwards.

Or the brother ? of the better player 🤪

[LGR4GM]

 

 

 

[Crusader1969]

7 hours ago, Thorner said:

Thompson is a 1C, by leaps and bounds. If Thompson as 1C isn’t getting your team to finish *16/32* the issue is assuredly assuredly with the rest 

You can just feel it, eh? The creeping narrative. 

no. Lol. We do not need to “find a way to draft a 1C”. Nic DeLorean was traded ages ago, we don’t need to time travel back to 2015 

build a competent team. Stop scape goating the few good players. This regime is pathetic if Tage at 1C isn’t good enough for them to build out the rest. We have 2 first overalls on D and a 3rd lol 

If you ranked centers, where would Thompson land?  
he is 50th in 5v5 scoring in the league, he is 115th in corsi (3rd on the Sabres) 

I agree he is a 1C on the Sabres but not sure he ranks in the top half of the league 

 

[JoeSchmoe]

2 hours ago, Crusader1969 said:

If you ranked centers, where would Thompson land?  
he is 50th in 5v5 scoring in the league, he is 115th in corsi (3rd on the Sabres) 

I agree he is a 1C on the Sabres but not sure he ranks in the top half of the league 

I would say Corsi is not a very reflective measure of Thompson's value he's got one of the deadliest shots in the league.

I kind of hear what you're saying overall though, but the problem is it would be almost impossible to improve on Thompson without losing a trade. Teams don't give up those players. Our only hope is to stumble on a player like him in the draft.

 

[PerreaultForever]

9 hours ago, French Collection said:

I just looked at Bob’s list. The only disturbing name I saw near the top was #8 Viktor Eklund. This team has a history of picking 8th and getting 5’11” 161 lb forwards.

Get worried. I saw him ranked as high as 6th. 

There are a number of fairly big centers in the top 10. Desnoyers is one of them as @LGR4GM said above. 

If we draft Eklund I might just have to find another team. 

[LGR4GM]

Let's talk about Caleb Desnoyers. He is a 6'2" 172lb center, born in mid April, who plays in the QMJHL or simply the Q. Now first let's talk about that minor issue, the Q. In recent years (last 5-10) the Q has been considered a step below in the eyes of scouts and GMs when it comes to jr hockey leagues. The WHL and OHL are considered a step above and also like the SEC versus the MAC, it is felt that more pro level style takes place in the other two leagues. Now, that does not mean Desnoyers isn't good or can't be good but it is should be noted before moving on. Also I feel the Q has at least started to change.

Caleb Desnoyers is in his 2nd Q year and last season put up a very respectable 20g, 56pts in 60games for the Moncton Wildcats. This year he has 25g, and 60pts in 37 games to date. For those who care about +/-, Desnoyer leads his team with a +41, overall though his entire team is + in terms of ev goal differential so while a high number, it isn't worlds ahead of his teammates (2nd is a +37). Desnoyers also leads his team in goals (25) and points (60) with the next closest players being at 20g and 43pts. He does have several previously drafted guys around such as 76th overall in 2023, Juraj Pekarcik and 48th overall Etienne Morin. There are two ways we can look at this, unlike say Michael Misa who basically is it on his team, Desnoyers does have some talent and help around. The 2nd part is he has talent around and is still the best. 

How's he play though? I think he has a very underrated shot. He has the ability to load and fire from lots of angles and with a lot of pace. This will translate his shot well to higher levels as he adds strength. His skating is pretty good, he could be faster but he's got good extensions and a solid base, you will see him cut in and around guys with his edges. Idk about his motor, not because it is bad but because I have seen only some highlights and couple of full shifts from him so it is hard to judge but most ppl seem to say he is good. Personally I like his IQ and his puck touches, he seems to find players in open space and sees the ice really well. I actually thought he would have way more assists than goals but his shot is such an asset. Overall, at 5-7, there is certainly a conversation that could be had for Caleb Desnoyers and with his April bday he's probably got 1 if not 2 more years left in the Q. Sucks he's another one of these guys who can't do one more year of jr and then move on to the AHL. Still, he's worth that 3yr wait imo and is worthy of a top 10 pick. 

 

 

[Flashsabre]

52 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Let's talk about Caleb Desnoyers. He is a 6'2" 172lb center, born in mid April, who plays in the QMJHL or simply the Q. Now first let's talk about that minor issue, the Q. In recent years (last 5-10) the Q has been considered a step below in the eyes of scouts and GMs when it comes to jr hockey leagues. The WHL and OHL are considered a step above and also like the SEC versus the MAC, it is felt that more pro level style takes place in the other two leagues. Now, that does not mean Desnoyers isn't good or can't be good but it is should be noted before moving on. Also I feel the Q has at least started to change.

Caleb Desnoyers is in his 2nd Q year and last season put up a very respectable 20g, 56pts in 60games for the Moncton Wildcats. This year he has 25g, and 60pts in 37 games to date. For those who care about +/-, Desnoyer leads his team with a +41, overall though his entire team is + in terms of ev goal differential so while a high number, it isn't worlds ahead of his teammates (2nd is a +37). Desnoyers also leads his team in goals (25) and points (60) with the next closest players being at 20g and 43pts. He does have several previously drafted guys around such as 76th overall in 2023, Juraj Pekarcik and 48th overall Etienne Morin. There are two ways we can look at this, unlike say Michael Misa who basically is it on his team, Desnoyers does have some talent and help around. The 2nd part is he has talent around and is still the best. 

How's he play though? I think he has a very underrated shot. He has the ability to load and fire from lots of angles and with a lot of pace. This will translate his shot well to higher levels as he adds strength. His skating is pretty good, he could be faster but he's got good extensions and a solid base, you will see him cut in and around guys with his edges. Idk about his motor, not because it is bad but because I have seen only some highlights and couple of full shifts from him so it is hard to judge but most ppl seem to say he is good. Personally I like his IQ and his puck touches, he seems to find players in open space and sees the ice really well. I actually thought he would have way more assists than goals but his shot is such an asset. Overall, at 5-7, there is certainly a conversation that could be had for Caleb Desnoyers and with his April bday he's probably got 1 if not 2 more years left in the Q. Sucks he's another one of these guys who can't do one more year of jr and then move on to the AHL. Still, he's worth that 3yr wait imo and is worthy of a top 10 pick. 

 

 

Good write up. I would add that he has great leadership skills and plays the game the right way. Kinda like a ROR who didn’t drive his car through a Tim Hortons or lose his love of the game.😃

[Crusader1969]

11 hours ago, JoeSchmoe said:

I would say Corsi is not a very reflective measure of Thompson's value he's got one of the deadliest shots in the league.

I kind of hear what you're saying overall though, but the problem is it would be almost impossible to improve on Thompson without losing a trade. Teams don't give up those players. Our only hope is to stumble on a player like him in the draft.

 

I'm not proposing to trade Tage at all 

just questioning him as a 1C

maybe Tage really is a winger? Which would make Hagens a desirable pick for the Sabres...... people will say, no you can trade for a 1C but my stance is only clown franchises would ever trade a 1C away.  

[Crusader1969]

20 hours ago, WhenWillItEnd66 said:

Sounds like our 1st rounder could be better used to trade for a need then.

For who? I don't think I'm being hyperbolic in saying that the Sabres are on every single NMC.  I think that's the key point that people who are proponents of trading away 1st round draft picks forget or ignore 

I would love to see a list of players who don't have a no trade , No movement or modified no trade clause in their contract 

 

Edited Thursday at 04:59 PM by Crusader1969

[LGR4GM]

10 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

For who? I don't think I'm being hyperbolic in saying that the Sabres are on every single NMC.  I think that's the key point that people who are proponents of trading away 1st round draft picks forget or ignore 

I would love to see a list of players who don't have a no trade , No movement or modified no trade clause in their contract 

 

You could look up players here and then click to see who has a NMC. I wonder if one of the other capsites would be better, capfriendly I think would like you sort by NMC

https://capwages.com/players/active

Edited Thursday at 05:04 PM by LGR4GM

[mjd1001]

20 hours ago, WhenWillItEnd66 said:

Sounds like our 1st rounder could be better used to trade for a need then.

Maybe.

To me I'd rather not trade the first if you have some of your former first rounders who might get just as much in a trade.

Östlund, Kulich, Rosen, Helenius, Benson, Quinn, Peterka, Wahlberg...they are all forwards just below or just above 20 years of age. I don't think there is going to be room, cap space, desire to keep ALL of those forwards close to that age on the roster. Who you are going to draft is likely now 17 years old.  I'd rather trade one of bunch of guys that are all close to 20 and keep the guy who is 17.

[WhenWillItEnd66]

28 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

Maybe.

To me I'd rather not trade the first if you have some of your former first rounders who might get just as much in a trade.

Östlund, Kulich, Rosen, Helenius, Benson, Quinn, Peterka, Wahlberg...they are all forwards just below or just above 20 years of age. I don't think there is going to be room, cap space, desire to keep ALL of those forwards close to that age on the roster. Who you are going to draft is likely now 17 years old.  I'd rather trade one of bunch of guys that are all close to 20 and keep the guy who is 17.

I get what everyone is saying. Do we really need another undersized non physical kid that they are going to draft??? I do not care how much tenacity they have. A 180 lb 5`9 forward will eventually get pushed around. I LOVE Benson, but he is a unicorn, not the norm. We need power forwards that can go to the front of the net and not play the perimeter and be easy off the puck. We need defenseman that will ride a forward into the boards when they try to enter our zone, not stick check. I get that there are always exceptions, but thats this teams problems. We have a team of stick checkers and wimps in a physical sport.

[Thorner]

38 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

Maybe.

To me I'd rather not trade the first if you have some of your former first rounders who might get just as much in a trade.

Östlund, Kulich, Rosen, Helenius, Benson, Quinn, Peterka, Wahlberg...they are all forwards just below or just above 20 years of age. I don't think there is going to be room, cap space, desire to keep ALL of those forwards close to that age on the roster. Who you are going to draft is likely now 17 years old.  I'd rather trade one of bunch of guys that are all close to 20 and keep the guy who is 17.

Which of those first rounders gets just as much in a trade?

It’s always great when the assets we are more wanting to trade happen to be just what the other team needs, amirite? 

Edited Thursday at 05:43 PM by Thorner

[Crusader1969]

6 minutes ago, Thorner said:

Which of those first rounders gets just as much in a trade?

It’s always great when the assets we are more wanting to trade happen to be just what the other team needs, amirite? 

The type of guy you could get for trading a top 5 pick isn't agreeing to come to Buffalo. 

[DarthEbriate]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Let's talk about Caleb Desnoyers. He is a 6'2"

.... Let's build a fleet of Star Desnoyers.

[Crusader1969]

Just now, Thorner said:

Do you just want to parrot the company line or do you want to answer my question? 

It's the reality.  No player is waiving their NTC to come to a clown franchise.  It's a hole that Terry & Kevyn dug themselves into 

Does the 4th overall pick have more value than Benson? Helenius? Kulich? In general I would say yes but not by a lot 

 

[mjd1001]

18 minutes ago, Thorner said:

Which of those first rounders gets just as much in a trade?

It’s always great when the assets we are more wanting to trade happen to be just what the other team needs, amirite? 

I'm not sure what gets just as much in a trade. Maybe they don't, maybe they get more. 

If the Sabres end up picking 8th, another team may like on of their existing prospects more than what they think they can get with the 8th overall pick.

My point is all things being equal (and none of us know if they are equal, or slanted more to one side or the other), but all things being equal, I would rather make a trade, but doing so even out the ages of the prospect pool.

Edited Thursday at 06:00 PM by mjd1001

[Thorner]

2 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

The type of guy you could get for trading a top 5 pick isn't agreeing to come to Buffalo. 

Is it essentially mandated we parrot the company line? Doesn’t leave much room for discussion. And frankly grands an awful lot of write-off leeway to management and co. It’s literally in their job descriptions to convince and recruit. We don’t have the luxury of abandoning the pursuit of players with a NMC because it’s a “lost cause”. It’s literally management’s duty to press the issue. Certainly as a message board poster the bar for reasonable consideration is, then, met. Not to mention 75% of the league doesn’t have the clause. 

it me be there’s no viable trade available.. but your response was actually a non-sequitur to the point I raised