2025 NHL Entry Draft Thread

[Crusader1969]

7 minutes ago, Thorner said:

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

In general, why would another team want to get a top 5 pick? Mostly because they are rebuilding and want to get younger.  So the guys they are willing to give up would be veteran players who would be on the downside of the career in a couple of years.   Which is great cause the Sabres need more Veteran players BUT anyone worth a lick of salt has some sort of no trade clause and not one would be willing to waive it 

[Thorner]

6 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

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 

 

Sorry, that’s my mistake, was thinking it was your post I originally responded to. You don’t need to answer the question lol 

1 minute ago, Crusader1969 said:

In general, why would another team want to get a top 5 pick? Mostly because they are rebuilding and want to get younger.  So the guys they are willing to give up would be veteran players who would be on the downside of the career in a couple of years.   Which is great cause the Sabres need more Veteran players BUT anyone worth a lick of salt has some sort of no trade clause and not one would be willing to waive it 

The issue here is this logic also applies to the players we’d want to trade Quinn for or any of the others mjd listed 

Edited January 23 by Thorner

[Crusader1969]

19 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.

Just watched Bob's show and Martone sounds like a player tailored exactly to fill the needs of the Sabres. they compared him to Tkachuk, Perry and another SOB that I am failing to remember at this moment 

 

[Thorner]

this is crucial: 

At some point we can’t just throw our hands up and say “no one will come.” You need to recruit. There has to be some level of personal, what’s the word, oh ya: ACCOUNTABILITY for the situation. They can’t pretend the issues are beyond them when a huge issue in recruiting, for example, is the idea we aren’t serious about winning, and we are *willingly* spending way below the cap. They are simply not giving recruitment an honest try. It’s not “no stone unturned” at all. They simply are content to fallback on whatever thesis results in an operation that involves NOT SPENDING 

Edited January 23 by Thorner

[Crusader1969]

2 minutes ago, Thorner said:

Sorry, that’s my mistake, was thinking it was your post I originally responded to. You don’t need to answer the question lol 

The issue here is this logic also applies to the players we’d want to trade Quinn for or any of the others mjd listed 

I agree.  The NMC has made it tough for a team like the Sabres (perennial loser, bad climate, clown owner) to make any type of deal 

hopefully the next CBA starts to limit this type of clause.   We all like trades , they are fun.  

 

bottom line is, we can argue keeping vs trading the pick till we are all blue in the face.   
the reality is that it is highly unlikely to happen   So may as well dig into the kids at the top of the draft and figure out who would best help the Sabres in a couple of years.  

[LGR4GM]

21 hours ago, SabreFinn said:

Are there any Tkachuk alike players in the top10?

Martone?

4 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

I agree.  The NMC has made it tough for a team like the Sabres (perennial loser, bad climate, clown owner) to make any type of deal 

hopefully the next CBA starts to limit this type of clause.   We all like trades , they are fun.  

 

bottom line is, we can argue keeping vs trading the pick till we are all blue in the face.   
the reality is that it is highly unlikely to happen   So may as well dig into the kids at the top of the draft and figure out who would best help the Sabres in a couple of years.  

There are plenty of players without NTCs we could trade for. 

[Crusader1969]

2 minutes ago, Thorner said:

this is crucial: 

At some point we can’t just throw our hands up and say “no one will come.” You need to recruit. There has to be some level of personal, what’s the word, oh ya: ACCOUNTABILITY for the situation. They can’t pretend the issues are beyond them when a huge issue in recruiting, for example, is the idea we aren’t serious about winning, and we are *willingly* spending way below the cap. They are simply not giving recruitment an honest try. It’s not “no stone unturned” at all. They simply are content to fallback on whatever thesis results in an operation that involves NOT SPENDING 

You think Pegula is ever going to take responsibility?   As long as he is the owner and as long as he won't hire a legitimate front office staff, this is where we are.  It's sucks but it's the reality 

let me ask you this ? Assuming Kevyn gets fired, what are the odds that Karmanos or Forton will become the next in line?   I'm thinking 75%. 

[Crusader1969]

1 minute ago, LGR4GM said:

Martone?

There are plenty of players without NTCs we could trade for. 

Sure but how many teams would trade a guy that is 24 (and worth a top 5pick) for a a guy who is 17?  Maybe a team like the Penguins, who want to become younger, but if you look at their roster who would you want in return? 
I just don't see a trade happening for their 1sr round pick in 2025 
 

[Thorner]

1 minute ago, Crusader1969 said:

You think Pegula is ever going to take responsibility?   As long as he is the owner and as long as he won't hire a legitimate front office staff, this is where we are.  It's sucks but it's the reality 

let me ask you this ? Assuming Kevyn gets fired, what are the odds that Karmanos or Forton will become the next in line?   I'm thinking 75%. 

Investing in how the team might succeed despite the owner not caring about doing so, nor committing the resources necessary to make it happen is wiener behaviour and I won’t really do it. I can’t bend over that far for this organization.

they, or, failing that, this board, will continue hearing it, from me

[inkman]

Can we implement a mudge filter so cantankerous old jerks like me can’t see threads about drafts and prospects and the like?  

[SabreFinn]

42 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Martone?

Let's hope he is still available when we get to pick.

Think Eiserman from previous draft showed some grit in WJC. He could have been a missing piece for us, even if I am happy with Helenius too.

[LGR4GM]

27 minutes ago, SabreFinn said:

Let's hope he is still available when we get to pick.

Think Eiserman from previous draft showed some grit in WJC. He could have been a missing piece for us, even if I am happy with Helenius too.

Martone is different than Eiserman in that Eiserman really relies on his shooting skill while Martone has a more well rounded game. Both are physical though but Martone is 6'3" 207 compared to 6' 196 for Cole. 

If we pick 4th, I think we are picking between Martone or Misa (meaning whichever one is left). 

[SabreFinn]

8 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Martone is different than Eiserman in that Eiserman really relies on his shooting skill while Martone has a more well rounded game. Both are physical though but Martone is 6'3" 207 compared to 6' 196 for Cole. 

If we pick 4th, I think we are picking between Martone or Misa (meaning whichever one is left). 

Probably, I think Sharks want Schaefer and Hawks want Hagens.

[LGR4GM]

10 minutes ago, SabreFinn said:

Probably, I think Sharks want Schaefer and Hawks want Hagens.

If I were the Hawks, I'd lean Misa or Martone but I don't think they will. It's not a shot at Hagens, but Bedard with Misa gives you a ton of speed and skill. Martone gives you a bigger playmaker at wing. Sharks definitely need Schaefer. If you do look at it like that and we see Schaefer, Misa, ... and Buffalo is 3rd... ppl will bitch but you should take Hagens. 

[LGR4GM]

Now if Misa is available at 3, I take Misa.

My top 4 is currently:

Schaefer 

Hagens

Misa

Martone 

[LGR4GM]

So, Michael Misa is pretty good at hockey. 

[Mr. Allen]

I feel like Martone could be great for us but if we get a top 5 pick you take bpa.  
Ultimately I’d rather us go on a winning streak and pick outside the top 10.  

[GASabresIUFAN]

On 1/23/2025 at 2:36 PM, LGR4GM said:

Martone is different than Eiserman in that Eiserman really relies on his shooting skill while Martone has a more well rounded game. Both are physical though but Martone is 6'3" 207 compared to 6' 196 for Cole. 

If we pick 4th, I think we are picking between Martone or Misa (meaning whichever one is left). 

Agreed, but Martone is the pick if available. 

[LGR4GM]

4 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Agreed, but Martone is the pick if available. 

Depends who's available. If Misa is available, it shouldn't be Martone. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

Just now, LGR4GM said:

Depends who's available. If Misa is available, it shouldn't be Martone. 

Love Misa's offense, but Martone is the only Tkachuk kind of guy in the early draft and brings the O as well.  We need to size and power upfront 

[LGR4GM]

1 minute ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Love Misa's offense, but Martone is the only Tkachuk kind of guy in the early draft and brings the O as well.  We need to size and power upfront 

That's not who Martone is. He has some Tkachuk elements but his physical game is in no way constant like Tkachuk was.

Misa is better and is also physical. He's a better puck carrier and has a far better shot. 

In addition, Misa is a center and Martone is not. 

[Porous Five Hole]

On 1/23/2025 at 11:50 AM, Crusader1969 said:

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.  

I’m halfway there with this.
I’m not trading Tage. He’s our best offensive player. And I believe his offensive game is better suited in the middle. But you asked if Tage is a 1C? I thought he was, but I don’t think that any longer.
I think he’s a 2C and that’s why I desperately want EP40 on this team (so long as Sabres doctors clear him of his previous tendinitis issues). 

[John Tucker]

On 1/25/2025 at 8:58 PM, LGR4GM said:

That's not who Martone is. He has some Tkachuk elements but his physical game is in no way constant like Tkachuk was.

Misa is better and is also physical. He's a better puck carrier and has a far better shot. 

In addition, Misa is a center and Martone is not. 

Who is a good comparison to Misa?  I watched some video on both and was pretty impressed with Martone.  He reminds me of a better skating Corey Perry and couldn't figure out who Misa compares to.  And if Buffalo gets the #2 pick (which is a pretty good possiblity) would either of those two be a better fit than Hagens?

[LGR4GM]

4 hours ago, John Tucker said:

Who is a good comparison to Misa?  I watched some video on both and was pretty impressed with Martone.  He reminds me of a better skating Corey Perry and couldn't figure out who Misa compares to.  And if Buffalo gets the #2 pick (which is a pretty good possiblity) would either of those two be a better fit than Hagens?

Misa, he's kinda like Bedard. 

I would take Hagens at 2 although I might be persuaded to take Misa. Martone is a winger and his shot and overall 200ft game is not as refined as either of these two. Martone revs at lower RPMs. 

[John Tucker]

11 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Misa, he's kinda like Bedard. 

I would take Hagens at 2 although I might be persuaded to take Misa. Martone is a winger and his shot and overall 200ft game is not as refined as either of these two. Martone revs at lower RPMs. 

I'd be down with a Bedard ish guy in the lineup.  I personally would think someone like Martone and the bigger frame would be a better fit for this team.  Too many smaller bodies in the pipeline already.  Plus I like that he was wearing the "C" for Team Canada.  And Misa wasn't invited to the tournament?