2025 NHL Entry Draft Thread

[Mr. Allen]

I saw an “expert” mock draft and he had McQueen at 2 only behind Schaefer. 

[LGR4GM]

2 minutes ago, Mr. Allen said:

I saw an “expert” mock draft and he had McQueen at 2 only behind Schaefer. 

Not impossible but unlikely unless McQueen just goes off in the last bit here. McQueen is 6'5" and that is going to attract a lot of teams to the "what if?" factor. What if McQueen is an 80pt all around center. At 6'5" that would be quite a player. Chicago taking McQueen at #2 would surprise me with Martone around but maybe. They could view McQueen as a deterrent for Bedard.

[Thorner]

If it’s not Misa who truly seems to be somewhat special, I wish there was somehow a value trade available for the pick. I just really don’t think adding more youth unless in exceptional cases is going to help this team any time soon right now and time needs to be considered of the essence: as if it shouldn’t have been a long time ago, now 

Misa does seem like a potential game breaker

[LGR4GM]

41 minutes ago, Thorner said:

If it’s not Misa who truly seems to be somewhat special, I wish there was somehow a value trade available for the pick. I just really don’t think adding more youth unless in exceptional cases is going to help this team any time soon right now and time needs to be considered of the essence: as if it shouldn’t have been a long time ago, now 

Misa does seem like a potential game breaker

We should never draft this high again, trading Helenius or Östlund makes more sense than trading 4th overall. 

Here's a good talk about Martone v, McQueen with some Misa in there. 

[Flashsabre]

2 hours ago, Mr. Allen said:

I saw an “expert” mock draft and he had McQueen at 2 only behind Schaefer. 

What do you define as “expert” mock draft?

[Mr. Allen]

1 hour ago, Flashsabre said:

What do you define as “expert” mock draft?

I guess someone who is getting paid to write about this stuff on a reputable website? 

[shrader]

9 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Let's mock the top 5, because why not. We will assume the order is unchanged.

1. San Jose: Matthew Schaefer LHD, while SJ was able to add LH Sam Dickinson in last years draft as well, they have primarily acquired offensive talent. Celebrini, Smith, Musty, Chernyshov, Bystedt, Eklund etc. They have a ton of really good offensive players on the team or in the pool. In 2-3 years they are going to be a nightmare team to play. They have an achilles heel though, defensively they are thinner. They do have some LHD depth which means they could decide they want more offense but they don't have a guy like Schaefer. Schaefer is very very good and was only getting better before his injury. His age coupled with how he can already play and this is a franchise LHD in the making. With their offensive pipeline including Celebrini and Smith, I think they use this to really add a piece to the defense.
2. Chicago Blackhawks, Michael Misa C/LW, this was almost Martone. I see a world where Chicago looks at there roster, and says, okay we want the 6'3" winger for Bedard who will "protect" him. However, I am not convinced with what Misa has done that they will let him slide. There won't be a defensive player and they will want to add someone who can skate in their top 6, the solution is Misa. Now Misa also isn't small at 6'1" so they go to that well and get the best offensive player in the draft. He has the skating to move with Bedard and they can also slot him in at 2nd line center. It would be one of the best forward groups no matter who they pick.
3. Nashville Predators, Porter Martone RW, this is a team that wants to draft big guys who are decent at hockey (matthew wood) and Martone is big and really good at hockey. He is the perfect type of player to slide into their top 6 within 2 years as Nashville will massively rebound next season. I think there's an outside chance they go with Hagens as they could use a playmaking center in the pipe but I have seen this play out in the draft before. Martone is going to measure like 6'3.5" at the draft and 205lbs compared to 5'10.75" Hagens at 178lbs and that's going to push Martone ahead of Hagens. Especially when some team with big forwards does really well in the playoffs. Also, Martone is a right shot right wing and teams love them some right shots.
4. Buffalo Sabres, James Hagens C, He's 5'11" maybe (I want to see his combine numbers) and he has a lot of great 2-way skills. He supports the puck on both ends of the ice. He has all the high end playmaking brains and skills you want. He was the projected #1 pick just about everywhere going into the draft cycle in August. So... here's the thing. Go watch some NCAA games of his. You will see playmaking and nice skating. He will backcheck really well and then you will notice on the walls especially how he gets just shoved off the puck. He is simply not strong enough. His size impacts his ability to play at the NCAA level. He needs to get stronger and learn how to play off contact much better. He needs a summer or two hanging out with Benson learning how to deal with contact and also to get stronger. I would send Hagens back to the NCAA for at least 1 more season. He reminds me a bit of Östlund in tems of good skating with strong 2-way ideas but needs to get stronger. I don't love him sliding to Buffalo but we would be silly not to take him. There's just going to be a couple years of ppl doubting him before he figures it out. Jack Hughes is my comparison.
5. Seattle Kraken, Roger McQueen C...or W, if his back is cleared, I think Seattle goes there. If not, I could see them going after Eklund or Desnoyers here. McQueen would be a slam dunk if he had played all year. His handling and playmaking is only okay but his shot and ability to drive inside is great. He is big and he uses it well. Again, if this guy is healthy, and we get a good look at him the last 10 games of his jr season, he may even crack the top 4. If not, I think Desnoyers is a real possibility here. Desnoyers is a 6'2" playmaker out of the Q and his 200ft game is pretty good. There is not a flaw that Desnoyers has, he just doesn't flash a ton of really high end ability. Instead he is just good, which is a good thing. Engages physically, gets pucks to the HD areas, backchecks very well. If I had to give him an elite skill, I think his playmaking is still developing and it is already on the cusp of being amazeballz. Go watch some of his stuff, he's going to be a good NHL player especially if paired with a shooter. Honestly if I could draft Desnoyers and Misa, that would be perfect. 

I know no one wants to hear it, but they’re going to pass Pittsburgh and Seattle. You’ll need to mock out a little further. 

[LGR4GM]

2 hours ago, shrader said:

I know no one wants to hear it, but they’re going to pass Pittsburgh and Seattle. You’ll need to mock out a little further. 

No point, after you hit 6, it's a pick your poison type of deal. Bear, Desnoyers, Eklund, Lakovic, Cootes, Frondell, I suppose Schmidt. There's some defenders in Reid, Smith, Mrtka. I'd be hard pressed to mock them in an order. 

If I had to rank the forwards... ummm... Desnoyers, Bear, Eklund in a group that I could interchange followed by Cootes, Frondell, Lakovic, and Schmidt I suppose. 

[LGR4GM]

Well... that's interesting. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6174550/2025/03/11/nhl-draft-2025-ranking-schaefer-misa-pronman/

1. Matthew Schaefer, 6'2" LHD
2. Michael Misa, 6'1" C/LW
3. Caleb Desnoyers, 6'1.5" C
4. James Hagens, 5'10.5" C
5. Porter Martone, 6'2.75" RW
6. Anton Frondell, 6'1" C
7. Victor Eklund, 5'11" RW
8. Roger McQueen, 6'5.25" C
9. Kashawn Aitcheson, 6'1.5" LHD
10. Jake O'Brien, 6'1.75" C

[LGR4GM]

This is why I hate Pronman. Anton Frondell has a shot rated as "high end" but Michael Misa has a shot that is idk because Pronman doesn't give it a grade ... wtf are we even doing here?

Also... "Aitcheson won't run a power play, lacking the natural sense at times with the puck, but he projects to have secondary NHL offense and has put up significant offense this year" then why the ***** are you ranking him 9th? Also you ranked his shot, but not 57goals Michael Misa. 

OMFG, Carter Bear "Compete: Above Average" if Bear's compete is above average than average must be the 4 nations final. 

[Crusader1969]

12 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Well... that's interesting. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6174550/2025/03/11/nhl-draft-2025-ranking-schaefer-misa-pronman/

1. Matthew Schaefer, 6'2" LHD
2. Michael Misa, 6'1" C/LW
3. Caleb Desnoyers, 6'1.5" C
4. James Hagens, 5'10.5" C
5. Porter Martone, 6'2.75" RW
6. Anton Frondell, 6'1" C
7. Victor Eklund, 5'11" RW
8. Roger McQueen, 6'5.25" C
9. Kashawn Aitcheson, 6'1.5" LHD
10. Jake O'Brien, 6'1.75" C

Is Schaefer expected back at some point this season? 

[Flashsabre]

 

[LGR4GM]

53 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

Is Schaefer expected back at some point this season? 

Probably not. He broke his clavicle. 

[LGR4GM]

21 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

 

Yea..  it sucks but I don't think we'll be in a position to take bear. We're talking about a top 5 pick. 

[Thorner]

Misa or bust 

[LGR4GM]

16 minutes ago, Thorner said:

Misa or bust 

Idk if I'd go that far. Misa would be nice though. 

[Thorner]

4 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Idk if I'd go that far. Misa would be nice though. 

[Crusader1969]

17 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Probably not. He broke his clavicle. 

 

[Flashsabre]

6 hours ago, Crusader1969 said:

 

If the Sabres won the lottery I would run to the podium to draft Schaefer. He will be special. Then you trade Power and Byram. Schaefer wouldn’t be NHL ready next year. He is only a couple days away from next year’s draft and has missed half a season with the clavicle injury but man his skating and processing is Makar like.

Top 5 they will get someone they need 

Misa- explosive

Martone-size, skill, grit

Hagens: playmaking centre

but Schaefer is the gem of the draft.

[Crusader1969]

57 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

If the Sabres won the lottery I would run to the podium to draft Schaefer. He will be special. Then you trade Power and Byram. Schaefer wouldn’t be NHL ready next year. He is only a couple days away from next year’s draft and has missed half a season with the clavicle injury but man his skating and processing is Makar like.

Top 5 they will get someone they need 

Misa- explosive

Martone-size, skill, grit

Hagens: playmaking centre

but Schaefer is the gem of the draft.

You might be right BUT it took Dahlin 4 years to be decent after he drafted.   I just don't think the Sabres can wait for him. 

The forwards could all contribute much faster   
 

 

 

 

[PerreaultForever]

Does it matter who we draft? He'll just leave and be good somewhere else anyway. 

[LGR4GM]

4 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

Does it matter who we draft? He'll just leave and be good somewhere else anyway. 

Yes. If we had drafted Rossi or Jarvis instead of Quinn it would matter. If we had drafted Hughes or Eklund instead of Power it would matter. If we had drafted McAvoy instead of Nylander it would have mattered. The Sabres have to get this right, it has been the Achilles heel of this place since b4 Pegula. 

16 hours ago, Crusader1969 said:

 

But even still he probably has 2-3week of ramping up before he's game ready which is the end of the jr season. Maybe we get some playoffs from him but I haven't looked up his team standings. 

[Mr. Allen]

8 hours ago, Crusader1969 said:

You might be right BUT it took Dahlin 4 years to be decent after he drafted.   I just don't think the Sabres can wait for him. 

The forwards could all contribute much faster   
 

 

 

 

Always take bpa.   No matter what.  Especially at 1.1. 

[Weave]

42 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Yes. If we had drafted Rossi or Jarvis instead of Quinn it would matter. If we had drafted Hughes or Eklund instead of Power it would matter. If we had drafted McAvoy instead of Nylander it would have mattered. The Sabres have to get this right, it has been the Achilles heel of this place since b4 Pegula. 

 

For an organization that has been at or near the top of the prospect pool rankings for most of a decade, if not longer, we sure have alot of whiffs and not alot of top NHL talent to show for it.

[The Jokeman]

12 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

If the Sabres won the lottery I would run to the podium to draft Schaefer. He will be special. Then you trade Power and Byram. Schaefer wouldn’t be NHL ready next year. He is only a couple days away from next year’s draft and has missed half a season with the clavicle injury but man his skating and processing is Makar like.

Top 5 they will get someone they need 

Misa- explosive

Martone-size, skill, grit

Hagens: playmaking centre

but Schaefer is the gem of the draft.

So we'll end up with pick 5 and draft Anton Frondell just cuz.