2025 NHL Entry Draft Thread

[LGR4GM]

The San Jose Sharks 2024 draft is a masterclass. 

Celebrini 1st overall

Dickinson 11th overall

Chernyshov 33rd overall

They got 2/3 of a top line and 1/2 of a top defensive pair in 3 picks. Would take Buffalo years and year to accomplish the same feat.

Then you have their 2023 class and it is also a masterclass in drafting... 

Will Smith 4th overall

Musty 26th overall

Halttunen 36th overall

Cagnoni 123rd overall

 

Edited Thursday at 01:57 PM by LGR4GM

[shrader]

1 hour ago, Mr. Allen said:

Has there ever been a draft day trade up into top 5?  I can’t recall ever seeing one. 

"Ever" and "recently" are two very different questions.  The first thing that comes to mind is the Sedins.  But it definitely hasn't happened recently.  So when you say draft day, do you specifically mean the deal happens that same day?  Deals for those early picks, even if made that very day, have been cooking for weeks and maybe event months.  So I wouldn't really differentiate between any trade that happens after the lottery results have been announced.

[Mr. Allen]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

Not that I can remember. The last trade into the top 10 I think was Corey Schneider in 2013 when on the draft floor he was traded for 9th overall. 8th overall and stuff was traded for Jordan Staal in 2012. The last trade up was probably the Sedin trade in 1999 but that happened before the draft (we should count it here though). Arizona moved up to 11th in 2019 by trading with Philly at the draft.  Arizona traded up to 11 in 2022 at the draft. San Jose famously traded up last year to 11 with Buffalo. I still don't love this move as Buium and Dickinson went right after and frankly would already make Byram or Power expendable if they had been taken. Buium is going to be amazing and Dickinson has #2 defender written alllll over his profile. 

I hated that trade down.  
Maybe they still would’ve taken Helenius at 11 and got the extra picks as a bonus.  But they passed on and missed out on some talented defenseman.  

[LGR4GM]

6 minutes ago, Mr. Allen said:

I hated that trade down.  
Maybe they still would’ve taken Helenius at 11 and got the extra picks as a bonus.  But they passed on and missed out on some talented defenseman.  

I like Helenius. He played in a harder league than either player this past season. 

[Mr. Allen]

Just now, LGR4GM said:

I like Helenius. He played in a harder league than either player this past season. 

I like him too.  I’m not saying he was a bad pick by any means.  It’s just this team, in my opinion, need better defense and we passed on two good ones.  

[shrader]

5 minutes ago, Mr. Allen said:

I like him too.  I’m not saying he was a bad pick by any means.  It’s just this team, in my opinion, need better defense and we passed on two good ones.  

They didn’t pass on them. They made the trade a day in advance, not knowing how the board would shake out. 

[Mr. Allen]

1 minute ago, shrader said:

They didn’t pass on them. They made the trade a day in advance, not knowing how the board would shake out. 

Oh that’s right!  And then traded that 2nd away for garbage.  
I remember being pissed Dickinson was still there. 

[LGR4GM]

2 minutes ago, shrader said:

They didn’t pass on them. They made the trade a day in advance, not knowing how the board would shake out. 

Which is an example of bad planning by Adams. 

[shrader]

2 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Which is an example of bad planning by Adams. 

But it’s good for San Jose? The timing of that trade never really made much sense to me from either side. 

[LGR4GM]

5 minutes ago, shrader said:

But it’s good for San Jose? The timing of that trade never really made much sense to me from either side. 

They wanted to move up so yes, it is better planning for them. 

[LGR4GM]

The Sabres sit at 7th overall. 

[DarthEbriate]

Ran the Tankathon sim ten times for old time's sake. Pick 7th seven times, 9th twice, and 2nd once.

[Mr. Allen]

7 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

The Sabres sit at 7th overall. 

6.5% 

[JoeSchmoe]

I've been around this draft class for many years as my son has played with or against a lot of the Ontario and US kids since AAA hockey started in Novice.

I'll go on record with saying Brady Martin will be a far better NHL player than Jake O'Brien.

First, look at their respective teams. The Bulldogs are stacked, the Greyhounds are anything but. O'Brien will get points just by playing with these guys. Still, O'Brien is a -2 whereas Martin is a +25. Moreover, all of O'Brien's teammates are far above him in +/- whereas Martin's +25 is far above the rest of his team.

Second, O'Brien is the prototypical hockey robot who's been in the GTHL grinder since he could skate, with all the extras and advantages that come with it (non-stop ice and training with the best coaches). Martin was a farm kid first that just happened to be really good at hockey. I've seen Martin put teams on his back Lemieux style whereas O'Brien has always been surrounded by top talent. This is literally a Rocky vs Drago scenario from Rocky IV.

Admittedly, I haven't watched either kid much since their U16 seasons, but their +/- and production relative to their teams affirms what I've seen of them as kids. Again, I only know the Ontario and some of the US kids, but I'd be happy if the Sabres reached for Martin with the 7th pick.

Edit: this link is a good read.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5897880/2024/11/26/brady-martin-2025-nhl-draft/

Edited Friday at 02:34 AM by JoeSchmoe

[PerreaultForever]

Considering how this falls out and who other teams are likely to take I think I'd go Mrtka. I doubt he's gone higher than we pick and even if you rank him slightly lower we need more D in the system. 

[LGR4GM]

17 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

Considering how this falls out and who other teams are likely to take I think I'd go Mrtka. I doubt he's gone higher than we pick and even if you rank him slightly lower we need more D in the system. 

No. Not only to Mrtka at 7 but also to the more D comment. We draft rhd every year. There's plenty of D in the system. 

Edited Friday at 03:33 AM by LGR4GM

[PerreaultForever]

55 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

No. Not only to Mrtka at 7 but also to the more D comment. We draft rhd every year. There's plenty of D in the system. 

No there isn't. This team has goal scorers. It needs D. Honestly, if possible I'd draft 6 D and a goalie or two this year with however many picks they have I don't keep track any more. 

I would have said McQueen but that back thing makes me think not worth the risk. 

[LGR4GM]

7 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

No there isn't. This team has goal scorers. It needs D. Honestly, if possible I'd draft 6 D and a goalie or two this year with however many picks they have I don't keep track any more. 

I would have said McQueen but that back thing makes me think not worth the risk. 

LHD: Novikov, Johnson, Osburne

RHD: Komarov, Kleber, McCarthy, Strbak 

Goalie: Levi, Leenders, Ratzlaff, Leinonen

Forwards: Helenius, Östlund, Wahlberg, Rosen, Poltapov, and maybe Richard and Ziemer

They have drafted a goalie every year for the last 3 years. They have drafted defenders in rounds 2 and 3 heavily the last 3 years. If they go defense in round 1, the logical choice is Jackson Smith not Radim Mrtka at 7. In round 2, Henry Brzustewicz would be a good option. None of these guys will be ready for a few years. To fix the defense requires trades. 

Edited Friday at 11:45 AM by LGR4GM
Forgot Ziemer

[LGR4GM]

In the last 2 drafts, Buffalo has selected 4d and 3f and 1g in each. 

That's 8d, 6f, and 2g total in the last 2 drafts. 

Sabres own,  1st, 2nd, 3rd, 2-4ths, 5th, 6th, and 3-7th round picks. 10 picks is too much, they should try and move up or swap picks into next year's draft. They could also use picks to sweeten deals.

Edited Friday at 11:48 AM by LGR4GM

[LGR4GM]

Elite Prospects April Rankings are out:

1. Schaefer

2. Misa

3. Martone

4. Hagens

5. McQueen 

6. Smith

7. Eklund

8. Bear

9. Desnoyers 

10. O'Brien 

[PerreaultForever]

13 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

LHD: Novikov, Johnson, Osburne

RHD: Komarov, Kleber, McCarthy, Strbak 

Goalie: Levi, Leenders, Ratzlaff, Leinonen

Forwards: Helenius, Östlund, Wahlberg, Rosen, Poltapov, and maybe Richard and Ziemer

They have drafted a goalie every year for the last 3 years. They have drafted defenders in rounds 2 and 3 heavily the last 3 years. If they go defense in round 1, the logical choice is Jackson Smith not Radim Mrtka at 7. In round 2, Henry Brzustewicz would be a good option. None of these guys will be ready for a few years. To fix the defense requires trades. 

Honestly I no longer give a flying f**k who they draft but for the record I'm not overly thrilled with what they've done and how they draft in general. That grouping up there, despite the number of higher picks, is not filled with future NHLers imo. 

Now before you say I don't know what I'm talking about (you can go back and look) I said right away in the Kulich draft that he was the one that I liked the best and thought had real NHL potential. You also scoffed when I said 2 years ago I thought Peterka would be better than Quinn. I could go on but there's no point as you think you know everything about the draft.

I draft a goalie EVERY year. EVERY single year at least one. You get too many good ones you trade them. It's just a process and a logic I subscribe to. You need that position to be solidified and strong or the rest is pointless. 

Trade for D now? Yes, absolutely, and I've said that many times. I want more Savoie/McLeod type deals not less. Veteran defensive D is a priority. Has been since we drafted Dahlin but we haven't done it. Just tinkered with bottom level guys like Clifton. But I also want that situation to end for the future. Defensemen generally take longer to develop and late bloomers are frequent and I want a flood of defensive prospects in that pool. 

We can score goals. We need defense. I personally like Mrtka better than Smith but if they went with you and chose Smith I wouldn't be unhappy either. 

[LGR4GM]

57 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

Honestly I no longer give a flying f**k who they draft but for the record I'm not overly thrilled with what they've done and how they draft in general. That grouping up there, despite the number of higher picks, is not filled with future NHLers imo. 

Now before you say I don't know what I'm talking about (you can go back and look) I said right away in the Kulich draft that he was the one that I liked the best and thought had real NHL potential. You also scoffed when I said 2 years ago I thought Peterka would be better than Quinn. I could go on but there's no point as you think you know everything about the draft.

I draft a goalie EVERY year. EVERY single year at least one. You get too many good ones you trade them. It's just a process and a logic I subscribe to. You need that position to be solidified and strong or the rest is pointless. 

Trade for D now? Yes, absolutely, and I've said that many times. I want more Savoie/McLeod type deals not less. Veteran defensive D is a priority. Has been since we drafted Dahlin but we haven't done it. Just tinkered with bottom level guys like Clifton. But I also want that situation to end for the future. Defensemen generally take longer to develop and late bloomers are frequent and I want a flood of defensive prospects in that pool. 

We can score goals. We need defense. I personally like Mrtka better than Smith but if they went with you and chose Smith I wouldn't be unhappy either. 

I'm old now, and forgetful, but I feel like something major happened that would change our Jack Quinn outlook. Ah well, my memory is my Achilles heel these days.

Anyways, since they have nothing to do with taking Mrtka at 7 and drafting only D, not sure what point you're making here. Buffalo has drafted more D than F in the last few years. They've taken a goalie every year for 3yrs, they should again. They can take a D at 7, Smith is a good option. Idk what were even arguing about. 

[PerreaultForever]

3 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

I'm old now, and forgetful, but I feel like something major happened that would change our Jack Quinn outlook. Ah well, my memory is my Achilles heel these days.

Anyways, since they have nothing to do with taking Mrtka at 7 and drafting only D, not sure what point you're making here. Buffalo has drafted more D than F in the last few years. They've taken a goalie every year for 3yrs, they should again. They can take a D at 7, Smith is a good option. Idk what were even arguing about. 

Nothing better to do since no playoffs?

You really think the Achilles explains everything with Quinn? I don't. Never have. First game I saw him in a Sabres uniform I thought I don't know about this guy. Seems like a lightweight afraid of contact. Can skate and shoot but he doesn't have the grit needed to be a good top 6 scorer. But whatever. He might still get it one day. He is young and could change, but right now I can't stand him. To me he represents everything wrong with this franchise. 

[LGR4GM]

5 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

Nothing better to do since no playoffs?

You really think the Achilles explains everything with Quinn? I don't. Never have. First game I saw him in a Sabres uniform I thought I don't know about this guy. Seems like a lightweight afraid of contact. Can skate and shoot but he doesn't have the grit needed to be a good top 6 scorer. But whatever. He might still get it one day. He is young and could change, but right now I can't stand him. To me he represents everything wrong with this franchise. 

I ranked Marco Rossi and Seth Jarvis above Quinn in that draft. 

Actually it's why at 7 in 2025, I'm still big on Carter Bear. He plays hockey hard and he's got enough skill that at worst you're getting a 2nd line player. 

[Wyldnwoody44]

34 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I ranked Marco Rossi and Seth Jarvis above Quinn in that draft. 

Actually it's why at 7 in 2025, I'm still big on Carter Bear. He plays hockey hard and he's got enough skill that at worst you're getting a 2nd line player. 

Any relation to Ethan Bear?

And also, just an epic hockey name, a Bear to terrorize the Bruins. 

I enjoy reading this thread, but man, I have no dog in the fight of who we draft. 

I do recall being really ticked we let Rossi pass us and went off the board to pick Quinn who was slated to go much lower in the 1st. After that draft, I kinda just quit paying attention to It.