2025 NHL Entry Draft Thread, Sabres Draft 9th

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If the player they target isn't at least 6'2", missing some teeth, and has a nickname akin to "the Butcher", then package the pick with Power and go find someone like that.

[DarthEbriate]

If the Sabres keep the pick, I'd go in this order:

Misa, Schaefer, Desnoyers, Hagens, Martone (no chance to be there)

Martin, Bear, O'Brien, Eklund (one of them will be available at 9)

Mrtka, Aitcheson, Frondell, Reschny, Cootes (others)

I avoid McQueen (two-time back injury already? that's Huglen again)

Note: O'Brien is my Sabres sleeper on account they've drafted teammate Leenders and may like O'Brien from repeated close viewings.
Note2: For kicks, Draft Mrtka and rush him to the NHL because he's so good in camp and is too young to play in the AHL. Power-Mrtka.

Edited 20 hours ago by DarthEbriate

[LGR4GM]

4 hours ago, DarthEbriate said:

If the Sabres keep the pick, I'd go in this order:

Misa, Schaefer, Desnoyers, Hagens, Martone (no chance to be there)

Martin, Bear, O'Brien, Eklund (one of them will be available at 9)

Mrtka, Aitcheson, Frondell, Reschny, Cootes (others)

I avoid McQueen (two-time back injury already? that's Huglen again)

Note: O'Brien is my Sabres sleeper on account they've drafted teammate Leenders and may like O'Brien from repeated close viewings.
Note2: For kicks, Draft Mrtka and rush him to the NHL because he's so good in camp and is too young to play in the AHL. Power-Mrtka.

I don't love Mrtka. His outlet passing is questionable. His offensive zone game is just ok. Really he's a #3/4 defender with good gap control and some physicality. If he was 3" shorter, he'd be a late teens early 20s pick. 

I hope for 2 things to happen now. McQueen goes in the top 8 and anther defender goes top 8 as well. 

Maybe something like: Schaefer, Misa, Desnoyers, Hagens, Martone, McQueen, Smith, Frondell, then Buffalo. 

Edited 16 hours ago by LGR4GM

[Flashsabre]

7 hours ago, DarthEbriate said:

If the Sabres keep the pick, I'd go in this order:

Misa, Schaefer, Desnoyers, Hagens, Martone (no chance to be there)

Martin, Bear, O'Brien, Eklund (one of them will be available at 9)

Mrtka, Aitcheson, Frondell, Reschny, Cootes (others)

I avoid McQueen (two-time back injury already? that's Huglen again)

Note: O'Brien is my Sabres sleeper on account they've drafted teammate Leenders and may like O'Brien from repeated close viewings.
Note2: For kicks, Draft Mrtka and rush him to the NHL because he's so good in camp and is too young to play in the AHL. Power-Mrtka.

Jay McKee coaches O’Brien as well. I’m sure he and Ruff would touch base.

[LGR4GM]

We can reasonably assume these players will be gone: Schaefer, Misa, Hagens, Desnoyers, Martone, Frondell.

There's ways to get Martin to 9 but him going 7 or 8 makes sense if the upwards trend of the last month continues. If he's gone you can take McQueen or Bear. Those are likely the best options. 

[Flashsabre]

53 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

We can reasonably assume these players will be gone: Schaefer, Misa, Hagens, Desnoyers, Martone, Frondell.

There's ways to get Martin to 9 but him going 7 or 8 makes sense if the upwards trend of the last month continues. If he's gone you can take McQueen or Bear. Those are likely the best options. 

I think I’d take O’Brien over McQueen. His injury is such a red flag. The combine will be huge for him. Bear’s injury is concerning as well but he will bounce back after a year or so.

[LGR4GM]

Just now, Flashsabre said:

I think I’d take O’Brien over McQueen. His injury is such a red flag. The combine will be huge for him. Bear’s injury is concerning as well but he will bounce back after a year or so.

My issue is O'Brien isn't very physical and we need that.

[Flashsabre]

Just now, LGR4GM said:

My issue is O'Brien isn't very physical and we need that.

Yeah but his skill set is something Buffalo needs just as bad. If McQueen is healthy then sure take him but after Lidstrom last year there will be a ton of scrutiny on him.

I think Martin doesn’t get past Boston at 7. Sweeney was at the Under 18s and Button said he was very impressed with Martin. He screams Bruin.

[LGR4GM]

11 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

Yeah but his skill set is something Buffalo needs just as bad. If McQueen is healthy then sure take him but after Lidstrom last year there will be a ton of scrutiny on him.

I think Martin doesn’t get past Boston at 7. Sweeney was at the Under 18s and Button said he was very impressed with Martin. He screams Bruin.

O'Brien has a ton of playmaking. 

[Flashsabre]

1 minute ago, LGR4GM said:

O'Brien has a ton of playmaking. 

Yeah a big playmaking centre with hockey sense is a desperate need in my mind. The “Anti Cozens”

The Sabres have this fascination with shoot first centres “Thompson, Cozens, Kulich, Norris”

I have hope for Östlund as a playmaker but another would be nice. Helenuis is kind of a mix to me of shooter-distributor.

Team has a ton of shooters up front but are in need of a true playmaker in the top 6.

[The Jokeman]

Bear was looking like a fit. His injury isn't horrible since we weren't likely going to see him in the NHL in 2-3 seasons. I'd probably still take him unless a top 5 guy falls.

[LGR4GM]

2 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

Yeah a big playmaking centre with hockey sense is a desperate need in my mind. The “Anti Cozens”

The Sabres have this fascination with shoot first centres “Thompson, Cozens, Kulich, Norris”

I have hope for Östlund as a playmaker but another would be nice. Helenuis is kind of a mix to me of shooter-distributor.

Team has a ton of shooters up front but are in need of a true playmaker in the top 6.

He won't be an nhl player for 3 years. 

[LGR4GM]

Mock it out, lottery edition

1. NY Isles: Matthew Schaefer
2. San Jose: Michael Misa
3. Chicago: Porter Martone
4. Utah: James Hagens
5. Nashville: Caleb Desnoyers
6. Philly: Brady Martin
7. Boston: Roger McQueen
8. Seattle: Anton Frondell
9. Buffalo: Carter Bear
10. Anaheim: Victor Eklund

[JoeSchmoe]

5 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

I think I’d take O’Brien over McQueen. His injury is such a red flag. The combine will be huge for him. Bear’s injury is concerning as well but he will bounce back after a year or so.

O'Brien's Bulldogs team was a +60, while he sported a -2. Let some team that already has a culture of playing 200ft take him.

We're already 8th in the league in Goals For... we just need to improve on our 4th worst Goals Against. O'Brien isn't that guy.

[LGR4GM]

1 hour ago, JoeSchmoe said:

O'Brien's Bulldogs team was a +60, while he sported a -2. Let some team that already has a culture of playing 200ft take him.

We're already 8th in the league in Goals For... we just need to improve on our 4th worst Goals Against. O'Brien isn't that guy.

That's not my issue with O'Brien. He's 3rd on his team in points, so how much of his assist total is inflated by playing with 71g Lardus?

I think Martin and Bear just have more of the jam I'm looking for. I'd roll the dice on McQueen at 9 depending on his medicals too.

[dudacek]

6 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Mock it out, lottery edition

1. NY Isles: Matthew Schaefer
2. San Jose: Michael Misa
3. Chicago: Porter Martone
4. Utah: James Hagens
5. Nashville: Caleb Desnoyers
6. Philly: Brady Martin
7. Boston: Roger McQueen
8. Seattle: Anton Frondell
9. Buffalo: Carter Bear
10. Anaheim: Victor Eklund

I haven't seen much love for either bolded player on here.

Should those people be nervous that they're both reasonable bets to be available when the Sabres pick?

[JoeSchmoe]

41 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

That's not my issue with O'Brien. He's 3rd on his team in points, so how much of his assist total is inflated by playing with 71g Lardus?

I was going to say that as well, but from my Google search, he didn't play on their line. Who knows about the PP, but given I haven't watched any Bulldogs I figured I'd play it safe and not mention it.

[LGR4GM]

6 minutes ago, JoeSchmoe said:

I was going to say that as well, but from my Google search, he didn't play on their line. Who knows about the PP, but given I haven't watched any Bulldogs I figured I'd play it safe and not mention it.

He's clearly got a ton of pp points. Only way his +/- is that with his production. 

[Flashsabre]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

That's not my issue with O'Brien. He's 3rd on his team in points, so how much of his assist total is inflated by playing with 71g Lardus?

I think Martin and Bear just have more of the jam I'm looking for. I'd roll the dice on McQueen at 9 depending on his medicals too.

I mean did Oates only get assists because of Hull or did he help him get those goal totals??

I like Martin and Bear and exactly what they bring. O’Brien brings something totally different but also needed.

I think Martin is gone by 9 but Bear will be there.

[LGR4GM]

2 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

I mean did Oates only get assists because of Hull or did he help him get those goal totals??

I like Martin and Bear and exactly what they bring. O’Brien brings something totally different but also needed.

I think Martin is gone by 9 but Bear will be there.

I think Bears game is more translateable to the NHL than O'Brien but O'Brien has a higher overall ceiling.