2025 NHL Entry Draft Thread, Sabres Draft 9th

[DarthEbriate]

1 minute ago, LGR4GM said:

I'm unsure what his current injury is. I think it's separate from his stress fracture. 

The thing is, a healthy McQueen might have been in the running for 1st overall. You'd have to really dig into those medicals because 6'5" centers with his package of skills are rare. 

No one seems to be stating whether the injuries are related. Lower body could also be related to the back.

I'm just risk-averse with the injury history for a team that employs Norris, Greenway, and Samuelsson, and doesn't use LTIR or spend to the cap.

[kas23]

6 hours ago, ... said:

 

Based on recent studies specifically looking at NHL players and Achilles tendon ruptures, the picture regarding recovery rates is more nuanced than a simple "poor record."

Here's a breakdown of the findings:

High Rate of Return to Play: Studies indicate a high rate of return to play (RTP) for NHL players after Achilles tendon repair. One study found that 14 out of 15 NHL players (93%) with Achilles tendon tears returned to play. Another older study reported a 78.9% RTP rate.  

Performance Impact: While the RTP rate is high, the impact on performance is where the nuance lies.

Some recent research suggests no significant change in offensive, defensive, or overall performance-based metrics when comparing pre-injury performance to performance in the first and second years post-injury for those who returned.  

However, other studies on professional athletes across multiple sports (including NHL) have sometimes shown a decrease in games played, play time, and performance metrics in the first year or two after return, although performance might normalize closer to pre-injury levels by the second year post-injury for those who successfully return long-term. There's also evidence suggesting a bimodal distribution – some players don't return to their prior level, while others can perform comparably to uninjured players after two years.

Comparison to Other Sports: NHL players appear to have a higher RTP rate after Achilles rupture compared to players in sports like the NBA and NFL, where rates of failure to return to play have been reported to be significantly higher (e.g., 20-30% or more).

Timeframe for Recovery: Recovery is consistently described as a long and arduous process, typically taking several months (at least three to five months, sometimes longer) before returning to on-ice activities, even with surgical repair and rigorous rehabilitation.

In conclusion: While the statement that "players with Achilles injuries don’t have a good record of fully recovering" holds true in a general sense across professional sports, recent data specifically on the NHL suggests a high likelihood of players returning to play. The question of whether they fully recover to their exact pre-injury performance level is where studies show varying results, with some suggesting performance returns to baseline after a couple of years, while others indicate potential long-term impacts or a portion of players never quite getting back to their previous form.

Therefore, while many NHL players do successfully return, the concern raised in the paragraph about a player being a "question mark" regarding their same level of performance as before the injury is a valid one, despite the relatively high return-to-play rate in hockey compared to some other sports.

I’ve read the article. Even posted it on here about a month ago. Here’s the most recent Achilles tears: Duclair, Quinn, Pacioretty. Not an inspiring list. There’s also Kempny, Isac Lundestrom, Knyznov over the past 10 years. Not a common injury. Lastly there’s our own Beck Malestyn, which would argue such an injury doesn’t always have to negatively affect speed. 

[LGR4GM]

Wheeler put Helenius in a tier with Martin for ranking centers across the last 3 drafts. Something for ppl to think about. 

"A fourth tier would include Brady Martin (likely at the front of it), Dalibor Dvorsky, Konsta Helenius, Michael Hage, etc."

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6342331/2025/05/09/matthew-schaefer-porter-martone-nhl-draft-2025-mailbag/

 

[Brawndo]

15 hours ago, shrader said:

I wonder how different the two actually are.  Paging @Brawndo, @Brawndo you have a call on the white courtesy phone.

Peyton Krebs would be probably be the best comparison. He suffered a laceration to Achilles tendon about a month before the draft. 

[FrenchConnection44]

We might still have not ended up doing well in the lottery, but I still think we would regret not giving ourselves the chance to draft in the top 4-5, especially with a kid like Martone. 

If the end of season success, when there was no pressure, doesn't translate to next season, just as it hasn't in the past, all the "this is great, we are winning games," Feels many were having will mean zero. Except more frustration. Personally, I take no solace in meaningless regular season wins. 

Btw, here's ESPN's take on Martone (some here were arguing he doesn't have physicality to go with his frame; I just don't agree with that). 

4. Porter Martone
RW, Brampton Steelheads (OHL)

The 6-3 right winger projects as a high-end second-line player with a competitive streak reminiscent of Corey Perry and Tom Wilson. A big, physical forward, Martone is a dual-threat offensive player with ability to score on his own and facilitate. His competitive nature will make him an effective agitator, and he will physically impose himself on opponents. He needs to hone his competitiveness and physicality to increase his effectiveness, and adjust his skating posture to become a more efficient skater.

His unique combination of scoring ability, size and hard skill make him a very attractive prospect. While his most confident projection is a top-six forward, Martone has a legitimate chance to become a top-line winger if his skating improves.

If McQueen falls to us, which he could due to the injury, that will be a high risk / high reward player given his lack of playing time and the injury but that too could be a stroke of good fortune--though I suspect someone will take a shot before he gets to us. But, dang, picking 9th just sucks relative to how the team played most of the seasons (which was a bottom 4-5 squad). 

Edited 2 hours ago by FrenchConnection44

[LGR4GM]

2 hours ago, FrenchConnection44 said:

We might still have not ended up doing well in the lottery, but I still think we would regret not giving ourselves the chance to draft in the top 4-5, especially with a kid like Martone. 

If the end of season success, when there was no pressure, doesn't translate to next season, just as it hasn't in the past, all the "this is great, we are winning games," Feels many were having will mean zero. Except more frustration. Personally, I take no solace in meaningless regular season wins. 

Btw, here's ESPN's take on Martone (some here were arguing he doesn't have physicality to go with his frame; I just don't agree with that). 

4. Porter Martone
RW, Brampton Steelheads (OHL)

The 6-3 right winger projects as a high-end second-line player with a competitive streak reminiscent of Corey Perry and Tom Wilson. A big, physical forward, Martone is a dual-threat offensive player with ability to score on his own and facilitate. His competitive nature will make him an effective agitator, and he will physically impose himself on opponents. He needs to hone his competitiveness and physicality to increase his effectiveness, and adjust his skating posture to become a more efficient skater.

His unique combination of scoring ability, size and hard skill make him a very attractive prospect. While his most confident projection is a top-six forward, Martone has a legitimate chance to become a top-line winger if his skating improves.

If McQueen falls to us, which he could due to the injury, that will be a high risk / high reward player given his lack of playing time and the injury but that too could be a stroke of good fortune--though I suspect someone will take a shot before he gets to us. But, dang, picking 9th just sucks relative to how the team played most of the seasons (which was a bottom 4-5 squad). 

He has physicality, it's not consistent and I don't see Tom Wilson at all when I watch him.