2025 NHL Entry Draft Thread, Sabres Draft 9th

[steveoath]

I am onboard the Brady Martin train. But my gut tells Boston will draft him. 

[LGR4GM]

Some of should I say many of you are narrowing your gaze too much. You can't see the forest through the Martin Tree. 

[JoeSchmoe]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Some of should I say many of you are narrowing your gaze too much. You can't see the forest through the Martin Tree. 

In my case, it's because I've seen the kid play since he was younger.

In minor hockey you get a lot of silver spoon kids who get in with all the best teams and coaches, with private development sessions plus a team practice almost every night of the week. These are kids that even if they get a full scholarship, the family won't even break even for the time and money they spent... And they don't even care. There are several in this draft that I know of.

Martin was not that kid, and I think his ceiling might be a bit higher as a result. 

[dudacek]

1 hour ago, JoeSchmoe said:

In my case, it's because I've seen the kid play since he was younger.

In minor hockey you get a lot of silver spoon kids who get in with all the best teams and coaches, with private development sessions plus a team practice almost every night of the week. These are kids that even if they get a full scholarship, the family won't even break even for the time and money they spent... And they don't even care. There are several in this draft that I know of.

Martin was not that kid, and I think his ceiling might be a bit higher as a result. 

I've always wondered how much this matters: the Gordie Howe/Ted Nolan magazines for shinpads path versus the "My parents have invested everything they could since the day I was 9" path.

[JoeSchmoe]

10 minutes ago, dudacek said:

I've always wondered how much this matters: the Gordie Howe/Ted Nolan magazines for shinpads path versus the "My parents have invested everything they could since the day I was 9" path.

These kids are well down that path before the age of 9.

I recall watching a Toronto based team starring a certain kid in this draft that was executing regroups and zone entries when they were 7 and 8 years old. These kids were probably all identified since they were 4 or 5 and pushed into the meat grinder from there.

To have the time to work on those systems, plus get them skating and playing with the skill they had was mind blowing.

Edited yesterday at 12:34 AM by JoeSchmoe

[SabreFinn]

5 hours ago, JoeSchmoe said:

These kids are well down that path before the age of 9.

I recall watching a Toronto based team starring a certain kid in this draft that was executing regroups and zone entries when they were 7 and 8 years old. These kids were probably all identified since they were 4 or 5 and pushed into the meat grinder from there.

To have the time to work on those systems, plus get them skating and playing with the skill they had was mind blowing.

My kid is nine and playing hockey, it seems like we are far behind in development 😄

[Dr. Who]

6 hours ago, SabreFinn said:

My kid is nine and playing hockey, it seems like we are far behind in development 😄

Slacker. Should have starting working out in the womb.

[Mr. Allen]

A couple years ago we moved to a place in way northern NY called Canton (home of Jordan Greenway).  My kid was 4 when we got here and everyone said he was already behind his peers with hockey.  Parents were putting their kids on the ice at 2.  It’s not always the kids that want this.  It’s the parents.  

[JoeSchmoe]

24 minutes ago, Mr. Allen said:

A couple years ago we moved to a place in way northern NY called Canton (home of Jordan Greenway).  My kid was 4 when we got here and everyone said he was already behind his peers with hockey.  Parents were putting their kids on the ice at 2.  It’s not always the kids that want this.  It’s the parents.  

I put a tiny rink in the backyard when my son was 2. No way he was ready to skate then, but he did like playing hockey in his boots then. Same story for my daughter. I suppose I could have pushed them, but as you said, it's got to be fun for them. 

When they were 3 they started skating lessons ran by the local figure skating club and by then they had the dexterity to actually enjoy it. I still remember they put toys on the ice that the kids could skate to as motivators. My son would always chase the hockey stick and puck. He'd get to take a shot before they'd move it to another location.

[Flashsabre]

 

[apointagameov]

Byram for Seatlle's 8th overall pick+ -- who says no? Pick back to back BPA or Toughest MF Available.

[The Jokeman]

35 minutes ago, apointagameov said:

Byram for Seatlle's 8th overall pick+ -- who says no? Pick back to back BPA or Toughest MF Available.

We need NHLers not more prospects. If Byram goes to Seattle than I'm eyeing Kaapo Kakko as a possible return.

[PerreaultForever]

On 5/16/2025 at 10:26 AM, steveoath said:

I am onboard the Brady Martin train. But my gut tells Boston will draft him. 

Don't think so. Not at 7. There will be better talent for them there. I'd place Martin around 12 but if the Sabres want to take him at 9 I'd not have any problem with that. 

[French Collection]

On 5/16/2025 at 9:21 PM, dudacek said:

I've always wondered how much this matters: the Gordie Howe/Ted Nolan magazines for shinpads path versus the "My parents have invested everything they could since the day I was 9" path.

I remember reading that Matt Duchene’s parents saved every receipt and the total was over $300K, for them. That was over 20 years ago.

Martin could have a chip on his shoulder instead of a silver spoon. I am also partial to the 3 Northern OHL teams. Sign me up.

[PerreaultForever]

6 hours ago, French Collection said:

I remember reading that Matt Duchene’s parents saved every receipt and the total was over $300K, for them. That was over 20 years ago.

Martin could have a chip on his shoulder instead of a silver spoon. I am also partial to the 3 Northern OHL teams. Sign me up.

It's impossible to say though. Sometimes these (for lack of a better word) poor kids have a great work ethic and they are grateful and maybe have a chip on their shoulder but sometimes the bright lights big city also goes to their heads. You see this with some of the Russians for example. It's really impossible to say how it goes. Character is character and that's why you need scouts to go see them and talk with them and people around them and not just rely on video and analytics.