2025 NHL Entry Draft Thread, Sabres Draft 9th

[LGR4GM]

On Roger McQueen 

https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2025/5/14/24424541/2k25-draft-profiles-roger-mcqueen-nhl-brandon-wheat-kings-hockey

"But onto that injury. At first, McQueen’s injury was simply known as “Back Injury”; which was initially was rumored to be a slipped disc, but was clarified later to be Spondylolysis, or a Pars Fracture of the Spine, which can be quite dangerous, but is quite common in both contact and non-contact sports where forced spine extension is a part of the deal (Gymnasts and O-linemen are frequently the victims of this), and while it usually does require a brace, physical therapy, and plenty of rest, it is usually treatable without surgery, and from his direct correspondence with local journalists, it appears he never needed it."

Edited Sunday at 12:40 PM by LGR4GM

[Flashsabre]

Trade the pick, Martin, Bear or McQueen  are all decent outcomes for me.

[Mr. Allen]

25 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

Trade the pick, Martin, Bear or McQueen  are all decent outcomes for me.

I still like the potential of McQueen.  He could end up being the 3rd best player in this draft (if he can stay healthy)

[DarthEbriate]

On 5/31/2025 at 10:05 AM, Taro T said:

But, (and realize that at this point there are other issues wrt Power, so please realize this is only addressing the following point and not all the other issues) IF the player WOULD be a x point player but for the fact he can't get ahead of somebody that is elite at the PP (and as bad as the PP is, without Dahlin it would be significanltly worse because his ability to keep the puck in the zone and his passing is elite) WHY say he's not worth what he'd get were he not "blocked" 😉  from the PP?

IF one is inclined to only want to pay for what a player can bring in his place in the pecking order, then it's pretty much guaranteed that unless you have guys on ELCs, you will never have more than 4 top line F's and 1 top pairing D because that's all you can squeeze onto the top PP.  

Especially if the team has cap space, shouldn't we want more than just 1 D that's excellent running the BL on the PP and more than just 2 D that are excellent PKers?  And if you have an extra guy that can handle 25 minutes per night (like when they hit their primes, the Sabres current roster has 3 of those on it) then you only have to find 45 minutes of time (tops) from the other 3 guys and you should be able to cover that fairly inexpensively.  (Samuelsson not playing up to his contract being a monkey wrench in that calculus.)

(Not sure why THIS particular post warranted this particular reply; it's a fairly common theme here.  NOT calling you out on this, it just seemed a logical spot to ask the Q.)

I think it comes down to basic resource management, and paying someone appropriate to where they are in their career/game. We've seen the lineup without Dahlin, so Power isn't yet able to play to the level of a PP1 and 1st-pairing D-man. It's why they needed to bridge him in the interim. Especially if Adams/Pegula weren't going to spend anywhere near the cap during these initial seasons anyway.

I think I can best illustrate it with a team they want to be: Carolina.

Similar poor powerplay: BUF 18.78% PP this last season, CAR 18.70% PP. Buffalo pays Dahlin for poor PP%, but he's also an elite 60-point talent. (And they look much better when Zucker is on it operating behind the net and standing in front of the goalie.)

By comparison, CAR pays Gostibehere $3.2M to be PP1 and Brent Burns $5.28M to be PP2. Essentially, what Buffalo pays Power ($8.35M) to not be an all-around guy.

If Buffalo bridges Power, they can take $3M additional, group it with what they were paying either Joker (to be scratched) or Clifton to give a true top-4/2nd pairing all-zones guy $6M --- one who helps Power be the best he can be until he's ready to be that $8M player in two more years.

It's why Buffalo can't afford Byram and Power to be a PP2. Not when, currently, neither of them is going to be any better leading their own pair than Gostisbehere.

[LGR4GM]

Elite Prospects draft guide hits this week. It's the best one I think. 

[LGR4GM]

 

 

[LGR4GM]

Vaclav Nestrasil "he started the year with eight points in his first 21 games and finished it with 34 points in his final 40 games." Scott Wheeler

[LGR4GM]

Max Psenicka, 6'4" 178lb RHD from 🇨🇿 

Here's another option for Buffalo probably in round 2. I don't think the big guy will last to the 3rd round. Just watched him and I don't understand how his point total is as low, 7pts in 24 games and 8 in 18 playoff games. This kid has nerves of ice cold steel. His defensive game is surgical and he uses both his reach and physical play to end plays. His 4 way mobility is very very good and it will only improve with added strength. He's not flashy but I am just drooling over the idea of him at 205lbs and next to someone like Power. Yes he is physical but in the exact way you want, controlled. I might gamble on taking him and hope that Nestrasil slides into the 3rd round (which is possible). I really want another 2nd rounder in this draft, I think there's gonna be value there.

 

 

[JohnC]

On 6/1/2025 at 8:40 AM, LGR4GM said:

On Roger McQueen 

https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2025/5/14/24424541/2k25-draft-profiles-roger-mcqueen-nhl-brandon-wheat-kings-hockey

"But onto that injury. At first, McQueen’s injury was simply known as “Back Injury”; which was initially was rumored to be a slipped disc, but was clarified later to be Spondylolysis, or a Pars Fracture of the Spine, which can be quite dangerous, but is quite common in both contact and non-contact sports where forced spine extension is a part of the deal (Gymnasts and O-linemen are frequently the victims of this), and while it usually does require a brace, physical therapy, and plenty of rest, it is usually treatable without surgery, and from his direct correspondence with local journalists, it appears he never needed it."

I had spondylolysis where it resulted in a surgery. A long time later after the successful first surgery I had a second surgery. What makes me wary about people with this condition who are currently fine is that they are involved in an endeavor that can be categorized as a "crash" sport, an activity that would be vulnerable to a person with back issues. What was odd about my condition is that I could run 10 miles with no effect. However, if I stood for half an hour I was aching. 

Modern medicine is a marvel. However, if I had an equal ranking for another player, out of caution, I would take the person without the potential back issue.  

[Mr. Allen]

10 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Max Psenicka, 6'4" 178lb RHD from 🇨🇿 

Here's another option for Buffalo probably in round 2. I don't think the big guy will last to the 3rd round. Just watched him and I don't understand how his point total is as low, 7pts in 24 games and 8 in 18 playoff games. This kid has nerves of ice cold steel. His defensive game is surgical and he uses both his reach and physical play to end plays. His 4 way mobility is very very good and it will only improve with added strength. He's not flashy but I am just drooling over the idea of him at 205lbs and next to someone like Power. Yes he is physical but in the exact way you want, controlled. I might gamble on taking him and hope that Nestrasil slides into the 3rd round (which is possible). I really want another 2nd rounder in this draft, I think there's gonna be value there.

 

 

I have been told I was wrong for criticizing Adams for throwing 2nd round picks into deals like they are nothing.  2nd round picks have great value in my opinion and shouldn’t be looked at as “whatever” sweeteners.  
I’m hopeful we can come out of this draft with 2-3 impactful players as I’m praying this is the lowest we draft in a long time. 

[LGR4GM]

17 minutes ago, Mr. Allen said:

I have been told I was wrong for criticizing Adams for throwing 2nd round picks into deals like they are nothing.  2nd round picks have great value in my opinion and shouldn’t be looked at as “whatever” sweeteners.  
I’m hopeful we can come out of this draft with 2-3 impactful players as I’m praying this is the lowest we draft in a long time. 

Trading 2nd round picks for nhl players is smart. Now Malenstyn might have been a bit stupid but Appert was all hot to trot but a 2nd for Greenway was good work. 2nd round picks have a 20ish% chance at being a 100 game nhl player. 

[LGR4GM]

Has us take O'Brien. He's a 6'2" center known for his playmaking who took off the 2nd half of the year. He doesn't play heavy though which would be my only question but he can, as in if to watch enough there's a bit if underlying jam. 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6393069/2025/06/03/nhl-mock-draft-2025-pronman/