2025 NHL Entry Draft Thread, Sabres Draft 9th

[Brawndo]

 

[LGR4GM]

 

 

"That being said, this top 10 is damn strong. That’s why I’m not willing to call it a weak draft"

[Mr Peabody]

Listening to Shane Malloy on XM and he was asked about (paraphrasing) a prospect who might be a surprise early pick and he raved about Logan Hensler.   Complete game d man who would have been a 60 point scorer in CHL. 
 

Thought he could go as high as 11

Edited yesterday at 05:20 PM by Mr Peabody

[Thorny]

It would be honestly so ridiculously refreshing to see them deal this pick where it should be dealt, for now talent, rather than strut up to the podium with a smile while selecting the latest player who “fell right to them”

Edited 19 hours ago by Thorny

[Stads]

I am growing more and more concerned that we're keeping the 9th pick and not moving it as part of a package for a piece that could help right now. We'll take another Quinn/Benson/Savoie who is pretty talented, but won't know for 4-5 years whether or not they have can contribute consistently at the NHL Level. We are trapped in Hockey Purgatory (or more Hell I suppose)

[LGR4GM]

19 minutes ago, Stads said:

I am growing more and more concerned that we're keeping the 9th pick and not moving it as part of a package for a piece that could help right now. We'll take another Quinn/Benson/Savoie who is pretty talented, but won't know for 4-5 years whether or not they have can contribute consistently at the NHL Level. We are trapped in Hockey Purgatory (or more Hell I suppose)

We pretty much know Benson can and does contribute at the NHL level. 

[shrader]

8 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

We pretty much know Benson can and does contribute at the NHL level. 

And there are plenty of other pieces that you can use to make a move for today. Keeping the draft pick doesn’t mean they’re not looking for help today. Some of these other pieces probably have more trade value than #9. 

[Mr. Allen]

35 minutes ago, Stads said:

I am growing more and more concerned that we're keeping the 9th pick and not moving it as part of a package for a piece that could help right now. We'll take another Quinn/Benson/Savoie who is pretty talented, but won't know for 4-5 years whether or not they have can contribute consistently at the NHL Level. We are trapped in Hockey Purgatory (or more Hell I suppose)

A lot of experts are saying this draft is weaker than normal years. And if Adams can’t find the right deal then yeah, make the pick.  Do what’s best for the team.  Don’t make a bad move just because there’s pressure to win now.  

[PerreaultForever]

My final thoughts on this are:

Martone (who will already be gone but you never know)

Martin (might still be there and he fills a need big time)

Bear (a reach but also fills a need)

Mrtka (if somehow all 3 are gone he's 3 years away but eventually might pair with Power)

If Martin is still on the board and they take somebody like Eklund or O'Brien I will scream and I might just quit. 

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, shrader said:

And there are plenty of other pieces that you can use to make a move for today. Keeping the draft pick doesn’t mean they’re not looking for help today. Some of these other pieces probably have more trade value than #9. 

And if they keep the pick to try to backfill for Östlund or Helenius, cool.  But if they keep the pick and all their prospects, then what is the game plan?  See what they can get next off-season when Dahlin and Thompson throw in the towel?  Wasn't that the point in the movie where Bill Murray drove off the cliff with the groundhog to see if he could make the nightmare end?

[dudacek]

I think the deal with this draft is there’s one stud in Schaefer, one top 5 guy in Misa, about 10-15 similar guys that would typically go in the 5-15 range.

No worries about quality in the area the Sabres are picking.

[JoeSchmoe]

3 hours ago, Mr. Allen said:

A lot of experts are saying this draft is weaker than normal years. And if Adams can’t find the right deal then yeah, make the pick.  Do what’s best for the team.  Don’t make a bad move just because there’s pressure to win now.  

I disagree with the experts about this draft. It might not have a generational player like McKenna, but it's just as deep as any other draft. 

Keep in mind Misa played up his whole minor hockey career and was taken number 1 in the OHL draft as an Exceptional Status player. He had beaten McDavid's record for most points in an OHL cup.

Schaefer was head and shoulders the #1 D man on Team Canada at the WJC (until he got hurt) which included last year's #11 overall Sam Dickinson who was touted as one of... if not the best defenseman in the CHL.

Are the players 3 through 15 any different than any other year? I think there's a similar fall off from the top 2 as you'd see any other year. 

Remember, everyone thought 2015 was the big draft compared to 2014, but as time goes on the players from 2014 are looking better and better (ignoring that McDavid guy anyways). 😀 I think the "experts" just look at the top 1 or 2 guys, and extrapolate from there.

These are all the same "experts" who had Brady Martin as a late first rounder, but overnight put him up to mid single digits after one U18 tournament.

The same "experts" that completely ignore a guy like Carter Bear and his 40 goals in 56 games and despite @LGR4GM's insistence that he's one of the best motors in the draft. Meanwhile they consistantly place Jake O'Brien above him even though he has less goals in more games, about the same PPG, much lower motor, and has played on a really stacked team that would completely inflate his point totals.

Edited 14 hours ago by JoeSchmoe
Add the @ for LGR

[LGR4GM]

1 hour ago, JoeSchmoe said:

I disagree with the experts about this draft. It might not have a generational player like McKenna, but it's just as deep as any other draft. 

Keep in mind Misa played up his whole minor hockey career and was taken number 1 in the OHL draft as an Exceptional Status player. He had beaten McDavid's record for most points in an OHL cup.

Schaefer was head and shoulders the #1 D man on Team Canada at the WJC (until he got hurt) which included last year's #11 overall Sam Dickinson who was touted as one of... if not the best defenseman in the CHL.

Are the players 3 through 15 any different than any other year? I think there's a similar fall off from the top 2 as you'd see any other year. 

Remember, everyone thought 2015 was the big draft compared to 2014, but as time goes on the players from 2014 are looking better and better (ignoring that McDavid guy anyways). 😀 I think the "experts" just look at the top 1 or 2 guys, and extrapolate from there.

These are all the same "experts" who had Brady Martin as a late first rounder, but overnight put him up to mid single digits after one U18 tournament.

The same "experts" that completely ignore a guy like Carter Bear and his 40 goals in 56 games and despite @LGR4GM's insistence that he's one of the best motors in the draft. Meanwhile they consistantly place Jake O'Brien above him even though he has less goals in more games, about the same PPG, much lower motor, and has played on a really stacked team that would completely inflate his point totals.

Imo, I don't think public draft evaluation understands or takes much account of checking ability. Being able to check, (that includes hitting, cutting through an opponents hands, stick lifts, and those shoulder to shoulders battles), in both zones seems to get far less attention than slick passing plays. 

O'Brien skates "better" than Bear stylistically, he tends to connect a bit more on his passes, he uses handles to manipulate lanes open. Those things are easy to identify and at least publicly are more valuable than Bears ability to read opponents and bate them, his checking is top notch, his shot is better but no one seems to care, and while his ability to pass might be less, it's still an advanced skill. 

So the question I end up with is what's more likely, O'Brien develops and rounds out a checking game or Bear improves his skating stride to help unlock the hands he already shows? I'll bet on Bears skating over O'Brien and the checking. I could be wrong, we'll see. Benson's checking and manipulation went underrated in his draft year. Jarvis, same thing. Will Bear be another one of these guys? 

One note, both players might be really good nhl guys in the end. It's not either or. 

[LGR4GM]

One last note that got from EP draft guide. Carter Bear finished 3rd, just behind Berkley Catton, for even strength primary points per 60 in the WHL. Carter Bear drives and creates offense while also being bordering on elite defensively. 

[French Collection]

Some things are tough to measure. Development runway due to work ethic. Growth in size and strength. Desire to be an NHLer. Willingness to play a role that is outside of the current skillset. Team first attitude.

Interviews at the combine attempt to dig into this but scouts could get a few nuggets during the year from coaches, staff, family and friends. Everyone will be promoting the kid and scouts have to glean through the information.

I agree with many here that want some grit and compete if the Sabres keep the pick. Martin and Bear fit in that regard.

[LGR4GM]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6391288/2025/06/20/nhl-draft-2025-scouts-mcqueen-ryabkin/

Notes: the defense rankings are all over the place

McQueen is going to 15 I think. Did well in interviews. 

Ryabkin I'm not interested in. Talent yes, dedication no. Pass. 

[The Jokeman]

7 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

One last note that got from EP draft guide. Carter Bear finished 3rd, just behind Berkley Catton, for even strength primary points per 60 in the WHL. Carter Bear drives and creates offense while also being bordering on elite defensively. 

You're preaching to the choir man, I think most of us would be happy if added Bear to our list of prospects if don't move 9OA that said I'd rather have NHL talent than prospects at this point. 

[LGR4GM]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6436425/2025/06/20/2025-nhl-mock-draft-the-athletic-hockey-show/

They have us taking McQueen. Martin (5oa) is long gone by then for those wondering. 

[shrader]

11 hours ago, Taro T said:

And if they keep the pick to try to backfill for Östlund or Helenius, cool.  But if they keep the pick and all their prospects, then what is the game plan?  See what they can get next off-season when Dahlin and Thompson throw in the towel?  Wasn't that the point in the movie where Bill Murray drove off the cliff with the groundhog to see if he could make the nightmare end?

There's also the timing issue.  If you're moving the pick, it needs to happen now.  The prospects, you have a lot more time there.  I know there could be plenty of debate over whether or not it's a viable strategy, but if you want to see what shakes free after free agency, the draft pick does not enter that equation. 

I completely agree that something has to be moved in the next month, preferably a lot of things.  They have to realize that at this point.  But then again they should have realized that two years ago but didn't.  Hopefully that new voice in the room is a strong one.