[Wolven]

Originally Posted by cral12

NEW
Upside Hockey's 2025 NHL Draft Rankings — Spring Edition
Our March Top 224 NHL Draft Rankings from Chief Scout Eldon MacDonald

Matthew Schaefer Maintains Number One Ranking
- but otherwise plenty of movement

Link: https://upsidehockey.substack.com/p/...t-rankings-3b0

Interesting how many Cs there are at the top of the list (6 of the top 10) whereas the rest of the first round only has 6 in the next 22.

Many people would argue that selections should be made for best player available instead of organizational need, but I think this draft for the Flames has to bring in a top tier C even if it leaves a "better" winger or D on the board.

At a glance I would group the first round Cs like this:
Misa, Frondell, Hagens, McQueen, Desnoyers, O'Brien appear to be a tier of their own as they are all ranked in the top 8.
Martin is then sitting at 12 and the only C in the second 10.
Nesbitt, McKinney, Cootes, Ryabkin, and Gastrin are all parked in the bottom third of the draft.

My questions to the experts:

• Is there a big drop off within the top 10 Cs? ie. O'Brien should be grouped with Martin instead of the top group.
• Is Martin significantly worse than the first group / better than the 3rd group?
• Are the Cs in that bottom group "good enough" or should the Flames be working hard to try to trade up?
• If the Flames make moves to trade up, is it worth assets get Martin instead of Nesbitt? Or are they close enough in potential that the Flames need to get into the top 10 or stay with their picks?

Looking at the teams, I wonder who would be open to trade.

• The Sabres need help now more than they need another prospect but it is unlikely the Flames suddenly become a good trade partner at the draft after the Sabres not wanting to trade with us at the TDL.
• The Penguins are in an interesting spot. Their prospect pipeline is decimated but they are still trying to win-now for Crosby. Maybe they would do a quality for quantity trade? It would either give them more prospects in the pipeline or trade chips if they want to keep trading to load up their roster.
• The Predators loaded up last summer to try to start contending and fell on their face. Maybe they go back to rebuilding or maybe they are open to making moves to try to get into the playoffs next season? Their RD depth is a weakness... maybe this is the Andersson draft day trade target?