NHL 2025 DRAFT - Bruins pick 7 OA

[RedSlider]

I don't understand how Eklund went from being in the "big seven" to now being in the tier with McQueen, O'Brien, Mrtka, ect. especially since his numbers & play haven't dropped much recently.

I think my picks at seven are Eklund or O'Brien even if O'Brien has to cook a few years. McQueen is just way too risky with that injury history & I want no part of Martin at 7. Maybe if the Bruins were still picking between 12-16 but they aren't.

Bruins are just lacking talent in so many areas that you have to go BPA if they intend to use the pick.

 

[DominicT]

 

[Kegs]

I don't understand how Eklund went from being in the "big seven" to now being in the tier with McQueen, O'Brien, Mrtka, ect. especially since his numbers & play haven't dropped much recently.

I think my picks at seven are Eklund or O'Brien even if O'Brien has to cook a few years. McQueen is just way too risky with that injury history & I want no part of Martin at 7. Maybe if the Bruins were still picking between 12-16 but they aren't.

Bruins are just lacking talent in so many areas that you have to go BPA if they intend to use the pick.

Martin won’t be on the table at 12.

 

[The don godfather]

Martin won’t be on the table at 12.

Hopefully flyers grab him I've read they have interest then desnoyers to us.

 

[RedSlider]

Martin won’t be on the table at 12.

I'm well aware he won't be there. He's the exact type of player a team is going to fall in love with & draft way higher than his usual ranking.

 

[The don godfather]

McQueen is sure a boom or bust pick could be better then misa . Very intriguing player for sure.

 

[Kegs]

McQueen is sure a boom or bust pick could be better then misa . Very intriguing player for sure.

I highly disagree that he is in the same tier as misa.

He could be in the Obrien, Martin tier.

 

[The don godfather]

I highly disagree that he is in the same tier as misa.

He could be in the Obrien, Martin tier.

I've read some articles on him and if he wasnt injured he could have gone top 3. Maybe trade down and get him and pick up a significant young roster player who can help and hope for the lottery ticket in McQueen?

 

[Dicky113]

I think the reason Desnoyers is highly ranked is because his defensive game is ready. He projects as a 2 way player, kind of like a Bergeron-lite. But he still needs to polish his offensive game. And the idea is that side will develop in the minors so he'll be a well rounded player by the time he comes up.

So if Desnoyers is scooped before #7 does that make O'Brien the best choice? I hear he's considered one of the best passers in this draft. However the criticism is he does not push the counter attack with speed, preferring to take his time to set up plays and passing lanes, also his skating is only average rather than showing any elite qualities.

Here's my question, how important is skating for a center. If it's only average but if he shows top quality vision and passing ability, does that make O'Brien a worthy pick? He sounds more like in the Krejci or Craig Janney mold, offensive minded pass first rather than a 2-way guy like Bergeron was for us.

I guess I worry that he doesn't display outstanding physical traits, skating, or strong defense. Am I wrong? What's his pro comp because I keep hearing Barzal who is a nice enough player, but maybe you're hoping for more from #7 or am I off base here.

I guess we are missing out on Tier 1 talent because of the ping pong balls or does someone great drop to us and we should pass on the position of need, center, and take the great winger instead if an Eklund or Martone somehow drops to us?

Yes I think Obrian is the best of the rest. I could see Martone being the one to drop. He could be a great player but not as safe as desnoyers.
I think Barzal is probably a good comparable. If you get that with 7th you have to be happy I think.

 

[Dicky113]

I highly disagree that he is in the same tier as misa.

He could be in the Obrien, Martin tier.

I agree. He’s huge but closer to brazeau than misa lol

 

[JoeIsAStud]

McQueen is sure a boom or bust pick could be better then misa . Very intriguing player for sure.

Sure I guess anything is possible, but McQueen has never shown anything to suggest he could be better than Misa. He is BIG, and they say he has good hands, but everything is is pure projection, and not based on what he has been able to accomplish on the ice. I'd say it is more possible that Eklund has a better career than than Misa, than it is that McQueen does

 

[DominicT]

I've read some articles on him and if he wasnt injured he could have gone top 3. Maybe trade down and get him and pick up a significant young roster player who can help and hope for the lottery ticket in McQueen?

Im not very bright, so explain this to me:

Matthew Schaefer and McQueen both played in 17 games this season because of injury.

Yet Schaefer jumps to number one and McQueen drops out of the top 3 that "he could have been if not for injuries".

How?

 

[bruinmann77]

Goingvto be interesting who falls

 

[The don godfather]

Im not very bright, so explain this to me:

Matthew Schaefer and McQueen both played in 17 games this season because of injury.

Yet Schaefer jumps to number one and McQueen drops out of the top 3 that "he could have been if not for injuries".

How?

Just some scouts saying If healthy he could be a diamond in a dark coal mine. He did put a point in a game in his last season and his height is what many drool for and also a center. Someone will pick him up early. Schaeffer I know nothing about because he wont fall to us hes hyped to the max .

 

[RiverbottomChuck]

Im not very bright, so explain this to me:

Matthew Schaefer and McQueen both played in 17 games this season because of injury.

Yet Schaefer jumps to number one and McQueen drops out of the top 3 that "he could have been if not for injuries".

How?

I've got no real grasp on the extent of either injury but maybe the type and location of the injury gives a brighter outlook for one over the other. Like in McQueen's case maybe the back injury at a young age with his size gives more pause over a broken clavicle that should be no concern to heal up properly.

 

[Bruinator]

Just throwing this out there. Could San Jose be very interested in uniting the eklund brothers? If so, they certainly wouldn't want to use a second overall pick for him. Could the bruins offer up a prospect and second rounder to swap pics? I would have to think that eklund would almost certainly still be on the board at 7. This would certainly give them the best center in the draft.

 

[vjcsmoke]

Just throwing this out there. Could San Jose be very interested in uniting the eklund brothers? If so, they certainly wouldn't want to use a second overall pick for him. Could the bruins offer up a prospect and second rounder to swap pics? I would have to think that eklund would almost certainly still be on the board at 7. This would certainly give them the best center in the draft.

I wouldn't mind moving up to San Jose's pick to take Misa. He looks to be a very special offensive player. I doubt it happens though. When have the Bruins ever moved up aggressively in the draft?

 

[Fenian24]

If no one drops to them go with either Eklund or Martin, if they think Masrtin plays pro as a center take him, if they see Martin as a wing it's a tossup between Martin and Eklund.

I would personally prefer Martin if he is as physical as people say but would be fine with Eklund.

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

If no one drops to them go with either Eklund or Martin, if they think Masrtin plays pro as a center take him, if they see Martin as a wing it's a tossup between Martin and Eklund.

I would personally prefer Martin if he is as physical as people say but would be fine with Eklund.

I think Martin is a cinch to play wing in the NHL. And I’m totally alright with that.

Eklund I have rated higher than most. And would be the best pick for them if the top six stays static. My brain wants Eklund… but my heart wants Martin.

I’d be very happy either way.

 

[PlayMakers]

I don't understand how Eklund went from being in the "big seven" to now being in the tier with McQueen, O'Brien, Mrtka, ect. especially since his numbers & play haven't dropped much recently.

I think my picks at seven are Eklund or O'Brien even if O'Brien has to cook a few years. McQueen is just way too risky with that injury history & I want no part of Martin at 7. Maybe if the Bruins were still picking between 12-16 but they aren't.

Bruins are just lacking talent in so many areas that you have to go BPA if they intend to use the pick.

I wonder if it's not so much Eklund sliding as other guys rising. O'Brien jumped up the chart from mid-season to end. He leapfrogged Martone, Desnoyers and Eklund on Central Scouting's final list.

Interesting to note that Jake O'Brien had 50 power play points. That means he only had 48 even strength points in 66 games.

Brady Martin only had 13 power play points, but he scored 59 even strength points in 57 games.

Edit: 65 ES points for Desnoyers in 56 games, fwiw.

 

[The don godfather]

I'm leaning towards O Brian if there is no shake up in top 6. Go safe.

 

[JOKER 192]

McQueen is sure a boom or bust pick could be better then misa . Very intriguing player for sure.

Button says he'd go way higher if not for his injuries . Also says not to worry about his injuries.
With that said, Button was on board with the Habs taking Kotkaniemi over Brady Tkachuk.

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[KnightofBoston]

Im not very bright, so explain this to me:

Matthew Schaefer and McQueen both played in 17 games this season because of injury.

Yet Schaefer jumps to number one and McQueen drops out of the top 3 that "he could have been if not for injuries".

How?

Might have something to do with injuries not being the only variable. From what I’ve seen, and what I’ve read, Schaefer is a completely player - and his value goes up being a complete guy at his position being compared to doughty and Makar because a defensemen that can be that complete is going to turn heads. His skating, decision making, offensive and defensive skills, all of it is high where as McQueen has some holes in his game.

Injury aside, because I’m not worried about his injury in a vaccuum if he didn’t get back surgery, the injury takes away the ability to see the kid play out the season and whether they can work on those holes.

Now, I could definitely see an argument for 2 guys going ahead of Schaefer, but I can’t see McQueen moving up past 7-8 with the current questions against him

Yea I could see the bruins taking a swing on him if they desperately want a center and none are left (if my math is right you’d have to see the draft go Schaefer in the top 2, Misa, Hagens, Frondell, Desnoyers, O’Brien - am I missing any? - for that to happen )

 

[DKH]

I don't understand how Eklund went from being in the "big seven" to now being in the tier with McQueen, O'Brien, Mrtka, ect. especially since his numbers & play haven't dropped much recently.

I think my picks at seven are Eklund or O'Brien even if O'Brien has to cook a few years. McQueen is just way too risky with that injury history & I want no part of Martin at 7. Maybe if the Bruins were still picking between 12-16 but they aren't.

Bruins are just lacking talent in so many areas that you have to go BPA if they intend to use the pick.

Preach

where I land ~ one of these two

They used high picks on centers last 3 drafts

They are all 21 or under

I can do O’Brien but their scoring from wings an issue ~ you need 4 top two line wingers

Pastrnak
Geekie
Eklund

You are in a good spot to compete with the Peterka, Tuch, Kulich, Quinn etc group

I would go top 6 then Eklund or O’Brien but I probably take Eklund at this point if 6 are all gone

I can always flip him for Will Smith in a year or two if I need a C

 

[LJReborn]

Preach

where I land ~ one of these two

They used high picks on centers last 3 drafts

They are all 21 or under

I can do O’Brien but their scoring from wings an issue ~ you need 4 top two line wingers

Pastrnak
Geekie
Eklund

You are in a good spot to compete with the Peterka, Tuch, Kulich, Quinn etc group

I would go top 6 then Eklund or O’Brien but I probably take Eklund at this point if 6 are all gone

I can always flip him for Will Smith in a year or two if I need a C

I think Eklund was top 5 coming into the season, his fall is insane. Everything Sweeney said during his last presser points to Eklund IMO. They need legit top six forwards, and there are not many available. Eklund or Martone would shore up one of the second line wings for a decade. I like JOB or Martin to a point as well, but neither IMO are lock top 6. Eklund is a lock top 6 IMO.