NHL 2025 DRAFT - Bruins pick 7 OA

[DKH]

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.

Montreal top 4 wingers
Caufield
Slafkovsky
Demidov

Bruins
Pastrnak
Geekie
???????

Eklund puts us right there (I’m assuming Martone gone)

 

[vjcsmoke]

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.

If you ask me we've been sorely lacking a Powerplay QB ever since we lost Torey Krug to free agency. If O'Brien can be the type of guy to make that PP run like a well-oiled machine again, that would actually be a PLUS in my eyes.

This past season we had the 30th ranked powerplay out of 32 teams. That's NOT GOOD!

 

[HustleB]

If you ask me we've been sorely lacking a Powerplay QB ever since we lost Torey Krug to free agency. If O'Brien can be the type of guy to make that PP run like a well-oiled machine again, that would actually be a PLUS in my eyes.

This past season we had the 30th ranked powerplay out of 32 teams. That's NOT GOOD!

View attachment 1032616

I think that's a fair point, but things change so fast and this kid is furthest away. I don't love his alignment with the Pasta/McAvoy timeline but I like everything else a lot.

 

[shelbysdad]

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?

Just say no !
We can't afford to miss and take a chance on a guy we hope isn't injured

 

[Bodit9]

Montreal top 4 wingers
Caufield
Slafkovsky
Demidov

Bruins
Pastrnak
Geekie
???????

Eklund puts us right there (I’m assuming Martone gone)

Can Eklund play either wing? Puckpedia has him listed as a LW and a right shot.

 

[Fenian24]

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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A good gage for what players to take and avoid is normally the opposite of whatever Craig Button says.

 

[DKH]

Can Eklund play either wing? Puckpedia has him listed as a LW and a right shot.

he can do either wing which makes more valuable but he’s really a RW

Marchand- Zacha- Eklund

 

[Bodit9]

A good gage for what players to take and avoid is normally the opposite of whatever Craig Button says.

Inverse Button for hockey. Kinda like inverse Cramer for stocks.

 

[Bodit9]

he can do either wing which makes more valuable but he’s really a RW

Marchand- Zacha- Eklund

You think Eklund would start in the NHL next year?

 

[DKH]

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.

We have 7 weeks till the draft

Brady Martin will climb a spot a week and go first overall ~ I watched his videos and ready to take at 7

Then I Remembered 2 years ago Nolan Gorman of the Cardinals hit 12 homers and had an OPS about 1100 after 30 games. I fell hard so hard - I traded super star 3B Jose Ramirez for him and Jose Berrios in my APBA baseball league and weep whenever I see Cleveland play.

I’ll take any of the top 6 that sneak thru but then it’s Eklund or O’Brien

Today it’s Eklund

Your top 2 RW are Pastrnak & Eklund

Both scorers

 

[DominicT]

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 )

I can agr with this. However, NHL teams didn't tart scouting thee players this season. They start in their U16 years.

While I like McQueen's upside, the question is whether he has the best chance of reaching it or his peers do.

While a lot of these players in the sp called top 6 saw their development curve to continue to rise, McQueen flattened out a little. This isn't based on just this season.

 

[DKH]

You think Eklund would start in the NHL next year?

No but he’s supposed to be as good as brother William who got 9 games

He was a regular in 2 years

 

[HustleB]

No but he’s supposed to be as good as brother William who got 9 games

He was a regular in 2 years

I think the Eklund curve is the most predictable. He likely follows the exact same path as his Brother. I'm with you on Eklund/O'Brien. Those are my two guys as well if the "top six" goes "as expected". It's nice that there are 2-3 other viable options there as well. Mrtka, Smith and everyone's new favorite Martin. Anyone outside of these 11 and I may grab the panic button, but I love my current top 8. Eklund/O'Brien are ust outside the 2nd tier by a hair for me.

 

[DallasCowboys25]

hoping Porter Martone falls to the Bruins at pick 7.

 

[JCRO]

hoping Porter Martone falls to the Bruins at pick 7.

If he really does fall that far, IMO I dont see how you can ignore him.

BPA to me becomes far more important vs needing a Center. Whether thats Martone or Eklund.

They HAVE to hit on this pick.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

he can do either wing which makes more valuable but he’s really a RW

Marchand- Zacha- Eklund

If that's right, I'm all in on him.

 

[DKH]

If that's right, I'm all in on him.

He is

 

[BMC]

OK I'll be that person and ask a stupid question: If the Bruins pick a wing instead of a center then who is going to get the puck to him? Or Pasta? IMO the jury is still out on Elias Lindholm & Matt Poitras still might not be ready.

The Bruins' need for a 1C outweighs all other considerations. JMO.

 

[KnightofBoston]

OK I'll be that person and ask a stupid question: If the Bruins pick a wing instead of a center then who is going to get the puck to him? Or Pasta? IMO the jury is still out on Elias Lindholm & Matt Poitras still might not be ready.

The Bruins' need for a 1C outweighs all other considerations. JMO.

I agree, but if Martone falls to 7 and it's between him and Obrien you have to do BPA

Lindholm showed he can be a 1c or very good 2c toward the end of the stretch, let's hope that continues

Poitras has the skill but needs to work on his agility and edge work so he can shake guys since outmuscling them isn't as much of an option

You've got Dean in the pipeline who, while disappointing in his first NCAA year, is very skilled for his size so Im waiting to see how he does this year before I judge, either way he's ahead of guys that are 18 now

Then there's a wildcard in Locmelis, who can play Center but they stuck on wing because Providence was stacked with veteran centers, but he's a guy who could end up as a 2nd line center if you needed him to be one


You can win a cup with; a talented goalie who battles and sets aside his ego, a rock solid defense that can move the puck, and centers that are while not earth shattering can do their job while game breaking wingers put the icing on the cake


It comes down to a lot of variables, but Zacha, Lysell, Pasta, possibly Marchand, possibly Martone, Eklund, or Martin, Geekie - those are some good players in your top 6


Bruins need; Lindholm to stay healthy and return to his form so our defense is set, Swayman to start the season strong and get his reps in early, Geekie and Elias to continue to grow, Lysell to keep building on what we saw at the end of the year, and to hit on pick 7

they dont need Marchand but he would be nice, we need vets in the room if they're going to make the playoffs and have success there so who else but a guy that was already your captain and still has skill and great work ethic

 

[Bruin4]

OK I'll be that person and ask a stupid question: If the Bruins pick a wing instead of a center then who is going to get the puck to him? Or Pasta? IMO the jury is still out on Elias Lindholm & Matt Poitras still might not be ready.

The Bruins' need for a 1C outweighs all other considerations. JMO.

IMO the Bruins need to pick the best player available at 7. Center, defenseman or Winger. There’s no gaurantee whoever they pick will be in the NHL this season or next or even the year after that. So why force the issue and draft a Center just because it’s a position of need when there’s a winger or two there who has fallen into their laps.

They need a center badly, but they need NHL caliber players more.

Hopefully through trade, later in the draft, next years draft they find their pure cut first line center, but Imo
Sweeney has to take the best player available at 7. He can’t miss on this pick!

 

[Oates2Neely]

BPA. Simple. We don’t know what can happen in any given season. For all we know the Bruins top line center could be Eichel in 2026-27 season. Take the BPA at 7

 

[Fenian24]

I agree, but if Martone falls to 7 and it's between him and Obrien you have to do BPA

Lindholm showed he can be a 1c or very good 2c toward the end of the stretch, let's hope that continues

Poitras has the skill but needs to work on his agility and edge work so he can shake guys since outmuscling them isn't as much of an option

You've got Dean in the pipeline who, while disappointing in his first NCAA year, is very skilled for his size so Im waiting to see how he does this year before I judge, either way he's ahead of guys that are 18 now

Then there's a wildcard in Locmelis, who can play Center but they stuck on wing because Providence was stacked with veteran centers, but he's a guy who could end up as a 2nd line center if you needed him to be one


You can win a cup with; a talented goalie who battles and sets aside his ego, a rock solid defense that can move the puck, and centers that are while not earth shattering can do their job while game breaking wingers put the icing on the cake


It comes down to a lot of variables, but Zacha, Lysell, Pasta, possibly Marchand, possibly Martone, Eklund, or Martin, Geekie - those are some good players in your top 6


Bruins need; Lindholm to stay healthy and return to his form so our defense is set, Swayman to start the season strong and get his reps in early, Geekie and Elias to continue to grow, Lysell to keep building on what we saw at the end of the year, and to hit on pick 7

they dont need Marchand but he would be nice, we need vets in the room if they're going to make the playoffs and have success there so who else but a guy that was already your captain and still has skill and great work ethic

They need a true number 1 center badly, it would appear that after his decent showing in Boston Lysell is once again pouting and not producing in the playoffs at all for Providence. Looking at him as a top 6 player, I believe, is a pipe dream and he will be out of the organization shortly.

 

[DaBroons]

OK I'll be that person and ask a stupid question: If the Bruins pick a wing instead of a center then who is going to get the puck to him? Or Pasta? IMO the jury is still out on Elias Lindholm & Matt Poitras still might not be ready.

The Bruins' need for a 1C outweighs all other considerations. JMO.

Following your logic, then you would select a center whose ceiling isn't first line, but second line? Da Broons have several of those players now: Lin-home, Zacha, Mittlestad, Poitras. ANY team needing a second-line center should be thrilled to select Desnoyers; he'll be a very good one. I just don't see the first-line potential there.

You select the BPA and address the roster implications later. You can't fill all the holes at once.

OTOH, this team succeeded without a high-scoring #1 center since Marc Savard retired. But they had two superlative 1.5 centers (Krejci and Bergy), and you math majors know that 1.5 and 1.5 equals 3, just as 1 plus 2 equals 3. It worked because they were so strong in all the other areas.

If Martone or Eklund is the BPA, then you must take him. Otherwise, I like Martin. I think he has first-line potential. I do think these 3 players are all about equal, so the draft should be very interesting because the order is very unpredictable, perhaps even at the 3rd pick.

My semi-informed ranking/draft order is:

Schaefer
Misa (oh how I wanted him!!!)
Hagens
Martone
Frondell
Desnoyers (I don't rank him here, but I think Philly takes him here)
Martin, Eklund, or O'Brien to da Broons

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

OK I'll be that person and ask a stupid question: If the Bruins pick a wing instead of a center then who is going to get the puck to him? Or Pasta? IMO the jury is still out on Elias Lindholm & Matt Poitras still might not be ready.

The Bruins' need for a 1C outweighs all other considerations. JMO.

Who was getting Pasta the puck this season?

 

[DiggityDog]

OK I'll be that person and ask a stupid question: If the Bruins pick a wing instead of a center then who is going to get the puck to him? Or Pasta? IMO the jury is still out on Elias Lindholm & Matt Poitras still might not be ready.

The Bruins' need for a 1C outweighs all other considerations. JMO.

The Bruins have a need at center sure, but picking a center in the draft just because you need one isn’t necessarily the right move if there is a better wing available.

Whoever they take in the draft is likely 1-2 years away anyways, and when they do break in will likely start on the second or third line. So the effect this will have on Pastrnak for example isn’t immediate and therefore shouldn’t be treated as such

I would say BPA, but everyone’s BPA is different. I don’t know who they take or what they take. They just need to hit this one. I hope they do