Prospect Info: 2025 draft discussion

[schuelma24]

Watch 5 minutes of his highlights and you'll realize he really doesn't look like either player. He's well above Raz in skating, stick handling, puck protection, passing, and shooting. He needs to add some bulk, maybe add a little more power to his skating, but looks to me like 3C is his absolute floor while Raz is playing 4th line winger right now.

If he comes back in February and stays healthy and does well, I would almost bet on him going 4 or 5. Obviously a decent amount of if's there.

 

[Barry Amsterdam]

Watch 5 minutes of his highlights and you'll realize he really doesn't look like either player. He's well above Raz in skating, stick handling, puck protection, passing, and shooting. He needs to add some bulk, maybe add a little more power to his skating, but looks to me like 3C is his absolute floor while Raz is playing 4th line winger right now.

i’ve watched probably 40 plus games of him. I’m not saying he’ll be ras but he’ll be way closer to a 3rd line 4th line guy than an elite C. I don’t see it with him

 

[OldnotDeadWings]

Considering he's only played a few games this season and has what might be a serious health issue, it's premature IMO to have a strong opinion on McQueen and where he might go in the Draft. So much depends on development during the Draft year. If he comes back healthy and has a strong second half he'll be a top 10 pick, If not, he could end up anywhere.. He's nothing like Ras in terms of skills and his game is not similar at all to Danielson. He's more like Vilardi but with decent wheels. Like Villardi, very good hands and shot, hard to handle physically, bad back.

 

[Gniwder]

i’ve watched probably 40 plus games of him. I’m not saying he’ll be ras but he’ll be way closer to a 3rd line 4th line guy than an elite C. I don’t see it with him

If you watch 40 games and you can't see that his skill level is significantly higher than Raz' skill level, then I have no idea what you're looking at. I have no idea what his effort level or hockey IQ is, but the skills are certainly there. Skating is not very explosive, but still waaaay better than Raz. Edgework is already 10 times better.

 

[Barry Amsterdam]

If you watch 40 games and you can't see that his skill level is significantly higher than Raz' skill level, then I have no idea what you're looking at. I have no idea what his effort level or hockey IQ is, but the skills are certainly there. Skating is not very explosive, but still waaaay better than Raz. Edgework is already 10 times better.

is your reading comprehension that poor. He is CLOSER to ras than an elite c. I’m not saying he’ll be ras. If you want to take a shot at a 6’6 C who’s not a very good skater and isn’t overly physical. and think you’ll get the next thompson than sure take him. I wouldn’t take mcqueen top 15

 

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

Considering he's only played a few games this season and has what might be a serious health issue, it's premature IMO to have a strong opinion on McQueen and where he might go in the Draft. So much depends on development during the Draft year. If he comes back healthy and has a strong second half he'll be a top 10 pick, If not, he could end up anywhere.. He's nothing like Ras in terms of skills and his game is not similar at all to Danielson. He's more like Vilardi but with decent wheels. Like Villardi, very good hands and shot, hard to handle physically, bad back.

Nice post.

I would not take him in the top 10.

Maybe someone swings?

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Ok you can’t just leave us hanging. If we draft sixth and the big four are gone along with Frondel who are you taking. I like your scouting skills better than anyone’s on this board. By the way I was kinda thinking Frondel but not now

Right now I’m leaning towards Eklund or maybe a CHL surprise pick. There are a couple of guys from OHL and WHL I think will surprise internet scouts with how high they get picked.

 

[redwingsfannn9191]

Wouldnt hate picking him . Really like what I see

 

[Gniwder]

is your reading comprehension that poor. He is CLOSER to ras than an elite c. I’m not saying he’ll be ras. If you want to take a shot at a 6’6 C who’s not a very good skater and isn’t overly physical. and think you’ll get the next thompson than sure take him. I wouldn’t take mcqueen top 15

Well that's a pretty wide range between McDavid and Raz, a 4th line winger. He just needs to be a middle 6 winger to meet the halfway criteria, and I think he can achieve that. If you want an actual discussion, tells us if he's 1C, 2C, 3C, Raz, or AHLer instead of saying something quite that broad.

As far as physicality, it's hard to say with a lanky tall kid that nobody wants to fight just because of his height advantage. Took Elmer waaaay too long to realize that's part of the game, but he's finally there.

I'd be more concerned about his back if he's had past issues, though it appears he came back for the playoffs so it couldn't have been too serious.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Wouldnt hate picking him . Really like what I see

This was one of the CHL surprise picks I was thinking. I doubt this kid falls further than 12th. Creativity out the wazoo, great passer, and a good skater. Stylistically he reminds me a lot of Jett Luchenko. He doesn’t have the motor of Luchenko from last draft, but he’s better at everything else Luchenko was. That’s an easy top 10 pick when you factor in position premium.

 

[ElProfessor]

is your reading comprehension that poor. He is CLOSER to ras than an elite c. I’m not saying he’ll be ras. If you want to take a shot at a 6’6 C who’s not a very good skater and isn’t overly physical. and think you’ll get the next thompson than sure take him. I wouldn’t take mcqueen top 15

Well that's a pretty wide range between McDavid and Raz, a 4th line winger. He just needs to be a middle 6 winger to meet the halfway criteria, and I think he can achieve that. If you want an actual discussion, tells us if he's 1C, 2C, 3C, Raz, or AHLer instead of saying something quite that broad.

As far as physicality, it's hard to say with a lanky tall kid that nobody wants to fight just because of his height advantage. Took Elmer waaaay too long to realize that's part of the game, but he's finally there.

I'd be more concerned about his back if he's had past issues, though it appears he came back for the playoffs so it couldn't have been too serious.

Spending half your life on ice skates is not a normal thing for homosapiens to do. A kid as tall as him having some back pains going through growth spurts isn't that alarming.

And unless we trade Larkin, Danielson or Kasper...we wouldn't be drafting him to be a center. We'd be drafting him to put 20-30lbs on him...to be a 6-5 220-230lb wing with all his skill, speed, and defensive ability.

That's what I like about him.

 

[Coach Reggie Dunlop]

It’s schaefer, hagens, martone, misa in that order. I’m willing to bet desoyners goes 5th and then after that it’s a free for all between McQueen, frondel, Eklund etc. I think if we get any of the top 4 picks we are golden.

 

[ricky0034]

i can't see a prospect going 1st or 2nd overall when they miss half of their draft year. has anything like that ever happened?

Nolan Patrick

 

[lilidk]

I expect we pick around 10 - 16 and it will be highest floor prospect .
Malkom Spence , 2way big , older power forward, just like Yzerman likes.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

This was one of the CHL surprise picks I was thinking. I doubt this kid falls further than 12th. Creativity out the wazoo, great passer, and a good skater. Stylistically he reminds me a lot of Jett Luchenko. He doesn’t have the motor of Luchenko from last draft, but he’s better at everything else Luchenko was. That’s an easy top 10 pick when you factor in position premium.

I don't understand this comparison at all, unless you are looking for an OHL player that went outside of the top of the 1st round. Luchenko's game is all about pace, skating and anticipation. Unless you have a high-end skater, he falls apart as a comparable. I don't even consider skating a strength of O'Brien's game, although I don't see it as an issue. Maybe Cootes is a better representation of this type of player.

Now oddly enough, for someone as bearish as hell on this class (outside of the top 5), I actually have time for O'Brien and probably won't mind him if we end up somewhere around ten.

Other random observations from the discourse on this thread:

1. I don't know how anyone can have any really firm opinions on McQueen at this stage except for those related to his health. He hasn't played at all this year. I have no clue what he is looking like these days and neither does anyone else.

2. I love the general profile of Frondell and typically can't get enough of it. That said, he needs to have a big second half to get me interested or excited. At a certain point, you need to produce as forward and you can't explain away his lack thereof by injury too much longer. He will go higher than most expect simply because this class sucks so much. I haven't ruled him out just yet, but we need to see some positive development.

3. Should we actually land around 10ish, I am thinking that the play may be one of the defensemen like Jackson Smith or maybe Mrtka or even Fiddler or the Wisco kid.

Anyways, still not excited about this class and am hoping for a bottom five finish.

 

[SantosHalper]

Mid round target?
David Granberg - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

 

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

I don't understand this comparison at all, unless you are looking for an OHL player that went outside of the top of the 1st round. Luchenko's game is all about pace, skating and anticipation. Unless you have a high-end skater, he falls apart as a comparable. I don't even consider skating a strength of O'Brien's game, although I don't see it as an issue. Maybe Cootes is a better representation of this type of player.

Now oddly enough, for someone as bearish as hell on this class (outside of the top 5), I actually have time for O'Brien and probably won't mind him if we end up somewhere around ten.

Other random observations from the discourse on this thread:

1. I don't know how anyone can have any really firm opinions on McQueen at this stage except for those related to his health. He hasn't played at all this year. I have no clue what he is looking like these days and neither does anyone else.

2. I love the general profile of Frondell and typically can't get enough of it. That said, he needs to have a big second half to get me interested or excited. At a certain point, you need to produce as forward and you can't explain away his lack thereof by injury too much longer. He will go higher than most expect simply because this class sucks so much. I haven't ruled him out just yet, but we need to see some positive development.

3. Should we actually land around 10ish, I am thinking that the play may be one of the defensemen like Jackson Smith or maybe Mrtka or even Fiddler or the Wisco kid.

Anyways, still not excited about this class and am hoping for a bottom five finish.

Frondell is giving me Zadina vibes.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

Frondell is giving me Zadina vibes.

To his credit, I think he moves much better than Zadina.

 

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

A little bit, and can play center, but yeah I might be wrong, but I don't see anything that says top 10 pick.

 

[Frk It]

If we miss out on the top tier, I am hoping for one of: Reschny, Carbonneau, Eklund, Bear

Reschny is probably the highest upside option there, IMO

 

[lilidk]

Frondell is giving me Zadina vibes.

I thought Zadina biggest problem that he believes he was unappreciated star . He also brought too early to play in NHL.
Pretty sure Yzerman would never draft him, he would go after Dobson