Prospect Info: 2025 DRAFT Discussion

[PensFutures]

Re: Frondell vs Eklund, I'm still in the Frondell camp (though it IS close. I have Eklund as my 6/7 neck and neck with Desnoyers). I know people hate using positional need as a metric in drafting, but we are nearly at that "mission-critical" stage, especially after sending Yager out for another wing.

This is how I am leaning as well. I feel like we have more decent to throw at the wall for W/D. I wont be upset if we end up with Eklund, but I would prefer being able to grab one of the top centers.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

This is how I am leaning as well. I feel like we have more decent to throw at the wall for W/D. I wont be upset if we end up with Eklund, but I would prefer being able to grab one of the top centers.

Same here, I have Frondell ahead for us because he will be a bigger need for us down the road. I won't be upset if he is gone and we end up with Eklund.

O'Brien would be a hell of a sweet project if he was to fall with the Rags pick!!

 

[Jesse]

Finished up my Frondell project this morning.

 

[Jacob]

One cool thing about O’Brien is they use him for zone entries on the PP. That’s a pretty important job in the NHL.

 

[chethejet]

pens need centers. It is that simple. O'Brien, McQueen and Martin are RH centers which I prefer. If Rangers finish say 14, I move up to make sure the center position is addressed for the eventual Sid and Geno retirement. Get quality centers and now we are in much better shape for the future.

 

[Pancakes]

Bpa always. Never draft for positional need

 

[cygnus47]

Bpa always. Never draft for positional need

Definitely. Positional need is what trades are for.

 

[Jacob]

Small sample size but there wasn’t much hesitation when they went up to take Yager even though there seemed to be a dip, or at least a question of who was next best, after Benson. They’re different style of players but I think there’s some parallels between Yager’s draft year and O’Brien’s. Just seems like the kinda guy where we say the question marks don’t really matter that much because it’s all about BPA. PP merchant? Bit spindly? Productive but surrounded by talent? Doesn’t matter, skill is skill.

 

[Gurglesons]

Bpa always. Never draft for positional need

There isn’t a consensus on that where we are drafting.

BPA will be determined by our staff and tbh you do weigh position when making that determination IMO.

 

[SEALBound]

There isn’t a consensus on that where we are drafting.

BPA will be determined by our staff and tbh you do weigh position when making that determination IMO.

With where the prospect pool is at, you absolutely do. Center depth is much more difficult to come by than wing depth.

We saw two elite wing available at the TDL these past two years. How many 1Cs come available? Avs and Toronto paid through the nose for second rate top 6 centers.

If it's Eklund vs Desnoyers/McQueen...I'm taking the center with full acknowledgment that Eklund may very well end up the better producer.

 

[Ragamuffin Gunner]

It would be awesome for the Pens to finish 0-12 and move up to a top 3 pick. Almost guarantee they get one of the top 4.

 

[eklund2chicago]

Kyle Dubas is in Mora right now to watch Frondell and Eklund. He was seen at a fast food restaurant just now.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Kyle Dubas is in Mora right now to watch Frondell and Eklund. He was seen at a fast food restaurant just now.

Yeah Clark tweeted a vid from Sweden yesterday.

 

[Pancakes]

There isn’t a consensus on that where we are drafting.

BPA will be determined by our staff and tbh you do weigh position when making that determination IMO.

Weighting the draft by positional need is how you galaxy brain yourself into bad picks.

It's stupid because needs change and by the time the prospect you pick is ready to make the NHL you may have different needs than what you had when you made the pick.

If the Pens are picking by positional need instead of bpa then I hope they trade down.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Glad to see Dubas checking out Eklund and Frondell in person, I think those two are the best prospects who will be sitting where the Penguins are picking.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

Kyle Dubas is in Mora right now to watch Frondell and Eklund. He was seen at a fast food restaurant just now.

He is planning to hire Phil Kessel as development coach?

 

[Ulf5]

He is planning to hire Phil Kessel as development coach?

I heard it was strength and conditioning administrator.

 

[Sideline]

I heard it was strength and conditioning administrator.

"Jeez guys, it's not hard. Just walk into the gym wearing flip flops, deadlift 405, grab a hotdog, and tell the coach to f*** off."

 

[cookthebooks]

"Jeez guys, it's not hard. Just walk into the gym wearing flip flops, deadlift 405, grab a hotdog, and tell the coach to f*** off."

true athletic freak, what a legend

 

[SEALBound]

"Jeez guys, it's not hard. Just walk into the gym wearing flip flops, deadlift 405, grab a hotdog, and tell the coach to f*** off."

We all read that in his voice instinctually.

 

[Malkinstheman]

I will literally never ever agree with drafting based on need. I dont care if you already have 5 great center prospects, you take another if hes the best player available. Imagine if the Canucks passed on a centre in the draft because they have Miller and Pettersson. Players get injured or "cant miss" guys bust

 

[Ryder71]

I will literally never ever agree with drafting based on need. I dont care if you already have 5 great center prospects, you take another if hes the best player available. Imagine if the Canucks passed on a centre in the draft because they have Miller and Pettersson. Players get injured or "cant miss" guys bust

You draft BPA Unless you have two players that value equally or pert near and one fills a need. All things being equal you fill the need. And our need is center. All things being equal you should go with a center anyhow. That's how you win Cups. You win down the middle. I want a center unless there's a decided talent gap with another position.

 

[DearDiary]

I will literally never ever agree with drafting based on need. I dont care if you already have 5 great center prospects, you take another if hes the best player available. Imagine if the Canucks passed on a centre in the draft because they have Miller and Pettersson. Players get injured or "cant miss" guys bust

Not just position, but also playing type. Just look at the Pens drafting Jordan Staal 2nd overall

 

[Turin]

Frondell and McQueen would be dope

 

[Jag68Sid87]

It's utopia to suggest you always draft BPA, or you have to draft for need when that need becomes overwhelming. The reality is it always depends on the draft and the players to be selected. You absolutely never want to pass up a Brady Tkachuk because you need a center and you think Jesperi Kotkaniemi is the best center available. Having said that, you can also do your organization a disservice by ignoring your own depth chart.

We absolutely need centers. We did a nice job of stockpiling right defensemen last draft. We should probably draft a goaltender at some point in this year's draft. Beyond the two firsts this year (possibly just one), BPA sounds like the best plan. But always monitor the center position because it would appear that we might have a Karlsson/Letang replacement in-house, but we have zero candidates to replace either Crosby or Malkin at present time. Our best prospects are wingers, goaltenders and defensemen. Those are just facts.

Now, if they come away ridiculously impressed with Eklund when they see him live, pull the trigger.