Prospect Info: 2025 Draft discussion
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CheckingLineCenter
Registered User
- Aug 10, 2018
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I think Hagens is sick and the clear 1, but the next group looks real solid, so you should be able to get a nice building block if you are in the top 5.
If we are finally getting serious about rebuilding you go center. Big proponent of building down the middle.
CheckingLineCenter
Registered User
- Aug 10, 2018
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BPA always. I bet AZ wishes they had taken Marner over Strome.
Top 5 this draft. 1st overall for McKenna 2026?
Looks entirely possible to me. We shouldn't be any better next season and the rest of the bottom teams should be better since their young, high draft picks should be better and better!
Looks entirely possible to me. We shouldn't be any better next season and the rest of the bottom teams should be better since their young, high draft picks should be better and better!
Big Friggin Dummy
Registered User
- Feb 22, 2019
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If this team can manage to trade Eller, Petts, Rust and EK by next October, they're absolutely in the running for McKenna in 2026.
When the best player is evident sure. You wouldn’t pass on a Michkov type just to draft a center.
Le Magnifique 66
Let's Go Pens
Combined with 82 games of Jarry, seems like a formality !!If this team can manage to trade Eller, Petts, Rust and EK by next October, they're absolutely in the running for McKenna in 2026.
Big Friggin Dummy
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- Feb 22, 2019
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This team's best prospect ideally pans out to be a Landeskog/Hornqvist sorta third wheel on a scoring line if everything works out perfectly. I don't think they have the prospect pool to turn their nose up at anybody in favor of certain positions.
I am immediately wary of any guy labeled to be a power forward though. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have that kinda guy in the prospect cupboard, but those guys, legit power forwards, are unicorns. It feels like 99% of the time anybody with that label ends up being some bottom-6 grunt. It's really hard for a guy to have his game predicated on being able to physically overpower the opposition and just jump into NHL duty against fully grown professional athletes.
-edit- Especially if this organization is hell bent on keeping Sullivan around. Could you imagine drafting a dude like Martone just to have Sully try and mold him into ZAR? I think that'd actually be the thing to make me stop watching until Sully's done.
I am immediately wary of any guy labeled to be a power forward though. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have that kinda guy in the prospect cupboard, but those guys, legit power forwards, are unicorns. It feels like 99% of the time anybody with that label ends up being some bottom-6 grunt. It's really hard for a guy to have his game predicated on being able to physically overpower the opposition and just jump into NHL duty against fully grown professional athletes.
-edit- Especially if this organization is hell bent on keeping Sullivan around. Could you imagine drafting a dude like Martone just to have Sully try and mold him into ZAR?
I think that'd actually be the thing to make me stop watching until Sully's done.
- Jun 13, 2010
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Hagens is going to go 1st. Like Celebrini, he's been consistently rated 1ov for a little while now. And I think he'll be a sick player. I'm not 100% convinced he starts off in the NHL though. As good as I think he will eventually be, I don't get the same strong feeling about him as I have with recent 1ovs like Celebrini and Bedard but that could change over the course of the year. I think he might be in more of that Owen Power level where he takes an extra year.
After him, 2-4 has a variety of quality forwards: Misa, McQueen, and Martone. Misa is my current favorite of the three but its really hard to ignore McQueen being 6'5 200lbs. Misa is 6'1, 185 and Martone is 6'3 220lb. Bottom line, as currently ranked, 2-4 you are getting a sizeable forward.
That said, when I discuss this here, I'm not convinced we will get 1-2ov. I'm think 4ov or at best 3ov. So I'm not getting too many hopes up gushing over Hagens or Martone who I think are the clear 1-2 thus far.
After him, 2-4 has a variety of quality forwards: Misa, McQueen, and Martone. Misa is my current favorite of the three but its really hard to ignore McQueen being 6'5 200lbs. Misa is 6'1, 185 and Martone is 6'3 220lb. Bottom line, as currently ranked, 2-4 you are getting a sizeable forward.
That said, when I discuss this here, I'm not convinced we will get 1-2ov. I'm think 4ov or at best 3ov. So I'm not getting too many hopes up gushing over Hagens or Martone who I think are the clear 1-2 thus far.
WickedWrister
Registered User
I know it's early but how does the top end talent and depth of this years draft class compare to the last few years?
Jacob
as seen on TV
- Feb 27, 2002
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I like Martone a lot. He stood out to me at the U18s and I wasn’t looking for him.
Le Magnifique 66
Let's Go Pens
Agreed, he was fantastic in the tournament and had great chemistry with McKenna, our 2026 pick!!
He is also putting up very nice numbers to start the season, can't wait to see him play at the world Juniors.
Is it certain that bpa at 2-4 will be a forward though? I honestly havent watched these guys at all, except what I can find on youtube, but reading different scouting rapports, seems like Schaefer has no.1 D potential, so would love to hear what others think of him, and if you and others would be happy if we picked him, as my thinking is no.1 C and D are the most difficult positions to fill.
- Jun 13, 2010
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Certainly not. Rankings can and will likely change throughout the season. Iginla last year was typically 10-20ov and he went 6th as well so you also never know how internal rankings go. Hell, 5 teams passed on Michkov. There's also Fondell in Sweden and Ryabkin in Russia that will make some noise leading up to the draft.
But you're right. Schaefer is currently the top-ranked man and certainly looks good. I tend to focus on high-end forward talent because I think our biggest overall need is replacement talent for Sid and Geno. I don't think teams can get away with not having 1C or VERY high-end 1W all that often, but I think teams can survive without a franchise #1D man if they can do it by committee or if they can find them via trade/FA.
Now that said, I don't think anyone we would get at 2-5ish would be the core franchise player moving forward. As I stated before, I think the best overall thing to happen to us would be top 5 pick this year and then tank next year and get McKenna. My secret gushy hope is also for us to send out Pettersson or any other combo and get a last 1st back and use that to take Cole McKinney. He dropped a bit in the ranks (which could 100% change) but he has a high end two-way game that could really help us, ideally as a 2C behind McKenna.
To answer your question more directly though, Schaefer would be a hell of pick for the organization. Schaefer, Pickering, and Brunicke would be a solid defensive prospect pool moving forward. I would suggest it would be like us nabbing Whitney in 2002 at 5ov. At that time, he was just another piece of the supporting cast puzzle that was used to insulate Sid and Geno after a couple of years.
A great "problem" to have is if we are picking and you have two great talents like Schaefer or Misa to pick between. Or if we are picking a little later, a guy like Ryabkin or McQueen would be a'okay with me.
Sike Mullivan
Nickstuitveness.
- Nov 15, 2010
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- 556
The good thing about the organization right now is the BPA when we pick can be any of the 5 skating positions and he will fill a hole.
Sike Mullivan
Nickstuitveness.
- Nov 15, 2010
- 998
- 556
For those in the area or looking for a road trip...Saginaw plays in Erie 12-14. Misa vs Schaefer/Spence (currently 8th ranked draft prospect)
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