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Prospect Info: 2025 Draft discussion

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The Old Master said:
he's a highly skilled head case....... seems his "give a dam" is broke.
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Yeah skill is nice. Whatever. The important thing, who's available in the draft that can do this? THAT'S the guy I want!
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Jake O'Brien checks a lot of boxes for me. Right-shooting center putting up a lot of points in the OHL, arguably the best current developmental league in North America (if not the entire world).

I have been saying for a while that if we drafted two centers with our 2 firsts this year, I would be quite pleased.

By the way, I know McKenna will be the main prize of the 2026 draft and DuPont the main prize of the 2027 draft. But McKenzie also seems to be very high on Quebec center Alexis Joseph for the 2027 draft. I think he is like 6'4" at age 15 and an offensive force.
 
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I also like O'Brien but not in top 6. I would trade down if the centers I prefer are gone and not sold on another smaller winger. Pick up a second and maybe the Rangers pick at say 14 you have center, RW and who is there in the second round.
 
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They seem to be easing McQueen back in. Not too many even strength shifts. And when he does they're not too long. Looks like Laine on the PP. I guess he's moving at an average to above average pace but it doesn't look like he's trying with that. He probably just has that body build where they just look slow. Had a lousy/weak backcheck near the end of the first where it looked like he could've stripped the opposing player of the puck. But didn't have enough strength. Then near the start of the second he took a stick infraction.
 
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Randy Butternubs said:
They seem to be easing McQueen back in. Not too many even strength shifts. And when he does they're not too long. Looks like Laine on the PP. I guess he's moving at an average to above average pace but it doesn't look like he's trying with that. He probably just has that body build where they just look slow. Had a lousy/weak backcheck near the end of the first where it looked like he could've stripped the opposing player of the puck. But didn't have enough strength. Then near the start of the second he took a stick infraction.
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Good info. McQueen is a tough one. You can easily see the mountain of potential he has, but a back injury during his draft year where he missed most of it... yikes. He really needs to show it's not holding him back and can regain his form in what little time he has left, or it might be too risky to invest a 1st in him.
 
hopping on Nashville’s bandwagon for the rest of the season. A quick glance at the standings and what’s left for everyone, and it’s looking like we have a decent shot at finishing 3rd worst if the Preds can go on a short little run of 4-5 games.
 
Zero Pucks said:
Good info. McQueen is a tough one. You can easily see the mountain of potential he has, but a back injury during his draft year where he missed most of it... yikes. He really needs to show it's not holding him back and can regain his form in what little time he has left, or it might be too risky to invest a 1st in him.
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I only watched about half the game. But he ended up getting ejected for a boarding. Here's all his shifts:

 
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I don’t know. It looks like we’re picking 6th, 5th at best. Unless Dubas unloads talent which he’s said he’s not doing I can’t see us tanking any further.
 
At least from my read from the draft, the Penguins are fine as long as their pick is #5 or better. Getting either Frondell or Martone with that pick would be worth it. After #5, you start getting into the Desnoyers/McQueen/Mrtka category, which I feel is a step down from Frondell and Martone.

I just flat out wouldn't draft McQueen with his injury issues this year. I hope someone is stupid and takes him in the top-4, but I just can't see it without him going on a major playoff run.
 
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Empoleon8771 said:
At least from my read from the draft, the Penguins are fine as long as their pick is #5 or better. Getting either Frondell or Martone with that pick would be worth it. After #5, you start getting into the Desnoyers/McQueen/Mrtka category, which I feel is a step down from Frondell and Martone.

I just flat out wouldn't draft McQueen with his injury issues this year. I hope someone is stupid and takes him in the top-4, but I just can't see it without him going on a major playoff run.
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I'd take a chance on McQueen with a very late 1st at most. Apparently he had a back injury.
 
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Jag68Sid87 said:
Jake O'Brien checks a lot of boxes for me. Right-shooting center putting up a lot of points in the OHL, arguably the best current developmental league in North America (if not the entire world).

I have been saying for a while that if we drafted two centers with our 2 firsts this year, I would be quite pleased.

By the way, I know McKenna will be the main prize of the 2026 draft and DuPont the main prize of the 2027 draft. But McKenzie also seems to be very high on Quebec center Alexis Joseph for the 2027 draft. I think he is like 6'4" at age 15 and an offensive force.
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Joseph has some promise as a 6'4 center putting up decent numbers vs some kids that are 3 years older than he is, but unless something cataclysmic happens to DuPont's development the next two years, I can't see a world where he isn't a runaway 1st overall in 2027. Guy is a package the NHL hasn't really seen before. He already skates every bit as well as Makar did in his draft year, but with a 5'11", 180 lbs frame at the start of this season as a 15 year old. On top of that, he has the shooting mechanics of a player like Connor Bedard, distributes the puck on the PP like Makar, is a very good defender in his own end and already has great physicality and snarl in his game, playing some kids 5 years older than him. He could be something generational, and if he can get to 6'1, 205+ and keep progressing, look out.

If anyone wants to look at a few of his shift by shift games, or just game packages, I'd recommend it. The guy dances on his skates out there.

O'Brien would be decent if we get that 2nd 1st from New York this yeas and he hangs around that 15-spot. I think if he was a bit more of a threat with his shot/deferred a bit less he could squeak up a bit higher, but when you have a Lardis on your line, he might not have quite the confidence to hold over dish. Be curious to see what his numbers look like not playing with a 70+ goal scorer. Lardis is a shooter/scorer like Draisaitl in the way that it doesn't matter where he gets the puck, how the puck is rolling or bouncing, that he will get it off with pace, consistency and in a good spot. That bodes well for anyone setting him up and is propping some of those playmaker numbers up for his teammates, for sure.
 
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Empoleon8771 said:
At least from my read from the draft, the Penguins are fine as long as their pick is #5 or better. Getting either Frondell or Martone with that pick would be worth it. After #5, you start getting into the Desnoyers/McQueen/Mrtka category, which I feel is a step down from Frondell and Martone.

I just flat out wouldn't draft McQueen with his injury issues this year. I hope someone is stupid and takes him in the top-4, but I just can't see it without him going on a major playoff run.
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Yeah, its really a 1A, and then 2 A,B,C,D at the top of the draft and then a mixed bag of players that all have warts or deficiencies that stop them from being a sure fire 6-9 pick.

As it stands, I'm kind of sitting at:

Schaefer

Misa
Hagens/Martone
Frondell

Was hoping for a little more out of Martone and Hagens to push for 1st in this second half, but if anything, I feel like they've almost played Misa up to 2nd.
 
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Frankly I'm having a hard time differentiating between some of these centers, like Kindel, Reschny, O'Brien all seem really similar and very close together to me. Skilled, playmaking, somewhat-perimeter-y 2007 birthdates putting up pretty good numbers in their draft year. Like better than Yager in his draft year. I'd probably just defer to whoever is the most productive relative to the rest of their team which is Kindel.

I think Bear and Desnoyers are definitely in a higher tier, though.
 
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lokomotiv15 said:
Yeah, its really a 1A, and then 2 A,B,C,D at the top of the draft and then a mixed bag of players that all have warts or deficiencies that stop them from being a sure fire 6-9 pick.

As it stands, I'm kind of sitting at:

Schaefer

Misa
Hagens/Martone
Frondell

Was hoping for a little more out of Martone and Hagens to push for 1st in this second half, but if anything, I feel like they've almost played Misa up to 2nd.
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If the Pens were to win the draft lottery and move up to 1OA, would you draft Schaefer or trade down to 3 for Martone/Hagens?
 
McGroarty2 said:
If the Pens were to win the draft lottery and move up to 1OA, would you draft Schaefer or trade down to 3 for Martone/Hagens?
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100% keep the pick and draft Schaefer. It's unfortunate that he's been injured because it makes it harder to paint the whole picture, but I feel like he's a clear cut above the field. Any time that you can get a combo of size, extremely high end skill (especially relative to his position), being the BPA while being the best all-around skater in a draft class, I couldn't see myself wanting to pass.
 
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It feels like this is similar to the NFL draft this year. A few obvious guys that are above the crowd, but after that not much difference the rest of the 1st round after that.
 
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lokomotiv15 said:
100% keep the pick and draft Schaefer. It's unfortunate that he's been injured because it makes it harder to paint the whole picture, but I feel like he's a clear cut above the field. Any time that you can get a combo of size, extremely high end skill (especially relative to his position), being the BPA while being the best all-around skater in a draft class, I couldn't see myself wanting to pass.
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Thanks, who does Schaefer compare to style wise in the NHL?
 
McGroarty2 said:
If the Pens were to win the draft lottery and move up to 1OA, would you draft Schaefer or trade down to 3 for Martone/Hagens?
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It would have to be a hell of an add to be quite honest. To the point where I don't think a team does it and just take Martone/Hagens. Say it's Chicago, I'd want Nazar+3OV provided you get assurance that Misa will be there. Anaheim, I'm asking for Sennecke. I think you could make the argument that Misa+Nazar/Bennecke > Schaefer in terms of rebuilding the franchise. But I can't fathom a world where either team does it.

So short answer, no.
 
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