Prospect Info: 2025 Draft discussion

[Le Magnifique 66]

Alright so who are we drafting at 14 and who are we drafting at 15 this year?

Hopefully we don't f*** up like the bruins did in 2015

 

[Empoleon8771]

I'm hoping the Ranger's pick slides to next year too. Even if they end up picking in the late 20s next year, by all accounts that's a better draft anyway.

I think this mindset is a mistake. All of these draft picks are pure crapshoots, no matter what the experts say about the quality of the draft. I think they're better off getting a 1st earlier than waiting a year just because the draft is perceived to be "better" next year.

 

[Jay Gray]

I'm hoping the Ranger's pick slides to next year too. Even if they end up picking in the late 20s next year, by all accounts that's a better draft anyway.

If you compare the weakest cap era draft of 2012 versus the strongest cap era draft of 2015, moving back from selections #14-16 into selections #20+ is not beneficial. The value in holding the New York Rangers 1st for next year is that they are terrible and it becomes a very early pick. The pick would have to stay in a similar range for the draft strength to make a difference.

 

[Jacob]

I keep forgetting Potter is an ‘07. Really puts his season in a different perspective. He’ll be going to the U18s too. ASU loaded up on transfers that are graduating too so his role on the team will grow significantly. I just watched a shift-by-shift of his first NCAA game and he seemed pretty mature on the details- seemed good on faceoffs and was a regular PKer. Kind of in a weird spot on the PP though.

None of us have the power to trade the 1st rounder, so your used car salesman schtick of trying to convince us that it's better to trade back is weird.

The team's keeping the pick unless they get an absolute stud young player who can be an impact guy for this team for a decade plus. /shrug

“You want my advice? I think you should take Primeau, Mesar and 2 2nds.”

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I keep forgetting Potter is an ‘07. Really puts his season in a different perspective. He’ll be going to the U18s too.

He’s super interesting to me

I could easily see him going like top 3 in a redraft and being a dynamic goal scoring C

Could easily see him being mini Grabner as like a speedy lower line goal scorer who’s maybe not the smartest.

 

[Zen Arcade]

Barry? Barry Trotz has the 3rd pick?
That's gonna be Dubas' pick for a 6 pack of IC and some fresh possum.

Wonder what Dubas can get Trotz to add for taking the pick off of his hands.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Watching Eklund and more and more I’m thinking he’s the guy

 

[Jacob]

Both Frondell and Eklund are in an interesting situation. Djurgarden is in the Allsvenskan but they brought in a bunch of geezers and are currently in 1st place, and the championship winner gets bumped up to the SHL. So they could both have very large roles on the team if they’re promoted.

As a comparison, they’re both having better draft years than Filip Forsberg and Dvorsky, and worse draft years than Elias Pettersson.

 

[eXile3]

What’s the last draft class that was considered weak before hand? 2020?

 

[SEALBound]

What’s the last draft class that was considered weak before hand? 2020?

I swear, every draft class is considered "weak" with the next year being "strong". Every year, they also say "top 5 are good, then there's a drop off". Last year was supposed to be super weak. Then it was "well...the top 10-11 are good...but then it's the same player from 15-45".

As Emp said, it's a crap shoot no matter what.

 

[eXile3]

I swear, every draft class is considered "weak" with the next year being "strong". Every year, they also say "top 5 are good, then there's a drop off". Last year was supposed to be super weak. Then it was "well...the top 10-11 are good...but then it's the same player from 15-45".

As Emp said, it's a crap shoot no matter what.

I do remember them saying the same thing about last year. The year before though I remember everyone saying it was a strong one which it was.

Carlsson, Fantilli, Michkov all could have been 1OV in other drafts.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Yeah I don't think there has ever been a truly "bad" draft that every scout said was a bad draft outside of 2012. And even in 2012, there were still good players drafted, it was just way weaker than most years.

Like it has been said a million times, I think getting any of the top-5 is a great outcome. After that gets a bit murky, but the guys like Eklund, Desnoyers and Mrtka do seem to have decent upsides as well. I'm hoping for Eklund if they're sitting in the 6-8 range, but I won't be mad with any of them.

The only pick that they could make that I'd be legitimately uncomfortable with is McQueen, but I think McQueen's post-injury performance is going to make him plummet in the draft. If they come out of this draft with Eklund at #7 and Bear at #15, I'm completely happy with that.

 

[Andy99]

@Jesse dropped a video on Desnoyers today that made me feel better about him, at least that he does have goals around the net lol…but still…I’d rather have Eklund if we’re out of the top 4…btw, this was Jesse's personal ranking of the top guys:

1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Hagens
4. Martone
5. Eklund
6. Desnoyers
7. Frondell

 

[Empoleon8771]

@Jesse dropped a video on Desnoyers today that made me feel better about him, at least that he does have goals around the net lol…but still…I’d rather have Eklund if we’re out of the top 4…btw, this was Jesse's personal ranking of the top guys:

1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Hagens
4. Martone
5. Eklund
6. Desnoyers
7. Frondell

I think people are overreacting a bit to the "future 3C" comments about Desnoyers. He definitely has top-6 upside, he's just a very safe pick that will very likely at minimum end up a 3rd liner.

His defensive game is very well developed and he looks like a guy that can slot in at either center or winger in the long run, the versatility is there and I think that makes him very easily projectable as a NHLer.

 

[Zero Pucks]

He’s super interesting to me

I could easily see him going like top 3 in a redraft and being a dynamic goal scoring C

Could easily see him being mini Grabner as like a speedy lower line goal scorer who’s maybe not the smartest.

I'm not seeing the potential with Potter. I think at best he's a mini Kasperi Kapanen with awful tunnel vision. I'll pass.

If we're gonna draft a small guy, I would go with Schmidt.

 

[chethejet]

A top 6 center is a need. It may take a couple drafts and then a trade to get that position fixed for the future. there is still a lottery for the Pens. But even at 6 or 7 there is a top 6 center to grab. Plus the Rangers puck can also be used to move up for another center. I also think Dubas will move one of Rust or Karlsson in the draft for another potential 1st as well.

 

[Jacob]

I'm not seeing the potential with Potter. I think at best he's a mini Kasperi Kapanen with awful tunnel vision. I'll pass.

If we're gonna draft a small guy, I would go with Schmidt.

I could go either way, but Schmidt isn’t just small, he’s Gerbe small.

But that’s certainly the direction we need to go. Skill/upside/speed.

 

[Rudy Russo]

@Jesse dropped a video on Desnoyers today that made me feel better about him, at least that he does have goals around the net lol…but still…I’d rather have Eklund if we’re out of the top 4…btw, this was Jesse's personal ranking of the top guys:

1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Hagens
4. Martone
5. Eklund
6. Desnoyers
7. Frondell

Hopefully the draft lottery is very kind for the penguins.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I gotta be honest that is not how I was pronouncing it in my head, man.

 

[Jacob]

I gotta be honest that is not how I was pronouncing it in my head, man.

I still can’t believe L’Heureaux is pronounced LaRue.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I think this mindset is a mistake. All of these draft picks are pure crapshoots, no matter what the experts say about the quality of the draft. I think they're better off getting a 1st earlier than waiting a year just because the draft is perceived to be "better" next year.

So if it is a pure crapshoot, why not take your best shot with a deeper draft? Not sure I understand your mindset here.

I still can’t believe L’Heureux is pronounced LaRue.

It isn't. Not really. I mean it is for English speakers in North America but that is not how you pronounce his name in Quebec.

 

[Empoleon8771]

So if it is a pure crapshoot, why not take your best shot with a deeper draft? Not sure I understand your mindset here.

Because there is no such thing as a "deeper draft". It's the opinions of scouts.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I'm not seeing the potential with Potter. I think at best he's a mini Kasperi Kapanen with awful tunnel vision. I'll pass.

If we're gonna draft a small guy, I would go with Schmidt.

I completely understand and don’t disagree

But I do wonder what the upside could be if it slows down for him

I’m cool with Schmidt in late r2 but don’t think he’s Stankoven 2.0

 

[Jacob]

There’s a clip, though I can’t find it now, where Potter passes the puck up to his winger from his own zone, winger carries it straight though N zone, Potter literally catches and laps his own winger and the winger then passes it forward to Potter and it becomes a partial breakaway for Potter.

I think if theres even a small chance he could be a Gaudreau or Caufield kinda guy I’d take that risk. I like that he’s already decent on faceoffs. That shows a willingness to.. be multidimensional. It would be easy and forgivable for a 17 y/o to suck on faceoffs against 18-24 year olds. Looks like he’s got a little pushback in his game too. Hard to judge his D. He was definitely thinking offense at all times.

But hey I like Schmidt too. Kindel & Reschny look promising as well. I’ll let the team pick and I’ll just stick to criticizing the pick later.

I just kinda feel like Potter may be undervalued because of his age and where he’s playing and how ASU is currently constructed. Pretend he stayed at the USNTDP instead of going to college early, there he’d be dominating, and he might be in the convo for the top 12 or even 10. The U18s will tell us a lot.

 

[Freeptop]

Would you rather trade down or up?

If the Pens could trade into the top 5, sure, trade up. But I would be very surprised if anyone with a top 5 pick was willing to trade down. Nobody has traded down out of the top 5 knowingly in a very long time.

Would I trade down? Depends. Assuming the Pens are drafting something like 8th or later, I'd certainly consider trading down a few spots, say, no more than 5, to get an additional 1st or 2nd. Would any team be willing to pay that? Got me. But if not, then just keep the pick.
I don't think I'd bother trading up from 8th to, say, 6th, unless one of the players originally expected to go top 5 fell, and the team picking 6th was somehow willing to trade down, though.