He’s not making it out of the top 5. He’s having a Sennecke type rise.
Prospect Info: 2025 DRAFT Discussion
- Thread starter Malkinstheman
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At this point it feels like the draft could be pretty unpredictable after the first two picks. Schaefer and Misa going 1-2 feels pretty set in stone but after that it's wide open.
I'd love it if a team was dumb enough to take O'Brien in the top-5, makes it more likely that the Penguins will get Frondell or Eklund at their 1st.
Obviously I'm hoping for a lottery win to get Schaefer, but I'm mainly hoping for Frondell or Eklund with the Penguins 1st. Desnoyers would be fine but I like him less than Eklund and Frondell.
Obviously I'm hoping for a lottery win to get Schaefer, but I'm mainly hoping for Frondell or Eklund with the Penguins 1st. Desnoyers would be fine but I like him less than Eklund and Frondell.
FWIW, I am doing mixtapes for my top 40 this year. That's my goal, anyway. O'Brien's was the most fun I've had watching video so far. Some skating concerns, but nothing too crazy. Definitely one of the deepest offensive toolboxes in the class even if he over-relies on dangling at times.
I'd want to get a longer look at O'Brien before I comment on Desnoyers vs him, but I do have Eklund and Frondell over O'Brien.
In the 6-10 range, I like Eklund and Frondell more than any of the CHL guys that would realistically be available in that range (Desnoyers, O'Brien, McQueen, Mrtka and Smith).
I'll be honest, never watched him play. Thank you for those videos. Looks like a solid player, big body and capable of moving the puck very well. Good IQ. I wish he would have stayed closer to 17-20 like he was originally ranked and we could have gotten with the rags pick
I'm not done with mine yet but I think O'Brien will be 9th or 10th. I am really struggling with where I want to put Desnoyers. I just can't get a good beat on him. The Q is objectively bad, and there are things he does that leave me wanting more from him. He doesn't drive middle enough and his shot selection is something maddening at times, which is also a product of his feeling like he needs to do it all. But you can also see the core skills in there that have him top-ten in the first place.
I think I am here right now. Not sure who to put next.
1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Martone
4. Hagens
5. Eklund
6. Frondell
7. O’Brien
Subject to change. Tbh I may have O’Brien 5th or 6th when it’s said and done. Or maybe 11th. I don’t even like him that much right now, but I think you gotta draft for potential and he’s got a lot of it. I can easily see him being an invaluable low pace scoring F in the NHL that gets outskated/outmuscled. Maybe he’s only putting up ~100 pts because he is playing with 70 goal guy in Lardis and a 1st rounder in Vanacker.
But the flip side is if he fills out you could have 6’2-6’3 215-225 lb RHC who is very responsible and can create a ton of offense. Could very easily be in 10 years that Lardis scored 70 goals largely bc of O’Briens playmaking…
Agreed, I think a player like McGroarty could benefit big time from a player like him. I think it could be a hell of a duo down the road for us. Now don't get me wrong, I still want Misa, Hagens or Frondell at Center before him
I see your point, and I agree that one of the reasons Lardis has 70 goals is he's getting absolute platters from O'Brien. I mean a handful of those goals are just O'Brien banking the puck in off of him. I didn't even include all the ridiculous playmaking because the mixtape would've been 30 minutes long. I view O'Brien as having the same sort of vision/game understanding as a Guentzel. You align him with someone that can hunt space and shoot and he's gonna feed them like crazy and they'll work off of each other super well.
The skating thing is mostly about power to me. He spends too much time taking staccato little steps to the point that he feels like he needs to do it even when he's in dangle-mode. But I don't think he's a guy that will struggle at future levels. Just needs a touch more strength.
I am also the conductor of the "Eklund over Frondell" train. For the simple reason that Eklund is creating *a lot* of space for Frondell to operate. He is a human missile. Very Kunitz-like in his behavior. I feel seen having people in this thread that align with me on that.
I do not have McQueen in my top ten. I do not have Logan Hensler in my top 32. There are a few things I will be a gross outlier on and I am fine with that.
Would you consider O'Brien to be stylistically similar to Leo Carlsson at all? Frondell has been the one getting more of the Leo Carlsson comparisons, which is a big reason I like Frondell as a pick (I think Carlsson's upside is massive), but I can see some similarities with O'Brien's size and skill that makes me curious how appropriate of a comparison that is.
I've read this a few times about Eklund as well, he's not as skilled as his brother but he's an absolute gnat of a player that throws his weight around a ton.
The 2 players ahead are also 20 and 19 years old compared to him being only 17. The - part I agree, would need more info from a fan of the team.
Yeah I completely agree on bolded and skating. It’s a power/explosion thing
O’Brien is the easiest guy in the draft for me outside of (my) top 3 to say “imagine what this guy COULD be in 5 years” and you fall in love with the concept. But there is real downside. Say he can’t grow into his frame and add that extra power gear… then his profile is like a Wennberg almost- how valuable is that? Prob worth a late teens pick but you don’t want that top 10. He’s one of those guys where you can be aware of the risk & upside but truly only time will tell lmao.
Agree totally on Eklund vs Frondell. Eklund I think he’s got more play driving potential. I think he’s the safest guy to take early. You’re getting Konecny at worst with upside for a Nylander IMO. Frondell I struggle with getting a read on tbh. Physically developed, low pace. And I don’t love shoot first centers. But he’s playing at a high level of hockey and doing it well. So maybe he’s got a full bag of tricks we’re not seeing.
Idk if McQueen is in my top 32. Like maybe he should be? but a guy where I just don’t feel like taking him anytime before he’ll be gone lol. I wish him well just wouldn’t touch him.
for Hensler - I prob will only truly rank like 10-14 guys and he won’t be in that. But I don’t hate him late 1st. Can see why you’d bet on his skating and athleticism at some point after pick 20. Feels like a solid bet to play 400 games.
Yeah, and that's kind of an interesting thing. Is he feeding off those older, better players? Or is he like, going to become even better when they graduate and he has to carry an even larger scoring load.
They'll still have Vanacker so it doesn't seem like he'll be on an island next year or anything. But they will lose a lot of offense.
Desnoyers is kind of the opposite example. Significantly leading his own team in scoring.
