Prospect Info: 2025 DRAFT Discussion

[Pancakes]

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.

But again, needs change. We need centers now. Who knows what our needs look like in a few years? A lot can change. It's foolish to try and forecast like that.

If there's two players available at our slot and Dubas/our scouts likes them both about equally and one is a center and another a wing....sure, take the center. But otherwise? BPA please.

 

[Jacob]

That means we’re landing both Frondell and Eklund.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Can NYR elect to transfer the pick this year even if it’s top 13?

 

[Rakell67]

Can NYR elect to transfer the pick this year even if it’s top 13?

And it is determined after the lottery correct? NYR finish 14 but win the lottery and move up to 4.

 

[Malkinstheman]

Can NYR elect to transfer the pick this year even if it’s top 13?

During the post trade deadline presser, Dubas said they'll get next year's pick if it's top-13 this year

 

[Andy99]

Can NYR elect to transfer the pick this year even if it’s top 13?

Yes…all of these top 10 etc protected clauses include the choice of the team protecting it to elect not to protect it…because the clause is for their benefit…NY can forego that benefit

 

[Epic Neal Time]

I'm starting to see the top-6 shake out as
1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Martone
4. Frondell
5. Hagens
6. Desnoyers

I really feel like Hagens falls ala Wright. He's still top-4 for me, but Frondell's stock is rocketing right now.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I also wouldn't be shocked to see someone take a flier on McQueen because of his size. Seems like the type of draft for someone after the top 4 to say f*** it and go for the high risk, high reward guy.

 

[chethejet]

I prefer O'Brien to McQueen with his skating and injury concerns. His raw talent is maybe the best with size and skill. Not opposed to taking him but O'Brien to me is just more solid. I hope like heck Dubas trades Karlsson for a 1st and one of the forwards prefer Rust to the Wings. Pens can really move much quicker with the rebuild with 4 quality players added to the mix.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

During the post trade deadline presser, Dubas said they'll get next year's pick if it's top-13 this year

He mentioned something on his show or a podcast with Ferraro that made me pause

Something like “if it falls top 13 and they elect to keep it, we’d have their pick next year”

 

[Malkinstheman]

He mentioned something on his show or a podcast with Ferraro that made me pause

Something like “if it falls top 13 and they elect to keep it, we’d have their pick next year”

Oh that's interesting. I definitely won't complain if the Rags hand us #11 or #12 this year

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Oh that's interesting. I definitely won't complain if the Rags hand us #11 or #12 this year

Yeah it wasn’t that he said it outright but how he worded it. He may not have meant they have the option to keep it.

Or I could be misremembering

 

[SEALBound]

I also wouldn't be shocked to see someone take a flier on McQueen because of his size. Seems like the type of draft for someone after the top 4 to say f*** it and go for the high risk, high reward guy.

It happens. Wings made a "jump" to take Rasmussen at 9ov in 2017 but there were plenty of lists that had him lower than guys like Necas, Vilardi, and Tippett.

Rasmussen, while a decent bottom 6 center for the Wings, is what scares me about McQueen. It's like I used to say with Zohorna - if he was 5'11, he'd never have gotten the games that he did. Is McQueen only ranked in the top 10 because he's 6'6? Would he be ranked the same if he was 5'11? Right in and around there we have several guys all on the same level. I'd have to see who's available before I said yes to McQueen. Now if we get 14ov and he's there and Bear and Spence are gone, then for sure yes!

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I do wonder what the Rangers plan to do if the pick ends up being like 10th overall. It's not unrealistic that they're right back here or worse next season. Their depth is bad, their core is aging, they have big raises kicking in for Lafreniere and Shesterkin.

That team's a lengthy Igor injury away from handing the Pens a potential top 5 pick next year imo. Would be sick to end up with two chances at McKenna, assuming the Pens are bottom 5 again.

 

[SEALBound]

I do wonder what the Rangers plan to do if the pick ends up being like 10th overall. It's not unrealistic that they're right back here or worse next season. Their depth is bad, their core is aging, they have big raises kicking in for Lafreniere and Shesterkin.

That team's a lengthy Igor injury away from handing the Pens a potential top 5 pick next year imo. Would be sick to end up with two chances at McKenna, assuming the Pens are bottom 5 again.

I think I said this before but, yeah, I imagine getting a lottery pick for 2026 and it turns into McKenna. Pettersson+DOC for McKenna. Both the Canucks and Rags fan bases would be on suicide watch.

 

[Gurglesons]

Getting Eklund is best case scenario unless for some reason Hagens falls.