Prospect Info: 2025 DRAFT Discussion

[Ryder71]

I mean, I'd have to see who is available but I tend to agree. Hagens (obviously) or Desnoyers over McQueen. JOB, I don't know yet. I'd shift to Eklund maybe first and hope that JOB is there for the Rags pick.

With what I said I'm operating under the Premise that Misa and Frondell are already gone.

Depending on the drop off I'd consider Eklund also. Beyond the usual suspects I like O'Brien a lot! And if it's close I'll choose the center over any other position PARTICULARLY with our current group of prospects. Also JOB is a june baby. One of the youngest players in the draft. So plenty of room to evolve and develop from there. Made a huge jump from last year to this year. That's exactly what you wanna see.

 

[OtherThingsILike]

Craig’s List: Michael Misa climbs to No. 2 after exceptional OHL season | TSN

Didn't see this posted a couple days ago when it came out.

A couple of surprises:

1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Martone
4. Frondell
5. McQueen
6. Hagens
7. Desnoyers
8. Schmidt
9. Eklund
10. Jake O'Brien

Jackson Smith at 14
Mrtka at 15
Carter Bear at 22
Ryabkin at 27

If we draft 6ov, scoring Hagens would be sweet.

Hypothetically speaking, let's say that we have 6OA and the drafting goes in this order. Before we pick, the Islanders call us and offer us Barzal for our pick, 1-for-1. Do you do it?

(The reason why it's even remotely possible that the Islanders might do this is that Hagens is from Long Island and grew up an Islanders fan.)

 

[Gurglesons]

Craig’s List: Michael Misa climbs to No. 2 after exceptional OHL season | TSN

Didn't see this posted a couple days ago when it came out.

A couple of surprises:

1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Martone
4. Frondell
5. McQueen
6. Hagens
7. Desnoyers
8. Schmidt
9. Eklund
10. Jake O'Brien

Jackson Smith at 14
Mrtka at 15
Carter Bear at 22
Ryabkin at 27

If we draft 6ov, scoring Hagens would be sweet.

Craig Button is one of the stupidest people in hockey.

 

[Kasperi kapanen]

I'm scared of McQueen due to the injury issues but I feel some of the talk about him may be a bit too far. Remember, he started the year with 8 goals and 11 points in 8 games and has been at least decent since coming back from his injury (2 goals and 9 points in 9 games). I want to see him have a strong playoff run if I'm using their 1st on him, but he's not a guy I'd be mad if they drafted.

I'd be pretty damn happy with using a 1st on him if he ends up Byfield 2.0. There is a big question if that ends up happening, but that seems to be the obvious comparison to make with him. I wouldn't feel much differently about drafting him at #7 than I would with drafting say O'Brien or Desnoyers.

My preference for their draft pick would probably be:

1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Hagens
4. Martone
5. Frondell
6. Eklund
7. Desnoyers
8. McQueen
9. O'Brien
10. Mrtka

My exact preference as well.

I’d say the overall odds that Mrtka or O’Brien go Top 5 are high.

Also, Buffalo is almost certainly taking Desnoyers or Mrtka.

 

[Zirakzigil]

Hypothetically speaking, let's say that we have 6OA and the drafting goes in this order. Before we pick, the Islanders call us and offer us Barzal for our pick, 1-for-1. Do you do it?

(The reason why it's even remotely possible that the Islanders might do this is that Hagens is from Long Island and grew up an Islanders fan.)

No. Hes only signed to 3 years. I wouldnt do 6OA for that. Now the Rangers pick.....

 

[The Old Master]

Looking at those early lists vs current ones, it makes me curious: why the falling stock for Ryabkin? The latest from McKenzie sounds like it's mostly just a case of his suddenly jumping to the USHL and having a rough start there (including a suspension for a slew foot), but is there more to it than that?

sadly it's not the Russian factor. McKenzie could be right, but from what i saw his give a dam is broke. i could easily be wrong so seeing a team step up and take a chance on him would not surprise me.

 

[ImporterExporter]

So for those who follow the draft closely enough, if we're picking in the 4-6 range, who do we want most of all?

Expect that Schaffer and Misa are 100% off the board, which seems all but certain.

 

[Ryder71]

So for those who follow the draft closely enough, if we're picking in the 4-6 range, who do we want most of all?

Expect that Schaffer and Misa are 100% off the board, which seems all but certain.

More like 7-10 range. And we need a center all things being equal. Stay away from McQueen!.

 

[Jesse]

He missed a ton of time (McQueen), I just don't know at that high a pick if we wanna gamble with that variable hanging over our shoulders. Hagens or Desnoyers and then O'Brien would be the way I'd go if they're available.

I also challenge someone to show me something Roger McQueen can do that Lakovic can’t.

 

[Jesse]

Not sure if anyone watch BC/Bentley today (great game) but Hagens was brutal.

 

[Ryder71]

I also challenge someone to show me something Roger McQueen can do that Lakovic can’t.

I don't see much difference there either but I haven't seen as much of Lakovic as McQueen and he hasn't played much, so... But yes I'd bypass McQueen with our top pick this year.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Yeah I think for as much as Misa's stock has skyrocketed, Hagens' has dropped. Dude went from consensus #1 pick to maybe falling out of the top 5 this season.

 

[Jared Grayden]

I also challenge someone to show me something Roger McQueen can do that Lakovic can’t.

I don't value it much, but McQueen is a way more physical player. But I agree with you, of the two I'm taking Lakovic 10/10 times. I hope Dubas has McQueen as DND for his health issues.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I also challenge someone to show me something Roger McQueen can do that Lakovic can’t.

I agree.

If the idea is McQueen is an 6’5 C… idk if that’s what you’re getting. I do not like center prospects that are poor passers/creators (ex: I’m not sure Frondell is a center). I do not know if the skating can hang defensively in the NHL as a C.

If you think “this guy could be unique goal scoring 3rd wheel winger” I can actually get behind that more. He’s got great hands and is willing to engage physically. I could kinda see him succeeding (somewhat) similar to how Sam Reinhart wins shifts and scores.

I can understand the appeal with McQueen I am just very uncomfortable with him top 10 or so. But he’s still pretty raw with stuff you can’t teach so I do get it. I just don’t see the underlying playdriving ability for a centerman very consistently underneath that rawness.

Lakovic is tough for me to get a read on so I don’t love him? but he’s an inch shorter and can do everything McQueen can do. Less physical though. Curious for your take on him.

 

[tnnr]

1) Schaefer
2) Misa
3) Martone
4) Hagens
5) Frondell
6) Eklund
7) McQueen

 

[Ryder71]

Don't think we'll be able to pick any of the top top guys but I'm really liking Desnoyers, Eklund, O'Brien and Martin.

If we could get one of Desnoyers or Eklund and one of O'Brien or Martin that would be fantastic!

 

[Gurglesons]

Not sure if anyone watch BC/Bentley today (great game) but Hagens was brutal.

You think?

I thought he had a hot and cold game. I don't think him, Leonard, and Perreault work together. But, like he had two huge plays to win the game.

 

[Rakell67]

Don't think we'll be able to pick any of the top top guys but I'm really liking Desnoyers, Eklund, O'Brien and Martin.

If we could get one of Desnoyers or Eklund and one of O'Brien or Martin that would be fantastic!

Desnoyers and Martin would be great!

 

[eXile3]

I would love Hagens. I love playmakers who can skate at the center position.

It’s weird seeing PSU in the tournament. I remember seeing some of the players practice when I played in high school and thinking they didn’t look any better than the ones at IUP. Org has obviously come a long way.

 

[chethejet]

O'brien fits what the Pens need. A center especially RH center and now Dubas can add either as a offer sheet or next year in trade or draft for the top 6 center to pair with O'Brien. If the Pens either have the 14th pick or maybe Dubas of offered say the 13th pick as Rangers don't want to lose the pick next year as it is not lottery protected I take Martin and walk away with two centers.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Don't think we'll be able to pick any of the top top guys but I'm really liking Desnoyers, Eklund, O'Brien and Martin.

If we could get one of Desnoyers or Eklund and one of O'Brien or Martin that would be fantastic!

Desnoyers and Martin would be great!

If one of the other top prospects are on the board, I'm easily picking one of them over Martin. Martin just hasn't done enough as a whole from 17 to his 18-year-old looking to be a one-off case. I'd want to see more consistencies picking that high.

 

[Ugene Magic]

I didn't see a lot of info out there on it. Most reports just said "back injury" which is always concerning. I'm backing off the Carter Bear pick as he recently suffered an Achilles tendon slice.

He missed a ton of time (McQueen), I just don't know at that high a pick if we wanna gamble with that variable hanging over our shoulders. Hagens or Desnoyers and then O'Brien would be the way I'd go if they're available.

I read somewhere it was a bone-spur, something they couldn't really attribute to any one thing, but he had a growth-spurt that they think might have attributed to it. It doesn't seem to be a lingering issue at all.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Ideally the Pens get one of Hagens or Frondell if they're drafting 4/5/6. Building down the middle is so, so important, and those two represent the highest upside of any center outside of Misa.

 

[Jacob]

Martin strikes me as a guy that’s less flashy but more translatable to the pros. In the 1 game I watched (shift-by-shift on YT if you’re interested) he played every single forward position.

 

[Jared Grayden]

O'brien fits what the Pens need. A center especially RH center and now Dubas can add either as a offer sheet or next year in trade or draft for the top 6 center to pair with O'Brien. If the Pens either have the 14th pick or maybe Dubas of offered say the 13th pick as Rangers don't want to lose the pick next year as it is not lottery protected I take Martin and walk away with two centers.

Scouching has connections to some of Wes Clark's staff and speculates their prospect testing will prioritize cerebral puck managers, specifically O'Brien and Kindle as being two that would grade out high. Which I'd be fine with as both seem to be high risk/high reward players.