Toggle sidebar

Prospect Info: 2025 DRAFT Discussion

I think we've talked enough about the Penguins and Rangers 1st rounders, something that hasn't really been discussed as much is what players with the Penguins other picks would be interesting. The 2nd-4th rounders the Penguins currently have and where they'll be sitting:

-Washington's 2nd: around 62nd overall
-Pittsburgh's 3rd: 72nd overall
-Ottawa's 3rd: 83rd overall
-Minnesota's 3rd: 85th overall

There will be some wiggle room with these picks, but I figure they'll be those slots +/- 3 spots or so.

We'll have a better idea of who is expected to be available where closer to the draft, but one guy that caught my eye is Ryker Lee from the Madison Capitols in the USHL. 29 goals and 63 points in 54 games in the USHL this year, committed to Michigan State for next year and ranked pretty much in the entire range of the 2nd round. Bobby Mac has him at #58, so he could be in play for the Washington 2nd rounder.

On defense, I like the bit I've read about Owen Conrad. Seems to be more of a guy in play with one of their 3rds, though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jdodd
Empoleon8771 said:
I think we've talked enough about the Penguins and Rangers 1st rounders, something that hasn't really been discussed as much is what players with the Penguins other picks would be interesting. The 2nd-4th rounders the Penguins currently have and where they'll be sitting:

-Washington's 2nd: around 62nd overall
-Pittsburgh's 3rd: 72nd overall
-Ottawa's 3rd: 83rd overall
-Minnesota's 3rd: 85th overall

There will be some wiggle room with these picks, but I figure they'll be those slots +/- 3 spots or so.

We'll have a better idea of who is expected to be available where closer to the draft, but one guy that caught my eye is Ryker Lee from the Madison Capitols in the USHL. 29 goals and 63 points in 54 games in the USHL this year, committed to Michigan State for next year and ranked pretty much in the entire range of the 2nd round. Bobby Mac has him at #58, so he could be in play for the Washington 2nd rounder.

On defense, I like the bit I've read about Owen Conrad. Seems to be more of a guy in play with one of their 3rds, though.
Click to expand...
Topias Hynninen
 
  • Like
Reactions: Empoleon8771
CheckingLineCenter said:
Topias Hynninen
Click to expand...

He was a guy I was about to mention as well. Tankathon has him mocked at #81 overall, which seems super low for a guy with 35 points in 51 games in the Liiga. Would love to snag him with one of their 3rds.

I guess age is a big factor there, he's 19 and turning 20 in December. But this scouting report looks really nice:

At 72nd overall we have a versatile Finnish forward, Topias Hynninen. He spent the season playing mostly with the Liiga team in a forechecking, bottom six role. Hynninen is a great skater with a relentless motor that fits the bottom six mold extremely well. He’s been able to showcase some intriguing playmaking abilities in the U20 level where he’s been deployed in a more offensive role. We see that Hynninen’s ability to play along the boards and recover pucks could translate very effectively into North American ice.
Click to expand...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sideline
We should have 5-6 picks in the top 85 or so, this is where Wes Clark needs to work his magic.

Our very 1st pick has to be a homerun! We can't miss here, highest we'll be picking since the time of the Dinosaurs. We just need to lose! Losing now means winning later.
 
Empoleon8771 said:
I have a feeling that Desnoyers is probably gone by their pick. Eklund and O'Brien are the 2 guys that really stick out as the most likely options for the Penguins, especially with Dubas going over to Sweden to watch Eklund and Frondell himself. Would be really happy with either of those guys.
Click to expand...

They've also spent a significant amount of time in Brantford.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rave7215, Empoleon8771 and Malkinstheman
Ryder71 said:
Stay away from McQueen.
Click to expand...

I finished all the video for his mixtape last night. Will post it by weeks end. I left the experience even more confused about his ranking. I did not like the video at all.

1. Constantly skates himself into really bad situations. 1 on 4 type deals where he does not have the wheels or the hands to get out of them.

2. A lot of good things happen on the ice without any input from him whatsoever.

3. He's not a good enough skater to take trailing D on journey's with him to shake them, so it just results in him ending up on the perimeter in bad situations that he can't skate out of (sensing a theme here).

4. His one-timer is the worst of any player listed within 10-15 picks of him. Can't get a clean hold of it. They keep forcing him the puck in the left circle and I don't think I saw him get ahold of once really well even one time this year. Not joking.

The clamor for me comes down to "he's big." That's cool, and sometimes he pulls a rabbit out of the hat and dangles the S out of someone, but we're talking blue moon situations here. I just don't get it. I am starting to get people DM me on Twitter saying "yeah I agree with you on this" but they're not saying it publicly for whatever reason?
 
  • Like
Reactions: ehill613, Jared Grayden, Andy99 and 1 other person
Empoleon8771 said:
Would make me really happy if they like O'Brien as well. Like I said, I've really warmed up to drafting him in the #7/8 range as well.
Click to expand...

Cutting O'Brien's video was the most fun I've had this year so far, Misa excluded. He is willing to try anything once. And when you watch him shift by shift, he tests defensemen with his toolbox. It reminded me of Crosby v. Zidlicky all those years ago. Set them up with a move to bait them, pull a new move later to break their ankles. It's the definition of hockey sense to me, which is always the hardest thing to define for any player. He has it in spades. It's much harder to teach it to people later on down the line.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nikkoshine, Le Magnifique 66 and Empoleon8771
Jesse said:
I finished all the video for his mixtape last night. Will post it by weeks end. I left the experience even more confused about his ranking. I did not like the video at all.

1. Constantly skates himself into really bad situations. 1 on 4 type deals where he does not have the wheels or the hands to get out of them.

2. A lot of good things happen on the ice without any input from him whatsoever.

3. He's not a good enough skater to take trailing D on journey's with him to shake them, so it just results in him ending up on the perimeter in bad situations that he can't skate out of (sensing a theme here).

4. His one-timer is the worst of any player listed within 10-15 picks of him. Can't get a clean hold of it. They keep forcing him the puck in the left circle and I don't think I saw him get ahold of once really well even one time this year. Not joking.

The clamor for me comes down to "he's big." That's cool, and sometimes he pulls a rabbit out of the hat and dangles the S out of someone, but we're talking blue moon situations here. I just don't get it. I am starting to get people DM me on Twitter saying "yeah I agree with you on this" but they're not saying it publicly for whatever reason?
Click to expand...
Assuming this is McQueen?
 
I prefer O'Brien for center position. I want a RH center as Pens have options but are LH. So if the Pens do get another pick as to the Rangers, I like Martin as well. Bt Rangers pick aside, I do think Dubas will be active in trades to add higher end talent.
 
Another kid in the last 2nd possibly early 3rd is Adam Benak. In the current mock draft on this site we took him w our pick at 62. Rated in that 35-50 range but the kid is 5 ft 7 in……. He as puts 54 ps i53 games in the USHL. More assists than goals though..
 
HandshakeLine said:
Neat another midget who tries hard.
Click to expand...

Assuming this is about Eklund, I'd caution referencing his height. He's playing against grown men right now, and several handfuls of them have spent their time staring up at him from a flat position on the ice after he completely destroys them. In the boards. Open ice. It's open season on anyone. There's being a small player who tries hard like Conor Sheary. Then there's being a small player built like a brick s***house who is laying waste to adults and creating scoring chances off of it.. He's giving alligator arms to the defensemen in the SHL because he's hitting them over and over and over again. By the time the third rolls around, they tap out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sideline
Jesse said:
Assuming this is about Eklund, I'd caution referencing his height. He's playing against grown men right now, and several handfuls of them have spent their time staring up at him from a flat position on the ice after he completely destroys them. In the boards. Open ice. It's open season on anyone. There's being a small player who tries hard like Conor Sheary. Then there's being a small player built like a brick s***house who is laying waste to adults and creating scoring chances off of it.. He's giving alligator arms to the defensemen in the SHL because he's hitting them over and over and over again. By the time the third rolls around, they tap out.
Click to expand...
No, Benak
 
Jesse said:
Assuming this is about Eklund, I'd caution referencing his height. He's playing against grown men right now, and several handfuls of them have spent their time staring up at him from a flat position on the ice after he completely destroys them. In the boards. Open ice. It's open season on anyone. There's being a small player who tries hard like Conor Sheary. Then there's being a small player built like a brick s***house who is laying waste to adults and creating scoring chances off of it.. He's giving alligator arms to the defensemen in the SHL because he's hitting them over and over and over again. By the time the third rolls around, they tap out.
Click to expand...
This is my one worry with Eklund. He is the anti-O’Brien in a good and bad way. He’s pretty built for his frame.

Is he fully physically developed? Does that limit his upside? He’ll still be solid NHLer imo if that is true but could mean he doesn’t become a star.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HandshakeLine
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Ad

Ad

Top Bottom