Prospect Info: 2025 DRAFT Discussion

[CheckingLineCenter]

My top 5 is close to settled

Tier 1:
1. Schaefer

Tier 2:
2. Misa
3. Hagens
4. Martone
5. Eklund

Would be thrilled with one of these guys

 

[Jacob]

Phaneuf does seem like an apt comparison as well, but Phaneuf was a beast that fizzled early for reasons that I don't think are related to his playing style but more him as a person.

He doesn't look like a true PPQB but he doesn't look like a safety-valve like Grzelcyk is, or a guy that defers like Letang. Probably a 2nd unit guy.

 

[SEALBound]

Back to the draft talk, what do scouts think of Aitcheson's offensive upside? He does have 26 goals and 59 points this year, so combining that sort of offense with a rough/physical style that he offers is pretty interesting. That said, is that more about him just physically being able to dominate juniors that he wouldn't be able to do in the NHL? None of the scouting reports I'm reading are mentioning much about his offense at all, it's all about how physical, competitive and heavy he is.

His pro comparable is Trouba and I was thinking of Phaneuf when reading his profile. Trouba and Phaneuf were both decent to good offensive contributors early in their career, although both fell off pretty aggressively once they turned about 30.

Kashawn Aitcheson | Kashawn Aitcheson Profile | Kashawn Aitcheson Scouting Report 2025

Kashawn Aitcheson scouting report for NHL Draft. Profile contains Kashawn Aitcheson stats, videos and written bios

www.mynhldraft.com

That link has a compilation of recent scouting reports from Feb and March.

 

[Andy99]

My top 5 is close to settled

Tier 1:
1. Schaefer

Tier 2:
2. Misa
3. Hagens
4. Martone
5. Eklund

Would be thrilled with one of these guys

Unfortunately odds are against us getting any of those particularly since Jarry intends on performing a redemption tour lol

 

[Turin]

Pens are closer to a top 5 pick than they’ve been in a while and people are still bitching about Rakell

 

[lokomotiv15]

He might have been fine if he kept the racial slurs on ice to minimum. We had a few odd dandies in that timeframe. Casey Pierro-Zabotel was another that couldn't keep his mouth shut (nor could his girl). There was another in that 04-08-ish draft timeframe that really turned a lot of people off with his talk and attitude but I can't remember.

I feel like maybe Matia Marcantuoni was a mouth piece, but he was after 08'.

I remember I liked him based off of having a "cool" name. When I was a kid I was so excited to see what would become of Luca Caputi, Nathan Moon, Bryan Rust, Evgeni Isakov.

Guess good names ≠ good players.

 

[Jesse]

He might have been fine if he kept the racial slurs on ice to minimum. We had a few odd dandies in that timeframe. Casey Pierro-Zabotel was another that couldn't keep his mouth shut (nor could his girl). There was another in that 04-08-ish draft timeframe that really turned a lot of people off with his talk and attitude but I can't remember.

Nathan Moon

 

[PamBallam]

I feel like maybe Matia Marcantuoni was a mouth piece, but he was after 08'.

I remember I liked him based off of having a "cool" name. When I was a kid I was so excited to see what would become of Luca Caputi, Nathan Moon, Bryan Rust, Evgeni Isakov.

Guess good names ≠ good players.

Rust may be somewhat of an annoying player now, but he doesn't really belong with those other guys.

 

[Ryder71]

Dubas really hurt the future by being stubborn at the deadline. My guess is we probably lose 2-3 more games if 67 and 24 are traded and are currently sitting solidly with a top 4 pick in addition to getting another first and top prospect for Rakell.

100%, you get it! One of very few here who do unfortunately.

 

[Ryder71]

While Rakell might have cause the Pens to win some more games than if he was dealt, Jarry rediscovering a starter's form definitely has caused them to win more than expected. Too bad he can't have this form when they actually needed it.

Here's a solution. IF Jarry starts to get on a heater, don't play him, simple!

 

[Jesse]

He might have been fine if he kept the racial slurs on ice to minimum. We had a few odd dandies in that timeframe. Casey Pierro-Zabotel was another that couldn't keep his mouth shut (nor could his girl). There was another in that 04-08-ish draft timeframe that really turned a lot of people off with his talk and attitude but I can't remember.

On dmen, I had Aitcheson at 4. Schaeffer (obviously), then Smith and Mrtka at 2a/b (depending on what you want in a dman), then Aitcheson. Smith is ranked right at the 9/10 slot and Mrtka and Aitcheson in that 14/15/16 slot. Cameron Reid is another that is right in there but his ranking and scouting reports are all over and sounds more like a bottom pairing PMD.

Not arguing or saying you're wrong but what are you seeing in Aitcheson that makes you think he's better than Mrtka or especially Smith? I just haven't seen any scouting reports or lists that have him that high.

I figured Schaeffer and Smith would be in the top 10. Mrtka may drop but I figured Aitcheson would be a quality target if we get the Rags pick (based on who else is available). Like if we are picking 7/8, I have plenty of guys ahead of him but if we are that 18/19, it would be a good target unless we want to risk Bear or take a guy like Malcolm Spence.

Totally sour on Mrtka. I'm actually intrigued by you having him so high. You know that meme of someone drawing a horse and it just progressively gets worse over time? I feel that accurately describes his season for me. At first I was like, "Wow, this huge guy can skate really well" - and then, months later, I kinda just felt like that became the whole story of his game = big guy, skates well. I am not truly enamored with any other aspect of his game. Defensively, he leaves me wanting more out of his in-zone assignment work and reads. I don't think he grabs the game by the scruff of the neck enough and impacts it in ways that are similar to say, a Jackson Smith.

Re: Smith/Reid, I am watching those season in reverse. I am current at Valentines Day. I am gonna knock some more out the rest of this week. It's wild how different they are as players. I like Smith's skating and puck-handling but man does he line himself up to get obliterated a ton. He is doing a lot of bailing on his carry-ins as a result of head-down moments and telegraphing his course (like he'll skate himself laterally into a position where a cross-moving defenseman can line him up) - but the offensive skills are 100% there. I just don't view him as strong defensively.

 

[Ryder71]

Pens are closer to a top 5 pick than they’ve been in a while and people are still bitching about Rakell

Big difference between picking 4th-5th as opposed to 8th-9th which is where we currently are sitting.

 

[Ryder71]

Unfortunately odds are against us getting any of those particularly since Jarry intends on performing a redemption tour lol

Exactly! Some here aren't paying attention to the standings. They simply don't understand how this works.

Jarry shouldn't be playing tonight. Although I do have faith in the Blues. They'll want revenge on us as we're the last team to beat them.

 

[Empoleon8771]

My big knock against Smith isn't really about Smith, it's more about the constant stream of failures it seems like the CHL has had regarding OFD like Smith. How many mid/late 1st round OFDs drafted out of the CHL have panned out in the NHL in the past few years? It really seems like the league has been doing that well with churning out quality OFD that adjust well to the NHL. Drysdale and Korchinski seem like 2 good examples of guys who have really struggled far more than you were expecting.

 

[Jared Grayden]

My big knock against Smith isn't really about Smith, it's more about the constant stream of failures it seems like the CHL has had regarding OFD like Smith. How many mid/late 1st round OFDs drafted out of the CHL have panned out in the NHL in the past few years? It really seems like the league has been doing that well with churning out quality OFD that adjust well to the NHL. Drysdale and Korchinski seem like 2 good examples of guys who have really struggled far more than you were expecting.

I think if you're going based on recent patterns, forwards from the Q and dmen from Czechia seem to disappoint.

 

[lokomotiv15]

Rust may be somewhat of an annoying player now, but he doesn't really belong with those other guys.

No, absolutely not. I think he has more goals this week than the rest of them had career points. I wasn't grouping him with those guys in terms of the player/career, just grouping him with guys I liked before I'd ever seen them play because I thought they had cool names.

 

[SEALBound]

Re: Smith/Reid, I am watching those season in reverse. I am current at Valentines Day. I am gonna knock some more out the rest of this week. It's wild how different they are as players. I like Smith's skating and puck-handling but man does he line himself up to get obliterated a ton. He is doing a lot of bailing on his carry-ins as a result of head-down moments and telegraphing his course (like he'll skate himself laterally into a position where a cross-moving defenseman can line him up) - but the offensive skills are 100% there. I just don't view him as strong defensively.

I noticed this too. There's an aspect of "willing to take contact to make the play" to his game. Not unlike Letang used to have. I'd be curious to go way back in time 20 years ago and watch tape on Letang to see if there are similarities at a similar stage of development. No doubt in the NHL, he WILL get the contact. Not everyone is a physical freak like Letang so that could spell trouble sooner than later.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Letang should be a living PSA about that.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Gonna be hilarious if our Rangers pick ends up lower than our pick.

 

[Jacob]

Familiarizing myself more with Spence.. He only has 7 PP goals in his OHL career. He’s already one of the more productive players in the draft but might be near the top in ES production.

 

[PensFutures]

Familiarizing myself more with Spence.. He only has 7 PP goals in his OHL career. He’s already one of the more productive players in the draft but might be near the top in ES production.

Reminded me a little of McG when I watched him in Erie a couple weeks ago.

 

[Guins71]

The pens butchered this end of season in Steeler-like fashion. Win a couple feel good games at the end of the season to make yinzers happy and finish the season with a 9-8 record and 18th overall pick instead of 6-11 and 10th overall it has set the Steelers back and the pens are following the same blue print.

I get it players and coaches are not going to tank but management should have put them in the best position to do so. 67 and 24 still being here for this is mind numbing. This was the year to get a real top of the line player and we are trending towards dropping out of the top 8

 

[Empoleon8771]

Montreal winning may be the dagger on the Rangers playoff chances, they're now down 4 points on the Habs with only 6 games left for each team. The Rangers playoff odds fell to about 15% and the Habs playoff odds jumped to about 74% after the games yesterday. One more win for the Habs and loss for the Rangers and I think you can basically eliminate the Rangers.

The Penguins picks are shaping up to be about #8 and #13. Buffalo is also on a bit of a hot streak recently and they have 2 games in hand on the Penguins, so I can see #7, #8 or #9 as realistic outcomes. I don't think the quality of prospect you're going to get there is much different, it will likely be one of Eklund, O'Brien or Martin with those picks.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I do not believe there are two tiers between Schaefer and Misa. I think it will come down to team preference, in many cases. In some, it MIGHT come down to positional needs and prospect pools. But for me, the gap has closed completely and to be honest I always had Misa right there after watching him play in the Mem Cup as a 16-year-old last spring.

If Buffalo wins the lottery (they likely will not, but still), they are taking Misa or trading down (or maybe Martone or Hagens). If Chicago wins the lottery, I think they pass on Schaefer and draft Misa or Martone or Hagens. If San Jose wins, I think they probably pick Schaefer over a forward but they need both so it will come down to their organizational preference. And on and on.

For us, the need for BOTH a No. 1 defenseman and a No. 1 center is massive. So you can make a case either way. And as much as I am a Misa guy, I have no issue if we decide to draft Schaefer. Just win the lottery, I say.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

Montreal winning may be the dagger on the Rangers playoff chances, they're now down 4 points on the Habs with only 6 games left for each team. The Rangers playoff odds fell to about 15% and the Habs playoff odds jumped to about 74% after the games yesterday. One more win for the Habs and loss for the Rangers and I think you can basically eliminate the Rangers.

The Penguins picks are shaping up to be about #8 and #13. Buffalo is also on a bit of a hot streak recently and they have 2 games in hand on the Penguins, so I can see #7, #8 or #9 as realistic outcomes. I don't think the quality of prospect you're going to get there is much different, it will likely be one of Eklund, O'Brien or Martin with those picks.

I am very curious to see what NYR decides to do with their pick. I don't think it is an easy decision at all. I believe that if Seattle owned their pick, and not us, NYR would probably pick this year and send next year's pick to Seattle. But a rival team makes them pause a bit, I think.

Ultimately, their scouts will likely make their decision for them. I am still rooting for the 2026 NYR first-rounder, mostly because of the potential chaos it may force upon them.