Prospect Info: 2025 DRAFT Discussion

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Back to a topic from the Salary Cap thread about the draft, what's exactly the downside with Kindel that was making some people uneasy in the 1st round? I know there are some concerns with his skating and size, but he's also described as an extremely smart player that reads the ice great. Obviously any sort of skating concerns are a problem, but as McGroarty is showing a high hockey IQ can really minimize the issues with mediocre skating.

I don't think the Penguins should be taking him with the Rangers 1st, but trading down and taking him at about #22 overall would be something I'd be fine with. Like I said, trading down from #13 to #22 and #37 and drafting Kindel and Boumedienne would be something I'd be totally good with.

A comparable that might be worth mentioning: how similar is Kindel to Savoie?

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.

IMO they give up any pick that is #10 or later. They'll want to keep their 2026 1st to use as trade bait to improve for next year.
 
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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.
They are on the same level for me, I lean towards Misa though.
 
McQueen missed the final 2 games of Brandon’s season due to back/hip pain.

There’s still the combine to get some more clarity on his health and I’m not rooting against him where ever he goes, but that red flag got a lot bigger.

Maybe 10 years from now it’s as forgotten as Hossa’s D+1 ACL injury or Malkin’s draft year concussion. But there will be better and less risky players available at our pick and probably at the Rangers too should we get it.
 
I wonder if we could make a deal with the Rangers with their 1st? Say we get their 1st at 14ov or better and we don't have anyone we're in love with but the Rangers do, maybe something like Rags 2025 1st + Pens 2025 3rd for their 2026 1st + Zac Jones? Or if we get say 11th OV, 11ov for Rags 26 1st + rights to Cuylle.

Something to also capitalize on their lack of cap space moving forward this season before offer sheets can be made. They have a ton of RFAs and only $11mil. KAM, Jones, Robertson, Cuylle, Kaliyev (but he's whatever), Rempe, Edstrom...and they have Perreault, Brisson, and Othmann waiting. They could afford to trade out a forward and get a bit of draft capital back.
 
Rangers have 2 days to decide. I tell them if we have the 14th pick, if who we want is gone, maybe let them know they can use it. Boston is tanking and hoe they fall to take Hagens.
 
Bringing this into this thread, the results tonight have the Penguins projected to finish with the #7 pick. The difference between Pittsburgh (78.6 points), Anaheim (79.2 points) and Buffalo (79.9 points) is super small though, plus Seattle (76.9 points) isn’t too far below them. Puts them pretty safely in the #7-#9 range at this point, with #7 seeking most likely due to the tiebreaker the Sabres and Ducks have on the Penguins.

The Rangers playoff odds also fell to less than 10% with the Habs win today. They’re projected to finish with exactly the #13 pick, and are 3 points back with 1 game in hand on the #14 pick Utah. I think they need to go 4-2 or 5-1 to end the year for the Penguins to get the pick this year. That puts them them outside of the playoffs at 87-89 points but still pushes their pick down to #14. If they do worse than that, I think the pick ends up in the #11-#13 range, which Brooks said in an article that they’d keep sadly.
 
I don't think we'll get the Rangers' pick TBH. But I want no part of McQueen.

Looking at their schedule and how they've performed, I'm inclined to agree. It seems like that pick will fall right at #13 overall, where they'd have to finish the year really hot to jump Utah in the standings to make that pick #14 overall.

Unless that Brooks report is false and the Rangers would give the Penguins the #13 pick this year, I'm inclined to believe that the Rangers pick will slide to 2026. Which isn't ideal IMO but isn't a negative either.
 
There’s really only 2 logical reasons the Rangers would convey their top 13 pick:

- tear down rebuild
- offer sheet

I do not see either happening.

I think the argument to be made is that an unprotected 2026 1st would have more trade value than a #13 pick this year, so they may keep the 2026 1st to trade that in an attempt to get better now.

The issue with that thought though is that they'd almost definitely be lottery protecting that 2026 1st if they actually traded it. The Penguins only have it unprotected, the Rangers would very likely protect it if they actually moved it.

Either way I don't think it makes a huge difference. Even though I think the Rangers 1st will come in around #20 overall next year, I'm not sure that #20 overall next year is any worse than #14 overall this year.
 
I think the argument to be made is that an unprotected 2026 1st would have more trade value than a #13 pick this year, so they may keep the 2026 1st to trade that in an attempt to get better now.

The issue with that thought though is that they'd almost definitely be lottery protecting that 2026 1st if they actually traded it. The Penguins only have it unprotected, the Rangers would very likely protect it if they actually moved it.

Either way I don't think it makes a huge difference. Even though I think the Rangers 1st will come in around #20 overall next year, I'm not sure that #20 overall next year is any worse than #14 overall this year.
The argument is that the Rangers are a non-playoff team this year with an older core who got worse when they added a perennial malcontent, so there's good chance they end up in the same spot or worse in a deeper draft next year, which isn't only better if they draft around the same spot, but its also another lotto ticket for the best prospect in years.
 
The argument is that the Rangers are a non-playoff team this year with an older core who got worse when they added a perennial malcontent, so there's good chance they end up in the same spot or worse in a deeper draft next year, which isn't only better if they draft around the same spot, but its also another lotto ticket for the best prospect in years.

But that's not how the Rangers view themselves. Whether fans want to argue that doesn't matter because that's not how the Rangers franchise views the team.
 
The Rangers believe they are a playoff/contender and this is an anomaly. They are keeping the pick this year if they can. Id much rather have pick 15 next year than 12 this year. But since we are getting McKenna next year with that pick its all good. :naughty:
 
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I think the argument to be made is that an unprotected 2026 1st would have more trade value than a #13 pick this year, so they may keep the 2026 1st to trade that in an attempt to get better now.
Doesn’t really make much sense

Your theory is that they can get a better player for that pick today…

so teams are going to trade them a good player for that pick, which makes the Rangers better, and expect the team to finish in the mid teens?

I feel like the 2025 1st is worth more in a trade because you KNOW it is at 11, 12, 13 etc.
 
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