Prospect Info: 2025 Draft: We are #1….1

[Empoleon8771]

Maybe it's because I value physicality more for dmen, but Mrtka bothers me the most in this regard. Uses his size with his reach a lot but should really play the body more when defending and he's disturbingly weak in puck battles.

I've heard him compared to Tyler Myers and I think Myers has that same exact problem as well.

 

[SEALBound]

I'd rather take a chance on a forward than take Mrtka. I'm just not convinced any of Smith, Mrkta, or Aitcheson do anything so great for us that we need to take any of them over a forward.

 

[DrDangles]

I mean yeah, that's basically just Eklund no? Well, Eklund with the lacerated Achilles.

I was under the impression Eklund is a lock for the top 10, I'd be pretty shocked if he's available at 11.

 

[Your Boy Troy]

Instead of working today I whipped up my top 15. Subject to tweaks and I admit my opinion carries little weight. Already flip-flopped Misa & Schaefer a few times.


Schaefer
Misa
Martone
Frondell
Hagens
Martin
Desnoyers
Eklund
Aitcheson
O’Brien
Bear
Reschny
Mrtka
Spence
McQueen

If we get one of these guys I’m good.

Malcolm Spence is another interesting name. He's one of the oldest prospects in the draft. He plays a complete 200-foot game. He doesn't have the upside of most of the players on the list, but he's closer to being NHL-ready than most with his size and intangibles. There's speculation that he is committing to Michigan, along with other names like Gavin McKenna and even Porter Martone (the former being a lot more realistic). That's a damn program to go to if that indeed is the case. They emphasize a high tempo brand of hockey where the defensemen are encouraged to pinch often, so I can see him producing offensively.

 

[Jacob]

Malcolm Spence is another interesting name. He's one of the oldest prospects in the draft. He plays a complete 200-foot game. He doesn't have the upside of most of the players on the list, but he's closer to being NHL-ready than most with his size and intangibles. There's speculation that he is committing to Michigan, along with other names like Gavin McKenna and even Porter Martone (the former being a lot more realistic). That's a damn program to go to if that indeed is the case. They emphasize a high tempo brand of hockey where the defensemen are encouraged to pinch often, so I can see him producing offensively.

Yeah his game seems highly translatable. He could probably play on a 3rd or 4th line next year and not look out of place, but I think his overall upside is capped at like a 20-20 guy. But a 20-20 guy that does other things.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Malcolm Spence is another interesting name. He's one of the oldest prospects in the draft. He plays a complete 200-foot game. He doesn't have the upside of most of the players on the list, but he's closer to being NHL-ready than most with his size and intangibles. There's speculation that he is committing to Michigan, along with other names like Gavin McKenna and even Porter Martone (the former being a lot more realistic). That's a damn program to go to if that indeed is the case. They emphasize a high tempo brand of hockey where the defensemen are encouraged to pinch often, so I can see him producing offensively.

I like Spence. I feel like the low upside label is a bit unfair to him.

 

[Ryder71]

yeah, thats only second to a bad back. imo

Exactly right!

 

[Khelandros]

I don't know why everyone is arguing about who the Pens should take. I was told many times over they are selecting Misa. And McKenna next year.

 

[Ryder71]

I'd rather take a chance on a forward than take Mrtka. I'm just not convinced any of Smith, Mrkta, or Aitcheson do anything so great for us that we need to take any of them over a forward.

100%, A forward and if possible take a center that has the potential to be a fixture in the top six. That IMO should be made THE priority. And if we have to move up to achieve that, do it! As long as we'd have a willing partner.

 

[SEALBound]

Yeah his game seems highly translatable. He could probably play on a 3rd or 4th line next year and not look out of place, but I think his overall upside is capped at like a 20-20 guy. But a 20-20 guy that does other things.

A few Flyers fans like him. Some are on the train of wanting Martin with their first pick and Spence with the second. They play a style that seems fitting for Philly.

 

[SomeDude]

Maybe it's because I value physicality more for dmen, but Mrtka bothers me the most in this regard. Uses his size with his reach a lot but should really play the body more when defending and he's disturbingly weak in puck battles.

Perfect. He can be mentored by the biggest waste of size, Ryan Graves.

 

[Ryder71]

I don't know why everyone is arguing about who the Pens should take. I was told many times over they are selecting Misa. And McKenna next year.

Those were individuals dealing in fables. We were also told we'd pick between 5th and 8th OA for several weeks/months.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I was under the impression Eklund is a lock for the top 10, I'd be pretty shocked if he's available at 11.

I think a lot of mocks have him falling to the 10-13 range. It's not really about Eklund's talent, I think he's firmly a top-10 talent. He's just an undersized Euro while surrounded with a bunch of big/physical centers and defensemen. I can see him falling just because teams make a run on the physical/big players.

I was like 90% sure he'd be available at #9 and I'm still a good 60% sure that he'll be there at #11. I think the top-10 goes something like:

1. NYI: Schaefer
2. San Jose: Misa
3. Chicago: Frondell
4. Utah: Desnoyers
5. Nashville: Hagens
6. Philly: Martin
7. Boston: McQueen
8. Seattle: Martone
9. Buffalo: Mrtka
10. Anaheim: O'Brien

If McQueen's physicals fail, I think O'Brien goes to Boston and that may push Eklund into the top-10.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I dunno if Seattle would be down but I'm absolutely trying to trade up to 8 if Martone's still there.

 

[canadianguy77]

I really wish the draft was held after FA begins.

 

[Ogelthorpe]

One more draft thought, if all of Martin, O'Brien, Mrtka and Eklund are gone by #11, I'd probably be talking with someone to trade down and then flip for Howard. If you do that #11 for #16 and #41 idea, how much would you need to add to #41 to be able to pull off Howard? Would #41 and one of their 2026 2nds cut it?

If I can't get Eklund at #11, I think I'm shooting for Kindel at about #16 and using some of the assets gained from trading down to acquire Howard. But even with that, I'm kinda iffy on that because it's adding 2 undersized scoring wingers (most likely in Kindel's case) and I'd rather balance out the prospect pool additions.

I was looking at some mock drafts on different sites today. What I noticed that a lot of them had in common

-Penguins end up with Eklund in just about all of them

-Hagens drops to Nashville at #5 in nearly all of them.

-Frondell is often the second C taken.

-Martin or O’Brien never drop to 11.

-Martone drops to the 6-8 range.

Just thinking that it would be fortuitous if Eklund, who we were hoping would make it to us in the 7-9 range, actually falls to 11.

 

[Zirakzigil]

I think there will be an insane amount of pressure for the Isles to take Hagens, either 1st overall or trading down.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Word is Tocchet is the frontrunner for the Bruins HC job. Wonder if that changes anything for their pick at 7th overall.

 

[eXile3]

A 20, 20 guy who does other things sounds like an absolute win to me in the class.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Word is Tocchet is the frontrunner for the Bruins HC job. Wonder if that changes anything for their pick at 7th overall.

They need a center 100%

So any of them available at their pick.

Hagens
Frondell
Desnoyers
O'Brien
Martin
McQueen

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

Man, this place is gonna be insufferable when Eklund is available at 11 and they take someone different.

 

[Pancakes]

Man, this place is gonna be insufferable when Eklund is available at 11 and they take someone different.

I'm not getting myself hyped for any picks for precisely that reason.

I'll wait and see who we grab and then see what Jesse and others in the know have to say about the pick and form an opinion from there.

 

[ThosePuckingPenguins]

Man, this place is gonna be insufferable when Eklund is available at 11 and they take someone different.

Definitely a possibility but hasn’t Dubas and staff scouted his a lot of his games?

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Word is Tocchet is the frontrunner for the Bruins HC job. Wonder if that changes anything for their pick at 7th overall.

Meatheads who planned to pick meathead prospect hire meathead coach

 

[Ugene Magic]

Does Bear really project to be anything that special? I thought he was fairly similar to Eklund, just with the lacerated Achilles.

I think he’s pretty talented. Like better skater, and way more skilled than the reports let on. And hes a dawg.

Would be in my top 10 if it wasn’t a guarantee he was gonna miss a lot of games next year + the word Achilles scares me.

Bear's toolbox is bigger, just like his stature. 6'0" 176 lbs.

He can play all three forward positions, PK's, relentless puck pursuit 2 way forward with a high scoring 1.46 PPG.