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

[Jacob]

I would be curious how deep the laceration was. If it was just partial or even a small one I’d probably bump him up in my rankings.

 

[sauce66871]

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

Forsberg 2.0

 

[Ugene Magic]

I would be curious how deep the laceration was. If it was just partial or even a small one I’d probably bump him up in my rankings.

That's just the thing, everyone bases their assumptions on an unknown. No news = what exactly?

Someone is getting the steal of the draft if he's taken high teens or early 20s. I'm certain more will be known by the draft in June.

 

[eXile3]

Forsberg 2.0

Forsberg was an obvious choice and instead we reached on someone who wasn’t supposed to go until the late 1st.

Outside the top guys there really aren’t any obvious choices.

 

[chethejet]

Dubas will make very attempt to add talent. Now if Rangers keep the pick there is 2026 number one, so be it. I think Karlsson will be a better trade piece than some think. Yes Dubas will hold to getting what he wants in Rakell or Rust. He should, Take a look at FA. Hard to find 30 goal wingers make 5 million. New coach with a better system that matches the strengths of the players will improve the Pens. Pens are a blend of younger legs, and older vets trying to win.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I wouldn't bet on them passing on Eklund if he was available at #11. Dubas and Clarke went to Sweden to scout him and Frondell earlier in the year and he seems exactly like a Dubas kind of player. I think he'd only pass on Eklund if someone like Martin or O'Brien was available, and that's more about needing a center than anything.

But like I said, I think there's a fairly minimal difference in the upside of players in this draft where they're picking. It's just the guys after Eklund are riskier. I actually think Eklund's probably not the guy to take if you want to go for the highest upside pick, I think Lakovic is the guy I'd say has the highest "upside" of anyone they could take at that spot. But I already expressed my concerns with Lakovic that make him way riskier of a prospect than Eklund IMO.

 

[The Old Master]

just no "safe" players, swing away or don't swing at all.

 

[Jared Grayden]

Forsberg was an obvious choice and instead we reached on someone who wasn’t supposed to go until the late 1st.

Outside the top guys there really aren’t any obvious choices.

Pouliot was 12th in the Central Scouting list for NA that year (Maatta was 8th). Prospects like Forsberg (and Eklund for that matter) often drop. Vanilla type wingers without any unique standout traits. Plenty of teams passed on Forsberg and then he was traded away in an unimpressive deal later. Dmen and centers will get prioritized as they always do every draft.

2012 CSB FINAL (NA SKATERS) – The Draft Analyst

www.thedraftanalyst.com

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Vanilla type wingers without any unique standout traits.

This is not apt.

Forsberg was highly skilled with a big shot. He was not considered vanilla. I think teams quietly worried about skating even though it wasn’t noted by the public. I know I read that’s why the Caps moved him.

Same with Eklund. Skilled, high motor, good skater, puck carrier, will hit anyone/anything. Size is the issue. If he falls it’s because it’s positional, size, and harder to get a read on his upside with the league he plays in. Not that he’s vanilla.

 

[PensFutures]

This seemed to come out of nowhere.

To Nashville : 11 (or 12*)
To Pitt: Tampa's 1st and 2nd
I would love part of this deal being Nashville takes someone like Heinen, but they are in the same boat as us, terrible roster that's all coming back next year.

To Tampa: Washingtons 2nd, Tampa's 2nd (maybe a B prospect too?)
To Pitt: Howard

Take Nesbitt (if that's who they truly want) with Tampa's 1st.

 

[Fogel]

Man that 2012 draft, the top 5 of the Euro skater list is so much better than the NA list.

 

[eXile3]

Pouliot was 12th in the Central Scouting list for NA that year (Maatta was 8th). Prospects like Forsberg (and Eklund for that matter) often drop. Vanilla type wingers without any unique standout traits. Plenty of teams passed on Forsberg and then he was traded away in an unimpressive deal later. Dmen and centers will get prioritized as they always do every draft.

2012 CSB FINAL (NA SKATERS) – The Draft Analyst

www.thedraftanalyst.com

12th for NA. Not overall.

 

[The Old Master]

This seemed to come out of nowhere.

To Nashville : 11 (or 12*)
To Pitt: Tampa's 1st and 2nd
I would love part of this deal being Nashville takes someone like Heinen, but they are in the same boat as us, terrible roster that's all coming back next year.

To Tampa: Washingtons 2nd, Tampa's 2nd (maybe a B prospect too?)
To Pitt: Howard

Take Nesbitt (if that's who they truly want) with Tampa's 1st.

i'm praying that's a smokescreen. or a sick joke.

 

[Jared Grayden]

This is not apt.

Forsberg was highly skilled with a big shot. He was not considered vanilla. I think teams quietly worried about skating even though it wasn’t noted by the public. I know I read that’s why the Caps moved him.

Same with Eklund. Skilled, high motor, good skater, puck carrier, will hit anyone/anything. Size is the issue. If he falls it’s because it’s positional, size, and harder to get a read on his upside with the league he plays in. Not that he’s vanilla.

I'm not saying that's what the outcome was. I'm saying that's what the perception was and self evidently he had less appeal than expected as he fell in the draft and then again was traded away. Though IIRC it was WSH was concerned about his compete level.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

@Jesse where are you seeing that besides mocks from the Athletic that assume NYR has the pick

ppl gonna flame me but I like Nesbitt and think he’s worthy to be talked about in the teens. A lot of online people seem to think it’s ridiculous he’s talked about in the 1st.

and I think he fits the Clark profile. (OHL, development runway, athlete)

 

[Trade]

Martin would be an amazing get at 11, but IMO there's a huge chance he goes as early as 6/7 to Philly or Boston, mainly due to him seeming like a true C in a weaker draft.

A 2C of the future would be an amazing score for this draft. O'Brien or Martin would both be sweet additions.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I'm not saying that's what the outcome was. I'm saying that's what the perception was and self evidently he had less appeal than expected as he fell in the draft and then again was traded away. Though IIRC it was WSH was concerned about his compete level.

I’m aware. I’m saying that is absolutely not what perception was on Forsberg nor what it is on Eklund. neither was ever considered vanilla, pre or post draft.

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

There was plenty talk about Forsberg going #1 OV at some point. Absolutely Top 3. There is no comparison between him and Eklund in this regard. Forsberg at 11 was like "wow, how did he fall there?!" Eklund at 11 would be "yep, sounds about right."

 

[Jared Grayden]

I’m aware. I’m saying that is absolutely not what perception was on Forsberg nor what it is on Eklund. neither was ever considered vanilla, pre or post draft.

We'll have to agree to disagree then. Especially when it comes to Nesbitt. Never stood out at all to me in the U-18s and his tracking metrics are mediocre as well. I liked Horcoff better than Nesbitt, but wouldn't want either at #11. Doubt either will be strongly considered at that point either.

 

[chethejet]

Shero insistence of PMD cost the Pens in not taking more forward help. Pens got lucky to a degree with Jake and Rust being far better than where they were drafted. Morrow just never turned into the star some including me thought he would be. Pouliot was a reach in his skating and size. Maatta was a good pick and no telling how his early injuries hurt his game. In the end passing on Forsberg was bad. Pens needed a forward with size and skill. I take Martin if there. May not be the stud center but can be a good number 2 type. I take O'brien but see what happens.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

We'll have to agree to disagree then. Especially when it comes to Nesbitt. Never stood out at all to me in the U-18s and his tracking metrics are mediocre as well. I liked Horcoff better than Nesbitt, but wouldn't want either at #11. Doubt either will be strongly considered at that point either.

can you find one description, video, report calling Eklund vanilla. Or Forsberg for that matter

It’s fine to think it yourself - that’s your prerogative and opinion. But it objectively was/is not the perception of either in their DYs.

Separately — That’s fine on Nesbitt. And I would call him somewhat vanilla.

11 is a bit rich (I’d want him 15 or later if he’s still there) but I totally get it with him. He’s a rapidly improving athletic 6’2-6’3 C in a class that gets mediocre quick.

 

[Empoleon8771]

@Jesse where are you seeing that besides mocks from the Athletic that assume NYR has the pick

ppl gonna flame me but I like Nesbitt and think he’s worthy to be talked about in the teens. A lot of online people seem to think it’s ridiculous he’s talked about in the 1st.

and I think he fits the Clark profile. (OHL, development runway, athlete)

Pronman had the Wings taking Nesbitt at #13 as well, but yeah outside of him I usually see Nesbitt in the 20s.

 

[Khelandros]

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

How would that be different than any other day?

 

[Ugene Magic]

12th for NA. Not overall.

Yeah, Pouliot was ranked like 19 to early 20's.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Pronman had the Wings taking Nesbitt at #13 as well, but yeah outside of him I usually see Nesbitt in the 20s.

I find him intriguing but think there’s a lot of bust potential. Here’s what Brock Otten had to say:

Nesbitt continues to be a very versatile player for the Spitfires in his NHL draft year. He's your prototypical power center; the kind of player NHL GM's are searching long and hard for these days. He has a clear understanding of the way he needs to play to be successful; get to the net himself or get pucks to the net. He's physical. His reach and physicality can make him an impact defensive player, part of why the Spits coaching staff has been using him to close out games. Offensively, I think he can be quite effective when he plays with pace; his speed is deceptive and can catch opposing defenders off guard and flat footed. I've seen and heard some criticism about his skating, but it's not a huge concern for me. The early results from the testing that occurred at the OHL Top Prospect's Game had him as one of the quicker skaters at the event. The agility and ability to change direction; edgework....yeah that could use some work to make him more dynamic with the puck. However, given his size, skill, and physicality, I'm OK with him being a straight line player. Even if he only ends up as an Adam Lowry type, that has significant value at the end of the first. Ask the Winnipeg Jets how important Lowry is to them despite being a 30-40 point guy .

11th is high but I think once you hit 15-20 range.. like what are the alternatives that are so much better.