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

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I know it’s not scientific and medicine is always advancing but I don’t know a single person that had a back injury that just healed and never bothered them ever again.

It’s just kind of a give-in that if you hurt your back once you’re just a back pain guy for the rest of your life.

Especially if it's a guy whose whole game hinges on leveraging his size/physicality to utilize his skill.

Back injuries are always jank but it'd be one thing if the player was like a perimeter playmaker or sniper or something, and not a guy you'd expect to be battling in the corners and around the net a lot.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Realistically, I'm hoping someone like Martin or Eklund is sitting there. Pipedream is that somehow Martone drops into their lap, or within trade up range, like 8th or 9th, and it'd only cost a 2nd to move up or something.

And instead we draft the next Derrick Pouliot?

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

And instead we draft the next Derrick Pouliot?

 

[HandshakeLine]

I know it’s not scientific and medicine is always advancing but I don’t know a single person that had a back injury that just healed and never bothered them ever again.

It’s just kind of a give-in that if you hurt your back once you’re just a back pain guy for the rest of your life.

Yeah, there are certain injuries which aren't career-ending, but will severely hamper development and reaching one's potential. Back injuries are still in that category for me, but I'm largely ignorant on any sort of medical developments there.

Knees and shoulders scare me less.

 

[eXile3]

Eh I'd rather take a chance on somebody with larger upside even if there are recent health concerns, rather than someone whose ceiling is most likely bottom six or third pairing at best. Young bodies heal, unless it something that is already chronic and will only get worse like back or knee.

Who are you referring to? McQueen has some of the highest potential of anyone in the draft. He’s definitely a big swing pick.

 

[The Old Master]

I think I've generally come to the stance of "I don't really care" whether the Rangers give up the 1st this year or next year. There are enough prospects I like that I'd be satisfied with getting pick #12 this year, while I'm also totally good kicking that pick to next year in a stronger draft while the pick is unprotected. Either way looks good to me.

If they come out of the draft with 2 of Bear, Eklund, Aitcheson, Lakovic or Reschny with those 2 picks, I'm happy. If they get one of those guys with their own pick and an unprotected 2026 1st with the Rangers pick, I'm happy.

yeah, with players ranked all over the place this is going to be a fun draft. and while I wanted the rag's pick in next year's draft. I'm fine with keeping it this year. it seems that it may be a safer gamble than next year's pick.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I'm a pretty much "do not draft" on McQueen unless he falls to a late 1st rounder. We saw how much Lemieux's career was derailed by a messed up back and McQueen doesn't even have 10% of the talent Lemieux had. IMO Bear's injury is something I can overlook, especially because it's a partial laceration, but McQueen's back is far too much of a problem for me to even consider him.

Let someone else take the chance, even if he pans out I won't be upset about not taking him.

 

[The Old Master]

I know it’s not scientific and medicine is always advancing but I don’t know a single person that had a back injury that just healed and never bothered them ever again.

It’s just kind of a give-in that if you hurt your back once you’re just a back pain guy for the rest of your life.

well, if their skill level is on par with 66 then sure. but i don't see that with anyone this year.

 

[eXile3]

I doubt we draft McQueen, just doesn’t seem like a Dubas guy, but will come back 4-5 years later and point I was right when they dude turns into a beast.

 

[The Old Master]

I doubt we draft McQueen, just doesn’t seem like a Dubas guy, but will come back 4-5 years later and point I was right when they dude turns into a beast.

only if he falls to us and we pass. If he goes before we pick, i will just say i wanted him all along.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I still think if McQueen pans out you're getting like a Bjugstad as opposed to a Tage, or even a Byfield.

I dunno. I really like the idea of having a guy like Martin in the system and developing so that he's ready to go when this team's landing those top 3, franchise cornerstone-type picks. We see every post season how valuable and effective a skilled, physical little shithead can be with guys like early Kunitz, Bennett, and Marchand.

 

[chethejet]

I made a proposal to move Karlsson 2.5 million retention per and Rust and Pens 2nd to Buffalo for Byram, Helenius and the first round pick. Buffalo is in bad need of a PM RD and right wing scorer and has to win now. Pens get back higher end prospect center/RW needed LD and pick with Pens first and potential Rangers pick. Dubas can potentially use them to move up.

 

[Ulf5]

I made a proposal to move Karlsson 2.5 million retention per and Rust and Pens 2nd to Buffalo for Byram, Helenius and the first round pick. Buffalo is in bad need of a PM RD and right wing scorer and has to win now. Pens get back higher end prospect center/RW needed LD and pick with Pens first and potential Rangers pick. Dubas can potentially use them to move up.

You think EK waives for Buffalo?

 

[The Old Master]

You think EK waives for Buffalo?

probably not, but i like his thinking.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Didn't Muzzin have back issues?

 

[Ugene Magic]

Didn't Muzzin have back issues?

Yes. Herniated disc at 16, he had surgery. He had back issues later on to.

 

[chethejet]

My proposal was a typical no and I grasp Karlsson probably won't waive anyway. But to me Buffalo should jump at this. What exactly are they giving up that will make them so much better? Karlsson and Rust bring massive upgrades in all areas. Pens are the ones taking risks, not the Sabres.

 

[eXile3]

If you look at Bjugstad, Thompsons, and McQueens pre draft scouting reports they look very similar. Yes you might get Bjugstad, but you might get Thompson.

I like Eklund and Martin. It sounds like they have a better chance at being NHL players but their ceilings aren’t nearly as high. I see them referenced more as middle of the lineup players.

I would prefer to swing for the fences.

 

[Empoleon8771]

The issue here with saying "swing for the fences" is that it disregards risk and there's a level that comes with McQueen that makes him completely untenable. The risk with McQueen's major back issues is simply not worth the upside there. If you want to go for a guy with a similar skillset, I think you go Lakovic and hope that he adjusts his playstyle to be heavier. Drafting McQueen is basically just praying that his back doesn't cause him issues.

 

[Pancakes]

The issue here with saying "swing for the fences" is that it disregards risk and there's a level that comes with McQueen that makes him completely untenable. The risk with McQueen's major back issues is simply not worth the upside there. If you want to go for a guy with a similar skillset, I think you go Lakovic and hope that he adjusts his playstyle to be heavier. Drafting McQueen is basically just praying that his back doesn't cause him issues.

Guess it depends how much better Dubas' scouts regard McQueen than whoever else will be available. If there's a comparable prospect there who doesn't have back issues that's obviously the play. If they think McQueen is way better than anybody else available at that slot then it might be worth the risk if the doctors don't think his back issues will cripple his career.

Like in a hypothetical scenario where McQueen is rated much higher on the Pens' board than anybody else remaining I think the two options are accepting the risk and taking him or trading down. I don't think you just keep the pick and take a lower upside player in that scenario.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Pronman's latest has Hagens at #11.

Ranking 2025 NHL Draft prospects by skill sets suited for Stanley Cup playoffs

This list of the 2025 draft class emphasizes players who have great pace, physicality and compete level.

www.nytimes.com

1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Martone
4. Desnoyers
5. O'Brien
6. McQueen
7. Frondell
8. Aicheson
9. Mrtka
10. Eklund
11. Hagens

I'll take it!

 

[Ulf5]

I'll take it!

Hagens and Martin if we get the Rags pick. Schwwwiinngggg.

 

[The Old Master]

delete

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

McQueen, even without the back injury issues, has always been attached to scathing criticism about his skating. Tage's pre-draft scouting reports had him as a good to excellent skater for his size. Tage's concerns were whether or not he'd be able to fill out his frame to continue to utilize his size at this level, his consistency/compete level, and whether or not he was simply a power play merchant since 13 of his 14 goals came on the power play in his draft year.

McQueen's not gonna be another Tage, his skating sucks shit. For that alone, he should be a non-starter imo, let alone the concerns about a potential chronic back injury.

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

Yeah the talk a around McQueen seems like he'd be a clear cut #1 if not for his back issues. But thats not it. He seems like a 2nd rounder if he were a couple inches shorter. That's not enough raw talent to justify a reach earlier in the 1st. Like, clean bill of health, is he even a top-5 player in the draft? Eh.....