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

[CheckingLineCenter]

Elite Prospects has the two virtually tied at 7th and 8th, with Bear only being ranked below due to the injury.

Hence “IMO”

unfortunately (for them) I am not elite prospects

 

[lokomotiv15]

It's a decent list. McQueen is a complete wildcard for anyone creating mock drafts right now. I'd love to get some insider info from scouts on what they think about him.

I don't think I've seen two lists the same from 2-12(ish). It's really hard coming up with the picks. Like, Frondell to Chicago - that makes total sense. But then you say "but wait...would they really pass on Hagens? Or Martone?" And think at a point, you can say that at damn near every pick until they are both taken. NYI really has me wondering about Hagens too. That could flip absolutely everything on its head if they take him 1ov.

Rakell for a 1st, EK for a 1st. Just bathe in 1sts. Soak in them.

The only stuff that I have heard is from a team that has no pick in the first round, another picking too early for it to matter and another around the Pens and it's pretty much all stuff we already assumed. If all his physicals come back clear it's extremely unlikely he falls to where the Pens are picking. Couple teams willing to take a swing on him at 5-8 depending how the Dominoes fall early and a couple teams that would love him to fall after 8.

Long story short, too many teams higher on him than you'd expect for him to ever make it to 11 in this draft class.

Edit: Also don't expect him to be the swing the Pens would take.

 

[Gurglesons]

Craig's List: Lots of prospects down the middle ahead of NHL Draft | TSN

TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button has 13 centres in the top 32 of his latest Craig's List draft prospect ranking and shines the spotlight on Brady Martin, Cole Reschny and Braeden Cootes.

www.tsn.ca

Button's new top-15:

1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Frondell
4. Martone
5. McQueen
6. Martin
7. Desnoyers
8. Hagens
9. Mrtka
10. Eklund
11. O'Brien
12. Smith
13. Reschny
14. Carbonneau
15. Spence

Bear is ranked all the way #24. If O'Brien drops all the way to #11, I'll be super happy to take him even with my concerns with him.

Hagens at 8 is so f***ing dumb.

 

[Empoleon8771]

IMO the best case scenario is that McQueen goes before the Penguins pick and it pushes either O'Brien or Eklund to the Penguins pick at #11. McQueen could totally end up a good player in the NHL, I'd just rather them not even have the chance at taking him. Too much risk for my liking.

If you get something crazy like Lakovic going to Anaheim at #10, you could have a choice of O'Brien or Eklund at 11. I don't think it's too crazy to suggest the top-10 could look like:

1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Frondell
4. Martone
5. Hagens
6. Desnoyers
7. McQueen
8. Martin
9. Mrtka
10. Lakovic

If the Rangers give the Penguins their 1st this year, that would be monumental if the draft ends up going this way.

 

[SEALBound]

The only stuff that I have heard is from a team that has no pick in the first round, another picking too early for it to matter and another around the Pens and it's pretty much all stuff we already assumed. If all his physicals come back clear it's extremely unlikely he falls to where the Pens are picking. Couple teams willing to take a swing on him at 5-8 depending how the Dominoes fall early and a couple teams that would love him to fall after 8.

Long story short, too many teams higher on him than you'd expect for him to ever make it to 11 in this draft class.

Edit: Also don't expect him to be the swing the Pens would take.

Which is fair. I still think he falls to after us. I think if we want a center, we need some surprises to go early.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

NYI: Schaefer
SJ: Misa
Chi: Frondell
UT: McSizeQueen
NSH: Martone
PHI: Desnoyers
BOS: Martin
SEA: Mrtka
BUF: O’Brien
ANA: Eklund
PIT: Hagens

 

[Gurglesons]

If Hagens falls out of the top five I'll be legitimately shocked.

Wouldn't be surprised to see the Islanders take him 1st over all tbh.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

If Hagens falls out of the top five I'll be legitimately shocked.

Wouldn't be surprised to see the Islanders take him 1st over all tbh.

Let a man dream.

 

[lokomotiv15]

Which is fair. I still think he falls to after us. I think if we want a center, we need some surprises to go early.

From what I've heard on a pretty rock solid source, you could be right either way. Even if the Pens were to get the two picks back-to-back, he passed his physical and he did squeeze through, at this moment he isn't someone all over their radar. Interviews and combine could change things, but on the amateur scout side of things, he's not there on their lists.

 

[Empoleon8771]

From what I've heard on a pretty rock solid source, you could be right either way. Even if the Pens were to get the two picks back-to-back, he passed his physical and he did squeeze through, at this moment he isn't someone all over their radar. Interviews and combine could change things, but on the amateur scout side of things, he's not there on their lists.

Interesting that they haven't shown interest in McQueen, but I think it makes sense. Do you think it's fair to say that Eklund, O'Brien and Martin are the big 3 that they like with their pick?

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

From what I've heard on a pretty rock solid source, you could be right either way. Even if the Pens were to get the two picks back-to-back, he passed his physical and he did squeeze through, at this moment he isn't someone all over their radar. Interviews and combine could change things, but on the amateur scout side of things, he's not there on their lists.

Outside of someone having a Buium type fall I am finding it harder and harder to care who we take. It feels like one massive tier to me outside of the (my own) top 4-5 guys. Everyone has serious merits and warts in their own ways.

I’d be slightly sour with an Aitcheson pick but obviously would still cheer and hope for their success.

 

[Jared Grayden]

From what I've heard on a pretty rock solid source, you could be right either way. Even if the Pens were to get the two picks back-to-back, he passed his physical and he did squeeze through, at this moment he isn't someone all over their radar. Interviews and combine could change things, but on the amateur scout side of things, he's not there on their lists.

I've never viewed McQueen as a prospect this org. would highly value. The more I've seen of McQueen the more I think he's a higher floor and lower ceiling player than being projected.

 

[lokomotiv15]

Interesting that they haven't shown interest in McQueen, but I think it makes sense. Do you think it's fair to say that Eklund, O'Brien and Martin are the big 3 that they like with their pick?

It would seem that as of now, for teams picking 11 and up that it's a foregone conclusion that Martin and O'Brien are both gone by 10, even with OBs so-so playoffs and high % of powerplay points. Offensive numbers still compare well vs contemporaries and think he actually might have been a by-product of too many cooks in the kitchen a few times when it came to farming 5v5 points. A lot of AM scouts are in love with Martin's game, to the point of saying he's a good top 10 pick in any draft.

Eklund is the more realistic option, but would love either of those 2 to still be there. Mrtka a solid option, but also has more teams high on him than people would think and wouldn't be surprised to see him gone by 10.

Not my opinions, but maybe I should be checking out Mrtka a bit more.

 

[lokomotiv15]

Outside of someone having a Buium type fall I am finding it harder and harder to care who we take. It feels like one massive tier to me outside of the (my own) top 4-5 guys. Everyone has serious merits and warts in their own ways.

I’d be slightly sour with an Aitcheson pick but obviously would still cheer and hope for their success.

Yeah, thats where I am at. For the last few weeks, I've just decided there are 2 or 3 guys I wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole, and will find the bright spots of whoever we do grab. otherwise Unless something egregious happens, I think that's probably the best way to deal with this pick in this draft.

 

[SEALBound]

Outside of someone having a Buium type fall I am finding it harder and harder to care who we take. It feels like one massive tier to me outside of the (my own) top 4-5 guys. Everyone has serious merits and warts in their own ways.

I’d be slightly sour with an Aitcheson pick but obviously would still cheer and hope for their success.

If it's not a center, I think I'm good with whoever they pick, with preference going to Eklund.

At the end of the day, if all of the good centers are taken, adding a solid wing or dman prospect just sort of "is what it is". You hope for maximum potential and impact from whoever we pick. Given how bad we need some dmen in the pipeline, I wouldn't be disappointed in Aitcheson. In fact, that probably makes more sense than getting Bear just from a prospect pool strength POV.

Jesse did a good job convincing me of Aitcheson over Mrtka too but I think I have the same qualms with Mrtka as I do with McQueen.

 

[The Old Master]

If it's not a center, I think I'm good with whoever they pick, with preference going to Eklund.

At the end of the day, if all of the good centers are taken, adding a solid wing or dman prospect just sort of "is what it is". You hope for maximum potential and impact from whoever we pick. Given how bad we need some dmen in the pipeline, I wouldn't be disappointed in Aitcheson. In fact, that probably makes more sense than getting Bear just from a prospect pool strength POV.

Jesse did a good job convincing me of Aitcheson over Mrtka too but I think I have the same qualms with Mrtka as I do with McQueen.

trade up and get our center.

 

[lokomotiv15]

If it's not a center, I think I'm good with whoever they pick, with preference going to Eklund.

At the end of the day, if all of the good centers are taken, adding a solid wing or dman prospect just sort of "is what it is". You hope for maximum potential and impact from whoever we pick. Given how bad we need some dmen in the pipeline, I wouldn't be disappointed in Aitcheson. In fact, that probably makes more sense than getting Bear just from a prospect pool strength POV.

Jesse did a good job convincing me of Aitcheson over Mrtka too but I think I have the same qualms with Mrtka as I do with McQueen.

If you have any links or footage I can check out to see what the hype is about Mrtka, please share. I admittedly didn't check any of him out this year and everything I'm seeing he looks like a slightly more lumbering Owen Pickering in his draft year.

I noticed him at the U18s in a good way, but I try never to put much weight into draft year player performances in the U18s.

 

[SEALBound]

It would seem that as of now, for teams picking 11 and up that it's a foregone conclusion that Martin and O'Brien are both gone by 10, even with OBs so-so playoffs and high % of powerplay points. Offensive numbers still compare well vs contemporaries and think he actually might have been a by-product of too many cooks in the kitchen a few times when it came to farming 5v5 points. A lot of AM scouts are in love with Martin's game, to the point of saying he's a good top 10 pick in any draft.

Eklund is the more realistic option, but would love either of those 2 to still be there. Mrtka a solid option, but also has more teams high on him than people would think and wouldn't be surprised to see him gone by 10.

Not my opinions, but maybe I should be checking out Mrtka a bit more.

I would imagine teams watching the playoffs and seeing the value in guys like Bennett would be really helping Martin's case, especially after a good WJC.

I figured a tall dman like Mrtka would be high on a couple teams list, especially if you need a good dman in your pool. I would say 5-10/12, there's isn't a solid BPA as you can make different cases for different players so might be able to base it on needs.

 

[Jared Grayden]

If you have any links or footage I can check out to see what the hype is about Mrtka, please share. I admittedly didn't check any of him out this year and everything I'm seeing he looks like a slightly more lumbering Owen Pickering in his draft year.

I noticed him at the U18s in a good way, but I try never to put much weight into draft year player performances in the U18s.

Much more mobile than Pickering. Doesn't use his size much and relies way too much on reach. Struggles when he can't out skate pressure. Just the profile of massive mobile RHD makes me doubtful he makes it out of the top 10.

 

[SEALBound]

If you have any links or footage I can check out to see what the hype is about Mrtka, please share. I admittedly didn't check any of him out this year and everything I'm seeing he looks like a slightly more lumbering Owen Pickering in his draft year.

I noticed him at the U18s in a good way, but I try never to put much weight into draft year player performances in the U18s.

I'm not super high on Mrtka myself. Easier route might be to have @Jesse post his video recaps. I went back a couple pages but couldn't find them.

 

[lokomotiv15]

I'm not super high on Mrtka myself. Easier route might be to have @Jesse post his video recaps. I went back a couple pages but couldn't find them.

Sounds good. I was trying to dig back and couldn't find it either and nothing on youtube I could find was doing any justice.

Much more mobile than Pickering. Doesn't use his size much and relies way too much on reach. Struggles when he can't out skate pressure. Just the profile of massive mobile RHD makes me doubtful he makes it out of the top 10.

I will have to check out what Jesse posts and maybe a few scouting vids that come out. Most things I see are him offensively/ozone footage and not so much back-tracking/gapping/breaking etc...

I would imagine teams watching the playoffs and seeing the value in guys like Bennett would be really helping Martin's case, especially after a good WJC.

I figured a tall dman like Mrtka would be high on a couple teams list, especially if you need a good dman in your pool. I would say 5-10/12, there's isn't a solid BPA as you can make different cases for different players so might be able to base it on needs.

Yeah, I had him as a ho-hum middle first rounder around New Years and he's kind of sky rocketed. I get the intrigue, especially in this draft. He plays under John Dean who's never been one to really squeeze the offense out of all his tools, which may contribute to why his numbers don't pop quite as much.

Apparently he's definitely going to measure in as bigger/taller than his last stated measurements of 6', 175. Threatening 6'1 and heavier.

 

[Jdodd]

I think it is easy to say you have a top 6 of,
Schaefer,
Misa,
Hagens,
Martone,
Frondell,
Desnoyer.

Even if any of them fall out of the top 6 they are highly unlikely to make it to 11.

Then you have the next 6-7 of
O'Brien
McQueen "pending injury"
Mrtka
Martin
Eklund
and possibly Smith, Lakovic, Bear "pending injury"

So I think we need to hope teams in that 7-10 range love height and take McQueen, Mrtka, etc.

If so then possibly 2 of O'Brien, Martin, and Eklund fall, but my guess is one of them will be at 11 and most likely in order will be Eklund, Martin, and then O'Brien. IMO.

If not, then you are choosing between Mrtka, Bear, Lakovic, Aicheson, etc at 11....

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Personally think Pickering is a better skater than Mrtka

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

@Jesse ‘s vid here too

 

[Jared Grayden]

Personally think Pickering is a better skater than Mrtka

I was very unimpressed with Pickering's mobility in the NHL. Thought he struggled to defend in space. His NHL edge data sample is not encouraging either. Mrtka mobility looked very impressive in the U-18s. Can't say the same I'm about the rest of his game. But like I said, very doubtful he will be available at number 11.