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

[Empoleon8771]

My prediction/hope would be

1. NYI: Schaefer
2. SJ: Misa
3. CHI: Martone
4. UTAH: Frondell
5. NSH: Hagens
6. PHI: Desnoyers
7. BOS: Smith
8. SEA: Mrtka
9. BUF: Martin
10. ANA: McQueen
11. PIT: Eklund
12 PIT: O' Brien

Yeah I think it's a very slim chance, but Eklund and O'Brien at #11 and #12 would be pretty much the best case scenario in my eyes. It would require both the Rangers giving up the pick plus one more guy jumping into the top-10 (my bet is Smith or Lakovic), but it's possible.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Is there really any reason at all NYR would give up this years pick as opposed to next years?

Yes, it was talked about a lot yesterday but there's a bunch of factors here:

1. The 2026 draft is projected to be significantly better than the 2025 draft, where the Rangers could think that they'd be getting a comparable or better prospect at #20 next year to what they'd be getting at #12 this year.
2. Even though they clearly plan on being better next year, there is a huge risk with giving up an unprotected 2026 pick when they just finished with the 11th worst record in hockey. They can plan on being better next year while also viewing the risk of giving up the pick too high, especially just to keep a #12 pick in a weaker draft.

The argument for them keeping it is:

1. The trade value for a #12 pick this year could be higher than a 1st for next year, especially when they'd lottery protect any sort of 2026 1st they'd trade. I have questions on how they'd get the cap space to do this, but they could flip the #12 pick into a young NHLer to try to win now (similar to how I've been suggesting that pick for Byram).
2. They like the prospects enough at #12 to overlook the risk of giving up an unprotected 1st next year, whether that's a "we love this guy at #12 so we'll take the risk" or "we like this guy at #12 and we don't view giving up the unprotected 1st as a big risk".

It can really go either way and it wouldn't surprise me. Giving up the #12 pick would be the safer approach while giving up the 2026 1st would be the riskier approach IMO.

 

[The Old Master]

i think the PP merchant thing isnt the actual red flag tbh, it’s a symptom

His skating just limits him. Makes him have to slow it down. Limits the space he can create at 5v5. It’s not even horrible he just has like zero power or explosion.

that could be an easy fix as he gets older/stronger. imo

 

[The Old Master]

My prediction/hope would be

1. NYI: Schaefer
2. SJ: Misa
3. CHI: Martone
4. UTAH: Frondell
5. NSH: Hagens
6. PHI: Desnoyers
7. BOS: Smith
8. SEA: Mrtka
9. BUF: Martin
10. ANA: McQueen
11. PIT: Eklund
12 PIT: O' Brien

i would not be upset if someone takes obrin and we end up with martin.

 

[HandshakeLine]

I would be thrilled to get Martin.

 

[Jacob]

O'Brien's one of those guys that skates just as well with the puck as without, and seems faster crossing over than skating in a straight line.

Whether we draft him or not it'll be interesting to follow him next season.. Brantford is losing Lardis who broke some records in goals in a season. So O'Brien won't have him to pass to. They seem to be losing a lot of offense in general, but they still have Vanacker who I assume will play with O'Brien. So if he doesn't start scoring more 5-on-5 I could see his numbers taking a hit compared to this year.

 

[Gurglesons]

Unless we get really lucky or somehow move up to grab someone that we want and a team doesn't.

I don't really care about the prospect we acquire in this draft with the 1st.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

O'Brien's one of those guys that skates just as well with the puck as without, and seems faster crossing over than skating in a straight line.

Whether we draft him or not it'll be interesting to follow him next season.. Brantford is losing Lardis who broke some records in goals in a season. So O'Brien won't have him to pass to. They seem to be losing a lot of offense in general, but they still have Vanacker who I assume will play with O'Brien. So if he doesn't start scoring more 5-on-5 I could see his numbers taking a hit compared to this year.

would like to see him go to NCAA next year if we take him

 

[Duffy13]

Some wild swings in some of the draft predictions, I don't really follow the prospect rankings too much, as we never have high enough picks to warrant caring about it. However, just looking at the lists, it looks like the pick will either be surprise options falling to 11, or a wtf pick out of left field. I get that this is just reporters who make lists of who they think players should be ranked, but after the top 3 or 5, some of the rankings get pretty diverse.

We need that Sportsnet guy who got let go for telling his buddy who was being drafted a couple seconds beforehand, and pissed off the gambling sponsors to get in on this and give us the list.

 

[tnnr]

Would be thrilled with any 3 of

O'Brien, Martin, Eklund

Also a fan of Jackson Smith, he is so talented, a little reckless but that could be coached.

 

[Jacob]

This guy has some good takes on O'Brien and McQueen. Said in the prospects forum he's coming out with a Martin one next.

Does go on to explain that O'Brien played with less-than-great wingers 5-on-5 (I knew he didn't play much with Lardis outside of the PP but I wasn't sure who he did play with) so he's not as concerned about the odd ratio between PP and ES production.

Another point he makes is that O'Brien's playmaking is already, like, elite. Just the kind of passes that only a handful of curent NHLers can even make.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Another point he makes is that O'Brien's playmaking is already, like, elite. Just the kind of passes that only a handful of curent NHLers can even make.

Yeah I was reading some other scouting reports on O'Brien and they said the same thing. He's kinda a 1 tool player right now, but that one tool is legitimately elite playmaking.

Also if he pans out, the Penguins could have 2 terrific PPQBs on their top unit between Koivunen on the left half-wall and O'Brien on the right half-wall. Although I'd wonder if you want those two as their own QBs on separate units at that point.

 

[Jacob]

Yeah I was reading some other scouting reports on O'Brien and they said the same thing. He's kinda a 1 tool player right now, but that one tool is legitimately elite playmaking.

Also if he pans out, the Penguins could have 2 terrific PPQBs on their top unit between Koivunen on the left half-wall and O'Brien on the right half-wall. Although I'd wonder if you want those two as their own QBs on separate units at that point.

Another thing is O'Brien is used for zone entries on the PP in Brantford. He's the trailing guy they drop-pass to to gain the zone with possession. That's a pretty crucial job. I think that points to him being a heady player but also a good puck handler and decent skater/deker.

 

[Jared Grayden]

Yeah I was reading some other scouting reports on O'Brien and they said the same thing. He's kinda a 1 tool player right now, but that one tool is legitimately elite playmaking.

I think he has more than just playmaking. His handling is very good and his shot is underrated- believe he led the OHL in shooting%. I really like his upside of being a dual threat top 6 center. But his overall pace of play needs to improve.

 

[MrBurghundy]

This guy has some good takes on O'Brien and McQueen. Said in the prospects forum he's coming out with a Martin one next.

Does go on to explain that O'Brien played with less-than-great wingers 5-on-5 (I knew he didn't play much with Lardis outside of the PP but I wasn't sure who he did play with) so he's not as concerned about the odd ratio between PP and ES production.

Another point he makes is that O'Brien's playmaking is already, like, elite. Just the kind of passes that only a handful of curent NHLers can even make.

He's already wearing the right colors.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Martone's gonna fall into the Pens' lap. I'm coping.

Realistically, I'd be really happy with one or two of Martin, Eklund, O'Brien, and Smith.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

We are taking one of these players 11th:

Jack ivankovic
Jack nesbitt
Jackson smith
Jack murtagh

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I don't think NYR is going to make a selection in EITHER 2025 or 2026. The reason to keep the 2026 pick and surrender 12 to us is because of possible plans to offer sheet somebody. More likely, I think NYR will package 12 with Panarin or Zibanejad for something and send 2026 1st to us.

I firmly believe they believe they are back in business because they hired our ex-coach. I believe that they are out to lunch on that, and they are closer to Gavin than they are to Stanley.

 

[Jacob]

I’m not sure who but I hope we take a goalie or two.

 

[Freeptop]

Beauty of pre draft tiers and groups is that it’s almost a sure thing they will be dead wrong in a few years.

It would be kind of interesting to take a previous year's draft and sort the drafted players into tiers based on their NHL careers at this point. Then compare those tiers to this year's tiers (not direct player comparisons, just tier comparisons). It might give a better perspective as to what a "deep" draft is vs a "weak" one.

For instance, take the 2015 draft.
Tier 1 would be McDavid
Tier 2 might include Eichel, Marner, and Rantanen
Tier 3 might include Connor, Konecny, Barzal, etc.
(These are not exhaustive, and I'm almost certainly wrong on the tiers anyway, this is just meant to be illustrative).

Then compare to this year's draft. Nobody in Tier 1. Schaefer and/or Misa might be Tier 2 quality. then you're looking at maybe Tier 3 for the rest of the top 5? I don't know, but maybe the folks who follow these prospects better can help put this in better perspective like this.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I think there’s no way O’Brien gets to 11

@Jesse care to opine why you made that tweet? You think he’s getting past the top 10?

 

[The Old Master]

I think there’s no way O’Brien gets to 11

@Jesse care to opine why you made that tweet? You think he’s getting past the top 10?

I've seen some mocks that have either Obrien or Martin falling to us. but i wouldn't want to take that chance.  so trade up.

 

[Rakell67]

I think there’s no way O’Brien gets to 11

@Jesse care to opine why you made that tweet? You think he’s getting past the top 10?

I'm gonna go out on a limb...

PIT trades Rakell + ? and #11 to BUF for #9 and Peterka.

 

[Turin]

I'm gonna go out on a limb...

PIT trades Rakell + ? and #11 to BUF for #9 and Peterka.

That would be unbelievable lol

 

[Rakell67]

That would be unbelievable lol

But won't happen. I wonder tho if Bryam would be part of a package where BUF and PIT swap picks. Or maybe SEA swapping with PIT? Hard to sew O'Brien dropping to #11.