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

[The Old Master]

McKenzie's final draft ranking should help clear thigs up. whenever it comes out. imo

 

[Ulf5]

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

Any loopholes that would allow us to give a goalie? Put Jarry back into the draft for instance.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

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

If we can walk out of the draft with those 2, I'd be very happy.

Here is Button's list:

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

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

McKenzie's final draft ranking should help clear thigs up. whenever it comes out. imo

Week of draft I think

 

[Randy Butternubs]

I had a dream that we got the NYR pick too. And drafted O'Brien and Reschny.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

I had a dream that we got the NYR pick too. And drafted O'Brien and Reschny.

I really think the Rags would be really stupid here if they wouldn't give us the pick this year. I mean I kind of hope they don't, they took a step back and next year's pick is unprotected, so even better for us. I just don't see why they would take that chance and gamble on a 12th overall pick here..

I'd be very happy to walk out with any duo of O'Brien, Eklund, Martin, Spence, Carbonneau... That of course assuming a team is crazy enough to pass on a Martone or Haggens and they fall to us!!!

 

[Ulf5]

I really think the Rags would be really stupid here if they wouldn't give us the pick this year. I mean I kind of hope they don't, they took a step back and next year's pick is unprotected, so even better for us. I just don't see why they would take that chance and gamble on a 12th overall pick here..

I'd be very happy to walk out with any duo of O'Brien, Eklund, Martin, Spence, Carbonneau... That of course assuming a team is crazy enough to pass on a Martone or Haggens and they fall to us!!!

If Hagens is still there at 6, Doobie gots to trade up. He himself said they weren't likely to use all their excess picks. Also has mentioned the focus is now on quality of prospects rather than quantity.

 

[SEALBound]

If we can walk out of the draft with those 2, I'd be very happy.

Here is Button's list:

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

In my "hopeful" draft that allows us to get Eklund or a center, I have Seattle taking Mrtka because he plays in Seattle for the WHL, they get to see him ton, dude is huge, and they need a dman in the pool. It would make a lot of sense if he went there.

I had a dream that we got the NYR pick too. And drafted O'Brien and Reschny.

According to: A data-driven look at the 2025 NHL Draft top prospects - Sound Of Hockey

Reschny has one of the top "data scores" in the draft. Thought that would interest you.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I don't think anyone in the top-7 will be willing to trade up, I think Seattle is the only team that may be willing to trade down. Nashville and Boston both seem to be looking to get a high upside player to add to their prospect pool and Philly already has an insane amount of picks.

I think I might trade up from #11 to #8 if it only costs a future 2nd, but if O'Brien is gone by #8 I'm not seeing anyone I'd bother trading up for. I'd rather see if Eklund slides to #11 over trading a future 2nd just to get someone like Martin at #8.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

If Hagens is still there at 6, Doobie gots to trade up. He himself said they weren't likely to use all their excess picks. Also has mentioned the focus is now on quality of prospects rather than quantity.

Sorry, but how could we possibly move from 11 to 6 without any interesting other picks to offer? I mean the Flyers and Bruins hold picks 6 and 7, we have Washington's 2nd round pick that's almost a 3rd rounder when you think about it.

I don't even think pick 11 and Washington's 2nd get's us pick #10 to be honest.... Not in a weaker draft class like this..

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I’d really like Jesse to explain his JOB tweet. Crazier things have happened but just doesn’t feel realistic for him to get outside the top 10. Feels really firmly in the 5-8 range.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I also was trying to put together my top picks and somehow have O’Brien 6th. Which is insane! I don’t even like him that much. I’ve been poo-pooing him but once I looked at who to put there….I just can’t put the alternatives above him. Shows you how quick this class drops off.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I’d really like Jesse to explain his JOB tweet. Crazier things have happened but just doesn’t feel realistic for him to get outside the top 10. Feels really firmly in the 5-8 range.

I'd bet on him going at 5 before I'd bet on him falling out of the top-10, but I also think it's possible that O'Brien falls behind McQueen if he's healthy and Martin due to the insane hype he's having right now. 5-8 going Hagens, Desnoyers, McQueen and Martin feels realistic and that leaves O'Brien at 9.

I wouldn't bet on him getting past Anaheim at 10, though. But O'Brien being available at 9 and Dubas trading up from 11 to 9 to get him seems pretty possible.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I'd bet on him going at 5 before I'd bet on him falling out of the top-10, but I also think it's possible that O'Brien falls behind McQueen if he's healthy and Martin due to the insane hype he's having right now. 5-8 going Hagens, Desnoyers, McQueen and Martin feels realistic and that leaves O'Brien at 9.

I wouldn't bet on him getting past Anaheim at 10, though. But O'Brien being available at 9 and Dubas trading up from 11 to 9 to get him seems pretty possible.

I think Desnoyers is a lock for the top 5 and where Aitcheson, Mrtka, Martin, and McQueen go are the wildcards that will cause things to shift.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I think Desnoyers is a lock for the top 5 and where Aitcheson, Mrtka, and McQueen go are the wildcards that will cause things to shift

Yeah I can see that as well. I'm penciling in Hagens to Nashville at 5 because I can't see how they can justify passing up on him, but Trotz picking Desnoyers over him would be in line with the other idiocy Trotz has done as GM there

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Yeah I can see that as well. I'm penciling in Hagens to Nashville at 5 because I can't see how they can justify passing up on him, but Trotz picking Desnoyers over him would be in line with the other idiocy Trotz has done as GM there

Yeah I think he’s in play at 3

 

[Malkinstheman]

Feels like Nashville and Boston are both going to go for a center. Ive been thinking Desnoyers to Nashville and Hagens to Boston. Also Buffalo seems to have been targeting players with snarl/physicality with their recent moves. They have alot of raw talent so someone like Martin makes alot of sense for them.

 

[Jared Grayden]

I’d really like Jesse to explain his JOB tweet. Crazier things have happened but just doesn’t feel realistic for him to get outside the top 10. Feels really firmly in the 5-8 range.

Robinson just said this morning on his podcast with Peters that O'Brien is a real top five sleeper and Aitcheson in the top 10. I am with you, not seeing much chance O'Brien is around for #11.

 

[SEALBound]

Robinson just said this morning on his podcast with Peters that O'Brien is a real top five sleeper and Aitcheson in the top 10. I am with you, not seeing much chance O'Brien is around for #11.

If we are wanting JOB, that stinks. If we want a center, that's fine. If we are okay with Eklund, even better. All we really need are 2 wildcards like McQueen, Mrkta, Aitcheson, and honestly - even one of Bear, Smith, or Lakovic to make it into the top 10. That would get us a center at best, Eklund at worst which I would be fine with.

 

[Jared Grayden]

If we are wanting JOB, that stinks. If we want a center, that's fine. If we are okay with Eklund, even better. All we really need are 2 wildcards like McQueen, Mrkta, Aitcheson, and honestly - even one of Bear, Smith, or Lakovic to make it into the top 10. That would get us a center at best, Eklund at worst which I would be fine with.

No team in the league should be drafting more for BPA than the Pens. They have some sliver of hope that goaltending is setup for the future, but every skater position is lacking depth and/or top talent.

 

[SEALBound]

No team in the league should be drafting more for BPA than the Pens. They have some sliver of hope that goaltending is setup for the future, but every skater position is lacking depth and/or top talent.

Yes, in a vacuum or as a theory - BPA. Totally. To me though BPA for the Pens is BCA (Best Center Available) which the exception of Eklund.

After Scheaffer and Misa, there's a lot of debate over who the BPA is. I think it's to the point where it's a nearly a crap shoot and it will just come down to whoever each team's scouts have higher on their individual lists. It would be hard to hammer on, say Chicago for taking Hagens over Martone or Frondell for example. Or Desnoyers over JOB. Or Martin over Eklund. So if they are all about the same and there's nothing that distinctly differentiates someone, you may as well strengthen weak areas of your prospect pool. This is why I have Mrtka going to Seattle which helps SOMEONE fall to us. I'm also hoping for a clean bill of health for McQueen to trick someone.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Robinson just said this morning on his podcast with Peters that O'Brien is a real top five sleeper and Aitcheson in the top 10. I am with you, not seeing much chance O'Brien is around for #11.

I guess the one thing you could say if Martin, Mrtka, Aitcheson and McQueen ALL go top 10 and the Schaefer, Misa, Frondell, Desnoyers group are T10 locks at this point too….

Then 2 of Eklund, JOB, Hagens, and Martone won’t be a top 10 pick.

 

[Jared Grayden]

Yes, in a vacuum or as a theory - BPA. Totally. To me though BPA for the Pens is BCA (Best Center Available) which the exception of Eklund.

After Scheaffer and Misa, there's a lot of debate over who the BPA is. I think it's to the point where it's a nearly a crap shoot and it will just come down to whoever each team's scouts have higher on their individual lists. It would be hard to hammer on, say Chicago for taking Hagens over Martone or Frondell for example. Or Desnoyers over JOB. Or Martin over Eklund. So if they are all about the same and there's nothing that distinctly differentiates someone, you may as well strengthen weak areas of your prospect pool. This is why I have Mrtka going to Seattle which helps SOMEONE fall to us. I'm also hoping for a clean bill of health for McQueen to trick someone.

I fully understand why some orgs. shouldn't be BPA. BUF or ANA for instance are absolutely stacked at LD for many years. I would be very reluctant to draft another LD if I were them. PIT doesn't have anything approaching that level of certainty at any position.
I think McQueen is one of the most mischaracterized prospects in a long time. I see almost the opposite of what is said about him so I am probably terrible judgement of where he should go.

 

[SEALBound]

I fully understand why some orgs. shouldn't be BPA. BUF or ANA for instance are absolutely stacked at LD for many years. I would be very reluctant to draft another LD if I were them. PIT doesn't have anything approaching that level of certainty at any position.
I think McQueen is one of the most mischaracterized prospects in a long time. I see almost the opposite of what is said about him so I am probably terrible judgement of where he should go.

To clarify, I'm not saying a team does organizational needs over BPA. I'm not expecting large reaches based on needs. What I was saying is that, after 2nd OV, you have a solid 6-8 players that could all be considered BPA based on flavor preference. When it comes time to pick, if you have a center, wing, and dman available that you rate equally, you can use organizational needs as the tipping point.

Like at 11, if we choose between Aitchenson, Lakovic, and Bear, I would say they are all equal, all have pros and cons, and you can debate which one is truly the best player. But if we need centers, go Lakovic.

That's where I'm at with Seattle and potentially even Anaheim.

 

[Freeptop]

All I know about the upcoming draft is that I don't want the Pens to take a goalie in the first round, and I'd prefer they don't take one in the second... but I do think they should take a goalie or two in the later rounds.

They're now at the point where all of their goalie prospects have turned pro, and with how goalies develop, you kind of need to start putting some into the pipeline now. And since goalies are voodoo, you're just as likely to get a good goalie out of the late rounds as you are out of the early ones.