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

[JTG]

People here called him the next Lidstrom.

Haha. Yeah, I can't believe people would kneejerk around here...

I honestly thought he was going to be tied to Letang for the next 10 years on the top pair.

 

[Jacob]

I really like this guy's analyses. Not overly negative or positive and very detailed with lots of examples provided.

 

[HandshakeLine]

People here called him the next Lidstrom.

I mean, playstyle wise it was a decent comparison— just health woes derailed him.

 

[MrBurghundy]

I'm loving it.

Leave the coaching talk in the other thread.

 

[MrBurghundy]

I think a lot of it... at least speaking for myself... is that we all know deep down that the chances of getting even another Kris Letang are kinda slim. Nevermind another Malkin. Double nevermind another Crosby. And CERTAINLY not all three at once.

It's a little exhausting already to think about the wake of busts we're likely about to go through for the next ten+ years.

Nah man, we're hitting on all of our lottery picks. At least that's what I say every day when I go to buy my scratch off tickets.

 

[plaidchuck]

Eh you just never know. Shero was thought to make weak drafts but a lot of those picks hit at the right time to make 16/17 possible.

 

[chethejet]

I still like one of O'Brien, Martin and if Rangers pick is there, then one of them plus maybe the winger Bear or McQueen and Martin. if O'Brien is gone. I really want a RH center this draft.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

It would kinda be funny if we hope and pray for Eklund, get him, and then he busts

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

It would kinda be funny if we hope and pray for Eklund, get him, and then he busts

I mean... that's MY preference at that spot but I wouldn't be shocked if he did haha

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I mean... that's MY preference at that spot but I wouldn't be shocked if he did haha

McQueen becomes an all time great, Eklund becomes Hinostrosza

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

McQueen becomes an all time great, Eklund becomes Hinostrosza

You're on thin ice, pal.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

McQueen becomes an all time great, Eklund becomes Hinostrosza

Hey, hey, you, you, get off of my cloud.

 

[Freeptop]

Eh you just never know. Shero was thought to make weak drafts but a lot of those picks hit at the right time to make 16/17 possible.

Shero was a rather mixed bag. During his tenure, the Pens did well in terms of quantity, but it's pretty easy to argue that the overall quality wasn't high, outside of a few key players.

2006: 3 out 5 picks went on to have NHL careers of 200+ games; best pick was Staal
2007: 2 out of 8 picks w/200+ games; best pick was Muzzin, though the Pens never signed him.
2008: 0 out of 4; first pick was in the fourth round
2009: 1 out of 7; best pick was Despres
2010: 3 out of 6; best pick was Rust
2011: 3 out of 5; quantity, but not quality, as the three were Harrington, Archibald and Wilson
2012: 5(!) out of 9; best was Maatta, but honorable mentions to Sundqvist and Murray
2013: 2 out of 6; best pick was Guentzel

I once saw a quote from a scout saying that any draft you can get 2 NHL players out of is a good draft, so by that measure, Shero did pretty well.
On the other hand, his first round picks were often questionable, with the team frequently reaching for players that didn't end up living up to where they were picked (particularly in light of players who were drafted after them). On the flip side, Shero's team really shined in the third round in particular, picking up players like Guentzel, Rust, Sundqvist and Murray there.

That said, I'd take Shero's record in the draft over Rutherford's any day.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Shero's draft record in the 2010-2013 window was fantastic, but it was pretty awful before that. JR'ss draft record was pretty much terrible the entire time he was the Penguins GM, with 2016-2020 being notably bad. Hextall and Dubas have both had what looks like good drafts so far, nothing great but I'd call them good. It's way too early to draw and firm conclusions, though.

A huge reason why the Penguins have no young talent today is because of how bad of drafting JR did in that 2016-2020 window with the Penguins. The only 2 guys with any notable NHL experience from that group are Gustavsson and Addison, and JR traded both of them as prospects. They still have Blomqvist and Hallander came back, but that's all they have left basically.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Shero's draft record in the 2010-2013 window was fantastic, but it was pretty awful before that. JR'ss draft record was pretty much terrible the entire time he was the Penguins GM, with 2016-2020 being notably bad. Hextall and Dubas have both had what looks like good drafts so far, nothing great but I'd call them good. It's way too early to draw and firm conclusions, though.

A huge reason why the Penguins have no young talent today is because of how bad of drafting JR did in that 2016-2020 window with the Penguins. The only 2 guys with any notable NHL experience from that group are Gustavsson and Addison, and JR traded both of them as prospects. They still have Blomqvist and Hallander came back, but that's all they have left basically.

I know it's wasn't ENTIRELY in their control due to what happened to Lauzon (though I thought he was something of a reach there regardless) but that 2017 draft has to be an all-timer in Pittsburgh when it comes to utter ineptitude and futility.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I know it's wasn't ENTIRELY in their control due to what happened to Lauzon (though I thought he was something of a reach there regardless) but that 2017 draft has to be an all-timer in Pittsburgh when it comes to utter ineptitude and futility.

Tbh I don't even think Lauzon was that good in the first place, so while the concussion issues killed his career I also don't think he was a good player in the first place.

He was worse than his brother and his brother only panned out as a meh bottom pair guy.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Tbh I don't even think Lauzon was that good in the first place, so while the concussion issues killed his career I also don't think he was a good player in the first place.

He was worse than his brother and his brother only panned out as a meh bottom pair guy.

16 and 18 were both balls, too.

Though at least Hallander is returning which makes 18 a bit better.

This f***ing team drafted Kasper Bjorkqvist in the second round because Bill Guerin was mesmerized by his guns FFS.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Yeah I don't get why it is so forgotten that Hagens put up 9 points in 7 games at the U-20 WJC in his draft year. Misa didn't even make Canada's U-20 WJC team while Hagens dominated for USA as USA won.

I think both Eklund and Hagens fall in the category of sliding due to their size and being way better players than where their draft picks will end up. I don't know why some people make a big deal out of Martin having a great U-18 WJCs in April/May but ignore that Hagens and Eklund were great at the U-20 WJCs in December/January against better competition.

I was impressed with Hagens at the wjc. He was the youngest and greenest on his line but to me it was obvious he had the best hockey sense and is going to end up the best of the three. Would be a huge stroke of luck if he fell to the penguins.

 

[GilbertSeinfeld]

16 and 18 were both balls, too.

Though at least Hallander is returning which makes 18 a bit better.

This f***ing team drafted Kasper Bjorkqvist in the second round because Bill Guerin was mesmerized by his guns FFS.

Rumor is he was challenged to an arm wrestling match, and Guerin fell in love.

The source of the rumor is "trust me, bro."

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

You're on thin ice, pal.

Good.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Good.
View attachment 1043776

 

[Ugene Magic]

 

[The Old Master]

You're on thin ice, pal.

and it's getting warmer.

 

[eXile3]

Following this guy on Substack. Pretty good prospect reviews.

O’Brien

“He drives play, can control the pace of the game, picks defenses apart with his spatial awareness, and can manufacture open seams by shifting defenses, and drawing pressure. Patient and composed with the puck on his blade, he will hold on to the puck in order to wait for the right play to develop, and can connect on some of the more dynamic feeds across the ice and through traffic, with poise under pressure.

His passes are usually perfectly weighted, and right on the tape of his recipient, coming laced with deception to quash his opponents efforts to stop him. A natural playmaker, he can spot passing seams that few others at his level could, and has the soft hands and skill to transfer the puck over and under sticks, and between feet. He thrives on the powerplay, and quarterbacks the action from the half-wall with effectiveness.”

 

[eXile3]

I really like this guy's analyses. Not overly negative or positive and very detailed with lots of examples provided.

I’m only interested in him if he wears #28. #44 looks ugly on forwards. These are the nuances we need to consider.

It is interesting that the guy called out that the player has to be self aware of what he does well and doesn’t.