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

[Jag68Sid87]

I still like O'Brien best. The knocks against him are the types of knocks that someone might have against a finished product. Like, "most of his points are on the PP." OK, so he is clearly a good offensive player. Good. If 10 years from now he is still dependent on the PP, then not so good.

He has projectable size and he seems to have the most offensive creativity about him, too. And the other one I don't like is, "he plays too slow". I like players who can slow the game down, see the whole ice and anticipate plays.

Sign me up for all of that. Plus he plays for a team who wears Penguins colors and wears 44. Gotta love that.

 

[Ulf5]

I still like O'Brien best. The knocks against him are the types of knocks that someone might have against a finished product. Like, "most of his points are on the PP." OK, so he is clearly a good offensive player. Good. If 10 years from now he is still dependent on the PP, then not so good.

He has projectable size and he seems to have the most offensive creativity about him, too. And the other one I don't like is, "he plays too slow". I like players who can slow the game down, see the whole ice and anticipate plays.

Sign me up for all of that. Plus he plays for a team who wears Penguins colors and wears 44. Gotta love that.

That's all fine and dandy B&G, 44...yadda.
The question is does he have a piece like this?

 

[Gurglesons]

Because a lot of guys get that same tag in juniors and don't translate it to the pro game? I keep saying Kevin Vellieux here but that's exactly what the clips have reminded me of and I just can't shake it.

Again, I'm not gonna pretend I watch hours of tape or read the entrails the way that some on this site do, but I'm just not convinced that he's all that talented, honestly. But hell, we pick him, I'll be happy to be proven wrong, it would be nice for a change!

I don't remember Keven Vellieux being top ten in terms of central scouting in 2007.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I'm happy with any day one that sees the Pens adding Martin, Eklund, O'Brien, Lakovic, Smith, Aitcheson or Bear. I'm ecstatic if a guy like Martone or Hagens somehow falls and the Pens pay a 2nd rounder to jump up a few spots to secure 'em.

Still hoping the Rangers punt the pick to next year. I don't think there's gonna be a huge chasm of difference between the 12th overall this year and, maybe like 20th overall next year. Plus you've got the ace up your sleeve if the Rangers stumble badly again or Shesterkin/Panarin get injured. Then you've probably got an extra top 10 pick with a chance for it to be top 5 with lotto luck.

Mrtka is a boring, safe, uninspired pick and McQueen is a genuine blunder imo.

 

[Jared Grayden]

Plus you've got the ace up your sleeve if the Rangers stumble badly again or Shesterkin/Panarin get injured. Then you've probably got an extra top 10 pick with a chance for it to be top 5 with lotto luck.

No if about it. Bounty on every Rag possible. Payback for all the Trouba and Rempe cheap shots. Put an elbow through Panarin's jaw. Turn Shesterkin's knee into a wishbone. I want to see Sullivan have an aneurysm complaining to the refs about the cheap shots.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

No if about it. Bounty on every Rag possible. Payback for all the Trouba and Rempe cheap shots. Put an elbow through Panarin's jaw. Turn Shesterkin's knee into a wishbone. I want to see Sullivan have an aneurysm complaining about the cheap shots.

Whoops, Noel Acciari accidentally fell directly on Shesterkin's leg giving him a season ending injury. Shame.

 

[Gurglesons]

Whoops, Noel Acciari accidentally fell directly on Shesterkin's leg giving him a season ending injury. Shame.

I mean sounds likely after they trade for him tbh.

 

[HandshakeLine]

I don't remember Keven Vellieux being top ten in terms of central scouting in 2007.

He wasn't, he was ranked 33 on their final ranking of NA skaters. But anyway I would just point out that central scouting, like all scouts, makes some weird lists sometime. I dunno. I'm just saying he reminds me of Vellieux from the clips, not that he IS Vellieux.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I understand the comments about McQueen not really seeming to have any stand out traits, he looks like a skilled guy who just happens to be 6’5”. I agree with others that he’s has like 2nd round talent in a huge frame, but I also think his frame gives him the ability to do things that smaller guys can’t do.

If he hits his upside, I think a huge factor in his game will be using his size in his defensive game rather than his physical game. I think his likely upside is a defensive and possession focused top-6 center, similar to someone like Staal. I don’t see the talent to be this game breaker talent like some scouts see, but I definitely see the traits of a terrific defensive 2C there.

I think where he and O’Brien differ is that O’Brien has the elite playmaking in addition to the defensive game, so I think the base is there for O’Brien to end up way better than McQueen. I think O’Brien’s upside is someone like Spezza, a 2-way playmaking 1C that’s a wizard on the powerplay. But that said, I do think McQueen becoming a championship caliber 2C is totally achievable and his upside may be higher if the scouts super high on him end up correct.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Wheeler posted a mock today that had the Penguins taking Aitcheson at #11 and Eklund falling all the way to #15. He also noted that he feels Lakovic could go as high as #11 and O’Brien could go as low as #11. Some of his picks like Martone to Nashville and O’Brien to Seattle don’t make much sense, though.

I’ve seen a ton of mocks with the Penguins taking Aitcheson at #11, I’m starting to feel like he’s their pick if O’Brien is gone at #11. I definitely like Eklund more than him but it’s hard to argue against Aitcheson from a need POV. Also Jesse is high on Aitcheson so I feel my lukewarm feelings may be wrong.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I like Aitcheson. He's got a confidence as well as the piss and vinegar to be an entertaining, effective player.

I think he's still probably like 4th or 5th on my wishlist though. Martone falling into this team's lap (pipedream), any of Martin, Eklund, or O'Brien are guys I'm hoping for first. Lakovic's probably neck and neck with Aitcheson to me.

But I definitely wouldn't be upset with Aitcheson if he ended up in the system. I just don't think he's ever gonna be a top pairing guy, he'll probably end up middle pairing if everything works out. Which is fine.

 

[chethejet]

If Pens have 11 and 12. O'Brien and martin are my wish list picks. But one of the centers if there plus Aitcheson certainly give the Pens some players who bring a physicality to the Pens.

 

[deakka]

If Pens have 11 and 12. O'Brien and martin are my wish list picks. But one of the centers if there plus Aitcheson certainly give the Pens some players who bring a physicality to the Pens.

From the buzz at the combine it sounds like teams love Martin. I think he's as good as gone when we pick

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I really don’t care who they take but Aitcheson/lakovic are the two guys I’d be a little upset by. I’d rather a “reach” like Kindel than them.

But this year just too hard to predict to care too much IMO.

 

[Andy99]

I really don’t care who they take but Aitcheson/lakovic are the two guys I’d be a little upset by. I’d rather a “reach” like Kindel than them.

But this year just too hard to predict to care too much IMO.

Aitcheson is definitely a reach…Lakovic is a hot name like Martin and may not be anymore…anyway lol…

On the NHL Draft, the Penguins, the combine and Porter Martone: Yohe’s 10 observations

The Penguins find themselves in a very interesting situation with the NHL Draft less than three weeks away.

www.nytimes.com

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Aitcheson is definitely a reach…Lakovic is a hot name like Martin and may not be anymore…anyway lol…

Neither are a reach and I am 50/50 if Aitcheson goes top 10

I also put “reach” in air quotes because I don’t really think there are reaches tbh. Teams boards look crazy relative to the homogeneity of public lists.

 

[Mr. T]

He wasn't, he was ranked 33 on their final ranking of NA skaters. But anyway I would just point out that central scouting, like all scouts, makes some weird lists sometime. I dunno. I'm just saying he reminds me of Vellieux from the clips, not that he IS Vellieux.

I have obtained his 23 and Me results (and everyone else's on this board), he is 73% less French than Vellieux. I also scanned his bookshelf and I did not see a copy of the Turner Diaries. Does that ease your fears?

 

[Kasperi kapanen]

I really don’t care who they take but Aitcheson/lakovic are the two guys I’d be a little upset by. I’d rather a “reach” like Kindel than them.

But this year just too hard to predict to care too much IMO.

If Lakovic was a center instead of winger, where would you rank him and how high could you see him go?

 

[Jared Grayden]

I really don’t care who they take but Aitcheson/lakovic are the two guys I’d be a little upset by. I’d rather a “reach” like Kindel than them.

But this year just too hard to predict to care too much IMO.

I expect Aitcheson and McQueen to end up as depth players so I'd prefer riskier options like Smith or Lakovic for similar prospect profiles. Still think Eklund ends up being available at #11 and would be a good selection. He needs to add weight, but at 5'11" he's not especially small. Said he models his game after Konecny. I think he's a safe pick to make the NHL and reasonably safe to have upside.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

If Lakovic was a center instead of winger, where would you rank him and how high could you see him go?

I dont have him ranked bc I cant reasonably rank more than 11-12 guys tbh and even then my “ranking” is more just a “who I want the Pens to take”

With Lakovic it’s not positional he just isn’t nearly engaged enough for me and is way too comfortable out on the perimeter. I think he’s talented and apparently a great kid. And I’d cheer for any Pens pick, but I just don’t see how he’s slotting into a significant role on a contender without massively changing his game.

 

[Andy99]

I expect Aitcheson and McQueen to end up as depth players so I'd prefer riskier options like Smith or Lakovic for similar prospect profiles. Still think Eklund ends up being available at #11 and would be a good selection. He needs to add weight, but at 5'11" he's not especially small. Said he models his game after Konecny. I think he's a safe pick to make the NHL and reasonably safe to have upside.

Yeah, I don’t want us to get so desirous of size and grit that we overdraft a D man in this draft…I don’t think any of the D men after Schaefer are worth a top 11 pick…now if we get NY’s pick and don’t use it to move it, then fine…take a swing at Smith or Aitcheson…

 

[Jacob]

I am not even remotely considering position in my rankings or wants at all.

You really can't even project if an 18 year old C will even play center at the NHL level even if they do make it.

 

[Andy99]

I dont have him ranked bc I cant reasonably rank more than 11-12 guys tbh and even then my “ranking” is more just a “who I want the Pens to take”

With Lakovic it’s not positional he just isn’t nearly engaged enough for me and is way too comfortable out on the perimeter. I think he’s talented and apparently a great kid. And I’d cheer for any Pens pick, but I just don’t see how he’s slotting into a significant role on a contender without massively changing his game.

I personally would rather have to have someone change their “style” of play then have to get faster, develop their hockey IQ or learn to shoot quicker/harder/more accurate…Lakovic has all the skills you want, and has size…we don’t have to worry about his skating, IQ and skill…he’s a good selection at #11 depending on who else is there…

 

[Empoleon8771]

Yeah I don't think Aitcheson is at all a reach at #11, I think there's a huge group between like #8 and #18 and it wouldn't be surprising for anyone in that range to go higher or lower than their mocked position. I'm just not all that wild about his skillset, his puck skills and hockey IQ are a bit lacking and I don't know that he has the frame to effectively play his style in the NHL.

Pronman posted another article today with including quotes from a bunch of scouts and NHL executives, they had a few blurbs on Aitcheson:

Executive 1: “Kashawn Aitcheson is an apex predator. He knocks a guy out with a hit, and then he knocks out the guy who comes calling for the fight afterwards. There’s nobody in a top four in the NHL who plays like him. If you want his attributes, it’s normally in a No. 6 or 7, but he is a top-four defenseman, a better version of Radko Gudas.”

Scout 1: “Mrtka will give you the least headaches of the top candidates. He’s poised, makes good plays at both ends, just a very good all-around defenseman. Aitcheson’s and Smith’s hockey sense are concerning.”

Scout 7: “Kashawn Aitcheson has major questions for us in terms of his hockey sense and decisions. You love how hard he plays, but he’s not that big either. He’s good but nothing special.”

It really shows how massive of a difference that even professional scouts have with these players, so I think it's silly to claim anyone is a reach because of what a few mock drafts are saying. Eklund and Lakovic were also only mentioned in the negative light in that article too:

Scout 1: “Victor Eklund. He’s a small winger without elite offense, those types tend to fall. He’s top 10 on almost every list, but I can almost guarantee that won’t happen on draft day.”

Scout 2: “Lynden Lakovic. His compete is an issue, doesn’t get to the middle and lack of physical engagement, and his hockey sense is ordinary. He’s more of a late first-rounder than a top-15 pick.”

 

[Jared Grayden]

Yeah, I don’t want us to get so desirous of size and grit that we overdraft a D man in this draft…I don’t think any of the D men after Schaefer are worth a top 11 pick…now if we get NY’s pick and don’t use it to move it, then fine…take a swing at Smith or Aitcheson…

Last draft that only one dman went top 10 was 2006. Even with the very weak dmen draft class, Mrtka I fully expect gone in the top 10 to one of SEA, BUF, ANA. I wouldn't even be surprised if one of Aitcheson/Smith were gone in the top 10 too.