LePerilsofPerreault
Registered User
My gut feeling is they go Lakovic or Mrtka. Or Desnoyers if he’s available, but I can just sense a Lakovic pick in my bones.
Prospect Info: 2025 NHL Entry Draft
- Thread starter WhatTheDuck
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Anaheim4ever
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- Jun 15, 2017
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Will it be the first time they've drafted 3 forwards in a row in the top10 ?
They've drafted a forward 3 times in a row with their highest pick but never when its been Top10 picks 3 times in a row. Still if the best player is a Forward they gotta go forward and let Madden do his magic in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc with Dmen.
LePerilsofPerreault
Registered User
I don't believe so. If we're counting the Gauthier trade then 5 of our last 6 have been a forward. But yeah, we're a bit of a defenseman factory, so unless someone really stands out I'm not sure we take them. Mrtka being huge and right handed stands out in his own right so I see that as a possibility.
I'm not looking into it enough to have favorites, but based off my small amount of knowledge of the players and my gut feeling, I can imagine Verbeek calling Lakovic, Mrtka, Desnoyers, and maybe Eklund because I can already imagine the next 10+ years of Eklund vs Eklund commentary.
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
I like LW Lakovic around the 10 spot or early teens. Lots of reports have 6'4 and 190 lbs Lakovic as a "finesse forward" than a "power forward" in the CHL. While he did show off some physicality in two games at the CHL-USA Prospect Challenge, it is such a small sample compared to his three seasons in the WHL. Being injured in the 2nd half of the season doesn't help his stock nor show he has a physical game down the stretch. Sennecke's stock rose sharply due to his 2nd half performance.
Although, I wouldn't be surprised if we picked Lakovic b/c his skating + offense is silky. Yet, if 6'5 C McQueen, who is a right-handed shot, is available at #8 and the Ducks were dead set on a drafting a forward, then it would be difficult for me to pass up on McQueen for Lakovic. ofc, provided our medical staff gives the green light on McQueen, whose LBI is different from Lindstrom's LBI. I'm high on 6'6 RD Mrtka's future. He's still 17 years old until June!
If the Ducks stay at #8, then we're in a great spot to pick up a very talent player.
Anaheim4ever
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Unlike his brother he seems to be more of a shooter. Don't know where they would put him on the Ducks.
I do like the idea of Mrtka because he could potentially be on the top pair with LaCombe. Then have Solberg with Luneau and Mintyukov with someone like Moore ?
Even though it was pretty ugly, I think it's a testament to the current state/future of our team that I have not paid even the faintest attention to this thread this year.
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
Mrtka has turned from a shutdown RD and into a two-way RD when he moved to NA at mid-season. Usually shutdown guys start getting picked around the mid-teens to early 2nd round, which is where Mrtka was mocked at before going to NA at mid-season. We nabbed stay-at-home Solberg at #23 in last year's draft. That offensive burst has raised Mrtka's stock into where most top-end OFD's are selected, around the top-10; In 2022, OFD's went #7 Korchinski, #10 Minty, and #12 Mateychuk. Two-way D-men get selected higher, such as in the top-5 range like Nemec went #2 in the 2022 draft.
From MyNHLdraft:
Most of our top-end d-men are OFD's who are learning to play defense in Zell, Minty, and Luneau. LaCombe developed from an OFD in high school and into a 2-way D (2WD) during his four years in college. RD's Helleson and Moore are shutdown guys coming from college, but I don't know if they have top-4 pairing talents. I do like Moore's potential as a middle pairing due to his skating and poise. Mrtka has projections of being a top-4 pairing RD, with a ceiling of a top-pairing RD.
I like the fact that Mrtka helped turned Seattle's season around when he came over. He tilts the ice for Seattle with the team high of +10 rating, where there were only a few players with a + rating on the team. That offense of his seemingly came out of nowhere since he didn't show too much of it at the Czechia league. For draft eligible defensemen, he ranks the best in the WHL for ppg rate with 0.81 ppg - which is better than Jackson Smith's scoring rate of 0.79 ppg. The more I write about Mrtka, the more I feel he might go higher than #8 OA b/c he's turned into a 2WD with a defensive emphasis, right-shot, can skate, and is 6'6.
LePerilsofPerreault
Registered User
Eklund could be a solid winger for Z eventually if they play him at center and I think Mac is slightly underrated as a passer, but I couldn't say I'm certain how he'd fit.
I agree that Mrtka is very intriguing based off fit if not his physical attributes and could round out our roster neatly
Yeah that range sounds more like it. To me it feels like a pick of somewhat untapped potential due to his quality of teammates, and it seems like the tools are there and a production bump will follow at some point from what I've seen and read. But ultimately it's just my gut feeling. I can hear Verbeek deadpan calling "From the Moose Jaw Warriors..."
I didn't realize Mrtka was so young. He is definitely a fascinating prospect.
MMC
Global Moderator
O'Brien, Mrtka, Eklund, or Martin would be fine with me. McQueen or Smith would be very disappointing
If healthy, McQueen would be my choice. Agree that Smith would be the least appealing only b/c the prospect pool is so loaded with Smith type defensemen.
MMC
Global Moderator
Idc how healthy he is on draft day, I'm not using a top 10 pick on a guy who is already struggling with spine/back injuries, those are career enders. When you get to the point of the draft where every player available has a high level of risk attached to them, sure
It will come down to his medicals and if he is able to participate at the combine. I wouldn't pick him if I was picking in the top six (better options available) but starting at 7 I'd take him...all depends on health and risk aversion. Of course, I was buying stocks when they were melting down a couple of weeks ago so I may be less risk averse than others.
Eh, stress fracture in a bone in his back is a lot different then "back/spine issues" if you know what I mean.
The fact that he came back and played dispels a lot of concern that I had with Lindstrom.
When it comes to medical stuff I feel like there is no way any of us can actually gauge how serious it is. You have to trust the doctors that get the look at his medicals.
If they were drafting on need, Mrtka would be hard to pass up if still available IMO. That size and skating ability are rare. On top of that, his physical play and strong defensive instincts only make him fit their needs more. The fact that he's exploded offensively this season just adds another dimension to his game, and he's a RHD. Seems like the exact type of player to pair with LaCombe for the next decade or so.
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Ya I expect Mrtka and Jackson to go higher than they are sitting in predraft
Lackovic reminds me of JVR. Similar frame, has the talent to put up some good numbers but doesn't seem to have a power forward mentality. Sometimes they grow into it I guess. I'd agree that I'd roll the dice on McQueen over him
I'm really starting to strongly suspect that least one of Martone (winger who doesn't skate well) or Hagens (questions about whether he's an NHL center) are dropping to #8.
Schaefer, Misa, Desnoyers, Frondell, Mrtka, Smith - the high ceiling centers with NHL size, big body D with skating ability and top pair potential. These are the guys that tend to be snapped up first
Schaefer, Misa, Desnoyers, Frondell, Mrtka, Smith - the high ceiling centers with NHL size, big body D with skating ability and top pair potential. These are the guys that tend to be snapped up first
Anaheim4ever
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I have that question about Hagens too, if he's picked by Seattle he's most likely moving to the wing to play with the stronger built Shane Wright (192 pounds 6'0) or taller Beniers (6'2 181 pounds).
DavidBL
Registered User
I think my dream scenario is win the lotto, draft Schaefer, trade one of the kids for Pulock and add Marner in UFA. Let me have my dreams
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
When you say trade one of the kids for Pulock, did you mean trade one of our youth D for Pulock and that would result in an all veteran RD? We have an RD like Pulock in Trouba. Both are high volume shot blockers and hitters. Both start mostly in the DZone at even strength (EV), with Trouba's DZone Start% at 57.6% and Pulock's at 54.0%. Both have terrible CF%, Trouba had a 43.8% last year and Pulock had a 45.6%.
We need better than Pulock and Trouba if we're to bring in a veteran RD. Otherwise, I'd rather not throw away youth talent, especially if we're keeping Trouba and Gudas.
