I've come to the conclusion that I don't want to get too attached to any of the 5 possibilities that you mentioned b/c they are all good choices and there is only a 20% chance that I'll get the one I want. I would add Carter Bear to that list of five. With his injury not looking as bad as once feared it looks like he is getting some momentum again to move into the top 10-12.
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They'll both go top 20-25 but I'd trade down if they were my targets. No need in this draft to reach for them IMO. The top 10-11 is pretty good and a cut above the rest. My $0.02.I'd like to add two more players onto that list of possibilities: RD Hensler and C Jack Nesbitt. Both of these players are players you draft who they will be in D+3 to D+5 seasons. Hensler's game got better in the second half of the NCAA season as a top-4D with great skating. Nesbitt took a big jump in production and if he continues to add more mass, then he can improve his skating as well as become even more of a bully on the ice.
Jack Nesbitt: A Towering Center to Be Drafted in the Middle of the 1st Round | NHL Draft 2025
Jack Nesbitt is a center who is projected to be selected in the middle of the 1st round of the 2025 NHL Draft. Here is his prospect profile.
In addition to that 3rd line potential he's high risk to completely bust and bring no value at all and they will eventually need any kind of NHL talent on an ELC if the rebuild is over as they'll eventually need cheap talent on ELCs when the core starts to get signed longterm. They can't afford to waste the 10th overall pick, they need to make this pick be the last top10 pick.
If it's Eklund I hope that he can play on his shooting side (LW). After taking Sennecke and Masse last year they may be more interested in someone who plays the left side all things considered. That might favor Bear or Lakovic. And I'd still consider McQueen if he dropped. A 6'5" RHC even on the 3rd line is still a valuable player. I'm hearing comparisons to Mason Marchmont which is a player everyone seems to want to acquire. It's going to be an interesting day.
Yeah assuming they sign a big UFA this year, in those 3 years from now Carlsson/Gauthier/McTavish/LaCombe will have gotten huge pay raises and Zegras/Sennecke/Mintyukov will be getting paid more. So drafting a LW/RW who's ready 3 years from now can contribute while being on an ELC.
my biggest concern with mcqueen (aside from the injuries) is that he's had success up to this point mostly because of his size more than anything else. what happens once he gets to the AHL or NHL where he's not the biggest or strongest guy on the ice anymore?
Probably a good idea to expect another surprise this year. Personally I don't like the idea of taking Mrtka or McQueen if one or both are available as they give me the vibe of being this years edition of overrated giants that are unlikely to live up to expectations even if healthy. Wouldn’t mind any other name from that list though or even reaching for someone like Ryabkin or Kindel.
That’s fair, but you could pretty much say that about every big draft prospect.
In my opinion the big guys that don’t pan out are the ones who rely on size and brute force in juniors but don’t have skill or iq. McQueen is kind of the opposite. Skill and iq are total strengths of his.
Well he is 6'5 so he will be close to the biggest on the ice also has great skill and good skating for his size so he does have other attributes to help him
i don’t mind Nesbitt, but I’d hope we’d trade down a bit if that’s who we’re aiming at
