Prospect Info: '24-'25 Prospects Thread: Generation Z

[Malkinstheman]

I just want to win the lottery and draft Schaefer.

What are your thoughts on Misa, do you think he's a tier above the other Forwards like Hagens and Martone?

 

[SEALBound]

What are your thoughts on Misa, do you think he's a tier above the other Forwards like Hagens and Martone?

Yes, for sure. Schaefer is the runaway best dman available and Misa is 100% the best forward available.

I think right now, we are looking at something like:

Tier 1: Schaefer and Misa. And honestly, both are so good that I think you make a positional need decision. It wouldn't shock me if Misa went #1. Certainly wouldn't shock me if we won the lottery and took him over Schaefer. In fact, I would advocate for that.

Tier 2: Hagens, Martone, Frondell. In no particular order.
Tier 2.5: Desnoyers, Eklund. I don't take either of them over any in Tier 2 but definitely take them over anyone in Tier 3.

Tier 3: O'Brien, Smith, McQueen, Mrtka. Again, in no particular order.

 

[The Old Master]

We're not gonna win it but no, you go Center 100%. The top centers are as good or better and we have no top center prospects. You win down the middle in this league. Take a center all things bein equal.

defense is considered down the middle. but we do need centers.

 

[PensFutures]

I see we follow the same instagram accounts

I got this from Twitter, I started a PF account just to follow the accounts with our prospects then share any relevant posts here.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

What are your thoughts on Misa, do you think he's a tier above the other Forwards like Hagens and Martone?

I think Schaefer is in a tier of his own. Misa is 2nd in a “half tier” or a “tier 2a” of his own IMO.

Tier 1: Schaefer
gap
Tier 2a: Misa
Tier 2b: Martone, Hagens, Frondell, Eklund. Have preferences but any order is arguable imo
gap
Tier 3 and beyond: who the f*** knows

Wouldn’t be shocked to see anyone of that 6 emerge as the best player from this class and wouldn’t be shocked to see Hagens end up better than Misa, etc…

but as a prospect— I think Schaefer is far and away the most impressive prospect of this class. Watching him vs Misa… it’s not particularly close imo.

 

[Ryder71]

defense is considered down the middle. but we do need centers.

Centers or bust, particularly with our 1st pick. We have no top six centers really in the system.

 

[Ryder71]

Shaefer is trash relative to the very top of the draft, want nothing to do with him. That's the ONLY fortunate thing about our situation. By the time we pick he won't be there.

 

[Turin]

Why is Schaefer considered so high above everyone else when he’s barely played hockey this year and wasn’t a consensus #1 before the season?

 

[Ryder71]

Why is Schaefer considered so high above everyone else when he’s barely played hockey this year and wasn’t a consensus #1 before the season?

You have seven or eight top guys depending on who you ask. If only one is a defensemen he'll stand out as a result. He's considerably higher up than the next best defensemen. That's not the case with Center or Wing in comparison.

 

[Turin]

You have seven or eight top guys depending on who you ask. If only one is a defensemen he'll stand out as a result. He's considerably higher up than the next best defensemen. That's not the case with Center or Wing in comparison.

Every single person is putting him 1 though, that can’t be just because he’s a defenseman.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Schaefer's really that impressive, huh? I imagined he and Misa were pretty neck and neck.

 

[Ryder71]

Every single person is putting him 1 though, that can’t be just because he’s a defenseman.

I've seen several have Misa 1st actually. But again if one is a defensemen and all the other top guys are centers or wings, he's more distinct because of the drop off to the next guy. I'd rank Shaefer 4th or 5th. But I do lean towards Centers if all things are equal.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Why is Schaefer considered so high above everyone else when he’s barely played hockey this year and wasn’t a consensus #1 before the season?

Every single person is putting him 1 though, that can’t be just because he’s a defenseman.

Schaefer's really that impressive, huh? I imagined he and Misa were pretty neck and neck.

To put it very simply- I think Schaefer is the superior skater, takes over shifts in a more dynamic, overpowering way compared to Misa but is still less of a finished product/more raw. He’s like the best guy on the ice every game and it still feels like there’s more. The development curve and upside just feel astronomical.

Misa on the other hand is an awesome, high upside player but compared to Schaefer I think he’s slightly worse right now - while also being the worse skater of the two and closer to a finished product.

Misa can definitely be the better player in the NHL still - nothing ever set in stone. But I seriously struggle to see how you pass on Schaefer for him even though I slightly prefer a C to a D.

 

[SEALBound]

But I seriously struggle to see how you pass on Schaefer for him even though I slightly prefer a C to a D.

I tend to agree here. If we got 1OV, while I would advocate Misa over Schaefer, it's not like I would be sad or shocked if they took Schaefer.

The answer to your question though is that you look at the current prospect pool. We have ZERO top 6 center prospects. We have, at best, 2 bottom 6 centers in Broz and Pono. While the defensive side is light on top-end talent, we at least have 4-5 guys that could easily become NHL players. Looking at the last few years, getting a top-pairing defenseman is significantly easier than getting a top-line center. If you're looking at the piece to build around moving forward, I say Misa makes more sense than Schaefer even if Schaefer has a slight edge on ability. Buffalo has two #1 dmen right now in Dahlin and Power...hows it working out for them?

 

[chethejet]

Pens have to grab a center at this draft position. Would I love to grab Misa if Pens get lottery luck. But center has to drive the rebuild next 2 years. O'Brien. Martin if Rangers pick is there is what I do. In 2026, Pens have draft capital for an offer sheet or trade up for another top 6 center. Once that happens, Pens have the makings of a team on the come. So prospect wise, goalie is good, D is looking better, Forwards with Rutgers, Broz, Koivunen and Howe RW from Sweden and go from there.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I tend to agree here. If we got 1OV, while I would advocate Misa over Schaefer, it's not like I would be sad or shocked if they took Schaefer.

The answer to your question though is that you look at the current prospect pool. We have ZERO top 6 center prospects. We have, at best, 2 bottom 6 centers in Broz and Pono. While the defensive side is light on top-end talent, we at least have 4-5 guys that could easily become NHL players. Looking at the last few years, getting a top-pairing defenseman is significantly easier than getting a top-line center. If you're looking at the piece to build around moving forward, I say Misa makes more sense than Schaefer even if Schaefer has a slight edge on ability. Buffalo has two #1 dmen right now in Dahlin and Power...hows it working out for them?

I don’t care about what’s in our pipeline when we are drafting. Like at all

 

[SEALBound]

I don’t care about what’s in our pipeline when we are drafting. Like at all

I mean, we should. To an extent. This isn't Makar vs Shane Wright here. They are both very close. Teams without 1Cs struggle. They certainly don't win cups.

If Buffalo wins the draft, should they take Schaefer?

 

[Ryder71]

Pens have to grab a center at this draft position. Would I love to grab Misa if Pens get lottery luck. But center has to drive the rebuild next 2 years. O'Brien. Martin if Rangers pick is there is what I do. In 2026, Pens have draft capital for an offer sheet or trade up for another top 6 center. Once that happens, Pens have the makings of a team on the come. So prospect wise, goalie is good, D is looking better, Forwards with Rutgers, Broz, Koivunen and Howe RW from Sweden and go from there.

100% You take a center if you can, no question!

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

If Buffalo wins the draft, should they take Schaefer?

Power and Dahlin, noted prospects and not young NHL players. Our prospect pool is not good. Basing picks on it is legitimately stupid.

And yes they still should take Schaefer if they think he’s the best player in the class.

 

[SEALBound]

Power and Dahlin, noted prospects and not young NHL players.

And yes they still should take Schaefer if they think he’s the best player in the class.

They're 22 and 24. Very young still.

Now see, I think that would be negligent by Buffalo. Their need is a high-end top-line center. They have two #1 dmen. In their case, Schaefer over Misa would be flat-out mismanagement of the draft process. That is a clear cut case of organizational needs trumping "BPA". Again, you're not passing on Makar for Shane Wright or Hischier. There's not THAT big of difference between them. Schaefer is the best dman in the draft, hands down. Misa is the best forward. You really can't go wrong with either of them IMHO which is why need should dictate. If you're SJS, you take Schaefer 1000%. Buffalo, Misa 1000%.

 

[Gurglesons]

Power and Dahlin, noted prospects and not young NHL players. Our prospect pool is not good. Basing picks on it is legitimately stupid.

And yes they still should take Schaefer if they think he’s the best player in the class.

I would take Misa, because PIT is based on center depth historically and moving forward if we got 1st overall tbh.

I think there seriously is something to sticking with what the franchise is known for versus drafting a # 1 D.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

They're 22 and 24. Very young still.

Now see, I think that would be negligent by Buffalo. Their need is a high-end top-line center. They have two #1 dmen. In their case, Schaefer over Misa would be flat-out mismanagement of the draft process. That is a clear cut case of organizational needs trumping "BPA". Again, you're not passing on Makar for Shane Wright or Hischier. There's not THAT big of difference between them. Schaefer is the best dman in the draft, hands down. Misa is the best forward. You really can't go wrong with either of them IMHO which is why need should dictate. If you're SJS, you take Schaefer 1000%. Buffalo, Misa 1000%.

no one knows that right now

Laf was supposed to be head and shoulders the guy. He’d maybe be outside the top 5 in a redraft. Imagine taking Sanderson above Byfield that year- you’d be crazy. Not so much now.

If you think he’s the guy. Take him. The gap may end up being a Hughes/Makar to a Hischier/RNH. Or vice versa! But you can’t definitively say it’s not.

Youre acting like these are absolute truths that these are the best F and D in the draft- they are not. I very much think Schaefer is the best prospect today but if you put a gun to my head I would probably say someone from the field ends up as the best player from this class in 20 years, just because those are the odds.

You are applying black and white logic to a scenario that has zero black and white logic.

Take the player you think is “best”. And be right in your eval and development plan for them.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I would take Misa, because PIT is based on center depth historically and moving forward if we got 1st overall tbh.

I think there seriously is something to sticking with what the franchise is known for versus drafting a # 1 D.

Yeah I’m just not quite there on Misa vs Schaefer

I really like this top 4 but Schaefer is too much of a beast for me to pass on.

I don’t fault anyone if they think Misa is better prospect I just hate saying things like “this isn’t like Makar vs Wright”… like it could absolutely be. Or Hagens becomes the best player in this class. Who tf knows.

Like take Misa because you think he’s the best prospect not because our shitty pool has no C prospects. Would we take Schaefer if we had Yager lmao?

 

[cygnus47]

Yeah I’m just not quite there on Misa vs Schaefer

I really like this top 4 but Schaefer is too much of a beast for me to pass on.

I don’t fault anyone if they think Misa is better prospect I just hate saying things like “this isn’t like Makar vs Wright”… like it could absolutely be. Or Hagens becomes the best player in this class. Who tf knows.

Like take Misa because you think he’s the best prospect not because our shitty pool has no C prospects. Would we take Schaefer if we had Yager lmao?

It’s especially stupid when you haven’t even bottomed out yet. We need everything, and by the time everyone is 23-24 and in their prime, the situation will have changed. Waiver issues, bad negotiations, development can change everything in those 5 years. You take the best guy, develop them as much as possible and make trades to balance your team. We might need centers right now, but in 5 years it might turn out that wingers or D or goalies are what’s missing. And there may be no trades available for the right one, or we could draft a center that wants to play in Montreal or gets a horrible injury. It’s just too chaotic, you have to take the best guy.

 

[Ryder71]

It’s especially stupid when you haven’t even bottomed out yet. We need everything, and by the time everyone is 23-24 and in their prime, the situation will have changed. Waiver issues, bad negotiations, development can change everything in those 5 years. You take the best guy, develop them as much as possible and make trades to balance your team. We might need centers right now, but in 5 years it might turn out that wingers or D or goalies are what’s missing. And there may be no trades available for the right one, or we could draft a center that wants to play in Montreal or gets a horrible injury. It’s just too chaotic, you have to take the best guy.

If we never take a high end center then that will continue to be a hole now wouldn't it? We have plenty of good defensive prospects. Again, it's very debatable if Schaefer is even the best player available. I don't think he is. But you always favor a center over any other position UNLESS there's a decided gap. In this here draft, that gap just doesn't exist.

At the end of the day we're not likely to pick that high anyhow.