Prospect Info: Draft 2025 - Everyone is trading up, but no one seems to be trading down edition

[Zirakzigil]

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[HandshakeLine]

be still my beating heart

 

[SEALBound]

Trading up to #4 to guarantee getting a quality center makes a lot of sense for where this organization is at.

Discussions around guys like Eklund, Smith, Bear, etc are all good and well given that we are picking #11 currently, but the fact is - this organization needs a legit, future top 6 center in the worst way possible. It can not be expressed hard enough how weak that area is for us.

I support trading up to get one of Frondell, Desnoyers, JOB, or Martin (provided Schaeffer, Misa, and Hagens go 1-3).

 

[Turin]

Trading up to #4 to guarantee getting a quality center makes a lot of sense for where this organization is at.

Discussions around guys like Eklund, Smith, Bear, etc are all good and well given that we are picking #11 currently, but the fact is - this organization needs a legit, future top 6 center in the worst way possible. It can not be expressed hard enough how weak that area is for us.

I support trading up to get one of Frondell, Desnoyers, JOB, or Martin (provided Schaeffer, Misa, and Hagens go 1-3).

Martone >>> Desnoyers and JOB

 

[SEALBound]

Martone >>> Desnoyers and JOB

I would tend to agree...but...

Need for center >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Need for Wing

 

[Zirakzigil]

Trading up to #4 to guarantee getting a quality center makes a lot of sense for where this organization is at.

Discussions around guys like Eklund, Smith, Bear, etc are all good and well given that we are picking #11 currently, but the fact is - this organization needs a legit, future top 6 center in the worst way possible. It can not be expressed hard enough how weak that area is for us.

I support trading up to get one of Frondell, Desnoyers, JOB, or Martin (provided Schaeffer, Misa, and Hagens go 1-3).

Id be on board for something along the lines of Rust and #11 for #4.

 

[Turin]

I would tend to agree...but...

Need for center >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Need for Wing

I don't think it really matters. Like if they hit their absolute peaks, I would rather have Corey Perry than Ryan O'Reilly even if ROR is a C.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Id be on board for something along the lines of Rust and #11 for #4.

You can get a lot more for Rust and the #11 pick than just the #4 pick.

Rust alone is worth a first round pick and more.

 

[Zirakzigil]

You can get a lot more for Rust and the #11 pick than just the #4 pick.

Rust alone is worth a first round pick and more.

Is he though? Late first and an okay prospect? Sure. That package maybe gets you into the early to mid 20s in the draft. So lets say 11th and 22nd. That isnt getting you 4th.

 

[Andy99]

Is he though? Late first and an okay prospect? Sure. That package maybe gets you into the early to mid 20s in the draft. So lets say 11th and 22nd. That isnt getting you 4th.

Rust’s main value imo is getting a young player back…so Rust and Pens #11 pick say should get us Buffalo’s #9 pick and Byram for example…anything short of that is selling Rust short…he’s a consistent 50-60 point player on a very good contract, and Buffalo can’t get any free agents to sign there lol

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Is he though? Late first and an okay prospect? Sure. That package maybe gets you into the early to mid 20s in the draft. So lets say 11th and 22nd. That isnt getting you 4th.

The value of the 4th overall is difficult to project because no one has traded up to that point in the draft in well over a decade. But Rust's value is pretty well established.

A 30-goal scorer - and a guy with six consecutive 20-goal seasons - who carries a cap hit just over $5 million is going to get more than a late first and an OK prospect.

 

[Factorial]

Continue:

This post always reminds me of:

 

[Zirakzigil]

Rust’s main value imo is getting a young player back…so Rust and Pens #11 pick say should get us Buffalo’s #9 pick and Byram for example…anything short of that is selling Rust short…he’s a consistent 50-60 point player on a very good contract, and Buffalo can’t get any free agents to sign there lol

Why would the Sabres do that? Byram is probably more valuable than Rust at the moment. Seems like downgrades on both the player and pick. Not that I would be against a Rust/Byram swap.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Why would the Sabres do that? Byram is probably more valuable than Rust at the moment. Seems like downgrades on both the player and pick. Not that I would be against a Rust/Byram swap.

Because Byram is still a highly skilled but somewhat unfinished commodity at a position of abundance for the Sabres, while Rust is a guaranteed veteran producer for a team desperate to win.

 

[Zirakzigil]

Because Byram is still a highly skilled but somewhat unfinished commodity at a position of abundance for the Sabres, while Rust is a guaranteed veteran producer for a team desperate to win.

Not disagreeing with that. But a younger 1st pairing defenseman is more valuable than an older 1st line winger. Rust doesnt really fit their team age wise. If Rust was 4-5 years younger I think the value is about even, but hes not. He has a NMC until July 1 with also probably makes this a mote point. Though I guess you could tell him to waive now cause hes going July 2nd whether he wants to or not.

 

[Gurglesons]

Why would the Sabres do that? Byram is probably more valuable than Rust at the moment. Seems like downgrades on both the player and pick. Not that I would be against a Rust/Byram swap.

Your first issue is asking this question lol.

 

[SEALBound]

I don't think it really matters. Like if they hit their absolute peaks, I would rather have Corey Perry than Ryan O'Reilly even if ROR is a C.

Yeah, I can't get on board with that. I don't think it's a stretch to say that Barkov is more important than Tkachuk or that Lindell is more important than Marchand or that McDrai (either) is more important than Hyman.

We have good wings. We have no centers.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Not disagreeing with that. But a younger 1st pairing defenseman is more valuable than an older 1st line winger. Rust doesnt really fit their team age wise. If Rust was 4-5 years younger I think the value is about even, but hes not. He has a NMC until July 1 with also probably makes this a mote point. Though I guess you could tell him to waive now cause hes going July 2nd whether he wants to or not.

Buffalo has publicly stated that they want veteran talent to help their younger players learn to win. Rust - or Rakell - is a better fit than one would think.

 

[Jared Grayden]

You can get a lot more for Rust and the #11 pick than just the #4 pick.

Rust alone is worth a first round pick and more.

This Puckpedia tool is pretty useful. I think Rust could get about #17 overall on his own from the right team. I don't think any of Rust/Rakell/Karlsson make sense for Utah though. I think the earliest they could move up for a reasonable price would be #8. Maybe a deal with Vancouver (#16) could be made to package to Utah.

 

[Turin]

This Puckpedia tool is pretty useful. I think Rust could get about #17 overall on his own from the right team. I don't think any of Rust/Rakell/Karlsson make sense for Utah though. I think the earliest they could move up for a reasonable price would be #8. Maybe a deal with Vancouver (#16) could be made to package to Utah.
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Why wouldn't Rakell or Rust make sense for Utah?

 

[Zirakzigil]

Buffalo has publicly stated that they want veteran talent to help their younger players learn to win. Rust - or Rakell - is a better fit than one would think.

Yes. But more on the lines of someone in the mid to late 20s and not mid 30s.

 

[Jared Grayden]

Why wouldn't Rakell or Rust make sense for Utah?

Because they're older and the Utah core is 21-26. With #4, they can make serious offers for Peterka or Robertson. UFAs in Marner, Ehlers, Boeser also make more sense. Dreger just today said Utah will be trying hard for Marner at least. Maybe taking back and undesirable contract from them (Kerfoot?) could offset the age risk of Rust or Rakell.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Yes. But more on the lines of someone in the mid to late 20s and not mid 30s.

It's semantics, but Rust is only 32.

 

[Zirakzigil]

It's semantics, but Rust is only 32.

He turned 33 on May 11th.

 

[Jesse]

I finally finished my Hagens mixtape. Watching this kid skate is a true joy. If you can think of a positive attribute to describe someone's skating it's probably applicable to Hagens.