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

[Jag68Sid87]

Even if it is a strong draft in '26 I'd prefer drafting 12th OA this year than say 23 OA next year.

In a vaccuum, maybe. But 23 is nowhere near locked in and that NYR situation is very very enticing (in terms of owning their first next year).

 

[Jag68Sid87]

Agreed! Unless the Rags fall a part next year (which seems highly unlikely) the better bet is to get this years pick. But, we don't control that. If it were say a difference of 12th OA this year to say 16th-17th OA next year maybe that would be ok. But not when you're talking 22-32 OA.

Really? 32 overall? The New York Rangers are going to win the Stanley Cup with a coach that can't get his teams into the playoffs, let alone win four rounds these days?

They are not getting the hungry 2016 version. They are getting the scowling egomaniac of the last decade.

 

[Ryder71]

In a vaccuum, maybe. But 23 is nowhere near locked in and that NYR situation is very very enticing (in terms of owning their first next year).

You're right, they could finish almost anywhere, but more likely 23rd to 32hd. If they fall off a cliff that would be fantastic. I just seriously doubt that occurs.

I would guess the Rags keep 12th OA.

 

[Ryder71]

Really? 32 overall? The New York Rangers are going to win the Stanley Cup with a coach that can't get his teams into the playoffs, let alone win four rounds these days?

They are not getting the hungry 2016 version. They are getting the scowling egomaniac of the last decade.

Coaching changes like that can spark a team. And their personnel fits Sullivans system much better. I would expect them to be better than not.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

Coaching changes like that can spark a team. And their personnel fits Sullivans system much better. I would expect them to be better than not.

More like Shesterkin can potentially save their bacon?

Panarin is an east-west winger who plays his off-wing and plays one of the most European styles in the current National Hockey League. Adam Fox struggled in the 4 Nations under what we assume will be the system in place over there. They have lots of young players of varying degrees of talent, all now much bigger question marks than before the hire. One of the players who best fits the system was just traded to Anaheim.

Todd McLellan made a huge impact in Detroit upon his arrival, too. Then it petered out very quickly.

Not saying it can't happen (a turnaround and a playoff appearance) but I would put a deuce on them getting worse not better.

 

[Epic Neal Time]

I genuinely think that the 10-15 range this year is about average for 10-15. I'd rank the last few drafts (pre-draft perception) as

1. 2024 (Silayev, Dickinson, Buium, Luchanko, Helenius, Bransegg-Nygard)

2. 2023 (Dvorsky, Willander, But, Benson, Yager, Wood)

3. 2022 (Mintyukov, Geekie, Mateychuk, Nazar, McGroarty, Lekkerimaki)

4. 2025 (Eklund, Smith, Bear, Aitcheson, Carbonneau, McQueen)

5. 2020 (Perfetti, Askarov, Lundell, Jarvis, Holloway, Amirov)

6. 2021 (Boucher, Sillinger, Coronado, Rosen, Cossa, Othmann)

 

[eXile3]

I don’t know why everyone worries about the Rangers pick. Either way that players not touching the NHL for years.

I’m pretty sure Rangers are keeping it.

 

[Ryder71]

More like Shesterkin can potentially save their bacon?

Panarin is an east-west winger who plays his off-wing and plays one of the most European styles in the current National Hockey League. Adam Fox struggled in the 4 Nations under what we assume will be the system in place over there. They have lots of young players of varying degrees of talent, all now much bigger question marks than before the hire. One of the players who best fits the system was just traded to Anaheim.

Todd McLellan made a huge impact in Detroit upon his arrival, too. Then it petered out very quickly.

Not saying it can't happen (a turnaround and a playoff appearance) but I would put a deuce on them getting worse not better.

I'd gladly take that bet, but I sincerely hope you're right IF they take the pick this year.

 

[Ryder71]

I don’t know why everyone worries about the Rangers pick. Either way that players not touching the NHL for years.

I’m pretty sure Rangers are keeping it.

Because getting another 1st rounder in the system is kinda important for the future?

 

[eXile3]

Because getting another 1st rounder in the system is kinda important for the future?

Right but we don’t control if it’s this year or next so who cares? Just wait and see instead of trying to predict the machinations of the NY Rangers. Either way the prospect won’t be in the NHL with the current group unless we get really lucky.

 

[PensFutures]

Doesn't that potentially help them finish with a better record then?

Maybe. But a late pick next year is just as good as the 12th year...allegedly.

I just had the same thought about Rust a lil while ago.

NYR gives us the 25 1st for DOC/Petts, then Rust to NY for 26 1st, and Rakell to Anaheim for #10

We get Martin-JO'B-Eklund this draft with 10-11-12, and then win McKenna next year + the 20-ish pick from NYR. God I cant wait for the draft + free agency to be over...

 

[Pancakes]

Right but we don’t control if it’s this year or next so who cares? Just wait and see instead of trying to predict the machinations of the NY Rangers. Either way the prospect won’t be in the NHL with the current group unless we get really lucky.

I mean by this logic you could say the same thing about anything Pens related. It's all out of our control so why worry about any of it?

It's fun to speculate

 

[Ryder71]

Right but we don’t control if it’s this year or next so who cares? Just wait and see instead of trying to predict the machinations of the NY Rangers. Either way the prospect won’t be in the NHL with the current group unless we get really lucky.

I don't care about the current group, they've failed us for EIGHT years! I want new blood! Far more concerned about 2030 than 2025!

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

I think there is a very different thing between trading 15th overall when you know it is 15th overall versus trading a 1st round pick for a player to make the playoffs with and adding conditions to it as well.

Debrincat at 24 returned 7th overall and a 2nd.

Getting 15th overall for Rakell is extremely good value for a 30+ year old winger even in a "weaker" draft.

Nah, that doesn't fly.

On the date of the trade, the Canucks would've had the 14th overall pick, and they were trading by far the best player in that deal so it was a good bet they'd get worse. The condition the Pens got doesn't change anything - an unprotected '26 1st has comparable value.

DeBrincat was an impending FA due for a raise when the cap was much lower. You're talking about a guy who was set to make 7.8 mil per in a 83.5 mil cap vs. 5 mil per in a 95.5 mil cap.

15th overall is not a good return for a player coming off a 35 goal season with 3 years remaining of taking up roughly 5% of the cap. There's no precedent for that. Thankfully Dubas knows that too.

 

[Ryder71]

Maybe. But a late pick next year is just as good as the 12th year...allegedly.

Some here unfortunately like to deal in fables.

 

[Ryder71]

 

[The Old Master]

Why dont we just trade Rakell to NYR for the 26 1st, so we can stop worrying about which pick we end up with?

or just trade him to the rags for this years first and we then would get next years too.

 

[JRS91]

I just hope we avoid Mrtka.

Anytime you have a prospect who's biggest positive is their size and the biggest negative is their skating, it never works out. Especially in today's NHL.

 

[plaidchuck]

Rakell getting a first during this draft Come on my dudes let's come back to reality.

 

[Jared Grayden]

I just hope we avoid Mrtka.

Anytime you have a prospect who's biggest positive is their size and the biggest negative is their skating, it never works out. Especially in today's NHL.

I don't love Mrtka, but who is saying his skating is his biggest negative? His linear mobility is well above average and more impressive for his size. I can see some arguments he is choppy laterally. I think his lack of physicality for such a large frame and handling pressure are much more negatives for Mrtka.

 

[Gurglesons]

I just hope we avoid Mrtka.

Anytime you have a prospect who's biggest positive is their size and the biggest negative is their skating, it never works out. Especially in today's NHL.

I’d rather trade down and draft a Kindel type versus Mrtka.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Yeah I have not read anywhere that Mrtka's skating is an issue. The main knocks against him that I've seen are that he's not physical and his offensive upside is questionable. But the dude projects to be a defensive menace in the NHL, basically a 6'6" #2/3 version of Slavin.

 

[HandshakeLine]

A defensive menace? Everything else I've read seems to suggest he's going to be a taller Pettersson.

 

[Epic Neal Time]

A defensive menace? Everything else I've read seems to suggest he's going to be a taller Pettersson.

You'd be unhappy if the player we draft at #11 turned into a 6'6" top-4 defenseman?

 

[The Old Master]

You'd be unhappy if the player we draft at #11 turned into a 6'6" top-4 defenseman?

a 6-6 defenseman doesn't stand at the side of the net and shake his stick at the puck any better than anyone else....oh! hold on, sully isn't the coach anymore... never mind