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

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Mrtka's probably closer to a Tyler Myers than a 6'6 Slavin imo.

Which is fine, it's whatever, but I'm stupid and selfish so I want the team to trade up to get a guy like Hagens if the Isles don't trade back a couple spots to get him, or a guy like Martone if he's hanging around at like 6-8.

 

[eXile3]

If the Rangers do give us the pick this year I would totally trade it to move into the top 5. I don’t see it happening though. It’s such a rare occurrence for a team to trade into the top 5.

 

[Empoleon8771]

If the Rangers do give us the pick this year I would totally trade it to move into the top 5. I don’t see it happening though. It’s such a rare occurrence for a team to trade into the top 5.

I don’t feel that is necessary. Keep the pick and try to trade up from like #11 to #8 to get O’Brien. You could likely do that for a 2nd and 3rd at most.

You could realistically pull off O’Brien at #8 and Eklund at #12, which would be the best case scenario in this draft.

 

[eXile3]

I don’t feel that is necessary. Keep the pick and try to trade up from like #11 to #8 to get O’Brien. You could likely do that for a 2nd and 3rd at most.

You could realistically pull off O’Brien at #8 and Eklund at #12, which would be the best case scenario in this draft.

But let’s say you can use the first and get someone like Matrone, Hagens, or Frondell?

 

[Empoleon8771]

But let’s say you can use the first and get someone like Matrone, Hagens, or Frondell?

I don’t feel like the difference between O’Brien and the rest of that group is enough for me to justify paying to trade up higher to get them.

 

[Lust for Life]

You could realistically pull off O’Brien at #8 and Eklund at #12, which would be the best case scenario in this draft.

Best case scenario is using 11 or 12 plus something to move up and grab Martone wherever he lands and pick someone with the remaining pick.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Trading up to 5-7 prob takes an unprotected ‘26 1st imo. Dont see how it’s feasible.

I think yall are significantly underestimating the cost.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Best case scenario is using 11 or 12 plus something to move up and grab Martone wherever he lands and pick someone with the remaining pick.

Eh I’d rather have O’Brien and Eklund than Martone and Eklund.

Trading up to 5-7 prob takes an unprotected ‘26 1st imo. Dont see how it’s feasible.

I think yall are significantly underestimating the cost.

I think the larger issue with trading up to 5-7 is that those teams have plenty of picks and probably wouldn’t be looking to trade down. Nashville and Philly both have 3 1sts this year, I don’t see them entertaining trading down to gain another one.

I think moving up to #8 with Seattle is the max and I think that shouldn’t cost a 1st, but probably would cost 2 2nds or a 2nd and 3rd. Which I would personally do to get O’Brien.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I think the ideal scenario for this draft is:

1. The NYR give up pick #12 this year
2. You get another 1st this year by trading Rakell, Rust or Karlsson, with Rakell to LA being probably the best bet for gaining that extra 1st
3. You manage to pull off a center (ideally O’Brien), a winger (ideally Eklund) and a LD (ideally Boumedienne) with your 3 1sts, even if you have to use some 2nds and 3rds to trade up to get that

If you can come out of this draft with O’Brien, Eklund and Boumedienne, I’d be over the moon happy with it.

 

[Ulf5]

Eh I’d rather have O’Brien and Eklund than Martone and Eklund.

I'd rather have Martone and Bear.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

If the price makes sense, I'm fine jumping a few spots to 7 or 8 if the picks are available and someone like Martone or Hagens is sitting there. The issue is gauging the price. In a weak draft, are those guys worth sacrificing another roll of the dice for? Especially thorny when the picks may be in deeper drafts.

 

[Empoleon8771]

If the price makes sense, I'm fine jumping a few spots to 7 or 8 if the picks are available and someone like Martone or Hagens is sitting there. The issue is gauging the price. In a weak draft, are those guys worth sacrificing another roll of the dice for? Especially thorny when the picks may be in deeper drafts.

Yes because it’s super easy to get 2nd and 3rd rounders so I don’t see an argument against using a 2nd and 3rd to trade up to get a guy you like more.

They’ll acquire another 3-4 2nd and 3rd rounders between now and the 2026 draft anyway.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Yes because it’s super easy to get 2nd and 3rd rounders so I don’t see an argument against using a 2nd and 3rd to trade up to get a guy you like more.

They’ll acquire another 3-4 2nd and 3rd rounders between now and the 2026 draft anyway.

Yeah, I mean, if the price is a 2nd and a 3rd, go for it. I'm hesitant to throw more 1sts into the mix. Even if they're later 1sts from trading a guy like Rust, Rakell or EK.

I love Martone and Hagens but I'm not sure they're that much better than a guy like O'Brien or Eklund to the degree that you'd toss a freebie shot at landing a gem a la Pastrnak or whatever with an extra late 1st.

Future Pens picks should be 100% off limits outside of someone with legit, sure-fire stud caliber coming back though.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Yeah, I mean, if the price is a 2nd and a 3rd, go for it. I'm hesitant to throw more 1sts into the mix. Even if they're later 1sts from trading a guy like Rust, Rakell or EK.

I love Martone and Hagens but I'm not sure they're that much better than a guy like O'Brien or Eklund to the degree that you'd toss a freebie shot at landing a gem a la Pastrnak or whatever with an extra late 1st.

Future Pens picks should be 100% off limits outside of someone with legit, sure-fire stud caliber coming back though.

This is the exact mindset I have with this draft. Throw around whatever 2nds and 3rds you have to get the guys you want, but don’t trade and 1sts because the guys you’d get by doing that aren’t good enough to justify doing that.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

This is the exact mindset I have with this draft. Throw around whatever 2nds and 3rds you have to get the guys you want, but don’t trade and 1sts because the guys you’d get by doing that aren’t good enough to justify doing that.

I do think a guy like Martone or Hagens is worth heavy internal discussion if they're gonna be available and you have an extra 1st lying around from trading one of the three aforementioned guys. I don't know if it's a slam dunk, but at least it's worth talking about at the table.

If the asking price is a 2nd+3rd, I'm doing it without hesitation to make sure they get a guy they really want. I'm just skeptical it'll be that cheap tbh.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I think moving up to #8 with Seattle is the max and I think that shouldn’t cost a 1st, but probably wouldn’t cost 2 2nds or a 2nd and 3rd. Which I would personally do to get O’Brien.

With where those 2nds fall I don’t think it is enough. maybe if it was our original high 2nd rounder + next years high 2nd.

I don’t see how you’re motivating a team to do that without overpaying.

Actually think the perceived weakness of this class makes it more expensive to move up.

 

[The Old Master]

If the price makes sense, I'm fine jumping a few spots to 7 or 8 if the picks are available and someone like Martone or Hagens is sitting there. The issue is gauging the price. In a weak draft, are those guys worth sacrificing another roll of the dice for? Especially thorny when the picks may be in deeper drafts.

you do what you can with other picks from that weak draft or picks in later rounds. (no firsts) keep the roll of the dice.

 

[Ulf5]

Scout's Analysis: Ranking the top 80 prospects for the 2025 NHL Draft

With the scouting season complete, Jason Bukala shares his own personal ranking of the top 80 prospects for next week's NHL Draft after following the class all season.

www.sportsnet.ca

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

That's pretty wild tbh.

Also love the nod to "personality" when Desnoyers was the guy who, when asked what he'd do if he was on a deserted island with a baseball bat and someone else, and they stole his last remaining water, he said he'd hit a home run.

 

[Ulf5]

Michael Misa, Malcolm Spence, Will Moore highlight Craig Button's final NHL Draft prospect ranking | TSN

The Mississauga Senators U16 AAA team that captured the OHL Cup in 2022 is set to make its mark on the 2025 NHL Draft. More in TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button's final Craig's List prospect ranking of the season.

www.tsn.ca

 

[Ulf5]

Count Arthur Staple among those who thinks Drury uses an offer sheet(s). Which obviously gives the Pens #12 this year.

Countdown to Free Agent Frenzy: New York Rangers eyeing offer sheets | TSN

While the Stanley Cup Final continues, the NHL's off-season has arrived for 30 teams who are preparing for the NHL Draft starting on June 27 and Free Agent Frenzy on July 1. TSN.ca keeps you up to date with all the latest rumours and speculation from around the NHL beat.

www.tsn.ca

 

[Ugene Magic]

Michael Misa, Malcolm Spence, Will Moore highlight Craig Button's final NHL Draft prospect ranking | TSN

The Mississauga Senators U16 AAA team that captured the OHL Cup in 2022 is set to make its mark on the 2025 NHL Draft. More in TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button's final Craig's List prospect ranking of the season.

www.tsn.ca

I'm at the point where the draft needs to be here already. All the discussion, reading up on these guys has been done to death.

I'd love to walk away with 2 centers if the NYR's hand us #12. If not 2 centers, coming away with a center and Bear is the goal.

No more deep diving, just get here.

 

[Turin]

Gonna be insane if Marcus Pettersson got the same amount of value as an entire year of sucking butt

 

[Ryder71]

I'm at the point where the draft needs to be here already. All the discussion, reading up on these guys has been done to death.

I'd love to walk away with 2 centers if the NYR's hand us #12. If not 2 centers, coming away with a center and Bear is the goal.

No more deep diving, just get here.

We agree on this. Two centers or at a minimum a Center and a highly skilled wing would be great. Sure hope that happens.

 

[T1K]

I’d like to use one of the picks to trade up for the impact forward of their choosing (assuming they need to move up a few picks) and then use the other pick on Jackson Smith, a smooth skating LHD with size, seems like a no brainer pick.