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

[Ryder71]

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.

No, IF we have two 1sts we should draft two Centers OR a Center and skilled wing. We have several good defensive prospects already, no good centers. Get it right!

 

[DRAGO 18]

 

[Andy99]

We have one — Bryan Rust, Eric Karlsson…take your pick, Hawks

 

[Malkinstheman]

The reporters say this shit every single year near the draft and nothing happens

 

[Ulf5]

We have one — Bryan Rust, Eric Karlsson…take your pick, Hawks

Hell, you can have em both!

 

[Jag68Sid87]

Hypothetically, let's say Chicago tells Dubas, we want Rust, No. 11 overall and No. 12 overall for No. 3.

Does Rust waive? Remember, he still has a NMC until July 1 so this would have to happen before.

Secondly, who is everybody's pick at No. 3 (this might be a fun exercise).

For me, it's James Hagens all day, every day.

 

[Duffy13]

Hypothetically, let's say Chicago tells Dubas, we want Rust, No. 11 overall and No. 12 overall for No. 3.

Does Rust waive? Remember, he still has a NMC until July 1 so this would have to happen before.

Secondly, who is everybody's pick at No. 3 (this might be a fun exercise).

For me, it's James Hagens all day, every day.

Call Rust "Future considerations" and send him to Chicago when his trade protection is gone.

 

[Jared Grayden]

Hypothetically, let's say Chicago tells Dubas, we want Rust, No. 11 overall and No. 12 overall for No. 3.

Does Rust waive? Remember, he still has a NMC until July 1 so this would have to happen before.

Secondly, who is everybody's pick at No. 3 (this might be a fun exercise).

For me, it's James Hagens all day, every day.

Adams would need to add if he's getting all that. #3 is about equal value to #11 + #12. Rust is worth way more than that small difference. I'd give them Karlsson unretained (if he would waive).

 

[Jag68Sid87]

Call Rust "Future considerations" and send him to Chicago when his trade protection is gone.

Yeah that does not look suspicious at all!

 

[Andy99]

Call Rust "Future considerations" and send him to Chicago when his trade protection is gone.

Just tell Rust, if you don’t waive for Chicago, near your hometown of Detroit, we’ll be shipping your ass to Calgary on July 1 lol…

 

[T1K]

No, IF we have two 1sts we should draft two Centers OR a Center and skilled wing. We have several good defensive prospects already, no good centers. Get it right!

Pickering is average

 

[T1K]

Hypothetically, let's say Chicago tells Dubas, we want Rust, No. 11 overall and No. 12 overall for No. 3.

Does Rust waive? Remember, he still has a NMC until July 1 so this would have to happen before.

Secondly, who is everybody's pick at No. 3 (this might be a fun exercise).

For me, it's James Hagens all day, every day.

Assuming Misa is gone, agreed. I wouldn’t be mad if it was Martone, but I’d rather roll the dice and see if he slides if they’re going for him.

 

[Ryder71]

Pickering is average

He's not the only one in the pipeline though. Brunicke and Pienniemmi are solid prospects. Beyond that we have no top six centers in the system.

 

[HandshakeLine]

I don't think we've got any great prospects in any position. It's like we're looking at a farm team full of Scuderis and Acciari's. I'll be happy with whomever we draft in the 1st as long as it's not some absolutely stupid pick.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I don’t like anyone enough after Schaefer and Misa to trade 2 1sts for them in this draft. I think O’Brien could have a very comparable upside to anyone after those two in this draft, I’d much rather go that route.

Even if it’s #11, the Penguins 2026 2nd and the Capitals 2025 2nd to trade up to get O’Brien, I would rather do that than package #11 and #12 to get someone like Hagens instead. And I’ve been really vocal that Hagens is way better than the reputation he’s getting in this draft.

 

[Ulf5]

Dream scenario- one GM gets a stiffy over McQueen's size, another gets a stiffy over Aitcheson's physicality and yet another drools over Mrtk's size and handedness.
Then we have our option of JO'B or Frondell.

 

[Epic Neal Time]

I'm at the point where I'd feel satisfied with any of the sort-of consensus top-13. My personal ranking

Schaefer
Misa
Martone
Hagens
O'Brien
Desnoyers
Martin
Eklund
Frondell
Aitcheson
McQueen
Smith
Mrtka

I'd prefer a forward, but the only situation where I'm not happy is if they reach for a Reschny/Bear/Lakovic tier guy

 

[Ragamuffin Gunner]

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.

11+Raks should let them move up w/o having to add a 2026 1st.

 

[Lust for Life]

I 100% want a forward. I'd even swing for a homerun and take Carbonneau (who seems very hit or miss) rather than a "safe" pick like Mrtka.

 

[Epic Neal Time]

The thing with Mrtka is I think you're making the value play if you draft him. At his size, position, and skating, even if we make the determination that he won't pan out, he'll hold value looooong after that. Throw him in a 20+ min/night role for one season and he will have the Ristolainen or Myers reputation among NHL GMs. Its almost a guarantee that you can recoup the value of the 11th overall pick at any point in the next 5-6 years.

Wheras, if Carbonneau or Reschny, etc. don't progress significantly by their D+3 seasons, their value is significantly impacted.

 

[Lust for Life]

The thing with Mrtka is I think you're making the value play if you draft him. At his size, position, and skating, even if we make the determination that he won't pan out, he'll hold value looooong after that. Throw him in a 20+ min/night role for one season and he will have the Ristolainen or Myers reputation among NHL GMs. Its almost a guarantee that you can recoup the value of the 11th overall pick at any point in the next 5-6 years.

Wheras, if Carbonneau or Reschny, etc. don't progress significantly by their D+3 seasons, their value is significantly impacted.

Absolutely, I don't disagree. I just want something exciting for purely selfish reasons.

 

[eXile3]

I’m not overly excited about adding any defender that isn’t going to bring offense from the backend. It’s just the way the game is heading.

 

[Epic Neal Time]

Hoping for a real run on defensemen before we pick. I can very much see Seattle, Buffalo, and Anaheim prioritizing D based on their rosters. All three aren't really in the simply "Draft BPA" mode. They desperately need to start building actual teams. If that happens, it's entirely possible a Martone/O'Brien/Hagens falls.

 

[PensFutures]

Hypothetically, let's say Chicago tells Dubas, we want Rust, No. 11 overall and No. 12 overall for No. 3.

Does Rust waive? Remember, he still has a NMC until July 1 so this would have to happen before.

Secondly, who is everybody's pick at No. 3 (this might be a fun exercise).

For me, it's James Hagens all day, every day.

Hagens or Misa. I could see SJ offering Musty and #2 for #1. NYI takes Hagens and starts their new re-tool with 2 NY kids as the marketing centerpiece.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I’m not overly excited about adding any defender that isn’t going to bring offense from the backend. It’s just the way the game is heading.

idk man. I moreso feel like the game is moving towards big mobile guys who are stoppers and can move the puck a little. Rather than point scoring D.