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

[TojoP]

Agreed. JOBs 5on5 doesn’t scare me necessarily but McQueen has higher ceiling imo.

I agree with this. O'Brien seems the safer bet and who I'd pick, but McQueen has a higher ceiling. I'd be thrilled with either at 11.

 

[eXile3]

The mental aspect of the game is almost as important as the physical. I assume they try to gauge if the player has a self awareness of what makes them successful, confidence, and if they have a growth mindset.

People hate Brady and Jordan in part because of their arrogance but to be an athlete you almost need to have that kind of belief in yourself.

 

[TojoP]

Am I the only one intrigued by Bear? I'm not all that knowledgeable on prospects but I haven't heard his name all that much.

I am. He just falls into that 12 or 13 range with Smith. So there is probably 1 or 2 players I'd like better. But I wouldn't be super disappointed by him either. Beyond him including Aitcheson I would be.

 

[TojoP]

I really have no interest in McQueen. Back issues at this age and body type just screams bust to me. His tape didn’t impress me either.

I'm hoping with McQueen's back it's like Crosby's neck where it was more a misdiagnosis than a lingering problem like he says. But I'm not qualified to say for sure, hopefully the Pens are.

 

[plaidchuck]

Well since everyone is saying minus 5 players the draft is garbage and the 11 and 12 picks are worth nothing more than trade fodder, I say go with whoever has the swing for the fences ceiling rather than getting someone you know whose ceiling is a 3rd liner best case scenario.

Some guy who had potential but couldn't overcome a bad back in the end has the same value as a career minor leaguer or european league player.

 

[Jared Grayden]

I'm hoping with McQueen's back it's like Crosby's neck where it was more a misdiagnosis than a lingering problem like he says. But I'm not qualified to say for sure, hopefully the Pens are.

Reality is some casual with a few hours of cumulative highlight reels will more accurately predict this individual draft better than NHL teams that have invested millions in countless thousands of hours.
With McQueen, there's a mutually exclusive problem that either he was injured and that prevented everyone from seeing what he can be- which requires a ton of projection. Or he wasn't that injured and he was just good but not dominant when healthy.

 

[LiffLaff]

Am I the only one intrigued by Bear? I'm not all that knowledgeable on prospects but I haven't heard his name all that much.

i'd be more weary of Bears achillis than McQueens back to be honest, not many examples of players coming back the same after an injury like that.. But I do like the player, seems to have that dog in him.

 

[TojoP]

Reality is some casual with a few hours of cumulative highlight reels will more accurately predict this individual draft better than NHL teams that have invested millions in countless thousands of hours.
With McQueen, there's a mutually exclusive problem that either he was injured and that prevented everyone from seeing what he can be- which requires a ton of projection. Or he wasn't that injured and he was just good but not dominant when healthy.

That's where I think the issue is. I don't think even when he played he was fully healthy, certainly he couldn't have been as in game shape as he could be.

So if the back issue is truly behind him, he's probably available later than he would have been otherwise. He's a possible 1C meaning he'd have a great chance to at least be a big, two way 2C. I just can't find 11 guys I'd take over him in this draft IF they believe the back won't be a recurring problem.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Some posters on the prospects forum that seemed to have followed Reschny for a while said he was a hard working kid with good character so that is odd.

Poster couldn’t show source or share link so I’m disregarding completely

Black book literally said “great reviews from combine”

 

[Jared Grayden]

That's where I think the issue is. I don't think even when he played he was fully healthy, certainly he couldn't have been as in game shape as he could be.

So if the back issue is truly behind him, he's probably available later than he would have been otherwise. He's a possible 1C meaning he'd have a great chance to at least be a big, two way 2C. I just can't find 11 guys I'd take over him in this draft IF they believe the back won't be a recurring problem.

Problem being he obviously has a vested interest in appearing healthier than he really is just as Lindstrom did. If McQueen is to be believed, he was perfectly healthy when he came back from the long hiatus and played arguably his worst before having the minor non-back injury in the playoffs. If I'm to assume positive upside projections on a set of flashy tools and skills, then it should also be applied to many other prospects as well (Smith, Mrtka, Lakovic, Limatov, Prokorov, Carbonneau, etc.). Some of them had far better draft years and I believe all of them are younger than McQueen for this class.

 

[TojoP]

Problem being he obviously has a vested interest in appearing healthier than he really is just as Lindstrom did. If McQueen is to be believed, he was perfectly healthy when he came back from the long hiatus and played arguably his worst before having the minor non-back injury in the playoffs. If I'm to assume positive upside projections on a set of flashy tools and skills, then it should also be applied to many other prospects as well (Smith, Mrtka, Lakovic, Limatov, Prokorov, Carbonneau, etc.). Some of them had far better draft years and I believe all of them are younger than McQueen for this class.

To some extent, you are doing that with everyone. Brunicke last year was a great example of a guy whose on ice effectiveness didn't match his tools and was picked more on projection sooner than most places had him ranked.

In McQueen case, the points were there in the limited sample. We have a reason with the injury for what kept him from performing at his best. And if he was a misdiagnosed, he's got a better chance of overcoming his injury then say Smith has of developing hockey sense later.

McQueen was a top five guy coming in who is dropping mainly due to an injury. IF it's past him, he seems like a great buy low candidate in a draft that doesn't have a lot of guys with first line potential. I'd take that chance over what else we'd likely get to pick, but fair if others don't, just my opinion.

 

[Lust for Life]

I already hate them!!!

I hate you!!!

(I really don't, quite the opposite)

 

[Jacob]

I like to look at production relative to the rest of the team rather than just total points, and McQueen led Brandon in points per game last year and this year. A lot of other CHL potential 1st rounders can’t say the same, even just this year.

 

[The Old Master]

I like to look at production relative to the rest of the team rather than just total points, and McQueen led Brandon in points per game last year and this year. A lot of other CHL potential 1st rounders can’t say the same, even just this year.

and next you're going to tell me that hockey is a team sport or something like that,

 

[Kasperi kapanen]

I have a gut feeling if we get the rags pick we gunna take Daniil Prokhorov.

 

[Lust for Life]

I have a gut feeling if we get the rags pick we gunna take Daniil Prokhorov.

Ranked #55 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
Ranked #56 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
Ranked #48 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
Ranked #49 by THN/KENNEDY
Ranked #50 by MCKEEN'S HOCKEY
Ranked #40 by FLOHOCKEY/CHRIS PETERS
Ranked #79 by FCHOCKEY
Ranked #66 by DAILY FACEOFF
Ranked #18 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (EU Skaters)
Ranked #59 by HPR/MALLOY
Ranked #33 by SPORTSNET/BUKALA
Ranked #59 by RECRUIT SCOUTING
Ranked #62 by SMAHT SCOUTING

Yeah, nah.

 

[Ryder71]

I'm hoping with McQueen's back it's like Crosby's neck where it was more a misdiagnosis than a lingering problem like he says. But I'm not qualified to say for sure, hopefully the Pens are.

It doesn't work that way.

 

[Ryder71]

I like to look at production relative to the rest of the team rather than just total points, and McQueen led Brandon in points per game last year and this year. A lot of other CHL potential 1st rounders can’t say the same, even just this year.

20 Points in 17 games and bein one of the older players in the draft isn't exactly all that exciting. Add in the back injury and I'd be very dubious of taking him at 11th.

That said better him than a defensemen not named Schaeffer and he'll be long gone.

 

[Ryder71]

This may not go over well here (because I know some are high on O’Brien) but if him and McQueen are sitting there at 11 (highly unlikely), I am taking McQueen.

You're right, it won't go over well here. That's a ridiculous statement.

 

[Rudy Russo]

I have a gut feeling if we get the rags pick we gunna take Daniil Prokhorov.

Trade down.

 

[Gurglesons]

With how Hagens seems to be dropping, there is literally no asset outside of our 1st round picks in the next two years that I wouldn't pony up to draft him.

If it's 11th and every 2nd round pick we have for the next two years, I do that easily.

 

[GilbertSeinfeld]

So, is Hagens this year's Eiserman?

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

With how Hagens seems to be dropping, there is literally no asset outside of our 1st round picks in the next two years that I wouldn't pony up to draft him.

If it's 11th and every 2nd round pick we have for the next two years, I do that easily.

Why do you think Hagens is dropping? Other than Schaefer and maybe Misa, who is supposed to go ahead of him?

 

[BrookswasHere44]

What's the knock on Aitcheson?

 

[Empoleon8771]

Why do you think Hagens is dropping? Other than Schaefer and maybe Misa, who is supposed to go ahead of him?

Concerns about him being able to stick at center seems to be the obvious one. If he can play center, he's a no brainer top-5 pick in this draft. If he has to shift to wing, I think a lot of teams would rather have a center like Frondell or O'Brien above him.

What's the knock on Aitcheson?

Low IQ defenseman and questionable offensive upside. He produces really well in juniors but how he produces (essentially playing like a rover in the offensive zone) isn't going to work in the NHL.