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

[Gurglesons]

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

I think it's the way the draft order has set up.

Islanders won't take him 1st overall.
San Jose, Utah and Chicago seem hesitant to base their future 1/2 C punch on two smaller guys in Bedard / Macklin / Cooley + Hagens.
Nashville is dumb.

 

[Ryder71]

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

Because?

 

[Malkinstheman]

Philly might also pass on Hagens just because their current core is so small. Michov, Konecny, Brink are all below 6'. I really don't see Hagens dropping below Boston though. Hopefully they just really really like another player

 

[Turin]

How often do teams post hype videos of guys they aren’t drafting?

I really don’t want this player

 

[Empoleon8771]

They posted one of Frondell today as well, who's going to go way before their pick. I wouldn't think anything of them posting one with Aitcheson.

I absolutely think he's a possibility with their pick, but posting that video means nothing.

 

[Ryder71]

Philly might also pass on Hagens just because their current core is so small. Michov, Konecny, Brink are all below 6'. I really don't see Hagens dropping below Boston though. Hopefully they just really really like another player

Listen, Hagens won't be dropping to us, don't be silly.

 

[Malkinstheman]

I never said he'd drop to #11. The furthest he will drop is #7 I think

 

[Ryder71]

I never said he'd drop to #11. The furthest he will drop is #7 I think

We don't draft 7th. I doubt we can even move up to 8th but hopefully the Kraken fancy one of the defensemen and might be willing to move down as they could likely get such a player at 11th OA.

I sincerely hope we we move up to 8th and get who's ever left of JOB (unlikely to be there) Martin (unlikely or Eklund (possibly). Thoose should be our targets. If we miss out on them beyond the obvious top 5-6 go for Reschny, he has MAD skill!

 

[Empoleon8771]

While I have some skepticism with Aitcheson personally, I don't really see a reason to be upset if the Penguins do end up taking him. His upside is a lefty Trouba, which would be a great addition to the defense for the long-run.

The Penguins took Orpik #18 overall back in 2000 before the full-blown X Gen Penguins, I feel like Aitcheson this year would be really similar to that. He's likely not going to be a new core piece, but he should become a regular contributor and a supporting piece to your new core and brings a really unique playstyle that the team lacks outside of him.

Anyone they take this year will likely be that. If they take Eklund at #11 and Aitcheson at #12, those two guys will likely be the new Armstrong and Orpik for the next Penguins core. McGroarty, Koivunen and Brunicke are in that category too, they have good 2nd line/middle pair upside but just project to be complementary guys to the next core.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Remember when Angelo Esposito fell to the Pens? That was cool.

 

[Ryder71]

Remember when Angelo Esposito fell to the Pens? That was cool.

The year before he was all the rage! In his draft year not only did others catch him in their development they largely left him in the dust.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

The year before he was all the rage! In his draft year not only did others catch him in their development they largely left him in the dust.

Radulov really propped him up. But he did help us get Hossa which was really cool.

 

[Ryder71]

Radulov really propped him up. But he did help us get Hossa which was really cool.

Then Hossa turn-coated us yet we still beat his candy ass in the cup final in '09!

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Then Hossa turn-coated us yet we still beat his candy ass in the cup final in '09!

And then Hossa made it to the Finals again. But I had to root for him since he was playing against the Flyers.

Edit: Coyotes legend Marian Hossa

 

[Kasperi kapanen]

Because?

He’s rising very fast and I think Utah wants him but hesitant at 4th overall that’s why they want to trade back. That has nothing to do with us but I got a feeling old man!

 

[Ogelthorpe]

I saw a couple draft projections today. One had Hagens falling to Buffalo at 9 and the other had Martone falling to Buffalo at 9.

If either is on the board (especially Hagens) when Seattle is up at #8 we have to trade up to 8 and grab one of those 2.

 

[Ryder71]

He’s rising very fast and I think Utah wants him but hesitant at 4th overall that’s why they want to trade back. That has nothing to do with us but I got a feeling old man!

He doesn't even have a 1st round ranking, what the hell?

 

[Empoleon8771]

I saw a couple draft projections today. One had Hagens falling to Buffalo at 9 and the other had Martone falling to Buffalo at 9.

If either is on the board (especially Hagens) when Seattle is up at #8 we have to trade up to 8 and grab one of those 2.

I don't think there's any chance that Seattle trades down if Martone is available to them.

That said, we know Dubas likes Martone so it wouldn't surprise me if he traded up to draft him. I know people rightfully shit on Yohe's reputation at this point, but he said this a few weeks ago:

Dubas likes Porter Martone. A lot.

Martone is a power forward expected to be drafted in the top 10 — maybe even in the top five — and does not figure to be available when the Penguins pick at No. 11. While Martone has dropped a bit in draft projections during the past few months, it would be a minor miracle were he to drop to No. 11, where the Penguins would absolutely select him. Most believe he’ll go somewhere between No. 4 and No. 8. A power forward who dominated this season for the Brampton Steelheads (OHL), Martone played for Dubas and Canada at the recent World Championship in Sweden.

Dubas likes to get to know all of the top prospects during this time of year but spent additional time with Martone in Buffalo even though he had gotten to know him in Sweden.

“Porter’s different,” Dubas said with a smile.

 

[Jared Grayden]

He doesn't even have a 1st round ranking, what the hell?

For an actual power forward with boom/bust potential I'd take Prokorov long before the fugazis like Midget Martin and Brokeback McQueen. He needs a ton of refinement but the physical tools are arguably the best in the class.

 

[T1K]

Id rather have Hagens than Martone due to the positional upside, but I’d be thrilled to get either. Martone’s skating is a concern, but it sounds like every other aspect of his game is rock solid. For both guys, I think an additional year of NCAA experience would be good for development.

 

[Ryder71]

For an actual power forward with boom/bust potential I'd take Prokorov long before the fugazis like Midget Martin and Brokeback McQueen. He needs a ton of refinement but the physical tools are arguably the best in the class.

You don't take a chance like that at 11th OA. You like him more than Martin? Or even McQueen (who I'm not the biggest fan of)? What are we doing here?

 

[Empoleon8771]

If the Penguins want to trade up to get Martone or O'Brien, I wonder if they could offer #11 and #12 to Seattle for #8 and Tampa's 2026 1st. Doing that means you won't lose any picks, you're dropping from #12 this year to likely around #25 next year to move up from #11 to #8 this year to get Martone or O'Brien.

If the Rangers pick falls in 2026, I wonder if the lack of lottery protection would make Seattle still willing to do that deal. Tampa's 2026 1st is top-10 protected, where it slides to a 2028 1st and 3rd if the 2026 pick ends up top-10. Would the Rangers pick being unprotected make it appealing enough for Seattle to do that swap?

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I've been in favor of Dubas jumping up anywhere between 7th and 9th to try and snag Martone or Hagens if they're available and the cost isn't obscene. Those are the only guys I think are worth it though. O'Brien's a guy you just kinda hope falls to you imo.

For an actual power forward with boom/bust potential I'd take Prokorov long before the fugazis like Midget Martin and Brokeback McQueen. He needs a ton of refinement but the physical tools are arguably the best in the class.

Brady's an inch shorter and like 5lbs lighter than Bennett, the guy he models his game after and scouts call his pro comparable.

Dude's not like 5'9 and 160lbs or something.

 

[Jared Grayden]

Brady's an inch shorter and like 5lbs lighter than Bennett, the guy he models his game after and scouts call his pro comparable.

Dude's not like 5'9 and 160lbs or something.

He's physical and dirty, but Bennett isn't a power forward. Good player, but isn't successful because of his size and strength.

 

[The Old Master]

If the Penguins want to trade up to get Martone or O'Brien, I wonder if they could offer #11 and #12 to Seattle for #8 and Tampa's 2026 1st. Doing that means you won't lose any picks, you're dropping from #12 this year to likely around #25 next year to move up from #11 to #8 this year to get Martone or O'Brien.

If the Rangers pick falls in 2026, I wonder if the lack of lottery protection would make Seattle still willing to do that deal. Tampa's 2026 1st is top-10 protected, where it slides to a 2028 1st and 3rd if the 2026 pick ends up top-10. Would the Rangers pick being unprotected make it appealing enough for Seattle to do that swap?

i would hope that it would be our pick (11) OR the radgs pick (12) plus one of rust or rakel to move up