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

[Empoleon8771]

My only hesitation with trading up for Martone is that it doesn't address either the C or LD holes this team has in its system, so you're spending assets on what can easily be argued is a luxury. That said, if you can trade up for Martone without losing the Rangers 1st and also draft Eklund, I absolutely love the looks of a Koivunen-Martone and McGroarty-Eklund winger duos going forward.

 

[Empoleon8771]

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

I think that would be more ideal. Something like Rakell to LA for Spence and pick #24 and then picks #12 and #24 to Seattle for #8 to draft Martone.

 

[eXile3]

What are people’s thoughts on Logan Hensler? I hadn’t seen his name come up in mocks but now he’s being picked around us in some. Sounds like a big player who can skate.

 

[The Old Master]

What are people’s thoughts on Logan Hensler? I hadn’t seen his name come up in mocks but now he’s being picked around us in some. Sounds like a big player who can skate.

good player but .....He has size, a high hockey smarts for his position and doesn’t have any dynamic qualities to his game. should go in the second half of the first. imo

 

[Jared Grayden]

What are people’s thoughts on Logan Hensler? I hadn’t seen his name come up in mocks but now he’s being picked around us in some. Sounds like a big player who can skate.

I really found him bland in the WJC-20 but he is someone that supposedly improved as the season went. I don't watch much of NCAA. I also understand the system he played in is very conservative which seems common in the NCAA and could have limited the offense. Given his profile, I expect he'll be gone top 20.

 

[Turin]

My only hesitation with trading up for Martone is that it doesn't address either the C or LD holes this team has in its system, so you're spending assets on what can easily be argued is a luxury. That said, if you can trade up for Martone without losing the Rangers 1st and also draft Eklund, I absolutely love the looks of a Koivunen-Martone and McGroarty-Eklund winger duos going forward.

Martone has a big enough gap on the Pens other wing prospects that I don’t think it matters. Also given his hockey IQ and hands I wouldn’t be surprised if he would make a better C than some of the Cs in the board.

 

[T1K]

I’ve been letting this take marinate for a bit. Martone is the next Rantanen (hyperbole).

 

[Jacob]

I’ve been letting this take marinate for a bit. Martone is the next Rantanen (hyperbole).

Maybe it’s partly the blue jersey and the tape job but he looks like a bigger, slower Marner. But I don’t think that is bad.

His size and PIM totals are misleading. He’s very shifty and east-west, curl-and-drag, etc.

I’ve noticed some recent complaints about his on-ice work ethic and defense but I don’t think he’d be getting the C in the U18s and OHL (at 18) if he was lazy.

 

[Ogelthorpe]

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

I would think 11 plus Rakell should get you more than just 8 in return.
A 30 goal scorer signed at a great cap number is worth way more than 3 draft spots.

 

[The Old Master]

I would think 11 plus Rakell should get you more than just 8 in return.
A 30 goal scorer signed at a great cap number is worth way more than 3 draft spots.

could always add a pick to even it out

 

[BrookswasHere44]

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.

Ears ringing

 

[MrBurghundy]

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

You mean Dupuis. f*** Hossa.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Martone has a big enough gap on the Pens other wing prospects that I don’t think it matters. Also given his hockey IQ and hands I wouldn’t be surprised if he would make a better C than some of the Cs in the board.

Yeah it's not like a big problem, like I said I'd absolutely love the outlook of their top-6 winger group with McGroarty-Eklund and Koivunen-Martone. I don't want them to reach on a C or LD just because they need them, which is why I'd still be really happy with Eklund and Martone as their picks. That said, they do need to pick those guys at some point.

Also they shouldn't be planning based on this, but I believe McKenna is only a LW and they're going to be in contention for McKenna next year too.

 

[Gurglesons]

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.

I agree. If either of these players drop to us, I'll consider last season a success.

If we end up with an Aitcheson after sucking ass all year, it's a total failure.

 

[T1K]

I find the critique of Hagens to be harsh too. He was a PPG player in the hardest league of all the prospects, it’s not like he sucked.

 

[Jacob]

If we got the Rangers 12th could 11 + 12 move us into the top 5 or 6? Should we? Assuming in such a scenario we have our eyes on Martone or Hagens and also have the inside intel they aren’t falling past 8.

Our pool being kinda thin still makes me lean towards just staying put and add 2 good prospects over 1 very good prospect.

 

[Turin]

I find the critique of Hagens to be harsh too. He was a PPG player in the hardest league of all the prospects, it’s not like he sucked.

I see no reason why Hagens should be out of the top 5 but he’s being punished for being too good too early.

 

[Jacob]

I see no reason why Hagens should be out of the top 5 but he’s being punished for being too good too early.

Yeah when you’re on the radar a while people stop noticing the positives and noticing flaws (sometimes real, sometimes imagined). Always better to be a late riser.

There were even some loser morons trying to claim Brule had closed the gap on Sid in the 05 draft.

 

[T1K]

I see no reason why Hagens should be out of the top 5 but he’s being punished for being too good too early.

He came into this year with unfair expectations. He was getting compared to Celebrini/Eichel (Hobey Baker winners). Falling a little short of that may end up costing him. He should’ve just stat padded in the CHL.

 

[Malkinstheman]

If we got the Rangers 12th could 11 + 12 move us into the top 5 or 6? Should we? Assuming in such a scenario we have our eyes on Martone or Hagens and also have the inside intel they aren’t falling past 8.

Our pool being kinda thin still makes me lean towards just staying put and add 2 good prospects over 1 very good prospect.

Personally I would prioritize getting the best prospect you can. On draft day, if you don't think you can get JOB/Eklund/Martin at 11 then Id trade up. I don't really like the next group of McQueen, Mrtka, Aitcheson etc

 

[Jared Grayden]

If we got the Rangers 12th could 11 + 12 move us into the top 5 or 6? Should we?

#11+#12 is worth more than #4 in pick value.

 

[T1K]

Chicago is afraid to make a decision at 3. I would have no problem trading up for that pick and getting our guy, whoever that is.

 

[Turin]

Yeah when you’re on the radar a while people stop noticing the positives and noticing flaws (sometimes real, sometimes imagined). Always better to be a late riser.

There were even some loser morons trying to claim Brule had closed the gap on Sid in the 05 draft.

He came into this year with unfair expectations. He was getting compared to Celebrini/Eichel (Hobey Baker winners). Falling a little short of that may end up costing him. He should’ve just stat padded in the CHL.

I think there’s a significant chance that he’s a better C in the NHL than Miss.

 

[Jacob]

Personally I would prioritize getting the best prospect you can. On draft day, if you don't think you can get JOB/Eklund/Martin at 11 then Id trade up. I don't really like the next group of McQueen, Mrtka, Aitcheson etc

Yeah that makes sense, and we have plenty of 2nds and 3rds to add more quantity to our prospect pool. We lack blue chippers.

 

[T1K]

I think there’s a significant chance that he’s a better C in the NHL than Miss.

I’ll have to disagree with you there. I’m high on Misa, but also I don’t mind him playing wing at the next level. That’s his cleanest path to being a superstar.