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

[Malkinstheman]

I doubt Flyers take Hagens now

If he gets by the Preds and Bruins.. not sure I see a fit with Seattle, Buffalo, Anaheim…

Penguin.

If he falls past 7 I wouldn't want to risk it. I'm doing everything possible to trade up

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

If he falls past 7 I wouldn't want to risk it. I'm doing everything possible to trade up

Depends on cost

Have a feeling it’ll be pretty absurd (a 1st)

Hard to say but whatever we do- get it right.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I can totally see Hagens sliding to #11 at this point. Falling from #7 to #11 from McKenzie's rankings isn't much of a slide, you had similar players (like Helenius and Kemmell) sliding that many or more spots from McKenzie's final rankings. The issue though is that the NYI will be aggressively trying to trade up to get Hagens if he slides past Boston.

I think they'd offer Dobson to Buffalo for #9 and take Hagens at #9 if he's sliding.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Outside of where Hagens goes, another interesting thing to look at in this draft is what team overdrafts Smith? He was ranked as high as #6 by some scouts in McKenzie's rankings, and I figure there is at least a few teams that view him as a top-10 caliber guy. There are going to be 1 or 2 guys in the #11-#15 range that will be going in the top-10, and based on the rankings McKenzie said, I'd bet that they're Smith and Mrtka. Mrtka has some obvious destinations, I think he makes a lot of sense for all of Seattle, Buffalo and Anaheim, but I'm not sure what team makes sense for Smith.

Does Seattle take Smith at #8? I could see that being a fit. If the top-7 goes like:

1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Frondell
4. Martone
5. Desnoyers
6. Martin
7. O'Brien

I'm not sure who fits the best for Seattle at #8. I can see an argument for basically anyone there.

 

[Gurglesons]

Depends on cost

Have a feeling it’ll be pretty absurd (a 1st)

Hard to say but whatever we do- get it right.

The point of the draft is to get Hagens level prospects.

I'm fine bundling up both our 1sts for Hagens.

Honestly will be relatively pissed if we do not do it tbh.

You're not going to get that level of talent falling.

 

[deakka]

The point of the draft is to get Hagens level prospects.

I'm fine bundling up both our 1sts for Hagens.

Honestly will be relatively pissed if we do not do it tbh.

You're not going to get that level of talent falling.

If one of our picks is Aitcheson, sure, would be as we only had 1 anyway

 

[Empoleon8771]

I'm not giving up 2 1sts for Hagens because I'm not sold Hagens will be a center at the NHL level. I'd do the #11 and #12 for #8 and Tampa's 2026 1st swap to get Hagens, but I'm absolutely not sacrificing 2 1sts to get him.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Honestly will be relatively pissed if we do not do it tbh.

I have him two but it’s insane to give up a ‘26 1st for him

The questions surrounding him are fair and I do not like how he addressed his season at the combine.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I'm not giving up 2 1sts for Hagens because I'm not sold Hagens will be a center at the NHL level. I'd do the #11 and #12 for #8 and Tampa's 2026 1st swap to get Hagens, but I'm absolutely not sacrificing 2 1sts to get him.

Purest C in the draft imo

I think he’s the rare player where he almost can’t play on the wing. Needs to be in the middle IMO

 

[Gurglesons]

I have him two but it’s insane to give up a ‘26 1st for him

The questions surrounding him are fair and I do not like how he addressed his season at the combine.

I'd easily give up either our 1st or the Rangers first with top 5 protection on it.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I'd be really trying to get Martone or Hagens if they're hovering around 7-9th.

I dunno if I'd pay the 11th and 12th straight up. It'd really depend on what Dubas plans with Rust, Rakell and EK. If we're recouping 1sts from all of those trades, I'm a bit more open to just swinging for the fences for Martone or Hagens, but if he's gonna be a f***ing dipshit and try to get too cute with those three assets, I'd be less inclined to just throw the kitchen sink at moving up.

I do think Martone and Hagens are the only guys worth moving up for, and only if the price isn't insane.

I dunno. It's been an agonizing few months here. Gimme Friday already.

 

[Gurglesons]

I'm not giving up 2 1sts for Hagens because I'm not sold Hagens will be a center at the NHL level. I'd do the #11 and #12 for #8 and Tampa's 2026 1st swap to get Hagens, but I'm absolutely not sacrificing 2 1sts to get him.

There is legitimately no reason at all Hagens will not be a center at the NHL level.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I'd easily give up either or 1st or the Rangers first with top 5 protection on it.

You can’t protect the Rags pick can you?

Either way. It would suck to do all that and turns out he’s Matt Duchene or Derick Brassard

I’m fine with sitting there waiting for he or Eklund. Don’t think the gap is major.

 

[Gurglesons]

You can’t protect the Rags pick can you?

Either way. It would suck to do all that and turns out he’s Matt Duchene or Derick Brassard

I’m fine with sitting there waiting for he or Eklund. Don’t think the gap is major.

You can do whatever you want.

My goal as a manager would be to get the best player possible in the draft. We can't get Schaefer or Misa.

If you can somehow get Hagens who should be viewed as the third best prospect in this draft, you have to do it.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

An 11th and a 12th aren't that big of a deal if the team feels the difference in player is a perennial middle six vanilla 40ish point player or a legit top six 60-80 point player IMO. What is an 11th/12th in a draft like this, really? If this were like 03 then yeah but by all accounts this is a "top two GAP next five GAP whatever" kinda draft.

 

[Empoleon8771]

There is legitimately no reason at all Hagens will not be a center at the NHL level.

Because he's like 5'10" and you can count the number of 5'10" or shorter centers in the NHL on like 1 hand.

Like I said, I would do #11 and #12 for #8 and Tampa's 2026 1st. Basically move up 3 spots in exchange for giving up #12 this year for probably #25 next year. I'm fine with that. I'm absolutely not paying 2 1sts for Hagens.

 

[Gurglesons]

Because he's like 5'10" and you can count the number of 5'10" or shorter centers in the NHL on like 1 hand.

Like I said, I would do #11 and #12 for #8 and Tampa's 2026 1st. Basically move up 3 spots in exchange for giving up #12 this year for probably #25 next year. I'm fine with that. I'm absolutely not paying 2 1sts for Hagens.

James Hagens is the same height as Sidney Crosby.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

If you can somehow get Hagens who should be viewed as the third best prospect in this draft, you have to do it.

Sure. But maybe the Pens don’t view it that way. Maybe they have someone else above Hagens. Maybe they are correct. Maybe they’re not.

You can’t act like it’s set in stone he’ll be the 3rd best player or a superstar. Again. I have him 2nd. But even I’m not sitting here saying he’s the second coming. Plenty of smart people have him 7, 9, etc.

 

[Gurglesons]

Sure. But maybe the Pens don’t view it that way. Maybe they have someone else above Hagens. Maybe they are correct. Maybe they’re not.

You can’t act like it’s set in stone he’ll be the 3rd best player or a superstar. Again. I have him 2nd. But even I’m not sitting here saying he’s the second coming. Plenty of smart people have him 7, 9, etc.

I can't agree with this.

People's reasoning for dropping him in the draft are honestly stupid.

He's going to go back to the NCAA next year and put up ridiculous numbers and whoever doubted him is going to look like an idiot.

Same argument that was made about Logan Cooley a few years ago.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Do I think it's a no-brainer to throw the 11th+12th at trading up for Martone or Hagens? No. Is it fun and entertaining as a fan of one of the most boring, lame, safe to an annoying degree franchises in hockey for nearly the past decade? Yeah, go for it.

I'd try to do what Emp is suggesting and try to snag a later 1st back this year or next, but eh. Whatever.

I'm not sure the value is much different between a Martone or Hagens, and two of Eklund, Bear, Smith, etc. but it's more fun and I'm bored by hyperanalyzing the draft and everything these past few months.

 

[Gurglesons]

Do I think it's a no-brainer to throw the 11th+12th at trading up for Martone or Hagens? No. Is it fun and entertaining as a fan of one of the most boring, lame, safe to an annoying degree franchises in hockey for nearly the past decade? Yeah, go for it.

I'd try to do what Emp is suggesting and try to snag a later 1st back this year or next, but eh. Whatever.

I'm not sure the value is much different between a Martone or Hagens, and two of Eklund, Bear, Smith, etc. but it's more fun and I'm bored by hyperanalyzing the draft and everything these past few months.

One of the first two has potential to be a foundational player.

Value is insanely different IMO.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

*shrug*

I just generally think prioritizing quantity over quality is a bad policy particularly in sports.

Unless you just have an utter shit scouting dept. and need that ol shotgun effect to get anywhere.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Same argument that was made about Logan Cooley a few years ago.

? Compare their birth years not their draft years. Cooley had 60 points in 39 games while Hagens had 37 in 37.

Also big picture no one doubted him lmao. Dude went 3rd.

At their drafts I think Cooley had better tools (better hands and skating) and more room for growth. Hagens feels like he’s got less runway but more polish whereas Cooley was raw.

I like the player but I am saying you can’t guarantee anything.

 

[Gurglesons]

? Compare their birth years not their draft years. Cooley had 60 points in 39 games while Hagens had 37 in 37.

Also big picture no one doubted him lmao. Dude went 3rd.

At their drafts I think Cooley had better tools (better hands and skating) and more room for growth. Hagens feels like he’s got less runway but more polish whereas Cooley was raw.

I like the player but I am saying you can’t guarantee anything.

Fantilli, Eichel, and Celebrini are the only NCAA forwards with better draft years.

Hagens is dropping because people want to see exponential growth every year and he was so good the previous year, him putting up a good not great draft year in the NCAA with "top talent" is used to say he wasn't good.

Cooley should've gone 1st. But, Slaf big.

 

[TojoP]

I don't want them to double dip on defensemen, but Mrtka at #11 and Smith at #12 would be 2 pretty nice picks to address the long-term outlook of the defense. That could be their future top pair if Smith can perform up to his physical traits.

That said, I still don't think Eklund goes top-10. I think the Penguins get Eklund at #11 and either Smith or Aitcheson at #12, or they'll just get Eklund at #11 if the Rangers pick slides to 2026.

The issue with that could be neither really looks like a true #1 that runs the PP. Maybe that's your shutdown pair. I do feel Mrtka will be an ideal #2 to play next to an offensive LHD, we just don't really have one.