Prospect Info: - Draft 2025 - Everyone is trading up, but no one seems to be trading down edition | Page 36 | HFBoards - NHL Message Board and Forum for National Hockey League
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Prospect Info: Draft 2025 - Everyone is trading up, but no one seems to be trading down edition

I asked Will Scouch in his AMA who he thought the biggest steals of the draft would be. Here was his answer:

I am a huge believer in Michal Svrcek, a Slovak playing in Sweden. Played in the SHL for quite a stretch this year and was an animal there. He has a heck of a shot, but his energy, physical play and forechecking ability is pretty staggering. He just has that crazy factor of "i will do whatever to move the game in the right direction" that any good coaching and development from here could unlock a ton in his game. He has offensive tools, but needs to slow things down in the SHL a bit to play with the puck and work with linemates a bit more, especially outside the offensive zone but he is a player I am on an island about, but I love him.
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Eric Nilson is another one I think could be a really good pickup. He really needs to physically develop and put on some weight, but he's a really good player. Super smart, plays off linemates with the best in the draft, with some really impressive playmaking ability and physical play. He's about as thin as anyone in the draft but I think there's a loooooooooooooot to dig into there. He looked promising in HockeyAllsvenskan and Michigan State clearly likes what they see there too.
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On a more serious note, the more I think about it, the more I feel like I would trade down if I was in charge. There's a thread on the main boards about Montreal fans wanting to move up. Could maybe do #11 for #16 and #41 (Pens own second rounder). Obviously depends on how the top ten works out and who's left on the board at #11, if there's someone interesting dropping then I'd keep it. Also depends on what Rangers do...

The thinking behind this is the more lottery tickets the better. At #16 you could still get a Lakovic, Carbonneau, Bear, Cootes, Reschny... you name it.
 
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Lust for Life said:
On a more serious note, the more I think about it, the more I feel like I would trade down if I was in charge. There's a thread on the main boards about Montreal fans wanting to move up. Could maybe do #11 for #16 and #41 (Pens own second rounder). Obviously depends on how the top ten works out and who's left on the board at #11, if there's someone interesting dropping then I'd keep it. Also depends on what Rangers do...

The thinking behind this is the more lottery tickets the better. At #16 you could still get a Lakovic, Carbonneau, Bear, Cootes, Reschny... you name it.
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Yeah if those several or so names aren’t available I don’t think there’s a big difference between 11 and the 20s. In fact I like some of the latter guys better.
 
I'm sure this was already posted but I thought this was interesting, from McKenzie's most recent draft article:

At this particular moment in time, none of our scouts surveyed said they would be comfortable taking McQueen where they currently rated him — eight of the 10 had him between Nos. 3 and 10 with two more saying they’ve already red flagged him due the spectre of injury.
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So teams like him and rank him highly but still won't actually draft him where they rank him. I think people here that don't want him should be safe.

- The only fresh face in the Draft Lottery Edition Top 16 is Barrie Colt defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson, who went from No. 18 in January to No. 14 now.
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Another positive of Aitcheson is he didn't finish the year falling in the rankings, injured, or with any asterisks, he climbed. Good playoffs too. So he didn't finish the year injured, ice cold and/or with any asterisks like Bear or McQueen. Although the same can be said for Mrtka and Smith.

I think if I had to guess I'd say we take one of those 3 d-men. After all we did take all 3 out to dinner.
 
From Scott Wheeler's mock, in the #3 pick blurb:

1000045839.jpg


Later, during the Penguins pick:
1000045841.jpg


I would bet that if Hagens or Martone fall past 7, Dubas will pounce. Its very interesting if we've talked with Chicago about #3. I can't even imagine what that offer looks like. 11 + 12 wouldn't be enough. Maybe they're after Rust?
 
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Epic Neal Time said:
From Scott Wheeler's mock, in the #3 pick blurb:

View attachment 1054476

Later, during the Penguins pick:
View attachment 1054477

I would bet that if Hagens or Martone fall past 7, Dubas will pounce. Its very interesting if we've talked with Chicago about #3. I can't even imagine what that offer looks like. 11 + 12 wouldn't be enough. Maybe they're after Rust?
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Will be Aitcheson to us. What a damn miss for the rebuild
 
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I know Dubas absolutely loves Martone, I think he made it pretty clear in selecting him to Canada's WC team plus what he has said about him. My concern is how far up do you need to trade up to actually get him? Even if Martin goes #4 to Utah, I can't see Martone making it past Philly at #6, especially after adding Zegras.

I think Hagens is totally realistic to trade up for, though. You'll just have to fight the Islanders who will also be trying to do that.
 
Epic Neal Time said:
I would bet that if Hagens or Martone fall past 7, Dubas will pounce. Its very interesting if we've talked with Chicago about #3. I can't even imagine what that offer looks like. 11 + 12 wouldn't be enough. Maybe they're after Rust?
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Probably the Penguins 2026 1st, just a question of what kind of protections the Penguins will put on that pick.

I would probably do the Penguins 2026 1st with top-2 protection for #3 to draft Martone. It's just a question of whether Chicago likes a top-2 protected 1st enough to make that swap. I think the Penguins still "lose" that deal if the pick ends up #3-#5 next year, but it's not that big of a loss and Chicago needs some incentive to actually justify doing it.

They just simply cannot agree to hand over a Gavin McKenna pick for Martone, but if you protect against that, I wouldn't have any qualms about trading like #5 in 2026 for Martone.
 
Epic Neal Time said:
I think the most realistic trade-up scenario is either Seattle or Buffalo, who may feel they can grab one of the top defensemen at #11. If Martone or Hagens (or even O'Brien) fall there, I think it's a very real possibility, esp. if we have #12.
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IMO the best case scenario for trading up is Hagens falls to #8 and you trade #11 and #12 for #8 and Tampa's 2026 1st.
 
Empoleon8771 said:
That top-10 isn't really all that different than what McKenzie had. I don't think he did poorly there.
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It’s a predictive mock and he didn’t get a single pick correct outside of the top 2 (which everyone knew about).

While saying things like “Buium’s floor is 8th” “Iglina isn’t in the top 10 for most teams” “if Eiserman is there at 14 SJ won’t pass on him”

I’m just saying put zero stock into who he mocks to what team. He didn’t get anyone right in the lottery outside the obvious top 2.
 
Jacob said:
I don't see why these mocks have write-ups that talk about needs or fits by position. Teams draft BPA.
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I agree but I think position and fit weighs heavily into who BPA is at the top of the draft.

Fit/position starts to become pointless around where we are picking though. Too hard to project vs a top 5 pick.
 
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