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

[DesertPenguin]

Feels like this just got real. We're more than likely going to add two prospects to the very top of our prospect pool. Trade opportunities abound, both players in and out. Next 60 hours could be wild.

 

[Ryder71]

Mediocre men, in Sweden's version of the AHL.

Still better that the snot nosed 16 yr old brats Aitcheson plays against!

 

[DesertPenguin]

Believe the complete list of prospect "dates" was Eklund, Frondell, Martin, Mrkta, McQueen, Smith, Aitcheson.

They also apparently scouted JOB extensively, for better or for worse. Not getting dinner was odd. Either they decided they already knew enough about him, or he's off the list.

 

[Ryder71]

We definitely don't need anymore picks for this year's draft. Defer to future years if/when possible.

We absolutely should trade down. Unless trading up can get you one of the top guys. But even if they move up, the chatter seems to pair us with Porter Martone instead of one of the centers. So not sure I would trade both 11 and 12 for a non-center.

We need QUALITY over quantity, we should not be trading down.

 

[Jared Grayden]

From talking with some Kraken fans, I think there is a legitimate possibility that the Kraken draft Smith at #8. You already had some scouts in McKenzie's draft rankings listing Smith as high as #6, plus Seattle's LD prospect pool is entirely empty after Ryker Evans. Their best LD prospect is basically just Pieniniemi, another late 3rd rounder from 2023 who had a productive year in the CHL this year.

If that's who they want, I think you could make a pretty reasonable package to move up from #11 to #8. Smith is likely available at #11 as well while the Penguins can jump up to grab Hagens.

I keep expecting Mrtka go to them, but I believe their prospect pool is flooded with forwards at both center and wing so I do expect they take a dman. Three dmen in the top 10 means Martone AND Hagens right? Pens boards would go insane.

 

[Ryder71]

Take Smith and Aitcheson. Or Smith and Mrtka. Or Mrtka and Aitcheson.

Why not just forfeit the draft with that level of insolence, absurdity and insanity?

 

[Empoleon8771]

I keep expecting Mrtka go to them, but I believe their prospect pool is flooded with forwards at both center and wing so I do expect they take a dman. Three dmen in the top 10 means Martone AND Hagens right? Pens boards would go insane.

Mrtka is also a guy they're thinking about taking, I think it's either him or Smith at #8. They have a couple of RHD prospects but none of them are all that special, so I think both guys fill a need. Most of their RHD prospects are also undersized puck movers too, so I think Mrtka would be a good complement for that even if he's also a RHD.

I think the ideal way for the draft to go for the Penguins is Smith at #8 and Mrtka at #9, both of which are picks that I think make a lot of sense for Seattle and Buffalo. I think that top-10 would be:

1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Frondell
4. Martin/Martone
5. Desnoyers
6. Martone/Martin
7. O'Brien
8. Smith
9. Mrtka
10. McQueen

 

[Jared Grayden]

They also apparently scouted JOB extensively, for better or for worse. Not getting dinner was odd. Either they decided they already knew enough about him, or he's off the list.

I know Scouching said Dubas had two dinner dates with Hutson and obviously passed on him so just because they had those dates doesn't mean it is deadset they will draft the player. They did take Yager on a date though too. Just depends on who they have met with previously. O'Brien I think they would take, but doubt he'll be available after #7.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I keep expecting Mrtka go to them, but I believe their prospect pool is flooded with forwards at both center and wing so I do expect they take a dman. Three dmen in the top 10 means Martone AND Hagens right? Pens boards would go insane.

Yeah I think it’s very possible some crazy shit goes down.. like Aitcheson top 10, Lakovic high, etc

Then you look genius for not moving up

Or maybe McKenzie goes 10 for 10 and we take two D. Who knows.

 

[SEALBound]

If the draft selections happen in a way that makes the pick Smith and Aitcheson, then it's likely the other options on the board are not that great. I don't think Dubas and his staff pass up on Hagens or JOB or Martin just to take Smith and Aitcheson.

1. Schaeffer
2. Misa
3. Frondell
4. Martone
5. Desnoyers
6. Hagens
7. Martin
8. McQueen
9. JOB
10. Eklund

Then fine, Mrtka, Smith, Aitcheson...whatever. If that's order, all of the big guns are off the board. The difference between Mrtka, Smith, Aitcheson, Reschney, Bear, Lakovic...is not that great. Taking 2 dmen isn't the worst because it's not like they are passing on Hagens and Martone at that point. At that point, you are just at the limitations of the quality of the draft. There aren't 20 quality top 10 prospects. There are barely 10 top 10 prospects.

 

[eXile3]

Friday will be fun.

 

[Empoleon8771]

It's definitely hopium but I'm becoming more and more convinced Hagens lasts until #11.

 

[Jared Grayden]

Yeah I think it’s very possible some crazy shit goes down.. like Aitcheson top 10, Lakovic high, etc

Then you look genius for not moving up

Or maybe McKenzie goes 10 for 10 and we take two D. Who knows.

Has Bob been 10/10? I know his averaged surveys are pretty damn accurate. I keep procrastinating work but I wanna look at his record this evening.

 

[SomeDude]

We need QUALITY over quantity, we should not be trading down.

I don’t see anyone likely available at 11/12 anymore likely to hit their potential as the guys who will go until like the mid 2nd.

This class is uninspiring.

 

[deakka]

What a dream if someone are more stupid than us and draft Aitcheson before we have a chance to

 

[Empoleon8771]

Has Bob been 10/10? I know his averaged surveys are pretty damn accurate. I keep procrastinating work but I wanna look at his record this evening.

I looked at it yesterday, his average is 8/10. He went 7/10 last year, 8/10 2 years and 3 years ago and 9/10 4 years ago. The 9/10 one was also stupid where Ottawa took Boucher, which was a monstrously dumb pick that has looked monstrously dumb since.

Statistically, 2 guys will fall out and 2 guys will rise. My bet is Eklund and Hagens fall while Smith and Mrtka rise.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Yeah I dunno... the more I think about it the more I feel like playing it by ear to see who might fall then depending on that trading down might be the best option. It seems like there is a very good chance that the only things available won't be that intriguing. But NHL GMs are safe and I'm sure Dubas wants to make more of a splash than just grabbing a handful of extra picks.

I'm always a quality over quantity guy but my suddenly-expert opinion after really delving into this the last few days is that this draft is kinda butt and might be best used to accumulate more futures and perhaps take a flyer on a guy like West which you can trade down into.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

We need QUALITY over quantity, we should not be trading down.

The quality in this draft is in the top 10. My preference is to move up, not down. The three defensemen are basically right in the 10-13 range right now.

It's not that we couldn't use more young defensemen in the system but it should not be the priority for this draft.

Go off the board, draft Reschny and Kindel. One of them should hit.

 

[eXile3]

I hope we didn’t trade Marcus Pettersson for another Marcus Pettersson.

 

[TojoP]

I've felt like at least one of Eklund or McQueen would be their at 11, both of whom I'd be happy with.

At 12 I would love to snag both. But if it's between Smith, Bear, Aitcheson it's less exciting. But Smith or Bear at least I could live with. Ideally would like to move up with 12.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Has Bob been 10/10? I know his averaged surveys are pretty damn accurate. I keep procrastinating work but I wanna look at his record this evening.

I think 2021 he was 9 for 9 as that was a very established top tier

But no don’t think so

Kinda my point. No one thought Seider was going 6th, Sennecke 3rd, etc

Do I think any of the top 5 fall? Not really. Maybe Martone. But like most years I do think it’ll get murky and he’ll be 7-8 for 10 at best.

I mean his article title uses the word “uncertainty” and Martone is 3rd. We’re talking about him going 8th lol. I expect some craziness. Hopefully we benefit and hit two home runs.

 

[SomeDude]

All I know is if Dubas decides to keep both picks, I really hope he does not go sit down and take his entire clock for 12. That annoys the **** out of me.

 

[Jared Grayden]

I looked at it yesterday, his average is 8/10. He went 7/10 last year, 8/10 2 years and 3 years ago and 9/10 4 years ago. The 9/10 one was also stupid where Ottawa took Boucher, which was a monstrously dumb pick that has looked monstrously dumb since.

Statistically, 2 guys will fall out and 2 guys will rise. My bet is Eklund and Hagens fall while Smith and Mrtka rise.

Yeah I appreciated that research. I was just curious how far back. McKenzie's rankings are definitely viable predictors like you said. Wheeler does something similar and it is interesting to hear how divergent scouting opinions are. Just like all us on here that argue non-stop.

 

[SomeDude]

I hope we didn’t trade Marcus Pettersson for another Marcus Pettersson.

That means we’re gonna trade him for another Daniel Sprong, though.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

If Martone or Hagens is sitting there at 7-9, I'm throwing the sink at moving up. Excitement and a guy that's been in the Big Four™ discussion all season is enough justification for me. I don't care anymore about weighing the value of like Eklund+Smith in an excel spreadsheet. Do cool shit, add big time talent.

Or, if worse comes to worse and Martone and Hagens are gone, just sit at 11 and 12 and pick whoever. Preferably Aitcheson so that one poster loses whatever is left of their sanity.