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

[Jag68Sid87]

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.

I just don't see Hagens getting past Barry Trotz and Nashville. I mean it's possible but Trotz is all about getting first-line players and all that. Hagens is the BPA after the first two picks IMO. I would draft him ahead of Schaefer, too.

I feel like people are victims of paralysis by analysis with Hagens. They have seen him a ton, whereas Schaefer barely played. And when the world was watching, Schaefer ran smack into a goal post and messed up his shoulder.

I think if I had to bet money on which one of these guys becomes a superstar, it's Hagens. Misa, too. But Hagens.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

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.

I dunno lol... no disrespect and I know you are just being flippant but I hope that the guy this team is paying 7M dollars to isn't just like "oh well whatever hey Wes throw a name at me and we'll do that IDK."

To me if you and your scouts think the only thing left on the table are like future third liners and depth defensemen then trade out of that trash FFS.

 

[DesertPenguin]

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.

Basically, on draft day, we are hoping to hear the names McQueen, Mrtka, Smith, Aitcheson at the podium before our pick. The more of those guys go ahead of us, the more likely the ones we like will fall to us.

I'm OK with moving up a little, but I don't want to sacrifice a 1st or a top prospect to do it. 2nds and 3rds to hop up a spot or two, go nuts. Otherwise no, stand pat. Get three lotto tickets at 11, 12 and 2026.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I just don't see Hagens getting past Barry Trotz and Nashville. I mean it's possible but Trotz is all about getting first-line players and all that. Hagens is the BPA after the first two picks IMO. I would draft him ahead of Schaefer, too.

I dunno man. Trotz is proving to be AWFULLY bad as a GM.

 

[Jared Grayden]

I just don't see Hagens getting past Barry Trotz and Nashville. I mean it's possible but Trotz is all about getting first-line players and all that. Hagens is the BPA after the first two picks IMO. I would draft him ahead of Schaefer, too.

I feel like people are victims of paralysis by analysis with Hagens. They have seen him a ton, whereas Schaefer barely played. And when the world was watching, Schaefer ran smack into a goal post and messed up his shoulder.

I think if I had to bet money on which one of these guys becomes a superstar, it's Hagens. Misa, too. But Hagens.

Hagens' value will depend on if teams view him as a center or winger. If he is viewed as a winger, I think he drops out of the top 7. Maybe even out of the top 10. Measuring half an inch shorter at the combine and more physically developed than expected- which I heard was common among many NCAA prospects- probably hurts his perception to be an NHL center as he is already viewed somewhat as a weaker player.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I just don't see Hagens getting past Barry Trotz and Nashville. I mean it's possible but Trotz is all about getting first-line players and all that. Hagens is the BPA after the first two picks IMO. I would draft him ahead of Schaefer, too.

I feel like people are victims of paralysis by analysis with Hagens. They have seen him a ton, whereas Schaefer barely played. And when the world was watching, Schaefer ran smack into a goal post and messed up his shoulder.

I think if I had to bet money on which one of these guys becomes a superstar, it's Hagens. Misa, too. But Hagens.

Desnoyers feels exactly like a Trotz pick at #5.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

Hagens' value will depend on if teams view him as a center or winger. If he is viewed as a winger, I think he drops out of the top 7. Maybe even out of the top 10. Measuring half an inch shorter at the combine and more physically developed than expected- which I heard was common among many NCAA prospects- probably hurts his perception to be an NHL center as he is already viewed somewhat as a weaker player.

That should not have any bearing. I know sometimes it does, but this is how prospects get ruined.

The kid has vision and IQ. His passing is great. He is a center. Period.

 

[SomeDude]

Desnoyers feels exactly like a Trotz pick at #5.

A true Trotz pick would be trying to draft the UFA rights to John Tavares at 5.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

Desnoyers feels exactly like a Trotz pick at #5.

Yeah, I don't know. I mean, it's a race to one of the top 10 guys, basically. So who knows. You could be right.

 

[Jared Grayden]

Desnoyers feels exactly like a Trotz pick at #5.

I heard an interesting stat that Nashville has never drafted a forward prospect that has produced 65+ points in a season for the Preds. That's really pathetic. I hope Trotz blows the draft up with Mrtka at #5.

 

[DesertPenguin]

Wondering if there's a deal to be made with Buffalo that includes a swap of 9 and 11. Samuelsson, Byram, Quinn from Buffalo. Rust, Rakell, Karlsson from us. Don't know how it all shakes but a sweetener that gets us up two spots would really help.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Nashville really is the most boring sports franchise that has ever existed huh?

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I dunno lol... no disrespect and I know you are just being flippant but I hope that the guy this team is paying 7M dollars to isn't just like "oh well whatever hey Wes throw a name at me and we'll do that IDK."

To me if you and your scouts think the only thing left on the table are like future third liners and depth defensemen then trade out of that trash FFS.

Yeah, I think outside of Martone or Hagens I really just don't care. Even those two guys aren't core, foundational pieces, but they're a good cut above the Eklunds and Smiths and Lakovics and Mrtkas and Aitchesons.

Pretty shit year to be sitting on two back to back picks at like 10th overall.

 

[Ryder71]

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.

I love Reschny! I like Kindel, much much better them than the defensemen, on that I 100% agree!

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Yeah, I think outside of Martone or Hagens I really just don't care. Even those two guys aren't core, foundational pieces, but they're a good cut above the Eklunds and Smiths and Lakovics and Mrtkas and Aitchesons.

Pretty shit year to be sitting on two back to back picks at like 10th overall.

Exactly. So like I said if you aren't getting a dropped Hagens or whatever just trade back and cash out on some extra value.

It's contrary to my usual line of thinking but like... this just wasn't the draft, man.

lol now watch this first round just be chock full of future HoFers 20 years from now

 

[Ryder71]

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.

Disagree as I see a couple possible exceptions mentioned in the above post. But if so we should try to move up to mitigate that from happening if possible.

 

[SEALBound]

Wondering if there's a deal to be made with Buffalo that includes a swap of 9 and 11. Samuelsson, Byram, Quinn from Buffalo. Rust, Rakell, Karlsson from us. Don't know how it all shakes but a sweetener that gets us up two spots would really help.

Please welcome your Buffalo Sabreguins and the Pittsburgh Pensabres!

Someone suggested something like Sammy, Quinn, #8 for Rakell, #11 or something like that.

 

[Turin]

Now that the 2nd pick is secured I think you need to push your chips in to get into the top 6 to draft Hagens or Martone.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

The sad reality is that you probably aren't really even getting anything you care about with the Pens' two picks, because they're not blue chip range and the draft is pretty weak after top 5.

 

[Ryder71]

Now that the 2nd pick is secured I think you need to push your chips in to get into the top 6 to draft Hagens or Martone.

Or Martin, JOB or EK.

 

[Malkinstheman]

If Hagens drops to 7 or 8, it might be tough to beat out the Isles. They seem desperate to get another pick in the top-10, to pick him

 

[Lust for Life]

Or Aitcheson.

 

[Empoleon8771]

If Hagens drops to 7 or 8, it might be tough to beat out the Isles. They seem desperate to get another pick in the top-10, to pick him

I think you can outbid them fairly easily, unless they're throwing around their unprotected 1st.

#11 and #12 are better trade assets to move up to #8 than Ritchie, Eiserman and Colorado's 2026 1st.

 

[Turin]

Or Martin, JOB or EK.

Those are all fine and might already be available to them without trading. Hagens has a higher ceiling than all of them and imo is the best nature Center in the draft. I can’t help but feel that him slipping is just people overthinking it and instantly regretting it next season.

 

[Ulf5]

Speaking of gambles, I want Sergei Gonchar's nephew in the 7th or 6th if need be ha. Who cares if he's 100# soaking wet.