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

[Lust for Life]

I think Jfresh posted his "f*** it, here we go" mock draft and it had Martone at 10 and Hagens at 11. If Martone and Hagens are both sitting there at 10th, I'm throwing rotten tomatoes at Dubas for the rest of his career if he doesn't trade up a spot to snag both of 'em.

He trades up... to get Aitcheson and Mrtka.

 

[Empoleon8771]

The more mock drafts I've seen, the more I think that there's going to be a guy worth trading up to grab at #8. It seems like one of Martone, Hagens or Desnoyers will be available at #8, and I think all of those guys are worth trading up to get. My gut feeling right now is that it's Hagens that falls, but it wouldn't surprise me to see Martone or Desnoyers falling either. Martin getting overdrafted is a good outcome for the Penguins to be able to trade up to #8 to grab someone nice.

I'm not trading up to draft Martin or O'Brien but I would trade up for anyone else that slides if they're available at #8.

 

[The Old Master]

I'm not trading up to draft Martin or O'Brien but I would trade up for anyone else that slides if they're available at #8.

all depends on the price i wouldn't pay as much for martin and ob, but i would much rather have one of them than some others. and they shouldn't cost as much to move up and get. imo

 

[Jacob]

If Bear wasn't injured he'd be a top 8 pick. Also his progression from his previous season to this one was very impressive. That wasn't the case for McQueen. There was no appreciable improvement in his offensive production. Beyond that a Back issue is far more concerning than Bears injury.

My concern is that he was pretty cold offensively prior to the injury. So without the injury his PPG may have dropped even more. Or it could have gone back up, who knows.

 

[eXile3]

Bro if we get three first rounders we better pick Aitcheson, Mrtka AND Smith.

Can’t have enough 3rd pairing defensemen.

 

[Empoleon8771]

all depends on the price i wouldn't pay as much for martin and ob, but i would much rather have one of them than some others. and they shouldn't cost as much to move up and get. imo

I don't like Martin more enough than Eklund for me to trade up for Martin. I'm not sold that Martin sticks at center, not because he can't play center but because his game will be more effective as a winger.

I would re-phrase my comment about O'Brien, though. I would absolutely trade up from #11 to #8 to get O'Brien if it's not expensive to do so. I'd do #11 and #12 for #8 and Tampa's 2026 1st to move up to get Hagens, Martone or Desnoyers. With O'Brien, I'd only offer #11 and a 2026 2nd to move up.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I think Jfresh posted his "f*** it, here we go" mock draft and it had Martone at 10 and Hagens at 11. If Martone and Hagens are both sitting there at 10th, I'm throwing rotten tomatoes at Dubas for the rest of his career if he doesn't trade up a spot to snag both of 'em.

You got got son

Check out sone of these names

 

[Empoleon8771]

Speaking of Ryabkin, I think he's going to drop like a rock in this draft and I'm curious if he lasts until the late 2nd/early 3rd when the Penguins will be picking.

From a reddit post paraphrasing The Athletic:

The general consensus is that Ivan Ryabkin is a mid-first round level talent at minimum, but that his well documented attitude and work ethic issues (which have negatively affected his on-ice performance already) have soured the majority of scouts so badly that he's trending more toward the second round, with some scouts anonymously on record saying they wouldn't draft him at all. He also had a really bad Combine performance, where apparently his interviews went terribly and he showed up "noticeably overweight"

 

[The Old Master]

I don't like Martin more enough than Eklund for me to trade up for Martin. I'm not sold that Martin sticks at center, not because he can't play center but because his game will be more effective as a winger.

martin as a winger has a very good chance of happening. but that makes him a safer pick. imo

 

[Empoleon8771]

martin as a winger has a very good chance of happening. but that makes him a safer pick. imo

I'm just not trading up to draft a winger unless that winger has star upside. Martin doesn't have that while Martone does IMO.

 

[The Old Master]

Speaking of Ryabkin, I think he's going to drop like a rock in this draft and I'm curious if he lasts until the late 2nd/early 3rd when the Penguins will be picking.

oh he is dropping. and deservedly so. but i'm all for taking a chance on him with geno & sid here to fix him than pick some fourth liner maybe

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Haha I didn't start looking at this draft till late because I was working on other projects. So I don't have a true list. I looked at 40 "names of interest" and scouted/ranked them just so I have something to root for (or against) at 11 or 12.

So it's not a ranking, it's just how I view 40 oft-discussed names. I don't think that's very appealing. But I do hate most of these players haha...if you want that half-assed "list", I'd share it with you guys I guess...

I don’t speak for everyone… but yeah I’d wanna see

 

[Jacob]

Ryabkin measured at the combine at 5'11" 210 which is pretty crazy for an 18 year old.

 

[SomeDude]

I'm just as apprehensive on Bear for his injury as I am on McQueen.

Ethan Bear is such a mediocre player that he ruined that family tree for me.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Ryabkin measured at the combine at 5'11" 210 which is pretty crazy for an 18 year old.

It was apparently not the good 210 lbs, it was "dude is chubby" 210 lbs.

I'm 6'0" and 215 lbs and he apparently looked more like me than he did an actual top prospect for the NHL draft.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

no thanks on Ryabkin. Low character is pretty pointless in hockey. If teammates and coaches don’t like you… you’re cooked.

 

[Ryder71]

My concern is that he was pretty cold offensively prior to the injury. So without the injury his PPG may have dropped even more. Or it could have gone back up, who knows.

There's legit concerns on every player especially where we're currently slated to pick. In comparison to McQueen however his offensive production was vastly superior. And when you're talking about skill upfront that's an important distinction.

I'd be very happy with Reschny. I think he's more skilled than either.

 

[Empoleon8771]

no thanks on Ryabkin. Low character is pretty pointless in hockey. If teammates and coaches don’t like you… you’re cooked.

Yeah I'm not advocating for drafting him, I'm just curious how far he drops. I think he's a DND on a ton of teams lists.

 

[Jacob]

It was apparently not the good 210 lbs, it was "dude is chubby" 210 lbs.

I'm 6'0" and 215 lbs and he apparently looked more like me than he did an actual top prospect for the NHL draft.

That's what I mean.. there's no way an 18 year old is a lean 5'11" 210.

He's got some issues. He's really undisciplined *on* the ice as well. Like just a moron, he plays every shift like his girlfriend just dumped him.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

That's what I mean.. there's no way an 18 year old is a lean 5'11" 210.

He's got some issues. He's really undisciplined *on* the ice as well. Like just a moron, he plays every shift like his girlfriend just dumped him.

Definitely sounds Russian

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

if you want that half-assed "list", I'd share it with you guys I guess...

I don’t speak for everyone… but yeah I’d wanna see

I'd at least wanna see whoever you think is 1st round worthy here. Don't need the full list if you're not feeling it

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Ryabkin measured at the combine at 5'11" 210 which is pretty crazy for an 18 year old.

He's got 65 pounds on me. We're roughly the same height. I can't imagine how sloppy he is.

Do certain buttons not work on mobile? I want to add a Fat Mac cultivating mass gif.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Speaking of some options for later picks, a couple of guys that I think are worthwhile at looking at:

-Filip Ekberg: He had an underwhelming season in the OHL with 45 points in 53 games, but he absolutely demolished the U-18 tournament with 10 goals and 18 points in 7 games. Undersized skill guy that may have a bit more potential than he showed in the OHL last year. Projects to be a late 2nd/early 3rd rounder.

-Aleksei Medvedev: I understand anyone that wouldn't want to take a goalie high in the draft, but Medvedev had a really good season as a backup for London. Apparently a very athletic goalie, but his height varies anywhere from 6'1" to 6'3". Projects to be a late 2nd/early 3rd rounder. Not talking stylistically, but he reminds me a bit of what Jarry was as a prospect in 2013. Backup with great numbers on a Memorial Cup winning team.

-Topias Hynninen: An overager that put up 35 points in 51 games in the Liiga, he's a guy you can draft and immediately play in WBS to help out your AHL team. He stepped up big to help his Liiga team from being demoted, he put up 10 points in 5 games in the relegation series. I've seen him anywhere from a mid 3rd to a mid 4th in rankings.

-Charlie Cerrato: PSU fans would be able to speak on him better than I can, but he put up 15 goals and 42 points in 38 games for PSU last year while he seems to have an edge to his game. Another overager just like Hynninen. From what I've read, he's really praised for his defensive game, so getting a guy who can produce that well in college with a strong defensive game makes him a really intriguing prospect. Mostly ranked as a 4th rounder from what I've seen.

 

[eXile3]

Speaking of some options for later picks, a couple of guys that I think are worthwhile at looking at:

-Filip Ekberg: He had an underwhelming season in the OHL with 45 points in 53 games, but he absolutely demolished the U-18 tournament with 10 goals and 18 points in 7 games. Undersized skill guy that may have a bit more potential than he showed in the OHL last year. Projects to be a late 2nd/early 3rd rounder.

-Aleksei Medvedev: I understand anyone that wouldn't want to take a goalie high in the draft, but Medvedev had a really good season as a backup for London. Apparently a very athletic goalie, but his height varies anywhere from 6'1" to 6'3". Projects to be a late 2nd/early 3rd rounder. Not talking stylistically, but he reminds me a bit of what Jarry was as a prospect in 2013. Backup with great numbers on a Memorial Cup winning team.

-Topias Hynninen: An overager that put up 35 points in 51 games in the Liiga, he's a guy you can draft and immediately play in WBS to help out your AHL team. He stepped up big to help his Liiga team from being demoted, he put up 10 points in 5 games in the relegation series. I've seen him anywhere from a mid 3rd to a mid 4th in rankings.

-Charlie Cerrato: PSU fans would be able to speak on him better than I can, but he put up 15 goals and 42 points in 38 games for PSU last year while he seems to have an edge to his game. Another overager just like Hynninen. From what I've read, he's really praised for his defensive game, so getting a guy who can produce that well in college with a strong defensive game makes him a really intriguing prospect. Mostly ranked as a 4th rounder from what I've seen.

Would love to snag Cerrato. I only watched a few PSU games on ESPN+ but it seemed like he was a big reason for their success. Overeager but maybe that means he’s closer to the NHL?

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

You got got son

Check out sone of these names

To be fair I barely care about the top 15 of this draft, let alone anybody after. You could tell me some dipshit rich parents from Long Island named their kid Zyn Fiend and I'd 100% believe you.

-edit- I still wanna throw rotten tomatoes at Dubas though.