Prospect Info: Draft 2025: Is it too late to tank? Asking for a friend

[Andy99]

This is my exact fear with this class and why I think it is a big deal we won some games and moved up at the end of the year. Whereas in 2022, ‘23, ‘24.. drafting 5th vs 8th wasn’t as pertinent.

2017 was “weak” going in. All things considered with Patrick’s injuries- ends up a super strong top 5. 11-20 ends up real solid. And some steals. But the 6-10 range actually blows chunks.

Similar vibes to this year imo. Strong top 5 or 6, a bunch of guys who look like typical 12-25 selections, and a big hole from like 6-12.

Hate to break it to you but we have the #8 pick now and likely to be #7-#9 so we didn’t do enough to “move up.” Stupid team lol

 

[SEALBound]

I get the "aim higher" portion but unless we are drafting top 3, I don't think there is much of an "aim higher" if the options are Frondell, Desnoyers, or O'Brien. You need to get Misa or Hagens if you want to "aim" higher. We can always win the lottery and get one but we are now talking about the pure limitations of the draft year itself.

Realistically, we may be getting our 2nd line pieces figured out this draft and this year. McGroarty-O'Brien-Koivunen might be our 2nd line moving forward. Just means we are needing to find those top line pieces in the 2026 or 2027 draft, from Free Agency, or via trade.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Hate to break it to you but we have the #8 pick now and likely to be #7-#9 so we didn’t do enough to “move up.” Stupid team lol

The Penguins are still sitting with the #7 pick and Buffalo and Anaheim has 2 games in hand on them with the same amount of points.

The Penguins are extremely likely picking 6th or 7th in the draft.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Hate to break it to you but we have the #8 pick now and likely to be #7-#9 so we didn’t do enough to “move up.” Stupid team lol

We’re 7th rn. Knocking on wood, we seem like a solid bet to be 7th at the worst, 6th at the best. I don’t think Boston is reachable.

 

[Andy99]

I can see a Jake O'Brien/Cody Glass comparison being made that would make a pretty convincing case to be hesitant with drafting O'Brien. That said, I always wonder with Glass how much of it was footspeed related and how much was injury related.



I've been advocating for taking O'Brien, so I'm not really advocating for taking a winger. I would also take Eklund over Desnoyers as well, but I think Eklund's potential upside could be really high with his skill level and motor combined.

I'm not a "do not draft" on Desnoyers, I'm just taking O'Brien over him because I think O'Brien's upside is higher. I don't want to draft Desnoyers because I think O'Brien could end up the better player, where I think Desnoyers is a safe bet to end up a good 2C but I'm unsure if he has the upside to be better. Desnoyers would be ranked #8 on my draft board, just after O'Brien, Eklund and Frondell.

I'm definitely not advocating for taking someone like Lakovic or Smith over Desnoyers. If I was sold on Frondell being able to stick at center in the NHL, I'd probably have him over all of O'Brien, Eklund and Desnoyers.

Drafting is an inexact science, in other words an art lol mixed with luck…but one thing you can say looking at who didn’t make it as an impact player in #6-#10 is that you take the player with a special skill — goal scoring, speed, etc…Glass is/was a vanilla player good at a lot of things, particularly defense…never look for defense..that’s why Tippett looks like the best player out of the group from 2017 Gurgs mentioned…he has one skillset that puts in the top 20% of NHL players…always go for that over the well rounded player…you can develop someone’s defensive game but it’s rare for someone to quicken their shooting release or get that much faster…

 

[Andy99]

We’re 7th rn. Knocking on wood, we seem like a solid bet to be 7th at the worst, 6th at the best. I don’t think Boston is reachable.

Kraken will move ahead…maybe Anaheim or Buf

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Although we play Boston…. So maybe.

If we were cool we’d roll the Wilkes Barre sisters of the poor out for these last 3 games

 

[Empoleon8771]

Drafting is an inexact science, in other words an art lol mixed with luck…but one thing you can say looking at who didn’t make it as an impact player in #6-#10 is that you take the player with a special skill — goal scoring, speed, etc…Glass is/was a vanilla player good at a lot of things, particularly defense…never look for defense..that’s why Tippett looks like the best player out of the group from 2017 Gurgs mentioned…he one skillset that puts in the top 20%f NHL players…always go for that over the well rounded player…you can develop someone’s defensive game but it’s rare for someone to quicken their shooting release or get that much faster…

That is absolutely not what Cody Glass was projected to be when he was drafted.

Kraken will move ahead…maybe Anaheim or Buf

The Kraken are picking #6 right now.

 

[Jared Grayden]

Jordan Staal was a regular 45-50 pt center who was good for 20 goals and played 20+ minutes.

Staal put up 50 points in a single season. He was/is elite defensively, but never more than a low end 2C offensively. Carolina had him as a 1/2C through almost their entire rebuild and he struggled in that role. He was a great 3C.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Kraken will move ahead…maybe Anaheim or Buf

Andy man you gotta go on tankathon. At least be an informed Eeyore. We are 7th with the Kraken ahead.

Possibly on the Ducks or Buffalo but hopefully with 2 games in hand on us it ends up ok.

 

[Andy99]

That is absolutely not what Cody Glass was projected to be when he was drafted.



The Kraken are picking #6 right now.

I believe Glass was projected similarly to Desnoyers now…a middle six center with a good all around game

 

[Empoleon8771]

I believe Glass was projected similarly to Desnoyers now…a middle six center with a good all around game

He was hyped up as a top playmaker with a super high hockey IQ, but some mild concerns with his skating.

He's more comparable to O'Brien than he is to Desnoyers.

 

[Gurglesons]

Staal put up 50 points in a single season. He was/is elite defensively, but never more than a low end 2C offensively. Carolina had him as a 1/2C through almost their entire rebuild and he struggled in that role. He was a great 3C.

Not sure how this isn't a 20 goal, 45-50 pt player for the majority of his career.

 

[Sidgeni Malkby]

"Take me down to the Tank Games City
Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty"

Sheesh man...what will it take!

 

[Jared Grayden]

View attachment 1010086

Not sure how this isn't a 20 goal, 45-50 pt player for the majority of his career.

Because he's hit 20 goals or 45 points for only 6/19 NHL seasons which is not a majority at all. Even in his prime he wasn't hitting those relatively low numbers. Great 3C. Low end 2C.

 

[Gurglesons]

Because he's hit 20 goals or 45 points for only 6/19 NHL seasons which is not a majority at all. Even in his prime he wasn't hitting those relatively low numbers. Great 3C. Low end 2C.

You don't know puck if you think this.

 

[Pancakes]

Jordan Staal is a weird player in that offensively he was never amazing but he was always an absolute beast at two-way play and puck possession and that imo more than made up for any offensive deficiencies he had.

Any team would have been perfectly happy to have him as their 2c in his prime. And with his defensive abilities being so good you could almost argue him a high end 2c even though his offense wasn't great.

 

[Goalie_Bob]

About a week ago, I ventured over to the Rangers board and asked what they thought about the 2025/2026 1st round pick situation.

The consensus over there was to give the Pens the 2025 pick, unless it was top 5, because this year's draft is not rated as high as next year. McKenna and overall draft rating etc.

Maybe I'm crazy, but I don't think they will do that. They put the stipulation on the pick because if the trade didn't work then they wanted the pick this year. I'm convinced their management will not want the optics of "We are sending the pick to the Pens because we may be worse next year"

 

[Gurglesons]

Because he's hit 20 goals or 45 points for only 6/19 NHL seasons which is not a majority at all. Even in his prime he wasn't hitting those relatively low numbers. Great 3C. Low end 2C.

Also through 1014 games Staal paced for 19 goals and 46 points. I don’t really feel like doing any more math, but like.. isn’t that the majority of his career?

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Also through 1014 games Staal paced for 19 goals and 46 points. I don’t really feel like doing any more math, but like.. isn’t that the majority of his career?

For his entire career up to now Jordan Staal paced for 18.4 goals and 43.8 points per 82 games.

 

[Gurglesons]

For his entire career up to now Jordan Staal paced for 18.4 goals and 43.8 points per 82 games.

Okay. So, the majority of his career he's paced for 20 goals and 45-50 pts like I said.

 

[eXile3]

I think some of us are spoiled by Sid and Geno. A young, 50 points center that’s good defensively is an absolute win.

 

[DesertPenguin]

Hate to break it to you but we have the #8 pick now and likely to be #7-#9 so we didn’t do enough to “move up.” Stupid team lol

We're winning the lottery for the second pick and drafting Misa. It is known.

 

[DesertPenguin]

About a week ago, I ventured over to the Rangers board and asked what they thought about the 2025/2026 1st round pick situation.

The consensus over there was to give the Pens the 2025 pick, unless it was top 5, because this year's draft is not rated as high as next year. McKenna and overall draft rating etc.

Maybe I'm crazy, but I don't think they will do that. They put the stipulation on the pick because if the trade didn't work then they wanted the pick this year. I'm convinced their management will not want the optics of "We are sending the pick to the Pens because we may be worse next year"

I think you are right. I think they will reason that they will be better next year than this year, and if they aren't, the GM won't survive long enough to use that draft pick. So they use it now, let next year happen.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Okay. So, the majority of his career he's paced for 20 goals and 45-50 pts like I said.

I was doing the math for you you lazy bum.