Prospect Info: Draft 2025 - Waiting for the Draft Lotto

[CheckingLineCenter]

With this draft, I expect centers and right defense to get drafted earlier than expected. Predicting Hagens, Frondell, Desnoyers, Mrtka, O'Brien, Martone all gone before #9. Everyone I know that claims to speak with NHL scouts still sounds very skeptical on McQueen's health so wouldn't be surprised at all if he is available at #9. In fact, I have yet to hear anyone say anything positive about McQueen's health projection in a long time.

Barring injury I fully anticipate Mrtka, Desnoyers, Frondell to be top 8 picks along with the top 4 (Schaefer, Misa, Hagens, Martone) from NA. Nothing is a lock but I’m becoming confident. I’d imagine if any of that 7 got to us we’d take them.

Like I said I think Smith, O’Brien, McQueen are the wild cards where I think there’s a bigger range of outcomes but one could go in that top 8, even as high as 5th-ish.

Eklund feels like a 8-12 guy.

I really think those 11 guys will be the top 11 in McKenzie’s final poll and like at least 9-10 of them will be first 11 picks.

I hear you on McQueen but reality is even those pro scouts are just talking and speculating and it’s kinda hearsay. No one is going to know much until their own medical team takes a look at him. If it’s all clear… I expect him to go very high, like anywhere from 3-8. If it’s more murky but no one is like “this kid can’t play”, kind of a Vilardi situation, I think it’ll be more 8-12. Obviously if the prognosis is really bad he could fall a ton.

He’s the opposite of a small winger. Teams are gonna exhaust every avenue and try to find a way to take a 6’5 RHC high. Vs a DeBrincat, Brink, Stankoven etc type where they’re gonna basically make every excuse to not do so.

 

[Jesse]

With this draft, I expect centers and right defense to get drafted earlier than expected. Predicting Hagens, Frondell, Desnoyers, Mrtka, O'Brien, Martone all gone before #9. Everyone I know that claims to speak with NHL scouts still sounds very skeptical on McQueen's health so wouldn't be surprised at all if he is available at #9. In fact, I have yet to hear anyone say anything positive about McQueen's health projection in a long time.

Every positive comment about McQueen boils down to "he big."

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Every positive comment about McQueen boils down to "he big."

I am coming around on him tbh. To a degree

I look at McQueen vs Brady Martin or Jake O’Brien…. I tend to prefer McQueen. Way easier to see him “winning” in an NHL top 6.

I don’t know about his health though.

 

[Sideline]

I am coming around on him tbh. To a degree

I look at McQueen vs Brady Martin or Jake O’Brien…. I tend to prefer McQueen. Way easier to see him “winning” in an NHL top 6.

I don’t know about his health though.

I think the case for McQueen is that a 10 or 20% chance at a big right-hand shooting second line centre could be more appealing than a 50 or 60 % chance at a 25 goal 30 assist winger.

I'm not going to be mad if the Penguins take him and I won't be mad if they let him slide. I don't think there are any surefire first liners or top pairing defensemen at 9.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I think the case for McQueen is that a 10 or 20% chance at a big right-hand shooting second line centre could be more appealing than a 50 or 60 % chance at a 25 goal 30 assist winger.

I'm not going to be mad if the Penguins take him and I won't be mad if they let him slide. I don't think there are any surefire first liners or top pairing defensemen at 9.

Yeah idek if he’s a true C but you’re definitely correct in how NHL teams think.

Biggest reason I am coming around on him is he is so raw. I know he is a late bday, 3rd year WHLer, but there’s still so much development runway physically. Which is obviously pretty attractive with his frame and hands.

I’m not saying he’s gonna be a superstar but if he’s healthy and can play a lot in the next 5 years it’s not hard to see him being a unique piece in a teams top 6. I can really see him as a Jumbo Sam Reinhart and playing a similar, auxiliary hybrid W/C PP1 role as your 3rd-4th best forward.

Or he keeps getting hurt, doesn’t mature physically the way you like, and he’s even worse than Logan Brown.

 

[Kasperi kapanen]

If Seattle misses out on Martone, I could see them going with McQueen.

Or Mrtka/Smith tbh.

 

[Andy99]

Pronman’s mock draft this am has the Pens picking Eklund….order is …

1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Desnoyers
4. Hagens
5. Frondell
6. O'Brien
7. Martone
8. Mrtka

2025 NHL Mock Draft: Pronman projects all 32 first-round picks before the lottery

We don't have a draft order yet, but why should that stop us from doing our first mock of 2025?

www.nytimes.com

 

[Epic Neal Time]

If we miss out on Martone because of that meaningless game 82 vs the Caps, I'm done

 

[Empoleon8771]

Desnoyers going #3 is wild but that top-10 actually looks pretty damn reasonable to me outside of that.

Flip Desnoyers and Hagens so Desoyers is going to Philly and that's pretty close to what I'm expecting. The remaining top-15 after the Penguins pick is:

10. McQueen
11. Aitcheson
12. Nesbitt
13. Smith
14. Bear
15. Martin

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I did not watch

But Mrtka looked very impressive in clips of the Czech u18 game vs the US team.

Maybe top 10 lock becomes top 5 buzz

Hockey prospect put it this way a few months ago “Radim Mrtka is #2OA on someone’s list” lol

 

[Gurglesons]

If we miss out on Martone because of that meaningless game 82 vs the Caps, I'm done

Eklund is a fine consolation prize.

 

[Guins71]

If we miss out on Martone because of that meaningless game 82 vs the Caps, I'm done

Just terrible big picture thought process from management on down. Management should have done everything in its power to get a top 5 pick this year and not trading Rakell in that market was crazy.

This team is too old in a young man’s game

 

[The Old Master]

i have no favorites at where we pick so i can see there are a few/many options.
edit; would prefer if they want someone, they will trade up to get him.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Drury got extended. I'd have to imagine the Rangers are even more likely to keep this year's pick now. Drury isn't going to be afraid of handing us a lottery pick when he just got extended. Even if that happened he's not getting fired after one year of his extension.

I'll gladly take their 2026 pick because imo they're gonna suck like Boston did this year. Their core is old and rapidly declining.

I think it makes much more sense for them to keep their 2026 1st rounder. If they do rebound and have a great season, they'll have a big chip to improve the team at the deadline. And if they do suck they won't be handing us a lottery pick, which would be devastating pr. A 2025 pick that won't help them for years in a weak draft doesn't really move the needle either way.

 

[Jacob]

Neat package of clips of Schmidt, all from last season and mostly highlighting his speed.



I think Schaefer and Potter are faster but Schmidt is up there in this draft class.

 

[chrisp200]

Neat package of clips of Schmidt, all from last season and mostly highlighting his speed.



I think Schaefer and Potter are faster but Schmidt is up there in this draft class.

Looks like Pavel Bure on his breakways

 

[Ugene Magic]

Looks like Pavel Bure on his breakways

If you prop him up on a phone book.

 

[SEALBound]

Every positive comment about McQueen boils down to "he big."

I say this a lot with big guys - if he were 5'11 or 6'0, would we still be talking about him? Zohorna would not have played one NHL game if he was 5'11.

McQueen screams Michael Rasmussen to me. Not that its a bad thing but Rasmussen is rounding out (or rather topping out) as a bottom 6 center (maaaaaybe middle 6 center). Now if we had a new Sid and Geno down the middle, taking McQueen to be our long-term 3C would make sense. Right now, nah.

If Seattle misses out on Martone, I could see them going with McQueen.

Or Mrtka/Smith tbh.

Seattle really does need a stud dman. In my mock draft, my reasoning was - they are pretty set at center so they take Eklund to replace some of their older wings. I do feel a high end dman is a more pressing need but that Mrtka and Smith are too big of reaches there. One thing they could do is trade down to that 9/10/11 slot and take one of them. I'm just not sure how much you pay to go from say Eklund to Frondell or JOB?

I don't want to give up our 2nd and a 3rd seems like too little.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

If you prop him up on a phone book.

Ironic that he's a Giant.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Ironic that he's a Giant.

 

[Jacob]

I think I can see a little Tage Thompson in McQueen's game. But meaner, which is a plus. But I could see him amounting to a Rasmussen too (who sucks).

 

[SEALBound]

I think I can see a little Tage Thompson in McQueen's game. But meaner, which is a plus. But I could see him amounting to a Rasmussen too (who sucks).

It's because of TT that I wonder if Buffalo goes for it again. They have Norris now. If they could get McQueen in as 2C, they could run Tuch-Norris-Thompson and Benson-McQueen-Peterka.

Buffalo is a bit like us in that they need a good quality center. They are pretty set at defense and wing.

 

[Ryder71]

It's because of TT that I wonder if Buffalo goes for it again. They have Norris now. If they could get McQueen in as 2C, they could run Tuch-Norris-Thompson and Benson-McQueen-Peterka.

Buffalo is a bit like us in that they need a good quality center. They are pretty set at defense and wing.

Would Buffalo then be known as ''Land of the Giants''?

 

[SEALBound]

Would Buffalo then be known as ''Land of the Giants''?

At least they'd be known for SOMETHING?

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to eat my patented sauced chicken wings meal that I invented.

 

[Ryder71]

At least they'd be known for SOMETHING?

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to eat my patented sauced chicken wings meal that I invented.

You are excused.