Prospect Info: Draft 2025 - Waiting for the Draft Lotto

[OtherThingsILike]

Man, I can already tell this place will be amazing to read when the Pens pick the "wrong" guy.

Ah, so you're predicting that we pick McQueen.

 

[HandshakeLine]

I like McQueen’s skillset on paper, I just wish it was another player who had it.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Yeah, the only guy I'd be outright annoyed with is McQueen. Mrtka seems like a safe bet to make it as an NHLer, albeit boring. O'Brien seems really feast or famine production-wise.

Still hoping against hope that a Martone or Hagens falls into this team's lap. Realistically though, the more I watch Martin, the more he seems like a nice pickup to add to the supporting cast this team's building.

Still no real high end prospects, let alone foundational blocks to build upon, but that'll come soon enough.

 

[Ulf5]

I think there will be plenty of time to draft centers. Like next draft when we’re likely to pick even higher plus have 2 picks (and a truckload of 2nds).

Just take BPA.

D baby! Tonight Schaefer is ours!!!

 

[Ugene Magic]

Does everybody have their lottery victory dance ready?

 

[BrookswasHere44]

Rags have how long to decide?

 

[Ugene Magic]

Rags have how long to decide?

June 25th.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Rags have how long to decide?

48 hours before the draft iirc

 

[Jesse]

48 hours before the draft iirc

That is correct. Although I think we're likely to find out before that.

 

[BrookswasHere44]

For some reason I wasn't sure and thought it might have been 48 hours after lottery which in hindsight seems silly

 

[Empoleon8771]

That is correct. Although I think we're likely to find out before that.

Have you heard anything either way to suggest whether the Rangers are going to give up that pick?

 

[The Old Master]

Does everybody have their lottery victory dance ready?

 

[Ugene Magic]

 

[Ragamuffin Gunner]

Tonight we'll find out just how much that late-season push hurt the franchise.

I have a feeling BOS or BUF (the two spots we probably should have gotten) will win the lottery.

 

[cookthebooks]

if the pens wouldve won that spot though it wouldve altered the space time continuum to not guarantee the same lottery ball getting drawn

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I just don’t wanna fall any more spots lol

 

[Rakell67]

Tonight we'll find out just how much that late-season push hurt the franchise.

I have a feeling BOS or BUF (the two spots we probably should have gotten) will win the lottery.

If Isles or Rangers win, should we complain they didn't win enough games?

 

[Andy99]

Sullivan is the reason we’re picking as low as we are…Mr “win right now” … his effort to F us over on his way out lol

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

San Jose 1, Pittsburgh 2, Chicago 3, Philly 4, Nashville 5

Book it.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Yeah like winning would be great but I just want to not fall more than anything. Give me Martin or Eklund at #9 and I'm totally happy with their round 1 pick.

 

[eXile3]

So tonight we find out we’re from drafting 9th to drafting 9th.

 

[lokomotiv15]

I go back and forth. I was worried about his heaviness on his feet and skating but man it looks completely fine if not good at the U18. Has really warmed me up.

I will say I love the way he f***ing kills people. Just absolutely demoralizing body checks. So that may be (totally is) clouding my judgement. I love a truly physical power forward. There’s only like 5 of em left.

Will say this about tools— He does have good hands (the most completed dekes in the OHL this year) and a very heavy shot imo. @lokomotiv15 has fairly criticized his efficiency in skill chaining though.

I would be fine with him at 9 given lack of real alternatives for me to pound the table for. I do think the floor is pretty low. But he’s got upside IMO.

I've warmed up somewhat more to Martin in the last month or so. I don't know if its more from guys around him/a bit above him falling off or from how he has looked since I've been able to watch him play more.

I used to see him as a late-teens early 20's pick player mid-year and now I slot him lower-mid teens and wouldn't be shocked seeing him get close to cracking the top-10 if a team falls in love with his game at the U18s and he hits a few pre-draft interviews out of the park.

He's a good skater, and has great hands, but still would like to see him chain them together better; He was beating U18 dmen wide off the rush all tournament, but would liked to have seen him attacking with success some of the more porous teams defense in the tournament. Eventually the forehand to back hand cut to the outside is going to lead right into the corner every time against high end D with good sticks and gap.
Offense off the rush not-withstanding, he did look great with O-zone possession, reading the play and using his skill and finishing ability to have some huge games.

He a tremendous puck supporter, great positionally, hounds guys and hits to hurt. He's 100% a guy I could see Dubas hoping on with the Soo connection depending who's left when we pick.

I'd rather see him in that 12-15 spot. I tend to take U18 performances with a grain of salt for d-year prospects on a case to case basis.

 

[lokomotiv15]

I like McQueen’s skillset on paper, I just wish it was another player who had it.

Have to wait until next year for Roobroeck, unfortunately.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I've warmed up somewhat more to Martin in the last month or so. I don't know if its more from guys around him/a bit above him falling off or from how he has looked since I've been able to watch him play more.

I used to see him as a late-teens early 20's pick player mid-year and now I slot him lower-mid teens and wouldn't be shocked seeing him get close to cracking the top-10 if a team falls in love with his game at the U18s and he hits a few pre-draft interviews out of the park.

He's a good skater, and has great hands, but still would like to see him chain them together better; He was beating U18 dmen wide off the rush all tournament, but would liked to have seen him attacking with success some of the more porous teams defense in the tournament. Eventually the forehand to back hand cut to the outside is going to lead right into the corner every time against high end D with good sticks and gap.
Offense off the rush not-withstanding, he did look great with O-zone possession, reading the play and using his skill and finishing ability to have some huge games.

He a tremendous puck supporter, great positionally, hounds guys and hits to hurt. He's 100% a guy I could see Dubas hoping on with the Soo connection depending who's left when we pick.

I'd rather see him in that 12-15 spot. I tend to take U18 performances with a grain of salt for d-year prospects on a case to case basis.

I'm curious, what are your thoughts on him sticking at center in the long run? It seems like he has no issues sticking at center now, but his skillset may be more suited as a puck hound winger like Kunitz.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I've warmed up somewhat more to Martin in the last month or so. I don't know if its more from guys around him/a bit above him falling off or from how he has looked since I've been able to watch him play more.

I used to see him as a late-teens early 20's pick player mid-year and now I slot him lower-mid teens and wouldn't be shocked seeing him get close to cracking the top-10 if a team falls in love with his game at the U18s and he hits a few pre-draft interviews out of the park.

He's a good skater, and has great hands, but still would like to see him chain them together better; He was beating U18 dmen wide off the rush all tournament, but would liked to have seen him attacking with success some of the more porous teams defense in the tournament. Eventually the forehand to back hand cut to the outside is going to lead right into the corner every time against high end D with good sticks and gap.
Offense off the rush not-withstanding, he did look great with O-zone possession, reading the play and using his skill and finishing ability to have some huge games.

He a tremendous puck supporter, great positionally, hounds guys and hits to hurt. He's 100% a guy I could see Dubas hoping on with the Soo connection depending who's left when we pick.

I'd rather see him in that 12-15 spot. I tend to take U18 performances with a grain of salt for d-year prospects on a case to case basis.

I agree on the points/U18 performance. Like could care less.

Except what made me warm up was the skating was way, way better than what I felt like I saw in on grainy OHL tape. I went back and watched some shift-by-shift and feel like I was too hard on it. Since that was my only real issue with him I gotta move him up.

Still- I do not think he’s that “safe” of a prospect. I think people are conflating projectable with safe. I think in the top 10- he’s high risk high reward tbh. Imo you do that because I think there’s serious upside to be the type of player everyone wants but you really can’t get unless you draft them. He’s skilled, was the best player on his OHL team as a DY, kills people, has size, creativity. Cannon shot although he’s not very advanced in how he gets it off. I think he could not develop very much and be like a 4th liner, bottom 6er who’s not big or fast enough to play the physical game he does in junior. Or he could be a 60 point guy who just kills people.

I’m still taking Eklund over him. I tend to agree he’s a 12-15 prospect the problem is… I feel like everyone not in my personal top 6 feels like a 12-15 prospect lol.