Prospect Info: Draft 2025 - Waiting for the Draft Lotto

[CheckingLineCenter]

Eklund, unless you overlooked him by accident.

Aitcheson with the Rangers pick if they kick it over.

Nah it was by design. I think Eklund is a natural faller as a small wing amongst bigger d-men and 6’+ guys who could play C. But someone may have him high and McQueen’s back may not check out.

I am kinda of the opinion that is gonna be the top 11, not that I’d have Desnoyers or O’Brien in my own top 11 lol.

 

[Andy99]

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

It's gonna be so f***ing cool when Martin is taken 9th or 10th.

 

[Ryder71]

After the top 4 go I wouldn’t consider any of these guys for sure cornerstone pieces.

True, but some IMO anyhow are more likely than others. Hopefully one slips to us or we trade up for one.

 

[Jared Grayden]

It's gonna be so f***ing cool when Martin is taken 9th or 10th.

OBrien, Martin, Eklund go 8/9/10.

 

[metalan2]

Thought we were getting 1st, then they dro some more random balls, and celebrated because I saw the Penguins number, thought it was second, turns out it meant they drafted 11th lol

 

[Ryder71]

OBrien, Martin, Eklund go 8/9/10.

Wouldn't surprise me.

 

[Zero Pucks]

So all this time everyone has been freaking out that we weren't losing enough games, when we really just needed to win one or two more? Lol

 

[Turin]

1. Wouldn't hate drafting McQueen.
2. Think he's going to go in top 10 and will push Desnoyer/O'Brien/Martin/Eklund up to Pens.

 

[JRS91]

I thought Gary Bettman loved us, why didn't we get a higher pick?

 

[66-30-33]

So all this time everyone has been freaking out that we weren't losing enough games, when we really just needed to win one or two more? Lol

Can't out suck, can't out win.

 

[Jacob]

Like, if you're in love with McQueen because of his size and talent, just take Lakovic. He's very similarly talented, similar size, doesn't have terrible skating issues, and doesn't come pre-packaged with a potentially chronic back injury.

Part of McQueen’s appeal is the physical game. He trucks guys and he seems to enjoy doing it. Lakovic is downright soft.

Between those 2 I’d take McQueen. Part of my low interest in Lakovic is a vibe/feeling thing I can’t fully explain. Kinda reminds me of Honzek from a couple drafts ago, too, who doesn’t seem like much of a prospect. That he passes a lot of the eye tests but not the results test.

 

[Jacob]

You know who I want, but I’m okay with Eklund. I waffle on O’Brien but even he would be a great add. And if they give McQueen a full exam and feel he checks out health-wise I wouldn’t be opposed there either.

Not crazy about Smith’s upside and how that’d feel like a Shero pick.

This pick isn’t the end-all-be-all of our rebuild.

 

[Jared Grayden]

Not crazy about Smith’s upside and how that’d feel like a Shero pick.

Yeah, but imagine what his trade value will be!

 

[SEALBound]

I think at this point, JOB would be a great get at 11.

IF we get the NYR pick, I'm maybe leaning towards trading it at this point. Billy G likes big boys - use the 12th to get Rossi and they can take McQueen.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

It's gonna be so f***ing cool when Martin is taken 9th or 10th.

you just know it’s gonna go

7th. Hagens
8th. Martone
9th. Martin
10th. Eklund

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Part of McQueen’s appeal is the physical game. He trucks guys and he seems to enjoy doing it. Lakovic is downright soft.

Between those 2 I’d take McQueen. Part of my low interest in Lakovic is a vibe/feeling thing I can’t fully explain. Kinda reminds me of Honzek from a couple drafts ago, too, who doesn’t seem like much of a prospect.

I guess. But I gotta wonder what kinda effect on that part of his game this potentially chronic back injury's gonna have. Maybe it heals up and isn't an issue, but maybe it results in a constant re-aggravation of the injury, or it makes him lose that physical edge for fear of re-aggravating it.

I just think between the ever present questions about his skating and the potential of a nagging back injury should be an automatic disqualifier.

you just know it’s gonna go

7th. Hagens
8th. Martone
9th. Martin
10th. Eklund

Alright, straight to prison. No trial.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Alright, straight to prison. No trial.

If it helps— we are in full “f*** it take McQueen” territory IMO

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

If it helps— we are in full “f*** it take McQueen” territory IMO

No possibility of parole.

 

[66-30-33]

No wonder he trucks people with a last name McQueen.

 

[Jared Grayden]

No wonder he trucks people with a last name McQueen.

Roger "LTIR" McQueen has a nice ring to it.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

All joking aside, I'd rather dangle the pick and trade down than say "Ah well, f*** it, McQueen" tbh.

Drop down a few spots, snag a guy like Aitcheson and an extra 2nd or something.

-edit- FWIW, I'm already preparing myself for the inevitable McQueen pick tbh.

 

[sovietsanta87]

Carbonneau. No matter what.

 

[Pancakes]

All joking aside, I'd rather dangle the pick and trade down than say "Ah well, f*** it, McQueen" tbh.

Drop down a few spots, snag a guy like Aitcheson and an extra 2nd or something.

-edit- FWIW, I'm already preparing myself for the inevitable McQueen pick tbh.

I could see McQueen simply because I do recall a lot of talk in Dubas' first draft here about how he wanted his scouts to not be afraid to take boom or bust players. Like basically that his drafting philosophy was taking high upside guys rather than "safe" picks.

McQueen doesn't strike me as a super safe pick but he does have a lot of upside with his size I guess.

Btw here's the list of 11th overall picks since 2005. Bolded are guys who became or are on track to become pretty good players:

2024: Sam Dickinson
2023: Tom Willander
2022: Conor Geekie
2021: nobody (Arizona forfeited their pick)
2020: Yaroslav Askarov
2019: Victor Soderstrom
2018: Olivier Wahlstrom
2017: Gabe Vilardi
2016: Logan Brown
2015: Lawson Crouse
2014: Kevin Fiala
2013: Samuel Morin
2012: Filip Forsberg
2011: Duncan Siemens
2010: Jack Campbell
2009: Ryan Ellis
2008: Kyle Beach
2007: Brandon Sutter
2006: Jonathan Bernier
2005: Anze Kopitar

Kind of a graveyard of talent lmao. This list is sure to depress you all .

A few high quality players in the bunch though.

I'm too lazy to post #12 overall as well and I don't know if we're even getting that pick yet but it's a similar type of list there. Big names at #12 include the likes of Matt Boldy, Martin Necas, Anton Lundell, Noah Dobson, and Ryan Mcdonagh.

 

[Peat]

I could see McQueen simply because I do recall a lot of talk in Dubas' first draft here about how he wanted his scouts to not be afraid to take boom or bust players. Like basically that his drafting philosophy was taking high upside guys rather than "safe" picks.

McQueen doesn't strike me as a super safe pick but he does have a lot of upside with his size I guess.

Btw here's the list of 11th overall picks since 2005. Bolded are guys who became or are on track to become pretty good players:

2024: Sam Dickinson
2023: Tom Willander
2022: Conor Geekie
2021: nobody (Arizona forfeited their pick)
2020: Yaroslav Askarov
2019: Victor Soderstrom
2018: Olivier Wahlstrom
2017: Gabe Vilardi
2016: Logan Brown
2015: Lawson Crouse
2014: Kevin Fiala
2013: Samuel Morin
2012: Filip Forsberg
2011: Duncan Siemens
2010: Jack Campbell
2009: Ryan Ellis
2008: Kyle Beach
2007: Brandon Sutter
2006: Jonathan Bernier
2005: Anze Kopitar

Kind of a graveyard of talent lmao. This list is sure to depress you all .

A few high quality players in the bunch though.

I'm too lazy to post #12 overall as well and I don't know if we're even getting that pick yet but it's a similar type of list there. Big names at #12 include the likes of Matt Boldy, Martin Necas, Anton Lundell, Noah Dobson, and Ryan Mcdonagh.

From an eyeball that seems to be about a 1 in 5 chance of getting a dude, 1 in 5 chance of getting a bust, and a 3 in 5 chance of getting filler. I can live with that, but I'm also very open to trading it if the right young player is out there.