Prospect Info: Draft 2025 - Waiting for the Draft Lotto

[Dipsy Doodle]

Why are we even still talking about the Rangers pick?

Yeah. The optics of hiring Sullivan then betting they'd miss the playoffs again and draft worse than 12th next year would be brutal.

 

[spcastlemagic]

Not too bummed about falling from #9 to #11. Kucherov was drafted #58 overall. I would simply draft the next Nikita Kucherov at the #11 spot.

 

[Dennis Reynolds]

Not too bummed about falling from #9 to #11. Kucherov was drafted #58 overall. I would simply draft the next Nikita Kucherov at the #11 spot.

Make this guy head of amateur scouting.

 

[spcastlemagic]

Make this guy head of amateur scouting.

Distinct memory of watching the 2007 WJC with my dad going wow this tiny #27 guy on Team USA, Kane or whatever, is amazing we should probably draft him. A unique eye for hockey talent here.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

So 14 stars/top line players (I moved Vilardi and Lundell up).

14 depth long term NHLers

17 bad picks (I moved depth guys down as no one wants that from this pick)

So basically odds are 1/3rd stud, 1/3rd avg NHLer, 1/3 bust

Lundell is like the 9th best player on Florida, he's a good player but not a difference maker.

Like if you draft a Lundell in the first round every year you're still going to be a bad team.

 

[pistolpete11]

Yeah. The optics of hiring Sullivan then betting they'd miss the playoffs again and draft worse than 12th next year would be brutal.

They might look at next year's pick as a trade chip for the deadline, though.

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

I don't expect it, but I wouldn't be all the way surprised if the Rangers keep their 2026 pick under the guise of "trade asset." Yes, they could use whatever player they draft at 12 for the same purpose, but the flipside of that is said player could not be super high on a lot of team's boards, so in that sense, the lower pick would be more desirable to a trade partner than a prospect they don't like.

Either way, hopefully the Rangers give us their 2026.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Lundell is like the 9th best player on Florida, he's a good player but not a difference maker.

Nah. He had a ton of ES production playing limited minutes. He’s a stud.

 

[PensFutures]

Nah. He had a ton of ES production playing limited minutes. He’s a stud.

Especially when you look at his playoff stats.

 

[Turin]

Lundell is like the 9th best player on Florida, he's a good player but not a difference maker.

Like if you draft a Lundell in the first round every year you're still going to be a bad team.

An elite 3rd line C who could play 2C in a pinch and performs in the playoffs is certainly not a bad get outside the top 10.

 

[SEALBound]

My gut is telling me that we need to start thinking quality over quantity. We should be trading UP or taking that 11ov.

Might be a slightly different story with the Rags pick.

 

[Gurglesons]

Lundell is like the 9th best player on Florida, he's a good player but not a difference maker.

Like if you draft a Lundell in the first round every year you're still going to be a bad team.

lol. tell me you have no clue about who Lundell is.

 

[Gurglesons]

An elite 3rd line C who could play 2C in a pinch and performs in the playoffs is certainly not a bad get outside the top 10.

Lundell will be their 2C moving forward.

Dude is Barkov Jr.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

An elite 3rd line C who could play 2C in a pinch and performs in the playoffs is certainly not a bad get outside the top 10.

I agree but the ranking was literally top line guys that the other poster put him in. Lundell is not a 1C

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I agree but the ranking was literally top line guys that the other poster put him in. Lundell is not a 1C

Make your own tiers then. The point was Lundell was one of 14 guys that would be a home run at this pick. Not if he’s a 1C or 2D or Vezina candidate.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

I just want to say this team did Robert Dome dirty and I am never going to be over it.

f*** the lot of em.

 

[JackFr]

lol. tell me you have no clue about who Lundell is.

No he's cooking Lundell is a good player but he's nothing that special. Decent middle six centre. Kotkaniemi deluxe edition. Great production this year but not really reflected by anything too exciting under the hood. Puck skills are nothing too special.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I just want to say this team did Robert Dome dirty and I am never going to be over it.

f*** the lot of em.

Wasn't Dome's problem mostly that he was doing the Golden Corral buffet dirty too often?

 

[chethejet]

Unless a Star player is there as the number 1 pick. And he is a center, Pens just have to go the model of decent centers and good wings ala Boston. Fix and develop the D into a quality D and see what happens by 2027. Dubas got rid of a horrible coach and now has to add a coach who can develop the talent.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I think the situation with the Rangers pick is the same now as it was a week ago: they’ll give up the pick this year if they think the prospect next year will be better than the prospect they can get this year. Considering they dropped a spot in the draft due to the lottery and it seems more and more that 2026 is a ludicrously good class, it’s really not a stretch to say they’ll give up the pick this year.

This draft has Martin assuredly going in the top-10 and possibly pushing the top-5. Brady Martin should be a mid 1st rounder in a normal draft.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

No he's cooking Lundell is a good player but he's nothing that special. Decent middle six centre. Kotkaniemi deluxe edition.

Idk man.

a) Eye test. He’s a horse.

b) most common linemates. He plays with 20 point guys

 

[bambamcam4ever]

Make your own tiers then. The point was Lundell was one of 14 guys that would be a home run at this pick. Not if he’s a 1C or 2D or Vezina candidate.

" So 14 stars/top line players (I moved Vilardi and Lundell up)."

It's fine if you made a mistake in making your point, but the make your own tiers comment is weird considering you were using the other guy's tiers, seemingly incorrectly. It sounds like you're the one who should make your own to clarify your argument.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Lundell seems like the kind of player that fans who think "Jordan Staal BASICALLY won the Penguins their 09 Cup" absolutely adore.

That sounds dickish but I don't even know that I mean it to be. I don't know if I'd be unhappy with a Lundell at all considering how trash this draft is supposed to be. But he's a like... mid tier player by my estimation. I like his playoff production but depth guys often find themselves in a position to step up in the post season especially on deep teams.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Honestly the more I look at who will be available at #12 and who’s in the class next year, I’d rather have the Rangers 2026 1st at this point. I think I need one of the top-10 on this draft to fall to #12 for me to take #12 this year over a 1st next year. The “tier 4” guys as Wheeler called them look super underwhelming and I’d rather have a 2026 1st over them.

It’s already questionable that you’ll get one of those top-10 falling to the Penguins pick, but having 2 of them falling to both the Penguins and Rangers picks seems really unlikely.

 

[Pancakes]

I think the situation with the Rangers pick is the same now as it was a week ago: they’ll give up the pick this year if they think the prospect next year will be better than the prospect they can get this year. Considering they dropped a spot in the draft due to the lottery and it seems more and more that 2026 is a ludicrously good class, it’s really not a stretch to say they’ll give up the pick this year.

This draft has Martin assuredly going in the top-10 and possibly pushing the top-5. Brady Martin should be a mid 1st rounder in a normal draft.

I could also see the Rangers just giving us next year's pick and trading this year's pick for win now help. With Sullivan at the helm that team is going to want to be contending asap.