Value of: Penguins trading up to #3 with Chicago

[Empoleon8771]

11+12 for 3 is fair, maybe an overpayment this year

I don't agree solely because of the structure of this draft. I would say #8 and #9 for #3 is an overpayment, but there seems to be a drop in this draft class right around #10 or #11.

With this draft, I'd say the "tiers" are:

-Tier 1: Schaefer and Misa
-Tier 2: Hagens, Martone, Desnoyers and Frondell
-Tier 3: McQueen, O'Brien, Eklund, Martin and Mrtka

I feel like there's a top-11 and then a drop off after #11, where you start getting into the group of players like Aitcheson and Smith. I think something like #8 and #9 for #3 would be an overpayment, but the fact that #12 falls in a "tier 4" pick makes me think it's not in this case.

 

[T1K]

Honestly Chicago should just make the pick at 3. If they have any interest in one of the vets we have available in addition to 11/12 maybe there’s some kind of package we can figure out, but anything involving the pens 2026 1st is a non-starter.

I’m sure the Pens would also be willing to take on some bad contracts (potentially there’s a 3 team deal that can be done here), but I’d need someone else to chime in on ideas there.

 

[Soundgarden]

I think Pittsburgh would be better off trying to get Nashville’s pick if Martone is still available.

Unprotected '26 1st + 11 or 12?

 

[GCK]

Unprotected '26 1st + 11 or 12?

I was thinking 11 + 12 + 2nd for 5

 

[Empoleon8771]

Unprotected '26 1st + 11 or 12?

I'm not giving up any sort of unprotected 1st for a 1st rounder this year. Simply not going to happen.

Especially not to just move up from #11 to #5 in a draft where #3-#11 are all similar caliber.

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

Frondell just feels like a perfect fit for Chicago. I would hold on to the pick.

 

[JD86]

I was thinking 11 + 12 + 2nd for 5

Nashville has plenty of decent prospects. They need a higher end prospect arguably more than any team in the league.

 

[Soundgarden]

I was thinking 11 + 12 + 2nd for 5

We've already got three 1sts and 2 2nds.

I'm not giving up any sort of unprotected 1st for a 1st rounder this year. Simply not going to happen.

Especially not to just move up from #11 to #5 in a draft where #3-#11 are all similar caliber.

Nashville already lost the lottery twice we aren't dropping out of the top 3, top 5 AND the top 10 and not getting anything of value just because Pittsburgh wants a top 5 pick.

 

[DesertPenguin]

Love Martone, but if we're giving up the considerable capital to get up to 3, we have to come out of it with a potential top line center. The system isn't very deep anywhere, but we have exactly 0 center prospects in the system with Malkin, and eventually Sid getting ready to retire. Misa, Hagans, Desnoyers, Frondell, JOB, pick your favorite but it has to be a C.

 

[The Old Master]

i don't think we need to move up that high. (3) but we do need to move up so how high can we get with picks 11&12?

 

[The Old Master]

Love Martone, but if we're giving up the considerable capital to get up to 3, we have to come out of it with a potential top line center. The system isn't very deep anywhere, but we have exactly 0 center prospects in the system with Malkin, and eventually Sid getting ready to retire. Misa, Hagans, Desnoyers, Frondell, JOB, pick your favorite but it has to be a C.

and we don't need to pick at 3oa to get them

 

[Voight]

Yeah I think for the deal to happen, it would require Chicago to like the prospects at the top of the 2026 draft far more than Martone and Frondell. So the "premium" is getting someone like Verhoeff or Roobroeck instead of Frondell this year. Personally I think Verhoeff and Roobroeck are better than Frondell and Martone this year, but I'm not the GM and Dubas/Davidson may feel differently.

But most importantly, it just can't be McKenna for Martone. There needs to just be some sort of protection so it's not McKenna for Martone. Even if it's just #1 protected, that would be needed.



The "protection" is "Gavin McKenna protection". No team is trading a potential Gavin McKenna pick for a 1st this year.

Sure but if they're moving the #3 pick then its simply not worth it if the first next year has protections. They're better off keeping said pick this year and grabbing one of Misa/Martone.

 

[Crow]

0 chance the Blackhawks trade the #3 pick this year for a protected first next year.

Agreed. They arent going to risk having one less top pick until 2027. It’s a complete non starter.

Can’t rebuild forever.

 

[JKG33]

Chicago would be wise to trade the 3rd overall straight up for a player in the 20-25 age range, like a Dobson. Failing that, they should just make the pick.

Trading down for quantity makes 0 sense unless it comes with a 2026 lottery ticket

 

[Bishop7979]

I like martone but,

Pretty much every top end forward outside of Misa/o'brien (and maybe, McQueen if everything goes perfectly for him) project more towards great second liners more than locked in 1st liners let along franchise players, and Martone is one of those great second line players, that's how weak this draft is.

You can't take his position in a draft in a vacuum when throwing values as if Martone is a player who you build a franchise around, he's most likely going to be very good, but he's not a foundational piece and some of these offers to move up are foundational piece values.

The 2025 draft is a year where, if you have a chance at McQueen/obrien by trading from say 11/12 to 8, and it's not going to cost multiple 1sts you roll those dice and go for the high risk high reward center.

this is not a draft where you give up multiple 1sts, including a first in 26, a year with a better class of players in the top ten, when you are expecting to finish lower in the standings to get a guy like Martone because that 26 1st round pick, as long as it's in the top 8-10, will potentially give you a Martone level or better player a year from now.

And that's not even considering locking a team like the pens, who are on a downward tread, out of the McKenna lotto.

This isn't the year to blow future draft capital to move up if these are the prices that are expected to be paid.

Make move to get McQueen/obrien, use you other 1st for eklund or bear and wait and see what 26' brings.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

From the Hawks' perspective, I'd do it for 11, their 1st next year, and one of Rust or Rackell. I highly doubt Pittsburgh would give up a shot at McKenna for 3OA this year but that's probably what it would take.

I'd rather do the 1st in 2026 that is lottery protected, the 2nd next year as well and the Sharks 3rd next year as well as swap the Rangers or the Penguins 11th for the Leafs 25th they hold, then add in Rust, Graves, Ned, and rights to Ponomarev for the 3rd overall (also that Leafs pick as mentioned), Sens 4th next year, and Brossoit.

Hawks lost the 3rd overall, but they gain a pick next year that is still possibly going to be high, as well as swapping the 25th overall for a higher pick this year to 11th or 12th, doesn't really matter if the Pens get the 3OVA, Hawks can have whichever one.

Bedard gaining a winger that is solid at both ends and has a lot of years still left in him because of his late start in the NHL and later peak in Rust, who will give Bedard a bonafide 30 goal scorer that is also a burner and is a capable PK player as well, I am sure one of the goals is to make Bedard happier, I see Rust as a better fit than Rakell. Hell I'd even throw in Heinen to futher add some veteran depth to the Hawks to surround their youth with to give them support in the top 9. Heinen has 1yr left, so it's not some insane handcuff of a deal and a very decent cap hit too. Pens are looking to retool/rebuild, Hawks have their cornerstone and need to start surrounding him with the right veteran pieces and also still keep adding prospects, Penguins meanwhile have their cornerstones getting ready to transition to help the youth and hopefully land a new one (that 3OVA helps).

I'd then want to see that 25th overall flipped to the Bolts for Howard's rights (and maybe a late pick if need be).

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

11+12 for 3 is fair, maybe an overpayment this year

Not at all as this draft drops off after pick 7 or 8

Also this really does nothing for Hawks as we don't need more quantity given numerous selections in early rounds especially 1st round under Davidson

2022 = 3 1st round picks (Korchinski, Nazar, Rinzel)
2023 = 2 1st round picks (Bedard + Moore)
2024 = 3 1st round picks (Levshunov, Boisvert, Vanacker)

And what we have as far as draft picks right now

If Hawks want to jump back into this years 1st round for a 3rd selection they have draft capital to make it happen (As they did last year with trade up with Canes)

If Hawks move #3 it will be for a young NHL talent not lesser 1st round picks

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Pens are playing with fire if they offer their 2026 1st. They are already terrible and the bottom could really fall out any minute. Could be giving away McKenna if they do that.