2025 NHL Draft

[FLPensFan]

Tankathon has a couple of interesting picks for the Penguins in their latest mock draft.

Caleb Desnoyers & Logan Hensler

Desnoyers is compared to Sean Couturier and Jonathan Huberdeau and might be a nice 2nd line center.

Hensler is a RH defenseman who already has decent NHL size at 6'2" 196 pounds.

Thoughts?

https://www.tankathon.com/nhl/mock_draft

Daily Faceoff has a mock draft up today. They had Penguins taking Desnoyers 6th overall, and then taking RHD Blake Fiddler 15th overall with the Rangers pick. Fiddler would be a bit of a reach here, but he wouldn't last until 2nd round. Fiddler is a RHD with offensive capabilities. If they wanted a safer pick, more of a reach, they could take RHD Hensler. He doesn't have much offensive capabilities, but he's very good at actual defense from a defenseman....kind of important.

Another option I wouldn't mind seeing is doubling down on centers, taking the best of Hagens, Misa, Frondell, Desnoyers or McQueen, and then taking Carter Bear as our 2nd pick in the 1st round.

Lots of options. https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025- ... ne-edition

[Daniel]

Tankathon has a couple of interesting picks for the Penguins in their latest mock draft.

Caleb Desnoyers & Logan Hensler

Desnoyers is compared to Sean Couturier and Jonathan Huberdeau and might be a nice 2nd line center.

Hensler is a RH defenseman who already has decent NHL size at 6'2" 196 pounds.

Thoughts?

https://www.tankathon.com/nhl/mock_draft

Daily Faceoff has a mock draft up today. They had Penguins taking Desnoyers 6th overall, and then taking RHD Blake Fiddler 15th overall with the Rangers pick. Fiddler would be a bit of a reach here, but he wouldn't last until 2nd round. Fiddler is a RHD with offensive capabilities. If they wanted a safer pick, more of a reach, they could take RHD Hensler. He doesn't have much offensive capabilities, but he's very good at actual defense from a defenseman....kind of important.

Another option I wouldn't mind seeing is doubling down on centers, taking the best of Hagens, Misa, Frondell, Desnoyers or McQueen, and then taking Carter Bear as our 2nd pick in the 1st round.

Lots of options. https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2025- ... ne-edition

Depends on their long term veiw of Harrison Brunicke. If they think him and Pickering can be a good top pairing, maybe they don't need to rush for a RHD in the 1st round and go for 2 centers. Also,is Desnoyers considered a #1 guy? If so then having a legit #1 and probable #2 would be really good.

[100565]

It's been a terrible year performance wise. It would be worth it if they end up picking in top 4; anyone of the top 4 prospects would be awesome.

It'll be quite dissapointing if they pick 5+.

If they do have 5OA or 6OA, I would try to move up. I would be willing to trade both 1st round picks to move up; doubt anyone would oblige.

[FLPensFan]

It's been a terrible year performance wise. It would be worth it if they end up picking in top 4; anyone of the top 4 prospects would be awesome.

It'll be quite dissapointing if they pick 5+.

If they do have 5OA or 6OA, I would try to move up. I would be willing to trade both 1st round picks to move up; doubt anyone would oblige.

Technically, that is what it would cost. If NSH was picking 3rd, and we had 6th overall, it would cost our 6th overall, and the Rangers pick at 14th overall.

The thing is, all the teams in the top 3 need players. I'm not sure any of them are going to want to move out of the top 3. The other issue is...if Shaefer goes 1st and Hagans goes 2nd....I'm not sure it's worth moving up for the Penguins. I LOVE Misa...but it seems scouts may have him pegged more as a winger in the NHL than a center. Should the Penguins move up to draft a stud winger? Misa would be a Guentzel/Ovechkin type sniper (not saying he'll put up those numbers, but you get the point in terms of skill level).

My mind may change as we hone in on our spot, but I'd almost be more inclined to keep whatever pick we have 3rd-7th, and then look to trade the Rangers 14th overall pick to get into the 8th or 9th overall spot. To do that would likely cost 14th overall, a 2026 2nd, and a 2025 3rd. That would be a little short, so maybe a marginal prospect in there as well.

Then I'd take Frondell, Desnoyers, or McQueen at 5, and decide whether I wanted someone like LHD Jackson Smith, W Victor Eklund, another center like Jake O'Brien or Carter Bear. I think moving down from the Rangers pick, if we get it, is more likely than moving up from our own pick. But, we won't know for sure until draft day.

[Ohio_Pens_fan]

I guess I’m still hoping to trade some of this year’s picks for an established or very promising player that can be plugged in now, as I see no “absolutely can’t miss” top players in this year’s draft. The name Daigle keeps popping up in my mind…

[Puck-Lurker]

It's been a terrible year performance wise. It would be worth it if they end up picking in top 4; anyone of the top 4 prospects would be awesome.

It'll be quite dissapointing if they pick 5+.

If they do have 5OA or 6OA, I would try to move up. I would be willing to trade both 1st round picks to move up; doubt anyone would oblige.

Technically, that is what it would cost. If NSH was picking 3rd, and we had 6th overall, it would cost our 6th overall, and the Rangers pick at 14th overall.

The thing is, all the teams in the top 3 need players. I'm not sure any of them are going to want to move out of the top 3. The other issue is...if Shaefer goes 1st and Hagans goes 2nd....I'm not sure it's worth moving up for the Penguins. I LOVE Misa...but it seems scouts may have him pegged more as a winger in the NHL than a center. Should the Penguins move up to draft a stud winger? Misa would be a Guentzel/Ovechkin type sniper (not saying he'll put up those numbers, but you get the point in terms of skill level).

My mind may change as we hone in on our spot, but I'd almost be more inclined to keep whatever pick we have 3rd-7th, and then look to trade the Rangers 14th overall pick to get into the 8th or 9th overall spot. To do that would likely cost 14th overall, a 2026 2nd, and a 2025 3rd. That would be a little short, so maybe a marginal prospect in there as well.

Then I'd take Frondell, Desnoyers, or McQueen at 5, and decide whether I wanted someone like LHD Jackson Smith, W Victor Eklund, another center like Jake O'Brien or Carter Bear. I think moving down from the Rangers pick, if we get it, is more likely than moving up from our own pick. But, we won't know for sure until draft day.

Spend two 1sts on the hope the one guy will work out.

I'll pass. There are top tier players every year drafted in the first round outside of the top 5. With the right scouting, it can work a lot better to draft the two lower rated players.

[FLPensFan]

I guess I’m still hoping to trade some of this year’s picks for an established or very promising player that can be plugged in now, as I see no “absolutely can’t miss” top players in this year’s draft. The name Daigle keeps popping up in my mind…

I'm still hoping for that too. I think the guys at the top are fine and we will get one really good player. But a guy we take at 14 might be more like a guy we'd take in mid to late 20s in other drafts.

[KG]

I guess I’m still hoping to trade some of this year’s picks for an established or very promising player that can be plugged in now, as I see no “absolutely can’t miss” top players in this year’s draft. The name Daigle keeps popping up in my mind…

Can certainly see KD moving the Rangers pick for a young now player. I don't see him moving any of our own 1st picks for the next several years.

[Pitts]

It's been a terrible year performance wise. It would be worth it if they end up picking in top 4; anyone of the top 4 prospects would be awesome.

It'll be quite dissapointing if they pick 5+.

If they do have 5OA or 6OA, I would try to move up. I would be willing to trade both 1st round picks to move up; doubt anyone would oblige.

That really doesn't make much sense. Keep the picks and draft best available. It's gotta be better than anything we've drafted the past several years.

[FLPensFan]

Seems like we'll get a good one picking anywhere between 3-7th. Athletic just released its new rankings, and it had Caleb Desnoyers jumping up to 3rd best overall, behind Schaefer and Misa, and ahead of Hagens and Martone. Unless a team or two goes off board or make a run at all the centers, we should be able to get Desnoyers, Frondell, or McQueen, and I'm fine with any of those centers.

[KG]

Seems like we'll get a good one picking anywhere between 3-7th. Athletic just released its new rankings, and it had Caleb Desnoyers jumping up to 3rd best overall, behind Schaefer and Misa, and ahead of Hagens and Martone. Unless a team or two goes off board or make a run at all the centers, we should be able to get Desnoyers, Frondell, or McQueen, and I'm fine with any of those centers.

Nice. Yeah with a wide open draft like this, definitely wouldn't be surprised to see teams making some off the board picks, especially as it gets later in the 1st round.

[FLPensFan]

Jesse had a nice video on Desnoyers today which made me feel a bit better about him. The other video I watched seemed to show 90% of his goals from the faceoff dots out, while guys like Misa, Frondell, and McQueen were shown going to the net much more. Jesse's video shows a good mix of both.

Also, this was Jesse's personal ranking of the top guys:

1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Hagens
4. Martone
5. Eklund
6. Desnoyers
7. Frondell

[Daniel]

Jesse had a nice video on Desnoyers today which made me feel a bit better about him. The other video I watched seemed to show 90% of his goals from the faceoff dots out, while guys like Misa, Frondell, and McQueen were shown going to the net much more. Jesse's video shows a good mix of both.

Also, this was Jesse's personal ranking of the top guys:

1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Hagens
4. Martone
5. Eklund
6. Desnoyers
7. Frondell

Desnoyers reads like a more physical version of Ron Francis. Don't really remember Francis' speed, but I remember he was a good skater that just played smart hockey.

[Cow_Master66]

It's been a terrible year performance wise. It would be worth it if they end up picking in top 4; anyone of the top 4 prospects would be awesome.

It'll be quite dissapointing if they pick 5+.

If they do have 5OA or 6OA, I would try to move up. I would be willing to trade both 1st round picks to move up; doubt anyone would oblige.

That really doesn't make much sense. Keep the picks and draft best available. It's gotta be better than anything we've drafted the past several years.

Totally agree. They need volume at this stage and the next few seasons.

[Michael74]

It's been a terrible year performance wise. It would be worth it if they end up picking in top 4; anyone of the top 4 prospects would be awesome.

It'll be quite dissapointing if they pick 5+.

If they do have 5OA or 6OA, I would try to move up. I would be willing to trade both 1st round picks to move up; doubt anyone would oblige.

That really doesn't make much sense. Keep the picks and draft best available. It's gotta be better than anything we've drafted the past several years.

Totally agree. They need volume at this stage and the next few seasons.

Quality over quantity, but both would be welcome.

[Daniel]

It's been a terrible year performance wise. It would be worth it if they end up picking in top 4; anyone of the top 4 prospects would be awesome.

It'll be quite dissapointing if they pick 5+.

If they do have 5OA or 6OA, I would try to move up. I would be willing to trade both 1st round picks to move up; doubt anyone would oblige.

That really doesn't make much sense. Keep the picks and draft best available. It's gotta be better than anything we've drafted the past several years.

Totally agree. They need volume at this stage and the next few seasons.

Disagree. If they have a chance for Desnoyer, Frontel, McQueen they should trade up to get one of them. If Misa starts to drop, I’d add him but wouildn’t trade up for a top 3 just yet.

They have plenty of mid level prospects on forward, defense, goalie and need a top 1st or 2nd line center.

[Michael74]

It's been a terrible year performance wise. It would be worth it if they end up picking in top 4; anyone of the top 4 prospects would be awesome.

It'll be quite dissapointing if they pick 5+.

If they do have 5OA or 6OA, I would try to move up. I would be willing to trade both 1st round picks to move up; doubt anyone would oblige.

That really doesn't make much sense. Keep the picks and draft best available. It's gotta be better than anything we've drafted the past several years.

Totally agree. They need volume at this stage and the next few seasons.

Disagree. If they have a chance for Desnoyer, Frontel, McQueen they should trade up to get one of them. If Misa starts to drop, I’d add him but wouildn’t trade up for a top 3 just yet.

They have plenty of mid level prospects on forward, defense, goalie and need a top 1st or 2nd line center.

Couldn't agree with this more. We still don't have our 1st or 2hd line center of the future. Gotta make the most of these next two or three drafts and address that issue.

[Daniel]

It's been a terrible year performance wise. It would be worth it if they end up picking in top 4; anyone of the top 4 prospects would be awesome.

It'll be quite dissapointing if they pick 5+.

If they do have 5OA or 6OA, I would try to move up. I would be willing to trade both 1st round picks to move up; doubt anyone would oblige.

That really doesn't make much sense. Keep the picks and draft best available. It's gotta be better than anything we've drafted the past several years.

Totally agree. They need volume at this stage and the next few seasons.

Disagree. If they have a chance for Desnoyer, Frontel, McQueen they should trade up to get one of them. If Misa starts to drop, I’d add him but wouildn’t trade up for a top 3 just yet.

They have plenty of mid level prospects on forward, defense, goalie and need a top 1st or 2nd line center.

Couldn't agree with this more. We still don't have our 1st or 2hd line center of the future. Gotta make the most of these next two or three drafts and address that issue.

I wouldn't give up a lot (maybe 4th or 5th) but I think moving from 9th to 6th or 7th is doable with a small offer.

In 3-4 years I think the Penguins will most likely have most of this list from WBS and other places. Not perfect and yes they need more, but giving up a mid to low round pick to jump up to get Desnoyer, Frontel, McQueen would be really nice asset management. Get a top line center in next years draft and I think they're well on their way to contention. Then just need to get playoff experience and see what happens. 2-3 years to get back to the playoffs, 2-3 years to get to Stanley Cup contention all of a sudden doesn't seem that unrealistic.

Tanner Howe
Rutger McGroarty
Tristan Broz
Vasili Ponomaryov
Filip Hallander


Finn Harding
Emil Pieniniemi
Harrison Brunicke
Isaac Belliveau
Owen Pickering
Filip Kral

Talked about goalies already so good there

[Cow_Master66]

It's been a terrible year performance wise. It would be worth it if they end up picking in top 4; anyone of the top 4 prospects would be awesome.

It'll be quite dissapointing if they pick 5+.

If they do have 5OA or 6OA, I would try to move up. I would be willing to trade both 1st round picks to move up; doubt anyone would oblige.

That really doesn't make much sense. Keep the picks and draft best available. It's gotta be better than anything we've drafted the past several years.

Totally agree. They need volume at this stage and the next few seasons.

Disagree. If they have a chance for Desnoyer, Frontel, McQueen they should trade up to get one of them. If Misa starts to drop, I’d add him but wouildn’t trade up for a top 3 just yet.

They have plenty of mid level prospects on forward, defense, goalie and need a top 1st or 2nd line center.

Couldn't agree with this more. We still don't have our 1st or 2hd line center of the future. Gotta make the most of these next two or three drafts and address that issue.

We will be picking higher next year in a deeper draft. There’s no guarantees the top 4 will be any better than the next 4. Just keep the picks ffs. Ty.

[100565]

I'd agree with not trading up next year, but not this year. This year's draft seems to be like 2021.

https://www.hockey-reference.com/draft/ ... entry.html

Not too many selected below 6thOA. Sure there are some, but a low percetage.

Also, the team desperately needs high level players.

Tanner Howe too early, 3rd line or maybe 2nd
Rutger McGroarty 2nd or third line
Tristan Broz 4C maybe 3C
Vasili Ponomaryov 4C or 3C maybe 3rd line W
Filip Hallander doubt he makes NHL again
Ville Koivenen 3LW or 2LW



Finn Harding maybe 3rd pairing
Emil Pieniniemi hmm looking good 2nd pairing maybe 1st
Harrison Brunicke 2nd pairing maybe 1st
Isaac Belliveau doubt he makes it. maybe 3rd pairing
Owen Pickering 2nd pairing maybe 1st
Filip Kral doubt he is NHL regular.

IMO, and it is fine to disagree, I would trade up in hopes of getting one of:
1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Hagens
4. Martone

Those 4, to me (not a scout) are much more likely to be high level talent. some of the next tier certainly have potential but are less likely. NYR pick at 14th OA or so, will have 20-25% chance of being in NHL 4 years from now. Again, my opionion .

I would certainly trade Pen's 5OA- 8OA + NYR's 13-20 OA to move up . Next year would be different though.

[FLPensFan]

That really doesn't make much sense. Keep the picks and draft best available. It's gotta be better than anything we've drafted the past several years.

Totally agree. They need volume at this stage and the next few seasons.

Disagree. If they have a chance for Desnoyer, Frontel, McQueen they should trade up to get one of them. If Misa starts to drop, I’d add him but wouildn’t trade up for a top 3 just yet.

They have plenty of mid level prospects on forward, defense, goalie and need a top 1st or 2nd line center.

Couldn't agree with this more. We still don't have our 1st or 2hd line center of the future. Gotta make the most of these next two or three drafts and address that issue.

We will be picking higher next year in a deeper draft. There’s no guarantees the top 4 will be any better than the next 4. Just keep the picks ffs. Ty.

The team needs volume, but some point very soon, they are going to need quality over volume. And quality of the type the Penguins need rarely comes outside the first or second round. From my draft spreadsheet showing all drafts from 2000-2024:

--Since 2000 draft, 5588 players have been drafted.
--Only 2309 managed to play at least 1 game in the NHL (41%).
--Only 1292 managed to play 100 NHL games or more (23%).
--Of those 1292 to play 100 or more NHL games, only 536 came from outside round 1 or 2. (41% of the 1292; 9.5% of total 5588 players drafted)
--Of those 5588 players drafted, only 138 players scored 500 points or more. (2.5%)
--Of those 138 players, only 41 players who scored 500 or more points were drafted outside round 1 (30% of the 138; less than 1% of the 5588 players drafted)
--Out of 97 first round picks who scored 500 points or more, only 28 were drafted 15th overall or greater. (29%)

If you want first and 2nd liners, and you want top pairing d-men, those come from first round picks, and traditionally those come from top 15 picks. In this draft, you are looking at top 8 picks for a "best chance" at getting a top 6 or top pairing player.

[FLPensFan]

I'd agree with not trading up next year, but not this year. This year's draft seems to be like 2021.

https://www.hockey-reference.com/draft/ ... entry.html

Not too many selected below 6thOA. Sure there are some, but a low percetage.

Also, the team desperately needs high level players.

Tanner Howe too early, 3rd line or maybe 2nd
Rutger McGroarty 2nd or third line
Tristan Broz 4C maybe 3C
Vasili Ponomaryov 4C or 3C maybe 3rd line W
Filip Hallander doubt he makes NHL again
Ville Koivenen 3LW or 2LW



Finn Harding maybe 3rd pairing
Emil Pieniniemi hmm looking good 2nd pairing maybe 1st
Harrison Brunicke 2nd pairing maybe 1st
Isaac Belliveau doubt he makes it. maybe 3rd pairing
Owen Pickering 2nd pairing maybe 1st
Filip Kral doubt he is NHL regular.

IMO, and it is fine to disagree, I would trade up in hopes of getting one of:
1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Hagens
4. Martone

Those 4, to me (not a scout) are much more likely to be high level talent. some of the next tier certainly have potential but are less likely. NYR pick at 14th OA or so, will have 20-25% chance of being in NHL 4 years from now. Again, my opionion .

I would certainly trade Pen's 5OA- 8OA + NYR's 13-20 OA to move up . Next year would be different though.

In theory, to trade up from 5th to 4th overall would cost us 5th overall, Washington's 2025 2nd, and Chicago's 2025 5th. That's about equal value.
In theory, to trade up from 8th to 4th overall would cost us 5th overall, Washington's 2025 2nd, Winnipeg's 2026 2nd, MIN 2025 3rd, and PIT 2025 4th.
Another that would work, let's say NSH is 4th overall....5th overall, Rangers 2025 1st (14th overall), and NSH sends us their 2026 2nd rounder too.

All of those are about equal value (we are actually about a half a point of value short on both) according to the Perri Pick Value chart.

[100565]

For sure, I would rather do any if those instead if the two firsts. In theory, the value is there. However, that chart is using a predictive data model to extract kinda like the average value of each draft slot. This year's draft is weak and I think the evidence is how much teams were slinging 2025 picks at the deadline. The picks had much lower value than other years (certainly not the only factor). I don't think any team picking top 4 would take our two firsts to move up, but I've been wrong many times!

[Daniel]

I'd agree with not trading up next year, but not this year. This year's draft seems to be like 2021.

https://www.hockey-reference.com/draft/ ... entry.html

Not too many selected below 6thOA. Sure there are some, but a low percetage.

Also, the team desperately needs high level players.

Tanner Howe too early, 3rd line or maybe 2nd
Rutger McGroarty 2nd or third line
Tristan Broz 4C maybe 3C
Vasili Ponomaryov 4C or 3C maybe 3rd line W
Filip Hallander doubt he makes NHL again
Ville Koivenen 3LW or 2LW



Finn Harding maybe 3rd pairing
Emil Pieniniemi hmm looking good 2nd pairing maybe 1st
Harrison Brunicke 2nd pairing maybe 1st
Isaac Belliveau doubt he makes it. maybe 3rd pairing
Owen Pickering 2nd pairing maybe 1st
Filip Kral doubt he is NHL regular.

IMO, and it is fine to disagree, I would trade up in hopes of getting one of:
1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Hagens
4. Martone

Those 4, to me (not a scout) are much more likely to be high level talent. some of the next tier certainly have potential but are less likely. NYR pick at 14th OA or so, will have 20-25% chance of being in NHL 4 years from now. Again, my opionion .

I would certainly trade Pen's 5OA- 8OA + NYR's 13-20 OA to move up . Next year would be different though.

Martone was my number one guy but the more I thought about it the more I think getting a top 2 line center is more important. Misa, Desnoyers, Frondell. People say Hagens is supposed to be the best, but I get Jack Hughes vibes with him. IDK, maybe I'm missing something with Hughes but have never really been that impressed when I watch him play. His stats are good and I don't watch him unless he's playing the Penguins but something about him. Like he's almost a superstar but not quite a franchise guy. I don't think the 3 I mentioned will be franchise guys as much as just solid 2nd line centers and good to build around but they won't be almost anything, just good players.

[FLPensFan]

For sure, I would rather do any if those instead if the two firsts. In theory, the value is there. However, that chart is using a predictive data model to extract kinda like the average value of each draft slot. This year's draft is weak and I think the evidence is how much teams were slinging 2025 picks at the deadline. The picks had much lower value than other years (certainly not the only factor). I don't think any team picking top 4 would take our two firsts to move up, but I've been wrong many times!

You may be right about the 2 firsts, because just about everyone knows there is a large drop off in value past pick #8. Anything beyond pick 8 may lose 10-20% in value (complete guess there).