2025 NHL Draft

[KG]

Not sure they confirmed it yet, I did read likely 5 May or 6 May.

Just saw the lottery will be May 5th.

[Puck-Lurker]

Not sure they confirmed it yet, I did read likely 5 May or 6 May.

Just saw the lottery will be May 5th.

That's Liberation Day in my country. Has to be a sign.

That or it's Revenge of the Fifth ....

[Gunnerfan]

Not sure they confirmed it yet, I did read likely 5 May or 6 May.

Just saw the lottery will be May 5th.

That's Liberation Day in my country. Has to be a sign.

That or it's Revenge of the Fifth ....

Are you from the Netherlands? If so, how the heck did you become a Pens fan? My English friends ask me the same question about my Arsenal fandom.

[Victor]

Not sure they confirmed it yet, I did read likely 5 May or 6 May.

Just saw the lottery will be May 5th.

That's Liberation Day in my country. Has to be a sign.

That or it's Revenge of the Fifth ....

Are you from the Netherlands? If so, how the heck did you become a Pens fan? My English friends ask me the same question about my Arsenal fandom.

Of course it was because of Daniel Sprong

[Puck-Lurker]

Not sure they confirmed it yet, I did read likely 5 May or 6 May.

Just saw the lottery will be May 5th.

That's Liberation Day in my country. Has to be a sign.

That or it's Revenge of the Fifth ....

Are you from the Netherlands? If so, how the heck did you become a Pens fan? My English friends ask me the same question about my Arsenal fandom.

Of course it was because of Daniel Sprong

And... You would be wrong, though the timing fits.

First exposure to ice hockey was the 98 Olympics, specifically a poorly made video game I had of it that I played to death. Then a ton of nothing, the sport has close to zero footprint here. I would watch it every winter Olympics, as my favourite sport available. During the mid 2010s I was watching sports online at late and very odd hours via various streams. 1-5AM stuff, no good football on at those hours. (No offense, but the MLS sucks...)

Kinda started watching ice hockey. Remembered I liked the concepts and the speed of it. Teams I would watch then... Stars, Flyers (I didn't know any better), Penguins and Blackhawks. There was just so much hockey, figured I'd mostly stick to watching one team.

Let me tell you it's easy to follow in love with a team with prime Crosby and Malkin. And Hörnqvist, Fleury, Kunitz, Letang, Kessel.. Penguins were struggling then, but they played interesting hockey. Discovered Sprong was a Dutchman after becoming a bit of a fan, actually, a bonus. The first Dutch draft selection ever; alas he has a scoring talent, but no brain.

I was privileged to see this team, when Sullivan came in, with Daley for Scuderi and youth coming up (Scott Wilson, Sheary, Rust, Kühnhackl), to see it rise above and take the cup. And again the year after. I'll cheer harder and louder behind a screen watching my Pens than I ever did any football team inside a stadium.

How did I become a Penguins fan? I think I just got lucky!

[Victor]

Just saw the lottery will be May 5th.

That's Liberation Day in my country. Has to be a sign.

That or it's Revenge of the Fifth ....

Are you from the Netherlands? If so, how the heck did you become a Pens fan? My English friends ask me the same question about my Arsenal fandom.

Of course it was because of Daniel Sprong

And... You would be wrong, though the timing fits.

First exposure to ice hockey was the 98 Olympics, specifically a poorly made video game I had of it that I played to death. Then a ton of nothing, the sport has close to zero footprint here. I would watch it every winter Olympics, as my favourite sport available. During the mid 2010s I was watching sports online at late and very odd hours via various streams. 1-5AM stuff, no good football on at those hours. (No offense, but the MLS sucks...)

Kinda started watching ice hockey. Remembered I liked the concepts and the speed of it. Teams I would watch then... Stars, Flyers (I didn't know any better), Penguins and Blackhawks. There was just so much hockey, figured I'd mostly stick to watching one team.

Let me tell you it's easy to follow in love with a team with prime Crosby and Malkin. And Hörnqvist, Fleury, Kunitz, Letang, Kessel.. Penguins were struggling then, but they played interesting hockey. Discovered Sprong was a Dutchman after becoming a bit of a fan, actually, a bonus. The first Dutch draft selection ever; alas he has a scoring talent, but no brain.

I was privileged to see this team, when Sullivan came in, with Daley for Scuderi and youth coming up (Scott Wilson, Sheary, Rust, Kühnhackl), to see it rise above and take the cup. And again the year after. I'll cheer harder and louder behind a screen watching my Pens than I ever did any football team inside a stadium.

How did I become a Penguins fan? I think I just got lucky!

As someone who was born and raised in South America with zero exposure to winter sports in general, I can totally relate to getting to know ice hockey in a video game.

[Gunnerfan]

Just saw the lottery will be May 5th.

That's Liberation Day in my country. Has to be a sign.

That or it's Revenge of the Fifth ....

Are you from the Netherlands? If so, how the heck did you become a Pens fan? My English friends ask me the same question about my Arsenal fandom.

Of course it was because of Daniel Sprong

And... You would be wrong, though the timing fits.

First exposure to ice hockey was the 98 Olympics, specifically a poorly made video game I had of it that I played to death. Then a ton of nothing, the sport has close to zero footprint here. I would watch it every winter Olympics, as my favourite sport available. During the mid 2010s I was watching sports online at late and very odd hours via various streams. 1-5AM stuff, no good football on at those hours. (No offense, but the MLS sucks...)

Kinda started watching ice hockey. Remembered I liked the concepts and the speed of it. Teams I would watch then... Stars, Flyers (I didn't know any better), Penguins and Blackhawks. There was just so much hockey, figured I'd mostly stick to watching one team.

Let me tell you it's easy to follow in love with a team with prime Crosby and Malkin. And Hörnqvist, Fleury, Kunitz, Letang, Kessel.. Penguins were struggling then, but they played interesting hockey. Discovered Sprong was a Dutchman after becoming a bit of a fan, actually, a bonus. The first Dutch draft selection ever; alas he has a scoring talent, but no brain.

I was privileged to see this team, when Sullivan came in, with Daley for Scuderi and youth coming up (Scott Wilson, Sheary, Rust, Kühnhackl), to see it rise above and take the cup. And again the year after. I'll cheer harder and louder behind a screen watching my Pens than I ever did any football team inside a stadium.

How did I become a Penguins fan? I think I just got lucky!

That's a great story; I had a similar experience. I'm an early riser, and I caught an EPL match on at 7 am EST. I played soccer as a youngster, but never really followed European leagues. Started to watch all the games I could, and I found myself enjoying Arsenal because that team reminded me of the Lemiux Pens of the late 80s and 90 cup years. Smooth and offensive-minded. Henry, Bergkamp, Vieira and Pires were my Lemiux, Jagr, Francis and Coffey

[pekkasteele]

That's Liberation Day in my country. Has to be a sign.

That or it's Revenge of the Fifth ....

Are you from the Netherlands? If so, how the heck did you become a Pens fan? My English friends ask me the same question about my Arsenal fandom.

Of course it was because of Daniel Sprong

And... You would be wrong, though the timing fits.

First exposure to ice hockey was the 98 Olympics, specifically a poorly made video game I had of it that I played to death. Then a ton of nothing, the sport has close to zero footprint here. I would watch it every winter Olympics, as my favourite sport available. During the mid 2010s I was watching sports online at late and very odd hours via various streams. 1-5AM stuff, no good football on at those hours. (No offense, but the MLS sucks...)

Kinda started watching ice hockey. Remembered I liked the concepts and the speed of it. Teams I would watch then... Stars, Flyers (I didn't know any better), Penguins and Blackhawks. There was just so much hockey, figured I'd mostly stick to watching one team.

Let me tell you it's easy to follow in love with a team with prime Crosby and Malkin. And Hörnqvist, Fleury, Kunitz, Letang, Kessel.. Penguins were struggling then, but they played interesting hockey. Discovered Sprong was a Dutchman after becoming a bit of a fan, actually, a bonus. The first Dutch draft selection ever; alas he has a scoring talent, but no brain.

I was privileged to see this team, when Sullivan came in, with Daley for Scuderi and youth coming up (Scott Wilson, Sheary, Rust, Kühnhackl), to see it rise above and take the cup. And again the year after. I'll cheer harder and louder behind a screen watching my Pens than I ever did any football team inside a stadium.

How did I become a Penguins fan? I think I just got lucky!

As someone who was born and raised in South America with zero exposure to winter sports in general, I can totally relate to getting to know ice hockey in a video game.

My story is basically the same, I followed my local team Kiruna (Where Börje Salming started) and then, in the early 90s we went to London, I bought a jacket, happened to be a Penguin jacket, then when EA released NHL 94 I picked the team I recognized, and it was the Pens.

My story for football is also related to a game, my friend that was a Liverpool fan wanted to play football manager, I did not know anything about the Premier league or the teams, but he said that Ryan Giggs is good, so pick Manchester United, and I have followed them since then.

[Victor]

Draft lottery's draw will be held live this year: https://www.nhl.com/news/2025-nhl-draft ... r-1st-time

[FLPensFan]

Draft lottery's draw will be held live this year: https://www.nhl.com/news/2025-nhl-draft ... r-1st-time

Can we send Craig Patrick as our representative?

[FLPensFan]

Not good for Victor Eklund....cut on the wrist by a skate at World's a few hours ago. No word yet on potential damage. Sliced tendon would have him out for a few months:

[Puck-Lurker]

Not good for Victor Eklund....cut on the wrist by a skate at World's a few hours ago. No word yet on potential damage. Sliced tendon would have him out for a few months:

Woof... That is rough. Hope he'll recover fully quickly.

[Ericf]

Not good for Victor Eklund....cut on the wrist by a skate at World's a few hours ago. No word yet on potential damage. Sliced tendon would have him out for a few months:

That’s not Victor…it’s William who played for the Sharks

[KG]

Bob McKenzie listed his top 16 for the draft.

[Victor]

Bob McKenzie listed his top 16 for the draft.

All top centers being picked before Eklund makes sense, as centers are usually viewed as more valuable.

[pens_CT]

Bob McKenzie listed his top 16 for the draft.

All top centers being picked before Eklund makes sense, as centers are usually viewed as more valuable.

If the Penguins get the Rangers pick this year look at Brady Martin if all of the centers go before the Pens first selection. The Pens GM connection to the Soo, Martin's junior team, along with the fact that Martin is now in that 12 to 14 th ranking location for prospects, I think throws him into the mix. The ideal draft would be center followed by defensemen in the first round. However they can't bypass Eklund if the higher ranked guys are gone.

[thehockeyguru]

Bleacher Nation had a mock with Hagens falling to us at 8. Their rationale was he's too small to stay at C in the NHL

[Puck-Lurker]

Bleacher Nation had a mock with Hagens falling to us at 8. Their rationale was he's too small to stay at C in the NHL

Eh.. don't see a scenario where we pick #8, unless we move up..

Winning draft lottery gets us #1.. or #2.. or if you're a math nerd it's technically possible to get #3. More likely 9th. With chances to drop to 10 or 11

[dark_forces]

Bleacher Nation had a mock with Hagens falling to us at 8. Their rationale was he's too small to stay at C in the NHL

Eh.. don't see a scenario where we pick #8, unless we move up..

Winning draft lottery gets us #1.. or #2.. or if you're a math nerd it's technically possible to get #3. More likely 9th. With chances to drop to 10 or 11

I wonder if it's worth taking McQueen if he's there at #9? I think he's looked at with a possible higher ceiling in terms of offense and what he could be.

[Puck-Lurker]

Bleacher Nation had a mock with Hagens falling to us at 8. Their rationale was he's too small to stay at C in the NHL

Eh.. don't see a scenario where we pick #8, unless we move up..

Winning draft lottery gets us #1.. or #2.. or if you're a math nerd it's technically possible to get #3. More likely 9th. With chances to drop to 10 or 11

I wonder if it's worth taking McQueen if he's there at #9? I think he's looked at with a possible higher ceiling in terms of offense and what he could be.

I'd be on board with that, to be honest. Scouts should look be looking heavily into him in case he drops to 9. Some excellent ways that he could be a total bust and never play, but also potentially a solid add to the roster.

[DelPen]

Doing the draft lottery live to reveal who won each draw instead of counting backwards of the picks which was only interesting in the Crosby draft. This should be better.

[KG]

Doing the draft lottery live to reveal who won each draw instead of counting backwards of the picks which was only interesting in the Crosby draft. This should be better.

I’m not sure what’s happening watching this lol

[maopens]

This is quite an elaborate process to drag this out for 30 minutes

[FLPensFan]

All I know is are odds shot up a ton on ball #3

[maopens]

I especially enjoyed watching Bettman read the numbers 1-14 on each of those ping pong balls.

I'm actually surprised he can count that high.