All Episodes

January 28, 2025 42 mins
SteelFlyers All Sports Network
Brought to you by www.steelflyers.com


Warning! Prospect Watch is not your average hockey podcast and that's OK with us.


Our goal is to introduce you to stars in the making from all over the world.


They may not be household names yet but we assure you they will be soon enough.


Welcome to Prospect Watch a Pod Cast that focuses solely on the discovery and promotion of some of the best young talent in the game today from all reaches of the world.


On the show Lance and Ron will break down Lance's latest article about the Top 5 Forwards for the 2025 NHL Draft!


THE ARTICLE:
https://steelflyers.com/top-five-forwards-available-in-the-2025-nhl-draft/


Top 5 Forwards:
1. James Hagens 
2. Porter Martone 
3. Michael Misa 
4. Anton Frondell 
5. Roger McQueen 



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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Warning, prospect Watch is not your average hockey podcast, and
that's okay with us. Our goal is to introduce you
to stars in the making from all over the world.
They may not be household names yet, but we assure
you they will be soon enough. Welcome to prospect Watch,

(00:44):
Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the next edition of prospect
Watch with your host a man Screen.

Speaker 2 (00:51):
All right, guys, another special edition of prospect Watch here
as we start to take a look at the top
five players in positional.

Speaker 3 (01:06):
Spots here.

Speaker 2 (01:07):
So we did previously the top five defenseman and you
can catch that show as well.

Speaker 3 (01:15):
I think that's doing pretty well. Steal. Yeah, yep, yep, yep, yep.

Speaker 2 (01:18):
So in this episode, we're gonna look at the top
five forwards in the draft that we think are going
to be a hot commodity, you know, come the spring.

Speaker 1 (01:30):
And yeah, we said top five, but there might be
a few honorable mentions. So thank you all very much
for hopping on and checking us out. Man, We really
appreciate you being here. Please, if you like what we do,
hit the like and subscribe. That really helps us out man,
That really gets us going. Also really appreciate Spreaker for

(01:50):
all your help and getting us out to all the
podcasting platforms out there, man, really appreciate. All you have
to do is type in Prospect Watch on your favorite
podcasting platform. We come up, give us a five star rating, course,
give us a listen, and then you know that helps
us out as well too, So please hit the like
and subscribe.

Speaker 4 (02:06):
Really appreciate that.

Speaker 1 (02:08):
Hop on over to steel flyers dot com slash links
slash prospect Watch Show to catch all the latest episodes
of the Prospect Watch, from our interviews with Matthew Schaeffer
to our Top five Defenceman, and to all the other
great shows that we put out there as well. Be
sure to go over to steel flyers dot com to
check out all the great stuff and also check us

(02:28):
out on Facebook, and also check us out on YouTube.
You can go to the YouTube channel steel Flyers All
Sports Network and pull up the playlists and see all
the great stuff that we do there as well too.
So thank you very much, and thank you Lance for
all the great articles that you write about all these
great players that we're gonna talk about on the show.
Go over to steel flyers dot com slash links slash

(02:50):
Prospect Watch Show and check out the latest article that
Lance did top five defenceman and top five forwards. Guess
what we're talking about? The top five forwards that are
going to be available and this coming draft twenty and
twenty five NHL Draft, and Lance, I'll tell you what, buddy,
You've got a great article put together with some great guys,
some great names. Some we pretty much expect to going

(03:12):
to be there, some we weren't expecting to be there,
and some were like, wait a minute, why aren't they there?

Speaker 3 (03:19):
All right?

Speaker 1 (03:20):
Okay, right, because man, there's a lot of good ones
this year. This is a very very deep draft with
something we've been talking about for the last two years.
Twenty and twenty five in twenty twenty six are going
to be really deep drafts when it comes to forwards, defenseman,
and yes, even goaltenders.

Speaker 4 (03:37):
So let's hop right in, shall we?

Speaker 5 (03:41):
Lance?

Speaker 3 (03:41):
Sure?

Speaker 5 (03:42):
All right? Are you ready to go?

Speaker 3 (03:44):
I think so?

Speaker 1 (03:45):
All right, Okay, here we go, folks, Prospect Watch talking
about a special edition for the top five forwards eligible
in this year's coming draft twenty and twenty five NHL Draft.
And the first name on our list is I don't
even think you could. I don't even think this is

(04:07):
a question, do you know what I mean? I know
there's gonna be questions out there for other folks, but
as far as you and I are concerned, James Haggins
number one, Yeah for sure.

Speaker 2 (04:21):
I mean, this kid is amazing a center prospect. Obviously
five foot eleven, one hundred and seventy six pounds right now,
so not the biggest guy, but man, he proved in
World Juniors that he didn't need to be right right
eighteen years old from New York. Just man, I've never

(04:43):
seen a kid steal be able to play this young
with his head up for the entire time. He never
looks down at the puck. He knows where it is
on his stick. It is amazing, I know, absolutely amazing
to watch it looks it looks like it's a video
game or something for him out there and he's playing

(05:05):
in rookie mode. Yeah, because he's it's that easy for
him at this level. I mean, and you can and
you can look at just you know, the gold the
gold medals.

Speaker 3 (05:17):
He has to prove it, right.

Speaker 2 (05:20):
You know a lot of people kind of started to
look down on him a little bit when he went
to Boston College, and but he had nothing else to
prove really with the US national team.

Speaker 3 (05:33):
Right, he's eighteen.

Speaker 5 (05:35):
Now.

Speaker 2 (05:36):
You know last year with them, he had well over
one hundred points and you know, forty goals and all kinds.

Speaker 5 (05:44):
Of stuff like massive amount twenty two games.

Speaker 1 (05:47):
And just in twenty two games this year he's got
six goals and nineteen assists for twenty five points. So
I mean, so he's he's a gys how to put
the biscuit in the basket.

Speaker 2 (05:56):
Right, He's gotten going now, and you got to realize
that Boston College.

Speaker 3 (06:00):
Edge has a wealth of talent already.

Speaker 2 (06:04):
Drafted on that Rosy that is that is playing above him.
Oh yes, this kid is going to be a potential
number one overall pick potentially maybe, But like Steele said,
now that he's gotten going in the season, improved himself
a little bit with Boston College, the Eagles are now
having him play more and more where he's over a

(06:26):
point per game player now and Steel you know, me,
being an old goaltender, I like a plus player and
he's a plus eighteen.

Speaker 3 (06:35):
Okay, so that is that is Uh. You know, he's.

Speaker 2 (06:38):
Defensively sound as well. All right, he's got a shot.
You know, he's an amazing speedster. When he gets the
puck on his stick, he doesn't even slow down, steer
it steel. It looks like he speeds up. Yeah, and
that's rare in a sense as well. So I mean,
a two way center who's as good as he is

(07:01):
defensively as he is offensively. He can skate with anybody.
I mean, what's not to love about this kid?

Speaker 3 (07:09):
And and and at World Juniors for a good old
Team USA.

Speaker 2 (07:14):
In seven games, he had five goals, for assists for
nine points, and he was a plus nine in this tournament.
And that's a true test for a lot of scout
agree for.

Speaker 3 (07:25):
Scouts, because yes, they can.

Speaker 2 (07:27):
They can be explosive player in their own right in
their league wherever they're playing in the world. But what
happens when you get everybody together in one arena, playing
for their nation's colors and putting up the best prospects
against the best prospects from every country. And he showed

(07:50):
his worth for sure. Uh there, he showed that he's
he's elite. And that's a reason why he's going to
be one of the top players taken in this draft.

Speaker 3 (08:00):
It's all, it's all, you know, what they need, you know,
at that at that level.

Speaker 2 (08:05):
I mean some of these teams, some of those teams
have been kind of horrible for quite a few years,
have been drafting the top offensive player every year. So
it depends how the dominoes fall. They might want to
take a top defender or something like that, uh, to
kind of balance their team a little bit. But it's
gonna be hard to pass by this guy if you're

(08:26):
sitting there at number and I got my number one pick, Steve,
I gotta tell you, okay.

Speaker 4 (08:32):
I mean, I like how he skates. I like his tenacity.

Speaker 1 (08:39):
I I like his willingness to also get into the
dirty areas, do.

Speaker 5 (08:44):
You know what I mean?

Speaker 1 (08:44):
And you saw that in the World Juniors where he
was constantly buzzing around the neck around the net, and
it just seemed like the puck just seemed to.

Speaker 5 (08:53):
Follow him around. Yeah, you know what I mean.

Speaker 1 (08:56):
I mean it just the guy is just it's very
rare that you see a young player. Now, look, we
say young, but he's eighteen, so he's a little bit
more established. Playing for Boston College. That team is stacked,
folks with already number one draft picks. Okay, and the
fact that he's playing there and still producing at a

(09:17):
point per game tells you a lot, even though he's
probably playing third or fourth line minutes up there, you
know what I'm saying. So I definitely agree with you
on this as far as top forwards all day long.

Speaker 5 (09:30):
I like, this kid has.

Speaker 1 (09:34):
A very high ceiling. Like, I don't think we've seen
his best yet. I don't think we've even seen him
fully grown and matured yet either, you know what I mean.
I think he might have another inch or two he
could probably do, probably put on another couple ten to
twenty pounds depending on how things go, you know what
I mean, that kind of thing. So I would really

(09:55):
I can't wait to see him in like a year
or two from now.

Speaker 2 (09:59):
Yeah, for sure, he's a special player right now. But
you know when when he gets in an NHL camp
and starts learning from professional coaches exactly what they want
for him and how best to achieve those goals, that's
that's gonna be something pretty special.

Speaker 5 (10:20):
I think so too.

Speaker 1 (10:21):
I think so too, And I think he's going to
be another one of those special players that we're going
to see coming out in the draft. There's gonna be
quite a few of them. I think, like we said,
this draft is gonna be pretty deep. Next year's draft
is going to be just as deep. So you're gonna
see a lot of these I don't want to call
him generational players. I just want to call them special players,
you know, because I don't think we have a Cindy

(10:45):
Crosby or or you know, a Connor McDavid in the
next two drafts.

Speaker 5 (10:51):
But I think we have guys that are probably just.

Speaker 1 (10:54):
A tiny click below them, but still elite still, you
know what.

Speaker 2 (11:00):
I mean, They're gonna be They're gonna be definitely, you know,
banner hanging right type players, you know, right, these these
people are gonna be plastered over you know, the billboards
and the banners hanging outside the buildings of their respected teams.
But yeah, I don't think that they're the next Alexander

(11:22):
Avchkin in this draft, but man, this kid's This kid
and others that we're getting ready to talk about right
here are gonna be special players. Are going to be
contributing factors for the next ten to fifteen years for
whatever team the drafts for sure.

Speaker 4 (11:38):
Exactly exactly.

Speaker 1 (11:38):
And that's the reasons why we like doing this, is
because we like having these types of doing these kinds
of shows so we can break down these kinds of
players because look, Hooks, we look at a lot of tape.
We watch a lot of young players play hockey, and
it's it's refreshing to see players with their head screwed
on and know what they want and have the work

(11:59):
ethic and willing to do what they need to do
to get it there.

Speaker 5 (12:01):
And and when.

Speaker 1 (12:02):
You talk to these kids on a regular basis, like
we do, you see the drive. You see the work ethic,
you see the want to, you see the goals that
they set for themselves, you know.

Speaker 5 (12:14):
What I mean.

Speaker 1 (12:14):
So you see the drive for these kids, and it's
very refreshing to see.

Speaker 5 (12:18):
So I'm going to tell you right.

Speaker 1 (12:19):
Now, this guy here, I wouldn't even say is the
number two. I would say one. A hm, right, as
far as I'm concerned. And we're talking about Porter Martone,
and he's the number two guy on your list, but
in theory, I would put him as one.

Speaker 5 (12:38):
A Well, that's my list.

Speaker 1 (12:40):
My top five list actually has seven players on it, so.

Speaker 5 (12:45):
Yours only has five.

Speaker 2 (12:47):
So right right, you know, Porter is a fantastic young player.
I mean he plays for the Steelheads of the OHL
and UH scouts to love this guy because not only
is he a sniper, he can, you know, score goals
at will.

Speaker 3 (13:07):
But he's got the size.

Speaker 2 (13:09):
He's got NHL size still six foot three, two hundred
and seven pounds, already, big body winger who's going to
be a power forward.

Speaker 3 (13:19):
Well, he is a power forward, but.

Speaker 2 (13:21):
In the NHL, in terms of the NHL is he's
going to be a big body power forward for an
NHL team. And you know, I don't see a whole
lot of those coming out of the draft, especially with
his offensive talents, not like him and not with that size,
not doing this right, not scoring points at the rate

(13:42):
he is. And you know this year he's the captain
of that team. And thirty three games he already has
twenty two goals, forty assists for sixty two points.

Speaker 3 (13:53):
He's a plus fifteen games.

Speaker 2 (13:56):
Yeah, he's projected, if he keeps up with this pace,
to score one hundred and eleven points this season.

Speaker 5 (14:03):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (14:04):
All right, so man, this kid can play.

Speaker 2 (14:09):
He is probably one of the best players to come
out of Canada. The next guy will talk about is
right there with him.

Speaker 3 (14:19):
But they're a little bit different player.

Speaker 2 (14:20):
Okay, this is a big body, power forward that can
get in the dirty areas, can can you know, score.

Speaker 3 (14:28):
Those goals when needed. I really like him still.

Speaker 2 (14:33):
I think he's going to be an amazing NHL player.
He's got the size he could He could probably step
in next season if if a team wants him to.
Because of his size, his strength is already there. You know,
he's got an NHL shot already. So you know, I

(14:55):
I think that a struggling team inside the top five
of overall is gonna snatch this kind of guy up
because this is not a guy that you're going to
have to wait two or three seasons for to develop exactly.

Speaker 3 (15:09):
He's gonna be ready now if you want him to be. Yeah,
you could send him back to juniors.

Speaker 2 (15:14):
But at a projected rate of one hundred and eleven points,
what else does he got to prove next year?

Speaker 3 (15:20):
You know what I mean?

Speaker 2 (15:21):
You're taking a risk of players trying to prove themselves
down there, taking runs at them and everything else like that.
If you're a struggling team, a franchise and you need
a face of your franchise to come in and sell
some jerseys and get some butts in seats.

Speaker 3 (15:38):
This is your guy.

Speaker 2 (15:39):
This is your guy that's gonna be able to do
that and produce. Maybe not the top player you know
that'll be available in this draft, but he's darn close
and he's probably the most NH already.

Speaker 1 (15:55):
I look at him as exactly what you just said, Lance,
I look at him as NHL ready because he's already
playing the NHL game already. Okay, as far as I'm concerned.
When you watch him play, he's already kind of playing
the NHL game already.

Speaker 4 (16:10):
He looks like a man amongst boys out there.

Speaker 5 (16:15):
He really does. He really does.

Speaker 1 (16:18):
He's the kind of guy that when he steps out
onto the ice, other teams coaches are going to send
defenders against him because he's that kind of a threat.
He does, he has, He follows through on his checks right.
You watch him play, he's got that mindset. He knows
how to use his body to get where he wants

(16:40):
to go on the ice. Okay, and that is very
attractive as far as seeing a big body forward like
that that is willing to use his body to get
where he needs to go. He's got good skating ability,
he's got good stride, but he really has an NHL
shot already. And he's you can definitely tell he's going

(17:02):
to be that power forward, that quintessential power forward that
you need, that is going to be able to plant
there in front of the net and be that tip
in guy or be that guy that's going to go
and take care of business when it needs to be
taken care of, you know what I'm saying, right, And
I honestly think that with all the players that we've

(17:22):
talked to and all the players that are going to
be available, I think you're going to see Porter go
in the top five.

Speaker 5 (17:29):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (17:29):
I think that's you know, definitely a reasonable you know,
likelihood of that happening. I think that, you know, like
I said, he's he's going to be a hot commodity
to a team that needs somebody now.

Speaker 1 (17:44):
And I was quite surprised at his limited role with
Team Canada at Juniors.

Speaker 5 (17:51):
I mean, he only played two games, three.

Speaker 3 (17:54):
Yeah, something like that.

Speaker 5 (17:56):
I think I think he was sick though for one game.

Speaker 3 (17:59):
I don't think. Yeah, I don't think he was one
hundred percent.

Speaker 2 (18:01):
And I think you know, between missing him and obviously
you know Matthew Schaeffer, you know that Canada and.

Speaker 1 (18:10):
You know they helped, you know, so I can't remember
if he was sick for one of the games and
only played two games or something, but I was just
a little bit more surprised at his limited role with
Team Canada, Like he didn't play in the first game
because I think he was sick. But you know, if
they played quite a few games in the World Juniors,
and the fact that if you only miss one game

(18:31):
because you're sick and you're able to play two and
they played what five or six games or something like
that Canada did before they were eliminated, it just would
have been nicer to see more of a role for
him on Team Canada. And I think they would have
done a little better as well too. So all right,
Porter Martone, we think he's going to go in the
top five. Okay, here we go, number three on the list, okay,

(18:55):
And and I agree, I think this player is just
about at that same level, right, you know, as far
as putting the biscuit in the basket and doing the
right things. And we're talking about Michael Misa here man,
talk to me about this awesome player that we got
number three on your list.

Speaker 3 (19:16):
Yeah, So, I.

Speaker 2 (19:17):
Mean as far as scoring ability, they they play in
the same league, they play in the Ohl. Michael plays
for the Spirit Missaginaw. And you know, he's got more goals.
He's got more points right now than Porter. He's got
thirty eight goals and forty three assists for eighty one

(19:39):
points right now and only forty games played. If you
do the math, that's multiple points a game. Okay, so
he's a plus thirty two. So he's defensively sold as well.

Speaker 3 (19:53):
All right, he's.

Speaker 2 (19:54):
Projected to finish the season with one hundred and thirty
two points. This so amazing, amazing young player here again,
But I think he's a little bit different player.

Speaker 3 (20:09):
Okay. I don't think he's a.

Speaker 2 (20:10):
Power forward esque player that Porto Martone was. He's six
foot one, he's one hundred and eighty five pounds, so
he's not small by any means, but he plays a
lot smaller. He's he's more of a spigger, playmaking guy
that kind of dances around the ice and you know,

(20:32):
doesn't look for that con you know.

Speaker 3 (20:35):
That that contact as much.

Speaker 2 (20:36):
Okay, So I think, you know, he's more of that
offensive prowess, the guy that everybody's going to be looking
to get the puck or get the puck from because
he can pass the puck as well as he can
shoot the puck. And you know, I think that again,
this is going to be a player that is going

(20:57):
to be a point producer in the NHL for a
long time to come. Now do I think he could
possibly be next season step in there?

Speaker 3 (21:07):
I don't know.

Speaker 2 (21:07):
I don't think so. I think he might need another
year of juniors. Although he's scoring at such a high
rate now, it's tough to send the player back to that.
But you know, it's going to depend on who drafts him.
But whoever, whomever does, it's going to be quite the

(21:28):
pickup because this guy is going to be an immediate
threat into somebody's top six.

Speaker 3 (21:35):
Uh. You know, when he does make the NHL.

Speaker 1 (21:39):
He does have a very cerebral type game, more so
than I think what Porter martone.

Speaker 5 (21:44):
Porter Marton has the.

Speaker 1 (21:47):
Uh might makes right kind of mentality, you know what
I mean? Like that, That's what I meant by when
when you know, when when Porter is willing to use
his body to get where he wants to go, where
you see me, is using his brain a little bit
more and is thinking two steps ahead and making those
plays to his other you know, to his linemates or

(22:11):
being in position for his linemates to give him the
puck so he can make the play, you know what
I'm saying. So he's thinking the game more than you know,
physical the game, you know what I'm saying.

Speaker 2 (22:22):
And he's only getting better as the season goes, That's
what I mean. Yeah, he's only getting better. Michael is
over the last ten games, he has twenty points. Over
the last five games though, he's got thirteen, so he's
operating well over two points a game right now. And
it's just crazy, crazy like he's as as the season's progressing,

(22:47):
he still.

Speaker 5 (22:48):
Is, you know, better pressing.

Speaker 2 (22:51):
It's phenomenal to watch him right now. He's in such
a hot streak right now. I agree he's only helping
us stock more and more exactly.

Speaker 1 (23:01):
But I also agree though too, because I think he
may need that extra year or so down in the
minors just to kind of getting that bit of experience
because it's look, we all know, it's a it's a
faster game when you go from the juniors to the bigs.

(23:21):
It's a faster game because now you're playing against men, okay,
and and it's a faster, stronger, harder game. So will
his game translate that that potentially remains to be seen,
you know what I mean? So that's kind of where
you you look at him. He does have all the
tools and he plays a very smart game and as

(23:45):
a would be a great playmaker, do you know what
I mean? But where is he gonna fit Who's he
gonna fit with? It's all gonna depend on where the
what the teams want that are looking for a player
like that. I still think he's gonna go in the
first round though.

Speaker 2 (23:59):
Oh yeah, he's he's gonna go probably inside the top
ten for sure.

Speaker 3 (24:04):
Yeah, you know, somebody's gonna snatch him up.

Speaker 1 (24:06):
So if they don't there, they be fools, because this
player is gonna make you He's one of those players
that will make you pay if you don't pick him.

Speaker 3 (24:16):
You know what I mean?

Speaker 5 (24:17):
Yeah?

Speaker 1 (24:18):
All right, Okay, your number three pick on your top five.

Speaker 5 (24:25):
Forwards list is four. I'm sorry, number four?

Speaker 4 (24:31):
Yeah, yep, yep. Number three was Misa, So number four it's.

Speaker 3 (24:35):
Like two Aysha is like a two A.

Speaker 2 (24:37):
Yeah, that's like okay because port was one A.

Speaker 4 (24:43):
I don't know.

Speaker 3 (24:43):
Yeah, there, those three players are amazing, so pretty.

Speaker 2 (24:47):
Much getting into the you know, the the next tier
of guys here. I think, all right, I'm with you.

Speaker 1 (24:54):
Okay, So, uh Anton Frondel is your player that you
have center that Uh now, I understand why this player.

Speaker 5 (25:08):
Is is here.

Speaker 1 (25:09):
Okay, So let's talk about why you have him here
at number at number four.

Speaker 2 (25:15):
Yeah, I mean if you look at simple points right
now and stuff like that, he hasn't played a lot
of games, and he's playing in Sweden and all that stuff,
a bigger, bigger ice everything like that.

Speaker 3 (25:32):
Finland, Now you don't, no Sweden, Oh.

Speaker 1 (25:38):
Sweden, Okay, wait, let me see okay, yeah, okay, all right, Sweden.

Speaker 5 (25:45):
Yep.

Speaker 3 (25:46):
Yeah, So.

Speaker 2 (25:49):
It's it's a little bit different than here. And you're seeing,
like we talked about before, we're seeing so many different
players come over state side to prove themselves in the
state on what they can do from different countries. And
I think this guy would have benefited from coming over
to do that, but again he went the more traditional

(26:10):
route and stayed in his home country to do that.
But yeah, a six foot center, one hundred and ninety
six pounds, this guy on tape, if you watch him,
has all the intangibles. Okay, he's a two way center again,
playing both ends of the ice. He's a dangler like

(26:31):
most Swedish you know centers are you know, if you
think you're of your Dasuks and everybody else through the years.
Just phenomenal stick handling ability, just a tactician out there,
able to pick apart defensive defensive systems and schemes and

(26:52):
everything like that.

Speaker 3 (26:53):
Man, I mean, he's phenomenal.

Speaker 2 (26:55):
I just don't get why he's not putting up more points.
And I think somebody all the rankings still have him
very high.

Speaker 3 (27:04):
I'm not the only one that's still boasting this guy
because when you see him in games and you see
him doing something, I don't know why the pucks aren't
going in for him, but I think that they will
for sure and it'll come.

Speaker 2 (27:25):
And I think, you know, this player has battled some
injuries and you know, coming back from them and everything,
so sometimes that takes a little bit more time to
but just on the raw talent alone of this player
to not draft him certain teams that just to pass

(27:47):
him by.

Speaker 3 (27:47):
He is a guy that.

Speaker 2 (27:51):
Will make you regret passing him by and may get
you fired if you do pass him by.

Speaker 3 (27:57):
In a couple of years, you.

Speaker 2 (27:59):
Know, when that that owner sitting up there is watching
the game and going, why didn't we draft that kid?

Speaker 4 (28:06):
You know?

Speaker 2 (28:06):
So, yes, look for this guy in the future. And
I'm thinking, let's say the Anaheim Ducks. There's some teams
like that that love the Detroit Red Wings.

Speaker 3 (28:21):
Some teams like that.

Speaker 5 (28:24):
Gonna be good.

Speaker 2 (28:25):
They're playing not good, but you know, those those teams
that throughout the years, Buffalo and that, these teams that
aren't afraid to get these Swedish and finished players in
there in their system. Carolina's although that's gonna they're gonna
be long, long drafting after he's taking but been taken already.

(28:47):
But those type teams are the ones that are gonna
snatch this guy up and that are gonna see his
true potential because they have immense scouts over in these
leagues across the pond there, and they're going to be
the ones benefiting him, benefiting from him. Now, it's going
to take a little bit of time for this young man.

(29:09):
I think it's gonna take a year, two.

Speaker 5 (29:12):
Years after that.

Speaker 3 (29:13):
Yeah, And that's what I'm saying.

Speaker 2 (29:14):
That he's seventeen too versus the other guys we already
talked about that are eighteen, and you know it's going
to take.

Speaker 3 (29:23):
A little bit.

Speaker 2 (29:23):
But teams that are willing to wait, I think that
are going to be okay with it. Those other guys
we mentioned are top elite guys that are going to
go in the top ten overall picks for sure. Now
this guy is right there in that discussion, but he
is also a guy that could maybe fall a little
bit because of him not putting up the points that

(29:45):
teams thought he would and his injury.

Speaker 3 (29:50):
Battles and stuff like that.

Speaker 2 (29:51):
So whoever gets this guy is going to get a
gem if he can stay healthy and all that.

Speaker 1 (30:00):
So when and I've I've I've watched some tape on him,
and and I do really I am impressed with the
way he does play. I like his anticipation he's got,
he's got good fluidity as far as that's concerned.

Speaker 4 (30:18):
He's he's able to make the plays. I agree.

Speaker 1 (30:20):
I don't understand why the puck's not going in for him.

Speaker 5 (30:26):
I have a different player sure at number four.

Speaker 1 (30:32):
And I just want to touch on this though, because
I'm want to get into your number five player, and
then I'm going to do the two honorable mentions, right,
So okay. So Anton Frondelle was number four, So number five, okay.
The number five guy is Roger McQueen.

Speaker 5 (30:50):
Okay. He is a forward from the Brandon Week Kings
of w h L.

Speaker 1 (30:55):
And tell me why you have him number five on
the top five forwards eligible for the twenty twenty five
NHL Draft.

Speaker 3 (31:02):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (31:03):
I think this guy, if he stayed healthy, would have
been in the discussion of being probably.

Speaker 3 (31:10):
The fourth best forward.

Speaker 2 (31:12):
And that's because he's six foot five, one hundred and
ninety two pounds NHL size. He's a right hand shot,
he plays the body. He is a power forward, heavy,
heavy hitter, knock people off the puck, you know. And

(31:32):
he can score immaculately just all ways of the game.
He can score from out by the dots, he can
score in tight. He's not afraid to sit in front
of the net and knock him a dirty rebound or
redirect a puck. Nobody's going to move him out and
from wherever he wants to set his stance up there.

(31:56):
And he got injured this year, and as did quite
a few other players you know that we've talked about
in this defensive top five, and you know this forward
top five picks and but you know, he was on
a record setting pace. Man eight games he played this season,
he scored eight goals and eleven points.

Speaker 3 (32:20):
You know, a goal of game pace he was at.

Speaker 2 (32:22):
And even if he came back now and finished the
rest of the season, he at that pace, he would
be over thirty goals.

Speaker 3 (32:34):
Yeah, you know, he went out, He went out early
and got injured.

Speaker 2 (32:38):
And that's not like him because the two previous seasons
he played fifty plus games, fifty five games, so this
was kind of just a freak thing, hopefully, but.

Speaker 3 (32:51):
Amazing, amazing talent.

Speaker 2 (32:53):
At the Linko Gretzky Cup last year, he had, you know,
played in five games, scored four goals, three assists for
seven points. He's just a point producing forward, big body forward.
You know, came into his own last season dealing with

(33:14):
it that you know, him shooting up as far as
height goes so much and and and that short amount
of time, and really did not let that bother him.
But but you know, so many guys go from being
a certain type player to to now all of a
sudden having this immense height and strength that it kind

(33:36):
of takes a little bit of time. He took it
and ran with it or in this case, skated with it,
you know, but just you know, phenomenally. But yeah, if
he gets healthy, man, this guy is going to be
an amazing talent and somebody else that could step in
very quickly because of his size, because of his strength,

(33:58):
because of the way he plays the game.

Speaker 3 (34:00):
He plays an.

Speaker 2 (34:01):
NHL Eastern Conference rough you know, grinding game, and uh, you.

Speaker 5 (34:10):
Know, do you're not making any hints or anything.

Speaker 2 (34:12):
You know, there's a couple of teams I could think
about that could use him right about now, you know,
in that same area or area codes.

Speaker 3 (34:22):
But for sure, for sure, this guy is is a
phenomenal talent.

Speaker 2 (34:27):
And uh, you know, he's a guy that's gonna drop
because he's been injured. There's not a lot of game
There's previously a lot of game tape on him, but
not so much this season. And uh, you know, obviously
gms and owners and everything like that are going to
want to see some medical records and and see you know,
him skate again before they you know, utilize that extremely

(34:53):
high pick on him. But uh, you know, whoever gets
this guy is going to be phenomenal.

Speaker 3 (35:00):
Help to that offense.

Speaker 1 (35:02):
And I wouldn't even have a problem if he dropped
to the second round.

Speaker 3 (35:06):
I don't think he'll drop that far, but.

Speaker 1 (35:08):
Well, but what I'm saying is is that if he
dropped to the second round, that that might open him
up for more for for more teams available or willing
to take a chance on him, because that's basically what
you have to do with this player, just based off
of his past medical experience and everything else like that,
you know what I mean.

Speaker 4 (35:28):
And they do that a lot with the with the uh.

Speaker 1 (35:31):
The NFL players too, where if an NFL player comes
in hurt, and you know, they get all the medical
records and all the other kind of stuff too. So
the look, a team that's gonna take him is gonna
have to definitely do their homework and.

Speaker 4 (35:42):
Make sure that he's going to be capable of playing.

Speaker 1 (35:45):
If he's able to come back this year, that's only
gonna help him. That's only gonna benefit him if he's
able to come back and play at any level this year. Right,
And I understand why you have him at number five,
and I get it. And I watched him tape on
this player and I watched I was I god to
pay attention to him a little bit last year as
well too. I was looking at him, thinking, hey man,
this guy's pretty good. He's putting up a lot of points,

(36:06):
and he's playing a big body, and the year before
he wasn't quite as tall, and you know, look, we
look at a lot of guys, right, So all right,
I'm just gonna say honorable mentions.

Speaker 5 (36:18):
Caleb d'one.

Speaker 3 (36:20):
I knew that was the first name you're going to
go to.

Speaker 5 (36:22):
Yeah, yeah, why why?

Speaker 4 (36:24):
What?

Speaker 5 (36:24):
Where? Who? Why?

Speaker 1 (36:26):
I mean playing for the Q thirty eight games, twenty
five goals, thirty five assists, sixty two points.

Speaker 5 (36:33):
That ain't no slouch.

Speaker 4 (36:34):
And by the way, we're trying to get Caleb on
the show.

Speaker 3 (36:38):
So well that's les. Let's get it done.

Speaker 5 (36:42):
So let's get it time. Come on, guys, Wildcats, let's go.

Speaker 2 (36:45):
But what I think is going to hurt him the most,
and he's a phenomenal player, uh twenty seven goals, sixty
two points already this year is his brother is gonna
hurt him because Elliott Deone, who is a flyer's problem,
had the same level of hype around him, maybe not

(37:06):
to this extent, but was an amazing, amazing player in
juniors and has has not been able to progress out
of the AHL. Correct, And that's right, and that's what
I think will hear him. That's why I left him
off my life.

Speaker 1 (37:21):
Okay, and I saw that, but I think that his
game is a bit different than his brothers. That's why
I think it was totally a different player, right, He's
his own man, right, right, right, right.

Speaker 3 (37:33):
That's what I was thinking.

Speaker 2 (37:34):
In terms of people that are going to be drafting
him and everything like that, I think that is going
to be in the back.

Speaker 3 (37:40):
Of their minds, maybe them maybe, maybe.

Speaker 1 (37:44):
Okay, all right, So that's that's the other name. The
other name I have is j O'Brien. I mean j
O'Brien also playing for the OHL forty five games, has
twenty five goals thirty four assists for fifty nine points already, right,
so well over point per game. Player has all the tools.
I think, as far as I'm concerned, you know what

(38:06):
I'm saying, he would be he would be my honorable
mention as well.

Speaker 2 (38:12):
Yeah, you know, Jake Jacobrien, you know, plays for the
Branford Bulldogs of the OHL. He's young, he's still you know, seventeen,
won't turn eighteen until June. So he's one of the
younger guys in this draft. He's a center, six foot two,

(38:33):
one hundred and seventy pounds, a little bit light for
his size, but young. He's seventeen, he's young, uses it
to his advantage. Twenty five goals, fifty nine points this season.
He's a minus player, And that was my kind of
catch with him. He's enticing just watching him.

Speaker 5 (38:55):
Man.

Speaker 2 (38:55):
Can he put up some points, for sure, But it's
that I'm with you at that top realm. I think
it's it's that those guys that have have managed to
play both ends of the ice, and that's and that's
why I h he was in consideration in my top
five for sure. But maybe just on that outside, you know,

(39:18):
can you teach can you teach a guy to play defense?

Speaker 5 (39:20):
Yes?

Speaker 3 (39:22):
Can you teach a guy to have that natural scoring ability?
Not so much?

Speaker 5 (39:26):
Not so much.

Speaker 1 (39:26):
So.

Speaker 2 (39:27):
That is where some of those other teams and maybe
the teams see him drafting in the teens, see him
hatch him up and say, hey, go ahead and handle
that buck down on the offensive zone. But we're gonna
also teach you how to play a little bit of defense.

Speaker 5 (39:42):
Oh yeah, right exactly.

Speaker 1 (39:43):
Okay, Well, there you have it, folks, I mean our
our top five players with a few honorable mentions, James
Hagen's number one, and then Porto Marteau number two, Michael
Meson number three, Anton pron Down number four, and Rod
McQueen at number five, and then our honorable mentions.

Speaker 5 (40:05):
Please, if you guys like what we do.

Speaker 1 (40:07):
Hit the like and subscribe, man, we really appreciate that.
Be looking forward to Lance Green's article because we got
one more left. That's right, folks, we save the best
for last top five goalies. Oh boy, can't wait for
that one. Lance, can't wait for that one. Can't wait
to do the show for the top five goalies as well.

Speaker 5 (40:29):
Thank you all very much.

Speaker 1 (40:30):
For checking us out and tuning in, man, we really
appreciate it. By the way, hop on over to draft
Utopia and check them guys out.

Speaker 3 (40:37):
Man.

Speaker 1 (40:37):
They got a lot of stuff going over there about
what's going on with the draft, and they're talking about
a lot of things, not just from the NHL draft,
but the NFL draft, the NBA draft, and the Major
League Baseball draft as well too. So hop on over
to draft Utopia and check them out as well. Be
sure to hop on over to steel Flyers Dot com
slash links slash prospect Watch to catch all of Lance's

(40:58):
latest articles about the Prospects in all of our latest
shows as well. Thank you very much, Lance for all you.

Speaker 5 (41:04):
Do, brother awesome.

Speaker 3 (41:05):
I appreciate it. Uh, thank you guys for watching. Let
us know.

Speaker 2 (41:10):
If there's any prospects you want us to try to
speak to, we'll we'll reach out and try to get
them on the show and any other shows like this
that should be willing to want to view. Of course,
like Steele said, we're going to work on the Goaltenders next.
That is close to and near and dear to my heart,

(41:31):
of course, since I played goaltender my whole life.

Speaker 3 (41:35):
So I've got about.

Speaker 2 (41:38):
One on my lists, but I'm still working on nailing
out who the other two might be so.

Speaker 1 (41:44):
Good, and I'm pretty sure that we are probably gonna
see some names that we've spoken to on the list,
I believe.

Speaker 4 (41:51):
What do you think of a company?

Speaker 3 (41:52):
Us?

Speaker 5 (41:53):
Just a couple?

Speaker 3 (41:54):
All right? All right?

Speaker 1 (41:56):
Be sure to check out prospect Watch on YouTube. Be
sure to check us out on face book and also
out there on x and on all of your podcasting platforms.
Thank you very much for tuning in and watching us.
We will catch you all on the next episode. A
prospect watch
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