Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - BREAKING: Penguins get the 12th overall pick from New York!

Episode Date: June 24, 2025

The Penguins, as of now, will have back-to-back draft picks in the 2025 NHL Draft, officially getting the Rangers’ first-round pick. Hunter and Patrick begin the show discussing the latest on trade rumors surrounding Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell. The situation for the Penguins with these two forwards is unique as the Penguins hold most of the leverage, so when and should they trade them? Then, the New York Rangers made it official on Tuesday morning, announcing they have informed the Penguins and the league that they will give the Penguins the 12th overall pick in this year’s draft. Finally, they look at two more potential picks in defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson and forward Brady Martin.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!RugietHead to Rugiet.com/LOCKEDONNHL and use code LOCKEDONNHL to get 15% off today. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNHL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNHL at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnhl for 50% off your first year.Wonderful PistachiosGet snackin' and get crackin' with the snack that packs a protein punch. Visit WonderfulPistachios.com to learn more! FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new FanDuel customers can get $150 in Bonus Bets if your first $5 bet wins!FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Brian Russ trade rumors continue to swirl this week, and Pat and I are going to discuss that. Plus get into more of my draft big board right after this. You're Locked-on Penguins, your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello and welcome back to another episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm one of your host, Hunter Hodes. You can follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, joined by my co-host. Patrick Damby can follow him on all social media platforms at Send him for Wet. You can follow the show's Twitter at L.O. Unnersword Penguins.

And we are now on Instagram. You can follow the show's Instagram account at Locked-on, underscore Penguins, and take a look at our minute-long clips that we post of each episode every single day. Also, thank you guys so much for making this your first listen slash watch of the day. We are free and available on all platforms. And Pat, you wanted to really discuss this to kick off today's show because there's been more Brian Rush, trade rumors, trade reports, whatever word you want to use to describe this.

For me, I think it's just kind of the same thing that we keep reading every single day. Penguins are quote-unquote the only team selling. If I have to read that one more time, I might throw my PC in the street. Penguins are taking calls on Brian Russ. We've been hearing about this for the last few weeks. They're taking calls on Ricardo Kell.

Eric Carlson, you saw David Pagnoda of the fourth period, bring up Ryan Graves as well for the right price over the weekend. I think we all know what the right prices, David Pagnoda. It's not much future considerations, if that, honestly. But Pat, you said you had a take that might be a bit different. I said everything I've needed to say about trading Brian Rust, trading Ricardo Raquel, trading Eric Carlson on the show very often throughout the off season. I'm sick and tired of these reports because it literally feels like the Brandon Ayuk saga

with the Steelers last year. We just keep reading the same thing. Oh, the Steelers, it looks like it's getting close. sitting out of practice, when is the trade going to happen? And then he re-signed with the 49ers. I don't think you're going to see any resigning. Of course, it's because all three players are under contract. But like, I'll just hand this over to you.

What's your take that might be a little bit different? Because I can't keep reading the same reports anymore. So a couple things on this. One, I remember when we first broached this topic a week or two ago, whenever it was about a potential Brian Russ trade. I want to make sure that because both Hunter and I have this same kind of mentality on a potential Brian Russ trade. And that's we are able to separate the fandom from the plan, the fandom from the plandom, if you will. But basically as a fan, I don't ever want to see Brian Rust playing another uniform.

I think he has a lot of value to the younger guys who are going to be. be coming up over the next few years because he's not a true blue superstar and as a player who had to earn everything he has, that's valuable experience to a lot of prospects who aren't going to be true blue superstars. On the other hand, to get where the penguins want to go, you probably do have to make tough decisions like trading Brian Rust. Now, here's the way that I want to approach a potential Brian Rust trade. We know on July, one, which is surprisingly just like a week away, which is nuts, but on July 1, his no movement clause expires. So he is, the penguins are free to do with him whatever they please. They can

trade them, they can wave them, they can do whatever they want within the bounds of the CBA, which gives them all the power and all leverage. The way I see a potential Brian Russ trade working is there are two moments where you can strike where the iron's hot. second week of July and then the trade deadline. Because we know that the salary cap is going to explode over the next couple of years. It's going to be the biggest increases we've ever seen since the NHL implemented a triple hard salary cap. We also know that the July 1st free agency class this year is fairly underwhelming outside of four or five players. It's a lot of guys who are going to get big paydays because salary caps going up,

but it's probably not going to be what their actual worth is because a bunch of teams are going to see the big number in cap space and think we can go on a spending spree. That said, a lot of teams, and yes, I know Hunter, you're ready to throw your PC out the window when you hear this, but with the Penguins being the only true, I would say, sellers right now, it means every team is working to improve. and on July 1, there are going to be a lot more teams that didn't get the guy they wanted and would probably be willing to overpay

on a trade for Brian Rust or even Ricard Raquel. Now, the Penguins have him under control for a while. He's still a productive player. He still has a lot of value to the franchise. So if on July 7, 8, 9, a few teams line up, they call you, they give you offers and you go, You know what? It's not enough. We're going to hold on to them.

No problem. But hey, keep our number. We can talk in a few months. Then you go to the trade deadline. There are going to be a lot of teams who, once you get to that point of the year, are going to know what their weaknesses are. They're going to know what they need and they're going to need to get it bad. And we look, I look at the NHL at large this year, both the east and west.

there's probably, I would say in each conference, 12 to 13 teams that are going to be battling for just eight spots each conference. So there's going to be a feeding frenzy on the trade deadline. And that is another time where you can maximize your leverage and your value. So at the end of the day, when we say we're looking at a teams are calling, there's a potential Brian Rush trade. It's not us saying, oh, they should just go ahead and do it. They should just ship this off now, go get assets, continue this rebuild on the fly. But much like this penguins rebuild on the fly, when you break it down to a micro level with guys like Ricard Raquel and Brian Rust, just like the rebuild on the fly,

they're actually in a very lucky position because everything is going to mostly break their way. on the macro level, salary caps going up. A lot of teams are going to be willing to pay big bucks and big assets for trades. You're going to have a ton of cap space and you're going to have all your key pieces locked up plus a bunch of prospects. And then you go down to this micro level with Rust and Raquel. And not a lot of teams are selling. A lot of teams are buying.

And you have two good assets at Forward that you don't have to panic and just get out the door while you can, you can wait and get a really good return. And I've been saying that all offseason. Like the free agency class is not that good. You know, once a player like Marner signs, once Marciaan goes, Eilers, Sam Bennett, and we think Sam Bennett's probably going to go back to Florida. We have to see what happens with Marcia. Sounds like Marner might go out west, Vegas, by the way.

And that makes a lot all the sense in the world for them. Once you see some of these big name forwards come off the market, it really dries up. And that's when teams are going to start going to other teams that have available players for trade. And like, hey, what are you thinking here? Obviously, that includes the Penguins because Brian Rust and Ricardo, Raquel, are out there. And the Penguins are listening to offers. And heck, maybe they've even gotten some offers. But the Penguins, obviously, if they have gotten offers, they're like, okay, this isn't what we want yet.

Keep seeing what you can do here. And if you can get a team to really overpay for Brian Rust, then, hey, you very much can think about moving him after July 1 during the season. trade deadline, all that stuff. But, you know, I've said the same thing about Brian Russ multiple times on the show. If you want me to repeat it here, fine. I can separate the fan from, like, the objective thing. I love Brian Russ. The fan in me does not want him to play for anyone else. However, if you can get a team to really, and I mean really overpay for it, and I'm talking three, maybe even more assets coming back, but I would like three. Okay, then that's something that you as an organization as a front office you have to consider.

You brought up the fan in you with, you know, appealing to young players for Brian Russ. I wouldn't even put that in that category. I would put that in the more objective category because, yeah, it's not, you know, producing offense, playing his two-way game, being physical. It's the intangible stuff. But I still think that matters, considering how long he has been there, the championships he's won, the bond that he has formed with the core three, the way that he can really help some of these younger players develop the way that he can be a voice of reason in the

locker room when Crosby, Malkin, Lattang, don't want to speak to the media. You still can't measure that. And I do think part of that still factors into the equation when it comes to Brian Rust. So we can keep hearing all these reports and all that. but again, wake me up when something happens at this right. I still will say that there's a better chance that Ricard Raquel gets dealt over Brian Russ. I will be out there right now.

I don't think Brian Russ gets traded this off season. If he does, it better be for a pretty freaking big package, though. I will say that. I would say this. And I completely agree with you. I think the more likely scenario is a Ricard Raquel trade over Brian Rush trade. Or Eric Carlson. And I do think the organization.

values Brian Rust a lot more than they let on, especially for all the reasons you just said. And I'll just say this real quick. Off the top of my head, if there are four teams that I would keep in constant contact with about a potential Brian Russ trade, it's Detroit, Chicago, Carolina, and Nashville. Because Nashville, they had some heavy expectations, fell very short of them. and Barry Trots is probably already feeling the heat. Carolina, he is maybe the most Rod Brindamore player to ever Rod Brindamore. Chicago, for all the reasons we talked about,

they're going to need to start putting players around Bedard, especially ones who have been there, have done that, and are still very productive. And the same thing goes for Detroit. They need to start making moves. They need to get better. Stevie Y is definitely feeling the heat with the way that rebuild is gone. So if I'm Kyle Dubis, I'm calling those four teams or at the very least keeping in contact

with those teams and going, you're a little desperate. I got something you might like. You want to give me some assets for that? The way you just said that was pretty funny. But no, I agree, especially with Detroit, man. They got to make the playoff sooner rather than later. Or I think Stevie Y is going to get canned up there. And then I think the Kings as well, there's been a lot of interest in Raquel from that

side, at least purportedly. And I could see them really going after him throughout this summer, too, if they don't get any of their big targets via free agency or via trade, because I think they're going to be aggressive too. Heck, even I'll throw them in there for Brian Rust as well. I think the Kings really want to do something big via trade this summer just because of the way they've been losing to the Edmonton Oilers in the playoffs. They still need more scoring.

But I think we've said everything we've needed to say about these new Brian Russ reports and Ricard Raquel reports. that would do it for this first segment coming up in the second segment. We actually have some breaking news to get to to start the segment before getting in the draft board. So stick around for that coming up right after this. Before we get to that, though, we have to tell you all about our first sponsor, and that is wonderful pistachios. Looking for a snack that's both delicious and nutritious, crack into a good source of protein

with wonderful pistachios. Wonderful pistachios is one of the highest protein nuts. Each one out serving has six grams of protein, giving you over 10% of your daily value. plus they are packed with fiber and better for your unsaturated fats to help you keep you feeling fuller longer. Personally, I love the no-shells variety. It's the perfect grab-and-go snack for busy days, whether I am stacking at my desk on a road trip or just need a quick protein boost.

They're always my go-to. And if you love cracking open every shell for that satisfying crunch, the in-shell options are a classic favorite. Get snacking and get cracking with the snack that packs a protein punch. Visit wonderful pistachios.com to learn more. All right, we're back here on this episode of the locked on Penguins podcast. I'm one of your host, Hunter Hodes, joined by my co-O's, Patrick Dammit, Pat. We have some breaking news that just broke courtesy of Pierre LeBron and Larry Brooks on Twitter. The Rangers have notified the NHL and the Pittsburgh Penguins that they are,

drum roll please. They are sending the 12th pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2025 NHL draft to complete the JT Miller trade. So Pat, the Penguins will not have the pick in 26. They will have picks 11 and 12 in the 2025 NHL draft. I've always said that I'm fine with either one. If the Rangers want to keep this year's pick, okay, penguins will get potentially a really good first round pick next year if the Rangers stink it up.

But if the Rangers want to send them the 11th, not the 11th pick, of course, the 12th pick, I'm also good at them because the penguins can walk away if they want with two pretty good prospects. We'll have to see if they still consider trading up for Martone. if he starts falling. But at the very least, they will have a really good opportunity to walk away with two good prospects.

Hello, Victor Egglin and Kayshan Aitchinson. More on Kishon Aitchinson in just a minute, by the way. But Pat, your thoughts on this. Yeah, this is kind of where I've landed the entire time

is that I don't think there was a bad outcome for the penguins in this one. Because I still, it's funny, I had a Rangers fan tweeting or blue skying or posting or however you want to turn that into a verb yesterday, like getting really mad about Drury being a bad GM. And while I don't think he's great,

I do think he's actually positioning himself to kind of retool this Rangers team on the fly. Now he's got to make the right moves. He's putting the chess pieces in place. Now let's see if he knows that to actually get himself into a checkmate. But I do think with the way they've moved out salary, the way they've kept some big pieces and given themselves cap space to maneuver and make some bigger moves, if those are successful and you have Mike Sullivan behind the bench and one of the best goalies in the world, I'll take some of those odds.

So I do think a lot of the talk about, oh, if they get the 26 pick, it could be a lottery pick. I was a little hesitant on that. So now this is good because we know how this is going to end and they can either walk away with two. good prospects in the top 15 or they can package one or both of these picks together if they have the opportunity to move up in the draft. So just glad we have the clarification and we know what's going to happen. And I don't think there was a bad outcome for the penguins either way. 100%.

I thought the Rangers were going to wait until the last possible moment on Wednesday to inform the penguins. So it's nice that we got this right now, especially during our episode as we're recording the 16 minutes into our episode. It's pretty crazy that once again, we get more breaking news. at the end of yesterday's episode, we had the Trevor Zegra's trade break. So I feel like we should just record it this time every day this week. Pat, you can just call off work Wednesday through Friday.

We can record at, you know, 10, 10.30 every morning. I'm sure we'll have more news that breaks during that time. But speaking now of the 11th and the 12th pick, I have a player in mind that is definitely, in my opinion, going to be available once the Penguin Select. And that is defenseman, Kishon, Aitchinson, one of the most fascinating process. aspects in this draft because when you look at these scouting community and there are some people that I really trust in this community that do not even have a first round grade on this player. There are others who have a top 10, top 15 grade on him.

The grades vary quite a bit. For me, I land on the side that I think he is a top 15 talent in this draft. And if the penguins can get a Ford at 11, you know, Victor Eklund, Jake O'Brien, even a Rod McQueen and Aitzen is still there at 12, which I think he would be. And you can walk away with one of the top forward prospects available at 11 and Kishon Agenson at 12. I think that will be a home run first round for the Pittsburgh Penguins. So more on Kayshawn, agency.

He played for the Barry Colts and the O HL this year, 64 games, 26 goals, 59 points in those 64 games. The biggest thing for me, when I compare him to the other two defensemen who I think are definitely going to go in the first round. Jackson Smith and Radamirka, I think Aitchinson does everything well. Like with Jackson Smith, the offensive upside is more there. He's really good in the offensive zone. The scathing ability is really nice.

But the two-way play kind of scares me a little because I don't think he's as good in his own zone. With Radamirka, he's 6-6. And we're going to get into more of a in-depth breakdown of those two players a bit later this week as we get closer to the draft. And as we get closer to finishing this big board, right of Merca, really good. reach good in his own zone doesn't bring as much offense as I would like with agents in I think

you get the full package and pat you get that physicality he is not afraid of laying the boom now there is some conjecture from some people in the scouting community and I've gone back and forth with one of my really good buddies who watches a ton of tape as well that well he'll go out of his way to make some big hits when they're not needed he won't be in the right position and all that. And there are definitely some instances of that on the tape. But in my opinion, I think that part of his game is coachable. And you can get that out of it while he is still a bit young. Other parts of his game, though, that I do really like, as I said, he brings the offense, he jumps into the play really smartly, doesn't have too many ill-advised pinches. He rocks in his own zone. He uses

to stick to his advantage. He's able to break up some rushes. As I said, he brings the boom. He is not afraid of laying people out on the ice. I think Penguins fans will love that instantly. The Penguins keep saying we want to get bigger. We want to get tougher to play against. Kishon, Aitchinson is that dude. Again, if they take a forward at 11 and then Aitzen at 12, sign me up for that all day of the week.

One of my favorite plays on tape was when he got beat, but he recovered to limit the chance. He went down the other end score on a two one, two one, no, excuse me, really good in all three zones. I think he could maybe be a bit more consistent with bringing more physicality. There would be a couple games where, like, it wouldn't be there, but then there'd be a lot of other games where you would really see it. So I think maybe working on that part of the consistency. And then also, I think some of his decision making could use a little bit of an improvement. You know, again, there are definitely instances where he's chasing hits when he doesn't

need to. But I think that part of his game is Coach Bull. The Penguins, they met with him at the combine. They seem to really like him. In Scott Wheeler's mock draft on the athletic this morning, he actually has the Penguins taking him at 11, but that was before we found out that the Rangers were sending number 12 to the Penguins. But assuming he is there at 12, and I think he will be, I think that would be a home run pick for the Penguins at 12, especially if they get a forward.

That, the thing about HSA is it's going to be very similar to the other player that we're going to talk about later in the show. it's the discipline that worries me ever so slightly. Now, again, you got to remember young kids, there is still a lot of time to iron that out of their game. They are, they'll have the ability to be taught and the ability to learn how when to do it, when to not do it. But when you're talking about a defenseman, it kind of gets heightened. Now, I have all of the same positive feelings about Acheson that you do. I like that he has really good, offensive instincts as a defenseman to the point where he reads plays very well and knows

when to jump in offensively and when to hang back, which at that age for a defenseman, always a good sign because if you can build on that ability when you get to a higher level, it'll lead to more success. But I do think there is concern about chasing hits. I'm never going to get mad at a player who wants to be physical, especially on the back end, because it can really turn the tide of a game and of a series when you're in the playoffs, and it can really deter the opposing forwards from making certain plays and trying to make certain moves because they want to avoid a hit. But there is concern with Aitchinson about chasing hits.

And while to use a Mike Tomlinism, you'd rather say, whoa, than sick him. You have to find that fine line. And for Acheson, as a defenseman, that worries me. As a forward, you can deal with a little bit of recklessness. You can deal with a little bit of, all right, he's going to step over the line or he's going to chase hits. And there's somebody there to cover him. As a defenseman, if you leave your partner out to dry and there's not a great back check, that can spell a lot of problems.

But on the whole, I think this is, especially now with the penguins having back-to-back picks, should they choose to keep them, keep both of them if agentsons available. you will not see me complaining about them taking him. And even outside of Aitchinson, now that they have both picks, I fully expect him to pick one of the three defensemen at number 12 after Ford. Again, my personal preference is Agenson a little bit more over Mertka and Smith. But I also wouldn't be disappointed if they took Smith and Mercka, because I would understand the vision with Mertka.

He's 6-6, plays really well in his own zone. Kind of reminds me of the way he can eat up. it's like a Gustav Foresling type player. Jackson Smith, there's been a couple comps I've seen to like Travis Sandheim, Thomas Harley. I don't see the Harley comp as much for Jackson Smith. I see the Sanheim one maybe a little bit more, but you see the offensive ability. You see the skating ability from him. And I would understand with agents and though, again, to me, you get the full package.

I will be over the moon if the Penguins were to get him at 12 after getting one of the forwards if they are available at 11, whether that's someone like a Roger McQueen, Victor Eklund, Jake O'Brien, Colin Potter, and maybe even Brady Martin, but there's a chance that he could go top 10 in the 2025 NHL draft, and that's coming up in the final segment. We're going to discuss Brady Martin on the draft board, whether he would be a good pick, and whether he could even be available at that time

that's coming up right after this. All right, we're back here on this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I'm one of your host, Hunter Hodes. That's my co-host, Patrick Amper. and Pat, physicality is kind of the name of the game today when it comes to these two players on my draft board because Brady Martin, my friend, he is also not afraid to bring the boom on the ice. One of my favorite clips outside of his lethal shot, and I'll get to that in a second, was when he absolutely throttled Radamirka, who I've brought up a little bit on the show already. Again, that is a six-six bulldozing defenseman. Brady Martin goes right behind the net and absolutely cleans him out during one of the games. games that I watched. He is not afraid to be physical. But on other parts of Brady Martin's game,

he is a center. He played for the Sue Greyhounds in the OH all this season. 33 goals, 72 points, and 57 games. A very big step up from the season prior, where he only had 10 goals, 28 points, and 52 games. He was real good in the playoffs, two goals, four points in five games. And, oh, yeah, at the U-18s, three goals, 11 points in seven games. I think the way that he played at the U-18s, especially the way he played in the playoffs has really shot him up draft boards. I think there's a much better chance that he goes in the top 10 than he does falling to the penguins at 11. If he is there at 11, and so is Eklund, for example, who I'd be over the moon and you really

could not go wrong with either of those two players. Brady Martin is the real do. You know, when I look at my notes for him for this past season, his one-timer is absolutely filthy. He can beat you off the rush. he can beat you from the circle. It really doesn't matter. His shot is really, and I mean really nice.

He's especially lethal on the power play when he sets up in the OB spot. That was another part of his game that I really liked watching throughout the season. His skating is fine. It's decent. I think he's been able to blow past some dudes, but I still think it needs a little bit of work. I don't think it's bad or anything like that, but I would say it's average.

I know he's a center, but I think he's way more of a shoot first player than a playmaker. I think he needs maybe a little bit more. work as a playmaker. His shot, though, again, it's just absolutely fantastic. He brings the physicality. He's always hunting pucks on the forecheck. I love myself some Brady Martin, man.

He's so much fun. You can't spell Brady Martin without the word rat. And Brady Martin is a rat. He is a pain in the ass to play against. He will not only beat you up physically on the four. check. He will not only make you pay with his skill, but he will get under your skin. I saw so many clips of him scoring a goal in just not, you know, not in a negative showboaty way, but knowing that I scored this goal. I'm going to let this opposing defender know I scored this goal and there's

nothing they can do about it. But overall, really like this kid's game, really like it. He's got skill, he's got confidence, he plays physical. And I'm, I was, I don't want to say I was surprised Hunter, because I know that you put the work in on your draft board and scouting all this stuff. I didn't see a lot of talk about his shot and watching a lot of his tape. Kid can shoot the thing. It's filthy. I think that is another one of my favorite parts of his game. Again, some people are going to label him as a playmaker. And yeah, I know he had more assist than he did goals this year. he's a pure shooter to me. I know it's weird saying that as a center

because you have to be at least a bit of a playmaker, but he's way more to me of a shoot first player than he is a playmaker. Now, I'm curious to see if that shot can translate to the professional level, just because you always have to take a lot of the junior tape with a grain of salt because there is definitely a disparity between the top guys and the bottom guys, There's no disrespect to those bottom guys.

But there are times where players, especially like a Brady Martin, will feast on lesser competition. But on the whole for Martin, that really didn't seem like the case. Didn't really matter who he went up against. He had some skill. He was able to dangle. He was able to make moves and get into good offensive position. If that didn't work, he's willing to put the hard hat on,

go to the dirty areas, play physical and earn a goal rather than skill his way to a goal. And oh yeah, on top of that, if you want to set them up for a one-timer in a soft spot, he's got the ability to shoot from the soft spot and hammer the thing home. So this is a player feels like a bit of a pie in the sky pick for me. I would be genuinely stunned if the penguins keep 11 and 12 and stay in that position, if he's available at either of them. But if he is, Kyle, do not hesitate. this kid is a high ceiling low floor kind of player either he develops into a top six player on

your forward group who all uh nobody come for me for this one but sam bennett to a bottom six forward who can play a physical sandpaper game and chip in a few points here and there so if this kid's available and you can get them do not hesitate oh 100% it's just that i think he's more than likely going to go in the top 10. But if some teams mess up a Galaxy Brainness and Martin drops to 11 and say Eklund's there, it's going to be an interesting decision for Kyle Dubus. If I had to guess if Martin and Eklund are there together, which I think is fairly unlikely, but let's just live in that reality for a second.

If both are there, I think he would lean Martin just because he's a center. And it's really close for me in terms of who's the better player. I would lean Eklund over Martin, but I think Kyle might just say, hey, I'm going to take the center here. That's Freddie Martin. I would not be Matt at all if they did take Martin over Eklund, even though I have Eklund a little bit higher on my board. They're just both really good prospects in this draft. But again, if I had to say, I think Martin's probably going top 10, maybe even top seven in this year's class. But I think that will do it for today's episode of a Lockdown Penguins podcast.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to listen to, watch this one. Pat and I will be back with another episode for you all on Wednesday to break down even more players on my draft board. Jackson Smith, Rad Amirka, Colin Potter, Ben Kindle, one of my favorite rats in this class, Carter Bear. Pat said Brady Martin is a pretty big rat. Trust me, Pat, you need to go watch Carter Bear a bit more. That dude is also a textbook rat. We're going to get to him a little bit later on this week. But for Patrick Damp, I am Hunter Hodes. Thank you guys so much you're tuning in. We appreciate it. We'll be back on Wednesday.