2025 NHL Draft: Lose a ton for Porter Martone

[Zarzh]

Id love to see the sharks focus on getting at least 1, if not 2 high end D. Right now the pipeline has Dickinson, LSW, Pohlcamp, Cagnoni, Thompson, and Pohlcamp with a shot and I guess Misskey and roberts are there too.

I am not sold that any of these will be top pairing guys. Definitely potential is there, and its not a bad group for an average team.

That said, we have a #1 goalie, top 2 centers (maybe 3 if you include bystedt), and serveral high end wings with musty, haltunnen, cherny, not to mention Eklund and Gushkin and cardwell, and my top watched prospect, rimashevsky.

As such, I think we could use two more high end defensive prospects if possible, so I would target those. I also think high end are harder to get via trade/UFA than high end forwards, so drafting top D would be nice.

All that said, I would be fine if the sharks dealt a pick or two in a package with one of the forwards to acquire a solid top pairing young NHL Dman. obviously, not a top 5 pick...

The young defensemen who have been traded aren't very good and cost way too much.

 

[Gecklund]

The young defensemen who have been traded aren't very good and cost way too much.

Brock Faber, Jakob Chychrun, Mikhail Sergachev, JJ Moser, John Marino, Noah Hanifin, Sean Durzi, Ivan Provorov all at least second pair level with a few top pair level traded recently (some of these twice). I’m probably forgetting a few and out of this list Faber and Sergachev are probably the level we are wanting but like there are dmen trades out there. Maybe not for 1s (unless we are using wishful thinking)

 

[Gecklund]

Ryabkin to the USHL with Muskegon. Very very interesting to me. Super talented forward but there’s some rumors he’s “hard to deal with.” I guess we will find out soon if he actually has issues or it’s another Russia “problem” player that is not a problem anywhere else.

 

[coooldude]

Ryabkin to the USHL with Muskegon. Very very interesting to me. Super talented forward but there’s some rumors he’s “hard to deal with.” I guess we will find out soon if he actually has issues or it’s another Russia “problem” player that is not a problem anywhere else.

I hadn't read anything about being hard to deal with, but it's certainly a very interesting draft year development for a potential top 10.

 

[Gecklund]

I hadn't read anything about being hard to deal with, but it's certainly a very interesting draft year development for a potential top 10.

Wheeler just mentioned it again today

https://x.com/i/web/status/1846603386289799624

But I’ve heard it a little bit.

 

[coooldude]

Wheeler just mentioned it again today

https://x.com/i/web/status/1846603386289799624

But I’ve heard it a little bit.

Interesting, thanks. Hard to know what's real... Both Michkov and Demidov also had "whispers" about how they were in the locker room during draft year.

 

[Gecklund]

Interesting, thanks. Hard to know what's real... Both Michkov and Demidov also had "whispers" about how they were in the locker room during draft year.

Yep exactly my point. Is he another problem Russian because he’s looking out for himself and his career rather than what his team wants him to do?

That sounds much worse than it was meant. Basically Michkov and Demidov want to be in the NHL and develop into the best players they can be and knew they couldn’t do that in the MHL.

 

[hohosaregood]

Interesting, thanks. Hard to know what's real... Both Michkov and Demidov also had "whispers" about how they were in the locker room during draft year.

I hadn't heard that about Demidov. Like it seemed like that was one of the things used to differentiate Demidov from Michkov.

 

[Gecklund]

I hadn't heard that about Demidov. Like it seemed like that was one of the things used to differentiate Demidov from Michkov.

Honestly it’s something you hear about all Russian players. It’s so hard to tell what’s real and what’s not. Gusev is another great example of this. Lots of talk about his immaturity when he was in Russia then he comes to NA and suddenly every locker room he’s in raves about him (might be revisionist history a bit cause it’s from memory).

It honestly seems a bit like the Russia version of the bolting to Russia risk. Basically these big KHL teams are worried about their top players “bolting” to the NHL. Entirely speculation on my part but just seems like the best way to describe it.

 

[SoftDumpInTheCorner]

The top guy on many boards is obviously Hagens but if Grier lands 1st ovr, Im thinking he's leaning toward Martone. He just checks a lot of boxes for Grier's preferences and team needs. Size, skill and RW. He would compliment Celebrini by being a right shot, imagine those two cycling pucks down low.

Shaefer is also a nice piece I think he might be able to be a day one starter. His skating is excellent and will help with the transition to the NHL. His playmaking and shot are average, his skating just allows him to defend well and transition the other way. Drafting him would create a organizational log jam at LD still a good problem to have.

I would like to see where Blake Fiddler ends up in end of the year mocks, he might be there for the Sharks in the early-mid 30's. Fiddler a right shot d, with NHL size, pedigree and is becoming a late bloomer offensively. He's seen as a two way defenseman, wouldnt be NHL ready but a good project to have in the pipeline.

 

[Juxtaposer]

The top guy on many boards is obviously Hagens but if Grier lands 1st ovr, Im thinking he's leaning toward Martone. He just checks a lot of boxes for Grier's preferences and team needs. Size, skill and RW. He would compliment Celebrini by being a right shot, imagine those two cycling pucks down low.

Shaefer is also a nice piece I think he might be able to be a day one starter. His skating is excellent and will help with the transition to the NHL. His playmaking and shot are average, his skating just allows him to defend well and transition the other way. Drafting him would create a organizational log jam at LD still a good problem to have.

I would like to see where Blake Fiddler ends up in end of the year mocks, he might be there for the Sharks in the early-mid 30's. Fiddler a right shot d, with NHL size, pedigree and is becoming a late bloomer offensively. He's seen as a two way defenseman, wouldnt be NHL ready but a good project to have in the pipeline.

Martone and Fiddler would be pretty much a dream scenario for me.

 

[Hodge]

We could be bad enough to get Martone, McKenna and Dupont. Why not us?

 

[coooldude]

We could be bad enough to get Martone, McKenna and Dupont. Why not us?

We might be bad enough to finish last for three more seasons but I would be surprised. Let's assume we are though, you know the probabilities.

25%^3 is the chance we win all 3 lotteries, 1.6% if we are dead last for 3 more years. Even if we assume we only have to be top 2 this year for Martone and top 2 the following for McKenna (or whoever else is top of draft), that's 45%*45%* probably 25% to draft Dupont if all stays the same. That's a 5% chance. So... The answer to why not us is, the lottery.

We do need another two top 5 picks imho because I assume half of Celebrini, Smith, Dick, Musty, Askarov, and Mukh will top out as depth not impact, and 2-3 impact players from that group is not enough to build a contender through draft or trade of assets.

Side note, this is pure gold from Google

 

[StanleyCup2035]

We could be bad enough to get Martone, McKenna and Dupont. Why not us?

For those not familiar with Landon DuPont:

DuPont gets OK to play in WHL full-time at 15

Defenseman Landon DuPont, who turns 15 in May, has been granted Exceptional Player Status by Hockey Canada and can compete full-time in the WHL next season..

www.espn.com

RD Landon Dupont - Everett Silvertips, WHL (2027 Draft)

Youngest d-man to play on the WJC for Canada was Jay Bouwmeester at 16. Jaybo was a big kid though, and that was a long long time ago. That said, what i heard from a family member who was at the Regina game was "He looks like he's too good for the whl". Freakish really. Can't wait till Everett...

forums.hfboards.com

Is it too early for me to start 2026 and 2027 draft threads ?

 

[Star Platinum]

We might be bad enough to finish last for three more seasons but I would be surprised. Let's assume we are though, you know the probabilities.

25%^3 is the chance we win all 3 lotteries, 1.6% if we are dead last for 3 more years. Even if we assume we only have to be top 2 this year for Martone and top 2 the following for McKenna (or whoever else is top of draft), that's 45%*45%* probably 25% to draft Dupont if all stays the same. That's a 5% chance. So... The answer to why not us is, the lottery.

We do need another two top 5 picks imho because I assume half of Celebrini, Smith, Dick, Musty, Askarov, and Mukh will top out as depth not impact, and 2-3 impact players from that group is not enough to build a contender through draft or trade of assets.

Side note, this is pure gold from Google
View attachment 918195

Smith has a hell of a slap shot

 

[Timo Time]

This year gives me 2024 draft vibes. Although, top 2 may be secured between Hagens-Martone. Seems like #3 could go anywhere. Curious, what are some opinions from those who have watched guys like Schaefer, Schmidt, Misa. How interchangeable are picks 3-5?

 

[coooldude]

This year gives me 2024 draft vibes. Although, top 2 may be secured between Hagens-Martone. Seems like #3 could go anywhere. Curious, what are some opinions from those who have watched guys like Schaefer, Schmidt, Misa. How interchangeable are picks 3-5?

I think it's too early to tell. If the draft were today, maybe you're right that it's a crapshoot between those names + McQueen, and then a tier with Ryabkin, Frondell, and others. But most of these guys have only played a handful of games.

 

[Jargon]

All this high draft pick talk will be moot when Gushchin leads us to the Stanley Cup finals this year.

 

[gaucholoco3]

All this high draft pick talk will be moot when Gushchin leads us to the Stanley Cup finals this year.

No in that perfect universe Vegas finishes 11th worst but wins the Lottery.

 

[Jargon]

No in that perfect universe Vegas finishes 11th worst but wins the Lottery.

yes yes YESSS

 

[Desert Eagle]

Both Michkov and Demidov also had "whispers" about how they were in the locker room during draft year.

I`m living in Russia, but I never seen anything about Demidov`s locker room issues.
But Michkov has (or had) some behavior issues

 

[coooldude]

I`m living in Russia, but I never seen anything about Demidov`s locker room issues.
But Michkov has (or had) some behavior issues

Last year on HFB there was a lot of speculation and a handful of articles about how maybe he had a bad attitude when he got sent down to MHL and wasn't playing very well... Until he started putting up 2ppg. I'm guessing there's just a lot of speculation and rumor around top Russian prospects as a norm.

 

[spintops]

Leading the tankathon again boys.

 

[Barrie22]

Leading the tankathon again boys.

Nope nashville is better

 

[Hodge]

I’ll take a guaranteed shot at one of Martone, Misa or Hagens.