2025 NHL Draft: Lose a ton for Porter Martone

[dmcccdmn]

A quarter of a season has passed. Not three quarters.

The days of the Sharks being the worst and second worst team are over. Granlund, Toffoli, Celebrini and Zetterlund won't allow it.

 

[Lebanezer]

 

[Cas]

The days of the Sharks being the worst and second worst team are over. Granlund, Toffoli, Celebrini and Zetterlund won't allow it.

We are the worst team in the league through a very significant chunk of the season, and unless our rookies just explode starting now, that will continue.

 

[mogambomoroo]

Season is pretty much going as expected. We are closer in the games but not quite winning, which imo is good step forward. I expect couple of hot streaks before the season ends though.
Best case scenario development wise is that Celebrini and Smith totally start dominating by the end of the season which would be a perfect bridge to the next season.

 

[Barrie22]

The days of the Sharks being the worst and second worst team are over. Granlund, Toffoli, Celebrini and Zetterlund won't allow it.

Have you even looked at the standings? The sharks are 30th right now out of 32. And the only reason is because we have played 2 and 3 games more then the ones below us.

We have the worst point percentage in the nhl.

 

[weastern bias]

The only teams that are guaranteed 4th overall pick or better are the worst and second worst teams. That's not happening this season.

Lol, yes it is

The days of the Sharks being the worst and second worst team are over. Granlund, Toffoli, Celebrini and Zetterlund won't allow it.

Lol, no it's not

 

[one2gamble]

This team isnt going to get better after the deadline so I dont think anyone should be concerned about being in almost last place.

 

[Makoshark]

Oh boy this WJC is gonna decide who's going #1. I'd venture to say its a 3 horse race going in and that may change to a favorite depending on who stands out. Misa / Mac is my dream scenario as I still think Will Smith is a winger.

 

[matt trick]

I wonder if the biggest argument for moving out Granlund at the deadline is not the first round pick, but that it increases the likelihood of a top 4 pick rather than 5-7. Any of Hagens, Martone, Schaefer, or Misa will be our second pick or third best asset. Musty-Hagens/Misa-Smith, Eklund-Celebrini-Martone or Schaefer/BDE/Muk would all be worth getting excited about. Losing Blackwood and Ceci would probably be enough to secure a top 4 pick.

Been watching a few prospect games, and I am so much less enthused with McQueen (haven’t watched just w/a back injury), (also had some injury issues), Eklund, Desnoyers, Hensler, or Smith. Outside the top 4 and the goalies, I don’t really love the draft. Wouldn’t mind a Huang/Tretheway/Fiddler addition at RHD, and I like Carter Bear. That said any draft that includes one of the top 4 I’d be thrilled with, even if that were our only pick. If we moved Granlund, I’d almost prefer a 26 1st.


We’re currently worst in p%, but Montreal, Pitt, and Chicago are also truly awful, and there are several other teams that could fall off a cliff.

Something worth watching- Sens have to give up their first either this year or next. They have some quality youth, but I can’t see them skipping out on a top 10 pick, which would pull them out of the McKenna draft. Said youth, should likely help them move up next year, but still an interesting wrinkle. In related news, if Chicago were to move up this draft, they’d need to be worst (and not lose the lottery) to move up for either McKenna/Dupont.

 

[matt trick]

Also, just weighing in that I think Smith is a center. I also really like Misa/Hagens partially because you can have a LH center and a RH center on a line, whichever of they and Smith end up being the better C you shift the other to their strong side. Similarly, I like Martone because he brings size and a sure fire top 6 RH RW.

It’d be great if Schaefer was a RHD, but I think the likelihood of 4+ LHD (Schaefer, Dickinson, Muk, Cagnoni, and LSW) busting out concurrently is pretty low, particularly in a scenario where none of them can play RHD. The likelihood than none get moved in a trade also seems unlikely.

 

[Hodge]

Also, just weighing in that I think Smith is a center. I also really like Misa/Hagens partially because you can have a LH center and a RH center on a line, whichever of they and Smith end up being the better C you shift the other to their strong side. Similarly, I like Martone because he brings size and a sure fire top 6 RH RW.

It’d be great if Schaefer was a RHD, but I think they likelihood of 4+ LHD (Schaefer, Dickinson, Muk, Cagnoni, and LSW) busting out concurrently is pretty low, particularly in a scenario where none of them can play RHD. The likelihood than none get moved in a trade also seems unlikely.

I wouldn't be surprised if your analysis is very similar to the org's in which case I think they would take Martone if he's available. He complements what they're likely projecting as their future core (Mack, Will, Dickinson, Askarov) slightly better than the other three top 2025 prospects.

 

[weastern bias]

Everything is gonna be fine guys, we're picking top 5

We're dead last in points percentage and the stats point to us outperforming expectations, we've beaten ONE playoff team a quarter of the way through the season, we ARE getting one of the big 4, book it

 

[Juxtaposer]

Hockeyprospects (who does the Black Book and generally is a really good public scouting resource) just published a top-32:

2025 NHL Draft Top 32 Prospects Ranking, November 25, 2024 - HockeyProspect.com

HockeyProspect.com is excited to announce our first 2025 NHL Draft Ranking of the season. This list includes a top 64 ranking (link), with the top 32

hockeyprospect.com

They have their top-5 as
1. Schaefer
2. Misa
3. Hagens
4. Frondell
5. Martone

Other than Frondell (who I'm not even close to sold on), I was just recently thinking that my top-4 is shaking into the same order.

Obviously y'all know Schaefer is my guy, I think he's another Heiskanen, an all-situations stud #1D. Rare talent, rare archetype, amazing character, future captain type.

But for #2, I am really starting to lean Misa. I do believe in Smith as a center, but Misa can play center and wing equally well, so he will fit no matter how Smith turns out. He's got solid size at 6'1", excellent skating, and plays a well-rounded style. I think Hagens has a degree of elite playmaking that Misa doesn't, but I think Misa makes up for it in other areas and is a much better fit with the core the Sharks are building than Hagens.

Hagens is still a huge talent, though. He's basically experiencing what I hated about Ryan Leonard last year: Leonard is a hero-puck tryhard and Hagens, like Smith, is too much of a playmaker not to let him. I'm not thrilled they're playing together.

Lastly, while I do love Martone's size and strength and I do think that he's the best player within 6 feet of the net by far, he doesn't have a very well-rounded game and his lack of effort at times bothers me.

 

[coooldude]

Obviously y'all know Schaefer is my guy, I think he's another Heiskanen, an all-situations stud #1D. Rare talent, rare archetype, amazing character, future captain type.

But for #2, I am really starting to lean Misa. I do believe in Smith as a center, but Misa can play center and wing equally well, so he will fit no matter how Smith turns out. He's got solid size at 6'1", excellent skating, and plays a well-rounded style. I think Hagens has a degree of elite playmaking that Misa doesn't, but I think Misa makes up for it in other areas and is a much better fit with the core the Sharks are building than Hagens.

Hagens is still a huge talent, though. He's basically experiencing what I hated about Ryan Leonard last year: Leonard is a hero-puck tryhard and Hagens, like Smith, is too much of a playmaker not to let him. I'm not thrilled they're playing together.

Lastly, while I do love Martone's size and strength and I do think that he's the best player within 6 feet of the net by far, he doesn't have a very well-rounded game and his lack of effort at times bothers me.

This year I'm completely aligned with you so far.

If we're #1, the only player I'm currently happy they draft over Schaefer is Misa. Misa could be a 2C but bring something different than Celly/Smith, or play LW in a high-pace, high-compete game.

Martone has all the makings of a top power forward, but which Tkachuk are you getting? If Brady, not going to put us over the top. If Matthew, holy shit. (or Perry... that's a key piece).

I am less sold on Hagens so far given what I'm reading (and from a Sharks POV). There are franchises that should take the risk on him or Misa because they need that #1C on a scoring line, but for us, I'd lean Misa. And even maybe Martone, but scares me a bit.

 

[Juxtaposer]

This year I'm completely aligned with you so far.

If we're #1, the only player I'm currently happy they draft over Schaefer is Misa. Misa could be a 2C but bring something different than Celly/Smith, or play LW in a high-pace, high-compete game.

Martone has all the makings of a top power forward, but which Tkachuk are you getting? If Brady, not going to put us over the top. If Matthew, holy shit. (or Perry... that's a key piece).

I am less sold on Hagens so far given what I'm reading (and from a Sharks POV). There are franchises that should take the risk on him or Misa because they need that #1C on a scoring line, but for us, I'd lean Misa. And even maybe Martone, but scares me a bit.

I see Brady with Martone. If I saw Matthew, then he would be competing with Schaefer for #1 for me. I still might take him over Hagens purely for the fit, but yeah, I'm starting to see some separation between Schaefer/Misa and Hagens/Martone for the Sharks.

Really curious which of those four ends up on the WJC. I feel like what Schaefer has going against him is that the defense will already be super young with Dickinson and Parekh. Martone seems like he's got a really good shot (partially because of his age), Misa might be more of a longshot even though he's leading the OHL in points because of how deep the Canadian team is. Hagens is obviously a lock with a weakish American roster.

 

[Skeksis25]

The days of the Sharks being the worst and second worst team are over. Granlund, Toffoli, Celebrini and Zetterlund won't allow it.

We're not as bad as last year, but come on now. We lead the league in loser points. We have the fewest wins in regulation in the league. We have the second worst goal difference. We have the worst points %. We had a couple positive results in November despite being utterly dominated versus NJ and Columbus which has skewed perspective a bit.

Last year we were definitively the worst team in the league. This year, we are arguably the worst team in the league. Progress!

 

[sharski]

We're not as bad as last year, but come on now. We lead the league in loser points. We have the fewest wins in regulation in the league. We have the second worst goal difference. We have the worst points %. We had a couple positive results in November despite being utterly dominated versus NJ and Columbus which has skewed perspective a bit.

Last year we were definitively the worst team in the league. This year, we are arguably the worst team in the league. Progress!

Except for a terrible goal differential that doesn't help in any way, id say the season is going exactly to plan

 

[Star Platinum]

Joe Thornton shot the puck as a younger lad?

 

[dmcccdmn]

Joe Thornton shot the puck as a younger lad?

Deadspin | Joe Thornton On The Proper, Explicit Way To Celebrate A Four-Goal Game

Deadspin | Joe Thornton On The Proper, Explicit Way To Celebrate A Four-Goal Game

deadspin.com

 

[sharski]

if Sharks fall to #5, do they reach for Victor Eklund and hope for some strong synergy bonus for having 2 Eklunds in their hand

ex:
When this card comes into play, put a +1/+1 counter on each Eklund you control

Eklunds cost (1) less to cast

 

[Grinner]

if Sharks fall to #5, do they reach for Victor Eklund and hope for some strong synergy bonus for having 2 Eklunds in their hand

ex:
When this card comes into play, put a +1/+1 counter on each Eklund you control

Eklunds cost (1) less to cast

McQueen ought to be the pick. That is if a GM before us, doesn't fall in love with his measurements and intangibles

 

[Jargon]

if Sharks fall to #5, do they reach for Victor Eklund and hope for some strong synergy bonus for having 2 Eklunds in their hand

ex:
When this card comes into play, put a +1/+1 counter on each Eklund you control

Eklunds cost (1) less to cast

We’re getting Eklund with the 1st rounder we get from Granlund thus keeping the Lund line intact.

Also, after reading about the top 5 some more… man, I want Schaefer.

 

[Juxtaposer]

if Sharks fall to #5, do they reach for Victor Eklund and hope for some strong synergy bonus for having 2 Eklunds in their hand

ex:
When this card comes into play, put a +1/+1 counter on each Eklund you control

Eklunds cost (1) less to cast

Victor Eklund is great, and he's very high on my personal list, but he's just not a good fit for the Sharks. I would go with Jackson Smith or Malcolm Spence at that that point. McQueen if he comes back fully healthy. Or trade the pick. Or trade down for Hensler. I dunno, it's not a scenario I want to be in.

Let's just lock in top-4.

 

[Star Platinum]

We’re getting Eklund with the 1st rounder we get from Granlund thus keeping the Lund line intact.

Also, after reading about the top 5 some more… man, I want Schaefer.

I think we should aspire to have two full Lund lines and change the team name to the San Jose Lunds.