2025 NHL Draft: Lose a ton for Porter Martone

[Stewie Griffin]

You weren't wowed by him when he set the record for most points in the U18s ever?

Smith did the same thing the year before, I don't think he was a first overall type of prospect. And what Smith did last year was more impressive than what Hagens is doing right now.

Hagens has done what was expected, and that's it. Nothing wrong with that, he did have a lot of hype coming into the year, but he hasn't solidified himself as the guy at either Boston College or at the world juniors.

I'm not trying to say he's not a great scorer, but he never stands out in a way where I see a superstar.

 

[wickedwitch]

Smith did the same thing the year before, I don't think he was a first overall type of prospect. And what Smith did last year was more impressive than what Hagens is doing right now.

No he didn't. The record was held by Kucherov and Hagens broke it playing with good but not amazing linemates. Smith put up 2 fewer points playing with better linemates.

 

[Juxtaposer]

No he didn't. The record was held by Kucherov and Hagens broke it playing with good but not amazing linemates. Smith put up 2 fewer points playing with better linemates.

On the flip side, Hagens basically disappeared against Canada in the gold medal game, and Smith was the gold-medal game MVP in his run.

Where I'm at with Hagens is that he's gonna be a really good 2C or a low-end 1C who is very solid defensively and plays a really responsible, NHL game. 70 point player, two-way game, special teams utility. I'm becoming less and less convinced that he has higher offensive upside than Smith. The floor is higher because of the skating and two-way game, but I think Smith is more creative and can make something out of nothing better. Hagens had a "Hughes-lite" tag at the beginning of the season, but I think he's trending more towards a Nico Hischier type of player. Which is really good and valuable, just not that exciting.

 

[LilLeeroy]

On the flip side, Hagens basically disappeared against Canada in the gold medal game, and Smith was the gold-medal game MVP in his run.

Where I'm at with Hagens is that he's gonna be a really good 2C or a low-end 1C who is very solid defensively and plays a really responsible, NHL game. 70 point player, two-way game, special teams utility. I'm becoming less and less convinced that he has higher offensive upside than Smith. The floor is higher because of the skating and two-way game, but I think Smith is more creative and can make something out of nothing better. Hagens had a "Hughes-lite" tag at the beginning of the season, but I think he's trending more towards a Nico Hischier type of player. Which is really good and valuable, just not that exciting.

He carried the least talented US u18s team to the gold medal and was a dumb Connelly penalty away from winning gold with it against a much more talented Canadian team.

I honestly can't wait for Hagens to be in the NHL, can't remember a prospect that has weirder criticisms than him despite producing at an elite level everywhere he goes.

Imagine is for Celebrini everyone was hyper fixated on the fact he had a rough game in the Hockey East finals and didn't think he had superstar potential because he was out played by Smith.

 

[Hodge]

despite producing at an elite level everywhere he goes.

Except this year, his draft year, which is what he should be judged on vs. beating the shit out of teenagers 2 years ago.

 

[LilLeeroy]

Except this year, his draft year, which is what he should be judged on vs. beating the shit out of teenagers 2 years ago.

Scoring in Hockey East is way down this year. The only people outscoring him right now are Perreault, and 3 guys who will be 25/23/23 before the end of the season.

 

[Zarzh]

On the flip side, Hagens basically disappeared against Canada in the gold medal game, and Smith was the gold-medal game MVP in his run.

Where I'm at with Hagens is that he's gonna be a really good 2C or a low-end 1C who is very solid defensively and plays a really responsible, NHL game. 70 point player, two-way game, special teams utility. I'm becoming less and less convinced that he has higher offensive upside than Smith. The floor is higher because of the skating and two-way game, but I think Smith is more creative and can make something out of nothing better. Hagens had a "Hughes-lite" tag at the beginning of the season, but I think he's trending more towards a Nico Hischier type of player. Which is really good and valuable, just not that exciting.

I've felt this way for a while, but I'd compare him more to Beniers. I'd disagree on that being valuable, it makes him the highest risk prospect, with one of the lowest median rewards. It's incredibly difficult to be an elite defensive forward, especially at 5'10, and it's one of the traits with the steepest drop offs in value.

 

[Juxtaposer]

I've felt this way for a while, but I'd compare him more to Beniers. I'd disagree on that being valuable, it makes him the highest risk prospect, with one of the lowest median rewards. It's incredibly difficult to be an elite defensive forward, especially at 5'10, and it's one of the traits with the steepest drop offs in value.

Hagens has a level of offensive playmaking and creativity that Beniers has never had and will never have IMO. Don't like the comp.

 

[LilLeeroy]

I've felt this way for a while, but I'd compare him more to Beniers. I'd disagree on that being valuable, it makes him the highest risk prospect, with one of the lowest median rewards. It's incredibly difficult to be an elite defensive forward, especially at 5'10, and it's one of the traits with the steepest drop offs in value.

My comparison for Hagen's upside has always been Pavelski if he had elite skating.

 

[gaucholoco3]

Scoring in Hockey East is way down this year. The only people outscoring him right now are Perreault, and 3 guys who will be 25/23/23 before the end of the season.

Could be because such elite offensive players (Celebrini, Smith) and a guy who should have been in the NHL (Gauthier) left and the players replacing them are not as gifted offensively.

 

[LilLeeroy]

Could be because such elite offensive players (Celebrini, Smith) and a guy who should have been in the NHL (Gauthier) left and the players replacing them are not as gifted offensively.

Seems unlikely considering Perreault was outscoring both of them before his injury last season

 

[Celly4Celebrini]

I know we've heard the Misa NCAA rumors, but I wonder if Schaefer or Martone could be convinced to do a year in the NCAA. The OHL is basically pond hockey these days, and I don't feel like it's a great developmental place. Especially Martone I think would strongly benefit from a year with a good NCAA program, to force him to play against guys his size and actually back-check.

Schaefer is a different story, I don't think he'd be hurt by another year in the OHL because he's already sound defensively and 'plays the right way'. If you dropped him into Sharks camp next fall, he would probably be one of our best six defensemen on merit, but it probably would be the right choice to send him back to the OHL anyway.

Not sure if youve read/know this, but Misa was also very close to going NCAA to begin with from what i understand, to the point where some believe thats why he got exceptional status in the OHL was to prevent this very thing. I'm not sure Schaefer or Martone ever had any interest in it.

 

[LadyStanley]

 

[Celly4Celebrini]

Matthew Schaefer a unanimous No. 1 in Bob McKenzie's Mid-season NHL Draft Ranking | TSN

"As far as I’m concerned,” one NHL head scout said, “[Matthew Schaefer] is No. 1 and he’s staying there - even if he never plays another game this season."

www.tsn.ca

some interesting thoughts:
if theres only 20 1st round talents, likely easier to acquire a late first from a playoff team (also shoutout Askarov)
Jackson Smith at 10, as low as 19. Could be a potential trade up option if he get another 1st.
not alot of RHD ranked, will likely be over drafted. May need to pivot do preserve value.

 

[Zarzh]

My comparison for Hagen's upside has always been Pavelski if he had elite skating.

I just see him as a player where you'd much rather have someone that scores more or defends better unless he really pops. He might work on a team like Chicago who will be content to tank for McKenna and he can be more of just a guy, instead of one of the guys.

I thought of Beniers because he's a guy who doesn't fit well on a contender with his selling points being defense, effort, and skating.

 

[LilLeeroy]

I just see him as a player where you'd much rather have someone that scores more or defends better unless he really pops. He might work on a team like Chicago who will be content to tank for McKenna and he can be more of just a guy, instead of one of the guys.

I thought of Beniers because he's a guy who doesn't fit well on a contender with his selling points being defense, effort, and skating.

To me that describes Macklin a lot more than Hagens

 

[Stewie Griffin]

Hagens is a fantastic prospect, but he's more or less what we already have. Celebrini and Eklund are both responsible, left handed forwards. Smith is a playmaker.

Hagens is a mixture of that. He's safe, left handed, and a good playmaker. He would be an unreal second line centre for us, but I just prefer any of the other 3 to diversify our lineup.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

If we get Martone, he would be a perfect fit to a Eklund-Celebrini top line for 10 years.

Schaefer gives us an elite option at every important position, 1C, 2C, 1D, and G.

Hagens or Misa would cap off an unreal top-6.

Eklund-Celebrini
Hagens-Smith

There's really no wrong answer. We're drafting top-4.

 

[Kcoyote3]

I do find it a little funny that all the lists seem to be pretending that Mrtka isn’t going top 10.

18 points in his first 20 WHL games, massive human, okay enough skater, right handed defenseman in a draft that has some meh defense. A GM is gonna take him top 10 and go golfing after.

 

[Gecklund]

I’ve been participating in a mock draft over on the mock draft boards and finally getting a chance to look a bit deeper in the later prospects. One guy I would love to take a flyer on later in the draft (probably 3rd or so) is Peyton Kettles. Huge dman at 6’5 190 and has a late birthday. Good skater especially for his size from what I’ve seen. Does not offer really anything offensively but could be a good partner for a more offensive leaning guy.

I do find it a little funny that all the lists seem to be pretending that Mrtka isn’t going top 10.

18 points in his first 20 WHL games, massive human, okay enough skater, right handed defenseman in a draft that has some meh defense. A GM is gonna take him top 10 and go golfing after.

He definitely is going latest like 12. This draft has some huge dmen which is very interesting.

The guy I’m interested in where he goes is Ivan Ryabkin. He was considered a top 5 prospect to start the year but KHL politics have definitely affected him this year. If he can drop to somewhere in the 20s, id love to trade up for him.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Hagens is a fantastic prospect, but he's more or less what we already have. Celebrini and Eklund are both responsible, left handed forwards. Smith is a playmaker.

Hagens is a mixture of that. He's safe, left handed, and a good playmaker. He would be an unreal second line centre for us, but I just prefer any of the other 3 to diversify our lineup.

Yeah but we don't have enough of what we already have so picking him shouldn't be an issue. Any of the top four makes sense for our team. I think Schaefer is the obvious preference but any of the three forwards can probably be ordered in any way and be reasonable. I always tend to prefer centers unless a winger shows elite potential. I don't see that in Martone so I'd probably have him four and can flip Hagens and Misa on any given day.

 

[Zarzh]

To me that describes Macklin a lot more than Hagens

Celebrini has extremely high potential and a better work ethic as his main selling points.

 

[one2gamble]

all this anti hagens talk is starting to sound like cope for when we pick 3rd.