How is Martone more of the same of what's already on the NHL club? He's nothing like Celebrini, Smith or Eklund. The most likely outcome is that none of Musty, Halttunen, Bystedt or Chernyshov ever become top six forwards so they shouldn't be considerations when deciding how to use this pick.
I used to say that a lot, but I've noticed it changes so much between GM's. The GM and scouts usually pick BPA in their opinion even if fans don't agree with it. See: Anaheim last year.
why does Martone have a higher chance to hit than them? Potential draft position? Nothing I have seen tells me hes a guarantee at all.
Is potential draft position not relevant? Martone being a lock to go top 4 while the others all lasted into the late 20s/early 30s reflects the disparity between how scouts evaluated those guys in their draft years compared to Martone now, even if you account for differences in draft class quality. Martone making Team Canada in his draft year is also a strong signal he's in a completely different tier compared to Musty or Chernyshov. Then there's his offensive production which has also been much higher at the same age.
He's absolutely in a different class entirely than our current winger prospects.
If Misa hits his ceiling (Marleau, but more goals? Better Couture?), there's an argument between Misa and Martone, but I personally prefer Martone's ceiling (imho, Rantanen or M Tkachuk) to Hagens (Hughes?) for what we're building here.
Celebrini actively initiates contact all the time, he's definitely not trying to avoid it.
That's where I'm at too. I have 1-Schaefer, 2-Misa kinda set in stone for now, but I'm having a devil of a time choosing between Hagens and Martone at 3. I get Martone's limitations, but I am struggling so hard to see Hagens as anything more than a good 2C who is also 5'11" at best.
If that's the conclusion our scouts come to I think that's reasonable although I would prefer going for the highest ceiling with a premium pick like this one.
I didn't mean it as a criticism. He is an extremely elusive skater and seemingly never gets hit but he also doesn't throw hits himself.
I know you didn't, but I mean that he an absolutely initiated contact to win puck battles. He's physical. But I suppose he doesn't throw big hits, if that's something you value. I don't need my skill players to throw big hits, even my big ones, it's just a bonus.
I don't need Mack throwing big hits either but it seems like his puck battle wins are more a product of his superior anticipation even compared to a smaller guy like Eklund who intentionally draws contact in order to spin off checks down low.
I disagree. He went into the boards with guys who had the puck, fought them, and came out with the puck multiple times last game. He'll only so it more as he gets older and stronger.
But you can't be physical unless you're 6'4" and 225+. It's a rule.
