2025 NHL Draft: Lose a ton for Porter Martone

[wishman]

This is the only interview I can find with him recently. Seems like he interviews pretty well.


Top Prospects Interview

 

[coooldude]

Sounds like Frondell is playing his way back solidly into the 4-8 convo. Would be great if there are more "top of draft" options at 3-4, and although he's not huge (6'0" but thicc), the rest of his game sounds very Grier. Great maturity and composure, compete, high skill, steps up in big moments. "Finally seeing the player many had top 3 at the beginning of the season."

 

[Juxtaposer]

Sounds like Frondell is playing his way back solidly into the 4-8 convo. Would be great if there are more "top of draft" options at 3-4, and although he's not huge (6'0" but thicc), the rest of his game sounds very Grier. Great maturity and composure, compete, high skill, steps up in big moments. "Finally seeing the player many had top 3 at the beginning of the season."

Meh. Product of Young Eklund.

 

[coooldude]

Meh. Product of Young Eklund.

I don't think we can use that logic - else the Misa/Cherny partnership looks less awesome for Cherny. But from what I've seen (to be fair, no shift by shifts watched) Frondell isn't a passenger in this.

 

[Juxtaposer]

I don't think we can use that logic - else the Misa/Cherny partnership looks less awesome for Cherny. But from what I've seen (to be fair, no shift by shifts watched) Frondell isn't a passenger in this.

I should have added a sarcasm emoji. I was kidding, although I still like Eklund more.

 

[Jargon]

I was doing a deep dive on Misa out of sheer curiosity. Man, what a consolation prize if the Sharks get #2 - giving us a future second line of like Smith/Misa - Misa/Smith - Chernyshov (or Smith plays with Celebrini, or centers an insane 3rd line) is TEMPTING.

I still think Schaefer is the crown jewel for us simply because of need but I would not be upset with Misa.

I actually wonder who is 1st for Grier currently. His reaction to Schaefer in a recent interview felt tepid but he likes to keep draft cards close to his chest I think.

 

[hohosaregood]

I think another bonus is that Misa is showing out enough that if we don't get 1OA, we may still have a good shot at Schaefer at 2.

 

[Friday]

I think another bonus is that Misa is showing out enough that if we don't get 1OA, we may still have a good shot at Schaefer at 2.

Serious point there, even more so b/c if the 1 OV is Chicago I'm sure they'd much prefer taking a forward but obviously not if there is a massive gap in talent. Misa making it much more interesting

 

[one2gamble]

I just don't want to pick #3

 

[Star Platinum]

I just don't want to pick #3

I don't want to pick #4. I'm fine with Top 3.

 

[Jargon]

I don't want to pick #4. I'm fine with Top 3.

I think Porter Martone/Hagens are not bad consolation prizes either, honestly.

 

[Bizz]

Being bumped down from #1 while finishing last is the most devastating outcome possible.

Anaheim is never going to recover from not being able to pick Bedard.

If we ended up with Demidov or Levshunov instead of Celebrini we'd be screwed too.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Finishing last gives us a 44% chance of picking top-2, whereas finishing second to last gives you just a 27% chance of picking top-2. And it helps that the three teams right behind us (Chicago, Nashville, and Buffalo) all need a #1C much more than a LHD.

We've come this far, let's finish this.

 

[Bizz]

If Buffalo wins the lottery they're 100% picking Misa with it. He's exactly what that franchise has needed.

 

[gaucholoco3]

Grier playing 4D chess sending Chernyshov to Saginaw to pump Misa’s value as #1 overall to give the Sharks a better chance of Schaefer.

 

[gaucholoco3]

Honestly if Chicago jumps tge Sharks from second worst but doesn’t pick Schaefer and the Sharks get Schaefer at #2 that is the best case scenario since it would prevent Chicago from moving up in the lottery for both the McKenna and DuPont drafts.

 

[Jargon]

Being bumped down from #1 while finishing last is the most devastating outcome possible.

Anaheim is never going to recover from not being able to pick Bedard.

If we ended up with Demidov or Levshunov instead of Celebrini we'd be screwed too.

I think BECAUSE we got Celebrini, I feel much better about the result of this draft. I obviously would kill for Misa or Schaefer at this point but Hagens or Martone would immediately be a top 3 prospect for us and opens up some interesting potential trades in the future too.

If we fall out of top 4, that’ll be a bummer but if we finish last, we’re getting a great player no matter what.

But yeah obviously I really want Schaefer.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Grier playing 4D chess sending Chernyshov to Saginaw to pump Misa’s value as #1 overall to give the Sharks a better chance of Schaefer.

Grier executive of the year if he gets Schaefer at #2 because of this.

Part of the reason I'm so thrilled about Misa playing so well with Schaefer out is that it dramatically increases our chances of landing Schaefer. If the Hawks, Preds, or Sabres jump us in the lotto to pick 1st, they probably take Misa at this point.

Then add in any teams who have reservations about Schaefer's small sample size this season. And add in teams who have reservations about taking a defenseman 1st overall. Hell, the only team other than us I feel confident that would take Schaefer over Misa for sure right now is Seattle, who needs D just as badly as we do.

 

[Saskatoon]

I think BECAUSE we got Celebrini, I feel much better about the result of this draft. I obviously would kill for Misa or Schaefer at this point but Hagens or Martone would immediately be a top 3 prospect for us and opens up some interesting potential trades in the future too.

If we fall out of top 4, that’ll be a bummer but if we finish last, we’re getting a great player no matter what.

But yeah obviously I really want Schaefer.

Yea that first overall talent is nice but this feels like a year where who knows who is actually going to end being the best player whereas with Celebrini was obviously the best player last year - so let's just roll with it

Only 2 out 4 Edmonton's 1OVR picks ended up mattering for them. Their second best player wasn't picked 1OVR as an example.

 

[matt trick]

Grier executive of the year if he gets Schaefer at #2 because of this.

Part of the reason I'm so thrilled about Misa playing so well with Schaefer out is that it dramatically increases our chances of landing Schaefer. If the Hawks, Preds, or Sabres jump us in the lotto to pick 1st, they probably take Misa at this point.

Then add in any teams who have reservations about Schaefer's small sample size this season. And add in teams who have reservations about taking a defenseman 1st overall. Hell, the only team other than us I feel confident that would take Schaefer over Misa for sure right now is Seattle, who needs D just as badly as we do.

To be honest, I could see the Kraken and the Sharks preferring Misa to Schaefer for some of the reasons you mentioned. I still want Schaefer, but Misa's made it close, and top forwards are often safer. I believe we've got to go for a potential #1 d-man, but Misa may be trending toward two-way #1C.

Ideally Hagens accelerates as well.

 

[Juxtaposer]

To be honest, I could see the Kraken and the Sharks preferring Misa to Schaefer for some of the reasons you mentioned. I still want Schaefer, but Misa's made it close, and top forwards are often safer. I believe we've got to go for a potential #1 d-man, but Misa may be trending toward two-way #1C.

Ideally Hagens accelerates as well.

Yeah, it's definitely a question. I'm quite curious how many games Schaefer will be able to get in at the end of the year. His timeline theoretically means he could potentially be back for Erie's first round OHL playoff series... which ironically is almost definitely going to be against Saginaw. I don't see Erie pulling that series out now that Saginaw has Chernyshov. So if he's not ready for the first round series, his season is basically over... unless Canada would let him play for the U18's, even though they typically consider a guy "graduated" from the U18 level once they've played at the U20 level. They might make an exception for Schaefer due to his injury circumstance.

 

[Sharksfan66]

If Buffalo wins the lottery they're 100% picking Misa with it. He's exactly what that franchise has needed.

Here's a fun one.

Let's say we end up at 1 and Buffalo is at 2. Do you pick up the phone and tell them you're planning to pick Misa unless they want to trade up?

Byram's rights + 2OA for 1OA + Ferraro?

I know we never see moves like this, but this feels very much like Vegas' whole expansion draft and look at how that turned out for them...

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Here's a fun one.

Let's say we end up at 1 and Buffalo is at 2. Do you pick up the phone and tell them you're planning to pick Misa unless they want to trade up?

Byram's rights + 2OA for 1OA + Ferraro?

I know we never see moves like this, but this feels very much like Vegas' whole expansion draft and look at how that turned out for them...

I don’t see why Buffalo wouldn’t call that bluff. Either the Sharks take Misa and Buffalo settles for Hagens or they get Misa.

 

[Sharksfan66]

I don’t see why Buffalo wouldn’t call that bluff. Either the Sharks take Misa and Buffalo settles for Hagens or they get Misa.

Only reason would be if Buffalo sees Misa as their guy and if Byram won't resign for #3D money. In this case, they'd be getting a cost-controlled replacement for a guy they were losing anyway and also walking away with their guy from the draft, which feels like a win for them. Grier could also say he's shopping the pick to Chicago, Nashville, so it would be a hell of a bluff to call if they really like the guy.

I recognize this all relies on two "if" scenarios together, but I actually think both of those ifs are more likely to happen than Buffalo actually landing at 1 and the Sharks at 2, which to me is the most far fetched part of that scenario.

 

[wickedwitch]

Here's a fun one.

Let's say we end up at 1 and Buffalo is at 2. Do you pick up the phone and tell them you're planning to pick Misa unless they want to trade up?

Byram's rights + 2OA for 1OA + Ferraro?

I know we never see moves like this, but this feels very much like Vegas' whole expansion draft and look at how that turned out for them...

No. GMs have to build relationships with other GMs and blatant lying isn't the way to do that. Because what if Buffalo doesn't take the deal and then watches SJ not pick Misa?

(I don't think the Vegas GM lied during the expansion draft at all.)