2025 NHL Draft: Lose a ton for Porter Martone

[matt trick]

Frondell or Hagens (or Martone) going supersonic also has the benefit of inspiring all the (forward) center-needy teams to pass on the risky recently injured dman who only played 30 games.

I think Misa is actually more likely at 1 than Schaefer at this point. San Jose and Seattle are the two that’d I’d say definitely take him at 1.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Frondell or Hagens (or Martone) going supersonic also has the benefit of inspiring all the (forward) center-needy teams to pass on the risky recently injured dman who only played 30 games.

I think Misa is actually more likely at 1 than Schaefer at this point. San Jose and Seattle are the two that’d I’d say definitely take him at 1.

While I do agree that forward vs. D need will factor into the #1 overall selection, I think the bigger factor will simply be each team's individual scouting staff.

I personally believe that Schaefer is a cut above Misa, and I would take him first even if I was Chicago (who desperately needs a top-6 C bigger than 5'9"), Nashville (who has never drafted a 1C in their whole franchise history), or Buffalo (who already has three highly-drafted offensive LHD). I just think he's better than Misa without taking need into consideration. But there are also plenty of reputable public scouting services that don't think that's the case. I don't think it's totally out of the realm of possibility that the Sharks take Misa 1st overall, if given the opportunity.

 

[gaucholoco3]

Here's my pre-draft top-20 ranking (note the time stamp!):

View attachment 998642

Gotta say, I think this one is holding up pretty well.

Right now at #3 in 2025, I'm kinda at "hold my nose and just take Martone". But I absolutely understand why someone would be hesitant to do so. Hagens is the BPA, Frondell brings something to the table we don't have in the system right now, Desnoyers projects as a good defensive 2C with some size, Eklund is a pitbull, McQueen has a unique toolkit, and J. Smith is another high-end D prospect. All are justifiable, yet none would make me really happy.

It's also super interesting how the closer you are to exiting a rebuild, the more fit matters in drafting. I almost feel like part of draft "luck" is having the BPA at your early-rebuild lottery picks be a ubiquitous player archetype, so that later in the rebuild you have more freedom to take the true BPA and not have to worry about fit. Like as much as I adore Smith and think he has sky-high scoring upside, if we'd been in a position to draft Fantilli or Carlsson in 2023, who have some size and two-way acumen, then we could just comfortably take Hagens at #3 this year and not stress about it because your center core has some size and defensive ability and you could just use Hagens as an elite playmaking winger.

C'est le vie. My hope right now is that Frondell absolutely dominates the U18 to make him a justifiable pick for me. Desnoyers should have a long Mem Cup run that could show an extra developmental step. We'll see. We know Grier values the U18 a lot.

Regarding Smith I think the other way that in hindsight of drafting Celebrini, Smith is the best compliment to Celebrini when compared to Carlsson or Fantilli. IMO Smith has the highest offensive ceiling of the 3 and with Celebrini he doesn’t need to be an all situations 1C. He can feast on secondary competition in a 2C scoring role.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Regarding Smith I think the other way that in hindsight of drafting Celebrini, Smith is the best compliment to Celebrini when compared to Carlsson or Fantilli. IMO Smith has the highest offensive ceiling of the 3 and with Celebrini he doesn’t need to be an all situations 1C. He can feast on secondary competition in a 2C scoring role.

Carlsson and Fantilli can also feast in a 2C role and bring more things to the table than Smith other than scoring. Only time will tell, but I think Smith would have to score quite a hit more than those guys at evens to make up for the disparity in off-puck play. Not saying it can't happen, but I would feel more comfortable if our 1C and hopefully 2C weren't both 6'0". I will say that Smith is a better fit for Celebirini on the PP than the other two, so that is some bonus value.

And of course, there's no guarantee that we'd even have got Celebrini if we had Carlsson or Fantilli playing in the NHL last season, so I'm not interested in re-writing history even if I could and I'm okay with the result in the end because I love Smith. My greater point just is that I would rather have Celebrini, Fantilli/Carlsson, and Hagens than Celebrini, Smith, and Martone/Frondell.

 

[gaucholoco3]

Carlsson and Fantilli can also feast in a 2C role and bring more things to the table than Smith other than scoring. Only time will tell, but I think Smith would have to score quite a hit more than those guys at evens to make up for the disparity in off-puck play. Not saying it can't happen, but I would feel more comfortable if our 1C and hopefully 2C weren't both 6'0". I will say that Smith is a better fit for Celebirini on the PP than the other two, so that is some bonus value.

And of course, there's no guarantee that we'd even have got Celebrini if we had Carlsson or Fantilli playing in the NHL last season, so I'm not interested in re-writing history even if I could and I'm okay with the result in the end because I love Smith. My greater point just is that I would rather have Celebrini, Fantilli/Carlsson, and Hagens than Celebrini, Smith, and Martone/Frondell.

I am very high on Smith and do think he can significantly outscore Fantilli and Carlsson. I think he will be a 100+ point 2C whereas Celebrini will top out as a ppg selkie finalist.

I also heavily discount players born after the September 15th cutoff. Comparing Smith and Hagens freshman year production I think of them as the equivalent developmental year regardless of one being DY and the other being D+1. If Smith has the opportunity to be drafted after his freshman year he would be a slam dunk 1st overall.

I would rather have Celebrini - Smith - Martone/Fondell instead of Celebrini - Fantilli/Carlsson - Hagens.

 

[Juxtaposer]

I am very high on Smith and do think he can significantly outscore Fantilli and Carlsson. I think he will be a 100+ point 2C whereas Celebrini will top out as a ppg selkie finalist.

I also heavily discount players born after the September 15th cutoff. Comparing Smith and Hagens freshman year production I think of them as the equivalent developmental year regardless of one being DY and the other being D+1. If Smith has the opportunity to be drafted after his freshman year he would be a slam dunk 1st overall.

I would rather have Celebrini - Smith - Martone/Fondell instead of Celebrini - Fantilli/Carlsson - Hagens.

Fair enough, I'm happy to agree to disagree and would love if you turn out to be right.

 

[Grinner]

He does sound very similar to Dickinson. Smith would give the Sharks 3 big smooth skating LD.

Smith -
Dickinson -
Mukamadulin -

That would allow MG to fill in lesser RD knowing LD will have a big mobile guy to cover. Similar to how TB built their blue line.

Obviously Schaefer would be preferred but I could see the benefit of Smith over everyone else except for Misa.

LD is hardly a need. If Schaefer is the best player and a true future #1 defenseman. Then it makes sense to take him.
I'd argue Malone benefits thus team more than Jackson would. As a top RW had been a need for some time

 

[PattyLafontaine]

LD is hardly a need. If Schaefer is the best player and a true future #1 defenseman. Then it makes sense to take him.
I'd argue Malone benefits thus team more than Jackson would. As a top RW had been a need for some time

With this defense both sides are still a need. Ferraro is going to be dealt next year. Muk is looking a lot better and we still don't know what Dickinson will amount to and when. Always good to horde D prospects. Sure, would love to get RD prospects but almost every team is looking for RDs.

 

[Patty Ice]

I wouldn't even say Misa is better overall to Hagens. I think they are similarly valued forward prospects with the same upside. The reason why I would pick Misa over him is we know there's chemistry with one of our top prospects.

 

[pappaf2]

I wouldn't even say Misa is better overall to Hagens. I think they are similarly valued forward prospects with the same upside. The reason why I would pick Misa over him is we know there's chemistry with one of our top prospects.

Misa is also a couple inches taller than Hagens which is certainly valued by GMMG

 

[Patty Ice]

Misa is also a couple inches taller than Hagens which is certainly valued by GMMG

No doubt. I would expect Misa to be the pick if the Sharks were drafting 2nd, provided Schaefer is picked first overall. However, I see both Hagens and Misa as big time 2Cs/low end 1Cs. Either guy would be a great addition.

 

[Barrie22]

For future defensemen, who potentially could have a spot on the roster come time this team is ready to compete. We have Dickinson, Mukh, Cagnoni. So 2 left and 1 right. This team needs talent on the left side, right side and everywhere. There should be no playing lefty vs righty until we find the core.

 

[Grinner]

With this defense both sides are still a need. Ferraro is going to be dealt next year. Muk is looking a lot better and we still don't know what Dickinson will amount to and when. Always good to horde D prospects. Sure, would love to get RD prospects but almost every team is looking for RDs.

We're talking about prospects and youth here. I'd argue We're deeper at LD than any other position. We don't need another LD as much as we need a true 1st line/ 1 D.
RD seems pretty barren.

 

[Grinner]

For future defensemen, who potentially could have a spot on the roster come time this team is ready to compete. We have Dickinson, Mukh, Cagnoni. So 2 left and 1 right. This team needs talent on the left side, right side and everywhere. There should be no playing lefty vs righty until we find the core.

Those are all left defenseman.

 

[matt trick]

The likelihood of Dickinson, Muk, Cagnoni working out as top four dmen but none can slide over is pretty small. Even so, at that point you can move one.

Muhk has looked good on the right. I’d keep him there. Keep drafting dmen until I had three I was over the moon about, and two or three your very optimistic on being NHL caliber with 4/5 upside. Detroit with Seider, Edvinsson, Asp, Buium, and Willander is a good example of this.

Much like centers, dmen are really good currency. I’d love to add Schaefer and a RHD in the top 50 this year. Tretheway, Huang, Amico, Hensler.

Next year, if it’s not McKenna or Roobrook, I like the odds of a RHD- Verhoeff, Reid, or Lin.

 

[Barrie22]

Those are all left defenseman.

Still remains the same with them all being left. I must of clicked on thompson when i was trying to look up Cagnoni.

 

[Grinner]

I wonder how much interest Grier would have in McQueen if we dropped to 4thoa

 

[Grinner]

Still remains the same with them all being left. I must of clicked on thompson when i was trying to look up Cagnoni.

Trying out Defensemen on their offsides, speaks to a lack of depth on one side and or an over abundance on the other.

 

[Juxtaposer]

With this defense both sides are still a need. Ferraro is going to be dealt next year. Muk is looking a lot better and we still don't know what Dickinson will amount to and when. Always good to horde D prospects. Sure, would love to get RD prospects but almost every team is looking for RDs.

Point is that LHD is not a need any more than good forwards are a need. I don't think we should take a LHD (Jackson Smith) 3rd overall just because we need defensemen. Schaefer is a potential true #1D, and therefore represents a need for us that we don't have. But we already have Jackson Smith-level LHD prospects, so I wouldn't take him just because we need D.

 

[Barrie22]

Trying out Defensemen on their offsides, speaks to a lack of depth on one side and or an over abundance on the other.

But we are lacking depth at both left and right defensemen, as only 1 of those 3 defensemen project to be anything more then a #4 defensemen. And we will be extremely lucky if all 3 of them are part of the defensive core in a few years from now.

 

[PattyLafontaine]

Point is that LHD is not a need any more than good forwards are a need. I don't think we should take a LHD (Jackson Smith) 3rd overall just because we need defensemen. Schaefer is a potential true #1D, and therefore represents a need for us that we don't have. But we already have Jackson Smith-level LHD prospects, so I wouldn't take him just because we need D.

The Sharks are forward heavy relative to defense. Obviously, there seems to be a lot of variance after 1-2 in this draft. The Sharks have Dickinson as a top D prospect and then what? I agree that Smith may not be the best use of resources at 3, but most of the potential choices at 3 are flawed so it becomes a question of where the Sharks have the greatest need for a prospect.

I'm putting forth a genreal premise that D > forwards (aside from 1C and physical/big two way 2C. ). Of course there are exceptions but compelling arguments are needed.

It doesn't mean that I hate Hagens and Martone but I'm wholly convinced that they are better picks than Smith at least when it comes to the Sharks who have Eklund, Smith, and Celebrini none of whom are "big" players.

 

[gaucholoco3]

I think the Sharks should trade down from 3 and up from the Dal pick to draft Smith and Eklund. Just to mess with Randy and Drew.

Smith passes to Eklund who passes to Eklund who passes to Smith who passes to Goodrow who decides to give up and punch things.

 

[matt trick]

I think the Sharks should trade down from 3 and up from the Dal pick to draft Smith and Eklund. Just to mess with Randy and Drew.

Smith passes to Eklund who passes to Eklund who passes to Smith who passes to Goodrow who decides to give up and punch things.

You forgot to mention what a good veteran play Goodrow made. Did the hard thing by not opting to make a play, then showed fight in dropping the gloves. He really hammered that stanchion*

*f***er had it coming from that absurd bounce to Bieska.

 

[vortexx]

NHL draft lottery will be May5/6 I’m not being greedy and just want the #1 or #2 pick please!

2025 NHL Draft Lottery to fall on May 5 or 6 | TSN

The first 16 positions in the 2025 NHL Draft will be determined on either May 5 or May 6, TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reports. The draft lottery date will be finalized based the playoff schedule, Johnston clarified on Early Trading Tuesday.

www.tsn.ca

 

[coooldude]

I wonder how much interest Grier would have in McQueen if we dropped to 4thoa

God, I hope not. DND for me. Just not worth the downside risk on such a high pick with back injuries this early on. I don't care how good the medical intel is.