2025 NHL Draft: Lose a ton for Porter Martone

[LadyStanley]

Check out this Podcast: Mock Draft Time! Predicting the Top of the NHL Draft | Daily Faceoff LIVE Mock Draft Time! Predicting the Top of the NHL Draft | Daily Faceoff LIVE

Mock draft starts around 18 minutes in.

 

[Star Platinum]

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.

At least unlike Lindstrom he's playing again

 

[LadyStanley]

 

[Barrie22]

4 points up with 12 games to go for the sharks and 11 to go for the hawks.

Sharks remaining games

Leafs, rangers, kings, ducks, oilers, kraken, flames, wild, oilers, flames, canucks, oilers. (2 back to backs), 10 games vs teams in or fighting for a playoff spot.

Hawks remaining games

Knights, utah, avalanche, capitals, penguins, penguins, bruins, jets, canadiens, senators. (1 back to back), 6 games vs teams in or fighting for a playoff spot.

As of today the hawks are leading in wins, regulation wins, regulation and ot wins, and sharks won the season series 2-1-0.

 

[Timo Time]

At best, the Sharks win maybe 3 games. I'll say they win 2 and pick up maybe and OTL or two. Really need Chicago to probably just win 2 and with how bad Boston is and the inconsistent Pens, I like our chances of finishing last.

 

[Friday]

 

[coooldude]

Will be interesting to see just how many lists show Hagens continuing to fall. 6 is low.

 

[Cas]

Will be interesting to see just how many lists show Hagens continuing to fall. 6 is low.

He's not falling so much as they're adjusting his draft ceiling to match his height.

 

[Hodge]

Will be interesting to see just how many lists show Hagens continuing to fall. 6 is low.

Reminder that internet scouting experts like Scott Wheeler had him in the same tier as Celebrini before the season started.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

So if we end up 3OA:

Who's everyone's pick out of Hagens, Martone, Frondell, etc.

 

[coooldude]

So if we end up 3OA:

Who's everyone's pick out of Hagens, Martone, Frondell, etc.

I don't know enough to have a really strong opinion to be honest. But my guess is this is GMMG & team's current list: Martone, Frondell, Hagens, Smith, Desnoyers. But you could scramble it any way and tell me that's the real list, and I'd believe you.

 

[Juxtaposer]

So if we end up 3OA:

Who's everyone's pick out of Hagens, Martone, Frondell, etc.

I've mentioned six or seven guys I think are legitimate possibilities for #3, but I think it will come down to the three you mentioned and Desnoyers, depending on a few factors.

1. Does the size mandate extend to a 3rd overall pick? If so, rule out Hagens.
2. Does Grier see Smith as a legitimate long-term 2C? If not, then there is a greater premium on Hagens and Desnoyers. I am not convinced that Frondell is a center long-term.
3. Even if Grier does see Smith as a long-term solution at 2C, does building an elite center spine still take precedent over anything else? A center spine of Celebrini-Smith-Desnoyers-Ostapchuk would be ridiculous.
4. Is Grier interested in upside over all-else? Does he see Martone as a future Tkachuk/Perry type? He isn't that physical right now but he's also 18 and filling out and definitely has some agitator qualities. If that's a player archetype he values highly and he's shooting for pure offensive upside, then Martone has to be the guy.
5. Is he satisfied with Celebrini/Smith/Eklund as the play-drivers of this core? Does he value a guy who can crash and bang a bit and finish in dirty areas? Frondell would then become palatable.

So I would say this: if we don't believe in Smith as a long-term center, then Martone becomes less valuable. If aren't satisfied with the play-drivers we already have, then Desnoyers and Frondell are less interesting. If size in the top-6 is a concern, then Hagens probably isn't the best bet.

I would put money on Martone if I had a gun to my head to make the selection. But Frondell fits a Grier archetype and is probably the only one of those guys who will get a last shot to improve his stock at the U18, an event that Grier has historically placed great value on with his high picks (Bystedt, Havelid, Halttunen, Smith). Desnoyers' playoff performance may be a factor, especially if he makes it to the Mem Cup. Hagens is basically a fixed asset IMO, where what you see is what you get, but if you don't like the risk profile of the other guys, then he should be the pick.

My prediction of Grier's final list:
3. Frondell
4. Martone
5. Desnoyers
6. Hagens

I don't feel like McQueen, Eklund, and J. Smith will be seriously considered, rightly or wrongly. I don't think Grier has ever really surprised me with a pick, in that everyone he's gone for in the early rounds is someone who makes a lot of sense to be taken where they're taken.