2025 NHL Draft: Lose a ton for Porter Martone

[hohosaregood]

I feel like we've missed a real opportunity not giving Smith a second try at center. How do you know whether you need to draft a center or a wing if you haven't decided what Smith's ultimate position will be?

Hertl didn't move to center until he was 24ish. Some guys don't make the move back to C for years

 

[TheBeard]

I don’t think so just because we need centers regardless of Smith’s status. They should be treating the draft like they need everything still.

Ravensbergen at 2?

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Ravensbergen at 2?

They need to draft goalies too but nobody is one to use a 1st round pick on after already spending one for Askarov.

 

[Jargon]

I feel like we've missed a real opportunity not giving Smith a second try at center. How do you know whether you need to draft a center or a wing if you haven't decided what Smith's ultimate position will be?

I think they fully expect Smith to be a center but I also think drafting another center is ALWAYS beneficial.

 

[timorous me]

I think they fully expect Smith to be a center but I also think drafting another center is ALWAYS beneficial.

And, even though it may have always been obvious to some, it's nice that they've gotten some confirmation that Smith looks like he could be a hell of a winger for years going forward if they do get another center.

 

[Barrie22]

Give me a team with 13 centers and i would be happy.

 

[coooldude]

Moneypuck's predictions still have us finishing last, but by less than a point now. And, incredibly, we're almost in THIRD worst position (edit: in the power rankings), just a hair worse than the Bruins.

Truly down to the wire for 31 vs 32. May the lottery gods bless us.

 

[spintops]

Moneypuck's predictions still have us finishing last, but by less than a point now. And, incredibly, we're almost in THIRD worst position, just a hair worse than the Bruins.

Truly down to the wire for 31 vs 32. May the lottery gods bless us.

If I was a betting man I would say we pass the Blackhawks. I just think we are better right now

 

[Gecklund]

If I was a betting man I would say we pass the Blackhawks. I just think we are better right now

I mean it doesn’t all come down to just who is better. Sharks play 5 games against playoff teams and another 4 against teams that are close to the playoffs. Blackhawks play 4 games against playoff teams and 3 against teams close. The sharks do have one game in hand but like I wouldn’t be so sure about it either way. And honestly if we do finish second worst, who cares? Yes it reduces our lottery odds (that were already bad) but it also means that our young guys dragged us to a few extra wins and is that really a bad thing? This draft has a clear top 4 and is close to having a clear top 5. We would still pick in that range. I dunno I’d prefer the team that showed up last night to the team that showed up against Colorado right before the deadline every single game.

 

[spintops]

I mean it doesn’t all come down to just who is better. Sharks play 5 games against playoff teams and another 4 against teams that are close to the playoffs. Blackhawks play 4 games against playoff teams and 3 against teams close. The sharks do have one game in hand but like I wouldn’t be so sure about it either way. And honestly if we do finish second worst, who cares? Yes it reduces our lottery odds (that were already bad) but it also means that our young guys dragged us to a few extra wins and is that really a bad thing? This draft has a clear top 4 and is close to having a clear top 5. We would still pick in that range. I dunno I’d prefer the team that showed up last night to the team that showed up against Colorado right before the deadline every single game.

Its honestly awesome that our young guys are playing well and I hope it continues. But these feel good wins are meaningless in a couple years when we have James Hagens instead of Misa.

 

[Gecklund]

It’s honestly awesome that our young guys are playing well and I hope it continues. But these feel good wins are meaningless in a couple years when we have James Hagens instead of Misa.

I mean even if we finish last, we are less likely to finish with Misa than not. The top 2 are Schaefer and Misa. We’d need to win the lottery for one of them. Also great the wins might be meaningless but the experience isn’t. Also it’s not Misa vs Hagens considering there’s other options too.

 

[spintops]

I mean even if we finish last, we are less likely to finish with Misa than not. The top 2 are Schaefer and Misa. We’d need to win the lottery for one of them. Also great the wins might be meaningless but the experience isn’t. Also it’s not Misa vs Hagens considering there’s other options too.

I was just giving a quick example. If we pass Chicago and they win the #1 lottery and get Schaefer and we drop to #3 will you feel the same way?

I'm not complaining about winning, just stating I feel like we are going to pass Chicago. And that I disagree with these wins being really meaningful down the road. Sharks winning 24 games instead of 22 this year isn't going to change our prospects trajectory IMO.

 

[Gecklund]

I was just giving a quick example. If we pass Chicago and they win the #1 lottery and get Schaefer and we drop to #3 will you feel the same way?

I'm not complaining about winning, just stating I feel like we are going to pass Chicago. And that I disagree with these wins being really meaningful down the road. Sharks winning 24 games instead of 22 this year isn't going to change our prospects trajectory IMO.

Yes. That is two ifs that are still unlikely to happen and can happen regardless of where we pick.

 

[spintops]

Yes. That is two ifs that are still unlikely to happen and can happen regardless of where we pick.

Sure, and the odds are better finishing dead less. Anything can happen but I hope we have the best chance at the good things happening

 

[TheBeard]

I was just giving a quick example. If we pass Chicago and they win the #1 lottery and get Schaefer and we drop to #3 will you feel the same way?

I'm not complaining about winning, just stating I feel like we are going to pass Chicago. And that I disagree with these wins being really meaningful down the road. Sharks winning 24 games instead of 22 this year isn't going to change our prospects trajectory IMO.

If at the end of the day the absolute "worst case" scenario is we finish 31st, drop all the way to 4th in the lotto and get either Martone or Hagens, it's not that big a deal. Not you per se, but it's ok to enjoy wins without immediately getting annoyed about the draft repercussions (like certain others here).

 

[NiWa]

This seems like another setup for a Noah Gregor hattrick, argh....

 

[Star Platinum]

I mean it doesn’t all come down to just who is better. Sharks play 5 games against playoff teams and another 4 against teams that are close to the playoffs. Blackhawks play 4 games against playoff teams and 3 against teams close. The sharks do have one game in hand but like I wouldn’t be so sure about it either way. And honestly if we do finish second worst, who cares? Yes it reduces our lottery odds (that were already bad) but it also means that our young guys dragged us to a few extra wins and is that really a bad thing? This draft has a clear top 4 and is close to having a clear top 5. We would still pick in that range. I dunno I’d prefer the team that showed up last night to the team that showed up against Colorado right before the deadline every single game.

It's time for Georgiev to finish the job we brought him in for

 

[spintops]

If at the end of the day the absolute "worst case" scenario is we finish 31st, drop all the way to 4th in the lotto and get either Martone or Hagens, it's not that big a deal. Not you per se, but it's ok to enjoy wins without immediately getting annoyed about the draft repercussions (like certain others here).

Sure and what's going to happen is going to happen. Still not even complaining about winning but my preference is obviously finishing last, we were bad all season we might as well get the best chances of the reward.

 

[Star Platinum]

I was just giving a quick example. If we pass Chicago and they win the #1 lottery and get Schaefer and we drop to #3 will you feel the same way?

I'm not complaining about winning, just stating I feel like we are going to pass Chicago. And that I disagree with these wins being really meaningful down the road. Sharks winning 24 games instead of 22 this year isn't going to change our prospects trajectory IMO.

I agree for the most part BUT the team was brutal from January to February. I don't begrudge them a little success at the finish line to make them feel better about the journey.

 

[TheBeard]

It's time for Georgiev to finish the job we brought him in for

 

[Juxtaposer]

Calling it now, Lucas Carlsson is this year's Noah Gregor.

This team has been genuinely good for the last six weeks and the only reasons they haven't won more games are that they're young and don't know how to hold leads, the PK is an abomination, and Georgiev is Georgiev.

 

[wishman]

Thankfully Vlasic, Thrun, and Rutta starting to get healthy. Time to bump Muk, Cagnoni, and Carlsson back to the Cuda.

 

[Jargon]

Thankfully Vlasic, Thrun, and Rutta starting to get healthy. Time to bump Muk, Cagnoni, and Carlsson back to the Cuda.

I genuinely think this made all the difference. Having 4 puck movers in those guys + Liljegren might mean we collapse in the 3rd period because our defense isn’t amazing at playing defense, but the fact that they can quickly move the puck out of the zone, make nice passes, etc etc is huuuge.

I’ll also say that our top 6 guys are also performing at a pretty high level which is very helpful.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

I genuinely think this made all the difference. Having 4 puck movers in those guys + Liljegren might mean we collapse in the 3rd period because our defense isn’t amazing at playing defense, but the fact that they can quickly move the puck out of the zone, make nice passes, etc etc is huuuge.

I’ll also say that our top 6 guys are also performing at a pretty high level which is very helpful.

It's definitely a big impact. Graf's emergence is also a pretty huge difference. If we can actually get a 3rd line put together with four PMD's, we can actually compete on a consistent basis. Next year, adding a 3rd reliable line, a set of d-men that has four PMD's, and Askarov getting back in net can put is in playoff contention. Still a lot to have come together when a lot of them are still very young.

 

[weastern bias]

This team has been genuinely good for the last six weeks

Counterpoint: Top-4 Desharnais