2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[clydesdale line]

The fact Martone may go to Penn State gives me high hopes for him. That program preaches relentless play. And you know how I feel about prospects going the college route.

 

[Kevin Musto]

The fact Martone may go to Penn State gives me high hopes for him. That program preaches relentless play. And you know how I feel about prospects going the college route.

The Hawks love prospects going to college too

Doneghey at the very least will place high importance on that

 

[featherhawk]

Craig Button thinks SJ is gonna take Mortone @ 2 ...

 

[Mjul Qvist]

Craig Button thinks SJ is gonna take Mortone @ 2 ...

I could see that. But I´m ok with Martone this year and McKenna next.

 

[SimpleJack]

First thought immediately comes to mind is how much this sucks for SJ.

They were seemingly lined up to add an elite D prospect, and that might have been the end of "Hawks have the better D prospects, despite SJ having the better F prospects" line of thinking.

But now it looks like thats gonna remain a glaring weakness within their rebuild/prospect pool.

Meanwhile...despite picking 3rd instead of potentially 2nd, we're still in line to grab a high-end young F(our position of need).

I know we're competing against much more than just the SJ Sharks alone....but still...this is good news IMO. f*** the Sharks and all those "look how cool their rebuild looks compared to the Hawks" mindless takes.

 

[CallMeShaft]

First thought immediately comes to mind is how much this sucks for SJ.

They were seemingly lined up to add an elite D prospect, and that might have been the end of "Hawks have the better D prospects, despite SJ having the better F prospects" line of thinking.

But now it looks like thats gonna remain a glaring weakness within their rebuild/prospect pool.

Meanwhile...despite picking 3rd instead of potentially 2nd, we're still in line to grab a high-end young F(our position of need).

I know we're competing against much more than just the SJ Sharks alone....but still...this is good news IMO. f*** the Sharks and all those "look how cool their rebuild looks compared to the Hawks" mindless takes.

Sharks weren't lined up to get Schaefer. They only had a 25% chance at getting him. They were always most likely to get a forward with that pick, problem for them is forward is where they are strongest at.

 

[Mjul Qvist]

They were seemingly lined up to add an elite D prospect, and that might have been the end of "Hawks have the better D prospects, despite SJ having the better F prospects" line of thinking.

Who knows if Islanders picks Misa?

 

[SimpleJack]

Who knows if Islanders picks Misa?

Stupid pick if they do.

 

[SimpleJack]

Sharks weren't lined up to get Schaefer. They only had a 25% chance at getting him. They were always most likely to get a forward with that pick, problem for them is forward is where they are strongest at.

They were the team with the best chance at getting the #1 overall pick is all i was saying, and on top of that the main point i was making was that they're loaded at forward and really could have used another defenseman compared to us having more balance after we add another forward at #3.

 

[Cowch]

Have a feeling im gonna be sold on Martone and then sharks are gonna grab him leaving Misa for the hawks. I'll continue to long for our own Tkachuk and I'll be stuck with a weird disappointment.

But really, the only way I'm gonna be annoyed is if we end up with someone not currently concensus top 6.

 

[Mjul Qvist]

Stupid pick if they do.

If they believe Misa is the bpa they´ll take him. Would that be stupid? That will be determined in few years later.

 

[Cowch]

They were the team with the best chance at getting the #1 overall pick is all i was saying, and on top of that the main point i was making was that they're loaded at forward and really could have used another defenseman compared to us having more balance after we add another forward at #3.

Based on the current projections, really sucks to be a sharks fan rn. Missing out on #1 hurts them way, way more than Hawks missing out on #2.

 

[Darkstar]

does Martone have it in him to become an agitator type with a lot of skill and smarts to his game? those traits are so hard to come by (especially when they profile as a top line forward) and they're very valuable come playoff time, Hawks need a lot more of it in their lineup

Martone doesn't play with the edge that the Tkachuk brothers do but he uses his size, is active in post whistle scrums and is team captain. He isn't just a north south player and has a high hockey IQ. He's also great at carrying the puck and is really good around the net, especially with quick little touch passes to open teammates.

 

[Muffinalt]

I don’t mind this way of looking at things. This draft pick is essentially Nazar’s wingman. Pressure to get Bedard’s through another route is on.

My initial reaction was a pretty big disappointment honeslty, but I also like this perspective. We are likely drafting a top 6 option and not Bedard's long term partner, which I think Misa would have been. But you need talent on all lines, and who knows of course the drafted guy can surprise and elevate to a permanent top line fixture. Just all guys after the top 2 have significant questions marks unfortunately.

I thought KD was trying really hard not not say the word 'size' here lol. It could be an indicator, he clearly was trying to keep the perception that all options will remain open.

It's going to be really interesting how the FO handles this draft. Do they fully double down on their need for speed and reach for their preferred guy or even consider trades, or do they go for entirely different tools? They already targeted size last year, but it had to come with above average skating ability still. Do they let go and bring in someone like Martone who has a very different skillset to the guys we have already?

Regardless what direction they go in, it needs to be someone who has a really high ceiling. We could be saying goodbye to the top 2-3 selections as soon as next year, and if there is no miracle jump, we are left with lesser options going forward.

 

[Muffinalt]

First thought immediately comes to mind is how much this sucks for SJ.

They were seemingly lined up to add an elite D prospect, and that might have been the end of "Hawks have the better D prospects, despite SJ having the better F prospects" line of thinking.

But now it looks like thats gonna remain a glaring weakness within their rebuild/prospect pool.

Meanwhile...despite picking 3rd instead of potentially 2nd, we're still in line to grab a high-end young F(our position of need).

I know we're competing against much more than just the SJ Sharks alone....but still...this is good news IMO. f*** the Sharks and all those "look how cool their rebuild looks compared to the Hawks" mindless takes.

I actually think they made out really well. Misa and Celebrini together is going to be disgusting. Or Misa + Chernyshev for a second line that already has +100 chemistry.

That will be a fast and tenacious forward group with so much skill.

On defense, next draft Verhoeff and Lin are looking amazing. If they can end up with one, they'll be well off on D.

Anyway we just don't know yet how all the prospects work out for either team, but both are looking really good for the next decade. I'm sure we'll be clashing plenty along the way for a nice rivalry.

 

[Sarava]

Hoping the Hawks get Martone. If the sharks surprise everyone and grab him, then fine we'll take Misa. We're in a good spot no matter how this shakes out.

 

[Nazzz]

Martone's size won't be a factor in the NHL.
He is a 6'3", just the average height of NHL players

 

[TLEH]

Martone's size won't be a factor in the NHL.
He is a 6'3", just the average height of NHL players

That’s not the average.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

For whatever it’s worth Pronman includes player comps in his latest prospect rankings.

Tier 1 NHL All-Star:

Schaefer - Sanderson

Tier 2 Bubble NHL All-Star and top of the lineup player:

Misa - Seguin
Martone - Forsberg
Desnoyers - Hischier

Tier 3 top of the lineup player:

Hagens - Nylander (not really sure how that’s tier 3 if he comps to Nylander, but whatever)
Frondell - Josh Norris
O’Brien - Lindholm
Eklund - Konecny
McQueen - Byfield

 

[unbridledid]

Knowing where we are and what our options are... I suppose with the Leafs late first and our
very early second we should swing for the fences. Who could be boom or bust picks with those
two picks we have ?

I was hoping the leafs lose to the panthers, and they still may. However this years leafs team looks
(with Berube) to be different.

 

[Deputy McRizzy]

Martone's size won't be a factor in the NHL.
He is a 6'3", just the average height of NHL players

AI Overview

The average height of an NHL player is approximately 6'1" (73.2 inches or 1.86 meters).
Here's a breakdown by position:
Forwards: 72.7 inches (approximately 6'0").
Defensemen: 73.7 inches (approximately 6'1").
Goalies: 74.5 inches (approximately 6'2"). Goalies are trending towards being taller, with the average netminder height exceeding 6'3" in the 2024-2025 season.

 

[bwanajamba]

Knowing where we are and what our options are... I suppose with the Leafs late first and our
very early second we should swing for the fences. Who could be boom or bust picks with those
two picks we have ?

I was hoping the leafs lose to the panthers, and they still may. However this years leafs team looks
(with Berube) to be different.

Mason West, Ryker Lee (Wilmette kid), and Ivan Ryabkin are some names to keep an eye on in that vein. I suspect this front office will be fans of the first two at least.

 

[MHO]

My hope is that the Isles really want the local kid Hagens. They were lined up to pick at 10 and maybe they're open for business to trade #1. I think we can all be certain that San Jose wants Schaefer so if Hagens is the true target now, we have the ultimate asset to help them get him AND something else of value and we end up with Misa.

So if we offer #3 and Toronto's 1st, the Isles may take that and we'd have to promise that we take Misa at 1. Then the Isles can tell their fan base that they got the local kid and an extra asset and not have to explain why they passed on Schaefer or Misa.

 

[hawksfan50]

Martone is the proto-typical Big string and skikked power forward the Hawks do not have with tge exception of Colton Dach ..

Google his scouting repirt and the AI says strengths are:
Size and physicality(6'3 207)
Offensive skills
Playmaking ability
Scoring Prowess
Leadership

But...Areas for Improvement:

.consistency and Maturity...sometimes takes unnecessary penalties(I woukd add inconsistent work ethic).

.defensive play....whike he has flashes Osgood defe sive pkay he is vulnerable in the d-zone....especialky posting cycling pkays*to me THIS is not a help to Bedard who also struggles vs strong g cycling by tge opps for lengthy periods in the Hawks d-zone).

.skating..whike he is a good skater For His Size, he can stillimprove on hos overall skatingabikity and speed..I think we goota calk hom average at this stage in skating g...probaly needs to improve it to impact into a star at NHL level.

So my own #1concern on hom is the defensivecsupoirt issue..I do not knowvifvtjis is merely lack of defebsive instinct Or simply a work ethic issue...


His sesson was marked by a big dip in performance over a 5-6 week period from mid January till near end of February..Maybe hecwas battling an injury then..He did pick up play again in March to finish if his season and first roubdvif pkayoffs.
A lot to lije..but sobe concerning issues..

 

[Nazzz]

Competitiveness, pace, and skating are non-negotiable traits for Davidson. We'll see which player is the best fit.