2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[eklund2chicago]

Starting to think if Misa is unavailable, the favorite to be a Hawk is Anton Frondell. I heard Jason Bukala talking on a podcast about how it’d be between Misa and Frondell for him at #2.

His lean is Misa and he said there must have been some injury Frondell's been dealing with in the playoffs. That’s going to be a huge factor the Hawks staff will have to check on.

Bukala also mentioned the prospect Alexander Zharovsky as a sneaky 1st round player. Zharovsky has some pretty sick mitts and the Hawks Russian scout has been pretty good at identifying talent in Russia. Ya’ll should take a look at him for the Leafs/Hawks 2nd pick.

What’s the name of the podcast?

 

[MHO]

Do you think packaging either our 2nd or the Leaf's 1st to move up to 1st would get it done?

It depends on how much the Islanders want the hometown kid in Hagens. If they're hell bent on Schaefer, then that's absolutely not enough. But if they want Hagens, we give them our word we'll take Misa, are are certain that the Sharks will take Schaefer, then 3OA and TOR's 1st might be the highest bid.

 

[unbridledid]

It depends on how much the Islanders want the hometown kid in Hagens. If they're hell bent on Schaefer, then that's absolutely not enough. But if they want Hagens, we give them our word we'll take Misa, are are certain that the Sharks will take Schaefer, then 3OA and TOR's 1st might be the highest bid.

How about....giving the Isles their 2026 2nd back ?

 

[featherhawk]

If Schaefer and Misa are gone I believe KD will select one of Martone or Desnoyers.

My preference would be Martone.

If for some reason the hawks end up with Desnoyers then it guarantees that one of Bedard, Nazar, Moore will not be playing C as part of the hawks plan moving forward.

Hagens and Frondell are certainly possible I suppose...

 

[bwanajamba]

Pat Maroon was like bar none the slowest guy in the league this year. Martone isn't going to be that. He needs to work on acceleration but he moves fine when he gets up to speed

In other news, the Q final kicks off Saturday- Desnoyers and Moncton vs Rimouski. Rimouski was the only team even within spitting distance of Moncton during the regular season but Moncton has been housing everyone in the playoffs to this point. Desnoyers had slowed down a little after playing to a 2+ PPG pace in the first two rounds, with some speculation that he was playing hurt and/or was just gassed in the semis against Rouyn-Nouranda, but he'll have had ten days of rest by the time that series starts so will be interesting to see if he's recovered at all.

Since Rimouski is hosting the Memorial Cup, Moncton has secured a berth no matter who wins the Q final, so Desnoyers will get that coveted last-look showcase which could be consequential for his stock as well

 

[Deputy McRizzy]

.

EP saying what I've been saying about Martone. He is a decent skater actually, he just plays slow as f. He knows it though, like that interview that MTU referenced.

I’m not sure I follow this. He’s praised for his high IQ, but you mention lately he plays slow.

That seems to contradict itself a bit, no?

 

[Castle8130]

That surgery and those injures are not current. I just hate to
see multiple lower body injuries/surgery.

Okay you had me panicking a bit. I still think their will be an injury report on Frondell over the last month or so

 

[TLEH]

.

I’m not sure I follow this. He’s praised for his high IQ, but you mention lately he plays slow.

That seems to contradict itself a bit, no?

He reads the game well and has a great IQ. But combine that with big size and average skating, sometimes he gets almost.... paralysis by analysis. At least thats what I see.

 

[Castle8130]

What’s the name of the podcast?

NHL Draft Class - Spotify

 

[unbridledid]

I am warming up to the idea of Martone. I think he brings an element that very few if any bring in this draft and that is sand paper...mixed with skill.

He is a Thackuk-mold. You can't find those types of players anymore. I think anyone on this site would want a Thachuk for the rebuild. I get the skating is an issue, but Matthew is one of the slowest skaters in the league and does just fine.

Martone or Frondell are my picks at 3

What puts Frondell over Desnoyers for you ?

 

[Deputy McRizzy]

He reads the game well and has a great IQ. But combine that with big size and average skating, sometimes he gets almost.... paralysis by analysis. At least thats what I see.

Gotcha, thanks for explanation. I know what you’re referring to and sometimes guys just need more experience for the game to slow down for them.

 

[unbridledid]

He reads the game well and has a great IQ. But combine that with big size and average skating, sometimes he gets almost.... paralysis by analysis. At least thats what I see.

I like having cerebral players...but if Martone just pulls up the center ice and strikes a pose.... that could be problematic.

 

[Larmer83]

It’s totally okay to not like him as a prospect. My point is that he, based on everything we know, is the most likely player to be the pick.

Reading, much like listening, is a skill.

I've never posted that I don't like him as a prospect.

Everything? How many Europeans has Davidison drafted in the 1st round? How many that have gone the NCAA route?

 

[statswatcher]

I didn't compare his skating to Patrick Maroon's. I said Martone is big, has good hands, and good vision and so does Pat Maroon. My point was that you can have all of those things but if you can't skate well, your impact will be limited.

the point you are making might not be premised on an explicit equation of martone and maroon's sakting, but it is certainly based in a speculative comparison. when you say "so does Pat Maroon" here, you are explicitly comparing the two player's mutual qualities of having "good" hands and vision. when you present the conditional "you can have all of those things but if you can't skate well, your impact will be limited", you are leaving open room for doubt, but you are strongly implying that one might project martone's development such that one can make a comparison between the two players' skating. namely, that both "can't skate well" enough to have more than a limited impact.

all of that to say your point only has real cash value if you assume that martone's skills and skating are in the same ballpark as maroon's. if martone is actually more skilled, or if his skating is actually not quite as bad as maroon's, then we have no reason to take this train of reasoning as telling us much of anything about how to project martone.

 

[featherhawk]

What puts Frondell over Desnoyers for you ?

Desnoyers > Frondell IMO

 

[unbridledid]

Desnoyers > Frondell IMO

I am feeling that way as well.

 

[MHO]

the point you are making might not be premised on an explicit equation of martone and maroon's sakting, but it is certainly based in a speculative comparison. when you say "so does Pat Maroon" here, you are explicitly comparing the two player's mutual qualities of having "good" hands and vision. when you present the conditional "you can have all of those things but if you can't skate well, your impact will be limited", you are leaving open room for doubt, but you are strongly implying that one might project martone's development such that one can make a comparison between the two players' skating. namely, that both "can't skate well" enough to have more than a limited impact.

all of that to say your point only has real cash value if you assume that martone's skills and skating are in the same ballpark as maroon's. if martone is actually more skilled, or if his skating is actually not quite as bad as maroon's, then we have no reason to take this train of reasoning as telling us much of anything about how to project martone.

That's completely fair. Martone is likely a better skater and could me more skilled than Maroon. He could be great but I don't want to bet #3 overall on a guy whose skating I don't like.

Also I've seen big guys like Belchetz and Simon Wang and they skate quite well. And please don't get me wrong, I don't want them taking Wang that high either.

 

[unbridledid]

That's completely fair. Martone is likely a better skater and could me more skilled than Maroon. He could be great but I don't want to bet #3 overall on a guy whose skating I don't like.

Also I've seen big guys like Belchetz and Simon Wang and they skate quite well. And please don't get me wrong, I don't want them taking Wang that high either.

Musto likes Wang, and he does have some nice attributes.

 

[MTU34]

From David St Louis’s EP scouting report for Martone in the Canadia v Austria game.

“Porter Martone's skating has rarely looked as good as in this game this season. Forced to play at a higher pace, he was using crossovers to add bursts to his forward strides, catching up to opponents and getting ahead of them in the neutral zone. He made picks plays to create space for teammates, pushed the line of defence as F1 off the rush, got involved defensively, and went to the net, finding space at the far post for passes. He almost scored from that position.“

This is just a snippet, but obviously provides some validation to the reports that his skating has taken significant strides this season.

Big key here for me is “forced to play at a higher pace”

College hockey is going to do wonders for him

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

I keep seeing Martone compared to a Tkachuk... just no. He doesn't have that psycho in him. It's unteachable. You have it or you don't.

Upside is Bill Guerin+. Downside is Daze with a netfront game.

 

[hawksfan50]

But Martonevhas sone games of lazy habits..maybe you can coach him out of these...sonetones loses focus in defending g...especially against good down low cycle...We know Bedardchas d-zobe defending issues too..Putting 2 of these on same kibe could be a big mistake.

Ratger look for good 2 guys who defend well 200 feet and skate better than Martone and conoete and work harder than Martone .
.these are Desnoyers and Martin..both very good defensively ...turning defense to offense (on different ways) ...

Dranoyers = brst defensive forward in the draft butcstill good offense...= great 2C candidate.

Martin= most high compete player in the draft..only 4 goals less than Martone in same#of games...less assists but Martin played with less talented libemates than Martone had ..

Yes Martone is very skilled ed but at best average skater...slow pace...and defensive concerns.

Much more complete 200 ft pkayers i Drsnoyers and Martin...Desnoyers needs to add weight to lanky frame ...when he does he will be even better..

Marun playsca Man's game..very physical..brst hotter in the draftcand willbe among brst hitters in the NHL..Has very good pace and best work ethic I the draft..Geys so many scori g chances off his forecheck or of transition rushes after he stop attacks and goes thevotgercway..fast ...as Craig Button called him,a "" catalyst" ...if he finished better off gradexA chances he creates off his forechevk or off take-awYs and right into transition rushes,he would be i the discussion for #2pro prospect.. You want this guy on yourvteM..to inspire the rest of thevteanto be as relentless and hard on pucks as he is.

Look ..Hawks hadxa goid Pp...not sure Martonecadds to that but cosyscuscfrom his drfebsivevisdues and sonetimesckazy work habits.

In 5x5 you want best +/- players.. not just points.

I have a question for you all...if Brady Martin pkauec in the Q for Moncton..the top team i that league giving Drznoyers so much help..do you not think Martin could have not gotten 10,25 ,20+ more points than Desnoyer with similar very high Plus??

Martin had very little help i the Soo this sradon

You can look at plain stats...Martone 98 points in 57 HP and +19 ..but Martin had only 4 goals less in same #of hakes and maybe if he had played with Brampton and the linematesh help Martone had he woukd have equalled or bettered the offensive assists Martone had ..Maybevhevwoukdvhave had a higher +/- than he put up in the Soo...which was 8tj place in their Cobfetence while Mariners Brampton was 5th place in its Conftence.

I just think tgerexareclotsvofcdiffetent factors to consider ..

Desnoyersciscsobgoidcdrfensiveky because of tge way he reads pkays abd is always us best defending positions...Marin iscgoidcdrfensiveky because he outworks abd outgustkes the opos and often keroscthenbotykedvuo I thevo-zobe .

Marone is just a Big slower power winger with hustling issues esoeciakjyvdrfebsiveky abd games where he loses focus in the d-zone.

Nobody is perfection is all aspects.

Forget the rankings after Scaefer and Misa..the next tier is among 7 irv8 forwards...sone will only be wingers other can shine 2C roles..but sone rukeviutcas bad fits forvHawjs styke ofvpkay KD wants...And O'brien is still in development physically and in improving certain aspects.. once he does that he might be the highest ceiling of any Cebter ..maybe eve over Misa.

Sone guys will orcakready have pkayeued..Others will have potential for even hogher ceilings.

You have to ablaze deeply this draft.

Hawks hVevinvrst in a huge analytics deot..12 person staff..They coukd fire all of them anf just followctge"consensus" ranking lists of various scouting sources.. or tgeir vau ted scoring depts .Shoukdvidrntify the best prospect to fill roles and impact a successful Bkackhaeks team getting better each sesdon till it all comes together inanotger Cuprin.
You can pint to lists. You can look at stats.. but at sine points Strategic roke ibzertio becomes more important.. you cNnot have too much ofvthe sNe pjayer types or too much of the same weaknesses..

We know Hawks gotta be better 5x5..Thay means both offensive and defending co tributes. MEANS sone better faceoff win guys..means more physicality and not getting skilk guys pushed around..so you have a complex decision-making set of check-boxrs...

Lists abd rankings are limited for this...projections and eventual heights/weights /sjatibg and conpete levels must be considered.

Tgerxarexessy decisions=Schaefer and Misa but after thisex2,forget the rankings. Just analyze the prospects. What they bring or coukd bri g and what they need to do to improve...And also consider what your eyes tell you when viewing them.

MyveyecyestcshiwedxFrobdelk slow and not very goodcatvu18s..was he tired maybe.. but the impression did not kivecypto the hype .

O thevither hand Brady Martin welcome..his compete. Work ethic every shift.. he was a catalyst eben on scores whre he got no asfistbit did sonething to help the play result in scores. THE HOURS he created ..coukd easily havec5 orc6 more goals had he finished better.. he getsxa high approval from me.I would love a guy like him on the Hawks..Naybe hecshanes sonevof the to work as hard as he does.

2g 1a in the Gokd Mrdak Game..3 g1a at the OHL Top Prspects Game ..This jisvis just greT and inspiring.
If he had pkayexvon a top team,no doubt he would put up much bigger numbers..but he ojayedvon an 8th place team i his Confetence..You mist factor that in.
Justvobvtheveyectest hard to argue many ranked above hom are better hockey pkayers than him. Maybe Misa ...bit he us right there if not better than any of the other forwards.

I want a guy who givesx100% every shift..
By the way.. Misa finishecvhusckastc6 games ofvtgecsesson and 10 pkayoff ganrs in lousy fashion.. I hopevitceas only because hecgot banged up..Othrteise how to explain the slack-ofg with sonevheVy monis games involved.
You can forgive that because hecwas so great before this crash..
SO I think
..I hopevitveas just because he plaurxvibjured..
But Brady Martin you know will bevervfacexa slack-off question.I have not seen a kid who works as hard abd hitsctgat hard in a long long time.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

O'Brien is the one guy that confuses the hell out of me. Super raw but he's gonna have to completely change his game at the AHL level much less the NHL. He's an exciting set of tools being carried around in a plastic grocery bag.

 

[x Tame Impala]

There’s zero reason for us to pay anything significant to get to 1st OVR. NYI would be choosing to make a non BPA selection for a hometown kid. We’d be just fine with whoever (whomever?) we take at #3.

 

[ello]

yea I don’t see Tkachuk at all. I see a more skilled Vilardi.

 

[Boy Hedican]

What sort of left coaster listened to East Coast rap? Pressing X to doubt! ;o)

I still listened to west coast stuff, but biggie was my guy