2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[Larmer83]

I feel like I read so many conflicting opinions on Martone that I’m starting to hope they just go a different direction.

Does he have multiple fights under his belt or just the one?

Actual game play>Highlights>reading

If it's based on reading reports, it's having an opinion based on someone else's opinion.

 

[Crow]

I could see Chicago going off book and picking Martone and then immediately returning to their script (draft pick giveaway extravaganza) to get Potter.

I don’t think I’d hate it tbh, despite the incessant comments that would follow.

 

[Chelios]

But even if Desnoyers is a center, he's going to be a 50 point player at most.

Martone has that 70+ point upside. At that point positional value is irrelevant. The gap there is too big.

It's fine to opine on these things, but the problem with you Musto is how definitive you are, especially with players you don't like. Saying Martone has 70+ upside, while debatable, is at least acknowledging that it is not a sure thing and there is a range built in there. But of course you are definitive that Desnoyer is a 50 point player "at most".

 

[Hawkaholic]

Schaefer, Martone, Misa

 

[WarriorofTime]

I mean at risk of stating the obvious, the job isn't to just pick who is the best at scoring against teenagers. If you take Desnoyers at 3 it isn't necessarily because you think he's likely to out-perform Hagens or Martone in raw production, it's a projection that he will get close enough as a scorer and bring other defensive and play-driving elements that they may lack that will make him the more valuable player.

Yes, of course, and I completely agree once you get to a certain level in the draft, you don't just chase the highest raw ceiling... because the highest ceiling prospect are all gone already. There's time to take the Moore/Boisverts of the Draft. But at third overall? You better really be sure you just picked the next Phillip Danault if you are already putting a cap on a player's offensive ceiling at that level, so you aren't just ending up with a random third liner that will go on to play for six different NHL teams and never make a major impact. I know it's not the most regarded draft, but I think Hagens and Martone both carry significantly higher level of upside and you could be overthinking it if you're already chasing "key contributor", "glue guy" on U18 level national teams. Toews for comparison had 2 PPG in the Hockey Canada U17 thing and was already cracking (a much more successful) Canada U20 team in his draft year. That's a premium Third Overall Pick.

He's apparently playing with a wrist injury at the Memorial Cup so hard to gauge his production there. He was quite good against London imo and one of the better players on his badly outplayed team against MH. (Worth keeping in mind as well that these are teams that absolutely tore through their own leagues, not just typical non-Q competition.) Guess we will see how he does the second time around against London tonight.

Yeah, no NHL/NBA games tonight so I'll be tuning in.

 

[Kevin Musto]

It's fine to opine on these things, but the problem with you Musto is how definitive you are, especially with players you don't like. Saying Martone has 70+ upside, while debatable, is at least acknowledging that it is not a sure thing and there is a range built in there. But of course you are definitive that Desnoyer is a 50 point player "at most".

Why is it that you guys require me to begin every sentence with "in my opinion" ?

Everything I say is an opinion, unless I'm citing someone else

It's not that hard to understand

 

[WarriorofTime]

Why is it that you guys require me to begin every sentence with "in my opinion" ?

Everything I say is an opinion, unless I'm citing someone else

It's not that hard to understand

What are odds you give the pick an "F"?

 

[Kevin Musto]

What are odds you give the pick an "F"?

"F" for Frondell

 

[WarriorofTime]

"F" for Frondell

Will Desnoyers get a "D"?

 

[Kevin Musto]

Will Desnoyers get a "D"?

"C" for Caleb

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Schaefer, Misa, trade the pick

Make the pick, develop for a year, join the team along with McKenna in 2026

 

[Toews2Bickell]

It's fine to opine on these things, but the problem with you Musto is how definitive you are, especially with players you don't like. Saying Martone has 70+ upside, while debatable, is at least acknowledging that it is not a sure thing and there is a range built in there. But of course you are definitive that Desnoyer is a 50 point player "at most".

range of outcomes are not enough of a discussion when it comes to these players

 

[Toews2Bickell]

If I was in KD shoes trying to come to a decision it would be Hagens vs Desnoyers and Martone vs Frondell...Hagens and Frondell win out for me as both could possibly stick at C in the NHL and have equal/better offensive upside as Desnoyers and Martone and then its Hagens vs Frondell and you either default to the offensive resume/draft stock pedigree coming into the year in Hagens or bet on Frondell being a more differentiated C in your prospect pool....Going Desnoyers over Hagens seems like it could be overthinking it

Right now DK has the current odds of the pick at 3 being

Frondell - +200
Hagens - +225
Martone - +400
Desnoyers - +400

 

[PatFoleyBarTab88]

Now that West has chose hockey over football I would consider him at both 25 and 34. It would kinda be hilarious if we end up picking projects that turn out great with 2 leafs firsts both at 25 overall with Rinzel and West. He is gonna go to USHL for next year and take his time in college as well but the payoff could be pretty big.

Zonnon and Lykovavicickacicakic>>> West.

I know West's family, they are great ppl and would love him on the Hawks if we could get him later in the second!

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Zonnon and Lykovavicickacicakic>>> West.

I know West's family, they are great ppl and would love him on the Hawks if we could get him later in the second!

Is that a real name?

 

[bwanajamba]

Yes, of course, and I completely agree once you get to a certain level in the draft, you don't just chase the highest raw ceiling... because the highest ceiling prospect are all gone already. There's time to take the Moore/Boisverts of the Draft. But at third overall? You better really be sure you just picked the next Phillip Danault if you are already putting a cap on a player's offensive ceiling at that level, so you aren't just ending up with a random third liner that will go on to play for six different NHL teams and never make a major impact. I know it's not the most regarded draft, but I think Hagens and Martone both carry significantly higher level of upside and you could be overthinking it if you're already chasing "key contributor", "glue guy" on U18 level national teams. Toews for comparison had 2 PPG in the Hockey Canada U17 thing and was already cracking (a much more successful) Canada U20 team in his draft year. That's a premium Third Overall Pick.

Yeah, no NHL/NBA games tonight so I'll be tuning in.

Yeah even if I thought he was Danault I wouldn't consider him at 3. I'm aware I'm in the minority on this but I think he can be in the mould of Aho as a best case outcome, maybe with a touch less production than Aho's peak. Not a guy you want to rely on as a primary creator or gamebreaker but an excellent 200 foot player. I don't see a 50 point ceiling or whatever. He's so smart and more skilled than he gets credit for.

I'll get it if they go in a different direction, if I were making the pick myself and trying to be objective I would probably pick Martone.

 

[PatFoleyBarTab88]

Is that a real name?

I wouldn't know from the amount of times I've seen it butchered.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

If Desnoyers is an Aho/Hischier type player then it wouldn't be the biggest deal in the world if you pick him and thats your 2C but it makes 2026 important to get that next potential game breaker with Bedard, another 100 point upside forward...if you have Bedard and another guy plus Desnoyers and Nazar to be the all situation players thats not a bad situation at all...the problem with Carolina as they're currently constructed is that Aho is their guy

Doesn't seem like there is a terrible pick at 3 unless they do some off the wall stuff, its just looking like the player projects more to be a complementary piece

 

[Darkstar]

I wouldn’t even care if he won or lost. If he’s got the mentality to jump in that’s really what matters most to me.

He's not a huge physical presence or frankly, even any good at fighting, but he isn't soft. He will stand up for himself and his teammates. He will engage in scrums. He will use his size and battle along the boards and in front of the net. I think a year in college and in a college weight program would be great for him.

 

[Drumman44]

Do we all agree...that the Sharks take Schaefer at 2 if he is there ? It seems to be the
move to make for them..

He’s exactly what they need

 

[Deputy McRizzy]

Actual game play>Highlights>reading

If it's based on reading reports, it's having an opinion based on someone else's opinion.

Quite honestly I don't have time to watch the leagues where all these guys play. So I like to read about them from all sorts of outlets and then form an opinion/preference in who the Hawks take.

But hell, I've seen plenty of opinions and takes posted in GDTs by people I wouldn't trust their opinion of what they're seeing at any level of hockey.

He's not a huge physical presence or frankly, even any good at fighting, but he isn't soft. He will stand up for himself and his teammates. He will engage in scrums. He will use his size and battle along the boards and in front of the net. I think a year in college and in a college weight program would be great for him.

Sign me up for that. We need big guys who will do that badly.

 

[deytookerjaabs]

Sign me up for that. We need big guys who will do that badly.

You can watch "shift by shift" vids for a quicker synopsis to get an idea of how kids look.

Martone is not a bull on his skates who owns the walls and digs in the paint if that's what you mean. He's skilled, reads plays well and has a physical advantage at the moment. But it's not like he dominates the ice shift to shift even though he has that natural advantage, if folks are saying that they're blind. He'll still get checked by guys half his size.

 

[Kevin Musto]

If Desnoyers is an Aho/Hischier type player then it wouldn't be the biggest deal in the world if you pick him and thats your 2C but it makes 2026 important to get that next potential game breaker with Bedard, another 100 point upside forward...if you have Bedard and another guy plus Desnoyers and Nazar to be the all situation players thats not a bad situation at all...the problem with Carolina as they're currently constructed is that Aho is their guy

Doesn't seem like there is a terrible pick at 3 unless they do some off the wall stuff, its just looking like the player projects more to be a complementary piece

If Desnoyers was Aho/Hischier, he'd be in the conversation for 1st overall

 

[Toews2Bickell]

If Desnoyers was Aho/Hischier, he'd be in the conversation for 1st overall

Do you think its in the range of outcomes that Desnoyners ends up a 60-65 point center that is defensively responsible and can play all situations?

 

[eklund2chicago]

Interesting video. IQ and skill level is crazy high but it’s hard to evaluate how well his game will translate. The upside is really high though. Maybe a bit early to take him third oa.