2025 NHL Draft: We got #2!

[coooldude]

But I was told by the experts on here that Misa is an amazing skater and two-way player?

B-level for the NHL already is good. But as you and I exchanged about, the entire forward class is weak.

That said I was also interested to see this scout throw some cold water on Schaefer, saying he's more Shea Theodore than Doughty/Heiskanen. Skating++ but no clear other spike. Maybe this year just sucks. Still would be a great piece to add and a higher likelihood of hitting than Dickinson, but not universally seen as the Heiskanen savior we have been drooling over.

 

[Hodge]

B-level for the NHL already is good. But as you and I exchanged about, the entire forward class is weak.

That said I was also interested to see this scout throw some cold water on Schaefer, saying he's more Shea Theodore than Doughty/Heiskanen. Skating++ but no clear other spike. Maybe this year just sucks. Still would be a great piece to add and a higher likelihood of hitting than Dickinson, but not universally seen as the Heiskanen savior we have been drooling over.

Schaefer's biggest selling point is that he's like a week away from being 2026 eligible. Way more developmental runway than any of the other prospects and seemed to be on a meteoric rise before the injury.

 

[WSS11]

But I was told by the experts on here that Misa is an amazing skater and two-way player?

Also isn't Martone incredibly soft and not an "annoying asshole" who drives the net? Hard to know who to trust between a NHL scout and weastern bias.

I like how you ignored the most important quote from the scout on Misa.
“Misa is the clear No. 2 on my [draft] list.”

 

[dmcccdmn]

Nice read. Glad to see a couple of scouts that not sold on Schaefer as a franchise Dman. Everyone is enamored with his skating but there's a lot more that he hasn't shown.

Misa is very well spoken of. Sharks might win this draft a few years from now.

 

[Hodge]

I like how you ignored the most important quote from the scout on Misa.
“Misa is the clear No. 2 on my [draft] list.”

The same scout also says Misa will be a 2C. Yawn. Just a dogshit draft class after Schaefer.

 

[jMoneyBrah]

Sounds great in theory unless Misa turns into Marco Rossi 2.0 while Martone becomes Matthew Knies or Mark Stone.

All the internet experts thought Fantilli was the no brainer choice at 2OA in 2023. I'm pretty sure the Ducks are extremely happy they went with Leo instead.

If we measured every good sounding thing by whatever hugely unsatisfactory outcome was remotely possible, we’d be miserable because by those standards everything is shit.

Also Desnoyers being 3cm taller than Misa and 10lbs lighter makes me think that any size difference between the two is inconsequential. Misa is just as adept at two way hockey than Desnoyers, if not more so, and easily the better offensive player. Misa can effectively play an F1 role, which would be very helpful for the Sharks, but probably slots nicely into F2/F3 roles.

 

[WSS11]

The same scout also says Misa will be a 2C. Yawn. Just a dogshit draft class after Schaefer.

lol a very good 2C with no clear flaws. Nico Hischier as a comp has averaged 32G per 82 GP his last three seasons and nearly a PPG during the same timeframe. I’ll take that all day long behind Celebrini.

 

[Hodge]

lol a very good 2C with no clear flaws. Nico Hischier as a comp has averaged 32G per 82 GP his last three seasons and nearly a PPG during the same timeframe. I’ll take that all day long behind Celebrini.

Hischier's entire value comes from being elite defensively which this scout clearly doesn't believe Misa will be.

Also I'm not against drafting Misa 2nd overall. I just don't think it's obvious and ultimately none of these forwards are worth getting excited about.

 

[Friday]

The Dallas pick locked in at 30th OV now?

 

[Star Platinum]

But I was told by the experts on here that Misa is an amazing skater and two-way player?

Also isn't Martone incredibly soft and not an "annoying asshole" who drives the net? Hard to know who to trust between a NHL scout and weastern bias.

Keep in mind, he still said to take Misa, but take from his comments what feeds your agenda.

 

[jMoneyBrah]

When did I insist Smith will be a NHL center? He's simply more likely to become one than Misa because he's played the position effectively in a better league than the OHL. Most likely they are both wingers in the long run. Desnoyers and Frondell aren't guaranteed centers at the next level either but they've both played the position longer than Misa has. Frondell was 3rd and Misa 7th in McKenzie's preseason rankings: James Hagens in pole position for top spot at 2025 NHL Draft | TSN

Calm down and stop being so confident about something as uncertain as the development trajectories of 17 and 18 year olds. Except in exceedingly obvious cases like McDavid or Matthews nobody really knows what these kids will turn into. Watching 480p streams of junior hockey games doesn't actually give you any special insight.

Lol. The second paragraph is just a chef’s kiss for unintentional irony. Señor Hot Take has a problem with others confidently asserting their perspective earned by … gasp … watching with their own eyes? Color me shocked.

How hostile you are to opinions counter to “big player good, not as big player worthless” is absolutely hilarious. Especially when you contort yourself to “homeslice played center in NCAA and other homeslice played center in OHL, therefore the collegiate player is center and OHL is winger” smooth brain takes.

 

[Hodge]

Keep in mind, he still said to take Misa, but take from his comments what feeds your agenda.

What’s my agenda? Trying to inject nuance into this conversation instead of pretending Misa is some can’t miss prospect and slam dunk at 2nd overall? I’ve already acknowledged there are good reasons to take Misa but others seem incapable of admitting the same thing also applies to some of the other top ranked forwards.

 

[Star Platinum]

lol a very good 2C with no clear flaws. Nico Hischier as a comp has averaged 32G per 82 GP his last three seasons and nearly a PPG during the same timeframe. I’ll take that all day long behind Celebrini.

I've seen a ton of Hischier comps for Misa

 

[Star Platinum]

What’s my agenda? Trying to inject nuance into this conversation instead of pretending Misa is some can’t miss prospect and slam dunk at 2nd overall? I’ve already acknowledged there are good reasons to take Misa but others seem incapable of admitting the same thing also applies to some of the other top ranked forwards.

Misa isn't McDavid level prospect. Also not Celebrini level prospect. We're all agreed on that point.

But the pro-Misa crowd is making way better arguments in favor of Misa than you are making for not-Misa. Better supported by facts and better supported by traits of each of the top forwards.

 

[Star Platinum]

The Dallas pick locked in at 30th OV now?

No, because it was locked in at 32 by a previous poster who may have been a time traveler, but now has been exposed as a charlatan.

 

[Hodge]

Misa isn't McDavid level prospect. Also not Celebrini level prospect. We're all agreed on that point.

But the pro-Misa crowd is making way better arguments in favor of Misa than you are making for not-Misa. Better supported by facts and better supported by traits of each of the top forwards.

Hard to take their arguments seriously when they're at odds with what actual scouts are saying about Misa and Martone.

Misa is probably the safest pick although Frondell has a case too. But Martone is the best fit for our existing team build.

 

[weastern bias]

But I was told by the experts on here that Misa is an amazing skater and two-way player?

Also isn't Martone incredibly soft and not an "annoying asshole" who drives the net? Hard to know who to trust between a NHL scout and weastern bias.

Tag me you coward

 

[Star Platinum]

Hard to take their arguments seriously when they're at odds with what actual scouts are saying about Misa and Martone.

Hard to take your argument seriously when you're cherry picking the parts you like and hand waving away the parts you don't

 

[Sharksfan66]

I really don't know what to make of Martone. Scouts sound pretty consistent on Schaefer, Misa, and Hagens, but Martone? Some say he doesn't use his size, others say he's annoying and an a**hole to play against. Which is it??

I'm ready for the draft to get her already, so we can move on to the acceptance phase of all of this once the pick is made.

 

[Lebanezer]

What’s my agenda? Trying to inject nuance into this conversation instead of pretending Misa is some can’t miss prospect and slam dunk at 2nd overall? I’ve already acknowledged there are good reasons to take Misa but others seem incapable of admitting the same thing also applies to some of the other top ranked forwards.

You don't inject nuance, you inject narrow-minded absolutes. Nuance requires you to be flexible in your stance and attempt to see things for more angles than just your own.

 

[Star Platinum]

You don't inject nuance, you inject narrow-minded absolutes. Nuance requires you to be flexible in your stance and attempt to see things for more angles than just your own.

Some people view the Internet as a place to make predictions and win the pretend "Who Predicted the Future The Best" award.

 

[SJS1991]

I really don't know what to make of Martone. Scouts sound pretty consistent on Schaefer, Misa, and Hagens, but Martone? Some say he doesn't use his size, others say he's annoying and an a**hole to play against. Which is it??

I'm ready for the draft to get her already, so we can move on to the acceptance phase of all of this once the pick is made.

It’s because Martone is inconsistent. He has the size but not the “jam”. Scouts are worried he will just be a big guy that wants to be a “skill” guy. That he will never use the natural size advantage and just be a monster on the ice (Ala the Tkachuk/Perry comps).

But most recognize even though he doesn’t play a physical, heavy style of hockey…. He is annoying. He does “rat” level stuff, Ala Brad Marchand. So I think that’s what gives people hope that they can get the physical play out of him consistently… because he already has that “rat” to him.

 

[tiburon12]

I was thinking about the logic of trading up to 1, and I think it's a impossible. A few assumptions here are obv not 100%, but pretty damn close.

If the Sharks show any interest in trading up to 1, i.e. they approach NYI, then they lose all leverage. Even without saying who they want, they are implying it's Schaefer because everyone knows the Sharks need a D and we also know NYI would take Hagens over Misa (assumption, but solid) if they went for a forward (thus ruling out that Misa is the Sharks target). So if Grier approaching NYI doesn't benefit the Sharks.

If the Islanders approach the Sharks to trade down, then they are conceding that they want a forward because they know the Sharks want a D. So in that sense they show their hand by approaching SJ. Further, if NYI really wanted Schaefer, they would hold onto the pick.

So i think the idea of trading up is bunk. Grier's strongest move is to wait, because if the Isles are set on Schaefer they will just take him and not entertain a trade. If they want a forward then we're fine, and if they approach us to trade down we know they want a forward too.

My logic logicking?

 

[Shark Finn]

I could tell by this picture alone someone is in for their daily dose of attention

 

[Hodge]

I really don't know what to make of Martone. Scouts sound pretty consistent on Schaefer, Misa, and Hagens, but Martone? Some say he doesn't use his size, others say he's annoying and an a**hole to play against. Which is it??

I'm ready for the draft to get her already, so we can move on to the acceptance phase of all of this once the pick is made.

Honestly who has actually said Martone doesn't use his size? Legitimate scouts or random fans?