F Porter Martone - Mississauga Steelheads, OHL (2025 Draft)

[IHaveNoCreativity]

They aren’t counted towards the numbers. If they were, it would have the most draft picks of any junior league most years I’m pretty sure.

Ahhh. Yeah I had no clue.

I think the big programs have done a great job of pulling in talent. The Q really keeps shooting itself in the foot, but it should change with expansion and the new commish, but hockey QC has been in shambles for over a decade which really really hurts that league.

 

[WarriorofTime]

How many teams are in the USHL

15 + The USNTDP

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

How many teams are in the USHL

16. 15 if you don't want to count the NTDP (who actually compete in the league and are eligible for playoffs and to win titles).

 

[jtechkid]

and what kid is that?

we've had one kid leave our team and go to the QMJHL, ppg went from 0.75 to 0.45. There's more than just points

I’ll do a spreadsheet next week on kids leaving and production between leagues . Agree points are not everything but they are playing regular shifts and doing lot better than i thought !

 

[Torts]

You must be pleased with the rumor that Martone could be headed to Michigan, assuming your avatar implies you're a Wolverines fan.

I doubt that ever happens (+ the rumors about other top notch CHL talent). They'll be drafted and signed relatively quickly from their NHL clubs I feel.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Hot take: The fact that he made Team Canada is what matters. He hasn’t been given that much opportunity to excel. And the team isn’t that good anyway. Holding one or two games against him that he might’ve had a shot to grab a bigger role is a little crazy when we have years and years of data saying Martone projects as a top line winger in the NHL.

 

[PAZ]

Hot take: The fact that he made Team Canada is what matters. He hasn’t been given that much opportunity to excel. And the team isn’t that good anyway. Holding one or two games against him that he might’ve had a shot to grab a bigger role is a little crazy when we have years and years of data saying Martone projects as a top line winger in the NHL.

Making Team Canada doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. It doesn't make Sennecke, Parekh, or Yakemchuk a lesser prospect because the org decided to make bad decisions.

But I agree it's a short tournament and it shouldn't be held against him. Mackinnon was the 12th/13th forward in his draft year and finished the tournament with 1 assist. He turned out okay.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Making Team Canada doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. It doesn't make Sennecke, Parekh, or Yakemchuk a lesser prospect because the org decided to make bad decisions.

I wouldn’t say it doesn’t matter. Due to what you say it might cheapen it, but it’s not nothing for a draft eligible forward to make Team Canada at the WJC. Not many over the years have and almost all turn into good NHL’ers or better.

 

[PAZ]

I wouldn’t say it doesn’t matter. Due to what you say it might cheapen it, but it’s not nothing for a draft eligible forward to make Team Canada at the WJC. Not many over the years have and almost all turn into good NHL’ers or better.

We all know Martone is a top 5 talent in this draft and he'll be a top 5 pick. Making the WJC is a nice little feather in his cap, but it's not indicative of anything. Especially when we see Team Canada's roster decisions leave a lot to be desired.

My point is that being a top 5 pick has a lot more weight than being on Team Canada.

 

[Chainshot]

Draft year eligible players so rarely perform for Team Canada at the U20's, it should make no difference in his draft position.

 

[MichaelFarrell]

Draft year eligible players so rarely perform for Team Canada at the U20's, it should make no difference in his draft position.

I stand by the fact no international tournaments should really impact where you rank a player. I’ve been burned more often than not when I’ve put too much stock into WJC performance.

 

[Chainshot]

I stand by the fact no international tournaments should really impact where you rank a player. I’ve been burned more often than not when I’ve put too much stock into WJC performance.

Yeah, it's usually when the WJC performance outstrips the club level performance that one should alert, even with drafted players. Call it the Mittelstadt rule if you will.

But in regards to Martone, little use on a badly constructed team shouldn't be held against him. His OHL performance has been excellent and should be the vast majority of assessment.

 

[ryan callahan]

Yeah, it's usually when the WJC performance outstrips the club level performance that one should alert, even with drafted players. Call it the Mittelstadt rule if you will.

But in regards to Martone, little use on a badly constructed team shouldn't be held against him. His OHL performance has been excellent and should be the vast majority of assessment.

Still. Disappointed that as a captain he clearly can't show his leadership on a team full of egos.

 

[Grinner]

Still. Disappointed that as a captain he clearly can't show his leadership on a team full of egos.

How many other captains are on team Canada's roster?

 

[Chainshot]

Still. Disappointed that as a captain he clearly can't show his leadership on a team full of egos.

What are you expecting, a "get one for the gipper" speach? He isn't playing - only Rehkopf has less icetime among Canadian forwards and that's just a few seconds difference.

 

[Chainshot]

How many other captains are on team Canada's roster?

Catton, Mynio, Pinelli, Martone, and before the WHL deadline, Yager and Howe were this year on their respective teams.

 

[Steve Kournianos]

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Pretty disappointing tournament overall, just like the bulk of the Canadian players.

Coaching staff and deployment did him no favours.

Hopefully he, Misa and McKenna can run show in Minneapolis next year.

 

[jtechkid]

Heard some buzz that they are concerned now with his “ pace “ of play and lack of explosiveness. he didnt look great skating wise at world juniors but could he slip to 8-12?-

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Heard some buzz that they are concerned now with his “ pace “ of play and lack of explosiveness. he didnt look great skating wise at world juniors but could he slip to 8-12?-

No, I doubt he slips past 4, if even that.

I don't think these are major concerns. The whole Canada team struggled, and I don't think his pace of play or explosiveness are problems. It's not easy to play for Canada at the World Juniors before being drafted. Not many do so and can succeed.

 

[montreal]

Heard some buzz that they are concerned now with his “ pace “ of play and lack of explosiveness. he didnt look great skating wise at world juniors but could he slip to 8-12?-

he's got heavy feet

 

[WarriorofTime]

Heard some buzz that they are concerned now with his “ pace “ of play and lack of explosiveness. he didnt look great skating wise at world juniors but could he slip to 8-12?-

Too big and productive to slip beyond like 5.

 

[JadedRandom]

Too big and productive to slip beyond like 5.

Yes, and Martone's skating isn't even that bad taken in isolation.

A little rectification of his skating posture here, some work on short-burst acceleration to the side, more ankle flexion there, and Martone's skating should be at least NHL-average. And that's all he really needs considering how much of an offensive threat he can be with the most minimal space/time.

Martone is an all-around threat in the offensive zone, plain and simple; he shoots well, passes well, can be a strong net-front or board presence, and Martone's one-touch plays project as elite even in the NHL.

That kind of toolset DEMANDS a top pick if put in a package with the size/strength/IQ that Martone displays on a regular basis.