Who would you want at 3rd overall?

[Juxtaposer]

I've requested this poll a few times in the Draft thread and so far been ignored, so I'll do it myself.

25.5% to draft 1st overall: Clear-cut BPA and major need, future star #1D Matthew Schaefer
18.8% to draft 2nd overall: consensus best forward Michael Misa
55.7% to draft 3rd overall: No consensus

Easy question: who would you want at #3 if we don't win either of the two lottery picks?

In the interest of not over-complicating the results, I'm going to only give a few options. If you don't like the options presented, feel free to comment who your choice is.

I'll pitch Martone as my choice for a few reasons. The obvious one is the ideal fit he represents with Eklund and Celebrini. I think that the Eklund-Celebrini-Toffoli line has a problem in that none of those guys are high-end playmakers. Eklund is definitely solid and Celebrini could get there, but I think there's not quite enough movement and sustained cycling in this group. It tends to be Eklund and Celebrini playing crash-and-bang hockey and then relying on Toffoli as the trailer to put pucks home. It works fairly well, but I think Martone would be the guy to take the top line to the next level with his elite playmaking and net-front presence.

Martone has great size at 6'3" and is a right-handed RW, which complements lefties Eklund and Celebrini, and because the latter two are quite physical for their size and the three could be a very hard-nosed trio. Eklund and Celebrini's speed, defensive abilities, and retrievals also fill Martone's weaknesses and are what he needs to hit that star level high-end projection he had. I do think Martone has the highest pure skill and scoring upside of any forward in the draft. And of course, he's a guy who has a bit of an edge to him, which you'd hope he'll grow into. Basically a similar player to Chernyshov but simply better at everything. On the flip side, he definitely has the highest bust risk of these choices.

I do think that the realistic other options are Hagens, Frondell, and Desnoyers. The former is probably the BPA if you completely disregard fit, Frondell has a Griersy sort of playstyle, and Desnoyers has a high floor as a middle-six C with significant defensive impact if you don't believe in Smith as a future center.

I could kinda see arguments for Eklund, J. Smith, McQueen, or O'Brien, but I don't really think they're realistic options.

 

[Patty Ice]

I've talked about before so I'll spare echoing the why but Hagens is the smart move IMO. He's the BPA and we need to accumulate the best talent available.

 

[Grinner]

Martone
He should end up as our 1st line RW
It also fills one of our greatest holes

 

[vortexx]

I could kinda see arguments for Eklund, J. Smith, McQueen, or O'Brien, but I don't really think they're realistic options.

What are your overall thoughts on Radim Mrtka? 6'6 RHD that plays with a very high pace and is also very young. Since he has joined the WHL he is playing 30 minutes a night and seems to be impressing scouts and will get a chance to show more at the U18s. He seems like a riser and we have seen many times GM's prioritize RHD and drafted them very high at the draft (Levshunov, Reinbacher, Nemec, Jiricek).

Comparing him to Jackson Smith from what I have gathered he definitely seems to be the more defensive defensemen whereas Smith is the more offensive type. Smith is a better skater, better athlete and more offensive upside, but Mrtka is very raw, better defensively and higher IQ and has surprisingly put up some good offensive numbers.

I am not advocating we take Mrtka at #3, in fact I hope we do not, but with our obvious need at D and especially RHD, do you think there is any chance Grier goes this direction?

 

[Juxtaposer]

What are your overall thoughts on Radim Mrtka? 6'6 RHD that plays with a very high pace and is also very young. Since he has joined the WHL he is playing 30 minutes a night and seems to be impressing scouts and will get a chance to show more at the U18s. He seems like a riser and we have seen many times GM's prioritize RHD and drafted them very high at the draft (Levshunov, Reinbacher, Nemec, Jiricek).

Comparing him to Jackson Smith from what I have gathered he definitely seems to be the more defensive defensemen whereas Smith is the more offensive type. Smith is a better skater, better athlete and more offensive upside, but Mrtka is very raw, better defensively and higher IQ and has surprisingly put up some good offensive numbers.

I am not advocating we take Mrtka at #3, in fact I hope we do not, but with our obvious need at D and especially RHD, do you think there is any chance Grier goes this direction?

I have no idea what Grier is thinking but I will literally quit being a Sharks fan if they select Radim Mrtka at 3rd overall.

 

[coooldude]

I went through each player and I honestly hated choosing any of them.

Hopefully the combine, U18s or interviews help to separate them a bit.

Frondell is doing well in playoffs and he's a truck, but he's not a plus skater and his underlying metrics aren't great in transition, but he does have some defensive chops and he has an NHL shot. Could possibly be an F2/3 on a Celebrini/Eklund line, maybe, or complement Smith on line 2 as a possession + sniping guy (not unlike a Toff). Sounds like his playmaking is accurate, but straightforward. I dunno, feels risky to pick so high. But I hated him the least, at least tonight.

Martone had all the makings of a slam dunk pick for us here at beginning of year, but he is also a not-plus skater, so I'd want the staff to evaluate whether that's a physical limitation or a technical one (which can get better). He strikes me as a winger Hertl in a way, but a lot more playmaking creative and maybe a bit less physical. I just don't see the Tkachuk/Perry comps and as we have discussed, we seem to have a lot of F size but not a lot of F speed in the pipeline, this doesn't help. Martone would be the guy I might keep second guessing on and going back to.

Hagens just doesn't strike me as far different than Smith... he started the year as a better prospect than Smith because of defensive responsibility, skating, and still having great offensive IQ, but as the season went, he kind of didn't drive the line and has some troubling tendencies with shooting/finish and generally upside now scares me a bit. We don't need another mid 1st liner or tweener 1st-2nd line C, especially at his size. Maybe if he were 6'2" or something, I dunno. October me would say 'you just take Hagens' but it feels worse now.

Desnoyers, I'm simply not a believer, but maybe if they win it all in the CHL playoffs and he's leading the charge, I would start believing all the hype about a Bergeron-ceiling, or PLD.

Griersiest pick feels like Frondell or Martone but again I hope Combine, U18s, interviews, final rankings etc make this a bit clearer for me. At this point I don't like picking 3 at all.

O'Brien, Mrtka, Smith, or Eklund feel like non-Grier reaches.

 

[Shark Finn]

Hagens or Martone at this point. It'd be a bummer to fall to 3rd but what a great problem, still.

 

[jMoneyBrah]

I guess my question is, if the Sharks are picking 3OA, and Schaefer and Misa are gone, who is your shortlist of top 3 remaining players. Can you live with the 3rd player on that shortlist?

Would you take the 3rd player on that list if it meant another late 1st that could be packaged to move into the mid teens or add a young NHLer to the middling pairing or middle 6 of the forward group?

I don’t know that it’s what I WANT to happen, but trading back with Nashville or Philly seems like it could be interesting.

 

[Barrie22]

Taking hagens.

 

[gaucholoco3]

What are your overall thoughts on Radim Mrtka? 6'6 RHD that plays with a very high pace and is also very young. Since he has joined the WHL he is playing 30 minutes a night and seems to be impressing scouts and will get a chance to show more at the U18s. He seems like a riser and we have seen many times GM's prioritize RHD and drafted them very high at the draft (Levshunov, Reinbacher, Nemec, Jiricek).

Comparing him to Jackson Smith from what I have gathered he definitely seems to be the more defensive defensemen whereas Smith is the more offensive type. Smith is a better skater, better athlete and more offensive upside, but Mrtka is very raw, better defensively and higher IQ and has surprisingly put up some good offensive numbers.

I am not advocating we take Mrtka at #3, in fact I hope we do not, but with our obvious need at D and especially RHD, do you think there is any chance Grier goes this direction?

I would also seriously consider Mrtka. Huge RHD that can skate is basically a guaranteed top 4 with the dearth of those in the NHL.

 

[weastern bias]

If we fall to 3rd I simply reload the save file and sim the lotto again

 

[KarlssonsGroin]

Hagens. Then wed have 3 options.

1. Hagens 2C, shift Smith to RW. Trade Eklund.

2. Celebrini-Smith-Hagens down the middle would be the best center depth since Crosby-Malkin-Staal. Then trade Eklund.

3. Deal Hagens in a couple years when teams value him as a potential 1C.

 

[spintops]

Some days it's Martone for me because of the fit, other days it's Hagens because he is BPA IMO. Today I probably go Hagens. Let's keep acquiring the best players we can, too early too claim we have Log jam at such important positions.

 

[Sendhelplease]

Half the league is in search of a young top six center. Take the young potential top center, take Hagens.

 

[WSS11]

BPA and the Center. Hagens

 

[Grinner]

Hagens. Then wed have 3 options.

1. Hagens 2C, shift Smith to RW. Trade Eklund.

2. Celebrini-Smith-Hagens down the middle would be the best center depth since Crosby-Malkin-Staal. Then trade Eklund.

3. Deal Hagens in a couple years when teams value him as a potential 1C.

Or
4. None of the above

 

[one2gamble]

this is such a hard question to answer. That pick has such a high probability of being wrong its crazy.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Martone is who I'd expect Grier to pick at 3 but I'd pick Hagens. I don't think anyone needs to be traded as a result of that pick being successful either.

 

[wishman]

Some days it's Martone for me because of the fit, other days it's Hagens because he is BPA IMO. Today I probably go Hagens. Let's keep acquiring the best players we can, too early too claim we have Log jam at such important positions.

Yeah, pretty much the same for me. Today I'm leaning Hagens as well. Definitely concerned about another small Center, but he doesn't play small and seems to have the frame to at least put on some thickness. Concerned with the footspeed of Martone.

Either way have confidence in Sharks scouting more than mine, so will generally be happy with whoever we end up with!

 

[NiWa]

For those leaning Center - Not seeing much love for the highly ranked Frondell - is it just the lower risk with Hagens higher floor that make you value him as BPA?

 

[sharski]

Draft Martone
Immediately convert him to RHD to pair with Dickinson
???
Profit

Srsly I'm no scout but I heard Martone has got kind of an edge lord characteristics to his game which I really think the team should have at some point in some of its best players... Like a next gen ryne clowe

 

[GRANdSharks]

Id be pretty comfortable going martone at 3, I think he has the highest ceiling next to Hagens. And while I like Hagens a little more it's an awkward fit with the guys we have. Looking at the draft tho and how things have developed I have a feeling that Grier and are staff are gonna lean more toward desnoyers. Now I'm not a huge desnoyer fan but he would be a different style of player down the middle and I think Grier's staff would covet alot of his traits.

I do want the shout out Jake O'Brien, ik he has been climbing up boards but he has been underrated for me all year, I think there is a ton of room for him to get stronger and grow into his frame, and the IQ and skill package is very intriguing. Could be a guy who becomes a lot better then people expect.

 

[matt trick]

Some good points here.

I like Desnoyers quite a bit, I think he could be a 50 point two-way 3C behind Mack and Will. He’s exactly the type of player I hope to get in the 2027 draft (after Schaefer and an excellent top 6 F/RHD in 2026), but I do prefer Martone and Hagens.

In Martone, I think you have a first line RW who’s an ideal fit alongside Ek and Celebrini. He’s a leader, and I think his strength, defensive game, and skating all have room to grow. I think he ends up the type of player that does not get traded. He also injects needed size into the top 6.

In Hagens, I think you’ve got a very good, albeit small, 2C. I think he will end up the most valuable piece, but if you end up selling him or another smaller forward you probably run the risk on taking a loss on that deal.

I’d be happy with either Hagens or Martone at this point.

 

[wishman]

For those leaning Center - Not seeing much love for the highly ranked Frondell - is it just the lower risk with Hagens higher floor that make you value him as BPA?

From what I've been reading, concerns with his transition play and speed. Hasn't been a play driver (even though I'm always confused as to what that means). So seems most likely to end up on the wing.

 

[Hodge]

Gotta be Martone. I'd pick him 2nd overall. I know people like to say we have big forwards in the pipeline but none of Musty, Halttunen or Lund should be counted on to have meaningful NHL careers let alone develop into top six forwards. Chernyshov looks like a safer bet but could still easily bust. Martone is in a completely different tier of prospect than any of those guys.

He's probably not going to be Corey Perry or Matthew Tkachuk but if he can be a more physical version of Matt Boldy that's a great addition to the core.