2025 NHL Draft Thread

[Sandman]

Michael Misa (5 games) and Porter Martone (4 games) are tied for the lead in points for the OHL with 12 apiece.

[Sandman]

16-year-old 6'5",226lb LW Ethan Belchetz (mentioned above), who looks like Shane Doan when he was 28, is tied for 6th in OHL scoring with 8 points (4 goals) in just 5 games.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Dan403

Did they factor in the fact that we’re gonna trade Kuzmenko, Ras, Mantha & Barrie at some point this season?

I don’t know. But since those guys likely won’t be moved until the deadline, I doubt it will have a huge impact on the numbers.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Michael Misa (5 games) and Porter Martone (4 games) are tied for the lead in points for the OHL with 12 apiece.

Is there a good description on Porter? What kind of player he is, his tendencies, strengths/weaknesses, etc

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Bonded

The defense is terrible though. Wolf or Vladar would need to be vezina level

To be a good team, yes.

But to be less that the worse teams, they just need to be good.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Is there a good description on Porter? What kind of player he is, his tendencies, strengths/weaknesses, etc

Recent Scott Wheeler piece in the Athletic describes him as a RW power forward. Sounds like he does most things well and plays with an edge. Big, skates well, good release, physical, he can do it all and should challenge for 1OA, or at least some think he will.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Recent Scott Wheeler piece in the Athletic describes him as a RW power forward. Sounds like he does most things well and plays with an edge. Big, skates well, good release, physical, he can do it all and should challenge for 1OA, or at least some think he will.

Would we be mad if he’s our BPA given the circumstances? I really want a center this draft, but if he’s a can’t-miss prospect we might have to delay the franchise center pick if he’s the better pick

[Sandman]

I wouldn’t be mad at all if we took Martone, even though we need centers. He reminds me a bit of a meaner Rantanen. He might be my favourite player in this draft.

[sch19lks]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I wouldn’t be mad at all if we took Martone, even though we need centers. He reminds me a bit of a meaner Rantanen. He might be my favourite player in this draft.

I love Martone, I just wish he was a centre.

Sandman, what are your thoughts on Nathan Behm?

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by sch19lks

I love Martone, I just wish he was a centre.

Sandman, what are your thoughts on Nathan Behm?

I don’t know him as well as some other players in the WHL, but I have some thoughts:

-I think he’ll be a riser come the draft- he seems to be lurking around the 2nd/3rd round in mocks
-4 goals and 8 points in 4 games thus far, but 3 goals and an assist came in one game against a weak Seattle team. Kamloops are a pretty middling team this year, so he won’t have a lot of help. Harrison Brunicke is still with the Pens, and Fraser Minten is going pro in the Leafs’ system.
-Excellent shot, can score from distance. He won a national long drive competition this summer, hitting the ball 327 yards.
-His forte seems to be his stickhandling and his deception ability. He handles well, and has a wide array of dekes and fakes to get around, or through opponents. Excellent puck skill.
-He has size (6’3”), but the knock last year was that he didn’t use it nearly enough- he’s not a big hitter, and wasn’t using his body enough in battles, and wasn’t going to the net enough. Hopefully, he will change that this season.
-Had 30+ points last year, which is pretty respectable- I think he’ll end the current season around a ppg. He was a first-round pick of the Blazers’.
-He looks like he skates well, and can beat some defensemen wide at times, but there’s room for improvement.
-Thinks the game well, and has high IQ, but he needs better commitment to his defensive responsibilities.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Would we be mad if he’s our BPA given the circumstances? I really want a center this draft, but if he’s a can’t-miss prospect we might have to delay the franchise center pick if he’s the better pick

I don't know if anyone could really be "mad" after drafting Martone... I mean he is an excellent hockey player... at the same time I'd be more inclined to argue that if the talent is close you go with the Centerman and I would hazard a guess that with all the quality centermen in this draft that at least one of them will be available and close.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Parallex

I don't know if anyone could really be "mad" after drafting Martone... I mean he is an excellent hockey player... at the same time I'd be more inclined to argue that if the talent is close you go with the Centerman and I would hazard a guess that with all the quality centermen in this draft that at least one of them will be available and close.

LIke the 2020 draft. New York took Alexis #1 over the C's who are tracking better. Especially Stutzle.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I wouldn’t be mad at all if we took Martone, even though we need centers. He reminds me a bit of a meaner Rantanen. He might be my favourite player in this draft.

Best player available no matter the position IMO. Picking a lesser player because your team is bent on filling an organizational hole is how Vancouver ended up with Joulevi instead of Tkachuk.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

LIke the 2020 draft. New York took Alexis #1 over the C's who are tracking better. Especially Stutzle.

Laf had 112 pts in 52 games that season. And a big body. I don't remember anyone throwing shade for that pick.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

LIke the 2020 draft. New York took Alexis #1 over the C's who are tracking better. Especially Stutzle.

Are you making this up? No one was close to Lafreniere for #1, Stutzle was the only center that was a consensus top 5 but was never a real threat to go in the 1 spot.

[1qqaaz]

Lafrieniere was a clear #1. But at the same time, players taken from the QMJHL are always very risky - even at the top of the draft.
It's such a subpar league these days.

But still, Lafreniere had a good year this past season. He could hit 70+ points this year.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Lafrieniere was a clear #1. But at the same time, players taken from the QMJHL are always very risky - even at the top of the draft.
It's such a subpar league these days.

But still, Lafreniere had a good year this past season. He could hit 70+ points this year.

He was on fire in the 2nd half of the season and nearly hit 30 goals. He's still only 22 and coming along nicely. Fans just have to be a little patient as the path for these kids can vary.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Best player available no matter the position IMO. Picking a lesser player because your team is bent on filling an organizational hole is how Vancouver ended up with Joulevi instead of Tkachuk.

‘Best player available’ is starting to get a little tired. BPA according to who? Teams lists are not the same across the league. Hell, even internally teams likely have differences on who BPA is.

Also, the opposite is probably just as true too. It probably wouldn’t be much of a surprise to find that teams did in fact pick based on positional needs over ‘best player available’ and it’s worked out just as well.

Failed picks will always standout more. They’re easy to identify and people remember them. At a certain point in a teams rebuild, yes, BPA, should be the strategy. That said, at some point, you need to start to take a more nuanced look and tailor your drafting strategy to your specific team needs.

When you go to a restaurant and the server comes to your table, do you simply say ‘bring me something delicious’?

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by sch19lks

I love Martone, I just wish he was a centre.

Sandman, what are your thoughts on Nathan Behm?

He's intriguing. Don't notice him until he has 3 goals every night. Pure sniper.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by TOfan

‘

When you go to a restaurant and the server comes to your table, do you simply say ‘bring me something delicious’?

No, but if I go to Swiss Chalet, I don't order a hamburger even if it is my favourite meal.

The BMA is often the best best in a restaurant, although this analogy is terrible, and not relevant to hockey.

Since the vast majority of draft picks take years to develop, picking for needs today is often useless as needs can change from year to year.