A Pair of NHL Draft Prospects

The 2024 hockey season has started and is in full swing, so you know what that means? The 2025 NHL draft is coming soon, as well. Draft Nation is here to guide you through the prospects and how they can help NHL teams.

Here is a pair of draft eligible players who are looking to get selected in the 2025 NHL draft.

Right Wing- Porter Martone, Brampton (OHL)

• 6-foot-3 207 lbs
• 2024 stats: 17 games- 16 goals 20 assists 36 points

Porter Martone was born in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. His father Mike was drafted in the fourth round of the 1996 NHL draft by the Buffalo Sabres, but never played in the NHL.

Following the 2021-2022 season in which he scored 41 goals and 63 assists in 53 games for the Toronto Jr. Canadiens U16 AAA team. Martone helped his squad win the silver medal at the OHL Cup. Martone was selected 5th overall by the Sarnia Sting in the first round of the 2022 Ontario Hockey League and debuted internationally with Team Canada Red at the 2022 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. Martone scored seven goals and five assists, tying third in the tournament for most points, to help Canada Red win silver. 

Martone debuted with the Sarnia Sting in the 2022-2023 season, playing a supporting bottom-six forward role. He scored six goals and seven assists in 29 games before being traded to the Mississauga Steelheads. After being traded to the Steelheads and being placed on a higher line, his offensive production increased with 13 goals and nine assists in 32 games. Martone continued his junior career with the Steelheads for the 2023-2024 season. His production increased again, scoring 33 goals and 38 assists in 60 games, becoming one of the leauge's leading goal scorers.

Martone was selected as the only returnee and the captain for Canada at the 2024 IIHF World U18 Championships. During the U18 Championships, Martone broke an all-time Canadian points record with 22, surpassing Connor Bedard. 

What to like about Porter Martone

Porter Martone is 6-foot-3 and weighs 208 pounds and plays a power forward game. He stands in front of the net and brings a level of physicality that can take over games. Martone is strong on his stick and is tough to tie up or move. For his size and style of play, Martone has extremely soft hands and is effective at moving the puck through the neutral zone and into the offensive end. He has an accurate shot that he can rip from any position or spot on the ice with the uncanny ability of putting himself in the right spot for rebounds. He's very efficient at finding soft spots in the defense and with his competitiveness in the offensive end, he will do whatever it takes to win one-on-one board battles.

Reason for concern

On the downside, Martone is an average NHL skater that needs to improve his strength and stride to be more successful. Martone does a quality job of changing direction and opening up, but if he can learn how to get to full speed quicker he could be a dominant force. He loves using his size to engage with the puck carriers, but he can be over aggressive. At times he will take an unnecessary penalty or over commit to make a hit instead of keeping his feet moving and making a play. 

Player Comparison

Corey Perry

Comparing Porter Martone to Corey Perry was an easy thing for Draft Nation to do. Martone wants to play the style of game that has made Perry a 432 goal scorer in the NHL. DN thinks that Martone's ceiling is even higher than Perry's because of his soft hands and ability to puck handle.

Draft Projection

Top-10 pick

Center Anton Frondell, Djurgardens IF- Sweden

• 6-foot-0 179 lbs
• 2024 stats: 5 games- 1-goal 1-assist 2-points

Anton Frondell was born in Trangsund, Sweden, and started playing senior-level hockey at age 16 for Djurgardens IF in the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan during the 2022-2023 season. In 2021-2022, he played 32 games (between three tiers) and scored 32 goals and assisted on 28 tallies. During the 2023-2024 season, Frondell played for six teams total, including three international squads. He finished the season playing in 70 games total, scoring 44 goals and 38 assists. He competed in the 2024 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament as a 16-year-old, leading Sweden in goals and beating Team USA for first place in the event.

What to like about Anton Frondell

Scouts are not going to find a more complete two-way player than Anton Frondell. He is responsible in his own end and is always in position to cover the slot and then turn the puck in transition. He is a very smooth stick handler and moves the puck effortlessly. He sees the whole ice and uses his playmaking ability to hit teammates cutting or sitting on the side of the net. He does an excellent job of keeping goalies on their toes by being able to rip off shots while not looking at the net. Frondell is an effective forechecker who can be physical when it is needed. The young Swede can play in any situation, and is a determined penalty killer who understands his positioning. He knows how to space and once the puck is on his stick, his release is quick and accurate.

Reason for concern

When watching Frondell play, it is hard to find anything terribly wrong with his game. He is a good skater, but lacks the acceleration and pace that other high end prospects possess. When cycling and skating through the neutral zone, he does not get the instant separation. Frondell did undergo knee surgery last season, although not serious, team will want to make sure that he is 100%.

Player Comparison

Aleksandar Barkov

This is a comparison that basically every scout in the NHL has used for Frondell, and it makes sense. Barkov, a Frank J. Selke Award winner in 2020-2021, plays a complete game and does so effortlessly. Barkov at this point in his career is a stronger skater than Frondell. Depending on who drafts Frondell, he should slot in nicely as a first or second line center, and be a contributor in some form every night.

Draft Projection

Top 5 pick