The 2025 NHL Draft is fast approaching, and the San Jose Sharks find themselves in a pivotal position with the second overall pick. Will they opt for the dynamic offensive talent of Michael Misa or the well-rounded two-way game of Anton Frondell? JD Young takes a deep dive into Bob McKenzie’s final rankings, offering a comprehensive analysis of the top prospects and their potential fit with the Sharks’ organization.
As the debate between Misa and Frondell intensifies, Young explores the unique strengths each player brings to the table and how they could shape San Jose’s future. Drawing from mock drafts by The Athletic, Bleacher Report, and Yahoo Sports, he provides valuable insights into the potential selections for the Sharks’ later picks at 30th and 33rd overall.
The episode also examines the Sharks’ overall draft strategy, considering the team’s need for defensive reinforcement and potential targets like Blake Fiddler and Henry Brzustewicz. Listeners will gain expert perspectives on Misa’s exceptional offensive instincts and goal-scoring ability, as well as Frondell’s versatile skillset. This in-depth analysis of the Sharks’ draft options offers fans a glimpse into how these crucial decisions could impact the team’s trajectory in the fiercely competitive NHL landscape.
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16 Comments
Islanders might not if they sign Dobber long term they might add Misa they need a center badly also
Defense for nerds shirt?!
Islanders are taking Misa
If Bruwz or Fiddler are still available at 28-29 I could see Grier coughing up an additional pick to move up to grab one of them.
Can the Sharks trade their 30th this year, Edmonton #1 2026 and a 2nd round pick to another team if Porter Martone falls to #4 or #5 or lower pick. Is there enough value for the other team to do it?
DEH-NWAH-YAY
If Grier don’t draft Misa, he has to be fired immediately without any words.
1. Misa is simply better player, there’s nothing to talk about
2. Even if he trade down to #3 he will gift our potential rival in SC finals elite C who could be threat for us and make life harder
3. Misa is just slightly worse player than Celebrini and having 1,2C with Celebrini and Misa could be next Kane-Toews
4. He has great chemistry with Chernyshov who could be his winger on the NHL lvl as well
5. Misa himself told to his friend that he wants to be a Shark and that he likes our organization.
Doesn’t matter what could Chicago give us in exchange for #2, there’s simply no other right solution than picking Schaefer or Misa.
Hopefully this Frondell rumours is just a smokescreen and we will be laughing so hard with Misa in teal.
Would the sharks pull trade for Victor Eklund if he falls out of top 10?
What do you think the chances are that grier picks frondell over misa?
If we draft Misa or Schaefer, do they make the jump to the NHL on September?
Things I wondered this morning
For Misa, in addition to what you speculated, what if it's Grier way to do his homework with drafting and some scouts may see it as "interest in other players"? I explain myself. Last year, a lot of people in the hockey world were kinda shocked by the move Grier did the grab the 11st pick before the draft, but I assume Grier did something similar last year and maybe expected one of the big man to fall this low and was happy to settled a couple picks lower and won the bet. Maybe he's just doing his homework again this year and will probably not result in a trade at all.
I trust Grier, we may be critical of the move he did with Zetterlund but usually, most his moves are the right one, especially draft wise. He never made a huge blunder, minus the 22 draft which to be fair, only got a few days ahead of him, and a full tear down and asset gathering to do
I will trust Grier because as of now, draft wise, he never made a major mistake
Excellent episode JD! I think we all agree McKenzie's rankings in the past have best reflected the thoughts (generally) of what the scouts working for NHL teams think (I imagine he has more intel as well), but it is still a small sample size.
The names you mentioned Spence, Gastrin, Horcoff, Fiddler, Zonnon and Nilson all just before or at our 30th pick are ALL prospects I hope they can snaf.
I think we all agree that Fiddler would be the top choice of the lot and IF he is still there at 28 it would not cost much at all to jump two spots and snag him. Of the list I want Spence second as he is Misa's best friend and roomed with him at the combine.
Then there is Zonnon. A player that IMO is the best GMMG forward of the lot. Gastrin is just a solid middle six center and Nilson has the same compete as Zonnon, just not the size.
If Brzustewicz at 33 maybe? Fiddler and Brzustewicz back to back! Even better. With the choices that could be available, if I was GMMG I keep the picks. Any combination that includes Fiddler is an A to that point in the draft.
Adding any one of the other players you mentioned keeps it an A IMHO. Come on Friday! Get here and get here fast!
I am not sure about Ravensbergen, as I think Medvedev and Frolov would be better choices later in the second or the third round.
I also would not mind seeing Rambauch, Limotov or Vansaghi at 53 if he is still there. I would steer clear from Amico and not because of his recent injury. It is because over the last few seasons he has been injured consistently.
A prospect with his size that likes to play physical and is often injured screams of the worst inability for a prospect to have and that is availability. With the other prospects available I would not risk the pick.
Mock drafts are nice to look at but after a while they tend to be fans picking for other teams they know little about so I do not put much stock in them, but it is interesting to listen to outside perspectives.
I agree with your thoughts on their drafts. If Fiddler is available close to the 30th pick I imagine GMMG will move up and snag him.
Say islanders somehow are dumb enough to go hagens at 1…is there a chance we still go misa at 2? Or if they pass on Schafer, do we 10000% go with him no question?
I'm pretty sure it has to be Schaefer then Misa.
Our young core, which includes top prospects includes:
– Forwards: Celebrini, Smith, Eklund, Musty, Chernyshov
– Defense: Dickinson, Mukhamudlin
– Goalie: Askarov
That's a pretty solid core.
Adding Schaefer (a third defense, and a second that is two-way as Mukh looks to be a solid physical defensive defender) adds more to our roster than does Misa (and that would be true, even if Misa were the unanimous #1 choice and Schaefer was #2 with 9 of the 10 scouts); that is basically due to 5 exceptionally strong forwards and 1 exceptional defenseman.
A play driving (he makes those around him better) first line center, who has the "dog" intensity in him, and who plays a 200 ft. game (sounds similar to our own Celebrini) would be an exceptional choice for the Islanders at #1. But then Schaefer would be even more so, as he's likely equally dominant at his position and top D-men are more rare than top Centers.
I wouldn't consider either Misa or Schaefer as a "consolation prize" as both are worth of going first overall.
If we take anyone other than Misa/Schaefer, it should be because we traded down to 3rd or 8th (or whatever) and received a strong two-way defensive prospect who is 23 or younger, so his best years will line up with our young core.
Lots of Hagen sympathy from the American podcasts
…it's not because James is American right? No nation bias ehh 😅
Maybe the Hawks supposedly loving Frondell is blowing smoke as well