Porter Martone setting the tone as No. 1 2025 NHL Draft prospect

Set to wear the ‘C’ for Team CHL at the upcoming CHL USA Prospects Challenge on Nov. 26-27, it’s no surprise Porter Martone’s ability to set the tone earned him the captaincy and the No. 1 spot in TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button’s latest draft ranking.

The Brampton Steelheads winger jumps from No. 4 to No. 1 after a torrid start to the 2024-25 season with 17 goals and 43 points in 21 games, his third in the OHL.

In addition to wearing the ‘C’ for Brampton, Martone captained Canada to gold at the U18s with five goals and 17 points in seven games.

“When I watch Porter Martone play, it’s really simple. The blend of skill, power, edge, [the ability] to play to any scenario, the hockey sense – I see a significant difference maker,” said Button. “Somebody that’s no fun to play against, somebody that imposes his will on the game in so many different ways.”

Rising from No. 7 on September’s list to No. 3 is Saginaw Spirit centre Michael Misa. Misa, who will also be playing in the prospects challenge, is leading the OHL in scoring this season with 23 goals and 46 points in 23 games.

Earning exceptional status in April 2022 to enter the OHL as a 15-year-old, the eighth player in CHL history to achieve that feat, Misa is a Memorial Cup champion and Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medalist with Canada.

“All Michael continues to show is that he is an elite player,” said Button. “Elite skills, elite thinking. He’s back in the middle of the ice, doing the things he does exceptionally well.

“Don’t sleep on Michael Misa. He’s got some Jack Hughes in him.”

Another top scorer looking to make a big impression for Team CHL next week is Vancouver Giants winger Cameron Schmidt, who rises to No. 6 on Button’s list.

Schmidt leads the WHL in goals with 23 and is fourth in points with 34. The 17-year-old scored 31 goals as a rookie last season and captured gold at the U17s and Hlinka Gretzky Cup for Canada.

“Very few players in this draft are as skilled as Cameron Schmidt,” said Button. “When you look at every single area that you evaluate a hockey player on, it’s excellent with Cameron Schmidt.

“Skating, quickness, shot, hockey sense, puck-handling, [ability to] operate in traffic, be a difference-maker and compete. I want to hear one person argue against his excellent skill level and tell me how many players have more skill than him in this draft.”

At No. 9 for the second ranking in a row is Moncton Wildcats centre Caleb Desnoyers, who has 14 goals and 31 points in 20 games this season. A three-time gold medallist for Canada at the U17s, U18s and Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Desnoyers will wear an ‘A’ for Team CHL.

“Caleb is what I call a pivotal centre for your team,” said Button. “Five-on-five, power play, penalty killing, hard games, skilled games. Can score, can make plays. His competitiveness is off the charts. He is a dyed-in-the-wool competitor, and he’s got really good, solid skills. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.”

The highest-ranked player from the USNTDP U18 team on Button’s list ahead of the prospects challenge is defenceman Charlie Trethewey at No. 13.

While this year’s USNTDP roster isn’t overflowing with elite prospects like it was in 2022 and 2023, Trethewey is one of the best players on this year’s team. The Boston University commit has four goals and eight points in 22 games this season.

“Charlie Trethewey might be like John Carlson at the same age,” said Button. “His puck play, his ability to jump into the attack and to think the game offensively. He’s got those qualities of an offensive defenceman.”

Watch Game 1 of the CHL USA Prospects Challenge on Tuesday, Nov. 26 LIVE at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on TSN4/5 and Game 2 on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on TSN1/5 and streaming on TSN.ca and the TSN App.

Craig’s List – November 251Porter MartoneBrampton (OHL)RW6’2 ¾2082117432James HagensBoston C (NCAA)C5’10 ½177121153Michael MisaSaginaw (OHL)C/LW6’0 ¾1842323464Matthew SchaeferErie (OHL)D6’1 ¾183146185Anton FrondellDjurgardens (SWE J20)C6’119810576Cameron SchmidtVancouver (WHL)RW5’7 ¼1612123347Roger McQueenBrandon (WHL)C6’5 ¼19788118Logan HenslerWisconsin (NCAA)D6’2 ¼19211049Caleb DesnoyersMoncton (QMJHL)C6’0 ½17820143110Malcolm SpenceErie (OHL)LW6’120323112911Victor EklundDjurgardens (SWE)RW5’111612081512Cameron ReidKitchener (OHL)D511 ¾1932442113Charlie TretheweyUSA NTDP (USHL)D6’1200224814Cole ReschnyVictoria (WHL)C5’10 ½1832292715Will MooreUSA NTDP (USHL)C6’2 ¼1752281716Jake O’BrienBrantford (OHL)C6’1 ¾17223112817Ivan RyabkinMoscow (MHL)C5’1120190818Brady MartinS.S. Marie (OHL)C/RW6’017823112319Jackson SmithTri-City (WHL)D6’3 ¼1952322120Ben KindelCalgary (WHL)RW/C5’1017622143121Justin CarbonneauB-Boisbriand (QMJHL)RW6’119124183822Carter BearEverett (WHL)LW6’017923204123Kashawn AitchesonBarrie (OHL)D6’1 ½1962061324Joshua RavensbergenPrince George (WHL)G6’5 ¼190183.08.89925Lynden LakovicMoose Jaw (WHL)LW6’4 ¼19023122826Love HarenstamLulea (SWE J20)G6’1 ¼19042.28.92727Blake FiddlerEdmonton (WHL)D6’4209223928Milton GastrinMoDo (SWE J20)C6’0 ½1852071929Zach MorinSaint John (QMJHL)LW6’11811841630Cullen PotterArizona State (NCAA)C5’10172143731Luca RomanoKitchener (OHL)C/RW5’11 ¼17723132532Adam BenakYoungstown (USHL)C5’7 ¼16019617         33Braeden CootesSeattle (WHL)C6’32012392234Sascha BoumedienneBoston U (NCAA)D6’1175120235Radim MrtkaTrenic (CZE)D6’5 ¾207100136Jack IvankovicBrampton (OHL)G5’11178163.38.89937Bill ZonnonR-Noranda (QMJHL)RW6’118124123338Jack NesbittWindsor (OHL)C6’4 ¼18524112039Eric NilsonDjurgardens (SWE J20)C5’11 ½1562172440Nathan BehmKamloops (WHL)RW6’1 ½19223143041Jack MurtaghUSA NTDP (USHL)LW6’0 ¾2001381542Viktor KlingsellSkelleftea (SWE J20)LW5’9 ½1882371543Lasse BoeliusAssat (SM Liiga Jr.)D5’11 ¾179153644Tomas GalvasLiberec (CZE)D5’11154202345Jakob Ihs-WozniakLulea (SWE J20)RW6’2 ¼1842162746Luka RadivojevicMuskegon (USHL)D5’10165110647Eddie GenborgLinkoping (SWE J20)LW6’117921162948Conrad FondrkUSA NTDP (USHL)LW5’11 ¾1932251549Emile GuiteChicoutimi (QMJHL)LW6’1 ¼1742351050Reese HamiltonRegina (WHL)D6’0172221351Jacob RombachLincoln (USHL)D6’0 ¾160200352Melvin NovotnyLeksand (SWE J20)LW6’11872382153Peyton KettlesSwift Current (WHL)D6’5 ¼190202554Ben KevanDes Moines (USHL)RW6’0 ¼1821461555Quinn BeauchesneGuelph (OHL)D6’0185131356Viggo NordlundSkelleftea (SWE J20)LW5’916720112557Mateo NobertB-Boisbriand (QMJHL)C6’016624133258Haoxi WangKing City (OJHL)D6’5 ½2152731859Carter AmicoUSA NTDP (USHL)D6’5 ¼225130360Tomas PoletinPelicans (SWE J20)C6’1 ¼20085561Malte VassFarjestad (SWE J20)D6’1 ¾184202562Dakoda Rheaume-MullenMichigan (NCAA)D5’11 ¾178120463Philippe VeilleuxVal D’or (QMJHL)C/LW5’916524122764Vaclav NestrasilMuskegon (USHL)RW6’51871947