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Michael Misa, Saginaw Spirit (Natalie Shaver/OHL Images)

3 Draft Prospects the Penguins Should Watch

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Sylvie McCarthy | Last updated Mar 10, 2025 4:10 PM ET

At this point, it is pretty safe to say that the Pittsburgh Penguins will miss the playoffs for the third season in a row. President of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas has no doubt already started looking to the offseason. The 2025 NHL Entry Draft begins on Friday, June 27, and there will be plenty of talent on the board. Barring a miracle, Pittsburgh will miss the postseason and be entered in the NHL Draft Lottery. Depending on where they finish in the standings (they sit 27th league wide entering play March 10) the Penguins may get the chance to draft a big name. Here are some players they should be keeping an eye on.

Michael Misa

Michael Misa is in his third season with the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and was named captain of his team, the Saginaw Spirit, in January. He is a top 2025 NHL draft prospect and it is not hard to see why. This season, he has 58 goals and 124 points in 59 games. At 18 years old, he has already reached elite status and it is not that far fetched to call him a generational talent.

In 2022, Misa won the Jack Ferguson Award as he was the first-overall pick at the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. He is currently leading the OHL in points and if the Penguins have the opportunity to bring him to Pittsburgh they should not hesitate to do so. He is a natural playmaker with good stickhandling and an ability to finish plays. He is also good on the forecheck and getting to the net. He may not be ready to join the NHL at the beginning of next season, but he definitely will be soon.

James Hagens

James Hagens has played in 34 games with the Boston College Eagles this season and has recorded nine goals and 34 points. His offensive skills are definitely still developing, but he is a natural born playmaker. Last season, he led the US National Team Development Program (USNTDP) U18 team in scoring, and currently has the fifth-highest career point total in the USNTDP with 187.

Hagens’ skating ability is what sets him apart. He is good at creating space and avoiding defenders. His transitions and ability to change direction on a dime make him dangerous. He is a good two-way player who is active in all three zones. He will make a solid second line center in the near future, and that is a position the Penguins will need to fill in the next couple seasons as Evgeni Malkin inches closer to retirement. If Pittsburgh has the chance to draft him, they should jump at it.

Porter Martone

Porter Martone has quickly risen to the top of the 2025 NHL draft class. This season, he has played in 51 games with the Brampton Steelheads of the OHL and has 30 goals and 89 points. At 6-foot-3, 208 pounds, he is a big, physical player who would definitely be an asset in Pittsburgh. His skating still needs work, but he has good vision and good speed. He’s also good in the offensive zone because he consistently gets to the high-danger areas. He also has a good shot and a good release. Martone is currently projected to be a top-five prospect in this year’s draft. Depending on when the Penguins pick, they could have the chance to add some size and strength to their lineup with Martone.

Penguins Will Have an Interesting Offseason

There is no doubt that the rebuild is underway in Pittsburgh, and Dubas has his work cut out for him this summer. The Penguins have a good number of promising, young prospects coming up the ranks and can hopefully add even more youth to the lineup over the offseason.