Pre-Game Talk: 2024 Draft Thread

[Daley Tarasenkshow]

Silayev is super intriguing- especially from the Blues perspective. 6'6 and already producing at a great pace for a teenager in the KHL.

I haven't watched him yet but seems like he's gaining traction to be neck and neck with Levshunov.

 

[Bluesnatic27]

Silayev is super intriguing- especially from the Blues perspective. 6'6 and already producing at a great pace for a teenager in the KHL.

I haven't watched him yet but seems like he's gaining traction to be neck and neck with Levshunov.

It's a similar situation to Simashev and Reinbacher of last year.

Levushunov is much more complete with highly projectable skills and toolbox, much like Reinbacher. But the potential from what we can see out of Silayevis incredibly tantalizing IF it breaks the way fans can hope, much like Simashev.

I haven't done too much research at this time, so I'm in no way confident in where I'd rank either. But I'd argue the traction is much more based on hype then body of work. I'm not trying to belittle Silayev in saying that. I'm more cautious of players that surprise like Silayev has. I remember when Kemell was a shoe-in for the 2nd overall pick back in 2022 after his incredible start.

 

[AyeBah]

As an MSU hockey season ticket holder, not sure what to think about Levshyunov up at #3. Yes he plays 1st pair and gets his points but most of them have been 2nd assist/ ENG types, its not like he's sniping from the point every game. I will say he is deceptively larger on the ice than his profile says and has a good hard pass. He just gets too eager to jump into the rush sometimes and gets burnt. I wouldn't say he has a standout tool but he is all around solid

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

As an MSU hockey season ticket holder, not sure what to think about Levshyunov up at #3. Yes he plays 1st pair and gets his points but most of them have been 2nd assist/ ENG types, its not like he's sniping from the point every game. I will say he is deceptively larger on the ice than his profile says and has a good hard pass. He just gets too eager to jump into the rush sometimes and gets burnt. I wouldn't say he has a standout tool but he is all around solid

how is his mobility? he looks a bit lumbering, but it may just be bc he has no neck.

 

[Brian39]

We're still very early in the scouting season and any list/ranking done in early November is going to look a hell of a lot different than what we'll have on the eve of the draft.

With that said, this draft is looking pretty damn D heavy. No matter how our season winds up going, this year's draft class is starting to look like the ideal opportunity address the lack of D in our prospect pool. I think we are clearly trending towards another deadline as sellers, so I do believe that getting another 1st round pick is on the table (either directly in a deadline trade or by accumulating more 2nd/3rds and then packaging our own 2nd round pick with some surplus picks to snag a pick in the 20s on draft day).

I could absolutely see us coming out of this draft with a D prospect we love and another 1st round caliber D prospect we like.

 

[TK 421]

We currently have 3 picks inside the top 64, even if there was no change there come day 1 of the draft that's great ammo to walk with 2 of those 3 being D picks. Lindstein could suddenly have some support in his age range and our pool would look much more balanced though still forward heavy at the top.

 

[TK 421]

Zayne Parekh only had 3 goals through 14 games then bam, hattrick last night. Knew that dam was going to break and it broke big. Laser beams man, "..that thing's operational!" laser beams.

 

[ezcreepin]

We currently have 3 picks inside the top 64, even if there was no change there come day 1 of the draft that's great ammo to walk with 2 of those 3 being D picks. Lindstein could suddenly have some support in his age range and our pool would look much more balanced though still forward heavy at the top.

If we could get 2 more firsts (doubtful, but possible) and retain the 2nd's we have, the depth Armstrong will have built up will be insane. For the sake of the argument, assume we get a top 10 defenseman, a late teens/early 20s defenseman, and a late 1st forward. Our forward scouting in the late first has been pretty good recently so I'd expect a 3rd liner at least, and then you get a likely top 6 and at minimum top 4 defense for the future, that leaves you with at the very least a core of:

Forwards: Dvorsky, Stenberg, Snuggerud, Bolduc, Neighbours, Dean, late 2024 1st rounder

Defense: Lindstein, Buchinger, Loof, 2024 top 10, 2024 late teens/early 20s

Then supplement either with your 2nd rounders this year and you have a not so insignificant group of players that will come within 5 years. I find it hard to believe that any one of Dvorsky, Stenberg, Snuggerud, or Dean wont be good contributors to this team and I think it's unlikely any of Lindstein, Buchinger, and our (hopefully) top 10 pick wont contribute. THAT is a core I think you could build around fairly easily and then you have Thomas and Kyrou anchoring that top line. If these players hit on their development, we are going to be in good shape for a long while, and that's super exciting.

 

[Drubilly]

If we could get 2 more firsts (doubtful, but possible) and retain the 2nd's we have, the depth Armstrong will have built up will be insane. For the sake of the argument, assume we get a top 10 defenseman, a late teens/early 20s defenseman, and a late 1st forward. Our forward scouting in the late first has been pretty good recently so I'd expect a 3rd liner at least, and then you get a likely top 6 and at minimum top 4 defense for the future, that leaves you with at the very least a core of:

Forwards: Dvorsky, Stenberg, Snuggerud, Bolduc, Neighbours, Dean, late 2024 1st rounder

Defense: Lindstein, Buchinger, Loof, 2024 top 10, 2024 late teens/early 20s

Then supplement either with your 2nd rounders this year and you have a not so insignificant group of players that will come within 5 years. I find it hard to believe that any one of Dvorsky, Stenberg, Snuggerud, or Dean wont be good contributors to this team and I think it's unlikely any of Lindstein, Buchinger, and our (hopefully) top 10 pick wont contribute. THAT is a core I think you could build around fairly easily and then you have Thomas and Kyrou anchoring that top line. If these players hit on their development, we are going to be in good shape for a long while, and that's super exciting.

I’m enjoying this Blue Kool aid and I don’t care what anyone thinks.

 

[Mike Liut]

We currently have 3 picks inside the top 64, even if there was no change there come day 1 of the draft that's great ammo to walk with 2 of those 3 being D picks. Lindstein could suddenly have some support in his age range and our pool would look much more balanced though still forward heavy at the top.

Hopefully Buch returns a pick around 25 this year and a good D prospect

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Silayev is super intriguing- especially from the Blues perspective. 6'6 and already producing at a great pace for a teenager in the KHL.

I haven't watched him yet but seems like he's gaining traction to be neck and neck with Levshunov.

I just don’t see it with levshunov. I’m not even sure he’s the best draft eligible college defenseman.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

I think LSW might be what I thought mews might be (but its looking like he might not be).

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

I think LSW might be what I thought mews might be (but its looking like he might not be).

Lot of D to choose from that are high potential. Maybe a 50% forward 50% D draft. By the way, Parekh isn’t a defenseman. He will piss you off with his lack of interest playing the position. Watch him.

 

[TK 421]

Lot of D to choose from that are high potential. Maybe a 50% forward 50% D draft. By the way, Parekh isn’t a defenseman. He will piss you off with his lack of interest playing the position. Watch him.

Parekh can learn to defend, he's already solid defending the rush but he makes obvious mistakes at times like not picking up the right guy when things get scrambly in his own end and his team doesn't have possession. Regardless he's not out there to play defense, he's there to drive play 5v5 and run your 1st PP unit. There isn't a single defender in the '24 class on par with his offensive game, he's just heads and shoulders above everybody else. He also has by far the best shot of all D in this class and is better than most of the forwards as well. So if you're going to call him out for bad defense you damn sure better mention he's the prime OFD in this class and teams would be picking him for that, not his defense or lack thereof.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Lot of D to choose from that are high potential. Maybe a 50% forward 50% D draft. By the way, Parekh isn’t a defenseman. He will piss you off with his lack of interest playing the position. Watch him.

i've watched parekh some and i'm just not that into him, for reasons you get at. i watched a lot of hlinka games over past few weeks (work is rather slow many days for now so i have extra time), and d who really impressed me most in games i saw was dickinson, who looks like total package. like might not put up huge points, but he looks like guy like petro or slavin who are just really good all around players. i'd have him potentially as high as 2nd overall (although i could hear argument for eiserman there, i think i would take dickinson over any of the forwards aside from celebrini).

fwiw, at this point i don't think i have another d in top 5, although the big russian i could see a case for. but the rest of my very early top 5-6 would include helenius and demidov.

anyway, at the hlinka, after dickinson guys who stood out on d were mews (although inconsistent the raw skill is there), lsw, and jiricek (for both good and bad). parekh didn't do much for me, because aside from his clear offensive skill i didn't see him do the things defensively he would need to do to play big minutes in nhl. like not just that he was raw and needs to refine (like lsw) or that he needs to get stronger (like most of them, but that can be hard to tell against same age), but he didn't look anything like what i would want a defenseman to look. someone said on main board that like minky when he was at saginaw parekh plays a rover and puts up huge numbers because he doesn't feel tied to playing defense, but unlike minky who could always get a stop when needed, parekh doesn't appear to be able to do so.

i'm not looking for us to find the next ghost or tyson barrie. we need guy who can play in all situations, big minutes, get stops, and exit zone with possession. that is what true #1 can do. or even legit top 4. makar and fox are able to play huge minutes and put up big points because they can actually defend. lsw teases that type of potential. mews hints at it at his best (although he is having a cam allen type season unfortunately). the bigger guys who can move too (dickinson, silyev) get their stops differently but still can get them. i just don't see parekh as guy who can do what we need and not need to be sheltered.

fwiw, i don't know that either levshunov or yakamchuk (and i know i can't spell worth crap) can get stops and exit with posssession either, which is why i don't rank them as high as consensus. if they show me they can do that, i will bump them up.

 

[PJJJP]

Who is lsw?

 

[BlueSeal]

i've watched parekh some and i'm jut not that into him, for reasons you get at. i watched a lot of hlinka games over past few weeks (work is rather slow many days for now so i have extra time), and d who really impressed me most in games i saw was dickinson, who looks like total package. like might not put up huge points, but he looks like guy like petro or slavin who are just really good all around players. i'd have him potentially as high as 2nd overall (although i could hear argument for eiserman there, i think i would take dickinson over any of the forwards aside from celebrini).

fwiw, at this point i don't think i have another d in top 5, although the big russian i could see a case for. but the rest of my very early top 5-6 would include helenius and demidov.

anyway, at the hlinka, after dickinson guys who stood out on d were mews (although inconsistent the raw skill is there), lsw, and jiricek (for both good and bad). parekh didn't do much for me, because aside from his clear offensive skill i didn't see him do the things defensively he would need to do to play big minutes in nhl. like not just that he was raw and needs to refine (like lsw) or that he needs to get stronger (like most of them, but that can be hard to tell against same age), but he didn't look anything like what i would want a defenseman to look. someone said on main board that like minky when he was at saginaw parekh plays a rover and puts up huge numbers because he doesn't feel tied to playing defense, but unlike minky who could always get a stop when needed, parekh doesn't appear to be able to do so.

i'm not looking for us to find the next ghost or tyson barrie. we need guy who can play in all situations, big minutes, get stops, and exit zone with possession. that is what true #1 can do. or even legit top 4. makar and fox are able to play huge minutes and put up big points because they can actually defend. lsw teases that type of potential. mews hints at it at his best (although he is having a cam allen type season unfortunately). the bigger guys who can move too (dickinson, silyev) get their stops differently but still can get them. i just don't see parekh as guy who can do what we need and not need to be sheltered.

fwiw, i don't know that either levshunov or yakamchuk (and i know i can't spell worth crap) can get stops and exit with posssession either, which is why i don't rank them as high as consensus. if they show me they can do that, i will bump them up.

This.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Who is lsw?

Leo Sahlin Wallenius - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Leo Sahlin Wallenius, 2006-04-10 Skövde, SWE Sweden. Most recently in the SHL with Växjö Lakers HC. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

i call him lsw because i can't spell

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Parekh can learn to defend, he's already solid defending the rush but he makes obvious mistakes at times like not picking up the right guy when things get scrambly in his own end and his team doesn't have possession. Regardless he's not out there to play defense, he's there to drive play 5v5 and run your 1st PP unit. There isn't a single defender in the '24 class on par with his offensive game, he's just heads and shoulders above everybody else. He also has by far the best shot of all D in this class and is better than most of the forwards as well. So if you're going to call him out for bad defense you damn sure better mention he's the prime OFD in this class and teams would be picking him for that, not his defense or lack thereof.

It’s just a total mistake to call him a d. He’s a rover or a winger. He plays a younger lazy Kyrou on defense. When someone just casually skates back to their zone and doesn’t pick anyone up, that’s a lazy forward. Personally wouldn’t touch him until the 3rd round. That’s a total game change, not an improvement. I see a guy that will top out at the next level as his game won’t translate against better players, then again, how much better will he get?

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Here’s where I’m at on the D right now
Dickinson
Silayev better than last years toolsy Russian
Levshunov toolbox is there
Yakemchuk I like him
Elick. Really like him I see JBo
Buium. He is really solid moving up
Skahan no O but the rest is worth it
Emery growing on me
LSW great skater little smallish
Jiricek overrated? Toolsy though
Mews gets it done
Shuravin he’s a first rounder
Badinka hoping he slips to 2nd round be a steal. Watch this guy
Pulkkanen (later round chance late bloomer

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Here’s where I’m at on the D right now
Dickinson
Silayev better than last years toolsy Russian
Levshunov toolbox is there
Yakemchuk I like him
Elick. Really like him I see JBo
Buium. He is really solid moving up
Skahan no O but the rest is worth it
Emery growing on me
LSW great skater little smallish
Jiricek overrated? Toolsy though
Mews gets it done
Shuravin he’s a first rounder
Badinka hoping he slips to 2nd round be a steal. Watch this guy
Pulkkanen (later round chance late bloomer

i watched levshunov both games against bc and he didn't impress me. his feet seemed heavy. he wasn't good on outlet passes. he fumbled pucks. he's obviously doing something right, as the numbers are there. will try to get more viewings as year progresses.

i need to watch more yak too. i think he will be a player, but not sure if he is more a #4d or potential top 2 guy.

elick looked really raw to me, both at hlinka and in whl. that size and agility though is worth taking chance on, and i think he is quite likely a 1st just not where i think our first pick will be.

i want to see more of the ntdp guys on d. numbers don't look great (for the ones who are most intrguing) but not sure that means much.

lsw is listed at 6', so he is at very bottom of where you want height to be. but if he were 2" taller he'd be in top 10 conversation i think.

I will have to check out Badinka, haven't seen much on him.

 

[Mike Liut]

Here’s where I’m at on the D right now
Dickinson
Silayev better than last years toolsy Russian
Levshunov toolbox is there
Yakemchuk I like him
Elick. Really like him I see JBo
Buium. He is really solid moving up
Skahan no O but the rest is worth it
Emery growing on me
LSW great skater little smallish
Jiricek overrated? Toolsy though
Mews gets it done
Shuravin he’s a first rounder
Badinka hoping he slips to 2nd round be a steal. Watch this guy
Pulkkanen (later round chance late bloomer

I’d love to come out of the draft with 2 of these.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

adam jiricek has been hard guy for me to get read on. very toolsy. and he makes some great intuitive plays. but then he does some really dumb things. like not kyrou trying to walk a guy at blueline that doesn't work but much dumber than that things. really makes me question whether he will ever be able to put it together. starting to get david runblad vibes from him. anyone else see that?

 

[sfvega]

I’d love to come out of the draft with 2 of these.

That's 100% what I want. We've proven to be proficient at finding good talent at forward, while we've been hesitant to commit picks on D. In a draft so deep in the 1st at D, I'd love to add two to Lindstein with some developing 2nd tier talent.

 

[kimzey59]

Obviously there's still a lot of season left and things could change quickly; but it's really starting to look like the Blues will be a PO team this year.

If we pick somewhere between 16-22, I'm not sure that a defenseman will be the BPA at that spot. Don't get me wrong, I fully agree that defense is our biggest need right now; but reaching for need is what gets teams in trouble.

As much as I'm sure that some of you don't want to have the conversation shift; I think we need to start discussing some of the forwards that might be available in the 2nd half of the 1st round.

Just to toss a few names out there: Cayden Lindstrom, Tanner Howe, Sacha Boisvert, Beckett Sennecke, Maxim Masse, Igor Chernyshov