2024 Draft Thread

[AintLifeGrand]

Per Mynhldraft we have unfortunately dropped to 19th overall given our sudden pt streak

Currently has us selecting Emil Hemming

Here is what the people have to say:

I would be fine with this pick in theory although we have a glut of Right Wings

We are also in range of the following players

My current draft board is

1. Connelly
2. Hage
3. Boisvert
4.Chernyshov
5. Hemming
6. Greentree

 

[PredsV82]

I hope we "unfortunately " drop to 32nd.

 

[You]

Never going to get an impact forward if we draft #32 every year

 

[Kat Predator]

Never going to get an impact forward if we draft #32 every year

Then we will never win the Cup.

 

[Scoresberg]

I wonder if Adam Jiricek could fall into our lap. Was considered a sure-fire top-10 pick before the season started but because of injuries, he has fallen quite heavily. If we end up somewhere in the 17-20 range, I think he could be a real possibility.

 

[AintLifeGrand]

hopefully in the 2nd rd

he is regressing this year , we have plenty of d men and we dont really draft guys from the czech republic

I wonder if Adam Jiricek could fall into our lap. Was considered a sure-fire top-10 pick before the season started but because of injuries, he has fallen quite heavily. If we end up somewhere in the 17-20 range, I think he could be a real possibility.

 

[herzausstein]

Never going to get an impact forward if we draft #32 every year

If we manage to draft there, couldnt give less of a dang what we draft. Just knowing that vegas jumped through all that LTIR hoops to lose out makes it worth it

Also, seems like if we keep tumbling back a RHD might end up being a better option at our draft spot unless we can bundle our 1st with a couple 2nds to move up

 

[Gnashville]

So the Predators have 9 picks in 2024
1 1st (their own)
3 2nds (own, Jets, Lightning)
2 3rds (own, Stars)
3 4ths (own, Blackhawks, Oilers)
None in the 5th, 6th, or 7th

 

[Scoresberg]

As we slip closer and closer to a 20+ pick in the 1st round, I've grown more and more accustomed to the idea to draft Emil Hemming.

Check this out:

Hemming's a 17-year-old, big winger who torched the U20 league in Finland this year with 11 goals and 18 points in 13 games. In Liiga, against men he scored a respectable 11 points in 40 games despite playing only 10 minutes a night.

I ran the numbers of Hemming vs. Rantanen during draft year. Hemming's a late birthday in August whereas Rantanen was an early one in October.

Rantanen's draft-1 year (essentially the same age as Hemming's draft year):

U20: 18p in 17 games
Men: 9p in 37 games

Hemmings' draft year:

U20: 18p in 13 games
Men: 11p in 40 games

On top of similar numbers, they are a lot alike as players, too.

 

[Gh24]

we have plenty of d men and we dont really draft guys from the czech republic

I hope the team picks players based on their skillset rather than their country of origin. Except when it comes to Russia. I think it's quite reasonable to be cautious with russian players.

 

[PredsV82]

Looks like we have pick 22, right? We actually had more points than 5 other playoff teams

 

[nine_inch_fang]

Looks like we have pick 22, right? We actually had more points than 5 other playoff teams

Depends on where/when they are eliminated.

 

[PredsV82]

Depends on where/when they are eliminated.

Yeah I guess it will change if we make the conference finals or a team above us does, or both...

 

[Gnashville]

Yeah I guess it will change if we make the conference finals or a team above us does, or both...

Vegas appears to be the only possibility of that happening. Islanders, Tampa, and Capitals are done. LA could do it also I guess. Draft wise this is another wasted year. Not much is going to be available at 22 and certainly no game breakers the 2nd round picks are very late and practically useless

 

[AintLifeGrand]

Now that we can get the playoffs out the way, the real fun begins... Mock Drafts in Earnest

so where we picking??

 

[hido]

Now that we can get the playoffs out the way, the real fun begins... Mock Drafts in Earnest

so where we picking??

The only thing more boring than mock drafts are draft grades. Mock drafts are usually blown up by the fifth pick and draft grades shouldn’t be given out for at least three, if not five, years.

 

[101st_fan]

Going by rankings is how you end up with Chet Pickard. Going with scouts that actually watch everything from warmups through games is how teams end up with Pekka Rinne.

 

[Scoresberg]

Been watching closely the U18's going on now.

Hemming has soured on me in this tournament. Looks average against juniors and his offensive prowess only surfaces on the PP. Trying to do too much, forces things and don't think he processes the game at a high-level. Feels like a 2nd rounder for me now, after seeing him at the U18's.

Jett Luchanko from Team Canada has really won me over. Nice, average-built center who moves around fluidly, takes care of his two-way game and has some excellent playmaking skills to go along. Not even completely sure he goes in the 1st round, and have to do some more research on him, but he looks like a player. Nick Suzuki-esque.

As for the rest of Team Canada's draft eligibles, Iginla looks like the real deal whereas Mews & Elick don't really look like much on the back-end. Beaudoin probably tops out as a bottom-six center, which we shouldn't really go for and I'm a bit surprised on why can't he dominate 17-year-olds with his monster physique. Ritchie is a meh player for me in the 1st round.

Teddy Stiga from Team USA has raised a lot of eyebrows in this tournament. Before, he wasn't even considered a 1st rounder but has put up some crazy numbers on their 1st line and looks like a Gabe Perreault-lite from last year. Don't think he's our type but just wanted to bring him up.

As for the rest of Team USA, I do believe that EJ Emery's stock is on the rise after this tourney but I'm still a little hesitant on him. Doesn't seem to have offensive potential and his mature physique makes me think his game will be harder to translate to pro-level. Cole Hutson will be a 1st rounder after his showing. Not much else pops into mind from them.

Anyway, some thoughts from the tourney.

 

[AintLifeGrand]

hows connelly and eiserman look?

 

[Scoresberg]

hows connelly and eiserman look?

Eiserman's a good goal scorer, obviously. He's came in as advertised but not been as one-dimensional. He's made some plays for his teammates as well. He might fall on draft day because he's a smaller winger which is not a premium position but he will be a strong goal scorer in the NHL.

I've liked Connelly's game. He's a creative guy in the offensive zone, versatile skater and overall dangerous when he has the puck on his stick. He's been more physical than I thought, and he has a good frame to add muscle to going forward.

Overall, I've liked Connelly's game more but Eiserman sure possesses the most important skill in the game quite well.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Is there a solidly built defensive D who can skate that we can look at somewhere in this draft? Unfortunately, all 3 of our 2nd rounders are from playoff teams too, so we don't have the luxury of an extra super-high 2nd.

 

[Scoresberg]

Is there a solidly built defensive D who can skate that we can look at somewhere in this draft? Unfortunately, all 3 of our 2nd rounders are from playoff teams too, so we don't have the luxury of an extra super-high 2nd.

Charlie Elick or EJ Emery come to mind.

Both are big, physical defenseman who know how to skate as well. Puck skills are a bit lacking which is why they're not considered in the top of the 1st round.

Adam Jiricek is one option as well. He is considered in the 10-15 range but could fall due to his injury which kept him out for most of the year.

Henry Mews is a guy I watched closely in the U18's and thought he looked liked a Preds prospect to me. Average-build puck-moving defenseman who's a really good skater. Good competitor, too. But I thought his defensive hockey IQ was a bit lacking at times, which you don't want to see from a 1st rounder against his peers.

 

[Soundgarden]

I think 2nd rounders are a perfect spot to draft defensive dmen.

 

[Gnashville]

Predators have the 22nd pick officially after the Vegas loss
Also have picks # 52, 54, 59, and 86 in the top 100

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

I think 2nd rounders are a perfect spot to draft defensive dmen.

I'm not even sure if the draft is a place to get them at all. It's definitely a difficult player style to project. So many busts of this type. But then if you want to acquire established ones, you probably have to pay awkardly high trade or UFA-contract premiums to get the ones who do pan out. But I guess just picking bigger D who can skate, we can work with that. Emery sounds interesting in that category.