NHL Entry Draft 2024 NHL Draft Talk

[Senator Stanley]

6 players hit 90 + points in WHL in Cowens year.

vs 18 this year.

Okay? Doesn't change that it's a strange comparison for the two players being discussed. Cowen was drafted as a big, shutdown defenceman with a limited offensive game, as his junior production demonstrates. That's not the profile of either Yakemchuk or Dickinson.

 

[BondraTime]

I’m assuming the Cowen comparison was because he’s a very toolsy guy with a questionable toolbox, though not at the same level as Cowen’s proved to be.

He’s not a similar player to Cowen, stylistically. Near opposites, outside from both being big. Cowen had the better skating, knee notwithstanding.

He’s got much more skill, a gigantic amount, than Cowen did.

The only real similarities I see is they both make 2 second decisions that they only have 1 second to make. That really, really worries me when jumping up to the NHL, and I heard the same from some guys when I was in Moncton watching the Prospects game.

The difference between watching a guy like Danford and Yakemchuk at the same time was so stark, one extremely composed and mundane, the other extremely skilled, fancy and powerful, but almost running around with his head cut off at times throughout the game

 

[Senator Stanley]

I’m assuming the Cowen comparison was because he’s a very toolsy guy with a questionable toolbox, though not at the same level as Cowen’s proved to be.

He’s not a similar player to Cowen, stylistically. Near opposites, outside from both being big.

He’s got much more skill, a gigantic amount, than Cowen did.

The only real similarities I see is they both make 2 second decisions that they only have 1 second to make. That really, really worries me when jumping up to the NHL, and I heard the same from some guys when I was in Moncton watching the Prospects game.

In retrospect, Cowen was done in by a few things. First, he's someone who developed very early (first overall pick in the WHL draft, then a very good Memorial Cup as a 16 year old - he was called a "man amongst boys" at the draft by Bob Mackenzie) and his development plateaued. Second, he fit an old school archetype of the big, strong, defensive defenceman at a time when the league was moving away from guys like that - the role didn't go away, but what teams required from those guys shifted. Third, by the time he made the NHL he wasn't as mobile as advertised, perhaps due to injury.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Okay? Doesn't change that it's a strange comparison for the two players being discussed. Cowen was drafted as a big, shutdown defenceman with a limited offensive game, as his junior production demonstrates. That's not the profile of either Yakemchuk or Dickinson.

Just pointing out that using ppg is unfair.

Cowen could have very realistically put up .8 ppg + in the current scoring environment and on the right team.

Although I agree that Yakemchuck and Cowen are opposite players. While Dickenson is what people are hoping the non bust version of Cowen is what he turns into. Big, strong, mobile top 4 D with heavy shots who can be used on the shutdown pair.

 

[aragorn]

It is funny because Pronman rates Dickinson hockey sense as below average. I think his raw athleticism, with London's talent and team structure mask a lot his deficiencies. When you watch London, Dickinson is not offensive driver; he appears to better without the puck than with the puck on his stick in the offensive zone. In this draft, he is worthy of top 7 pick, but there are holes to his game. People actually think Dickinson's offense will translate but Yak's won't? Yak was compared to Jared Cowen earlier in this thread. But really, for argument's sake, Dickinson is more like Cowen. Cowen was the big, and athletic shut down D-man who helped lead Spokane to a championship as a D-1 prosect. People were raving about his defensive game, saying he was a "human eraser" with a projectible offensive game. Spending years on stacked team in junior masked his lack of hockey sense. I am not saying this applies to the same degree with Dickinson, but there is some there, there.

As @bert was saying, Yak's size, strength and meanness combined with hands, shot and average to good hockey sense and skating are just too good to pass up.


I am pretty sure everyone was knocking Bouchard's hockey sense too at the time.

This article has Yakemchuk just behind Parekh as the best offensive defenceman in the 2024 draft. There are plenty of people who think Yakemchuk will be an offensive point producer. Of course, none of it matters until we see how he does once in the NHL & that IMO is at least 1 or 2 seasons away.

MSN

no one knocked Bouchard's hockey sense.. that was an obvious + . His skating was the concern

That is not exactly accurrate, I had several discussions with people who thought Bouchard lacked hockey sense & made lots of defensive errors due to it, he made a big one in these playoffs not long ago. I'm not saying they were wrong, I'm saying there were those that said it & I argued he was a point producer & not necessarily good defensively. Look how many people here are saying Yakemchuk lacks hockey sense & is poor defensively, they could be right too, but I maintain he will be a point producer in the NHL. And as a side bar, lots of people didn't care that EK was defensively challenged, they just cared that he was a point producer. Check out the link above what they say about Yak.

 

[Senator Stanley]

Just pointing out that using ppg is unfair.

Cowen could have very realistically put up .8 ppg + in the current scoring environment and on the right team.

Although I agree that Yakemchuck and Cowen are opposite players. While Dickenson is what people are hoping the non bust version of Cowen is what he turns into. Big, strong, mobile top 4 D with heavy shots who can be used on the shutdown pair.

Fair enough.

I think Pronman's Hanifin comparison for Dickinson is a good one. Great skater and athlete, well rounded game, can play big minutes and contribute offensively at five on five and on a second unit (depending on the team), but probably not going to be a high-end offensive player.

 

[aragorn]

​

MSN

2. Carter Yakemchuk, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)​

A quick look at his point totals shows that Yakemchuk is an offensive defenseman who is vital to the Calgary Hitmen attack. This has been consistent throughout the season. He is Calgary’s second-leading scorer in both goals (30) and points (71) and always has the green light to attack the net. He can score from pretty much anywhere – in the slot, on the wing on the power play, or from the point with a well-placed wrist shot or booming slap shot.​

Carter Yakemchuk is a skilled skater, especially considering his size. While he may not be the fastest straight-line skater, he has good acceleration and can quickly maneuver into spaces to create scoring chances or make defensive plays. His adept use of edges allows him to turn swiftly in the offensive zone, taking advantage of slower or stationary defenders and disadvantaging them. Although he has shown decent top speed, he requires some time to reach it, often needing to receive a pass in stride to maintain momentum.

To say that Yakemchuk can score from anywhere in the offensive zone sounds like an exaggeration, but it’s not. He can score close to the crease on his forehand or backhand, with an ability not usually seen from a defenseman. He regularly shifts to the left-side wing on the power play for one-timer or wrist shot opportunities. His wrist and slap shots from the blue line get through traffic and are accurate. While it’s unlikely he will have the same scoring chances and frequency in the pro game, his shooting is his most pro-ready attribute.

Yakemchuk is skilled at creating offense not only through his shooting ability but also through his passing and puck handling. He is a consistent passer, excelling at creating zone exits and entries, and can also make long passes. His puck handling allows him to create time and space for himself and draw opposition players towards him to open up passing options for his teammates. He is adept at maneuvering the puck to force opposing players to adjust their positioning, creating opportunities for himself and his teammates.

Holy shit, I tried to make the writing smaller, but apparently the evil AI won't let me & apparently I'm too incompetent to figure it out.

​

 

[Laphroaig]

Has anyone here ever seen Dean Letourneau play? He's a huge local kid ranked right around where our Boston pick lands. There's not much chatter around this guy but I'm intrigued.

 

[Micklebot]

Has anyone here ever seen Dean Letourneau play? He's a huge local kid ranked right around where our Boston pick lands. There's not much chatter around this guy but I'm intrigued.

Looks like he's slated to go right between the boston pick and our 2nd rounder. I doubt he makes it to our second though, seems intriguing but is he 25 oa intriguing...

 

[aragorn]

I’m assuming the Cowen comparison was because he’s a very toolsy guy with a questionable toolbox, though not at the same level as Cowen’s proved to be.

He’s not a similar player to Cowen, stylistically. Near opposites, outside from both being big. Cowen had the better skating, knee notwithstanding.

He’s got much more skill, a gigantic amount, than Cowen did.

The only real similarities I see is they both make 2 second decisions that they only have 1 second to make. That really, really worries me when jumping up to the NHL, and I heard the same from some guys when I was in Moncton watching the Prospects game.

The difference between watching a guy like Danford and Yakemchuk at the same time was so stark, one extremely composed and mundane, the other extremely skilled, fancy and powerful, but almost running around with his head cut off at times throughout the game

It took me a while to find Danford & he seems like a decent RD, I found him on the draft site LINES who had him ranked 116th OA. Could be someone they look at with one of their 4 4th rd picks. I just noticed Ott has the 117th pick.

Ben Danford – 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Profile - The Hockey Writers Latest News, Analysis & More

Right-handed defensemen are valuable, and Oshawa Generals defenseman Ben Danford has the skill too, making him a likely top-64 pick in 2024.

thehockeywriters.com

Has anyone here ever seen Dean Letourneau play? He's a huge local kid ranked right around where our Boston pick lands. There's not much chatter around this guy but I'm intrigued.

He's a giant Arnprior kid.

 

[aragorn]

Igor Chernyshov RW/LW/C - he would be an interesting pick with their 25th OA, although they probably need to move up to get him.

Igor Chernyshov – 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Profile - The Hockey Writers NHL Entry Draft Latest News, Analysis & More

With a power forward frame to build upon, Igor Chernyshov has everything needed to be a top selection at the 2024 NHL Draft.

thehockeywriters.com

Here is an article on the Memorial Cup & Parekh RD & Dickinson LD.

MSN

 

[BondraTime]

It took me a while to find Danford & he seems like a decent RD, I found him on the draft site LINES who had him ranked 116th OA. Could be someone they look at with one of their 4 4th rd picks. I just noticed Ott has the 117th pick.

Ben Danford – 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Profile - The Hockey Writers Latest News, Analysis & More

Right-handed defensemen are valuable, and Oshawa Generals defenseman Ben Danford has the skill too, making him a likely top-64 pick in 2024.

thehockeywriters.com

He's a giant Arnprior kid.

Danford isn’t getting out of the 2nd I wouldn’t think, if they want him they’ll have to use their 39th on him, and it would be a perfectly fine pick.

 

[bert]

Looks like he's slated to go right between the boston pick and our 2nd rounder. I doubt he makes it to our second though, seems intriguing but is he 25 oa intriguing...

I really like Orielly with the Boston pick. He's a raw rangy player that plays both ways. I think there's more upside there than meets the eye. He is gangly, once he gets stronger he's gonna be a really good two way player.

 

[R2010]

In retrospect, Cowen was done in by a few things. First, he's someone who developed very early (first overall pick in the WHL draft, then a very good Memorial Cup as a 16 year old - he was called a "man amongst boys" at the draft by Bob Mackenzie) and his development plateaued. Second, he fit an old school archetype of the big, strong, defensive defenceman at a time when the league was moving away from guys like that - the role didn't go away, but what teams required from those guys shifted. Third, by the time he made the NHL he wasn't as mobile as advertised, perhaps due to injury.

I mean Cowen was done in by his knee / hip issues. His skating went from being a strength to a weakness, especially with short bursts. Regardless of his hockey sense he should have been able to make a career out of being a #4 d-man but his injuries were too much.

 

[bert]

I mean Cowen was done in by his knee / hip issues. His skating went from being a strength to a weakness, especially with short bursts. Regardless of his hockey sense he should have been able to make a career out of being a #4 d-man but his injuries were too much.

He never had very strong hockey sense. Poor individual puck and passing skills too. Yakemchuk has an unreal first pass. Not a good comparable at all. Just want the sens to get one of these d men.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

This article has Yakemchuk just behind Parekh as the best offensive defenceman in the 2024 draft. There are plenty of people who think Yakemchuk will be an offensive point producer. Of course, none of it matters until we see how he does once in the NHL & that IMO is at least 1 or 2 seasons away.

MSN

That is not exactly accurrate, I had several discussions with people who thought Bouchard lacked hockey sense & made lots of defensive errors due to it, he made a big one in these playoffs not long ago. I'm not saying they were wrong, I'm saying there were those that said it & I argued he was a point producer & not necessarily good defensively. Look how many people here are saying Yakemchuk lacks hockey sense & is poor defensively, they could be right too, but I maintain he will be a point producer in the NHL. And as a side bar, lots of people didn't care that EK was defensively challenged, they just cared that he was a point producer. Check out the link above what they say about Yak.

I do not recall any from when he was drafted. He had lots of hiccups early in the NHL. I think we saw him break out this year and I think Coffey probably helped that.

 

[armani]

Lol at the shitstorm created by comparing Cowen and Yakemchuk's toolboxes (not playing style which is not usually that effective in assessing future potential). My point is, I won't spend Ottawa's #7 on Yak as there are questionmarks about his decision making, which usually don't translate well in the NHL. We have had many of those players drafted in the past whose junior play style didn't amount to much in the NHL. There are better fish to be caught before Yak is considered (BPA). In my humble (and potentially meaningless) opinion.

 

[Senovision]

Have no fear Senovision is here............

I will be at the Championship game in person on Sunday in Saginaw Michigan I just got my ticket. Hopefully I will get to see Parekh and Dickinson play as it could very well be Saginaw vs London in the Championship game.

 

[Tuna99]

Konsta Helenius is a Right shot - his scouting reports are all about what Ottawa wants - hockey IQ, 2 way play, offense, great attitude, desire and willingness and a maturity to his game NHL vets are impressed with. And some scouts say he’s NHL ready next year.

Could be a great replacement for Giroux at RW and play on the top 2 lines.

 

[BoardsofCanada]

Watching highlights of Buium, I've decided he's the guy. Doesn't have the size of Dickenson, but the mobility, and smarts/instincts are outstanding. I'd be perfectly happy with Dickenson as well.

I watched Parekh against Drummondville the other night; I was impressed with his speed and mobility but he seems more like a rover than a dman. Makes things happen offensively but takes a lot of risks. He actually reminded me of our own Tim Stutzle; dancing around with the puck trying to make something happen only to turn it over and watch it go the other way.

 

[BigRig4]

Watching highlights of Buium, I've decided he's the guy.

Reminds me of Quinn Hughes a bit

 

[bert]

Reminds me of Quinn Hughes a bit

Hughes Sanderson hybrid stylistically. Second safest player in the draft but still has alot of upside. Don't see him dropping past 5 unfortunately

 

[Joeyjoejoe]

Isn't that exactly what they are looking for now in their pursuit of Chris Tanev?

Chris Tanev is a top 4 pairing dmen that can play a shutdown role against 1st line players.

Bogosian is a bottom pairing dmen and has been most of his career.

So no I don’t want the team to draft a future bottom pairing dman with a top 10 pick.

 

[jhutter]

Iginla is dynamic. We have enough excitement. We need someone who gonna be solid defensively and be an example on the ice

I don't disagree that the team should emphasize defensive play (though the team also needs help/upgrades everywhere), but this idea of having "enough excitement" or skill at forward is the same logic that was used to select Tyler Boucher.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

6 players hit 90 + points in WHL in Cowens year.

vs 18 this year.

Guys cower could not handle the puck like either player.

Dickinson also way better skater than cowen

I don't disagree that the team should emphasize defensive play (though the team also needs help/upgrades everywhere), but this idea of having "enough excitement" or skill at forward is the same logic that was used to select Tyler Boucher.

There’s ALOT of grey area between “draft Boucher”. And “draft iginla”