NHL Entry Draft 2024 NHL Draft Talk

[Hale The Villain]

He can still put up points with a simplified game, premised off his shot, puck-handling abilities, excellent offensive instincts and underrated vision.

There are two or three shift by shift videos featuring Yak, which highlights the good and bad . He is not deking out everyone all game long like he tried to do the Kubota Prospects game or in the provided highlights. In these shift by shift videos, he makes a lot of nice plays on both the offensive and defensive end. He makes a lot of beautiful stretch passes. He shows really good anticipation. He makes some blunders too, but not the catastrophic kind.

But all in all, these are relatively quiet games - for him- in terms of risk taking and he still puts up points. He has absolutely limited support around him, with no draft affiliated prospects on his team and only having Carson Wetsch(who I like), as the other legitimate draft eligible prosect that should crack the top 75. In his game against Lindstrom, he dominates him during their several interactions.

Buium is not a great a skater, at least in terms of pure speed and explosion. And as pointed out in the video I shared, he has never put up big offensive number before this year. Is his production this year the result of playing on an offensive juggernaut? Or he is offensive late bloomer? I think these are valid questions. Take a look at his numbers, they are freakishly bad before this season. Why? This year he played on a team that put up 4 to 5 goals a game. He cashed out with big point games against lesser teams like Yale. I think if all goes well he could be a 40-50 point player; he is crafty and super smart. But being crafty and smart will only take you so far when you don't have the tools.......

I think most of the internet scouts are really off in their analysis on Yak, and pumping the tires too much on guys like Buium

It's possible, but it will require a shift in how he plays, which isn't a guarantee to be successful.

He'll need to start producing more from the point, as he won't be able to jump into the play and take nearly as many risks to produce offense as he does right now. He has the shot to score from the point, I'm just skeptical he'll be able to get it off enough.

Seen plenty of defensemen who had big goal totals at the CHL level by beating junior goalies clean from the point, but that doesn't work as much at the NHL level when goalies get significantly better. Usually requires the ability to get pucks through screens, which means needing to be quick enough to open up shooting lanes and have a fast enough brain to get the puck through bodies and hit the net.

You can say he has excellent offensive instincts and underrated vision, but I haven't seen it. He's not a great playmaker when he's in the offensive zone, which is why his assist numbers in every one of his WHL seasons were low compared to his goal totals. That's actually a big red flag when projecting defensemen. Said as much when we drafted Lassi.

I don't see more offensive upside or defensive upside with Yakemchuk compared to Buium. They aren't in the same tier if you ask me.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

NCAA always played on big ice, which started getting phased out about ten or fifteen years ago.

Buium plays on all three different ice surfaces: Hybrid, Olympic and NHL standards.

The NCAA playoffs were on NHL standard ice, which explains the diminishing offense.

There is a lot of variation in the quality of opponent in the NCAA. An offensive juggernaut like Denver will demolish bad teams.

But be able to shut down bigger juggernauts than themselves,

It's possible, but it will require a shift in how he plays, which isn't a guarantee to be successful.

He'll need to start producing more from the point, as he won't be able to jump into the play and take nearly as many risks to produce offense as he does right now. He has the shot to score from the point, I'm just skeptical he'll be able to get it off enough.

Seen plenty of defensemen who had big goal totals at the CHL level by beating junior goalies clean from the point, but that doesn't work as much at the NHL level when goalies get significantly better. Usually requires the ability to get pucks through screens, which means needing to be quick enough to open up shooting lanes and have a fast enough brain to get the puck through bodies and hit the net.

You can say he has excellent offensive instincts and underrated vision, but I haven't seen it. He's not a great playmaker when he's in the offensive zone, which is why his assist numbers in every one of his WHL seasons were low compared to his goal totals. That's actually a big red flag when projecting defensemen. Said as much when we drafted Lassi.

I don't see more offensive upside or defensive upside with Yakemchuk compared to Buium. They aren't in the same tier if you ask me.

I can see both not translating well. I just see yakemchuk translating and a lower degree

 

[Alf Silfversson]

It's possible, but it will require a shift in how he plays, which isn't a guarantee to be successful.

He'll need to start producing more from the point, as he won't be able to jump into the play and take nearly as many risks to produce offense as he does right now. He has the shot to score from the point, I'm just skeptical he'll be able to get it off enough.

Seen plenty of defensemen who had big goal totals at the CHL level by beating junior goalies clean from the point, but that doesn't work as much at the NHL level when goalies get significantly better. Usually requires the ability to get pucks through screens, which means needing to be quick enough to open up shooting lanes and have a fast enough brain to get the puck through bodies and hit the net.

You can say he has excellent offensive instincts and underrated vision, but I haven't seen it. He's not a great playmaker when he's in the offensive zone, which is why his assist numbers in every one of his WHL seasons were low compared to his goal totals. That's actually a big red flag when projecting defensemen. Said as much when we drafted Lassi.

I don't see more offensive upside or defensive upside with Yakemchuk compared to Buium. They aren't in the same tier if you ask me.

I think Yak is actually really good at getting pucks to the net through traffic. He collected plenty of points doing just that this year. At the junior level.

One of the downsides to Yak's game is that he is not very good with his agility/first step (compared to the other high end prospects this year). Guys who get those shots through in the NHL are often guys who can walk the line and change angles, buy time and give themselves a bit of space. With his current edge work and skating Yak is not that guy. He'll need to work on that and it should come with added strength as he ages, but he would be bouncing pucks of shin pads, getting stripped at the blue line and having lots of pucks go the other way as he is right now.

As for his instincts and vision I agree that he isn't a guy who scans the ice a lot and looks to distribute. He looks to get himself and the puck to the net and in that sense he has pretty good offensive instincts. But yeah, I wouldn't say that he's got great vision.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

Those look similar to the picks PD sent out trying to round out the team. Difference seems to be for players that worked out.

I think the big difference though is that the firsts that they've traded have been later in the round.
Ours have been top 10. We should be getting incredible value out of these picks.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

I think the big difference though is that the firsts that they've traded have been later in the round.
Ours have been top 10. We should be getting incredible value out of these picks.

For sure. PD sent higher value picks out the door. I was just noting that they had similar strategies, but the difference is really just in who they acquired and how it worked out as opposed to basically none of them working out.

 

[BondraTime]

If Demidov fell to 7, which he won’t or shouldn’t, the Sens can’t pass on him.

Adding a legit offensive difference maker in 2/3 years would be massive, Demidov is probably one of the most offensively gifted guys in the past 5 years.

 

[Alex1234]

I’m not sure what you mean by that, he doesn’t have to do several pirouettes to open a passing lane, no clue at all where that’s coming from; but he was very, very, very good in the 4 games of the NCAA tournament, and not too sure a sample size of 4 games, and 8 goals by the team, where he still had 2 points, is a very smart way to make a conclusion like that. Especially when he was defending just as well the first 35 games of the year.

He had 3 different stretches of 4 games played and 2 points this season, went 7 games with only 2 shots to start the year. The whole time he was great offensively. Like every player, he has stretches without points.

Yeah
Hedman had 3 points in 12 U-20 worlds games (12)
Production is far from everything

 

[LiseL]

Should they be picking small & weak?


Does that include Stutzle?

That depends. Is his poor play with the puck where he tries to force a play or puck watching due to low IQ or immaturity? If immaturity, he should grow out of it (as well as all the whining to the refs). Only time will tell which it is.

 

[LiseL]

Does indecisive mean slow to make plays?
Does dumb with the puck mean they give it away or lose possession more often than not without making a play?


BPA in my view for #7 (RD if he is the BPA). Could draft an RD at #25 (Ellick for example).

Yes to both questions. By the time they decide what to do, their options have been limited. Or they try fancy plays or plying through multiple players instead of putting it in a safe area. Also, too much east/west vs north/south play and not playing as a 5-man unit or puck watching instead of playing their man.

 

[DJB]

It's possible, but it will require a shift in how he plays, which isn't a guarantee to be successful.

He'll need to start producing more from the point, as he won't be able to jump into the play and take nearly as many risks to produce offense as he does right now. He has the shot to score from the point, I'm just skeptical he'll be able to get it off enough.

Seen plenty of defensemen who had big goal totals at the CHL level by beating junior goalies clean from the point, but that doesn't work as much at the NHL level when goalies get significantly better. Usually requires the ability to get pucks through screens, which means needing to be quick enough to open up shooting lanes and have a fast enough brain to get the puck through bodies and hit the net.

You can say he has excellent offensive instincts and underrated vision, but I haven't seen it. He's not a great playmaker when he's in the offensive zone, which is why his assist numbers in every one of his WHL seasons were low compared to his goal totals. That's actually a big red flag when projecting defensemen. Said as much when we drafted Lassi.

I don't see more offensive upside or defensive upside with Yakemchuk compared to Buium. They aren't in the same tier if you ask me.

I actually think if Yak is going to make it in the NHL he needs to model his game after Kevin Bieksa or a defensive physical dman . That’s how he can have success. Carve out a 2nd pairing , physical D that can chip in the off one with a big shot from the point.

I’m with you on in that I’m not convinced he has the hockey IQ to be a playmaking offensive driving Dman from the point.

 

[Icelevel]

If Demidov fell to 7, which he won’t or shouldn’t, the Sens can’t pass on him.

Adding a legit offensive difference maker in 2/3 years would be massive, Demidov is probably one of the most offensively gifted guys in the past 5 years.

I guess not but I really want one of silayev, dickinson, buium, parekh, yakemchuk.
I just don’t know which one but it would be hard to pass on them even for demidov(there is some risk there too)

I actually think if Yak is going to make it in the NHL he needs to model his game after Kevin Bieksa or a defensive physical dman . That’s how he can have success. Carve out a 2nd pairing , physical D that can chip in the off one with a big shot from the point.

I’m with you on in that I’m not convinced he has the hockey IQ to be a playmaking offensive driving Dman from the point.

Imagine a Kleven-Yakemchuk pairing that’s some big body size and skill. Pretty nice second pair with Sanderson-zub/other up top.

 

[LiseL]

Does indecisive mean slow to make plays?
Does dumb with the puck mean they give it away or lose possession more often than not without making a play?


BPA in my view for #7 (RD if he is the BPA). Could draft an RD at #25 (Ellick for example).

Yes to both questions. By the time they decide what to do, their options are limited. Or they try fancy plays, or plying through multiple players instead of putting it in a safe area, or doing a cross ice pass when there's no path to do so instead of putting it to the corner. Too much east/west vs north/south which many times is the dumb play.

Go check out the Florida Panthers draft page and outside of Lundell (who scored 12 goals this year) find me 1 NHL player on Their roster. Busted on basically every first round pick and high picks picks at #10, #15, #13 overall they have busted on every 1st round pick going back to 2014

Good thing they live in a tax-free, warm state and are now contenders so a favorite destination of many players. No need to draft well when so many players are clamoring to play for them. Unfair but it's our reality.

 

[LiseL]

Yeah, Florida pre new ownership was a bit like Arizona. Great place to live so no matter how dysfunctional or poorly run, they’ll never be at the bottom. If you can wake up and be at the beach I’m sure it helps with the sting of a loss lol. They just obviously weren’t nearly as desirable as they are today.

Being a tax-free state doesn't hurt either.

 

[Cosmix]

Yes to both questions. By the time they decide what to do, their options are limited. Or they try fancy plays, or plying through multiple players instead of putting it in a safe area, or doing a cross ice pass when there's no path to do so instead of putting it to the corner. Too much east/west vs north/south which many times is the dumb play.

Good thing they live in a tax-free, warm state and are now contenders so a favorite destination of many players. No need to draft well when so many players are clamoring to play for them. Unfair but it's our reality.

I think specifying what high hockey IQ is, is an important issue. A player's behaviours on the ice (skating, stick-handling, passing, puck possession, etc.) during games tell us if he has a high hockey IQ or not. Of course, skills are a critical part of hockey IQ because he might "know" what to do in all situations but cannot get it done due to low or slow skills.

 

[LiseL]

I think specifying what high hockey IQ is, is an important issue. A player's behaviours on the ice (skating, stick-handling, passing, puck possession, etc.) during games tell us if he has a high hockey IQ or not. Of course, skills are a critical part of hockey IQ because he might "know" what to do in all situations but cannot get it done due to low or slow skills.

Valid point. For me, high hockey IQ is being good postionally, knowing what to do with the puck and when (not panicking and treating the puck like a hot potato), knowing where your teammates are (although this could be due to playing together for an extended period of time), anticipating plays. For some, high IQ may include having the vision to know where everyone on the ice is (or will be at a future point in time) or what opposing players will likely do.

 

[Adele Dazeem]

If Demidov fell to 7, which he won’t or shouldn’t, the Sens can’t pass on him.

Adding a legit offensive difference maker in 2/3 years would be massive, Demidov is probably one of the most offensively gifted guys in the past 5 years.

If Michkov fell, I don't see why Demidov can't either. Granted, Michkov apparently "fixed" his way onto the Flyers, but some GMs/scouting directors (including ours) are wary of drafting Russians with high picks.

 

[DJB]

I guess not but I really want one of silayev, dickinson, buium, parekh, yakemchuk.
I just don’t know which one but it would be hard to pass on them even for demidov(there is some risk there too)


Imagine a Kleven-Yakemchuk pairing that’s some big body size and skill. Pretty nice second pair with Sanderson-zub/other up top.

I’d love that pairing . I really like Yak. I love that he’s a big physical, mean sob with a bomb from the point. We need that type on our team desperately and I think you need those types to win in the playoffs.

I’m just not sure he has top pairing upside but pretty confident he can be a top 4 middle pair dman which would still be great

I just think at 7 there will be better players available for us to pick. However i wouldn’t be upset if we did pick him

 

[Burrowsaurus]

If Michkov fell, I don't see why Demidov can't either. Granted, Michkov apparently "fixed" his way onto the Flyers, but some GMs/scouting directors (including ours) are weary of drafting Russians with high picks.

What does that mean ? I can’t see a Russian kid dying to live his early twenties in Philly

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Yeah
Hedman had 3 points in 12 U-20 worlds games (12)
Production is far from everything

especially in ridiculous small sample sizes .. being used as evidence here, That's exactly what casuals do. Its alright to like any player and see things in them.. you like... That doesn't mean the competition is shit. Ignore all the faults of the player you like and make any case you can think of against the competition even if the case doesn't hold water. Zero credibility.

If Michkov fell, I don't see why Demidov can't either. Granted, Michkov apparently "fixed" his way onto the Flyers, but some GMs/scouting directors (including ours) are weary of drafting Russians with high picks.

Michkov had 3 more years on his KHL contract.. Demidov has 1 is a reason being bandied about.

 

[Tkachuckycheese]

Will the Sens look at drafting another goalie this draft or are they looking pretty good? If they do I hope they draft Ilya Nabokov.

 

[Cosmix]

Will the Sens look at drafting another goalie this draft or are they looking pretty good? If they do I hope they draft Ilya Nabokov.

I thought that I read somewhere that the Senators like to draft at least one goaltender each draft so they have an ongoing supply of tenders in the pipeline. I have not checked to see if that is true based on past drafts.

 

[BondraTime]

If Michkov fell, I don't see why Demidov can't either. Granted, Michkov apparently "fixed" his way onto the Flyers, but some GMs/scouting directors (including ours) are weary of drafting Russians with high picks.

Michkov’s dads situation scared teams quite a bit, as it should have.

But I agree

Will the Sens look at drafting another goalie this draft or are they looking pretty good? If they do I hope they draft Ilya Nabokov.

I’d imagine they’ll he using one of their 4ths on a tendy

 

[Golden_Jet]

Go check out the Florida Panthers draft page and outside of Lundell (who scored 12 goals this year) find me 1 NHL player on Their roster. Busted on basically every first round pick and high picks picks at #10, #15, #13 overall they have busted on every 1st round pick going back to 2014

Ya from 2014, the Panthers have 3 of the first 4 picks in the draft.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Michkov’s dads situation scared teams quite a bit, as it should have.

But I agree


I’d imagine they’ll he using one of their 4ths on a tendy

Was that the death under mysterious circumstances? I thought it was revealed he had just had a heart attack

 

[Icelevel]

If you go back and read previous posts from a lot of the posters in this thread talking like they know what’s up you’ll find they actually know j***s***
Think for yourselves, don’t be influenced by bs.