2024 NHL Draft Thread - Upd: Draft Lottery is May 7th

[clydesdale line]

Wheeler's mailbag, part 2: Connor Bedard point projection? Ivan Demidov vs. Matvei Michkov?

How many points will Bedard register in his rookie season? And how does the upcoming NHL Draft compare to previous years?

theathletic.com

Couple of notes. Yup me and Wheeler both are in agreement about Michkov. Demidov is an outstanding prospect.. but he's no Michkov.

He ranks the 2024 draft as the 4th best in the past 6 years (2023 draft is the best)

He likes the Blackhawks future the most out of any of the lottery teams (doesn't think Bedard though will light it up points wise his rookie year cuz of the lack of talent around him)

He sees Levshunov as the only guy with top pairing upside for now but Jiricek is the wild card.

He is really high on James Hagens in the '25 draft. Says he's right there with Celebrini ('24 draft) as a prospect to him. He ranks Misa ('25 draft) higher than Eiserman ('24 draft) too comparing the next two drafts. Says Eiserman has "one trick, his goal scoring package but it's a pretty sensational one trick" but the rest of his game can lack/frustrate at times.

 

[HeisenBaez]

Wheeler's mailbag, part 2: Connor Bedard point projection? Ivan Demidov vs. Matvei Michkov?

How many points will Bedard register in his rookie season? And how does the upcoming NHL Draft compare to previous years?

theathletic.com

He likes the Blackhawks future the most out of any of the lottery teams (doesn't think Bedard though will light it up points wise his rookie year cuz of the lack of talent around him)

I get that sentiment but I still think Bedard hits at 70 points as a rookie. That is with this roster.

 

[Putt Pirate]

Vegas line has us 3rd worst. NH needs to put the bong down.

 

[dreadpirateroberts]

https://twitter.com/nathangraviteh/status/1703095588189765862?s=46&t=d6mNWqdwGO2ETd36uMQN6g

 

[Wally1112pac]

https://twitter.com/nathangraviteh/status/1703095588189765862?s=46&t=d6mNWqdwGO2ETd36uMQN6g

6'7 207?

This kid is built like the Festivus pole.

 

[clydesdale line]

https://twitter.com/nathangraviteh/status/1703095588189765862?s=46&t=d6mNWqdwGO2ETd36uMQN6g

I'm sure the Arizona FO is salivating to draft this kid.

 

[MicronMega]

2024 is going to have some nice players for the Hawks in the top 10

Celebrini
Eiserman
Demidov
Levshunov
Silayev
Connelly
Dickenson
Catton
Jirecek
Helenius

 

[Muffinalt]

And yet another intriguing guy to the already impressive D corps talent in this draft.

 

[Kevin Musto]

And yet another intriguing guy to the already impressive D corps talent in this draft.

Kid is looking like the NHL equivalent of Victor Wembanyama lol

Taller than Hedman and might even grow to Chara's height. Freak of nature.

 

[wladyslaw]

Kinda reminds me of Hossa- chasing guys down... really nice powerful strides.
Makes most of these other skaters look like they are standing still w stride and reach

Hard to not gamble on this kid if you have extra 1st round pick

 

[kmwtrucks]

I think there are 4 forwards and 3 D that fit our drafting profile. the issue is 2 of the 3 D are LD. But you take the best player. and worry about were he fits later.

 

[EbonyRaptor]

Not sure why all the buzz about who the Hawks will take with their first pick when it's already been determined - they will finish 5th and move up to 2nd via ping pong balls and draft Cole Eiserman. It's all in the vision man.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Given the high likelihood of Bedard being a mega-hit, the 2024 pick (which should be high) is going to be super imperative for the overall success of the rebuild. The difference in if it's a Toews or a Barker cannot be understated. Almost every successful rebuild has back to back years of superstars drafted. They may not get another shot at a big pick with 2025. The Colorado trajectory was a bit unusual, but I don't think we'll get those random injured/down years from Bedard like MacKinnon.

 

[Putt Pirate]

Not sure why all the buzz about who the Hawks will take with their first pick when it's already been determined - they will finish 5th and move up to 2nd via ping pong balls and draft Cole Eiserman. It's all in the vision man.

I like how you are not greedy lol!

 

[EmeticDonut]

How does the Tampa pick work? It's top 10 protected, what happens if Tampa ends up in the top 10?

 

[WarriorofTime]

How does the Tampa pick work? It's top 10 protected, what happens if Tampa ends up in the top 10?

If the pick ends up in Top 10, Tampa keeps the 2024 pick and will instead convey an Unprotected 2026 1st Round Pick

(had the 2023 pick been top 10, they would have conveyed an unprotected 2025 1st Round Pick)

 

[Kevin Musto]

How does the Tampa pick work? It's top 10 protected, what happens if Tampa ends up in the top 10?

I would assume Tampa chooses whether to give Chicago the 2024 pick or instead trade them their 2026 1st unprotected.

But that's just me guessing.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Eiserman joins Celebrini (and Ryan Greene) at BU.

 

[WarriorofTime]

I wouldn't be shocked if that BU commitment becomes for naught and he's in the NHL in 2024-25.

 

[EbonyRaptor]

I like how you are not greedy lol!

Exactly. I could have envisioned Celebrini, but no no - one must show magnanimity to ones less fortunate.

 

[MicronMega]

Vasilevsky out 8-10 weeks. That might impact the Hawks second 1st round pick a tad!

 

[Putt Pirate]

Vasilevsky out 8-10 weeks. That might impact the Hawks second 1st round pick a tad!

Me thinks that would be the case. 2 months without Vasy is a real killer for the Bolts.

 

[u2wojo]

Me thinks that would be the case. 2 months without Vasy is a real killer for the Bolts.

Hedman and Vasy are the 2 pieces that make the Bolts different. Minus Vasy with mediocre backups in net, the lack of depth likely gets exposed. While Boston and Florida (with the injuries on the backend to start) likely slide back a bit this season, the Atlantic is not an easy division with all of Detroit, Buffalo, & the Sens likely taking steps forward. I doubt things get so bad that the top 10 protection on that Bolts pick comes into play, but getting that pick into the teens again will have that Hagel trade be the gift that continues to give.

 

[WarriorofTime]

It’s not crazy that the lightning could miss the playoffs. They aren’t a lock. If that pick ended 11-16 that would be huge.

 

[Space umpire]

Timeline - Development question
While we struck gold last year lottery odds are against you even if your last.

Knowing at #2 to likely 4 you could get Levshunov but he’d need years to grow into a top NHL D man.
A serious cup contender needs a stud top 4.
If you could get a top (a star as projected by many) RHD for our draft pick would you do it?