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

[belfour30]

I don’t watch a ton of prospects, but I saw Buium early in the year and have made a point to keep tabs, and I love his game. Would happily package TB and Tor picks to move up and get him.

I like Parekh better if you're going for an offensive defenseman



Demidov is doing Michkov like things, he might be a lock for #2

 

[ello]

We need star forwards. I think Demidov has the best chance to become that 90-100+ pt core guy. However I would not be surprised at all if they go with Lindstrom to fill a size/speed quota.

 

[Castle8130]

I like Parekh better if you're going for an offensive defenseman



Demidov is doing Michkov like things, he might be a lock for #2

Demidov is also bigger than Michkov. Demidov is 5'11" thic boi that's strong on his skates.

Parekh is my pick if we go defenseman. He can be a point per game defender. Very similar offensive ability to Evan Bouchard with less size and better skating. Parekh has the potential to join that Hughes, Makar, Dahlin, Heiskanen group of young offensive defensemen at the top.

 

[belfour30]

We need star forwards. I think Demidov has the best chance to become that 90-100+ pt core guy. However I would not be surprised at all if they go with Lindstrom to fill a size/speed quota.

Even though I have been critical of drafting a lot of 5-10 and 5-11 forwards with high picks, I think they need top 6 forwards whenever they can get them right now because they don't have any surefire top 6ers other than Bedard.

I have more hope for Moore than Nazar at the moment being a top 6er, but they both have a chance.

 

[clydesdale line]

If you don't get Celebrini, Demidov despite the Russian factor is definitely the best talent at #2. Then Lindstrom/Levshunov (I'm good with either at this point. I like them both) then I would say Catton for me if we end up picking #4, hell maybe even #3. I would definitely roll the dice there.

Everyone knows I've been on the Yakemchuk train since day one driving that bus but I'm not picking him top 4... and that's coming from someone who likes him the most here. He's older, he's slowed down offensively alot from earlier in the year and his defense is so-so (although that can be coached). But man it would be be nice to have the nasty back there who can skate and has skill.

 

[ChiHawks10]

Even though I have been critical of drafting a lot of 5-10 and 5-11 forwards with high picks, I think they need top 6 forwards whenever they can get them right now because they don't have any surefire top 6ers other than Bedard.

I have more hope for Moore than Nazar at the moment being a top 6er, but they both have a chance.

I'd argue that guys who are top players on some of the best NCAA teams in the country, especially as freshman/sophomores, are more likely to be top 6'ers, than not. You're the ultimate pessimist.

 

[ello]

Demidov is also bigger than Michkov. Demidov is 5'11" thic boi that's strong on his skates.

Parekh is my pick if we go defenseman. He can be a point per game defender. Very similar offensive ability to Evan Bouchard with less size and better skating. Parekh has the potential to join that Hughes, Makar, Dahlin, Heiskanen group of young offensive defensemen at the top.

Wouldn’t be surprised if Demidov comes in at 6’ foot or more soon. He looks it on the ice

 

[MicronMega]

This kid is pretty good. I agree that the ceiling is high and I like the size at 5.11-6.0

 

[belfour30]

I'd argue that guys who are top players on some of the best NCAA teams in the country, especially as freshman/sophomores, are more likely to be top 6'ers, than not. You're the ultimate pessimist.

I will fan how I want to, and right now I'm choosing to temper my expectations on prospects unless they're can't miss.

Look at Reichel, he produced at every level and he got to the NHL and can't cut it.

 

[hawksfan50]

Lindstrom isxa unicorn...thecsize speed power 3zove pkay..win boatd battles..improving pasongcskill (before he got injured) andxa physical edge..he hascpitebtualbto because doninabtcaPlayer...You arevprojectibgvwhatxa force he could be when fully maturedvibtoban even bigger stronger man's version of his already Big physical force with skill now pkayer.Tge little guys always are goibg to have flaws defending agaibst bigger problems players..Theybmay score big bit ifvthey are not able to defend as Android puck batylesvon tge boardsxandcatvyhe net front ,you are going to get some weaker areas of their game aside from scoring.

This is why the Projection for Lindstrom is so good..


I do not know what tge comp is...maybe Eric Lindros?

If Lindstrom plays in thexWHL next seadon the domination coukd bevoff the charts exceptional.

But he is so big already that maybe playing pro is the NHL next season is not out of the question question.

I think Celebrini is #1evyeryone's consensus pick because dominating scoribg in thec NCAA as a freshman also gcwith his excellence as a 3 zone player and his exceptional speed is so obviously a better bet than any junior pkayer.

If Demidov who is the most exceptional puckhandler in this draft had putup the staggering numbers he has in the MHL at tge pro KHL level then maybe he woukd be the obvious #1not Celebrini...


But if you are betting which of Demidov or Lindstrom you wanted as the 2nd centerpiece of your franchise after Bedard ,I think you betvon Lindstrom..Denidov=Panarin...Lindstrom just might be Lindros ...Big Power Centers with his girl scoring ability and physical dominance are so rare.

Gotta take him if we do not get the #1and he still is there at #2or #3 or #4 (if we overtake ANH and after lotto falk 2 spots to #5,I doubt he woukd still be on the board for us...so hope we do not over-take ANH ...I would not take a forward at #5 if Lindstrom off before that pick...KD shoukd be targeting a RD if we dod not get Celebrini or Lindstrom.
You coukd make the case for taking Demidov at #5 if that is where we draft and he is still there ...but 1( Hawks never have been a Russian Shop since tge days of Nabokov and Vorobiev or Sergei Krivokrasov...We have not been lucky with Russia first rounders.

Rather solve the RD need ...thisvisxWHY my target list is in this order

1.Celebrini
2.Linddstrom
3 .Parekh
4.Levshunov
If all 4 off the board and we pick at #5 maybe tge best option is to trade down...a team may want to pay big for Demidov or maybe LD Sam Dickinson or Silayev in such a scenario..We could still get a Carter Yakemchuk ,or Tij Iginla ,Catton or Greentree a few picks down from #5 ..plus a high 2nd and a future 2nd down the road as tge price extracted for moving down.

We have no control over the lotto...so unless Uncle Gary fixes it for us to get Celebrini or to get 2ndvpick and grab Lindstrom,we could be drafting 3rd 4th orc5th(5th if we over-take ANH forc3rd last then drop 2 in the lotto).

This is how I hope KD sees things in various top 5 scenarios.

 

[ChiHawks10]

I will fan how I want to, and right now I'm choosing to temper my expectations on prospects unless they're can't miss.

Look at Reichel, he produced at every level and he got to the NHL and can't cut it.

Reichel is 21 years old and not even remotely close to being in "bust" territory yet.

And I never told you how to "fan". I simply said you're the ultimate pessimist.

 

[crazyhawk]

Lindstrom isxa unicorn...thecsize speed power 3zove pkay..win boatd battles..improving pasongcskill (before he got injured) andxa physical edge..he hascpitebtualbto because doninabtcaPlayer...You arevprojectibgvwhatxa force he could be when fully maturedvibtoban even bigger stronger man's version of his already Big physical force with skill now pkayer.Tge little guys always are goibg to have flaws defending agaibst bigger problems players..Theybmay score big bit ifvthey are not able to defend as Android puck batylesvon tge boardsxandcatvyhe net front ,you are going to get some weaker areas of their game aside from scoring.

This is why the Projection for Lindstrom is so good..


I do not know what tge comp is...maybe Eric Lindros?

If Lindstrom plays in thexWHL next seadon the domination coukd bevoff the charts exceptional.

But he is so big already that maybe playing pro is the NHL next season is not out of the question question.

I think Celebrini is #1evyeryone's consensus pick because dominating scoribg in thec NCAA as a freshman also gcwith his excellence as a 3 zone player and his exceptional speed is so obviously a better bet than any junior pkayer.

If Demidov who is the most exceptional puckhandler in this draft had putup the staggering numbers he has in the MHL at tge pro KHL level then maybe he woukd be the obvious #1not Celebrini...


But if you are betting which of Demidov or Lindstrom you wanted as the 2nd centerpiece of your franchise after Bedard ,I think you betvon Lindstrom..Denidov=Panarin...Lindstrom just might be Lindros ...Big Power Centers with his girl scoring ability and physical dominance are so rare.

Gotta take him if we do not get the #1and he still is there at #2or #3 or #4 (if we overtake ANH and after lotto falk 2 spots to #5,I doubt he woukd still be on the board for us...so hope we do not over-take ANH ...I would not take a forward at #5 if Lindstrom off before that pick...KD shoukd be targeting a RD if we dod not get Celebrini or Lindstrom.
You coukd make the case for taking Demidov at #5 if that is where we draft and he is still there ...but 1( Hawks never have been a Russian Shop since tge days of Nabokov and Vorobiev or Sergei Krivokrasov...We have not been lucky with Russia first rounders.

Rather solve the RD need ...thisvisxWHY my target list is in this order

1.Celebrini
2.Linddstrom
3 .Parekh
4.Levshunov
If all 4 off the board and we pick at #5 maybe tge best option is to trade down...a team may want to pay big for Demidov or maybe LD Sam Dickinson or Silayev in such a scenario..We could still get a Carter Yakemchuk ,or Tij Iginla ,Catton or Greentree a few picks down from #5 ..plus a high 2nd and a future 2nd down the road as tge price extracted for moving down.

We have no control over the lotto...so unless Uncle Gary fixes it for us to get Celebrini or to get 2ndvpick and grab Lindstrom,we could be drafting 3rd 4th orc5th(5th if we over-take ANH forc3rd last then drop 2 in the lotto).

This is how I hope KD sees things in various top 5 scenarios.

Yeah but girl scoring ability might not translate to success as a NHL player but hey i hear ya!

 

[Callidusblackhawk]

Yeah but girl scoring ability might not translate to success as a NHL player but hey i hear ya!

IDK, 2 girl Crawford did pretty well for himself.

 

[hawksfan50]

Michael Hage (Chicago Steel) is en fuego..last 20GP 8g 11a for 19 points and +22 the Center is finishing very strong and may be a riser in Final Ranking lists ...Could a target now for our TB pick in round 1 ...except if we draft Celebrini or Lindstrom to fill top 2 Center need after Bedard ...if we do not get those 2 top Centers then Hage could be a priority for that TB pick with our 2nd selection of round 1.

 

[giza]

I think if the Hawks don't pick Celebini, they should consider moving down ----maybe even 5 slots if some other team is in love with the 2nd or 3rd overall pick. Lot of quality D men to be had here. I think the Dickinson is a sure thing, but not sure of the ceiling, but one has to like his overall game. The player I would be eyeballing with that 2nd 1st round pick is the Russian

 

[belfour30]

I think if the Hawks don't pick Celebini, they should consider moving down ----maybe even 5 slots if some other team is in love with the 2nd or 3rd overall pick. Lot of quality D men to be had here. I think the Dickinson is a sure thing, but not sure of the ceiling, but one has to like his overall game. The player I would be eyeballing with that 2nd 1st round pick is the Russian

I am a big fan of Yakemchuk

 

[Northernhawk]

Zeev Buium would give the Blackhawks TEN gold medal prospects from the last two world junior Championships

Connor Bedard, Ethan Del Mastro, Nolan Allan, Kevin Korchinski and Colton Dach from Canada in 2023(two are NHLers)

Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore, Gavin Hayes, Sam Rinzel and possibly Buium

That would be a pretty impressive start for a roster
Bedard
Dach
Nazar
Moore
Hayes

Korchinski
Del Mastro
Allan
Rinzel

and maybe Buium?

 

[EddieTheEagle]

I may be biased but we need young forwards with high ceilings. Nazar and Moore are about the best we have and I'm not sure they are at the level we need. Hopefully, I am wrong and they both continue to improve and impress but I do believe high-end forwards are our biggest need. Not sure if we get that this draft...

 

[hawksfan50]

So ...SICK On NHL Prospects just put out a mock draft on their YouTube channelt for top 16 (and will do next 16 of round 1tomorrow...TheyvusedcTankathon to determine who gotctop 2 spots:
1 CALGARY (from 11th)
2 MONTREAL

So 2 big jump upset our SJ at #3 and Hawks at #4

Their top 4 mock went;

1.CGY = CELEBRINI
2.MTL = LINDSTROM
3. SJ = LEVSHUNOV
4.CHI = DEMIDOV

I went to Tankathon just before posting this...

Result was:

1.PITT
2.ARIZONA
3 SJ
4.CHI


Whoever getsx#1takes Celebrini...so ifcPITT gets #1 they will take him
If Arizona gets #2 BIG C LINDSTROM goes with
the trend for Big players they have been stocking lately in the pipeline...but maybevthey go BIG dman instead ?

But then SJ might go for Levshunov or Dickinson as a potential 1D anchor?

So I'm this case maybe Hawks still get Lundstronat #4..


But there are many possibilities as to who gets #1and #2...

The point hough is...it sucks that DJ and CHI have been so bad this season that they still could be pushed down by teams well ahead of them in the standings..

If we donnot get Celebrini then I want Lindstrom as the next hoped-for target for the Hawks...but I admit that Demidov woukd be a great consolation prize (the most exciting player i the draft ..Suoerstar ceiling g but because he is only dominating i tge MHL junior league ,tgere always is thecquestion of translating his exceptional skill vs.mature men in thebpro level ..

If we dod draft him,the risk is also on the wait...though his contract is up after next season,Putin has tgreatened a new law that may keep Russian young hockey stars in Russia 5 or 6 years after drafted by the NHL....not a law ...YET...but there is still a risk Putin coukd make good on his threat...Remember Russia is suspended by the IIHF duecto Ukraine Invasion and thus means no International paymentvTransfers to Russian clubs for signibg kids they draft from Russia..
So Outin threatens laws keepingvthevyoung pkayerscin Russia till transfer fees restored..

So any club drafting Demidov orvothercRussianscmay havecto wait a long time.e before Russia let's them leave..

 

[WarriorofTime]

I may be biased but we need young forwards with high ceilings. Nazar and Moore are about the best we have and I'm not sure they are at the level we need. Hopefully, I am wrong and they both continue to improve and impress but I do believe high-end forwards are our biggest need. Not sure if we get that this draft...

Bedard should be locked in for about a decade more minimum. So really the Hawks need F2, F3, F4, etc. Don't get me wrong they NEED those, but the Bedard forward building block shouldn't get forgotten just because he's no longer technically "prospect".

 

[TheFridge]

Demidov is also bigger than Michkov. Demidov is 5'11" thic boi that's strong on his skates.

Parekh is my pick if we go defenseman. He can be a point per game defender. Very similar offensive ability to Evan Bouchard with less size and better skating. Parekh has the potential to join that Hughes, Makar, Dahlin, Heiskanen group of young offensive defensemen at the top.

All of those players are better skaters than Parekh. And they're all way more competitive. Whoever drafts Parekh is going to drive themselves mad. He's silky smooth but I don't think he has the drive or compete to be the player in the NHL that he's been in Junior. The NHL is a hard league and he plays way too disengaged the majority of the time.

 

[TheFridge]

I will fan how I want to, and right now I'm choosing to temper my expectations on prospects unless they're can't miss.

Look at Reichel, he produced at every level and he got to the NHL and can't cut it.

Dude he's 21 and produced well in the NHL last year for a quarter of the season. Yeah he's had a tough year, which has been compounded by poor coaching choices. Anyone who isn't Bedard or Bedard's linemates have struggled to produce on this team.

 

[Nazzz]

Sorry for the intrusion. It feels like Blackhawks have locked in a top 4 pick and I was curious who Blackhawks fans are leaning towards for their pick assuming they miss out on Celebrini.

Who are the top 2/3 players that you guys feel the Blackhawks will draft?

IMO I feel like Levshunov/Silayev/Lindstrom would be the most likely picks.

1. Sam Dickinson
2. Berkly Catton
3. Ivan Demidov

 

[kmwtrucks]

i think its

Celebrini and then 1 of Demidov, Lindstrom or Arytom L. We have 6 LD prospects that I think could be NHL players, So I dont think Dickenson or Silaynev make sense. Catton Lacks size so we have alot of that already. Bedard, Nazar, Morre, slagert, lardis, ludwinski, Kantserov, that is why I think lindstrom would be a option. Demidov has probably the highest skill level or anyone in the draft including celebrini.

 

[Praetorian Caps]

When will the lottery balls be drawn so we finally know who's has their spots?