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

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

Any chance he falls to our late-teens TBL 1st rounder? Would you take him then?

I don't think he makes it past five. Iginla plays a similar game and he might be there with the Tampa pick.

 

[Larmer83]

Buim with the OT winner last night.

 

[hawksfan50]

2 startling revelations that may change everything..

1 I had not watched Denverand Zeev Buuim till last night (he scored 2 goals...the 1st was a highlight reel goal showing how easily he can skate around defenders and get to high danger shooting areas closer to the net...the second was the GWG in OT showing how he can be a difference-maker when game ison the line ...
stepping up in the big moments.
He just looks more impactful than Levshunov to me ..However for the puropses of Hawks needs in the pipeline the RD vs.LD issue IF we go dman with our 1st pick IF we lose out on Celebrini ,decide not to risk ona Russian that high (Demidov),or feel the injury to Lindstrom limiting him to a smaller sample of just 32 games (which could change if he cones back and stars in playoffs) is too risky to make a bet on,then we woukd be looking at the RDmen and that is Levshunov or Parekh....However it turns out even though he isca left shot,that Buuim plays RD for Denver and only plays a few shiftsxat LD for them if double shifted at times (his 2st goal last night was as a RD hisc2nd and GWG he was on the left side as I recall...butvthe majorityvifcthe game hexwas playibgcas a RD..

Secondly Alfons Freij listed as a LD for Vancouver Jrs has actually played his off side as a RD forvthemakk season!
I just watched a reported by Will Scouching on the 2 most underrated defensive defenseman inthe draft and hevhas Alfobs Freij as one of them...Weall know Freij iscacterrficvoffebseive dman but he is notbon anyone's tip 5borv10 draft prosepectscexceotvScouchibg who has hin5th overall which is surprising...even S couching admitsctgat all the usual reference scouting rankings have Frij eitger way down in the late first round or only 2nd roubd on some but he breaks down Freij's game as asserts tgerexare almost no controlled entries agaibst Freij's teM when he is on the ice as he is so very good at preventing them..andcwhike strength is not Freij's strong suit,heviscso good with his stock and skatibg that his ability to defend is vastly underrated...and tgat strength can be added as he mattress hevis nit worried...Hecsays everyone should Freij because heviscso very good....


Now the fact Freij like Buuim actually plays his off side,plays Rd most shifts , may change how teans should be thininking of ranking their RD s in this draft.


Freij will be atvtgexWorkdvu18s...if hecstarscthere he could move dramatically up the finalrankubgsvon many lists.

.As it stand...I woukd be very very happy if we got Cekebrini ,if not Lindstrom with ourc1st pick,and Freij witbour TB pick later I round one..

Optimum first roubd would be:


.Celebrini +Freij
If lose out Celebrini
Then:

.Lindstrom and Freij..


If lose out on Lindstom(off the board before we pick at 2, 3 or 4:

Then the strategy should be to trade down and still can get Freij or Buuim (ie. Some team in top 76-10) may desperately want Demidov or Levshunov or Silayev or Dickinson) enough to give us another 2nd rounder to move up).

If tfat happens then optimum first round woukd be:

Freij or Buuim + then Michael Hage (C) with tge TB pick.+ we getcan extra 2ns!

Not saying this happens.. Butvif we cannot get a bother top C prospect (Celebroni or Lindstrom) then we still can get a significant RD*
plus maybe Hage if still on the board for our TB pick !

Anyway...finding out that Buuim and Freij both pkay the off side (RD) position for their teams opens up a lot of strategy options in case we do not get to pick a prize Center with our first selection.

 

[Space umpire]

Strome, Kotkamniiemi, PLD, Dach

Centers picked REALLY high just because they are big.
Backing away from Lindstrom.

 

[Castle8130]

Buim with the OT winner last night.

He is very much in conversation for the Hawks top pick if we don't win the lotto.

Strome, Kotkamniiemi, PLD, Dach

Centers picked REALLY high just because they are big.
Backing away from Lindstrom.

He's been in the conversation since he lit up the league at the beginning of the year. Kotkaniemi, PLD, Dach, and Barett Hayton got pushed up a month before draft day because of their position and physical traits. Caydens skill is much higher than all those guys in their draft years. Strome busted because he is a Strome brother. Bad genetics I guess

 

[Cubs2024wildcard]

I might be the only one here as high on Eiserman as you are but I'm not taking him over Silayev (who I remember you ranking ABOVE Eiserman just a few weeks ago)

Thats fair, but im not risking a high draft choice on a Russian right now.

Sily is the real deal, and might be, heres that word, generational, but after watching this train wreck season and the possibility he might not come over for years it's not worth the risk when this team needs top end talent now. And the Nazars and Moores ain't cutting it in terms of top end talent no matter what anybody is projecting on them.

or Lindstrom (even with his injury).

LOL

Probably not even Levshunov

Levshunov is just a guy.

His ceiling is a top four guy in the NHL. Not a top pairing defenseman.

or Catton either (but it's close).

LOL

If your GM purposely tanked a year, signing washed up players and injury risks strategically so it looked like he was doing something while burning a year off his generational talents elc and the end result is Berkly Catton, he needs to be fired before he walks to the podium.

I'd definitely entertain Eiserman if Hawks slip to 5 but it looks like that Ducks lost might've secured 2nd overall so they can only drop to #4.

Hmm

The best goal scorer in this draft, a 6'1 195 pound kid with a shot that's being compared to Ovechkins, isn't falling past 3 no matter what any dumb takes are being planted on social media.

Wernt people comparing him to Laine here? A 40 goal scorer in the NHL?

Sorry, a guy who's best trait is doing the one thing that wins games ain't dropping in this draft.

 

[TLEH]

I wouldn’t like taking Buium at 2 or 3. I still think he’s really good, wouldn’t mind him at 7 or so.

 

[Larmer83]

He is very much in conversation for the Hawks top pick if we don't win the lotto.

I'd start that conversation after Levshunov and that comes down to size and and Lev being right handed. But Buim could be the best dman in this draft which could be said about for 4-5 other dmen.

Buim has the skill and skating ability but his best attribute might be his smarts. He picks his spots to attack more judiciously than Levshunov or Parekh but his production does not suffer by comparison.

His USNTDP/International/NCAA play compares favorably to Q Hughes, L Hughes, Sanderson, and Hutson and Buim is better at defending than all but Sanderson at this stage in his development.

 

[Wally1112pac]

If we go 3-8 over our last 11 games we would tie the ducks in points but they would have the tie breaker. We would finish 2nd last.

Tue, Mar 26

vs Calgary

Thu, Mar 28

@ Ottawa

Sat, Mar 30

@ Philadelphia

Tue, Apr 2

@ New York

Sat, Apr 6

vs Dallas

Sun, Apr 7

vs Minnesota

Wed, Apr 10

@ St. Louis

Fri, Apr 12

vs Nashville

Sun, Apr 14

vs Carolina

Tue, Apr 16

@ Vegas

Thu, Apr 18

@ Los Angeles

I don't see us winning 3 of those.

If the ducks win a game or 2 over their last 12 games we would need to win 5 or 6 games to leap frog them. That's probably not happening.

 

[Castle8130]

I'd start that conversation after Levshunov and that comes down to size and and Lev being right handed. But Buim could be the best dman in this draft which could be said about for 4-5 other dmen.

Buim has the skill and skating ability but his best attribute might be his smarts. He picks his spots to attack more judiciously than Levshunov or Parekh but his production does not suffer by comparison.

His USNTDP/International/NCAA play compares favorably to Q Hughes, L Hughes, Sanderson, and Hutson and Buim is better at defending than all but Sanderson at this stage in his development.

I can see Zeev Buium being a really dynamic defenseman in the NHL. His edge work, hockey IQ, vision, and deception are all elite. He has a really good feel on the power play. Defensively, I think he's solid, but makes some mistakes here and there. I really like his build for a smaller defenseman. He's very sturdy and is hard to move off the puck. If the Hawks like what they see, I wouldn't mind 3rd oa for the pick. His offensive abilities give him a nice offensive floor at the NHL level.

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like I'm staring at an Adam Fox clone when I watch him

 

[Praetorian Caps]

They are dressing 2 AHL goalies. They have the last spot on lock.

The Ducks are also pathetic. It seems like all they can do is lose. Season in and season out.

During the McDavid draft year the Sabres traded away everyone who was playing well. They traded goalies who played well just so they could tank. That's super dangerous because management is letting the players know that they just want to lose. It let's the players know that losing is ok. That is how you stay in a rebuild for 10 years.

I'm glad Davidson resigned Mrazek, Dickinson and Foligno and didn't trade them for a bunch of 2nds. Although the team is in a rebuild it let's the players know that winning is still important. Unlike the Sharks and Ducks who seem to be doing what the Sabres did.

And it obviously was all for naught because they didn't even get the first pick.

 

[Wally1112pac]

And it obviously was all for naught because they didn't even get the first pick.

Exactly.

And their rebuild lasted so long they eventually traded away the player that they drafted in that draft.

Losing on purpose is poison.

 

[hawksrule]

I’ve been pumping Buium’s tires for a while. I love his game. I haven’t seen enough of Levshunov or Parekh to really weigh in, but everyone seems to think they’re high risk high reward. I’ll be very surprised if Buium isn’t at least a very good NHL player.

 

[Larmer83]

I can see Zeev Buium being a really dynamic defenseman in the NHL. His edge work, hockey IQ, vision, and deception are all elite. He has a really good feel on the power play. Defensively, I think he's solid, but makes some mistakes here and there. I really like his build for a smaller defenseman. He's very sturdy and is hard to move off the puck. If the Hawks like what they see, I wouldn't mind 3rd oa for the pick. His offensive abilities give him a nice offensive floor at the NHL level.

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like I'm staring at an Adam Fox clone when I watch him

It's not just you, I'm not fond of player comps but this fits. As someone wrote on the main prospects board Buim is a left-handed Adam Fox.

 

[ColbyChaos]

And it obviously was all for naught because they didn't even get the first pick.

Same for the ducks lol I love how MacTavish was calling Bedard after every loss only to not even get him.

 

[WarriorofTime]

I don't see Levshunov going any further than 3. Tied for team lead in points, +25 on the double Big Ten champs. Natural righthanded shot which is impossible to fill and leads to guys like Seth Jones commanding a monster haul and $9.5 million from dumb GMs. I'd take him at 2 and never look back.

 

[HawksDub89]

I don't see Levshunov going any further than 3. Tied for team lead in points, +25 on the double Big Ten champs. Natural righthanded shot which is impossible to fill and leads to guys like Seth Jones commanding a monster haul and $9.5 million from dumb GMs. I'd take him at 2 and never look back.

He has every tool to be a 1D. He’s not perfect and still has some development, but the ceiling is big time. And I actually think he has a fairly safe floor too. I don’t see the bust potential with him that some do.

 

[MTU34]

He has every tool to be a 1D. He’s not perfect and still has some development, but the ceiling is big time. And I actually think he has a fairly safe floor too. I don’t see the bust potential with him that some do.

Yeah I’m starting to come around in Levshunov’s floor a bit. Not as concerned about bust potential

 

[Putt Pirate]

I don't see Levshunov going any further than 3. Tied for team lead in points, +25 on the double Big Ten champs. Natural righthanded shot which is impossible to fill and leads to guys like Seth Jones commanding a monster haul and $9.5 million from dumb GMs. I'd take him at 2 and never look back.

I have watched him a bit this year. First half of season he was OK. Didn’t get the hype. But the last few weeks he has been outstanding. He made a play last night where he caught up to the BU forward using his speed and then his reach and finished with the check. It was really a great play and the tv crew replayed it a few times. He does need a little refinement but man he looks the part.

 

[WarriorofTime]

I have watched him a bit this year. First half of season he was OK. Didn’t get the hype. But the last few weeks he has been outstanding. He made a play last night where he caught up to the BU forward using his speed and then his reach and finished with the check. It was really a great play and the tv crew replayed it a few times. He does need a little refinement but man he looks the part.

Yeah I think that was Gavin Brindley who is very fast and dominated the big ten all season.

 

[ChicagoHockeyFan]

I’m not a fan of taking Levshunov over Buium just because of handedness, Take Buium and figure out log jam on left side later whether that is trading someone or trying someone out on right side, where Buium has played a bit this year with Denver normally dressing 5 LHD

 

[EbonyRaptor]

I may put importance on handedness more than some others but I think it's more than just a tie breaker - as in if everything else is equal take the guy that fits your lineup better. OK, but everything else isn't equal. I'd rank the top-4 dmen as: Parekh, Levshunov, Dickenson, Buium. I'd rather get one of the top-3 forwards but if they're all gone I'd be fine with either Parekh or Levshunov.

Watching the UM - MSU game last night Levshunov showed me something I hadn't seen the other couple times I watched MSU - physicality with a nasty streak. I'd be very pleased to plug him into Murphy's spot in the lineup when he leaves town.

 

[Darkstar]

I can see Zeev Buium being a really dynamic defenseman in the NHL. His edge work, hockey IQ, vision, and deception are all elite. He has a really good feel on the power play. Defensively, I think he's solid, but makes some mistakes here and there. I really like his build for a smaller defenseman. He's very sturdy and is hard to move off the puck. If the Hawks like what they see, I wouldn't mind 3rd oa for the pick. His offensive abilities give him a nice offensive floor at the NHL level.

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like I'm staring at an Adam Fox clone when I watch him

I greatly prefer him over Parekh. His feel for the game is extremely high.

 

[TLEH]

Levshunov wouldn't be my personal first pick at 3 but I wouldn't be upset about it either.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

Anaheim picked up a point against Tampa today, back to 7 points up on us