I don't know man. I'm not sure his mohawks and dangling through the slot is going to work at all in the pros. His skating is great, he has great hands, but nobody is hitting him in the MHL. He's just too far apart from his competition to really get a feel on how it translates.
2024 NHL Draft Thread - Upd: Draft Lottery is May 7th
- Thread starter dreadpirateroberts
- Start date
-
Work is still on-going to rebuild the site styling and features. Please report any issues you may experience so we can look into it. Click Here for Updates
- Status
I don't know man. I'm not sure his mohawks and dangling through the slot is going to work at all in the pros. His skating is great, he has great hands, but nobody is hitting him in the MHL. He's just too far apart from his competition to really get a feel on how it translates.
belfour30
Blackhawks Fangirl
- Dec 14, 2019
- 2,167
- 1,861
Jiricek had like 2 pts in the games he played, and idk if the league he plays in is even that good.
This is the video I'm basing my Demidov opinion on, by the way. I agree with a lot of what the poster is saying about his hands and skating, but he's not going to be able to do this shit against better competition(better skaters and stronger players, mostly) I also noticed he became extremely predictable about halfway through watching the video. Judge for yourself:
Bad defense is not endemic to one junior league and he produces offense in a variety of ways. Just like any other high-end offensive talent his tape is full of plays that won't work in the NHL but also full of plays that will. He might develop bad habits and/or not progress as long as he's stuck in that league- those are real risks. But his skill and vision pop off the tape and he works his ass off. I'd bet on him personally.
dreadpirateroberts
Registered User
clydesdale line
Connor BeJesus
- Jan 10, 2012
- 25,753
- 24,779
HawksDub89
Registered User
- Apr 17, 2019
- 1,806
- 2,030
LOL easy there tough guy. You threw out those names, not me.
He’s big, skates well and plays great D.
Weird, he almost reminds me of a player already on the roster.
belfour30
Blackhawks Fangirl
- Dec 14, 2019
- 2,167
- 1,861
It just seems like this draft is going to be a total crapshoot outside of Celebrini. Just gonna have to hope that KD/Doneghy pick the right guy.
HawksDub89
Registered User
- Apr 17, 2019
- 1,806
- 2,030
I hope they pass on Connelly. Boisvert has skating issues. I do really like Basha though.
WarriorofTime
Registered User
- Jul 3, 2010
- 32,847
- 22,848
I think Levshunov is probably a bit safer than people on HFBoards consider, where I find the main prospect board to be a bit more negative on him than everywhere else. His floor is probably like a Zach Bogosian minus injuries, but upside is quite a bit higher. He's a bit raw defensively but he's got all of the tools, a work ethic that his coaches/teammates rave about to get better, and he's already excellent offensively.
As far as Demidov goes, nobody is projecting him to score 2 PPG in the NHL, so the fact that much of the points won't translate isn't really that different from every other junior superstar that gets discussed come draft day. He's got loads of projectable traits. A player can't control the competition they play against and MHL is a feeder for KHL/VHL so there are still some good players scattered throughout the League, which does admittedly have a lot of bad ones throughout, it's not like an ACHA feeder or something.
HawksDub89
Registered User
- Apr 17, 2019
- 1,806
- 2,030
I would love to get a shot at Dean Latourneu with our first 2nd rounder. Doubt he falls that far.
He’s a bit of a project but he has a pretty exciting ceiling. Think we gotta take some upside swings.
He’s a bit of a project but he has a pretty exciting ceiling. Think we gotta take some upside swings.
belfour30
Blackhawks Fangirl
- Dec 14, 2019
- 2,167
- 1,861
I'd rather take Eilick or EJ Emery there.
Take some shots on forwards with the later 2nds and their early 3rd.
HawksDub89
Registered User
- Apr 17, 2019
- 1,806
- 2,030
Yeah I like both of those guys. Kind of underscores my point about being able to find good defensive D with size later on. (Albeit not 6-7, but still)
I’m a big fan of emery. I think he’s pretty safe. Skates well, plays great defense. He won’t be a big points guy but I think he’s a better passer than he’s given credit for.
WarriorofTime
Registered User
- Jul 3, 2010
- 32,847
- 22,848
MicronMega
Registered User
I know about the character issues as an 11 year old. But, I am still a Connelly fan. He is s top-ten talent. Connelly and Demidov would seal the forward skill-depth for years to come.
WarriorofTime
Registered User
- Jul 3, 2010
- 32,847
- 22,848
He's gonna end up in the donut of spots between the Hawk picks, but boy is he playing well right now.
WarriorofTime
Registered User
- Jul 3, 2010
- 32,847
- 22,848
Spokane is down 3-1 in Game 4 mid-way through the 2nd period, on the verge of getting swept by the top seed, Prince George. Catton should be good to go and top line center for Canada at the U-18s. For reference, Celebrini had 15 points in 7 games in that role last season. Celebrini is 5 months younger than Catton, so 17 months younger in terms of age at the time of tournament. I'll be interested to see how he does at that event.
Hattrick Kane
Registered User
- Oct 8, 2018
- 10,458
- 15,792
There’s a 0% chance he’s slipping past Calgary. It’s hilariously obvious.
Kevin Musto
Hard for Bedard
- Feb 16, 2018
- 23,052
- 29,749
DisgruntledHawkFan
Blackhawk Down
TLEH
Pronounced T-Lay
If there was a way to make money on the Hawks not picking Connelly I would bet my house.
CapitalistInfidel
Registered User
- Jan 7, 2013
- 206
- 57
I’d take Badinka over both of those guys. Badinka’s floor in my opinion is an above average #5. Elick and Emery may not make it to the NHL. Badinka doesn’t have much of a ceiling but guys who have a floor as a starter on D don’t last past the first round
clydesdale line
Connor BeJesus
- Jan 10, 2012
- 25,753
- 24,779
I'd bet my house and my mom's.
Also I would love Letourneau in the 2nd. Sure there's a less than 10% chance he turns into Tage Thompson but I'd gladly roll the dice on the upside. Way moreso than taking a kid who projects as a bottom 6 forward or a bottom pairing defenseman.
Last edited:
Darkstar
Registered User
I'm a big fan Elick. I don't how much he will be able to develop offensively, but I think with his combination of size and skating, he can be a really good shutdown dman.
Man, he scored 4 points in 2 games vs the team half of which were KHL/VHL regulars. I assure you, it's tougher than the opposition Bedard played vs in WHL. When playoffs time comes, MHL teams get reinforcements from VHL and KHL, that's why it's much tougher to beat opponents in playoffs than regulars, but not for Demidov. He has the same pace as in the regular.
- Status
