HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[NekkiChiconey]

Berkly Catton is a better version of Riley Heidt IMO.

Reminds me so much of Barzal. He's not quite on the same level skating-wise but he has a better shooting arsenal.

The only thing I'm not too crazy about with Catton is the size not matching his style TBH, everything else is real projectable. There's a non zero chance that the complete game doesn't work at the next level because he's getting outmuscled though, so I'd still be a bit worried. Every prospect has question marks, obviously, it's just part of the analysis I'd make. Still, I love how dedicated he is to every aspects of the game, he's really involved in all three zones, you can tell he's a true gamer.

I get the concern, but if he ends up around Suzuki's size he'll be okay. His game will rely on smarts over strength, and I would be very comfortable if he's paired with Dach.

One thing I would like to see him do more is to "stop-and-go". He's always roaming around which is great for transition but I feel like it leads him to miss both defensive assignments and scoring chances in front of the net.

 

[skidcells]

I really like that Luchanko kid. Heck of a motor on him, super involved in all three zones. He really found his offense this season too.

I think he goes between 25-45 so if we get him it’s either because we keep the jets first rounder our trade up with the Avs second rounder.

 

[FrankMTL]

All eyes will be on Cayden Lindstrom when he gets back in the next week or so from his injury. The fact that he was tearing it up and then got hurt may have actually helped his stock. Since he's been injured for the last 15-20 games, people haven't been able to nitpick and dissect his game as much as other prospects as we get closer to the draft.

 

[PavelBrendl]

Reminds me so much of Barzal. He's not quite on the same level skating-wise but he has a better shooting arsenal.


I get the concern, but if he ends up around Suzuki's size he'll be okay. His game will rely on smarts over strength, and I would be very comfortable if he's paired with Dach.

One thing I would like to see him do more is to "stop-and-go". He's always roaming around which is great for transition but I feel like it leads him to miss both defensive assignments and scoring chances in front of the net.

Catton will never be 212 lbs. But I also think size concerns are a bit overblown. He's a junior-sized junior and will be an NHL-sized NHLer.

But this kid has potentially franchise-changing skill. The only forwards I have ahead of him are Celebrini and Demidov.

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

Reminds me so much of Barzal. He's not quite on the same level skating-wise but he has a better shooting arsenal.


I get the concern, but if he ends up around Suzuki's size he'll be okay. His game will rely on smarts over strength, and I would be very comfortable if he's paired with Dach.

One thing I would like to see him do more is to "stop-and-go". He's always roaming around which is great for transition but I feel like it leads him to miss both defensive assignments and scoring chances in front of the net.

Suzuki is thick. Over 200 lbs and was 185 in junior. Carton will be a marker type build. He’s going to rely on skills and not strength I suspect

 

[le_sean]

I don't think anything is remotely obvious after Celebrini.

I think Demidov could very well be their selection as well as a few others, especially if they are open to drafting a dman. Lindstrom does make some sense but he is not the only one at that the Canadiens will be strongly considering.

I do believe that Lindstrom could possibly be a trap as he is much bigger and faster than his peers and there have been alot of those types who could never repeat their success at the NHL level when these advantages are greatly minimized. I really like Demidov and Catton because they have superior puck skills to Lindstrom as well as higher IQ's imo.

This is not to suggest that I don't like Lindstrom but just to point out that there is alot more risk than some are assigning to this player.

I’m talking specifically about who the Habs would want. Lindstrom checks the boxes of what they want and need. There’s no shot Bobrov would take Demidov and even less of a chance they take Catton over him. It doesn’t fit with their MO

 

[habsfan891]

Grant is always right about who the Habs will pick but it is an extra sensitive topic on these boards.

This is the one time I want him to be right so he will be wrong I've accepted it

 

[yianik]

So I looked at the top 10 picks in drafts between 1999 and 2019.. I eye balled who I thought were top 6F, top 3D and starting goalies. I was not taking notice of 1st liners or stars, just what I call top players.

Sometimes I wondered about a guy and chose top player or not, rightly or wrongly. I also didn't take note if the last 10 years of that period was different from the 1st 10 years.

Results. 1st overall picks hit 80% as top players, 2ndOA at 70%, 3-6 basically were all at 50%, no.7 was at 65% , then fell off at 8, 9 , to about 30- 40% ( ouch don't remember exactly ) and 10 was at about 20 %.

Key for me was the top 2 picks stand out for top player selection, but then 3-6 are about the same. I think no.7 must be just due to numbers having their variability. So the key is to draft in that top 6-7 to have at least least 50/50 chance of picking a top guy, and whether it's 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, doesn't seem to matter. Obviously it could be pick no.3 has double the number of stars as at no.6 , I have no idea.

 

[Jaynki]

But this is just revionnist really, very few thought Price was BPA at that point. Very few thought Kotkaniemi was BPA at that point. But really in both cases Timmins thought he drafted the best player. Its entirely subjective, both selections were identical: the habs brass thought they drafted the guy who was going to become the most impactfull NHL player.

BPA is nothing more than a philosophical approach where talent and upside are more weighted than team needs.

Therefore, Price was chosen even if we had Hart-winning Theodore and a couple of great prospects.

BPA means we could and should end up with a LD if the brass judge he is BPA at our spot.

 

[Tyson]

BPA is nothing more than a philosophical approach where talent and upside are more weighted than team needs.

Therefore, Price was chosen even if we had Hart-winning Theodore and a couple of great prospects.

BPA means we could and should end up with a LD if the brass judge he is BPA at our spot.

This is why it could be realistic for the Habs to trade that pick

 

[yianik]

BPA is nothing more than a philosophical approach where talent and upside are more weighted than team needs.

Therefore, Price was chosen even if we had Hart-winning Theodore and a couple of great prospects.

BPA means we could and should end up with a LD if the brass judge he is BPA at our spot.

I think at least in part that approach got us slim to none Cs drafted in the 1st and 2nd rounds for years. Then what you do is make a real effort to move up in a draft and get the player who is BPA and fills your position of need in the prospect pool. I don't think k we ever did. Only move up was to get fkg Tinordi, God help me.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I’m talking specifically about who the Habs would want. Lindstrom checks the boxes of what they want and need. There’s no shot Bobrov would take Demidov and even less of a chance they take Catton over him. It doesn’t fit with their MO

No, they won't.

They are obviously at Celebrini for 1

Then Lindstrom at 2

Demidov would be their 3

It's only after those 3 are gone, where they are thinking about Catton and Helenius.

I'm very confident in what their top 3 forwards are and their order.

 

[Goldenhands]

Watched Catton yesterday, liked him, going to watch his next 2 games and post a shift by shift through those 3 games.

I should be good to post Buium shift by shift by next week-end.

 

[skidcells]

Watched Catton yesterday, liked him, going to watch his next 2 games and post a shift by shift through those 3 games.

I should be good to post Buium shift by shift by next week-end.

He’s cleaned up parts of his game last month. If he trends like this will a strong push to challenge Lindstrom (though if he comes back and performs as well he will beat him out because of the r size factor).

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

I’m talking specifically about who the Habs would want. Lindstrom checks the boxes of what they want and need. There’s no shot Bobrov would take Demidov and even less of a chance they take Catton over him. It doesn’t fit with their MO

I did realize that you were specifically speaking about Montreal and I hold firm on the assertion that we do not know in any way that Lindstrom will be their guy. They did specifically state that when drafting Slaf that this would help to prevent them from chasing size. We do not know what they think of any of these kids from a character standpoint and we do not know whether they believe that Lindstrom's junior success is going to translate to the NHL. The only comparable is Slafkovsky but much of what they loved came from interviews and endorsements from coaches/teammates/opponents about his drive and character. They also put a lot of stock into his ability to rise to the occasion in big games. Lindstrom's portfolio is far less complete than Slafkovsky's was..

I don't disagree with you that Lindstrom makes sense and if I was a betting man and we had the 2 OA pick I would put my money on them selecting Lindstrom as well. I just feel compelled to push back against the notion that it is a 100% fact because that statement is undeniably false. The only thing that we know for sure about the Habs M.O. is that they do not care about who the public thinks they should or probably will take. This leaves Dickinson and Levshunov as potential options and who knows where Iginla ends up as he just keeps rising.

There is no consensus around the league about the 2nd best prospect and from what we know about HuGo is that they do their utmost due diligence and absolutely nothing in terms of draft rankings is remotely clear in their minds at this point and there is still alot of time left for kids to rise and fall.

They passed over bigger and well regarded dmen than Hutson and as well with the Mesar and Beck selections. There is no apparent M.O. in regards to size as they simply covet the player that they believe will be the best NHLer. Of course size/speed play a factor in that evaluation but IQ, character and puck skill are also clearly coveted as well.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

I don't think people are excited enough about landing Catton. He's 100% gonna be available when they pick and I like him better than Smith who everyone here was praying would fall to 5th last year. I see him as a 90+ point player at his peak and ppg in his prime.

Catton is him! I am excited but I feel he might be picked higher than our selection

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Catton will never be 212 lbs. But I also think size concerns are a bit overblown. He's a junior-sized junior and will be an NHL-sized NHLer.

But this kid has potentially franchise-changing skill. The only forwards I have ahead of him are Celebrini and Demidov.

I already gave example like Pastrnak/Nylander/Point who were all smaller/lighter in their draft year than what are currently Catton height/weight.

It's a bit a lazy take. If he was larger and more mature than his peer it could actually be a bigger concern as he might signal he has maxed out. It is very normal to not be physicaly mature as a 17 years old.

 

[montreal]

Parekh Goal - 6:43
Parekh Goal - 11:34

lots of Parekh in the vid

 

[Jabba11]

I'm probably of the few that is not on the Lindstrom bandwagon, but can someone tell me why would you consider him 2nd overall over any of the top Dmen or even Ivan Demidov?

Sick and tired of projects. Give me the most talented player at our position even if it's an LD or RD.

 

[Jaynki]

I'm probably of the few that is not on the Lindstrom bandwagon, but can someone tell me why would you consider him 2nd overall over any of the top Dmen or even Ivan Demidov?

Sick and tired of projects. Give me the most talented player at our position even if it's an LD or RD.

6foot4 skates like wind. 27goals in 32 games with an awesome shot. Very good puck carrier and puck protection.

He is not a project. He is a blue chip prospect with tremendous upside and a particular skillset.

We should absolutely snag him at 2nd OV if we win the 2nd lottery, in my opinion. AINEC, and i loooooove Demidov.

 

[Playmaker09]

Catton will never be 212 lbs. But I also think size concerns are a bit overblown. He's a junior-sized junior and will be an NHL-sized NHLer.

But this kid has potentially franchise-changing skill. The only forwards I have ahead of him are Celebrini and Demidov.

One of the things I actually really like about Catton relative to other smaller skilled forwards in the past few years like Savoie or Cristall is his strength and balance. He's much more under control in traffic, to go with his very polished offensive toolkit.

The downside is his disengagement away from the puck in both zones, much like Heidt last year who had a drastic fall.
So we'll see on draft day what the sentiment is.

Berkly Catton is a better version of Riley Heidt IMO.

That or a faster Perfetti.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

I'd take Demidov over Lindstrom 8 days a week

 

[CheldishGamibno]

Parekh is sick. I'd absolutely pick him but unfortunately I'm sure he'll go top 5.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Watched Catton yesterday, liked him, going to watch his next 2 games and post a shift by shift through those 3 games.

I should be good to post Buium shift by shift by next week-end.

Looking forward to it. I watched his game last night too. It was the first game of his I watched after watching about 5 games immediately after Christmas break. Holy crap was he bad in those games. Really low effort.

He played a much better game last night, and I plan on watching his next few games too. I still don't think he's a center in NHL. He's more likely a playmaking winger. There's very little physical engagement. He relies almost exclusively on his stick / hand skills in puck battles, which is fine for a winger.

 

[Mrb1p]

I'm probably of the few that is not on the Lindstrom bandwagon, but can someone tell me why would you consider him 2nd overall over any of the top Dmen or even Ivan Demidov?

Sick and tired of projects. Give me the most talented player at our position even if it's an LD or RD.

Nobody worth his dime would pick Lindstrom ahead of Demidov. Its just one guy that hypes up Lindstrom like he's some sort of lock at 2.