HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[WeThreeKings]

I'm gonna go against the general feeling that we're in good position in a 7th or 8th spot, and say we need to be in the 5th spot.

Much like last year, there's a small definite pocket of elite forwards at the very top consisting of Celebrini, Demidov and Lindstrom. 5th would pretty much secure one of the last two.
6th and on I would be far less confident, just like being outside the top 3 in 23', even with this draft being D heavy.

Most of the teams projected ahead of us have drafted/acquired young forwards more than defense.

 

[G0bias]

Most of the teams projected ahead of us have drafted/acquired young forwards more than defense.

Thing is with Eiserman now out of favor in the top 5, there's even less of a margin for us to get one of the big 3.

Plus i think Demidov and Lindstrom have slightly less question marks than the top ranked Ds. Crazier things have happened at the draft but i'm not gonna expect 4 or 5 of the first 6 picks to be Ds

 

[FrankMTL]

The thing is that we haven't even seen Lindstrom since December.

Does anybody know when he supposed to be back? It was 4-6 weeks from the middle of January, so I'm assuming in the next week or 2.

 

[_vivelequebec_]

Plus i think Demidov and Lindstrom have slightly less question marks than the top ranked Ds.

Do they? Demidov plays in the weakest league (with Eiserman) of all the top 15, Lindstrom's injury is badly timed.

Anyway too much things we can't control. Just go for BPA at that point.

 

[G0bias]

Do they? Demidov plays in the weakest league (with Eiserman) of all the top 15, Lindstrom's injury is badly timed.

Anyway too much things we can't control. Just go for BPA at that point.

He very clearly has no business even playing there. And he's tearing it up right now it like no others before him. He's also not just stats hunting out there, he's actually a solid 200ft player. If it wasn't for SKA burying him for not extending, he'd atleast be in the VHL.

The dub isn't what it used to be either. So the difference isn't as considerable as it once was . He'd still be dummying chl competition.

As for Lindstrom, he's about to come back so we'll see where he picks off. Still he has the kind of profile all teams want, even despite missing some time.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

The thing is that we haven't even seen Lindstrom since December.

Does anybody know when he supposed to be back? It was 4-6 weeks from the middle of January, so I'm assuming in the next week or 2.

A couple of weeks still.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Thing is with Eiserman now out of favor in the top 5, there's even less of a margin for us to get one of the big 3.

Plus i think Demidov and Lindstrom have slightly less question marks than the top ranked Ds. Crazier things have happened at the draft but i'm not gonna expect 4 or 5 of the first 6 picks to be Ds

I'll expect it because as much as we might like the forwards, consider how D always get picked higher than projected and they are more valuable than wingers and there's no denying that Yakemchuk is having a special goal scoring season in the WHL, which Parekh is writing league records in the OHL and you have Buium putting up Lane Hutson numbers with a bigger frame.

That's without mentioning Dickinson, Levshunov and Silayev.

If the teams ahead of us have been drafting mainly forwards, they're gonna take those defenseman first.

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

Personally, I like the D in this draft. If the Habs don't win Celebrini, I would probably want them to draft one of the D.

 

[G0bias]

I'll expect it because as much as we might like the forwards, consider how D always get picked higher than projected and they are more valuable than wingers and there's no denying that Yakemchuk is having a special goal scoring season in the WHL, which Parekh is writing league records in the OHL and you have Buium putting up Lane Hutson numbers with a bigger frame.

That's without mentioning Dickinson, Levshunov and Silayev.

If the teams ahead of us have been drafting mainly forwards, they're gonna take those defenseman first.

There's no doubt the top 10 will heavily lean D. I just have my doubts those two would slip that far.
6'4 physical 1Cs pretty much always go ahead of smaller scoring defensemen, or bigger ones with defensive question marks.

The way i see it, Lindstrom is gone by the 3rd pick. Then the hope is Demidov gets slept on enough, atleast till 6th would be ideal.

 

[1000eeer]

Mid-year risers for me (outside the top 15):

- Basha
- Mustard
- Artanamov
- Hemming




What about you guys?

 

[Lockin17]

Best case scenario i would like and doable would be getting
Catton and Iginla
#8=Catton
#14=Iginla

Found a way to get Iginla with WGP pick + CGY pick + LHD prospect and get up to around #14

 

[Benstheman]

For me, if it's not Celebrini, Demidov or Lindstrom, i want the Habs to draft Silayev. I want the D to also have their Slafsquatch.

I have no interest in Parekh or Buium kind of prospect. We already have enough offense coming from the D with Hutson and Mailloux.

So for me it's :

1-Celebrini
2-Demidov
3-Lindstrom
4-Silayev
5-Catton
6-Iginla
7-Helenius

 

[Ozmodiar]

Best case scenario i would like and doable would be getting
Catton and Iginla
#8=Catton
#14=Iginla

Found a way to get Iginla with WGP pick + CGY pick + LHD prospect and get up to around #14

https://x.com/talk_canadiens/status/1759666871752687667?s=46&t=3S1UYEm6R67NmwSo2-MPQQ

 

[Lockin17]

lol Catton and Iginla going at it .....

 

[Lockin17]

For me, if it's not Celebrini, Demidov or Lindstrom, i want the Habs to draft Silayev. I want the D to also have their Slafsquatch.

I have no interest in Parekh or Buium kind of prospect. We already have enough offense coming from the D with Hutson and Mailloux.

So for me it's :

1-Celebrini
2-Demidov
3-Lindstrom
4-Silayev
5-Catton
6-Iginla
7-Helenius

haha Slafsquatch ...

But yeah Silayev-Ghule would be nice to see.

Wonder how NHL ready would Silayev be next year.

 

[Benstheman]

For me, if it's not Celebrini, Demidov or Lindstrom, i want the Habs to draft Silayev. I want the D to also have their Slafsquatch.

I have no interest in Parekh or Buium kind of prospect. We already have enough offense coming from the D with Hutson and Mailloux.

So for me it's :

1-Celebrini
2-Demidov
3-Lindstrom
4-Silayev
5-Catton
6-Iginla
7-Helenius

EDIT : sorry, forgot about Dickinson. Would have him at 5 after Silayev and before Catton.

 

[Mrb1p]

Do they? Demidov plays in the weakest league (with Eiserman) of all the top 15, Lindstrom's injury is badly timed.

Anyway too much things we can't control. Just go for BPA at that point.

The Dub is a worse league than the MHL.

 

[Benstheman]

haha Slafsquatch ...

But yeah Silayev-Ghule would be nice to see.

Wonder how NHL ready would Silayev be next year.

Ready in two years most probably.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

If anything we learned from the Wright vs Slafkovsky situation is that the Habs will not just look at apparent talent or draft hype but more importantly how the players can adjust to the spotlight and can develop even with the constant pressure of playing in Montreal by fans and medias.

 

[Sunfyre]

1. I'll take my chances. Having him and Caufield on the same team would be insane, and scary for teams playing us. 2. Caufield is still sort of a one dimensional player. Do you not want him either?

The way Eiserman is trending it would look like a big reach picking him at 6-7. I would rather take Helenius in that range or a top D and trade for a top 6 forward with assets

 

[McGees]

What is the plan boys?

Chicago GM right now…

 

[SlafySZN]

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

1B with Celebrini. If we can get down to 5th last I hope to god he's still there when we pick.

 

[Sunfyre]

Not sure who MTL will pick unless they win the lottery and get Celibriny. Pretty confident in 2 things.

1. Habs nation is gonna loose their shit
2. They leave Carey Price at home

 

[WeThreeKings]

There's no doubt the top 10 will heavily lean D. I just have my doubts those two would slip that far.
6'4 physical 1Cs pretty much always go ahead of smaller scoring defensemen, or bigger ones with defensive question marks.

The way i see it, Lindstrom is gone by the 3rd pick. Then the hope is Demidov gets slept on enough, atleast till 6th would be ideal.

Lindstrom will be gone by Columbus unless they win the Celebrini lottery. So, yes, we'd have to slide ahead of CBJ (not happening) or win the 2nd overall pick.

Demidov is still viable.. he's playing in the MHL, a level not good enough for his talent level, he's still a russian, and he's a winger. A lot of those teams picking in the top who haven't drafted their #1 defenseman and have used their picks lately on forwards, are gonna bypass the scoring winger for the defenseman.

Worst case is we decide between Catton, Helenius, Eiserman and Iginla.

Mid-year risers for me (outside the top 15):

- Basha
- Mustard
- Artanamov
- Hemming




What about you guys?

Yakemchuk
Iginla
Greentree
Letourneau
Sennecke
Luchanko
Mustard

For me, if it's not Celebrini, Demidov or Lindstrom, i want the Habs to draft Silayev. I want the D to also have their Slafsquatch.

I have no interest in Parekh or Buium kind of prospect. We already have enough offense coming from the D with Hutson and Mailloux.

So for me it's :

1-Celebrini
2-Demidov
3-Lindstrom
4-Silayev
5-Catton
6-Iginla
7-Helenius

I will tell you right now - the left shot defenseman with 3 years left on his KHL contract, will not be a Habs pick.