HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[SlafySZN]

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

My favorite player from this draft hands down. Even before Celebrini for me

 

[_vivelequebec_]

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

Well, by the draft, it's gonna be 2 years. Don't have all the red flags Michkov had about his contract status.. also is a defenseman so 2 years in KHL is not a big deal (and he's not even 18 atm).

 

[WeThreeKings]

Well, by the draft, it's gonna be 2 years. Don't have all the red flags Michkov had about his contract status.. also is a defenseman so 2 years in KHL is not a big deal (and he's not even 18 atm).

I was under the understanding that he signed the 3 year extension meaning 3 years left but even if it is 2 - they don't need a left shot defenseman into the system and they understand they are not going to be picking this high again, they're going to add what they need.

Even Lapointe was quoted saying they hope the defenseman will push some forwards down.

 

[The Great Weal]

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

Lol come on Celebrini is vastly superior.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Lol come on Celebrini is vastly superior.

I think he's better all-around and plays the more valuable position which is why he's 1A, but I think Demidov's offensive ceiling is just a bit higher. Obviously they differ in playstyles but it's like a Toews or Kane situation for me. I'd still take Toews since he's better all-around but I'd be ecstatic with Kane nonetheless.

 

[Rapala]

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.

I'd love to get Buium or Parekh and Dangle Lane... Seriously

 

[WeThreeKings]

I'd love to get Buium or Parekh and Dangle Lane... Seriously

Not me - I'll get the more valuable forward in this draft, don't lose development runway as I'm 2 years advanced on Lane's development vs. Buium or Parekh.. and the chances are I'd be able to trade Hutson for an equivalent forward at the top of this draft are low.

 

[SlafySZN]

Lol come on Celebrini is vastly superior.

Vastly superior? Not at all.

 

[JT3]

Been lurking through the season but haven't really contributed much to this point, so here are some of my thoughts for anyone who cares. Not necessarily in any sort of ranking order.

Celebrini/Demidov/Lindstrom - In that order for me, but if any are available where we pick, you run to the stage and do it. All are high level prospects that fill needs.

Silayev - I'm not as fond of him as many. Obviously the size and skating combo is droolworthy, but I don't know about the rest. I think he started the season like gangbusters and the hype of a 'unicorn' shot through the roof. But for me I'm not sure the puck skill/offense/brain are there to be a true all round top pair D. He's not mean or physical like Chara or Zadorov either and relies more on his reach to defend. Maybe management feel we have the depth to swing on a potential home run like him, but he's not my guy.

Dickinson - Pretty safe bet to be a top 4 NHL player, but I get the feeling he might just be a little too safe? He is a great all around D, but are any of his skills or tools truly elite? He feels very Guhle-esque, and while I love him, I don't think we really need another.

Levshunov - Probably would be my next choice outside of those top 3 forwards and I think would become our top RD. Defense needs some tuning but I don't see anything concerning myself. Dude just commands the ice.

Yakemchuk - Probably my favorite prospect relative to where they've been ranked, although he has been starting to rise finally the last few months. He's just so fun to watch and the tools are incredible. He's like a more aggresive and physical Logan Mailloux, almost gives me Flames era Phaneuf vibes. The fans would love this guy here.

Parekh - Offensive skill level through the roof, brain also through the roof. At 6'0 I don't think the size is a concern, the mobility and edges are very good, and the speed while average I think you can get a bit more out of with some added strength. I don't bet against guys with this combo of skill and IQ.

Catton - I like him, I don't know that I'm in love with him. Pretty safe bet to be a top 6 forward, but I don't think he's gonna be a center. It depends just how high you think he can go, because if he's just a top 6 W I think there's better targets. His playoffs will likely make a big impact in how I feel about him.

Helenius - I haven't seen as much of him as others cause watching Liiga is a chore, but I think he's underrated a little bit because you don't get as much of that visible 'flash'. It tends to happen with young high IQ players in pro leagues, instead he makes the smart play consistently. Pretty safe middle 6 C for me with an ultimate upside closer to Suzuki/Aho.

Iginla - I like his shot, his tools, his drive, and his bloodlines. A guy like him with Jarome as his dad, I think he'll be able to handle this market no problem. How high is the ceiling? Rest of season and playoffs will have a big effect on his ranking, but when you've got those tools with a pretty safe minimum projection and still SO much room to grow? Hard to pass up on that. Strong contender for our pick IMO.

Eiserman - An enigma, obviously. The shot is unreal, but I don't know if it's enough for me. Do you take the 40 goal potential from him with not much else, or the 30+ goal potential in Catton/Iginla, but who also do way more? For me it's probably the latter. Especially considering we already have Caufield.

Buium - He's good, and having an impressive year, but generally I much prefer the RD this year than the LD, and obviously RD is a bigger need for us. If he was 6'2 like he's listed by Denver maybe it's a different story, but I don't think that's the case and it seems he is more the 6'0 that was originally listed. I can understand why people might have him high, but personally I would rather go the Yakemchuk/Parekh route.

That's pretty much where the discussions stop for our 1st pick imo. Frankly I think there's a lot of good players in the mix whereas last year we were kind of stuck right at a tier drop. Gonna be an interesting draft. Not sure if anyone will read all that but just felt like finally getting my thoughts down on paper this morning.

 

[The Great Weal]

I think he's better all-around and plays the more valuable position which is why he's 1A, but I think Demidov's offensive ceiling is just a bit higher. Obviously they differ in playstyles but it's like a Toews or Kane situation for me. I'd still take Toews since he's better all-around but I'd be ecstatic with Kane nonetheless.

Making more flashy plays doesn't equate to a higher ceiling. I don't know how anyone would take prime Toews over prime Kane, that's essentially a good 2way 1C vs the greatest American player of all time. I'm one million times more confident that Celebrini will become a Toews like player than Demidov becomes comparable to the Patrick Kane.

Vastly superior? Not at all.

He absolutely is. There's a reason why everyone says the draft starts at 2 where Demidov isn't unanimously considered the #2 pick. It's not even close.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Making more flashy plays doesn't equate to a higher ceiling. I don't know how anyone would take prime Toews over prime Kane, that's essentially a good 2way 1C vs the greatest American player of all time. I'm one million times more confident that Celebrini will become a Toews like player than Demidov becomes comparable to the Patrick Kane.

He absolutely is. There's a reason why everyone says the draft starts at 2 where Demidov isn't unanimously considered the #2 pick. It's not close, the draft starts at 2.

I'm not talking about the flashy plays lol, I'm talking about his elite escapeability, vision, deception, and release. Kane was also a very flawed player despite his offensive accomplishments, he was really never even decent defensively, he could just outscore that. Toews was elite at both ends of the ice (though less offensively talented than Kane).

As for consensus, that means SFA to me. Between 2000 and 2020 the 1st overall pick was the best player in the draft all of MAYBE 10 times, and probably only 8 (Kovalchuk, Ovi, Crosby, Kane, maybe Stamkos, maybe Hall, MacKinnon, McDavid, Matthews, Hughes). I think it's more likely than not that Celebrini ends up the best player in the draft, but I also think Demidov will end up with the highest offensive ceiling.

 

[Mrb1p]

Making more flashy plays doesn't equate to a higher ceiling. I don't know how anyone would take prime Toews over prime Kane, that's essentially a good 2way 1C vs the greatest American player of all time. I'm one million times more confident that Celebrini will become a Toews like player than Demidov becomes comparable to the Patrick Kane.

He absolutely is. There's a reason why everyone says the draft starts at 2 where Demidov isn't unanimously considered the #2 pick. It's not even close.

Hes vastly superior because Celebrini is Canadian, plays a league scouts like, bigger and a center. Thats pretty much where the difference stops.

Maybe the shot too, but then youd have to relinquish playmaking on Demidovs end and were back to square one.

The difference is basically Kucherov to Mackinnon. (Not comparing the players here, just a proper image.)

 

[The Great Weal]

I'm not talking about the flashy plays lol, I'm talking about his elite escapeability, vision, deception, and release. Kane was also a very flawed player despite his offensive accomplishments, he was really never even decent defensively, he could just outscore that. Toews was elite at both ends of the ice (though less offensively talented than Kane).

As for consensus, that means SFA to me.

Patrick Kane is the greatest American player of all time so when you’re at that level then ya you overcome flaws. If you’re a good 2nd liner it’s harder to overcome those flaws.

Sure you can ignore what other scouts say, but with all due respect I have a hard time taking your post seriously when you say you’d rather have Toews than Kane. Valuing two way game is one thing but to take that over a borderline generational talent is another.

 

[SlafySZN]

He absolutely is. There's a reason why everyone says the draft starts at 2 where Demidov isn't unanimously considered the #2 pick. It's not even close.

If Demidov was playing in the CHL or NCAA there’s no debate for the 2nd overall.

He’s way ahead of everybody else in terms of talent.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Patrick Kane is the greatest American player of all time so when you’re at that level then ya you overcome flaws. If you’re a good 2nd liner it’s harder to overcome those flaws.

Sure you can ignore what other scouts say, but with all due respect I have a hard time taking your post seriously when you say you’d rather have Toews than Kane. Valuing two way game is one thing but to take that over a borderline generational talent is another.

To be clear, I'm not saying that I would take Toews' career over Kane. I'm just saying that at their peak I would take Toews over Kane.

As for the good 2nd liner part, I don't see that as Demidov's ceiling which I think is where we disagree. I think if we take Demidov we can essentially run two first lines with him playing with Dach and Roy/Newhook. I think Demidov would comfortably have the highest offensive ceiling of any of our forwards (I believe he has 100 point potential).

 

[The Great Weal]

Hes vastly superior because Celebrini is Canadian, plays a league scouts like, bigger and a center. Thats pretty much where the difference stops.

So why wasn’t Shane Wright considered unanimous over Slafkovsky if scouts value being Canadian more than other factors?

Celebrini is clearly the better player. Can that change? Of course it can, but that’s not the case right now.

 

[KevSkillz4]

This draft will be fun to watch. I think after 1st (Celebrini)... all things can happen at 2. I really don't know who is going to be 2 at this point. Teams in top 10 after 1st, can surprise us a lot this year!

 

[Vachon23]

Making more flashy plays doesn't equate to a higher ceiling. I don't know how anyone would take prime Toews over prime Kane, that's essentially a good 2way 1C vs the greatest American player of all time. I'm one million times more confident that Celebrini will become a Toews like player than Demidov becomes comparable to the Patrick Kane.

He absolutely is. There's a reason why everyone says the draft starts at 2 where Demidov isn't unanimously considered the #2 pick. It's not even close.

Personally, I would have take prime Toews before Kane

 

[le_sean]

I get going with forwards, and that’s my preference too. But Parekh may be too good to pass up on.

Thinking of the team up a goal with 1 minute left having Guhle and Reinbacher on the ice, and down a goal with a minute left having Hutson and Parekh out there.

 

[Mrb1p]

So why wasn’t Shane Wright considered unanimous over Slafkovsky if scouts value being Canadian more than other factors?

Celebrini is clearly the better player. Can that change? Of course it can, but that’s not the case right now.

Celebrini is clearly the better player, yes. That doesnt mean the difference is Mcdavid to Alex Newhook. The difference is more like Kucherov to Mackinnon, like I said.

Because Shane Wright had other underlying issues that couldnt be scouted on TV (Well, yes they could, but they couldn't be confirmed.) Also because Slaf was bigger and playing pro hockey, as opposed to euro-junior.

Scouts value leagues, size, position and the russian factor. Celebrini scores high on all those, Demidov scores lowest on all those.

I tend to agree that there would be no debate had Demidov not been in Russia this year, hed be a slam dunk 2OA and wed be hearing about the 1A to 1B race similar to what we had 2015.

It's all very funny though, because Demidov isn't close to Michkov either, sigh.

 

[Rapala]

I get going with forwards, and that’s my preference too. But Parekh may be too good to pass up on.

Thinking of the team up a goal with 1 minute left having Guhle and Reinbacher on the ice, and down a goal with a minute left having Hutson and Parekh out there.

If he's on the board and BPA I will wager we DO NOT pass up on him.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Celebrini is clearly the better player, yes. That doesnt mean the difference is Mcdavid to Alex Newhook. The difference is more like Kucherov to Mackinnon, like I said.

Because Shane Wright had other underlying issues that couldnt be scouted on TV (Well, yes they could, but they couldn't be confirmed.) Also because Slaf was bigger and playing pro hockey, as opposed to euro-junior.

Scouts value leagues, size, position and the russian factor. Celebrini scores high on all those, Demidov scores lowest on all those.

I tend to agree that there would be no debate had Demidov not been in Russia this year, hed be a slam dunk 2OA and wed be hearing about the 1A to 1B race similar to what we had 2015.

It's all very funny though, because Demidov isn't close to Michkov either, sigh.

Yeah given the choice between Reinbacher and Demidov or Dickinson and Michkov I know who I'd take. Still, should be able to contend with our core in a few years either way

 

[Mrb1p]

Yeah given the choice between Reinbacher and Demidov or Dickinson and Michkov I know who I'd take. Still, should be able to contend with our core in a few years either way

I actually like DR more than Dickie. Well, I havent seen DR a lot this year, but last year at least.

Levshunov and Michkov tho...

But lets not rehash something weve covered for months.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

I actually like DR more than Dickie. Well, I havent seen DR a lot this year, but last year at least.

Levshunov and Michkov tho...

But lets not rehash something weve covered for months.

To avoid rehashing I actually prefer Dickinson to Levshunov, despite the difference in handedness. It's close but Dickinson just screams surefire top pairing D to me. I haven't seen a guy I'd bet on doing that since Dahlin/Heiskanen

 

[Mrb1p]

To avoid rehashing I actually prefer Dickinson to Levshunov, despite the difference in handedness. It's close but Dickinson just screams surefire top pairing D to me.

He screams surefire top 4 yeah, with upside. Levshunov had the little things that make a norris winner though. Of course his variance is greater and he could end up being another Matheson.

Theres not a lot of Ds his size that push the play as hard, he plays it a lot like Makar does but hes also 6'3. Im seeing his realistic upside as Serge though, don't think thats too far off what Dickinson would be in a good scenario.