HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Anardil]

A few observations:

1- I don't see enough posters mention that Dach's injury history as a major concern. I feel that HuGo must establish a contingency in case Dach cannot be a reliable 1A/B center with Suzuki.

2- This organization has been bereft of real 1st line/ 1st pair talent for 40 years. It will never become a true contender until Suzuki is in the 2C slot, and Guhle and whoever else is on the 2nd pair.

3- I hate using early 1st picks on a perceived faller in his draft year. I still get PTSD flashbacks when I remember the Habs using their first pick on Lindsay Vallis, stating that he had a great 16 y/o season. Eiserman is a ND for me, especially is the Habs get a top 5 pick.

4- In a previous post I mentioned that I fully expect the Habs to use the WPG pick with a surplus d-man prospect in a Romanov style trade. It fits in with the HuGo MO of the accelerated rebuild strategy. I really don't see a trade up scenario or getting additional 1st picks, unless it happens at the trade deadline.

 

[HabsForHire]

I'm not a huge fan either. You need a lot to go right for a 6'7 monster to really hit. You're probably looking at a Brandon Carlo when you're hoping for Chara.

exactly what I've been thinking, if he wasn't 6'7 he'd be outside the top 15 imo

 

[The Great Weal]

I mean are we really supposed to ignore this because we have other good defencemen? This is just stupid skill

I'll never get this "we are set defensively" argument for right now. Guhle hasn't shown anything offensively to be a legit #1 dman, Reinbacher is having a weird season and our own GM is on record saying that he's not sure he'd be that #1 guy either, and despite Hutson/Mailloux having the offensive ability, there are still lots of questions on how they will handle the NHL. Of course I'm not expecting all of them to be #1 dmen, but if we end up with 2 #2s and 2 #3s, the defense is not set whatsoever.

I don't know if Parekh will be that #1 guy either even though I'm a massive fan, but you'd think we have the Josi/Weber/Jones/Ekholm/Ellis the way many here want to avoid the dmen at all costs.

 

[le_sean]

I'll never get this "we are set defensively" argument for right now. Guhle hasn't shown anything offensively to be a legit #1 dman, Reinbacher is having a weird season and our own GM is on record saying that he's not sure he'd be that #1 guy either, and despite Hutson/Mailloux having the offensive ability, there are still lots of questions on how they will handle the NHL. Of course I'm not expecting all of them to be #1 dmen, but if we end up with 2 #2s and 2 #3s, the defense is not set whatsoever.

I don't know if Parekh will be that #1 guy either even though I'm a massive fan, but you'd think we have the Josi/Weber/Jones/Ekholm/Ellis the way many here want to avoid the dmen at all costs.

I don’t think the Habs are necessarily set either on defence, but I guess the argument is the quality of our youth on defence far outweighs the quality of our forwards.

I’m just of the opinion of taking the BPA and then making a trade to fill the need up front. We don’t ever see draft eligible defenders on 100 point paces in the CHL, it’s unheard of. It would be really tough to pass on that level of talent.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

The more you look around the draft the more you see bigger body forwards available towards the end of the first and through the rest of the draft. Habs should be able to get a few big bodies in the prospect pool.

 

[Shred]

What do you guys think of Aron Kiviharju​

This kid use to be a top 5 last year.​

He hasn't play a lot this year.​

He's a bit small as well.​

Could he be a good pick with the WPG pick ?​

is this a Kivi Haiku

 

[The Last Red]

I'll never get this "we are set defensively" argument for right now. Guhle hasn't shown anything offensively to be a legit #1 dman, Reinbacher is having a weird season and our own GM is on record saying that he's not sure he'd be that #1 guy either, and despite Hutson/Mailloux having the offensive ability, there are still lots of questions on how they will handle the NHL. Of course I'm not expecting all of them to be #1 dmen, but if we end up with 2 #2s and 2 #3s, the defense is not set whatsoever.

I don't know if Parekh will be that #1 guy either even though I'm a massive fan, but you'd think we have the Josi/Weber/Jones/Ekholm/Ellis the way many here want to avoid the dmen at all costs.

I would draft Zeev Buium before Parekh. He’s a much more complete defender but still has that high end offensive talent. Makar is actually good defensively too. Not sure that Parekh has that in him.

I would also take Lindstrom over Catton, and I don’t think it’s close. Catton being a massive point producer in the CHL would matter to me if the NHL was like the CHL . . . but it’s not. Lindstrom’s game is much more likely to translate to the NHL than Catton’s. Marc Savard was a massive CHL scorer too but was only okay, if that, in the NHL. Meanwhile, Slaf barely had any points in Liiga . . . Catton looks like a Marco Rossi/Cole Perfetti type, which is fine, but I’d like to do better if possible. I think it’s possible.

 

[HuGort]

I made the mistake of watching The Hockey Writers new mock draft on Youtube.

They had Demidov going 2nd and Lindstrom going 4th overall. It's giving me PTSD from last draft.

Glad you posted, give me something to watch and think about tonight.

 

[SwiftyHab]

I mean are we really supposed to ignore this because we have other good defencemen? This is just stupid skill

Can’t imagine having him and Hutson playing that way. That would be amazing

 

[HabsForHire]

Can’t imagine having him and Hutson playing that way. That would be amazing

that would be waaay too much talent for us.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

I would draft Zeev Buium before Parekh. He’s a much more complete defender but still has that high end offensive talent. Makar is actually good defensively too. Not sure that Parekh has that in him.

I would also take Lindstrom over Catton, and I don’t think it’s close. Catton being a massive point producer in the CHL would matter to me if the NHL was like the CHL . . . but it’s not. Lindstrom’s game is much more likely to translate to the NHL than Catton’s. Marc Savard was a massive CHL scorer too but was only okay, if that, in the NHL. Meanwhile, Slaf barely had any points in Liiga . . . Catton looks like a Marco Rossi/Cole Perfetti type, which is fine, but I’d like to do better if possible. I think it’s possible.

Both Buium and Parekh are playing on extremely offensive teams and their numbers are inflated. Saginaw has 6 forwards who are over point per game and almost every time Parekh is on the ice he is surrounded by scorers. He is leading the team in scoring but that is partially due to the fact that he is simply on the ice more than the forwards and playing in a wide open system that allows him to essentially play as a rover/forward. I am not saying that these players should be dismissed just that there is important context to be considered that is being ignored by simply citing stats.

I am not at all convinced that Lindstrom will score more than Catton in the NHL as Catton is more skilled and has a higher IQ imo. Lindstrom may very well just be so much bigger and faster than his peers that he is capitalizing on an advantage that will be drastically minimized at the NHL level. I do like Lindstrom and it would be difficult to pass on him and take Catton but to just arbitrarily dismiss the very real possibility that Catton may end up being the better player is a mistake.

To refer to Marc Savard's NHL scoring as "ok" is ridiculous, he had consecutive seasons of 96 and 97 points and was on a 90+ pace the previous season as well as the following season if injuries didn't stop him. He finished in the top 10 in scoring 3 times and would have been 4 times if he didn't get hurt.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Agreed with others on Silayev. Early hot streak has people thinking he's Chara when he's closer to Logan Stanley

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

Agreed with others on Silayev. Early hot streak has people thinking he's Chara when he's closer to Logan Stanley

Bro is inside my mind

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

Can’t imagine having him and Hutson playing that way. That would be amazing

Yeah I wouldnt mind the Habs taking him IF they have a plan to get a young elite forward.
Hutson - Reinbacher
Guhle - Parekh

That would legitimately be the best top 4 in the league without a doubt if they reach their potential

 

[Schooner Guy]

The story I heard about him last night from the parent of a current 16U Long Island Gull player suggests that Connelly has some serious issues. I’m not going to say what it was as I don’t want to expose HF Boards to possible defamation accusations but if I told you, you would not want the Habs to go anywhere near the kid. Nothing criminal but really screwed up stuff.

There was a lengthy Katie Strang article on Connelly in The Athletic earlier this week that outlined numerous appalling incidents throughout his young life. Looks like a pattern. I don't think there's any way the Habs draft him.

exactly what I've been thinking, if he wasn't 6'7 he'd be outside the top 15 imo

But he is 6'7. He isn't going to start shrinking anytime soon.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Yeah I wouldnt mind the Habs taking him IF they have a plan to get a young elite forward.
Hutson - Reinbacher
Guhle - Parekh

That would legitimately be the best top 4 in the league without a doubt if they reach their potential

We would need a generational talent in net if we are going to put Hutson and Parekh up against the NHL's best players.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

We would need a generational talent in net if we are going to put Hutson and Parekh up against the NHL's best players.

I honestly think Fowler will be Habs future goalie. He's so consistent if you look at him historically. When you watch him play, not stylistically but impact wise he's reminiscent of Brodeur. He doesn't have the talent of a Roy, Hasek, or price but he's such a team friendly goalie. I don't think he'll ever win a Vezina but I bet he consistently makes top 10s throughout his career. But the one thing going for those two players is one gets Reinbacher and the other gets guhle

 

[NeptunesTrident]

Currently draft #6. Celebrini Lindstrom Levshunov Silayev Demidov presumably gone which leaves Catton, Iginla, Eiserman, Dickinson, Buium, Parekh as reasonable targets. Who impacts the team the most?

 

[montreal]

It's mostly just Xhekaj and Beck but there is some draft stuff in there, Parekh, Vanacker (only 1 of his 3 goals is in the vid) plus 2 very interesting 16 year olds in Misa and O'Brien

 

[The Last Red]

Currently draft #6. Celebrini Lindstrom Levshunov Silayev Demidov presumably gone which leaves Catton, Iginla, Eiserman, Dickinson, Buium, Parekh as reasonable targets. Who impacts the team the most?

Eiserman (if he pans out) and Buium, IMO.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

I honestly think Fowler will be Habs future goalie. He's so consistent if you look at him historically. When you watch him play, not stylistically but impact wise he's reminiscent of Brodeur. He doesn't have the talent of a Roy, Hasek, or price but he's such a team friendly goalie. I don't think he'll ever win a Vezina but I bet he consistently makes top 10s throughout his career. But the one thing going for those two players is one gets Reinbacher and the other gets guhle

I like Fowler as well but there is little use in making meaningful projections with goalies this young. He could just as easily be a bust as he could be a legitimate #1 NHL goaltender. He could win a vezina and he could be a Hall of Famer but he could also be nothing at all.

Either way, putting both of Hutson and Parekh into your top four is likely only a winning formula for fantasy pools.

 

[le_sean]

Both Buium and Parekh are playing on extremely offensive teams and their numbers are inflated. Saginaw has 6 forwards who are over point per game and almost every time Parekh is on the ice he is surrounded by scorers. He is leading the team in scoring but that is partially due to the fact that he is simply on the ice more than the forwards and playing in a wide open system that allows him to essentially play as a rover/forward. I am not saying that these players should be dismissed just that there is important context to be considered that is being ignored by simply citing stats.

I am not at all convinced that Lindstrom will score more than Catton in the NHL as Catton is more skilled and has a higher IQ imo. Lindstrom may very well just be so much bigger and faster than his peers that he is capitalizing on an advantage that will be drastically minimized at the NHL level. I do like Lindstrom and it would be difficult to pass on him and take Catton but to just arbitrarily dismiss the very real possibility that Catton may end up being the better player is a mistake.

To refer to Marc Savard's NHL scoring as "ok" is ridiculous, he had consecutive seasons of 96 and 97 points and was on a 90+ pace the previous season as well as the following season if injuries didn't stop him. He finished in the top 10 in scoring 3 times and would have been 4 times if he didn't get hurt.

Parekh is leading his team in scoring by 20 points. Also note that they were all on the team last year with him and he’s the one that took by far the greatest leap forward. They are benefitting from him more than he is of them.

 

[The Last Red]

Currently draft #6. Celebrini Lindstrom Levshunov Silayev Demidov presumably gone which leaves Catton, Iginla, Eiserman, Dickinson, Buium, Parekh as reasonable targets. Who impacts the team the most?

Eiserman (if he pans out) and Buiim.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Forward heavy from a Habs perspective, I always bias my list toward the Habs.

What would be your list if you were to remove the Habs from the equation?

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

I like Fowler as well but there is little use in making meaningful projections with goalies this young. He could just as easily be a bust as he could be a legitimate #1 NHL goaltender. He could win a vezina and he could be a Hall of Famer but he could also be nothing at all.

Either way, putting both of Hutson and Parekh into your top four is likely only a winning formula for fantasy pools.

True. It's just hard to deny the offensive potential of them and the shutdown potential of Guhle and Reinbacher. Also there isn't much difference between him and mailloux defensively at the same age. Except I'm more confident that Parekh can develop that side better due to his great IQ