HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Playmaker09]

You mean Marner doesn't have a fifth of Catton's motor.

Lmao.

Catton doesn't skate unless the puck is on his stick, or about to be.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Catton doesn't have a fifth of Marner's motor. They're very different players.

Wow. If you are correct, I will be surprised if Catton is drafted before the 5th round.

 

[Playmaker09]

Wow. If you are correct, I will be surprised if Catton is drafted before the 5th round.

They perform different roles.

You're not comparing Catton to Marner, Marchand or Benson.
You're comparing him to Keller, Nylander, Perfetti, Nyquist, etc.

 

[Mrb1p]

They perform different roles.

You're not comparing Catton to Marner, Marchand or Benson.
You're comparing him to Keller, Nylander, Perfetti, Nyquist, etc.

Catton can compare to Marner, he doesnt to Benson and Marchand IMO. These two bring the same level of offense as all the others yet contribute in so many ways.

I do think Marner gets dunked on a bit too much around these parts though.

 

[Playmaker09]

Catton can compare to Marner, he doesnt to Benson and Marchand IMO. These two bring the same level of offense as all the others yet contribute in so many ways.

I do think Marner gets dunked on a bit too much around these parts though.

Marner is 2nd in the league in takeaways over the past 5 years, is averaging over 2 mins of SHTOI per game, is often F1 on retrievals, relentlessly pressures puck carriers. The only thing he doesn't do is drive the net like some others.

I know its fun to dunk on Leafs, but let's be real. Just be thankful that team has no idea how to deploy its personnel.

 

[Ozmodiar]

Marner is 2nd in the league in takeaways over the past 5 years, is averaging over 2 mins of SHTOI per game, is often F1 on retrievals, relentlessly pressures puck carriers. The only thing he doesn't do is drive the net like some others.

I know its fun to dunk on Leafs, but let's be real. Just be thankful that team has no idea how to deploy its personnel.

And 3rd in selke voting.

 

[sampollock]

Cayden Lindstrom
My pick for habs #1

 

[Mrb1p]

Marner is 2nd in the league in takeaways over the past 5 years, is averaging over 2 mins of SHTOI per game, is often F1 on retrievals, relentlessly pressures puck carriers. The only thing he doesn't do is drive the net like some others.

I know its fun to dunk on Leafs, but let's be real. Just be thankful that team has no idea how to deploy its personnel.

I know hes great mostly positionally and hes very responsible but these other two guys are that and hounds on the puck all over the ice and they play physical hockey. Marner plays defense like pacioretty did. Not bad at all, especially not when you produce 100+ pts.

Its pretty funny to see people say they wouldn't want a Marner with that pick lol. What utter BS.

 

[BergevinBurner]

Cayden Lindstrom
My pick for habs #1

I'm hoping he falls to our pick. I don't trust management to take Demidov, but I think they'd take Lindstrom at least.
He'd give us some much needed insurance down the middle, because going forward, if either Suzuki or Dach get injured long term then our season is dead in the water. We desperately need someone in the pipeline with 2C potential because if we don't get someone, then any given season would be 1 injury away from killing our playoff hopes lol.

 

[G0bias]

No, you're not crazy but I don't think the Habs will draft Catton. He's not going to supplant either Suzuki or Dach at center, so you're looking at a 5'11', maybe 175-180 lbs, wing? I just don't see HuGo being too interested in that. Sure, if he was a Patrick Kane level player . . . but he doesn't appear to be,

Way too simplistic way of looking at a prospect. One who could potentially drive his line from the wing. Demidov will be about that size in his prime (add 10-15 or so pounds maybe), they'd be incredibly dumb to skip on him just for that reason.

Mittlestadt was a twig too, so was Karlsson. Catton will be around Panarin, Kaprizov size. It's not enough to be that much of a dealbreaker.

 

[Mrb1p]

Instead of looking at size, look at overall fit. What do each potential draftees do that Habs need?

The first line is set. Its perfectly balenced as it is. We should think of it as more or less a given. Dach/Suzuki, Roy/Caufield and Dach/Slaf can be substituted in a way that makes this line work with a combination of 5 players.

The second line will most likely consist of Roy and Dach, with Caufield/Roy, Dach/Slaf or Dach/Suzuki being the substitutions.

The line is overloaded on playmaking, because Dach slants a lot towards playmaking and Roy is a + playmaker himself. Size is not a necessity. Roys slower feet and tendency to play the zone rather than the puck means this line needs
A) an at least adequate skater
B) and at least adequate puck retriever.
Dachs tendency to overpass gives us a shooting need.
C) at least an adequate shooting threat.

In that sense;
Demidov fills in all three, but mostly A and C.
Eiserman fits in a and C but doesnt fill B, which make him a bad pick.
Catton is much of the same. He gets A and C ++ marks, but is barely good enough for B.
Iginla and Lindstrom both get +++ marks on all needs.

This, and the obvious BPA conuundrum is how you make a selection, not based on some arbitrary number that makes a player small or not.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

For the more Q savvy folks out here, what's the skinny on Tomas Lavoie ? Seems like he had everything you could possibly ask for in a Dman prospect coming in. Is there still some upside there ? Is he just stuck in a bad program ? He's ranked 60-ish, could he be worth a late second/early third round pick ?

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

I would be be curious to know the % of success on bigger players vs smaller guys. In my opinion, the moment a player is undersized, he has a worse %. This is not a coincidence that all the top scorer in the AHL are sub 6 ft

I read a study a few years back that found two strong correlations for NHL success (measured by games played I think, but I can't actually remember). The two were points and size. Bigger players have an easier path to the NHL, on average.

 

[Mrb1p]

For the more Q savvy folks out here, what's the skinny on Tomas Lavoie ? Seems like he had everything you could possibly ask for in a Dman prospect coming in. Is there still some upside there ? Is he just stuck in a bad program ? He's ranked 60-ish, could he be worth a late second/early third round pick ?

Hasn't developped offensively much, but he's also asked a lot from his team IMO and it's pretty much deprived of talent. I'd say he's a good pick in the first early 2nd for sure. He has a good stick, good gap control, will play the right way, blocks shots. He does tunnel-vision and find himself in bad spots often.

Offensively, it's hard to see him not producing. He has a great shot. He has good vision. His hands aren't elite but theyre more than adequate, his fakes are very good.

I like Lavoie a lot and I'd be happy with him after the first round, id say. He's a very good gamble on size, and he's also very safe for his upside. He's not like Warren as a defensive specialist, he's more in line with Luneau skill-wise. I know I prefer him to Spencer Gill. (31 vs 21 points but look at the rest of the roster.)

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

Hasn't developped offensively much, but he's also asked a lot from his team IMO and it's pretty much deprived of talent. I'd say he's a good pick in the first early 2nd for sure. He has a good stick, good gap control, will play the right way, blocks shots. He does tunnel-vision and find himself in bad spots often.

Offensively, it's hard to see him not producing. He has a great shot. He has good vision. His hands aren't elite but theyre more than adequate, his fakes are very good.

I like Lavoie a lot and I'd be happy with him after the first round, id say. He's a very good gamble on size, and he's also very safe for his upside. He's not like Warren as a defensive specialist, he's more in line with Luneau skill-wise. I know I prefer him to Spencer Gill. (31 vs 21 points but look at the rest of the roster.)

He went 1st OV out of bantam if memory serves, so the natural tools have to be pretty good. I like it, he should be on our list. Feels like he's in a pretty bad program all around, very few pro players out of that team.

 

[Mrb1p]

He went 1st OV out of bantam if memory serves, so the natural tools have to be pretty good. I like it, he should be on our list.

Yep. Not too well-versed in the bantam drafts tho.

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

I would definitely consider Dickinson or Levshunov if they're available where we're picking (which they probably won't be), but talent being equal, you would have to go for the forward in this draft. Our forward prospect depth is sub-par for a rebuilding team.

Even Parekh, regardless of the issues he may have, he's on pace for 35 goals as a 17 year defenseman in the OHL....When was the last time a 17 year old defenseman scored 35 goals in the OHL?

Worst case you draft him and convert him to forward. His offensive IQ is insane

 

[sampollock]

Instead of looking at size, look at overall fit. What do each potential draftees do that Habs need?

The first line is set. Its perfectly balenced as it is. We should think of it as more or less a given. Dach/Suzuki, Roy/Caufield and Dach/Slaf can be substituted in a way that makes this line work with a combination of 5 players.

The second line will most likely consist of Roy and Dach, with Caufield/Roy, Dach/Slaf or Dach/Suzuki being the substitutions.

The line is overloaded on playmaking, because Dach slants a lot towards playmaking and Roy is a + playmaker himself. Size is not a necessity. Roys slower feet and tendency to play the zone rather than the puck means this line needs
A) an at least adequate skater
B) and at least adequate puck retriever.
Dachs tendency to overpass gives us a shooting need.
C) at least an adequate shooting threat.

In that sense;
Demidov fills in all three, but mostly A and C.
Eiserman fits in a and C but doesnt fill B, which make him a bad pick.
Catton is much of the same. He gets A and C ++ marks, but is barely good enough for B.
Iginla and Lindstrom both get +++ marks on all needs.

This, and the obvious BPA conuundrum is how you make a selection, not based on some arbitrary number that makes a player small or not.

Is the 1st line set?
Yes they are young, but are they a #1 line that leads a team?
We will see .
I say draft like you are building #1 line

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

Is the 1st line set?
Yes they are young, but are they a #1 line that leads a team?
We will see .
I say draft like you are building #1 line

I think the 1st line will look better than it is when they actually have backup on the middle 6 and especially the 2nd line. Even if the Habs land a top line talent this draft, I'd rather they play on the 2nd line with Dach if it's a fit as it would make the top 6 more competitive

 

[le_sean]

Is the 1st line set?
Yes they are young, but are they a #1 line that leads a team?
We will see .
I say draft like you are building #1 line

They are no worse than what the Blues had as a 1st line when they won the Cup. Bruins in 2011 too. It’s possible to win with them as your top trio, it’s just the other pieces would have to be in place.

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

first off. That takes courage to come right out and admit to that.

Secondly, not sure I can handle having
Tuch Mysak And Dickie playing on the same line

Brilliant

 

[WeThreeKings]

Names mentioned by Basu/Godin on their podcast last night were (with Celebrini off the table) Lindstrom and Demidov, then Eiserman and Catton.

They are pretty confident the Habs brass see this pick as their opportunity to add to their forward group.

 

[sampollock]

They are no worse than what the Blues had as a 1st line when they won the Cup. Bruins in 2011 too. It’s possible to win with them as your top trio, it’s just the other pieces would have to be in place.

good point.
if KH could (and will) build a solid 2nd scoring line, then the pressure is off the #1 line..
need 2 top lines with scoring , should help a lot

 

[The Last Red]

Names mentioned by Basu/Godin on their podcast last night were (with Celebrini off the table) Lindstrom and Demidov, then Eiserman and Catton.

They are pretty confident the Habs brass see this pick as their opportunity to add to their forward group.

That wokester, Basu, is always on top of things, isn’t he?

 

[WeThreeKings]

That wokester, Basu, is always on top of things, isn’t he?

They were the ones who were telling everyone it was Reinbacher or Leonard, and that they weren't interested in Michkov. Despite everyone and their dog wanting to believe it was some smokescreen and they would take Michkov.

He has contacts with the organization. Now we are a ways away from when that Intel becomes more solidified, but I doubt they'd routinely throw his name around if they had on good authority he wasn't a consideration.