HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[le_sean]

Blood lines mean squat..

Maybe brothers means squat but if you’re a kid and grew up around the game and learn from your HOF level dad, I could see it making a difference.

I mean you have Xhekaj praising David Savard and what he means to his development. Imagine getting that type of guidance, daily, from the age of 4 from a far superior player.

It’s not some coincidence that the Tkachuks play exactly like their dad. He probably drilled that into their heads all of their lives. Iginla was even better, worked harder and had a far bigger impact in the NHL.

 

[The Last Red]

Blood lines mean squat..

Given that athletic genes have been identified, I can't agree with statement. I wouldn't draft him just due to his bloodlines, but they are a factor to consider among many.

 

[Goalfield13]

The majority of the board was warned they just didn't want to believe it. I was trying to tell people for weeks after the combine that they weren't taking Michkov but people wanted to cope and think it was a smokescreen, which made such little sense that they couldn't appropriately defend that thought.

I'd take Catton well ahead of trading for Zegras. Not only do I like Catton more as a player, but you aren't taking on Zegras' contract and having to make a decision on the long term investment so soon on a player of that ilk.




If Levshunov is gone, I think Anaheim would take Yakemchuk.

It's funny how there is all this talk about Catton's size when he is brought up. I thought the player was like 5'8" 150 lbs because of this, and then I look it up, and he is 5'11" 170 lbs. That is exactly the same as Demidov, who no one says is small (they just bring up his lack of defensive effort and garbage competition). Kinda weird. Catton has great stats and would fit this team like a glove.

 

[WeThreeKings]

It's funny how there is all this talk about Catton's size when he is brought up. I thought the player was like 5'8" 150 lbs because of this, and then I look it up, and he is 5'11" 170 lbs. That is exactly the same as Demidov, who no one says is small (they just bring up his lack of defensive effort and garbage competition). Kinda weird. Catton has great stats and would fit this team like a glove.

After everyone slitting their wrists we didn't take Cooley, or Smith, or Leonard, or Michkov.. we are suddenly not able to consider Catton because he's too small.

 

[Jaynki]

Hot takes : Out of Iginla, Demidov, Eiserman, Lindstrom and Catton.

I would choose Iginla.

I would be ecstatic with any of these 5 and all of them have major ceilings and things going for them.

I simply think Tij is such an obvious, can't miss pick. He already plays a pro game, has nice athleticism and i love his goalscoring acuity. I think he display a lot of IQ. I also think he has the bulldog style of his father. I think all other four players have more raw skill than him but i prefer the overall package that Tij brings to the table and i think he is an obvious top six 30 goal scorer with intangibles.

The real dealbreaker here is gonna be the interview process tho.

 

[Jaynki]

After everyone slitting their wrists we didn't take Cooley, or Smith, or Leonard, or Michkov.. we are suddenly not able to consider Catton because he's too small.

Imagine not taking a guy who has 50goals and 56 assist in 64 games (!!!) and who display major offensive tools and who simply carry his weak team on his shoulder because he is 5'11 and 170lbs at 17yo.

 

[The Last Red]

Hot takes : Out of Iginla, Demidov, Eiserman, Lindstrom and Catton.

I would choose Iginla.

I would be ecstatic with any of these 5 and all of them have major ceilings and things going for them.

I simply think Tij is such an obvious, can't miss pick. He already plays a pro game, has nice athleticism and i love his goalscoring acuity. I think he display a lot of IQ. I also think he has the bulldog style of his father. I think all other four players have more raw skill than him but i prefer the overall package that Tij brings to the table and i think he is an obvious top six 30 goal scorer with intangibles.

The real dealbreaker here is gonna be the interview process tho.

Just no Helenius, please. I’m sure he’ll be a good NHL player but I have no interest in using a top 10 pick on him.

 

[Trabdy2]

Lehkonen is 5'11" 180, and succeeds at playing a game style that is much more physically demanding than Catton's game. I'm not concerned about size in terms of Catton's ability to succeed in the NHL. Plus, Catton will fill out a bit from his 170 lbs.

The transition to the NHL is going to be a lot more about developing pro habits/maturity for Catton, which is something virtually every prospect will need to do to make the NHL (to a greater or lesser extent).

 

[The Last Red]

Imagine not taking a guy who has 50goals and 56 assist in 64 games (!!!) and who display major offensive tools and who simply carry his weak team on his shoulder because he is 5'11 and 170lbs at 17yo.

I can imagine it because that doesn’t mean he’ll be a huge scorer in the NHL. You have to consider how his game will translate in the NHL. Plenty of big junior scorers did not much in the NHL. Daigle comes to mind just off the top of my head.

 

[teamfirst]

Buium rookie year in college had more points than Quinn Hughes's rookie year in college. Hughes went 7th, Buium slated to go around same. Could be steal of draft.

The kid was good at WJC also, NCAA kid, would not be surprise if he's our pick

 

[WeThreeKings]

I can imagine it because that doesn’t mean he’ll be a huge scorer in the NHL. You have to consider how his game will translate in the NHL. Plenty of big junior scorers did not much in the NHL. Daigle comes to mind just off the top of my head.

Good thing the way he produces offense is generally a way to do it at the NHL level.

He scores his goals from inside the dots, his playmaking are off pro reads. He isn't Jonathan Drouining everyone and scoring, he's a great handler of the puck but he's not a 1 on 1 fiend, he creates separation using agility, edges and smarts, not from taking advantage of junior defenseman on junior level moves.

 

[The Last Red]

Good thing the way he produces offense is generally a way to do it at the NHL level.

He scores his goals from inside the dots, his playmaking are off pro reads. He isn't Jonathan Drouining everyone and scoring, he's a great handler of the puck but he's not a 1 on 1 fiend, he creates separation using agility, edges and smarts, not from taking advantage of junior defenseman on junior level moves.

I will gladly accept your assessment of him as I’ve only seen a few highlights of him. Hockey scouting is all about projecting what these kids will look like 5 years down the road. If it was just about looking at junior stats, we could all be be NHL scouts.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I will gladly accept your assessment of him as I’ve only seen a few highlights of him. Hockey scouting is all about projecting what these kids will look like 5 years down the road. If it was just about looking at junior stats, we could all be be NHL scouts.

Definitely - I'm just saying there are guys where you can question it and guys you still have to question but also not just look at the height/weight.

Players like Catton can and do succeed in the NHL. If he played like Gilbert Brule, I'd be more worried.. but he plays a style that is employed by the Hughes, Stutzle's etc. of the world.

 

[Jaynki]

Just no Helenius, please. I’m sure he’ll be a good NHL player but I have no interest in using a top 10 pick on him.

agree

 

[HuGort]

The kid was good at WJC also, NCAA kid, would not be surprise if he's our pick

A bigger, better Quinn Hughes, nobody be disappointed

 

[Goalfield13]

After everyone slitting their wrists we didn't take Cooley, or Smith, or Leonard, or Michkov.. we are suddenly not able to consider Catton because he's too small.

I think I would take Catton over all those names, TBH.

 

[SlafySZN]

A bigger, better Quinn Hughes, nobody be disappointed

Better? I highly doubt it lol

 

[Goalfield13]

Definitely - I'm just saying there are guys where you can question it and guys you still have to question but also not just look at the height/weight.

Players like Catton can and do succeed in the NHL. If he played like Gilbert Brule, I'd be more worried.. but he plays a style that is employed by the Hughes, Stutzle's etc. of the world.

Of course guys like Catton can succeed. Crosby is 5'11" 200 lbs. Funny thing is, Newhook is also that size, but people call him small but not Crosby. This is a more than adequate size for a forward. Suzuki is even bigger at 210 lbs. That's beast. Catton has time to put on the lbs.

 

[Jaynki]

Size is important in the concept of a team.

It is much less important when singularly looking at one player.

In my humble opinion.

Tampa Bay for example won cups with many small but star forward. But it was a big team.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

Of course guys like Catton can succeed. Crosby is 5'11" 200 lbs. Funny thing is, Newhook is also that size, but people call him small but not Crosby. This is a more than adequate size for a forward. Suzuki is even bigger at 210 lbs. That's beast. Catton has time to put on the lbs.

Thank you! Elias Petterson is 6'2 but 170 lbs. I personally think Suzuki is bigger than him. 3 inches less but 40 lbs more. Height gets so overblown. Yes if you Ovechkin, height matters but if you're like Petterson, the few inches aren't a huge factor

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

Better for the Habs if teams are hesitant to take Lindstrom. Adding another big body like that would really set the team up nicely. Then you can play with the lines and see who works best with who without worrying about being too small.

Or you could really f*** with teams and put him with Slafkovsky and Dach

Imagine the cycle game with those three?!?!

Thank you! Elias Petterson is 6'2 but 170 lbs. I personally think Suzuki is bigger than him. 3 inches less but 40 lbs more. Height gets so overblown. Yes if you Ovechkin, height matters but if you're like Petterson, the few inches aren't a huge factor

 

[Hins77]

Of course guys like Catton can succeed. Crosby is 5'11" 200 lbs. Funny thing is, Newhook is also that size, but people call him small but not Crosby. This is a more than adequate size for a forward. Suzuki is even bigger at 210 lbs. That's beast. Catton has time to put on the lbs.

Sure, but I read on Suzuki Draft year, he was 5ft 11, 183 pounds. He is now at 210. Catton is at 163 pounds. I don’t think he is gonna reach Suzuki weight, but sure he will get bigger

 

[Lockin17]

Dean Letourneau with WPG pick would be great.

 

[le_sean]

Better? I highly doubt it lol

He’s had a better draft year than Hughes did. Whether he follows the same trajectory is a different discussion, but at 17/18 years old, yeah, Buium is better

 

[Nevins]

Berkly Catton scouting report.