HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[The Gr8 Dane]

Lidstrom scares me a bit

 

[le_sean]

If Hughes takes Eiseman over Dickenson I'd say he's being dipping into the battery acid. Who's going to pass on #1 defenseman for second line forward because of need?

Yeah I can’t see him doing that either. I also don’t think Dickinson drops down to the Habs though.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Lidstrom scares me a bit

According to the scouts Bob Mackenzie spoke to: probably not a franchise center but an either a number one or strong number two.

 

[le_sean]

Everyone’s favourite scout, Grant McCagg, said a lot of scouts he’s talked to don’t even have Catton in their Top 10.

Now it’s Grant, so take it as it is, an old curmudgeon who likes to be grumpy for the sake of it. But I do see Catton lower on NHL lists, like Benson last year, Nazar the year before, etc. Just the way these GMs work.

 

[The Last Red]

Everyone’s favourite scout, Grant McCagg, said a lot of scouts he’s talked to don’t even have Catton in their Top 10.

Now it’s Grant, so take it as it is, an old curmudgeon who likes to be grumpy for the sake of it. But I do see Catton lower on NHL lists, like Benson last year, Nazar the year before, etc. Just the way these GMs work.

McCagg, FWIW, did correctly predict our last two top picks (Slaf and DR). And I don’t find him curmudgeonly at all. He’s actually quite monotone.

 

[le_sean]

McCagg, FWIW, did correctly predict our last two top picks (Slaf and DR). And I don’t find him grumpy at all. He’s actually quite monotone.

I did say it before that it’s simple to see based on Bobrov’s draft record that Catton will not be picked by the Habs. I am interested in seeing just how far he drops however.

 

[Seb]

McCagg, FWIW, did correctly predict our last two top picks (Slaf and DR). And I don’t find him grumpy at all. He’s actually quite monotone.

Pretty sure McCagg predicted all of Wright, Slafkovsky and Cooley at some point.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

McCagg is more smug than anything, it just sounds a lot harsher in written words.

I can completely buy the idea Catton will fall down boards purely on what he isn't, much like Benson. They are different players but the bias remains the same.

 

[KevSkillz4]

I'm very confident that Habs scouts have Tij Iginla very high. He is that type of player the direction want.

I'm more than fine picking him with that high pick, if Habs don't pick top 3.

I have Iginla high aswell, I think he will shine at NHL level, high potential, hard work like his father. He have great hockey IQ aswell. Great shooting ability. Great hands.

He will be a massive add for the rebuild. Even if I like Catton offensive potential more, Iginla will be a more complete player.

 

[MasterMatt25]

If we win the lottery we won’t have to worry about all of this

 

[Habs Icing]

According to the scouts Bob Mackenzie spoke to: probably not a franchise center but an either a number one or strong number two.

We have a franchise center (maybe two). Lindstrom can be simply a #1 playing on the third line.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

Who gets drafted first, Catton or Iginla?

 

[Habs Icing]

I did say it before that it’s simple to see based on Bobrov’s draft record that Catton will not be picked by the Habs. I am interested in seeing just how far he drops however.

Well, Bobrov was on the staff when they drafted Mesar (and Huston).

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Who gets drafted first, Catton or Iginla?

Catton.

 

[Whitesnake]

Your preferences here shouldn't offend anyone.
I'd like to talk with the person who thinks they can prove you wrong.
That is an impressive list no matter how things play out after Celebrini.
I see you aren't a Helenius aficionado.

Not a Helenius fan that much. I'll say this though....he's not appealing to me in that kind of exercice...but it doesn't mean he's a ND. He's top 15.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Who gets drafted first, Catton or Iginla?

Maybe Catton, maybe Iginla.

That's a tough choice, Catton have more offensive potential, but Iginla will likely to be more complete player at NHL level.

I will put my money on Iginla, but like my gambling skillz is bad so far in JackPotCity, I will put my money in beer in draft day and see what happens.

 

[sampollock]

A good thing about this draft. We get one of Catton, Buium, Dickinson, Parekh, Lindstrom or Ignila

LETS hope lindstrom

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

Who gets drafted first, Catton or Iginla?

They're close enough that teams will probably want to go with the slightly bigger guy, so Iginla.

 

[Draft]

McCagg, FWIW, did correctly predict our last two top picks (Slaf and DR). And I don’t find him curmudgeonly at all. He’s actually quite monotone.

The low opinion of McCagg comes from when he was a poster here. Interacting with others was not his strong suit.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

The low opinion of McCagg comes from when he was a poster here. Interacting with others was not his strong suit.

It's the holier than tho attitude otherwise known as being a smug individual. You see it when he talks to the snake on marinaros podcast. He's the smartest man in the room and people fail to grasp the correct take which is coincidentally his own

A good thing about this draft. We get one of Catton, Buium, Dickinson, Parekh, Lindstrom or Ignila

I much prefer this drafts projected top 6-10 over last year's

 

[BergevinBurner]

Assuming Demidov and Lindstrom are off the board at our pick then I wouldn't mind taking one of the defensemen there and then maybe look to package Winnipeg's pick+a defense prospect+ to move up into the early teens and grab one of Iginla/Catton/Eiserman/Helenius if they fall there. Walking away with one of those guys along with one of the top defensemen in this draft would be a wet dream.

Potentially a team heading into a rebuild would be open to a move like that if they're looking fill the cupboards (maybe a team like Pittsburgh).
I'd be willing to package Winnipeg's 1st, a young defenseman along the lines of Barron/Harris/Bogdan/Engstrom/etc... and our 2nd if it means we could move up for one of those forwards. We're in a position where we need quality over quantity so we might as well use some of our draft capital to move up.

 

[le_sean]

Well, Bobrov was on the staff when they drafted Mesar (and Huston).

Easier to take Mesar when you already took Slaf. Hutson doesn’t count, I’m talking 1st rounders. Especially high first rounders. The obvious track record is there. Add Lapointe to that mix too.

 

[le_sean]

This guy will also be taken higher than expected

 

[Nevins]

You want BPA. If Dickinson or Buium there at 8 you have to take them. Can trade one of our other D get instant top 6 forward. More sure of what you getting also. Drafting for need opens up Kotkaniemi type mistake. You are taking inferior player. Very seldom draft high in draft, never take inferior player. Skill you going to need.

I don't think there is a big difference in the evaluation of 2024 draft prospects between sixth and tenth position to prefer a defenseman ....Are you sure that Dickinson or Buium are going to be better than Catton, Lindstrom? No and no one can be...BPA is a gambling.

 

[SlafySZN]

Pretty sure McCagg predicted all of Wright, Slafkovsky and Cooley at some point.

Nope. He was always saying he would be surprised if Wright was their pick and Slaf was also always his pick for the habs despite the abuse he received.