HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[SlafySZN]

This guy will also be taken higher than expected

Wouldn’t be surprised at all. I’m kinda shocked everytime i see him around 16-17 in lists. I think he goes higher.

 

[KevSkillz4]

The best news is that 6-12 range this year look very very solid to me. They have high potential.

The lottery day will be very important, Habs can draft #1, #2 aswell. If they draft in that range, we talk about Celebrini at 1. Demidov or Lindstrom at 2. (Demidov will likely be the pick, but Lindstrom profile is too good to pass, so that will be a great pick no matter what).

But in 6-12 range, will still talk about 1st line and top pairing D potential. A lot of high talent in that spot.

 

[JT3]

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

It's funny, last year we spent the year dreaming of winning the lottery and getting Bedard, this year everyone just seems resigned to picking in the 5-8 range and there's not a ton of Celebrini talk. Obviously Celebrini is not Bedard, but damn he would be a complete gamechanger for us.

Who gets drafted first, Catton or Iginla?

I'm gonna throw a hot take out and say Iginla does go higher. Not sure if that would be my choice, but GM's will love his overall package.

This guy will also be taken higher than expected

His hype has died down through the season but he's still one of my favorite prospects. he would fit like a glove in our top 6 and the way the Habs want to play. Probably be a little more comfortable picking him a couple slots lower than where we will end up though.

 

[KevSkillz4]

I'm gonna throw a hot take out and say Iginla does go higher. Not sure if that would be my choice, but GM's will love his overall package.

If Habs draft Catton or Iginla, I think everyone should be happy to add that type of talent in that roster.

 

[FrankMTL]

This is the Habs board...we do get offended fairly easily....

Just that I do against the consensus right now. I have maybe a bigger love than I should with Iginla. Just my type of player. I have some doubts about Lindstrom that makes me not pick him as high as most do. Just like I have with Silyaev who will be a NHL'er...just not sure he'll be 2-way as I wish a top 5 player would be.

Frankly though, this is the type of year that while I do have an insane love for Iginla, if for the Habs we end up picking Eiserman...I'll be fine. I'll be fine with a lot of players right now. Might even be fine with Chernyskhov albeit the russian factor.

Who you talking to? You talking to me?! You want some of this?!!

 

[Hannibal]

If Lindstrom ever drop to us, i’m willing to run butt naked around bell centre. I just don’t see him drop around 8th.

 

[Playmaker09]

Celebrini/Demidov/Lindstrom/Eiserman/Iginla/Catton

Buium/Levshunov/Yakemchuk/Silayev/Parekh/Dickinson

I'm good with drafting any of the forwards really.
As far as D go, even though I'm not crazy about any of them, if I had to pick the one with the highest chance of being a legit 1D it would be Zeev, though Yakemchuk probably has the highest ceiling.

 

[Pazucha]

Brandsegg-Nygard is only two months younger than Bedard (and three months younger than Dvorsky and not even 1 month younger than Juraj Pekarcik from a 2023 draft)

Not that it matters just a fun fact..

We sometimes automatically assume that there is a one year difference between two drafts when in reality sometimes it can be just a weeks.

 

[Mrb1p]

Youre sleeping on Iggy if hes not part of your top 10. Sorry.

Brandsegg-Nygard is only two months younger than Bedard (and three months younger than Dvorsky and not even 1 month younger than Juraj Pekarcik from a 2023 draft)

Not that it matters just a fun fact..

It matters.

 

[EveryDay]

It's funny, last year we spent the year dreaming of winning the lottery and getting Bedard, this year everyone just seems resigned to picking in the 5-8 range and there's not a ton of Celebrini talk. Obviously Celebrini is not Bedard, but damn he would be a complete gamechanger for us.

Celebrini would be awesone with this core!! Can't stop dreaming about this top6!

Newhook-Celebrini-Slafkovski
Caufield-Suzuki-Dach

 

[le_sean]

His hype has died down through the season but he's still one of my favorite prospects. he would fit like a glove in our top 6 and the way the Habs want to play. Probably be a little more comfortable picking him a couple slots lower than where we will end up though.

The only thing I don’t like is that he’s a real early birthday. But I thought he was great in the WJC considering the supporting cast he had. He’s basically a Norwegian Ryan Leonard who a lot of people wanted last season.

 

[The Last Red]

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

Yeah but he also said that Dylan Strome would be a better NHL player than McDavid.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Pronman also said most scouts he talked to didn't have Iginla in their top 10.

It's really only until we get to the combine where real sense of where people are and aren't becomes a bit more predictable but still not an exact science.

 

[BergevinBurner]

Pronman also said most scouts he talked to didn't have Iginla in their top 10.

It's really only until we get to the combine where real sense of where people are and aren't becomes a bit more predictable but still not an exact science.

Nearly every list I've seen(not including this thread) has had him sitting outside the top 10 as well. I'm convinced it's the PTSD from passing on Tkachuk and people are somewhat over valuing him because of that.

He plays a physical style in the WHL, but by no means is he a "large" player. When he makes the NHL he likely won't be as much of a physical force as some people are hoping.

 

[ginomini]

I'm curious to know opinions on Iginla vs Ryan Leonard.

Leonard was obviously more hyped up earlier, but I wouldn't be surprised if Iginla becomes consensus top 10 down the line.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

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

Imagine, he actually worked for the Habs and made a career out of his hockey opinions for ~30 years and he had to fight against constant trolls and cringey dunk attempts because he rightfully thought Michael McLeod was a good prospect

 

[TheBuriedHab]

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.

Not surprising at all.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I'm curious to know opinions on Iginla vs Ryan Leonard.

Leonard was obviously more hyped up earlier, but I wouldn't be surprised if Iginla becomes consensus top 10 down the line.

Leonard didn't really get the hype until the end of the year, he was a late riser. It's why I've learned to really keen in on what's going on at the end of the draft cycle otherwise you just go dizzy from variance until then.

 

[Habitant#1]

I'm hoping Lindstrom's injury leads to a lack of hype and he falls to us

 

[morhilane]

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 still talk to NHL scouts around hockey rinks.

It's also not the first time it is said NHL scouts aren't high on Catton and he was at #10 on last Bob's list update, so him losing a spot or two to raisers was always a possibility.

 

[HuGort]

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 seems close to Hughes though. Ie Slaf pick. I take it when Hughes drafting for need he may go size also. By way McCagg talks. First I heard of Surin though. Maybe trade down pick him? Similar to Nashville offer last year. Askarov, 15,24 for 5?

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Brandsegg-Nygard is only two months younger than Bedard (and three months younger than Dvorsky and not even 1 month younger than Juraj Pekarcik from a 2023 draft)

Not that it matters just a fun fact..

We sometimes automatically assume that there is a one year difference between two drafts when in reality sometimes it can be just a weeks.

This can 100% be a factor.

Funnily enough, MBN has already proven to be a much more effective Allsvenskan level player than Dvorsky at the same age. I don't care if he's several months younger than Carlsson, I was always befuddled whenever someone had Dvorsky ahead of the stud Swede.

 

[Takeru]

With all those OT points, gotta wish for some Rangers lottery luck for celebrini/demidov.
Seems like we're getting stuck outside the top6, hopefuly we'll identify the gamebreaker left, if any.

 

[SlafySZN]

 

[The Last Red]

The best news is that 6-12 range this year look very very solid to me. They have high potential.

The lottery day will be very important, Habs can draft #1, #2 aswell. If they draft in that range, we talk about Celebrini at 1. Demidov or Lindstrom at 2. (Demidov will likely be the pick, but Lindstrom profile is too good to pass, so that will be a great pick no matter what).

But in 6-12 range, will still talk about 1st line and top pairing D potential. A lot of high talent in that spot.

If the Habs draft 2nd, I can almost guaranty you that Lindstrom will be the pick, like 90% chance.