HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Estimated_Prophet]

I would like the Habs to draft a high end forward or a high end defenseman with the first first, and I want the Habs to keep the second first and pick another good prospect.

Can't argue with drafting good prospects but I will be very surprised to see Hughes make both of our first round picks. I don't have a dog in this fight as long as the picks or trade make sense.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

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

He didn't, that was a fake tweet

 

[WeThreeKings]

Pronman's latest podcast

• Significant gap between Celebrini and the next forward. Lindstrom, Catton and Demidov are the next names that he hears.
• Catton is his #2 ranked forward - dynamic skating skill combination, top player in the WHL, all around play just some size issues.
• Demidov - MVP junior league last year, best player again this year, extremely skilled, creative, good motor, not the biggest, powerful but inefficient and awkward skating
• Lindstrom - physical tools player, extremely fast, extremely physical, has a degree of offense but not to the level of Catton or Demidov.
• Some scouts might have Helenius, Tij Iginla or Eiserman there. But think they are below those 3.
• Comps Catton like Logan Cooley, draws a line between the two of them.
• Lindstrom is his toughest evaluation of the top prospects, the big concern is going to be sample size. Really really good for the first few months of the season, so much better than previously, then the season ends. If everyone's season ended at the same time, he'd be a top 5 pick. The players ranked around him have had a meteoric second half, so it pushes Lindstrom down the board. Would Lindstrom have continued the upward trajectory in his play? Hockey sense questions put those away in the first half, would they have crept back up? Hand injury extended into a back injury. If he has good enough hockey sense then he could be that Dylan Larkin for your team, but if not that, then he's more of a winger like a Kreider, Nichuskin, maybe Byfield. Some people he talk to that adore him, could be a superstar, and some who have reservations that would prefer Catton and/or Demidov.
• Cole Eiserman - Hard time lowering him than 13, some scouts have him lower than that. His playmaking isn't great but not bad. Doesn't think he's soft but doesn't have a super high motor. Gets to the inside, shows some physicality. Good skater not a great skater. Eiserman doesn't drive the bus. Cole Caufield drove the bus, Eiserman doesn't drive the bus the same way. Inconsistency from game to game. Hard time finding a player to play with him to get him going. Eiserman could compete his way into the top 10 in April but right now he isn't really in the top 10 of scouts around the league.
• Konsta Helenius - lot of success on a good liiga team, really skilled, competes well. Shown has as much offensive talent as Eiserman. What Helenius is doing against men is impressive. He's a center and he's competitive.
• Dickinson, Silayev, Yakemchuk, and Levshunov vs. Parekh & Buium - some might have Parekh in the top group, Buium some might have him in the top group. Some might have issues with Dickinsons offense. Some have issues with Yakemchuk's skating and counter point that Parekh might be the next Makar. Those 6 are going top 10, and the order that they go in is up for debate. Those 4 at the beginning check all the boxes and have had good seasons, and easy to envision them playing big minutes on a NHL team where Parekh and Buium have to be legit top powerplay guys to have success otherwise their minutes are going to be more guarded.
• Liam Greentree - Not in the top 10 territory, not really a play driver despite his great numbers, consistency issues. He's talented, excellent skills, makes plays, he's big, compete is fine, his skating is just ok. A lot of connection between him and Musty at the same age. To go to a top 10 he'd have to dominate the U18s at a very very high level because of the skating.
• Most polarizing prospect in the draft (outside of Connelly) mentions Yakemchuk and Eiserman. Iginla is a divisive player, some scouts adore him think he's better than Catton, think might be a top 5-6 pick in the draft and some scouts who don't think he is even a top 15 pick, average hockey sense, not an all around player. Could have a debate between Iginla and Eiserman as similar players. Charlie Elick is divisive, some absolutely hate him and have no time for him and some scouts who think he's a legit NHL defenseman because he has size and skating with physicality.
• Beckett Sennecke - fascinating player, grown on Pronman as the season has gone along. Toolkit really jumps out at you. Skating for a guy at his size jumps out immediately. High end puck handling skills, difficult plays at high tempos. Point production hasn't been amazing. Can be inconsistent with effort but not soft or lazy. Has a lot of talent and stands out in a consistent basis. Sees a guy who could pop in the NHL like a Jordan Kyrou. Would comp him to Rickard Rakell.

 

[Lockin17]

My hopes are ;
Habs first = Cayden Lindstrom
WPG first = Micheal Hage
2nd pick = Dean Letourneau

I would be willing to go up and grab these guys by trading some later rounds

WPG #26 + Barron to go up 3 or 4 spots and grab Hage
Same with 2nd pick : AVS #60 + 2 x 3rd 2024 to go up 10 to 15 spots and grab Letourneau.

 

[Sagikev]

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.

Yeah a guy that big scoring as much as he is is a guaranteed top 5. Warranted or not, GM's love those players. Somewhat same reasons why Silayev is going top 5 in most mock drafts (not a big fan of Silayev)

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Pronman's latest podcast

• Significant gap between Celebrini and the next forward. Lindstrom, Catton and Demidov are the next names that he hears.
• Catton is his #2 ranked forward - dynamic skating skill combination, top player in the WHL, all around play just some size issues.
• Demidov - MVP junior league last year, best player again this year, extremely skilled, creative, good motor, not the biggest, powerful but inefficient and awkward skating
• Lindstrom - physical tools player, extremely fast, extremely physical, has a degree of offense but not to the level of Catton or Demidov.
• Some scouts might have Helenius, Tij Iginla or Eiserman there. But think they are below those 3.
• Comps Catton like Logan Cooley, draws a line between the two of them.
• Lindstrom is his toughest evaluation of the top prospects, the big concern is going to be sample size. Really really good for the first few months of the season, so much better than previously, then the season ends. If everyone's season ended at the same time, he'd be a top 5 pick. The players ranked around him have had a meteoric second half, so it pushes Lindstrom down the board. Would Lindstrom have continued the upward trajectory in his play? Hockey sense questions put those away in the first half, would they have crept back up? Hand injury extended into a back injury. If he has good enough hockey sense then he could be that Dylan Larkin for your team, but if not that, then he's more of a winger like a Kreider, Nichuskin, maybe Byfield. Some people he talk to that adore him, could be a superstar, and some who have reservations that would prefer Catton and/or Demidov.
• Cole Eiserman - Hard time lowering him than 13, some scouts have him lower than that. His playmaking isn't great but not bad. Doesn't think he's soft but doesn't have a super high motor. Gets to the inside, shows some physicality. Good skater not a great skater. Eiserman doesn't drive the bus. Cole Caufield drove the bus, Eiserman doesn't drive the bus the same way. Inconsistency from game to game. Hard time finding a player to play with him to get him going. Eiserman could compete his way into the top 10 in April but right now he isn't really in the top 10 of scouts around the league.
• Konsta Helenius - lot of success on a good liiga team, really skilled, competes well. Shown has as much offensive talent as Eiserman. What Helenius is doing against men is impressive. He's a center and he's competitive.
• Dickinson, Silayev, Yakemchuk, and Levshunov vs. Parekh & Buium - some might have Parekh in the top group, Buium some might have him in the top group. Some might have issues with Dickinsons offense. Some have issues with Yakemchuk's skating and counter point that Parekh might be the next Makar. Those 6 are going top 10, and the order that they go in is up for debate. Those 4 at the beginning check all the boxes and have had good seasons, and easy to envision them playing big minutes on a NHL team where Parekh and Buium have to be legit top powerplay guys to have success otherwise their minutes are going to be more guarded.
• Liam Greentree - Not in the top 10 territory, not really a play driver despite his great numbers, consistency issues. He's talented, excellent skills, makes plays, he's big, compete is fine, his skating is just ok. A lot of connection between him and Musty at the same age. To go to a top 10 he'd have to dominate the U18s at a very very high level because of the skating.
• Most polarizing prospect in the draft (outside of Connelly) mentions Yakemchuk and Eiserman. Iginla is a divisive player, some scouts adore him think he's better than Catton, think might be a top 5-6 pick in the draft and some scouts who don't think he is even a top 15 pick, average hockey sense, not an all around player. Could have a debate between Iginla and Eiserman as similar players. Charlie Elick is divisive, some absolutely hate him and have no time for him and some scouts who think he's a legit NHL defenseman because he has size and skating with physicality.
• Beckett Sennecke - fascinating player, grown on Pronman as the season has gone along. Toolkit really jumps out at you. Skating for a guy at his size jumps out immediately. High end puck handling skills, difficult plays at high tempos. Point production hasn't been amazing. Can be inconsistent with effort but not soft or lazy. Has a lot of talent and stands out in a consistent basis. Sees a guy who could pop in the NHL like a Jordan Kyrou. Would comp him to Rickard Rakell.

Well, I've been on the Beckett Sennecke train since last summer. He does have a terrific skill set.

Montreal shouldn't look at D til 3rd round where we have 2 picks. First 3 picks all forwards, imo.

Catton's teammate Will McIsaac (RD) could be a good add in 3rd.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

AJ Spellacy - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of AJ Spellacy, 2006-02-24 Westlake, OH, USA USA. Most recently in the OHL with Windsor Spitfires. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Some good reads about him recently on the main board. Could be a good target later. Get a player with size that might be just a late bloomer skill wise.

25% of his goals are shorthanded.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

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.

I think HuGo would rather trade for a player coming off his ELC than an 18 year old. Maybe not cause it'd still be a good player but unless you're elite, age would probably play a huge factor

 

[HuGort]

My hopes are ;
Habs first = Cayden Lindstrom
WPG first = Micheal Hage
2nd pick = Dean Letourneau

I would be willing to go up and grab these guys by trading some later rounds

WPG #26 + Barron to go up 3 or 4 spots and grab Hage
Same with 2nd pick : AVS #60 + 2 x 3rd 2024 to go up 10 to 15 spots and grab Letourneau.

Parekh with our pick.
Luchanko or Surin with Jets pick.

 

[salbutera]

 

[The Last Red]

If we draft 7-9, it will be him or Iginla, even if Catton is available too.

 

[Goldenhands]

If we draft 7-9, it will be him or Iginla, even if Catton is available too.

Prepare yourself for Konsta Helenius,

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Prepare yourself for Konsta Helenius,

That would be such a mood killer especially after last year.

 

[SlafySZN]

Parekh with our pick.
Luchanko or Surin with Jets pick.

Surin will be gone before the jets pick. Pretty sure.

 

[HuGort]

If we draft 7-9, it will be him or Iginla, even if Catton is available too.

Catton it sounds like we not drafting him because of size

I hope we keep Jets pick and sign a UFA. But most saying he will trade it in a package.

 

[FrankMTL]

Iginla with a goal and an assist last night.

 

[Seb]

Prepare yourself for Konsta Helenius,

If he has your approval then I'm on board.

 

[skidcells]

Prepare yourself for Konsta Helenius,

Are you at all concerned about how his offensive game translates to the nhl? What is your output projection in the nhl?

 

[Garnet76]

Pronman's latest podcast

• Significant gap between Celebrini and the next forward. Lindstrom, Catton and Demidov are the next names that he hears.
• Catton is his #2 ranked forward - dynamic skating skill combination, top player in the WHL, all around play just some size issues.
• Demidov - MVP junior league last year, best player again this year, extremely skilled, creative, good motor, not the biggest, powerful but inefficient and awkward skating
• Lindstrom - physical tools player, extremely fast, extremely physical, has a degree of offense but not to the level of Catton or Demidov.
• Some scouts might have Helenius, Tij Iginla or Eiserman there. But think they are below those 3.
• Comps Catton like Logan Cooley, draws a line between the two of them.
• Lindstrom is his toughest evaluation of the top prospects, the big concern is going to be sample size. Really really good for the first few months of the season, so much better than previously, then the season ends. If everyone's season ended at the same time, he'd be a top 5 pick. The players ranked around him have had a meteoric second half, so it pushes Lindstrom down the board. Would Lindstrom have continued the upward trajectory in his play? Hockey sense questions put those away in the first half, would they have crept back up? Hand injury extended into a back injury. If he has good enough hockey sense then he could be that Dylan Larkin for your team, but if not that, then he's more of a winger like a Kreider, Nichuskin, maybe Byfield. Some people he talk to that adore him, could be a superstar, and some who have reservations that would prefer Catton and/or Demidov.
• Cole Eiserman - Hard time lowering him than 13, some scouts have him lower than that. His playmaking isn't great but not bad. Doesn't think he's soft but doesn't have a super high motor. Gets to the inside, shows some physicality. Good skater not a great skater. Eiserman doesn't drive the bus. Cole Caufield drove the bus, Eiserman doesn't drive the bus the same way. Inconsistency from game to game. Hard time finding a player to play with him to get him going. Eiserman could compete his way into the top 10 in April but right now he isn't really in the top 10 of scouts around the league.
• Konsta Helenius - lot of success on a good liiga team, really skilled, competes well. Shown has as much offensive talent as Eiserman. What Helenius is doing against men is impressive. He's a center and he's competitive.
• Dickinson, Silayev, Yakemchuk, and Levshunov vs. Parekh & Buium - some might have Parekh in the top group, Buium some might have him in the top group. Some might have issues with Dickinsons offense. Some have issues with Yakemchuk's skating and counter point that Parekh might be the next Makar. Those 6 are going top 10, and the order that they go in is up for debate. Those 4 at the beginning check all the boxes and have had good seasons, and easy to envision them playing big minutes on a NHL team where Parekh and Buium have to be legit top powerplay guys to have success otherwise their minutes are going to be more guarded.
• Liam Greentree - Not in the top 10 territory, not really a play driver despite his great numbers, consistency issues. He's talented, excellent skills, makes plays, he's big, compete is fine, his skating is just ok. A lot of connection between him and Musty at the same age. To go to a top 10 he'd have to dominate the U18s at a very very high level because of the skating.
• Most polarizing prospect in the draft (outside of Connelly) mentions Yakemchuk and Eiserman. Iginla is a divisive player, some scouts adore him think he's better than Catton, think might be a top 5-6 pick in the draft and some scouts who don't think he is even a top 15 pick, average hockey sense, not an all around player. Could have a debate between Iginla and Eiserman as similar players. Charlie Elick is divisive, some absolutely hate him and have no time for him and some scouts who think he's a legit NHL defenseman because he has size and skating with physicality.
• Beckett Sennecke - fascinating player, grown on Pronman as the season has gone along. Toolkit really jumps out at you. Skating for a guy at his size jumps out immediately. High end puck handling skills, difficult plays at high tempos. Point production hasn't been amazing. Can be inconsistent with effort but not soft or lazy. Has a lot of talent and stands out in a consistent basis. Sees a guy who could pop in the NHL like a Jordan Kyrou. Would comp him to Rickard Rakell.

Thank you for summarizing this for us!

 

[Sterling Archer]

I don’t know/think Eiserman will be there when Habs pick, but if he drops to us like Caufield did, they HAVE to take him and get Dach his sniper. Eiserman is a no brainer for me at 5-8.

 

[Jaynki]

My wife just gave me a reiki spiritual care and i thought about Celebrini all the f***ing way so if we win Celebrini thank my wife

 

[NekkiChiconey]

Very hot take: I'd be okay with picking Eiserman starting at 2.

He's probably going to end up between 8 and 11 on my list but, for the first time in 12 (?) years, I would trust our development team with that pick. Give me the extra-late birthday, 6'1 210lbs (eventually) generational goalscorer, and let him cook for a year at BU with guidance from Adam Nicholas and MSL.

I love Lindstrom, Catton and Demidov and, in a vacuum, they may be more impactful than Eiserman. Given the current makeup of our u24 core though, I would love to add elite goalscoring.

Caufield - Suzuki - Slaf
Eiserman - Dach - Roy

Could be absolutely dynamite as 1A/1B.

 

[Sterling Archer]

Very hot take: I'd be okay with picking Eiserman starting at 2.

He's probably going to end up between 8 and 11 on my list but, for the first time in 12 (?) years, I would trust our development team with that pick. Give me the extra-late birthday, 6'1 210lbs (eventually) generational goalscorer, and let him cook for a year at BU with guidance from Adam Nicholas and MSL.

I love Lindstrom, Catton and Demidov and, in a vacuum, they may be more impactful than Eiserman. Given the current makeup of our u24 core though, I would love to add elite goalscoring.

Caufield - Suzuki - Slaf
Eiserman - Dach - Roy

Could be absolutely dynamite as 1A/1B.

And if Roy not ready yet, drop in Newhook who's been on a tear now as well. Even more depth in the top 9. Also not sure if Eiserman makes the jump to the NHL next year but don't see how it would hurt him with MSL as his coach. He's performed damn near miracles on the young players we've added so far like Slaf, who he didn't want to send down so he could spend time with him personally.

 

[NekkiChiconey]

And if Roy not ready yet, drop in Newhook who's been on a tear now as well. Even more depth in the top 9. Also not sure if Eiserman makes the jump to the NHL next year but don't see how it would hurt him with MSL as his coach. He's performed damn near miracles on the young players we've added so far like Slaf, who he didn't want to send down so he could spend time with him personally.

I would send him to BU next year, he can score 30 there and it will do wonders for his overall game too. He still won't be 18 until August. Gives Roy time to get used to the league as well. That top-6 could be viable starting in 2025-2026.

Point is, I'm not scared of drafting a player who has elite skills but (fixeable) flaws, considering we have other forwards who are solid defensively and great forecheckers to cover for him and feed him prime scoring chances.

 

[Skip Bayless]

With Suz, Slaf and Dach, I'm more than willing to draft a guy who's a pure elite sniper who maybe lacks in other areas.

Caufield can be that guy, but having two of them would make us much more dangerous going forward.