HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[WeThreeKings]

The one thing they aren't going to do if they are trying to come out of a rebuild is trade an established young defenseman like Guhle to take Silayev who won't be here for 3 years and will have to develop in the NHL.

It's all moot anyway, the top 4 defenseman are going in the first 6 picks.

 

[le_sean]

But what if Dickinson or Silayev don't end up what Guhle is? Why not just trade that pick for a forward of similar age to Guhle?

I've seen a ton of Dickinson, and I am not so sure he will be better than Guhle. His pedigree is, but the finished product might not be. Haven't seen much of the Russian though.

That’s why we have scouts, they can determine that. But Dickinson quite a bit better than Guhle at the same age. Silayev is a tantalizing prospect, I’d love to see more of him

 

[Goalfield13]

For all we know we are picking 8th and the first 4-5 forwards are gone. What if Dickinson or Silayev falls to 8? I could easily see a scenario where we just take one then trade Guhle for a forward of a similar age. The priority of the scouts should always be BPA. Let the GM figure out what to do with a surplus of talent at one position. There’s no shortage of teams that are looking for young defenders.

I don't understand why anyone would want to trade Guhle. He has progressed well and looks like a top pairing D in the making. Why would we trade that away???

 

[le_sean]

The one thing they aren't going to do if they are trying to come out of a rebuild is trade an established young defenseman like Guhle to take Silayev who won't be here for 3 years and will have to develop in the NHL.

It's all moot anyway, the top 4 defenseman are going in the first 6 picks.

How are we ahead by picking a forward that is 3 years away? We have the LD to fill Guhle’s spot for the time being, we don’t have anyone in the pipeline to put in the Top 6 next year that makes an ounce of a difference.

 

[McGees]

Passing on Bobby Orr for D’Agostini is not smart. Drafting Mike Weaver instead of Selanne is also not how you build a team.



Just my 2 cents.

 

[le_sean]

I don't understand why anyone would want to trade Guhle. He has progressed well and looks like a top pairing D in the making. Why would we trade that away???

I don’t want to trade Guhle, I’m just saying I can see the justification for it.

There’s a surplus of LD. You’re not getting anything significant if you trade Harris or Engstrom. You will get a difference maker for Guhle. Meanwhile his spot can be taken by Xhekaj, Struble, Hutson, etc.

 

[Goalfield13]

Why not just keep Hutson and draft Iginla?

If we just keep Hutson, we can get a better forward with our top pick instead. That's the point.

 

[WeThreeKings]

How are we ahead by picking a forward that is 3 years away? We have the LD to fill Guhle’s spot for the time being, we don’t have anyone in the pipeline to put in the Top 6 next year that makes an ounce of a difference.

How are you ahead by removing your best young defenseman already established in the NHL for a guy who may or may not be better but will take 4-6 years to even get to where Guhle is now?

They're not gonna do that.

 

[Goalfield13]

I don’t want to trade Guhle, I’m just saying I can see the justification for it.

I would never consider it because we won' get equal value back. Guhle has a very good shot at being a top pair D. Not a sexy one, but reliable. It's very hard to draft and develop one of those outside the top 10. He's practically untouchable for me. Trade him for a forward and draft a bust or a lesser player on D and you have just set this rebuild back years.

 

[KevSkillz4]

I would take everyone in top 10 except Anton Silayev and I said the same thing in 2022, everyone except Connor freaking Geekie.

My targets so far if Habs don't W the lottery day and top 2 are Catton, Iginla, Dickinson and Buium.

If Habs pick one of them, it's a huge W for the rebuild to me.

I really like these players and I believe that they have very very huge potential.

I would be very happy with Eiserman, Leshunov or Parekh aswell.

Helenius, I don't know but @Goldenhands like him, soo maybe he is going to be a good one. So I'm going to be really fine if they decide to listen GoldenHands another year.

 

[Goalfield13]

How are you ahead by removing your best young defenseman already established in the NHL for a guy who may or may not be better but will take 4-6 years to even get to where Guhle is now?

They're not gonna do that.

People don't get how hard it is to develop D. It can take a long time, and Guhle already looks the part. The risk is way too high.

 

[le_sean]

How are you ahead by removing your best young defenseman already established in the NHL for a guy who may or may not be better but will take 4-6 years to even get to where Guhle is now?

They're not gonna do that.

You’re twisting the idea. You’re removing Guhle to add significant help on an offensively anemic team. The pick is insurance. Guys like Xhekaj, Struble, Harris, Hutson, Reinbacher can help fill the Guhle void more than Emil Heineman can fix the top 6.

People don't get how hard it is to develop D. It can take a long time, and Guhle already looks the part. The risk is way too high.

And playing it safe is how you stay the same mediocre franchise for the last 30 years.

 

[Goalfield13]

You’re twisting the idea. You’re removing Guhle to add significant help on an offensively anemic team. The pick is insurance. Guys like Xhekaj, Struble, Harris, Hutson, Reinbacher can help fill the Guhle void more than Emil Heineman can fix the top 6.


And playing it safe is how you stay the same mediocre franchise for the last 30 years.

Keeping a D prospect that has progressed super quickly and looks like a top pairing D is not playing it safe, it is just logical. It's called being successful with the pick. If he was a middling second pair D, sure. We have a chance to draft help with our first pick this year, so why not do that and keep the D that is leading our core right now? Trading a pick that hit to then roll the dice again just isn't smart, especially at the D position.

 

[Doublechin]

If Buium is Makar why isn’t he going 1OA or at least challenging Celebrini for the spot?

Did Makar go 1st?

 

[le_sean]

Keeping a D prospect that has progressed super quickly and looks like a top pairing D is not playing it safe, it is just logical. It's called being successful with the pick. If he was a middling second pair D, sure. We have a chance to draft help with our first pick this year, so why not do that and keep the D that is leading our core right now? Trading a pick that hit to then roll the dice again just isn't smart, especially at the D position.

He looks top pairing because he played well last night? Because he’s looked mediocre the 20 previous games.

Again, I like him, I don’t want him traded. I just see the value in it if the draft falls a certain way.

I see the appeal of adding a legit young Top 6 player to play with Dach next season. Then the Newhook line that is playing really well is your 3rd line. That’s a team that can make some noise.

 

[Goalfield13]

Did Makar go 1st?

Makar wasn't NHL Makar when he was picked. I think that is the point some of us are trying to make. How can anyone compare prospect Buium with NHL Makar when prospect Makar wasn't NHL Makar? That's called development, and no one can guarantee anything about any prospect when it comes to development curve unless they are a generational 1OA.

 

[Benstheman]

Did Makar go 1st?

What’s your point?

 

[Goalfield13]

He looks top pairing because he played well last night? Because he’s looked mediocre the 20 previous games.

Again, I like him, I don’t want him traded. I just see the value in it if the draft falls a certain way.

I see the appeal of adding a legit young Top 6 player to play with Dach next season. Then the Newhook line that is playing really well is your 3rd line. That’s a team that can make some noise.

There is a VERY high chance he is top pairing because he often looks the part at 22 y/o. How many D can you say that about that weren't drafted top 5? His development has been amazing.

 

[Trabdy2]

I really don't think Guhle is the piece we want to look at trading if we're looking to add up front. It creates a gaping hole that we'll probably be trying to fill for years. Plus, I think Guhle still has headroom in his development - he's going to get even better.

I don't think Xhekaj, Struble, Harris or Hutson are capable replacements for what Guhle brings. Also, if we try to draft a Dickinson to fill that hole, we're probably waiting like 4 years until he gives us what Guhle gives us today.

 

[Mrb1p]

You tell me? Why? He was obviously the most talented defenseman why he dropped to 4th overall?

AJHL, stature, teams love their big boys, no WJC exposure.

Also lets not forget that Makar just wasn't Makar in his draft year. He wasn't some generational can't miss prospect, even his D+1 wasn't "out of this world".

 

[le_sean]

I really don't think Guhle is the piece we want to look at trading if we're looking to add up front. It creates a gaping hole that we'll probably be trying to fill for years. Plus, I think Guhle still has headroom in his development - he's going to get even better.

I don't think Xhekaj, Struble, Harris or Hutson are capable replacements for what Guhle brings. Also, if we try to draft a Dickinson to fill that hole, we're probably waiting like 4 years until he gives us what Guhle gives us today.

I don’t get this 4 years idea (someone else even said 6 years). It took Guhle 2 years to make the NHL, and whoever we’d take in the Top 10 would be a better prospect than he was.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

AJHL, stature, teams love their big boys, no WJC exposure.

Also lets not forget that Makar just wasn't Makar in his draft year. He wasn't some generational can't miss prospect, even his D+1 wasn't "out of this world".

So would you select Buium above Macklin?

 

[Goalfield13]

I don’t get this 4 years idea (someone else even said 6 years). It took Guhle 2 years to make the NHL, and whoever we’d take in the Top 10 would be a better prospect than he was.

Maybe a better prospect, but who cares about that when current Guhle is much better than prospect Guhle? The guy is putting up huge TOI every game at 22 y/o. I know this is hockey's future here, but current status matters. The same goes for Hutson. The kid just needs to add some mass and he is very close to being ready. A bird in the hand is worth more than two in the bush, as they say.

 

[Mrb1p]

But what if Dickinson or Silayev don't end up what Guhle is? Why not just trade that pick for a forward of similar age to Guhle?

I've seen a ton of Dickinson, and I am not so sure he will be better than Guhle. His pedigree is, but the finished product might not be. Haven't seen much of the Russian though.

Trading Guhle is f***ing... Gets me f***ing... Guhle is ltierally the best D on this team as a 22 years old. He's insane, he's one of the best building blocks in the league. I don't understand how a player can be so underrated not only league wide, but by its own fan-base. Do people just not watch hockey?

There's also not many young 20ish years old that could be traded for a top 7 pick, I can't think of one Id want. Zegras but I don't want anything to do with him.

Passing on Bobby Orr for D’Agostini is not smart. Drafting Mike Weaver instead of Selanne is also not how you build a team.



Just my 2 cents.

The 2 cents is, draft BPA and worry about position later, don't draft to fill your roster, it's not the NFL.

So would you select Buium above Macklin?

No, but Id select him above pretty much everyone else /Demidov and maybe Levshunov.

The point isn't that Buium is Makar, its that we need to draft BPA. If we think Buium is gonna be a stud norris D, we shouldn't pass on him for some chance at a pretty good forward. Take Dickinson in the exercise if you want, or Silayev.

 

[le_sean]

Maybe a better prospect, but who cares about that when current Guhle is much better than prospect Guhle? The guy is putting up huge TOI every game at 22 y/o. I know this is hockey's future here, but current status matters. The same goes for Hutson. The kid just needs to add some mass and he is very close to being ready. A bird in the hand is worth more than two in the bush, as they say.

So then we have Hutson close to the NHL, Mailloux close, Reinbacher close, Engstrom close. All of a sudden there’s like 10 defenders fighting for 6 spots. Trading someone like Jordan Harris will just get you a mediocre 3rd liner that doesn’t move the needle. It’s the type of trade Bergevin did for a decade. It just doesn’t help a team whatsoever.