HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Kshahdoo]

Might wanna read the conversation before jumping in.



Eh no it really isn't anymore. The KHL is not what it was before which is why the point totals are higher in that league than you'd see historically.

Lol, KHL has actually become tougher, look at where CSKA was this season, and it basically had the same roster that won the league in previous seasons. The league has more players from NA and some great Russian youngsters instead of European old farts. So it's still tougher than AHL.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I’m always wary of drafting kids like Eiserman who drop in rankings throughout the year. Scouts are seeing red flags while he’s under more spotlight. Yeah he has an elite skill that is important to have - the shooting - but it’s just that, one skill. I’d rather not pick a heavily flawed player in the top 10. It’s basically the opposite of what they did in picking Slaf who had all of the tools but lacked production. You can develop that. Eiserman doesn’t seem to have the physical capabilities to do the same, maybe he can work on the mental part (drive, effort). Caufield, a sniper like Eiserman, always had the drive.

I asked this question to @JoelWarlord

Who is the best top 5 faller - Filip Forsberg?

Like it's very rare those guys make people pay.. Jakob Chychrun?

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Eiserman isn't overly special in that area, which is also why he’s dropping. Lindstrom, Iginla, Catton, MBN, Hemming, Chernyshov & Boisvert are all goal scorers nevermind the defensemen like Yakemchuk. Why would you draft a one dimensional goal scorer when other players bring that same value and more multi-faceted games.

Nobody has Eiserman’s shot. That’s the main reason.

It all comes down to if you think the other stuff can be taught and if he’s coachable. Being selfish on the ice is a concern. It reminds me of Marner. All the talent in the world but disappears when the games get tough. I’m sure lots of teams are worried about that.

There’s no doubt the guy can score though.

 

[le_sean]

I asked this question to @JoelWarlord

Who is the best top 5 faller - Filip Forsberg?

Like it's very rare those guys make people pay.. Jakob Chychrun?

It’s rare. And if I’m not mistaken, Forsberg didn’t drop in draft rankings, he just happened to slip in the draft. Chychrun dropped in draft rankings from what seemed like scouting fatigue (highly touted, but turned out a little vanilla).

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I asked this question to @JoelWarlord

Who is the best top 5 faller - Filip Forsberg?

Like it's very rare those guys make people pay.. Jakob Chychrun?

Mike Bossy? Cole Cailufield? Brett Hull…

 

[le_sean]

you might not like Eiserman (not a huge fan either) but his goal scoring is elite, you can't take that away from him.

No one is taking that away from him. Quite the opposite - we just wonder if he actually offers anything else.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Mike Bossy? Cole Cailufield? Brett Hull…

Cole Caufield was top 10 not 5.. I'm too young (but still old) to know about Bossy or Hull.

 

[SlafySZN]

Eiserman isn't overly special in that area, which is also why he’s dropping. Lindstrom, Iginla, Catton, MBN, Hemming, Chernyshov & Boisvert are all goal scorers nevermind the defensemen like Yakemchuk. Why would you draft a one dimensional goal scorer when other players bring that same value and more multi-faceted games.

There’s a difference between a guy like Eiserman who could score 50 goals + with his shot and guys you named.

 

[Shutdown]

No one is taking that away from him. Quite the opposite - we just wonder if he actually offers anything else.

i read the comment i replied to as saying that Eiserman wasn't overly special in his shooting abilities, which i think is wrong. it's at the very least the one thing he's got

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Nobody has Eiserman’s shot. That’s the main reason.

It all comes down to if you think the other stuff can be taught and if he’s coachable. Being selfish on the ice is a concern. It reminds me of Marner. All the talent in the world but disappears when the games get tough. I’m sure lots of teams are worried about that.

There’s no doubt the guy can score though.

I don't really care if he can't get to areas to use those skills, or can't have an impact in other areas of the ice. NHL is a way harder league to score in than junior is and there are a lot of players with "elite shooting" who bust. You need to bring a lot more than that, and he just doesn't.

The rest of his game is further below his competitors than the rest are below his shooting skills. Catton may never score 40 goals, but he'll set up more goals, play the PP, play the pk, etc.

Lindstrom may never score 40 goals, but he'll dominate the boards, the center of the ice, create layered offense and open up ice for other players.

I'd be truly surprised if we took Eiserman. I'd take one of the Ds before him, and pretty much every other forward ranked in top 10.

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

Most people on these boards said that KK was the better player vs Tkachuk at the time.

I would believe stat watchers believed that. Anyone who watched them would have seen the difference. KK couldn’t skate effectively. BT played a pro style game but didn’t have the points. I remember McGuire( who I take some and leave some with) saying he would choose BT in the upcoming draft while KK was ranked as high as 15th

 

[WeThreeKings]

I don't really care if he can't get to areas to use those skills, or can't have an impact in other areas of the ice. NHL is a way harder league to score in than junior is and there are a lot of players with "elite shooting" who bust. You need to bring a lot more than that, and he just doesn't.

The rest of his game is further below his competitors than the rest are below his shooting skills. Catton may never score 40 goals, but he'll set up more goals, play the PP, play the pk, etc.

Lindstrom may never score 40 goals, but he'll dominate the boards, the center of the ice, create layered offense and open up ice for other players.

I'd be truly surprised if we took Eiserman. I'd take one of the Ds before him, and pretty much every other forward ranked in top 10.

I think you'd see them take Iginla before Eiserman.. that's the profile they have traditionally liked, late riser, youngest in the draft, good bloodlines.

The question for me becomes how does Iginla relate to Catton and Helenius in their evaluation.

I don't think its a question for me that their forward board goes
Celebrini
Lindstrom
Demidov

 

[MarkovsKnee]

There’s a difference between a guy like Eiserman who could score 50 goals + with his shot and guys you named.

He doesn't bring enough to score 50 goals in the NHL. Players who do that are truly special. You're basically talking McDavid, Draisaitl, Ovechkin, Crosby, Matthews type level of players. Eiserman is not close to those players at all.

In order to score in NHL, you need to bring other factors into play other than a shot. Otherwise the D will just sit on you, check your stick, and box you out.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

I think you'd see them take Iginla before Eiserman.. that's the profile they have traditionally liked, late riser, youngest in the draft, good bloodlines.

The question for me becomes how does Iginla relate to Catton and Helenius in their evaluation.

I don't think its a question for me that their forward board goes
Celebrini
Lindstrom
Demidov

Pretty much mine too. I have Iginla & Catton next, and basically tied. That is a really difficult decision. Then Helenius. Eiserman isn't in my top 10.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Forsberg did not drop because of his poor compete at all, quite the opposite. People were questioning his offensive potential believe it or not and though he might just be a defensive forward with elite tools, also it was a very big surprise many thought he was top 5 talent.

 

[bcv]

He doesn't bring enough to score 50 goals in the NHL. Players who do that are truly special. You're basically talking McDavid, Draisaitl, Ovechkin, Crosby, Matthews type level of players. Eiserman is not close to those players at all.

In order to score in NHL, you need to bring other factors into play other than a shot. Otherwise the D will just sit on you, check your stick, and box you out.

I would agree if Eiserman hadn't shown the ability to do a lot more than just shooting. Will he be able to do it on a more consistant basis? That's the only thing we need the answer to and none of us has that information.

If we want to play the comparison game, Getzlaf dropped because people were questionning his compete level. He turned out alright..

 

[le_sean]

I think you'd see them take Iginla before Eiserman.. that's the profile they have traditionally liked, late riser, youngest in the draft, good bloodlines.

The question for me becomes how does Iginla relate to Catton and Helenius in their evaluation.

I don't think its a question for me that their forward board goes
Celebrini
Lindstrom
Demidov

Bobrov loves his Europeans and saw something in Slaf when he was in Liiga. I think there’s a good chance he has Helenius over those guys. The two-way game, the compete, and the ability to play both centre and wing are things that will likely entice the Habs.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Bobrov loves his Europeans and saw something in Slaf when he was in Liiga. I think there’s a good chance he has Helenius over those guys. The two-way game, the compete, and the ability to play both centre and wing are things that will likely entice the Habs.

I really hope not.. if it's true, Helenius better blow my nips off in the U18s because I just don't see any pop there. Don't want Bobrov to repeat Lias Andersson.

 

[le_sean]

Forsberg did not drop because of his poor compete at all, quite the opposite. People were questioning his offensive potential believe it or not and though he might just be a defensive forward with elite tools, also it was a very big surprise many thought he was top 5 talent.

Forsberg was a legit discussion at 3 for the Habs. Now everyone knew that they wanted a centre, but it was not out of the realm of possibilities that Forsberg would be taken there. It surprised everyone that Forsberg dropped. And then everyone laughed when he was eventually traded for Martin Erat.

 

[TheBuriedHab]

I would believe stat watchers believed that. Anyone who watched them would have seen the difference. KK couldn’t skate effectively. BT played a pro style game but didn’t have the points. I remember McGuire( who I take some and leave some with) saying he would choose BT in the upcoming draft while KK was ranked as high as 15th

Nah it wasn't just stat watching. If you watched KK at the U-18s he looked very good. I remember vs Sweden he looked dominant.

His problem though was his strength and conditioning. He would fade hard as the games went on and lacked strength. I thought those problems would resolve as he got older but they never did.

 

[SlafySZN]

I really hope not.. if it's true, Helenius better blow my nips off in the U18s because I just don't see any pop there. Don't want Bobrov to repeat Lias Andersson.

Gorton said just 2-3 days ago they know the importance to find skills. So i think it’s a pretty good indication of what they’re looking at.

Not that Helenius doesn’t have skills but we know what he meant, i think.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Cole Caufield was top 10 not 5.. I'm too young (but still old) to know about Bossy or Hull.

Caufield still fell. Bossy was passed on because they didn’t think he had a two way game. Hull - he was a slacker and had attitude issues.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I don't really care if he can't get to areas to use those skills, or can't have an impact in other areas of the ice. NHL is a way harder league to score in than junior is and there are a lot of players with "elite shooting" who bust. You need to bring a lot more than that, and he just doesn't.

The rest of his game is further below his competitors than the rest are below his shooting skills. Catton may never score 40 goals, but he'll set up more goals, play the PP, play the pk, etc.

Lindstrom may never score 40 goals, but he'll dominate the boards, the center of the ice, create layered offense and open up ice for other players.

I'd be truly surprised if we took Eiserman. I'd take one of the Ds before him, and pretty much every other forward ranked in top 10.

Totally fair comment. But guys with an elite shot have had great careers over the years.

He’s had one season where he was less than a goal per game since he was 12. A long track record of scoring. I think he came close to breaking CC’s record this year. I’ve got to think he’ll be able to score at the NHL level. The best predictor of future success is past performance.

But I totally get why people wouldn’t want to draft him. You want a guy with heart who will be there when you need it. I don’t know if he’ll ever be that kind of player.

He doesn't bring enough to score 50 goals in the NHL. Players who do that are truly special. You're basically talking McDavid, Draisaitl, Ovechkin, Crosby, Matthews type level of players. Eiserman is not close to those players at all.

In order to score in NHL, you need to bring other factors into play other than a shot. Otherwise the D will just sit on you, check your stick, and box you out.

Those things can be taught though. You can’t teach that shot. Brett Hull wasn’t as good a skater and probably didn’t have Eiserman’s physical tools. Wasn’t a two way player and wasn’t physical. But he could score like crazy.

The heart and character, that’s what scouts have to figure out. Does he smoke pot and play video games all day? Was he just so focused on the record that he let it get in the way of his play? Is he coachable?

 

[McGuires Corndog]

Those things can be taught though. You can’t teach that shot. Brett Hull wasn’t as good a skater and probably didn’t have Eiserman’s physical tools. But he could score like crazy.

The heart and character, that’s what scouts have to figure out. Does he smoke pot and play video games all day? Was he just so focused on the record that he let it get in the way of his play? Is he coachable?

I mean I dunno about pot and video games, but Kessel carved out a pretty good career on a Hot Dog and beer diet so I’m sure he endulged in other things

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I mean I dunno about pot and video games, but Kessel carved out a pretty good career on a Hot Dog and beer diet so I’m sure he endulged in other things

It’s amazing how good a player that guy was. I think all the fat must’ve gone to his face.