HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Mrb1p]

Defensive stalwart. Michkov could never.

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

I don't care, if the rumors are true and Nashville offered Askarov+picks for the 5th overall that was very stupid IMO to not take it. We would have the goaltender of the future at the perfect age and another pick to collect more assets.

Michkov or Reinbacher, it was never about the player but the value we could get from them.

Maybe it's just me that is very high on Askarov but IMO that trade would have speed up the rebuild process significantly.

IMO, you take the defensive pillar long before a goalie. 25 minute a night, mobile and really big RD are rare. It’s a logical pick for from a need and BPA perspective all things equal

 

[Mrb1p]

IMO, you take the defensive pillar long before a goalie. 25 minute a night, mobile and really big RD are rare. It’s a logical pick for from a need and BPA perspective all things equal

Yeah, Id take Reinbacher way before Askarov, whom I love too.

Wasn't the offer the 5th overall for their pick and Askarov though ? Theres no way any team entertains Askarov for this, especially a team that has Montambeault, Primeau, Dobes and enough picks to go after one of the prized goaltender in the 2nd and 3rd (Hrabal, Fowler, Clara, Yegorov, Gajan, Augustine, Millic, Zavragin, etc.)

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

For Chicago and San Jose I think it'll come down to their internal BPA's since their both so early into their respective rebuilds and have needs across the board. I don't know what to expect from Anaheim, but their forward core has been pretty underwhelming this season and is lead by a 30 year old Vatrano, so I wouldn't rule them out from taking a forward.

Anaheim was also dealing with injuries. Carlsson has missed a lot. So has Zegras. That’s a significant setback. With those two and Gauthier in ne t year, I see offence coming together. They have a need for another D stud though

Yeah, Id take Reinbacher way before Askarov, whom I love too.

Wasn't the offer the 5th overall for their pick and Askarov though ? Theres no way any team entertains Askarov for this, especially a team that has Montambeault, Primeau, Dobes and enough picks to go after one of the prized goaltender in the 2nd and 3rd (Hrabal, Fowler, Clara, Yegorov, Gajan, Augustine, Millic, Zavragin, etc.)

That’s exactly it. A top five talent will most likely not get traded for a goalie prospect. No matter how good they are. I’ll give it to Trotz, he has balls haha. I think people just need time to see Reinbacher. I’m super high on the kid ever since his WJC two years ago. Gonna be a stud. And we got Askari’s in Fowler anyways haha

 

[Leto]

I like the idea of Lindstrom. No idea if he's the best player after Celebrini.

The idea of adding another tall-skilled forward is highly appealing. Imagine deploying a ''big boys'' line made of Slafkovsky-Dach-Lindstrom.

That being said, it would pain me to skip Demidov if he is available.

 

[Mrb1p]

Anaheim was also dealing with injuries. Carlsson has missed a lot. So has Zegras. That’s a significant setback. With those two and Gauthier in ne t year, I see offence coming together. They have a need for another D stud though

Zegras isn't in their plans IMO, doesn't fit at all with what they've ben adding, and they just traded away his best friend. Zegras would probably be better off in a veteran team with a lot of skill guys. Carolina, Colorado, Boston. Someone skilled enough to show him he's not all that.

 

[JT3]

What a shot he has, though.

Still think this guy is super under-rated tbh, he had a slow start to the year and his draft stock hasn't seemed to recover from that yet. I think we will have a tier of forward above him available to us, but he's firmly in the Iginla, Helenius group for me. Would fit our forward core very well.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Still think this guy is super under-rated tbh, he had a slow start to the year and his draft stock hasn't seemed to recover from that yet. I think we will have a tier of forward above him available to us, but he's firmly in the Iginla, Helenius group for me. Would fit our forward core very well.

He's a guy that I think if he's there at 15 and the Jets pick is in the early/mid 20s, that they'll start calling teams offering a bundle of picks to try to jump up and grab him.

 

[Mrb1p]

Still think this guy is super under-rated tbh, he had a slow start to the year and his draft stock hasn't seemed to recover from that yet. I think we will have a tier of forward above him available to us, but he's firmly in the Iginla, Helenius group for me. Would fit our forward core very well.

Helenius and especially Iginla are just way more skilled. MBN is also almost a year older than Iggy too. You draft him for the physical package, but Iginla brings that AND skill.

 

[Andrei79]

McCagg was on sick Podcast tonight. Said if top 3 forwards are gone Habs likely taking right D. He's called the last 2 selections

I could definitely see this. I'm not sold on Mailloux's ability to be a top D. I think another high end guy to add to Guhles/Reinbacher would be great.

 

[JT3]

Helenius and especially Iginla are just way more skilled. MBN is also almost a year older than Iggy too. You draft him for the physical package, but Iginla brings that AND skill.

Don't necessarily disagree with any of that, although I've compared MBN to Landeskog, and while he wasn't necessarily as 'skilled' as some of the players around him that hasn't made him any less effective as a player.

MBN plays a different game than Iginla or Helenius, but I can see him being just as valuable in the NHL. I will say Iginla's development curve this season has been really impressive and if he can continue I can definitely see him having the higher ceiling, but I do think his physical/power game gets ever so slightly overblown because of people thinking of his dad.

Also not advocating for us to take MBN with our own 1st, it's not gonna happen, but I would have him firmly in the 8-12 range in my own rankings. I like his game a lot.

 

[JT3]

He's a guy that I think if he's there at 15 and the Jets pick is in the early/mid 20s, that they'll start calling teams offering a bundle of picks to try to jump up and grab him.

I'd be over the moon if that happened honestly, but I get the feeling scouts see a drop off in the late teens/early twenties, might be harder to trade up this year.

Still some really good targets in the mid twenties, based on current rankings Michael Hage and Beckett Sennecke two of my favorites, but I've got a strong feeling they may both end up in the teens when it's all said and done as well.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I'd be over the moon if that happened honestly, but I get the feeling scouts see a drop off in the late teens/early twenties, might be harder to trade up this year.

Still some really good targets in the mid twenties, based on current rankings Michael Hage and Beckett Sennecke two of my favorites, but I've got a strong feeling they may both end up in the teens when it's all said and done as well.

I like Hage, Sennecke, Boisvert and Letourneau.

 

[JT3]

I like Hage, Sennecke, Boisvert and Letourneau.

I've seen a bunch of you talking about Letourneau but haven't caught any of his games myself. May have to take a look.

 

[HuGort]

I could definitely see this. I'm not sold on Mailloux's ability to be a top D. I think another high end guy to add to Guhles/Reinbacher would be great.

I would focus on building a great defence. Especially given this draft stacked with top pairing D. I always like a great D

 

[_vivelequebec_]

If SJ wins the lottery
If Pittsburgh's first is 11th
If Parekh/Yakemchuk is still on board past 10

I'd trade Hutson for SJ/PIT 11th

 

[JeffreyLFC]

I watched footage of Hage and I am surprised there is not more hype for him.

 

[Runner77]

The idea of adding another tall-skilled forward is highly appealing. Imagine deploying a ''big boys'' line made of Slafkovsky-Dach-Lindstrom.

That being said, it would pain me to skip Demidov if he is available.

I’d welcome that dilemma over seeing the BPA at the Habs’ drafting slot be another D.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

I've seen a bunch of you talking about Letourneau but haven't caught any of his games myself. May have to take a look.

You're not going to be able to find much. He plays collegiate hockey in Canada, St. Andrew's College specifically. It's not a high level league. He probably drops to second round. Next year he'll play in USHL then go to Boston College the year after that (2025-2026). He's a long-term project.

 

[The Great Weal]

I could definitely see this. I'm not sold on Mailloux's ability to be a top D. I think another high end guy to add to Guhles/Reinbacher would be great.

I think the plan is to have Mailloux on the 2nd pair. But yes I don't mind drafting a dman, we don't have anyone that you'd feel confident about being a star #1 dman on a cup contender. The forward prospect sucks, but they have all graduated already. Suzuki/Slaf/Dach/Caufield/Roy/Newhook will be the offensive guys and the oldest one is Suzuki at 24 years old. I also don't see why we wouldn't trade for a top 6 forward using picks/prospects when we will compete.

 

[Mrb1p]

I think the plan is to have Mailloux on the 2nd pair. But yes I don't mind drafting a dman, we don't have anyone that you'd feel confident about being a star #1 dman on a cup contender. The forward prospect sucks, but they have all graduated already. Suzuki/Slaf/Dach/Caufield/Roy/Newhook will be the offensive guys and the oldest one is Suzuki at 24 years old. I also don't see why we wouldn't trade for a top 6 forward using picks/prospects when we will compete.

Guhle-Mailloux
Hutson-Reinbacher
Xhekaj-Struble/Harris/barron

The problem is gonna be the playoffs and matchups unless X and Struble can become that pair... Having both Hutson and Mailloux on two separate pairs is ... ugh.

I guess we could go full Hutson-Mailloux lol

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Alfons Freij is a great hockey name that popped up on my radar. Going to check him out at the U18s. Any opinions?

 

[skidcells]

Konsta Helenius with a 3 pt game today. Jukurit leading 4-2 in the 3rd.

 

[EveryDay]

Guhle-Mailloux
Hutson-Reinbacher
Xhekaj-Struble/Harris/barron

The problem is gonna be the playoffs and matchups unless X and Struble can become that pair... Having both Hutson and Mailloux on two separate pairs is ... ugh.

I guess we could go full Hutson-Mailloux lol

I'm suspecting that Engstrom will make it to the show as a 2nd pairing guy and if not Xhekaj could be.

Guhle-Reinbacher
Hutson-Engstrom
Xhekaj-Mailloux
Struble

Suspect that Barron and Harris will be traded.

 

[An0n]

I'm suspecting that Engstrom will make it to the show as a 2nd pairing guy and if not Xhekaj could be.

Guhle-Reinbacher
Hutson-Engstrom
Xhekaj-Mailloux

Struble-Barron

That's exactly how I view it. Loved the Xhekaj - Mailloux pairing in the A, they'll be a force together in the playoffs.