HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Estimated_Prophet]

Helenius showing up big in the playoffs.

I feel he would be such a good piece to add. Of course of a potential gamebreaker like Demidov or Lindstrom is available, that is tough to pass... And I can see the argument for Catton even if I don't share that view yet.
I will be very happy with Helenius if it turns out that way.

Completely agree, the kid is an absolute warrior and has IQ for days. Underrated skills by too many posters, as I said before, he looks an awful lot like Suzuki did in his draft year with many of the same knocks. I suspect if he was playing in the CHL he would be showing off his hands more but he is in a professional league and is already playing a pro game and only flashing high end skill when it is needed and when it has a chance to work.

He is a little undersized but he throws his body around, wins puck battles against bigger, stronger men and goes to the dirty areas without hesitation. I think he is a slam dunk as a 2nd liner and has 1st line potential just like Suzuki has finally ascended to. I like all of Celebrini, Lindstrom, Demidov, Helenius, Iginla, Eisreman and Catton with our pick and would love if we could move up to take MBN or even Greentree as well.

I suspect we draft one of the first seven forwards that I listed and end up trading the WPG pick along with a young dman and possibly more to secure a top six forward with size and untapped potential. This would allow us to have all of Suzuki, Dach, Slaf, Caufield, Newhook, playerX from trade in the top six and have a 3rd line of Roy, Dvorak and Armia.

 

[Rapala]

Someone find me an exact replica of a TJ Oshie and then let's draft him FFS.

 

[skidcells]

Here’s my question. Are we drafting based on need or bpa? Surely some of the d are bpa at 4,5,6,7

 

[Andrei79]

Here’s my question. Are we drafting based on need or bpa? Surely some of the d are bpa at 4,5,6,7

Anyone they draft will fill a need.

 

[sampollock]

Here’s my question. Are we drafting based on need or bpa? Surely some of the d are bpa at 4,5,6,7

That's a problem we keep taking defense

 

[BergevinBurner]

Here’s my question. Are we drafting based on need or bpa? Surely some of the d are bpa at 4,5,6,7

It seems completely wide open after Celebrini. Everyone seems to rank the top defensemen in different orders and there's not much consensus on where guys like Demidov or Lindstrom should get placed among those defensemen.

If the teams internal scouts are as divided as the public scouts, then I could see a lot of the top teams drafting by need.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

It seems completely wide open after Celebrini. Everyone seems to rank the top defensemen in different orders and there's not much consensus on where guys like Demidov or Lindstrom should get placed among those defensemen.

If the teams internal scouts are as divided as the public scouts, then I could see a lot of the top teams drafting by need.

Agreed, there doesn't seem to be much consensus whatsoever between #2 and #8 which is why I think it doesn't mean much if we end up finishing pre lottery as high as 5th outside of increasing our odds and actually winning the lottery and taking Celebrini.

 

[Mrb1p]

Someone find me an exact replica of a TJ Oshie and then let's draft him FFS.

Thats Catton this draft. Maybe a bit more upside on Cattons end.

 

[Draft]

Dont think Lindstrom is a game breaker. Hes a physical package. Hes a lot like Cozens.

I don't see it, very different players in terms of style and how they use their size - and notable that Lindstrom's physical skills are a good notch above Cozens'. Same goes for Byfield who is notably less physical but a better playmaker. I don't think there's an easy comparable for Lindstrom currently in the NHL as he's very unique in what he can bring and has yet to disprove concerns that he's more than just the physical assets.

That being said, a prime Josh Anderson with great puck skills and an ability to read the play - while no longer remotely resembling Josh Anderson - could definitely be a game breaker.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Taking Helenius after this season would feel like winning a game show and being rewarded with an all inclusive trip to Brampton

 

[Mrb1p]

I don't see it, very different players in terms of style and how they use their size - and notable that Lindstrom's physical skills are a good notch above Cozens'. Same goes for Byfield who is notably less physical but a better playmaker. I don't think there's an easy comparable for Lindstrom currently in the NHL as he's very unique in what he can bring and has yet to disprove concerns that he's more than just the physical assets.

That being said, a prime Josh Anderson with great puck skills and an ability to read the play - while no longer remotely resembling Josh Anderson - could definitely be a game breaker.

You just described Cozens.

 

[Goldenhands]

I don't see it, very different players in terms of style and how they use their size - and notable that Lindstrom's physical skills are a good notch above Cozens'. Same goes for Byfield who is notably less physical but a better playmaker. I don't think there's an easy comparable for Lindstrom currently in the NHL as he's very unique in what he can bring and has yet to disprove concerns that he's more than just the physical assets.

That being said, a prime Josh Anderson with great puck skills and an ability to read the play - while no longer remotely resembling Josh Anderson - could definitely be a game breaker.

Best comparable for Lindstrom is Slafkovsky, both are power fowards with soft hands and a strong puck possession game. Of course, one play center, the other is a winger, but stylistically, they are pretty similar.

 

[BergevinBurner]

Taking Helenius after this season would feel like winning a game show and being rewarded with an all inclusive trip to Brampton

He feels like this year's Dvorsky. A fairly projectable center with 2C upside.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

He feels like this year's Dvorsky. A fairly projectable center with 2C upside.

We're at the stage where we need to be swinging for the fences on every pick, not taking fairly projectable players with 2nd line upside. Helenius is a fine player for a team that is on the margins of the playoffs and could add an extra piece, not for a team starved of offensive talent (which has been for almost 40 years)

 

[Goldenhands]

Taking Helenius after this season would feel like winning a game show and being rewarded with an all inclusive trip to Brampton

Care to explain why? You know he would be crushing the CHL right? Unlike Catton, Helenius plays like a center, he is physically much stronger and powerful, kid is crushing men in Liiga, he is a little bull out there, totally fearless.

 

[Mrb1p]

Best comparable for Lindstrom is Slafkovsky, both are power fowards with soft hands and a strong puck possession game. Of course, one play center, the other is a winger, but stylistically, they are pretty similar.

Hes a lot more north south than Slaf and he doesnt have his passing vision.

 

[BergevinBurner]

We're at the stage where we need to be swinging for the fences on every pick, not taking fairly projectable players with 2nd line upside. Helenius is a fine player for a team that is on the margins of the playoffs and could add an extra piece, not for a team starved of offensive talent (which has been for almost 40 years)

He wouldn't be my pick in the 5-7 range either, but he would give some insurance at center incase Dach/Suzuki go down.

I'm with you though, I'd be targetting guys with higher upside.

 

[Goldenhands]

Hes a lot more north south than Slaf and he doesnt have his passing vision.

From someone who thought Slaf had no vision and was a poor playmaker hehe...

 

[Mrb1p]

From someone who thought Slaf had no vision and was a poor playmaker hehe...

I literally never said so. Its basically the only thing hes showed on a consistent basis?

 

[Goldenhands]

I literally never said so. Its basically the only thing hes showed on a consistent basis?

What were you reffering to when calling him a low IQ player?

 

[Mrb1p]

What were you reffering to when calling him a low IQ player?

Vision =/= IQ.

He still routinely displays he doesnt have the highest IQ. He has excellent vision, always had.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Care to explain why? You know he would be crushing the CHL right? Unlike Catton, Helenius plays like a center, he is physically much stronger and powerful, kid is crushing men in Liiga, he is a little bull out there, totally fearless.

The argument of playing against men doesn't do much for me when we've got two guys from the same draft in the system which you could have made the same arguments for and against at the time. One was picked 7th and one 13th in the same draft, one played well against men and was seen in much the same way as Helenius is at the time, the other was undersized with mediocre skating and crushed the CHL, who most critics thought would be a winger.

Vision =/= IQ.

He still routinely displays he doesnt have the highest IQ. He has excellent vision, always had.

Yep. I always go to Ryan Merkley for this: incredible vision, terrible decision making.

 

[Draft]

Best comparable for Lindstrom is Slafkovsky, both are power fowards with soft hands and a strong puck possession game. Of course, one play center, the other is a winger, but stylistically, they are pretty similar.

I feel like Slaf plays a heavier, slower game - neither being criticisms - and is more geared toward being a playmaker. Lindstrom not quite as strong once the play slows down and not as adept at bringing the puck in off the wall, but a better puck carrier and stronger off the rush.

You just described Cozens.

Nah, not really. Cozens engages with the game in a different way. There are lots of players that are big and handle the puck and skate well, that's not what I'm getting at.

 

[Mrb1p]

The argument of playing against men doesn't do much for me when we've got two guys from the same draft in the system which you could have made the same arguments for and against at the time. One was picked 7th and one 13th in the same draft, one played well against men and was seen in much the same way as Helenius is at the time, the other was undersized with mediocre skating and crushed the CHL, who most critics thought would be a winger.


Yep. I always go to Ryan Merkley for this: incredible vision, terrible decision making.

Drouin is one thats close to home too.

I do think Slaf is better than those though, its pretty obvious. I still dojt know if hockey IQ/processing/understanding/decision making can get much better but I sure hope so because hed be incredible.

 

[Mrb1p]

I feel like Slaf plays a heavier, slower game - neither being criticisms - and is more geared toward being a playmaker. Lindstrom not quite as strong once the play slows down and not as adept at bringing the puck in off the wall, but a better puck carrier and stronger off the rush.

Nah, not really. Cozens engages with the game in a different way. There are lots of players that are big and handle the puck and skate well, that's not what I'm getting at.

Elite speed, shot and size. North south player that pushes the play physically, suspect IQ and play making but decent enough. Great board play and inside driven.

Thats things that you can apply to both players. Of course, Cozens has lost a lot of that physical edge in the NHL but he terrorized the W for some time.