HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[DiglettDangles]

I can't decide if this is Entry Draft or Trade talk material.
Thinking out of the box because "expect the unexpected"...

If:
- our post-lottery position is 5th-6th-7th-8th
- by the time we pick, Celebrini/Demidov/Lindstrom are gone
- for the sake of the argument, we don't want to draft a D

Do we:
- draft and develop Catton/Iginla/Helenius/Eiserman, or
- trade that pick in a package for Dvorsky?

I keep circling back to the fact that Dalibor (best name in the biz) just checks every box we would have for this year's pick.
Big, mobile, C/RW projectable on a winning top 6, LHS, very clutch, excellent D+1 season @1.7ppg in OHL (after a failed experiment in the worst SHL team), links with Slaf but even younger...
I know some people didn't like his ceiling last year, but was that recalibrated after his year on North American ice?

I'm looking at the Blues' depth charts and their D needs a boost. They're old and their prospects are long shots.
Adding Dickinson/Silayev/Yakemchuk/Buium/Parekh would accomplish something, and in the right order to kickstart their rebuild (D before F).

On the other hand, I don't hate their forward prospects (Snug, Stenberg, Neighbours) and Thomas/Kyrou are still young.
Think "selling high from a position of force" for the Blues.

Value wise, the Blues would get a higher pick than where they drafted DD, but that's moot since he is developing above expectations(?).
If they have a huge man-crush on (say) Silayev, maybe there's something.

Curious to hear mainly about your updated opinion on Dvorsky, and where you guys would put D+1 Dvorsky in comparison to this year's likely leftovers.

 

[vokiel]

I doubt Demidov is skipped passed pick #5. He seems to be the forward with the highest ceiling after Celibrini and if I'm not mistaken, his KHL deal is 1 year or below.

Silayev on the other hand, has 3 years minimum to go. Ceiling-wise it's not that high. He's still pretty shy offensively and his slappers are often blind. He needs work in the Dzone, and in general has a lot to work to do to get his toolkit NHL ready. Something teams won't be able to address before that 3 years period ends, unless they like risking getting arrested for spying.

 

[Hins77]

The real question is what to do they do if Lindstrom and Demidov is off the board.

Sure we can say historically size is part of their evaluation, with what short history we do have with this group.. but once Lindstrom is gone, the next top forwards are all pretty much not that big.. and Demidov himself isn't big either.

Catton is 5'11
Eiserman is an inch taller but plays softer and more perimeter
Helenius is also 5'11

That's it for top 10 rated forwards.

So, at a certain point the size factor isn't going to be there and none of their options play a heavy game. As much as I like MBN, I can't see them taking him at 6-8.

I don’t think Teams are gonna select Demidov in top 5 at the draft. 2 factors. Russia and MHL. Anyone knows why he didnt play in the VHL or KHL btw?
There is players without thoses risk and personnally, I think he is gonna be availlable as Michkov last year at 6 or 7th position

 

[WeThreeKings]

Not that it's worth much since it's obviously different from consensus, but in terms of my rankings the difference between MBN and 8th place would be roughly equivalent to the difference between Reimbacher and 5th last year. I wouldn't rule it out if they're determined to fill the hole at RW.

Except we know from noise around the combine and the draft that in actuality Reinbacher was seen as the 5th best prospect. If MBN gets that same bump, sure, as of right now he doesn't have that billing.

Iginla

Tij Iginla

Not a top 10 rated forward as of now.

 

[vokiel]

When I watch MBN shift by shift vid, the guy he reminds me of is Benoit Pouliot

 

[SlafySZN]

I don’t think Teams are gonna select Demidov in top 5 at the draft. 2 factors. Russia and MHL. Anyone knows why he didnt play in the VHL or KHL btw?
There is players without thoses risk and personnally, I think he is gonna be availlable as Michkov last year at 6 or 7th position

Because he has another year to his contract and he probably refuse to sign a contract extension with SKA because he wants to come to the NHL after his contract is up. Those teams doesn't care to help the development of players like Demidov if it doesn't benefit their teams.

 

[skidcells]

The real question is what to do they do if Lindstrom and Demidov is off the board.

Sure we can say historically size is part of their evaluation, with what short history we do have with this group.. but once Lindstrom is gone, the next top forwards are all pretty much not that big.. and Demidov himself isn't big either.

Catton is 5'11
Eiserman is an inch taller but plays softer and more perimeter
Helenius is also 5'11

That's it for top 10 rated forwards.

So, at a certain point the size factor isn't going to be there and none of their options play a heavy game. As much as I like MBN, I can't see them taking him at 6-8.

If Lindstrom and Demidov are gone then I agree with goldenhands they’ll pick one of helenius or iginla. It’s the archetype they like. Complete players with high compete levels.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Big difference in doing it in 154 games on a team that compete then in 60 games

Yes it was far easier for Eichel playing on a deeper team. Eichel should be putting up more than 80 pts/season.

 

[austin316]

The real question is what to do they do if Lindstrom and Demidov is off the board.

Sure we can say historically size is part of their evaluation, with what short history we do have with this group.. but once Lindstrom is gone, the next top forwards are all pretty much not that big.. and Demidov himself isn't big either.

Catton is 5'11
Eiserman is an inch taller but plays softer and more perimeter
Helenius is also 5'11

That's it for top 10 rated forwards.

So, at a certain point the size factor isn't going to be there and none of their options play a heavy game. As much as I like MBN, I can't see them taking him at 6-8.

If Lindstrom and Demidov are off the board I am taking Yakemchuk or Dickinson and solidifying our D for the next 10+ years.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Guys, we have a Suzuki thread for discussion on him. Please use it. This is the draft thread.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

It looks like pre-lottery we'll be 6th or 7th. As long as we don't fall back that's fine for this particular draft.

The really good news is it looks like Winnipeg could actually end up around #23. That puts it into Hage, Boisvert, Chernyshov, Hemming territory. It's also a better position to potentially move up from.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Chernyshov or Artamonov? Who do you guys prefer?

 

[vokiel]

Chernyshov or Artamonov? Who do you guys prefer?

Chernyshov. Don't think Artamonov is a first rounder. His compete is lower and I prefer Chernyshov's passing and shooting game. Artamonov's IQ is not very impressive from what I've seen, Chernyshov is at least average.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Chernyshov. Don't think Artamonov is a first rounder. His compete is lower and I prefer Chernyshov's passing and shooting game. Artamonov's IQ is not very impressive from what I've seen, Chernyshov is at least average.

Neither not impressed by them.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Chernyshov or Artamonov? Who do you guys prefer?

Chernyshov definitely. He might actually go top 15. It'll depend on the Russian factor, per usual.

 

[vokiel]

Neither not impressed by them.

Same for me, but the draft class is weak, so I'm even less impressed with the others in the 14-18 range. I have Yakemchuk there, I can't stop thinking he's just Douglas Murray in the making

 

[WeThreeKings]

If Lindstrom and Demidov are off the board I am taking Yakemchuk or Dickinson and solidifying our D for the next 10+ years.

Neither one of them will be on the board if we are picking at a spot where both those guys are gone, too. Dickinson especially.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Same for me, but the draft class is weak, so I'm even less impressed with the others in the 14-18 range. I have Yakemchuk there, I can't stop thinking he's just Douglas Murray in the making

I mean Yak is nothing like Murray. For starters, he can actually skate & shoot the puck.

 

[vokiel]

I mean Yak is nothing like Murray. For starters, he can actually skate & shoot the puck.

Really? Cause I've seen him carrying a piano.. He's heavy, it's obvious.

 

[Zilo44]

Parascak, Boisvert, Basha, Arty are all interesting guys with that Peg pick

 

[Lockin17]

Based on the current standings:

1. Sharks: Celebrini
2. Hawks: Demidov
3. Ducks: Levshunov
4. Jackets: Silayev
5. Senators: Parekh
6. Coyotes: Eiserman
7. Habs: Lindstrom
8. Kraken: Dickinson
9. Flames: Catton
10. Penguins: Buuim

i would take Catton over Lindstrom tbh

 

[Lockin17]

#7 = Catton
#25 = Parascak
#58 = Justin Poirier (local guy)
#71 = Simon Zether (RHC)
#79 = Luca Marrelli (RHD)

My wish ;-)

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

i would take Catton over Lindstrom tbh

I'm starting to lean that way too. I think Catton is my number 3 after Celebrini and Demidov

 

[Goldenhands]

Chernyshov definitely. He might actually go top 15. It'll depend on the Russian factor, per usual.

What do you think of Surin?

 

[badfish]

Do we:
- draft and develop Catton/Iginla/Helenius/Eiserman, or
- trade that pick in a package for Dvorsky?

I've been to a lot of Sudbury Wolves games this year, and will be attending the playoff games next week. I love Dvorsky. He's such a treat to watch. Very efficient and smart player. I'd be surprised if St. Louis would be willing to part with him for a 5-10 pick. I feel like there's a full extra year of 'certainty' with Dvorsky that you just don't have with a player in that 5-10 range, so why take the risk?