HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[McGuires Corndog]

I wouldn't be surprised if Lindstrom falls to the back half of the top 10 or even out of it if teams are truly concerned about his health.

Back in 2017, Vilardi was ranked 5th on average across 12 publications but because of health concerns he dropped to 11th.

Back issues are no joke, especially in big/tall individuals which Lindstrom is.

If I’m Hughes this weighs heavily into my decision to draft him.

 

[HuGort]

Who do you guys take if we win the 2OA lottery?

Demidov?
Lindstrom?
Levshunov?
Other?

I would trade down to around 7-8. Pick up top 6 forward and draft Catton or Ignila.

 

[BergevinBurner]

I can't wait for the U18's and Worlds to roll around and shakeup everyone's lists lol.

With as close/competitive of a pack we have from 2 to ~10, I have a feeling that stretch will play a pretty important role in finalizing a lot of lists.

 

[badfish]

I was at the Sudbury Wolves game last night, watching Nathan Villeneuve (ranked 2nd or 3rd round). He was giving me Tom Wilson vibes. It was a pretty rough game all around, multiple 5 minute majors handed out for intent to injur, but Villeneuve was in there like a dirty shirt. I think he had 3 roughing penalties total, one of them he had his gloves off and was starting to pound a guy who had taken a cheap shot on him but the other guy wouldn't drop the gloves with him. Was physical all game with a couple of good hits. He played well offensively too, but didn't find the scoresheet. I think he will explode offensively next year.

There were a few firsts for me at this game. Sudbury had essentially a 5 minute long 5 on 3 powerplay because Mississauga took two 5 minute misconduct penalties 10 seconds apart. They had to review what seemed like almost every single goal, including some offside challenges, which pushed the end of the game until after 10 PM despite not going to OT. With 3 minutes left someone threw a dead trout onto the ice. All in all a very entertaining game.

 

[Mrb1p]

Who do you guys take if we win the 2OA lottery?

Demidov?
Lindstrom?
Levshunov?
Other?

Demidov or trade back to 5 and pick Iginla. Or even, just pick Iginla.

I have to say, having gotten to sit down and look at more games lately, Iginla has really solidified his spot for me in the past two weeks. He's been killing it in the playoffs so far and with how young he is and how mature his attitude seems to be, this kid has everything we seem to want in our young core. I'd be real comfortable with him as our early first pick and I could even live with trading up to get him if we fear he might be gone just before our spot. I'm that high on him. He's in a great program too, Kelowna has been one of the best NHL pipeline for 20+ years now.

I fail to see how he's not higher on lists. It's like he can't shake the reputation he had last year of being a "grinder". He's been on an absolute tear and the growth from this year to last is actually incredible.

 

[le_sean]

Woof, Catton. If this is how he is in the WHL playoffs, I can’t imagine what he’s like in the NHL playoffs.

 

[sampollock]

draft can't come soon enough this spring will be boring no playoffs for the CH

 

[The Last Red]

Eiserman or Iginla are both good options

FWIW, Button and McGuire think we'll draft Eiserman (assuming we're in the 6-9 range). I'm fine with either at 6-9, no Catton or Helenius, please. I would take Demidov at 2 IF there are legit. concerns about Lindstrom's back.

 

[Weber Fan]

Woof, Catton. If this is how he is in the WHL playoffs, I can’t imagine what he’s like in the NHL playoffs.

He was named the second star in the game yesterday...

 

[BergevinBurner]

Woof, Catton. If this is how he is in the WHL playoffs, I can’t imagine what he’s like in the NHL playoffs.

I wouldn't read too much into it.
He's essentially running a 1 man show in Spokane, and it was the 8th seed vs the 1st seed.

Draisaitl only put up 3 points in 4 games in the WHL playoffs in his draft year and I'd say he turned out to be a pretty good playoff performer.

 

[Sam de Mtl]

I wouldn't read too much into it.
He's essentially running a 1 man show in Spokane, and it was the 8th seed vs the 1st seed.

Draisaitl only put up 3 points in 4 games in the WHL playoffs in his draft year and I'd say he turned out to be a pretty good playoff performer.

Oh yes, Draisaitl, the one player Catton reminds me of the most. Very similar.

 

[BergevinBurner]

Oh yes, Draisaitl, the one player Catton reminds me of the most. Very similar.

The point clearly went over your head.

 

[Jaynki]

Oh c'mon this board is melodramatic at this point, we win 1 against the Panthers and suddenly we're drafting Iginla.

How about we lose the next 7 and get out of there with Demidov + Additional Dach/Newhook forward.

I think many would objectively select Iginla over Demidov

 

[jaffy27]

I think many would objectively select Iginla over Demidov

Not me…maybe we should get a pole going

Have one now and one after the lottery draw.

 

[Sam de Mtl]

The point clearly went over your head.

It didn't. I get it, but it's not very reassuring. The scare is that small guys playing small will not perform well in playoffs. Draisaitl is enormous. There was not the same kind of concern with him.

Now, the first part of your argument is valid and you are allowed to trust that Catton can be a good playoff performer, but Draisaitl's poor playoff is not the argument to build your case around.

 

[calder candidate]

Who do you guys take if we win the 2OA lottery?

Demidov?
Lindstrom?
Levshunov?
Other?

I think that right now it would be Lindstrom but if we win we can look / consider trading down if we can still get our guy at 4th.

 

[jaffy27]

Who do you guys take if we win the 2OA lottery?

Demidov?
Lindstrom?
Levshunov?
Other?

Demidov

 

[FrankMTL]

I love Iginla as much as anybody, but i'd still take Demidov before him. For Lindstrom, if his back is ok, I would take him before Iginla as well.

In terms of forwards:

Celebrini
Lindstrom/Demidov
Iginla/Catton/Helenius (need to see more at U18's and WC)
Eiserman

Does anybody have any idea why Demidov has 35 PIM in 10 playoff games?

 

[Habs Icing]

Just need to make sure we don’t drop below the Flames.

If Tij is half the player as his Old Man I’d be very happy. I lived in Calgary for most of Iggy Srs career there and got to watch him live more than any other player I’ve ever seen, similar to Price he was asked to carry a mostly shit team on his back for a decade due to crappy mgmt, with a better supporting cast his numbers would’ve been at least 25% higher, teams just had to key on him with no other real threats

I really like Iggy Sr. He is one of my favourite players. For me, he wasn't in the Gretzky, Orr, or McDavid category but he was a complete player. Brought a well-rounded game that was elite. He was unlucky because he was stuck with terrible management. Similar to Price.

 

[le_sean]

He was named the second star in the game yesterday...

Talking about all 4 games. He was against all odds, but easily kept to the perimeter. I know he has fanboys, but the concerns are legitimate.

 

[Habs Icing]

Count me in the Iginla bandwagon.

CHOO CHOO!

I think you meant the Iggy Wiggy Bandy Waggey. Choo Choo

 

[BergevinBurner]

It didn't. I get it, but it's not very reassuring. The scare is that small guys playing small will not perform well in playoffs. Draisaitl is enormous. There was not the same kind of concern with him.

Now, the first part of your argument is valid and you are allowed to trust that Catton can be a good playoff performer, but Draisaitl's poor playoff is not the argument to build your case around.

I'm not building any case around Draisaitl, simply pointing out that having a whelming playoff run in juniors doesn't have much bearing on what a players playoff performances in his prime will look like 7-8 years down the road.

He very well could be held back by his size, or he could thrive in the right environment as we've seen many small player do come playoff time.

 

[le_sean]

I'm not building any case around Draisaitl, simply pointing out that having a whelming playoff run in juniors doesn't have much bearing on what a players playoff performances in his prime will look like 7-8 years down the road.

He very well could be held back by his size, or he could thrive in the right environment as we've seen many small player do come playoff time.

And sometimes it’s in your DNA. Zach Benson was a monster in the playoffs at 16 years old. You can talk about his supporting cast all you want, but he’s the one that stood out despite the size and being younger than everyone.

In the same draft class you have Iginla who is playing like a beast too despite having only one other good player on his team. I’ll take the warrior.

 

[BergevinBurner]

And sometimes it’s in your DNA. Zach Benson was a monster in the playoffs at 16 years old. You can talk about his supporting cast all you want, but he’s the one that stood out despite the size and being younger than everyone.

In the same draft class you have Iginla who is playing like a beast too despite having only one other good player on his team. I’ll take the warrior.

Again, context matters.

Benson was on an absolutely loaded Winnipeg Ice roster that was by far the top of the league. Catton's situation is the polar opposite.

 

[le_sean]

In other news, Habs brass have not met with Eiserman at this point