HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[TheBuriedHab]

Based off what?

Tampa had Point, Kucherov, Johnson in their top 6 in 2020.
Pittsburgh had two players over 6 foot in their entire top 9 in their back to back wins: Malkin and Bonino.

Yeah the exception to the rule is if you have the literal best players in the world on those teams it can work.

Most people are realistic though and see Dallas, St Louis and Vegas as models that are more replicatable.

 

[crosbyshow]

Yeah the exception to the rule is if you have the literal best players in the world on those teams it can work.

Most people are realistic though and see Dallas, St Louis and Vegas as models that are more replicatable.

Yep so easy to be a scout when you look at size only.

Catton is so talented and i don"t care about his size...at all

 

[TheBuriedHab]

Yep so easy to be a scout when you look at size only.

Catton is so talented and i don"t care about his size...at all

Yeah so talented he had 0 goals in the playoffs.

 

[Draft]

Do you see Catton as a center?

I don’t. I think he’ll shift to wing and maybe do spot duty at centre in the NHL. Moreso because I think he can still bring the best parts of his game to the wing and he lacks defensive commitment and physical engagement regardless of his size. Could be that he shifts those weaknesses as he develops but I think it could come at the expense of a lot of what works for him offensively.

A really interesting pick even if he doesn’t fill a 1C role moving forward.

 

[crosbyshow]

Yeah so talented he had 0 goals in the playoffs.

4 points in 4 games on a shitty team.

He carried this team all year long...a miracle that he did 54 goals and 116 points as a 17 years old..with this cast...

 

[Schooner Guy]

Catton is so talented and i don"t care about his size...at all

Agreed that he's so talented but it doesn't matter whether or not you care about size. NHL teams do. I really can't see the Habs taking him with a top 6-8 pick with so many other high end talents available (both forwards and D) who don't have those same size, strength, engagement, defensive play question marks. Catton's playoff didn't do anything to put these questions to rest.

 

[le_sean]

It’s funny to bring up the Lightning as an example of a team with small forwards that won the Cup. Yeah they kept getting their asses handed to them in the playoffs until they gave up lots of assets to finally get size.

Also disingenuous to say “the Pens had forwards under 6 feet”. Okay let’s completely ignore Crosby is under 6 feet but is likely the player with the strongest lower body in the league. Kessel is notoriously massive too. Don’t think Catton gets there himself.

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

Pittsburgh and Tampa probably have 7 HOFrs between them, the day we have something similar we can try and build a team like that

Having said that size means nothing if it doesn’t come with grit and team toughness. Last couple of games put a spotlight on how soft this team is. No retaliation or standing up for teammates is inexcusable in meaningless games.

Not sure who’s the best player to pick to start that transition but team needs a heart transplant.

 

[Deam78]

There is no way Yakemchuk falls to 18 like where Elite Prospects has him ranked. He's a 6foot3 RD who just scored 30 goals in the Dub and has a mean streak. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes before all the forwards not named Celebrini, Demidov or Lindstrom.

Sennecke also likely won't fall to the Jets pick. He grew a few inches in the last year, produced well and hasn't grown into his large frame yet. He has some raw upside and will be a riser on draft lists.

I agree with you, it's kinda my point. I don't see Yakemchuk falling, I have him firmly inside my top 10. It be lunacy if he falls as far as EP has him, which if it ever happens we should pounce on the opportunity.

Agreed on Sennecke, as I said I don't believe he'll be there anymore but was my early target. Very nice player

 

[Mrb1p]

Let me repeat: 5'11" 163lbs at 18yo.. that is not a good physique for a C in the NHL even factoring in some more growth, he's way behind the bare minimum target of minimum 6'0" 190lbs.



No more smurfs.

 

[themilosh]

View attachment 847517

Yeah, Nick is undersized just like the prospect review says... hes also 20lbs HEAVIER than Catton at the same age.. that is a massive difference at 18yo.

So now you want to draft an even more undersized player? I mean it aint no Koivu-Petrov or Gionta-Cammaleri but this is your vision?

You can like a player sure, but think strategically as to what works.

 

[calder candidate]

I have no issue with Catton, size doesn’t matter as much if your able to impact the game, also 5’11’’ isn’t that small it isn’t like he is 5’6’’… Also it always better to draft the best player to generate trade value.

 

[Goldenhands]

I don’t. I think he’ll shift to wing and maybe do spot duty at centre in the NHL. Moreso because I think he can still bring the best parts of his game to the wing and he lacks defensive commitment and physical engagement regardless of his size. Could be that he shifts those weaknesses as he develops but I think it could come at the expense of a lot of what works for him offensively.

A really interesting pick even if he doesn’t fill a 1C role moving forward.

Yep thats what makes him a risky pick to me, as he gets to play the right way, the pro way, the offense he generates from positional cheating wont translate, he will have to spend more energy on 200 ft. and physical involvement as well. Kid is very skilled, but he will have to gain alot of strength to handle the workload in the pros. Right now he is not physically involved against junior aged players, he has good stickwork and can win puck battles, but most of the times, he isnt aggressive enough on pucks, what leads to some floating in his game.

I can appreciate the talent level, he remains a good hockey player, but there are issues in term of translating tools as far as Im concerned. I think he is a nice gamble in the 10-15 range, but I agree with @Schooner Guy, there are better options on the table.

 

[Balthazar]

Are the people here that are pounding the table for Catton the same who thought Benson could go top 5 last year? He went 13th.

Undersized wingers fall at the draft, that's just the way it is.

 

[Mrb1p]

Are the people here that are pounding the table for Catton the same who thought Benson could go top 5 last year? He went 13th.

Undersized wingers fall at the draft, that's just the way it is.

And Benson is proving he shouldve went 5th. Kids producing at 18 and playing great defensively. Hes killing penalties and closing out games. Amazing talent that about 13 teams missed.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Well if you can't have two small players in your top 6 and Catton is small then y'all taking Demidov and Helenius off your list?

You guys all didn't want Michkov and cry about passing on him for 9 months and counting?

If you don't want him or you want other players more, that's fine we all have our preferences but applying things to him as a reason to not pick him that you're not applying to other players is a pretty lame way to advance your argument.

 

[crosbyshow]

Well if you can't have two small players in your top 6 and Catton is small then y'all taking Demidov and Helenius off your list?

You guys all didn't want Michkov and cry about passing on him for 9 months and counting?

If you don't want him or you want other players more, that's fine we all have our preferences but applying things to him as a reason to not pick him that you're not applying to other players is a pretty lame way to advance your argument.

So true!!

Again half of the best players in NHL history were or are undersized and you know what...they delivered in the playoffs!
Let.s see:

Rocket
Dionne
Crosby
Yzerman
Sakic
Patrick Kane
Bedard
St-Louis
Theoren Fleury
Point
Kucherov
Trottier
Naslund

....Gretzky

There is plenty others...and all of those guys are either sub 6.0 or less than 200 pounds and a lot of them both.

Gretzky were 6.0 but 170 pounds for godsake..he had the shape of Gilles Latulippe....

Same with Pat Kane..170...

But when you have the IQ...size does not mean s...

Those guys had the will all their life to perform because they were kind small and they succeed!!

Catton has the IQ and the vision and he will play his career at 5.11 and maybe 175 to 185 pounds and you will see....it will be enough...

When you look at that list above....those guys were healthy all their career except of Crosby and guys like Lemieux, Lindros, Dach etc were injury prone

I would not be shock to see Catton with a better production at his prime than Suzuki or even Slaf

 

[Schooner Guy]

Well if you can't have two small players in your top 6 and Catton is small then y'all taking Demidov and Helenius off your list?

You guys all didn't want Michkov and cry about passing on him for 9 months and counting?

If you don't want him or you want other players more, that's fine we all have our preferences but applying things to him as a reason to not pick him that you're not applying to other players is a pretty lame way to advance your argument.

Different players. Demidov's skill level puts him neck and neck with Celebrini in terms of pure talent and is physically stronger than Catton especially in the lower body. Helenius plays a much better all around game than Catton. Like I said earlier, Catton's playoff didn't put any of his question marks to rest.

If Habs are picking 6th and Celebrini, Demidov, Lindstrom are all gone...I wouldn't be surprised if they go with a Dman. Iggy's a nice story and Helenius is having an amazing season in a strong men's league but I'm not sure if they'll pass up on a stud D for them (or for Catton, Eiserman) if the remaining forwards are all in a lower tier on their draft list than a Dman who may still be available at #6. I think you'll see them try to improve their forward situation through trades before passing on a player they have in a higher tier on their draft list which involved thousands of hours of scouting, interviews/meeting, due diligence and internal debating. One thing about this HuGo brass is they are very big picture oriented and not reactive.

Again, everything has to do with who's available when we pick. I think there will be better options than Catton at #6-8.

I have never once whined about us picking Reinbacher over Michkov.

 

[FrankMTL]

For those that are complaining about Catton's size, particularly his weight, let's see where he's at during the NHL Combine to start. Weight can definitely be put on and Catton clearly is still in his "boy" body. These kids are changing so much at these ages, some change faster than others. I remember at 16 years old graduating from High School and I looked like a little boy compared to some of these other guys, especially the Italians who already had beards .

Anyways, just for fun, check out Nick Suzuki and Robert Thomas' heights and weights at the NHL Combine in 2017:

• Nick Suzuki: 5-foot-11, 183.2 pounds
• Robert Thomas: 5-foot-11.5, 192.5 pounds

And Now:

• Nick Suzuki: 5-foot-11, 212 pounds
• Robert Thomas: 6-foot, 218 pounds

 

[crosbyshow]

Scouts are so dumb with the size s..

Sakic had a season of 60 goals and 133 points at 17 years old......but but he was 5.11 and 175 pounds..so he was draft 15th overall.

I remember that draft so well...everybody were talking about the kid from the west with so much talent but he was small...

I was born in 1975....and remember I was 6 and heard my grand father told my father that Gretzky will be kill in the playoffs coming in..his first in 1981...

Catton will not be drafted top 5..and you will see..it will be a big f mistake. He is better than Lindstrom..

 

[GalHabsGal]

Here is my ranking for the forwards, it will change for sure after the u18and the playoff ...

Tier 1

Celebrini
Demidov ( if he was not from russia, he would be my number 1)

Tier 2

Lindstrom
Cotton ( if a real >= 5'11 )
Eiserman
Iginla
Cotton ( if < 5'11)
Helenius
Connellly

 

[FrankMTL]

Here is my ranking for the forwards, it will change for sure after the u18and the playoff ...

Tier 1

Celebrini
Demidov ( if he was not from russia, he would be my number 1)

Tier 2

Lindstrom
Cotton ( if a real >= 5'11 )
Eiserman
Iginla
Cotton ( if < 5'11)
Helenius
Connellly

Two things;

For Catton, are you really gonna drop him if he's 5 foot 10.75?

The issue with Connelly isn't talent. He has a bunch of other red flags regarding his past. He will drop.

 

[Jabba11]

We tend to forget but we don't have access to prospects the way the teams do with interviews and if one thing we know for sure, is that the new management with HuGo puts a lot of emphasis on character and personality and see if they have the mentality to mesh with our current group and philosophy.

I'm not saying that Catton is a no draft nor will he not succeed or even, heck, I would be very ecstatic for him to be picked by the Habs because his talent is undeniable. But, it was just a random clip I saw this last week and was surprised by his answer on this video when he stated that he is a very, no an elite skater. You're asked to describe this particular shift, why not just describe it, instead of putting an affirmation that you are a 100% an elite skater, why not just say that you were able to use your skating to converge to the net and beat the defenceman. Who says you are an elite skater in the NHL? I think things like these can throw a team off, much like Wright stating that he deserves to be 1st overall, or Nail Yakupov wearing his Sarnia sting jersey with the back on the front to show his name instead of the logo.

Anyhow, I might be over exagerrating but I think it would be fun to know how the teams evaluate a kid's personality, what threw them off from Michkov's personality or any other prospects.

 

[GalHabsGal]

Two things;

For Catton, are you really gonna drop him if he's 5 foot 10.75?

The issue with Connelly isn't talent. He has a bunch of other red flags regarding his past. He will drop.

No, at 5'10.75 I just ensure that is skate blade are always new

 

[FrankMTL]

No, at 5'10.75 I just ensure that is skate blade are always new

Might as well just throw some Dr Scholl's air lifts in there too and make him 6 foot.