HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Mrb1p]

Beside Celebrini ,, who else could start in the NHL next year ?

Levshunov ?
Buium ?
Demidov ?
Catton ?

If you looked at Benson that started this year , these guys have the potential as well.

Benson should probably have stayed another year in the dub, but his fundamentals were all far above anyone else /Dickinson and Silayev in this draft. He came in and saw usage on the PK right away, a few games in he was closing out games. Benson would also go ahead of Catton this year, he's just a better prospect. Levshunov, Dickinson and Silayev are the only one "ready" for NHL time, none should start.

 

[Draft]

Yes, not Suzuki. Suzuki is wiring these shots against NHL level competition and has been doing so since his rookie year. It's not a strength thing either, even if it plays into it. Suzuki has one of the best shot on the planet, if he were to re-enter the draft as a 17 years old again, he'd be ranked around in the top 3 firmly in skill level, don't let the fact he went 13th in 2017 confuse you, Suzuki was a top prospect, and he rose up from mid 2nd-3rd rounder to top 13 in what remains as a top draft of the decade. Not only that, but Suzukis shot versatility is just through the roof, Helenius hasn't displayed that.

With that said, as I said earlier, Helenius is a great prospect and I wouldn't even be mad if they picked him. His value lies in other things than having "high-end" abilities (Though I do think his IQ is high-end, this can compare to Suzuki.), it lies in him bringing above average tools to the table all over the board, in that sense, Hischier, Suzuki are good comparisons.

So Suzuki's shot in his D+3 and beyond is better than Helenius' in is draft year... and if we took Suzuki's abilities today and redrafted the 2017 draft Suzuki would be top-3 in skill... which would still have no bearing on Helenius in his draft year. I don't necessarily disagree with your conclusion but this analysis isn't useful.

Helenius beats a professional goalie with the same shot from the same distance with a very similar release. His mechanics are good, placement is usually very good, release is really solid. His shot versatility is good in the games I've watched but not easily compared to junior players who just have way more time, touches, and space. All of his skills rank at a high level and his shot and skating in particular show possible development into a higher tier. Statistically he's pretty exceptional. I don't have an issue projecting him as a potential first line player.

 

[Mrb1p]

So Suzuki's shot in his D+3 and beyond is better than Helenius' in is draft year... and if we took Suzuki's abilities today and redrafted the 2017 draft Suzuki would be top-3 in skill... which would still have no bearing on Helenius in his draft year. I don't necessarily disagree with your conclusion but this analysis isn't useful.

Helenius beats a professional goalie with the same shot from the same distance with a very similar release. His mechanics are good, placement is usually very good, release is really solid. His shot versatility is good in the games I've watched but not easily compared to junior players who just have way more time, touches, and space. All of his skills rank at a high level and his shot and skating in particular show possible development into a higher tier. Statistically he's pretty exceptional. I don't have an issue projecting him as a potential first line player.

Thats not what I said. Suzuki has a top 3 skillset in a redraft. Makar and Pettersson are the only ones that have him beat, in an insanely strong draft.

His mechanics are excellent, and he's a very good shooter, he's just not Suzuki. It's not a critique of Helenius, it's a critique of the opinion people have had of Suzuki since before his draft year.

I don't have a problem projecting him as a first line player either.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

Agree with Mailloux. He lost his focus so many times on the ice 5 vs 5 on coverage etc.

In French we says: Il tombe dans la lune souvent. Don't know the English expression

Closest expression in English would be to have your head in the clouds.

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

He reminds me of Radulov.

Calm down.

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

Just draft a defensman, they crapped the bed, last year, by passing on Michkov...

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

I’m here for the board crashing when the Habs take Silayev with their pick

If I speak, I am in big trouble...

 

[danyhabsfan]

If we draft 6th-7th I wouldn't be mad if we draft Iginla. He seems way more skilled than Lindstrom. His skating and edges are so good.

 

[montreal]

I haven't seen a single WHL game in at least 2 years but thought it was interesting,

 

[SquidNasty]

Catton had been dealing with hip issues during the season, which were also lingering in Spokane’s playoff opener against Prince George.
Lindstrom had dealt with multiple injuries in the second half of the season. He broke a hand in the middle of the season, and has also been dealing with symptoms of a back injury. Lindstrom returned in time for Game 1 of Medicine Hat’s playoff opener but looked off in the series.

Level of concern for these lingering injuries? Back and Hip issues at 17/18 is not ideal.

 

[Mrb1p]

I haven't seen a single WHL game in at least 2 years but thought it was interesting,

He also plays nearly 30 minutes a game, he has a lot of the Matheson effect going for him. Not that he's not a great prospect, but his ice-time is insane.

Catton ain't missing though.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

It's obvious Catton will be a good hockey player. I want to know if he is committed off-ice into fulfilling his full potential and develop as a superstar player.

 

[le_sean]

Catton had been dealing with hip issues during the season, which were also lingering in Spokane’s playoff opener against Prince George.
Lindstrom had dealt with multiple injuries in the second half of the season. He broke a hand in the middle of the season, and has also been dealing with symptoms of a back injury. Lindstrom returned in time for Game 1 of Medicine Hat’s playoff opener but looked off in the series.

Level of concern for these lingering injuries? Back and Hip issues at 17/18 is not ideal.

Just sad that these teams don’t think of the kids first and worry only about what they can squeeze out of them before turning pro. Lindstrom was at least out for a long time likely trying to avoid surgery. But Catton’s team was dead in the water without him, so I guess he felt the need to keep playing though Spokane was clearly never going to go anywhere.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Beside Celebrini ,, who else could start in the NHL next year ?

Levshunov ?
Buium ?
Demidov ?
Catton ?

If you looked at Benson that started this year , these guys have the potential as well.

Porbably no one with Celebrini being the closest

I haven't seen a single WHL game in at least 2 years but thought it was interesting,

I don't know what has happened to the WHL the last few years, but it has exploded offensively, so whatever numbers players are putting up have to be taken with a grain of salt.

 

[morhilane]

I don't know what has happened to the WHL the last few years, but it has exploded offensively, so whatever numbers players are putting up have to be taken with a grain of salt.

Goaltending, and to a lesser level defenders/defensive systems, aren't what they used to be.

 

[Jabba11]

Zeev Buium just got a point tonight in the championship game, now has 50 pts in his rookie season in the NCAA. Outbeat Lane Hutson for 50 pts. Hasn't been done since a very long time..since Brendan Smith in 2010, who wasn't a rookie.

 

[montreal]

Buium Nice Move - 3:11
Buium Assist - 4:31

 

[Jabba11]

Buium Nice Move - 3:11
Buium Assist - 4:31

Zeev Buium, the next Habs!

 

[Goldenhands]

Not a great 1st for Iginla tonight. There are games where I see top 6 upside, there are games where I see a middle 6.

 

[Playmaker09]

Not a great 1st for Iginla tonight. There are games where I see top 6 upside, there are games where I see a middle 6.

His handling has such high highs and low lows. He'll dangle though three guys, then the next shift will turn it over twice while handling the puck like a grenade.

PG has shut out Kelowna all 4 periods of the series and counting. Kelowna has 6 shots almost halfway through the game.
Maybe the criticisms of Catton were a little harsh?

 

[Goldenhands]

lol Iginla with a blind back pass to no one, Cristall do an even worst play few secs later with no pressure on him at all.

His handling has such high highs and low lows. He'll dangle though three guys, then the next shift will turn it over twice while handling the puck like a grenade.

PG has shut out Kelowna all 4 periods of the series and counting. Kelowna has 6 shots almost halfway through the game.
Maybe the criticisms of Catton were a little harsh?

There are 4 fowards over them anyway and at least 1 will drop.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

I haven't seen a single WHL game in at least 2 years but thought it was interesting,

Yup, you really can't ignore his stats. Players who score that much in junior go on to become NHL players.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

Hard not to want Buium after the frozen four, not gonna lie. I could live with going with another dman with the early first and a forward with the later one, even if I know a lot of people will cringe at it. You have to take the best player at some point.

 

[montreal]

Yup, you really can't ignore his stats. Players who score that much in junior go on to become NHL players.

his ppg is right there with Andrew Cristall's from last season, who I know some on here liked last year but he dropped.

 

[Rapala]

Zeev Buium just got a point tonight in the championship game, now has 50 pts in his rookie season in the NCAA. Outbeat Lane Hutson for 50 pts. Hasn't been done since a very long time..since Brendan Smith in 2010, who wasn't a rookie.

Take Zeev and trade Lane I won't complain. Buium is in a class above IMO.