HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Bobby Holik agent]

We don't have any d-man like those in the top10.
You could make a case for Levshunov being very Reinbacher but that it.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

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

Nah, draft Zeev, trade Matheson and keep Hutson.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

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

I liked Cristall almost until the end, but I had to admit his game is far from pro ready and at some point couldn't justify a top 15 pick on someone like that. Good reminder that stats alone are not a good way to justify players on draft day.

Not that I think they are comparable prospects: I think Catton is considerably more likely to make the NHL just based off his skating advantage alone. Will come down to building physical strength and d-zone adjustments for him.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

I liked Cristall almost until the end, but I had to admit his game is far from pro ready and at some point couldn't justify a top 15 pick on someone like that. Good reminder that stats alone are not a good way to justify players on draft day.

Not that I think they are comparable prospects: I think Catton is considerably more likely to make the NHL just based off his skating advantage alone. Will come down to building physical strength and d-zone adjustments for him.

Yes, Catton play could play in the pro tomorrow and not look bad at all other than being severely under sized.
Cristall would get exposed in the pro, big time, (his jump to the AHL will be very interesting) they don't have much comparable. I will say that Cristall has slightly better hands though.

Scouting based on pure stats is always very wrong.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

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

Cristall dropped because his skating isn't up to par. Great edges & balance though. He's also small. Smaller than Catton.

Catton has no physical game to speak of, and he needs to gain weight/strength. He's really weak. He's a rush player only at this stage.

There's lots to work with, though. The question is how much will Catton commit to improving his game, getting stronger and adding some physical elements? He played wing last year, and I wasn't crazy about him. He's a center this year and it allows him more use of the ice. Problem is, I don't see him as a center in NHL.

 

[DemidovSZN]

Maybe it’s not a bad thing if Kelowna gets eliminated quick, maybe Iginla will be in time for the U18.

 

[BergevinBurner]

Catton's PPG performance against Prince George isn't looking so bad now, is it?

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Prince George is quite good. I wouldn't be too hard on a draft year player for having difficulty generating offense against such a club., especially if they're injured.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Catton is the 3rd best forward in this draft, so still hoping he’s our guy assuming we don’t win the lottery and pick top two. So many good D though…

 

[crosbyshow]

Catton is the 3rd best forward in this draft, so still hoping he’s our guy assuming we don’t win the lottery and pick top two. So many good D though…

The eye test is so clear for me since the last 6 months...Catton is better than Lindstrom and Iginla.

 

[Mrb1p]

Hard not to be 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.

Trading Hutson is an option. Buium has the profile to be a norris D winner. He's not small, he's fast, he's skilled, he can defend, he produces... There's like... nothing aside from him being a left shot.

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

Cristall was one of my favorite last draft but I even couldn't justify having him this high. Both are cherry-picking little shits, even though I love them.

It's really just that the WHL is really a terrible environment for development.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Trading Hutson is an option. Buium has the profile to be a norris D winner. He's not small, he's fast, he's skilled, he can defend, he produces... There's like... nothing aside from him being a left shot.

Won't say he'll win a Norris, that is a massive expectation to place on an 18 year old, but agreed his skillset and playstyle are the most reminiscent of many of today's minute-munching, offensively skilled defensemen who tilt the ice in their team's favor on a nightly basis without being a headache defensively. Give him good coaching and he'll be a No. 1 somewhere.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

The eye test is so clear for me since the last 6 months...Catton is better than Lindstrom and Iginla.

He may not be built like those two but he’s the better hockey player. It’s clear as day.

 

[Bacchus1]

kid who used a racial slur against an opponent, where there's video of the player having to be consoled by his coach, draws a swastika a year later - "doesn't mean he's racist and you're intellectually lazy to argue it".

I definitely wouldn’t draft the kid who had to be consoled by some kid uttering something stupid. I’ve heard all sorts of trash talk playing sports, and some of it was obviously quite nasty and meant to get others off their game. Not defending being able to say whatever you want to others, but just underlining the value of thick skin and reselience. I can’t imagine hearing anything from my competitors that would affect me emotionally.

 

[MasterMatt25]

I definitely wouldn’t draft the kid who had to be consoled by some kid uttering something stupid. I’ve heard all sorts of trash talk playing sports, and some of it was obviously quite nasty and meant to get others off their game. Not defending being able to say whatever you want to others, but just underlining the value of thick skin and reselience. I can’t imagine hearing anything from my competitors that would affect me emotionally.

It was a child that happened to.
That's not what you should be taking from this

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

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?

I observed exactly what you said, and other people have told me that he has exceptional hands. I don't buy it.

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.

Demidov, Catton or a defensman... And obviously Celebrini.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

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

Scoring is way up in the CHL so this comparison was grossly flawed. Historically most top ten scorers in the CHL do not have NHL careers of any significance.

I like Catton but stats alone don't mean much with junior players.

 

[Schooner Guy]

We don't have any d-man like those in the top10.
You could make a case for Levshunov being very Reinbacher but that it.

I don't see them being alike at all. Reinbacher's waaaaaaay better defensively.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Zeev Buium, the next Habs!

We factually know that will not be the case after Hughes' comments

 

[Schooner Guy]

I definitely wouldn’t draft the kid who had to be consoled by some kid uttering something stupid. I’ve heard all sorts of trash talk playing sports, and some of it was obviously quite nasty and meant to get others off their game. Not defending being able to say whatever you want to others, but just underlining the value of thick skin and reselience. I can’t imagine hearing anything from my competitors that would affect me emotionally.

Good lord! Here we go with some unnecessary and pointless victim blaming. I've seen grown men at the pro level get emotional after being victims of a racial slur. The irony that you use "thick skin" to try to make your point.

 

[Andrei79]

I definitely wouldn’t draft the kid who had to be consoled by some kid uttering something stupid. I’ve heard all sorts of trash talk playing sports, and some of it was obviously quite nasty and meant to get others off their game. Not defending being able to say whatever you want to others, but just underlining the value of thick skin and reselience. I can’t imagine hearing anything from my competitors that would affect me emotionally.

Don't worry, none of us can imagine you in a competitive sports setting either.

 

[vokiel]

Nah, draft Zeev, trade Matheson and keep Hutson.

When Zeev is ready for the league, Matheson won't be with us anymore.

 

[Rapala]

Nah, draft Zeev, trade Matheson and keep Hutson.

I think we'd want to keep size in the rest our D. We'd be trading them both and going with Guhle Engstrom Xhekaj on LD
Buium Reinbacher Mailloux/Barron on RD

When Zeev is ready for the league, Matheson won't be with us anymore.

He's better than Lane Hutson right now I wouldn't worry too much about that.

 

[Jabba11]

We factually know that will not be the case after Hughes' comments

What were his comments?!

 

[Zilo44]

If you pick Lev or Buium because you believe they’re BPA, you gotta package Mailloux + 1st WPG for help up front.

But I have to admit that a top 4 D of Buium - Rein - Guhle - Hutson is enticing