HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[SannywithoutCompy]

Parekh in front of Dickinson? No way.

You want a D that can play D in the top 10.

Dickinson is my top D but Parekh's d game is comically underrated

 

[le_sean]

The problem is that this logic is flawed. If the Habs got 1st overall last year would they have drafted Connor Bedard? Afterall he is 5'10, they would have gone with Carlsson or Fantilli, right?

No I didn’t say that they are stupid. When things are fairly similar talent-wise, they will prefer a player with size. Maybe even sacrifice a bit of talent for that size. Bedard is just in another tier of talent.

For instance, this year. I think it’s obvious that they will far prefer Lindstrom to Catton. They wouldn’t take him over Celebrini.

 

[Michoulicious]

Dickinson is my top D but Parekh's d game is comically underrated

He can't break a cycle to save his life. Always stick work. Gap control is suspect.

He has great vision and great breakout passes.

His D is pretty bad, especially for a top 10 pick. Like Karlsson's was. Problem is not everyone is Karlsson.

 

[NobleSix]

If we stay at 5 I think we end up with whichever forward is available between Lindstrom and Demidov. Good chance one of them is still available at that spot.

If given the choice I think Habs would go with Lindstrom, but I'm getting the feeling this isn't a Michkov situation with Demidov where they were just flat out not willing to draft him. Michkov was a whole other beast with a number of issues that management clearly didn't like. Don't think the same can be said for Demidov, as far as I know.

I dont think the "Russian factor" has much to do with it if they do prefer Lindstrom. I just think he fits the profile of the kind of player this management team has really liked in the past.

They also probably like Iginla, as most teams likely do. The only question is whether the value is there to flat out take him at 5 if both Lindstrom and Demidov are gone, or whether they'd prefer to take one of the defensemen and make a trade for a forward.

 

[sampollock]

got this feeling they dont draft Demidov, why I dont know

 

[The Last Red]

And what about Mesar and Hutson, why aren't they proof that the type of player they value is skilled guys?

They were not taken with picks high in the first round. Obvious difference.

 

[Simarino]

Drafted out of Europe and therefore eligible to play in the AHL - part of the reason I like him as a potential Habs pick. A year in Laval/Liiga and then to the NHL would be a reasonable prediction. However, given how quickly he adjusted through the year in Liiga, I think there's an outside chance he could play 3rd line wing next year in the NHL.

Helenius produced big numbers in Finland and was a key part of his team's offence... and he cheated for none of it. Extremely high IQ at both ends, very responsible, great compete, and not afraid to be physical despite being a shade under 6' and playing against grown men. He's putting up numbers that rival and exceed the absolute best Finnish prospects of the last 20yrs and he's doing it predominantly with efficient, responsible play. I love that.

The team has invested a lot of time and money into the skill development program and I feel fairly confident about entrusting them with a top pick. The biggest knocks on Helenius are that his skill doesn't come out as consistently as others in the top-10 and his tools are all good to great, but not exceptional. Matching a high compete, high IQ player that has strong foundations in multiple areas of the game, with a team that focuses on skill development could be a very smart move. I'd strongly consider him if Demidov and Lindstrom are off the board.

Not saying the skillset are similar but im confident to say that if you put Helenius in the MHL like Demidov, the flashes of high end skills and highlight reel goal would be alot more frequent.

 

[le_sean]

got this feeling they dont draft Demidov, why I dont know

Like at 2?

 

[Simarino]

If we stay at 5 I think we end up with whichever forward is available between Lindstrom and Demidov. Good chance one of them is still available at that spot.

If given the choice I think Habs would go with Lindstrom, but I'm getting the feeling this isn't a Michkov situation with Demidov where they were just flat out not willing to draft him. Michkov was a whole other beast with a number of issues that management clearly didn't like. Don't think the same can be said for Demidov, as far as I know.

I dont think the "Russian factor" has much to do with it if they do prefer Lindstrom. I just think he fits the profile of the kind of player this management team has really liked in the past.

They also probably like Iginla, as most teams likely do. The only question is whether the value is there to flat out take him at 5 if both Lindstrom and Demidov are gone, or whether they'd prefer to take one of the defensemen and make a trade for a forward.

I would be very surprised if both Demidov and Lidstrom are gone at 5, that would mean only 1D in the top 4

 

[Seb]

If we stay at 5 I think we end up with whichever forward is available between Lindstrom and Demidov. Good chance one of them is still available at that spot.

If given the choice I think Habs would go with Lindstrom, but I'm getting the feeling this isn't a Michkov situation with Demidov where they were just flat out not willing to draft him. Michkov was a whole other beast with a number of issues that management clearly didn't like. Don't think the same can be said for Demidov, as far as I know.

I dont think the "Russian factor" has much to do with it if they do prefer Lindstrom. I just think he fits the profile of the kind of player this management team has really liked in the past.

They also probably like Iginla, as most teams likely do. The only question is whether the value is there to flat out take him at 5 if both Lindstrom and Demidov are gone, or whether they'd prefer to take one of the defensemen and make a trade for a forward.

I'd be extremely shocked if Demidov isn't picked top 3. Any team wants his kind of game breaking talent and as you said, he's not in the same situation as Michkov.

IMO if we want Demidov we need to win the 2nd pick.

 

[Benstheman]

If we stay at 5 I think we end up with whichever forward is available between Lindstrom and Demidov. Good chance one of them is still available at that spot.

If given the choice I think Habs would go with Lindstrom, but I'm getting the feeling this isn't a Michkov situation with Demidov where they were just flat out not willing to draft him. Michkov was a whole other beast with a number of issues that management clearly didn't like. Don't think the same can be said for Demidov, as far as I know.

I dont think the "Russian factor" has much to do with it if they do prefer Lindstrom. I just think he fits the profile of the kind of player this management team has really liked in the past.

They also probably like Iginla, as most teams likely do. The only question is whether the value is there to flat out take him at 5 if both Lindstrom and Demidov are gone, or whether they'd prefer to take one of the defensemen and make a trade for a forward.

Habs really need elite talent up front. If they can get that, they won't hesitate. Unless they have a deal in place for an established youngish forward with that kind of pedigree. But that kind of player isn't normally available.

Will be interesting to see what's the plan for this offseason.

 

[Benstheman]

I would be very surprised if both Demidov and Lidstrom are gone at 5, that would mean only 1D in the top 4

Lindstrom will definetely be available at 5.

At 6? i'm not so sure.

As for Demidov, i agree we would need to win 2nd lottery.

What's interesting though is if he is available at 3 or 4, i wonder if HuGo tries to move up from 5-6 OA to 3-4OA, using Winnipeg's 1st. I know I would do it.

 

[Matthew McConaughay]

 

[Benstheman]

Ok i just ran the tankathon lottery 10 times.

We won 1OA 2 times and 2OA 3 times.

I think we're good guys.

 

[le_sean]

Ok i just ran the tankathon lottery 10 times.

We won 1OA 2 times and 2OA 3 times.

I think we're good guys.

Good until they pick Silayev at 2 and the board explodes

 

[Benstheman]

Good until they pick Silayev at 2 and the board explodes

wooof

 

[Sorinth]

They were not taken with picks high in the first round. Obvious difference.

What's obvious isn't you didn't read the post I responded to because they used 4th round pick Florian Xhekaj as proof that our scouts love size.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

No I didn’t say that they are stupid. When things are fairly similar talent-wise, they will prefer a player with size. Maybe even sacrifice a bit of talent for that size. Bedard is just in another tier of talent.

For instance, this year. I think it’s obvious that they will far prefer Lindstrom to Catton. They wouldn’t take him over Celebrini.

Then, it is BPA, they can take smaller player if they believe they are the most talented. If the whole scouting team including Bobrov and Lapointe believe Catton is more talented than Lindstrom they would draft him as they should. That is the point, they might put an emphasis on size like all team do btw but in the end they don't avoid smaller player.

I don't buy this idea that they would not draft Catton under any circumpstance. They even met him twice. I am not saying he is the pick but he is part of the discussion for sure.

 

[Sorinth]

The trend for Gorton and Bobrov with the Rangers and briefly with the Habs is high picks all have size. Andersson, Chytil, Kravtsov, Miller, Kakko, Lafrenière, Schneider, Othmann. Now Slafkovsky and Reinbacher. So 10 of the 12 1st rounders.

When they deviated from that (Nils Lundkvist in 2018 and Mesar in 2022), they had higher pick(s) in the 1st that were used on players with size (Kravtsov and Miller in 2018, Slafkovsky in 2022).

To deny that they have a preference for this type of player at the top of their boards is just ludicrous. It’s there for people to see. I don’t need to point out the tendencies of Timmins and Lapointe as those are very well documented as well. Now people argue that Lapointe didn’t make decisions, but I’m fairly certain he had some input.

Again, don’t shoot the messenger. I’m getting insulted for pointing out an obvious trend with the people we have hired. I’m not advocating for this, just laying out the obvious.

Hutson I don’t include because he was picked late 2nd. This is all about 1st rounders.

First off, it's ludicrous to think that if someone has a preference for size that it would be limited to high first round picks only. If they have a preference to size we would see it throughout the entire draft, and you know that because the post I quoted you were talking about Xhekaj. The reason most high picks taken have size is that on average the top of the draft is bigger then the rest of the draft.

Second, many of the picks you listed were thought of as the highest skilled players at the time. If a guy is the consensus top pick and a team takes him then it's crazy to draw the conclusion that they loved him for his size and not because he was seen as the highest skilled player. They took 6'1 Lafreniere which you think is proof they draft for size despite the fact that the pick right after being 6'5 Byfield. Claiming they drafted for size in that situation is laughable, they drafted for skill and the whole hockey world thought Lafreniere was the highest skilled player that year.

 

[NobleSix]

As much as Demidov is this years draft dream selection for me, adding Lindstrom to our top 6 would make us a damn pain in the ass to play against. Would suck not to get Demidov but I'd be very excited to get Lindstrom if Demidov is off the board.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

As much as Demidov is this years draft dream selection for me, adding Lindstrom to our top 6 would make us a damn pain in the ass to play against. Would suck not to get Demidov but I'd be very excited to get Lindstrom if Demidov is off the board.

Not going to rain on everybody's parade but what if Lindstrom is not a true top 6 and he is more in the Lawson Crouse mold. Still a NHL player but not the great offensive talent you wish to draft in the top 5.

 

[habsfan891]

Good until they pick Silayev at 2 and the board explodes

I may actually not watch hockey next year if they did that I'm not even all that excited about Lindstrom I'm too worried about his injuries with this team's history.

 

[le_sean]

First off, it's ludicrous to think that if someone has a preference for size that it would be limited to high first round picks only. If they have a preference to size we would see it throughout the entire draft, and you know that because the post I quoted you were talking about Xhekaj. The reason most high picks taken have size is that on average the top of the draft is bigger then the rest of the draft.

Second, many of the picks you listed were thought of as the highest skilled players at the time. If a guy is the consensus top pick and a team takes him then it's crazy to draw the conclusion that they loved him for his size and not because he was seen as the highest skilled player. They took 6'1 Lafreniere which you think is proof they draft for size despite the fact that the pick right after being 6'5 Byfield. Claiming they drafted for size in that situation is laughable, they drafted for skill and the whole hockey world thought Lafreniere was the highest skilled player that year.

It’s not ludicrous when the draft capital is worth that much more. Of course you can gamble later on in the draft, but when the picks are most important, they go for size.

That's your counter argument? Lafreniere? Then remove him because he was the consensus 1st overall pick. So that’s 9 of 11 picks, eliminating the consensus BPA when they picked 1st overall. No definitely no trend there.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

The problem is that this logic is flawed. If the Habs got 1st overall last year would they not have drafted Connor Bedard? Afterall he is 5'10, they would have gone with Carlsson or Fantilli, right?

The real flaw in the logic is that all teams prefer size and the sample size is minuscule from a statistics standpoint when looking at Hughes/Gorton. Like every hockey person who is not entirely foolish, they prefer size but they clearly do not use it as an absolute as is clearly illustrated by drafting Mesar, Hutson and trading for Newhook and prioritizing Harris over much larger options.

Any attempt to reach a strong assertion that this management group values size any more than any other organization is an exercise in confirmation bias and can be disregarded.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

The real flaw in the logic is that all teams prefer size and the sample size is minuscule from a statistics standpoint when looking at Hughes/Gorton. Like every hockey person who is not entirely foolish, they prefer size but they clearly do not use it as an absolute as drafting Mesar, Hutson and trading for Newhook and prioritizing Harris over much larger options.

Any attempt to reach a strong assertion that this management group values size any more than any other organization is an exercise in confirmation bias and can be disregarded.

Or like last year, they drafted 3 goaltenders, does it mean they put more emphasis on drafting goaltenders and we should expect them to do the same this year.