HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[MarkovsKnee]

If Helenius goes 5-8 I wouldn't be surprised if Hage sneaks into the top 10. The quality of Cs in the draft really falls off a cliff after that and we've seen both Danielson and Kasper get "overdrafted" by about 5 spots on draft day.

A team like Calgary who only have Kadri and old man Backlund down the middle seem like a prime candidate.

If Iginla is there, I really can't see Calgary passing on him. But, I agree about Hage. I think he goes top 15. Any one of Seattle, Philadelphia, Minnesota maybe Detroit could take him.

He's had a really strong year, but isn't talked about much.

 

[le_sean]

If Iginla is there, I really can't see Calgary passing on him. But, I agree about Hage. I think he goes top 15. Any one of Seattle, Philadelphia, Minnesota maybe Detroit could take him.

He's had a really strong year, but isn't talked about much.

I’d be hesitant on USHL players. It’s full of young players and the quality is mid, with a real lack of depth. Who was the last elite player to be chosen in the 1st round from the league (not counting US NTDP)? Kyle Connor in 2015? Mittelstadt is okay, I guess, but 8th overall quality? Even then, that was 2017. I would just be wary of drafting a player high based on the results they got in that league.

But you’re right that there’s a clear drop in centres after Helenius and a team might get desperate like we’ve seen before (Danielson, Hayton)

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

I'm getting pretty comfortable with the idea of getting one of Lindstrom/Catton/Iginla/Helenius. Whoever we end up with is going to be the best forward in our prospect pool, regardless of which we go with. It's going to be up to our development staff to make it work afterwards.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

I have been watching way too many prospect the past few weeks and none has to playmaking abilities and hands of Catton. He is so smooth, cerebral, with high IQ and elusive. I know he is not the ideal size but I have no doubt he will thrive in the NHL with better player around him. I get the size 'concerns' but at the same time I find them quite absurd, if you have a player with elite offensive abilities you cannot just discredit him because he is not the ideal size for you, he does not shy away from contact either.

On the opposite you have Lindstrom,he does look very good at first glance, who does not like a 6'4 Center that skate very well, protect well the puck, has a great shot release and hit everything that move but then you start watching him more and you realise that nobody ever mention that he handles the puck like a grenade and he has hard time connecting small distance passes never mind long stretch passes and that he is a very predictable player. I am very worried he might not even become a top 6 player and that is surprising considering every scouting service have him in the top 5 overall. For all the people that love size/strength you should start looking more at Sennecke or MBN or Greentree they don't have the pure size and power of Lindstrom but they offer more in term of hockey IQ/hands and are less predictable.

On Iginla, I am sold, very easy to see he is a NHL player. Lack explosiveness but I am not that worried about that.

Agree on every point.

In regards to Cattons size he isn’t even that small. He’s like Newhook size. Basically average sized once he fills out a bit. His scrap with Iginla shows he’s not some feather out there.

 

[Rapala]

Remember that thought when it comes to the draft and people start banging the drum for Parekh.

Parehk is the type of player you really have to insulate for him to be effective. I'm not sure how this will translate in the Pro's.
Saginaw will still have a chance at home with Hache back and last change but I'm not very impressed with their go to guys other than Beck.
Their Big Center Matyas Sapovaliv has been clueless in his own end. and
They aren't getting much from Hay or Haight, Bloom has cooled off and Christopoulos is a no show.
I think Andrew Oke has been masking a lot of problems with this club.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Parehk is the type of player you really have to insulate for him to be effective. I'm not sure how this will translate in the Pro's.
Saginaw will still have a chance at home with Hache back and last change but I'm not very impressed with their go to guys other than Beck.
Their Big Center Matyas Sapovaliv has been clueless in his own end and they aren't getting much from Hay or Haight.
I think Andrew Oke was masking a lot of problems.

It's as a result of that certainty why you don't use a 5 OA pick on this player. Particularly when there are so many other options, both on defence and forward, available.

 

[Rapala]

It's as a result of that certainty why you don't use a 5 OA pick on this player. Particularly when there are so many other options, both on defence and forward, available.

He'n no Buium that is a certainty.
I don't get hyped on rankings until the final bell tolls but Parehk is not in the equation even at 8th for us.

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

I BELIEVE

 

[WeThreeKings]

He'n no Buium that is a certainty.
I don't get hyped on rankings until the final bell tolls but Parehk is not in the equation even at 8th for us.

I'd take Parekh 10 times out of 10 over Buium.

 

[crosbyshow]

I have been watching way too many prospect the past few weeks and none has to playmaking abilities and hands of Catton. He is so smooth, cerebral, with high IQ and elusive. I know he is not the ideal size but I have no doubt he will thrive in the NHL with better player around him. I get the size 'concerns' but at the same time I find them quite absurd, if you have a player with elite offensive abilities you cannot just discredit him because he is not the ideal size for you, he does not shy away from contact either.

On the opposite you have Lindstrom,he does look very good at first glance, who does not like a 6'4 Center that skate very well, protect well the puck, has a great shot release and hit everything that move but then you start watching him more and you realise that nobody ever mention that he handles the puck like a grenade and he has hard time connecting small distance passes never mind long stretch passes and that he is a very predictable player. I am very worried he might not even become a top 6 player and that is surprising considering every scouting service have him in the top 5 overall. For all the people that love size/strength you should start looking more at Sennecke or MBN or Greentree they don't have the pure size and power of Lindstrom but they offer more in term of hockey IQ/hands and are less predictable.

On Iginla, I am sold, very easy to see he is a NHL player. Lack explosiveness but I am not that worried about that.

This!

Catton is the the 3rd best player this year. He is way better than Lindstrom and even Iginla.

He is a magician and so smart. His zone entrances with the puck are already better than Suzuki, Caufield or Slaf....off chart

If that Guy was one inch taller and 10 to 15 pounds heavier right now..not a single person in the hockey world would put Lindstrom before of him..not one

 

[Rapala]

I'd take Parekh 10 times out of 10 over Buium.

Really I'm at a loss for words. I'll be shocked if Parehk goes before Buium.

I love this time of year. Every thread turns into a draft thread.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Really I'm at a loss for words. I'll be shocked if Parehk goes before Buium.

I love this time of year. Every thread turns into a draft thread.

Right Shot. Better skater. His shot is a legitimate weapon. He's more competitive and edgy.

 

[The Great Weal]

Agree on every point.

In regards to Cattons size he isn’t even that small. He’s like Newhook size. Basically average sized once he fills out a bit. His scrap with Iginla shows he’s not some feather out there.

Newhook is not average sized, he's like 200lbs. Catton probably isn't going to gain 30lbs.

 

[Rapala]

Right Shot. Better skater. His shot is a legitimate weapon. He's more competitive and edgy.

I don't see the better skater part but there is no doubt he has better instincts offensively.
The right shot is definitely a consideration we still lack depth on that side.
I also don't see us with Hutson and Parehk as part of a balanced Dcorps.
For me it would be one or the other choose your poison.

 

[Mrb1p]

Love him but he's not average size. He's small, seen here pictured with two massive horses.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Why didn't they announce the lottery date yet? What is this amateur improvisation?

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Newhook is not average sized, he's like 200lbs. Catton probably isn't going to gain 30lbs.

Maybe not 199lbs but Catton could get to 190lbs at 5’11”

View attachment 857338

Love him but he's not average size. He's small, seen here pictured with two massive horses.

Had no issues scrapping Iginla and is listed at 5’11”.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I don't see the better skater part but there is no doubt he has better instincts offensively.
The right shot is definitely a consideration we still lack depth on that side.
I also don't see us with Hutson and Parehk as part of a balanced Dcorps.
For me it would be one or the other choose your poison.

Parekh is a shooter, buium is basically Hutson only a few inches taller. Parekh is more Mailloux than Hutson.

It's why I don't see us taking either, but if I had ti choose, it's Parekh

 

[Mrb1p]

Maybe not 199lbs but Catton could get to 190lbs at 5’11”


Had no issues scrapping Iginla and is listed at 5’11”.

It doesn't mean he's weak, weaker than Iginla or anything like that, but we don't have to make shit up, he's small. Does it matter all that much ? Not really.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

It doesn't mean he's weak, weaker than Iginla or anything like that, but we don't have to make shit up, he's small. Does it matter all that much ? Not really.

He’s listed at 5’11”, not making anything up.

 

[Mrb1p]

He’s listed at 5’11”, not making anything up.

Thats two inches below average. If what you say is that his size isn't a concern, I can agree.

 

[HuGort]

Parekh is a shooter, buium is basically Hutson only a few inches taller. Parekh is more Mailloux than Hutson.

It's why I don't see us taking either, but if I had ti choose, it's Parekh

Buium really good defensively this season. Reminds a lot of Fox when he was in college

 

[McGees]

Agree on every point.

In regards to Cattons size he isn’t even that small. He’s like Newhook size. Basically average sized once he fills out a bit. His scrap with Iginla shows he’s not some feather out there.

No he doesn't have a thick frame...Newhook is stockier than I think he will ever be.

 

[HuGort]

People need to fully understand how good Catton is and has been. This isn’t just a guy putting up points in the WHL, this is a guy who was a 1st overall pick in the WHL… captained Canada to gold at the U17… captained Canada to gold at the U18s last year… this is a guy who’s been elite at every level he’s played. And then just look at his production this past year, not many draft eligibles have put up the monster seasons in junior the way he just did.

Kid is a great player, has been and will continue to be at the next level.

Catton the guy I hoping we draft

 

[Playmaker09]

I am hoping we can find a way to trade up from our WPG pick to draft MBN. What would we need to add to that pick to get this done? Is MBN considered a top 10 pick now that is out of reach for us?

Probably 11-16, but you have to ask yourself if you had the 13th pick why would you trade down into the mid 20s?

San Jose did it in 2022 because it was a bad draft class and they were in a complete tear down rebuild and had given their previous first for Karlsson so their cupboards were bare. I don't see a similar situation existing this year.

The teams in that range all want to push for playoffs (same as us) and want players who will impact their team ASAP or in San jose's case already have a lot of quantity (multiple firsts and 2nds in the coming years). So you'll have to offer a roster player like Roy or Xhekaj to get them to budge, which we shouldn't do.