HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[JeffreyLFC]

So tell me about this Poirier kid. Seems like he can score a goal or two.

Le Caufield Québécois. Cole Cochamp

 

[Mrb1p]

Interesting comparison in terms of value.
From the potential trade partners in that range, I don't know if that many teams would entertain such a type of trade (apart from SJS as they're still pretty barren but even they will need quality over quantity sooner or later).

Devils, Sabres, Flyers, Wild and Wings will likely aspire to make the playoffs next season. I don't know enough about their holes but if one has need for young D a deal could be made but I'm not sure Harris/Barron has enough value to land a 10-15 range pick...

I actually think the Sharks will want to trade inside the top 13. They will want to add a D in this draft, and it's a low probability that any of the top quality ones are left there, so Its either pick a forward or reach for Kivirhaju, Badinka, Elick, Mews, Jiricek.

Can we do their 2025 first vs our 2024 first ? What a gamble lol.

 

[McGees]

And that won't be all.

Next year's Habs pick will be in the 11-20 range probably, so will Calgary's, and Hughes may be in a position to sell some of Savard, Matheson, Dvorak, and Armia.

This Habs team will be very talented in the late 2020s.

CGY will be a bottom feeder, so we will get FLA late 20s pick most likely scenario.

 

[Mrb1p]

Everyone has a plan until you get punched in the face!

We'll see how we feel when one of Caufield, Dach, or Guhle goes down for months early in the season.

For me, I don't see this team getting much better unless they actually try to get better this offseason. If they add at least 1 top-6 W and a Vet RHD they should be in decent shape, if they add 2 top-6 W we should be in really good shape.

If we don't add anything it is almost guaranteed to be another top-10 pick

10 is better than 5, still. Let's not forget Cole was also playing like shit for the whole year. Just adding the 10+ goals he's going to produce is gonna be massive. This and the first 30ish games of Slaf where he recorded like 3 shots. These two coming on and dominating off the line is gonna be huge for us. Dach, Newhooks and Roys natural progression.

I'll be very optimistic here but can Gallagher, RHP, Dvorak, Armia and Anderson be any worse than they were in the first half of the season ? I don't think so.

So tell me about this Poirier kid. Seems like he can score a goal or two.

He scores goal, he's a little ball of hate, like purposely tries to hurt you, he's full of swagger, he's full of anger, he rams the net, he gets under players skin, he has a very nice pair of hands. He actually reminds me a little of a personal favorite of ours in Brink. The difference is that Poirier is just adding the physical and net front play that Brink doesn't really have. I'd say he substitutes some playmaking for that too, he's not as good as Brink on that end.

I have him in my top 30.

 

[PavelBrendl]

One position is no big deal.

Considering there could be a case made to choose any one of Buium, Dickinson or Silayev in the top 5, I disagree.

You're hindering your ability to trade down at max value if the teams you're trading with don't think you have the same target as them. It's one position, but it represents a number of the most desirable players available at the top of the order this year.

 

[Takeru]

I actually think the Sharks will want to trade inside the top 13. They will want to add a D in this draft, and it's a low probability that any of the top quality ones are left there, so Its either pick a forward or reach for Kivirhaju, Badinka, Elick, Mews, Jiricek.

Can we do their 2025 first vs our 2024 first ? What a gamble lol.

Fun scenario but I doubt they'd ever be that bold, they're still very much a bottom 5 team next year. One can dream, maybe Hughes has plans to get their GM drunk the night before the draft lol

 

[WeThreeKings]

Listened to the latest Athletic Pod with Peters, Wheeler, and Pronman.

Chicago - a race between Demidov & Levshunov, some have through Silayev, or Lindstrom or Dickinson into that mix. But colleague close to them is Demidov/Levshunov. Pronman thinks when all said is done it's the defenseman, but if you don't think its close then you'll take Demidov.

1. More Wheeler is leaning more toward Demidov for them the more he's thought about it. Looking at NHL, the teams left are built through duos. So Bedard-Demidov can be that duo for them.
2. All of Chicago's defenseman are left shot on their team and in their system which is why Silayev isn't the option for them.
3. People around the league who would take Silayev at 2
4. Fascinated about what Montreal does at 5 - Hughes vocal at desire at 5. Their mock had Lindstrom at 5. Think Montreal have a lot of work to do.
5. Talked to scouts about Lindstrom, injury stuff is a concern, a lot talking about it, and that his medicals are important.
6. Potential for a trade down, with the value of the defenseman, that it could be a lucrative situation for them.
7. Thinks Anaheim's forward strength makes them unlikely to take a forward.
8. Luchanko, Iginla, Wetsch and Beaudoin have helped their stock at the U18.
9. Cole Hutson and EJ Emery on the USA side.
10. Teddy Stiga improved his stock, he was a driver, pulling everyone into the fight, making that first big play. Little smaller, above average skater and skill, craft and creativity.
11. Liam Greentree hurt his stock at the tournament. Comparison to Artur Kaliyev there. Not the best skaters, not the highest compete, score in junior, intelligent players. Wonder if Greentree goes into the late 1st round or early 2nd. Thinks of Quentin Musty as well.
12. Cole Eiserman also hurt his stock at the tournament. Got the goals he needed to get the NTDP goal scoring record. When talking to scouts, he didn't look himself. There's growing concerns about his overall hockey sense in terms of if he's not impacting the game, does he compound that with other mistakes. The one on one skills aren't there, having trouble beating defenses, getting his shot through, all comes back to his hockey sense. Thinks he will get picked by lottery teams but more the back end of it. Tij Iginla, Catton, Helenius have vaulted themselves a fair amount passed him.
13. Feels like Sennecke has joined that group as well ahead of Eiserman. Pronman very confident Sennecke will go ahead of Eiserman on draft day.
14. Cole Beaudoin - Pronman had him in 21/22 area, might move him up a spot or two. Going to become an emerging consensus, think he will go 18-25 range. His game is likeable, high work ethic, a little bit of offense, going to become a pro center. Similar players in this draft - Stian Solberg in Norway, making people like him as he's mobile, physical, high motor and going to world championships. Jett Luchanko, compete is really strong and could go mid first now and he feels very confident he's going top 20 in this years draft.
15. Scott expects 5/6 defenseman will go in the first 8-9 picks
16. Teams always push defenseman above the forwards.
17. Wingers who are 5'10-5'11 likely going to drop down a bit
18. Beckett Sennecke - Don't think he will go top 5 but he's certainly entered the top 10 conversation. Sennecke's rise isn't only because of his playoffs. His size, his shot, the way he's bringing his game in the playoffs is enticing teams. Pronman if he did a mock he wouldnt go top 5 but he would go top 10.
19. What's the gap between Lindstrom and Catton related to? With those two players, its the size that is a concern with Catton. Everything else in his game is really great. Iginla supposed to be the goal scorer but Catton had more goals than him. Catton does so much at a high level. Lindstrom is an elite athlete, he can fly, super physical. Scout: if you believe he has decent enough hockey sense, then he can be a star. If you don't think he's smart enough, then he's a 2nd liner or a fringey 1st liner. Pronman doesn't buy that they are significantly apart. Does think Lindstrom will go higher though.
20. Who is the analytics darling of the draft? There are 2-3 names that come to mind, Zayne Parekh. Two kids over in Europe - Demidov is one, his analytics are off the charts. Liiga has been watered down, Helenius as well but he gets bonus marks from any sort of model as it hasn't accounted for the quality drop. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard as well is high on the analytics, was viewed more as a support player but the analytics show that he could have more offensive ability than people think.
21. Chances of Demidov sliding to 5 to the Habs? It's not out of the question but it's unlikely. A lot of belief that he's a top 3 forward in the draft. Contract in Russia isn't long. If he signs an extension taht would make things scarier. Some interesting things that have learned from european scouts, that most of them feel the russian risk isn't as high with him especially with his representation with Gold Star. If Chicago takes Levshunov, then what does Anaheim do, does the run on defenseman start on 2/3/4? There's always a possibility but unlikely. Demidov hype train has fired back up after his playoffs. Pronman thinks there's opportunity for teams to talk their way out of him in 2/3/4
22. Who will go way higher than the public thought? Sennecke, Beaudoin, Luchanko, Sam O'Reilly, Letourneau.

 

[Takeru]

2. A well-knowned hockey debater suggested Habs should trade their #5 pick for a young established player, similar to the Romanov-Dach trade. In the best world, the #5 pick will be ready in 3 years. His point was to accelerate the rebuilt. If a team wants the #5 pick so bad, if they really beleive in him, could they trade a young player to get that pick?

That's an enticing idea on paper, until you start trying to find that specific team that has a young established player they spent time developping and would now rather turn back the clock and take a chance on a younger less proven player in hopes of getting better value.

Very specific circumstances needed for that to happen, I feel the bar was set unrealistically high with the Dach trade on year 1, people expect that kind of high impact trade each year. (Newhook was similar but not as high value).

CHI was going full scorched earth mode back then even though they'd had a recent top 3 pick with some injury history which is why they were willing to let him go. I don't see another team with an equivalent incentive and asset, do you?

 

[WeThreeKings]

Really feels like you can lock in the top 4 as a variation of Celebrini, Demidov, Levshunov and Silayev.

If Lindstrom's medicals check out, he's probably ours.

 

[TheBuriedHab]

Man if Chicago take Demidov, they have spent a lot of draft picks on sub 6 foot forwards. Bedard, Nazar, Moore, Ludwinski, Kantserov are all top 2 round picks in the last 2 years

 

[NotProkofievian]

Really feels like you can lock in the top 4 as a variation of Celebrini, Demidov, Levshunov and Silayev.

If Lindstrom's medicals check out, he's probably ours.

I wonder who our Swedish scout will pound the table for this year. He's produced interesting picks 2 years in a row now.

 

[Goldenhands]

Really feels like you can lock in the top 4 as a variation of Celebrini, Demidov, Levshunov and Silayev.

If Lindstrom's medicals check out, he's probably ours.

It could fall this way though:

SJ: Celebrini
Chi: Lindstrom/Demidov
Anaheim: Silayev
Columbus: Lindstrom/Demidov

If Anaheim take Levshunov, there is a possibility Columbus draft Silayev, but I think Silayev fits better for Anaheim than Levshunov, they already have Mintyukov on the right side, who is more offensively oriented and somewhat in the same mold of Levshunov.

So in that scenario, Habs will have to pick one of Helenius, Iginla, Sennecke.

 

[Mrb1p]

Fun scenario but I doubt they'd ever be that bold, they're still very much a bottom 5 team next year. One can dream, maybe Hughes has plans to get their GM drunk the night before the draft lol

Maybe htey opt to trade Celebrini for 5+Reinbacher then (PLEASE)

 

[morhilane]

Man if Chicago take Demidov, they have spent a lot of draft picks on sub 6 foot forwards. Bedard, Nazar, Moore, Ludwinski, Kantserov are all top 2 round picks in the last 2 years

They will soon replace Minnesota as the smallest team.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I wonder who our Swedish scout will pound the table for this year. He's produced interesting picks 2 years in a row now.

I'm not sure..

I liked Zetterberg at the U18s before he got hurt.
Freij and Sahlin Wallenius likely go in round 1 so not them.
Lucas Pettersson had some moments but the skill looks lesser than the frame and skating.
Noel Fransen gets no love from public scouting lists but he's got a lot of talent.

Karl Sterner?
Hugo Traff?

It could fall this way though:

SJ: Celebrini
Chi: Lindstrom/Demidov
Anaheim: Silayev
Columbus: Lindstrom/Demidov

If Anaheim take Levshunov, there is a possibility Columbus draft Silayev, but I think Silayev fits better for Anaheim than Levshunov, they already have Mintyukov on the right side, who is more offensively oriented and somewhat in the same mold of Levshunov.

So in that scenario, Habs will have to pick one of Helenius, Iginla, Sennecke.

Anaheim wants right shot D or right shot forwards.. but if that scenario plays out, it's almost assured the Habs would just take Levshunov. They didn't rule out a right shot D and staring at the best D man in the draft who shoots right at 5 would be a god-send.

Guhle-Levshunov
Hutson-Reinbacher

Done.

 

[Mrb1p]

I wonder who our Swedish scout will pound the table for this year. He's produced interesting picks 2 years in a row now.

He really likes role players with upside.

They will soon replace Minnesota as the smallest team.

Sharks too. I think they picked two players over 5'11 in their last 10 top 60 picks.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Man if Chicago take Demidov, they have spent a lot of draft picks on sub 6 foot forwards. Bedard, Nazar, Moore, Ludwinski, Kantserov are all top 2 round picks in the last 2 years

They are also in for the long rebuild. They understand that getting talented player is the most important thing in hockey. Once they have a set of core talented players than will start nitpicking on size or trade picks to acquire large sized players. I think it's fine as long as you select very talented players

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I'm not sure..

I liked Zetterberg at the U18s before he got hurt.
Freij and Sahlin Wallenius likely go in round 1 so not them.
Lucas Pettersson had some moments but the skill looks lesser than the frame and skating.
Noel Fransen gets no love from public scouting lists but he's got a lot of talent.

Karl Sterner?
Hugo Traff?



Anaheim wants right shot D or right shot forwards.. but if that scenario plays out, it's almost assured the Habs would just take Levshunov. They didn't rule out a right shot D and staring at the best D man in the draft who shoots right at 5 would be a god-send.

Guhle-Levshunov
Hutson-Reinbacher

Done.

There's a guy named Zetterberg in this draft?

Let's just draft all these former Wings. What could possibly go wrong?

 

[WeThreeKings]

They are also in for the long rebuild. They understand that getting talented player is the most important thing in hockey. Once they have a set of core talented players than will start nitpicking on size or trade picks to acquire large sized players. I think it's fine as long as you select very talented players

Defenseman still take longer to develop and getting them early in your build is important. I can see them going Levshunov but that doesn't mean we get Demidov, Columbus has need for scoring.

 

[le_sean]

That's an enticing idea on paper, until you start trying to find that specific team that has a young established player they spent time developping and would now rather turn back the clock and take a chance on a younger less proven player in hopes of getting better value.

Very specific circumstances needed for that to happen, I feel the bar was set unrealistically high with the Dach trade on year 1, people expect that kind of high impact trade each year. (Newhook was similar but not as high value).

CHI was going full scorched earth mode back then even though they'd had a recent top 3 pick with some injury history which is why they were willing to let him go. I don't see another team with an equivalent incentive and asset, do you?

Plus how many Top 5 picks truly need 3 years of development anymore before being in the NHL? At most they seem to need 2. Of course they develop further in the NHL, but they still have an impact far earlier these days.

 

[rochab]

I'm calling it now... If the Canadiens keep Winnipeg's pick, we're drafting Teddy Stiga.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Really the worst case scenario for us is if Lindstrom/Demidov go with Levshunov in the top 4.

But I guess at that point you're pretty much locked in to getting paid to slide down 2-3 slots and still get Iginla/Sennecke.

 

[Leto]

There's a guy named Zetterberg in this draft?

Let's just draft all these former Wings. What could possibly go wrong?

Not just any Zetterberg, Alexander Zetterberg is a distant relative of Henrik.

 

[le_sean]

Really the worst case scenario for us is if Lindstrom/Demidov go with Levshunov in the top 4.

But I guess at that point you're pretty much locked in to getting paid to slide down 2-3 slots and still get Iginla/Sennecke.

I wonder if a team would really trade up for Silayev though. He’s risky enough to select in the Top 5, I can’t imagine a team trading multiple assets to do so.

 

[Doublechin]

Man if Chicago take Demidov, they have spent a lot of draft picks on sub 6 foot forwards. Bedard, Nazar, Moore, Ludwinski, Kantserov are all top 2 round picks in the last 2 years

I feel like this might play into their desicion making

Unless Demidov is on a tier by himself and a clear and undisputed 2, I think they go D