HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Mrb1p]

It's one I've thought about, too. I believe this to be the scenario where Montreal trades down if all 4 forwards that they likely want go 1-4.

I think the next 3 teams would all take D in this scenario, too: Utah, Ottawa & Seattle. Calgary could go either way. Would Calgary or Buffalo (who desperately needs RHD) want to move up to get a quality D?

Basically, it would go something like this:

1. Celebrini
2. Demidov
3. Lindstrom
4. Iginla
5. Levshunov, Silyav, Buium or Dickinson (Calgary)
6. Dickinson, etc (Utah)
7. Yakemchuk, Levshunov, or Parekh (Ottawa)
8. Buium, etc (Seattle)
9. Sennecke (Montreal)

Or

5. Buffalo: Levshunov or Yakemchuk
6. Utah: Dickinson, etc
7. Ottawa: Yakemchuk, Levshunov or Parekh
8. Seattle: Buium, etc
9. Calgary: Helenius
10. New Jersey: MBN
11. Montreal: Sennecke


For Calgary, I would accept their 2nd round pick this year (they also have Dallas's 2nd round draft pick, but I would want the higher pick) & Vancouver's 3rd in 2026.

For Buffalo, a 2nd in 2025 & 2026.

I would then package Winnipeg's pick, Calgary or Buffalo's 2nd, two 3rds (one in 2025 & 2026) to San Jose. SJS is still looking for picks. They only have TB's 3rd this year& no 3rds next year. Winnipeg's 1st and Calgary's/Buffalo 2nd would give them 4 picks in 25-45 range.

They have #14.

There are 6D, and at this point only 4 teams have picked D.

12. Philadelphia would take D, since they're terrible at that position. There should be 2 left.
13. Minnesota: Last D, Catton or Eiserman
14. Montreal (from San Jose): Catton or Eiserman

I'd pretty much jump off a bridge if they did all that to grab Eiserman

 

[Doublechin]

I remember 95% of this board (me included) wanting Wright and disliking Slafkovsky too body.

And also 95% if this board wanting Zadina.

There's wanting and there's expecting

I didn't want Zadina and wanted Dobson, I knew that Dobson was outta the convo by draft time and settled for KK, Zadina or Tkachuk being the picks.

I didn't want Wright or Slaf, personally my 2 favorites were Nemec and Cooley but once it was clear it was Wright vs Slaf I sided with the center based on positional need and value

But had I made the picks I woulda gone Dobson and Cooley on these 2 drafts

 

[MarkovsKnee]

I'd pretty much jump off a bridge if they did all that to grab Eiserman

He's not my favorite, but he's a shooter. He loves to shoot. In the playoffs, you really need offensive depth upfront, and players who want to shoot.

I'd prefer over-killing it on offensive players rather over-killing the D. I don't want to end up like Boston, NYI who have decent D, but no offense. You can get by with a big, decent, physical D with some puckmoving options. I already believe we have that in our system.

We need offensive players. A lot more.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Or they think Guhle is every bit as good as he will be, that there's no guarantee Dickinson will hit to where Guhle is now and have a higher evaluation on forwards that they have an easy path to integrate into the line up.

If you have a staunch belief you already have your 1LD 2LD and 3LD, and you've identified a top line forward that you do need, you're going to take the forward.

They're not drafting a LD. They'll get paid to drop back if the board falls in a way where a LD is clearly at the top of everyone's board, which is extremely unlikely.

When Bob's list comes out and they say there's no consensus after 1, that's the belief of NHL scouts around the NHL. There's no sure fire Dickinson is a top pairing D, otherwise the majority of NHL scouts would rank him with a consensus in the top 5 of the draft. He's not. Buium isn't. Parekh isn't.

Only Silayev and Levshunov got that support. With Silayev you are 3 seasons before he even touches NA ice, so they'll get paid to not take him.

You have to remember that Bob's list is from a miniscule percentage of NHL scouts/executives and therefore is not very meaningful when attempting to glean too much from it. I find it interesting but it is more entertainment than anything else.

Taking subjective opinion from less than 5% of the profession is not something that should be cited with any sense of authority even if it is often better than the garbage that comes from all of the other fake scouting services.

 

[bcv]

You have to remember that Bob's list is from a miniscule percentage of NHL scouts/executives and therefore is not very meaningful when attempting to glean too much from it. I find it interesting but it is more entertainment than anything else.

Taking subjective opinion from less than 5% of the profession is not something that should be cited with any sense of authority even if it is often better than the garbage that comes from all of the other fake scouting services.

Differing scouts could have differing opinions. Thank you for that insight.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Helenius in against Great Britain, hockey historians take note!

 

[WinterLion]

Then he got injured and missed the rest of the season.

You have to wonder if they pick him, are they picking the next Kirby Dach?

For sure. It may be a concern. Personally I don't think it will be. My guess is he will be gone by the time our pick comes around. But if he is there it would be very hard not to take him. He seems like a guy management will love and someone who still has a lot of runway to develop.

 

[SlafySZN]

Sennecke has been playing well since January.

He was playing well before but the points wasn’t coming as easily.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

I like David St. Louis as a scout. He made a top 16 mock draft, and has us taking Demidov. Yes, please!

 

[Mrb1p]

He's not my favorite, but he's a shooter. He loves to shoot. In the playoffs, you really need offensive depth upfront, and players who want to shoot.

I'd prefer over-killing it on offensive players rather over-killing the D. I don't want to end up like Boston, NYI who have decent D, but no offense. You can get by with a big, decent, physical D with some puckmoving options. I already believe we have that in our system.

We need offensive players. A lot more.

In that sense I'd be way happier with Cattonsky

 

[RationalExpectations]

Fans: I don't want a late riser like Sennecke!!
Also Fans: IGINLA NO MATTER WHAT!!

Bob McKenzies pre-season rankings: Sennecke HM, Igina NR.
Bob McKenzie's mid-season rankings: Sennecke 19, Iginla 16
Bob McKenzie's pre-lotto rankings: Sennecke 14, Iginla 10.

• Sennecke top 5 votes: 1; Iginla Top 5 votes: 0

You just take Levshunov and have the sickest top 4 in the league. Then work the board hard to trade whatever you need to move up and get whoever is falling between Eiserman, Helenius, Catton, Sennecke or Iginla.

I agree, take BPA.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

In that sense I'd be way happier with Cattonsky

Yeah, I'm not sure where Catton is going. I'm pretty secure in feeling the 3 teams directly behind us will all take D: Arizona, Ottawa & Seattle. He won't be taken before us.

I have Calgary taking Helenius if Iginla is not there.

I'm not sure NJ takes Catton. I feel they need size on wings more, so MBN. That leaves Buffalo. Definitely don't see them taking Catton. I have Yakemchuk going here.

So, that leaves #12, Philadelphia. Benson went #13 last draft. Philadelphia has needs everywhere. A Catton-Michkov connection would be pretty nasty and something to build some size around upfront.

 

[Doublechin]

Yeah, I'm not sure where Catton is going. I'm pretty secure in feeling the 3 teams directly behind us will all take D: Arizona, Ottawa & Seattle. He won't be taken before us.

I have Calgary taking Helenius if Iginla is not there.

I'm not sure NJ takes Catton. I feel they need size on wings more, so MBN. That leaves Buffalo. Definitely don't see them taking Catton. I have Yakemchuk going here.

So, that leaves #12, Philadelphia. Benson went #13 last draft. Philadelphia has needs everywhere. A Catton-Michkov connection would be pretty nasty and something to build some size around upfront.

Catton at the Flyers make makes lots of sense

Maybe it's their passing on Caufield redemption pick

 

[TheBuriedHab]

I like David St. Louis as a scout. He made a top 16 mock draft, and has us taking Demidov. Yes, please!

Unfortunately that's not David St Louis!

I do think that mock makes a lot of sense though. Chicago needs to add a top line forward that has size who can ride shotgun with Bedard.

 

[Benstheman]

I would take Miettinen with Winnipeg's pick if we still have it. He's ranked to go 33-50. Early 2nd.

He's a big guy who can skate & has skills. He played last year in Finland's U20, but decided to come to Canada to play for Everett this year.

It was his first year, and he got off to a slow start, but then picked it up in 2nd half. He finished with 67 pts in 66 gp, and was well above ppg in 2nd half.

I would not be surprised if he goes before #25.

This. Love him too. Probably an ideal 3rd line center with upside. Love his play around and in front of the net.

Though there are lots of possible good picks at 27.

 

[vokiel]

I think Surin and Freij will be available around 27. I'd make the selection, trade the other picks we have after it, if we must. Trading up is going to be expensive, and not worth it. Like getting Tinordi once more.

 

[Vachon23]

What about the nightmare scenario (highly unlikely)

1- MC
2-DEMI
3-lindstrom
4- Iggy Jr

Would you guys go next available forward? Catton , helenius, eiserman, sennenke etc or go top rated dman? I would personally go with zee buium think he's going go be a stud ,position wise sucks but we can always trade Matheson next year or apparently he plays both sides well or trade down to the 8-9 because in this scenario I'm sure their will be a run on dman and we can still get those forwards at 8-9

That would be a great scenario ! Getting Levshunov would be great and our top 4 would be one of the best in the league

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Unfortunately that's not David St Louis!

I do think that mock makes a lot of sense though. Chicago needs to add a top line forward that has size who can ride shotgun with Bedard.

It does make a lot of sense. I don't see NJD taking Catton. But, top 9 is what I think might happen too.

 

[Doublechin]

I think Surin and Freij will be available around 27. I'd make the selection, trade the other picks we have after it, if we must. Trading up is going to be expensive, and not worth it. Like getting Tinordi once more.

I'm starting to get on the Surin train, live his game and physicality. If scouts think he can be a middle of the lineup contributor than he's great value in the 20s.

Guy is as physical as it gets

 

[Balthazar]

Catton is more than likely on the same no draft list that Benson was last year. There's a limited amount of undersized players that you can add to your core and they already have 3 (assuming Hutson makes the cut) which is a lot and they know that. So unless the guy is on his own tier like Demidov, they aren't picking the smaller guys like Catton and Benson.

 

[Leto]

It does make a lot of sense. I don't see NJD taking Catton. But, top 9 is what I think might happen too.

I think NJD need a guy with size, motor and grit. They already have enough small-medium sized guys (J.Hughes, Bratt, Holtz, Mercer,etc). I think a guy like MBN fits that need.

I can also see them trading the pick in a package to address their goaltending situation.​

 

[Runner77]

It does make a lot of sense. I don't see NJD taking Catton. But, top 9 is what I think might happen too.

Tom Fitzgerald leaves a door open to trading the Devils’ pick but we’ve heard stuff like this before:

Snapshots: Devils, Leonard, Berube

Notes from around the NHL including New Jersey being open to moving their first-round pick, a potential suitor for Craig Berube, and more.

www.prohockeyrumors.com

 

[MarkovsKnee]

I think NJD need a guy with size, motor and grit. They already have enough small-medium sized guys (J.Hughes, Bratt, Holtz, Mercer,etc). I think a guy like MBN fits that need.

I can also see them trading the pick in a package to address their goaltending situation.​

Yeah, MBN just makes too much sense. A big, fast shooter would be a perfect fit on that team.

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

Riley Mercer is a dominant goalie in the series right now. He just had a shutout. He is 6'2" and was invited to Habs camp in 2022.
View attachment 868708View attachment 868709

How are you able to tolerate all these ads ? Use brave, my friend.

 

[Habs Icing]

Catton is more than likely on the same no draft list that Benson was last year. There's a limited amount of undersized players that you can add to your core and they already have 3 (assuming Hutson makes the cut) which is a lot and they know that. So unless the guy is on his own tier like Demidov, they aren't picking the smaller guys like Catton and Benson.

He's 5'11". I guess you consider Suzy undersized.