HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[jaffy27]

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

It’s a no brainer, Levshunov

Guhle-Lev
Hutson Reinbacher
Xhekaj-Mailloux

That has the potential to be very very scary

 

[Genghis Keon]

You’re missing the point. You can only have so many under six feet top 6 forwards. Teams with too many don’t win in the playoffs.

I think you might be missing the point. Suzuki is 5'11 212 and has already had playoff success, leading a team in scoring that made it to the Finals at 21 years old and tying for the lead in scoring on a team that made the 2nd round at 20 years old.

It seems to be a little nonsensical to put someone with his physical stature and playoff history in a category of "you don't win in the playoffs with too many guys like that" because he's an inch shorter (or half an inch shorter with rounding) than an arbitrary cutoff point.

 

[Benstheman]

It’s a no brainer, Levshunov

Guhle-Lev
Hutson Reinbacher
Xhekaj-Mailloux

That has the potential to be very very scary

If Levshunov were to be disponible at 5OA, there would be a shitload of trade offers coming Hugues way.

One that’s been proposed here that I would do with eyes shut is 9OA + Rasmus Andersson from Flames. You get a top pair D on the right side and you can still pick one of the top forward of the draft at 9OA.

You get out of the draft with a complete quality top 6 Dcore for the next 8 years :

Guhle-Andersson
Hutson-Reinbacher
Xhekaj-Mailloux

And get a much needed top 6 player in Iginla, Catton, Helenius, Sennecke or Eiserman.

 

[Habs Icing]

One of these are MTL bound:

Demidov
Lindstrom
Iginla
Sennecke

If Hugo stickle handle a little during the draft we may get two of them.

 

[NotProkofievian]

@Goldenhands as a fellow Helenius simp, there is one thing that bugs me in that he only attacks with speed when he's on the rush. On the rush he has this nice inside out cut that gives him space to dhoot.

In zone though, he's good at creating space for himself and winning board battles, but after he's done that I want to see him charge the net to get a shot, and only pass if he sees something. Like what Iginla does. He charges the goal with the full intention of deking out any defenders and scoring, but if he sees a nice option he'll take it.

If Helenius did that I'd maybe even rank him 3rd, but right now and essentially all season I've had him around 9-12.

What do you think?

 

[Doublechin]

Just watched 47 mock drafts.

69% Iggy
20% Lindstrom
10% Catton
1% Sennecke (Grant)

1/47

2%

 

[goforit]

lmao not sure if i would take the word of a blogger as gospel

as trustworthy as HF posters here

Beaudoin might not be an insider but he's reliable. If he says he spoke with a trustworthy person, he did.

 

[goforit]

For the people who keep bringing up Catton's name like he's a possibility...you can take the following Tweet the bank. This is as solid as when Leroux revealed that Michkov was on the Habs' no draft list last year.

I watched some Sennecke highlight his offensive IQ and skills are insane.

If he really had that huge growth spur lately and has just started to figure out how to use his new body, he could really be worth the 5OA.

I wouldn't be mad if he's Habs' selection.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

If Levshunov were to be disponible at 5OA, there would be a shitload of trade offers coming Hugues way.

One that’s been proposed here that I would do with eyes shut is 9OA + Rasmus Andersson from Flames. You get a top pair D on the right side and you can still pick one of the top forward of the draft at 9OA.

You get out of the draft with a complete quality top 6 Dcore for the next 8 years :

Guhle-Andersson
Hutson-Reinbacher
Xhekaj-Mailloux

And get a much needed top 6 player in Iginla, Catton, Helenius, Sennecke or Eiserman.

I suspect, with the depth/quality of this draft, regardless of who's available at 5 OA, Hughes will be fielding a lot of interest and offers for that pick. As I have said: it's good to be drafting in the top 5 of this extraordinarily deep draft.

 

[WeThreeKings]

@Goldenhands as a fellow Helenius simp, there is one thing that bugs me in that he only attacks with speed when he's on the rush. On the rush he has this nice inside out cut that gives him space to dhoot.

In zone though, he's good at creating space for himself and winning board battles, but after he's done that I want to see him charge the net to get a shot, and only pass if he sees something. Like what Iginla does. He charges the goal with the full intention of deking out any defenders and scoring, but if he sees a nice option he'll take it.

If Helenius did that I'd maybe even rank him 3rd, but right now and essentially all season I've had him around 9-12.

What do you think?

9-12 looks like the right range for him, personally.

He does a lot of things really well but everytime I watch him, I'm always left wanting more offensively.

 

[Goldenhands]

@Goldenhands as a fellow Helenius simp, there is one thing that bugs me in that he only attacks with speed when he's on the rush. On the rush he has this nice inside out cut that gives him space to dhoot.

In zone though, he's good at creating space for himself and winning board battles, but after he's done that I want to see him charge the net to get a shot, and only pass if he sees something. Like what Iginla does. He charges the goal with the full intention of deking out any defenders and scoring, but if he sees a nice option he'll take it.

If Helenius did that I'd maybe even rank him 3rd, but right now and essentially all season I've had him around 9-12.

What do you think?

Valid point, I saw him getting inside a couple of times, but he mostly shine at cycling the puck and keeping possession. Its also harder to get inside and driving the net in Liiga than it is in the CHL.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

I can almost guarantee that Helenius is VERY high on their list, he checks way too many boxes not to. Had he been just a tad bigger, I would bet he'd be far in front of Lindstrom even. The various euro scouts are probably pushing pretty heavy for him at #5.

 

[NotProkofievian]

9-12 looks like the right range for him, personally.

He does a lot of things really well but everytime I watch him, I'm always left wanting more offensively.

I agree. Feels weird to want more after he showed so much in Liiga this year, including a 3 point game in the playoffs, but there is more to want.

 

[HuGort]

I see 2 options with the pick of Winnipeg:

1- Trade the pick for a player like Necas
2- Trade up to select a player they love and who fills a specific need

For option 2, I see them going for a player with a very high floor since we already have the skills guys on the first 2 lines (Suzuki, Caufield, Dach, Slafkovsky, 2024 1st pick). These 5 players are more than enough as an offensive core to win a cup. I think they will try to go for complementary middle 6 players / role players. Here is the list of 5 players that I would target with Winnipeg's choice including 4 more role players:

1- Cole Beaudoin

Speed, grit & intangibles. If your 3rd trio is led by Beck & Beaudoin, these are players who will play on the penalty kill, who will be annoying for the opponent. I see a dynamic that each of these 2 players takes the faceoff on their strong side. He reminds me of Trent Frederic.

2- Sacha Boisvert

Probably a little further from the NHL given his USHL journey to the NCAA, but I don't think that's going to be a factor in the evaluation since we have a lot of depth up front that's going to need to be evaluated. Upside superior to other players on the list with his excellent shooting. Otherwise don't fear the physical game which is an integral part of his game. The rest of his game is average, but given his size/shooting/physical game, he's the type of player who will be targeted. Will probably be a winger at the next level, average hockey IQ.

3- Emil Hemming

Despite his excellent size, he is not a physical player. Above average skating and he has good offensive instincts, his best asset is his shot, one of the best in the draft. However, when we look at the Canadian's prospect bank, there are no skill players with good size to play on a 3rd line. I see him having this offensive role on a 3rd line with Beck and potentially Newhook.

4- Andrew Basha

Watching games and clips for Lindstrom, Basha was more visible and had the puck on his stick more often which is always a good sign. Excellent play maker, he's a poor man Catton. What will remain to be seen is to what extent he benefited from his excellent team to improve his statistics (McKenna, Lindstorm, Wiesblatt who are at 1.5 points per game). I think he could be a skills guy they like especially if they go for a size player with the 1st pick (Lindstrom, Sennecke), a bit like the selection of Mesar (skills) after that of Slafkovsky (size ).

5-Charlie Ellick

A bit like the role of Braden Schneider (physical player 5th defender, can go up as 4), I see them drafting this player because he fills a need: a defensive rock. Very good skating, but the puck is a hot potato for him. In the Canadiens' prospects as a right-handed defenseman, Barron/Mailloux have offensive roles, but no right-handed one of this type. A 3rd defensive pair composed of Xhekaj - Ellick in series with Sherwood's shots behind the opponents' backs makes me dream.

Would you put Julius Miettinen in 25 range?

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

Would you put Julius Miettinen in 25 range?

Way too high for me, I have him in the mid-second round . He starts being real great value around #50 though, I'd absolutely pick him there.

 

[Goldenhands]

I can almost guarantee that Helenius is VERY high on their list, he checks way too many boxes not to. Had he been just a tad bigger, I would bet he'd be far in front of Lindstrom even. The various euro scouts are probably pushing pretty heavy for him at #5.

If they have Helenius/Iginla/Sennecke on a similar tier, the versatility Helenius brings will be highly valued as he can play both center and wing. On another side, the other 2 have the size advantage. Its going to be an interesting draft.

 

[le_sean]

It’s a no brainer, Levshunov

Guhle-Lev
Hutson Reinbacher
Xhekaj-Mailloux

That has the potential to be very very scary

Not when they have to pass the puck to first line winger Michael Pezzetta

 

[ChesterNimitz]

One of these are MTL bound:

Demidov
Lindstrom
Iginla
Sennecke

It will be a good day then.

But what Hughes does with that very valuable Jets' first round pick will determine how good a day/draft we really have. While even a Bergevin-level General Manager would be hard pressed to screw up the pick at 5OA, it will take an intuitive General Manager to maximize that Jet's pick.

While many here are pressing for Hughes to move up in the draft to maximize that Jets, pick, I would be very hesitant to over reach /over spend in such an effort. This is a deep draft and when one looks at some the forwards who could (will) be available at the bottom of the first round: Luchanko, Vanacker, Ritchie, Hage, Beaudoin, O'Reilly, Ziemer, Parascak, Basha, Masse, Hemming, Jecho, Stiga, Letourneau, Meittinen, Greentree, Connelly , Helenius, Brandsegg-Nygard, Artamonov, and Eiserman, (all of whom would, other than the forward we probably will take at 5 OA, probably become our most promising forward prospect) I would be very judicious before entering into any transaction that has a high price tag associated with it. Perhaps that says as much as to the quality/depth of our current forward prospects as it does as to the quality / depth of the players available at the bottom of the first round in this draft.

If it was me, I would be more aggressive with the Avalanche's second rounder in an effort to move up closer to the top of the second round in order to be in a position to secure a player that I was high on. It would be a less expensive exercise and, with the depth of this draft, probably be just as an impactful move as trying to move up in the first round.

 

[bsl]

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.

I hope that Habs would define all tier 1 forwards and d men. Say 3 of each. Tier 1 means stud. Top line for sure. No doubt. If no tier 1 forwards left at 5. Take tier 1d. And if no tier 1 forwards left at 5, take the tier 1 d.

 

[bsl]

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.

Habs of the seventies hugely dependant on the big 3 d men. And guy. Lemaire was fantastic but I think Suzuki compares. Slaf compares well to shutt in a different way. If a true star d man is available at 5, and the remaining forwards are not star material, take the star d man.

 

[McGees]

Who ran those mocks, Iggy’s family?

Goes against the overwhelming majority of sources/ users I’ve been reading on Twitter. I wonder what the rationale might be.

I should say 1 of those nhl.com guys had Demidov - I just don’t see him falling that low. If Lindstrom was ever available they have Habs taking him but most have:

Celebrini
Demidov/Levshunov
Demidov/Levshunov
Lindstrom/Silayev
Lindstrom/Iggy

Who are you seeing online in mocks?

 

[Runner77]

I hope that Habs would define all tier 1 forwards and d men. Say 3 of each. Tier 1 means stud. Top line for sure. No doubt. If no tier 1 forwards left at 5. Take tier 1d. And if no tier 1 forwards left at 5, take the tier 1 d.

Basically, take the BPA, which, with such an early pick normally begets an elite player, regardless of position. Only caveat is that Hughes has said they won’t draft an LD however, there should be more than enough viable options.

 

[Runner77]

I should say 1 of those nhl.com guys had Demidov - I just don’t see him falling that low. If Lindstrom was ever available they have Habs taking him but most have:

Celebrini
Demidov/Levshunov
Demidov/Levshunov
Lindstrom/Silayev
Lindstrom/Iggy

Who are you seeing online in mocks?

Not mocks, Twitter pundits and Hab fans.

We’re in a good place this draft compared to last year where Hughes was unable to land a top 4 pick. We’ll likely come out with one of Demidov/ Lindstrom/ Iginla this time around.

 

[Anardil]

People held their nose when Leonard was mentioned last year in connection with the Habs.

Not me. I liked him at 5, since like you, I knew that Michkov was a ND.

 

[Scriptor]

If they have Helenius/Iginla/Sennecke on a similar tier, the versatility Helenius brings will be highly valued as he can play both center and wing. On another side, the other 2 have the size advantage. Its going to be an interesting draft.

Helenius, at 5'11", 181lbs, plays with an edge and initiates contact in pay zones. He's a gamer. Don't let numbers on paper fool you.