HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Leto]

Pronman's mock does have a few eyebrow-raisers:

• The Flames skipping on Iginla
• Catton to the Sabres (Another small forward?!)
• Solberg and Eiserman at 16-17 (Would have expected Solberg at the end of the 1st round)

This will be a fun draft.

 

[Jaynki]

Honestly, i think it is very probable Demidov falls to us.

Teams reach for top pair D and top 6C whereas smaller winger fall, especially when these players have size. Its evidenced in every single draft. Reinbacher/Simashev ahead of Michkov, Benson at 13, for example in 2022.

Now we enter the draft and there is Silayev, Levshunov and Lindstrom. I personally would prefer Demidov above them, but the fact is teams reach for the Silayev's and Lindstrom's and the Demidov tend to fall a little. It is very subjective and also indicative of nothing and one would argue it is hopium and i would totally agree.

Still, worst case scenario, we have Silayev or Levshunov at our spot and even tho we already have 4 norris caliber dman in our organisation (a slight exageration) it would be very stupid to skip on one of them, in my humble opinion.

Again, in my very humble opinion and nothing more than my opinion and worthless analysis, i think if Chicago skip Demidov, strong strong chance he falls to 5 as he don't appear to be a player someone like Verbeek like and it remains to be seen for CBJ but i do think these GMs would favour a Lindstrom or 6ft3 RD or 6ft7 smooth skating LD.

 

[Saundies]

Pronman did have us taking Slaf.. This is such a hard draft to pin down though. I think everyone's just taking their best guess.

I personally have a feeling Chicago doesn't take Demidov. Literally a shot in the dark, but where Bedard is slightly undersized I can't see it.

I don't think he gets past Columbus, unfortunately.

 

[sandviper]

Taking a defenceman - even a RHD - is an admission that they screwed up last year. Does anyone think they messed up the 2023 1st pick? They're loaded with defencemen. Guhle plays like a 1st line d. Reinbacher is supposed to be the future right-handed d-man on that pair so explain to me why they would take another defenceman when prospects from 3 to 10 maybe even to 15 are interchangeable as BPA?

I don’t think so. I don’t see Mailloux as a true second pair guy. Maybe a tweener #4/#5 but not a legit #3/#4. Reinbacher I think will be. Barron, I don’t see him in our lineup.

Thus, we still lack a first pairing RHD, let alone a first pair D on either side. If a D is the BPA, and they see them as a potential first pair, that’s way more valuable than a forward. In fact, I’d argue a second pair defender is more valuable than any forward other than a first liner.

 

[Habs Icing]

I don’t think so. I don’t see Mailloux as a true second pair guy. Maybe a tweener #4/#5 but not a legit #3/#4. Reinbacher I think will be. Barron, I don’t see him in our lineup.

Thus, we still lack a first pairing RHD, let alone a first pair D on either side. If a D is the BPA, and they see them as a potential first pair, that’s way more valuable than a forward. In fact, I’d argue a second pair defender is more valuable than any forward other than a first liner.

Hence their admission of a screw-up. You use a 5th OA to draft a 2nd pair d-man?

 

[Jaynki]

Taking a defenceman - even a RHD - is an admission that they screwed up last year.

No absolutely not. It means nothing aside from them taking who they believe is their BPA.

 

[Habs Icing]

No absolutely not. It means nothing aside from them taking who they believe is their BPA.

The consensus is that picks from 3 to 10 (or 15) are interchangeable. If you picked a 1st pair RHD in 2023, you don't pick another who may or may not be the BPA while having only Dach on your 2nd line as a bonafide top 6 player.

 

[Habs Halifax]

If the Jets pick remains the same (no trades) and we are picking 24-27 range, who would be a center target with that pick?

Beck/Kapanen in our pool as true type centers. I think we could add to this and hopefully add someone who has 2C potential if we hit. Curious to see the list of names some fans have who have dug into the talent in that 15-30 range.

The consensus is that picks from 3 to 10 (or 15) are interchangeable. If you picked a 1st pair RHD in 2023, you don't pick another who may or may not be the BPA while having only Dach on your 2nd line as a bonafide top 6 player.

What do you think the chances are that teams in the 8-15 range, pick players who are ranked outside of the typical top 15 you see on most draft lists?

I tend to agree the top 13 or top 15 is stable but I thought that before and teams go off the board.

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

The consensus is that picks from 3 to 10 (or 15) are interchangeable. If you picked a 1st pair RHD in 2023, you don't pick another who may or may not be the BPA while having only Dach on your 2nd line as a bonafide top 6 player.

That won't be NHL teams consensus at all. They will be very high on specific players in that range. Your model makes it seem that NHL GM's draft primarily based on the position a player plays, but that's usually the last thing they evaluate.

 

[Jaynki]

The consensus is that picks from 3 to 10 (or 15) are interchangeable. If you picked a 1st pair RHD in 2023, you don't pick another who may or may not be the BPA while having only Dach on your 2nd line as a bonafide top 6 player.

If Silayev or Levshunov is there at 5 and Lindstrom/Demidov are gone. There is not a single forward that would justify passing on one of them even with the current constitution of our U25 core.

Getting our hands on one of these type of defenseman could probably land us a forward like Marner on the trade market.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Taking a defenceman - even a RHD - is an admission that they screwed up last year. Does anyone think they messed up the 2023 1st pick? They're loaded with defencemen. Guhle plays like a 1st line d. Reinbacher is supposed to be the future right-handed d-man on that pair so explain to me why they would take another defenceman when prospects from 3 to 10 maybe even to 15 are interchangeable as BPA?

Not sure how good Reinbacher will be. But I do think the Habs went BPA according to their board last draft.

If they take another RD in this draft, it's because they think he is BPA (again). The interchangeable BPA's in the 2-15 range is subjective on who you ask.

 

[waitin425]

I have said it once in this thread without much reaction to it so I'll try again : I see Rick Nash in Sennecke.

Same combination of Size, Speed, Shot and Elusiveness.

Anyone agree/disagree?

Very good comparable. Perry is another one.

Reinbacher better be a top pairing or it us a miss of a pick.

Mailloux is most definitely a 2nd pairing and himself could surprise some people as a top pair guy. I'm big on him.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Very good comparable. Perry is another one.

Reinbacher better be a top pairing or it us a miss of a pick.

Mailloux is most definitely a 2nd pairing and himself could surprise some people as a top pair guy. I'm big on him.

I was thinking Perry when watching Sennecke.

 

[Habs Halifax]

If Silayev or Levshunov is there at 5 and Lindstrom/Demidov are gone. There is not a single forward that would justify passing on one of them even with the current constitution of our U25 core.

Getting our hands on one of these type of defenseman could probably land us a forward like Marner on the trade market.

Not sure. I've seen too much variance in this draft year's rankings as the season went along. It's a very difficult scouting game to track progression from age 16-18 and try to project where they will be at age 20-23. Most of the growth happens from age 18-20 IMO.... for the ones who turn into legit grade A's and have great D+1 and D+2.

My drafting strategy has changed over the years. I usually target the guys I feel will break out after the draft. D+1 and D+2 is where the gains are made. Look at the difference between Wright and Slaf for example.

The guy that stands our to me to have a possible break out D+1 and D+2 is Tij Iginla. One of the hottest trending and also one of the youngest in this draft. Great size/weight at his age and very difficult to find his flaws.

Took a lot of guts to take Slaf over Wright and it will be similar to take Tij over some of the D.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Very good comparable. Perry is another one.

Reinbacher better be a top pairing or it us a miss of a pick.

Mailloux is most definitely a 2nd pairing and himself could surprise some people as a top pair guy. I'm big on him.

It's very possible the Habs have a Need/BPA strategy in terms of who we pick.

One thing to note is we went after skating/size and hot trending picks with both Slaf and Reinbacher. Whoever we pick, I think we have the same strategy. To me, that looks like Tij Iginla in this draft.

Both Slaf and Reinbacher had this on their resume:
* Hot trending player
* Size/weight
* Skating is very good
* Compete level is very good

Are fans going to go insane if we pass on both Demidov and Lindstrom and take Iggy? Would kind of remind me of passing on Wright/Michkov and taking Slaf/Reinbacher right?

Reinbacher to me is our Lindholm pick the Ducks made in 2013. Doubt he puts up 40+ pts as a D man but he's just going to be good all around. Someone you can ride 25 min a game and makes the coaches job easy

 

[Whitesnake]

All the mocks giving us Demidov seems to me like people who wants to please Habs fans.....'cause frankly no matter how you look at it Demidov is the only sure bet up front available. Lindstrom has his shortcomings and his injuries. Iginla, could very well be unable to be a top 6 player. Catton might very well be too small. And Sennecke might very well be....Sennecke. Late riser...that could go either way.

Again, another year of hopefuls.....it's just pisses me off frankly. When you look at it, it's on D that there's a better radio of quality/safest prospect. Whether it's Levshunov, Dickinson, Buium. That,s as safe yet quality players right there. Then, you have to acknowledge Parekh's year. If you acknoweldge Catton...how can you not acknowledge him.....

 

[Whitesnake]

It's very possible the Habs have a Need/BPA strategy in terms of who we pick.

One thing to note is we went after skating/size and hot trending picks with both Slaf and Reinbacher. Whoever we pick, I think we have the same strategy.

Both Slaf and Reinbacher had this on their resume:
* Hot trending player
* Size/weight
* Skating is very good
* Compete level is very good

The day that we are aiming at a forward mostly is the day you can't say we're going BPA. That's just the opposite. It,s all about the intention not the pick in itself. Yes, it's possible that in their eyes Iginla is the BPA. Sure. Let's hope he is. I have him insanely high too. But the whole BPA/need is NOT who they pick. It,s the goal before. It's the intention.

It,s the ''if he would have been a left d-man, chances are we wouldn't pick him''. And this year it's the ''we are filled with great players on left D, we are clearly missing top end forwards, so we're mostly looking at them''.

That WAS and ALWAYS IS my take on the famous BPA/Need debate. I also know it's all about projection. Still...why wouldn't Catton project well? Isn,t Brayden Point an exemple of why Catton would? Why wouldn't Parekh project well? Isn't there enough offensive d-men that might not be that liable defensively?

As far as Sennecke being a late riser....people don't question the fact that even offensively, the gap between this year and last year isn't that big. Let say....compared to Parekh or Catton?

So in the end, it's not bad enough to go Forwards solely...we are also going BIG forwards? I guess I should be happy we don't go NASTY big forwards like Ottawa did with Boucher....we might have been interested in Carson Wetsch with our No5....

 

[Habs Halifax]

The day that we are aiming at a forward mostly is the day you can't say we're going BPA. That's just the opposite. It,s all about the intention not the pick in itself. Yes, it's possible that in their eyes Iginla is the BPA. Sure. Let's hope he is. I have him insanely high too. But the whole BPA/need is NOT who they pick. It,s the goal before. It's the intention.

It,s the ''if he would have been a left d-man, chances are we wouldn't pick him''. And this year it's the ''we are filled with great players on left D, we are clearly missing top end forwards, so we're mostly looking at them''.

That WAS and ALWAYS IS my take on the famous BPA/Need debate. I also know it's all about projection. Still...why wouldn't Catton project well? Isn,t Brayden Point an exemple of why Catton would? Why wouldn't Parekh project well? Isn't there enough offensive d-men that might not be that liable defensively?

As far as Sennecke being a late riser....people don't question the fact that even offensively, the gap between this year and last year isn't that big. Let say....compared to Parekh or Catton?

So in the end, it's not bad enough to go Forwards solely...we are also going BIG forwards? I guess I should be happy we don't go NASTY big forwards like Ottawa did with Boucher....we might have been interested in Carson Wetsch with our No5....

Good context into the BPA/Need conversation.

BPA for me is who they will become at age 20-23. Not where they are today at age 17/18. Lots of players are on steep learning curves and then many others who are in stall mode and takes years to mature once they turn pro.

I'm not afraid to go against the BPA draft lists on where they are today. If there is some like Slaf, Reinbacher, Tij who are young and trending hot, I'm perfectly fine taking them... As long as their grades in skating/skill is very good.

KK was a bad need pick. He was a hot trending pick yes (U18's was good) but man, his Liiga numbers were just bad. Skating was not good too. This is the best Need pick we can find in terms of a bad strategy.

 

[Sam I Am]

Honestly, i think it is very probable Demidov falls to us.

Teams reach for top pair D and top 6C whereas smaller winger fall, especially when these players have size. Its evidenced in every single draft. Reinbacher/Simashev ahead of Michkov, Benson at 13, for example in 2022.

Now we enter the draft and there is Silayev, Levshunov and Lindstrom. I personally would prefer Demidov above them, but the fact is teams reach for the Silayev's and Lindstrom's and the Demidov tend to fall a little. It is very subjective and also indicative of nothing and one would argue it is hopium and i would totally agree.

Still, worst case scenario, we have Silayev or Levshunov at our spot and even tho we already have 4 norris caliber dman in our organisation (a slight exageration) it would be very stupid to skip on one of them, in my humble opinion.

Again, in my very humble opinion and nothing more than my opinion and worthless analysis, i think if Chicago skip Demidov, strong strong chance he falls to 5 as he don't appear to be a player someone like Verbeek like and it remains to be seen for CBJ but i do think these GMs would favour a Lindstrom or 6ft3 RD or 6ft7 smooth skating LD.

It's a real possibility that Demidov falls to us. Maybe not "very probable" as much as I'd like to think so. Ditto for Lindstrom. We very well may, as Pronman is predicting, have the luxury of choosing between the two. I'd be over the moon with either but my choice would be Demidov.

Not many people weighing in on our 2nd first round pick. It's exceedingly unlikely that we will be moving up to draft someone like Sennecke. A pipe dream, really. Almost never happens.

Unless Hughes deals the pick for a player that can help us next season, I expect we will simply draft wherever Winnipeg's pick ends up. It's really hard to know how it's going to play out when you draft so late in the first round but I hope Michael Hage is still available. Big, fast and talented. A lot to like.

Imagine coming out of the draft with Demidov and Hage as your first two picks. It would really turbocharge the offense for years to come.

 

[Habs Halifax]

It's a real possibility that Demidov falls to us. Maybe not "very probable" as much as I'd like to think so. Ditto for Lindstrom. We very well may, as Pronman is predicting, have the luxury of choosing between the two. I'd be over the moon with either but my choice would be Demidov.

Not many people weighing in on our 2nd first round pick. It's really hard to know who's going to be available when your draft so late in the first round. It's exceedingly unlikely that we will be moving up to draft someone like Sennecke. A pipe dream, really. Almost never happens. Unless Hughes deals the pick for a player that can help us next season, I expect we will simply draft wherever Winnipeg's pick ends up. And I hope Michael Havge is available. A lot to ask, I know, but imagine coming out of the draft with Demidov and Hage as your first two picks.

Call me crazy but I can see a situation where both Lindstrom and Demidov are on the board and we pass on both of them because the Habs like someone better. Slaf and Reinbacher were picks we were all surprised at to some degree.

The other part of me wonders... we pass on both Michkov and Demidov and they become stars.

 

[Shutdown]

Just gonna post the top 5 of Pronman's first mock

1. San Jose Sharks: Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University-Hockey East​

Celebrini is the consensus No. 1 pick. The Sharks GM has basically said that’s who they’re taking. We can move on.

2. Chicago Blackhawks: Artyom Levshunov, RHD, Michigan State-Big Ten​

Our colleague Scott Powers believes it’s down to Levshunov or SKA winger Ivan Demidov for Chicago. Both are great prospects, but history has shown if it’s close the NHL team often will lean to the big defenseman over the smaller winger.

3. Anaheim Ducks: Anton Silayev, LHD, Torpedo-KHL​

Anaheim is sitting in a great position because of how talented their group of young forwards are and the collection of high-end defense prospects at the top of this draft. Whether it’s Levshunov, Silayev or Sam Dickinson, the Ducks are in a great spot to leave with a big, mobile defenseman. Silayev as a huge and mean defender fits in very well with the kind of team GM Pat Verbeek wants to build. The league thinks if they go forward it would be for Cayden Lindstrom.

4. Columbus Blue Jackets: Sam Dickinson, LHD, London-OHL​

The Blue Jackets could go in a few different directions. They’ve added forwards and defensemen high in the draft in recent years although if I had to pick a need for them it would be more defensive depth. Silayev or Dickinson feel like ideal adds for them for that reason based on need and best player available. They’re not in such a bind on defense though that this pick could easily be Ivan Demidov or Cayden Lindstrom up front.

5. Montreal Canadiens: Ivan Demidov, LW, SKA-KHL​

The draft breaking this way would be ideal for the Canadiens, who many in the league believe want to add a forward in this draft. They would have their pick of Demidov, Cayden Lindstrom, Beckett Sennecke and others. Demidov is considered the second-best forward in the draft by many and would fit a need for the Habs.

Jets pick Pronman gives us Boisvert.. what a dream that would be.

reading the other options this could easily turn out

Celebrini
Demidov
Lindstrom
Silayev/Levshunov

if Silayev is the first and only D off the board i wonder if Habs go Levshunov before Sennecke/Iginla

 

[WeThreeKings]

reading the other options this could easily turn out

Celebrini
Demidov
Lindstrom
Silayev/Levshunov

if Silayev is the first and only D off the board i wonder if Habs go Levshunov before Sennecke/Iginla

They would.

That's the type of thing where you just thank your lucky stars you got the best defenseman in the draft, on the right side, two drafts in a row.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

They would.

That's the type of thing where you just thank your lucky stars you got the best defenseman in the draft, on the right side, two drafts in a row.

Well maybe the best right handed defenseman in the draft, and even that would be up for debate with Parekh

 

[WeThreeKings]

Well maybe the best right handed defenseman in the draft, and even that would be up for debate with Parekh

Any defenseman could become the best defenseman in the draft, but as of right now the total package of Levshunov is gonna go higher than the offense only package Parekh provides.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Hard to think of that perfect comparable for Sennecke, he’s got a pretty unique skill set. Seems like he’s a legit 6’3” with good speed and incredible edges for a guy that tall. He’s also got incredible hands. The accuracy on his shot is inconsistent, but the release and velocity have it looking like another potentially plus skill. He’s also a smart player with great vision. His compete is inconsistent but at times he flashes the potential to be a physical puck hound. All in all, if his shot and compete level get consistent and he’s able to add strength to his frame he could be a superstar. I do think he has an even higher ceiling than Lindstrom whose ceiling is sky high himself.