HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[sampollock]

Dude...he's 22 years old and he's been playing against opponents top lines at the NHL level. He's 4-5 years away from his prime. A lot of strong D aren't even in the NHL at his age. He's going to be a very good dman.

All of the D you mentioned are strong prospects but every single one of them has question marks. Guhle's top 4 already and still improving.

Agreed

 

[Garbageyuk]

Dude...he's 22 years old and he's been playing against opponents top lines at the NHL level. He's 4-5 years away from his prime. A lot of strong D aren't even in the NHL at his age. He's going to be a very good dman.

All of the D you mentioned are strong prospects but every single one of them has question marks. Guhle's top 4 already and still improving.

Dude, Guhle himself has question marks. He’s a top-4 NHL D, but it’s very much up in the air how much more he’ll improve.

Some D take longer to develop, some hit their potential early and stay there - e.g., Doughty, Hanifin, Ekblad, Pietrangelo, McDonagh, etc. In fact, I’d say it’s more common for good D to get there early and maintain rather than late bloomer situations, although both happen regularly.

We really don’t know for sure, but there’s really no indication that Guhle is going to suddenly become an offensive D; that’s just not his game. And I’d say it’s pretty likely that at least one of these guys will become far better than Guhle.

Guhle is a solid young D, but doesn’t and has never looked like he has franchise D, or even true 1D potential. Pretty much all these guys have that, or they wouldn’t be ranked where they are.

 

[Schooner Guy]

Dude, Guhle himself has question marks. He’s a top-4 NHL D, but it’s very much up in the air how much more he’ll improve.

Some D take longer to develop, some hit their potential early and stay there - e.g., Doughty, Hanifin, Ekblad, Pietrangelo, McDonagh, etc. In fact, I’d say it’s more common for good D to get there early and maintain rather than late bloomer situations, although both happen regularly.

We really don’t know for sure, but there’s really no indication that Guhle is going to suddenly become an offensive D; that’s just not his game. And I’d say it’s pretty likely that at least one of these guys will become far better than Guhle.

Guhle is a solid young D, but doesn’t and has never looked like he has franchise D, or even true 1D potential. Pretty much all these guys have that, or they wouldn’t be ranked where they are.

Franchise D? Please. That's reserved for players like Makar and Dahlen.
Top 10 D prospects all look like sure things until they get exposed at the NHL level and it takes them 2-3 seasons before they make a positive impact IF they don't bust.

 

[sampollock]

Franchise D? Please. That's reserved for players like Makar and Dahlen.
Top 10 D prospects all look like sure things until they get exposed at the NHL level and it takes them 2-3 seasons before they make a positive impact IF they don't bust.

Guhle is good, not franchise

 

[Garbageyuk]

Franchise D? Please. That's reserved for players like Makar and Dahlen.
Top 10 D prospects all look like sure things until they get exposed at the NHL level and it takes them 2-3 seasons before they make a positive impact IF they don't bust.

I think it’s pretty consensus that Buium, Dickinson, Silayev, and Levshunov have franchise level ceilings. Yakemchuk and Parekh do too, but are seen as less likely to reach it. Now are they all going to become franchise D? Almost certainly not, but if you’re taking one of them, you obviously think your guy does or you wouldn’t be using a top ~10 pick on him. One thing is for sure though, nobody thinks Guhle has franchise potential, now or when he was drafted.

And it’s funny you say that about Makar specifically, because Buium just had a better draft year than Makar did a D+2. Hell, Levshunov had a better draft year than Makar did in his D+1 too. Thats not to say they’ll ever be as good as him, but the point is that they are very high level prospects.

 

[Schooner Guy]

I think it’s pretty consensus that Buium, Dickinson, Silayev, and Levshunov have franchise level ceilings. Yakemchuk and Parekh do too, but are seen as less likely to reach it. Now are they all going to become franchise D? Almost certainly not, but if you’re taking one of them, you obviously think your guy does or you wouldn’t be using a top ~10 pick on him. One thing is for sure though, nobody thinks Guhle has franchise potential, now or when he was drafted.

And it’s funny you say that about Makar specifically, because Buium just had a better draft year than Makar did a D+2. Hell, Levshunov had a better draft year than Makar did in his D+1 too. Thats not to say they’ll ever be as good as him, but the point is that they are very high level prospects.

The only ones you mentioned who I believe have franchise potential are Silayev and Parekh but that's an extreme longshot and both have question marks. Levshunov has great tools but doesn't have a brain. Will Buium be able to withstand an NHL playoff heavy style? Yakemchuk can't skate backwards. Are you watching Dickinson tonight in the Memorial Cup? Not good so far. He's always been very inconsistent.

These are all strong prospects but every single one of them will need to have a lot go right in their development to become a top pairing Dman in the NHL which is what Guhle's on the verge of becoming. Also Guhle fits well with Habs culture and what they're trying to build. He's a gamer, a good teammate, works hard on his game and has captain attributes.

 

[Garbageyuk]

The only ones you mentioned who I believe have franchise potential are Silayev and Parekh but that's an extreme longshot and both have question marks. Levshunov has great tools but doesn't have a brain. Will Buium be able to withstand an NHL playoff heavy style? Yakemchuk can't skate backwards. Are you watching Dickinson tonight in the Memorial Cup? Not good so far. He's always been very inconsistent.

These are all strong prospects but every single one of them will need to have a lot go right in their development to become a top pairing Dman in the NHL which is what Guhle's on the verge of becoming. Also Guhle fits well with Habs culture and what they're trying to build. He's a gamer, a good teammate, works hard on his game and has captain attributes.

Strange take, and I don’t think many would agree with you.

You question if Buium, of all players, can handle a playoff heavy style? He shut down Celebrini and Hutson in the Frozen Four semi-final and then absolutely shut down a team that featured Will Smith, Cutter Gauthier, Ryan Leonard, and Gabriel Perreault in the championship game. Like, held them completely off the scoresheet, neutralized. He was by far the biggest reason for that and his team’s championship win. He plays in a men’s league and he put up the best season by a draft eligible NCAA D of all time this year. That’s a very odd choice to have this specific concern about, and it makes me question just how familiar you are with these players.

Levshunov has “no brain”, but his season completely blows away guys like Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar in the same league at the same age.

Yeah, very interesting take, to say the least.

 

[Schooner Guy]

Strange take, and I don’t think many would agree with you.

You question if Buium, of all players, can handle a playoff heavy style? He shut down Celebrini and Hutson in the Frozen Four semi-final and then absolutely shut down a team that featured Will Smith, Cutter Gauthier, Ryan Leonard, and Gabriel Perreault in the championship game. Like, held them completely off the scoresheet, neutralized. He was by far the biggest reason for that and his team’s championship win. He plays in a men’s league and he put up the best season by a draft eligible NCAA D of all time this year. That’s a very odd choice to have this specific concern about, and it makes me question just how familiar you are with these players.

Levshunov has “no brain”, but his season completely blows away guys like Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar in the same league at the same age.

Yeah, very interesting take, to say the least.

Have you ever watched Levshunov play a game? I'm not talking highlight reels. Bad reads, decisions, positioning and all around defensive play. I believe this will catch up with him in the NHL when he can't simply rely on his tools. He does have amazing tools and strength/power but it's awfully hard to be a top pairing dman in the NHL with weak IQ.

 

[Andrei79]

Guhle is good, not franchise

Its still too soon to tell, depending on your definition of franchise. I think he's trending as a future top pair and might be a number 1 if everything fits perfectly. When I watch Heiskanen, there are a lot of things Guhle does at the same level or that he's trending in that direction.

 

[sampollock]

Its still too soon to tell, depending on your definition of franchise. I think he's trending as a future top pair and might be a number 1 if everything fits perfectly. When I watch Heiskanen, there are a lot of things Guhle does at the same level or that he's trending in that direction.

Yup
He needs more time to grow

 

[BeliveauFan4ever]

Dickinson is good at hockey.

Big IF he’ll be there at 5. But if he is, I sure hope we’d take him.

Passing on him would be a mistake.

He’s led the comeback.

 

[ryan callahan]

Dickinson is good at hockey.

Big IF he’ll be there at 5. But if he is, I sure hope we’d take him.

Passing on him would be a mistake.

He’s led the comeback.

I think Chicago or Anaheim have got that covered. No way they pick good but flawed forwards (Demidov, Catton, Iginla, Lindstrom, etc.) over the future #1 D

 

[Whitesnake]

If Dickinson is there....and Demidov isn't..you pick Dickinson.

 

[ryan callahan]

I think draft will go :

1. Celebrini
2. Dickinson
3. Lindstrom
4. Levshunov or Silayev (Silayev is riskier as he could become Zadorov or Myers or he could blow up and become Chara or Pronger)
5. Demidov or Iginla

 

[BoneHutson]

I think draft will go :

1. Celebrini
2. Dickinson
3. Lindstrom
4. Levshunov or Silayev (Silayev is riskier as he could become Zadorov or Myers or he could blow up and become Chara or Pronger)
5. Demidov or Iginla

ANA is 100% taking Lev if hes there. At worst they take Silayev. Imo, the top 3 is this:

Celebrini
Lev
Dickinson

Only ? is CLB. Do they take the big defensive D to go with Mateychuk and Jiricek (Silayev)? Potentially the best 2way D of the draft (Buium)? The big C? Or the skilled russian winger?

 

[JoelWarlord]

All this debate and it's gonna be Celebrini Levshunov Dickinson Lindstrom/Silayev and we'll take Demidov

 

[BoneHutson]

ANA is 100% taking Lev if hes there. At worst they take Silayev. Imo, the top 3 is this:

Celebrini
Lev
Dickinson

Only ? is CLB. Do they take the big defensive D to go with Mateychuk and Jiricek (Silayev)? Potentially the best 2way D of the draft (Buium)? The big C? Or the skilled russian winger?

Like, I absolutely think theres a chance (30-40%) that both Lindstrom and Demidov are there at 5.

 

[Doublechin]

I think draft will go :

1. Celebrini
2. Dickinson
3. Lindstrom
4. Levshunov or Silayev (Silayev is riskier as he could become Zadorov or Myers or he could blow up and become Chara or Pronger)
5. Demidov or Iginla

A better skating Zadorov would be a stud in the modern NHL

 

[ryan callahan]

A better skating Zadorov would be a stud in the modern NHL

I know but you pick Silayev there you have to expect a decent offensive contribution. Zadorov was passed around the league a bunch of times before he broke out too (just like Chara and Pronger).

 

[Balthazar]

Yea Dickinson probably played his way into the top 4 if he wasn't there already.

 

[Schooner Guy]

Hold the horses on Dickinson. He had a great 3rd period but didn't look good at all in periods 1 and 2. I don't think tonight changed anything for him. Like everyone else in the top ~12 other than Celebrini, a very nice prospect with some question marks.

 

[The Last Red]

If Dickinson is there....and Demidov isn't..you pick Dickinson.

But they won’t.

 

[Michoulicious]

Little prediction: after the Memorial Cup, other people here will jump on the Dickinson hype train.

I don't care he's a LHD, to me he is BPA after Celebrini and Demidov.

So who's on the Dickinson hype train now?

Choo choo

 

[BeliveauFan4ever]

Hold the horses on Dickinson. He had a great 3rd period but didn't look good at all in periods 1 and 2. I don't think tonight changed anything for him. Like everyone else in the top ~12 other than Celebrini, a very nice prospect with some question marks.

Nope. What did Zayne do in ANY of the games?

The guy some compare to…Erik Karlsson?
I see more Gaston Gingras than Karlsson.

The entire London team was way off at the start for God knows what reason.

Dickinson elevated his team. I’ve seen him multiple times live this year. Would love him on the Habs. Posted the same words a month ago.

 

[le_sean]

Two Cup finalists

The Oilers literally only have two good defencemen

The Panthers best defenceman was a waiver wire pickup

We have enough good defenders. It’s time to draft offence.