HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Garbageyuk]

As you mentioned in your original post, you're talking about ceilings, well then an argument can be made that 4 or 5 of the forwards can also be considered as having franchise player potential. With the way the Habs are presently constructed, I would pick a forward. I'd go even further. I would trade up the Winnipeg pick and select two forwards in the top half of the draft.

Ceiling is the same thing as potential. If you disagree with that, well, that’s a semantics debate/discussion I’m not interested in having.

As for the rest of it, that’s your opinion. I don’t agree, and that’s fine. We don’t have to agree as everyone is going to see things differently and is entitled to their opinion, but don’t try to say anything definitive or speak in absolutes like you did earlier. Neither of us knows anything for sure.

 

[Mrb1p]

I prefer having Lindholm/Salvin personally. Those guys are on the ice for almost half of the game and they are a big part of a team controlling the tempo of a game

the other calculus I consider is that’s it’s easier to find winger by trade/UFA then Dmen

Might be a preference but their value is identical on the market.


It's also not easier to find physical and wingers with size. Look around the league for those moving around, it happens very rarely.

 

[le_sean]

You said “Oh wow what defensive depth.” It didn’t make them better. Players get out of rhythm, they are not as effective with lower minutes.„

I think it is premature to see the Habs as a top defensive team. I like Guhle but he has never even played a fully healthy season yet. Struble Harris Xhekaj are likely rather bottom pair Dmen on a good team. Engstrom has top 4 potential but no idea if he ll realize it. Barron is a question mark, I don t think he is as bad as many think but nothing makes me think he is a sure top 4. Mailloux Hutson have played one game in the NHL, Reinbacher not even one. Pick BPA, if Buium is the next Hughes, you don t pass on him because you have a bunch of potential Savard / Zadorov on your team (and I really like those two players as 5Ds)

Studs need minutes. That’s the point. There are guys that you can trust and excel with 24 mins a game. Having 5 defencemen like that and playing them 18 mins a game isn’t a benefit.

Guys like Dickinson and Buium are not Hedman or Makar. They are marginally better than Guhle, Hutson. It’s a waste of a 5th overall pick to add a player that doesn’t move the needle because, again, we already have the guys to play a lot of minutes.

No one is talking about David Savard. I wouldn’t base a pick off of him.

 

[Garbageyuk]

I think I might get in on the passive aggressive and rudimentary sarcastic comments and start seething because someone else has a different online hockey opinion than me like this other guy. Seems like it could be pretty constructive . Oh wait, I forgot I’m an adult who can handle different opinions without acting like a middle schooler . Too bad.

 

[montreal]

Parekh Hit in Face 9:57
Dickinson Assist (Nice Rush) 24:41
Dickinson Goal 25:58

 

[Habs Icing]

Wait a few more days and the number of franchise tags will double.

Well not to toot my own horn but I think I did that. Using the other poster's logic I claimed besides the 4 franchise d-men we may also have 3 to 5 franchise forwards. So you don't have to wait a few days. I gave you instant gratification. You are welcome.

 

[Habs Icing]

You said “Oh wow what defensive depth.” It didn’t make them better. Players get out of rhythm, they are not as effective with lower minutes.„

I think it is premature to see the Habs as a top defensive team. I like Guhle but he has never even played a fully healthy season yet. Struble Harris Xhekaj are likely rather bottom pair Dmen on a good team. Engstrom has top 4 potential but no idea if he ll realize it. Barron is a question mark, I don t think he is as bad as many think but nothing makes me think he is a sure top 4. Mailloux Hutson have played one game in the NHL, Reinbacher not even one. Pick BPA, if Buium is the next Hughes, you don t pass on him because you have a bunch of potential Savard / Zadorov on your team (and I really like those two players as 5Ds)

Are you serious? You correct Sean because he says we have more than enough d-men. Your counter-argument is that they have little experience and then you mention a d-man who hasn't played a second of the pro game.

 

[Sam de Mtl]

It is getting to the point where I hope for Dickinson at #5 more than for a forward to drop by having Dickinson go above. Demidov is the only forward after Celibrini who I would want ahead of Dickinson.

Cayden Lindstrom is ofc an enticing option.

If top 4 goes Celibrini/Demidov/Dickinson/Levshunov (in any order) as I expect it to go, Lindstrom will be a fine option as well, but I feel like Dickinson will be a more special player and he would be the prize.

 

[Habs Icing]

It is getting to the point where I hope for Dickinson at #5 more than for a forward to drop by having Dickinson go above. Demidov is the only forward after Celibrini who I would want ahead of Dickinson.

Cayden Lindstrom is ofc an enticing option.

If top 4 goes Celibrini/Demidov/Dickinson/Levshunov (in any order) as I expect it to go, Lindstrom will be a fine option as well, but I feel like Dickinson will be a more special player and he would be the prize.

But you have Dickinson going in the top 4. You can just as easily say Lindstrom will be a fine option but Celebrini would be a special player.

 

[Sam de Mtl]

But you have Dickinson going in the top 4. You can just as easily say Lindstrom will be a fine option but Celebrini would be a special player.

Yes I know. A few weeks ago only it seemed like he may be available. We will see. There is talk around Silayev. Some players are more interesting to scouts than fans, so maybe one of my top 4 guys will fall.

 

[TheBuriedHab]

I get the feeling they go Sennecke over Lindstrom at 5

 

[A Loyal Demidog]

I get the feeling they go Sennecke over Lindstrom at 5

If they do go Sennecke over everyone else at 5, I really hope they're onto something. This is a can't miss year (our probable last super high draft pick in a while).

 

[Runner77]

If they do go Sennecke over everyone else at 5, I really hope they're onto something. This is a can't miss year (our probable last super high draft pick in a while).

Gotta give you a @Tyson standard badge of good sense on that:

%

 

[TheBuriedHab]

If they do go Sennecke over everyone else at 5, I really hope they're onto something. This is a can't miss year (our probable last super high draft pick in a while).

Well that goes for anyone they draft. There is no consensus in this draft.

 

[Jack Skellington]

Been trying to watch more full game footage of Sennecke, Catton, Lindstrom, Iginla. I actually think I prefer Sennecke to the rest. Some of his passing and handling habits remind me a bit of Smith last year in a much larger frame. (Not saying he does them at the same level). He has some very unique movements that I’m not sure I’ve even seen before. I know this is scary after the Kotkaniemi saga but if he can actually improve his balance and add some mass he could be very special. Also watched a full game of Dach in his draft year and I think they compare quite well. Dach was obviously a lot sturdier, not having such a growth spurt, but Sennecke has a bit more flash and stick skills. I was surprised at his work rate and defensive skill. A bit of nastiness too. I don’t think he’s Jason Spezza but I wouldn’t want to put a ceiling on him either.

I like all four players but I found Lindstrom a bit too pedestrian a lot of the time, waiting for others too much. Especially in the 2 games I saw after returning from injury, so won’t hold that against him. I do think his passing and puck management is a bit underrated on here though. He’s also very shifty and agile for his size. Good at getting open at the right time for scoring chances. I would definitely find it hard to pass on him if he was there at 5 just because his physical package is so rare. I feel a lot more confident in our current dev team to mold him than I would have in the Bergevin era. I also really really liked his interviews and attitude, I think Habs brass will as well. He seems like an awesome kid.

Iginla is a workhorse but his puck management and offensive decision making sometimes strike me as more 2nd liner or very good third wheel on a top line. The fact that he’s so young and obviously with the genetics and upbringing who knows how high his potential could be, he’s improving rapidly. His footwork and edges are elite and I really like his shot.

Cattons IQ is extremely high and the puck is constantly following him and leading to scoring chances even when he’s just making routine plays, similar to Kucherov. My eyes might be deceiving me but I find his skating underwhelming. I don’t think it’s bad or anything but I don’t think it’s like Cooley level, which at his size I would want in the top 5 picks. I think if he becomes a Brayden Point type of player there’s gonna be a lot of revisionist history about the teams that passed on him but I don’t see too many people clamouring for us to take him at 5. I think there’s a pretty good chance he’s more productive than the guy we take at 5 but we do have to worry about roster composition at this point.

Just my .02

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

We’re taking a forward. The whole story of this draft beyond Celebrini is there is no consensus. Teams are going to take the guys who check the boxes for them, it’ll be a very needs based draft picks 2-12. For us that’s going to be a forward with size. We will take the top one on our board.

 

[Jack Skellington]

I think I might get in on the passive aggressive and rudimentary sarcastic comments and start seething because someone else has a different online hockey opinion than me like this other guy. Seems like it could be pretty constructive . Oh wait, I forgot I’m an adult who can handle different opinions without acting like a middle schooler . Too bad.

There’s a lot of bickering back and forth, and making silly passive aggressive fanboy remarks whenever someone questions anything about the player people have selected as ‘their guy’. Not a whole lot of discussing actual hockey players playing hockey. I’m sure I’ve done it in the past plenty of times but it really makes these threads hostile and hard to read. It’s like people get attached to some of these players and feel they must protect them.

 

[Andrei79]

I'm sorry but I don't see it whatsoever. Heiskanen has dominated all 3 zones for pretty much his whole career and led his team to the Finals as a 20 year old. I think he's got Guhle beat on pretty much everything.

I see Guhle more as a Hampus Lindholm type player and there is nothing wrong with that.

Hah come on man, you truncated that post. I mention the paragraph before that I think he can be a top pair D, I'm not saying he's a top 5D in the league. I also there are parts of his game, obviously not all of it. A Lindholm type with Guhles speed is fantastic. It's a player that would have parts of his game at Heiskanens level .

 

[Mrb1p]

I'm sorry but I don't see it whatsoever. Heiskanen has dominated all 3 zones for pretty much his whole career and led his team to the Finals as a 20 year old. I think he's got Guhle beat on pretty much everything.

I see Guhle more as a Hampus Lindholm type player and there is nothing wrong with that.

Who's who ?

(A) Year one: 22 points
(B) Year one: 16 points
(A) Year two: 22 points
(B) Year two: 19 points

Well see if Guhle can take the next step, but he's pretty much held up to Heiskanen in production at 5v5.

Year three of Miro for bonus: 13 in 55.
Year four of Miro for bonus: 21 in 70.

The difference between Miro and Kaiden is powerplay time, so far in their development, unless you want to bicker about age, then sure.

The thing is though, we don't need Miro Heiskanen who's to me, the 3rd, 4th or 5th best D in the league. We need one that gets close to that, Guhle will.

 

[Jaynki]

All in for Sennecke at 5.

He feels more raw than the 3 other most popular option (Lindstrom, Tij, Demidov) but i would not be surprised if he ends up the best player of this bunch.

One cannot ignore his skill level, tools, and ultimate upside.

I would be comfortable with all 4 but i know Sennecke at 5 would make people death threat him and the organisation but he has the potential to be a sincere homerun pick.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Draft prospect hockey updated there mock draft simulator with McKenzie and Button list. Here is what I did

5: Tij Iginla
26: Michael Hage
46: Cole Beaudoin
66: Justin Poirier
78: Ben Danford
130: Alexandre Blais
166: Austin Burnevik
198: Justin Gendron
222: Jack Pridham

Beaudoin is very likely in that 22-32 range. He's a late 1st rounder or really early 2nd rounder.

This is a ridiculous draft. Lol

I like Blais and I'm looking for Montreal to take him with one of our 3rd round picks.

 

[Benstheman]

I think we end up with Demigod.

1-Celebrini
2-Silayev
3-Levshunov
4-Dickinson

 

[SlafySZN]

All in for Sennecke at 5.

He feels more raw than the 3 other most popular option (Lindstrom, Tij, Demidov) but i would not be surprised if he ends up the best player of this bunch.

One cannot ignore his skill level, tools, and ultimate upside.

I would be comfortable with all 4 but i know Sennecke at 5 would make people death threat him and the organisation but he has the potential to be a sincere homerun pick.

Demidov is probably their main target but if he goes 2-4 then Sennecke is really in play for the pick.

I think i’d go Lindstrom just because of the package of size, nastiness and skill. Would be very hard to pass on that. But Sennecke has something unique.

 

[Jabba11]

Dickinson is nice but this is a classic case of recency bias

No because Parekh's stock didn't rise because of his recent performance at the Mem Cup. Recency bias is more Exposure bias. People didn't watch a certain amounts of prospects, then when they are seen on a more mainstream platform, then you can see what they are and if they project to be good.

Zeev Buium, tremendous run in NCAA Championship. When it was the NCAA frozen four and Championship, his stock rose like crazy. It's not recency bias, but just exposure that people didn't get to see him. Same with Dickinson. It's an opportunity to showcase themselves.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Interesting tidbit on Basu/Godin

They were talking about the combine and Godin was saying, we don't know enough yet to say oh well they prefer Iginla to Sennecke for example.

Basu misheard Godin as if he said they prefer Iginla to Sennecke and Basu jumped on it and seemed to indicate that the sense he got was it was the other way around and that the small man skill in the big frame is something this front office and scouting staff is very high on.

They also mentioned how important Lindstroms health was to them.

Basu pushed back against the notion Demidov won't be there at 5, too.

Really feels like Demidov-Lindstrom-Sennecke is the order where we are sitting today.