HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[SannywithoutCompy]

Trading Guhle doesn't make any sense with their whole trying to push the rebuild forward, that dials it back.

I think the argument could be made that something around Guhle for Necas and then Dickinson stepping in to his spot fairly quickly (I feel he has top pair upside and is already pretty close to top 4 level, but not sure he's smart enough to become a #1) would put as ahead in the rebuild a bit.

I guess it also depends on how you evaluate Guhle's potential. I don't know that he's a guy I want on my top pair when all is said and done, but he also hasn't had a chance to really showcase his abilities and fully establish himself.

I probably wouldn't do that trade and would just take one of Demidov/Catton and look to move 26+ for an established forward with higher potential like we've done the last 2 drafts. I think our defense just has to develop and we already have a significant roadblock going on.

 

[Habs Icing]

Which team is better long term:

Caufield - Suzuki - Slaf
Ignila/Lindstrom - Dach - Newhook
Roy - Beck - Kapanen
Tuch - RHP - Heineman

Hutson - Reinbacher
Guhle - Mailloux
Xhekaj - Barron


OR

Caufield - Suzuki - Slaf
Zegras/Necas - Dach - Newhook
Roy - Beck - Kapanen
Tuch - RHP - Heineman

Dickinson - Mailloux
Hutson - Reinbacher
Xhekaj - Barron

That's a trick question. What did you give up to get Zegras/Necas?

 

[Sorinth]

Months ago I had mentioned maybe the strategy is to pick the better version of Guhle and trade Guhle for offence. Who knows what they are thinking.

I understand he raised eyebrows at the Memorial Cup, but that is one heck of a loaded team and in the position we don’t really need.

The main problem with that strategy is that it sets back the teams window for competing. Especially for D it takes time for them to hit their stride in the NHL, so it's going to take 3-4 years minimum before they can take the reigns and be that #1 D. Everything Hughes has said and done has shown that they want to accelerate the rebuild where possible and there's zero interest in prolonging it. So trading Guhle and drafting a D is the opposite of what they want to do as it prolongs the rebuild.

Now it's possible a team makes an offer we just can't refuse in which case sure take the massive overpayment for Guhle and draft a D, but odds of that are minuscule.

 

[1000eeer]

That's a trick question. What did you give up to get Zegras/Necas?

Guhle and wpg's first round pick

 

[Sorinth]

Well they took him to dinner, so we will see if that meant anything.

As we saw with Slaf who they take to dinner doesn't mean much at all. No point in shunning a top pick just because you aren't interested in drafting him.

 

[le_sean]

The main problem with that strategy is that it sets back the teams window for competing. Especially for D it takes time for them to hit their stride in the NHL, so it's going to take 3-4 years minimum before they can take the reigns and be that #1 D. Everything Hughes has said and done has shown that they want to accelerate the rebuild where possible and there's zero interest in prolonging it. So trading Guhle and drafting a D is the opposite of what they want to do as it prolongs the rebuild.

Now it's possible a team makes an offer we just can't refuse in which case sure take the massive overpayment for Guhle and draft a D, but odds of that are minuscule.

While I agree, I also think there is no way to get an impact forward without including Guhle or multiple futures. We’ve already seen them trade a high profile LD basically 1v1 for a forward. And that was a forward with some question marks. If you want more of a sure thing, you kind of have to give up a sure thing.

 

[Habs Icing]

Just because he said it doesn’t mean anything. Its the equivalent of a GM saying he’s not going to trade a player then he trades the player a week later.

By saying he doesn’t want an LD it can create a false sense of a security for a team chasing a LD that is picking 1-2 spots behind us.

Never show your cards.

That makes no sense. If he wanted to hoodwink a team behind him that wanted a LHD he would say he would most definitely draft a LHD.

 

[Habs Icing]

Guhle and wpg's first round pick

I prefer the first lineup.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

That makes no sense. If he wanted to hoodwink a team behind him that wanted a LHD he would say he would most definitely draft a LHD.

lol.

If he says he wants a LHD and Ottawa wants a LHD they can try to trade up past Montreal to get that player.

If Ottawa likes Dickinson and so does Montreal, and they are both aware of each others interest - it incites the team below to try and reach above.

By saying he has no interest in a LHD, Ottawa or another team could run under the veil of thinking their guy will be there at their spot when infact Hughes has every intention of taking him at 5.

First time?

 

[Sorinth]

While I agree, I also think there is no way to get an impact forward without including Guhle or multiple futures. We’ve already seen them trade a high profile LD basically 1v1 for a forward. And that was a forward with some question marks. If you want more of a sure thing, you kind of have to give up a sure thing.

Yeah if you want a sure thing then generally you will have to give up something valuable, but it's also not an imperative that we add an impact top-6 forward this offseason. We can afford to be patient, and arguably should excersise that patience in order to see whether Dach can be healthy or not because if he can't be healthy then the team needs are going to be drastically different then if he is healthy and can anchor that 2nd line.

 

[JoelWarlord]

Why are you justifying NHL management's stupidity? Cole and Benson should've both went much higher than they did.

I'm not justifying it, mostly just saying it's a thing that happens and that we can take advantage of in the event we pass on Catton and pick in the 8-15 range next year. I could have made it a little more clear by saying that bad teams picking high "feel like they need to go C/D and target size high" so these players consistently fall.

I agree both players should have gone higher than they did. To the extent I'm justifying anything I'm slightly hedging in saying that both players should have gone around 7-10ish rather than top 5. With that said, while I preferred Reinbacher I wouldn't have had any real problem with taking Benson at 5 last year, nor would I have any particular problem if we draft Catton this year at 5 even if I'd rather Demidov or Lindstrom.

 

[sheed36]

Another final draft ranking I saw posted earlier today from Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News ranking his top 120 players for this draft.

His top 15.

1. Celebrini
2. Demidov
3. Silayev
4. Buium
5. Dickinson
6. Lindstrom
7. Levshunov
8. Parekh
9. Iginla
10. Helenius
11. Catton
12. Sennecke
13. Eiserman
14. Yakemchuk
15. Greentree

Full list.

https://thehockeynews.com/news/final-2024-nhl-draft-rankings-ryan-kennedys-top-120

 

[SamHabsFan]

Which team is better long term:

Caufield - Suzuki - Slaf
Ignila/Lindstrom - Dach - Newhook
Roy - Beck - Kapanen
Tuch - RHP - Heineman

Hutson - Reinbacher
Guhle - Mailloux
Xhekaj - Barron


OR

Caufield - Suzuki - Slaf
Zegras/Necas - Dach - Newhook
Roy - Beck - Kapanen
Tuch - RHP - Heineman

Dickinson - Mailloux
Hutson - Reinbacher
Xhekaj - Barron

thats a good question..if Dickinson is a surefire 1D like lets say heiskanen, I think I would go with the 2nd line up...but if management think that Hutson could be on par with Hughes and be a 1D then id rather have the 1st line up. not enough space to have two 30mins / game pairings, you're usually good with 1.

and btw, there is no way in hell Xhekaj-Barron would do good haha, both are very much prone to brainfarts

 

[Runner77]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1799107563935687015

https://x.com/i/web/status/1799110304166707684

 

[SamHabsFan]

Catton is one of my favourite players in this draft. Cant help but feel we will regret not drafting him.

same here! he would be my pick out of all the CHL forwards, I havent watch Demidov a all though so

That's a trick question. What did you give up to get Zegras/Necas?

guhle

 

[Balthazar]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1799107563935687015

https://x.com/i/web/status/1799110304166707684

He could add that when you get the chance to draft a kid that projects to be a top pairing RD you better jump on it because it's one tough position to fill. Wingers, even the high end ones, are much easier to come by.

Chicago knows that they can find a high end forward in next year's draft...or trade for one this summer. Heck, Guentzel is rumored to sign there next month.

Now if you try to sign or trade for a top pair RD...good luck.

 

[McGees]

He could add that when you get the chance to draft a kid that projects to be a top pairing RD you better jump on it because it's one tough position to fill. Wingers, even the high end ones, are much easier to come by.

Not what half this board was whining about 1 year ago lol.

 

[Saundies]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1799107563935687015

https://x.com/i/web/status/1799110304166707684

The prophets of Demigod's bless us again on this day. The cursed Blackhawks are charlatans to consider another prospect.

A pall on their organization for breaking faith. We will prevail if we hold strong.

Praise Demigod.

 

[Balthazar]

Not what half this board was whining about 1 year ago lol.

Yea, fans want an exciting team. Hawk fans want Demidov as well.

The difference here is Kyle Davidson (and Kent Hughes) are building their respective team and they know first hand the value of each piece.

Top RD >>> top winger

 

[McGees]

Yea, fans want an exciting team. Hawk fans want Demidov as well.

The difference here is Kyle Davidson (and Kent Hughes) are building their respective team and they know the value of each piece.

Top RD >>> top winger

Ya - Fans want the skilled guy that can dangle for days...
GMs want to build teams and know that size and positional needs is a key/valuable part of that...a RD that can quietly play 25min game is very valuable but boring for fans.

 

[Kaiden Ghoul]

Someone know around when Bobby Mac final list is out ?

 

[sheed36]

Someone know around when Bobby Mac final list is out ?

Usually comes out about a week or so before the draft I believe.

 

[jaffy27]

And Celebrini isn’t John Tavares as a prospect. The point was NOT a 1v1 comparison. The point was that it would be a legitimate debate if you had a surefire 1C vs a surefire 1D in the draft. But it isn’t the case here, there is no debate because Dickinson isn’t that.

You could be right, I’m no expert when it comes to projections, we’ll know for sure in 4yrs

Ya - Fans want the skilled guy that can dangle for days...
GMs want to build teams and know that size and positional needs is a key/valuable part of that...a RD that can quietly play 25min game is very valuable but boring for fans.

Sounds a lot like Reinbacher

 

[Rob Sense]

Another final draft ranking I saw posted earlier today from Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News ranking his top 120 players for this draft.

His top 15.

1. Celebrini
2. Demidov
3. Silayev
4. Buium
5. Dickinson
6. Lindstrom
7. Levshunov
8. Parekh
9. Iginla
10. Helenius
11. Catton
12. Sennecke
13. Eiserman
14. Yakemchuk
15. Greentree

Full list.

https://thehockeynews.com/news/final-2024-nhl-draft-rankings-ryan-kennedys-top-120

Solid list.

 

[MtlSars]

I like the optics of this draft for us this year. At least as far as the 1st pick is concerned.

I came out MAD at each of the last 2 drafts... They picked a late riser big winger instead of a centre with the 1st Overall, I was shaking my head in disbelief.... Then the very next year we tanked pretty good/hard and missed out on Bedard Fantili Carlsson only to pick the Rainmaker a bit of a reach at D... and skipped on the Russian winger I was told would be a phenom....

This draft at 5th overall, I feel like they can do no wrong...if Demidov and Lindstrom are not available, that means a stud fell and will be up for grabs. I'll be happy if we get Iginla, Levshunov, Dickinson.

And if we dont draft them then..... surely other teams will be willing to pay to do so...