HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[MON4NHLTOR4MLB]

Chicago - Levshunov
Anaheim - D
Columbus - Lindstrom

That’s the best outcome for us, no temptation to skip Demidov for project Lindstrom and we can take the future all star Russian

 

[Doublechin]

Matheson + 26 OA for NJ’s 10OA or Minnesota’s 13OA.

Draft Catton/Sennecke/Eiserman

You ain't getting Jersey's attention with Matheson, maybe Guhle or Xhekaj gets it tho

They need size and grit on D

 

[Benstheman]

Apparently Markstrom deal didn’t go down at deadline because Cgy refused to eat $$

NJ gets :
Markstrom (50%)
Jets 26OA

Calgary gets :
Matheson

Habs get :
NJ’s 10OA
Retain 50% of Markstrom salary

 

[MtlSars]

Hawks go Levshunov
Ducks go Dickinson
Jackets go Silayev

That's my feel today, let's see if anything comes out from the final day of the combine to change that

Hope is a terrible thing....

 

[Ezpz]

Look at who had good progress this year. We seem to focus on guys with suspect-looking numbers. Not Connor crisp level 0 points to ten, but like Xhekaj who put up a strong second half and has a projectable skillset and frame.

Or overagers who took big roles like engstrom or konyushkov or Davidson etc.

They seem to value size only when attached to speed or skills.

I don't think we'll be looking at any no defense skills only wingers ala Eiserman.

They also don't seem to value potential improvements for guys who didn't show improvement in their draft year. Which obviously would discount guys like Roy or Hudon drafted in the bergy era.

Which seems to have worked the past two drafts so I wouldn't get excited about high skill low chance to make it guys that are always popular on the boards.

 

[Lockin17]

If Connely is there at #26 , do you guy's pick him ?

 

[ReHabs]

All this Lindstrom talk seems a bit specious.

The two main arguments for Reinbacher in last year’s forward heavy draft were his stats versus his league and the Habs lack of depth in that role.

We have already drafted a powerforward, maybe he will be one of the best in the league, so if you go by stats and the real role we need (top tier playmaker) the arguments go for Catton and Demidov.

Obviously the Habs will do what they will do but as an intellectual exercise it doesn’t seem likely they would prioritise against the dire lack of playmaker forwards in the system.

 

[WeThreeKings]

If Connely is there at #26 , do you guy's pick him ?

Nope, he's a locker room killer.

 

[Lockin17]

NJ gets :
Markstrom (50%)
Jets 26OA

Calgary gets :
Matheson

Habs get :
NJ’s 10OA
Retain 50% of Markstrom salary

i would make that trade in a second.

 

[MtlSars]

If Connely is there at #26 , do you guy's pick him ?

With the Mailloux debacle a couple years back I think thats highly f****** unlikely.

The dream is Basha falls to 26, Lindstrom Basha in the 1st round would be quite the haul

 

[Lockin17]

Nope, he's a locker room killer.

yeah but he won't bully NHLer and with the right support that character could be broken.
Skill is there, probably top 10 skills.

With the Mailloux debacle a couple years back I think thats highly f****** unlikely.

The dream is Basha falls to 26, Lindstrom Basha in the 1st round would be quite the haul

yes that would be a winner draft

 

[WeThreeKings]

yeah but he won't bully NHLer and with the right support that character could be broken.
Skill is there, probably top 10 skills.


yes that would be a winner draft

You don't have to bully people to be a locker room killer.. if no one wants to be around you and you are a generally shitty toxic person, it can wear you down over a long season.

He also measured small.

 

[Runner77]

I think a 3 way is our best shot at Jersey's number 10.

Our best non-future core pieces are Matheson, Savard 50% retained, Anderson 50% retained, 26th overall, Flames/Florida 2025 1st, Engstrom, Barron, Struble, Harris, Montembault, and Primeau.

Agree with your list except for Anderson who is a cap dump and the Flames/Fla pick is not as appealing as it’s likely a late first (but still good to package).

Add to that some of the excess draft picks and there is mileage to be had.

 

[Runner77]

If Lindstrom didn't exist I think Nygard would have more eyes on him and I think lots of the other prospect have a bit more "shininess" to them

Iginla is the son of Jarome who was one of the hardest workers in the NHL, Hard not to root for or want him

Silayev is a Defensive freak of nature

Parekh is the best offensive defenseman since luke Hughes

Dickinson is leading his team to the Memorial Cup

Sennecke is a late riser that gets people hyped up during the boring days before the draft.

Eiserman has the best shot since Mathews.


Meanwhile Nygard goes in a straight line pushing through competition and fighting along the boards and scores. It's a simple yet effective type of play compared to the other forwards I listed but in the end a goals a goal and a point is a point.

in other mocks and rankings he goes 10-15 most of the time.

*edit* Also Devils fans like him a lot so perhaps there is some bias there.

Nygard has certainly not gone unnoticed at the Combine. He may be hardly mentioned here but where it counts, he has to be favorably appearing on most teams’ lists.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1799423538077819291

 

[Xirik]

I would definitely pick Connelly before Badinka. It's not like MTL is opposed to controversy. Might as well get the most skilled player and hope he's truly a changed man.

He might be a skilled player but I remember correctly its not like he did one bad thing and is learning from it, It was multiple things which shows a lack of intelligence and ability to change. He also is 161 lbs which is a bit under weight, He is going the NCAA route which should definitely help him with that though.

 

[salbutera]

If Connely is there at #26 , do you guy's pick him ?

Depends - did he take a dump in anyone’s bag during the interview?

 

[Sam I Am]

If Connely is there at #26 , do you guy's pick him ?

I wouldn't nor do I think the Habs will consider him. After the Mailloux debacle, it's safe to say that Connelly is DND.

 

[Simarino]

Who cares what our needs are right now! 70% of the players currently on the team will be gone in 5 years.

You take BPA. If a player ala Makar is available, would you ignore him simply it's not a need?

If teams are confident theres really a player like Makar, he wont be there at 5

 

[Sam I Am]

I was thinking this too. Timmins also lives in the Ottawa area, he would have seen LOTS of Sennecke.

The only danger is CBJ might trade down to take him and let someone who wants Demidov move up.

If Columbus swaps picks with another team who steals Demidov from under our noses, we can reciprocate by stealing Sennecke from Columbus!

 

[Xirik]

I'm finding myself unable to decipher the players this draft class.

It sounds like Demidov is a Kucherov type, Lindstrom a Byfield or Nichushkin type, and I don't know who Sennecke is - Rantanen? At any rate these are their ceiling types. What's more important than the type of player is how good they'll actually be at what they do at the NHL level. Many different types of players can be key pieces to winning a championship, not just the highest skill guys, and not just the biggest, most physically dominant guys.

Even though I don't know enough, I'm hoping for Demidov, but more looking forward to finding out who our scouts choose. The hype this year is higher level and more mysterious for me this year than in years past. A large variety of players that for all I know could boom or bust. Only 3 weeks away, yet feels like a long w as it...



Who is your comparable?

I've said this once before but to me Lindstrom stylistically is Josh Andersson if had a complete toolset of skills and a brain instead of only "great skater". What I think he can become is Lindros-lite

for Sennecke I get Claude Giroux vibes

 

[Simarino]

The more i read and think about it, i would bet on Demidov being avalaible at 5 before Lindstrom. History proved that teams will always priorize the big physical center over the skilled russian winger.

 

[Redux91]

The predators went to the cup final in 2017 with one of the deepest and most skilled defense in a long while. There lack of scoring is the reason they lost though.

The Habs forwards are already on their way to being better then the preds forward core of Arvidsson, Fisher, Johansen, Forsberg, and Neal.

Habs just need Dach to heal, Newhook to grow, and Roy to become a top 6 player. Another high end forward definitely would be nice though.

Is Monty comparable to Rinne? probably not so that another thing the Habs need but there isn't any goalie really ranked in the top 30.

Point being? There are multiple ways to skin a cat, Not that you should.

What's also interesting :
Nashville only 'got' to the Final with one of the Best D corps and great Goalie

They also 'Lost' the Cup to a team with Star and talented top 5 pick Forwards.... and what was called the weakest defense people had ever seen win a cup.

Just sayin.

 

[Sam I Am]

I've said this once before but to me Lindstrom stylistically is Josh Andersson if had a complete toolset of skills and a brain instead of only "great skater". What I think he can become is Lindros-lite

for Sennecke I get Claude Giroux vibes

Sennecke and Claude Giroux? I'd say Catton is much more reminiscent of Giroux that Sennecke is.

 

[Xirik]

The more i read and think about it, i would bet on Demidov being avalaible at 5 before Lindstrom. History proved that teams will always priorize the big physical center over the skilled russian winger.

Demidov is definitely closer to Celebrini then any of the next 14 players so if he's available at 5th you take it and run. Would be interesting after last year where people and pundits said the Hab's passed on the 2nd best player at 5th with Michkov and then get Demidov who is the 2nd best player this year at 5th OV

would be sort of storybook-ish.

 

[Xirik]

Sennecke and Claude Giroux? I'd say Catton is much more reminiscent of Giroux that Sennecke is.

you're probably right, I found it hard to think of a extremely good puck handler who can score that also fit what I think Sennecke in his prime might be.