HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Kents polished head]

If Anaheim wants to go D, and Columbus is dead set on going forward, I would imagine they'd be interested in swapping picks with us if we added some kind of sweetener like, say, the 26th pick or one of next season's 1st round picks.

If they're not interested in doing so, there's two possibilities;

- The optimistic one; Columbus is not so dead set on picking a forward.
- The pessimistic one; Anaheim is not so dead set on picking a D.

 

[salbutera]

Biased as he's my favourite forward from the draft, but I have this lingering feeling that Catton is a real possibility at 5, especially with Lindstrom going top 4 and echoes of Demidov slowly sliding.

Hughes hasn't shied from commiting to players he likes, he brings a driver and transitional play element that's missing from the top 6, comes with less risk than Demidov, and provides the team with more control over his development, which seems like a key aspect HuGo.

We know he has met with the team at the combine and throughout the season. He can play wing or center. The final Bob list will be very telling, but if he's ranked top 10, I think he's Montreal bound.

Zero chance, zilch

 

[montreal]

If Demidov was Jonathan Laliberté and played in the Q, we'd actually be able to compare him to the rest of the draft class better.

One of the problems with the MHL/VHL/KHL right now is its hard to actually compare them to other leagues. At least the KHL is a mens leagues with players who have played in the AHL/NHL, but we don't actually no how the MHL currently compares to the Q. All we can go on is the tantalizing tools Demidov has displayed.

There's going to be questions especially if teams couldn't get live views as I'm sure that will be a big deal for any teams that didn't.

In context though for me when you look past the league but more what he's done there. He broke the record for most points in the MHL's history for U-18 last year and then this season if he didn't miss so much time he likely would have crushed the U-19 points record of 105 pts. He did break Kucherov's U-19 ppg record for anyone that played more then 4 games. He also is the all time leader in MHL history in ppg among U-19's with more then 52 games played.

The list of MHL U-19 skaters with more then 52 games,

Demidov - 99 games - 1.46 ppg
Nikita Gusev - 86 - 1.35
Kucherov - 117 - 1.32
Michkov - 84 - 1.27
Danila Yurov - 64 1.16

Elite Prospects - MHL Stats All-time totals

All-time/historical regular season stats and leaders for MHL, including top goal scorers, most games played, PPG leaders and more.

www.eliteprospects.com

 

[Captain Mountain]

There's going to be questions especially if teams couldn't get live views as I'm sure that will be a big deal for any teams that didn't.

In context though for me when you look past the league but more what he's done there. He broke the record for most points in the MHL's history for U-18 last year and then this season if he didn't miss so much time he likely would have crushed the U-19 points record of 105 pts. He did break Kucherov's U-19 ppg record for anyone that played more then 4 games. He also is the all time leader in MHL history in ppg among U-19's with more then 52 games played.

The list of MHL U-19 skaters with more then 52 games,

Demidov - 99 games - 1.46 ppg
Nikita Gusev - 86 - 1.35
Kucherov - 117 - 1.32
Michkov - 84 - 1.27
Danila Yurov - 64 1.16

Elite Prospects - MHL Stats All-time totals

All-time/historical regular season stats and leaders for MHL, including top goal scorers, most games played, PPG leaders and more.

www.eliteprospects.com

Its more a question of how much does MHL production mean now compared to when, say, Kucherov was playing there. When hockey in Russia is closed off from the rest of the world, it becomes harder to try to nail down how much that actually means. It doesn't mean Demidov isn't a great prospect, its just that there isn't as much of an analytic/stats argument or a comparative argument (through WJC/ U-18s) to make, so you're relying on fitness testing and scouting (and probably mostly live viewings).

For instance, we know that scoring in the OHL and WHL doesn't translate in the same way it did, say, 10 years ago. All we can say stats-wise for Demidov is that he's torched the MHL for two years - its just not clear if that translates.

 

[jaffy27]

Been saying for a long time that Lindstrom would go before Demidov and I believe that will be the case if Chicago passes. Don't see a world where Columbus doesn't take the big skilled and speedy centerman.

If Chicago takes Demidov were likely drafting a defenseman.

If Chicago Drafts Demidov, you get on the phone with Anaheim and pitch a proposal to swap picks.

Columbus is maybe going Silayev, Dickinson or Lindstrom….I’m not taking that chance if I’m the Habs and I have Lindstrom as #2 on my list after Celebrini.

 

[dcyhabs]

The combine thread didn’t really say anything but I wonder if the results for Iginla and Lindstrom will help them. Koivu got dome top 5s and a couple of not do known guys did pretty well. We’ll see how the next rankings go.

 

[sheed36]

I don't follow prospects closely so how much better would Demidov be compared to Catton really?

The reason I ask is it doesn't seem like Catton is even considered an option for the Habs @ 5 right now (mainly due to his lack of size) but yet Demidov who is pretty much the same size as Catton would be perfectly fine to draft @ 5 it seems.

I'm assuming Demidov is the more skilled player between the 2 since he's always ranked higher than Catton on draft ranking lists but how much better is he really?

 

[WeThreeKings]

I was pretty surprised they think 2025 is much weaker draft. There are around 15 very good players this year, but even at U18 WC younger players were dominant. Hagens, Martone, Radivojevic, Misa and bunch of other players who have size and skill. I think it is exact opposite and 2025 seems stronger and deeper.

Me too. 2025 has Hagens Ryabkin Frondell Martone and I'd have a hard time picking any forward not named Celebrini over these guys and even then.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

I always end up talking myself into wanting at least 10 different guys in the first round every year, there's never a truly bad crop in my world My only problem is not having enough picks. I fully admit I'm a draft nut though, I spend way too much time on that stuff.

 

[Andrei79]

If Chicago Drafts Demidov, you get on the phone with Anaheim and pitch a proposal to swap picks.

Columbus is maybe going Silayev, Dickinson or Lindstrom….I’m not taking that chance if I’m the Habs and I have Lindstrom as #2 on my list after Celebrini.

I would guess Lindstrom is their #2 forward after Celebrini too. He'd be a great fit with it or behind Bedard. It's him or one of the D, likely Levshunov.

 

[ReHabs]

Really? Even over Demidov for you? I'm all aboard the take a D-man train if they're the best, I'd take Dickinson if Lindstrom was the one available.

I’m not so hot on Demidov (maybe I’m missing something) but I feel Catton’s a better prospect… and Dickinson a better prospect than both.

 

[Egresch]

Me too. 2025 has Hagens Ryabkin Frondell Martone and I'd have a hard time picking any forward not named Celebrini over these guys and even then.

The good news for us, 2025 is weak draft for D, but deep for F with size.
A- teams, especially rebuilding CHI, ANA will draft D in 2024 and we might get forward of our choice
B- we might not draft in top 10 in 2025, but still draft great F

 

[Skip Bayless]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1800620037494956191

He's going to make so many jabronis eat their words in 3 years.

All the tools to be one of the greatest goal scorers the game has ever seen.

 

[Team_Spirit]

Dear HFHomies, fret not I got this.

-Your friend Nick

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

Dear HFHomies, fret not I got this.

-Your friend Nick

Do you think he would smoke me out ? He seems like a pretty cool dude .

 

[Skip Bayless]

Dear HFHomies, fret not I got this.

-Your friend Nick

It's ya boy Nicky B.

 

[waitin425]

I'm more comfortable with Buium than Parekh, and both more than Connelly, but it feels like this is a draft where size+physicality is getting more hype.

I'm legitimately wondering if there's a trade framework that would have Hutson go to San Jose and Montreal get Pittsburgh's 1st, with the Habs parlaying that pick and Winnipeg's to get New Jersey's or Buffalo's pick. Not that I want to trade Hutson, but Buium and one of Demidov, Lindstrom, Iginla or Catton may be better for Montreal in the long run (and better manage their young D pipeline).

Hutson is a no go for me. He is two years further along than Buium. Probably a top 10 in a 2022 redraft. Buium is a mystery box.

 

[montreal]

Its more a question of how much does MHL production mean now compared to when, say, Kucherov was playing there. When hockey in Russia is closed off from the rest of the world, it becomes harder to try to nail down how much that actually means. It doesn't mean Demidov isn't a great prospect, its just that there isn't as much of an analytic/stats argument or a comparative argument (through WJC/ U-18s) to make, so you're relying on fitness testing and scouting (and probably mostly live viewings).

For instance, we know that scoring in the OHL and WHL doesn't translate in the same way it did, say, 10 years ago. All we can say stats-wise for Demidov is that he's torched the MHL for two years - its just not clear if that translates.

for sure as the talk has been the KHL is a bit watered down due to the situation in Russia the past few years now but he's at least showing 2 years in a row he is breaking records in the league so that clearly means something but if you can't get to see him live I'm sure it's a big issue.

 

[Habricot]

How would Catton compare against guys like Seth Jarvis, Zach Benson and Logan Cooley at the same age. How would you rank them..?

 

[Redux91]

Man, I absolutely hate HF from the 'after the season but before the draft' time period lol..

It's gone from
'Pffff EASY pick for Chicago @ 2, Demidov, lock.'
To
'Whoa Demidov fell and is there at 5, the Habs pick, ARE WE SURE HE'S THE GUY?? HMMM'

It's just unreal lol

If Demidov is somehow there at 5, they will take him. Let's stop this lol

 

[Andrei79]

Who are all of yous candidate for a trade up in the 10-13 range ?

Yakemchuk is someone I would really, really like to add to our group. He'd be so nasty with Xhekaj or Guhle.

Catton and Sennecke as well, for reasons we know. Sennecke looks like he'll be picked very high though.

 

[vokiel]

Man, I absolutely hate HF from the 'after the season but before the draft' time period lol..

It's gone from
'Pffff EASY pick for Chicago @ 2, Demidov, lock.'
To
'Whoa Demidov fell and is there at 5, the Habs pick, ARE WE SURE HE'S THE GUY?? HMMM'

It's just unreal lol

If Demidov is somehow there at 5, they will take him. Let's stop this lol

Sooo.. They'll pick a right handed man right?

 

[Milhouse40]

Man, I absolutely hate HF from the 'after the season but before the draft' time period lol..

It's gone from
'Pffff EASY pick for Chicago @ 2, Demidov, lock.'
To
'Whoa Demidov fell and is there at 5, the Habs pick, ARE WE SURE HE'S THE GUY?? HMMM'

It's just unreal lol

If Demidov is somehow there at 5, they will take him. Let's stop this lol

Most likely.....but then again this why is some see Demidov falling.

If Habs project more than 2 of the big D prospect as future top pairing D......then I'm not 100% sure they go with Demidov. Positional value will matter in this draft so is the usual bias towards size.

 

[Saundies]

If we pass on both Michkov and Demidov for D and they are the next two Russian phenoms in the show I'm going to literally have an aneurysm.

 

[Habs7631]

Who are all of yous candidate for a trade up in the 10-13 range ?

Yakemchuk is someone I would really, really like to add to our group. He'd be so nasty with Xhekaj or Guhle.

Catton and Sennecke as well, for reasons we know. Sennecke looks like he'll be picked very high though.

Parekh and Eiserman