HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[le_sean]

Question for you. Habs have - if I read things right - have seven picks in the first three rounds of 2025.

Let’s say they pick 12th.

Would you lean toward moving/bundling that
No. 12 ( with a 2nd, and/or a young D) for an established player?

I just can’t imagine they’d hang on to all seven.

Maybe they plan on sending a 6.9-9.1m offersheet this summer. That’s a 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Lots of really good RFAs available.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

I can't believe this is still 2.5 weeks away. The wait is brutal. And it won't be until draft week for the final McKenzie rankings and Pronman's final mock which he has nailed recently.

In Pronman's mock from 1 week ago (pre-combine), he had Demidov going to the habs

1. Sharks: Celebrini
2. Hawks: Levshunov
3. Ducks: Silayev
4. Jackets: Lindstrom
5. Habs: Demidov

NHL Mock Draft 2.0: Celebrini, Levshunov lead Pronman's latest projection

Corey Pronman makes his second attempt at projecting the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Mrb1p]

I'm starting to think that both Lindstrom and Demidov will be gone by the 5th pick.

It will be the second draft in a row the Habs will miss out on the better tier of forwards because they refused to tank properly.

Wdm Benson and Michkov were both there and better than #4, #5 forwards picked

Starting to feel very lonely in here for me, but I still hope that Iginla is our pick.

Nope. I'm there too. I'm there with Catton too. Lindstrom is in there too.

It's Demidov and the rest.

 

[TheBuriedHab]

If you want Demidov you have to be comfortable with:

A) He plays a third year in the MHL and stunts his development for a 2nd straight year.

Or

B) Signs a contract extension with SKA so he can play KHL and possibly not come over for 3-4 years.

All this while possibly passing up first a pairing defenseman like Buium, or other forwards in Sennecke or Iginla where you have almost full control of their development and get to interact with them whenever you want.

 

[Kaiden Ghoul]

Starting to feel very lonely in here for me, but I still hope that Iginla is our pick.

If Demidov is gone i would not be mad if we select Iggy over Lindstrom

 

[WeThreeKings]

Question for you. Habs have - if I read things right - have seven picks in the first three rounds of 2025.

Let’s say they pick 12th.

Would you lean toward moving/bundling that
No. 12 ( with a 2nd, and/or a young D) for an established player?

I just can’t imagine they’d hang on to all seven.

It really depends on who is out there. For Zegras next year? No. I think it's always a good idea to have a full pool now and be able to have ELC contributors as more of the core takes up the cap.

Would it be more palatable if we drafted for Parekh instead?

I'd be pretty pissed if we skip on a potential superstar winger again when we need offensive power in our top 6, but getting the potential best offensive defensemen of the class is not a bad consolation prize?

I just don't know who we play on PP1. Do we just put both Hutson and Parekh? When was the last time a team had 2 really good offensive defensemen in their lineup? Preds with Josi and Subban?

I'm trying to play gymnastics in my head and convince myself it's "fine" if Demidov is skipped on, but man I just hope Hughes doesn't overthink it this year.

Parekh more palatable than Buium for sure, there's way more space for options on the right and Parekh is truly special offensively. I can't make sense of how they'd structure the PP and it gets redundant there too but at least it's the less crowded side and a guy with an actual elite quality to him.

Helenius getting overlooked. Prepare yourselves muchachos.

Thank god we aren't taking him.

The complete lack of noise about Iginla tempered my expectations significantly.

I think both Iginla and Sennecke remain in the conversation if Lindstrom and Demidov are gone.

Arpon said both the Sharks and Habs had hockey reasons to pass over Michkov. Arizona because he had no interest in meeting them.

He’s not as infallible as a lot of posters make him out to be.

He's the closest to the team we got. He of course can be wrong but I certainly don't love the change in tune after coming back from the combine. That info and change comes from somewhere somehow. Maybe it's just from the doubt of other teams.

If you want Demidov you have to be comfortable with:

A) He plays a third year in the MHL and stunts his development for a 2nd straight year.

Or

B) Signs a contract extension with SKA so he can play KHL and possibly not come over for 3-4 years.

All this while possibly passing up first a pairing defenseman like Buium, or other forwards in Sennecke or Iginla where you have almost full control of their development and get to interact with them whenever you want.

I'm comfortable. We passed up this chance before we shouldn't do it again. If I have to wait for a Kaprizov level impact I got no issues with that. Last thing I want to do is sell low on a Cutter Gauthier because every team sees me coming a mile away that I can't play all my young defenseman.

If Demidov is gone i would not be mad if we select Iggy over Lindstrom

I would be mad but it's not a consideration. Lindstrom looks to be their option A.

 

[Habssince89]

The Hockey Guy did his mock and

Spoiler: spoiler

The top 5 was
Celebrini
Demidov
Levshunov
Lindstrom
Silayev

I can't imagine the reaction on here if this happened. I love THG but not sure if mocks are something he's good at. I know he follows prospects well.

Everything for me is zeroing in on the Chicago pick. I think Anaheim is going D regardless. Chicago holds our fate. If they take Demidov, Lindstrom will be gone.

 

[jaffy27]

Helenius getting overlooked. Prepare yourselves muchachos.

There’s a reason why he’s being overlooked…..probably the player I’d be most disappointed in if we drafted who’s top 15 ranked.

 

[FrankMTL]

He looks like the actor playing Jean Beliveau in his biopic

https://x.com/i/web/status/1800348798629056941

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt6290542/

I guess they're not aware that basically half of the Montreal population does this. I barely even notice when I switch from French to English or vice-versa anymore.

 

[NotProkofievian]

You gotta have 5 names if you're picking 5th. I think those names for me are Celebrini, Lindstrom, Buium, Parekh, and Iginla.

Post your 5 names people.

 

[WeThreeKings]

You gotta have 5 names if you're picking 5th. I think those names for me are Celebrini, Lindstrom, Buium, Parekh, and Iginla.

Post your 5 names people.

Celebrini
Demidov
Catton
Lindstrom
Sennecke

 

[FrankMTL]

You gotta have 5 names if you're picking 5th. I think those names for me are Celebrini, Lindstrom, Buium, Parekh, and Iginla.

Post your 5 names people.

Celebrini
Lindstrom
Demidov
Dickinson
Iginla

On another note, I would love if Elite Prospects would update their prospect rankings with all the final lists coming out.

 

[waitin425]

Starting to feel very lonely in here for me, but I still hope that Iginla is our pick.

I won't be mad

 

[A Loyal Demidog]

You gotta have 5 names if you're picking 5th. I think those names for me are Celebrini, Lindstrom, Buium, Parekh, and Iginla.

Post your 5 names people.

Celebrini
Demidov
Dickinson
Lindstrom
Levshunov

 

[waitin425]

You gotta have 5 names if you're picking 5th. I think those names for me are Celebrini, Lindstrom, Buium, Parekh, and Iginla.

Post your 5 names people.

Macklin
Dickinson
Demidov
Lindstrom
Levshunov

 

[NotProkofievian]

Reasoning:

Celebrini is the best.
You have to draft Lindstroms when you can, we probably don't get the chance.
Buium's resume is beyond reproach, all he does is win
Parekh is the only player I've watched that actually makes me think of Karlsson, unbelievable numbers
Iginla's muh boi!

 

[Seb]

You gotta have 5 names if you're picking 5th. I think those names for me are Celebrini, Lindstrom, Buium, Parekh, and Iginla.

Post your 5 names people.

Celebrini
Demidov
Lindstrom
Iginla
Catton

 

[waitin425]

Reasoning:

Celebrini is the best.
You have to draft Lindstroms when you can, we probably don't get the chance.
Buium's resume is beyond reproach, all he does is win
Parekh is the only player I've watched that actually makes me think of Karlsson, unbelievable numbers
Iginla's muh boi!

I'd take Dickinson over those two. Dickinson has almost zero risk. the left handedness is his only downside in terms of need.

if for some reason it is Lev....

Guhle - Lev
Hutson - Reinbacher
Xhekaj - Maillioux

Holy Hell that is a defence

 

[ReHabs]

You gotta have 5 names if you're picking 5th. I think those names for me are Celebrini, Lindstrom, Buium, Parekh, and Iginla.

Post your 5 names people.

Celebrini -- seems to be unanimous 1OA, I haven't looked at him at all
Levshunov -- great frame, very mobile, no brainer top5 pick
Lindstrom -- someone will overrate his frame and pick him, he's got potential to be a special player (the comparison to Roope Hintz is super cool) but I don't like the downside.
Silayev -- how can you not take a 6'7" 17 year old who played in the KHL and looked good doing it? His upside is Hedman/Chara his downside is Myers, a very safe pick. His reach and mobility are just hard to suppress.
Dickinson -- just like Levshunov, he seems like a no brainer total package type

The thing is, if I'm in a head office of an NHL team I'd probably be devouring data and video of Demidov to see if his hands really are the bee's knees (Lindstrom's are fine, nothing to write home about). If Demidov's motor + hands are as good as hyped, he should go top7 despite the KHL-factor. And then for a team like the Habs that's missing a forward playmaker more than it is missing anyone or anything else... You therefore can't forget about Catton either who doubled Iginla's output and on a rather bad WHL team. Catton's all about translatable skill. After Demidov and Catton, how can you ignore Helenius who has massive upside as a all-around super player?

Parekh outscored Dickinson but it's defensive performance that has Dickinson looking better and ahead of him. Buium is below too many d-men to go top5, not worth thinking about. Translatable skill has Lev/Silyaev/Dickinson over Buium and Parekh imo.

Last year I wanted Michkov and Benson despite their size. This year I want Catton or Demidov despite their size but would take Dickinson/Silayev/Levshunov over both if he's there. I wouldn't take Lindstrom even though his upside is mouth-watering... Slaf, Anderson, etc, we've tried the unicorn powerforward thing plenty nd still haven't had a top-tier forward playmaker, I don't think this profile is a priority and it's time to try to get a top-tier forward playmaker (or super good 1D trajectory dman).

 

[waitin425]

Celebrini -- seems to be unanimous 1OA, I haven't looked at him at all
Levshunov -- great frame, very mobile, no brainer top5 pick
Lindstrom -- someone will overrate his frame and pick him, he's got potential to be a special player (the comparison to Roope Hintz is super cool) but I don't like the downside.
Silayev -- how can you not take a 6'7" 17 year old who played in the KHL and looked good doing it? His upside is Hedman/Chara his downside is Myers, a very safe pick. His reach and mobility are just hard to suppress.
Dickinson -- just like Levshunov, he seems like a no brainer total package type

The thing is, if I'm in a head office of an NHL team I'd probably be devouring data and video of Demidov to see if his hands really are the bee's knees (Lindstrom's are fine, nothing to write home about). If Demidov's motor + hands are as good as hyped, he should go top7 despite the KHL-factor. And then for a team like the Habs that's missing a forward playmaker more than it is missing anyone or anything else... You therefore can't forget about Catton either who doubled Iginla's output and on a rather bad WHL team. Catton's all about translatable skill. After Demidov and Catton, how can you ignore Helenius who has massive upside as a all-around super player?

Parekh outscored Dickinson but it's defensive performance that has Dickinson looking better and ahead of him. Buium is below too many d-men to go top5, not worth thinking about. Translatable skill has Lev/Silyaev/Dickinson over Buium and Parekh imo.

Last year I wanted Michkov and Benson despite their size. This year I want Catton or Demidov despite their size but would take Dickinson/Silayev/Levshunov over both if he's there. I wouldn't take Lindstrom even though his upside is mouth-watering... Slaf, Anderson, etc, we've tried the unicorn powerforward thing plenty nd still haven't had a top-tier forward playmaker, I don't think this profile is a priority and it's time to try to get a top-tier forward playmaker (or super good 1D trajectory dman).

Agree with almost everything Rehabs....we are on a roll these days....you and I!

However......lumping Slaf with Anderson??????

 

[NotProkofievian]

I'd take Dickinson over those two. Dickinson has almost zero risk. the left handedness is his only downside in terms of need.

if for some reason it is Lev....

Guhle - Lev
Hutson - Reinbacher
Xhekaj - Maillioux

Holy Hell that is a defence

That's fair, I think most of the world has Dickinson and Lev ahead of Buium and Parekh.

But to me passing on these guys is just too much. What would the argument be if Parekh turns into Karlsson and you passed on him? How many more goals would he have had to score to realize who he is? Like, 50?

Buium's resume is similarly hard to believe. The guy has literally nothing left but the NHL, he'll play next season.

 

[ReHabs]

However......lumping Slaf with Anderson??????

The profile of player, powerforward winger, no one says they're comparable players. Relax he doesn't need you to chaperone him.

 

[waitin425]

That's fair, I think most of the world has Dickinson and Lev ahead of Buium and Parekh.

But to me passing on these guys is just too much. What would the argument be if Parekh turns into Karlsson and you passed on him? How many more goals would he have had to score to realize who he is? Like, 50?

Buium's resume is similarly hard to believe. The guy has literally nothing left but the NHL, he'll play next season.

Would be hard to argue IF Parekh hits that high for sure. I guess we must deal in probabilities though. Perhaps, your risk tolerance is higher. I think Dickinson's has a considerably higher floor and a high ceiling as well. I mean, using a what if argument that you used....what if Dickinson ended up like Pietrangelo, leading two different teams to the Stanley Cup?

 

[Habs Icing]

We have seven picks right now for 2025....with Savard, Dvorak, Armia, Evans, Pezzetta and Kovacevic in their last year of contract before turning UFA, we should have a whole lot more picks than seven by then.

Don't we have 12 picks already for the 2025 draft?

https://x.com/i/web/status/1800544723524075550

I have to agree with Walsh.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Would be hard to argue IF Parekh hits that high for sure. I guess we must deal in probabilities though. Perhaps, your risk tolerance is higher. I think Dickinson's has a considerably higher floor and a high ceiling as well. I mean, using a what if argument that you used....what if Dickinson ended up like Pietrangelo, leading two different teams to the Stanley Cup?

I'd take Karlsson over Pietrangelo in a redraft, cups or not. He's just a better player. For me it's about the ceiling.