HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[NekkiChiconey]

Catton's teammates are terrible. Makes me wonder how he even has 46 points right now. On so many shifts he just circles around, back-and-forth, while his team bubbles the puck and has to regroup after each attempted breakout. In 2 complete games I can count on one hand the amount of quality passes he has received. It's a shame really, he could create so much if fed in stride in the neutral zone.

For those who have seen even more games, where do you think he could fit in our future top-6? I would personally say he's a better fit at center.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Catton's teammates are terrible. Makes me wonder how he even has 46 points right now. On so many shifts he just circles around, back-and-forth, while his team bubbles the puck and has to regroup after each attempted breakout. In 2 complete games I can count on one hand the amount of quality passes he has received. It's a shame really, he could create so much if fed in stride in the neutral zone.

For those who have seen even more games, where do you think he could fit in our future top-6? I would personally say he's a better fit at center.

If we had the luxury of drafting Catton

Slafkovsky-Catton-Suzuki
Caufield-Dach-Newhook

 

[NekkiChiconey]

If we had the luxury of drafting Catton

Slafkovsky-Catton-Suzuki
Caufield-Dach-Newhook

I think we'll have the option to draft him. Not necessarily at our pick but, if we really want him we can make it work somehow. I don't think he goes before 7, and then at worst we should be in range to trade up from 9-10.

I like your vision but I would rather not have Newhook in the top-6 once we are playoff-bound. He could very well be our 6th best forward but he could do much more damage on a 3rd line against weaker competition, and I would prefer to complete the top-6 with size.

In 2025-26:

Caufield - Dach - Slaf
XXX - Catton - Suzuki
Newhook - Beck - Anderson

 

[HuGort]

I think we'll have the option to draft him. Not necessarily at our pick but, if we really want him we can make it work somehow. I don't think he goes before 7, and then at worst we should be in range to trade up from 9-10.

I like your vision but I would rather not have Newhook in the top-6 once we are playoff-bound. He could very well be our 6th best forward but he could do much more damage on a 3rd line against weaker competition, and I would prefer to complete the top-6 with size.

In 2025-26:

Caufield - Dach - Slaf
XXX - Catton - Suzuki
Newhook - Beck - Anderson

Usually near impossible to trade up. If we draft in early teens, probably take Connelly instead. He was good in Hlinka/Gretzky.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

This is the worst goalie draft year of all time, yeah?

Anyone even worthy of going top 3 rounds?

 

[NekkiChiconey]

Usually near impossible to trade up. If we draft in early teens, probably take Connelly instead. He was good in Hlinka/Gretzky.

I would normally agree but I believe this year might be different for a couple reasons, even though still unlikely:

1. There are many "disappointing" teams that will be picking top-12, i.e. teams that want to get competitive quickly. They could definitely be interested by one of our young defensemen to compensate the difference in picks.

2. There are many teams who are thin on D in their prospect pool that will be picking top-12. If there are 2-3 equivalent Dmen available at pick 7, I wouldn't be surprised to see a team trade down.

As for Connelly, don't think they go anywhere near him. I'm not going to be the judge of his character, but I expect they would want to avoid the media attention.

 

[SlafySZN]

As for Connelly, don't think they go anywhere near him. I'm not going to be the judge of his character, but I expect they would want to avoid the media attention.

Exactly, they won’t want some sort of controversy even if things are fine with the kid now. Sad because he’s skilled.

 

[Mrb1p]

Is Lindstrom too much like Slaf ? I've been really intrigued by him, the tools are obvious... But at some point we'll have to add cerebral players too imo.

 

[bcv]

Is Lindstrom too much like Slaf ? I've been really intrigued by him, the tools are obvious... But at some point we'll have to add cerebral players too imo.

f*** it, the Habs should just bully their way through. If they don't win, it'll at least be entertaining.

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

In 2025-26:

Caufield - Dach - Slaf
XXX - Catton - Suzuki
Newhook - Beck - Anderson

Roy has that potentiel he was great in the Q,World Juniors and now the AHL

 

[montreal]

 

[Fatbiggie]

Surprised they didn’t invite Justin Poirier from Baie-Comeau. I know he’s small but man 25 goals in 34 games…

 

[montreal]

Goal - 5:04
Slick Moves Almost Goal - 3:03

nice goal and he shows some slick hands a couple times but also shows he is a bit of a project

 

[Leto]

Goal - 5:04
Slick Moves Almost Goal - 3:03

nice goal and he shows some slick hands a couple times but also shows he is a bit of a project

He'll fit right in, the Habs sure love their projects .

 

[NekkiChiconey]

Is Lindstrom too much like Slaf ? I've been really intrigued by him, the tools are obvious... But at some point we'll have to add cerebral players too imo.

Nah, just like Byfield isn't like Slaf. Lindstrom would be amazing.

Roy has that potentiel he was great in the Q,World Juniors and now the AHL

Sure does, I've liked his progression a lot. I'm not sure where he fits in though. In this scenario (where we draft Catton) I would like more size to complete the top-6. Roy could definitely play 3LW and 2nd PP, but I think either him or Newhook could be part of a package to acquire that bigger 2LW.

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

Yep indeed. I also have Hemming very high on my list that might be there as well.

Just curious… thoughts on Artomonov?

I think we'll have the option to draft him. Not necessarily at our pick but, if we really want him we can make it work somehow. I don't think he goes before 7, and then at worst we should be in range to trade up from 9-10.

I like your vision but I would rather not have Newhook in the top-6 once we are playoff-bound. He could very well be our 6th best forward but he could do much more damage on a 3rd line against weaker competition, and I would prefer to complete the top-6 with size.

In 2025-26:

Caufield - Dach - Slaf
XXX - Catton - Suzuki
Newhook - Beck - Anderson

By 25-26 you gotta think Roy will be top 6

 

[Nevins]

Roy has that potentiel he was great in the Q,World Juniors and now the AHL

Agree with You. Remember what Connor Bedard Saïd about him?

 

[MarkovsKnee]

This is the worst goalie draft year of all time, yeah?

Anyone even worthy of going top 3 rounds?

It's not great, and there's zero need for Montreal to draft a goalie this year. We drafted 3 goalies in 2023. I would look to 2025 draft before drafting another goalie even then we could probably wait til 2026.

 

[DrBizz4r3]

I start to worry that we will miss the first tier (pt two) of forward in the next draft if we continue like that… if celibrini, demidov, eiserman, lindstrom, helenius and catton are out, do you prefer brandsegg-nygard or chernyshov to our spot? Are you high on an other forward?

 

[WeThreeKings]

I start to worry that we will miss the first tier (pt two) of forward in the next draft if we continue like that… if celibrini, demidov, eiserman, lindstrom, helenius and catton are out, do you prefer brandsegg-nygard or chernyshov to our spot? Are you high on an other forward?

MBN for sure. He's a forecheck menace. He's physical. He can finish. He's just an awesome power forward.

MBN for sure. He's a forecheck menace. He's physical. He can finish. He's just an awesome power forward.

In the worst case scenario we are still looking at a group of MBN, Ritchie, Hemming and Artamonov.

They may not be game breakers but they all have potential to become that.

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

I start to worry that we will miss the first tier (pt two) of forward in the next draft if we continue like that… if celibrini, demidov, eiserman, lindstrom, helenius and catton are out, do you prefer brandsegg-nygard or chernyshov to our spot? Are you high on an other forward?

we will start losing more after the holidays our team is simply not good enough to keep it up for a full season too many injuries and not enough talent

im sure if you look at our record last year before the holidays we wont see much of a difference in points and we finished bottom 5

and then we have to hope for some draft lottery luck or atleast give me some lotto max luck

 

[Mrb1p]

I start to worry that we will miss the first tier (pt two) of forward in the next draft if we continue like that… if celibrini, demidov, eiserman, lindstrom, helenius and catton are out, do you prefer brandsegg-nygard or chernyshov to our spot? Are you high on an other forward?

Theres no way all these guys are out, but even if they are, we have to go defense. Bolster that right side, maybe pick an actual gamebreaking talent on defense. If we get to draft a Makar or a Fox on D, we should do it regardless of strength of defense, it is just what it is.

Its two seasons in a row we don't go BPA and we pick for needs, we need to go BPA.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Theres no way all these guys are out, but even if they are, we have to go defense. Bolster that right side, maybe pick an actual gamebreaking talent on defense. If we get to draft a Makar or a Fox on D, we should do it regardless of strength of defense, it is just what it is.

Its two seasons in a row we don't go BPA and we pick for needs, we need to go BPA.

As much as I’d love a forward, go BPA.

I really like our D prospects but they’re question mark-y as hell.

If there’s a guy who can be our best D prospect and is BPA, pick him.

Having a high powered D core would be great and we’d have a surplus of prospects to make a deal

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Really want this catton kid he is uber talented

 

[NekkiChiconey]

After more research, my wishlist as of 21/12:

Celebrini
---
Lindstrom
Catton
---
Demidov
Eiserman
Helenius
---
Parekh
Dickinson

I prefer Lindstrom and Catton to Will Smith, but they're not on Carlsson/Fantilli level.