HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[SOLR]

Nurse +McDavid might get it done

Haha, I think more teams would want Nurse than you think. Particularly teams struggling to find this type of guy back there in the now.. It`s not that he`s great, it`s more than his archetype/age group mix is very rare right now.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Demidov is a small injured Russian with no record either internationally (not his fault), or professionally (somewhat his fault). The profile caries some risk.

Demidov is not small lol

More like P Kane to me. Demidov has to improve his one timer to be as effective as Kucherov. How many goals does Kucherov score with that deadly and accurate one timer? I don't think Demidov's shot is that accurate yet and I'm not talking about the one timer. He's shooting right side a lot and scoring a lot but I like Iggy's shot more. He's picking all different areas of the net. Iggy doesn't have a good one timer either though. It's difficult to develop at that high level. Game happens so fast.

We shouldn't be tied to comparing Demidov to another Russian. If that is the requirement, I would pick Datsyuk. The interesting part to the Russian forward stars is I will say 75% of them are north of 6'-0" and 200 lbs. Then you got guys like Kucherov and Datsyuk who are on the lighter side. So basically, Demidov falls in that 25% lighter but skilled/skater type.

So yeah, P Kane or Datysuk are my ceiling comparables



Long few weeks coming. This draft has me both nervous and excited. We need to hit with this pick.

I don't know how you could possibly come to this conclusion after having watched him

 

[Team_Spirit]

Is that a hypotetical or did they say that?

iirc 6, 10 and 11ov are all on the market for win-now trades

 

[SwiftyHab]

iirc 6, 10 and 11ov are all on the market for win-now trades

I don’t see anyone we’re willing to get rid of that bags us any of those picks

 

[Deebs]

Haha, I think more teams would want Nurse than you think. Particularly teams struggling to find this type of guy back there in the now.. It`s not that he`s great, it`s more than his archetype/age group mix is very rare right now.

Nurse at $9.25M for another 5 years is not a good thing. Not sure how or why teams would take that contract on. IMO of course

 

[Nevins]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1803043226904899877

 

[Kents polished head]

Funny because if you replace Barkocs with Suzuki I'd completely agree. Nick is an amazing player that is mostly dragged down by terrible team around him.

Ah totally agreed. Suzuki in underrated as well, in the sense that he's certainly more than the "60 points C" he's being evaluated as around the league by most fans.

That being said, I also happen to believe Barkov's defensive game is miles ahead, and probably in the same league as Bergeron's. I see Suzuki more as a Krejci kind of guy.

The other night (I think it was game 3) against the Oilers, he took a draw in the defensive zone with an empty net at the other end. He just tried to score right after winning the draw. He couldn't hit the net so it was an icing call.

He didn't even break a sweat and neither did Maurice because he knew that he was going to win the next draw/kill the remaining time. And that's exactly what he did.

I don't think there's a center in the whole league who's quite at this level in terms of bringing a full package of size, defensive play, offensive abilities and making his teammates better. He's a special breed.

 

[SOLR]

@Habs Halifax


Current technique on the one-timer is not awful, also at 10:15, 11:25, all showing more than just the movement but intent to hit a high target, doing so.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

There were darker days before Berg.

MT... well obviously Price was a factor, but he won a lot of games.

He sold high on Subban, acquired a cornerstone player in #14, and made the right pick at #3..at the time.

He shafted Markov.

They call him BargainBin for a reason... never wanted to pay full for Price.

He had his faults forsure, but I'll take him over Pierre Gauthier everyday of the week.

We were terrible from the late 90s to the 2000s. So yeah, they were darker days.

But in 2013 we had a great young core and a 3rd overall. If we hired even a decent GM we’d have become legit contenders. Instead… we squandered a great young core. THAT is far more tragic than just being a brutal team.

This regime has chosen a direction, is miles above at development, seems to be drafting extremely well… what’s not to like?

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

I don't know about that.. last year there was a clear need and a potential fit to plug that need (this isn't a MM vs. Reinbacher thread or anything like that so let's not rehash it) so I think that's where a lot of vitriol came from. I didn't like the pick but I certainly didn't go on social media lambasting anyone/David Reinbacher or his family (who does that though, seriously?).

This year there's really no consensus so I don't see it being as strong or hateful. I could be wrong obviously and maybe it's worse since there's so many choices that you're bound to get people who hate the pick but.. even as a "Forward at all costs" kind of poster, I can still see the good side in drafting any of the top D as well and actually really like some of them.

We'll see I guess.

Feels like the local media has been pretty universal in hammering home the notion that we're absolutely picking a forward this time, so I do expect a bit of a backlash if we go with a Dman again. It probably won't be red hot, but there's definitely going to be some heat if they go that way.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

None of this except for size is based on anything tangible. It’s just your opinion, and again, I have to question how you’ve come to that because it certainly isn’t based on results on the ice.

His 4 more assists, less goals, less points per game makes him “more complete offensively than Iginla”? How so? I’d really like an explanation that isn’t just you saying so.

And before you go off, yes stats are a huge part of the equation. Always have been, always will be.

He’s “bigger” than Iginla, but he’s weaker, slower, less explosive, less physical, and plays a perimeter game, and he’s significantly older. He’s also worse defensively, among a number of other things.

As for Catton, there is not a single thing that Sennecke does better, or even as good. He’s worse in every way, except size.

Again though, you’re drafting the player for what you think he’ll become, not what he is now. Senmecke’s growth spurt is a huge advantage for him.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

And you know this based exactly on what??

The ceiling thing gets annoying when it is declared as an irrefutable fact. What does ceiling really mean, the common fan thinks it is about offensive production when imo it is about overall impact on a game.

It is just way too subjective to use when comparing three prospects who all have a ton of potential to try and isolate one of them as the clearly having the highest ceiling.

Personally, I think the guy who broke the goal record has a pretty high ceiling.

Floor? That’s another story…

 

[Nevins]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1803058941619798226

 

[Sorinth]

And you know this based exactly on what??

The ceiling thing gets annoying when it is declared as an irrefutable fact. What does ceiling really mean, the common fan thinks it is about offensive production when imo it is about overall impact on a game.

It is just way too subjective to use when comparing three prospects who all have a ton of potential to try and isolate one of them as the clearly having the highest ceiling.

Not too mention prospects break though their draft day ceilings all the time.

 

[McGees]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1803058941619798226

Ya he won’t make it past CBJ

 

[Kents polished head]

Ya he won’t make it past CBJ

Then we'll get Lindstrom. No biggie.

I don't get the doom and gloom based on what? One inch and a back injury about which most NHL teams have probably known about for weeks?

There's no need to make things difficult. Lindstrom, Demidov or Iginla is going to be there at 5, as well as a plethora of good young Ds. Plenty of interesting potential picks.

Demidov, Lindstrom, Iginla, Catton, Dickinson, Buium, Parekh, Silayev.

Just pick one of those 8 and I'll be a happy camper.

 

[le_sean]

Ya he won’t make it past CBJ

I love the recency bias in this thread. U18 made everyone think Iginla is a 1st liner. Memorial Cup made everyone believe Dickinson is a 1D. Combine has everyone thinking Lindstrom is going to retire soon. Now a simple measurement has people worried that Demidov is unattainable. It’s very entertaining.

 

[McGees]

I love the recency bias in this thread. U18 made everyone think Iginla is a 1st liner. Memorial Cup made everyone believe Dickinson is a 1D. Combine has everyone thinking Lindstrom is going to retire soon. Now a simple measurement has people worried that Demidov is unattainable. It’s very entertaining.

I never said this because of his measurements, we already knew he was over 6tt. CBJ is rumored to like him.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I love the recency bias in this thread. U18 made everyone think Iginla is a 1st liner. Memorial Cup made everyone believe Dickinson is a 1D. Combine has everyone thinking Lindstrom is going to retire soon. Now a simple measurement has people worried that Demidov is unattainable. It’s very entertaining.

I normally don't panic about any of this (the Lindstrom stuff was hilarious) but this one seems a more legit concern. We've heard the entire time that Chicago is debating Levshunov vs Demidov. If that is a debate and the factors that edged Demidov behind Levshunov are quelled by the combine, then its reasonable to assume they could flip.

It doesn't change anything about Anaheim or CBJ as neither have been heavily rumored to want the player.

 

[Garbageyuk]

Demidov's ceiling is much higher than Lindstrom.

In your opinion. This is far from being the consensus. From what I’ve seen, a lot of lists have Lindstrom higher, as do I.

he hasn't shown prime stickhandling

You lost me here. Makes me think you haven’t even watched him. His puck protection and stick handling are his standout attributes. Not as flashy as Demidov, but just as, if not more effective. They utilize it differently.

You draft Lindstrom because he's the best now, and the most NHL ready.

Nope. I’d draft him because I believe his ceiling is higher, and that his game is more translatable to the NHL. The back injury throws a bit of a wrench in things, but if doctors say it’s not going to be a long term issue, then I take Lindstrom over Demidov 10/10 times.

 

[Hacketts]

We were terrible from the late 90s to the 2000s. So yeah, they were darker days.

But in 2013 we had a great young core and a 3rd overall. If we hired even a decent GM we’d have become legit contenders. Instead… we squandered a great young core. THAT is far more tragic than just being a brutal team.

This regime has chosen a direction, is miles above at development, seems to be drafting extremely well… what’s not to like?

I love the direction of the current team, I'm on board with them fully. Feels like we're being built the right way on a lot of levels.

My point is that the era before Bergevin was more painful than his reign.

I'd argue the team made the right pick on 3 at the time. It's easy to say now we screwed that up, but the majority of fans wanted Galchenyuk. The prospect pool he inherited was a joke, compared to what HuGo received.

Say what you want, this man also brought us the most exciting Spring we had since 93' with a team that he actually spent his $$.

You're not wrong about him missing the opportunity to turn us into something more, and the fact Carey never got that support over a sustained time is his biggest failure.

 

[le_sean]

I normally don't panic about any of this (the Lindstrom stuff was hilarious) but this one seems a more legit concern. We've heard the entire time that Chicago is debating Levshunov vs Demidov. If that is a debate and the factors that edged Demidov behind Levshunov are quelled by the combine, then its reasonable to assume they could flip.

It doesn't change anything about Anaheim or CBJ as neither have been heavily rumored to want the player.

I don’t think height was ever the issue for teams thinking of taking him. I don’t think being an inch taller than expected is going to influence much.

 

[Riggins]

This shouldn't really change anything, according to Arpon people already seemed to believe Demidov was 6 feet. What will cause him to drop to 5 is his uncertain status with his team and what they might do to him next year (along with CHI/ANA prioritizing defence).

 

[red devil]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1803083273695908314

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

I normally don't panic about any of this (the Lindstrom stuff was hilarious) but this one seems a more legit concern. We've heard the entire time that Chicago is debating Levshunov vs Demidov. If that is a debate and the factors that edged Demidov behind Levshunov are quelled by the combine, then its reasonable to assume they could flip.

It doesn't change anything about Anaheim or CBJ as neither have been heavily rumored to want the player.

Habs already have one player who will likely never be healthy. Back injuries usually only get worse. Not to mention the hand injury. HuGo have to be very sure of Lindstorm AND Demidov's prognoses.