HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[David Suzuki]

Mentions Kravtsov as a horror story to what happens when you bounce around like that

Interesting. I do feel like Demidov is leaps and bounds ahead of where Kravtsov was at 18 so I'm not sure I get the comparison beyond where they were born and played before they were drafted. It's not ideal obviously to be a in a below average league in your D+1 but talent is talent, and Montreal at the very least, has shown an ability to help players through the growing pains when they were seen as being unready by most (Slaf). Idk not worried about it at all, hope some GM's/scouts are tho just not ours lol.

 

[WeThreeKings]

People sleeping on Buium. He’s legit.
Won’t even be mad if we picked him despite our 17 NHL D logjam. (Demidov is gone no later than 4 imo)

No one is sleeping on him, he's getting overhyped because he was in a very productive environment in the NCAA, flashed at the WJCs and people watched him play a good game against Fowler.

The tool kit is not all that special and I have the same doubts on him as we have on Hutson, I'm not taking a 2 inch taller Hutson at 5.

 

[Trabdy2]

It's so hard to imagine us taking Buium when we already have Hutson and need a forward.

The forward situation can't wait much longer - we're so far away in terms of talent up front.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Interesting. I do feel like Demidov is leaps and bounds ahead of where Kravtsov was at 18 so I'm not sure I get the comparison beyond where they were born and played before they were drafted. It's not ideal obviously to be a in a below average league in your D+1 but talent is talent, and Montreal at the very least, has shown an ability to help players through the growing pains when they were seen as being unready by most (Slaf). Idk not worried about it at all, hope some GM's/scouts are tho just not ours lol.

The context is that Kravtsov wasn't ready for the NHL after playing in the MHL/VHL/KHL and the bridge was to go to the AHL and he didn't like it there, so he went back, then came back to the NHL, and bounced around between leagues and didn't really have a stationary development path.

So teams are worried, OK he comes over after another year in the MHL-VHL-KHL and he's probably not NHL ready, so will he accept going to junior? Will he go to the AHL and like it? If he doesn't like it does he go back to the KHL for a few years? It's a horror story of a development path with too many zigs and zags. That's all he meant.

 

[EveryDay]

One of Demidov/Lindstrom/Iginla/Levshunov please!

 

[morhilane]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1803437314628035006

Have to think there would be a trade to acquire a forward if this ends up happening.

My take from this post: Grant knows a guy who knows guys in the Denvers staff and they have Buium at 5 so that means Montréal are in love with him. Wut?

Looks like some teams really want Montréal to take a LD at 5. I wonder why (I don't actually).

 

[NotProkofievian]

The sweet smell of panic is in the air

 

[McGees]

No one is sleeping on him, he's getting overhyped because he was in a very productive environment in the NCAA, flashed at the WJCs and people watched him play a good game against Fowler.

The tool kit is not all that special and I have the same doubts on him as we have on Hutson, I'm not taking a 2 inch taller Hutson at 5.

We shall see in a couple years but I think he ends up 1st or 2nd best D from this draft.

 

[WeThreeKings]

We shall see in a couple years but I think he ends up 1st or 2nd best D from this draft.

I expect he will end up being a PK2 PP2 guy who is fine for a team but ultimately over-drafted.

 

[Beer and Chips]

The sweet smell of panic is in the air

With good reason if Hutson is your most exciting player.

 

[BergevinBurner]

Why would Denver staff be talking to the scout of some random NHL team about how much Montreal loves Buium?

That being said, I wouldn't hate Buium at 5, but I think that would lead into either a Guhle trade or moving Guhle to the right side. I don't see any scenario where we move Hutson.

 

[EveryDay]

With good reason if Hutson is your most exciting player.

Is he? ahead of Suzuki and Slafkovski?

 

[Doublechin]

Why would Denver staff be talking to the scout of some random NHL team about how much Montreal loves Buium?

That being said, I wouldn't hate Buium at 5, but I think that would lead into either a Guhle trade or moving Guhle to the right side. I don't see any scenario where we move Hutson.

I think Guhle for a Necas could get the convo going quite quick if the Habs love Buium. But Buium makes Hutson's role quite redundant if Buium suddenly gets most LD PP time.

In this scenario, Hutson needs to be the guy moved, obviously if such a scenario happens but Buium could easily stay 2 extra years in college and by then you'll have a clearer idea of what you have with your LDs

 

[David Suzuki]

The context is that Kravtsov wasn't ready for the NHL after playing in the MHL/VHL/KHL and the bridge was to go to the AHL and he didn't like it there, so he went back, then came back to the NHL, and bounced around between leagues and didn't really have a stationary development path.

So teams are worried, OK he comes over after another year in the MHL-VHL-KHL and he's probably not NHL ready, so will he accept going to junior? Will he go to the AHL and like it? If he doesn't like it does he go back to the KHL for a few years? It's a horror story of a development path with too many zigs and zags. That's all he meant.

They aren't comparable situations at all to me.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Iggy's muh boi. Catton looks really sharp, and Sennecke has extremely good hands and high level play making. But I'm sticking to my guns on this one.

Same here. Are you taking Demidov or Lindstrom ahead of Iggy? I'd take Iggy over Lindstrom but it's a tough call for me with Demidov. Still leaning towards Iggy. Good ol Canadian boy who will be strong and the type who shows up shift/shift. Lots of skill to like with sound skating. Knows how to play in the trenches. Yeah, it's right there in front of our face.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

no one is good enough for habs I guess lol

I'm sure Norman Flynn thinks the Habs should trade the pick for Barclay Goodrow.

 

[Habs Halifax]

6'1" is not on the smaller side.

As for Iggy,

https://x.com/i/web/status/1726093240129200477

From 22:01

Weight bud. Weight and strength! I don't care if he was 5'-11" or 6'-1". Weight/Strength has a significant factor over Height. Height advantage comes when that player skates well and has a long reach. Their ability to cut around guys and also stick check is an advantage. But that has little to with Size.

Size = Weight/Strength for me. Height plays a factor but not as much as weight/strength. Then you ask if that player is gritty or not. Sometimes the bigger stronger guys are gentile giants.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1803437314628035006

Have to think there would be a trade to acquire a forward if this ends up happening.

This is very wordy way to tell the world "I don't know shit."

 

[Habs Halifax]

I hate to agree with McCagg...but Vanacker with the end of our 1st round pick? Yeah, I'm in. Kid will be insane to play against. A Lehkonen.

I honestly don't know why McCagg has a bad reputation when other "insiders" are also throwing out bone head click bait statements as well. Why does McCagg get attacked more for it? Not sure but I find a lot of fans are gullible to the bandwagon popular movements.

 

[Beer and Chips]

Is he? ahead of Suzuki and Slafkovski?

Yes.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Why would Denver staff be talking to the scout of some random NHL team about how much Montreal loves Buium?

That being said, I wouldn't hate Buium at 5, but I think that would lead into either a Guhle trade or moving Guhle to the right side. I don't see any scenario where we move Hutson.

Not saying I rush to make these moves because I like both Hutson and Iggy but this could be a possibility.

Hutson, Barron, and Jets 1st
for
Zegras

Draft Dickenson or Buium.

* Dickenson/Buium vs Hutson
* Zegras vs Iggy/Demidov

Habs have two significant assets under 190 lbs. Caufield and Hutson. Find me a top 5 or top 10 contender with two top of the line-up assets who are under 190 lbs? I don't know the answer but I suspect it's difficult to find.

 

[Kents polished head]

Say what you want about Hutson, his style of play and size are two MAJOR impediments that might prevent him from becoming a D who plays 23+ minutes night in and night out.

And I'm not as high as others on Guhle.

Anyway, lineup composition should be out of the question when it comes to drafting a player as far as I'm concerned.

I'd rather Dickinson, but I would not be super pissed about Buium.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Say what you want about Hutson, his style of play and size are two MAJOR impediments that might prevent him from becoming a D who plays 23+ minutes night in and night out.

And I'm not as high as others on Guhle.

Anyway, lineup composition should be out of the question when it comes to drafting a player as far as I'm concerned.

I'd rather Dickinson, but I would not be super pissed about Buium.

Hutson is our new shinny undersized toy. We all love his offensive ability and creativity but I think his size will hold him back and he's also going to get hit hard at times. I'll be surprised if he stays out of injury trouble to be honest. A shoulder problem is coming. Big boys banging him on the glass.

Guhle is good bud. Don't evaluate him on points.

Dickinson or Buium. I prefer Demidov or Iggy but I'd be OK with one of those D

 

[le_sean]

Hutson is our new shinny undersized toy. We all love his offensive ability and creativity but I think his size will hold him back and he's also going to get hit hard at times. I'll be surprised if he stays out of injury trouble to be honest. A shoulder problem is coming. Big boys banging him on the glass

You need to get caught for that to happen. Lane doesn’t put himself in vulnerable positions, he’s excellent at separating a forechecker from the puck and has the elite agility to avoid attackers.

I think Guhle for a Necas could get the convo going quite quick if the Habs love Buium. But Buium makes Hutson's role quite redundant if Buium suddenly gets most LD PP time.

In this scenario, Hutson needs to be the guy moved, obviously if such a scenario happens but Buium could easily stay 2 extra years in college and by then you'll have a clearer idea of what you have with your LDs

Not just PP time, but if I’m using a 5th overall pick on an offensive defenceman, he better get 60%+ offensive zone starts. It just turns our most exciting prospect into a redundant one.

 

[Andrei79]

1. Listening to Chris Peters: Demidov is insistent he will not sign an extension beyond next season. He's not doing the on ice piece due to an ankle injury but he's resuming duties in 2 weeks. Between 5'11-6'0 right now.
   
   
2. Still unclear if this is pushing his stock up or not, belief is he is going top 5
   
   
3. Difficult to get a read on who is really interested on Demidov
   
   
4. But has cooled some concerns about him.
   
   
5. Growing belief that Sennecke is a top 10 pick but push into that 6-7-8 range.
   
   
6. Coming out of the combine ,the Sennecke love was apparent more than going into it.
   
   
7. No hope that he will be there after 10 - Utah, Ottawa as destinations.
   
   
8. No one clear on what Anaheim is going to do at 3.
   
   
9. Named Yakemchuk, Silayev, Lindstrom, Demidov, Levshunov for Anaheim
   
   
10. Luchanko sneak into the 15-20 range.
    
    
11. Fewer than 22 teams will list Trevor Connelly on their draft board - still thinks he goes round 1. But he did himself no favors at the combine. Teams did their due diligence of course.
    
    
12. Doesn't believe anything at the combine materially changed how things will unfold at the top of the draft.
    the russian combine*
    
    
13. One concern even if he doesn't extend is that if SKA pushes him into the MHL next year, he won't be ready to go into the NHL right away, so how willing is he to go to the AHL or the junior and develop? Mentions Kravtsov as a horror story to what happens when you bounce around like that.

This is a lot more nuanced than some of the things we were reading here. There was a chance Demidov went top 2-4 before this week. That chance is still there and it likely hasn't changed much. I mean, these top teams have known about this player for years now. It was probably just putting the dots on the I's, like the Habs were doing with Slafkovsky. Chicago's dilemma was high end D vs a linemate for Bedard for 10 months now and nothing has changed.