HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[HabsCode]

Nothing here points to them taking Buium over Demidov. That just seems like an irrational hyperbole.

Aarpon is reporting what he is hearing around the league and from Montreal.

"From a strictly hockey standpoint, the Canadiens recognize Demidov has game-breaking qualities they lack in the organization. But there is some doubt about whether his style would translate well to playoff hockey in the NHL. "

"But more than the strict hockey questions are the ones surrounding his status in Russia."

"Numerous conversations with scouts and team officials at the combine confirmed the Demidov situation is a total wild card. "

"But scarcity of player profile is not the only consideration for the Canadiens. It is a big one, though.

They also look at team building as a big factor, boxes they need to check as they eventually build a Stanley Cup contender, and also boxes they might have already checked to avoid redundancy down the line. This is why it seems like Buium and Parekh could be in the mix, because while Hutson could potentially check the box of elite puck-moving defenceman, there is no assurance he will. And even if he does, having two defencemen like that would not necessarily preclude the Canadiens from winning."

" This year, Lindstrom left a very good impression on the Canadiens, Buium and Parekh seem like strong-character guys"

I mean what we're you expecting, a statement from Kent Hughes himself stating he would draft Buium over Demidov?

 

[Gravity]

Aarpon is reporting what he is hearing around the league and from Montreal.

"From a strictly hockey standpoint, the Canadiens recognize Demidov has game-breaking qualities they lack in the organization. But there is some doubt about whether his style would translate well to playoff hockey in the NHL. "

"But more than the strict hockey questions are the ones surrounding his status in Russia."

"Numerous conversations with scouts and team officials at the combine confirmed the Demidov situation is a total wild card. "

"But scarcity of player profile is not the only consideration for the Canadiens. It is a big one, though.

They also look at team building as a big factor, boxes they need to check as they eventually build a Stanley Cup contender, and also boxes they might have already checked to avoid redundancy down the line. This is why it seems like Buium and Parekh could be in the mix, because while Hutson could potentially check the box of elite puck-moving defenceman, there is no assurance he will. And even if he does, having two defencemen like that would not necessarily preclude the Canadiens from winning."

" This year, Lindstrom left a very good impression on the Canadiens, Buium and Parekh seem like strong-character guys"

I mean what we're you expecting, a statement from Kent Hughes himself stating he would draft Buium over Demidov?

Nothing even remotely pointing to Buium over Demidov. Buium and Parekh are in the mix but Demidov/Lindstrom are still the favorites.

I'd have rather preferred Michkov + Dickinson/Buium over Rein/Demidov either way. They galaxy brained the picks.

 

[ReHabs]

I hate the week before the draft when Arpon Basu is fed a few morsels by Kent Hughes but we have no choice but to doubt what he says because he has no scoops and no insight or anything interesting to share the other 50, 51 weeks of the year.

Is the Buium > Demidov stuff speculation, disinformation, or legit?

I guess we’ll see

 

[MasterMatt25]

Because Guhle is the better all around player. If it was just offence, then I'd agree with it, unfortunately sometimes Defensemen needs to play defense at a high level.

To be determined

 

[HabsCode]

I think Buium is definitely an option, and I get it, he's an exciting prospect. MO Beaudoin said that our first and second options were Demidov and Lindstrom, in that order. After that, Buium and/or Sennecke. I trust Beaudoin a lot more than Basu; the latter seems to be the type to throw shit at the wall hoping it sticks.

Last year, there was A TON of noise that we wouldn't draft Michkov. This year, I haven't seen anything like that with Demidov.

I wouldn't go as far as saying this, Basu most certainly talks to NHL scouts and Montreal scout but he probably gets vanilla info. I agree Beaudoin might have got some inside info tho that wasn't supposed to reach the public, much more likely to leak these types of info than Basu.

 

[Gravity]

Because Guhle is the better all around player. If it was just offence, then I'd agree with it, unfortunately sometimes Defensemen needs to play defense at a high level.

Guhle tops out as a second pairing D. He has very little offense.

 

[PavelBrendl]

Markov was picked as a Center prospect in the 6th round. Completely different situation.

If they do indeed pick a LHD at 5, HuGo better have a trade ready to go to get a top 6 forward. And to relieve the log jam at LHD. They can only ice 3-4 lefties per game.

This will only hurt their development as there isn't enough ice time available for all the lefties.

I’m not talking about what Markov was drafted as, I’m talking about what Markov was. The perfect example of an elite defenceman who didn’t possess elite tools.

 

[le_sean]

Can’t wait until the McGill encampment moves to the Bell Centre after the Habs take Buium

 

[HabsCode]

Nothing even remotely pointing to Buium over Demidov. Buium and Parekh are in the mix but Demidov/Lindstrom are still the favorites.

I'd have rather preferred Michkov + Dickinson/Buium over Rein/Demidov either way. They galaxy brained the picks.

Can't say I disagree here. But it would be because the gap between the D. As Demidov seems to be a better prospect than Michkov, who is still a great prospect nonetheless (going from what I heard, I never saw Demidov play only Michkov).

 

[Artaud]

The only way Buium makes any sense is if they manage to deal Matheson for the 10th or 11th pick and draft Sennecke/Iginla/Catton then, or acquire a similar caliber forward prospect for Matheson. Or trade another LD prospect for similar return. What I'm saying is, a LD would need to go right away.

Avoiding drafting a position where there is a current and forthcoming logjam is not at all the same thing as drafting for need. Drafting for need is targeting one position. The process here is targeting every position but one, where there is already a surplus of players.

If Buium was such a prospect that you absolutely have to take him regardless of position, he would not be available at 5. Plain and simple. Especially since all of CBJ, ANA and CHI have more room than the Habs at LD.

 

[le_sean]

Guhle tops out as a second pairing D. He has very little offense.

I’d say he has good offence. He’s not running a PP but 22 points as a sophomore with 0 PP time and 61% defensive zone starts is decent. He showed good offence in the WHL too.

 

[montreal]

Denver inflates numbers all of the time.. the tools are what matter and Hutson's offensive tools are better than Buium's.

It certainly looks that way,

66 goals in 12 non conference games vs mostly weak comp outside the Hockey East teams,

vs Yale - 14 goals/2 games
vs ASU - 13 goals/2 games
vs Alaska - 12 goals/2 games
vs Niagara - 11 goals/2 games
vs Augustana - 5 goals/1 game
vs Air Force - 4 goals/1 game

vs Providence/BC - 7 goals/2 games

 

[Sam de Mtl]

Habs fan will riot if they pick Buium. That name sounds just like Bouillon. Imagine picking Bouillon over Demidov. On the plus side, it might help Carey remember his name this time.

Buium is like Bouillon. Demidov is Dandenault.

I will take Bouillon, thanks.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

I'd take the dman who's already established before any prospect. You trade the ones who aren't established, unless you want to be in forever rebuild land.

i assume your referring to a previous comment someone made about Buium > Guhle?

If I’m Hughes I don’t trade Guhle, the guy to trade and always was the one to trade is Matheson.

The only way Buium makes any sense is if they manage to deal Matheson for the 10th or 11th pick and draft Sennecke/Iginla/Catton then, or acquire a similar caliber forward prospect for Matheson. Or trade another LD prospect for similar return. What I'm saying is, a LD would need to go right away.

Avoiding drafting a position where there is a current and forthcoming logjam is not at all the same thing as drafting for need. Drafting for need is targeting one position. The process here is targeting every position but one, where there is already a surplus of players.

If Buium was such a prospect that you absolutely have to take him regardless of position, he would not be available at 5. Plain and simple. Especially since all of CBJ, ANA and CHI have more room than the Habs at LD.

Cale Makar was drafted 4th overall.

I have nothing else to add.

 

[le_sean]

Good point, I retract what I said. I would still take his comments with a grain of salt as you don't know why Arpon was fed that information.

Basu is our most prolific and most read English language reporter. I’d say he’s being fed the information that the team wants fed to him. To me it’s likely to misdirect other teams. If it was to “prepare” the fanbase, they’d give the same info to a French language reporter too, but I don’t see it.

 

[HabsCode]

People who watched Dickinson and Buium, what kind of gap are we talking about between the two of them?

If the draft goes Celibrini, Demidov, Levshunov, Lindstrom I wouldn't be against trading 5OV to Ottawa (who might want to secure Buium) for 7OV + 25OV.

Give us another late first round pick and at 7OV you can still get one or Dickinson, Silayev or Iginla.

 

[ReHabs]

He's born in America.

You might be unfamiliar with the concept of dual-nationality. Many many years ago, I attended Dawson College and had quite a few classmates who held both Canadian and Israeli passports. A number of them sought to make Aliyah (sp) after their studies, some of them openly wanted to “serve their country” — now I don’t know how many actually did, it could’ve been the bluster of youth, but it wasn’t an alien notion to them.

Considering the possible two-front conflict around the country, and the aggressive nature of the rhetoric around its ruling government, it seems like a worthwhile question to ask about drafting an Israeli citizen of military age during a period of the hottest conflict in decades.

These questions were asked about Russian prospects. They continue to be asked about them. It’s nothing strange. We live in interesting times, as the saying goes.

You don’t have anything to add so you don’t need to bother responding. Maybe one someone else with something relevant to the topic will have some insight.

 

[sampollock]

Basu is our most prolific and most read English language reporter. I’d say he’s being fed the information that the team wants fed to him. To me it’s likely to misdirect other teams. If it was to “prepare” the fanbase, they’d give the same info to a French language reporter too, but I don’t see it.

I agree
No way KH shows his hand

 

[montreal]

People who watched Dickinson and Buium, what kind of gap are we talking about between the two of them?

If the draft goes Celibrini, Demidov, Levshunov, Lindstrom I wouldn't be against trading 5OV to Ottawa (who might want to secure Buium) for 7OV + 25OV.

Give us another late first round pick and at 7OV you can still get one or Dickinson, Silayev or Iginla.

I didn't get to see much of Dickinson this year but I worry about the IQ, iced the puck way too much in the playoffs/memorial cup. But he's a lock to be an NHLer, no question there. I don't think I would pick him in the top 5.

Buium looks smarter to me but doesn't have the frame of Dickinson, I would likely pick him over Dickinson and likely the 2nd D behind Leshunov (who I only saw early on in the season)

 

[Locks]

I think Buium is definitely an option, and I get it, he's an exciting prospect. MO Beaudoin said that our first and second options were Demidov and Lindstrom, in that order. After that, Buium and/or Sennecke. I trust Beaudoin a lot more than Basu; the latter seems to be the type to throw shit at the wall hoping it sticks.

Last year, there was A TON of noise that we wouldn't draft Michkov. This year, I haven't seen anything like that with Demidov.

That's correct. By all accounts, they had no intention of drafting Michkov while Demidov is seriously considered.

 

[WinterLion]

I love Demidov. He is so damn creative and his hands and vision are amazing. He would be a great pick, but there are a bunch of great picks this year so I won't cry...

 

[montreal]

I agree
No way KH shows his hand

I said that last year when we heard at the WJC's or around then that the Habs were high on Reinbacher, thought no way would Hughes and his staff want that leaked if that was really their guy. Guess not.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

People who watched Dickinson and Buium, what kind of gap are we talking about between the two of them?

If the draft goes Celibrini, Demidov, Levshunov, Lindstrom I wouldn't be against trading 5OV to Ottawa (who might want to secure Buium) for 7OV + 25OV.

Give us another late first round pick and at 7OV you can still get one or Dickinson, Silayev or Iginla.

Buium is the smarter player and better offensively, Dickinson is a better defender.

Dickinson probably plays a game easier to translate, but Buium’s upside is higher.

 

[le_sean]

You might be unfamiliar with the concept of dual-nationality. Many many years ago, I attended Dawson College and had quite a few classmates who held both Canadian and Israeli passports. A number of them sought to make Aliyah (sp) after their studies, some of them openly wanted to “serve their country” — now I don’t know how many actually did, it could’ve been the bluster of youth, but it wasn’t an alien notion to them.

Considering the possible two-front conflict around the country, and the aggressive nature of the rhetoric around its ruling government, it seems like a worthwhile question to ask about drafting an Israeli citizen of military age during a period of the hottest conflict in decades.

These questions were asked about Russian prospects. They continue to be asked about them. It’s nothing strange. We live in interesting times, as the saying goes.

You don’t have anything to add so you don’t need to bother responding. Maybe one someone else with something relevant to the topic will have some insight.

Israeli citizenship is a lot different than other countries. It might just have been automatic for Zeev if both of his parents are from there, regardless of where he was born. They might have applied for it at birth for him. I don’t think it necessarily ties him to anything domestic.

 

[ReHabs]

I said that last year when we heard at the WJC's or around then that the Habs were high on Reinbacher, thought no way would Hughes and his staff want that leaked if that was really their guy. Guess not.

It was safer then and win-win: either one of the clear top4 drops to 5 or they get their man at 5.

Israeli citizenship is a lot different than other countries. It might just have been automatic for Zeev if both of his parents are from there, regardless of where he was born. They might have applied for it at birth for him. I don’t think it necessarily ties him to anything domestic.

So can he be drafted? I think it’s like S Korea, you can’t seem dodge military service with a cash payment.