So far 2022 and 2023 are both good looking draft for Habs. I really hope that 2024 draft will be a another good looking aswell.
I believe that Habs will select between 6 and 12 if the Lottery don't change the position.
So we are going to be able to select a very very good prospect. If Habs select a LD, they will maybe try to trade Kaiden Guhle for a very very good young offensive foward (but I don't want to see it because I'm a big fan of Guhle since his draft year and he is going to be a top pair D 100%).
But at this range, no doubt, a player like Catton, Helenius will be there. Too good defense prospect are available at this draft and a good forward prospect will drop. Always a great talent drop in any draft, looks Zach Benson in 2022 draft.
That's what happens when you keep a lot of picks. Even after trading for Newhook we still picked 9 times.
Because the NHL draft age is much lower than other leagues, fourth round picks can have as much value as a first. We can see that with Xhekaj and Konyushkov having great seasons and even miller looking good.
if we'd traded picks in 2023 though, we wouldn't have gotten Hutson. Picking 11 times let us take chances on Hutson, mesar and engstrom when none of them would have been available at our natural next picks.
slaf-beck-rohrer-guidon-davidson is a lot less impressive.
people shouldn't scoff about getting a fourth here and there for petry or retaining cap because the dart board philosophy is correct.
look at 2020, Farrell was our third fourth round pick and the first two guys are never getting AHL contracts. Rhp was our 9th pick and deep in the 7th round. If we hadn't had those extra picks Farrell and rhp never would have been drafted by us.
If Bergevin had started following this philosophy earlier maybe Timmins never would have been fired.
