GDT: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[majormajor]

A player with highlights like these:



Must be a top pick unless there is something very wrong with his size/skating combo or very wrong with his defensive game. And as far as I can tell there's nothing really wrong with Carter Yakemchuk. I watched a game of his the other night and he was fine defensively and I like his skating. He's big. He walks defenders with ease. At this point, I like Yakemchuk more than Levshunov (both RD).

 

[DarkandStormy]

Ducks are now just one point back of CBJ.

 

[NotWendell]

Who’s the best goalie of this class?

 

[tunnelvision]

Must be a top pick unless there is something very wrong with his size/skating combo or very wrong with his defensive game. And as far as I can tell there's nothing really wrong with Carter Yakemchuk. I watched a game of his the other night and he was fine defensively and I like his skating. He's big. He walks defenders with ease. At this point, I like Yakemchuk more than Levshunov (both RD).

Nothing concerning in his skating in rush defense?

Would also like to hear your thoughts on Yakemchuk's PPQB skills/upside, could he be better than the older Jiricek with CBJ?

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

Who’s the best goalie of this class?

Nobody worth drafting very high and even remotely close to being able to play in the NHL from what i read.

 

[ThisIsMyAlibi]

Need to lose out.

 

[majormajor]

Nothing concerning in his skating in rush defense?

I'll have to focus on that when I see him next, it didn't jump out last game I watched but I was just trying to get a big picture view of the guy.

Would also like to hear your thoughts on Yakemchuk's PPQB skills/upside, could he be better than the older Jiricek with CBJ?

He could be. Yakemchuk shows a broader range of moves than Jiricek (some of it is jaw dropping) but that's also to be expected clowning on junior players. I prefer that about him though, I like my players to be in leagues where they are dominating and expanding what they can do, I don't want them whittling down what they try until later.

FWIW both have huge shots and good passing, but Yakemchuk is the silkier handler, especially around the net.

 

[EspenK]

Who’s the best goalie of this class?

Nobody worth drafting very high and even remotely close to being able to play in the NHL from what i read.

There were 3 good ones last year and we passed on at least of 2 of them for the Brindley pick,

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

There were 3 good ones last year and we passed on at least of 2 of them for the Brindley pick,

I'm not sure where the guys this year are projected to be picked but I'm not sure this year's goalie class is comparable to last year. Based on what I've read on them none of them are first round material. They may not even be 2nd round material.

 

[Jovavic]

I thought our second went to Philly in the Provorov deal?

 

[Viqsi]

I thought our second went to Philly in the Provorov deal?

It's conditional. This year's or next year's, our choice.

 

[koteka]

I am leaning towards taking a center with the first rounder and then going nuts on defense.

What we need is some defensive guys with size and grit. There are plenty of bigger guys that will be around later.

1 - Cayden Lindstrom
2 - EJ Emery
trade both 3rd round picks to move up to the late 2nd - Spencer Gill
4 - Gabriel Eliasson

 

[alphafox]

Gotta imagine we will be entering the draft with a fairly large number of picks. I doubt we pick up more than another 1st, but I'd love if we could land a 1st for Provorov and a 1st plus for Laine. If we can also manage to offload Elvis for someone like Markstrom If frees up a lot of opportunity for the draft. I am assuming we end up with something that looks like this heading into the draft

2 firsts
2 2nds
1 3rd
Miscl.

Assuming we manage to get two picks in each of the first two rounds I expect a 1 forward, two D-men, and a Goalie. I think the Forwards are weak this year and assuming "fate" continues to smile on more valuable markets (Chicago) I think we go D with our 1st first-round pick because I think that is likely where the value will fall (assuming a top 5 in the draft and that Celebrini, Levshunov and Demidov go top 3).

 

[stevo61]

Gotta imagine we will be entering the draft with a fairly large number of picks. I doubt we pick up more than another 1st, but I'd love if we could land a 1st for Provorov and a 1st plus for Laine. If we can also manage to offload Elvis for someone like Markstrom If frees up a lot of opportunity for the draft. I am assuming we end up with something that looks like this heading into the draft

2 firsts
2 2nds
1 3rd
Miscl.

Assuming we manage to get two picks in each of the first two rounds I expect a 1 forward, two D-men, and a Goalie. I think the Forwards are weak this year and assuming "fate" continues to smile on more valuable markets (Chicago) I think we go D with our 1st first-round pick because I think that is likely where the value will fall (assuming a top 5 in the draft and that Celebrini, Levshunov and Demidov go top 3).

My dream if getting back into the 1st is getting Lindstrom and a possibly falling Jiricek

 

[Cowumbus]

Overager, Anthony Romani, anyone seen him play?

His stats look good.

 

[Aaaarrgghh]

Looking ahead to this draft has got me thinking about Columbus' rebuild as a whole. They need to make significant progress after this season, so this should be their last chance to get a top 5 pick to strengthen the rebuild. As I see it, there are two pieces that are currently missing, at least among the skaters: a 2C and another top 4 RD. If they could find a way to secure those two pieces in or around this draft, that'd be fantastic.

Ideally, in my mind, since Columbus probably will not get another 1st rounder in this draft, that'd mean drafting someone like Catton and then do a trade for a future top 4D, maybe with a team like Montréal, Anaheim or Buffalo. What that trade would contain, I don't know. Maybe one of the young wingers like Chinakhov or Brindley for a really good D prospect. You probably can't realistically get future 2C like Poitras, Ritchie or Gauthier through trades, which is why I think it would be ideal to get a 2C through the draft.

Another option is using Provorov for this and then sign a UFA that brings veteran leadership (like Sean Monahan), but he'll probably have more value at the 2025 TDL. I had thoughts of trading him for veteran top 4 defensive LD with leadership qualities, but that's probably a pipe dream.

EDIT: Expanded my thoughts.

 

[majormajor]

Looking ahead to this draft has got me thinking about Columbus' rebuild as a whole. As I see it, there are two pieces that are currently missing, at least among the skaters: a 2C and another top 4 RD. If they could find a way to secure those two pieces in or around this draft, that'd be fantastic.

You could also make the case that we probably have it covered. If your 2-4 centers are Jenner, Voronkov, and Sillinger (in whatever order) things would have to go very badly if none of them could be #2C. Likewise, assuming Severson is one of the top 4 RD, it would be unfortunate if neither Jiricek or Boqvist became the other top 4 RD.

 

[Aaaarrgghh]

You could also make the case that we probably have it covered. If your 2-4 centers are Jenner, Voronkov, and Sillinger (in whatever order) things would have to go very badly if none of them could be #2C. Likewise, assuming Severson is one of the top 4 RD, it would be unfortunate if neither Jiricek or Boqvist became the other top 4 RD.

Jenner is not a long-term solution at 2C. Voronkov and Sillinger I am not convinced that they are that long-term 2C solution either, but I'd be very happy if they surprised me.

Severson would maybe look better if Columbus had a better partner to pair him with. I don't know if Mateychuk would do that. My hunch is that it would be better to replace Provorov with a defensive veteran LD who can play with Severson, but that's probably not going to happen.

 

[CBJx614]

Jenner is not a long-term solution at 2C. Voronkov and Sillinger I am not convinced that they are that long-term 2C solution either, but I'd be very happy if they surprised me.

Severson would maybe look better if Columbus had a better partner to pair him with. I don't know if Mateychuk would do that. My hunch is that it would be better to replace Provorov with a defensive veteran LD who can play with Severson, but that's probably not going to happen.

It's easy to forget Sillinger is far from a finished product, he's only 20 and he's already at 200 GP.

And I imagine you could say the same about Voronkov, while he isn't going to grow any more, I imagine he might adapt his game more moving forward. A full season in the States and his first full off-season with the Jackets training staff being able to work with him.

 

[majormajor]

And I imagine you could say the same about Voronkov, while he isn't going to grow any more, I imagine he might adapt his game more moving forward. A full season in the States and his first full off-season with the Jackets training staff being able to work with him.

It's not clear to me that Voronkov isn't already a 2C caliber player. Like if you just gave him the minutes what does that look like?

He's already pushing 2C totals in low ice time. 23 5v5 pts is 4 off of the team lead, in about 2/3 the ice time of the team leaders. Gaudreau and Werenski have 27 5v5 points in 900 minutes, Voronkov 23 points in 600 minutes.* Add to that terrific CF%, xGF%, whatever.

Not that we don't want to see Voronkov prove that he can do it consistently, it's not a huge sample size yet. But this isn't a question to me of whether you can develop Voronkov into something that he currently isn't. It's about whether he can keep doing what he's already doing.

*FWIW 23 5v5 pts at this time of year is a solid second line number leaguewide, not just on the Jackets.

 

[CBJx614]

It's not clear to me that Voronkov isn't already a 2C caliber player. Like if you just gave him the minutes what does that look like?

He's already pushing 2C totals in low ice time. 23 5v5 pts is 4 off of the team lead, in about 2/3 the ice time of the team leaders. Gaudreau and Werenski have 27 5v5 points in 900 minutes, Voronkov 23 points in 600 minutes.* Add to that terrific CF%, xGF%, whatever.

Not that we don't want to see Voronkov prove that he can do it consistently, it's not a huge sample size yet. But this isn't a question to me of whether you can develop Voronkov into something that he currently isn't. It's about whether he can keep doing what he's already doing.

*FWIW 23 5v5 pts at this time of year is a solid second line number leaguewide, not just on the Jackets.

Oh I agree and I imagine he gets better if the other lines are producing and lifting some of the pressure off of their line

 

[koteka]

The best problem to have in hockey is too many Cs. Heck, we don’t know if we have 1C covered, let alone 2C. If we have a a top 5 pick this year, go for a center.

 

[majormajor]

The best problem to have in hockey is too many Cs. Heck, we don’t know if we have 1C covered, let alone 2C. If we have a a top 5 pick this year, go for a center.

You can say the same thing about defense.

I'd just ignore the Jackets roster and pick who we think is going to be the most valuable player. (Value already incorporates wingers having less value).

 

[koteka]

You can say the same thing about defense.

I'd just ignore the Jackets roster and pick who we think is going to be the most valuable player. (Value already incorporates wingers having less value).

What we really need on defense is a couple of Savard types. I am drafting center first then several defensemen. I’ll trade up if I need to. We have an early 2nd and two thirds, and that is before any trades. This is a defense oriented draft. Now if we fall out of the first five picks, I might grab defense. But we should be able to get a center like Lindstrom and then get a couple of defensemen like Emery and Gill.

 

[Aaaarrgghh]

You can say the same thing about defense.

I'd just ignore the Jackets roster and pick who we think is going to be the most valuable player. (Value already incorporates wingers having less value).

I agree in general with the principle of BPA or most valuable player available. You can always trade prospects if the roster is not adding up. Having said that, in the range that Columbus will probably be picking, it seems like it's very close between the different players. In that case, position can very well be a deciding factor beyond what you alluded to.