HF Habs: Bobby Mac Final 2024 Draft Ranking List - Tuesday 2024-06-25 - TSN5 - 11:00am EDT

[ReHabs]

I was a litigation lawyer for over 30 years and made a fortune suing infallible doctors. So I take no one's word for it. At 5 OA in a deep, top heavy draft, you don't take unnecessary gambles.

My gut says, if Lindstrom falls to 5 (because CHI ANA and CBJ also don’t want unnecessary gambles) we will have a lot of pressure to take him there.

 

[OldCraig71]

Will you chew it for him, or is he autonomous in that capacity?

My God, even the professor is in on it! You have taken this to a romantic level, make it so Hugo, make it so!

 

[River Meadow]

Hell no!

Lindstrom is entirely off of my wish list at 5 OA due to the fact that he has already experieced a herniated disc and the fact that they don't know how he did it.

If we are just talking forwards I take Demidov, Iginla, Helenius, Sennecke and Catton before I consider Lindstrom.

People don't seem to understand this...

In Quebec, when a car is designated as VGA, it stands for "véhicule gravement accidenté," which translates to "severely damaged vehicle" in English. This designation indicates that the car has been involved in a serious accident and subsequently rebuilt.

Lindstrom is VGA.

Those VGA cars can end up being OK, you might get lucky. But if you have the chance for the same car or similar that has not been in a serious accident, you take that one.

 

[ReHabs]

People don't seem to understand this...

In Quebec, when a car is designated as VGA, it stands for "véhicule gravement accidenté," which translates to "severely damaged vehicle" in English. This designation indicates that the car has been involved in a serious accident and subsequently rebuilt.

Lindstrom is VGA.

Those VGA cars can end up being OK, you might get lucky. But if you have the chance for the same car or similar that has not been in a serious accident, you take that one.

Maybe his injury isn't a big deal. Maybe it's perfectly fine right now -- as in: the scans indicate a perfectly normal, healthy span of vertebrae. We really don't know.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

Lindstrom was one of my targets at 5, I’m not sure I would take him there now. I could see him falling. If we had another pick 10-12 I might consider taking him.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Lindstrom was one of my targets at 5, I’m not sure I would take him there now. I could see him falling. If we had another pick 10-12 I might consider taking him.

The most talented forwards in this draft are Demidov and Catton. Celebrini is a solid player who will likely not be the best player of the 2024 class down the road but I understand why he is going 1st due to his floor.

But I want either Demidov or Catton at 5OA, and think odds are heavy that this is doable. Then I'd like to move up to the 9-12 range and snag Eiserman or at worst one of Lindstrom, Iginla or Sennecke, or if we are lucky, a franchise defenceman who has slipped down.

 

[Jee]

We need to trade for 2nd OV coûte que coûte.
Awaye Kent t'es capab'.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Lindstrom was one of my targets at 5, I’m not sure I would take him there now. I could see him falling. If we had another pick 10-12 I might consider taking him.

In this deep draft, with so many excellent options available, I wouldn’t take him even in that range. The marginal difference between Lindstrom and Catton, Levshunov, Eiserman, Sennecke, Iginla, Dickinson, Demidov, Buium, Silayev, and Yakemchuk does not warrant the risk. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Lindstrom fall into the mid-teens with many teams wisely adhering to the principle of “Availability being the best ability.”

 

[BJCOLLINS]

My list has Dickenson at #4 otherwise I’m with Bob, lol.

Look people the Blackhawks have history of a successful rebuild. Their M.O., that led to a few cups, started with picking Toews then Kane 06/07.
They are on the exact same path with Bedard then Demidov!

If they deviate the Blue Jackets will definitely break your hearts & take the skilled Russian!

 

[Doublechin]

My list has Dickenson at #4 otherwise I’m with Bob, lol.

Look people the Blackhawks have history of a successful rebuild. Their M.O., that led to a few cups, started with picking Toews then Kane 06/07.
They are on the exact same path with Bedard then Demidov!

If they deviate the Blue Jackets will definitely break your hearts & take the skilled Russian!

I still think they highly consider Lindstrom there as center is by far a big question mark/weakness for them

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

Did TSN do a Final Mock?

 

[Habs Halifax]

My gut says, if Lindstrom falls to 5 (because CHI ANA and CBJ also don’t want unnecessary gambles) we will have a lot of pressure to take him there.

I'm not so sure about that. Why? Because I don't feel he ends up being substantially better than the others who will be on the board with our pick. Would be different if the talent dropped (other options). I think that would create pressure.

I for one do not think he is a center in the NHL. More like a power forward winger. I see him skate with his head down and in his highlight reels, I'm not seeing the vision a NHL center would require. I see a physical forward who brings it and has a good shot. That's power forward winger all day long for me.

In this deep draft, with so many excellent options available, I wouldn’t take him even in that range. The marginal difference between Lindstrom and Catton, Levshunov, Eiserman, Sennecke, Iginla, Dickinson, Demidov, Buium, Silayev, and Yakemchuk does not warrant the risk. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Lindstrom fall into the mid-teens with many teams wisely adhering to the principle of “Availability being the best ability.”

Yes! Exactly what I am thinking as well and just spoke towards that. If the talent dropped, then yes, you take Lindstrom. However, I don't think he ends up that much better than the others who will still be on the board. Risky to make this move when so much other talent is there.

 

[Habs Halifax]

The most talented forwards in this draft are Demidov and Catton. Celebrini is a solid player who will likely not be the best player of the 2024 class down the road but I understand why he is going 1st due to his floor.

But I want either Demidov or Catton at 5OA, and think odds are heavy that this is doable. Then I'd like to move up to the 9-12 range and snag Eiserman or at worst one of Lindstrom, Iginla or Sennecke, or if we are lucky, a franchise defenceman who has slipped down.

Iggy has just as much talent than Catton. Iggy has better international numbers. Age difference has to be considered here.

 

[Barriwhite]

Maybe his injury isn't a big deal. Maybe it's perfectly fine right now -- as in: the scans indicate a perfectly normal, healthy span of vertebrae. We really don't know.

You can’t un-herniate a disk. Disks cannot heal. So we do know.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Iggy has just as much talent than Catton. Iggy has better international numbers. Age difference has to be considered here.

Not many agree. Iginila has other qualities. Catton has Jack Hughes level talent.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Not many agree. Iginila has other qualities. Catton has Jack Hughes level talent.

Jack Hughes is a large stretch, it is extremely unlikely that he is ever as good as Hughes.

Why do people insist on viewing talent as something that does not include strength and puck protection skills yet include speed and dangling? They are all components of "talent" and we should use the term in a broader sense. The same goes for "ceiling" and "upside" as fans largely equate these with offensive potential and soft skills. People referring to Parekh as having the highest upside yet he clearly is the worst defender among the top D prospects. Defensive ability especially for dmen is an integral component of "upside" and "ceiling". By this logic a PP specialist dman is an example of a player who has reached a higher ceiling than teammates who play above him in big minutes but don't produce as much offence. This is a clear example of an incorrect conclusion that is derived from a faulty presupposition.

 

[FinnHab]

We need more offense, so winger or centre is needed. Do it HuGo.

 

[Genghis Keon]

Lindstrom is an interesting case

Its easy for fans and even these BMacs connections to say Lindstrom is a top 5 prospect, its another when your job is on the line and you actually have to make the pick and take the brunt if the injury does become an issue

I think teams just starting their rebuild may have more runway then MTL. If you plan on being bad for many more years, you might be more willing to go high risk, high reward knowing you may have 4-5 yrs more of high picks

What I find interesting is that, based on scuttlebutt, the people with the most information on his injury with the most skin in the game (teams and their scouts) ostensibly seem to be least concerned with his injury.

So are they:

1. Idiots?
2. Actually concerned but downplaying it in hopes someone else picks him first, letting another player drop?
3. Willing to take the risk because they forecast him to be significantly better than the next guys on their list (rather swing for a first liner who has injury concerns than someone your scouts think tops out as a second liner or second pairing defenseman)?
4. Reassured by their medical staffs that the risk is minimal and/or manageable?
5. Some combination of the above 4?

 

[Galaxydoggystyle]

Kind of weird that people are wanting a forward ranked outside the top 10 on bobs list. Do people not think its a huge reach picking at 5???? I rather roll the dice on Lidstrom. If we don't get him we pick one of the highly ranked defencemen.

 

[thebestnic]

Jack Hughes is a large stretch, it is extremely unlikely that he is ever as good as Hughes.

Why do people insist on viewing talent as something that does not include strength and puck protection skills yet include speed and dangling? They are all components of "talent" and we should use the term in a broader sense. The same goes for "ceiling" and "upside" as fans largely equate these with offensive potential and soft skills. People referring to Parekh as having the highest upside yet he clearly is the worst defender among the top D prospects. Defensive ability especially for dmen is an integral component of "upside" and "ceiling". By this logic PP specialist dmen are and example of a player who has reached a higher ceiling than teammates who play above him in big minutes but don't produce as much offence.

I swear if hfboarders were running a team it would look like like the Buffalo Sabres. I don't hate guys like Benson, Savoie, Skinner, Ostlund, etc but at one point you need to build a team and like you said you need different components than just offensive talent

 

[malcb33]

The big guys all rank better on McKenzies list. That is what NHL teams want.

Size queens... Amirite?

 

[BaseballCoach]

Jack Hughes is a large stretch, it is extremely unlikely that he is ever as good as Hughes.

Why do people insist on viewing talent as something that does not include strength and puck protection skills yet include speed and dangling? They are all components of "talent" and we should use the term in a broader sense. The same goes for "ceiling" and "upside" as fans largely equate these with offensive potential and soft skills. People referring to Parekh as having the highest upside yet he clearly is the worst defender among the top D prospects. Defensive ability especially for dmen is an integral component of "upside" and "ceiling". By this logic PP specialist dmen are and example of a player who has reached a higher ceiling than teammates who play above him in big minutes but don't produce as much offence.

I see Parekh as a possible Chris Wideman.

I'm sure Iginla is stronger on the puck than Jack Hughes. So?

 

[ReHabs]

Kind of weird that people are wanting a forward ranked outside the top 10 on bobs list. Do people not think its a huge reach picking at 5???? I rather roll the dice on Lidstrom. If we don't get him we pick one of the highly ranked defencemen.

There are tiers to the prospects and if you remove the first four picks (as they will be taken) almost all of the rest will either be in the same tier or of a position/type our organisation should value slightly less (soft PMD LD).

I don't think the Habs will draft Catton but it would be the sort of forward prospect we've not had in a very very long time. I'm talking decades.

I swear if hfboarders were running a team it would look like like the Buffalo Sabres. I don't hate guys like Benson, Savoie, Skinner, Ostlund, etc but at one point you need to build a team and like you said you need different components than just offensive talent

The Habs haven't had a single prospect like Benson or Skinner or Savoie in how long?

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

I see Parekh as a possible Chris Wideman.

I'm sure Iginla is stronger on the puck than Jack Hughes. So?

The comparison was intended to be about Iginla vs Catton, my apologies, I did not communicate that as well as I should have.

The Habs haven't had a single prospect like Benson or Skinner or Savoie in how long?

Caufield....he was referring to smaller and/or softer skilled players. Few players in the league would fit that bill better than Caufield. He also wasn't referencing draft history rather draft wishes by a certain loud portion of the fan base.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Not many agree. Iginila has other qualities. Catton has Jack Hughes level talent.

False. If Catton has J Hughes talent, he would be ranked top 3 on most lists. This is opinion driven and IMO, Iggy has skill like Catton and is more gritty. Catton is 12th on Bob's list. Even Sennecke is ahead of him now. If he had the skill you are talking about, he would have a much better ranking than that.

My opinion lines up with Bob's ranking more than your narrative.

Curious, what "other" qualities do you think Iggy has?