HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Canadiens Ghost]

What would your reactions be if we trade down with the 5th and then trade up with the Jets 1st and other adds to have two picks from 8-13 range.

We walk out with Eiserman and Catton. Like, Hate, or Meh?

Hate. Eiserman is a DND for me and thankfully, he doesn't strike me as a type HuGo wants. Catton would be cool.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Hate. Eiserman is a DND for me and thankfully, he doesn't strike me as a type HuGo wants. Catton would be cool.

I see a lot of rankings sleeping on Eiserman but not so sure the NHL scouts see it the same way. He's also one of the youngest like Iggy and has a NHL shot. Solid weight at a young age too.

Eiserman is close to Lindstrom in my waive. Seenecke is there too. All 3 of these guys have assets to really like but there are flaws to nit pick with all 3.

Eiserman is likely a 30+ goal threat at the NHL level and so many are sleeping on him. It's strange.

 

[Runner77]

I have Demidov at 5. Then Habs trade Flames pick and Jets pick to move up and draft Sennecke. Both traded picks came from Monahan. So, we get Sennecke for Monahan.

Would be nice but not sure how much can be moved up using those two picks alone.

Plus, Sennecke is getting mighty hyped — we’ll have to wait for Bobby Margarita’s final rankings to get an idea where he stacks up and even then, it may not be telling on a draft year such as this.

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

It'll be interesting to see how high Helenius goes. Centers tend to rise, maybe the Habs snatch him at 5 if they like him.

 

[Hannibal]

Linstrom's playoffs? 1 goal with 1 assist in 4 games (14 PIM).

To be fair, I do see Lindstrom's potential. I just have hockey IQ and play making/vision concerns. Combined with the injury and no U18's to evaluate.

Having the ability to see how his game translates at the U18's against the best his age was something I would have been very much interested in.

Go read the article on the Athletic about him and they talk about his playoffs. Coach said that he was far from 100% and wanted to play to help team no matter what even if he knew all the scouting world would be on him and analysing his play. That tells me a lot. He’ll do anything for your team.

 

[Ozmodiar]

The kid’s got a ton of skill and gets to the middle of the ice to make plays. His agility and quick hands keep defenders guessing - tough to defend.

You can see why he was 4th in WHL scoring.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Catton just looks right to me. His game is snappy. Quick with great acceleration, nice moves, lots of venom in his game.

 

[HabsForHire]

It'll be interesting to see how high Helenius goes. Centers tend to rise, maybe the Habs snatch him at 5 if they like him.

id rather iginla or catton or even a D. don't want helenius at 5

 

[WeThreeKings]

id rather iginla or catton or even a D. don't want helenius at 5

They're not taking Helenius. They mentioned two things they want, size and skill. Helenius doesn't have size and his skill doesn't wow you.

 

[sampollock]

They're not taking Helenius. They mentioned two things they want, size and skill. Helenius doesn't have size and his skill doesn't wow you.

Catton lacks size

 

[crosbyshow]

The kid’s got a ton of skill and gets to the middle of the ice to make plays. His agility and quick hands keep defenders guessing - tough to defend.

You can see why he was 4th in WHL scoring.

What I like the most about him is his zone entrance variations. A d can't time him cause he is awesome on the rush and also he is so good to slowing the game at the blue line. He has a hell of a shot as well. The wow factor..its Berkly!!

 

[Ozmodiar]

Catton just looks right to me. His game is snappy. Quick with great acceleration, nice moves, lots of venom in his game.

Here’s a little fact about him that I like:
- he led the WHL in short handed goals.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Rewatch it and look out for blown D coverage or weak D coverage. I want to see video with him on how he works in actual traffic and against D that knows what they are doing. Because when you turn pro, the time/space is reduced and there are many guys bigger/stronger. You see so many guys his size struggle when they turn pro. He likely never touches 200 lbs. Probably a 180 type with not much grit.

I value Catton but taking him 5th is a reach. He's 10-13 range IMO. I have concerns with Lindstrom but Lindstrom is ahead of Catton slightly for me.

I've done the nit pick game on most of the forwards so far. The least amount I can find is with Tij Iginla. My best advice with the pretender scouts is to watch it looking for mistakes or negatives. See how much you can find. A bit of a switch vs looking for the good stuff only.

If you watch anyone's highlights looking for blown or weak d coverage you'll find it on literally every goal, because goals don't happen without mistakes from the other team's defense.

 

[HURRICANES ROCK]

Button’s list is crazy. I don’t mean crazy good.

Seems like the draft is six months away.

Button's list is always way wrong. Bob McKenzie has had by far the most accurate lists but not sure since he semi-retired how accurate they will be.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Catton lacks size

He's the same size as Helenius, so yes in that sense. Which is why he isn't gonna be picked by the Habs, but if they were gonna pick one of the two, Catton brings the skill element more.

 

[HURRICANES ROCK]

I'm pretty convinced that Catton will drop out of the top 10. We really gotta capitalize on that.

Don't be too sure. He is really good and his lack of size is being overhyped. He will probably play at 5'11" 185.

His 116 points is one the highest totals by a draft-eligible player in the last 25 years.

He has been a consistently great player for a while now and was the 1st overall pick in the 2021 WHL draft.

He scored 54 goals in just 68 games and nearly 80 goals in only 130 games as a 17/18 year old.

Also, his team was not very good and he did not have a lot of good players around him.

 

[Seb]

Catton lacks size

Same size as Demidov and I assure you he's going to be very high on the Habs list.

He's not Caufield, Hutson or Benson, he has an average NHL size. He definitely needs to bulk up tho.

 

[salbutera]

Same size as Demidov and I assure you he's going to be very high on the Habs list.

He's not Caufield, Hutson or Benson, he has an average NHL size. He definitely needs to bulk up tho.

Scott Powers article in The Athletic this week:

People seem to think he’s on the smaller side. I think he’s listed at 5 feet 10 inches, but I also heard an NHL scout say recently that he’s a little taller than Macklin Celebrini, coming in a little over six feet. Do you think his size may be an issue in the NHL?

No, that is wrong. I think he’s got to about 184 (centimeters or 6.04 feet) now, around that. He’s a little taller than me. I think he’ll grow further, too. People usually still grow until they’re 20. I think his father is about 185, something like that. I think he’ll grow.

 

[sampollock]

Scott Powers article in The Athletic this week:

You talking Catton?

 

[SlafySZN]

You talking Catton?

No, Demidov.

 

[The Great Weal]

Don't be too sure. He is really good and his lack of size is being overhyped. He will probably play at 5'11" 185.

Of course, I can't be absolutely positive, but I believe it will happen as it didn't stop a guy like Seth Jarvis from dropping to 13 either. I just think with all the offensive dmen and bigger guys that have a more dependable 2way game, he will drop out of the top 10.

 

[Ozmodiar]

What I like the most about him is his zone entrance variations. A d can't time him cause he is awesome on the rush and also he is so good to slowing the game at the blue line. He has a hell of a shot as well. The wow factor..it’s Berkly!!

yes! His deceleration is very good - another way he finds space for himself.

he’s also very good at manipulating the D’s feet.
- always attacking their heels …he’ll get them to bite toes out then he’ll punch in.
- on rush, he’ll dangle the puck out between himself and the D where the D thinks they can get it - D will lean on toes (off balance) - then he’ll accelerate around them.

 

[Doctor Bold]

I’ve seen Saku’s son Aatos ranked somewhere between about 60 and 90. Might be a heart-over-head pick but what do you think of using our 2nd or one of our 3rd picks on him?

 

[vokiel]

We can use Avs' second rounder: ~54 if I'm not wrong.

Edit: 56 I think.

 

[overlords]

The people demand another poll!