Speculation: With the third pick in the 2024 NHL draft the Anaheim Ducks select...(Draft is June 28th @ 4pm PT. ESPN. ESPN+)

[airforceones25]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1803181725977043204

 

[Beckett]

For people unfamiliar, he lists the number of games watched for each guy. He watched Silayev 19 times.

I look forward to Simon's write up every year. He goes into great detail some of the less considered traits of each prospect. It's really helped my couch scouting over the years.

Anyway, I think his write-up of Silayev is spot on. The guy is already a unicorn defensively and has plenty of puck skills and offensive IQ to compliment a higher skilled partner.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

We have picks 31/32, 35, and 58 - four picks in the first two rounds. We have many other potential prospects we could discussing about.

If we land a d-man at #3, then...

#31/32 - looking for a forward here, preferably a right shot.
- RW Hemming
- C Letourneau (he shoots right)
- C/RW Surin (Russia... no idea about his contract status)
- RW Gridin

#35 - shoring up RD
- Emery (if available, his stock is rising) (shutdown)
- Badinka (2-way)
- Elick (shutdown)

#58 - back to offense
- C Jack Berglund
- C Simon Zether
- C Kamil Bednarik

If we land a forward at #3, then... ( and denoting NCAA bound prospects)

#31/32 - looking for RD
- Emery (NCAA bound)
- Elick
- Badinka

#35 - forward
- C Letourneau (NCAA bound)
- C/RW Surin
- RW Gridin (NCAA bound)
- C Simon Zether

#58
- C Jack Berglund
- C Kamil Bednarik (NCAA bound)
- F Carsno Wetsch
- LD Alfons Freij
- LW John Mustard (NCAA bound)

* denoting NCAA bound prospects because we've only drafted one in the past two drafts under Verbeek, in 2022 5th rounder Michael Callow.

With three picks in the third round, I'm hoping to land RD Sebastian Soini, a shutdown guy who has played at Finland men's 2nd (Mestis) and 1st (Liiga) levels this past season.

Other notables for later round

LD Colin Ralph is a 6'4, shutdown guy coming from high school level and heading to the NCAA (St. Cloud St.). Could take a flyer on him and let him develop for four years in college.

Then there's a short RW in Justin Poirier (5'8 and 181 lbs) and a Sept 4th birth. He could grow, but he lacks skating and effort. What Poirier does well is score goals as he notched 51 goals in the regular season (most on the team) and 18 goals in the post season (most on the team) in the QMJHL. Possibly, he could fall to the 4th round, but goal scorers with skating issues tend to get picked up in the 3rd round. Doubtful Poirier is on our radar, but he's an interesting prospect to have in the later rounds.

 

[Perry was Here]

Ive heard Demidov has an elite motor which I think is a huge plus and something often missed by fans that have him labeled as a small, soft and skilled forward. 6'1 with an elite motor is great on the forecheck and backcheck, both of which I think PV is putting a lot of value on.

I think 6'1" is some fine rounding up since there is a picture of him standing next to Levshunov and Lev looks like he's slouching a bit. Either way I've seen Demidov throw some decently good hits so he doesn't shy away from initiating contact. I do hope Chicago takes Demidov because Lev is the best defenseman in the draft.

 

[Gliff]

I think 6'1" is some fine rounding up since there is a picture of him standing next to Levshunov and Lev looks like he's slouching a bit. Either way I've seen Demidov throw some decently good hits so he doesn't shy away from initiating contact. I do hope Chicago takes Demidov because Lev is the best defenseman in the draft.

Pictures are impossible to gauge height from. Especially when you can’t even see their whole body in the picture.

 

[Perry was Here]

Pictures are impossible to gauge height from. Especially when you can’t even see their whole body in the picture.

If Levshunov is listed at 6'2" and he's slouching a little next to Demidov who's standing up straight and Lev still appears taller I would use an educated guess that Demidov really isn't 6'1". Honestly, it doesn't really matter because they are both fantastic players and should be taken #2 and #3 in the draft.

 

[DuckDuckGetz]

Interesting note from Elliotte Friedman on 32TP today:

“I have one team that told me that they believe that the word around the league is, there is another team out there that wants Demidov really badly that is spreading all of these nasty rumors about him… that he’s short, or that he won’t come over to the NHL, because they want Demidov to drop to them.”

Not sure if I would be flattered or uncomfortable if I was Demidov and got drafted by that team

 

[Rooch]

Honest question: what does Demidov have that Zegras doesn't?

 

[Trojans86]

Honest question: what does Demidov have that Zegras doesn't?

From the reports I’ve read he has a high end motor which Zegras doesn’t have at all. He also has better edges.

 

[tomd]

Honest question: what does Demidov have that Zegras doesn't?

The shiny new car smell...

 

[91Fedorov]

The shiny new car smell...

Cool accent...

 

[FiveTacos]

Not sure if I would be flattered or uncomfortable if I was Demidov and got drafted by that team

It's a double bluff! They want us to THINK they want him by spreading rumors, but then they spread rumors that they're spreading rumors. So the only proper response is we need to spread the rumor that they're the ones spreading the rumors about them spreading rumors about Demidov.

 

[Dostwall]

I’m still not sold on any of the top D besides Levshunov.

So, ideally, Chicago takes Demidov and then we can take Levshunov. But if not, I trust the Ducks scouts enough to make the right call— even if it doesn’t fit the public opinion.

 

[airforceones25]

Honest question: what does Demidov have that Zegras doesn't?

Even if the case, why are we pretending like this is a negative thing? IMO Zegras biggest issue comes from the fact he processes the game so quickly he's limited by those around him. In Demidov you have someone who's shown he also is able to produce and process play at a superior level. When you place two guys like that on the same line magic tends to happen. Their brains are like AI. Creative minds need to be around each other. That's what made Kariya and Selanne extra special. They just had this 6th sense.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Honest question: what does Demidov have that Zegras doesn't?

They're both similar type players as they're both more playmakers than goal scorers. Which is partly why I prefer Lindstrom if we're going for a forward to give the Ducks a different type of player. Lindstrom is a PF who is more goal scorer than playmaker.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Honest question: what does Demidov have that Zegras doesn't?

 

[Rasp]

On the main prospects board, @19Simon19 put out his annual draft tome...it is massive and hard to download but his top 5 are:
1. Celebrini
2. Lindstrom
3. Demidov
4. Silayev
5. Sennecke

He's had some very good takes over the past couple of years. I believe he is an ex-scout from the Montreal area so his opinions are fairly credible.

He is worth checking out as he gives a lot of detail and also had Carlsson #2 last year.

The list lines up with what people have been saying about us too. Lindstrom injury knocks him down and if we dont want a Russian then its Sennecke and Yakemchuk next. Going to be some crazy curveballs this draft.

1. Celebrini
2. Lindstrom
3. Demidov
4. Silayev
5. Sennecke
6. Yakemchuk
7. Iginla
8. Dickinson
9. Levshunov
10. Buium
11. Catton
12. Solberg
13. Parekh
14. Luchanko
15. Vanacker
16. Greentree
17. Jiricek
18. Helenius
19. Miettinen
20. Eiserman
21. Freij
22. Pulkkinen
23. Chernyshov
24. Brandsegg-Nygard
25. Marques
26. Hage
27. Basha
28. Boisvert
29. Brunicke
30. Connelly
31. Hemming
32. Surin

 

[Ducks DVM]

He is worth checking out as he gives a lot of detail and also had Carlsson #2 last year.

The list lines up with what people have been saying about us too. Lindstrom injury knocks him down and if we dont want a Russian then its Sennecke and Yakemchuk next. Going to be some crazy curveballs this draft.

1. Celebrini
2. Lindstrom
3. Demidov
4. Silayev
5. Sennecke
6. Yakemchuk
7. Iginla
8. Dickinson
9. Levshunov
10. Buium
11. Catton
12. Solberg
13. Parekh
14. Luchanko
15. Vanacker
16. Greentree
17. Jiricek
18. Helenius
19. Miettinen
20. Eiserman
21. Freij
22. Pulkkinen
23. Chernyshov
24. Brandsegg-Nygard
25. Marques
26. Hage
27. Basha
28. Boisvert
29. Brunicke
30. Connelly
31. Hemming
32. Surin

I’d be interested to know where the breaks are in his prospect levels. Also interesting that the two guys we are linked to are not a huge reach on his rankings.

 

[Static]

I’d be interested to know where the breaks are in his prospect levels. Also interesting that the two guys we are linked to are not a huge reach on his rankings.

He doesn't really have any and he explains that thinking in his preamble.

 

[tomd]

I’d be interested to know where the breaks are in his prospect levels. Also interesting that the two guys we are linked to are not a huge reach on his rankings.

His groupings (he doesn't call them tiers) are as follows:
1-7
8-11
12-24

He says a substantial drop-off after 24...yes, the same 24 the Ducks would have had if the Oilers hadn't gone crazy.

 

[Rooch]

He is worth checking out as he gives a lot of detail and also had Carlsson #2 last year.

The list lines up with what people have been saying about us too. Lindstrom injury knocks him down and if we dont want a Russian then its Sennecke and Yakemchuk next. Going to be some crazy curveballs this draft.

1. Celebrini
2. Lindstrom
3. Demidov
4. Silayev
5. Sennecke
6. Yakemchuk
7. Iginla
8. Dickinson
9. Levshunov
10. Buium
11. Catton
12. Solberg
13. Parekh
14. Luchanko
15. Vanacker
16. Greentree
17. Jiricek
18. Helenius
19. Miettinen
20. Eiserman
21. Freij
22. Pulkkinen
23. Chernyshov
24. Brandsegg-Nygard
25. Marques
26. Hage
27. Basha
28. Boisvert
29. Brunicke
30. Connelly
31. Hemming
32. Surin

Knocks him all the way down tooooo... second.

 

[DavidBL]

Which is why drafting on the current need for a RD doesn't make sense either. BPA is pretty much always the correct path to take.

None of these guys are going to be making positive contributions in a solidified, top 4 role on RD for years most likely. NHL rosters can end up looking very different over the course of even 2-3 seasons with trades, free agent acquisitions, etc.

The BPA is so subjective. There is so much that goes into the valuation of a player including need and fit. The 10 players after Celebrini are all ranked so inconsistently it's really hard to suggest any is the BPA. Only the future will tell.

 

[robbieboy3686]

The BPA is so subjective. There is so much that goes into the valuation of a player including need and fit. The 10 players after Celebrini are all ranked so inconsistently it's really hard to suggest any is the BPA. Only the future will tell.

Bpa is a 2nd round and after term/strategy imho

 

[Trojans86]

He is worth checking out as he gives a lot of detail and also had Carlsson #2 last year.

The list lines up with what people have been saying about us too. Lindstrom injury knocks him down and if we dont want a Russian then its Sennecke and Yakemchuk next. Going to be some crazy curveballs this draft.

1. Celebrini
2. Lindstrom
3. Demidov
4. Silayev
5. Sennecke
6. Yakemchuk
7. Iginla
8. Dickinson
9. Levshunov
10. Buium
11. Catton
12. Solberg
13. Parekh
14. Luchanko
15. Vanacker
16. Greentree
17. Jiricek
18. Helenius
19. Miettinen
20. Eiserman
21. Freij
22. Pulkkinen
23. Chernyshov
24. Brandsegg-Nygard
25. Marques
26. Hage
27. Basha
28. Boisvert
29. Brunicke
30. Connelly
31. Hemming
32. Surin

Very interesting. He clearly has watched a ton of hockey. I thought the analysis on Yakemchuk is interesting because he clearly states his skating is not a problem and his defense is very solid. I’m definitely getting mixed signals on him. Silayev also seems like an amazing space eating defensemen that would do great things for us.

 

[Rasp]

Knocks him all the way down tooooo... second.

Second based on his ranking. A permanent spinal injury will cross him off some early teams lists especially if 2-7 are interchangeable

Very interesting. He clearly has watched a ton of hockey. I thought the analysis on Yakemchuk is interesting because he clearly states his skating is not a problem and his defense is very solid. I’m definitely getting mixed signals on him. Silayev also seems like an amazing space eating defensemen that would do great things for us.

Remember last year when Carlsson had skating issues... Made some people look really stupid haha