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

[Zegs2sendhelp]

I really like Stiga. Pace of play, smarts and urgency will get him to the league, even as an energy guy. But he might be one of those up and down the lineup types who can play with anyone. He just seems like a winner

I just remember noticing him a lot when ive seen him play... but he has the right skill set for a middle 6 guy.... and i think using a 31/ early 2nd on him wouldnt be the worst idea.

 

[LeBrun is a Clown]

Heck, Chicago too..or maybe even SJ. He’s that good, right?

I’d suggest watching the player first before making such bold takes.

Your post will age like fine wine, my friend.

Have a great day!

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Glad Surin is there. I desperately want him in the second round.

I've been curious of Matvei Gridin. He's already on NA ice and is heading to Michigan. This past year, he lead the USHL in scoring with 83 points (38g + 45a), but a scoring rate of 1.38 ppg - which was 7th best in the USHL.

Despite his size (6'1 and 185 lbs), Gridin plays like a soft, smaller, offensive forward as he stays on the perimeter too much and doesn't use his body.

I do like his path is going through the NCAA, where the competition is much stronger and the development is well known at Michigan.

 

[LeBrun is a Clown]

Celebrini

All have potential to be #1 guys and franchise D Men. All the tools and toolboxes. Translatable skillsets. All deficiencies are minor and should be work arounds.

Lev
Yak
Dickinson

All carry elite, franchise level potential but more question marks.

Silayev
Demidov
Parekh
Sennecke
Buuim

Skillsets that will carry over to the NHL nicely and be NHL players in some capacity.

Iginla
MBN
Solberg
Helenius

Could be in the top tiers, but have major question marks and too risky with a pick that high.

Lindstrom
Eiserman

 

[tomd]

I’d suggest watching the player first before making such bold takes.

Your post will age like fine wine, my friend.

Have a great day!

I've watched him and I've admitted he is a highlight machine IN JUNIOR HOCKEY. Are his dangles going to work against AHL defenses let alone NHL defenses? I'm skeptical. Is he shot which now overpowers teenagers going to work against NHL goalies? I'm skeptical. Does his skating require significant improvement to be at the NHL level? Absolutely. Does his decision making in his own zone require massive improvement? Absolutely. Can he make those improvements enough to justify a 3OA selection? I'm extremely skeptical.

IMO, at best you are getting a 2nd pairing D who is a PP specialist AND who will need to be paired with a solid defensive partner. Don't the Ducks already have enough of the types of D?? And that is BEST case IMO.

 

[Trojans86]

I think you are correct but also are minimizing his weak spots. He is going to have to make pretty significant improvements or he is going to get torched at the NHL level by forwards blowing past him or him making awful defensive reads. He is basically the right-handed version of Dionicio. Many of the same strengths and many of the same weaknesses. He is a very risky pick and years away from the NHL. And once he makes the NHL, I think it is unrealistic to expect the things he does offensively in junior to translate. Think Nic Hague without the defense.

The other thing that concerns me about Yakemchuk is that he has had zero success outside of the WHL. My fear is that he is a junior star that will become an NHL journeyman. And the Ducks haven't exactly been brilliant lately drafting players out of the WHL so there is that.

I havent seen enough of his games to have a strong opinion of his defense and defensive potential, but if Madden is actually considering him at 3 then I am pretty confident his defense projects pretty well in the NHL. I hear he has great straight line speed, great size, great physicality and is a beast around the net. Those are great tools to build from. Edge work and backwards skating is certainly something you can improve if your training is heavily focused on it. I would also add that fans tend to think they have a really good understanding where everyone goes and every year there are guys that drop in a big way or rise in a big way, indicating the fans views are not always the GM views. Just because mock drafts have him going closer to 10 doesnt mean that we can trade back to 10 and get him there.

I will try to watch more shift by shifts and get back to you on my thoughts, but at the end of the day a couple of games is still a very limited indicator of where these kids will be 10 years from now compared to everything a scouting department is doing.

 

[tomd]

I havent seen enough of his games to have a strong opinion of his defense and defensive potential, but if Madden is actually considering him at 3 then I am pretty confident his defense projects pretty well in the NHL. I hear he has great straight line speed, great size, great physicality and is a beast around the net. Those are great tools to build from. Edge work and backwards skating is certainly something you can improve if your training is heavily focused on it. I would also add that fans tend to think they have a really good understanding where everyone goes and every year there are guys that drop in a big way or rise in a big way, indicating the fans views are not always the GM views. Just because mock drafts have him going closer to 10 doesnt mean that we can trade back to 10 and get him there.

I will try to watch more shift by shifts and get back to you on my thoughts, but at the end of the day a couple of games is still a very limited indicator of where these kids will be 10 years from now compared to everything a scouting department is doing.

None of us are scouts and so we have to rely on those who watch these guys closely. It's an imperfect science but if enough people are saying the same things then you have to start believing them. My point is that at 3OA the pick is just too risky. The upside might be enormous but the likelihood of reaching that upside is rather small. This will be the highest pick the Ducks will have in quite a while (according to PV) so they have to make it count.

I took the following from the main board...yes, it's just another data point but it's NOT a ringing endorsement for taking Yakemchuk above the other D available in the draft.

FWIW: Scott Wheeler published an article in the Athletic yesterday about the D-group, asking 17 Scouts to tell him which of the top 6 D they liked best and least.

5 scouts did not give a (clear) answer to who they liked least.

3 scouts said they liked Dickinson least.

8 said they liked Yakemchuk the least.

No one said Yak was best.

 

[FiveTacos]

There is no debate that Celebrini is tops and then a mix thereafter. San Jose doesn't have to dick around. Chicago, on the other hand, can play around.

There's no harm in playing games before the draft for Chicago. It's free draft capital for the 'Hawks if the Ducks bite.

The Ducks are so inscrutable though. If the Hawks are actually targeting someone else, and swap picks, can they be sure the Ducks won't take their guy?

The Oracle at Delphi would have a tough time predicting Ducks draft picks in a normal year, never mind this one.

 

[Ducks DVM]

Anonymous 2024 NHL Draft survey: Scouts, prospects dish on the top D and more

How would scouts rank the top defensemen in the 2024 draft class? Which player falls just outside the top tier?

www.nytimes.com

Good read. Reading between the lines, several of these scouts work for teams who didn’t bother scouting these guys much because they knew they’d never get them, so they probably don’t add much. There seems to be a judgement call on the rest as to whether you pick the high ceiling or high floor.

 

[airforceones25]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1803064245396897834

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

And the plot thicken!

 

[ohcomeonref]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1803064245396897834

Oh my lord.. I'm freaking out a little bit about who we pick.

 

[Ducks DVM]

Yes, but is he truculent?

 

[ohcomeonref]

Yes, but is he truculent?

I like poking fun at him but I still like Burkie

 

[tomd]

Oh my lord.. I'm freaking out a little bit about who we pick.

I'm freaking out a little bit on who we pass on!

 

[Perry was Here]

Demidov certainly adds a wrinkle to the draft with his statement but if he's available at #3 I could still see Verbeek passing on him. If you're going to pass on Fantilli you can pass on almost anyone.

 

[tomd]

I'm where I was 1-2 months ago...just draft someone who's last name ends in a "v". Don't overcomplicate it or try to be the "brightest guy in the room".

 

[DuckDuckGetz]

I'm where I was 1-2 months ago...just draft someone who's last name ends in a "v". Don't overcomplicate it or try to be the "brightest guy in the room".

Vladislav Bryzgalov it is

 

[WhatTheDuck]

The comment sounds like huge praise, and not a lot of prospects are making that jump from the OHL to NHL at 18. Then again, Zach Benson just had a pretty solid rookie season at 18, and I don't see a reason why Demidov would be considered any lesser of a prospect in his draft year.

He's too intriguing for me to be disappointed in us taking, I just really don't get the feeling he'll be the choice though. Silayev just seems like the guy.

 

[ShadowDuck]

I’m fully on the Demidov train. Also ready for Chicago to ruin draft night.

 

[Rasp]

 

[KickHisAssZegrass]

Demidov would be awesome but I can't see it... maybe if theyre planning on trading Z.

Might as well hope CHI takes him so the Ducks can pick who they want. Havent heard any smoke about them wanting Lev though so who knows. I still think Silayev will be the pick.

 

[Perry was Here]

Demidov would be awesome but I can't see it... maybe if theyre planning on trading Z.

Might as well hope CHI takes him so the Ducks can pick who they want. Havent heard any smoke about them wanting Lev though so who knows. I still think Silayev will be the pick.

Levshunov is a gym rat and Verbeek loves gym rats. There probably hasn't been any talk about it because Chicago has been all over Levshunov this season from what Pronman has said. I really don't think this changes Chicago's mind.

I thought Z would be on the trading block after Carlsson was drafted, maybe he still is. Z's future is in his own hands imo. I don't think Demidov would change that and make Z more expendable.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

View attachment 884093

Am I supposed to know who these guys are? All I know is the guy on the right has legs like Leo.

 

[Rasp]

Am I supposed to know who these guys are? All I know is the guy on the right has legs like Leo.

Yes if you know anything about the draft. Its Levshunov and Demidov