2024 NHL Draft Thread

[devo22]

I find it interesting that Parekh is so high on most lists. I get the numbers are tantalizing, but if a defenseman can't play defense, that's ... a problem. When there's players like Dickinson or Buium available, I feel it'd be pretty hard to go for someone like Parekh who might very well end up a PP specialist if he doesn't work on his defensive play.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by devo22

I find it interesting that Parekh is so high on most lists. I get the numbers are tantalizing, but if a defenseman can't play defense, that's ... a problem. When there's players like Dickinson or Buium available, I feel it'd be pretty hard to go for someone like Parekh who might very well end up a PP specialist if he doesn't work on his defensive play.

I said it in an earlier post, but I watched him at the Hlinka, and I didn’t like him. Based on his ice-times, the coaches didn’t think much of him either. He looked like he was trying to be a one-man show, playing pond hockey, then hogging the puck and coughing it up. Missed the net a bunch too. That’s just what I saw.

Someone will take him early because, as one-dimensional as he is, it’s a pretty phenomenal dimension on this kid. Same kinda player as Erik Karlsson, and they give that guy Norris Trophies.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Hot take (maybe)... the Flames lack superstar players so maybe take a big (literally and figuratively) home run cut and consider Dean Latourneau. I'm sure that will trigger some PJSD (Post Jankowski Stress Disorder). It's boom or bust but IMO the Flames really need some boom.

Same height as Hunter Smith.

[1qqaaz]

There are no very tall forwards who are "super stars", so I don't see how Den Latourneau is hitting for a home run.
Tage Thompson is probably the closest thing, and he's on pace for less than 60 points.


Huge (6'6+) guys are useful, but they're pretty much never superstars, at least in regards to forwards. Of the league's top 300 scorers of all time, I don't think there's a single forward over 6'5.

Latourneau's NHLe is around 8 or so. A guy like Basha, projected to go around the same area, has an NHLe probably around 28 or so.
With that said, I wouldn't be surprised if Basha falls into the 2nd round because of the complete lack of physicality and avoidance of the tough areas.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Latourneau's NHLe is around 8 or so.

Yeah, huge risk profile owing to the low level of competition. It's hunting for a unicorn to be sure... like looking for a forward equivalent of Chara. Late 1st early 2nd is where I've seen him mocked so it isn't a reach. I just feel like our depth chart is well stocked already with middle six types so I'd be willing to take a chance on bagging that unicorn if we have a surplus of draft stock.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by sch19lks

I’d rather Buium than Parekh. Parekh can’t play a lick of defence

Plus his first name is Zeev... Zeev Buium, that's a Bond villain quality name.

[cral12]

Originally Posted by cral12

Upside Hockey's prospect profile page for the 2024 draft which collates all of Sandman's great work now live:

15 profiles already!

Alphabetical for now with a table of contents at the top.

So far...

Cole Beaudoin C
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard RW
Berkly Catton C
Melvin Fernstrom RW
Noel Fransen D
Alfons Freij D
Liam Greentree RW
Emil Hemming RW
Henry Mews D
Lucas Pettersson C
Ryder Ritchie RW
Beckett Sennecke RW
Leo Sahlin Wallenius D
Carson Wetsch RW
Simon Zether C

https://bit.ly/2024nhldraftprofiles

Aaaaand, we're now up to 31 profiles thanks to the incomparable Sandman:
Dominik Badinka D
Cole Beaudoin C
Sacha Boisvert C
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard RW
Harrison Brunicke D
Berkly Catton C
Trevor Connelly LW
Ben Danford D
Charlie Elick D
EJ Emery D
Melvin Fernstrom RW
Noel Fransen D
Alfons Freij D
Spencer Gill D
Liam Greentree RW
Michael Hage C
Emil Hemming RW
Matvei Gridin RW
Adam Kleber D
Tomas Lavoie D
Luca Marrelli D
Henry Mews D
John Mustard LW
Lucas Pettersson C
Ryder Ritchie RW
Colton Roberts D
Beckett Sennecke RW
Sebastian Soini D
Leo Sahlin Wallenius D
Carson Wetsch RW
Simon Zether C

https://bit.ly/2024nhldraftprofiles

The "table of contents" at top of page has links to all the profiles within the prospect page, if that makes any sense lol

[ComixZone]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1753476493672681742

Please please please please please please

[Parallex]

Someone is comped to Gretzky... and they're not the consensus #1 OA? That seems weird.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Someone is comped to Gretzky... and they're not the consensus #1 OA? That seems weird.

It's the Russian side of it.

There are contract implications apparently that may keep him out of the NHL for a few years to come. His currently deal expires in 2025, but who knows what happens between now and then.

[Sandman]

More Draft Thoughts (WHL Edition):

Whatever team is lucky enough to draft 6'0" 181lb C/LW Ollie Josephson will be getting an instant fan favorite. He's a speedy, energetic firecracker who plays the game the right way, and doesn't cheat. Josephson was picked in the first round of the WHL Draft, 5th overall, by Red Deer- and this season to date he has put up 6 goals and 32 points in 46 games for a club that sits 6th overall in the standings, but 3rd-worst in goals-for. Josephson was born in BC, not Sweden as one would deduce by his name, and is one of the younger players in this draft, with a July 22 Birthday. He has been given a "B" rating by Central Scouting, meaning that they expect him to be selected in rounds 2 or 3.
Supreme hustle is the name of the game for OJ- he's all-out, all the time, always going 110% with never-ending motor, putting opponents on their heels with relentless puck pursuit. He's a super-pest, always buzzing in the face of puck-carriers, and can really push pace. Excellent skater who could use a little more explosiveness, but if there's any flaws in his speed he compensates with sheer hard work and determination, keeping his feet pumping, while never tiring. When he gets going though, he can flat-out fly. He's strong on his skates, and hard to knock off stride, or off the puck, and shows good balance and agility. Bigger players can't take the puck from him along the walls, or in the corners- he's like a Running Back, and won't be slowed down, pushing through bodies and sticks, and absorbing hits. He plays hard and gritty like a Tasmanian Devil, finishing his checks, and being miserable to play against. He causes turnovers aplenty with his tenaciousness, then pounces on the loose pucks. Josephson sees the ice well, and has an excellent off-puck game, knowing where to be proactively in all 3 zones. He's a crisp, accurate passer with high-end vision, and can thread the needle through many layers of traffic to teammates in high danger. He's a great defensive presence, with instincts and anticipation, who gives attackers fits. It should be said that he's good in the faceoff circle as well.
IMO, the fact that he only has 6 goals is a major concern. True, he's a pass-first player on a highly conservative team, but one would expect a potential second-round forward to have more. On the flipside, if you look at the Rebels' roster, no player has more than 12 goals, other than veteran Kai Uchacz- who has 29. 2023 Predators 2nd-round pick Kalan Lind only has 9 goals. At any rate, Josephson will need to improve his shot and perhaps the rate at which he uses it. OJ has some wonky mechanics in his stride they say- it seems his stance is off a bit, perhaps too wide, so he will get even more power and speed if he works to correct this. It's also been said that he could be more patient, and perhaps slow down a bit at times and wait for plays to develop, and take the time to properly scan for options, so as not to miss out on plays, and open teammates. Josephson has a high floor, as he's already a good defensive player with grit and energy, with an underrated offensive side. Late 2nd round, early third, IMO.

LW Andrew Basha may have more to prove in this draft than most other players, as he's an older player (Nov.8th Birthday), and in his third season in the WHL- which some say should give him a leg up. Another advantage he has is that he plays on Cayden Lindstrom's wing in Medicine Hat- where he has amassed 61 points in 42 games to date.
Basha is an all-around player who stays away from playing an overly flashy game. He's an exceptional skater, and highly elusive due to his edgework and agility. His decision making keeps pace with his speed, and he plays an energetic game, dominating transition, and pushing pace. He has become much more comfortable carrying, but still relies too much on quick touches. Basha makes good reads in the defensive zone, working to create steals and turnovers, eager to get the play going back the other way, and kickstarting the rush. He has exemplary anticipation and positioning in all 3 zones. There's no problem making clean entries with control for Basha, and he applies solid pressure on the forecheck. While he's not very physically intimidating, at 6'0",185lbs, he has become more willing to support his teammates down low, battle in front of the net for rebounds, and to wade into the greasy areas to compete for pucks. Playmaking is much more his forte than shooting, and he has the top-tier vision and IQ to make decisions without the benefit of much time or space. He can execute tape-to-tape passes through opponents, or layers of traffic, as well as over or under sticks- and consistently finds teammates in high danger. There are some who view him as one of the top playmakers in this draft, which is high praise. He handles the puck well, and does so at high speeds, and can make plays in full flight. Despite not being very physically inclined, he is a good competitor, with high motor and energy.
Basha's defensive game has grown by leaps and bounds, but there's still plenty of room to improve his effort and consistency in this area. Some say he needs to refine his puck skills, namely his puck reception, and keeping his hands going at the same speed as his feet and brain. He's far from getting the most out of his shot, which has a fairly quick release and good accuracy, but could improve in power with adjustments to his shooting mechanics. There will be questions answered soon about how much he feeds off of Lindstrom, as he's out with an injury for the next six weeks (I believe?), but some still think Basha might not be a top-6 player in the NHL. Second round methinks.

RW Terik Parascak has come a long way on a very steep incline from playing Prep School Hockey last season to currently 9th in WHL scoring with the 3rd best team in the league, the Prince George Cougars. The 5'11",179lb winger has piled up 29 goals and 69 points in 48 games to date, which would equal 98 points in 68 games. The Cougs are 4th-best in goals-for in the league, but own one of the best powerplays, so he's been accused of being a big benefactor of the man-advantage, but I would dispute that- the stats say he only has 15 points coming via the PP. Parascak is not big or fast, but he has an elite brain with high-level IQ and awareness, with or without the puck. He has an uncanny feel for the game, and knows where to be to find open space in high-danger to finish plays. He's often around the net in the low slot, where he scores most of his goals, from tap-ins, rebounds, and one-touch plays. Highly opportunistic. While he has great hands in tight, and a quick wrister, he's more finisher than pure sniper, playing off his teammates and driving to the middle to cash in. He's perhaps equal playmaker as scorer, and displays an excellent distribution game, getting tape-to-tape passes off under pressure. The pillars of his game are his high-end skill and good timing, combined with vision and creativity. Parascak is a responsible player, and a hard worker, and gets time on both special teams. As much as his off-puck awareness helps him know where to be to get open, it also aids him defensively in knowing the best places to be to intercept passes, and close lanes. Even with sub-par skating and handling, he contributes effectively to the transition- by carrying, or through the give-and-go, and is often part of a clean entry with control.
As stated, Parascak needs plenty of work on his speed, and the mechanics of his skating. Right now, his stride looks short and choppy, as well as upright and stiff- it looks ok at times in junior hockey, but he won't get away with it once he graduates. One could choose to look at it like this: If he's this good with no junior experience, and a deficient stride, how good will he be in a year or two with better skating? Some have wondered if his numbers would be sustainable, and indeed, they have gradually slowed down. In his first 8 games, he had 12 goals and 6 assists, for 2.25 ppg. In contrast, he has 26 points in his last 20 games, which is nothing to sneeze at either, but nowhere near the pace he had in the first quarter of the season. I'm betting he's taken late first/early second.

[Sandman]

Draft Thought:

Why is Norwegian LHD Stian Solberg getting first-round consideration? This season is Solberg's third in the Elitsiterien, Norway's top men's league, and his 11 points in 33 games to date are 3rd in that circuit for players under-20. Solberg played an average of 25 minutes a night for Norway at the WJC, in all situations, and came away with 2 points in 5 games- and a legion of scouts that left impressed. The 6'2",196 defenseman plays even bigger and stronger than his ample frame, with a hard and heavy throwback style, and a well-rounded, grinding physical game. As a top defensive-minded player, he plays tough minutes against the best players, eats minutes like Smarties, and is an intimidating hitter.
Much of Solberg's game is facilitated by his impressive 4-directional speed, acceleration, and change of direction. He's incredibly strong on his skates, has almost impregnable puck-protection, and has good balance, making him nearly impossible to move, or knock off the puck. He stays on his feet, even when delivering a big hit. His backwards skating is also excellent, giving him tight gap control. Solberg is proficient at defending the rush, stopping players in their tracks with hits, a well-timed stick, or by angling attackers to the boards. In the defensive zone, he shuts down lanes, targets opponents in high-danger, and bulldozes attackers in the crease. He has a non-stop motor, sky-high compete, and defends his zone with dogged determination. He will sacrifice his body to deliver an open-ice hit, or to block a shot. Though he acts as a wrecking ball, his hits are clean, and he only has 12 PIMs to date. He's excellent in retrievals, looking over his shoulder to scan for his next move, and seems to love driving the offense through transition- another area where he excels. Solberg is already a stalwart in the defensive end, but he has the high-end IQ, as well as the tools and positional awareness to be more. He keeps his offensive game simple, walking the line with his head up to scan for open lanes, and distributes well, while keeping the play alive. He also has an excellent snap shot that can fool goaltenders through traffic. He can create off the rush, and he knows when to pinch from the point. Simply put, Solberg has underrated offensive tools and upside.
Solberg was drafted in the 2nd round of the CHL Import Draft, 96th overall, by Regina of the WHL. I always have trouble projecting players from places like Norway, as it's not as much of a hockey country, and the competition is inferior, but scouts seem to love this kid. If there are weaknesses in his game, one is the fact that he tries to do too much on occasion, and another is that he can be too overzealous when he wins the puck in the defensive zone, causing turnovers. He needs to keep developing his offense, but he's being considered for the first or second round, with some saying bottom-4, two-way upside.

[InternationalVillager]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Someone is comped to Gretzky... and they're not the consensus #1 OA? That seems weird.

If Demidov falls…Flames absolutely should take him.

[Muta]

I want us to draft Johnny Mustard just because of the ridiculously awesome name.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Muta

I want us to draft Johnny Mustard just because of the ridiculously awesome name.

We’d have to nickname him the Colonel.

[fotze2]

We gotta get Bash. He sees seams. He’s had his head on a swivel since he was seven. He’s got a ridiculous shot I don’t think he uses enough.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

Pretty tough for Conroy not to pick Iginla, especially with two first round picks and Iggy looking over his shoulder at the draft table...

Iginla could be asking Conroy (Flames) not to take him too.

The kid has big skates to fill, more so if he's in the same sweater.

[Bingo]

I just love looking at the draft board and seeing the Flames with 11 picks in the first three rounds in the next three drafts.

Where does that end up by March 9th?

14? 15?

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I just love looking at the draft board and seeing the Flames with 11 picks in the first three rounds in the next three drafts.

Where does that end up by March 9th?

14? 15?

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I just love looking at the draft board and seeing the Flames with 11 picks in the first three rounds in the next three drafts.

Where does that end up by March 9th?

14? 15?

We might be able to hit that number just by moving Tanev to Toronto!