2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by Sandman

A good small player? Aron Kiviharju. He’s 5’10” standing on an apple crate, but he’s an absolute wizard. Doubt he’ll be around for our second pick, but I wouldn’t mind taking him with Vancouver’s pick…

How would you compare Kiviharju and Cole Hutson?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Connelly, Helenius and Eiserman seem to be the three guys really shining and pushing their draft stock up so far in the U18s.

You'd have to be real excited to add a pure sniper like Eiserman who scores goals in buckets. Obviously position is a factor and landing a top line centre is preferred but maybe he could be a trigger man for Huberdeau. The main worry is he is going to be another Gaudreau/Tkachuk and do his 7-ish years and head home, ideally want someone who they can build around for 10 plus

If he impresses in the NHL I think the Flames would just have to pay him early like the Senators did with Tkachuk. Most NHL players still value security and will take the money. Calgary will be a little more attractive when they open their new arena as well.

[serratedmuffin]

Something to be aware of: USA has played Lavtia, Norway and Slovakia. I think it's hard to tell how good a player is when you're running up the score against overmatched teams.


Helenius is sort of similar, putting up his points against the same teams.



I think once the good teams face off against each other it'll be a better indication of how they're faring against their peers.

[D as in David]

TIL the Flames don't take into account players' height while making their draft list - they save that determination for draft days.

[dissentowner]

Alfons Freij could be a a great pick with one of our mid picks, injuries tanked his ranking but at one time he was projected to be a high 1st rounder.

[Canada 02]

Demidov was injured in the MHL playoffs

https://twitter.com/user/status/1783894015626170470

[Royle9]

That’s a bad look if it’s the same knee as the play didn’t appear to be anything aggressive or look bad..

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Royle9

That’s a bad look if it’s the same knee as the play didn’t appear to be anything aggressive or look bad..

It certainly adds a significant question mark to the draft.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

40 point regression is concerning for someone that young.

True, but Buffalo’s top 5 scorers had significant regressions.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Demidov was injured in the MHL playoffs

https://twitter.com/user/status/1783894015626170470

If Demidov somehow falls to 9??? Robbery by Conroy

[stemit14]

I assume virtually all teams choose the BPA with the possible exception of teams that have been making multiple high picks for years and have stocked their prospect cupboards with more high end players at a certain position.

Chicago and San Jose need everything despite picking high for a few years. I don’t really have a read on if they need forwards more than defencemen. They have both gone scorched earth in their rebuild so every position is a need for them. So I think these teams will go BPA.

Anaheim has also gone scorched earth over the years as well but I think they need defence more than anything. They are pretty loaded up front with skilled centers and they traded Drysdale this season so they could really use a defenceman to replace him. I would expect them to go with a defenceman unless they end up at 1st overall.

Columbus is a bit of a strange one because… out of all the bad teams in the top 5 of the draft, they are the one that is there “by accident” more than the rest IMO. The moves they have made over the last few years have not been really typical of a team trying to rebuild (like Chicago, San Jose and Anaheim). Makes it tough to read what they will go for. Overall, I think they could use a center and/or a defenceman. I think they would be a threat to take Lindstrom or Catton, personally.

Montreal is one of the more likely teams to draft by position. They have a lot of great young defencemen in their system so I think they are likely to take a forward… they could definitely use a center with size. Others have speculated on this thread that they are high on Iginla. I think I recall someone speculating Montreal’s list (outside of Cellebrini) as 1. Demidov 2. Lindstrom 3. Iginla. I think they are the biggest threat to take Iginla in the top 8 of the draft.

Utah is a wild card. They are loaded with picks/prospects from being a bad team for years. I doubt they will trade their pick away and not make a first round pick in their first draft. But I do wonder if they would be a team willing to trade to either drop down or move up in their selection… a way to “make a splash” at their first draft. They have the pieces to afford to do either. Can’t speak to what they need though. They made of a bit of a reach at last years draft to take a big, skilled Russian defenceman. I wonder if they would be a team to double-down on that and take another big, smooth-skating Russian defenceman. Although, I could see them as a threat to take Iginla as well. They could use the name recognition with their pick and Shane Doan (good friends with Jarome) is part of their management group. Hoping he is good enough friends to let Jarome call Tij’s name in the draft for Calgary.

Ottawa needs right-handed defencemen desperately. Don’t have much within their prospects or on their roster so I could see them making that their target at the draft. I’ve mentioned before that I think Ottawa (along with maybe New Jersey) might be the most willing (though still a long shot) team picking in the top ten that would consider trading the pick for immediate help. A legit top pairing defenceman with term could be the centerpiece Ottawa would consider in a trade for their 7th overall pick.

Seattle could use a centermen or a defenceman with offensive skill. Could see them taking Helenius or one of the top defencemen to quarterback a powerplay in the NHL.

I really hope the flames take Iginla but I could understand if they don’t or if he is already gone by 9th overall. It will be BPA for Calgary IMO… but I also think Iginla will the be the BPA for Calgary at their spot (if he is not picked by then).

New Jersey will likely take BPA if they don’t trade their pick to solve their goalie troubles. No specific need - they are a good team outside of goaltending.

Assuming no changes in draft position after the lottery and assuming no trades in the top ten picks, here’s my predictions for each team:

1. San Jose - Celebrini
2. Chicago - Demidov
3. Anaheim - Dickinson
4. Columbus - Catton
5. Montreal - Lindstrom
6. Utah - Silayev
7. Ottawa - Levshunov
8. Seattle - Buium
9. Calgary - Iginla
10. New Jersey - Helenius

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by D as in David

TIL the Flames don't take into account players' height while making their draft list - they save that determination for draft days.

That seems quite dumb.

[dissentowner]

I will do my own top 16 mock but I am going to wait until the lottery is done.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

That seems quite dumb.

Your sarcasm meter is broken

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

How would you compare Kiviharju and Cole Hutson?

They are both similar- both had monumental seasons in the years before this one, both are diminutive, both skate very well. I don't think they'll be drafted too far apart, as I have Kiviharju late first, and Hutson in the first half of the second. Hutson is more physical, but Kiviharju is more well-rounded, more dynamic, and much better defensively.

What might hold Kivi back is that he lost almost the entire season due to injury, limited to just 7 games in the Liiga, but I would choose Kiviharju over Hutson. Just my opinion.

[stemit14]

Might as well complete my top 16 draft guesses:

Buffalo is another team I could see considering a trade with their 1st round pick. They are so loaded with prospects, they could finally make an aggressive move try to make the playoffs next year… I have no idea what they would demand as they have so many good young players that look ready to step in. Maybe a top four right-handed defenceman with term could be enough to convince them to trade 11th overall. If not, it’s once again BPA as they have high end prospect depth at every position so there is no reason to draft for position. Buffalo could be a team to take a risk on a player like Eiserman… they have so many good prospects, they can afford to take a swing on a high risk/high reward player like him. This would be back-to-back years where Buffalo gets a player with elite, top-rated skill while selecting outside the top 10 (Benson last year and Eiserman this year).

Philadelphia lost a top center prospect this year (Gauthier) but gained a young top four defenceman in Drysdale. They will likely still go BPA but I could see them going for a center with potential to replace what was lost in Gauthier. However, the pickings on centres might be slim by this point in the draft.

Minnesota is pretty solid at drafting over the years. I could see them going for BPA in their spot as they could use prospects at all positions. By this point, there would be lots of very good defencemen still available so I could see them picking one of them.

San Jose has Pittsburgh’s pick at 14. I assume they’ll go BPA and it works out well for them after likely getting one of the top two forwards in the draft (Cellebrini or Demidov) as there are some really good defencemen available at this point.

Detroit has lots of great prospects/young NHLers both on defence and at forward so I think they also go BPA.

St. Louis could use prospects at every position so I think they go with BPA as well.

My draft predictions for spots 11-16 (again, assuming no change from draft lottery and no trades):

11. Buffalo - Eiserman
12. Philadelphia - Hage
13. Minnesota - Yakemchuk
14. San Jose - Parekh
15. Detroit - Greentree
16. St. Louis - Brandsegg-Nigard

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Might as well complete my top 16 draft guesses:

Buffalo is another team I could see considering a trade with their 1st round pick. They are so loaded with prospects, they could finally make a an aggressive move try to make the playoffs next year… I have no idea what they would demand as they have so many good young players that look ready to step in. Maybe a top four right-handed defenceman with term could be enough to convince them to trade 11th overall. If not, it’s once again BPA as they have high end prospect depth at every position so there is no reason to draft for position. Buffalo could be a team to take a risk on a player like Eiserman… they have so many good prospects, they can afford to take a swing on a high risk/high reward player like him. This would be back-to-back years where Buffalo gets a player with elite, top-rated skill while selecting outside the top 10 (Benson last year and Eiserman this year).

Philadelphia lost a top center prospect this year (Gauthier) but gained a young top four defenceman in Drysdale. They will likely still go BPA but I could see them going for a center with potential to replace what was lost in Gauthier. However, the pickings on centres might be slim by this point in the draft.

Minnesota is pretty solid at drafting over the years. I could see them going for BPA in their spot as they could use prospects at all positions. By this point, there would be lots of very good defencemen still available so I could see them picking one of them.

Pittsburgh’s prospect depth is very thin so it should definitely be BPA for them. As with Minnesota, still lots of really good defencemen available so I’ll assume they take one of them.

Detroit has lots of great prospects/young NHLers both on defence and at forward so I think they also go BPA.

Washington is in a similar position to Pittsburgh (despite having more quality young players in their prospect pool) so I think they go with BPA as well.

My draft predictions for spots 11-16 (again, assuming no change from draft lottery and no trades):

11. Buffalo - Eiserman
12. Philadelphia - Hage
13. Minnesota - Yakemchuk
14. Pittsburgh - Parekh
15. Detroit - Greentree
16. Washington - Brandsegg-Nigard

San Jose has 14 and St. Louis has 16.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by butterfly

San Jose has 14 and St. Louis has 16.

Completely forgot that. Edited. Thanks.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Might as well complete my top 16 draft guesses:

Buffalo is another team I could see considering a trade with their 1st round pick. They are so loaded with prospects, they could finally make a an aggressive move try to make the playoffs next year… I have no idea what they would demand as they have so many good young players that look ready to step in. Maybe a top four right-handed defenceman with term could be enough to convince them to trade 11th overall. If not, it’s once again BPA as they have high end prospect depth at every position so there is no reason to draft for position. Buffalo could be a team to take a risk on a player like Eiserman… they have so many good prospects, they can afford to take a swing on a high risk/high reward player like him. This would be back-to-back years where Buffalo gets a player with elite, top-rated skill while selecting outside the top 10 (Benson last year and Eiserman this year).

Philadelphia lost a top center prospect this year (Gauthier) but gained a young top four defenceman in Drysdale. They will likely still go BPA but I could see them going for a center with potential to replace what was lost in Gauthier. However, the pickings on centres might be slim by this point in the draft.

Minnesota is pretty solid at drafting over the years. I could see them going for BPA in their spot as they could use prospects at all positions. By this point, there would be lots of very good defencemen still available so I could see them picking one of them.

San Jose has Pittsburgh’s pick at 14. I assume they’ll go BPA and it works out well for them after likely getting one of the top two forwards in the draft (Cellebrini or Demidov) as there are some really good defencemen available at this point.

Detroit has lots of great prospects/young NHLers both on defence and at forward so I think they also go BPA.

St. Louis could use prospects at every position so I think they go with BPA as well.

My draft predictions for spots 11-16 (again, assuming no change from draft lottery and no trades):

11. Buffalo - Eiserman
12. Philadelphia - Hage
13. Minnesota - Yakemchuk
14. San Jose - Parekh
15. Detroit - Greentree
16. St. Louis - Brandsegg-Nigard

If parekh is still there at 12-15 I would love to see the flames trade up there

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

If parekh is still there at 12-15 I would love to see the flames trade up there

Same here… would be a coup to get Iginla + Parekh/Yakemchuk in this draft. Problem is, I’m not sure if those teams picking 12-15 would have much of an appetite to trade down to 24th overall (the highest potential draft position for Vancouver’s pick I think). All those teams need high-end prospects as much if not more than the flames do. And from draft reports this year, there is a pretty large drop off in quality outside the top 16 players. It’s possible for the flames to potentially trade up with that pick but I think the cost would be high to get into the top 15.