2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Macindoc]

Originally Posted by Fan69

I think thats a good call. Really fluid skater i think its deceptive. Cannon of a shot some smart power play coach will take advantage of.

That would seem to rule out the Flames.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (5th-best Name in the Draft Edition):

RHD Ozbej Rep is one of the oldest players in the draft, born Sept.23rd, 2005 in Slovenia, just 9 days away from being included in the 2023 crop- which might be why he's being ignored. Rep wouldn't have been drafted last year as he was toiling in the Slovenian leagues, but he made the smart decision to play this season in Sweden for Sodertalje SK J20, where he was 8th in the league in scoring by defensemen with 29 points in 46 games. His production earned him 10 games in the AllSvenskan, Sweden's second-highest men's league, but he was unable to record any points. He was second on the J20 team in the playoffs with 3 points in 4 games.

Rep is a two-way defenseman who plays with energy and pace, and carries a physical presence. Perhaps his best asset is his effortless skating stride, with superb mobility in all directions. He has an explosive first-step with rapid acceleration, and is seamless in his transitions to backward skating. He can speed back into his defensive position in recovery after pinching into the zone and is strong on his edges, making him shifty and elusive when weaving around in traffic. Rep will activate into the play in order to snuff breakouts before they get going, and will deliver crushing hits at the line. He will also go to the slot for high-danger chances, cut to the middle to shoot, or activate to the circles to support the offense. He is a fine example of a modern, puck-moving defenseman who makes good decisions, but he generally makes safe and simple plays with low risk involved; this is also true in the way he QB's the play from the blueline, as he prefers the meat-and-potatoes play, but he flashes some high-end creativity and the ability to connect with more difficult passes. After scanning over both shoulders in retrievals, he makes intelligent first-passes to kick off the breakout, and can stretch the ice on occasion. In transition, he's a valuable contributor and can carry across clean, controlled exits and entries while weaving through traffic, or he can again make short, simple passes that avoid risk. He owns a powerful point shot that he gets on net consistently, and he often uses it as a playmaking tool to facilitate second-chance opportunities for teammates.

Defensively, Rep exhibits outstanding gap control, as he's able to match footwork with the quickest opponents, and can separate them from the puck by throwing hard hits. He protects the front of his net with an active stick, and keeps guard over high-danger areas. He causes turnovers aplenty by smothering opponents of their time and space, but can sometimes overcommit when surfing across the ice to engage an attacker- and he can lose focus, resorting to standing still and puck-watching from time to time. Back in the offensive zone, he doesn't use his shot nearly enough, and looks for the pass even when a high-value shot is available. Most of his weaknesses center around his decision-making and lack of confidence under pressure in all areas- he can be forced into mistakes and giveaways. His stickhandling is a bit clunky, producing some turnovers because of mishandling, and can get worse when under duress. Despite these faults, he still may have solid upside as a bottom-4 defenseman in the NHL. Look for him in later rounds if he's deemed good enough to be picked.

[sureLoss]

Athletic's latest mock draft:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/555...shared_article

1. Celebrini
2. Levshunov
3. Silayev
4. Lindstrom
5. Demidov
6. Yakemchuk
7. Parekh
8. Buium
9. Iginla

[keenan87]

Iginla + Catton please

Then pick a dman with the 28th pick.

[ForeverFlameFan]

This is going to be my favorite draft with how wild the lists are.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I think Silayev is the 2nd defencemen taken this year.

[Bingo]

Updates again.

Now 21 rankings, needing 7 to be "averaged".

A good example ... Jake Berglund. He has been ranked 4 times, as high as 46th, but doesn't get averaged as he's 3 lists shy.

Current top 13 with ledges

1	M Celebrini	C	1.00

2	Ivan Demidov	RW	2.71

3	A Levshunov	D	4.52

4	Zeev Buium	D	6.81
5	Sam Dickinson	D	6.95
6	C Lindstrom	C	7.29
7	Berkly Catton	C	7.43

8	Zayne Parekh	D	8.43
9	Anton Silayev	D	9.05

10	Konsta Helenius	C	10.10
11	Tij Iginla	C	10.52
12	Cole Eiserman	LW	10.57

13	C Yakemchuk	D	12.95

Iginla up to 11 now in the rankings.

Flames Picks
9th

Flames	7	Berkly Catton
Flames	8	Zayne Parekh
Flames	9	Anton Silayev
Flames	10	Konsta Helenius
Flames	11	Tij Iginla

28th

Flames	26	Terik Parascak
Flames	27	Jett Luchanko
Flames	28	E.J. Emery
Flames	29	Henry Mews
Flames	30	Aron Kiviharju

41st

Flames	39	Stian Solberg
Flames	40	Cole Hutson
Flames	41	Tanner Howe
Flames	42	Marek Vanacker
Flames	43	Dominik Badinka

64th

Flames	62	Tomas Galvas
Flames	63	Ben Danford
Flames	64	Leon Muggli
Flames	65	Spencer Gill
Flames	66	Simon Zether

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Athletic's latest mock draft:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/555...shared_article

1. Celebrini
2. Levshunov
3. Silayev
4. Lindstrom
5. Demidov
6. Yakemchuk
7. Parekh
8. Buium
9. Iginla

If Dickinson is still available at 9, I’d take him instead of Iginla.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I think Silayev is the 2nd defencemen taken this year.

Could be. I remember last year asking Sandman i think why folks liked Simashev. He posted some vids i hadn't seen and opened my eyes. Unreal skating and hockey sense for a biggish guy.

Simashev wasn't in the KHL last year and this year now in the KHL has similar scoring to Silayev (10ish points in 60ish games). Simashev is over a year older than Silayev.

Different drafts, but if you liked Simashev last year, then you are probably really interested in Silayev.

Big D that can skate go earlier than expected in drafts.

I want Tij, but if he is available at our spot, that will be a tough choice.

[devo22]

I think Dickinson gets pushed down on some lists because he's more a "safe" pick, not a "sexy" one. But to me, everything about him screams "perennial minute-eating top 4 defenseman who can play in all situations". To me, that's probably more enticing than a question mark like Silayev.

[Sandman]

If we get #10, I want Beckett Sennecke if he’s still there, he’s so underrated and one of the best forwards in the draft. Big, skilled, and a great skater.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Sandman

If we get #10, I want Beckett Sennecke if he’s still there, he’s so underrated and one of the best forwards in the draft. Big, skilled, and a great skater.

I've heard rumblings that MTL has taken a hard look at him @ 5

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I've heard rumblings that MTL has taken a hard look at him @ 5

Yeah, totally. Maybe they go for Iggy, and we end up with Lindstrom and Sennecke?

Or maybe one of those two, plus one of the big D?

[aaronkarlpatton]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Yeah, totally. Maybe they go for Iggy, and we end up with Lindstrom and Sennecke?

Or maybe one of those two, plus one of the big D?

Wouldn't that be a great day!!

Sent from my SM-G990W2 using Tapatalk

[Jiggy]

Sandman, what are your thoughts on Sam O'Reilly (sorry if you already posted about him)?

[the-rasta-masta]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Updates again.

Now 21 rankings, needing 7 to be "averaged".

A good example ... Jake Berglund. He has been ranked 4 times, as high as 46th, but doesn't get averaged as he's 3 lists shy.

Current top 13 with ledges

1	M Celebrini	C	1.00

2	Ivan Demidov	RW	2.71

3	A Levshunov	D	4.52

4	Zeev Buium	D	6.81
5	Sam Dickinson	D	6.95
6	C Lindstrom	C	7.29
7	Berkly Catton	C	7.43

8	Zayne Parekh	D	8.43
9	Anton Silayev	D	9.05

10	Konsta Helenius	C	10.10
11	Tij Iginla	C	10.52
12	Cole Eiserman	LW	10.57

13	C Yakemchuk	D	12.95

Iginla up to 11 now in the rankings.

Flames Picks
9th

Flames	7	Berkly Catton
Flames	8	Zayne Parekh
Flames	9	Anton Silayev
Flames	10	Konsta Helenius
Flames	11	Tij Iginla

28th

Flames	26	Terik Parascak
Flames	27	Jett Luchanko
Flames	28	E.J. Emery
Flames	29	Henry Mews
Flames	30	Aron Kiviharju

41st

Flames	39	Stian Solberg
Flames	40	Cole Hutson
Flames	41	Tanner Howe
Flames	42	Marek Vanacker
Flames	43	Dominik Badinka

64th

Flames	62	Tomas Galvas
Flames	63	Ben Danford
Flames	64	Leon Muggli
Flames	65	Spencer Gill
Flames	66	Simon Zether

Give me:

Iggy/Catton
Parascak
Hutson
Zether

Done!

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Updates again.

Now 21 rankings, needing 7 to be "averaged".

A good example ... Jake Berglund. He has been ranked 4 times, as high as 46th, but doesn't get averaged as he's 3 lists shy.

Current top 13 with ledges

1	M Celebrini	C	1.00

2	Ivan Demidov	RW	2.71

3	A Levshunov	D	4.52

4	Zeev Buium	D	6.81
5	Sam Dickinson	D	6.95
6	C Lindstrom	C	7.29
7	Berkly Catton	C	7.43

8	Zayne Parekh	D	8.43
9	Anton Silayev	D	9.05

10	Konsta Helenius	C	10.10
11	Tij Iginla	C	10.52
12	Cole Eiserman	LW	10.57

13	C Yakemchuk	D	12.95

Iginla up to 11 now in the rankings.

Flames Picks
9th

Flames	7	Berkly Catton
Flames	8	Zayne Parekh
Flames	9	Anton Silayev
Flames	10	Konsta Helenius
Flames	11	Tij Iginla

28th

Flames	26	Terik Parascak
Flames	27	Jett Luchanko
Flames	28	E.J. Emery
Flames	29	Henry Mews
Flames	30	Aron Kiviharju

41st

Flames	39	Stian Solberg
Flames	40	Cole Hutson
Flames	41	Tanner Howe
Flames	42	Marek Vanacker
Flames	43	Dominik Badinka

64th

Flames	62	Tomas Galvas
Flames	63	Ben Danford
Flames	64	Leon Muggli
Flames	65	Spencer Gill
Flames	66	Simon Zether

Trade Markstrom for the tenth pick. Select any one forward and any one defenceman from that top tier.

Select Kiviharju at 28.

Find some high ceiling players in the later rounds.

That would be a pretty, pretty good day.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Jiggy

Sandman, what are your thoughts on Sam O'Reilly (sorry if you already posted about him)?

I love Sam O'Reilly, and even had him in the first round of my mid-season rankings. After the U-18's, I dropped him to the third-round because his offense dried up in the third quarter of the season, but I think I may have jumped the gun after watching his performance in the playoffs and the Memorial Cup, and seeing his combine results- I think he might go in the first half of the second round now. Here's my write-up from early April:


RHC/RW Sam O'Reilly is a personal favorite as a power-forward who plays a well-rounded, heavy, pro-style game. He was selected 12th overall in the 2021 CHL Draft by the London Knights, who currently sit 1st in the OHL standings, and are the highest scoring team in the league. This season to date, he has put up 15 goals, and 44 points in 48 games, on a team with a lot of older, offensive players- so I could see where time in the top-6 would be hard to come by. Sam is 6'1", and 176 lbs.
O'Reilly is a responsible, two-way player with high IQ and awareness at both ends of the ice. He's a quality playmaker when keeping it simple, and has a remarkable small-area game. He can dish in full flight, as well as receive passes, and has poise with the puck on his stick- although he can sometimes try to force plays through traffic. He has a hard enough shot, with a sneaky release, and good hands around the net. He will go to the crease to cause havok, and hopefully pick off a rebound or tip. O'Reilly is not afraid of the greasy areas, and wins pucks with his strength, and sheer tenacity. He's competitive, and a force down low, and plays a physical brand of hockey- laying the body whenever the opportunity presents itself. Defensively, he seems committed in his effort and awareness- he works to be hard to play against. O'Reilly has great instincts and awareness in this area, to go with a good stick. He can be a pest, hounding puck-carriers and pressuring attackers by invading their space, blocking lanes, and intercepting passes. He exhibits proactive positioning, and will put his body on the line to block a shot. With all of the offensive talent in London, Sam just doesn't get a lot of time on the PP, and currently only has 8 points with the man-advantage. The flip side of this is that he is among the league leaders in even-strength goals for players in his age group. Because of his stalwart defensive play, one could say he has a high floor, with the talent and promise for more; however, he might be relegated to wing in the pros, if he doesn't get better in the faceoff circle, and they say he needs to get to the middle more often. Second round, with a chance to sneak into the first.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Re-entry Edition, Vol. 1):

In his second year of Draft eligibility, 19 year-old LW Austin Burnevik finished the season in 7th-place in the USHL scoring race with the Madison Capitols, registering 71 points in 61 games- leading his team by 18 points. His 40 goals were second in the league behind another draft re-entry, Noah Powell- who scored 43 times. In the playoffs, Burnevik was only able to muster 2 goals in 3 games. In his first year of eligibility in 2022-23, Burnevik may have been a casualty of the depth and talent playing on the NTDP team, being pushed down the lineup and held to 19 points in 43 games, where he might have had more minutes and responsibility playing on a USHL squad. It seems to be the consensus that he'll be drafted this year though, as he demonstrates NHL-caliber hands for both passing and shooting, and has NHL size at 6'4", 201lbs.

Burnevik is obviously more shooter than distributor, but he possesses excellent vision and IQ to make plays via the pass, and his high-level awareness puts him a few steps ahead of the play. He can thread the needle through traffic from his forehand or backhand, and has the soft-touch passing skills that enable him to put the puck right in the recipient's wheelhouse, and out of the range of opponents' sticks, with just the right amount of velocity that's needed. He employs a sublime delay game to draw checkers in his direction, and to make the higher-percentage play, laying down layers of deception to manipulate attackers. As a goal-scorer, he wields a deep arsenal of NHL-caliber shots with wicked releases, from a laser of a wrister to a bomb of a one-timer, and can fire in flight off the rush and get it on net through bodies. He exploits soft spots in coverage and uses defenders as screens.

Though it's true that he had limited production last year while playing for the NTDP, the most likely culprit for his not being selected in the draft might have been his weak skating stride, which severely limits his effectiveness. Burnevik is often behind the play, struggling to keep up, and is vulnerable to being stripped of the puck as his lack of speed hurts his ability to protect the puck. He also struggles to initiate contact, and depends on teammates to open space for him, as he's not quick enough to do it for himself. He has to take wider turns, which puts him in a prone position, and he loses more speed when doing so. Despite his considerable size, he doesn't impose himself nearly enough physically, and doesn't cut to the middle as much as he should, looking seemingly content to make plays from the outside. Though he uses his size as leverage to win battles along the boards, he could be dominant if he was meaner, and he would have a bigger effect on the game. As one might expect, Burnevik is virtually inneffective in transition, deferring to teammates to move the puck through the neutral zone, and he's never the first man making entry.

Burnevik's defensive metrics are very good, but he's far from being a stalwart- he's disruptive with his long reach and active stick and possesses keen awareness and smart positioning in all areas. He is able to angle opponents to the outside, but his speed limits his ability to be able to travel too far down low, or to pressure the puck up high and still be able to recover to his original position in time to stay in the play. If his skating can be fixed, you will have a super-sized player with a high-end brain and NHL-calber hands. Many say that Burnevik will be best suited as a bottom-6 player in the future, but has potential for more in my opinion. The good news is that he's got a long runway to develop, as he's committed to St. Cloud State for this fall. look for him between the 5th and 7th rounds.

[Ba'alzamon]

The craziest list I've seen is definitely Will Scouch's: Alfons Freij 5th overall, and the top ranked blueliner.

https://www.scouching.ca/the-blog/sc...-draft-ranking