2024 NHL Draft Thread

[dammage79]

Eiserman can be great. But his lack of commitment (so I have read) to the 200ft game is what's dropping him. He can be a superstar but can end up somewhere in between Eli Tolvanen and Daniel Sprong as well.

Might be a tad overstating this but he's hyper one dimensional.

[devo22]

the things I've read about Eiserman just remind me so much of Laine. Lots of talent, but you have to wonder if he ever puts it all together or ends up a one-trick pony.

[Tbull8]

Is it pretty unanimous on this board that Lindstrom is the top target after Celebrini? Lots of great dmen available but 6'5 centerman dont really seem to be available outside of the top 10 picks usually

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Is it pretty unanimous on this board that Lindstrom is the top target after Celebrini? Lots of great dmen available but 6'5 centerman dont really seem to be available outside of the top 10 picks usually

No, not unanimous. Just a vocal few. I'm one of em.
He's my top ranked prospect in this draft. I'd take him over celebrini. Ppl should be thankful I'm not an NHL gm of their team.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by dammage79

No, not unanimous. Just a vocal few. I'm one of em.
He's my top ranked prospect in this draft. I'd take him over celebrini. Ppl should be thankful I'm not an NHL gm of their team.

A junior player that big can sometimes succeed due to his size and his ability to out muscle smaller and young players, something he won't be able to get away with in the NHL.

I'm not saying he won't be great, but Cam Barker was the top rated NA skater in 2004 and was never particularly good.

It's something to consider.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by dammage79

No, not unanimous. Just a vocal few. I'm one of em.
He's my top ranked prospect in this draft. I'd take him over celebrini. Ppl should be thankful I'm not an NHL gm of their team.

I am thankful.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

A junior player that big can sometimes succeed due to his size and his ability to out muscle smaller and young players, something he won't be able to get away with in the NHL.

I'm not saying he won't be great, but Cam Barker was the top rated NA skater in 2004 and was never particularly good.

It's something to consider.

Hugh Jessiman was also a specimen. Often people catch up with the specimens.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Eiserman can be great. But his lack of commitment (so I have read) to the 200ft game is what's dropping him. He can be a superstar but can end up somewhere in between Eli Tolvanen and Daniel Sprong as well.

Might be a tad overstating this but he's hyper one dimensional.

I also think that despite the narrative that teams draft BPA, they don't. They prioritize D and centres. Consistently.
And more than a tie-breaker. The general idea is that all things being equal, teams will pick the C over the W. But I don't think that's reality, I think they put value into the centre position over wing, even if the winger is slightly better. At least in the first round.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Is it pretty unanimous on this board that Lindstrom is the top target after Celebrini? Lots of great dmen available but 6'5 centerman dont really seem to be available outside of the top 10 picks usually

Toss-up for me at this stage. The organization needs both a #1 D and #1 centreman as important pieces. Both aren't easy to get.
I would be disappointed if they walked out of the draft with a winger. This is an opportunity to bring in a key piece at a key position.

[stemit14]

It’s true there are lots of examples of young guys using their size to dominate in Junior but it doesn’t translate into the NHL. I just think it’s a risk worth taking on Lindstrom… mainly because of his speed. He has fantastic wheels… not just for a big guys but just in general. He doesn’t depend solely on his size to dominate other players… in fact, there are draft reports that suggest he needs to work on using his size more.

[stemit14]

I still think it’s a long shot that the flames have a chance to draft Lindstrom anyways. He keeps rising in the draft rankings and he is also very likely to go higher than his ranking because of his potential. I think the best chance the flames have of drafting him is if his recent injury keeps him out for so long that teams focus more on other prospects that are playing.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Lots of great dmen available but 6'5 centerman dont really seem to be available outside of the top 10 picks usually

Exceptions to the rule, Dustin Byfuglien and Zdeno Chara. Pretty old exceptions at that.

[Sandman]

That’s the thing about Lindstrom that separates him from other big kids who dominate in junior- Lindstrom does most of his “dominating” using his speed and finesse- it’s hard to be physical when you always have the puck, and Cayden picks his spots to throw hits. He’s pretty mean, as his 66 PIM would attest. Nobody wants to poke the bear. Most kids of that type also usually don’t put up the kind of numbers that Lindstrom does- 46 points in 32 games! Ridiculous.

[Sandman]

More Draft Thoughts (Thought i would share some info on a few of my favorite Swedes):

I'm sure I've talked up RHC Simon Zether here before, but I've liked him ever since seeing him in the U-18's in 2023, where he put up 2 points in 7 games as one of the younger players on the team. This season, Zether is one of the older players in the Draft, with an October birthday, and wears the "C" for Rogle's J20 team- amassing 27 points in just 17 games. Z would be co-leader (with potential first-rounder Brandsegg-Nygard) of the scoring race, having a pts/gp of 1.59, had he not been called up for 24 games with the SHL squad, where he posted 3 points. To those concerned about his late birthday, he managed 38 points in 37 J20 games last season. Zether is 6'3", and though he isn't really a true power-forward, and has been criticized for a percieved lack of physicality, he uses his size down low- pushing his way around, leaning on opponents, and making himself a load to handle around the net, where he has the hands and moves in tight to score. He doesn't have to be close in to score though, as he owns a powerful shot with a goalscorer's release, as well as top-tier offensive awareness. Stickhandling is one of his specialties, and he carries with his head up, scanning for options and for open space. Zether knows where to be proactively to maximize his creativity, or get a shot away, and he's a plus passer with excellent playmaking ability. His positioning and awareness is an asset in all 3 zones, where his proactivity puts him in the right place at the right time. He's considered a fine 2-way player with a mature approach, and keeps things very simple in the defensive zone. Zether's skating has steadily improved, and it looks fine from a technical standpoint, but his overall speed needs work. Right now in junior, it's been said that his stride is less noticeable because of his uncanny ability to find, and exploit, open space- but there's plenty of room for improvement. As stated above, he could definitely stand to throw his weight around more, and he needs to get significantly stronger (which will fix some of his mobility issues). I think this kid has a chance to follow in the footsteps of two other big Swedish centers that I really liked in their draft years, in David Edstrom and Filip Bystedt, and perhaps get chosen late first, but early second may be more likely. He reminds me a bit of Sean Monahan, but with more of a defensive conscience.

Melvin Fernstrom is a 6'1"187lb shoot-first RW, plying his trade in the J20 with Orebro, where he's third in league scoring (1st for U-18 players) with 21 goals and 40 points in just 32 games. He was also 2nd in scoring for Sweden at the Hlinka, with 3 goals and 5 points in 4 games. Fernstrom has a little power-forward in his game, and will battle along the boards and down low, and is known as a dangerous forechecker. He will lean into opponents, squeeze them out along the boards, and throw the odd hit to impose his will- though he is not known as the most physical player per se. As a goal-scorer, Fernstrom owns a wicked wrister and one-timer, with a quick release- and his play away from the puck in the offensive zone is a plus, as he knows where and when to be to make himself an option for a pass, or create an opportunity to score. He also shows good recognition of how to find, or open space, and scans for options to make a play rather than taking low-danger shots. He's a shoot-first player, but is no slouch in the playmaking department, and his IQ is first-rate. Ferny is a good, but not great skater, who could stand to work on his explosiveness- his agilty and edges serve him well when playing down low. Defensively, his game gets some mixed reviews- the effort is there, but his play away from the puck in this zone might be lacking a bit- though he's still known by most as a good two-way player. He's plays much better defense in the offensive zone, and the neutral zone, where he seems to be able to proactively stop the rush going the other way. He's competitive, works hard, and wants to do the things necessary to win. Look for him early in the second round.

[Snuffleupagus]

Re: Melvin Fernstrom, I was told a couple of months ago not to believe the rankings and that a lot of pro scouts are looking at this kid and if he doesn't go late 1st round every GM who passed on him will kick themselves, apparently he wants to play in NA next year, possibly NCAA

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Re: Melvin Fernstrom, I was told a couple of months ago not to believe the rankings and that a lot of pro scouts are looking at this kid and if he doesn't go late 1st round every GM who passed on him will kick themselves, apparently he wants to play in NA next year, possibly NCAA

Thanks Snuffy- I believe it. Emil Hemming and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard are sure-fire first rounders, and might be better than Ferny, but it's not like there's a huge gulf separating them as players. This kid is definitely underrated.

[Monahammer]

Eiserman is more like Bobby Hull than Patrick Laine. Total rocket shot but not relying on physical dominance to control the puck and get it off.

If he falls I think many teams are going to regret it. I am not sure he's the right pick for us, but I wouldn't be so quick to pass him up if we were picking 2nd for example. He's on pace to have the best goal scoring season ever by a draft eligible player in the USHL. That said, Macklin had one of the highest ever last year... both are incredible prospects.

Lindstrom is a good talent but I am still hesitant to put him in the same category as Macklin or Eiserman.

[Roof-Daddy]

I'm not going to make a 2026 draft thread, a little early for that, so I'll just put this here..


McKenna has 18 points in 7 games since the turn of the calendar. (2.57 points per game) Those are gaudy numbers for an 18-20 year old in the WHL, and again, he's just turned 16.

He's not riding anyone's coat tails either, he's found another gear and driving it on his own.

[Sandman]

More Draft Thoughts:

Some more Europeans I love.

There was a time a few years back when LHC Lucas Pettersson might have been considered the top Swede for the 2024 Draft, with his smarts and solid two-way game. He may have been bypassed by a few guys, but he still remains an intriging player for the middle-to-late second round. Pettersson might not be a high-end offensive player, but any team that wants to win needs guys like this- it would seem he's worn a letter for every team he's played for, and wears an "A" for Modo's J20 team this season. 15 goals, 15 assists, for 30 points in 30 J20 games (with 36 PIM, showing a bit of a chip on his shoulder), and got a cup of Java with the SHL team for 3 games. At the Hlinka, where he also wore an "A", he was tied for 5th on team Sweden with 4 points in 4 games. Pettersson plays the right way, and does not cheat the game. He's a true leader in the room and on the ice, where he is often seen directing the troops where to be. He's ultra-competitive, plays a shutdown defensive game, and has a ton of heart- he's not afraid to muck and grind in the greasy areas, and will win pucks in the corners, or along the boards, despite not being the biggest player. He works hard, plays both sides of special teams, and has a seemingly non-stop motor. Playmaking is said to be the most attractive offensive weapon in his arsenal, but as one can deduce from his stats, he's no slouch in the goal-scoring department. He sets up shop in the slot, and creates havok, as well as high-danger opportunities for his teammates. Opponents are drawn to him, and space opens up for his teammates. He's a great passer, but also has the hands to outmanouvre goaltenders, and a pretty decent shot. Defensively, Pettersson uses his fine skating to relentlessly pressure attackers into mistakes, and owns the anticipation and vision to consistently kill plays, and intercept passes. LP plays both directions in transition, and can quickly transport the puck up ice with his feet or his stick, or stop the rush closing in on him. He's not just a meat-and-potatoes guy though, as he can pull off some highlight reel plays. As one might expect, there's plenty of questions about his offensive ceiling, but I would submit that he's got a pretty high floor. He needs to bulk up and get stronger, but who knows? This kid could be another David Krejci, who was also a second-rounder.

Whatever organization drafts RW Michael Brandsegg-Nygard will be getting a future fan-favorite. The 6'1",195lb power-forward has so far played most of his games with Mora's AllSvenskan Team, the second-highest tier in Sweden, and is currently 7th in scoring for U-20 players, with 11 points in 27 games. He's also put in 7 games with the J20 team (12 points in 7 games), and scored 3 goals and 5 points in 5 WJC games for a weak Team Norway. The main reason he's in the AllSvenskan is that he plays a mature game with good habits. He's big and sturdy, and incredibly strong on his skates, making it virtually impossible to knock him off the puck- couple that with his air-tight puck-protection, and one can see why he never gets stripped of possession. MBN can be a mean power forward who bullies his way around the ice, and is a constant physical threat. He hits often, and hits hard, is very tenacious with high motor, and a load to handle on the forecheck. Very competitive and hard-working. "Explosive" is a word often used to describe his skating- he has excellent speed, uncanny agility and edges, and superb acceleration. He's like a freight train when he's in full stride, but he also has the ability to be elusive with his puck control, deception, and 1-on-1 skill- so he can go around you, or through you. He's a dual-threat, as a powerful shooter, as well as a deft playmaker. He's got a wide array of hard, accurate shots with plenty of deception, but he also has soft hands for the pass, and high IQ and vision to make the right decisions. Nygard works to make himself an open option for offense, and always wants to make something happen. He's more than capable of moving the puck, and contributes well to transition. He has an arsenal of moves, deception, toe-drags, and dekes to weave his way around the ice. If all that wasn't enough for you, Nygard is also an excellent 200-ft player, and some say he's one of the best defensive players in the draft. He uses his speed and physicality to pressure attackers, cut off angles, separate man from puck, and force turnovers. His mobility aids him in transitioning from offense to defense rapidly, and he can often stop rushes before they reach his zone. He will initiate contact in the corners, or along the boards to gain possession. I love this player, and most writers are hard-pressed to find a true weakness. Some say he can look nonchalant in the defensive zone, and that his intensity can wane sometimes. Others question if he truly has high-end offensive ability, as he should perhaps have more points this year, but I might put him in the top-10. I see him as a riser.

Emil Hemming is a 6'2", 196lb RW, who is one of the younger players in this draft, with a June 27th birthday. He wears the "A" for TPS in Finland"s U20, where he has so far collected 9 goals and 15 points in 9 games. His play has earned him 28 games for TPS's Liiga Team, where he has put up 6 goals, and 8 points. In the WJC, as one of the younger players, he has 2 points in 7 games. Lastly, he amassed 9 points in 5 games at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Hemming has a little power in his game, as he will use his size to leverage his way around, or bull his way to the net. Obviously, he's an avid shooter with lethal deception, and a lightning quick catch-and release- and needs little time or space to get his shot off. He's got that goal-scorer's mentality, and spacial awareness, as he knows where to be to create offense. Supreme vision in the offensive zone, and high-end skill- he loves to have the puck on his stick- he has slick 1-on-1 moves, and superb puck control. Hemming also likes to go to the net and play in-tight, where he has the hands for tip-ins, and the moves to beat goalies. There are many ways he can put the puck in the net, but he has the vision to make plays as well. He's not afraid to get his nose dirty in puck battles, or in danger areas to keep possession. His skating is said to be above average, with good first-step quickness, but he needs to improve his top speed. I've also read that he loses a lot of speed in turns, and needs more jump in his crossovers. Defensively, he makes good reads, and has good anticipation and awareness, but sometimes lacks intensity battling for possession in this zone. Also, he can hang on to pucks for too long, resulting in turnovers. Too often, Hemming will opt for the shot when a pass is an option, and that can cost his team, but it can also make him too predictable. First-rounder for sure, but he could drop a little.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I'm not going to make a 2026 draft thread, a little early for that, so I'll just put this here..


McKenna has 18 points in 7 games since the turn of the calendar. (2.57 points per game) Those are gaudy numbers for an 18-20 year old in the WHL, and again, he's just turned 16.

He's not riding anyone's coat tails either, he's found another gear and driving it on his own.

I really don’t think the flames will go full “scorched earth” rebuild… but if they did start that kind of rebuild over the next year starting with this TDL, their bottoming out would probably line up with the 2026 draft. Would be pretty crazy for them to get McKenna. Again, so many things need to go right/wrong for that to happen that’s it not something a team can really plan for. And I think, overall, the flames are more likely to remain competitive and fight for playoff spots over the next few years.