2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts:

The Everett Silvertips currently sit 3rd in the WHL, 2nd in Goals-For, and left-handed Tarin Smith leads their D core in scoring by 10 points, with 35 points in 52 games, which prorates to 45 points in 67 games. The Porcupine Plain, SK native has immense talent, but is more raw than most players his age, as he missed all but 8 WHL games last year due to a shoulder injury. Because he is so rough around the edges, he's flying largely under the radar, and was put on the "Players to Watch" list by Central Scouting, indicating their belief that he will be a 6th or 7th-round choice- but he's getting his share of attention lately, it would seem. Eliteprospects has him at # 37 overall. Everett drafted him 20th overall in the 2021 WHL Draft, so he was once a top player in his age group- and I believe he will be again.
Smith is very mobile and smooth, with fabulous footwork to evade checkers, and he can cover a lot of ground quickly. Watching him skate earlier this season though, I noticed that he looked a little unbalanced and uncoordinated when moving at top speed, much like a baby deer, and it messed a bit with his puck control. Hopefully that was just his rawness, and perhaps he's worked on it, as everything I've seen since looks quite good. He has excellent 4-directional speed, but perhaps could tune up his explosiveness. He's a creative force for the 'Tips from the backend, and is calm and composed under pressure. Smith is supremely skilled, and is a master of deception- he's so fun to watch, and his calling card is his big book of tricks that give him the extra second to make the more dangerous play. He is proficient in every hesitation, look-off, and fake, and he makes changes of speed and direction, with toe-drags and dekes- all while masking his objective with little tilts of his stick, and feet. His highlights are mostly of him skating with the puck towards an attacker, and deking them out of their skates- going around or through them, and proceeding to make the play he wanted- rather than throwing it away, or opting for the lesser play. He can use these same tactics to deke out goalies, as well. Smith has a wicked shot, and owns one of the best curl-and-drag shots in the draft.
Smith is also highly defensively aware, and his top-notch IQ gives him proactive positioning. He knows his angles, and drives opponents to the outside, or into the boards. He's not a fearsome hitter, but he can play a physical game, and has a bit of a chip on his shoulder- perhaps demonstrated by his 45 penalty minutes.He has an active, well-timed stick that he uses as a tool to block lanes, and disrupt plays. Because he's so raw, there has been plenty of miscues and mistakes that he's gradually weeding out of his game. His rush defense has improved, but he's still giving too much space to faster players. When he was drafted into the 'Dub, he was praised for his quality first-pass, but at the beginning of this season, he was throwing the puck away sometimes on the breakout, and making poor decisions from time to time. These areas of his game have improved significantly, but there's room to grow. He likes to stay at the blueline and run the offense, but he could pinch more. Still, Tarin Smith is one of the most skilled defensemen in this draft, and I'm betting that he'll be taken in the 3rd round.

LHD Daniel Nieminen was Captain of Finland's entry into the 5 Nations Cup last fall, and he was the best player on a disappointing Finnish team, with an even worse blueline. He had 2 points in 4 games in that tourney, only 1 point in 5 games at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, and has plied his trade this season with the Pelicans of the U20 league in Finland, where he's the second-highest scoring defenseman for players 18-and-under, with 21 points in 32 games. It's a bit disappointing that there's been no call-ups as of yet for him though. I should add that there's no relation to former Flames' fan favorite, Ville Nieminen.
Nieminen is an all-around, all-situations player, who plays both special teams, and doesn't have many true weaknesses. He's a smooth skater, but perhaps not a burner- he's agile in his pivots, and has good small-area quickness, and good edges. There's room for more top-speed, and a better start-up. Nieminen has an above-average shot, which he can get on net consistently through bodies, and likes to find room for his one-timer. He's confident and poised with the puck on his stick, handles quite well, and makes good decisions in his passing. He skates with his head up to scan for options, and is an intelligent problem-solver who can spearhead the rush, or make a clean, accurate breakout. He may be below average in stature, at 6'0",177lbs, but he hits hard, has a well-developed hip check, and can play a physical game. Niemo demonstrated his pinching ability at the 5 Nations, with a highlight-reel activation goal. He also showed that he's an excellent leader, with high compete, and a solid work ethic.
Nieminen can sometimes try to do too much by himself, and gets caught playing his own game away from the team, but this may be a reflection of his competitiveness. He's an excellent defender, but can sometimes struggle against faster players in the defensive zone. He was given a "C" rating by Central Scouting, indicating a 4th/5th round pick.

[Ashes]

Looking at different mock drafts and where the Flames are potentially going to finish (around 6th overall barring a streak of wins/losses) I feel like it's worth taking a serious look at Demidov. If Celebrini and Lindstrom are off the board and there's a run on D after, he could be the next forward available who suits the Flames needs (Center, Dynamic Skillset).

He's tearing up the Russian Junior league at over 2 PPG and he wouldn't look out of place on our roster with Sharangovich and Kuzmenko already here, and I can't remember the last time the Flames drafted a Russian in the first round.

Seems like a "riskier" pick than say Catton or Helenius but IMO would be a better pick than Eiserman based on these scouting reports:

Thoughts?

Kyle Cushman - TheScore - December 11th: "He's not the best player in the class, but Demidov may very well be the flashiest. He's a human highlight reel, combining silky smooth hands with quality shooting and playmaking."

Sebastian High - Dobber Prospects - November 18th: "Ivan Demidov is the most creative, dynamic, and skillful puck handler we’ve seen since at least Jack Hughes. His seemingly innate escapability, versatile inside edges, and great mobility combine with his handling skill to consistently create scoring chances for himself and his linemates with tremendous flair."

Sam Cosentino - Sportsnet - November 15th: "Demidov is highly competitive with hockey sense that makes him a reliable player in all three zones. Injury issues will keep him on the sidelines until the new year."

Steven Ellis - Daily Faceoff - November 8th: "He’s out for a few months, which is a shame because he was showing some good promise in his final few games. Despite limited KHL ice time, nobody is as creative as Demidov, who features a good mix of high hockey IQ, strong skating and tremendous vision. You can build a core around Demidov."

Scott Wheeler - The Athletic - November 8th: "He’s on the older side as a December 2005, and he’s got work to do to get stronger and smooth out his straight-line skating stride a little (it's not an issue, per se, and he’s very shifty side to side, but he could use an extra gear pulling away), but he's a true play creator and you want the puck in his hands so that he can slip around the ice to make things happen for himself or his linemates."

Corey Pronman - The Athletic - November 1st: "Demidov has game-breaking skill to go with a strong motor. He’s all over the puck when he’s on the ice, making high-end dekes seem routine, and flying around the offensive zone making plays or winning battles. "

[devo22]

honestly, I'd rather go for a defenseman. Both Eiserman and Demidov come with their risks, and I'm not a fan of picking yet another winger in the 1st. Plus, the D class is really strong this year ... whether it's Dickinson, Buium or someone else, there's great options.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by devo22

honestly, I'd rather go for a defenseman. Both Eiserman and Demidov come with their risks, and I'm not a fan of picking yet another winger in the 1st. Plus, the D class is really strong this year ... whether it's Dickinson, Buium or someone else, there's great options.

If Demidov is still there when the Flames pick, its going to be tough to take a pass would probably go top 3 if it wasnt for the Russian factor.

Especially considering the need for an elite Center.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

If Demidov is still there when the Flames pick, its going to be tough to take a pass would probably go top 3 if it wasnt for the Russian factor.

Especially considering the need for an elite Center.

He's likely a winger in the NHL

[Ashes]

Originally Posted by devo22

honestly, I'd rather go for a defenseman. Both Eiserman and Demidov come with their risks, and I'm not a fan of picking yet another winger in the 1st. Plus, the D class is really strong this year ... whether it's Dickinson, Buium or someone else, there's great options.

There's definitely a group of tempting defensemen in that range I hear you, but for me I'd love to see a top forward prospect added to the cupboards with the Flames pick above all else. that elusive #1 Center position is something we should look to fill whenever we get the chance IMO.

We have Morin, Poirier, and Bruz developing and still a few years away. Our Center depth is pretty much Schwindt and I'm not sure what else, so for me that's the way I'm leaning but who knows!

[Ashes]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

He's likely a winger in the NHL

He's listed as both C and LW, so it's a little early to declare that IMO

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Ashes

There's definitely a group of tempting defensemen in that range I hear you, but for me I'd love to see a top forward prospect added to the cupboards with the Flames pick above all else. that elusive #1 Center position is something we should look to fill whenever we get the chance IMO.

We have Morin, Poirier, and Bruz developing and still a few years away. Our Center depth is pretty much Schwindt and I'm not sure what else, so for me that's the way I'm leaning but who knows!

I agree with you, but from what I've read, Demidov is pretty much unanimously projected to be a winger in the NHL, isn't he? I know some sites list him as C/RW, but I seen read zero projections of him becoming a center in the NHL. But you never know.

[dammage79]

Boy if Demidov is a center it'd be tough to see him go below #3. 1.Celebrini, 2. Lindstrom, 3. Demidov.

I've always been under the impression he's a winger though.

Still, I don't mind any of the defensemen in the top end, but I'd be putting them as plan B before a select group of Forwards.

[stemit14]

Can anyone speak to why so many draft rankings are keeping Lindstrom out of the top five? I would love for that to happen if the flames end up drafting around 6th because I, like many on here, think he should be the top target for the flames outside of Celebrini.

Can anyone speak to what is keeping him outside of that top tier? I see a kid who is among the younger guys in the draft so his production is even more impressive under that context. He is a 6’4” center with fantastic speed, his playmaking and goal scoring ability seem top notch. He’s pretty physical. He’s Canadian - not that it’s super important for other franchises but it can be a plus when considering him vs Russian players with the “Russian Factor”. What am I not seeing in his game? So many of us assume he is going top 5 but I don’t think I’ve seen many (if any) draft rankings with him in that range yet.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Can anyone speak to why so many draft rankings are keeping Lindstrom out of the top five? I would love for that to happen if the flames end up drafting around 6th because I, like many on here, think he should be the top target for the flames outside of Celebrini.

Can anyone speak to what is keeping him outside of that top tier? I see a kid who is among the younger guys in the draft so his production is even more impressive under that context. He is a 6’4” center with fantastic speed, his playmaking and goal scoring ability seem top notch. He’s pretty physical. He’s Canadian - not that it’s super important for other franchises but it can be a plus when considering him vs Russian players with the “Russian Factor”. What am I not seeing in his game? So many of us assume he is going top 5 but I don’t think I’ve seen many (if any) draft rankings with him in that range yet.

Lindstroms been a consistent riser through the rankings since the beginning of the season. IIRC, he was ranked 20s late teens at the start of the year. Only reason he's not risen more is due to his injury. IMO, he'd be top 4 ranked if he didn't get injured.

I don't think he'll last outside of 5th OA unless those top 4 remaining teams are bullish on the available defensemen.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Russian Edition):

Around the start of the current season, and before, C/RW Yegor Surin was knocked for his size, being listed at 5'10", and had some detractors who expressed concern that his smaller stature might keep him out of the NHL. These days, the narrative has changed for the most part, as he's being listed at 6'1",190lbs, and is praised for his blend of size and mobility. Perhaps the discrepancy is due to the fact that Western media and scouts don't have the same access to Russian prospects as they once did. At any rate, Surin is one of the younger players in this Draft, with an August.1st birthday, and is 5th overall in scoring for the MHL (Russia's highest Junior League) currently, with 46 points in 37 games, to go with 104 PIMs, and a +31. He's had a brief cup o' vodka in the KHL, playing 3 games with no points.
Surin is a big, skilled center who plays a passionate 200-ft game, and has high-end IQ and vision- always skating with his head up to get the lay of the land, and select the next move in his methodical attack. He has excellent straight-line speed that allows him to separate from opponents, put them on their heels, and push the pace. Scouts gush about his elite puck control, and his smooth handling at top speed, that along with his air-tight puck-protection, gives him the ability to attack high-pressure areas. Surin has that inate ability to detect open spaces that others don't see, and the ability to draw defenders to him, thus creating conduits to get the puck through to teammates in high-danger. With his skills, speed, and handling, he is a play driver who finds the seams in open ice, and controls the pace with his ability to outskate and outmanouver opponents- and he can weave through layers of traffic. He's a balanced attacker who can make plays, but also has a great snap-shot that he can pick corners with, and slick hands in tight. Surin plays with an edge, and a very large chip on his shoulder, as his 104 penalty minutes demonstrate. He's always physically engaged, and loves to stir it up- he's an agitator and a pest who gets involved in every post-whistle scrum. One of the big knocks against Surin is his penchant for taking bad penalties. Surin forechecks and backchecks with equal ferocity, getting in the face of puck-carriers, lifting sticks, stealing possession, and applying physical pressure. He uses his stick quite well in separating man from puck. He has his head on a swivel going into the corners to retrieve pucks, in order to map out his next move.
Some still worry that his offense might not translate to the NHL, and others say he needs work on his lateral mobility in order to achieve more elusiveness. I think he'll make a great middle-6 player in the NHL, and I think he'll get picked in the 2nd/3rd round.

LHD Matvei Shuravin has been listed as an "A" by Central Scouting, betrothed to be a first-round pick- but perhaps they jumped the gun a bit. Shuravin has played this season in the MHL (7 points in 22 games to date), the VHL (0 points in 5 games to date), and even the KHL (2 points in 10 games to date), but has not registered a goal as yet. He's a 6'3",195lb defensive D-man with mobility, who plays huge minutes against other teams' top players, and keeps chances low. He has looked impressive playing against men in the KHL and VHL.
Shuravin plays a mature shutdown game with great awareness of where to be, has proactive positioning that can kill rushes as early as the neutral zone, and stops plays before they develop. He can snuff zone entries with preventative awareness. He has a built-in understanding of angles and gaps- he smothers opponents along the boards, and uses his long reach to to strip pucks with well-timed poke checks. He's reliable, with top-tier defensive acumen and smarts, who picks off passes, and blocks shots.
Shuravin's offensive game, by contrast, is virtually non-existent at this point- he doesn't really venture that far inside the opposing team's blueline, although strangely enough, he's a bit less conservative in the higher leagues as his MHL team is not very good. There, he's been seen to pinch the odd time, but he otherwise doesn't try too much offensively. He's a fine distributor from the blueline, keeps the puck in the zone, can make the odd crafty pass to high danger, and he also has a bomb of a shot- which he definitely doesn't use enough. Shuravin has some offensive acumen that comes in flashes, and usually doesn't show up on a stats sheet. He's capable of making a simple first-pass, and can pass the puck in transition.
Shuravin could still get taller, as he's only 17, and his Father is 6'6". He's still developing physically, and needs to get stronger, fill out, and get faster. He's also quite raw, and some of his puck skills are below average- he bobbles passes, fumbles pucks, and makes ill-advised passes in the D-zone under pressure. I don't think he'll get near the first round, or the second, but most likely the third round of the Draft.

6'3",201lb RW Matvei Babenko hasn't put together the kind of season that was expected of him. In 2022-23, he had a pretty good draft-minus-1 year, with 22 goals and 32 points in 40 MHL games, for a ppg of .80, but has only mustered 10 points in 16 games this year, for a ppg of .63. He also put up 8 points in 10 playoff games last season. Granted, he has played 18 games in the VHL, with 3 points, and 8 games in the KHL, with 1 point. With numbers like he posted last year, he should be dominating play at the MHL level, although his team, Tolpar Ufa, is not as good as they were last season.
Babs is a huge winger who is involved in all facets of the game, specializes in goal-scoring, and has one of the best shots amongst Russia's crop of draft-eligibles this year. He recognizes how to open space and exploit it, and can make plays under pressure. I think he takes a bit too much flack for his skating- don't get me wrong, he's not fast, but he keeps up to the play, and doesn't fall behind. He is guilty though, of coasting too much, and not keeping his feet moving. There's plenty of work needed to improve his acceleration, agility, and top-speed. Babenko plays a physical brand of hockey, protects the puck well, and battles to win pucks in the greasy areas and in front of the net. He uses his size to his advantage, and finishes his checks. When he goes to the net-front, he's virtually impossible to move- and he has soft hands in tight. Defensively, he works hard, stops plays with his physicality, and blocks lanes with an active stick. In short, most of Babenko's game hovers around average, and he's not supremely fast or skilled- the only quality that stands out is his shot. I'm going to guess 4th /5th round.

RHLW Igor Chernyshov is a big (6'2",192lb) power-forward who can generate offense from anywhere in the zone, and can play all 3 forward positions. He currently sits 8th in the MHL for MHK Dynamo Moskva in ppg (1.33), with 24 points in 18 games, and is also currently 13th in the KHL for players 18-and-under with 4 points in 31 games. He's a bit older, with a November 30th birthday.
Chernyshov is a smooth skater, with big-time acceleration that is fun to watch. He can control the pace of the game at top speed, and is adept at creating off the rush- either by dishing, or by attacking the middle. He's good at making plays around the net, from behind it, or in front. Chernyshov goes to the net to clean up rebounds and cash-in on tips, but he likes to shoot from the slot- he has an excellent shot with a quick release than can freeze goalies. Many of his goals are of the one-touch variety- from being in the right place, at the right time, thanks to his clever off-puck game. He leans a bit towards playmaking though, and possesses plenty of creativity, and a top-tier IQ. In transition, he uses give-and-go's to increase the pressure on defenders, and drives play- carrying with his head up to map out his surroundings. He's unnaturally strong, and will use his size and wingspan to outmuscle opponents, or he'll bully them along the boards to strip them of possession. He's physical, and can hit hard, but needs to do it more often. Chernyshov is an impressive 1-on-1 player, with lateral mobility to criss-cross the ice quickly, and the moves to go around, or through them. The puck sticks to him with his sublime puck-control, and virtually impregnable puck-protection skills. He plays with plenty of energy, has a solid work-ethic, and high motor.
As one can tell, Chernyshov may be a high-octane offensive player, but is somewhere in the vicinity of average defensively- he's a bit passive, and doesn't have the same zeal in his own zone. He doesn't participate in his team's penalty-kill, either. He's still a bit raw, and needs some time to develop. In addition, I've read that he's got chronic shoulder injury issues- which may be of concern to teams wanting to draft him. He's a first-round talent for sure, but I wonder if he'll have to wait until the second round to hear his name called, due to the Russian factor and the shoulder.

Unlike most Russian prospects his age, 5'11",187lb winger Nikita Artamonov has played most of his hockey this season to date against men in the KHL with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, putting up an impressive 19 points in 46 games, putting him 3rd in the league for U-20 players. His numbers put him ahead of already drafted Russians- names like Daniil But, Roman Kantserov, Timur Mukhanov, and Yegor Rimashevsky. He's a bit older, with a November 17th birthday, but plays in Torpedo's top-six and PP, at the tender age of 18. Artamonov is having the third-best season ever for a draft-eligible player from the KHL, behind only Tarasenko and Michkov.
Artamonov is a dynamic, hyper-skilled winger, with near-elite IQ and vision, who is always in the thick of the play, attacking high danger areas. He processes the play quicker than most, and exhibits spatial awareness- if there's no seams available for a play, he'll open them. He's a dangerous playmaker, perhaps elite, and makes quick decisions- he doesn't need to hold the puck long. Instead, he pushes pace by moving the puck quickly, and is very aggressive. He uses the same technique in transition, with give-and-go's to push pace and manipulate defenders into giving up the space to make a controlled entry. He's a smooth skater with the shiftiness to throw off attackers, and gets around quite easily. He is a tenacious forechecker, applying immense pressure on defenders to create turnovers and disrupt plays, and battles in the hard areas with bigger, older players. Artie is relentless in puck-pursuit, and a pest to opponents, giving them fits with his high motor- he is often noticed as the hardest working player on the ice. Shooting isn't his main choice of weapon, but he has good hands in tight, and doesn't need much space to unleash a wicked snap-shot that can stun a goalie. Off the puck, he knows where to be to maximize his offensive chances, and to provide puck-support to teammates. He possesses good small-area quickness and puck-skills.
Defensively, he works hard, pressures the point, and pesters attackers along the walls, but doesn't have the same effectiveness in his own zone as he does on offense. This part of his game needs to shored up. He has a good shot, that needs improvement, but he also needs to shoot more. Despite having a fast stride, there's an awkwardness to it that needs to be cleaned up in order to maximize his power and balance. He's not overly physical, but that doesn't seem to be his game. I've heard it said that he'll make a good 2nd-liner in the future, but I believe he's capable of more. I think he's 2nd round, with a good shot at sneaking in to the 1st.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Russian Edition, Part 2):

There are many who describe 5'11",165lb LHRW Ivan Demidov as possibly being a better hockey player than last year's top Russian, Matvei Michkov. There are arguments to be made for, and against that claim- but consider this: In 2022-23, as a 16 year old, Demidov set the record for points by a U-18 player in the MHL, with 64 points in 44 games, besting the likes of Nikita Kucherov, and the aforementioned Michkov. It's hard to compare the Draft year of each player though, as Michkov played his in the top 2 Russian pro leagues against men in the KHL (20 points in 27 games), and the VHL (14 points in 12 Games), while Demidov has played almost the entire year in the MHL, Russia's version of Major-Junior, piling up 45 points in 23 games to date with SKA-1946 St.Petersburg. Demidov has had brief stints in the higher leagues, spending 1 game in the VHL, and 4 games in the KHL, putting up zero points in both. An argument could be made in favor of Michkov being the better player, as he was good enough to play with men, while Demidov apparently is not, but the fact of the matter is that Michkov was way too good for the MHL- but so too, is Demidov. Another thing to consider is that for most of the year leading up to Michkov's Draft, he was compared to incumbent first-overall choice, Connor Bedard. This year, in Demidov's Draft year, he's being compared to Michkov. I don't hear a lot of comparisons between Demidov and this year's Draft darling, Macklin Celebrini.
Ivan Demidov is the flashiest, most exciting player in this year's crop, and if the Draft were based on talent alone, he would be top-2 for sure. He is simply an electrifying game-breaker, with exceptional skill. The first pillar of Demidov's game is his otherworldly puck skill and handling- he's an absolute wizard with hands faster than his quick feet, the puck just sticks to him. He can deke around, or through multiple layers of opponents without looking like he's even trying, much like the old adage, he "has the puck on a string". It seems like when he's out on the ice, he's always around the puck, like there's a magnet drawing them together- it just follows him around. Those same silky soft mitts can unleash a hard, heavy shot with a release as quick as a hiccup, and the precision to pick the smallest holes.
Demidov is highly elusive with his stick, but his feet make him even more slippery. He has dynamic mobility, with elite edges and agility, and the ability to turn on a dime. His shiftiness and lateral mobility can throw off opponents, and dismantle defenses. His straight-line speed may be a notch below the level of his evasiveness, but even still- there are very few that could catch him in a footrace with the puck. There are even fewer who can match his elite vision and creativity, and his high IQ gives him smarts in all 3 zones. He can create in small spaces, and can thread the needle through traffic. Demidov is well-trained in the art of deception and manipulation, and can freeze defenders with his array of dekes, look-offs, and fakes with his body and stick. He has a swagger when carrying the puck, and he's highly sucessful in transition, often carrying the puck from the defensive zone, and turning it into a controlled entry on his own. Demidov is a play-driver, and a pace-pusher. He plays with energy, and works hard in the offensive zone to win back possession, and pick off passes when needed- he's known to have a very high motor.
Demidov's defensive game can be very inconsistent- he can look like a stalwart one shift, and like he's outmatched in another. I don't think he has the same passion for the defensive zone as he does in creating in the other end of the rink, and there can be an apparent lack of intensity in the performance of these duties. There's no real physical component to his game, and that's fine if he wants to be a finesse player- but it would seem that he doesn't like to be hit, and can be sometimes thrown off his game by physicality. Part of that might have something to do with his lack of size and strength, as he currently weighs in less than 170 lb- so he could certainly use more strength and bulk. It's been a very difficult year for a young man who is being watched by the entire hockey world, and to make matters worse, he missed two and a half months to a knee injury. He often grandstands to showcase himself, trying to do too much on his own, which doesn't always turn out well- he can give up turnovers by trying to make everything a 1-on-1 scenario, without using his teammates. This can lead to dead-ends, turnovers, and giveaways. He was an analytics darling in 2022-23, but even his fancy stats have taken a hit this season. At any rate, he has things to work on, but he reminds many of Kirill Kaprizov, and he's a first-line winger all day long. I think if Michkov lasted until pick # 7 in 2023, it's certainly possible that Demidov falls out of the top 5 in this year's Draft, although he has a more palatable contract situation than Michkov did, as he’s only signed in Russia through 2024-25. He’s sure to be a top-line player in the NHL.

[Monahammer]

For those saying Demidov might be a winger, what is telling you this? Imo he's got centre attributes galore but KHL development basically forces them to wings early. Interested in perspectives here.

I've still got a massive Buium-boner. I think this kid has the it factor.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

For those saying Demidov might be a winger, what is telling you this? Imo he's got centre attributes galore but KHL development basically forces them to wings early. Interested in perspectives here.

I've still got a massive Buium-boner. I think this kid has the it factor.

Some writers say that he acts like a center in how he supports teammates on the forecheck, and makes plays from the middle, etc. He may have been pigeonholed into the wing position, after being put on a line with Michkov a few years back.

I also like Buium- I would take him over Parekh any day, just my opinion. I can’t help but think that Buium will grow another few inches…

He’s now up to 34 points in 26 NCAA games. Phenomenal.

[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.

https://bit.ly/2024nhldraftprofiles

We're up to 53 prospect profiles!

^with the table of contents, click on prospect name and it'll bring you to that respective profile...

Nikita Artamonov LW/RW
Matvei Babenko RW
Dominik Badinka D
Andrew Basha LW
Cole Beaudoin C
Raoul Boilard C
Sacha Boisvert C
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard RW
Harrison Brunicke D
Berkly Catton C
Igor Chernyshov LW
Trevor Connelly LW
Ben Danford D
Ivan Demidov RW
Charlie Elick D
EJ Emery D
Melvin Fernstrom RW
Lukas Fischer D
Noel Fransen D
Alfons Freij D
Spencer Gill D
Liam Greentree RW
Michael Hage C
Emil Hemming RW
Matvei Gridin RW
Ollie Josephson C/LW
Adam Kleber D
Tomas Lavoie D
Luca Marrelli D
Henry Mews D
Julius Miettinen C/LW
John Mustard LW
Daniel Nieminen D
Sam O'Reilly C/RW
Lucas Pettersson C
Terik Parascak RW
Kasper Pikkarainen RW
Ryder Ritchie RW
Colton Roberts D
Beckett Sennecke RW
Matvei Shuravin D
Tarin Smith D
Sebastian Soini D
Yegor Surin C/RW
Marek Vanacker LW
Stian Solberg D
Veeti Vaisanen D
Nathan Villeneuve C
Leo Sahlin Wallenius D
Kieron Walton C/LW
Carson Wetsch RW
Simon Zether C

[Ped]

Food for thought:

Duha has a few interesting draft thoughts on The Athletic tonight:

Why do teams feel so compelled to insert their shiny new toys into the lineup right away, when they could benefit from a little more time, developing at a more managed pace, at a lower level of hockey?
And the answer, probably, is threefold. Because the team’s marketing department wants them in the lineup. They sell tickets. Because the fans want to see what the future looks like. They buy tickets. And because every team in the salary-cap era can use a player on an entry-level contract to keep costs down.
That, of course, ignores the biggest counterargument of all: If you let that entry-level contract slide a year, let that player mature, and let him play his first NHL season as a 19-year-old, or even a 20-year-old, or even a 21-year-old, instead of as an 18-year-old, everyone usually benefits in the end.
Because if a player isn’t suddenly thrown into the NHL deep end and asked to swim, he’s usually readier for the demands that lie ahead. And of course, the accountants would be pleased if the contract slides a year because you still get the full benefit of having a player on an entry-level deal for three years, only the clock starts ticking toward free agency a year later.

Last year, ahead of the 2023 entry draft, I called several scouts who were active 20 years earlier – and took part in the 2003 draft, considered one of the greatest in NHL history.
One of the key questions in that discussion was: Was 2003 a great draft because there were so many talented players in it? Or was it a great draft because, the year after those players were selected, the NHL had a lockout that cost teams an entire season?
That, in turn, forced all these first-rounders to continue playing where they played the year before – some in major junior, some in college, some in Europe. And did that extra forced year of development, outside the NHL, make them readier for the NHL, when they made their debuts a year or more later?
The answer, of course, is we’ll never know for sure.

[Sandman]

Brian Burke said once that he had a rule that all draft picks went back to junior for at least a season, unless they were exceptional. If I were a GM, this would be my rule.

[Sandman]

More Draft Thoughts:

I want to preface my profile of D Artyom Levshunov with a few bullet points from an article I read in the Athletic:
-Michigan State Head Coach Adam Nightingale describes him as a "worker", and that sometimes they have to pull him back. Levshunov is often still in the arena long after practice, using the gym facilities, or practicing by himself on the ice. The staff and players call this,"Arty time." He's a big-time gym rat.
-Apparently, he's jacked, without an ounce of body fat. He's already got an NHL physique. Teammate Red Savage said he's a "big ball of muscle", and that,"he's never seen an 18 year-old that big". People gasp and do double takes when they see him, as he is bigger than his 6'2",198lb frame.
-Michael Leone, GM and Coach of the Green Bay Gamblers, where Levshunov played in 2022-23, has worked with future NHLers like Luke Hughes, Will Smith, and Logan Cooley, and he says Levshunov is the most talented player he's ever worked with, and has a higher upside than Hughes.
-When the Spartans ran off-ice testing at GVN- a gym that trains players from the NTDP, and NHL players like the Hughes brothers, Mark Scheifele, and Dylan Larkin- Arty was faster than anyone on the Spartans, and all of GVN's clients, except the aforementioned Luke Hughes.

RHD Artyom Levshunov is in his second season in North America, and is a freshman with the Michigan State Spartans, in the midst of what could turn out to be one of the most productive seasons ever by an 18 year-old defenseman in the NCAA- currently sitting at 27 points in 29 games, to go with 40 penalty-minutes, and a sterling +24- as the third-youngest player in the circuit. His first season across the pond in 2022-23 was equally impressive, as the Belarussian made the USHL All-Rookie Team, and was a 3rd-Team All-Star, with one of the best seasons of all-time in that league by a U-18 defenseman, after piling up 42 points in 62 games.
Levshunov is the "unicorn" scouts look for, with size, mobility, and elite IQ- he's a two-way player, and a complete package who is deployed in all situations, and eats minutes. He's a beast in the gym, and looks for any little edge he can find to make him a good pro, and he already has all the high-end tools to be an offensive weapon. First off, Arty has uncommon 4-way mobility, especially for a player his size, and can cover a lot of ground very quickly. He has superb edgework and agility, can turn on a dime, and looks quite light on his skates- he can often win races to loose pucks with smaller skaters. He plays with pace, and is highly agressive on offense- he regularly joins the rush, but can also rush the puck through the neutral zone by himself. He safely and smoothly exits and enters with full control, and transitions from defense to offense very rapidly, after performing a smooth, efficient retrieval- he can connect on safe, clean outlet passes with precision as well. He handles with confidence and poise, has nice 1-on-1 moves to play keepaway with attackers, and can stickhandle in tight spaces. His point shot is hard and heavy, his wrister is a laser-beam that can pick corners from far out, and he has a beautiful curl-and-drag around defenders. Arty can play a physical brand of hockey, but those who try to throw a hit against him often end up on their backs. He exhibits elite IQ and vision, and sees plays that most don't see- long before they develop. He makes high-end plays, and is consistently looking to filter the puck to high-danger. Levshunov knows how to walk the line, controlling the play, and finding seams to distribute, and has a high success rate at keeping the puck in the zone- he also makes smart pinches, jumping into the play and taking the puck to the middle. He also makes for an excellent PP quarterback, with poise and smarts. He's a workhorse who is always in motion, and plays huge minutes for the Spartans without tiring.
Defensively, Arty plays a smothering, physical game, using his size, speed, and long reach to limit the time and space of attackers. He boxes opponents out proficiently, and rubs them out along the wall. He has become one of Michigan State's top penalty-killers, but it wasn't always this way- he didn't perform PK duties at all at the beginning of the year. The rest of his defensive game is similar, and he's had a long runway since coming over from Belarus to get to this point, and he's still refining this part of his game. He's a much more complete player than he was, even at the beginning of the NCAA season. His decision-making has been knocked, moreso earlier in the year than now, as he's cleaned up a lot of his mistakes. He still has to improve his defensive positioning, and his gap control- he has had issues defending the rush in the past. He can be over-aggressive, pinching at inopportune times, or making inaccurate breakout passes- both potentially leading to odd-man rushes. Everything about his game has improved though, and continues to get better- he's not even close to his ceiling. This is my favorite for first defenseman taken on Draft day, and he's a #1 defenseman in the making.

[Tbull8]

Top 10 seems to be shaking out as some order of

Celebrini
Levshunov
Lindstrom
Demidov
Eiserman
Silyaev
Catton
Dickinson
Buium
Helenius

Barring any surprise picks or lottery luck, flames are currently projected to pick 11/12. Iginla has to be the guy there, right?