2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Awesome list, Snuffy! Love the inclusion of Brunicke and Beaudoin, but did you forget Brandsegg-Nygard?

Like him but he slowed down a lot after a nice start, his coach seems to have stopped giving him solid minutes, he'll probably still go in first round but I'm told he's most likely end up a 3-4th line NHL winger if he makes it.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Like him but he slowed down a lot after a nice start, his coach seems to have stopped giving him solid minutes, he'll probably still go in first round but I'm told he's most likely end up a 3-4th line NHL winger if he makes it.

Sorry to say it, but you were misinformed- MBN has 10 points in 15 games in the Allsvenskan since returning from the WJC….

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Sorry to say it, but you were misinformed- MBN has 10 points in 15 games in the Allsvenskan since returning from the WJC….

I made the text, haven't heard back yet

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

I made the text, haven't heard back yet

Lol, nah, you’re good as always, Snuffy!

[Tkachukwagon]

Tij looking legit:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1762191750334980336

[Heavy Jack]

Please please please draft Tij Iginla; what a move, what a shot, wowza.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Tkachukwagon

Tij looking legit:

He's getting too much attention and becoming unreachable for the Flames

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

I know he’s an overage player but in that Iginla clip the announcer mentions a guy named Zac Funk. He has 98 points in 55 games. That’s quite good despite him being an overage player no?

He’s 6’0 and 209 LHS RW. Sign him to the wranglers pls?

And yeah Tij would be a good pick. I’d prefer some of the other PEF prospects in the OHL tbh. It seems that scoring is up pretty anomalously in the WHL this year or lately. Am I off ?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Ziggy Lidstrom

I know he’s an overage player but in that Iginla clip the announcer mentions a guy named Zac Funk. He has 98 points in 55 games. That’s quite good despite him being an overage player no?

Speaking over overage players, Daily Faceoff recently rattled off a few prospects that went undrafted in 2023 who might get more consideration in 2024.

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/20...rage-prospects

Jesse Pulkkinen is mentioned, but I don't think he would be a surprise. I have seen some sources project him as a high 2nd rounder.

Most of the others are projected to go in later rounds.

[Sandman]

Here's a write-up I did on Tanner Adams:

-RW/C Tanner Adams is one of the youngest players in this year's crop, with a Sept.2nd birthday. In 2021-22, he put up 12 goals and 32 points in 62 USHL games for the Tri-City Storm, compared to 12 goals and 33 points in 49 games in 2022-23. This year's edition of the Storm scored 213 goals in 62 games, which is 47 less than the previous year, which probably cut into how much he was able to progress numbers-wise. He still managed to tie a 20 yo for the highest point total on the team in the playoffs, with 5 points in 4 games. Adams is a very strong skater, who plays a very hard-nosed, physical style, evidenced by his 65 PIM, despite being only 5'11". He does a lot of the dirty work for his line, digging the puck out of the hard areas all over the ice, and battling for possession- showing relentless puck-pursuit. He has displayed very good transitional numbers, being able to enter and exit with control, and confidently carry through the neutral zone. He's a fierce forechecker, and plays with high motor and energy. Adams comes with a solid base of 3-zone awareness, but he has room to further develop his offense, and he will get a chance to do that next year at Providence College-being so young, he might have a slightly longer runway. He could have a fairly high floor perhaps, with his speed, snarl, and all-around game already giving him a shot at an NHL team's bottom-6 in the future. 4th/5th round is my prediction.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Konsta-pation Edition):

C/RW Konsta Helenius is currently in the midst of the 4th-best season ever by a U-18 player in the Liiga, with 34 points in 45 games- ahead of names like Laine, Lehkonen, Kotkaniemi, Lundell, Teravainen, Lambert, Aho, and Rantanen. He's leading the Liiga in scoring for U-18's by 23 points over Emil Hemming, while playing top-6 minutes for Jukurit. At the World Juniors, he had 2 points in 7 games, and impressed at the U-18 Tournament, with 6 points in 5 games.

Helenius' game is built on skill and IQ. His hockey sense is among the best in the draft, and he's a play driver. He's a pass-first player, with expert manipulation, but he's a dual-threat with his arsenal of shots. Helenius consistently finds teammates with perfect passes while under pressure. Those passes are crisp and accurate, and he can connect through layers of traffic, over sticks, between feet, and through triangles, as well as off the rush, or while flying at full speed. His vision is uncanny, and he can see lanes that others can't. His head is always up to scan his surroundings, and he won't be rushed or panicked by pressure- he will calmly and patiently wait for the right play. His shot is sneaky good, with a potent release, and while it's not the most powerful, he can pick corners in full flight, off the rush. He will go to the net and compete for rebounds, and attacks the middle of the ice. finding pockets of space in the slot to unleash. Despite having a smaller frame, at 5'11", and 180lbs, he will get his nose dirty, battle hard in the trenches, and play a physical game.

Helenius is an exceptional skater, nearly elite, and regularly beats pros at the age of 17 with his speed. He moves smoothly and fluidly, and is light on his feet, with edges that make him elusive- he can pivot on a dime, change direction and pace almost instantly, and move laterally to get past defenders. He keeps his feet pumping constantly, and has the shiftiness to confuse opponents- he will use tight button-hooks to open space and evade checks. Helenius' stickhandling isn't very flashy or dynamic, but his puck-control and protection are a plus, giving him the ability to squeeze past opponents, while holding on to the puck. Off the puck, he makes sound decisions, always making himself a good option, and finding his way to being open in high-danger spots. This ability helps him to be a solid contributor in transition, making him an option for neutral zone passes, where he can use his teammates in give-and-go's- or he can fly through transition with the puck on his stick, weaving through attackers. Helenius has a relentless motor, with high compete, and plays with pace- he's very hard to pin down with the way he's always in constant motion.

Helenius is a complete player, and has a defensive conscience. He often gets important starts in the defensive zone, as he's excellent in faceoffs, and plays a sound game. He takes away the middle, causes turnovers aplenty, picks off passes, and takes sticks. He leverages body position along the boards to win possession, and will throw hits to separate man from puck. In order to play this kind of style in the NHL though, he will need to get stronger. He could also stand to be a bit more selfish, as he passes up shot opportunities too often, in favor of feeding his teammates. Even though he's a capable scorer, his shot needs to be further developed, in terms of power and velocity. Whether Helenius makes it as a center or winger, he's a top-6 NHL player all day long, and most likely a top-10 pick in this upcoming draft.

[dammage79]

Good stuff on Helenius.

[SuperMatt18]

As much as these last 4 games have been fun but the team winning and pushing ourselves out of the Top 10 range where you probably still had a shot at one of Helenius, Iginla, Lindstrom, Catton, or one of the top dmen and likely into the 12-16 range is going to hurt at the draft.

[TheScorpion]

Putting it down here: I'm all in on Zayne Parekh.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

As much as these last 4 games have been fun but the team winning and pushing ourselves out of the Top 10 range where you probably still had a shot at one of Helenius, Iginla, Lindstrom, Catton, or one of the top dmen and likely into the 12-16 range is going to hurt at the draft.

Or we’ll take Tij at 12 and all the people saying we shouldn’t reach for him because of his name will be silenced

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Putting it down here: I'm all in on Zayne Parekh.

Buium > Parekh. O numbers are just as good and Buium plays defense too.

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Putting it down here: I'm all in on Zayne Parekh.

Obviously a lot of growth yet but his game reminds me of Makar, would not be upset in the slightest if we drafted him. He has a phenomenal background too, comes from a family driven by a lot of determination and grit, I think he’ll be a star.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

Obviously a lot of growth yet but his game reminds me of Makar, would not be upset in the slightest if we drafted him. He has a phenomenal background too, comes from a family driven by a lot of determination and grit, I think he’ll be a star.

Not that it means anything, because obviously every team is going to have internal rankings based on their own scouting, but based on player rankings and current standings, Parekh is who Tankathon has the Flames taking at #11. Before the 4 game winning streak, it was Buium at #9.

Like I said, not that it means much, but I kind of use it as a gage to see what could happen and is reasonable.

[dammage79]

I keep going back to Demidov and pondering what the Flames do if he's there in a pile with Catton, Iginla and Buiium, Helenius.

It'd be so hard to pass up that k8nd of skillset regardless of position.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Buium > Parekh. O numbers are just as good and Buium plays defense too.

Yes, from what I've seen, Buium is better defensively.
But many are higher Parekh. Good shot and speed.

I think both have high ceilings.