2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Iginla all the way.

Over Catton even.

Interesting.

Catton is a C and Iginla is a winger, plus Catton is outproducing Iginla by a massive margin. Catton has more goals, assists and points....by a lot. He's the leader on his team in scoring as well, and Tij is way behind the scoring lead on his team.

Catton consolidated ranking #6
Tij consolidated ranking #14

If the Flames have a chance at Catton IMO they should be thanking their lucky stars.

[Ashes]

Originally Posted by Parallex

I forget where I read it but someone said that the last guy to perform this well in Liiga at age 17 was Barkov... to which I would say "Yes please!".

Helenius has 36 points in 51 games so far this season with Liiga and he's in the top-5 PPG rate for draft-eligible forwards in the last 25 years to come out of Liiga which is a crazy stat. Definitely seems like Lindstrom and Catton are getting more of the hype but this guy seems like a real blue chip Center prospect as well. This 2024 draft seems like it has a really good top end!

Catton is also putting up ridiculous numbers this year in the WHL, 50 goals and 106 points in 63 games. Lindstrom even though he's had that injury is still at 27 goals and 46 points in 32 games. Based on where we're likely drafting I don't think we can go wrong with a Center or Defensemen but if it was me and if both options are available with our pick I would have a hard time giving up the chance at landing a potential true #1 Center considering our history.

It will probably come down to whichever player falls into our laps, maybe there's even a surprise or two with a team not taking the Russian player as early as predicted, or maybe Eiserman goes sooner than expected. Would be really nice of course if the Flames could snag another first from NJ in a Markstrom package to then take Iginla. I wonder if Markstrom and the Vancouver 1st could make that deal happen with NJ.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Are you assuming that the player the Flames actually pick won't accomplish anything?

What if Tij Iginla scores 300 goals and 600 points in the NHL, but the Flames get a #1 C who ends up with 400 and 1000?

Chicago didn't draft Brett Hull. Detroit didn't draft Mark or Marty Howe. In fact, I'm hard pressed to think of a famous father-son duo in the NHL who both started their careers with the same team.

The thing with Tij iginla, is that he is projected to go right within range of where the Flames are projected to pick.

Brett Hull went in the 6th round, which makes me think there were a lot of doubts about his NHL upside. In 1974, Detroit drafted 9th OA. Mark and Marty Howe went 25th and 51st respectively. Detroit didn't pick again until 44th and Marty didn't end up doing a heck of a lot in the NHL.

It's not a situation where the Flames would be going off the board (Mark and Marty Howe), or would be selecting a long shot player on name sake alone.

As a side note, I bet a lot of teams regretted not picking Mark Howe or Brett Hull sooner.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Interesting.

Catton is a C and Iginla is a winger, plus Catton is outproducing Iginla by a massive margin. Catton has more goals, assists and points....by a lot. He's the leader on his team in scoring as well, and Tij is way behind the scoring lead on his team.

Catton consolidated ranking #6
Tij consolidated ranking #14

If the Flames have a chance at Catton IMO they should be thanking their lucky stars.

I feel like Flames fans are overhyping Tij because of obvious reasons. The only thing that gives me pause is the amount Iginla has climbed in the rankings.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Ashes

Helenius has 36 points in 51 games so far this season with Liiga and he's in the top-5 PPG rate for draft-eligible forwards in the last 25 years to come out of Liiga which is a crazy stat. Definitely seems like Lindstrom and Catton are getting more of the hype but this guy seems like a real blue chip Center prospect as well. This 2024 draft seems like it has a really good top end!

Catton is also putting up ridiculous numbers this year in the WHL, 50 goals and 106 points in 63 games. Lindstrom even though he's had that injury is still at 27 goals and 46 points in 32 games. Based on where we're likely drafting I don't think we can go wrong with a Center or Defensemen but if it was me and if both options are available with our pick I would have a hard time giving up the chance at landing a potential true #1 Center considering our history.

It will probably come down to whichever player falls into our laps, maybe there's even a surprise or two with a team not taking the Russian player as early as predicted, or maybe Eiserman goes sooner than expected. Would be really nice of course if the Flames could snag another first from NJ in a Markstrom package to then take Iginla. I wonder if Markstrom and the Vancouver 1st could make that deal happen with NJ.

Can anyone speak to why we see prospect breakdowns of Helenius saying his production might be limited? The numbers you’re describing sound like he should be a sure fire top 2 center. Is it from watching him play? Is there a context where he is not looking like a line driver?

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Parallex

I forget where I read it but someone said that the last guy to perform this well in Liiga at age 17 was Barkov... to which I would say "Yes please!".

Has a fair bit higher p/gm in Liiga as 17yo then Aho and Rantanen.

Not sure why so many posters have written him off saying theres not much upside there.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Can anyone speak to why we see prospect breakdowns of Helenius saying his production might be limited? The numbers you’re describing sound like he should be a sure fire top 2 center. Is it from watching him play? Is there a context where he is not looking like a line driver?

The read on him is theres not one thing hes absolutely elite at. Hes just really good at everything. High compete, high hockey IQ, plays 200ft game, good offensive instincts.

And as a 17yo he's proven its not just at a junior level. Hes been playing against grown men all season.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

The read on him is theres not one thing hes absolutely elite at. Hes just really good at everything. High compete, high hockey IQ, plays 200ft game, good offensive instincts.

So Lindholm before this season? Or higher upside than that?

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

So Lindholm before this season? Or higher upside than that?

A reasonable ceiling would probably be a 25-30 goal 70-80pt 2 way play driving center.

Probably similar to Lindholm before this season. Helenius probably has upside to be more of a play driver.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

A reasonable ceiling would probably be a 25-30 goal 70-80pt 2 way play driving center.

Probably similar to Lindholm before this season. Helenius probably has upside to be more of a play driver.

What do you think of Aatu Raty? He had 40 pts in 41 games for the same team, almost the same age as Helenius.

Production in those leagues is hard to marry with production in the NHL.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Interesting.

Catton is a C and Iginla is a winger, plus Catton is outproducing Iginla by a massive margin. Catton has more goals, assists and points....by a lot. He's the leader on his team in scoring as well, and Tij is way behind the scoring lead on his team.

Catton consolidated ranking #6
Tij consolidated ranking #14

If the Flames have a chance at Catton IMO they should be thanking their lucky stars.

Catton looks like Morgan Klimchuk when he plays and it scares me.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Catton looks like Morgan Klimchuk when he plays and it scares me.

I hope he’s more marner but compared to Iginla his play style definitely has some more risk. To me Catton is top 6 scorer or he’s a bust. Iginla is potential top line but high chance of middle six. I’ll be happy with either guy

[Tbull8]

I think Montreal takes Catton if he’s there at their pick. If they’re picking ahead of us I think it’s safe to say he’s gone

[traptor]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

So Lindholm before this season? Or higher upside than that?

Helenius ceiling seems comparable to Aho for me.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Catton looks like Morgan Klimchuk when he plays and it scares me.

Well, Morgan Klimchuk didn't produce offense like Catton when he was 20 years old, nevermind in his draft year.

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

What do you think of Aatu Raty? He had 40 pts in 41 games for the same team, almost the same age as Helenius.

Production in those leagues is hard to marry with production in the NHL.

"almost" the same age. When he was actually the same age he had 6 points in 35 games.

I agree that production in the European leagues (especially Liiga) is hard to gauge, though. Looking at the best Liiga draft eligible forwards in recent-ish years (Teravainen, Barkov, Rantanen, Laine, Puljujaarvi, Kotkaniemi, Kakko, Lundell), there isn't much of a correlation between their Liiga results and their NHL careers (aside from Barkov being the best in both categories). Some of the very best Finnish forwards (Hintz, Aho) were significantly less productive in their draft years.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

He had 40 pts in 41 games for the same team, almost the same age as Helenius.

Raty had 6 points in his draft year.

[dammage79]

I'd take any of Lindstrom, Helenius, Demidov, Iginla over most of the D men not named Levshunov.

And I'd love to see the Flames sprinkle in some Finn with the Sweden and Russia contingent. I like Helenius. More than Catton that's for certain. But not as much as Lindstrom or Demidov. Him and Iginla are close, almost tied, IMO.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Interesting.

Catton is a C and Iginla is a winger, plus Catton is outproducing Iginla by a massive margin. Catton has more goals, assists and points....by a lot. He's the leader on his team in scoring as well, and Tij is way behind the scoring lead on his team.

Catton consolidated ranking #6
Tij consolidated ranking #14

If the Flames have a chance at Catton IMO they should be thanking their lucky stars.

That's why I am not a GM. I am just a dumb fan.

I think cheering for Iginla and the story around him is more fun and will be more entertaining for me.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

That's why I am not a GM. I am just a dumb fan.

I think cheering for Iginla and the story around him is more fun and will be more entertaining for me.

Hey, you never know, Tij may end up being the better player.

In 1995 Iggy sr had 71 points in the dub, Daymond Langkow had 140. Langkow went 5th overall and Jarome 11th, both ended up being 1000+ game NHLers but Iginla was clearly the better pick by a country mile, winger or not.