2024 NHL Draft Thread

[stemit14]

Please find a way to get another pick in the top 15 Conroy. Either by trading up with the Vancouver pick or trading a roster player (Andersson/Markstrom/Coleman). I really want to come away from this draft with a center (Hoping for Lindstrom or Catton) and Iginla.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Please find a way to get another pick in the top 15 Conroy. Either by trading up with the Vancouver pick or trading a roster player (Andersson/Markstrom/Coleman). I really want to come away from this draft with a center (Hoping for Lindstrom or Catton) and Iginla.

You have to consider why teams that have a top 15 pick would do that.
It's unlikely. Which is why it doesn't happen much.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

You have to consider why teams that have a top 15 pick would do that.
It's unlikely. Which is why it doesn't happen much.

There are sometimes people who like to trade down to acquire multiple picks. Unfortunately for Calgary, they are one of the teams that does this and they can't very well do it with themselves.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Please find a way to get another pick in the top 15 Conroy. Either by trading up with the Vancouver pick or trading a roster player (Andersson/Markstrom/Coleman). I really want to come away from this draft with a center (Hoping for Lindstrom or Catton) and Iginla.

If getting more Centers is the goal (which is never a bad idea!), it would probably be smarter to focus on accumulating extra picks for next year, instead of trying to force it in a weaker draft for forwards.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

You have to consider why teams that have a top 15 pick would do that.
It's unlikely. Which is why it doesn't happen much.

It’s very rare and I would be surprised if it happened. My hope is that one of the teams that are desperate to make the playoffs this coming year (Ottawa/Buffalo/New Jersey/Detroit) would make a move like that. Those are teams that have been rebuilding for a while and are supposed to be making the playoffs consistently by now. Buffalo really does not need anything the flames have to offer so I don’t see them as a trade partner unless maybe they would be interested in a retained Coleman + Vancouver’s first round pick. Ottawa could definitely use Andersson and he is the flames’ most valuable potential trade piece (if they wanted to trade him)… but I just don’t see a team trading a top 5 pick for anyone except an established star player in the league.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Table 5

If getting more Centers is the goal (which is never a bad idea!), it would probably be smarter to focus on accumulating extra picks for next year, instead of trying to force it in a weaker draft for forwards.

I figure Lindstrom or Catton have a good chance to be solid 2nd line centers in the NHL. If the flames draft one of them and then draft top five next year, they could potentially get another center with that pick that might be even better and have the potential to be a first line center in the big league. Not saying Lindstrom or Catton couldn’t develop into that too… they do have fantastic skills… just trying to temper my expectations with this draft.

[bax]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Please find a way to get another pick in the top 15 Conroy. Either by trading up with the Vancouver pick or trading a roster player (Andersson/Markstrom/Coleman). I really want to come away from this draft with a center (Hoping for Lindstrom or Catton) and Iginla.

Flames are going to win the lottery and draft Celebrini, then trade Markstrom/Mangiapane to the Devils for Holtz and their first which they will use to take Iginla.

Book it.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by bax

Flames are going to win the lottery and draft Celebrini, then trade Markstrom/Mangiapane to the Devils for Holtz and their first which they will use to take Iginla.

Book it.

This would be the perfect draft in this scenario. While we are at it, let’s have the flames trade Andersson + Vancouver’s 1st round pick + Holtz for Ottawa’s first round pick (5th overall) so the flames also get one of the top defencemen in the draft as well.

[Ba'alzamon]

Remember that the rebuild doesn't have to happen all at once. Whichever players the Flames pick this year are (probably? Hopefully?) going to be a big part of future success, but they don't have to check off every box they lack in this one draft. Nor are they going to.

A lot of us (including myself) should remember that it's a process. It takes time.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Ba'alzamon

Remember that the rebuild doesn't have to happen all at once. Whichever players the Flames pick this year are (probably? Hopefully?) going to be a big part of future success, but they don't have to check off every box they lack in this one draft. Nor are they going to.

A lot of us (including myself) should remember that it's a process. It takes time.

True. Very unlikely to pick 2-3 times in the top 15 of a draft anyways. Would be fantastic if it did happen though. It sounds like the flames want to rebuild faster. Potentially getting multiple high picks in a single draft could be a way to make that happen. Averaging one impact player per draft through a single top ten pick each year leads to a rebuild that takes >5 years to collect and develop a core that is ready to compete. Getting 2-3 impact players from this draft and then another impact player from next year’s draft (with another likely high pick) would speed up the process. Dallas made their rebuild/retool fast by getting 3 impact players in a single draft. Their scouting department did well and were lucky by getting two of those players with picks outside the top 10 of the draft. Hard to plan for that in a rebuild… but finding a way to draft 3 times in the top 15 of a draft would be a great way to give your team a chance at a rebuild more similar to Dallas.

Much easier said than done of course… teams hate to trade first round picks at the draft and they almost never trade top ten picks.

[Major Major]

Do the retention slots end at the end of the contract or end of the season? Pretty sure they stay until July 1 meaning we only have one slot at the draft?

Listen, I know this stuff never happens, but we all know the NJ situation and so Marky could get their first. I'd do it straight up with retention. Buffalo and Ras seems like a fit too. Is their 11 OA pick going to end their playoff drought next year. Doubt it.

Go get yourself Catton, Iginla and Yakemchuk... And you still have another first! Whatever happens, hopefully this is one of those signature drafts for Conny and Button

[HitterD]

Originally Posted by stemit14

True. Very unlikely to pick 2-3 times in the top 15 of a draft anyways. Would be fantastic if it did happen though. It sounds like the flames want to rebuild faster. Potentially getting multiple high picks in a single draft could be a way to make that happen. Averaging one impact player per draft through a single top ten pick each year leads to a rebuild that takes >5 years to collect and develop a core that is ready to compete. Getting 2-3 impact players from this draft and then another impact player from next year’s draft (with another likely high pick) would speed up the process. Dallas made their rebuild/retool fast by getting 3 impact players in a single draft. Their scouting department did well and were lucky by getting two of those players with picks outside the top 10 of the draft. Hard to plan for that in a rebuild… but finding a way to draft 3 times in the top 15 of a draft would be a great way to give your team a chance at a rebuild more similar to Dallas.

Much easier said than done of course… teams hate to trade first round picks at the draft and they almost never trade top ten picks.

I’m on the “get a second top 15 pick if you can” train for sure. I’m also reminded that the last time a team had 2 picks in the top 15 was Columbus, in 2022 with #6 Jiricek and #12 mateychuk, both D and it’s likely too early to tell much.

2021, again Columbus this time with #5 Johnson and #12 Sillinger, that’s looking a bit better but again 3 years later and Columbus is drafting top 5 again most likely. It hasn’t helped them turn the corner yet

Ottawa in 2020 went #3 stuztle and #5 Sanderson. Great picks, but Ottawa is still terrible 4 years later and again drafting top 5-7 this coming draft.

If the Flames are going to speed up the rebuild it’s going to take more than multiple top 10 picks, even combined over multiple drafts of multiple first round picks, the Flames will still need to be great at development, roster building, free agent signing and get done luck to be back in the playoff picture in the next 3-5 years. And if they botch this, they end up the next Columbus, Buffalo or Ottawa, rebuilding their rebuilds for 2 or 3 times after

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

You have to consider why teams that have a top 15 pick would do that.
It's unlikely. Which is why it doesn't happen much.

I think there will be pressure in Ottawa to be good next year. They are about to start their patented heater down the stretch, local fans know that once the Sens are out they turn it on, which is met with great frustration by the locals. Wherever they pick will likely be a pick like Sanderson, a guy who cannot help for 2-3 years, at which time the Giroux biological clock window runs out and Tkachuk is in his final couple years of his contract and they have to look at trading him. I could see them swapping out Chychrun’s salary for a right shot dman who makes the same salary. Might not be in the same trade but the pieces being young prospects for Chyrchun so they can move their 1st this year (or the young pieces they get for Chyrchun) for a significant upgrade on the right side of their defence.

Everyone locally seems pretty comfortable with Stutzle, Tkachuk, Giroux, Batherson being their core forwards. Norris is likely unmoveable and Pinto has been so good I doubt they want to move him unless they cannot make the salary cap work. Their goaltending is painfully mediocre but they are kinda locked in. So right side defence seems to be the logical place to look for improvement.

But you are right, those picks rarely get moved.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by HitterD

I’m on the “get a second top 15 pick if you can” train for sure. I’m also reminded that the last time a team had 2 picks in the top 15 was Columbus, in 2022 with #6 Jiricek and #12 mateychuk, both D and it’s likely too early to tell much.

2021, again Columbus this time with #5 Johnson and #12 Sillinger, that’s looking a bit better but again 3 years later and Columbus is drafting top 5 again most likely. It hasn’t helped them turn the corner yet

Ottawa in 2020 went #3 stuztle and #5 Sanderson. Great picks, but Ottawa is still terrible 4 years later and again drafting top 5-7 this coming draft.

If the Flames are going to speed up the rebuild it’s going to take more than multiple top 10 picks, even combined over multiple drafts of multiple first round picks, the Flames will still need to be great at development, roster building, free agent signing and get done luck to be back in the playoff picture in the next 3-5 years. And if they botch this, they end up the next Columbus, Buffalo or Ottawa, rebuilding their rebuilds for 2 or 3 times after

Good point. I really only have Dallas as the only recent example of a quick retool that was sparked mostly by 3 guys out of a single draft so it’s obviously not that easy when you look at those teams you mentioned that have struggled despite having multiple picks in the top 10-15 of a draft. Would love to see Conroy pull it off somehow though. I don’t see any of his top potential trade pieces (Andersson/Markstrom/Coleman) ever returning a top 15 pick in any other drafts after this one so, if he was to do it, I think this draft would be his best chance for the following reasons:

1. Andersson has multiple years left on his deal at a very reasonable cap hit and right-hand shot top-four defencemen are very tough to find this offseason. Ottawa especially are looking for exactly what he brings.
2. Markstrom has restored his value as a starting goaltender and New Jersey seems to have a strong interest in him (hopefully they still do).
3. Coleman is coming off a career best season and he brings a lot of intangibles that teams want for taking a step in the playoffs. It would almost certainly need to include retention in order to maximize the return though. A team like Buffalo might be a fit… they are loaded with young talent but could use his veteran leadership and winning pedigree to take that next step,
4. Unique group of teams with picks in the top 15 that are “desperate” to make the playoffs next year - New Jersey, Buffalo, Detroit and Ottawa. There is a chance their desperation to finally become perennial playoff teams after long rebuilds could make these teams consider trading their pick this year for the right package.

[traptor]

Ott would be all over rasmus but I would be shocked if the flames moved him.

It's just not their m.o to get ahead of things. The only way is if he demanded out.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by traptor

Ott would be all over rasmus but I would be shocked if the flames moved him.

It's just not their m.o to get ahead of things. The only way is if he demanded out.

It does seem rare and I imagine Conroy would be especially hesitant to Andersson because the flames have already decimated their defence core this year and because Andersson is one of the few players from the previous core (Gaudreau/Tkachuk/Lindholm/Hanifin) that seems like he wants to stay and be a leader on this team.

[Jiri Hrdina]

I also think that even if a team like Detroit was interested, they are going to offer a pick in 2025 or 2026, probably with protection. Going to be hard to get a team to cough up a 2024 1st if it's placed in the top half of the draft, or close to that.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I also think that even if a team like Detroit was interested, they are going to offer a pick in 2025 or 2026, probably with protection. Going to be hard to get a team to cough up a 2024 1st if it's placed in the top half of the draft, or close to that.

Tough to say. If the guy they wanted is gone before their picks, they may be more willing to move the pick

[activeStick]

Ohhhhh yeaaaaah

https://twitter.com/user/status/1771933791730168236

[Ped]

Would you really leave Eiserman on the board to draft Tij?