2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Burn13]

Originally Posted by 3thirty

We're going to just miss an elite C prospect aren't we?

This is the way.

[SuperMatt18]

In the case where the Flames pick at 8 or 9 and if Lindstrom, Catton, Dickinson, etc are gone I could see them trading back. I'm not sure Flames would love one of Silayev, Parekh, or Buium.

Flames trade back to 11 for Iginla, Sharks trade up to 8 for Silayev.

Flames add 33rd OV or something like that.

Sharks potentially need a dman more than a winger (especially if they get Celebrini), could see the Flames liking any of Iginla, Yakemchuk, or Helenius there too.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

In the case where the Flames pick at 8 or 9 and if Lindstrom, Catton, Dickinson, etc are gone I could see them trading back. I'm not sure Flames would love one of Silayev, Parekh, or Buium.

Flames trade back to 11 for Iginla, Sharks trade up to 8 for Silayev.

Flames add 33rd OV or something like that.

I think the Flames just take Iginla if they feel he is BPA and they have to drop down three spots.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Bonded

I think the Flames just take Iginla if they feel he is BPA and they have to drop down three spots.

What if he goes before the Flames pick?

[#-3]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

In the case where the Flames pick at 8 or 9 and if Lindstrom, Catton, Dickinson, etc are gone I could see them trading back. I'm not sure Flames would love one of Silayev, Parekh, or Buium.

Flames trade back to 11 for Iginla, Sharks trade up to 8 for Silayev.

Flames add 33rd OV or something like that.

Sharks potentially need a dman more than a winger (especially if they get Celebrini), could see the Flames liking any of Iginla, Yakemchuk, or Helenius there too.

Yeah, I earlier ID'd SJ and Phi as potential targets for this, I think with Iggy rising, and Philly staying in the the playoff bubble, it's pretty much down to SJ.

I would be shocked if this trade isn't legitimately discussed. 33+ 12 for 8. But lots of ifs;

If Neither Cgy or Pit win the lotto.
If Calgary is Dead set on Iginla.
If The Standings pretty much stay the same.
If Calgarys intel tells them Buf, Sea, NJ have different targets
If SJ has a guy they are not willing to risk missing on.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

What if he goes before the Flames pick?

Then one of the other forwards they want is probably there

[FFF]

One player I really hope Calgary gives a good long look is C Aatos Koivu (TPS, Finland). The son of Saku Koivu and nephew of Mikko Koivu, Aatos is a bit of a late bloomer and he probably wasn't on many people's radars a year ago, when he wasn't likely to be drafted at all. In addition to a growth spurt -- he is now listed as 6'0 and 165 lbs -- he's had a solid year which has seen his ranking rise, McKenzie had him at # 60. While bloodlines are far from a guarantee, I'm intrigued by his -- the son and nephew of a (European) NHL captain, grandson of a famous coach etc. The Koivu brothers were great natural leaders and both had the will and hockey IQ to have good-to-great careers even though both had their share of roadblocks. To me, that suggests that this kid will have the support and the resources to help him find his way to the NHL. He obviously has the talent for it. I doubt he'll be a first line center, but I'd bet he will be a plus middle six player who will mold his game to find a contributing role. From all I've heard he's a solid kid too, as you'd expect. As for playing style, he's more of a finisher than his father.

Moreover, he finds himself in a good organization for him, TPS, which is the team that's produced a lot of NHL forwards, in addition to Koivu brothers at least Mikko Rantanen, Artturi Lehkonen, Kaapo Kakko, Juuso Parssinen (Preds), Mikael Pyyhtia (CBJ)... not all of them are home runs, of course, but for a small Finnish club, that's not a bad list. To me, that should count for a lot; development and circumstances are key for any kid (see: Puljujarvi, Jesse; thanks again for ruining him, Edmonton), so any time you have somebody entrenched in a place where they know how to properly develop players, that's a bonus. Emil Hemming plays in the same team as does Kasper Pikkarainen, who both will be selected in the 2024 draft; both will probably go higher than Koivu.

Koivus is predicted to go in the third round. Like has been discussed here, centers aren't an organizational strength for the Flames, so I'd be comfortable taking a flyer on the kid.

[Royle9]

I cant see the Flames taking Silayev (well I can because big=good memes) over highly offensive QB type prospects in both Parekh and Buium.

I really hope 1 of Lindstrom/Catton is there but it does feel like the "defense dominated" early predictions have started to slip and we're seeing forwards sneak into that top 3-10 moreso.

Really hope NJ opens up trade talks for Markstrom again at the draft, would be nice to get a 3rd pick and perhaps another one in the top 15.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by FFF

One player I really hope Calgary gives a good long look is C Aatos Koivu (TPS, Finland). The son of Saku Koivu and nephew of Mikko Koivu, Aatos is a bit of a late bloomer and he probably wasn't on many people's radars a year ago, when he wasn't likely to be drafted at all. In addition to a growth spurt -- he is now listed as 6'0 and 165 lbs -- he's had a solid year which has seen his ranking rise, McKenzie had him at # 60. While bloodlines are far from a guarantee, I'm intrigued by his -- the son and nephew of a (European) NHL captain, grandson of a famous coach etc. The Koivu brothers were great natural leaders and both had the will and hockey IQ to have good-to-great careers even though both had their share of roadblocks. To me, that suggests that this kid will have the support and the resources to help him find his way to the NHL. He obviously has the talent for it. I doubt he'll be a first line center, but I'd bet he will be a plus middle six player who will mold his game to find a contributing role. From all I've heard he's a solid kid too, as you'd expect. As for playing style, he's more of a finisher than his father.

Moreover, he finds himself in a good organization for him, TPS, which is the team that's produced a lot of NHL forwards, in addition to Koivu brothers at least Mikko Rantanen, Artturi Lehkonen, Kaapo Kakko, Juuso Parssinen (Preds), Mikael Pyyhtia (CBJ)... not all of them are home runs, of course, but for a small Finnish club, that's not a bad list. To me, that should count for a lot; development and circumstances are key for any kid (see: Puljujarvi, Jesse; thanks again for ruining him, Edmonton), so any time you have somebody entrenched in a place where they know how to properly develop players, that's a bonus. Emil Hemming plays in the same team as does Kasper Pikkarainen, who both will be selected in the 2024 draft; both will probably go higher than Koivu.

Koivus is predicted to go in the third round. Like has been discussed here, centers aren't an organizational strength for the Flames, so I'd be comfortable taking a flyer on the kid.

Strangely enough, I’m working on a profile of this kid (along with a few other Finnish kids), though you have done most of the work for me, lol.

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

Apparently Konsta Helenius is ripping up the playoffs in the finish league. He’s a hyper competitive right hand center. If Catton and lindstrom and Dickinson are gone I’d be ok with this kid.

5’11 isn’t small. Plus his speed , edge work and compete level would be nice on this squad.

[dammage79]

I like Helenius. A lot. He's right in the Flames wheel house too. I do wonder if it came down to Iggy junior and Helenius, who would the Flames take? Center or wing?

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I like Helenius. A lot. He's right in the Flames wheel house too. I do wonder if it came down to Iggy junior and Helenius, who would the Flames take? Center or wing?

Helenius has some of the highest iq in the draft. Wouldn’t surprise me if he is above Lindstrom with flames management. He is a kid playing against men cant be discounted.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

There is a much larger organization that does not like it when vigilante justice is handed out. It’s called the U.S. government.

You actually think that the Department of Justice (nevermind I would love to know their jurisdiction to even take a case) would use their prosecutorial discretion to go to court on a case defending a private hockey team from losing a draft pick because they employed a rapist? I would put the probability of that happening at zero.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Don't Squeeze the Charmin Edition):

The term,"two-way defenseman" is used a lot to describe LHD John Whipple, but I see him leaning more towards being a smart facilitator, than an offensive contributor- at least at this point. Whipple has posted 15 points in 51 games this season to date, to go along with 52 penalty-minutes, often anchoring a pairing with Cole Hutson.

Rather than calling Whipple a "defensive defenseman", I will refer to him as a "defense-first defenseman", as he has puck-moving skill, and a high level of vision and awareness. He's a minute-muncher, and can play top-minutes in a shutdown role, but shows flashes of untapped offensive potential. Mobility-wise, he's a fluid skater with above-average speed, and moves well in all four directions with smooth transitions- though he's not elite in any category. To augment his footwork, he plays with pace and has good motor. Whipple, who stands 6'1", and weighs in at 194 lbs, makes life miserable for opponents by being highly aggressive and hard to play against with the way he closes fast on attackers, and imposes his will physically- or with his active stick. He exhibits tight gap control, smart positioning, and plays with a bit of an edge- he will dole out hacks and whacks, and mix in a few crosschecks here and there, but can also sometimes cross the line into "dirty" territory. There's no fear in him to mix it up physically, and though he's not nearly as mean as Will Skahan or as intimidating as Adam Kleber, he will dole out big hits, and wins pucks by battling hard in the trenches. Opponents of his get angled towards the boards, where they are often finished off with hard bodychecks.

Whipple plays a simple game with the puck that's not flashy, but effective. He makes quality outlets to his forwards, after completing smooth retrievals by scanning over both shoulders to map out his surroundings. He doesn't carry much through transition, instead deferring to teammates to spearhead the rush, while playing a support role. Despite not putting up big offensive numbers, he shows quick processing abilities and anticipation- he problem-solves on the fly, and usually makes mistake-free decisions with the puck. He's calm and composed under pressure, and knows what to do when he gets possession. Whipple was known as an offensive defenseman when he played at Shattuck-St. Mary's a few years back, and he still flashes some potential to put up bigger numbers in the future- he can pinch deep on occasion, even if it's to keep the puck alive in the zone, and he owns a nice hard shot from the point. He can get the puck on net through traffic with accuracy, and will also shoot it low and hard to cause rebounds for teammates. Off the puck, he does a good job of staying open with his stick ready on the ice for passes, and has a good sense of where to be at all times to best support the play. Whipple reminds me a bit of Ryan Lindgren right now, and has bottom-4 potential in the NHL. He's committed to the University of Minnesota, so he's got extra runway to round out his game. Look for him in the 3rd round.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

You actually think that the Department of Justice (nevermind I would love to know their jurisdiction to even take a case) would use their prosecutorial discretion to go to court on a case defending a private hockey team from losing a draft pick because they employed a rapist? I would put the probability of that happening at zero.

That's not what I said.

However, the Chicago Blackhawks would certainly sue the league, and the league, since it is not a law enforcement agency, would not have a leg to stand on.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Who Wants Felicio? Edition):

Expectations were high for LHD Will Felicio coming in to the current season, after a 2022-23 season with the USHL's Madison Capitols that saw him set a record for points by a U-17 defenseman in that league, with 28 in just 55 games. He further cemented himself as a player to watch for the 2024 NHL Draft in the summer, turning heads at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he scored 5 points in 5 games- 2nd in scoring by defense in the tourney, and 3rd in goals (3) and points overall for Team USA. Unfortunately, his scoring in the USHL hasn't shown any progression this season, with 25 points in 50 games, split between the Capitols and the Waterloo Blackhawks, his new team after an early January trade. The change of scenery was actually detrimental to his numbers, with 13 points coming in 23 games with Madison (where he was reportedly playing under 18 minutes per game), and 12 points in 27 games with Waterloo. The numbers are still not that bad though, as his 25 points puts him 20th overall in scoring by defense in the USHL, and second for U-18 defensemen.

Felicio is not your typical fly-by-night defenseman, as he's a puck-moving, offensive rearguard, but still plays a responsible 200-ft game. He's a bit diminutive, at 5'10",161lbs, and has made some adjustments to his game that help him compensate somewhat. He mostly plays simple, risk-free hockey, but will pinch into the play as another forward if the coast is clear. In the offensive zone, he's fairly active, making room for himself and teammates with his agility and stickhandling, and opening seams to pass through. He exhibits quick processing speed, and can change the course of a game with his offensive play. He's smart with the puck, confident and poised, and has high IQ- he makes a high number of difficult, dangerous plays to teammates in the slot. Felicio runs the offense effectively from the point, walking the line to spot openings, and loves to sneak in on the weak side to get better looks. He's an excellent distributor from the line on the PP, and has the patience to hold on to the puck while the optimum play develops. His shot is accurate, with precision and a quick release, but it has been said that his mechanics need to be refined in order to strengthen it's power and velocity. Felicio's off-puck game is sound as well, as he's usually in position to support his teammates, and can sneak in and out of holes in high-danger while making himself playable.

Felicio has excellent footspeed, perhaps not elite, and his strong edges give him quick lateral mobility, making him hard to catch and giving him the ability to stop and start quickly. Analytics show that he's a top-notch puck-moving defenseman, with play-driving capabilities- he's excellent in transition, making a high number of exits and entries, and can pass in full flight. Despite his size, he's tenacious in puck-battles and doesn't shy away from the rough stuff, although he has to rely primarily on his active stick and smarts, as he gets outmatched physically. Defensively, he keeps tight gap control, and has solid positional awareness, with the ability to close on puck-carriers quickly. Felicio gets a lot of takeaways, and has the anticipation to intercept passes, and cause turnovers- he also shows a proficiency against the rush. Time will tell if his two-way game will be enough to offset his size issues, and he doesn't put up the kind of offensive numbers that make smaller defensemen enticing to scouts in the higher rounds of the draft. He needs to get stronger and faster for the next level, and round out his offense. The good news is that Felicio is committed to the University of Denver for the 2025-26 season, with one more year of USHL competition- meaning the team who picks him will get him for the long haul, while he develops his game. I think Felicio goes in the fourth round, but there's a possibility a team takes a shot at him in the third, as his puck-movement capability has value.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

That's not what I said.

However, the Chicago Blackhawks would certainly sue the league, and the league, since it is not a law enforcement agency, would not have a leg to stand on.

What the hell does the US Government have to do with this fanciful scenario where the Hawks sue the league? If you think the NHL’s general morality and ethics clause is not a strong enough leg to stand on in this case I don’t know what to tell you.

https://www.lakelawgroup.com/wp-cont...ution-NHL-.pdf

That is an old version of the NHL Constitution. The new version almost certainly as the same language. The Commissioner of course has the power to take away picks (or really anything) under section 6.3(B)(5). If Gary felt that what happened in Chicago was detrimental to the league or to professional hockey he could dispense discipline and if the Hawks had a problem with it they could appeal to the BoG. Gary had no problem with it so no action was taken. Clause 6.3(B)(5) is also the clause that he was able to take away the Kovalchuk picks.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Clause 6.3(B)(5) is also the clause that he was able to take away the Kovalchuk picks.

That always kind of annoyed me... not that he took a pick away... but that he wussed out and gave them a pick back (yeah it was a lesser pick then the one they lost but still...) didn't like that he watered down their penalty.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

That's not what I said.

However, the Chicago Blackhawks would certainly sue the league, and the league, since it is not a law enforcement agency, would not have a leg to stand on.

The league can really do whatever it wants. They could have basically forced the owners out like Sterling and the NBA. it is a private business and isn't bringing criminal charges against the Blackhawks. All they have to say is that the Blackhawks organization did not properly respond to a sexual assault that occurred and are getting penalized. Dinging the Senators a pick for the Dadonov thing and not the Blackhawks is not a good look and purely a business decision.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Helenius has some of the highest iq in the draft. Wouldn’t surprise me if he is above Lindstrom with flames management. He is a kid playing against men cant be discounted.

Time to start the Finnish movement next