2024 NHL Draft Thread

[CalgarySames]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

That isn't getting it done. They don't want a player like Kuzmenko, they want a Pospisil.

Pospisil instead of Kuzmenko? Deal!!! I make that trade every day of the week! I like Pospisil but he's realistically a third or fourth liner. If we were closer to competing for a playoff spot I'd keep Pospisil for sure but if dealing him and Marky got us NJs first rounder, 100%!!!

[jg13]

The pictures getting much more clear looks like we are almost locked into picking 8th at worst.

[FlamesAddiction]

Only 3 points up on Ottawa and Montreal now, with all teams having 6 games left. Seattle is 4 point ahead now, also with 6 games left.

[jayswin]

I swear to god if this team goes a on a heater to finish the season and passes a couple teams.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

I'd give the odds something like

5% chance of 9th or later
60% chance of 8th
20% chance of 7th
10% chance of 6th
5% chance of 5th

[GreenLantern2814]

#### it. We’re winning the lottery. This league owes us.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (AB"C" Edition):

RW David Bernier played 5 years in the QMJHL between 1993 and 1999, but despite being drafted by the Oilers in '96, and then the Ducks in '98, his NHL dream never came to fruition. David may yet get the chance to live his dream through his son, RHD Alexis Bernier, who was given the rank of "C" by Central Scouting, pegging him as a potential 4th, or 5th-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. The younger Bernier was 2nd in scoring by defensemen this season on the best team in the league, the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, and the 26th-highest scoring D in the QMJHL, with 4 goals and 31 points in 67 games. Bernier is currently tied with teammate Niks Feneko for 2nd in playoff scoring by defensemen, with 5 points in 4 games, and his regular-season +38 was 15th in the league. Bernier is a little on the young side, with a June 21st birthday, and stands 6'1", weighing in at 190lbs.

Bernier plays a good two-way game, but isn't elite in any area- he's a minute-munching, all-situations D who plays both special teams. Like his father, Alexis plays an intense, aggressive brand of hockey with an edge. He's ultra competitive with snarl, and applies physicality any chance he gets. His puck game is kept fairly simple, but smart- he doesn't take risks or try to do more than he's capable of, although his breakout passes seem to be a strength, with his ability to connect tape-to-tape with streaking forwards. When handling, he exhibits smooth, fast hands, and has good puck-control and protection skills. In the offensive zone, Bernier has the appearance of a true offensive defenseman with the way he will pinch in from the point- often it's with the objective of getting the puck deep, or keeping the play alive in the zone, but he will also activate in on the weak side for scoring chances. He distributes well from the line, but can also generate opportunities for rebounds and tips by getting shots on net- his shot is hard and heavy, but lacks accuracy. He also has no reservations about joining the rush. Unfortunately, Bernier's skating is a bit of a detriment- it's pretty average, and it needs work in all areas, which may have hurt his numbers and also his draft stock.

Even with his current mobility issues, Bernier still has plenty of upside. He plays a pretty tight defensive game, and manages to keep good gaps- he's able to keep up in man-on-man coverage as well. He kills rushes with his long reach and active stick, and angles opponents towards the boards where he finishes them physically. He covers the net well, roughing up opponents in performance of this task, and plays heavy down low- he hunts down puck-carriers along the boards, dishing out big hits or rub-outs. Bernier will also put his body on the line to block shots, and despite his age, he's a leader, and vocal with teammates on the ice. He's aware of his skating deficiencies, so he employs pro-active positioning to offset those limitations, but he can still be beaten by faster players. There are many who think Bernier's ceiling is that of a 2nd-pairing defenseman in the NHL, and if he can fix his skating, the sky might just be the limit. He could also stand to work on his discipline, as he can sometimes step over the line, and he takes bad penalties that cost his team. I'm thinking 4th, or 5th round.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

#### it. We’re winning the lottery. This league owes us.

The league hates us.

[devo22]

love or hate, we're due. Having never picked in the top 3 even once, there's no team deserving a bit of lottery luck more than us. This is the year.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

I'd give the odds something like

5% chance of 9th or later
60% chance of 8th
20% chance of 7th
10% chance of 6th
5% chance of 5th

Or we could look at sportsclubstats...

12: 0%
11: 3%
10: 8%
9: 19%
8: 59%
7: 8%
6: 2%
5:0%

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by jg13

The pictures getting much more clear looks like we are almost locked into picking 8th at worst.

Remember, if they end up at 8, they’ll still have a 30% of picking 9th and a 3.2% chance of picking 10th.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

The league hates us.

That was before we committed to build a new arena.

[8sPOT]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Remember, if they end up at 8, they’ll still have a 30% of picking 9th and a 3.2% chance of picking 10th.

And also remember, they'll have a 6% chance of 1st, and 6.2% chance of 2nd.

[devo22]

3 points ahead of Ottawa and Montreal, 4 ahead of Arizona.

Calgary
at San Jose
at Los Angeles
at Anaheim
vs Arizona
at Vancouver
at San Jose

Ottawa
at Washington
at Florida
at Tampa Bay
vs Montreal
at Rangers
at Boston

Montreal
at Rangers
vs Philadelphia
at Islanders
at Ottawa
at Detroit
vs Detroit

Arizona
at San Jose
at Seattle
at Vancouver
at Edmonton
at Calgary
vs Edmonton

funnily enough, all of those teams have most of their games left on the road. Will certainly be tough to fall behind any of them at this stage, but not impossible either.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

#### it. We’re winning the lottery. This league owes us.

There is no chance the Flames win the lottery. Even if they finish dead last next year the league won't give them the top pick.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

There is no chance the Flames win the lottery. Even if they finish dead last next year the league won't give them the top pick.

The league doesn't decide. Some of you need to take off the tinfoil hats. Edmonton was the last destination the league wanted McDavid to land. The lottery isn't rigged. Finishing last isn't a guarantee for any team.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The league doesn't decide. Some of you need to take off the tinfoil hats. Edmonton was the last destination the league wanted McDavid to land. The lottery isn't rigged. Finishing last isn't a guarantee for any team.

I remember that video of the McDavid lottery that was released afterwards and Bettman looked PISSED. If anything, the McDavid lottery proved forever that it is, in fact, not rigged. People really need to stop with the baseless conspiracies.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The league doesn't decide. Some of you need to take off the tinfoil hats. Edmonton was the last destination the league wanted McDavid to land. The lottery isn't rigged. Finishing last isn't a guarantee for any team.

Originally Posted by devo22

I remember that video of the McDavid lottery that was released afterwards and Bettman looked PISSED. If anything, the McDavid lottery proved forever that it is, in fact, not rigged. People really need to stop with the baseless conspiracies.

After the McDavid fiasco is when the league really took control of asset management and draft rigging. They didn't and don't want to see that happen again.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

After the McDavid fiasco is when the league really took control of asset management and draft rigging. They didn't and don't want to see that happen again.

based on what evidence?

I'd argue that the league would have gifted Arizona a top pick here or there if it was rigged. They've done everything else to make that market work, why wouldn't they give them a Bedard or at least the top pick in 22?

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

After the McDavid fiasco is when the league really took control of asset management and draft rigging. They didn't and don't want to see that happen again.

Lol. Why don’t you first figure out who was on the grassy knoll before trying to tackle the nhl draft.