2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Future Leaf Edition):

RW Jack Pridham is the son of Toronto Maple Leafs AGM, Brandon Pridham, and plays for the West Kelowna Warriors of the BCHL, putting up 49 points in 54 games. Those stats may seem paltry for a lower league, but they are good enough to put him 18th in the BCHL in scoring, and he is currently 3rd in playoff scoring with 5 goals (tied for 1st-overall) and 7 points in 4 games. It's hard to project Junior A players, but the reason he's been rated as high as 72nd overall by Elite Prospects, is that he has 4 S's- size, skating, skill, and shot, all of which are good enough for any Junior league. JP is the only player in the league to get a "B" rating by Central Scouting, denoting a player they believe will be chosen in the 2nd, or 3rd round, and has been nominated for the Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy for Rookie of the Year.

Power-forwards are making a comeback, and Pridham is the modern-day version, with size (6'2",174lbs), and a marvelous skating stride that backs up defenses, and gives him room to operate. He is blessed with a superb top-speed, that comes off of an explosive first-step and excellent acceleration, with smooth edges that enable him to change speed and direction rapidly. He plays with a high amount of energy, and puts pressure on opponents with his ability to push pace. His offensive game is built off of his shoot-first mentality, and he has a strong arsenal of shots to choose from, all of them coming with a quick release. He is not known as a playmaker, though he can sometimes show some playmaking vision- most of the time though, he keeps his passes simple, and risk-free. He can facilitate chances for his teammates with second-chance breaks created from his shooting, but on occasion, he can connect with quick-touch, short passes to dangerous areas. Pridham will drive the crease to convert rebounds and tips, or to cause havok by acting as a moving screen, and uses his body as leverage to lean into defenders on his way to the net. He battles hard in the greasy areas, takes a beating in front of the net, and is a force down low and in the corners.

Pridham's long reach helps him protect the puck, but it also aids in causing turnovers on the forecheck. He's highly aggressive with an undying motor, and relentlessly hounds puck-carriers in all three zones, stripping them of possession. Defensively, he's solid, though he doesn't seem to apply the same pace-pushing moxie that he displays in the other two zones. Still, he has the speed and active stick to close on attackers fast, and the intelligence to identify threats. Pridham needs work on his puck skills, as he can bobble the puck and overhandle in flight. He also must develop his playmaking, as he often passes up a high-percentage pass to go for a low-percentage shot. Diversifying his offense will improve his ceiling, and make him less predictable. As is the case with most kids, he needs to bulk up and get significantly stronger, as he can be pushed around right now, and outmuscled in puck-battles. Pridham is committed to Boston University for next season. Look for him to be picked in the 3rd, or 4th round.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Sandman

It's more that I like other players more, or that I see other players being taken ahead. I'm not that high on Parascak, as I don't like his size/skating, and I see Vanacker right at the beginning of the second. Misa I have a little lower because of size/lack of physicality. (I moved him up to #50, btw)

The one knock against Parascak that I think might by why your so low (and I'm starting to flip against the pick) is that 90% of this goals come within 10 feet of the net, rebounds and tap ins.

Add in the fact he's not overly fast, his edgework isn't elite and I think he benefits from playing on a strong line/team that seem to do most of the work for him and inflated his numbers this year. I was originally high on him, but continued viewing of prospects around that VAN pick have me starting to waver from him as a selection.

[Bourque's Twin]

My predictions because that’s what truly matters:

SJ - Celebrini
CHI - Demidov
ANA - Levshunov
CBJ - Lindstrom
MTL - Dickinson
SLC - Parekh
OTT - Catton
SEA - Buium
CGY - Iginla

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by Royle9

The one knock against Parascak that I think might by why your so low (and I'm starting to flip against the pick) is that 90% of this goals come within 10 feet of the net, rebounds and tap ins.

Add in the fact he's not overly fast, his edgework isn't elite and I think he benefits from playing on a strong line/team that seem to do most of the work for him and inflated his numbers this year. I was originally high on him, but continued viewing of prospects around that VAN pick have me starting to waver from him as a selection.

So Zach Hyman

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin

My predictions because that’s what truly matters:

SJ - Celebrini
CHI - Demidov
ANA - Levshunov
CBJ - Lindstrom
MTL - Dickinson
SLC - Parekh
OTT - Catton
SEA - Buium
CGY - Iginla

I'll take it!

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin

My predictions because that’s what truly matters:

SJ - Celebrini
CHI - Demidov
ANA - Levshunov
CBJ - Lindstrom
MTL - Dickinson
SLC - Parekh
OTT - Catton
SEA - Buium
CGY - Iginla

Would take yakemchuk over iggy jr ten out if ten times. Sylaev would be a coin toss as well as helenius.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Would take yakemchuk over iggy jr ten out if ten times. Sylaev would be a coin toss as well as helenius.

I wouldn't take Sylaev or Helenius at all. Actually I would if the impossible happened and they slid to the Canucks pick but in the top 10, no thanks. I actually think someone will take the big D man in the top 8 which is great for us if we stay at 9. I am not sure about who I would take between Yak and Iggy Jr. Yak fills a bigger need, Iginla will fill the new arena.

[Royle9]

Yak over Iggy JR? You're absolutely crazy.

[1qqaaz]

I think Yakemchuk is the safer pick, but Iginla has much higher upside.

Yakemchuk is good all-around, but his skill/IQ just isn't as strong as some of the other comparable defensemen. There's a reason a guy like Buium gets much better individual and team-based results.

As for Iginla, I do think the elite IQ could be there. And a lot of his traits seems like they would translate well into the NHL.

[topfiverecords]

Sylaev won't be drafted.

[Bingo]

Updated to add our very own Sandman to the rankings

Up to 13 rankings now
Flames moved to 9th overall


Flames Pick

Flames	7	C. Lindstrom	C	7.15
Flames	8	Zayne Parekh	D	8.62
Flames	9	Zeev Buium	D	9.15
Flames	10	Cole Eiserman	LW	9.46
Flames	11	Konsta Helenius	C	11.00

Vancouver Pick

Flames	26	Terik Parascak	RW	27.82
Flames	27	N. Artamonov	LW	29.50
Flames	28	Jett Luchanko	C	31.20
Flames	29	Henry Mews	D	31.50
Flames	30	Maxim Masse	F	31.50

Updated top 15

1	M. Celebrini	C	1.00
2	Ivan Demidov	RW	3.15
3	A. Levshunov	D	3.85
4	Sam Dickinson	D	5.38
5	Anton Silayev	D	6.54
6	Berkly Catton	C	6.92
7	C. Lindstrom	C	7.15
8	Zayne Parekh	D	8.62
9	Zeev Buium	D	9.15
10	Cole Eiserman	LW	9.46
11	Konsta Helenius	C	11.00
12	C. Yakemchuk	D	11.15
13	Tij Iginla	C	12.69
14	Liam Greentree	RW	13.54
15	Brandsegg-Nygard	RW	17.00

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

I think Yakemchuk is the safer pick, but Iginla has much higher upside.

Yakemchuk is good all-around, but his skill/IQ just isn't as strong as some of the other comparable defensemen. There's a reason a guy like Buium gets much better individual and team-based results.

As for Iginla, I do think the elite IQ could be there. And a lot of his traits seems like they would translate well into the NHL.

Yak plays on a crap team and has fourty plus assists. He has all the tools to be a number one. Buium might have a better hockey iq but yak has better physical tools and his straight line speed is probably better. Respectfully disagree. I have the two as comparables. With Parehk a small step below. All of them ahead of iginla.

[konradical]

Just stay away from Eiserman. Anyone else in the top 12 im down to pick

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by konradical

Just stay away from Eiserman. Anyone else in the top 12 im down to pick

I don't necessarily disagree but would be curious to hear way stay away from Eiserman.
Around the #10 slot I start to think hard about taking him.

[NewFan]

I hope our scouting looking for a player who makes his line mates better players.
If we get potential first Centre who makes his winger better player, Coronato or Honzek or Suniev become 1st line winger all of a sudden.

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Sandman's Pre-U18 Draft List:

1. C Mack Celebrini
2. RW Ivan Demidov
3. D Artyom Levshunov
4. D Sam Dickinson
5. C Berkly Catton
6. D Zeev Buium
7. C Cayden Lindstrom
8. D Zayne Parekh
9. C Konsta Helenius
10. LW Tij Iginla
11. D Carter Yakemchuk
12. C Cole Eiserman
13. C Michael Hage
14. D Anton Silayev
15. RW Liam Greentree
16. LW Trevor Connelly
17. LW Igor Chernyshov
18. RW Michael Brandsegg-Nygard
19. RW Yegor Surin
20. D Adam Jiricek
21. RW Matvei Gridin
22. C Sacha Boisvert
23. RW Emil Hemming
24. RW Terik Parascak
25. RW Maxim Masse'
26. RW Ryder Ritchie
27. D Aron Kiviharju
28. LW Andrew Basha
29. RW Beckett Sennecke
30. D Henry Mews
31. LW Tanner Howe
32. D Leo Sahlin Wellenius

33. LW Nikita Artamonov
34. D Jesse Pulkkinen
35. C Linus Eriksson
36. C Cole Beaudoin
37. D Lukas Fischer
38. LW Marek Vanacker
39. C Dean Letourneau
40. D Charlie Elick
41. RW Melvin Fernstrom
42. C Simon Zether
43. D Cole Hutson
44. C Julius Miettinen
45. D Spencer Gill
46. D Dominik Badinka
47. C Raoul Boilard
48. D Luca Marrelli
49. D Colton Roberts
50. C Luke Misa
51. D Alfons Freij
52. C Lucas Pettersson
53. D Daniil Ustinkov
54. D Veeti Vaisanen
55. D Stian Solberg
56. D EJ Emery
57. D Tarin Smith
58. RW Jacob Battaglia
59. D Harrison Brunicke
60. LW John Mustard
61. C Kamil Bednarik
62. D Will Skahan
63. C Sam O'Reilly
64. LW Will Zellers

Can this get stickied somewhere on the first post? Would be great to reference this?

[Jiri Hrdina]

New mock:
http://www.mynhldraft.com/NHL-Mock-Draft/

Flames take Zayne Parekh #9 and Dean Letourneau at #29.

Iginla goes 13 to Philly

[GioforPM]

Tij is no longer a climber it seems.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

New mock:
http://www.mynhldraft.com/NHL-Mock-Draft/

Flames take Zayne Parekh #9 and Dean Letourneau at #29.

Iginla goes 13 to Philly

Tankathon updated there ranking and Tij moved up from 12th to 11th. I have no idea whose ranking list that they used however. I can't find the specifics on their website of how they determine their order, other than various rankings.

https://www.tankathon.com/nhl/mock_draft

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

New mock:
http://www.mynhldraft.com/NHL-Mock-Draft/

Flames take Zayne Parekh #9 and Dean Letourneau at #29.

Iginla goes 13 to Philly

I would be overjoyed with that. I personally have Zayne #1 on my D man wish list. Other D men might have the better all around game but if you can land a franchise offensive D man you jump on it.