2024 NHL Draft Thread

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Yeah Eiserman is the ultimate boom/bust pick in the draft this year.

Undeniable scoring talent. But he needs a feeder to feed him pucks.

There's too many other options to risk 9th OA on Eiserman.

Watch, I say this now and guess who's name Conny calls draft day?

I don't see it. I don't think you need to worry about that.

[flylock shox]

I don't know Eiserman from Adam, but if those are the only knocks on him - needs a setup man, too selfish - then I wouldn't be too worried about how he'll adapt to the NHL. Plenty of setup men there, and much harder to be selfish when you're on a team with guys 10 years older than you who are established NHL vets - something that's much easier to do when you're playing just against a bunch of fellow kids you've always been better than.



Those are just the kind of rough spots I would expect a team could polish smooth without much trouble.

[Tibnadian_tpd]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

I like him but not at 9. If we get another in the top 15 I’d love to grab him too, but imo their are 10-12 guys ahead of him

Yea agreed Michael Brandsegg-Nygard is decent, but shouldn’t be taken at 9. He seems NHL ready in terms of his two way playing style, size, speed and shot, but his ceiling isn’t all that high offensively. He shows great tenacity, puck pursuit, jam and defensive effort, but little to no flash, and limited in terms of playmaking. He’s always in a fast paced panic mode in the offensive zone, similar to a taller version of Viktor Arvidsson. Even when he scores it seems as though it’s due to the strength of his heavy shot rather than the accuracy. His shot kinda goes top corner-ish, but it’s not those bar down tight on the post shots. Anyways, just think he’s got a great motor and two way play, but I think it amounts to a 20-25 goal and 20 assist player with jam, speed and size. I mean that’s a decent player, but maybe for a little later in the draft.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (U-18 Edition, Vol.4):

LHD Niklas Nykyri (pronounced NEW-kih-ree, apparently?) won the lottery when he was picked to ride shotgun in the U-18's alongside partner Mitja Jokinen for Team Finland. The 6'2",190lb rearguard looked good in both ends of the rink, and the duo performed admirably together, with Nykyri tying potential future-star Aron Kiviharju for 2nd in points by D for the Finns, with 3 in 5 games, and finished first on the team with a plus-6. It didn't come completely out of left field for Nykyri, who was the top-scoring blueliner for HIFK U20 (one of the worst, and lowest scoring teams in the league) with 19 points in 43 games, which was 29th in the league for defensemen, and 4th for U-18 D. At the 5 Nations, he was tied for 4th overall in scoring by D, with 2 points in 4 games.

Nykyri is an offensively inclined puck-rusher trapped in a meat-and-potatoes shutdown defender's body. At this stage of his young career, he's performing as a defensive defenseman who contributes in all areas, but flashes the potential for much more. One thing that holds him back at this stage is his largely average skating- he has a rather poor start-up with sluggish acceleration, but moves fairly well when he gets to top speed. He mostly keeps things simple, and moves the puck effectively with safe, risk-free passes, but is heavy in offensive inclination when his team gets a foothold in the zone. Once installed, he can quarterback the play from the point, walk the line with purpose, and distribute to teammates in dangerous positions. He will pinch into the play fairly often, but stays mindful of his defensive duties, and will join the rush to attack the net like an extra forward. Nykyri displays strong puck-skills, and loves to have the biscuit on his blade with his ability to stickhandle through defenders, and protect the puck with his body and reach. His point shot doesn't seem to be a huge threat, but he seems to be able to score when pinching to the low slot to use his wicked wrister and deceptive release. When he shoots from distance, it's mostly to cause chaos in front of the net, and create opportunities for teammates. His goal in the U-18's was a pass interception in the neutral zone near the opposition's blueline that he skated up the middle through traffic to wrist it top corner from between the circles.

Nykyri plays a physical brand of hockey with a good compete level, winning battles in the greasy areas, and finishing his checks- though I think he could benefit from more intensity. When the play leaves the offensive zone, he always seems to be on the right side of the puck, with the play in front of him, and puts in a good effort in the defensive end of the rink. His transitions are quick, and he is balanced in his backwards crossovers with an active stick to disrupt plays, and tight gap control to stop rushes before they ever reach his zone. Nykyri has the IQ and awareness to intercept passes, and the guts to block shots while using his size, reach, and physicality to snuff plays and rob his enemies of possession. He makes the first-pass look relatively easy, and despite his speed deficiencies, he can skate it out on his own. I like this kid, but he needs plenty of work, particularly on his shot, speed, and strength. I believe he has potential on the offensive side of the puck, with the floor of a bottom-6 puck-mover with PK duty, but could move up to the second-pair with some work. I'm thinking round 5 or 6.

[Sandman]

Just a little update from the U-18 tournament (these don't all affect the 2024 Draft):

C James Hagens (USA) set a single-tournament record on Saturday, with 22 points in just six games, and the final hasn't been played yet. He beats out Nikita Kucherov for the honor. He's draft-eligible in 2025.

LW Gavin McKenna and RW Porter Martone both set a record for points in a single tournament for a Canadian player, with 16 points in 6 games, with one more game to be played. Martone is available in 2025, and McKenna is still 16- he'll be available in 2026. McKenna is tied for 3rd all-time in points by a U-17 player in a single tournament as well.

Martone is the new leader in all-time points by a Canadian at the U-18's, with 22- he had 6 in 2023, and 16 this year. He beats out Bedard for that record, although Bedard still has a better ppg.

LW Cole Eiserman has moved into the second spot, usurping Will Smith, in all-time NTDP scoring with 192 points, and is now tied with Cole Caufield for most goals all time, with 126.

Canada and USA will play for Gold on Sunday, while Sweden and Slovakia play for bronze.

[ComixZone]

Two days away from the Lottery.

Little bit of good luck would go a long, long way.

[Savvy27]

Oh man. I wonder what taking that idiotic penalty will do to Connelly's draft stock? Already surrounded by character questions and he goes and absolutely blows the game for the USA with 11 minutes left in the gold medal game.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Savvy27

Oh man. I wonder what taking that idiotic penalty will do to Connelly's draft stock? Already surrounded by character questions and he goes and absolutely blows the game for the USA with 11 minutes left in the gold medal game.

Yeah, it cost them the game, and it was a really dumb penalty to take. Just a senseless play.

[Roof-Daddy]

Oh man I forgot that Connelly was the kid with questions on his character.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Savvy27

Oh man. I wonder what taking that idiotic penalty will do to Connelly's draft stock? Already surrounded by character questions and he goes and absolutely blows the game for the USA with 11 minutes left in the gold medal game.

Hopefully to the Vancouver pick lol

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Hopefully to the Vancouver pick lol

I don't want him. Not even at the Vancouver pick.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I don't want him. Not even at the Vancouver pick.

Why is that? He’d be an absolute steal that late in the 1st.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Why is that? He’d be an absolute steal that late in the 1st.

The character concerns.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by dammage79

The character concerns.

This. Not worth it.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by dammage79

The character concerns.

Is the swastika picture the knock on Connelly?

I couldn’t give less of a shyt that a 14yo kid put a picture of someone else posing with a Lego swastika on Snapchat.

It was stupid, but nobody was hurt. It was just stupid, and kids are stupid.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Is the swastika picture the knock on Connelly?

I couldn’t give less of a shyt that a 14yo kid put a picture of someone else posing with a Lego swastika on Snapchat.

It was stupid, but nobody was hurt. It was just stupid, and kids are stupid.

That's like the last chapter in his concerns books. There's been others as well that have been documented.

Don't get me wrong, if those concerns are alleviated and the Flames feel comfortable taking him, I'm all for it.

But there are many who wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Is the swastika picture the knock on Connelly?

I couldn’t give less of a shyt that a 14yo kid put a picture of someone else posing with a Lego swastika on Snapchat.

It was stupid, but nobody was hurt. It was just stupid, and kids are stupid.

There have been other rumblings he isn't the best team guy. He also took a really stupid penalty in a Gold medal game that probably cost his teammates the championship. I don't think he will be there anyhow when we pick despite all that. If I saw correctly at the end of the game today he couldn't even be bothered to come out after the match to get his Silver medal.

[GreenLantern2814]

Iginla showed today exactly why you take him over Eiserman.

One guy sits in the circle waiting to fire bombs, and the other created three goals today by physical play, tenacity, and elite shoot/hands/IQ.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

There have been other rumblings he isn't the best team guy. He also took a really stupid penalty in a Gold medal game that probably cost his teammates the championship. I don't think he will be there anyhow when we pick despite all that. If I saw correctly at the end of the game today he couldn't even be bothered to come out after the match to get his Silver medal.

I bet he was too ashamed to show his face after he knew he cost his team the gold medal.

It will be interested how his US teammates respond to this. It’s not like they have been teammates for years.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by dammage79

The character concerns.

Even without those issues I hope the flames stay far away from American players going the NCAA route