2024 NHL Draft Thread

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Icon

Oh agreed, was just saying there's potential USNDP picks still after our first pick.

If there's an Adam fox type once again in the 2nd-4th rounds absolutely pull the trigger no questions asked. 9th and 29-31? Gotta think long and hard about it.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Just one problem he isnt? He is a winger ? Kucherov? More like marner to me? A guy you add when all the other pieces are in place. Same as eiserman.

Personally, I don't think there is an order you need to follow to build a good team. Of course, everyone wants the elusive #1 center, but you are not going to find that in every draft, especially with the 9th OA pick. Most elite #1 centers go in the top 5 or top 3.

The next draft is supposed to be deeper with centers. Some are saying the same with 2026, but it is difficult to project that far out.

[dammage79]

Dickinson is that type of player that doesn't slap you in the face during the game with his play. He's that invisible stalwart type. Workhorse with flawless poise. IMO, he's that Noah Hanifin type. You don't notice he's logging 24 a night and a neutral or positive contributor more often than not.

You want flash? You go with the Buiums and Parekhs. You want that Stable all around stuff, you go Levshunov and Dickinson. I'm Still undecided what Silayev is, other than a mutant.

I'm not against taking any of the D men. I just see a bigger weakness in the organization at center and hope they take a center.

[Icon]

Dickinson seems like a safe but maybe boring pick (not that that's necessarily bad).

Just for ceiling level I'd rather some of the other options, but he's not on the list of "WTF why this guy?"


There isn't really a scenario other than trying to be smartest in the room and going way off the board that we end up with a bad option at 9. I think since there seems to be a consensus that there isn't a consensus BPA order from #3 onwards could mean anyone (other than Celebrini, Demidov & Levshunov) could be available for us. Sounds fun!

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Dickinson is that type of player that doesn't slap you in the face during the game with his play. He's that invisible stalwart type. Workhorse with flawless poise. IMO, he's that Noah Hanifin type. You don't notice he's logging 24 a night and a neutral or positive contributor more often than not.

You want flash? You go with the Buiums and Parekhs. You want that Stable all around stuff, you go Levshunov and Dickinson. I'm Still undecided what Silayev is, other than a mutant.

I'm not against taking any of the D men. I just see a bigger weakness in the organization at center and hope they take a center.

Their biggest organizational weakness IMO is skill.

The ceiling of too many of the players on our roster is too low.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Top pairing and number one defencemen always trump wingers. especially when we dont have defenders and centers. Demidov is a talented but ill take the number one defencemen over a winger 10 times out if seven.

Demidov is four in my list

Every top end player is important to success no matter what the position.

The last 10 Conn Smythe winners.

2 goalies
2 centers
3 defenseman
5 wingers

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (U-18 Edition, Vol.9):

It would be easier to gauge the potential of LW Robin Nico Antenen if he was already playing his hockey in North America, but as it stands, he's plying his trade right now in his native Switzerland, mostly with Zug U20, where leads his team by 11 points with 20 goals and 40 points in 44 games. Those totals put him 13th overall in league scoring, tied for 8th in goals, and 2nd overall for U-18 players. In the playoffs, RNA was third in scoring for Zug, behind a couple of National League players (The Swiss Men's Top-Tier League) who were returned to junior in 20 year-old Tim Muggli, and 21 year-old Louis Robin. Antenen himself took a spin in the NL this season, getting six games under his belt, but unfortunately no points. At the European 5 Nations tournament in December, he was named Captain of Switzerland, and he performed well with 3 goals and 4 points, and put up 2 points in 4 games in last summer's Hlinka Gretzky Cup. The most recent U-18 tournament was a bit of a disaster for him though, as the Swiss were only able to score 8 goals in 5 games, and he unfortunately went without a point. The 6'2",187lb winger was given a "C" rating by Central Scouting at the beginning of the season, casting him as a potential 4th, or 5th-round pick.

RNA plays a dependable game in all 3 zones, and is an all-situations player in Switzerland. Though he's often counted on to be a top offensive player for the Swiss, he doesn't possess any elite skills, and he's not really dynamic, or a play-driver- he's more of a straight-line winger. He already has a pro frame, and he's an above-average skater with a quick short-burst, who can fly at top speed. He's disruptive on the forecheck, and very effective around the net and down low, with no fear of cutting to the middle, attacking the crease, or operating in the slot. His numbers make him look like a dual-threat, but he leans far into being a goal-scorer, and can sniff out open space in high-danger. He can beat goalies in a number of ways, and he has a rocket of a wrister, but he could use a little work on his release as it's a little slow and not really deceptive. To get around in traffic, RNA has some nifty inside-outside moves to beat defenders, but his stickhandling could use a slight tweak as he can sometimes overhandle in flight- as he did against team USA in the U-18's, just outside of his zone resulting in a goal against. Though he has the ideal size to play a power game, he doesn't use his body nearly enough, but will lean into opponents to make room for himself, or power opponents off of the puck with his strength in 50/50 contests.

Antenen contributes to transition by pass or carry, and likes the give-and-go to pressure opponents. Off the puck, he sees the angles and stays playable, and gets to high-danger to await a pass from a teammate. He is a very responsible two-way player who can play against the opposing team's top players and shut them down. He displays acute awareness in his own zone, and is highly disruptive with an active stick and intelligent positioning, utilizing stick-lifts and a few slashes to his opponents twigs. He covers his net well, switching off with his D when they have to leave their post, and competes hard behind the net and in the corners. RNA is a hard-worker with a decent motor, but sometimes his pace is a problem as he can stop moving his feet with, or without the puck while waiting for the play to develop, instead of challenging defenders. When he turns on the switch, he can beat opponents wide, and force defensemen back. There are many times when watching him where you wish he would play with more intensity, even without playing a very physical game. At the NHL level, his offense might not translate, but I could easily see him making it as a bottom-6 two-way player, and there's nothing wrong with that. I think he'll be picked in the later rounds, anywhere from the 5th, to the 7th round.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Top pairing and number one defencemen always trump wingers. especially when we dont have defenders and centers. Demidov is a talented but ill take the number one defencemen over a winger 10 times out if seven.

Demidov is four in my list

Demidov is exceptionally talented. Many experts prefer him over Michkov.

Most expects have him a tier above the next grouping of players.

Let's see how he rides with Bedard in the future.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Honzek is getting way too much flack. I am not really worried about his injuries so far, as they are unrelated (AFAIK). Different injuries. Seems to be bad luck. I still love the pick. Why?
Fast, skilled, big and non-stop motor. Fantastic shot too.



If you watched him play in his draft year, he generated quite a bit of offence on his own. He is an absolute force on the forecheck. He didn't do this with his size, as he was still quite thin, so as he bulks up and learns how to use his size more, he can add strength to his repertoire. His PPG was fantastic and ELITE, and it was more than just a handful of games. Did he have a disappointing season? Absolutely he did. However, I am not ready to throw-in the towel yet. I think he is going to be an important piece for the Flames.


Silayev
I was reading the post that Dissentowner had about the mock draft done by NHL.com. Interesting little write-up about him:
https://www.nhl.com/news/mock-2024-n...shunov-silayev

Morreale -- Anton Silayev: He had 11 points (three goals, eight assists), 74 blocked shots and 98 hits in 63 regular-season games in the KHL. Silayev, who played this season as a 17-year-old (he turned 18 on April 11), had the most points by an under-18 player in KHL history; Florida Panthers forward Vladimir Tarasenko is second (10 points for Novosibirsk in 2008-09).

If true, that certainly changes my perception about him completely. From a defensive defencemen to a more complete defencemen. He was very good as a 17 year old in the KHL as a defencemen, which should make him one of this year's best defencemen available in the draft. If he really does have that offensive component to his other tools (like size, skating, IQ, puck-moving) then he gets my vote as a top 2-3 defencemen. If his offence remains questionable, then probably 5-6th best defencemen at most. If he doesn't have any offensive upside to his game at all, then he drops to somewhere in the middle of the first for me. To have out-produced every other 17 year old kid in the KHL - irrespective of position - seems crazy to me.



FWIW, before the KHL, there was the Russian Superleague. KHL was formed in 2008, so it isn't like Silayev broke a 100 year old record or something (though I also don't want to take anything away from the kid). To put things into perspective, a quick look at Ovechkin does show you how much less offence these kids are putting up.


Ovechkin was drafted at the '04 draft. He put up 23 points in 53 games. However, he is a September birthday, and Silayev is an April birthday. Silayev played his entire season as a 17 year old. Doing the same for Ovechkin puts him at 15 points in 40 games. Either way, Ovechkin scored 23 points in his draft year, then in his draft+1 year, put up 27 points, and in his rookie season in the NHL he put up 106 points.


Let's look at Tarasenko's numbers - the previous record holder in the actual KHL (again, formed well after Ovechkin was already in the NHL, not to mention the former greats like Makarov and Bure). Tarasenko has a December birthday, so it isn't quite fair as it makes Silayev a bit older in their respective under 18 seasons. However, that's still a gifted offensive forward vs defencemen. Tarasenko put up 10 points in 38 games (15th in scoring on his team). Next season he put up 24 points in 42 games (4th in scoring).


11 points in 63 games seems paltry (18th on his team). However, let's contrast him to a fellow countrymen defencemen that got picked 6th overall last year - Simashev.


Simashev's stat-line wasn't bad - 29 games, 1 goal, 9 assists 10 points. However, that was in his time in the MHL. He did play in the KHL in his draft year - 18 games, 0 goals 0 assists 0 points. Last year was a higher-end draft too, and Simashev was the 2nd defencemen taken after Reinbacher. However, this is probably a better year for defencemen, and I am not sure Reinbacher or Simashev get picked ahead of some of the other names available this year.



My point is that I believe that SIlayev is getting overlooked somewhat because people think he is being rated too highly for his size, rather than his ability. However, at the same age, he SEEMS to be much further ahead of Simashev who was the 2nd defencemen taken in the draft, and who many feel is going to become a good #1 defencemen in the NHL. This season, Simashev played full-time in the KHL, and his stat line is 63 games played, 4 goals and 6 assists for 10 points. I would bet that if SIlayev was 5" shorter, then some posters would probably like this prospect more.



I don't know about anyone else, but the more I dig-into Silayev, the more impressed I get, and if some of the players that i prefer the Flames to draft at that slot (with Demidov if he falls, and Iginla both leading the way), then I would actually be quite happy for the Flames to draft him - I think. I have Silayev in my top 5 at times, and at other times, I have him well outside my top 10.

[Sandman]

Excellent post, Calgary4Life!

The only thing (and it may not be a big thing) is that 6 of his points came in his first 6 KHL games. That means he had 5 points in 57 games the rest of the way. Don't get me wrong, this stat-line is still good enough to garner him first-round status, and still impressive for a 17-year old....

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Honzek is getting way too much flack. I am not really worried about his injuries so far, as they are unrelated (AFAIK). Different injuries. Seems to be bad luck. I still love the pick. Why?
Fast, skilled, big and non-stop motor. Fantastic shot too.



If you watched him play in his draft year, he generated quite a bit of offence on his own. He is an absolute force on the forecheck. He didn't do this with his size, as he was still quite thin, so as he bulks up and learns how to use his size more, he can add strength to his repertoire. His PPG was fantastic and ELITE, and it was more than just a handful of games. Did he have a disappointing season? Absolutely he did. However, I am not ready to throw-in the towel yet. I think he is going to be an important piece for the Flames.


Silayev
I was reading the post that Dissentowner had about the mock draft done by NHL.com. Interesting little write-up about him:
https://www.nhl.com/news/mock-2024-n...shunov-silayev



If true, that certainly changes my perception about him completely. From a defensive defencemen to a more complete defencemen. He was very good as a 17 year old in the KHL as a defencemen, which should make him one of this year's best defencemen available in the draft. If he really does have that offensive component to his other tools (like size, skating, IQ, puck-moving) then he gets my vote as a top 2-3 defencemen. If his offence remains questionable, then probably 5-6th best defencemen at most. If he doesn't have any offensive upside to his game at all, then he drops to somewhere in the middle of the first for me. To have out-produced every other 17 year old kid in the KHL - irrespective of position - seems crazy to me.



FWIW, before the KHL, there was the Russian Superleague. KHL was formed in 2008, so it isn't like Silayev broke a 100 year old record or something (though I also don't want to take anything away from the kid). To put things into perspective, a quick look at Ovechkin does show you how much less offence these kids are putting up.


Ovechkin was drafted at the '04 draft. He put up 23 points in 53 games. However, he is a September birthday, and Silayev is an April birthday. Silayev played his entire season as a 17 year old. Doing the same for Ovechkin puts him at 15 points in 40 games. Either way, Ovechkin scored 23 points in his draft year, then in his draft+1 year, put up 27 points, and in his rookie season in the NHL he put up 106 points.


Let's look at Tarasenko's numbers - the previous record holder in the actual KHL (again, formed well after Ovechkin was already in the NHL, not to mention the former greats like Makarov and Bure). Tarasenko has a December birthday, so it isn't quite fair as it makes Silayev a bit older in their respective under 18 seasons. However, that's still a gifted offensive forward vs defencemen. Tarasenko put up 10 points in 38 games (15th in scoring on his team). Next season he put up 24 points in 42 games (4th in scoring).


11 points in 63 games seems paltry (18th on his team). However, let's contrast him to a fellow countrymen defencemen that got picked 6th overall last year - Simashev.


Simashev's stat-line wasn't bad - 29 games, 1 goal, 9 assists 10 points. However, that was in his time in the MHL. He did play in the KHL in his draft year - 18 games, 0 goals 0 assists 0 points. Last year was a higher-end draft too, and Simashev was the 2nd defencemen taken after Reinbacher. However, this is probably a better year for defencemen, and I am not sure Reinbacher or Simashev get picked ahead of some of the other names available this year.



My point is that I believe that SIlayev is getting overlooked somewhat because people think he is being rated too highly for his size, rather than his ability. However, at the same age, he SEEMS to be much further ahead of Simashev who was the 2nd defencemen taken in the draft, and who many feel is going to become a good #1 defencemen in the NHL. This season, Simashev played full-time in the KHL, and his stat line is 63 games played, 4 goals and 6 assists for 10 points. I would bet that if SIlayev was 5" shorter, then some posters would probably like this prospect more.



I don't know about anyone else, but the more I dig-into Silayev, the more impressed I get, and if some of the players that i prefer the Flames to draft at that slot (with Demidov if he falls, and Iginla both leading the way), then I would actually be quite happy for the Flames to draft him - I think. I have Silayev in my top 5 at times, and at other times, I have him well outside my top 10.

Really hard to figure him out. He could be everything from a steady bottom pair to the best defender in a class full of great defenders.



Maybe the most polarizing player in the draft.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Demidov is exceptionally talented. Many experts prefer him over Michkov.

Most expects have him a tier above the next grouping of players.

Let's see how he rides with Bedard in the future.

Heard the michkov comparison but michkov was playing against men. Talented player but it doesnt dismiss he has some competition on who should go second.

[dammage79]

Bedard/Demidov? A completely neutered Blackhawks team would be insane to pass up that kind of offensive creativity.

Even my most pragmatic objectivity cannot cross the line where the Hawks pass on Demidov at 2.

[Wastedyouth]

What's Demidovs contract status like. How long till he could come over?

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Honzek is getting way too much flack. I am not really worried about his injuries so far, as they are unrelated (AFAIK). Different injuries. Seems to be bad luck. I still love the pick. Why?
Fast, skilled, big and non-stop motor. Fantastic shot too.



If you watched him play in his draft year, he generated quite a bit of offence on his own. He is an absolute force on the forecheck. He didn't do this with his size, as he was still quite thin, so as he bulks up and learns how to use his size more, he can add strength to his repertoire. His PPG was fantastic and ELITE, and it was more than just a handful of games. Did he have a disappointing season? Absolutely he did. However, I am not ready to throw-in the towel yet. I think he is going to be an important piece for the Flames.


Silayev
I was reading the post that Dissentowner had about the mock draft done by NHL.com. Interesting little write-up about him:
https://www.nhl.com/news/mock-2024-n...shunov-silayev



If true, that certainly changes my perception about him completely. From a defensive defencemen to a more complete defencemen. He was very good as a 17 year old in the KHL as a defencemen, which should make him one of this year's best defencemen available in the draft. If he really does have that offensive component to his other tools (like size, skating, IQ, puck-moving) then he gets my vote as a top 2-3 defencemen. If his offence remains questionable, then probably 5-6th best defencemen at most. If he doesn't have any offensive upside to his game at all, then he drops to somewhere in the middle of the first for me. To have out-produced every other 17 year old kid in the KHL - irrespective of position - seems crazy to me.



FWIW, before the KHL, there was the Russian Superleague. KHL was formed in 2008, so it isn't like Silayev broke a 100 year old record or something (though I also don't want to take anything away from the kid). To put things into perspective, a quick look at Ovechkin does show you how much less offence these kids are putting up.


Ovechkin was drafted at the '04 draft. He put up 23 points in 53 games. However, he is a September birthday, and Silayev is an April birthday. Silayev played his entire season as a 17 year old. Doing the same for Ovechkin puts him at 15 points in 40 games. Either way, Ovechkin scored 23 points in his draft year, then in his draft+1 year, put up 27 points, and in his rookie season in the NHL he put up 106 points.


Let's look at Tarasenko's numbers - the previous record holder in the actual KHL (again, formed well after Ovechkin was already in the NHL, not to mention the former greats like Makarov and Bure). Tarasenko has a December birthday, so it isn't quite fair as it makes Silayev a bit older in their respective under 18 seasons. However, that's still a gifted offensive forward vs defencemen. Tarasenko put up 10 points in 38 games (15th in scoring on his team). Next season he put up 24 points in 42 games (4th in scoring).


11 points in 63 games seems paltry (18th on his team). However, let's contrast him to a fellow countrymen defencemen that got picked 6th overall last year - Simashev.


Simashev's stat-line wasn't bad - 29 games, 1 goal, 9 assists 10 points. However, that was in his time in the MHL. He did play in the KHL in his draft year - 18 games, 0 goals 0 assists 0 points. Last year was a higher-end draft too, and Simashev was the 2nd defencemen taken after Reinbacher. However, this is probably a better year for defencemen, and I am not sure Reinbacher or Simashev get picked ahead of some of the other names available this year.



My point is that I believe that SIlayev is getting overlooked somewhat because people think he is being rated too highly for his size, rather than his ability. However, at the same age, he SEEMS to be much further ahead of Simashev who was the 2nd defencemen taken in the draft, and who many feel is going to become a good #1 defencemen in the NHL. This season, Simashev played full-time in the KHL, and his stat line is 63 games played, 4 goals and 6 assists for 10 points. I would bet that if SIlayev was 5" shorter, then some posters would probably like this prospect more.



I don't know about anyone else, but the more I dig-into Silayev, the more impressed I get, and if some of the players that i prefer the Flames to draft at that slot (with Demidov if he falls, and Iginla both leading the way), then I would actually be quite happy for the Flames to draft him - I think. I have Silayev in my top 5 at times, and at other times, I have him well outside my top 10.

Yup. Silyaev being rated so high by scouts is no mistake!

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

What's Demidovs contract status like. How long till he could come over?

He's available apparently as early as next season. Or the year after. He's not signed a new KHL deal from what I've read.

[Mephisto]

Originally Posted by dammage79

He's available apparently as early as next season. Or the year after. He's not signed a new KHL deal from what I've read.

Do we have to worry about these guys ending up on the front lines in Ukraine? Just thinking if someone wants to leave Russia right away a mobilization notice may come unexpectedly.

For the record I think Silayev and Demodov are legit top 5 prospects.

[bucksmasher]

As much as I'd love to get Tij, it's not going to hurt the team to draft potential quality D in the "build from the goalie out" model. Obviously BPA.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Wat? Honzek was anything but a "safe" pick. He was player who missed a lot of his draft year because he was injured. They were betting that he had untapped potential and he was flying under the radar. That is not looking like a good gamble so far because he again missed significant time with injuries and likely wasn't 100% even when he was playing. I get not liking the pick for reasons that are fair, but calling it a safe pick at the time is wrong. It was not the safe pick to be making. If anything, the other guys people are lamenting over would have been safer picks.

Maybe Honzek isn't seen as a "safe" pick because of the number of games he played last year, but I think Bader is referring the his style as a player. He's big and well-rounded, but doesn't particularly excel at any one area of the game.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by dammage79

He's available apparently as early as next season. Or the year after. He's not signed a new KHL deal from what I've read.

Correct, but he’s indicated he’d like to come over sooner.