2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Speedy Creek Edition):

Swift Current Broncos RW Luke Mistelbacher has an interesting profile, and looks to be difficult to project for a number of reasons. He's older, with a Nov.2nd, 2005 birthday, and was never drafted into the WHL, making the team out of training camp as a try-out and signing with the Broncos in 2021. This season, he started off slowly with 15 points in his first 33 games, but took off offensively in the New Year with the arrival of Connor Geekie to the team via trade, which isn't coincidental. Mistelbacher really caught fire in mid-February when he was put on a line full-time with Geekie, and another quality draft-eligible in Clarke Caswell, blazing his way into the playoffs with 24 points in his last 15 games, to finish the season with 20 goals and 53 points in 64 games. Swift Current lost in the second round of the post-season in 5 games to the eventual WHL-Champions, the Moose Jaw Warriors, with Mistelbacher racking up 9 points in 9 games- tying Geekie and Caswell for 2nd in team scoring. Mistelbacher is a complimentary winger, and while his production was largely due to playing with top-shelf offensive linemates, it takes a skilled player to keep up with those types. He doesn't drive play though, and he's not very dynamic in any way.

Mistelbacher's best asset is his top-tier shooting and finishing skills, with the ability to pick corners from distance, or beat goalies in-close. He's active around the net to make goalies move in order to open holes through them, and can shoot through the legs of opposing defensemen with very little room to unleash, using them as screens. To fool goalies, he will change the angle of his blade, or change the point of release, and his curl-and-drag wrister has been called one of the best in the draft. To faciltate his scoring abilities, he attacks the middle, sneaks into high-danger at just the right time, and will go to the front of the net to bat in second-chance opportunities- all with impeccable timing. He has some smarts and skill when it comes to playmaking as well, using deception to manipulate opponents into giving up space with look-offs, stutter-steps, and dekes. Most of his creativity comes off the rush, as he seems to struggle making plays in-zone when his team is already installed. He can dish in flight, and makes cross-ice passes through traffic to teammates on the weak side. Mistelbacher plays a physical game, and forechecks hard to disrupt plays and cause havok, but manages to stay out of the box, with only 8 PIM over the course of the regular-season. He fights hard along the boards to win pucks and establishes body position.

Mistelbacher will need plenty of time with a skating coach to improve his mobility in all areas- his speed is average at best, but his acceleration is deficient, and he can't adequately separate from attackers. His stride is unrefined, his mechanics look wonky, and he doesn't get enough power out of his stride. Some of this will fix itself as he gets stronger, but right now, his feet can't keep up with his brain. His hands have trouble keeping up as well, as his puck-skills are in need of a tune-up, with average stickhandling and deficient puck-protection. Off the puck, he skates smart routes and finds space to be playable, relocating well for a return-pass after dishing off. His metrics in regards to transition are excellent- he works give-and goes for clean entries, and uses delays to always see the best option, but he mostly defers to teammates to carry. He uses the middle well through the neutral zone, as he does on the forecheck, and can make some cross-ice passes at a longer range through traffic from time-to-time. His metrics are good when it come to defense as well, as he's hard-working on the backcheck with good awareness, and can disrupt the rush in the neutral zone before it even gets to the blueline. Many believe that he'll be a top WHL player as early as next season, with his hot-streak at the end of the regular-season following him into 2024-25. It's a possibility that Mistelbacher won't be drafted this year, but if he is- look for him in later rounds.

[cral12]

Originally Posted by cral12

Finally getting an update done at Upside Hockey (after being off for a week and mountain biking my a$$ off lol):

Because he never seems to sleep, 14 more Sandman profiles added.

Oh also added Sandman's Tiers at the top.

From Artamonov to Zetterberg...
Upside Hockey up to 220 profiles total! Unreal!
(I just gotta add their respective link to the rankings spreadsheet shortly as applicable)

Quick link reminders:
Rankings Mega Spreadsheet page:
https://bit.ly/upside2024nhldraft
(The column with "UH" is linked to all the Sandman profiles of respective profile)

Prospect profiles specific page - alphabetical TOC on the top:
All of Sandman profiles featured here!
https://bit.ly/2024nhldraftprofiles

[With our rankings standing the test in time according to this recent thread Evaluating Past Draft Rankings and Sandman's bang on profiles, we're waiting by our phones for a buyout like CapFriendly (we kid)...]
https://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=196163

2 more profiles added - we may have more profiles than NHL teams have completed LOL - up to 228

https://bit.ly/upsidehockey

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Draft Thoughts (Speedy Creek Edition):

Swift Current Broncos RW Luke Mistelbacher has an interesting profile, and looks to be difficult to project for a number of reasons. He's older, with a Nov.2nd, 2005 birthday, and was never drafted into the WHL, making the team out of training camp as a try-out and signing with the Broncos in 2021. This season, he started off slowly with 15 points in his first 33 games, but took off offensively in the New Year with the arrival of Connor Geekie to the team via trade, which isn't coincidental. Mistelbacher really caught fire in mid-February when he was put on a line full-time with Geekie, and another quality draft-eligible in Clarke Caswell, blazing his way into the playoffs with 24 points in his last 15 games, to finish the season with 20 goals and 53 points in 64 games. Swift Current lost in the second round of the post-season in 5 games to the eventual WHL-Champions, the Moose Jaw Warriors, with Mistelbacher racking up 9 points in 9 games- tying Geekie and Caswell for 2nd in team scoring. Mistelbacher is a complimentary winger, and while his production was largely due to playing with top-shelf offensive linemates, it takes a skilled player to keep up with those types. He doesn't drive play though, and he's not very dynamic in any way.

Mistelbacher's best asset is his top-tier shooting and finishing skills, with the ability to pick corners from distance, or beat goalies in-close. He's active around the net to make goalies move in order to open holes through them, and can shoot through the legs of opposing defensemen with very little room to unleash, using them as screens. To fool goalies, he will change the angle of his blade, or change the point of release, and his curl-and-drag wrister has been called one of the best in the draft. To faciltate his scoring abilities, he attacks the middle, sneaks into high-danger at just the right time, and will go to the front of the net to bat in second-chance opportunities- all with impeccable timing. He has some smarts and skill when it comes to playmaking as well, using deception to manipulate opponents into giving up space with look-offs, stutter-steps, and dekes. Most of his creativity comes off the rush, as he seems to struggle making plays in-zone when his team is already installed. He can dish in flight, and makes cross-ice passes through traffic to teammates on the weak side. Mistelbacher plays a physical game, and forechecks hard to disrupt plays and cause havok, but manages to stay out of the box, with only 8 PIM over the course of the regular-season. He fights hard along the boards to win pucks and establishes body position.

Mistelbacher will need plenty of time with a skating coach to improve his mobility in all areas- his speed is average at best, but his acceleration is deficient, and he can't adequately separate from attackers. His stride is unrefined, his mechanics look wonky, and he doesn't get enough power out of his stride. Some of this will fix itself as he gets stronger, but right now, his feet can't keep up with his brain. His hands have trouble keeping up as well, as his puck-skills are in need of a tune-up, with average stickhandling and deficient puck-protection. Off the puck, he skates smart routes and finds space to be playable, relocating well for a return-pass after dishing off. His metrics in regards to transition are excellent- he works give-and goes for clean entries, and uses delays to always see the best option, but he mostly defers to teammates to carry. He uses the middle well through the neutral zone, as he does on the forecheck, and can make some cross-ice passes at a longer range through traffic from time-to-time. His metrics are good when it come to defense as well, as he's hard-working on the backcheck with good awareness, and can disrupt the rush in the neutral zone before it even gets to the blueline. Many believe that he'll be a top WHL player as early as next season, with his hot-streak at the end of the regular-season following him into 2024-25. It's a possibility that Mistelbacher won't be drafted this year, but if he is- look for him in later rounds.

Just based on his decent size/weight, defensive acumen, and point totals, you'd think he'd at least get draft in the later rounds.

His team had quite a bit of offensive depth. I wonder what his points /60 minutes would be. And I wonder how much of a play driver he is compared to guys like Clarke Caswell and Geekie.

[Tibnadian_tpd]

Originally Posted by Icon

Feels like a wild draft, I think there's scenarios when any combination of these guys are available at 9.

Really hoping we acquire another top 15. Not so much because I think we need to accelerate the retool/rebuild, but just for the fun of getting 2 of the guys we've all been discussing so far to see how it all pans out.

Bring on the draft!

Yes, me too. Would love to come out of the draft with two of Catton, Parekh and Iginla. What a dream scenario. Please Conroy! Catton and Parekh are high IQ play drivers/creators with immense offensive potential, and Iginla has all the intagibles with a little bit of everything.

[simmer2]

Some different takes in this draft list.

https://thehockeynews.com/news/ferra...-the-final-cut

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by simmer2

Some different takes in this draft list.

https://thehockeynews.com/news/ferra...-the-final-cut

Yikes, he certainly explains his thought process but it’s a bit too out of touch imo.

[8sPOT]

With all these draft rankings being all over the place, I fully expect an Alfons Frej or Beckett Sennecke to jump into the top 10, maybe even top 5. It's the least consensus type draft I have seen in a long time.

Someone we think that should be top 10 wont be, and someone we don't expect to be top 10 will be. It just seems inevitable with all these lists out there.

[Bingo Jr.]

Pronman said that Lindstrom's back injury has been revealed to be a herniated disk...

He may slide hard

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Bingo Jr.

Pronman said that Lindstrom's back injury has been revealed to be a herniated disk...

He may slide hard

Fits in line with what I said prior to the combine.
My source told me that the injury issue wasn't being reported very strongly and that many teams had significant concern.

His back is not in good shape, disc related could be very bad long term/career wise. It's really too bad.

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by Bingo Jr.

Pronman said that Lindstrom's back injury has been revealed to be a herniated disk...

He may slide hard

See what you did there...

Honestly, I take a flyer on him at 28 if that's the case... No chance he's still there, but there's just too many question marks with that kind of injury.

[dammage79]

Lindstroms worth the risk at 9. It's not a career ending injury. If Eichel can come back from neck surgery, so can Lindstrom.

[Bingo Jr.]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Lindstroms worth the risk at 9. It's not a career ending injury. If Eichel can come back from neck surgery, so can Lindstrom.

For sure, however a herniated disk is much different than muscle issues. I'd be fine with him at 9 but I'm a bit tense about it.

[Toonage]

Am I out to lunch? Herniated disk is nothing. Maybe surgery. What am I missing? He isn't wheelchair bound lol

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Bingo Jr.

For sure, however a herniated disk is much different than muscle issues. I'd be fine with him at 9 but I'm a bit tense about it.

Eichels was a herniated disc as well. Only difference between the two is location? Eichel has to get that experimental fusion surgery or the experimental surgery that didn't require fusion. Seems to have worked well.

[Toonage]

Yeah I'd consider Eichel's worse as he had the issue with his neck. Had the plastic disk inserted, opted against fusion. He's been fine.

Herniated disk in your back? Common.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Lindstroms worth the risk at 9. It's not a career ending injury. If Eichel can come back from neck surgery, so can Lindstrom.

Not with a herniated disc.

Hopefully we stay far away from him and the Russian.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Not with a herniated disc.

Hopefully we stay far away from him and the Russian.

Who? Demidov? You're crazy.

You must mean Silayev.

[Bingo Jr.]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Yeah I'd consider Eichel's worse as he had the issue with his neck. Had the plastic disk inserted, opted against fusion. He's been fine.

Herniated disk in your back? Common.

I'm no medical professional, just saying it's worse than originally reported.

That's it, that's all.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Bingo Jr.

I'm no medical professional, just saying it's worse than originally reported.

That's it, that's all.

I hear you. I'm very curious to find out specifically what it is.

[Tbull8]

I wonder with this news if Chicago considers moving down to Montreals pick. Montreal media seems to be pushing extremely hard for Demidov or Lindstrom. If Chicago is set on taking a dman, they might be able to snag another late first/early second and take whoever of silayev levshunov Dickinson is left at 5