2024 NHL Draft Thread

[serratedmuffin]

With the playoffs he's having, I'd be willing to take Justin Poirier with the first second round pick.
Regular Season: GP68 G51 A31 P82
Playoffs: GP12 G16 A8 P24
Those are some pretty good numbers, even if he's a small winger. I am aware he is built like a fire hydrant. I should also mention he's a late birthday (Sept) so he's doing all of this while 17.

[serratedmuffin]

Sorry for the double post, U-18 update:

Helenius with 1A +0 in a 9-4 USA win over Finland with Hagens (probably 2025 1st overall with a 3-3 game)

Iginla with 1G and 9 SOG in an 11-3 win over Kazakhstan.

[TheIronMaiden]

Counting down the days until the 6th.

[dammage79]

There's a couple of one trick ponies in the top end of the draft this year. It'll be interesting which teams overlook the downsides and take them early.

Parekh and Eiserman.

Personally I see them going in the top 7. The draft isn't that dynamic to pass up on their offensive upside.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by serratedmuffin

Sorry for the double post, U-18 update:

Helenius with 1A +0 in a 9-4 USA win over Finland with Hagens (probably 2025 1st overall with a 3-3 game)

Iginla with 1G and 9 SOG in an 11-3 win over Kazakhstan.

I'm liking Helenius more and more the closer we get to the draft. He doesn't jump out at you but he's efficient as hell.

[sch19lks]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

As someone who watches a lot of OHL I don't see what you are saying at all.

Just what I’ve seen in my viewings. The talent is there for sure, I just question his GAF meter

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I'm liking Helenius more and more the closer we get to the draft. He doesn't jump out at you but he's efficient as hell.

Kids were going out and dont be surprised if we bring home a konsta.


My guess is for flames and the forwards
Celebrini
Demidov
Catton
Helenius

lindstrom the wild card with injury questions. Question is is where he ranks against the defencemen and which of those is left at nine.

Wouldn’t be surprised if he was our pick at all. Mentioned before a better backlund as i think helenius has far better hockey iq.

Unless Dickinson is there im good with him at nine. Premium position.

[dissentowner]

It would be so Flames to draft Helenius, lots of players with big upside and draft the guy who at best will be a #2 C but most likely a 3. I just don't see big upside there.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

It would be so Flames to draft Helenius, lots of players with big upside and draft the guy who at best will be a #2 C but most likely a 3. I just don't see big upside there.

Agreed. He could be a great fit for a team like Columbus that has their 1C in fantilli but need that 2 way guy to be their 2.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Agreed. He could be a great fit for a team like Columbus that has their 1C in fantilli but need that 2 way guy to be their 2.

He would be but they are drafting too high to take him.

[SuperMatt18]

I think you're downplaying his upside. He's not an elite number 1 center but he still has top line upside.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

It would be so Flames to draft Helenius, lots of players with big upside and draft the guy who at best will be a #2 C but most likely a 3. I just don't see big upside there.

I disagree with your opinion. His hockey IQ is IMO off the charts. The problem for a lot of people I think is he makes hard plays look super simple.

My one knock against Lindstrom is learning how to slow the game down to make plays.

Helenius doesn't need to learn that, in fact, he's so intuitive he knows how to position his opposition to make his plays.

It's the tiniest details in his game that make him IMO elite.

Like I said earlier, he doesn't jump out at you with his play, but his efficiency is crazy.

I recommend taking a deeper dive into the player, he's quite special.

[dammage79]

To me Helenius is a really smart tactician and strategist who just needs to sharpen his physical tools. Which for a 17 year old is all you want in a draftee.

His brain is so far ahead of the curve when his body catches up he'll be a solid player for a decade.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I disagree with your opinion. His hockey IQ is IMO off the charts. The problem for a lot of people I think is he makes hard plays look super simple.

My one knock against Lindstrom is learning how to slow the game down to make plays.

Helenius doesn't need to learn that, in fact, he's so intuitive he knows how to position his opposition to make his plays.

It's the tiniest details in his game that make him IMO elite.

Like I said earlier, he doesn't jump out at you with his play, but his efficiency is crazy.

I recommend taking a deeper dive into the player, he's quite special.

Yup. Its not always perfect but according to Byron Bader's model he has the 6th highest NHL star probability and the 3rd highest NHLer probability (99%) of players from this draft.

He's young for this draft so it do what he did against men when he was 17 for the entire season is impressive.

Celebrini
Demidov
Parekh
Buium
Levshunov
Helenius
Catton
Yakemchuk

That's how the Hockey Prospecting model has the star probability for the top 8.

Backlund hadn't shown anywhere close to the offensive potential of Helenius at the same age. Neither had a guy like Aho for that matter. But not quite on the level that a guy like Barkov was at.

Now using strictly NHLe to gauge a draft pick isn't perfect, but when the question mark in the players offensive upside it kind of alleviates concerns, the offensive talent is there.

[dammage79]

I have no issues having Catton and Helenius neck and neck in forward rankings.

End of the day, the Flames end up with a good player, whether it be any of the D men or FWS. It's gonna be a good day.

[traptor]

Helenius is closer to Aho the backlund

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I disagree with your opinion. His hockey IQ is IMO off the charts. The problem for a lot of people I think is he makes hard plays look super simple.

My one knock against Lindstrom is learning how to slow the game down to make plays.

Helenius doesn't need to learn that, in fact, he's so intuitive he knows how to position his opposition to make his plays.

It's the tiniest details in his game that make him IMO elite.

Like I said earlier, he doesn't jump out at you with his play, but his efficiency is crazy.

I recommend taking a deeper dive into the player, he's quite special.

For me the only reason he isnt higher is his shot is decent but not great. If he inproves his shot and ads a little weight he is top six all day.

He is a kid playing against men and scoring at a .7 points a game rate I believe

[dammage79]

https://twitter.com/lassialanen/stat...380015710?s=19

This is what I'm getting here here with intuition. He sees his passing lanes are clogged up and does a small stick handling move to get the coverage to open up, has the poise to let it unfold before making his pass.

Just little details. And it's stuff that translates to the the NHL.

[dammage79]

Oh, and hes a hard forechecker, gets dirty, fights for pucks and rarely takes a shift off, if you see him floating it's generally to asses the ice and to understand where he needs to be positionally.

Sorry for the multipost rant, I've been focusing a lot on him in the U18

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by dammage79

https://twitter.com/lassialanen/stat...380015710?s=19

This is what I'm getting here here with intuition. He sees his passing lanes are clogged up and does a small stick handling move to get the coverage to open up, has the poise to let it unfold before making his pass.

Just little details. And it's stuff that translates to the the NHL.

He has another play. he short passes from behind the net against the grain thats just sneaky good. Nhl draft pros on you tube i think.

But ya that move was slick.