2024 NHL Draft Thread

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by RyZ

Whats the story on Drew Basha? I think he's a Calgary kid who has similar production to Lindstrom on the Med Hat Tigers but gets no run here at all and seems to be ranked mid 20s. Is this a guy for the Flames to keep an eye on if they get another pick or 2 in the bottom half of the 1st round? Im a little surprised his name has come up as infrequently as it has.

I'll wager its the goalscoring, size and the age difference. Plus Lindstroms skating at 6'5" is insanity. I think ppl (me) see ludicrous upside of that package.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by RyZ

Whats the story on Drew Basha? I think he's a Calgary kid who has similar production to Lindstrom on the Med Hat Tigers but gets no run here at all and seems to be ranked mid 20s. Is this a guy for the Flames to keep an eye on if they get another pick or 2 in the bottom half of the 1st round? Im a little surprised his name has come up as infrequently as it has.

His dad owns the Garrison Pub.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I'll wager its the goalscoring, size and the age difference. Plus Lindstroms skating at 6'5" is insanity. I think ppl (me) see ludicrous upside of that package.

It's funny because Lindstrom was a 3rd round (54th overall pick) in the Bantam draft just three years ago because his skating was not great at all. Here he is looking like he'll go top 5 in the NHL draft.

Basha was a 5th round pick in the Bantam draft 4 years ago. He's never really blown the doors off at any level but he's figured it out in the WHL that's for sure. He's just average size but he can really motor out there and works his ass off with some puck skills and a decent shot.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by RyZ

Whats the story on Drew Basha? I think he's a Calgary kid who has similar production to Lindstrom on the Med Hat Tigers but gets no run here at all and seems to be ranked mid 20s. Is this a guy for the Flames to keep an eye on if they get another pick or 2 in the bottom half of the 1st round? Im a little surprised his name has come up as infrequently as it has.

I was looking into him back in November when I was checking out Lindstrom.

He's a great skater - he excels at bringing the puck into the zone. His defensive side is fine, though not his specialty. No real physicality. His hands and general skill are fine, but probably not top-6 level. The promising thing with Basha is that he thinks the game well. He's patient when he needs to be, but he can also make quick decisions. Great vision as well.

As for Yakemchuk, I haven't seen much of him. Has anyone been watching a lit of Hitmen games lately? Even Ben Kindel on the the Hitmen looks like he might be someone to keep an eye on for next year's draft.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

It's funny because Lindstrom was a 3rd round (54th overall pick) in the Bantam draft just three years ago because his skating was not great at all. Here he is looking like he'll go top 5 in the NHL draft.

Basha was a 5th round pick in the Bantam draft 4 years ago. He's never really blown the doors off at any level but he's figured it out in the WHL that's for sure. He's just average size but he can really motor out there and works his ass off with some puck skills and a decent shot.

The bantam draft is mostly a puberty race. The best place to be picked in the bantam draft is the best player not drafted, because a bunch of teams will come calling and you can actually choose to not go to Prince Albert or Victoria.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

I was looking into him back in November when I was checking out Lindstrom.

He's a great skater - he excels at bringing the puck into the zone. His defensive side is fine, though not his specialty. No real physicality. His hands and general skill are fine, but probably not top-6 level. The promising thing with Basha is that he thinks the game well. He's patient when he needs to be, but he can also make quick decisions. Great vision as well.

As for Yakemchuk, I haven't seen much of him. Has anyone been watching a lit of Hitmen games lately? Even Ben Kindel on the the Hitmen looks like he might be someone to keep an eye on for next year's draft.

I've seen some Yakemchuk, and I think he'll be a riser come Draft Day. He's 6'3", an excellent skater, and a premier offensive D. The Hitmen have a middling offense, but Yakemchuk has managed to put up a remarkable 40 points in 37 games, which is 4th best in the WHL. He's an excellent puck-mover, and plays aggressive- he's got 74 PIM, which shows a bit of snarl. They say he can be a little rough in the defensive end, but I could see some of that being because of the team he plays for- Korchinski had the same issues, and he was a big riser as well. Yak played in the U-18's, and didn't get a lot of ice-time, but he looked good- worked hard, and was poised with the puck.

[Sandman]

Interestingly enough, one of Basha's and Lindstrom's teammates is 15 year-old phenom Gavin McKenna, one of 3 players (Bedard and Savoie being the others) to be granted exceptional status by BC Hockey and Hockey Alberta at age 14 to play in the WHL. McKenna will be available in the 2026 Draft, and as of right now, he has 47 points in 33 games.

McKenna is a cousin of Connor Bedard by marriage. In his 15 year-old year, Bedard had 28 points in 15 games.

EDIT: Apparently, McKenna turned 16 in December, but still....

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Exactly right about Lindstrom. As for the Russian factor, it's real and always present, and with the state of the world these days, it's only getting worse IMO. Ask Flyers' prospect G Ivan Fedotov how much Russia likes to lose it's players to their enemies. Up until now, it hasn't affected the NHL bringing their top prospects over much, but it often takes a few years for said players contracts to expire in the KHL. However, it may get harder-Fedotov was supposed to come to NA this season, but he signed a 2-year contract with the KHL (I suspect he didn't have much of a choice) after being arrested and forced into his mandatory military service, that prevents him from going to the NHL. The Flyers have appealed to the IIHF.

Demidov's deal in the KHL lasts until the end of 2024-25. His 64 points in 44 MHL games last year is a record for U-18 players, and he might be better than Michkov. I still see him dropping a few spots, as Michkov did.

Also I would add that Michkov reportedly told certain teams (Arizona) he would not sign with them.

One of the main issues with Michkov was that he was signed to the KHL for another 3 years at the time of the draft. When you compare that having Carlsson, Fantilli, Smith, Reinbacher, in you line up in the upcoming season or the following season, it becomes much easier to pick the other players over the Russian who is still at least 3 years away, very picky about which team(s) he wants to play for, and limited viewings because of international sanctions.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Also I would add that Michkov reportedly told certain teams (Arizona) he would not sign with them.

One of the main issues with Michkov was that he was signed to the KHL for another 3 years at the time of the draft. When you compare that having Carlsson, Fantilli, Smith, Reinbacher, in you line up in the upcoming season or the following season, it becomes much easier to pick the other players over the Russian who is still at least 3 years away, very picky about which team(s) he wants to play for, and limited viewings because of international sanctions.

I didn’t know that about Michkov. That’s the other side of the “Russian Factor” that I didn’t touch on- the fact that they can use the KHL as leverage to get what they want over here. Thankfully, not every Russian chooses to go this route.

[Royle9]

McKenna is going to be as good as Bedard.
I'd say his release isn't quite as good as of right now, but he's working towards having it.

So fun to watch, I'd argue he's faster as well.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Royle9

McKenna is going to be as good as Bedard.
I'd say his release isn't quite as good as of right now, but he's working towards having it.

So fun to watch, I'd argue he's faster as well.

McKenna is also listed at 6’0” already, and as stated above- he just turned 16 a few weeks ago. Imagine if he grows another 2-3 inches, with his skating and skill…

[sureLoss]

Sportsnet has released their January rankings:
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...nuary-edition/

Iginla at 12 with potential to go top 10.

Constentino says there are teams that have Connelly on their Do Not Draft list.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Sportsnet has released their January rankings:
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...nuary-edition/

Iginla at 12 with potential to go top 10.

Constentino says there are teams that have Connelly on their Do Not Draft list.

Ewwww. Connelly has all world skill but you can't post nazi symbols and expect to survive. Maybe what he did was youthful ignorance, or it wasn't and he got caught, either way, he just dropped off my list. Bummer. Exciting player.

[dammage79]

Dobbers did their top ten on Draft pros.

They got Demidov 2 behind celebrini, Lindstrom at 10 OA, Helenius at 6. I'm curious about Helenius, is he a center or winger? Because that package is enticing as a center.

Dobbers top ten:
1.Celebrini, Fw
2. Demidov, Fw
3. Dickenson, D
4. Parekh, D
5. C.Eiserman, FW
6. Helenius, FW
7. Catton,FW
8. Brandsegg-Norgaard,FW
9. Silayev, D
10. Lindstrom, FW

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Ewwww. Connelly has all world skill but you can't post nazi symbols and expect to survive. Maybe what he did was youthful ignorance, or it wasn't and he got caught, either way, he just dropped off my list. Bummer. Exciting player.

The Connelly thing is tough...

I'm sure I had stuff that I said/did at 16 when amongst friends that would be seen as racist / sexist / homophobic, just lucky enough that not everything was captured on social media / pictures when I was 16.

[FlamesAddiction]

Iginla's trajectory in rankings is impressive. At this rate, I could easily see him going 5-10, maybe even higher. I seem to recall that Jarome climbed the rankings pretty far in his draft year and went 11th OA, but in a re-draft knowing what people know now, he would have been 1st OA easily.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Dobbers did their top ten on Draft pros.

They got Demidov 2 behind celebrini, Lindstrom at 10 OA, Helenius at 6. I'm curious about Helenius, is he a center or winger? Because that package is enticing as a center.

Dobbers top ten:
1.Celebrini, Fw
2. Demidov, Fw
3. Dickenson, D
4. Parekh, D
5. C.Eiserman, FW
6. Helenius, FW
7. Catton,FW
8. Brandsegg-Norgaard,FW
9. Silayev, D
10. Lindstrom, FW

Helenius has been listed as a C/RW, and I could see an argument for him playing either position at the next level. Apparently, he started the year as Jukurit’s second-line C, not sure if it lasted. He’s got a very advanced two-way game that might translate well as a C. Just my opinion.

[D as in David]

If the Flames pick around 5 to 10 with their own pick and one of the Russians falls; do you take a gamble on one of them if they have acquired some other 1st round picks?

[dammage79]

Demidov for sure. He's up there in skill with Michkov. But the current state of the Russian factor is a very real and tactile thing.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Demidov for sure. He's up there in skill with Michkov. But the current state of the Russian factor is a very real and tactile thing.

I raised that making the assumption you may have to wait several years for them to come over but having other first-round selections this year softens the blow, somewhat.