2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Why are people so one-dimensional? You need balance. And if you fill the secondary roster positions with enough blonds, you can add high talent guys without having to worry about their hair color.

Size matters in hockey. Hair colour doesn't.

Fortunately, nothing matters on message boards, so you can say daft things if you like.

[dammage79]

Size matters in life, not just hockey. Just ask my ex

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by InternationalVillager

There's always one player that slides.

Last year it was Andrew Cristall.

Flames just be better to pull the trigger if they get the chance. Nothing worse than having multiple firsts and passing up an opportunity like that.

Angelo Esposito was the biggest slide I am remember. Sometimes there is a reason guys slide.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by InternationalVillager

There's always one player that slides.

Last year it was Andrew Cristall.

Flames just be better to pull the trigger if they get the chance. Nothing worse than having multiple firsts and passing up an opportunity like that.

Often there is a good reason why players slide.

Now if it’s due to injuries and he’s now healthy, that’s one thing.

But Cristall fell because he was felt to be a product of Bedard. Time will tell on that one. But Chicago passed on him early in the 2nd also. Even though he had played with Bedard his whole life.

[InternationalVillager]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Often there is a good reason why players slide.

Now if it’s due to injuries and he’s now healthy, that’s one thing.

But Cristall fell because he was felt to be a product of Bedard. Time will tell on that one. But Chicago passed on him early in the 2nd also. Even though he had played with Bedard his whole life.

Huh? But Cristall and Bedard did not play together in their draft year...

He's led the Kelowna Rockets for the last 2 years.

[Royle9]

More reports are coming out about Lindstrom's injury, its a bit worrisome in my opinion;

Recent interview:

"It was a disc herniation, those things take a long time to heal"
"It kind of affected the nerve in my leg, gave me a bit of sciatica, nerve stuff takes a while to heal but I'm feeling great now"
"Every team asked me about the injury and I told them the truth, as far as I know they didn't have any worries at all"

Back/disc + nerve damage is a bit concerning for a 18 year old.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Royle9

Back/disc + nerve damage is a bit concerning for a 18 year old.

Especially since those conditions usually degenerate over time. Eighteen is awfully young to be starting down that slope.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Muta

Sandman - thank you for all the player scouting reports; doing God's work. We're lucky to have ya here on CP!

Just incredible work. Yeah, we're very lucky to have that here.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by InternationalVillager

Huh? But Cristall and Bedard did not play together in their draft year...

He's led the Kelowna Rockets for the last 2 years.

They were best friends growing up and played together when they were younger.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Often there is a good reason why players slide.

Now if it’s due to injuries and he’s now healthy, that’s one thing.

But Cristall fell because he was felt to be a product of Bedard. Time will tell on that one. But Chicago passed on him early in the 2nd also. Even though he had played with Bedard his whole life.

Bedard himself said that he thought Cristall was the most skilled player in the draft. He was probably being modest, but he still considered Cristall to be above everyone else. Being good buddies probably helps.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Just incredible work. Yeah, we're very lucky to have that here.

Thanks man, really appreciate it!!!

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by genetic_phreek

For me where we sit, I hope we can get Cole Eiserman. I think he could be one of the best in this draft. You can't teach hockey IQ and I think he's got huge upside on that.

Eiserman is a silver spoon fed risk.

He reneged his commitment to Minnesota just to play in front of his rich parents at BU, every interview I've seen him do makes makes me cringe, talks like Trump with his 3rd person narcissistic "Eiserman does what Eiserman always does...score goals and create goals" talk, teammate from hell in the making.

I have a feeling he'll force a trade to Boston/NY or stay at BU no matter who drafts him.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Woody's Hoodies Edition):

When LHD Carson Woodall's Grandmother died from cancer, and his other Grandmother was diagnosed Stage 4, he went to work setting up a charity to sell "Woody's Hoodies" to raise money for cancer research. "Woody" is obviously a character kid, and it's also evident in the way he went from playing most of the 2022-23 season in the GOJHL, a Junior B league, to playing a big role for the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. After only three regular-season games last year with the Spits plus three playoff games, scoring no points, he got better and better as the 2023-24 season wore on- ending up playing over 24 minutes per game by the end of the campaign, and putting up 6 goals and 29 points in only 57 games (with 22 PIM) as a rookie. It was a tumultuous year in Windsor to say the least, with first-year Head Coach Jerrod Smith (who got the job after former Coach Marc Savard departed for Calgary in the summer) getting the axe in November after a 4-16-1-0 start, and Interim-Head Coach Casey Torres taking over, only to see the team deal away some of it's vets, and finishing 19th out of 20 teams in the league. The Spits punctuated their season by going winless in their final 13 games. Woodall. who measures 5'11",161lbs, was selected by Windsor in the 10th-round, 202nd-overall, in the 2022 OHL Draft.

Woodall is a Jack-of-all-Trades sort, but a master of none- he does a little bit of everything, and plays in all situations. Though he employs a very well-rounded game in junior, his tools may not be a good as his brain. Woodall is a highly skilled passer who can connect through traffic and find teammates in high-danger frequently, but any sign of real high-end creativity and playmaking comes only in flashes. He will jump into the rush, and activate off of the blueline to support the offense with a high number of passes to the slot, and a penchant for sneaking in on the weak side for opportunities. He stays in motion to open space for himself and teammates, and will draw defenders in his direction to create a void to pass into, but he's not yet a high-level manipulator- he needs to improve this area of his repertoire for better offensive success. Part of that has to do with the fact that he doesn't play with enough pace when he has the puck in the offensive zone, and tends to look as though he's coasting when delaying for options- which gives the enemy time to adjust to his movements. Without the puck, he's quite aggressive- sometimes too aggressive, not taking enough time to scan before the puck comes to him, and making the first play he sees when under pressure, with better ones available. His aggression serves him well in his physical game though, throwing plenty of hits, and winning battles with hard work and motor. Woody walks the line proficiently to find open lanes, and shows a high IQ in the way he sees the ice to set up teammates for a high number of dangerous chances- many of these plays simply couldn't be finished by his Windsor teammates. His shot is nothing really special, and he mostly uses it as a playmaking tool to create rebound chances for teammates.

Woodall is an excellent skater with fluidity, and doesn't lose many races. He displays smooth edges and can pivot on a dime, using his footwork to perform a number of slick 1-on-1 moves with a dash of deception to get around in traffic, and move through opponents. In the defensive zone, he works hard to turn defense into offense, making stops by tormenting puck-carriers with his body and stick. He's adept at identifying his man and sticking to him like glue, but runs a little hot and cold against the rush- he exhibits tight gap control, and is able to match footwork with anyone, but too often gives forecheckers too much room, looking passive in the process. His breakouts are inconsistent, as a result of not scanning nearly enough on his retrievals- he makes mistakes under pressure, and can be prone to giveaways. It's imperative that he gets stronger and bulkier as he can be overpowered at times, and he needs to inject more pace into his puck game for the next level. Woody will be a top defenseman in the OHL over the next two years, but the concern among scouts is that he may not have a standout NHL skill, and he has to decide what kind of player he'll be in the pros. Woody is a solid performer overall, and has potential- look for him in later rounds.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Re-entry Edition, Vol. 5):

19 year-old RHD Nate Misskey is one of the more talked-about Draft re-entries this year, along with high-profile scorer Anthony Romani, and is currently ranked 89th among North American Skaters by Central Scouting. Misskey missed 24 games due to injury between January and March, and at the time he went on the IR, he was 7th in scoring by defense in the entire WHL. He finished the regular season with 7 goals and 34 points in 44 games (54 PIM), which was 18th in league scoring by defense in ppg, and he also contributed 3 points in 4 playoff games as the Royals were swept by the mighty Portland Winterhawks. The 6'3",198lb rearguard wore the "A" this season for Victoria, who were 15th out of 22 teams in the standings, and he was left out of the 2023 NHL Draft after putting up a meager 14 points in 65 games in 2022-23, despite earning more and more minutes as the season wore on with his ever-improving play.

After a summer of hard work and training, Misskey looks like a different kid this season, and is often the Royals' best player on a nightly basis. He is able to contribute in all three zones, both sides of special teams, and in all situations. One highlight of his game is his physicality; to call this part of his repertoire "robust" is like saying a Lamborghini is a satisfactory way of getting around. He hits often, and he hits hard, but not only to separate his man from the puck or to simply finish his check, but to punish his adversaries and make them pay for daring to come near his zone. Violence is a big part of his game, and he's known as one of the WHL's most physical players, using his size to win battles, dominate along the boards, and establish body position. He also makes his presence felt with hacks, whacks, crosschecks, and extra shots- often after the whistle. If you've read a scouting report on Misskey, you were probably told that his mobility is below-average, but I believe that he's highly underrated in this regard; his skating doesn't look pretty, with a bit of a stiff, choppy stride, but he wins plenty of races and can match speed against smaller attackers. He will need work on his mechanics going forward, but he does require work on his backwards mobility, as he can be prone to losing his man off the rush.

Misskey is no Victor Hedman, but he often flashes true playmaking and creativity, with spatial awareness and the ability to manufacture openings. He's a skilled passer with a reasonable amount of IQ and vision, and can connect through layers of traffic or across the crease in a variety of ways- including backhands, and saucers. He's able to dish in full flight, and made a high number of passes to the slot this year. To facilitate his passing game, he uses smart, skilled delays to lure defenders in his direction, but also to scan for the best play- his deception skills are there, and getting better. He activates into the zone when the coast is clear, or join the rush as an extra forward, and makes well-timed pinches to keep the puck alive and out of enemy hands, or to get the puck deep. Misskey quarterbacks the play from the point quite well, and has a hard, heavy shot as an extra offensive tool. His handling is average but like the rest of his game, it's always improving and looks better than it was last year. His size and wingspan help him to protect the puck, and keep it out of the reach of his opponents' sticks. In transition, he can make high-end breakout passes at long-range when the opportunity is there, but mostly keeps his outlets simple, and risk-free- his transitional metrics are quite good. His retrievals are a little inconsistent though, as he doesn't adequately scan before going for the puck.

Misskey's defensive metrics on a team that's less than mediocre are excellent and show projectability- which is good, as this area of the game may be his ticket to the big leagues. He brings his savage physical game with him to the defensive zone, angling his enemies towards the boards where they are finished off in his own version of the "Tunnel of Death". He forces turnovers and dump-ins, and uses his extra-long reach to break up plays with his stick. He exudes smarts and proactive defense in being able to intercept passes, and be constantly be in the way- overwhelming attackers physically, pinning them to the boards, and suffocating them of time and space. He keeps tight gaps, and closes on forecheckers early. Misskey has plenty of NHL-projectable attributes, but is still a long-term project with bottom-pairing potential, and the possibility of more. Some mock drafts have him as early as the third-round, but I'm guessing fourth or fifth round.

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

They were best friends growing up and played together when they were younger.

They also still play together each spring in the North Shore Inline Hockey League on a team with their brothers and Kent Johnson. Games from the past couple years are up on Youtube - the team is Great Guys

https://www.youtube.com/@nsihlalive/streams

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by iloveicedhockey

My incredibly basic logic of assuming that the Buttons like the same players leads me to believe we don't rate Catton highly. Yak I could see though. Also, big equals good.

They don't. Look at where Craig had Honzek ranked last year.

[cral12]

Daily Faceoff Final Top 120 from Steven Ellis
- Tij 8th
- Dickinson 9th

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/20...-final-top-120

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Ba'alzamon

They don't. Look at where Craig had Honzek ranked last year.

Ya, Craig was asked about that and said his brother does not share his rankings or scouting reports with him.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Ya, Craig was asked about that and said his brother does not share his rankings or scouting reports with him.

I'm sure they regularly discuss players but they both have a job to do

[cral12]

Originally Posted by cral12

Here. We. Go.

Ahead of schedule, Upside Hockey's Final Rankings just released. I'll add this to the original post here as well.
* >400 prospects featured in our mammoth spreadsheet
* >220 profiles by Sandman!

Direct link:
https://bit.ly/upside2024nhldraft

(Lindstrom admittedly making me a wee bit nervous as well. Our chief of scouting E-Mac covets big skilled centres. My personal preference (and realistic) would at 9th would be Buium, Parekh, Dickinson, Catton, Iginla; I'd also jump on Demigod Demidov should he increduously drop to our slot)

https://twitter.com/user/status/1802069870663684486

9 more Sandman profiles added (I gotta get their link on the actual rankings spreadsheet as well still). We're up to 237 profiles!!!

We added my first mock draft to the site as well - hopefully will get a 2nd version done covering at least first 2 rounds.

Hockey's version of Christmas almost upon us.