2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Too bad about Connelly, he’s one of the top forwards available, and one of my favourites on the ice.

If he falls, he would be a great pick with one of the late 1sts we'll have.

12: Iginla
28: Connelly

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

If he falls, he would be a great pick with one of the late 1sts we'll have.

12: Iginla
28: Connelly

I agree, but I think a big chunk of the fanbase would be enraged.

I wouldn't blame a team for taking him mid-first, he's an amazing player, and perhaps the best player in the USHL.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (OK Edition):

6'3" C/LW Jakub Kos was taken in the 6th round, #184th overall, by the Florida Panthers in 2021, and was heralded as a future bottom-6 defensive player in the NHL, due to his grit and work-ethic, but apparent lack of offensive skill. Jakub's brother, Ondrej, is draft-eligible this summer, and has many of the same traits as his older brother- and thus, many of the same projections by scouts- but the younger Kos may possess a higher ceiling, with a bit more offensive potential. Ondrej only managed 3 goals in 8 games for Ilves in Finland's U20 league, but he's the second-highest scoring U-18 player, and first in ppg, in the Mestis- Finland's second-highest men's league, for Koovee, with 5 points in 14 games. OK had an impressive Hlinka Gretzky, finishing third on Team Czechia, with 3 goals and 5 points in 5 games. Ondrej stands 6'2", and weighs in at 167lbs.

Kos is an excellent skater, with a good top speed to separate from opponents, but could perhaps use more explosiveness. He possesses excellent balance, that makes him hard to knock off-stride, or to bump off the puck. Kos keeps his feet pumping hard, and pushes pace. He's a good handler, with tight puck-control, and is hard on the puck. He can change direction and speed quickly to throw off defenders, and is well versed in the art of deception to manipulate opponents into giving him time and space- he also has some slick 1-on-1 moves to move through coverage. He knows how to draw opponents towards him, and exploit the open space they leave in their wake. Kos' anticipation is quite good, his IQ is sharp, and he flashes high-end offensive skill at times, with a fine touch as a playmaker, though he doesn't exactly put up stellar numbers. There's a good sense of where he should be at all times, in order to be ready for what is coming next in all 3 zones- his off-puck play is exemplary. In transition, Kos is often seen spearheading the rush through the neutral zone, with his head up, using his speed and hands to manouver around checkers.

Kos' true defining trait might just be the fact that he's a top-notch defensive player, and he demonstrated his value in this area at the Hlinka Gretzky Tournament. He works as hard on the backcheck as he does on the forecheck, and is relentless on puck-carriers to win pucks by smothering them. Scouts love the compete on this kid- his motor never quits, and he never takes a shift off. He's always moving his feet, and playing with energy and physicality. Many say his offensive ceiling is limited, with some declaring him a middle-6 NHL player, and some saying bottom-6, with PK duties. Decision-making with the puck can sometimes be an issue, and he has a long way to go to get to his proper weight. He has a good shot, but needs get more power on it. I'm going to say 3rd/4th round.

[bax]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I agree, but I think a big chunk of the fanbase would be enraged.

I wouldn't blame a team for taking him mid-first, he's an amazing player, and perhaps the best player in the USHL.

I haven’t been following his story very closely, but from what I’ve read it actually seems like just a dumb mistake by a teenager, no? It sounds like he has done a lot to try and better himself since then. A lot more than Mitchell Miller did anyways.

[1qqaaz]

I disagree with those who think Connelly is going to fall far. I don't think he's going to fall past 22 or so. I'd have him ranked around #14 to #18 as a prospect.

We've seen prospects with worse records drop far less. All it takes is one particular GM to be high on him while overlooking said attributes.

[Sandman]

I love the kid as a player…

[stemit14]

I’m curious as to wh are t everyone’s projection of Celebrini is. Craig button recently used Jonathan Toews and his comparable… not sure what to make of that. In his prime he was a great two-way player that had some productive seasons where he was a point per game.

Trying to compare him to more recently drafted players. Where would you place him amongst recent top picks in the NHL that are centres of a similar build/size such as Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes or Tim Stutzle?

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by stemit14

I’m curious as to wh are t everyone’s projection of Celebrini is. Craig button recently used Jonathan Toews and his comparable… not sure what to make of that. In his prime he was a great two-way player that had some productive seasons where he was a point per game.

Trying to compare him to more recently drafted players. Where would you place him amongst recent top picks in the NHL that are centres of a similar build/size such as Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes or Tim Stutzle?

When I watch Mack play, I see a poor man's Sidney Crosby. Once he gets up to snuff, he'll be a perrenial 100+ point player, with a nice 200-ft game.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by bax

I haven’t been following his story very closely, but from what I’ve read it actually seems like just a dumb mistake by a teenager, no? It sounds like he has done a lot to try and better himself since then. A lot more than Mitchell Miller did anyways.

There have been whispers that it goes beyond the one incident- some scouts say he's got bad character. Just hearsay though...

[Poe969]

What did he do?

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Sandman

There have been whispers that it goes beyond the one incident- some scouts say he's got bad character. Just hearsay though...

He is no Logan Mailloux though right?

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Poe969

What did he do?

When he was 16, he posted a photo on Snapchat depicting a teammate posing with children’s building blocks, assembled in the shape of a swastika. There was also another incident where an opponent accused him of using a racial slur in a game in 2021, which he denies.

Since the swastika incident broke, he’s been taking courses and working with an organization that specializes in diversity in sports (I think?), in an effort to polish up his image.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

He is no Logan Mailloux though right?

I wouldn’t say so.

[Aarongavey]

Watched Sam Dickinson today, he looks like a legit number one dman. Best defenceman I have seen live in the OHL in his draft year. Great skater, has good size, makes a great first pass. Would not mind at all if that is who the Flames pick if he is available.

And if Brad wants Tanev he should just give us Cowan. We can even throw the Vancouver 5th rounder back to him since he likes late round picks so much, he could use that pick in another trade. Cowan will play at the NHL level.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Watched Sam Dickinson today, he looks like a legit number one dman. Best defenceman I have seen live in the OHL in his draft year. Great skater, has good size, makes a great first pass. Would not mind at all if that is who the Flames pick if he is available.

And if Brad wants Tanev he should just give us Cowan. We can even throw the Vancouver 5th rounder back to him since he likes late round picks so much, he could use that pick in another trade. Cowan will play at the NHL level.

I really hope we pick between 6 and 8. One of Dickinson, Catton or Lindstrom should he there and any of them are a home run. Two top line centers or a big number one defender? Like our odds.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Unicorn Edition):

I recommend watching some highlights of LHD Jesse Pulkkinen, you'll think you're watching tape on Jaromir Jagr from the 90's. Pulkkinen isn't supposed to have the kind of buzz that he has, after being passed over in last year's draft, but he re-dedicated himself to hockey last summer, after a miserable 2022-23 season, where he only managed 4 points in 43 U20 games- and didn't even know if he wanted to continue playing. That version of Jesse Pulkkinen and the one playing just shy of 20 minutes a night in the Liiga- the top men's league in Finland- are as different as night and day. JP started the season with JYP of the U20, and it was quickly discerned that he was too good for that league, with 28 points in just 18 games, to go with 47 PIMs. He was too overwhelming for the Mestis as well, with 4 points in 6 games, so it was off to the Liiga, where he currently sits 3rd for U-20 defensemen (2nd in ppg) with 8 points in 23 games. He is still 5th in scoring by defense in the J20, despite not having played there in months, and his 1.56 ppg is still tops by a country mile. He cemented his newfound status as a must-see for scouts, with a World Junior Championship performance that saw him score 3 points in 7 games, with sterling defensive metrics. Did I mention that this kid is 6'6", and 216lbs?

Pulkkinen is an amazing skater for a player his size, but that's not his most amazing trait- the most jaw-dropping abilities he has are his quick hands and unshakable confidence when carrying the puck, and the 1-on-1 moves and deception he uses in doing so. It's quite a sight to see a skyscraper weaving around opponents, and in-and-out of traffic without being slowed down, or stripped of the puck. He uses dangles, fakes, look-offs, and has every kind of deke imaginable in his arsenal to fool, misdirect, and manipulate opponents, and make them look silly. He baits attackers into going one way, while he's going in a different direction, and can even throw in a Savardian spin-o-rama, or reverse hit to make extra room. Pulkkinen moves around like a much smaller player, but has the massive wingspan to handle the puck outside his opponent's reach. There's never any cause to throw away the puck, as he has the confidence to hold on to wait for the right play, or circle back to create space while a better situation develops. He can fly coast to coast, deking through layers of traffic, and around sticks, keeping full possession, without hardly getting touched. Pulkkinen owns jaw-dropping mobility for a player his size, but it's his incredible edges, and agility that he uses to pivot around attackers, and sidestep checks that is truly amazing- a player that big should not be that light on his skates. He moves well laterally, and can turn, or stop and start on a dime to get to open space. He's a fluid skater, but his stride looks a little awkward and choppy at times, though he still generates surprising power. His acceleration needs a bit of work, but he's impossible to slow down when cruising at top speed.

Pulkkinen is always heavily involved in the play, and is not at all afraid to activate from the point to attack the middle, or keep the play alive along the boards. His shot is hard and heavy, and can beat goalies from a distance, but his main offensive weapon is his deft touch as a playmaker, combined with his sublime vision and passing skill. He's not just a one-dimensional player though, as his best dimension may be his suffocating defensive game, that he shows off against pros. In his own zone, he's hyper-aggressive, always moving, and seems to be everywhere from below the goal-line to the top of the zone all at once. He lifts sticks, supports teammates, and uses his body, active stick, and reach to thwart plays, cause turnovers, and win pucks. Pulkkinen has a pronounced physical edge to his game, and he applies it while punishing opponents along the boards, or pinning them to make them immobile. He always gets the inside body position, then overpowers his man, bullying him off the puck- many times with a reverse hit. He's almost impassable, and very hard to play against. He kills rushes, smothers opponents, and picks off plays to the slot, or to high-danger. Quite often, he will make stops before the play ever gets to the blueline, closing gaps seamlessly, while guiding his victims to the boards to be finished off, or by catching them napping with a big open-ice hit in the neutral zone. In retrievals, he establishes body position, and keeps his head up to find his outlet- all with a high panic threshold, and staying cool and composed. He holds tons of value in turning defense into offense through transition, as he's confident with the puck, protects extremely well, and is a monster in possession- he can seemingly carry it out effortlessly, and lead the rush. The defensive metrics for this player are sparkling, and he already plays against men. He led all defensemen at the WJC in controlled exits, with 34.

Pulkkinen can still be beaten wide on occasion by speedier opponents, and can sometimes overhandle the puck. He needs to fine-tune his decision-making, but more importantly, he needs to rein in his aggression as he can be caught out of place from time-to-time. At the end of the day, he's an excellent two-way player, but his defensive awareness gives him an NHL floor- he could be a future bottom-4 player with PK duties, but has the potential to be more than that. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see a team take him with a first-round pick, which would be the first time a second-year eligible has been picked in the first since Tanner Pearson in 2012.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I would love to see your first round list, Snuffy!

This might raise eyebrows but you asked

1) Celebrini
2) Levshunov
3) Helenius
4) Eiserman
5) Catton
6) Parekh
7) Dickinson
8) Lindstrom
9) Iginla
10 Yakemchuk
11 Demidov
12 Greentree
13 Connelly
14 Silayev
15 Boisvert
16 Ritchie
17 Hemming
18 Howe
19 Parascak
20 Pettersson
21 Beaudoin
22 Basha
23 Hutson
24 Masse
25 Nico-Antenen
26 Sennecke
27 Chernyshov
28 Hage
29 Buium
30 Brunicke
31 Luchanko
32 Elick

For the 2nd-4th rounds I hope the Flames take a look at these guys if they're available

Austin Burnevik
Joseph Connor
Clarke Caswell
Raoul Boilard

[Sandman]

Awesome list, Snuffy! Love the inclusion of Brunicke and Beaudoin, but did you forget Brandsegg-Nygard?

[Sylvanfan]

I saw Joe Iginla play a couple weeks ago. It reminded me...unless it's a known generational talent that you are passing on, you will not go wrong taking an Iginla as soon as you can. This undersized 15 year old grtting little ice time, yet found a way to impact the game. I vividly remember Jarome's draft year where everyone ogled over Shane Doan in Kamloops and overlooked the better player.

So my dumb simple analysis is this...get Tij at any cost. I'm confident that Jarome's kids have the competitive drive and work ethic to become really good hockey players, much like their Dad.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Awesome list, Snuffy! Love the inclusion of Brunicke and Beaudoin, but did you forget Brandsegg-Nygard?

I'd wager an accidental omission as the guy is a legit threat.