2024 NHL Draft Thread

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I think he’s been rising. In the first third of the season, I was seeing him late teens/ early twenties, and now he’s early teens.

He's also the kind of player that often gets taken higher than projected. A lot of GMs like this mold.

It will be interesting to see where he goes.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Baby Iggy Edition):

When talking about C/LW Tij Iginla, there are going to be instances where it will sound like you're talking about Iggy Sr. Tij is still quite young, with an Aug.1st birthday, and has amassed 70 points in 54 games to date, with an incredible 40 goals, good for 8th in the WHL. He was Player of the Game for Team White in the CHL Top Prospects Game, up against top talent- despite the fact that he didn't register a point. Tij is perhaps the most improved player in this draft over the last few years, as he wasn't even on the radar before last season. Like his father in his draft year, he is not the fastest, or most skilled, but has high-end instincts, plays in all situations, and has a distinctive "IT" factor.

Iggy is an extremely industrious player, and seems to cover every inch of ice in a shift- he's everywhere all at once, and dangerous from any point in the offensive zone, and off the rush. He thinks well ahead of the play with his high-end IQ and awareness, and though he's a high-volume shooter, he doesn't get nearly enough credit for how good he is as a playmaker- he can complete the most difficult passes, tape-to-tape through traffic with saucers over sticks, between legs, and through triangles. His passing game can match most of the top playmakers in junior. Iggy is a top sniper, and finisher (two different things), and doesn't need time or space to unleash his lethal shot. He has a potent release, perhaps the best in the draft, that can freeze goalies, and he can change the angle of his shot and his blade, to further decieve the opposition. He can shoot from anywhere with power and velocity, and he has every shot imaginable in his repertoire, all of them hard and heavy- including backhands, catch-and-release, curl-and-drags, wristers, and one-timers. He will also go the net to get rebounds, tips, and second-chance opportunities, and has soft hands around the net. He will drive the slot off the rush, with or without the puck, and when in-zone, he explodes off the wall to attack the middle.

One of Iginla's most important skills, and the trait that facilitates his offense, is his quick hands and stickhandling which, when combined with his mastery of deception, enable him to freeze checkers and move through attackers, even along the wall. He frequently beats defenders 1-on-1; he's shifty, with plenty of fakes, dekes, look-offs, and deception to create separation, as well as time and space to exploit. He's confident with the puck on his stick, and calm under pressure, and baits checkers into going one way, while he's going in another direction. Like Iggy Sr., he wins most 50/50 battles, and is dominant along the boards and down low, using his unnatural strength, tight puck-protection, high-end handling, and his deception, to play keep-away on the wall, or just power his way through coverage. He always wins inside position, engages physically, absorbs contact, and has a bit of an edge- he battles hard in the trenches, and will work to establish position in front of the net. The ability he has to be a possession player makes him valuable to his team, and when there's no play, he works to keep the puck alive in the offensive zone. Off the puck, he knows where to be to make himself an option for passes, whether it's in the zone, or in transition.

Speed-wise, Iginla is not a burner, but is still above average, and gets up to full speed very quickly, with a nice first-step, and good acceleration. His stride is long and powerful, and his edges are excellent, giving him a good change of direction to evade checks, and the ability to start and stop on a dime. He is uncommonly strong on his skates, and difficult to knock off the puck. Any shortcomings he has in his straight-ahead speed are compensated by his indomitable motor- he's always going flat-out, all the time, keeping his legs pumping vigorously. Iggy is hyper-engaged, highly competitive, and always the hardest working player on the ice- seemingly in the thick of the play at all times. He has a good understanding of his responsibilities in the defensive zone, with good positioning and awareness- always sticking to his man like glue. He will assist teammates down low, throw a hit to dislodge the puck, and is trusted in penalty-killing situations.

Iginla doesn't have a whole lot of weaknesses, but he can get caught holding on to the puck for too long, particularly when looking for a shot. This same thing can affect him in his decision-making, as he can run out of real estate when waiting for the right play to develop. He must avoid being too fancy, and looks indecisive at times. Being a high-volume shooter, some of his shots are of a low-percentage variety, so he could stand to use his teammates more in these situations. He must work to further his skating and strength for the pro ranks, but this is undoubtedly a future first-line goal-scoring winger, as it remains to be seen if his game suits the center position at the next level. Look for him in the top-12 in this year's draft.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Buium > Parekh. O numbers are just as good and Buium plays defense too.

Parekh as a Dman leads his team in scoring by a tonne including over two 2nd rounders from last year, this guy loves the puck and drives the play, he also plays with a little edge, he'll get better defensively but you can't teach what he can bring offensively.

Buium might be more rounded and maybe even more of a sure thing to be an NHL'er but Parekh's upside is a dynamic star.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (To The Max! Edition):

6'2" 181lb RW Maxim Masse should be in the top half of the first round of this year's draft, but he hasn't shown the expected progression from last year. Right now, Masse has racked up 63 points in 57 games (including 17 points in his last 10 games), but after a 2022-23 season that saw him put up 62 points in 65 games, a bigger offensive output seemed to be destined this season. Not much has changed for the Chicoutimi Sageneens, who drafted Masse 3rd overall in 2022, as they have the same coaching staff, and are in virtually the same position in the standings that they ended the season in last year, with the same rank in goals-for. Strangely enough, many of his teammates have had the same lack of progression, including draft-eligible Thomas Desruisseaux, who went from .88 ppg in 2022-23, down to .85 this season. Masse was impressive at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, making an impact in both ends of the rink, and chipping in 5 goals, and 6 points in 5 games. He is the lone player from the Q to be awarded the grade of "A" by Central Scouting, denoting a likely first-round pick.

Masse has all the tools and smarts that one looks for in a power-winger, with high-end offensive skill, and sublime IQ. He's a dual threat, with both scoring prowess, and high-end distribution abilities. He shows creativity in the offensive zone, seeing the lanes before they even appear, and finding open space to make passes to high-danger. Masse is around the net alot, making life difficult for the opposition, creating opportunities for teammates, screening goalies, and getting rebounds and tips. It's hard to move him from in front of the crease. He packs an excellent shot with great power, and a lethal release that creates problems for goalies- his arsenal is deep, with a good drag-and-release, one-timer, backhander, and wrister, and he's deadly in the slot. His off-puck game is a plus, as he knows where to be to maximize his chances, and sees the holes in coverage to make a pass, or to shoot. Masse has capable puck skills, with good puck control, and even better puck protection, and it's hard to strip him of possession- he makes quick pivots to shield the puck, and performs the odd reverse-hit to make room. I believe that reports of his skating being sub-par are false- I think he's got average speed in a straight-line, maybe slightly above, but his mobility does need work. He could use upgrades to his acceleration, east-west, and agility- his top speed is ok, and his mechanics look good.

Masse plays a power game, and is physical, with the ability to win battles in the tough areas of the ice. He is strong along the boards, and down-low behind the goal-line. He's not really a punishing hitter, but will use his size to impose his will, and bully his way around. His work-ethic is solid, he plays with energy, and he forechecks and backchecks tenaciously. Defensively, he gets in shooting lanes, and supports his D down low. He has a smart, active stick with a long reach to disrupt plays, and force opponents into making mistakes. He will throw his body around to separate man from puck, and exhibits good positioning and awareness- however, he sometimes cheats for offense, and can be caught leaving the zone early. Masse's decision-making has been in question at times, as he can make the odd boneheaded pass, and can be forced into mistakes under pressure. He could use more intensity in his game as well. I've read that he's been making an effort this year to simplify his game, in order to cut down on turnovers, and he's focusing much more on his two-way play, which may be affecting his numbers this season. It's also been said that he's been hyper-focused on shooting lately, which might be a good thing, as he's got 17 goals in his last 20 games. I think that the totals on the year don't tell the true story here, and that he's better than most believe- his numbers lately (30 points in his last 20 games) show the player he really is. If he can improve his skating, get bigger and stronger, and keep working on his two-way play, there's a top-6 NHL winger here. With the surge in his numbers lately, he may be taken in the late first round.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Ziggy Lidstrom

I know he’s an overage player but in that Iginla clip the announcer mentions a guy named Zac Funk. He has 98 points in 55 games. That’s quite good despite him being an overage player no?

He’s 6’0 and 209 LHS RW. Sign him to the wranglers pls?

Signed with the caps

https://twitter.com/user/status/1763625291660833167

[stemit14]

I want the flames to get Iginla so much. It’s doubtful he will be there for their pick at this point but you never know. I love seeing upward trajectory from prospects and Iginla has shown that more than any other draft-eligible player. Especially great that he is one of the younger players in the draft class… makes his production and development this year even more impressive.

Obviously the big story with drafting him would be the connection he and his dad have with Calgary… it would be an incredible story that the fans would go crazy for. Which is great. It’s great for the fans to have something like that. But that is just a bonus. In a vacuum, if his name was not iginla and we just looked at that draft profile, his age, the numbers he put up and the fact that he is a center… he would be a fantastic pickup. If he is available at the flames pick, I think he would be a fantastic selection.

[shutout]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Draft Thoughts (Baby Iggy Edition):

When talking about C/LW Tij Iginla, there are going to be instances where it will sound like you're talking about Iggy Sr. Tij is still quite young, with an Aug.1st birthday, and has amassed 70 points in 54 games to date, with an incredible 40 goals, good for 8th in the WHL. He was Player of the Game for Team White in the CHL Top Prospects Game, up against top talent- despite the fact that he didn't register a point. Tij is perhaps the most improved player in this draft over the last few years, as he wasn't even on the radar before last season. Like his father in his draft year, he is not the fastest, or most skilled, but has high-end instincts, plays in all situations, and has a distinctive "IT" factor.

Iggy is an extremely industrious player, and seems to cover every inch of ice in a shift- he's everywhere all at once, and dangerous from any point in the offensive zone, and off the rush. He thinks well ahead of the play with his high-end IQ and awareness, and though he's a high-volume shooter, he doesn't get nearly enough credit for how good he is as a playmaker- he can complete the most difficult passes, tape-to-tape through traffic with saucers over sticks, between legs, and through triangles. His passing game can match most of the top playmakers in junior. Iggy is a top sniper, and finisher (two different things), and doesn't need time or space to unleash his lethal shot. He has a potent release, perhaps the best in the draft, that can freeze goalies, and he can change the angle of his shot and his blade, to further decieve the opposition. He can shoot from anywhere with power and velocity, and he has every shot imaginable in his repertoire, all of them hard and heavy- including backhands, catch-and-release, curl-and-drags, wristers, and one-timers. He will also go the net to get rebounds, tips, and second-chance opportunities, and has soft hands around the net. He will drive the slot off the rush, with or without the puck, and when in-zone, he explodes off the wall to attack the middle.

One of Iginla's most important skills, and the trait that facilitates his offense, is his quick hands and stickhandling which, when combined with his mastery of deception, enable him to freeze checkers and move through attackers, even along the wall. He frequently beats defenders 1-on-1; he's shifty, with plenty of fakes, dekes, look-offs, and deception to create separation, as well as time and space to exploit. He's confident with the puck on his stick, and calm under pressure, and baits checkers into going one way, while he's going in another direction. Like Iggy Sr., he wins most 50/50 battles, and is dominant along the boards and down low, using his unnatural strength, tight puck-protection, high-end handling, and his deception, to play keep-away on the wall, or just power his way through coverage. He always wins inside position, engages physically, absorbs contact, and has a bit of an edge- he battles hard in the trenches, and will work to establish position in front of the net. The ability he has to be a possession player makes him valuable to his team, and when there's no play, he works to keep the puck alive in the offensive zone. Off the puck, he knows where to be to make himself an option for passes, whether it's in the zone, or in transition.

Speed-wise, Iginla is not a burner, but is still above average, and gets up to full speed very quickly, with a nice first-step, and good acceleration. His stride is long and powerful, and his edges are excellent, giving him a good change of direction to evade checks, and the ability to start and stop on a dime. He is uncommonly strong on his skates, and difficult to knock off the puck. Any shortcomings he has in his straight-ahead speed are compensated by his indomitable motor- he's always going flat-out, all the time, keeping his legs pumping vigorously. Iggy is hyper-engaged, highly competitive, and always the hardest working player on the ice- seemingly in the thick of the play at all times. He has a good understanding of his responsibilities in the defensive zone, with good positioning and awareness- always sticking to his man like glue. He will assist teammates down low, throw a hit to dislodge the puck, and is trusted in penalty-killing situations.

Iginla doesn't have a whole lot of weaknesses, but he can get caught holding on to the puck for too long, particularly when looking for a shot. This same thing can affect him in his decision-making, as he can run out of real estate when waiting for the right play to develop. He must avoid being too fancy, and looks indecisive at times. Being a high-volume shooter, some of his shots are of a low-percentage variety, so he could stand to use his teammates more in these situations. He must work to further his skating and strength for the pro ranks, but this is undoubtedly a future first-line goal-scoring winger, as it remains to be seen if his game suits the center position at the next level. Look for him in the top-12 in this year's draft.

Sandman - do you and / or others see him as a center in the NHL or will he be a winger?
Does he have the skillsets to be a consistent top two line centerman or is he a power forward that is better competing on the boards?
Thanks.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by shutout

Sandman - do you and / or others see him as a center in the NHL or will he be a winger?
Does he have the skillsets to be a consistent top two line centerman or is he a power forward that is better competing on the boards?
Thanks.

Others may see it differently, but I think he’ll settle in as a winger at the NHL level. He’s good at faceoffs, but he controls the play along the boards so well, and facilitates a ton of chances because of that.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Post-Bedard Edition):

Before the 2023-24 season began in Regina, many folks in the hockey world were wondering how Pats' Captain C/LW Tanner Howe would fare without the great Connor Bedard, who departed for the NHL. The pressure has been on Howe to be the main man for the team all year, and he's handling the burden quite well, despite being the main focus of opposing teams' D on a nightly basis. Howe has a late 2005 birthday, and though he's 18 years old, he's already an elder statesman in the WHL, with this season being his third full season in the league- and he's never been below a ppg, amassing 227 points in 192 games, and counting. In this current campaign, Howe has answered his doubters by piling up 73 points in 61 games to date, good for 23rd in WHL scoring, and leading the Pats by 28 points. He was picked in the 4th round of the 2020 WHL Draft, 73rd overall, and he has paid off handsomely for them. Central Scouting has rated him an "A" prospect, meaning they see him as being worthy of a first-round pick, and I'm sure the rest of the hockey world would agree. When I watched Howe at the most recent Hlinka Gretzky Cup, he struck me as a Colton Sissons-type, that of a utility forward who brings energy, sandpaper, tight-checking, and defensive acumen to the table, while chipping in a bit of offense. He finished the tournament with 4 points in 5 games, which was 12th for Team Canada, and has also taken part in the last 2 U-18 Tournaments, with only 1 point in 11 games.

Howe is so much more than the sum of his parts, as he's not a flashy or dynamic player at all- his skills don't seem to be high-end, and there's not much that pops off the page when you watch him, he just gets the job done. The puck seems to follow him around, and he's always in the thick of the action. Howe plays an honest 200-ft game, with good pro-style habits, attention to detail, and diplays offensive prowess as the straw that stirs the drink in Regina. His IQ is sky-high, and he processes the game at an elite level, with good instincts and anticipation, and a quality playmaking game. Howe relies alot on small-area plays, and quick touches, and he's been described as "the master of the 5-10 foot slip-pass" more than once. Speed-wise, he's an excellent skater, perhaps not elite, but he has smooth edges for escapability and quick movement in small areas. As a shooter, he can pick corners with any of the shots in his arsenal, including his slapshot, and he spends plenty of time around the crease, cleaning up garbage and finishing off second-chance opportunities. When he wants to, he can beat goalies in-tight with his soft hands. He can carry the puck through transition, and create chances off the rush, but alot of his offense comes from capitalizing on broken plays, steals, pouncing on mistakes that he causes, and from winning battles and races.

Despite being only 5'11", 181lbs, Howe plays like a power-forward, being always involved physically, throwing his weight around with hits aplenty. He battles in the trenches and the corners, always outworking opponents, turning steals and puck battles into offense. He has that fire in his belly that drives his high-end motor, and elite compete level- his feet never stop moving, and he stays active at all times. Howe is a respected leader, who leads by example, and doesn't cheat- he's tenacious on-and-off the puck. He's a good handler who can move through traffic, but doesn't dazzle with 1-on-1 moves- he has tight puck-control and protection, and it's hard to strip him of possession. His own-zone play is one of his best qualities, and he's already a seasoned defensive player with acute awareness and IQ on the backcheck. Howe is a part of shutting down opposing teams' best players on a regular basis, while winning key faceoffs, and contributing on PK1. It remains to be seen where Howe's place will end up being on an NHL roster, but he has much better tools and more offense in his game than the aforementioned Colton Sissons. I'm guessing middle-six C, with the chance at top-line winger, if he works to refine his puck skills, gets stronger, and even faster. Reminds me a bit of one of my all-time favorites- Mike Peca.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I wonder if the Flames draft another goalie this year?


I remember Button talking ages ago about how they ideally want to pick a goalie in every other draft. Lately, they have been taking a goalie in every draft, except for 2022 when they only had 3 picks total. I didn't want to go further back (1st round picks will trigger people!!).



2012 - Gillies
2013 - X

2014 - MacDonald
2015 - X

2016 - Parsons
2017 - X
2018 - X
2019 - Wolf
2020 - Chechelev
2021 - Sergeev
2022 - X (though only 3 picks total that draft)
2023 - Yegorov


I wonder if the increased picks is a shift in philosophy due to how many goalie prospects didn't pan out? Or is it simply a product of drafting BPA, and they strongly felt that particular goalies were the best at that spot, coincidentally? Or are they simply taking advantage of the longer term on rights for a goalie prospect drafted from Russia (as has been the case lately) in hedging their bets?


My guess is that they start taking a goalie every draft, unless they can't find a prospect(s) that they like enough available in the lower rounds. I wonder if Calgary will be taking a goalie in the first two rounds again, after being burned quite often over the years.


MacDonald vs Demko was an argument that was settled long ago. What was lost in all of that, was that it wasn't like MacDonald was some un-ranked, surprise prospect where Calgary bypassed the top 30 ranked goalie prospects. He was ranked #1 in some publications, and #2 in others for the most part. Parsons was a great pick - Flames didn't expect him to be available where he was, and apparently weren't planning on drafting a goalie that year, but they when he was still there, they decided to use their pick on him. He had a great Draft year, and a spectacular draft +1 year, before trending down and (according to hockeydb) quitting hockey altogether. I wonder if the draft capital spent on a position that hasn't panned out in quite some time led to a shift in philosophy?



It will be interesting to see the next few years' worth of drafts to see if the Flames continue mostly picking every season, and if they do, in what rounds. I wonder if they will ever draft a goalie in the first round again, or even in the 2nd round. Just interesting to note that - at least on the surface - this seems like a philosophical shift away from 'every other year in the first couple of rounds' to 'every year in the lower rounds'.

[butterfly]

I can't find a way to buy a ticket to the draft online. If it isn't too expensive I might go; it would be a cool way to check out the Sphere and hopefully see the Flames draft a couple future stars at the final in-person draft.

Anyone know how?

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I wonder if the Flames draft another goalie this year?


I remember Button talking ages ago about how they ideally want to pick a goalie in every other draft. Lately, they have been taking a goalie in every draft, except for 2022 when they only had 3 picks total. I didn't want to go further back (1st round picks will trigger people!!).



2012 - Gillies
2013 - X

2014 - MacDonald
2015 - X

2016 - Parsons
2017 - X
2018 - X
2019 - Wolf
2020 - Chechelev
2021 - Sergeev
2022 - X (though only 3 picks total that draft)
2023 - Yegorov


I wonder if the increased picks is a shift in philosophy due to how many goalie prospects didn't pan out? Or is it simply a product of drafting BPA, and they strongly felt that particular goalies were the best at that spot, coincidentally? Or are they simply taking advantage of the longer term on rights for a goalie prospect drafted from Russia (as has been the case lately) in hedging their bets?


My guess is that they start taking a goalie every draft, unless they can't find a prospect(s) that they like enough available in the lower rounds. I wonder if Calgary will be taking a goalie in the first two rounds again, after being burned quite often over the years.


MacDonald vs Demko was an argument that was settled long ago. What was lost in all of that, was that it wasn't like MacDonald was some un-ranked, surprise prospect where Calgary bypassed the top 30 ranked goalie prospects. He was ranked #1 in some publications, and #2 in others for the most part. Parsons was a great pick - Flames didn't expect him to be available where he was, and apparently weren't planning on drafting a goalie that year, but they when he was still there, they decided to use their pick on him. He had a great Draft year, and a spectacular draft +1 year, before trending down and (according to hockeydb) quitting hockey altogether. I wonder if the draft capital spent on a position that hasn't panned out in quite some time led to a shift in philosophy?



It will be interesting to see the next few years' worth of drafts to see if the Flames continue mostly picking every season, and if they do, in what rounds. I wonder if they will ever draft a goalie in the first round again, or even in the 2nd round. Just interesting to note that - at least on the surface - this seems like a philosophical shift away from 'every other year in the first couple of rounds' to 'every year in the lower rounds'.

I've liked Howe for two years. This is the player I hope we take with the Vancouver pick.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (The Eis Have It Edition):

At the conclusion of the current season, 6'0",196lb LW Cole Eiserman may very well be the top goal-scorer in NTDP history, eclipsing Cole Caufield's record of 126 goals- Eiserman currently sits at 109. Eiserman's 69 goals in 62 games with the U-17, and U-18 teams in 2022-23 are 2nd for goals in a season in the NTDP, behind Caufield's 72, but set a record for players under the age of 17 in the program. He seemed to be able to score at will at the U-18 tournament, with 9 goals and 11 points in 7 games, and displayed perhaps the best shot and release I can ever recall seeing from a kid his age at the time. Also remarkable is the fact that Eiserman is one of the youngest players in this draft, with an August 29th birthday- almost missing being eligible for this year's draft by just 18 days, so he may have a longer runway than most.

With all due respect to Tij Iginla, Eiserman is the best goal-scorer available in the 2024 Draft by a wide margin. He's an elite scorer who possesses almost as many dazzling releases as he does lethal shots in his deep arsenal, and he can score in every way imaginable from near or far. He's a volume shooter, with tunnel-vision to the net, and has a goal-scorer's knack for finding the most dangerous holes in coverage to go to recieve a pass, and can slip into the soft spots to shoot. He can fire the puck in full flight off the rush without slowing down, and can put the puck in the net from anywhere in the zone- including in-tight, where he shows excellent hand-eye co-ordination and soft hands to beat goalies with nifty moves, or shovel in garbage goals. Eiserman will park himself in front of the net to screen, get tips, and pounce on rebounds and second-chance opportunities. His shot comes with pinpoint accuracy, and he practices high-end deception to disguise his potent release- which has been compared to that of Auston Matthews. To deceive goalies, he will change the angle of his shot, and has a mastery of every deke, fake, and look-off one could imagine to manipulate the six opposing players on the ice. He doesn't need time or space to unleash, and all of his shots seem to be elite- from his backhand to his hard wrister, to his bomb of a one-timer.

Eiserman is a possession player, and seems to have the puck on his blade for the majority of any shift, with his 1-on-1 play being amongst his best assets. He displays advanced puck-protection, and his hands are very quick in handling the puck, giving him the ability to weave around, or through traffic. These skills are aided by his strong skating stride, which comes with a bit of an explosive burst when carrying, but he can also bully his way around, leaning into opponents on his way to the net. Eiserman isn't a true power-forward, and isn't the most physical player, but he has some sandpaper in his game, and will deliver hits to dislodge the puck, or dole out some punishment when necessary. He's stronger than he looks, has good motor, and is quite competitive- he puts up a good fight along the boards, in front of the net, and in the corners. While Eiserman is clearly a shoot-first player, he can make plays when needed, and flashes some distibution skill, but this part of his game needs work- he gets picked off frequently, as he telegraphs his plays and doesn't seem overly confident in making the more complicated passes. He prefers to carry through transition, but would benefit from using his teammates more, using give-and-go's to be more predictable, and further push the pace. He's quite good, though, at making plays to teammates in the slot from below the goal-line. Eiserman's defensive game is deficient, and his engagement is lacking, as he often coasts on the backcheck without urgency, sometimes being the last to enter the zone. His awareness is lacking, or at least raw, and his effort is poor.

Nobody doubts that Eiserman's goal-scoring ability will translate to the NHL, but what about the rest of his game? He must work to become a much better 200-ft player if he hopes to make it as a top-6 winger in the big leagues, and while he has strength and speed, he must get stronger and faster. He could afford to use his teammates more, and to develop his playmaking, as his high-volume shooting means that some of his shots hit opposing players on the way to the net, or get blocked. Another dimension to his game would make him more predictable. The good news is that he has plenty of time to develop his game, as he's committed to Boston University next year, after de-committing to the U of Minnesota.

[FlamesAddiction]

Sandman, did you ever do a write up on Dean Letourneau? I saw some people refer to him as the next Jankowski on account of his size and lighting it up at lower levels, but 6'7" center is always intriguing. He seems to be projected as a 2nd rounder.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Sandman, did you ever do a write up on Dean Letourneau? I saw some people refer to him as the next Jankowski on account of his size and lighting it up at lower levels, but 6'7" center is always intriguing. He seems to be projected as a 2nd rounder.

I haven't done one yet, but I will soon. To me, he looks highly overrated due to his size.

[Buzzard]

Originally Posted by butterfly

I can't find a way to buy a ticket to the draft online. If it isn't too expensive I might go; it would be a cool way to check out the Sphere and hopefully see the Flames draft a couple future stars at the final in-person draft.

Anyone know how?

https://www.vividseats.com/checkout?...ProductionList

[Heavy Jack]

That write up on Baby Iggy has me convinced. Great write ups as always Sandman!

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Sandman

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.

I assume you've seen this story - https://theathletic.com/5290107/2024...evor-connelly/

Between the ages of roughly 13 and 17, he was a member of seven different programs, and that included two stops where he stayed less than a month. To understand what might be behind those frequent moves, The Athletic spoke to more than 40 people (players, parents, coaches and others) who interacted with Connelly during his playing career.

Connelly played six seasons for the Anaheim (Calif.) Jr. Ducks, ending with the 2018-19 season when Connelly was around 13, and The Athletic interviewed more than a dozen parents who had a child who was a teammate of Connelly’s during at least one of those seasons. Ten of those parents said they witnessed behavior by Connelly that they considered troubling, and eight of those 10 parents described Connelly’s actions as bullying.

Four parents said they saw Connelly punch a teammate during practice; three of those parents said they saw it happen multiple times. It was usually in response to Connelly getting frustrated, those three parents say, such as when he lost a puck battle or a teammate wouldn’t allow him to cut in line during a drill. Five parents said he would slash teammates with his stick out of frustration. Four of those five parents said they also saw him slew-foot players — trip an opponent from behind with a leg or foot.

Parents said Connelly also picked on some teammates in the locker room and away from the rink. He seemed to focus on players who were small in stature and/or were among the less talented members of the team, according to eight parents. He would make fun of their appearance, tell them they were not good players and that they didn’t belong on the team, among other insults. “He wasn’t just a troublemaker; it wasn’t just that. He was mean,” said one parent.

In 2020, Connelly, then 14, enrolled at Bishop Kearney, which started a boys select hockey program during the pandemic, drawing top players from around the country. Almost immediately, the school suspended Connelly, but he left Bishop Kearney shortly thereafter. A public relations official working with the family said that all that should be written about Connelly’s short stint at the school is: “He was there for a week and he left.”

Sources involved in the school’s hockey program said that Connelly was suspended after urinating on another student’s belongings, among other alleged acts. One source said Connelly was acting in response to hazing that Connelly had received earlier. That source said he witnessed the hazing Connelly endured and also saw students tease Connelly about being hazed.

Connelly instead joined Anaheim’s Jr. Ice Dogs, and in April 2021, when he was 15 and playing for that team versus the L.A. Jr. Kings, he was accused of directing a racial slur at an opponent. What happened remains in dispute. The player came off the ice “so visibly shaken and upset with tears streaming down his face after the incident that I had to sit him for the remainder of the first period so he could collect himself,” according to an email his coach, Brett Beebe, sent to Pacific District official Wayne Sawchuk, which was viewed by The Athletic.

The matter was then taken up by the disciplinary hearing committee of the California Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA). After a hearing before that group, the panel found that “the alleged incident as described by the Pacific District Tournament Disciplinary Committee may have occurred, however, there was no supporting documentation presented by the (Pacific District Tournament Disciplinary Committee) that corroborated the allegation against the player, and the player maintained that he at no time uttered any racial slurs against his opponent,” according to its written decision. In closing, the CAHA committee stated that Connelly had not violated the USA Hockey rule covering misconduct.

And then the other incident mentioned with the snapchat photo.

At minimum - the kid has been involved in a bunch of issues.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by butterfly

I can't find a way to buy a ticket to the draft online. If it isn't too expensive I might go; it would be a cool way to check out the Sphere and hopefully see the Flames draft a couple future stars at the final in-person draft.

Anyone know how?

no clue- so I know I'm not helping- but having been to the Sphere- if you can. go. just general advice. cool venue.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

I assume you've seen this story - https://theathletic.com/5290107/2024...evor-connelly/














And then the other incident mentioned with the snapchat photo.

At minimum - the kid has been involved in a bunch of issues.

Wow, thanks Pete. I haven’t actually read that article, but it shows why some scouts have him rated so low, due to his character issues.