2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Wastedyouth]

Connelly is a piece of trash. Kid should never play professional hockey in his life.

Go be an incel online kid.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (My Boy Cayden Edition);

A unicorn amongst unicorns, LHC Cayden Lindstrom is a swift-skating behemoth, at 6'5",215lbs, with snarl, a nice two-way game, and multiple projectable tools- proof that sometimes you can have your cake and eat it too. An upper-body injury that required surgery has kept him sidelined since December, but before that, he had piled up 27 goals and 46 points in only 32 games, to go with 66 penalty minutes, for Medicine Hat. In last year's Hlinka Gretzky, in a support role, he managed to post 3 points in 5 games, with 12 PIM.

Lindstrom is a power forward who plays a pro-style game, and can take over any game with either skill or brute force. He has a high-end offensive toolkit, with the ability to shoot, or make plays. He's not just an excellent skater for his size, he's an excellent skater for any size. His stride is powerful, and he generates blazing speed from it, with agility and explosiveness from his edges, and the ability to turn on a dime. He's strong on his skates, and hard to knock off the puck. He plays with pace, putting defenders on their heels, and can skate just as fast with the puck, as he can without. His arsenal of shots, and the lightning-fast release that comes with them are all NHL-calibre, as is the deception he uses to disquise them. His one-timer has blistering velocity behind it, his snapshot is hard and accurate, and he can shoot in full flight without losing speed in his stride, or power in his shot. Around the net, he finds open space in the slot to facilitate chances, and he will pounce on rebounds, tap-ins, and tips- or set up an effective screen, using his massive frame. He forechecks hard, driving the net to present himself as an available option for a high-danger pass.

Lindstrom's playmaking ability and creativity are highly underrated- he shows good vision, with the ability to find teammates with difficult, and complicated passes to high-danger, through traffic- he's a proficient tape-to-tape passer, and problem-solver. His hockey IQ has come into question, but I think it's largely because Lindstrom is not afraid to try, and fail, with these plays. He is calm and patient with the puck, even when he's going all-out, and will buy time to wait until the right play unfolds, rather than force a pass, or throw the puck away. He skates with his head up to map out his surroundings, and draws opponents to him to open space to use, and he creates lanes for himself to operate in. He can find holes below the goal line to generate chances, and recieves passes in stride, without the need to slow down. Lindstrom's deception skills are off the charts, and he bends the opposition to his will, manipulating his way around the ice- one of the pillars of his game. He will fake a shot to dish to an open teammate, he will sell going wide to attack the middle, or feign attacking the middle to go wide. He has a dazzling array of feints and manouvers to beat defenders, and is one of the most feared 1-on-1 players in the WHL, moving through coverage with the puck on a string, to dangle around opponents. The puck-control he commands is scary, and his stickhandling is one of the strengths of his game- it's nearly impossible to strip him of the puck, as it seems like it's glued to his stick, and he protects extremely well. For a player as big as he is, it's rare to see such a well-developed small-area game, as he can move around in traffic without hardly getting touched, as if he's skating around pylons.

It's pretty hard to play a physical game, or to lay a hit, when you're in constant possession of the puck, and while Lindstrom prefers to do most of his damage with his skill, he does use his size well, and will dish out punishment in the form of big hits when the opportunity presents itself. Even when he's not hitting, he uses his size to leverage his way around, win battles in the hard areas, as well as dominate along the wall and down low. He's tough and mean, stirs the pot and agitates, and opponents don't fare well when they poke the bear. He's always highly engaged and competitive, finishing his checks, working hard for every puck, and playing with high levels of energy and desperation. His feet are always in motion, and he's highly industrious, seemingly touching every square foot of ice in a single shift. Lindstrom is a solid two-way player, with consistently good stick and body position in all 3 zones- he can intercept plays in the offensive zone, thereby extending possession, and he commands play in transition by skating through the neutral zone, evading checks like he was a ghost. He makes an inordinately high number of entries with control, and attacks the middle lanes with vigor.

Lindstrom backchecks as hard as he forechecks, with a long reach that stymies attackers in the defensive zone, and after performing a smooth retrieval, he will turn the defense around into offense quickly. In the defensive zone, he has a proactive off-puck game that puts him in a good position to take away the middle of the ice, and kill plays. He supports teammates well, blocks shots, wins faceoffs, and is physically engaged against puck-carriers, playing them hard and mean. He can match footwork with anyone, including smaller, more shifty opponents. While he works hard, and understands his duties defensively, he's still quite raw in this area, perhaps because he only started playing C a few years ago- he can be caught puck-watching, and needs to learn how to stick to his man better. This part of his game needs to be shored up. He often tries to do too much on his own, holding on to the puck too long, and trapping himself, or overhandling the puck- all of which can result in turnovers. Lindstrom's hockey IQ has come into question by some, as he makes some bad decisions when in trouble, such as passing to the first teammate in sight, when that teammate is already covered by an opponent. He makes bad passes on occasion, and takes strange routes in the offensive zone, where he gets lost in traffic. Another big issue is that he gets frustrated too easily, and loses his temper, which leads to bad penalties. All in all though, Lindstrom has a skillset that is highly translatable, and a frame that is highly coveted by GM's. I expect him to be picked in the top-5 of this year's draft.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Buzzard

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

Where are these people getting the tickets from to put them up for resale? I looked on The Sphere website and can't find anything about the NHL draft.

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Draft Thoughts (My Boy Cayden Edition);

A unicorn amongst unicorns, LHC Cayden Lindstrom is a swift-skating behemoth, at 6'5",215lbs, with snarl, a nice two-way game, and multiple projectable tools- proof that sometimes you can have your cake and eat it too. An upper-body injury that required surgery has kept him sidelined since December, but before that, he had piled up 27 goals and 46 points in only 32 games, to go with 66 penalty minutes, for Medicine Hat. In last year's Hlinka Gretzky, in a support role, he managed to post 3 points in 5 games, with 12 PIM.

Lindstrom is a power forward who plays a pro-style game, and can take over any game with either skill or brute force. He has a high-end offensive toolkit, with the ability to shoot, or make plays. He's not just an excellent skater for his size, he's an excellent skater for any size. His stride is powerful, and he generates blazing speed from it, with agility and explosiveness from his edges, and the ability to turn on a dime. He's strong on his skates, and hard to knock off the puck. He plays with pace, putting defenders on their heels, and can skate just as fast with the puck, as he can without. His arsenal of shots, and the lightning-fast release that comes with them are all NHL-calibre, as is the deception he uses to disquise them. His one-timer has blistering velocity behind it, his snapshot is hard and accurate, and he can shoot in full flight without losing speed in his stride, or power in his shot. Around the net, he finds open space in the slot to facilitate chances, and he will pounce on rebounds, tap-ins, and tips- or set up an effective screen, using his massive frame. He forechecks hard, driving the net to present himself as an available option for a high-danger pass.

Lindstrom's playmaking ability and creativity are highly underrated- he shows good vision, with the ability to find teammates with difficult, and complicated passes to high-danger, through traffic- he's a proficient tape-to-tape passer, and problem-solver. His hockey IQ has come into question, but I think it's largely because Lindstrom is not afraid to try, and fail, with these plays. He is calm and patient with the puck, even when he's going all-out, and will buy time to wait until the right play unfolds, rather than force a pass, or throw the puck away. He skates with his head up to map out his surroundings, and draws opponents to him to open space to use, and he creates lanes for himself to operate in. He can find holes below the goal line to generate chances, and recieves passes in stride, without the need to slow down. Lindstrom's deception skills are off the charts, and he bends the opposition to his will, manipulating his way around the ice- one of the pillars of his game. He will fake a shot to dish to an open teammate, he will sell going wide to attack the middle, or feign attacking the middle to go wide. He has a dazzling array of feints and manouvers to beat defenders, and is one of the most feared 1-on-1 players in the WHL, moving through coverage with the puck on a string, to dangle around opponents. The puck-control he commands is scary, and his stickhandling is one of the strengths of his game- it's nearly impossible to strip him of the puck, as it seems like it's glued to his stick, and he protects extremely well. For a player as big as he is, it's rare to see such a well-developed small-area game, as he can move around in traffic without hardly getting touched, as if he's skating around pylons.

It's pretty hard to play a physical game, or to lay a hit, when you're in constant possession of the puck, and while Lindstrom prefers to do most of his damage with his skill, he does use his size well, and will dish out punishment in the form of big hits when the opportunity presents itself. Even when he's not hitting, he uses his size to leverage his way around, win battles in the hard areas, as well as dominate along the wall and down low. He's tough and mean, stirs the pot and agitates, and opponents don't fare well when they poke the bear. He's always highly engaged and competitive, finishing his checks, working hard for every puck, and playing with high levels of energy and desperation. His feet are always in motion, and he's highly industrious, seemingly touching every square foot of ice in a single shift. Lindstrom is a solid two-way player, with consistently good stick and body position in all 3 zones- he can intercept plays in the offensive zone, thereby extending possession, and he commands play in transition by skating through the neutral zone, evading checks like he was a ghost. He makes an inordinately high number of entries with control, and attacks the middle lanes with vigor.

Lindstrom backchecks as hard as he forechecks, with a long reach that stymies attackers in the defensive zone, and after performing a smooth retrieval, he will turn the defense around into offense quickly. In the defensive zone, he has a proactive off-puck game that puts him in a good position to take away the middle of the ice, and kill plays. He supports teammates well, blocks shots, wins faceoffs, and is physically engaged against puck-carriers, playing them hard and mean. He can match footwork with anyone, including smaller, more shifty opponents. While he works hard, and understands his duties defensively, he's still quite raw in this area, perhaps because he only started playing C a few years ago- he can be caught puck-watching, and needs to learn how to stick to his man better. This part of his game needs to be shored up. He often tries to do too much on his own, holding on to the puck too long, and trapping himself, or overhandling the puck- all of which can result in turnovers. Lindstrom's hockey IQ has come into question by some, as he makes some bad decisions when in trouble, such as passing to the first teammate in sight, when that teammate is already covered by an opponent. He makes bad passes on occasion, and takes strange routes in the offensive zone, where he gets lost in traffic. Another big issue is that he gets frustrated too easily, and loses his temper, which leads to bad penalties. All in all though, Lindstrom has a skillset that is highly translatable, and a frame that is highly coveted by GM's. I expect him to be picked in the top-5 of this year's draft.

The fact that Markstrom wasn't moved weeks ago means we don't get guys like this. Christ perfect profile to be an amazing Flame and we won't get a sniff.

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

Swoon for lindstrom but this draft has a lot of interesting PWF talent playing in the CHL. Center looks to be thin but if we miss out on a guy like this, sadface*, I like those two right wings from the OHL and that one from the Q. Good draft to have multiple picks.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Dean-O Edition):

It's quite difficult to project a player from the Prep School league, even when that player has the physical tools that RHC Dean Letourneau possesses. As of right now, Letourneau and teammate Jack Good are tied for 1st in scoring in the Prep Hockey Conference (PHC), with 33 points apiece- 9 points ahead of the third-place scorer (Ryker Lee), and 11 points ahead of well-regarded American forward Will Zellers. Part of Letourneau's season with St. Andrew's College has been played at the U18 AAA level, where he has dominated, with 57 goals and 121 points in 54 games. As we all know, Letourneau measures 6'7", and weighs in at 210lbs, and has been assigned the rank of "B" by Central Scouting, projecting him as a 2nd, or 3rd round pick. According to Bob McKenzie though, scouts are very divided on this kid, with some ranking him in the 15-20 pick range, and some having him as far down as the 3rd round. It's hard to find much to go on with this kid, as games at the Prep level don't typically end up on the internet, but most descriptions of his play should come with an asterisk, as he's a huge kid playing at a lower level of hockey; however, he was called up to the USHL's Sioux Falls Stampede for 2 games over the post-Christmas break, and I took the opportunity to watch him in these games.

At the USHL level, Letourneau looked over-cautious and tentative, keeping his play safe and simple, getting no points in limited minutes, and not really moving the needle much. He seemed to be content with just keeping the opposing team from scoring. It likely won't hurt his draft stock much though, as it amounts to a very small sample size in a very different, and more difficult league. At any rate, the reports are true- this kid is a very solid skater, and covers a lot of ice in a very short time. He has excellent agility and co-ordination, with smooth edges to pivot quickly. His top speed is very good, and though he could use better acceleration, he had no trouble keeping up with USHL competition, even winning a race or two. At the Prep School level, he's dominant in both ends of the rink- especially offensively- and knows how to find soft spots in coverage to make plays, or to drive the net. His puckhandling is high-end, and his protection skills help him keep constant possession. With his speed and puck-control, he can carry the puck up the ice through transition. Right now, he's a dual offensive threat, but leans a bit towards shooting, which may change as he ascends to higher levels. From what I've seen, both his one-timer and wrister are hard and heavy, and his release can freeze goalies. He can score from far out, and he can also beat goalies from in-tight with his soft hands. When he had the opportunity to shoot in USHL play though, I felt like he was a bit nervous, and telegraphed his release. He sees the ice quite well, and can pull off some difficult plays to teammates in high-danger, but can he do the same at higher levels?

For a player with Letourneau's size advantages, it's frustrating that he doesn't use his body more, instead opting to rely on his skill more often than not to impose his will. He's not completely devoid of physicality though, as he will still use his frame as leverage in puck battles, and will finish his checks when the opportunity is there. In lower levels, he usually comes out on top in 50/50 contests. Letourneau is very mindful of his defensive duties as a center, and is always on the right side of the puck, with exemplary positioning, and doesn't cheat. He patrols the middle of the ice, taking away slot opportunities from attackers, and guarding the front of his net. It helps to have his enormous wingspan, and he uses it to break up plays, and block lanes. Many scouts however, do not love his intensity or his compete level- he tends to glide a lot, and does a lot of puck-watching. Letourneau is still pretty raw, and will undoubtedly be a long-term project- the scouts that want to take him early see his potential down the road, and know that he's far less a finished product than most kids his age. The good news is that he is committed to Boston College for the 2025-26 season, so the team that takes him will own his rights for the long haul. The other bit of good news is that he hasn't yet filled out, and if he makes it to the NHL, he could be playing at 230lbs. For that to happen, he has to increase his GAF meter, and learn to use his body more- but even then, he could just end up being another Logan Brown. We will know more next season, as I assume he will play full-time in the USHL. Personally, I would be nervous to take him before the third round, but some GM might just pick him late first/early second.

[sch19lks]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Draft Thoughts (My Boy Cayden Edition);

A unicorn amongst unicorns, LHC Cayden Lindstrom is a swift-skating behemoth, at 6'5",215lbs, with snarl, a nice two-way game, and multiple projectable tools- proof that sometimes you can have your cake and eat it too. An upper-body injury that required surgery has kept him sidelined since December, but before that, he had piled up 27 goals and 46 points in only 32 games, to go with 66 penalty minutes, for Medicine Hat. In last year's Hlinka Gretzky, in a support role, he managed to post 3 points in 5 games, with 12 PIM.

Lindstrom is a power forward who plays a pro-style game, and can take over any game with either skill or brute force. He has a high-end offensive toolkit, with the ability to shoot, or make plays. He's not just an excellent skater for his size, he's an excellent skater for any size. His stride is powerful, and he generates blazing speed from it, with agility and explosiveness from his edges, and the ability to turn on a dime. He's strong on his skates, and hard to knock off the puck. He plays with pace, putting defenders on their heels, and can skate just as fast with the puck, as he can without. His arsenal of shots, and the lightning-fast release that comes with them are all NHL-calibre, as is the deception he uses to disquise them. His one-timer has blistering velocity behind it, his snapshot is hard and accurate, and he can shoot in full flight without losing speed in his stride, or power in his shot. Around the net, he finds open space in the slot to facilitate chances, and he will pounce on rebounds, tap-ins, and tips- or set up an effective screen, using his massive frame. He forechecks hard, driving the net to present himself as an available option for a high-danger pass.

Lindstrom's playmaking ability and creativity are highly underrated- he shows good vision, with the ability to find teammates with difficult, and complicated passes to high-danger, through traffic- he's a proficient tape-to-tape passer, and problem-solver. His hockey IQ has come into question, but I think it's largely because Lindstrom is not afraid to try, and fail, with these plays. He is calm and patient with the puck, even when he's going all-out, and will buy time to wait until the right play unfolds, rather than force a pass, or throw the puck away. He skates with his head up to map out his surroundings, and draws opponents to him to open space to use, and he creates lanes for himself to operate in. He can find holes below the goal line to generate chances, and recieves passes in stride, without the need to slow down. Lindstrom's deception skills are off the charts, and he bends the opposition to his will, manipulating his way around the ice- one of the pillars of his game. He will fake a shot to dish to an open teammate, he will sell going wide to attack the middle, or feign attacking the middle to go wide. He has a dazzling array of feints and manouvers to beat defenders, and is one of the most feared 1-on-1 players in the WHL, moving through coverage with the puck on a string, to dangle around opponents. The puck-control he commands is scary, and his stickhandling is one of the strengths of his game- it's nearly impossible to strip him of the puck, as it seems like it's glued to his stick, and he protects extremely well. For a player as big as he is, it's rare to see such a well-developed small-area game, as he can move around in traffic without hardly getting touched, as if he's skating around pylons.

It's pretty hard to play a physical game, or to lay a hit, when you're in constant possession of the puck, and while Lindstrom prefers to do most of his damage with his skill, he does use his size well, and will dish out punishment in the form of big hits when the opportunity presents itself. Even when he's not hitting, he uses his size to leverage his way around, win battles in the hard areas, as well as dominate along the wall and down low. He's tough and mean, stirs the pot and agitates, and opponents don't fare well when they poke the bear. He's always highly engaged and competitive, finishing his checks, working hard for every puck, and playing with high levels of energy and desperation. His feet are always in motion, and he's highly industrious, seemingly touching every square foot of ice in a single shift. Lindstrom is a solid two-way player, with consistently good stick and body position in all 3 zones- he can intercept plays in the offensive zone, thereby extending possession, and he commands play in transition by skating through the neutral zone, evading checks like he was a ghost. He makes an inordinately high number of entries with control, and attacks the middle lanes with vigor.

Lindstrom backchecks as hard as he forechecks, with a long reach that stymies attackers in the defensive zone, and after performing a smooth retrieval, he will turn the defense around into offense quickly. In the defensive zone, he has a proactive off-puck game that puts him in a good position to take away the middle of the ice, and kill plays. He supports teammates well, blocks shots, wins faceoffs, and is physically engaged against puck-carriers, playing them hard and mean. He can match footwork with anyone, including smaller, more shifty opponents. While he works hard, and understands his duties defensively, he's still quite raw in this area, perhaps because he only started playing C a few years ago- he can be caught puck-watching, and needs to learn how to stick to his man better. This part of his game needs to be shored up. He often tries to do too much on his own, holding on to the puck too long, and trapping himself, or overhandling the puck- all of which can result in turnovers. Lindstrom's hockey IQ has come into question by some, as he makes some bad decisions when in trouble, such as passing to the first teammate in sight, when that teammate is already covered by an opponent. He makes bad passes on occasion, and takes strange routes in the offensive zone, where he gets lost in traffic. Another big issue is that he gets frustrated too easily, and loses his temper, which leads to bad penalties. All in all though, Lindstrom has a skillset that is highly translatable, and a frame that is highly coveted by GM's. I expect him to be picked in the top-5 of this year's draft.

Great hockey player, awesome skill set. My worry is if he can slow the game down at the next level and make plays. I’m stuck on him honestly. Could be the best player in the draft not named Celebrini, or could bust entirely. Thanks for the write up

[devo22]

C Nathan Villeneuve, projected to be a 3rd round pick by many (eg. McKenzie had him at 71), has been suspended for 15 games by the OHL for violating social media conduct. Sounds like there was talk in a group chat about hurting opposing players on purpose.

The League became aware of concerning allegations surrounding inappropriate game-related comments shared on a Sudbury Wolves group chat following a game between the Wolves and the Barrie Colts on January 18.

The League’s investigation revealed that Wolves players Nathan Villeneuve and Evan Konyen violated the OHL Social Media Policy in a manner detrimental to the welfare of the League, one that would greatly compromise player safety and the overall integrity of the game.

https://chl.ca/ohl/article/ohl-concl...s-hockey-club/

probably another one for the "don't draft" pile.

[Mass_nerder]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Draft Thoughts (My Boy Cayden Edition);

A unicorn amongst unicorns, LHC Cayden Lindstrom is a swift-skating behemoth, at 6'5",215lbs, with snarl, a nice two-way game, and multiple projectable tools- proof that sometimes you can have your cake and eat it too. An upper-body injury that required surgery has kept him sidelined since December, but before that, he had piled up 27 goals and 46 points in only 32 games, to go with 66 penalty minutes, for Medicine Hat. In last year's Hlinka Gretzky, in a support role, he managed to post 3 points in 5 games, with 12 PIM.

Lindstrom is a power forward who plays a pro-style game, and can take over any game with either skill or brute force. He has a high-end offensive toolkit, with the ability to shoot, or make plays. He's not just an excellent skater for his size, he's an excellent skater for any size. His stride is powerful, and he generates blazing speed from it, with agility and explosiveness from his edges, and the ability to turn on a dime. He's strong on his skates, and hard to knock off the puck. He plays with pace, putting defenders on their heels, and can skate just as fast with the puck, as he can without. His arsenal of shots, and the lightning-fast release that comes with them are all NHL-calibre, as is the deception he uses to disquise them. His one-timer has blistering velocity behind it, his snapshot is hard and accurate, and he can shoot in full flight without losing speed in his stride, or power in his shot. Around the net, he finds open space in the slot to facilitate chances, and he will pounce on rebounds, tap-ins, and tips- or set up an effective screen, using his massive frame. He forechecks hard, driving the net to present himself as an available option for a high-danger pass.

Lindstrom's playmaking ability and creativity are highly underrated- he shows good vision, with the ability to find teammates with difficult, and complicated passes to high-danger, through traffic- he's a proficient tape-to-tape passer, and problem-solver. His hockey IQ has come into question, but I think it's largely because Lindstrom is not afraid to try, and fail, with these plays. He is calm and patient with the puck, even when he's going all-out, and will buy time to wait until the right play unfolds, rather than force a pass, or throw the puck away. He skates with his head up to map out his surroundings, and draws opponents to him to open space to use, and he creates lanes for himself to operate in. He can find holes below the goal line to generate chances, and recieves passes in stride, without the need to slow down. Lindstrom's deception skills are off the charts, and he bends the opposition to his will, manipulating his way around the ice- one of the pillars of his game. He will fake a shot to dish to an open teammate, he will sell going wide to attack the middle, or feign attacking the middle to go wide. He has a dazzling array of feints and manouvers to beat defenders, and is one of the most feared 1-on-1 players in the WHL, moving through coverage with the puck on a string, to dangle around opponents. The puck-control he commands is scary, and his stickhandling is one of the strengths of his game- it's nearly impossible to strip him of the puck, as it seems like it's glued to his stick, and he protects extremely well. For a player as big as he is, it's rare to see such a well-developed small-area game, as he can move around in traffic without hardly getting touched, as if he's skating around pylons.

It's pretty hard to play a physical game, or to lay a hit, when you're in constant possession of the puck, and while Lindstrom prefers to do most of his damage with his skill, he does use his size well, and will dish out punishment in the form of big hits when the opportunity presents itself. Even when he's not hitting, he uses his size to leverage his way around, win battles in the hard areas, as well as dominate along the wall and down low. He's tough and mean, stirs the pot and agitates, and opponents don't fare well when they poke the bear. He's always highly engaged and competitive, finishing his checks, working hard for every puck, and playing with high levels of energy and desperation. His feet are always in motion, and he's highly industrious, seemingly touching every square foot of ice in a single shift. Lindstrom is a solid two-way player, with consistently good stick and body position in all 3 zones- he can intercept plays in the offensive zone, thereby extending possession, and he commands play in transition by skating through the neutral zone, evading checks like he was a ghost. He makes an inordinately high number of entries with control, and attacks the middle lanes with vigor.

Lindstrom backchecks as hard as he forechecks, with a long reach that stymies attackers in the defensive zone, and after performing a smooth retrieval, he will turn the defense around into offense quickly. In the defensive zone, he has a proactive off-puck game that puts him in a good position to take away the middle of the ice, and kill plays. He supports teammates well, blocks shots, wins faceoffs, and is physically engaged against puck-carriers, playing them hard and mean. He can match footwork with anyone, including smaller, more shifty opponents. While he works hard, and understands his duties defensively, he's still quite raw in this area, perhaps because he only started playing C a few years ago- he can be caught puck-watching, and needs to learn how to stick to his man better. This part of his game needs to be shored up. He often tries to do too much on his own, holding on to the puck too long, and trapping himself, or overhandling the puck- all of which can result in turnovers. Lindstrom's hockey IQ has come into question by some, as he makes some bad decisions when in trouble, such as passing to the first teammate in sight, when that teammate is already covered by an opponent. He makes bad passes on occasion, and takes strange routes in the offensive zone, where he gets lost in traffic. Another big issue is that he gets frustrated too easily, and loses his temper, which leads to bad penalties. All in all though, Lindstrom has a skillset that is highly translatable, and a frame that is highly coveted by GM's. I expect him to be picked in the top-5 of this year's draft.

What past/present player would you compare him to? Your profile kind of reminds of of Lindros (style of play, not skill level necessarily).
I really hope he's available when we pick, but it kind of seems like he'll be top 5.

[Sandman]

Here is my write-up of Villeneuve. Too bad, I really like the kid:

Draft Thoughts (Sudbury Wolves Edition):

One can't judge Sudbury Wolves' LHC Nathan Villeneuve on stats alone, but it appears as though Central Scouting has been watching him closely, as they have given him a "B" rating- pegging him as a 2nd or 3rd round pick. To date, he has collected 14 goals and 35 points (with 46 PIM) in 44 games on one of the best, and highest-scoring teams in the OHL. Villeneuve plays behind some very high-end, older players in Sudbury, such as David Goyette, Quentin Musty, Landon McCallum, Kocha Delic, and Dalibor Dvorsky- so he doesn't get top-line minutes, or much powerplay time (only 5 of his points have come via the PP). In fact, he's often relegated to third-line deployment, because of the logjam at the center-ice position, along with some tours of duty on the second line mixed in here and there. There's no doubt that if he were given more ice-time and responsibility, his numbers would look even impressive, and I think Central Scouting recognizes that. Villy was drafted 3rd overall by the Wolves in the 2021 OHL Draft.
Vileneuve is a gritty, details-oriented, two-way centerman who brings snarl and physicality every shift. He plays hard and heavy, with a strong and sturdy 6'0",185lb frame, and battles tooth-and-nail for every puck. Much like a poor-man's Brad Marchand, he's a superpest who agitates, makes life difficult for opponents, and has sky-high compete. Also like Marchand, he's tough enough to back it up, and will drop the gloves- and he's not a bad fighter. Villy plays many games with a target on his back, and doesn't seem to mind. He's a bit of a throwback, power-forward type, who's constantly in motion, works hard, and has high motor to play a 60-minute game. As one could guess, he's a relentless forechecker who throws hits aplenty, but is smart enough to not take himself out of the play.
Villeneuve isn't just a goon, though- he's highly intelligent, and has top-notch vision as a playmaker. He's got spatial awareness, and can open seams to get the puck to high-danger. He's got a hard, heavy shot, with a lightning-fast release, and the hands in-tight to fool goalies. He's an effortless skater, perhaps even explosive- he was an injury replacement for the CHL Top Prospects Game, and in the on-ice testing leading up to the event, he placed 5th overall in the 30m Forward Skate, and 2nd in the 30m Forward Skate With Puck. He's a responsible player in all 3 zones, and backchecks as hard as he forechecks, hounding puck carriers, and getting in their faces. This is a player who will get more and more dominant at the junior level in the next 2 years, as those older players depart for the pros, and will start putting up big numbers as early as next season. This is another player that's far better than his stats suggest. In his last 20 games, he has 22 points. He compares himself to Mason McTavish, and I can see that to some degree, although I think he plays a much more energetic, rambunctious style. If he's available in the third round, it's a good idea to take him.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Who's the Mack? Edition):

The projected consensus first-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, LHC Macklin Celebrini, is in the midst of the 4th-best season by a U-18 player in NCAA history, with 48 points in just 30 games at Boston University, for a 1.60 ppg. Celebrini will be 17 years old until June 13th, whereas recent draftees from the NCAA, like Jack Eichel (1.78 ppg) and Adam Fantilli (1.81 ppg), were 18 for the entirety of their draft years, highlighting just how amazing, and perhaps underrated, Celebrini's season has been. It doesn't end there; Celebrini put up the 4th best U-18 tournament all-time by a U-17 player, with 15 points in 7 games, and the 15th best ppg by a U-18 player all-time at the World Junior Championship, with 8 points in 5 games for Team Canada this year, ahead of players like Sidney Crosby, and Connor McDavid. At the age of 15, he had the second-best season by a 15 year-old for ppg in Shattuck St.Mary's history, behind only Crosby, with 117 points in 52 games, and at age 16, he posted the most points by a U-17 player in USHL history, with 86 points in 50 games for the Chicago Steel. Celebrini is youngest player in the NCAA this season, and is currently 6th in scoring. He had shoulder surgery in the off-season, but it didn't seem to slow him down.

Celebrini is a dynamic player, with an elite brain and high-end skill, who is best classified as a dual-threat who can do it all- and is doing it against older, more developed players in the NCAA. Though he can both score and make plays, he leans a bit more towards scoring, and his 26 goals are second-most in the NCAA, behind Cutter Gauthier. Obviously, he has an elite goal-scorer's touch, with other-worldly instincts, and a lot of the damage he does comes from high-danger, in-close. He can score from farther out though, as he has a cannon of a shot, with a release that can freeze time- and he can unleash it in full flight without losing a step. He owns a potent one-timer, and a wrister that absolutely explodes off his blade. Celebrini is far from a one-trick pony though, as he makes players around him better by consistently making good split-decisions under pressure, using his elite hockey sense and IQ to find teammates in high-danger. He's a top-flight playmaker who manages the puck well with very few giveaways, and makes something happen with every puck-touch. His passes come through feet, over sticks, between legs, and through triangles- his feel for the game is on another level, and he sees dangerous seams that nobody else can detect. Celebrini picks apart defenses, capitalizes on openings, and takes over games with his ability to drive play.

Mack could stickhandle around a defender in a broom closet- he's cool and confident with the puck, beating checkers 1-on-1 through transition on the rush. The puck seems to stick to him, and he can deke around the ankles and sticks of opponents. Celebrini's speed is explosive, and his edges are smooth, with the ability to separate from opponents in open ice, and the elusiveness to shake off checks. He plays an intelligent off-puck game, knowing where to be several steps ahead of the play with his proactive positioning and awareness, and works himself into areas advantageous to recieving passes for high-percentage opportunities. He doesn't like to make too many perimeter plays, instead opting to play between the dots. Though he measures 6'0" tall, he's built like a fire-hydrant at 190 lbs, and isn't just another finesse player, as he employs some physicality in his game- he will bully opponents off the puck, finish his checks, and win board battles. He has an unrelenting motor, and a tireless work ethic, with a determined game in all 3 zones- he plays with high energy, and pushes pace. Celebrini is a difference-maker, and plays his best in the most important moments- like when he scored the game-winner in the Bronze-Medal game against Slovakia in the U-18's.

Celebrini puts in a solid effort in his own zone, pressuring opponents with his speed, stripping pucks from attackers, and causing turnovers. He doesn't cheat for offense, and applies good attention to detail. He keeps his stick active, and contributes to turning the puck around in the breakout, and jump-starting the offense. He's even good in the faceoff circle. Celebrini's father Rick is the Director of Sports Medicine and Performance for the Golden State Warriors of the NBA, so Macklin has the inside track when it comes to athletic development. Mack is uncommonly strong, but needs to get stronger for the next level, as he can still be knocked off the puck by bigger opponents. There are other small criticisms out there, like the fact that he can be beaten defensively sometimes, or that he needs to be more selfish, but he has no glaring weaknesses in his game. This is a future superstar in the making.

[sch19lks]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Here is my write-up of Villeneuve. Too bad, I really like the kid:

Draft Thoughts (Sudbury Wolves Edition):

One can't judge Sudbury Wolves' LHC Nathan Villeneuve on stats alone, but it appears as though Central Scouting has been watching him closely, as they have given him a "B" rating- pegging him as a 2nd or 3rd round pick. To date, he has collected 14 goals and 35 points (with 46 PIM) in 44 games on one of the best, and highest-scoring teams in the OHL. Villeneuve plays behind some very high-end, older players in Sudbury, such as David Goyette, Quentin Musty, Landon McCallum, Kocha Delic, and Dalibor Dvorsky- so he doesn't get top-line minutes, or much powerplay time (only 5 of his points have come via the PP). In fact, he's often relegated to third-line deployment, because of the logjam at the center-ice position, along with some tours of duty on the second line mixed in here and there. There's no doubt that if he were given more ice-time and responsibility, his numbers would look even impressive, and I think Central Scouting recognizes that. Villy was drafted 3rd overall by the Wolves in the 2021 OHL Draft.
Vileneuve is a gritty, details-oriented, two-way centerman who brings snarl and physicality every shift. He plays hard and heavy, with a strong and sturdy 6'0",185lb frame, and battles tooth-and-nail for every puck. Much like a poor-man's Brad Marchand, he's a superpest who agitates, makes life difficult for opponents, and has sky-high compete. Also like Marchand, he's tough enough to back it up, and will drop the gloves- and he's not a bad fighter. Villy plays many games with a target on his back, and doesn't seem to mind. He's a bit of a throwback, power-forward type, who's constantly in motion, works hard, and has high motor to play a 60-minute game. As one could guess, he's a relentless forechecker who throws hits aplenty, but is smart enough to not take himself out of the play.
Villeneuve isn't just a goon, though- he's highly intelligent, and has top-notch vision as a playmaker. He's got spatial awareness, and can open seams to get the puck to high-danger. He's got a hard, heavy shot, with a lightning-fast release, and the hands in-tight to fool goalies. He's an effortless skater, perhaps even explosive- he was an injury replacement for the CHL Top Prospects Game, and in the on-ice testing leading up to the event, he placed 5th overall in the 30m Forward Skate, and 2nd in the 30m Forward Skate With Puck. He's a responsible player in all 3 zones, and backchecks as hard as he forechecks, hounding puck carriers, and getting in their faces. This is a player who will get more and more dominant at the junior level in the next 2 years, as those older players depart for the pros, and will start putting up big numbers as early as next season. This is another player that's far better than his stats suggest. In his last 20 games, he has 22 points. He compares himself to Mason McTavish, and I can see that to some degree, although I think he plays a much more energetic, rambunctious style. If he's available in the third round, it's a good idea to take him.

These are the kinds of players you look to draft. High skill set, good motor. He’s just stuck behind older players and doesn’t get the ice time. These guys seem to pop as 19 year olds

Edit: hadn’t seen the bounty stuff. Yikes

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Mike's Brother Edition):

LHC Luke Misa is the brother of 2025 Draft wunderkind, Michael Misa, who was granted exceptional player status to enter the OHL in 2022-23, at the age of 15. Luke is no slouch either, being drafted 9th overall in the 2021 OHL Draft by Mississauga, and currently sitting 13th in league scoring, with 77 points in 59 games, which when prorated, equals 89 points in 68 games. It's a transition year for the Steelheads, with some of their star players being moved out at last year's trade deadline, and some overagers and Europeans leaving at season's end, so Misa has been counted on to be an offensive leader for the 9th-place team, and has responded admirably.

Misa, being all of 5'10",165lbs, is a dual threat, leaning towards playmaking. He can play in any situation, and logs significant ice-time in important moments. The first thing one might notice about him is his blazing speed with, or without the puck that he can use to separate from opponents in open-ice. He plays at a high pace, beating defenders with his lateral quickness, and his strong edgework. Misa is an offensive genius, with elite vision, and his creativity is hard to defend. He likes to play a quick possession game, with give-and-go's to keep opponents on their heels, and a cerebral passing game to put them on edge. He makes plays in full flight, generating chances aplenty off the rush, and exploits open space when attacking in the zone. He can dissect defenses with his distribution game, threading the needle through traffic, and can complete any type of pass imaginable- forehand or backhand, along the ice or over stick blades. Misa sees the ice better than most, and despite his size, puts himself in the thick of the action. He has an accurate shot that could use a bit more power, but it's his stunning release that catches goalies and D off guard, and he has good hands to beat netminders 1-on-1.

One of the main pillars of Misa's game is his ability to drive transition, either by passing, or by carrying. He's an exceptional transporter of the puck, darting through checkers in the neutral zone, and making clean entries where he distributes off the rush. He's superb at capitalizing on opponents' miscues, missed passes, and broken plays, and kickstarting the offense in the other direction. Off the puck, Misa's routes make him ready for receptions at high speed, and he positions himself the best way possible to create opportunities. He's a skilled handler, and despite his smaller frame, he protects the puck well, with good puck control. He has high motor, plays with pace, works hard, and even though he doesn't employ a lot of physicality, he forechecks relentlessly. Misa plays a smart defensive game, starting the backcheck in the neutral zone, cutting off the middle lanes and blocking passes. He picks pockets, strips pucks, and hounds puck-carriers- causing turnovers, and disrupting plays. He has also built up his ability to win faceoffs. Misa is a sparkplug, and will go to the greasy areas to win pucks, but he can be overpowered and lose battles. His size and lack of physicality might always be an issue against larger opponents, but he won't back down. Still, he needs to build his strength up for the next level, and further develop his shot. Misa looks to be a candidate for middle-six duty at the NHL level, and his superior speed, IQ, and vision are good enough to get him drafted in the second round.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Mass_nerder

What past/present player would you compare him to? Your profile kind of reminds of of Lindros (style of play, not skill level necessarily).
I really hope he's available when we pick, but it kind of seems like he'll be top 5.

It's hard to compare him to anyone, as not many players are that size, with that kind of skating, and are as active in the offensive zone as he is in junior. In the past, I've thought of Jack Eichel when I watch him, though Lindstrom is meaner.

[SilverKast]

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.

Well now that we've traded away a few pretty good players it's looking like we could conceivably fall in the standings to end up picking 8-10, in which case I'd hope they take the next Iggy all day long.

How awesome would that be to see the kid get his Flames draft jersey on stage from his old man! This is my pick for our first unless we somehow win the draft lottery. All day, every day.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by SilverKast

Well now that we've traded away a few pretty good players it's looking like we could conceivably fall in the standings to end up picking 8-10, in which case I'd hope they take the next Iggy all day long.

How awesome would that be to see the kid get his Flames draft jersey on stage from his old man! This is my pick for our first unless we somehow win the draft lottery. All day, every day.

And it’s likely the last in person draft. Would be a perfect story

[Enoch Root]

God bless ya, Sandman

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hump Day Edition):

RHC Christian Humphreys has been given the grade of "B" by Central Scouting, meaning that they see him as potential 2nd, or 3rd round pick; I was seeing him in the first round in some mocks though, around the start of the season. His game has been trending upwards since last year, and he's gained an inch and twenty pounds, now measuring in at 5'11", 170lbs. He's much less tentative now, and is playing more in the hard areas- which was the major knock on him in year's past. As of right now, Humphreys sits at 44 points in 36 NTDP games with the U18 team, including 20 points in 17 USHL games, which are solid numbers.

It might be fair to call Humphreys a jack of all trades, but a master of none- still, he's a well-rounded offensive threat. He's a good skater- well above average, but definitely not elite, and he can turn on a dime with his slick edgework, with rapid changes in speed and direction to help his evasiveness. If there's a talent of his that stands out, it may be his puckhandling, which gets rave reviews- he carries the puck on a string, dangling around defenders feet and sticks. It's hard to strip him of the puck, as he executes tight puck-control by handling close to his feet. He's got quick hands, and plays a good small area game- unlike last season, he's playing well in traffic, and creating chances between the dots. His shot is fairly good in terms of velocity, but it's his accuracy and release that factor in the most to his scoring touch, as well as the inate ability goal-scorers have to find open space to sneak into. Humphreys has a good feel for the game, with excellent instincts on-and-off the puck, and high-end vision as a playmaker. He is able to make players around him better, and sets up chances aplenty for his teammates. He's smart and effective off the rush, and contributes to transition.

Humphreys has an excellent motor, and regularly outworks opponents- which comes in handy on the backcheck. He's a conscientious 200-ft player, and carries a ton of value in his defensive game. A details-oriented checker, he's an expert at intercepting passes, breaking up plays, and he pounces on loose pucks, winning footraces in the process. He can kill penalties, and win faceoffs as well. One area of his game he could improve is his physicality, another is his consistency- his numbers seem to come in bunches. Like most kids his age, he needs to keep bulking up and getting stronger. Humphreys has committed to Michigan, after de-committing to Michigan St, so he has some runway to work with on the path to becoming a middle-6 NHL center. If he can keep up his scoring pace, he might get selected in the 2nd round.

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by Sandman

RHC Christian Humphreys has been given the grade of "B" by Central Scouting, meaning that they see him as potential 2nd, or 3rd round pick; I was seeing him in the first round in some mocks though, around the start of the season. His game has been trending upwards since last year, and he's gained an inch and twenty pounds, now measuring in at 5'11", 170lbs. He's much less tentative now, and is playing more in the hard areas- which was the major knock on him in year's past. As of right now, Humphreys sits at 44 points in 36 NTDP games with the U18 team, and 20 points in 17 USHL games with the USNTDP, which are solid numbers.

I've mentioned this before on another site, but the "NTDP" sample includes the USHL games. So it's 44 points in 36 games total, including 20 points in 17 USHL games.

I discovered this when doing % of team calculations for the 2016 draft class. Was going through Clayton Keller's game logs on the USNTDP site and noticed games against USHL teams. Cross-referenced against USHL game logs, and they matched up.

Anyway, love draft talk. You're doing amazing work here, Sandman!

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Ba'alzamon

I've mentioned this before on another site, but the "NTDP" sample includes the USHL games. So it's 44 points in 36 games total, including 20 points in 17 USHL games.

I discovered this when doing % of team calculations for the 2016 draft class. Was going through Clayton Keller's game logs on the USNTDP site and noticed games against USHL teams. Cross-referenced against USHL game logs, and they matched up.

Anyway, love draft talk. You're doing amazing work here, Sandman!

Thanks for this!