2024 NHL Draft Thread

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Defensive game needs work.

Isn't that the knock on Parekh?

The offensive stats are pretty impressive.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by fotze2

Made up trade proposals are the best. Who doesn’t love them?
#instaskip

If you have a trade in your mind, keep it there, no one cares.

Lol. This is awesome. And so true.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Isn't that the knock on Parekh?

The offensive stats are pretty impressive.

For sure. But as you work through down from the top D prospects, who are more complete, you have guys that have some incredible upside but with some more apparent warts.
But that's why I'm so high on the D in this draft.
When your sixth ranked D is a guy putting up numbers like Buium, Yakemchuk and Parekh - boy that's a good top end on the blueline.

And that's largely how I see it:
Top 3: Levshunov, Silayev, Dickinson
Next 3: Parekh, Yakemchuk, Buium

Then Jiricek behind them and then a pretty big step down to the next batch of blueliners.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

For sure. But as you work through down from the top D prospects, who are more complete, you have guys that have some incredible upside but with some more apparent warts.
But that's why I'm so high on the D in this draft.
When your sixth ranked D is a guy putting up numbers like Buium, Yakemchuk and Parekh - boy that's a good top end on the blueline.

And that's largely how I see it:
Top 3: Levshunov, Silayev, Dickinson
Next 3: Parekh, Yakemchuk, Buium

Then Jiricek behind them and then a pretty big step down to the next batch of blueliners.

That does sound enticing. If we are not #1, if one of them drop to us I would pull the trigger. As much as we need a #1C we also need a #1D.

Also allows you to deal away Andersson at some point.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

That does sound enticing. If we are not #1, if one of them drop to us I would pull the trigger. As much as we need a #1C we also need a #1D.

Also allows you to deal away Andersson at some point.

And I think literally any of those 6 could end up being the best dman drafted.

Reminds me a little of the 2003 draft which netted Suter, Burns, Phaneuf, Seabrook, Weber, Coburn (and Byfuglien but not sure if he was still a F at that stage)

Or 2008: Doughty, Peiterangelo, Carlson, Karlsson, Josi (+Schenn and Myers)

[1qqaaz]

I think there’s almost no chance than Dickinson or Silayev end up being the best defensemen in the draft. They are among the best defensively, and are low risk, but it’s hard to say they have the upside of someone like Parekh, Leshunov, or Buium.

Like Seabrook and Coburn in 2003. Great players but definitely not the best.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

And I think literally any of those 6 could end up being the best dman drafted.

Reminds me a little of the 2003 draft which netted Suter, Burns, Phaneuf, Seabrook, Weber, Coburn (and Byfuglien but not sure if he was still a F at that stage)

Or 2008: Doughty, Peiterangelo, Carlson, Karlsson, Josi (+Schenn and Myers)

I would hope they are more of the 2008 list.

4 cups and all of them except Karlsson have made the finals.

Just tells you how important a clear cut #1d is needed as much as the C.

[Reggie Dunlop]

No relation to Flames legend Sami Helenius.

[serratedmuffin]

As much as we all want Iginla, with our first pick we need to draft a C or D. My personal draft philosophy is to pretty much do that ever draft in the first round. You don't find 1C late in the draft, you can always find wingers later, as well as convert a few C prospects.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

I think there’s almost no chance than Dickinson or Silayev end up being the best defensemen in the draft. They are among the best defensively, and are low risk, but it’s hard to say they have the upside of someone like Parekh, Leshunov, or Buium.

Like Seabrook and Coburn in 2003. Great players but definitely not the best.

I see Dickinson as another Pietrangelo- a guy who will get you 50 points, move the puck effectively, and play a good all-around game.

[AustinL_NHL]

Nope. Draft Iginla.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

For sure. But as you work through down from the top D prospects, who are more complete, you have guys that have some incredible upside but with some more apparent warts.
But that's why I'm so high on the D in this draft.
When your sixth ranked D is a guy putting up numbers like Buium, Yakemchuk and Parekh - boy that's a good top end on the blueline.

And that's largely how I see it:
Top 3: Levshunov, Silayev, Dickinson
Next 3: Parekh, Yakemchuk, Buium

Then Jiricek behind them and then a pretty big step down to the next batch of blueliners.

Do you think Jiricek falls far enough that it could be an option with the Vancouver pick?

[cannon7]

Originally Posted by Ashes

Yeah I purposely left Yakemchuk out of my top 11, maybe I'm way out to lunch but I find all the other defensemen on the list more appealing, and I'd rather take one of them or one of the forwards I have listed. If we went on a run at the end of the season and picked 12th I'd have Yakemchuk and Eiserman as the next guys up.

If Yakemchuk can polish his defensive game he projects really well. Strong skater for 6'3", plays a mean physical game, is looked upon as a leader by the Hitmen and is arguably the biggest offensive threat on the backend in the WHL. Honestly can't expect much more if you're picking around 10-12th overall.

Eiserman gives me much more pause. Sure he seemingly scores at will in the USHL, but to make the NHL he's going to need to improve considerably in almost every other aspect of his game. Not a great skater or playmaker. But those highlights are impressive, no doubt.

[cannon7]

Originally Posted by butterfly

Do you think Jiricek falls far enough that it could be an option with the Vancouver pick?

I wonder if Silayev drops to the Flames first pick (8-10). Seems like one of those high ceiling, low floor guys that GMs might be gun shy taking where he's ranked.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by cannon7

If Yakemchuk can polish his defensive game he projects really well. Strong skater for 6'3", plays a mean physical game, is looked upon as a leader by the Hitmen and is arguably the biggest offensive threat on the backend in the WHL. Honestly can't expect much more if you're picking around 10-12th overall.

I've only seen the Hitmen live once this season, and they stunk the joint out. But in that game, Yakemchuk was the only player on the team who impressed me. He stood out in stark relief.

Every kid in the draft needs to polish his defensive game. You don't learn to defend against NHLers by playing against juniors. So that part of his skill set doesn't worry me at all.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by butterfly

Do you think Jiricek falls far enough that it could be an option with the Vancouver pick?

Doubtful

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Where the Lowest Price is the Law Edition):

It's quite difficult to project players from the Prep School League, but LW Will Zellers looks like the real deal. Right now, he's first in scoring in the Prep circuit with 48 goals, and 95 points in 48 games for Shattuck-St.Mary's, but his coming-out party happened at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he looked better than most of his peers, and got rave reviews for his performance. In that tournament, he was tied for 9th overall in scoring (2nd in goals), and 2nd for Team USA, behind Trevor Connelly, with 5 goals and 7 points in 5 games (Connelly finished with 10 points), en route to a Bronze medal.

Unlike Connelly, Zellers is not particularly flashy or dynamic, he just takes care of business. He isn't an elite skater either, more quick than outright fast, but his mechanics look sound, with edgework and smooth transitions that give him a shifty, "darty" quality, and good 4-way agility. Zellers isn't the greatest driver, but has lightning-quick processing speed to read and react to what's around him, and makes teammates better by consistently setting them up for prime scoring chances, and high percentage plays. He exhibits high-end IQ and vision, as well as strong puck skill. Zellers is still a better shooter than distributor however, and though his shot gets him a ton of goals at the Prep School level, it could use more power. A big chunk of his goal output comes from finishing in-close around the net, and from converting rebounds and second-chance opportunities- he works his way inside, hunting for loose pucks, and can beat goalies 1-on-1. Still, he will shoot from anywhere, and has a quick enough release to beat goaltenders from distance in the Prep League.

Zellers is a bit of a competitive sparkplug, and plays much bigger than his 5'11",170lb frame- he goes to war in the trenches to win pucks, and will fight for position in front of the net. He forechecks with energy, and physicality, and causes turnovers aplenty with his clever stickwork. He has the ability to push pace, or slow down and let the play come to him, and he exerts penetrating transitional play using his puck-control, and shiftiness. Z is responsible defensively, always on the right side of the puck, with exemplary positioning, and stickwork, and gets into the prime spots to be a conduit for breakouts. From what I have read, Zellers spends a lot of time in the gym, and is committed to getting better every day, which is quite encouraging- most kids his age need plenty of work on their strength. He will need work on his shot, and his skating, but some of that will be cleared up the stronger he gets. Zellers is committed to the U of North Dakota for 2024-25, after de-committing to Boston U. Look for him to be selected in the 3rd round.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Rapid River Edition):

I've seen LW Clarke Caswell bounce all over the map since the start of the season in various Draft lists and mocks, but his situation seems to improving with the arrival of Conor Geekie to the Swift Current Broncos before the WHL trade deadline. A sample size of Caswell's last 10 games shows him putting up 14 points, and he currently (no pun intended) leads the Broncos by 7 points, with 66 points in 60 games. The Broncs took Caswell 6th overall in the 2021 WHL Draft, and the 5'11",176lb winger plays in all situations for them.

Caswell isn't flashy, and doesn't show any superstar talent, or any high-end tools, but he is both quick and smart. With only 20 goals this season to date, it's apparent that he's more of a playmaker than a shooter. He shows a high level of offensive IQ and vision, and the anticipation to stay one step ahead of the play. He's got creativity, and sharp instincts, and packs a wide array of first-round quality passes that travel from blade to blade, over sticks, between feet, and through triangles, with many of them being the high-danger variety- he is first on the Broncos for passes to the slot per 60. He's highly deceptive, in order to cloak his intentions, using a variety of dekes, toe-drags, look-offs, and fakes to throw off checkers. He's also proficient at drawing defenders towards him, thereby opening up space for him to exploit, and is confident enough to hold on to the puck for the extra second or two he needs when waiting for an opportunity to unfold. He sees the ice well, and knows where to go to support teammates, and make himself a high-quality option for passes. Caswell's shot is hovering around average, and in need of an upgrade, but he has soft hands to beat goalies in tight. He's an efficient forechecker, drives the net, and attacks the middle.

Caswell's other standout trait, besides his playmaking skill, is his skating. He is agile, quick, and can outmanouver opponents with his shiftiness, or lose them with his separation speed. He's very hard to defend off the rush, with his excellent acceleration, and smooth edges- he's always in motion, and keeps his legs pumping. With his puck control and protection skills, he can weave in and out traffic, and aid in transition. Caswell shows a strong desire to make a difference in all 3 zones, and he is trusted with important defensive assignments in Swift Current- he kills penalties, and his coach will put him out to protect leads late in games in short-handed situations with the opposing goalie pulled. There's hustle and grit in his game, with high compete and motor, but at the present time, he's quite thinly built and can be overpowered in battles, or knocked off the puck. His board game has been described as being weak, and he doesn't get involved enough in battles along the wall- but the good news is that he has acknowledged the need he has to build muscle on his frame. There's a way to go for Caswell to round out his toolbox, but he could be a candidate for middle-6 duty in the NHL someday. Look for him to get taken off the board in the 3rd round.

[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Smurf Edition, Vol.3):

RHC Alexander Zetterberg (distant relative of Red Wings great Henrik) was once thought of a potential first-rounder, but perhaps there are unfair expectations to be met for smaller players- in his case, 5'8",159lbs. Zetterberg is currently 10th in Sweden's J20 league (4th for U-18 players) with 20 goals and 53 points in 41 games, but was the top-scoring Swede (12th overall) in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, with 6 points in 4 games. His most important asset is his hockey IQ and anticipation- he's always a step ahead of his teammates with his ability to read and react. He's smart and decisive, making difficult passes look easy, and has learned to seek out and utilize open space quite well all over the ice to set up teammates for quality scoring opportunities using his high-end vision. Despite his size, he works his way to the middle and goes to the net fearlessly, and for a small player, he shoots the puck with surprising power. Still, his shot could use more zip, as he doesn't even bother shooting from beyond the hashmarks. He can beat goalies in-close though, with his soft hands and pinpoint accuracy. Zetterberg forechecks well, hounding puck-carriers and taking away the middle- he disrupts plays, intercepts breakouts, and blocks passes.

Zetterberg is agile, with the small-area quickness to dart in-and-out of traffic, but is not the fastest in a straight line, in open ice. He owns a good start-up gear, and strong edges that give him the escapability to shake off checkers, but he has to keep his legs pumping to avoid being caught. His low center of gravity helps him to maintain his balance though checks, and he's hard to knock off the puck. He's calm and confident in possession, and patient- he skates with his head up to scan for danger, and to map out his surroundings. The puck seems to follow him around, and also seems to stick to him like a magnet, with his slick puckhandling and control- he is able to dart past checkers in neutral ice with his shiftiness. Zetterberg plays with energy and pace, and holds his own in puck battles, but gets in-and-out quick along the boards, when he engages in board battles at all. Defensively, he's fearless in supporting his D down low, works hard on the backcheck, and applies constant pressure on puck-carriers. As he does in the offensive zone, he takes away the middle, while intercepting passes, and disrupting plays with smart poke-checks.

In the past, Z has been accused of not always putting in a 100% effort, but I think those concerns are going away. A very real concern is his size and strength, but he definitely needs to get a whole lot faster, and improve his shot. I was concerned that he hasn't been called up yet to a higher league, but the rumour is that it's because he will be attending Boston University in the fall- so he can't participate in professional hockey. Not sure I would take this kid in the draft before round 4, but some team might take a chance on him in the third.

[Ped]

Pronman has an updated ranking, has Tij at #16


His top 10:


Celebrini
Silayev
Dickinson
Yakemchuk
Levshunov
Catton
Demidov
Lindstrom
Parekh
Buium


https://theathletic.com/5307808/2024...024-celebrini/