2024 NHL DRAFT Talk

[LGR4GM]

2 minutes ago, GoPuckYourself said:

Iginla (No matter what) if we stay but I hope we don't.

Calgary is gonna take him. 

[Mr. Allen]

Did the order change at all?

[LGR4GM]

Just now, Mr. Allen said:

Did the order change at all?

Nope

[GoPuckYourself]

7 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Calgary is gonna take him. 

[Thorny]

5 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Nope

Is this the first time since this version of the lotto was implemented that happened? 

[LGR4GM]

5 minutes ago, GoPuckYourself said:

Great movie

Just now, Thorny said:

Is this the first time since this version of the lotto was implemented that happened? 

[Flashsabre]

I think the most interesting prospect will be Lindstrom in as far as when he is picked. His injury has really made him a wildcard. He has the overall package team really want but there are a lot of other interesting prospects at the top of the draft.

I could see him being picked 3oa and I can see him available at 11.

[Flashsabre]

@CapFriendly
·
8m
The #GoSensGo have 24 hours to decide if they will forfeit their 2024 1st round pick or push the decision to either 2025 or 2026, due to the invalid Evgenii Dadonov trade.

[PerreaultForever]

@LGR4GM you disappoint me. You haven't proclaimed that Liam Greentree sucks yet. 

[LGR4GM]

Here's a somewhat bizarre mock in which Catton doesn't go top 16, which seems suspect. 

 

 

[dudacek]

Superficially, Yakemchuk seems to be a spot where ranking and need might collide: big, mean, pretty skilled and a RHD, ranked in the 2nd half of the top 10. 

Guys with those specs not ranked higher often come with concerns about hockey sense and discipline.

For those who have done their homework, is he any good?

[Flashsabre]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/nhl-top-16-mock-draft-who-will-go-after-macklin-celebrini/
 

Another “interesting” mock draft

[French Collection]

Yakemchuk is an area of need (RHD) that may line up as #11.

I doubt Lindstrom falls that far but he’s the guy I want besides Celebrini.

Iginla, Helenius, Catton and Yaremchuk seem like probable candidates. 

 

[LGR4GM]

8 hours ago, dudacek said:

Superficially, Yakemchuk seems to be a spot where ranking and need might collide: big, mean, pretty skilled and a RHD, ranked in the 2nd half of the top 10. 

Guys with those specs not ranked higher often come with concerns about hockey sense and discipline.

For those who have done their homework, is he any good?

Haven't finished doing homework yet. Need all the draft guides to get the final feel. 

But let's do a little report on Yakemchuk. He's 6'3" 194lbs and racked up 120pm this past season. He has a VERY VERY early birthday for the draft being only 13 days removed from being 2023 draft eligible. So he is old for the draft class. He has 3 full WHL years already under his belt. He's gotten better each year but there hasn't been some massive jump, it has been steady growth. He was second on his WHL team this season in both goals (30) and points (71) which is notable for a defender. Really quick, he had the most goals for a defender in the WHL, not draft eligible, I mean alllll WHL defenders. Next closes guy is 26 and the 3rd guy is 18g.

His team isn't particularly good and there is not a single player on that roster that was already drafted in the NHL. To put that in perspective, Savoie is on a roster where there are 6 other drafted prospects and the highest scoring one had 126 pts versus the 80pt leader of Yakemchuk's team. To recap, this is an older prospect for his class, steady increase in production, plays on a bad team in the WHL, would be Rochester eligible after this next season, is big and powerful. One final note from the Athletic article about him last month is this quote: 

Quote

“Whoa, he’s not very outspoken,” scouts will say.

“Well, that’s who he is. He’s quiet, he’s an introvert,” Crashley will answer. “He lets his play do the talking.”

https://theathletic.com/5393964/2024/04/11/carter-yakemchuk-2024-nhl-draft/

He has good not great skating. I think his short area quickness and acceleration needs work. I agree with other scouts who question those aspects and you can see at times it takes 3,4,5 strides to get going and that worries me a little bit. His edges are fairly good though and he has agility so hopefully the quickness comes. Defensively, I think he is solid. He still has some work to do with managing risks and being better positionally but since everyone worries about a defender being gritty... he doesn't have 120PIM because he is a lazy stick checker. He is a little over aggressive which is great because he will physically remove you from the play... but also sometimes you can't just knock a guy over. He needs to pick his spots a bit better but he is a physical defender and his defensive highlights show that in spades. Gritty is a good word. Again, work to do defensively but he isn't Parekh where the defensive side of the game is more of a afterthought. 

His shot is great, there's a drag wrister I love and he has a solid slapper too. I think the shot will only get better in time. He is the type of guy on a PP2 that you could let drop bombs from the point. Dude has some moves too, dekes and the like. I think there is a fair amount of manipulation for a defender. I actually appreciate how slow it looks like he moves when he dekes but how fast the puck is actually moving. It is a because when he moves that big old frame, the end of his stick moves way more than the top of his body. Honestly his puckhandling might be one of my favorite qualities he has. Go watch highlights, there are dekes and fakes and quite honestly that ***** which you love to see in forwards... but he's a defender. Honestly if you moved him to forward, I think it would work. Still, the offense is the best part of his game and in the ozone he is really good. 

Bottom line is that at 11, he would be an option. Not my first option, judging by how I think of others but it wouldn't be a major reach. He would add a big strong RHD to the pool that would have another year in jr and then 1-2 years in Rochester before joining the team. Very much could be a replacement for whichever defender 3 years from now we need to move on from and fills a hole next to either Dahlin or Power, I think Power on line 2 is a better fit. I like the player but he is old for the class, has some quickness questions, and overall might not be the best player available at 11. 

[LETSTUCHINGO]

2 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/nhl-top-16-mock-draft-who-will-go-after-macklin-celebrini/
 

Another “interesting” mock draft

I would LOVE Berkley Catton!! Straight STUD and he's the size the Sabres like, 5'11" LOL!

[LGR4GM]

Let's talk about Liam Greentree. Sorry, I meant OHL Captain at 17, Liam Greentree. The 6'2" 198lbs RW with a freaking Jan 1 bday... meaning he has at least 2 more OHL years left, had 36g, 90pts for the Spitfires in the OHL this season which ranked him first on his team and clear of #2 by 24 points. His team isn't very good and is rebuilding, so that explains some of that. Also of note is that there is only 1 player with at least 30 games played and has a better +/- on the team. Basically, his team was bad but he was good in comparison. 

Captain Greentree's consolidated ranking is #11 which is interesting and there is, I think, a great chance he is there at 11 for Buffalo. His u18 tourney was fine but not spectacular so it wont be like Iginla who basically played himself into a top 10 pick. Scouts and teams LOVE the u18s and thrive on recency bias. Btw, any short tournament is weird so don't freak out and it is all about opportunity. Gavin McKenna lead the team as a 16yr old with 20pts because... he's absurd. Iginla has 12pts and Greentree had 4. So it was kinda meh in comparison. BTW McKenna will be the first overall pick in 2026. 

Moving on. What's to like? Dirty f-ing dangles boys. Kids got great hands and will dangle, deke, and otherwise manipulate you. He can couple that with a fairly nice shot, it isn't on the level of Iginla or Catton but it is already fairly good. He will score goals at the NHL level (20+). I think his ability to dangle really will make him a threat because he can use a solid base with nice hands to drive the center and either shoot or make a great pass. My slight concern is that he isn't as smart as I would love. Certainly a smart player with great vision but there are some times where you are just like... wtf? Idk if part of that is he was on a team where it was him... and ummm... the guy 24pts below him? He tries to do too much some times. Okay, that said he has good vision. He sees players and has the hands to manipulate a defender to get that puck where he wants. I like that he plays with pace and finds spots in coverage.

His skating has 2 sides, first is that he has a strong base with nice edges. You see him link his east west movement with the dekes and it looks great. The issue, he doesn't have speed or quickness yet. It takes time to get up to speed and there are short area times where that first stride is slow and the defender catches him. I don't hate his skating, it just isn't great. He looks average in the OHL and I wish his skating overall was more dynamic. He reminds me of lesser Benson in that he doesn't have the pull away speed but lesser in the sense that Benson makes up for it with this kind of slashing attacking style that mitigates it. Greentree could use his edges more in that way. Benson doesn't have great top speed but he hits his top speed fast. Greentree isn't there, he can get there, he's only 18 right now. 

Alright, he's 6'2" so the inevitable question is how physical is this dude? We talking Brady Tkachuk or Victor Olofsson here? Well, ummm I don't love his physicality. Sometimes, he will cut the hands of the defender, throw his butt out and use his body to get where or what he wants. Other times, he sorta stick checks or there is a well known clip in everyone's scouting report of a little fly by he does that makes me want to slap him. Now, those IMPO are more outlier-ish. I would say 3 times out of 10 he sorta mails it in physically (so 7/10 physically) versus say Yakemchuk who is like an 11 out of 10.... Dude might need to dial that physicality back. Greentree isn't a "power forward" but he could develop into one. Consistency is the key here. 

Overall at 11, I probably would lean Greentree over Yakemchuk (who I am using here because I just watched Yakemchuk). I think there is a bit more runway with Greentree compared to Yakemchuk. I think Greentree has a lot of good ideas and skills but he needs that refinement part just like everyone at #11 will. Overall I wish he was a bit more consistent in his compete level but I always want Zach Benson levels of compete and that's more rare. Like the player, don't love him but he is a leader on a rebuilding team who still manages to be really good even as a 17/18yr old in the OHL. At 11, this would be a solid pick. You could do a lot worse at 11 than Greentree who IMPO projects out to a 2nd pairing winger with some first pairing potential if he cleans up the skating and gets a bit more physical. Sometimes he reminds me a bit of Alex Tuch if you wanted a Sabres comp, keeping in mind these are based on style not 1to1 will be like that guy. 

 

Edited May 8 by LGR4GM

[LGR4GM]

1 hour ago, LETSTUCHINGO said:

I would LOVE Berkley Catton!! Straight STUD and he's the size the Sabres like, 5'11" LOL!

Well, I guess I know who I am doing next. 

[WhenWillItEnd66]

This whole draft needs to be bigger grittier players. I think this organization has the rest covered.....

[LGR4GM]

8 minutes ago, WhenWillItEnd66 said:

This whole draft needs to be bigger grittier players. I think this organization has the rest covered.....

That type of thinking is how you let Zach Benson fall to 13. 

[HoosierDaddy]

I'm just going to ask this general question. Why does the NHL allow teams to draft players at age 18? The only other North American professional league that drafts players at that age is MLB, and they have the same problem with long development times and players not growing into their bodies. It makes it hard for teams to build through the draft, thus devaluing draft picks and making it really difficult for bad teams to get off the mat. The Houston Texans rebuilt their entire team from worst to first in a single draft because drafted players are ready to contribute and even star right away. NHL and MLB clubs cannot do that because they are forced to project kids. 

[LGR4GM]

Let's talk about Berkly Catton, the 5'11" 163lb the 54g, 116pts Assistant Capt. of the Spokane Chiefs. First, I honestly hope he slides simply to watch this place meltdown over the fact he is 160lbs and only 5'11". Please let me have that. He was the best player on his team but sadly his team didn't make it out of the first round of the WHL playoffs. Catton had 8 more points than his linemate Roulette but 45 more points than the 3rd player on his team. He is the offensive engine, the driver of his team. Really, quick a stat that pops up in a couple of place (I didn't find this on my own) is that Catton sits 3rd for PtsPG for draft eligible players in the WHL over the past 25 years. Bedard (2.51) and Reinhart (1.75) are the two players above Catton (1.71) with Jarvis (1.69) and Draisaitl (1.64) coming just after. That is some really good company to be a part of. 

Let's start with the shot because his shot is one of the best in the class and it will only get better as he gets stronger. Quick release that is accurate and already hard, he has that ability to get his stick loaded and fire. He really can fire rockets. You don't get 54 goals if you can't and he can. But if you are just a shot threat, that becomes easier to take away, so maybe we should look at what might be the best passer in this class not named Celebrini or Demidov. Because he has such great hands and a threatening shot, Catton really can manipulate opposing defenders. Once he does that, he has great vision and can make any pass you want. He loves to work pucks inside and find guys on the inside. Watch his reels and you can see him manipulate plays and either speed things or slow them down depending on his feels, which are basically always correct. He reminds me of Jack Quinn in some ways as he can do a bit of everything. 

Now his skating his just fun to watch. He builds speed with crossovers, he has agility, quickness, and overall great skating. His pull away speed is there but should improve with added strength. He really uses his skating to link his other skills together as he keeps his hands high on on his stick and then uses those dekes while moving to really open things up. Every report talks about how good he can be on the rush and I fully agree. Flies up ice, manipulates the defense, can load up a shot, or make a great pass. Love it. 

Alright, he isn't all sunshine and sparkles. His defensive zone coverage is meh. It isn't terrible but I wouldn't call it good either. He sometimes loses his guy and even if Spokane is playing more of a zone, he seems to not understand exactly where to be or how to defend it all that well. He does backcheck and forecheck well but needs to get stronger. I think in the NHL, he might end up a winger over center because of that less developed defensive game. Really quick, he will play defense and I think he does try physically but they are underdeveloped aspects of his game that need work. Not surprising for an 18yr old. Overall I would like to see him stronger on pucks in the D zone and to see that offensive hockey IQ translate to the D side of things. 

I like Catton. He has the skills you want in a first line forward coupled with the IQ to make it all work. His size can be questioned as he physically needs another 15lbs or more of muscle mass to be able to handle some of the rigors he will face as he goes up a level. I think the overall package is nice and when, not if, he develops physically, you could have a nice player that can really break games open offensively while not being a liability defensively. I think Catton slides on draft day if he clocks in at under 6ft and 175lbs because that is the trend in drafts. He shouldn't be available at 11 but could be. 

[dudacek]

30 minutes ago, HoosierDaddy said:

I'm just going to ask this general question. Why does the NHL allow teams to draft players at age 18? The only other North American professional league that drafts players at that age is MLB, and they have the same problem with long development times and players not growing into their bodies. It makes it hard for teams to build through the draft, thus devaluing draft picks and making it really difficult for bad teams to get off the mat. The Houston Texans rebuilt their entire team from worst to first in a single draft because drafted players are ready to contribute and even star right away. NHL and MLB clubs cannot do that because they are forced to project kids. 

The league moved from a 20-year-old draft to an 18-year -old draft in 1979 due to the threat of lawsuits tied to the old WHA.

[WhenWillItEnd66]

52 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

That type of thinking is how you let Zach Benson fall to 13. 

OK, Zach is an oddity. Let's not say that is the norm. I understand what you are saying but this team needs to add to the organization what it is missing, not adding to what it already has in spades. This team needs sandpaper from AHL on up. That's not even questionable at this point. But i will admit your point is definitely a valid one. 

[LGR4GM]

2 minutes ago, WhenWillItEnd66 said:

OK, Zach is an oddity. Let's not say that is the norm. I understand what you are saying but this team needs to add to the organization what it is missing, not adding to what it already has in spades. This team needs sandpaper from AHL on up. That's not even questionable at this point. But i will admit your point is definitely a valid one. 

We have no idea what this team needs 3 years from now. I will say, I think you always need talented grit.

[CTJoe]

46 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Let's talk about Berkly Catton, the 5'11" 163lb the 54g, 116pts Assistant Capt. of the Spokane Chiefs. First, I honestly hope he slides simply to watch this place meltdown over the fact he is 160lbs and only 5'11". Please let me have that. He was the best player on his team but sadly his team didn't make it out of the first round of the WHL playoffs. Catton had 8 more points than his linemate Roulette but 45 more points than the 3rd player on his team. He is the offensive engine, the driver of his team. Really, quick a stat that pops up in a couple of place (I didn't find this on my own) is that Catton sits 3rd for PtsPG for draft eligible players in the WHL over the past 25 years. Bedard (2.51) and Reinhart (1.75) are the two players above Catton (1.71) with Jarvis (1.69) and Draisaitl (1.64) coming just after. That is some really good company to be a part of. 

Let's start with the shot because his shot is one of the best in the class and it will only get better as he gets stronger. Quick release that is accurate and already hard, he has that ability to get his stick loaded and fire. He really can fire rockets. You don't get 54 goals if you can't and he can. But if you are just a shot threat, that becomes easier to take away, so maybe we should look at what might be the best passer in this class not named Celebrini or Demidov. Because he has such great hands and a threatening shot, Catton really can manipulate opposing defenders. Once he does that, he has great vision and can make any pass you want. He loves to work pucks inside and find guys on the inside. Watch his reels and you can see him manipulate plays and either speed things or slow them down depending on his feels, which are basically always correct. He reminds me of Jack Quinn in some ways as he can do a bit of everything. 

Now his skating his just fun to watch. He builds speed with crossovers, he has agility, quickness, and overall great skating. His pull away speed is there but should improve with added strength. He really uses his skating to link his other skills together as he keeps his hands high on on his stick and then uses those dekes while moving to really open things up. Every report talks about how good he can be on the rush and I fully agree. Flies up ice, manipulates the defense, can load up a shot, or make a great pass. Love it. 

Alright, he isn't all sunshine and sparkles. His defensive zone coverage is meh. It isn't terrible but I wouldn't call it good either. He sometimes loses his guy and even if Spokane is playing more of a zone, he seems to not understand exactly where to be or how to defend it all that well. He does backcheck and forecheck well but needs to get stronger. I think in the NHL, he might end up a winger over center because of that less developed defensive game. Really quick, he will play defense and I think he does try physically but they are underdeveloped aspects of his game that need work. Not surprising for an 18yr old. Overall I would like to see him stronger on pucks in the D zone and to see that offensive hockey IQ translate to the D side of things. 

I like Catton. He has the skills you want in a first line forward coupled with the IQ to make it all work. His size can be questioned as he physically needs another 15lbs or more of muscle mass to be able to handle some of the rigors he will face as he goes up a level. I think the overall package is nice and when, not if, he develops physically, you could have a nice player that can really break games open offensively while not being a liability defensively. I think Catton slides on draft day if he clocks in at under 6ft and 175lbs because that is the trend in drafts. He shouldn't be available at 11 but could be. 

Great write ups!!  How about Cole Eiserman? Any others ranked in the top 8, or so, that you think could drop?