2024 NHL Draft Thread/Tankathon thread (Lottery Set for May 7th)

[majormajor]

Its 2 lotto draws for everyone who isn't in the playoffs. At most you can only move up 10 spots. There is a draw for 1st overall then a secondary draw for the second pick


I still feel like if we drop to 6 the Sharks, Chicago and Ducks (RHD) will all 3 go Dmen

Teams will want D, but I don't see any of Silayev, Dickinson, Yakemchuk, or Parekh being compelling picks for clubs in the top 5.

Silayev didn't score even after he was sent back to junior. There's zero offense there.

Dickinson has been slipping on a lot of lists. Yakemchuk as much as I liked the game I watched, is most often regarded as a risky pick. Parekh is definitely a risky pick. Demidov and Lindstrom are safer (yes) with a ton of upside.

 

[koteka]

Teams will want D, but I don't see any of Silayev, Dickinson, Yakemchuk, or Parekh being compelling picks for clubs in the top 5.

Silayev didn't score even after he was sent back to junior. There's zero offense there.

Dickinson has been slipping on a lot of lists. Yakemchuk as much as I liked the game I watched, is most often regarded as a risky pick. Parekh is definitely a risky pick. Demidov and Lindstrom are safer (yes) with a ton of upside.

That’s sort if where I landed a couple of weeks ago.

San Jose - Celebrini
Chicago - Demidov
Ducks - Levshunov
Jackets - Lindstrom
Montreal - trade back or Dickinson (could fit really well with Reinbacher)

Seattle could draft a D. Buffalo could use a right D. Flames could go D, but I think they take Iginla. But in the top 5 Ducks could go Levshunov but I bet everyone else wants offense. Montreal could take Dickinson to pair with Reinbacher, but I bet they hope Demidov or Lindstrom fall to them. I think Seattle is a team that can take the risk with Silayev.

 

[majormajor]

That’s sort if where I landed a couple of weeks ago.



Seattle could draft a D. Buffalo could use a right D. Flames could go D, but I think they take Iginla. But in the top 5 Ducks could go Levshunov but I bet everyone else wants offense. Montreal could take Dickinson to pair with Reinbacher, but I bet they hope Demidov or Lindstrom fall to them. I think Seattle is a team that can take the risk with Silayev.

I think San Jose, Chicago, and Anaheim all would want D at least as much as they want Fs, maybe more so. My thinking is just that the 4 other D aren't as appealing to them in the top 5 picks (that's Silayev and Dickinson, who are seen as low upside, and Yakemchuk and Parekh, who are very risky picks).

 

[cbjthrowaway]

i could absolutely see silayev going in the top three with whoever takes him thinking they're getting the next chara.

 

[Cowumbus]

Has anyone seen over-ager Anthony Romani play? Seems like a decent guy to take a flyer on.

Seems like he needs to fix his skating a bit but has the tools.

 

[DoingItCoolKiwi]

Really impressed by Aatos Koivu considering he has rocketed from non-draft prospect to u18 championship #2C in a single year. Could be a great pick at 2nd/3rd if you have any believe in NHL bloodlines being a reasonable thing to look at when drafting.

 

[squashmaple]

Really impressed by Aatos Koivu, considering he has rocketed from non-draft prospect to u18 championship #2C in a single year. Could be a great pick at 2nd/3rd if you have any believe in NHL bloodlines being a reasonable thing to look at when drafting.

Hey, his uncle retired a Blue Jacket. Worth a look.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

 

[CBJWerenski8]

 

[majormajor]

Does Levshunov remind anyone else of Werenski in some ways?



Not the most nimble skater but he can beat his man in a race down the ice with just a few powerful strides. He's got a powerful build, about 6'2 with big shoulders. And a great wristshot.

Those are the good parts. Lev is erratic positionally, too often missing his man defensively and often hanging out at forward for long parts of his shifts. I recall Werenski's D technique needing a few years to get up to NHL average, but I'm not remembering his positioning being as bad as Lev's. It was a long time ago.

And did anyone watch Werenski at Michigan who can remember what he looked like there?

 

[CBJWerenski8]

 

[majormajor]

That's what I thought watching Helenius, that he could play in the NHL right now.

Anyways, we're not short on young centers right now.

The appeal for us is that he could be a really good two way 2C in a few years. He does a lot of things much better than Sillinger. A much better passer, and obviously he can skate.

 

[majormajor]

While we're on the topic of safe players who might make immediate upgrades to an NHL lineup:



Brandsegg has a lot of that same playdriving appeal that Helenius has, but as a winger with good size. You can compare him to someone like Bjorkstrand, he has outstanding playdriving results and a great shot. Brandsegg just had all 4 goals in a 4-3 Norway win over Denmark (men's level, not a junior game).



Would I take him at #5? Probably not, but two or three spots after that I would.

 

[DoingItCoolKiwi]

That's what I thought watching Helenius, that he could play in the NHL right now.

Anyways, we're not short on young centers right now.

The appeal for us is that he could be a really good two way 2C in a few years. He does a lot of things much better than Sillinger. A much better passer, and obviously he can skate.

If scouts deem him BPA at where ever we draft, then i dont really care for the positional thing.

Sillinger has enough weaknesses for me to bet he wont be a good enough 2C. KJ may end up as career winger. I'd be estatic with another top center prospect

 

[KJ Dangler]

I’ve seen mocks where he’s projected to us .. this kid is dynamite . Look at the names he’s above early in the video ..

 

[majormajor]

Per @Caser , Anton Silayev mentioned in an interview that he received the most interest from Utah and Columbus.

He'll be a great shutdown D but I personally wouldn't take him in the top 6 picks.

 

[squashmaple]

Per @Caser , Anton Silayev mentioned in an interview that he received the most interest from Utah and Columbus.

He'll be a great shutdown D but I personally wouldn't take him in the top 6 picks.

Silayev to Utah feels like the second most obvious pick of the top ten after Celebrini to the lottery winner.

 

[stevo61]

Seems Utah has a type. Silayev wouldnt be my 1st pick but I also wouldnt be sad if it happens. The dude was a teenage KHL rookie still trying to fill out a massive frame. Hes so far physically from being complete so of course there is severe interest in that package

 

[majormajor]

Seems Utah has a type. Silayev wouldnt be my 1st pick but I also wouldnt be sad if it happens. The dude was a teenage KHL rookie still trying to fill out a massive frame. Hes so far physically from being complete so of course there is severe interest in that package

He already moves really well and has power in all of his movements, I don't think this is a case of a lanky kid or a bambi type. So on the one hand he's a safer pick then Chara was, who was called a bambi and needed a few years to get that strength. And SIlayev will get even stronger and scarier to play against than he is now. But on the other hand he's already very stable and his body is not limiting his movements with the puck at all. He didn't score even after he was sent down to the MHL so I'm wondering if there is any offense coming.

The bambi type would include Scheifele (who got over it), Kotkaniemi (hasn't gotten over it), and Jiricek (who we hope will get over it). For Jiricek I think his core instability effects all aspects of his game, including his puck handling under pressure.

 

[stevo61]

He already moves really well and has power in all of his movements, I don't think this is a case of a lanky kid or a bambi type. So on the one hand he's a safer pick then Chara was, who was called a bambi and needed a few years to get that strength. And SIlayev will get even stronger and scarier to play against than he is now. But on the other hand he's already very stable and his body is not limiting his movements with the puck at all. He didn't score even after he was sent down to the MHL so I'm wondering if there is any offense coming.

The bambi type would include Scheifele (who got over it), Kotkaniemi (hasn't gotten over it), and Jiricek (who we hope will get over it). For Jiricek I think his core instability effects all aspects of his game, including his puck handling under pressure.

Hes also just turned 18 and even if hes pretty well off physically already it just makes it scary/exciting to see where hes at when hes actually physically mature. Id also say how many times do we see drafted kids get an NHL look, get sent down and dont put up the numbers people expect? I have no idea how good his team was or what situations they put him in but maybe thats the role they put him in?

This all kind of goes back to developing in lower leagues though doesnt it? On one hand hes learning to play defensively sound hockey vs men but on the other hand a 17 year old kid probably doesnt have the greenlight to expirement offensively in a pro league. So like I say, I believe he is just scratching the surface of what he has to offer

 

[majormajor]

Hes also just turned 18 and even if hes pretty well off physically already it just makes it scary/exciting to see where hes at when hes actually physically mature. Id also say how many times do we see drafted kids get an NHL look, get sent down and dont put up the numbers people expect? I have no idea how good his team was or what situations they put him in but maybe thats the role they put him in?

This all kind of goes back to developing in lower leagues though doesnt it? On one hand hes learning to play defensively sound hockey vs men but on the other hand a 17 year old kid probably doesnt have the greenlight to expirement offensively in a pro league. So like I say, I believe he is just scratching the surface of what he has to offer

Silayev played 10 games in the MHL playoffs for Nizhny's MHL team, which is a good team. I watched a few of their games in the semifinals vs Lokomotiv because I love watching Yegor Surin (I'm calling Surin the next Brandon Dubinsky).

I agree with you that these kids have to experiment to get better. I didn't see Silayev trying though, he really seems content to play defense and not much else. Maybe he can be pushed, I don't know. I don't think there's any offense coming.

 

[stevo61]

Silayev played 10 games in the MHL playoffs for Nizhny's MHL team, which is a good team. I watched a few of their games in the semifinals vs Lokomotiv because I love watching Yegor Surin (I'm calling Surin the next Brandon Dubinsky).

I agree with you that these kids have to experiment to get better. I didn't see Silayev trying though, he really seems content to play defense and not much else. Maybe he can be pushed, I don't know. I don't think there's any offense coming.

So what youre saying is draft Surin

 

[majormajor]

So what your saying is draft Surin

Yes.

I'm honestly not sure why Surin isn't ranked higher. He scores a fair amount and is a very complete, big physical player. I think maybe teams are scared off by how wild and angry he gets. But that's part of why I like him!

I would have him ranked around 13-17 but you rarely see him ranked in the 1st. So maybe a good target for us with pick #36.

 

[stevo61]

Yes.

I'm honestly not sure why Surin isn't ranked higher. He scores a fair amount and is a very complete, big physical player. I think maybe teams are scared off by how wild and angry he gets. But that's part of why I like him!

I would have him ranked around 13-17 but you rarely see him ranked in the 1st. So maybe a good target for us with pick #36.

Id trade up for a player like that, sounds like someone we desperately need. In 2 drafts adding players that hate to lose like Fantilli, Brindley and Surin would be very nice

 

[majormajor]

Public service announcement - folks can watch MHL games free on youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/@mhl_rus/streams

I watched Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Surin, Simashev, But) vs Nizhny Novgorod (Silayev) in the semis and Loko again vs SKA 1946 (Demidov) in the finals.

Demidov missed the last couple games with a bad knee injury. That sort of thing makes him more likely to be there for us at #4-#6.