HF Habs: 2024 NHL Draft Thread

[HuGo Burner Acc]

What are the attributes you put first for BPA ?

#1 = Hockey IQ
#2 = Size
#3 = Skating skills
#4 = Position
#5 = Shoot, passing skills
#6 = Grid
#7 = Attitude
#8 = Injurie prone
#9 = From where (Country, what teams he played for)
#10 = Intellect (i think you can have great hockey IQ and poor intellect)

1. Level of chadness
2. Selflessness
3. Hockey IQ
4. Skill
5. Size
6. Shooting
7. Leadership

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

What does Marner have to do with Catton?

Catton makes a lot of plays in the middle of the ice.. Marner doesn't

Who’s your NHL comp for Catton then?

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

No but VGK are for Lindstrom. Hopefully HuGo are paying attention.

As in his projection to play a heavy game or his ability to come off LTIR for the playoffs?

 

[Ozmodiar]

Let's draft 2 russians just like we did with the slovak

#5 : Demidov
#25 : Artamonov/Chernyshov

Not a bad draft if we can land these 2.

If there’s a familiarity angle this year, it could be this:
5. Lindstrom
25. Basha

/ linemates

 

[Guhlay]

Who’s your NHL comp for Catton then?

If I can respond for me i would say a blend of Benson/Cooley . Very skilled player indeed and goes in the middle (very good sign for an undersized player)

 

[waitin425]

1. Level of chadness
2. Selflessness
3. Hockey IQ
4. Skill
5. Size
6. Shooting
7. Leadership

1. jawline
2. VO2 bike destruction abilities
3. voice octave
4. quad size
5. tongue length

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

1. jawline
2. VO2 bike destruction abilities
3. voice octave
4. quad size
5. tongue length

Bust-proof nickname

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Man, Bob Cole passing. It’s like losing an uncle. Just sucks…

 

[Team_Spirit]

It's the McKenna show

 

[SlafySZN]

Demidov on crutches today

 

[Chomsky22]

Nobody else is worried about Demidov’s weak and predictable shot as reported by EP?

That’s a lot of weaknesses for sick hands and playmaking.

 

[schwang26]

Demidov on crutches today

Probably trying to get out of being drafted by Putin

 

[schwang26]

I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see them trade the 5th pick if they can get an asset who’s ready now. I’m not sure they want a guy at 5th who could be 4 years down the road before becoming a top 6 winger. I wouldn’t get too attached to anyone.

 

[zzoo]

Nobody else is worried about Demidov’s weak and predictable shot as reported by EP?

That’s a lot of weaknesses for sick hands and playmaking.

Demidov's shooting is that bad ? Anyone could confirm that ?

 

[Nicko999]

So in summary, all the F's are injury prone and too risky to draft! Yay!

Celebrini has no injury issues as far as I know.

Last time a 5th ranked team won the lottery was 2017 so we're due.

 

[BergevinBurner]

Demidov's shooting is that bad ? Anyone could confirm that ?

His shooting is far from being bad, he lead the entire MHL in goals per game this season.

 

[Schooner Guy]

Who’s your NHL comp for Catton then?

Mikael Granlund

 

[Playmaker09]

Mikael Granlund

Catton's a better skater, better shooter and far more willing shooter.

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

It's the McKenna show

Hughes looks like he is so fed up with Bobrov always putting his glasses like that.

 

[le_sean]

I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see them trade the 5th pick if they can get an asset who’s ready now. I’m not sure they want a guy at 5th who could be 4 years down the road before becoming a top 6 winger. I wouldn’t get too attached to anyone.

No shot they trade that pick. Good shot they trade the Jets pick though.

You can get immediate help without giving up a Top 10 pick. And typically those players are like 3 seasons away at most from being in the NHL. Plus they are cost-controlled which is extremely valuable.

Yeah the Habs need help now, but they also need help in the system. When your best offensive prospects are Roy and Mesar, you are in trouble. No one is banging at the door to take a spot.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Nobody else is worried about Demidov’s weak and predictable shot as reported by EP?

That’s a lot of weaknesses for sick hands and playmaking.

No because the rest is elite. As long as you don't think he is your trigger man.

 

[Schooner Guy]

Catton's a better skater, better shooter and far more willing shooter.

I would say their skating is very comparable at the same age. Yes Catton's a more willing shooter but we'll see if that continues at the pro level and of course there is no exact comparable for two players. I saw Granlund play in-person several times when he was 16. Their offensive instincts and playmaking are very similar but I might give the edge to Granlund at the same age as his vision and IQ were elite in his draft year. I also see them having many of the same limitations.

Granlund has had a solid career (he's still producing on a terrible Sharks team) and Catton will defy the odds if he has a better career than Granlund. That's the reality of a player who is going to get drafted in Catton's range. I see Catton on the wing in the NHL where I think he could be more productive and valuable to his team.

 

[Goalfield22]

I don't know why, but the only player that doesn't make we worried outside Celebrini is Iginla. He would just fit this team like a glove.

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

Demidov on crutches today

Demidov at the draft after the Habs take him:

 

[Playmaker09]

I would say their skating is very comparable at the same age. Yes Catton's a more willing shooter but we'll see if that continues at the pro level and of course there is no exact comparable for two players. I saw Granlund play in-person several times when he was 16. Their offensive instincts and playmaking are very similar but I might give the edge to Granlund at the same age as his vision and IQ were elite in his draft year. I also see them having many of the same limitations.

Granlund has had a solid career (he's still producing on a terrible Sharks team) and Catton will defy the odds if he has a better career than Granlund. That's the reality of a player who is going to get drafted in Catton's range. I see Catton on the wing in the NHL where I think he could be more productive and valuable to his team.

I have no issues calling Granlund one of the most creative draft prospects in recent memory, he was an absolute wizard, but he definitley had question marks regarding his skating (similar to Cauflield). Catton's a clear notch or two ahead in the skating department.

I've said this before, but what amazes me most with Catton is his polish. Not only is he a 5-tool offensive player, but he pieces together those tools seamlessly and with such efficiency that is almost never seen in a draft eligible player. He is in perfect control at all times with the puck.

Does he have anything like Tim Stutzle and Jack Hughes' elite skating or Patrick Kane's GOAT hands that raises their ceilings to potential Art Ross winners? Probably not.

But I'll stick my neck out and state that I think in his prime, Catton's floor is 70 points. That might sound unrealistic, but I can't fathom how he is not at least that level of offensive player.