Who should the Chicago Blackhawks select 2nd overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft?

[TLEH]

But still, I don’t think Buium is going to be a 1D in the NHL.

 

[Pez68]

Said as much, he plays bigger than he is. But if you’re not going to be an elite skater or 6’3 I just wonder how far you can get, that’s all.

I think Buium isn't very far away from being an elite skater, personally.

 

[TLEH]

I think Buium isn't very far away from being an elite skater, personally.

I’ve liked his edge work and he’s shifty, seems like he’s picked up a bit of Hutson in some of those aspects (I like Buium skating much more than Lane) but I just don’t see the burst and speed out of those moves like some of the other elite guys.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

He

I think Buium isn't very far away from being an elite skater, personally.

He's got really good edge work but he's definitely lacking that first step burst that every elite defenseman has.

 

[TLEH]

His feet will decide truly how far he can go and that’s way better than hoping a guy figures out how to process forecheckers and decision make at 100 miles an hour.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

His feet will decide truly how far he can go and that’s way better than hoping a guy figures out how to process forecheckers and decision make at 100 miles an hour.

Smarts is the one thing you cannot teach. Levshunov is a bunch of high end tools being lugged around in a plastic bag.

 

[hawksrule]

I’ve liked his edge work and he’s shifty, seems like he’s picked up a bit of Hutson in some of those aspects (I like Buium skating much more than Lane) but I just don’t see the burst and speed out of those moves like some of the other elite guys.

From what I’ve seen of Hutson he can neither defend nor skate backwards. There’s tons of hype, but I think it’s just as likely he’s a bottom pairing and pp guy.

 

[Pez68]

I’ve liked his edge work and he’s shifty, seems like he’s picked up a bit of Hutson in some of those aspects (I like Buium skating much more than Lane) but I just don’t see the burst and speed out of those moves like some of the other elite guys.

He
He's got really good edge work but he's definitely lacking that first step burst that every elite defenseman has.

I think with elite edge work, you can actually work on burst speed fairly easily.

 

[Styles]

Hughes and Makar yes they can beat you with straight line speed but their edge work in the corners in their own zone and at the offensive blue line is what kills.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

I think with elite edge work, you can actually work on burst speed fairly easily.

I think it can get better but it's gonna go from average to pretty good. Like he's never gonna have Leddy wheels. That shit is obvious from fifteen.

 

[Darkstar]

But still, I don’t think Buium is going to be a 1D in the NHL.

True, but I don't see any of the dmen being a #1. I think he can be a really good #2 and with his IQ and processing, I think he could be PP1 QB.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Interesting that Zeev Buium is being talked about here as if he's the Dylan Strome of defensemen

 

[hawksrule]

Interesting that Zeev Buium is being talked about here as if he's the Dylan Strome of defensemen

No, Buium is good at hockey.

 

[Styles]

Interesting that Zeev Buium is being talked about here as if he's the Dylan Strome of defensemen

You’re lame anymore. A bit too much. You’ve let your opinion go out the window for most people. And that’s sad because people valued it previously.

 

[Hawkaholic]

Off topic: Did you ever think Bouchard would develop into this type of player?

I always thought he would be a PP specialist, and struggle defensively. I never thought he'd be a pt/gp Dman, so thats a bit surprising, but not surprising he still struggles in his own end. I thought Boqvist would be the better all around guy, but that never materialized.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

Off topic: Did you ever think Bouchard would develop into this type of player?

He's got a bomb of a shot but if he's not the triggerman for one of the best power plays of all time he's just another flawed defenseman with tools.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

Interesting that Zeev Buium is being talked about here as if he's the Dylan Strome of defensemen

See he actually wins things and can play in his own zone.

 

[TLEH]

He's got a bomb of a shot but if he's not the triggerman for one of the best power plays of all time he's just another flawed defenseman with tools.

He's playing like 26-28 a night in the playoffs on a good team. He's better defensively than people think because he was such a train wreck with it early on. Game 3 he was a stud.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

He's playing like 26-28 a night in the playoffs on a good team. He's better defensively than people think because he was such a train wreck with it early on. Game 3 he was a stud.

We’ll see what he’s worth when Draisaitl and Mcdavid leave and he’s no longer a part of a power play that operates at 50%

 

[scorehawks]

I always thought he would be a PP specialist, and struggle defensively. I never thought he'd be a pt/gp Dman, so thats a bit surprising, but not surprising he still struggles in his own end. I thought Boqvist would be the better all around guy, but that never materialized.

Pretty sure Hunter/London Knights said something along lines Bouchard smartest player he ever coached. Bowman passed on both Bouchard and Dobson over the "younger Boqvist". We know how that turned out.

 

[ClydeLee]

Pretty sure Hunter/London Knights said something along lines Bouchard smartest player he ever coached. Bowman passed on both Bouchard and Dobson over the "younger Boqvist". We know how that turned out.

The younger guy who after drafted said, yeah I know I'm 3 years away... then Bowman and McD rushed him into the nhl in year 2

 

[WarriorofTime]

Weird pick because Kaiser skates really well. Better than Buium. I think Buium's stick and compete and IQ will play regardless and he will PK and atleast play PP2.

Now I want to see a skate off between Kaiser and Buium for my own curiosity.

 

[MTU34]

I think I’m down to wanting either Buium or Iginla.

Upside isn’t quite as high as you’d like with Iginla at 2 but if you were building a perfect linemate for Bedard it’d be pretty damn close to looking like Iginla

 

[Hawkaholic]

Pretty sure Hunter/London Knights said something along lines Bouchard smartest player he ever coached. Bowman passed on both Bouchard and Dobson over the "younger Boqvist". We know how that turned out.

I dont recall him saying that, but he could have. He compared him to John Carlsson and said he is similar to him in a lot of ways. He has work to do defensively, and like Carlsson, benefits alot from being on the best PP in the league.

Not sure why Bowman passed on Dobson though. I didnt follow prospects as closely back then, but he was the consensus higher pick, and Bowman slightly reached from what I remember.

 

[hawksfan50]

There seems to be a"consensus" that it will either be Levshunov or Demidov andvthey seem to be touted as the 2 "BPAs" in ranking afterCelenrini and more hypedbinto Blackhawks future stars and saviors when in fact there is NO GUARANTEE they will not be surpassed in career impact and "stardom" by others in this draft.

I think Demidov MAY have higher ceiling forbimoactvyhanLevshunov but also Levshunoc is a safer floor ..

The concerns on Demidov are under 6 feet ...so smaller skiljed type who is best as a dangler but that also risks knee damage (already injured twice with knee issues)...so there is that..Plus there is a viewctgat dangling around defenders in thecMHL may not translate as well to dangling around defenders in the NHL...

He does nothing to solve tge Blackhawks issues of getting physically pushed around.

So you have a ceiling for Demidov of an A or A- star player but anymore uncertain floor if his skills so not cut it agaibst Men and NHL caliber competition.

With Levshinov you get maybe a more certain B+ offense and B+defense 2 way dman type ..but thecquestion is can he "take over" a game as astar1D or is he merely a good solid 2D?
He proved himself jumping from the USHL to college level and putting up a point a game ....So you know what you are getting...he probably still plays 1 more season in the NCAA before urining pro.

So it isxa tough decision for KD..

However the player that solves a bigger issue for the Hawks is Cayden Lindstrom.

Hardly any discussion about hom from the Demidov /Levshunov advocates.

Hawks lack size up front for top 2 lines..

You are NOT getting a Big strong 2 way powerful physically dominating Center layer i the draft.He is what the Hawks NEED to solve thatc2C issue and balance out the styles of a Bedard line with a more Physical but still scoring 2bd line..

I would KD draft Lindstrom..

Even if a cobsensusciscthat Lindstrom is only ranked 3rd or 4th orc5th on most lists..he is a unicorn ...no other forward in the top 5 has sich a size+skillcombo...physically dominant and nasty.

Hawks are stupid if they pas this opportunity up.

Akso if heviscthis Big Nd physical now imagine him as a full mature man at 23 and the physical type Big dominating load that oresents to the ipos.

You do not get this at #20 or in roubd 2..You gotta grab the unicorn EARLY.


Besides a good 2C who dominates physically and a 309 ft game and can score isnore valuable that a showey danglrr who if he hits his ceiling may be a 90 -200pts scoring forwardcIN The Regular Seaon..but who gets dominated by bigger nasty NHL players who ramp up the physical pkay in playoffs if you get to playoffs.

And a 2C of Lindstrom's type (=Barkov,Early Toews,Kopitar) these types win Cups.

So you Denidov advocates are dating you prefer showed regular season smaller skilk over physically dominant good in regukarcseason who ramp it up in playoffs and the over games?Come on ...use your brains.


As to Levshunov..IF I saw hom as a 1D replacement solution for $9.5,I woukd hump on hom...But the issue is with $9.5 in place 6 more season s,Levshunov woukd be spending 5 seasons (next season hevis back in college)as only a 2RD..and you want to waste a #2overallon that scenario?

If we are taliking about merely a Murphy 2RD replacement then after 1 more season in college Rinzel is that solution already ,then why waste a #2overall for a redundancy ?

If Rinzell is only a 3RD solution ,you still can get other 2RD replacements for Murphy via ufa or trades or drafting RD s in roundv2 ..

The point is Levshunocmakes sense for a team if you see hom as your future core top RD..and in Hawks case that is impossible for 6 more seasons. So youare stupid to take him GIVEN the Hawks situation and other pressing need for size and physicality with skill up front .

Yes you also need more skill to play with Bedard..

But you can get that at #20 or via a move up packing picks or even in round 2 ...But you also know Bedard needs sone size and puck re-possesion help on his wings..Else his libevus hemmed in and pushed aroundctoo longin defending mode in the d-zobe.

It is very clear Hawks need to get Lindstrom as 2C solution then add some size +skill wingers for Bedard.

Hawks cannot get all solutions this draft just by the draft with currebtboucks.

They will need to add via free agency or via trade or via re-packibgnpickscto move up from #20 or from#34 ..

But ti me Lindstrom is the no brainer and Denidov/Levshunov are not thebpriority first.

Hawks will not draftc2 Russians in round one..

But I CAN SEE a Lindstrom at #2 and a Yegor Surin at #20 and that combo is a perfect needs fit up frontvto add size and physicality and nasty guys yet with skill to score.

Levshunov as mete Murphy replacement we can solve by other means.

Demidov +Surin is not gonna ever hapoen.

No my friends..the correct targeting is Kinstrom and Surin which either could play together on a line that will opponents shaking in fear of getyibg physically intimidated..It woukd change the current pansy culture of soft smalk Hawksup front.


Imagine line #2 in 2025/26 being :

Gavin Hayes Cayden Lindstrom Yegor Surin

I think that a top 2 line soution.

OR take Michael Hage at #20 (can use him as a C orxa W...Could make Lindstrom a 1C and move Bedard to 2RW with Hage as 2C eventually..

Maybe KD packages sonec2ndsvto move back up into 20s in first?

A haul of Lindstrom +Hage+Surin would be atrifecta!