2024 NHL DRAFT Talk

[kas23]

57 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Mofo is 6'7" 190lbs. There's a 6th round flier type of pick. 

That’s interesting. Miroslav was 6’3” (I never knew he was this tall). So, I tried to find out how tall the mom is. Here’s a picture. Remember, Miroslav is 6’3”. She looks like she’s at least 5’11”. She’s not even standing fulling upright  

 

Edited April 23 by kas23

[LGR4GM]

https://theathletic.com/5367202/2024/04/23/macklin-celebrini-nhl-draft-connor-mcdavid/

They asked 6 scouts to rank the last 10 drafts first overall picks and then slot in Celebrini. He slotted in 5th behind the following players:

1. McDavid

2. Bedard

3. Matthews

4. Jack Hughes

5. Celebrini

Personally, I think Celebrini could be better than Hughes. That said the next two first overalls are Dahlin and Power. 

[LGR4GM]

 

[#freejame]

It will take us trading our first or winning the lottery for me to get excited for this season. 

[DarthEbriate]

5 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Mofo is 6'7" 190lbs. There's a 6th round flier type of pick. 

If you have a spare 6th or 7th, always pick a Satan if available.

[LGR4GM]

 

[LGR4GM]

Liger's List: Top 10 April 2024

1. Mack Celebrini, 6' 190lbs C - when you play your entire NCAA Freshmen season as a 17yr old, that is noteworthy, when you do it to the tune of 64pts in 38 games leaving you as 2nd in PPG for the entire NCAA, that is otherworldly. BTW the player above and the 2 players directly below him on that list are all linemates on the same team versus Mack, who's next closest teammate is at 11... and is a defender. He can do it all, defense, offense, pk, pp, whatever you want. If Matty Beniers was more skilled, you would have Celebrini. His shot is excellent, I think his skating looks better and better, and this IQ is not quite Benson but he is a smart cookie. Buffalo has a 3% chance of drafting him, so keep your fingers crossed because he would immediately slot into a center position in Buffalo and give us depth behind Cozens and Tage. 
2. Ivan Demidov, 5'11" 168lbs RW - to be blunt, the MHL (Russian Jrs) is simply a league below his skills. His skating is Skinner-esque and his shot is bedard-esque (not bedard level btw). He is an offensive threat anytime the puck is on his stick or he is in the zone. Smart and able to do about all the moves, there is a flash to his game that reminds me a bit of afinogenov. What else can we say other than he needs muscles and to get to NA to continue to refine the 200ft aspects of his game. Some places rank him lower but I don't understand how, he's got first line winger skills and when I say refine his 200ft game that isn't code for doesn't have one. He works hard in all 3 zone with sublime passing skills. One knock on his skating is he isn't fast so much as elusive and I get that. Still he has a ton of skills and every time I manage to find some video of him, I find myself smiling at his creative and fun style. 
3. Artyom Levshunov, 6'2" 209lbs RHD - the big man from Belarus is an all around defender that uses his size to physically end plays in his own zone as well as protect the puck in any zone. Big story for him this year is how well he adapted and grew in the NCAA where he put up 0.92ppg for Michigan State. Skates very well with good agility and a quickness that makes a 6'2" guy very dangerous. He has an array of shots and loves loves loves putting pucks on net from just about anywhere which probably needs a little refinement. His passing is crisp and I feel as though there is more deception between first half highlights and second half. Defensively he works hard but needs more coaching IMPO. Good ideas but sometimes slow to execute which is a bit of the opposite of his offensive zone ideas. Still he isn't bad defensively and again uses his physicality to shut things down when he can. Another year in the NCAA should help to round out his game. He has a high floor and good ceiling so that is why he ends up at 3rd for me. 
4. Berkly Catton, 5'11" 163lbs C/LW - when you put up 54g in 68 games, that is really noticeable. When you add 62 assists to the total, well you are in some rare territory. In fact that puts you 7th in the WHL for ppg and #1 for draft eligible guys. Add to that a vastly improving defensive game with great skating and shooting, and you get Catton. No, I don't have some fetish for sub 6ft light forwards, there just seems to be a trend of guys that fit that description and score like Catton... you know like Benson and Savoie. Anyways, he's a good player and will be a good pro, probably needs 2 more years in jrs and a rochester year so a beat out but man is he gonna be fun. 
5. Cayden Lindstrom, 6'4" 216lbs C/LW - oh what might have been. 27g in 32 games translates out to 57g in 68 games but alas that isn't what happened. Injured early and then he managed to come back and pick up where he left off only to get injured again. No, I don't think he is injury prone but medicals will be important to look at here. Still who doesn't want a 6'4" forward that plays physically, can skate as good as Cozens and can score at a good clip? There only issue I seem to have with Lindstrom is idk how smart he actually is with the puck. There are times if you watch some of his shifts, where he just doesn't make the play that I want and he occasionally is a little to north south without having some of the deception we could hope. Still he tries hard and sending him back to jrs for 2 more years will probably help iron out a lot of his weaknesses. Considering his strengths, skating and shooting, I think he has all the potential to be a solid #2 center or even a top line winger. 
6. Zayne Parekh, 6' 178lbs RHD - what would happen if you took a Maserati but asked it to play defense? Parekh is what would happen. 96pts in 66 OHL games or 1.45ppg from a defender in the OHL is, absurd, crazy, fun. In the offensive zone, Parekh will attack at the slightest opportunity, he ends up below the goal line a bunch, he will drive the slot, makes amazing passes, is really good about getting the puck inside and will use excellent edges and quick bursts to get it there. Dude flat out is a baller in the offensive zone... so lets talk about defense. First, it isn't like he refuses to try or won't play defense. He uses his skating and has a good active stick, although I question his turn and acceleration. The issue is that because he takes a ton of risks for lots of reward offensively, you need really good wingers and centers to rotate for him. Sometimes he just does too much and gets caught out of position. His defensive game is okay but needs refinement for sure. If you need a PP1 guy, draft him. If you need a 3rd defender to lock down your zone... maybe look elsewhere. Still, the offense is fun and reminds me a bit of how Brandt Clarke was in his draft year. 
7. Sam Dickinson, 6'3" 204lbs LHD - if Parekh is a Maserati, Dickinson is a Jeep. Rugged, can go wherever you need, has some style and flash but overall just solid. With a June bday, Dickinson is young and that should scare ppl because there is just more there IMPO, his 70pts and 1.03ppg from the defense position for a strong London Knights team shows how good he is. Great skating with agility for days and a hard to knock off the puck stride, if he was lightning fast (he's good but not great) we would be talking about him higher up and I almost put him 4th. So why didn't I? Offensively he is good, makes smart plays, has a good shot that he gets through, and overall reminds me a bit of Owen Power in the o-zone. Not flashy but solid. I would want a bit more from a defender at 4th or 5th overall. His bread and butter is his defense. He's big with good skating so goo luck going around him or through him. Physical when needed and disciplined with excellent positioning, if you want a guy who can eat 25mins a night, lead a breakout, shutdown top lines, and be a solid #2/3 defender, take him. And if his offensive game continues to add deception and skills, this ranking will look stupid in a few years. Love me some Dickinson. 
8. Tij Iginla, 6' 185lbs LW - imagine if Benson had a slightly bigger brother who was slightly less of a gunz blazing full throttle hellian, let me present Tij. Son of Jarome Iginla, this guy has rocketed up draft boards because ppl started catching on. He is remarkably consistent all year and manages 47g and 1.31ppg which is good but not remarkable, so why does he slide up boards? Quite frankly it is because of his 200ft game and excellent shot including 9g in 11 playoffs games. He skates well, his a hard worker on fore and backchecks, and he scores in bunches. Couple that with an Aug 1 bday and honestly we can't truly be sure how good Tij actually is, he is only 45 short of being 2025 eligible so how do we handle that? For me, seeing as he is the best forechecker in the WHL, I handle it by thinking that a guy that already has his shot and skating coupled with his work ethic is probably a 2nd line guy all day and has first line potential. The work and the attention to detail stand out in good ways and personally I think you can improve things like skating, passing, shooting, but the will to win is harder to "develop". I would be pretty happy if we landed him and can only hope that the flashes of smooth hands and some elite manipulation truly blossom next season. A bit of risk but I will take it. 
9. Konsta Helenius, 5'11" 181lbs C/RW - Finland has quietly produced some really solid guys the last few years. Helenius might be one of the best. He spent the entire season in Liiga, Finland's top men's league where he casually had 14g, 22a for 36pts in 51 games as a 17yr old with a May bday. You know, just normal stuff that no one does. For example Anton Lundell as an 18yr old (Oct) in Liiga put up 10g, 18a, 28pts in 44 games. That's 0.71ppg to 0.64ppg if you doe the math all while being 5 months younger than Lundell was when he started his 28pt season. So yea, lots to like here. He plays well in all 3 zones, is super smart, great skating, passing is fantastic and he is not and will not be a perimeter player. He has a fearless attitude for a kid in a men's league. I want to see more of him, but there is a chance he ends up higher when this is all said and done. I hope Buffalo sends a bunch of guys to Finland to see him because he is another guy along with Tij and Catton that just has lots of skills to display while also being a solid worker all over the ice. 
10. Anton Silayev, 6'7" 211lbs LHD - look, I get it. He is really big and he skates well but like, his offense is meh. Not saying it doesn't exist, more that it just isn't that much of a wow factor. Owen Power has way more offensive wow in comparison while having similar skating. Now that isn't to say he is a lug who can't generate offense, he has good hands and makes solid plays but go watch him, there is not a lot of manipulation or driving low or advanced offensive instincts there. He reminds me a bit of big Jokiharju where sure, he can make solid passes and he can stick handle here and there, that isn't really his game. Which brings us to the defensive side of things where he smothers you and will lay you out. He uses his size well to shield guys and start breakouts. He has enough agility that it is hard to beat him in close and obvious reach making him hard to beat wide. If I needed a solid #3 defender that I could pair with say Byram or Dahlin or maybe even Power, you know a true offensive talent, Silayev would be the dude but I just highly doubt his offensive game, more so than most judging by his consolidated ranking of #7 and he's got 8 rankings in the top 5. 

Well that is it for April and it until I actually sit down and figure out 1-32 or whatever I do. There is some depth to this class but not as good as last year for sure. 

[LGR4GM]

Speaking of Helenius 

 

[LGR4GM]

I mean, he is fun

 

[LGR4GM]

 

 

[SabreFinn]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

I mean, he is fun

 

He had Olli Jokinen as coach last season and Jokinen compared his forecheck and talent to read and break passes with Datsjuk!!!

[Flashsabre]

I would still trade #11 for an impact player this year but if no trade is viable they will get another good player. 

[LGR4GM]

How does Eichel compare to Celebrini?

Eichel: 2014, 87pts in 53games = 1.64ppg

2015, 71pts in 40games = 1.78

Celebrini: 2023, 86pts in 50games = 1.72ppg

2024, 64pts in 38games = 1.68ppg

And Celebrini was 8 months younger than Eichel. Note at each stage Celebrini had more goals than Eichel as well. 

[French Collection]

9 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Liger's List: Top 10 April 2024

1. Mack Celebrini, 6' 190lbs C - when you play your entire NCAA Freshmen season as a 17yr old, that is noteworthy, when you do it to the tune of 64pts in 38 games leaving you as 2nd in PPG for the entire NCAA, that is otherworldly. BTW the player above and the 2 players directly below him on that list are all linemates on the same team versus Mack, who's next closest teammate is at 11... and is a defender. He can do it all, defense, offense, pk, pp, whatever you want. If Matty Beniers was more skilled, you would have Celebrini. His shot is excellent, I think his skating looks better and better, and this IQ is not quite Benson but he is a smart cookie. Buffalo has a 3% chance of drafting him, so keep your fingers crossed because he would immediately slot into a center position in Buffalo and give us depth behind Cozens and Tage. 
2. Ivan Demidov, 5'11" 168lbs RW - to be blunt, the MHL (Russian Jrs) is simply a league below his skills. His skating is Skinner-esque and his shot is bedard-esque (not bedard level btw). He is an offensive threat anytime the puck is on his stick or he is in the zone. Smart and able to do about all the moves, there is a flash to his game that reminds me a bit of afinogenov. What else can we say other than he needs muscles and to get to NA to continue to refine the 200ft aspects of his game. Some places rank him lower but I don't understand how, he's got first line winger skills and when I say refine his 200ft game that isn't code for doesn't have one. He works hard in all 3 zone with sublime passing skills. One knock on his skating is he isn't fast so much as elusive and I get that. Still he has a ton of skills and every time I manage to find some video of him, I find myself smiling at his creative and fun style. 
3. Artyom Levshunov, 6'2" 209lbs RHD - the big man from Belarus is an all around defender that uses his size to physically end plays in his own zone as well as protect the puck in any zone. Big story for him this year is how well he adapted and grew in the NCAA where he put up 0.92ppg for Michigan State. Skates very well with good agility and a quickness that makes a 6'2" guy very dangerous. He has an array of shots and loves loves loves putting pucks on net from just about anywhere which probably needs a little refinement. His passing is crisp and I feel as though there is more deception between first half highlights and second half. Defensively he works hard but needs more coaching IMPO. Good ideas but sometimes slow to execute which is a bit of the opposite of his offensive zone ideas. Still he isn't bad defensively and again uses his physicality to shut things down when he can. Another year in the NCAA should help to round out his game. He has a high floor and good ceiling so that is why he ends up at 3rd for me. 
4. Berkly Catton, 5'11" 163lbs C/LW - when you put up 54g in 68 games, that is really noticeable. When you add 62 assists to the total, well you are in some rare territory. In fact that puts you 7th in the WHL for ppg and #1 for draft eligible guys. Add to that a vastly improving defensive game with great skating and shooting, and you get Catton. No, I don't have some fetish for sub 6ft light forwards, there just seems to be a trend of guys that fit that description and score like Catton... you know like Benson and Savoie. Anyways, he's a good player and will be a good pro, probably needs 2 more years in jrs and a rochester year so a beat out but man is he gonna be fun. 
5. Cayden Lindstrom, 6'4" 216lbs C/LW - oh what might have been. 27g in 32 games translates out to 57g in 68 games but alas that isn't what happened. Injured early and then he managed to come back and pick up where he left off only to get injured again. No, I don't think he is injury prone but medicals will be important to look at here. Still who doesn't want a 6'4" forward that plays physically, can skate as good as Cozens and can score at a good clip? There only issue I seem to have with Lindstrom is idk how smart he actually is with the puck. There are times if you watch some of his shifts, where he just doesn't make the play that I want and he occasionally is a little to north south without having some of the deception we could hope. Still he tries hard and sending him back to jrs for 2 more years will probably help iron out a lot of his weaknesses. Considering his strengths, skating and shooting, I think he has all the potential to be a solid #2 center or even a top line winger. 
6. Zayne Parekh, 6' 178lbs RHD - what would happen if you took a Maserati but asked it to play defense? Parekh is what would happen. 96pts in 66 OHL games or 1.45ppg from a defender in the OHL is, absurd, crazy, fun. In the offensive zone, Parekh will attack at the slightest opportunity, he ends up below the goal line a bunch, he will drive the slot, makes amazing passes, is really good about getting the puck inside and will use excellent edges and quick bursts to get it there. Dude flat out is a baller in the offensive zone... so lets talk about defense. First, it isn't like he refuses to try or won't play defense. He uses his skating and has a good active stick, although I question his turn and acceleration. The issue is that because he takes a ton of risks for lots of reward offensively, you need really good wingers and centers to rotate for him. Sometimes he just does too much and gets caught out of position. His defensive game is okay but needs refinement for sure. If you need a PP1 guy, draft him. If you need a 3rd defender to lock down your zone... maybe look elsewhere. Still, the offense is fun and reminds me a bit of how Brandt Clarke was in his draft year. 
7. Sam Dickinson, 6'3" 204lbs LHD - if Parekh is a Maserati, Dickinson is a Jeep. Rugged, can go wherever you need, has some style and flash but overall just solid. With a June bday, Dickinson is young and that should scare ppl because there is just more there IMPO, his 70pts and 1.03ppg from the defense position for a strong London Knights team shows how good he is. Great skating with agility for days and a hard to knock off the puck stride, if he was lightning fast (he's good but not great) we would be talking about him higher up and I almost put him 4th. So why didn't I? Offensively he is good, makes smart plays, has a good shot that he gets through, and overall reminds me a bit of Owen Power in the o-zone. Not flashy but solid. I would want a bit more from a defender at 4th or 5th overall. His bread and butter is his defense. He's big with good skating so goo luck going around him or through him. Physical when needed and disciplined with excellent positioning, if you want a guy who can eat 25mins a night, lead a breakout, shutdown top lines, and be a solid #2/3 defender, take him. And if his offensive game continues to add deception and skills, this ranking will look stupid in a few years. Love me some Dickinson. 
8. Tij Iginla, 6' 185lbs LW - imagine if Benson had a slightly bigger brother who was slightly less of a gunz blazing full throttle hellian, let me present Tij. Son of Jarome Iginla, this guy has rocketed up draft boards because ppl started catching on. He is remarkably consistent all year and manages 47g and 1.31ppg which is good but not remarkable, so why does he slide up boards? Quite frankly it is because of his 200ft game and excellent shot including 9g in 11 playoffs games. He skates well, his a hard worker on fore and backchecks, and he scores in bunches. Couple that with an Aug 1 bday and honestly we can't truly be sure how good Tij actually is, he is only 45 short of being 2025 eligible so how do we handle that? For me, seeing as he is the best forechecker in the WHL, I handle it by thinking that a guy that already has his shot and skating coupled with his work ethic is probably a 2nd line guy all day and has first line potential. The work and the attention to detail stand out in good ways and personally I think you can improve things like skating, passing, shooting, but the will to win is harder to "develop". I would be pretty happy if we landed him and can only hope that the flashes of smooth hands and some elite manipulation truly blossom next season. A bit of risk but I will take it. 
9. Konsta Helenius, 5'11" 181lbs C/RW - Finland has quietly produced some really solid guys the last few years. Helenius might be one of the best. He spent the entire season in Liiga, Finland's top men's league where he casually had 14g, 22a for 36pts in 51 games as a 17yr old with a May bday. You know, just normal stuff that no one does. For example Anton Lundell as an 18yr old (Oct) in Liiga put up 10g, 18a, 28pts in 44 games. That's 0.71ppg to 0.64ppg if you doe the math all while being 5 months younger than Lundell was when he started his 28pt season. So yea, lots to like here. He plays well in all 3 zones, is super smart, great skating, passing is fantastic and he is not and will not be a perimeter player. He has a fearless attitude for a kid in a men's league. I want to see more of him, but there is a chance he ends up higher when this is all said and done. I hope Buffalo sends a bunch of guys to Finland to see him because he is another guy along with Tij and Catton that just has lots of skills to display while also being a solid worker all over the ice. 
10. Anton Silayev, 6'7" 211lbs LHD - look, I get it. He is really big and he skates well but like, his offense is meh. Not saying it doesn't exist, more that it just isn't that much of a wow factor. Owen Power has way more offensive wow in comparison while having similar skating. Now that isn't to say he is a lug who can't generate offense, he has good hands and makes solid plays but go watch him, there is not a lot of manipulation or driving low or advanced offensive instincts there. He reminds me a bit of big Jokiharju where sure, he can make solid passes and he can stick handle here and there, that isn't really his game. Which brings us to the defensive side of things where he smothers you and will lay you out. He uses his size well to shield guys and start breakouts. He has enough agility that it is hard to beat him in close and obvious reach making him hard to beat wide. If I needed a solid #3 defender that I could pair with say Byram or Dahlin or maybe even Power, you know a true offensive talent, Silayev would be the dude but I just highly doubt his offensive game, more so than most judging by his consolidated ranking of #7 and he's got 8 rankings in the top 5. 

Well that is it for April and it until I actually sit down and figure out 1-32 or whatever I do. There is some depth to this class but not as good as last year for sure. 

Nice job on this, lots of good information. I am usually up on the draft prospects but have been avoiding it this year. Maybe the Sabres trade their first rounder for a change.

The only guy on your list I don’t like is Parekh. This is just my opinion and personal preference.

He is an offensive force and he may translate into an NHL PP QB someday. When I watched him he plays most of PP1 and 2. He also plays some time at RW. There are a lot of similarities to Tony DeAngelo at the OHL level. He was a rover who rarely played D. The other comparable you mention is Brandt Clarke. This is very accurate and I also do not like Clarke for similar reasons. They are offense first guys who are not good defensively and seem to be me first types. They spell team with an I. They make Quinn Hughes look like a defensive stalwart.

Again this is just my take and I may be way off base.
 

[PerreaultForever]

If Dickinson's still there when we pick I'd take him. Iginla would be intriguing. 

I personally like Liam Greentree. 

This is assuming we are not in the top 5 or 6 and draft around 10 or 11. 

 

[dudacek]

41 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

If Dickinson's still there when we pick I'd take him. Iginla would be intriguing. 

I personally like Liam Greentree. 

This is assuming we are not in the top 5 or 6 and draft around 10 or 11. 

 

If I understand the draw correctly, there is a 91% chance we are picking 11.

There is a 6% chance we are picking 1st or 2nd

And a 3% we pick 12th or 13th.

Don't think we can pick in any other slot.

[PerreaultForever]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

If I understand the draw correctly, there is a 91% chance we are picking 11.

There is a 6% chance we are picking 1st or 2nd

And a 3% we pick 12th or 13th.

Don't think we can pick in any other slot.

Well then I'm sticking with Liam Greentree. 

If we somehow win the lottery we can take Cellibrini or trade the pick for a boatload or make the pick and then trade Thompson or somebody for what we need. There would be options and all of them good. 

[Flashsabre]

Look out for Bennett Senneke from the Oshawa Generals. I see a Jack Quinn like rise for this kid. He is killing it in the playoffs. Naturally talented RW who I think goes higher than a lot of people think. 

[LGR4GM]

 

[Flashsabre]

Canadian RHD Henry Mews has made a lot of head scratching decisions at the U18s

Gavin McKenna who is Bedard’s cousin by marriage is 16 and is unbelievable at the U18s.

He is 2026 draft eligible but Button said today if he was in this draft he would go 1 or 2 behind 18 year old Celebrini.

[PerreaultForever]

22 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

Canadian RHD Henry Mews has made a lot of head scratching decisions at the U18s

Gavin McKenna who is Bedard’s cousin by marriage is 16 and is unbelievable at the U18s.

He is 2026 draft eligible but Button said today if he was in this draft he would go 1 or 2 behind 18 year old Celebrini.

Let's hope the 2026 lottery is not something we are concerned with. 

[steveoath]

59 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

Let's hope the 2026 lottery is not something we are concerned with. 

Or we acquire an unprotected 1st rounder…….

[French Collection]

53 minutes ago, steveoath said:

Or we acquire an unprotected 1st rounder…….

Not sure Krebs will fetch that much.

[PerreaultForever]

4 hours ago, steveoath said:

Or we acquire an unprotected 1st rounder…….

Who you giving up for that? Power? 

[LGR4GM]