Celebrini, Levshunov, Buium, Lindstrom, Demidov
This was before we know Lindstrom medical update and all the Demidov smokes screen tho.
Now, i have no fucking clue, this year is a wild ride.
Same here, although I really like a lot of the guys in this draft class. There are five forwards (four excluding Celibrini, who won’t be available) and five defencemen (four excluding Levshunov, who won’t be available) who I would be thrilled to walk away with as our top pick. Buium is my favourite if the defencemen. And there are even a handful of other guys that I would be totally okay with.
I concur with Buium assessment. I have a feeling Lindstrom may drop due to the injury rumours. I hope the kid is alright and have a nice long career ahead.
If Gallagher doesn't have the inside track on his back, considering how much Lindstrom trained at his father's facility, I would be shocked if we picked him unless his back is 100%
I agree, if demidov and lindstrom arent there, Buium is the way to go. People have bitch and moan about BPA for decades, but suddenly when the BPA is a dman we dont want him anymore we want to reach for forwards
But we have sooo much *depth* at LD, why do we need a top pair LD when we have studs like Xhejak, Harris, Struble, Norlinder, Engstrom, Trudeau and last but not least… LUKE MITTELSTADT
Bro all of them are either 3rd pair Ds or will barely play in the NHL.
We absolutely need top talent everywhere still.
In all cases, if all of them end up bein good, it's always easy to trade them for something good.
>People have bitch and moan about BPA for decades, but suddenly when the BPA is a dman we dont want him anymore we want to reach for forwards
Not all of us bitching about BPA are saying that lol. If a Dman is the BPA I have no problem in them taking one.
It's just that over the years I don't have confidence in this team taking BPA.
The high end D mixed with 4 or 5 really good forwards make this the most exciting draft in a while.
2022 was more what was tge first 4 picks like.
2023 was do the habs pass on michkov because the rest was decided.
2024 is just outright open after 1. And we have so many good options.
The more people make their cases for different players in the top 10 the better I feel about this draft. As long as we don’t go crazy off board it seems like we can’t lose at 5.
If Demidov is gone, I don’t mind this at all. Buium would be a great add to our soon-to-be elite defensive core. It would 100% mean that one of our defencemen, like Guhle or Matheson, is gone for a top-six forward, likely packaged with 26th overall.
I think it's too early for us to restrict ourselves to excluding certain positions. I am high on Hutson but Buium was the better player this year. If we could have both of those guys on our team, I think that would be massive for our prospect pool and the future of this team's defensive core
Ya it’s absurd to act like the team is set on left defence.
I am more and more thinking Guhle might be dealt, he’s the only young d man with any meaningful value in a trade and he’s right in that Romanov zone where he was drafted by the previous regime and was older than the star prospects.
I don’t think the team sees themselves as 3-4 seasons way and probably wants to build on some positives from last year and improve upon them.
I feel like if you deal Matheson and or Savard you may end up in a situation where inexperienced d men are having too much pressure and may end up not hitting their potential.
Plus a guy like Matheson could well play at this level for 3-6 years after this. Seems apparent that this coaching staff knows how to maximize his on ice value.
Something like:
Guhle, Winnipegs pick at 27, a prospect, and Dvorak to even salaries for a youngish top 6 proven winger could make sense.
He's not really all that much older than our stars though. Especially since he's a defenseman. Realistically Guhle and Slaf will be entering their respective primes at about the same time.
I'm not opposed to trading him, you need to pay up to get the goods. But the return needs to be solid. At 21 years old Guhle took on the toughest matchups on his offside and, though he did struggle with the responsibility at times, he also held up respectably enough.
Oh I know, he’s very young.
He’s just way more valuable than any of the other d men who are part of the log jam in the blueline.
As well it’s quite probable the Habs take a d man in the draft.
Hutson and Reinbacher are almost certainly going nowhere.
All of Harris, Barron, Struble, Kojakevic Maillouix and Xhekaj are throw ins/add ons of not overly significant value.
So it could be that Guhle is dealt.
No arguments here, your reasoning is sound. I'd just want a pretty solid return if we're shipping off Guhle. Many of the names floating around the market at the moment are not guys I'd consider trading him for.
But there are always surprises, like Dach and Newhook, where nobody expected the trade until it happened.
I wouldn't be surprised if Guhle is dealt as well. I can see a scenario where he might be packaged to a team looking to retool/rebuild. I can see a St Louis or Minnesota being interested in him
Not sure what's on the market and what they're willing to part ways with. Necas and Zegras don't move the needle for me but I can see them taking a swing and bringing Marchessault in in free agency
Why are you out on Yakemchuk?
I’m actually curious, I think he looks really good. Probably not the right pick at 5 but whoever gets him ~12 or so should be real happy.
Often out of position, chases hits a lot, not the smartest player and I believe the oldest in this draft class (5 days from 2023 draft). Electric no doubt, but there are guys available who have just as much or higher potential imo.
Alright if the IQ is a legit concern then that’s fair.
But I wouldn’t be too concerned about the positioning or chasing hits. Maturity/coaching/development can solve those issues.
I just like the size/skill package, personally.
Yakemchuk has tremendous upside. Any young D has a lot to learn positionally, I LIKE that he hits, and as for his age, I think that’s a plus. If he were born a week different, he’d be one of the youngest in last year’s class, and he would have just had an outstanding D+1 season. He’s more physically developed and will require slightly less seasoning. I like Yakemchuk a lot.
I love Silayev as a prospect too. Not as offensively sexy, but a force in his own end and in the neutral zone. Playing a 7 game series and having to get past a 6'7 dude with solid mobility and great defensive instincts would suck. And he'd be a great piece that could neutralize opposing power forwards.
I can't wait for draft day, I'll be pumped with just about anyone we pick and I'm over the arguments lmao.
Yes. Or Matheson.
Then read the room and take BPA.
Demidov/Lindstrom first then Buium/Silayev/Parekh
If both those forwards are gone, then grab the D first and Seneke with the 7th... Either way just find out what Utah is going for and work around that (whatever position they aim for get that position first and still have top choice of the other at 7th).
Yeh he doesn't seem to get talked about too much but I think he will be taken earlier than projected.
I'm fine with the pick, we still don't have a #1D and until that need is met I don't see a point in addressing the forwards concern.
I think we should draft a defenseman in the first round every year. fuck it double down make it a thing. imagine a third pair of hutson-reinbacher in 3 years
Honestly, I don’t think there is a wrong pick, Sennecke makes me nervous though, with any of the top 4 defenders or top 4-5 forwards. Any one of them can make the team better in the long run.
I like that Iginla is so young. One thing to consider is that many of the top ranked players in next year's class are quite old (born in September, October and November). Iginla is an August birthday, finished the year so strong and I think he'd be the second overall pick next year based on this season alone. I am a fan
I think hes the guy if Demidov goes at 2 and Lindstrom goes at 3 or 4 which I think is still a really plausible scenario.
I could even see a scenario where both Buium and Levshunov are there at 5 and then you have another big decision on your hands
I think realistically we have to be prepared for Demidov and Lindstrom to be gone at 5. Buium is a real possibility here.
Side note : Mise-o-jeu odds for Buium were at 22 a few days ago and now they dropped to 9.5
I think he's better than Hutson right now, he's also a bit bigger. I think you can make it work but also Hutson is a valuable trade piece if you can't make it work
Buium won’t get PP1 minutes for at least the next 2 years anyway, at that time we can evaluate the mix of our D
Hutson might work fine in a Sammy Girard role too, sheltered PP2 minutes, PP1 if Buium’s injured
Might force a Hutson trade but it could be 4-5 years down the line
This is the last year imo we'll be picking this high, and for me it would be a massive mistake not taking at least iginla. To me Iginla will make an impact like Brady Tkachuk which for us would be way more useful than a Buium would. This isn't drafting for need because its close which is why lists are everywhere. We're trying to build a complete roster not an allstar team. We have holes up front, not on the back end. Willing to bet Iginla will have a better career than Buium. A player like Iginla say wont be available to us next year around 10-18 and easier said than don't to trade a dman for a young top 6 potential forward. No one wants to trade guhle for a young zegras who will most likely be a pt per game player in his prime.
Hutson Reinbacher
Guhle Mailloux.
Thats a great potential top 4.
I think based on pure skill then Celebrini and Demidov are 1-2 quite easily. After that, it gets a bit muddier between 3-9 imo but I have Buium ahead. Not many defensemen have his pedigree, statistical output and overall game coming into the draft. He had 50 points in 42 games on the best team in college after being the best defenseman at the world juniors.
assuming I haven't watched him
do you think watching him will sway the balance? He's not miles ahead of sennecke, iginla, catton, demidov, helenius or lindstrom
the choice is not between drafting Buium or some bottom 6 grinder
if you can't find a good top 4 with guhle, matheson, reinbacher, hutson, mailloux, barron, engstrom, struble, xhekaj and harris then there's no point moving forward with that group and they should keep tanking until 2026 and pray for mckenna
I'm pretty confident we will be in the McKenna race regardless of who we pick at #5. This team has a lot of question marks, has a pretty poor track record staying healthy and will be looking to integrate quite a few young players into the lineup in the coming years. N
If we don't pick a forward, he's the guy I would want
I think he's more highly valued than some of the mock drafts appear to rank him. I can't see him falling past Seattle
I have it taken at #3 by ANA. Apparently they are high on him and Dickinson. Buium is a Cali boy as well if i'm not mistaken.
Yes he is. He would be a great fit for Anaheim
Who's your second and Fourth pick?
Celebrini, Levshunov, Buium, Lindstrom, Demidov This was before we know Lindstrom medical update and all the Demidov smokes screen tho. Now, i have no fucking clue, this year is a wild ride.
Same here, although I really like a lot of the guys in this draft class. There are five forwards (four excluding Celibrini, who won’t be available) and five defencemen (four excluding Levshunov, who won’t be available) who I would be thrilled to walk away with as our top pick. Buium is my favourite if the defencemen. And there are even a handful of other guys that I would be totally okay with.
I concur with Buium assessment. I have a feeling Lindstrom may drop due to the injury rumours. I hope the kid is alright and have a nice long career ahead.
If Gallagher doesn't have the inside track on his back, considering how much Lindstrom trained at his father's facility, I would be shocked if we picked him unless his back is 100%
I agree, if demidov and lindstrom arent there, Buium is the way to go. People have bitch and moan about BPA for decades, but suddenly when the BPA is a dman we dont want him anymore we want to reach for forwards
Beyond Hutson, we don't have many natural puck movers and playmaking D
But we have sooo much *depth* at LD, why do we need a top pair LD when we have studs like Xhejak, Harris, Struble, Norlinder, Engstrom, Trudeau and last but not least… LUKE MITTELSTADT
None of the players you named are likely to be a top pair D. We can (and will) trade the excess.
Didn’t think I needed an /s when I went all the way to Mittestadt 🤷🏻♂️
Don't worry man, I chuckled. And then chuckled again at the people who didn't get it.
I've seen more versions of your comments on /r/Habs that were more serious than sarcastic over the last couple months. Poe's law, I guess.
Who tf is Poe
Swing and a miss...
Bro all of them are either 3rd pair Ds or will barely play in the NHL. We absolutely need top talent everywhere still. In all cases, if all of them end up bein good, it's always easy to trade them for something good.
The BPA argument is so incredibly flawed because it misses the fact that "best" is highly subjective
Between scouts who maybe rarely have seen all the options play, and if they have, not as frequently or consistently.
>People have bitch and moan about BPA for decades, but suddenly when the BPA is a dman we dont want him anymore we want to reach for forwards Not all of us bitching about BPA are saying that lol. If a Dman is the BPA I have no problem in them taking one. It's just that over the years I don't have confidence in this team taking BPA.
If Demidov isn't available, they should take Sennecke. Lindstrom is overrated.
The high end D mixed with 4 or 5 really good forwards make this the most exciting draft in a while. 2022 was more what was tge first 4 picks like. 2023 was do the habs pass on michkov because the rest was decided. 2024 is just outright open after 1. And we have so many good options.
The more people make their cases for different players in the top 10 the better I feel about this draft. As long as we don’t go crazy off board it seems like we can’t lose at 5.
I agree with that sentiment. More options at #5 this year than last year. Most of the players in top 12 had very strong draft years
I'd be good with this pick
My Mom’s rooting for Buium to get picked solely because he’s a NJB.
Between the Hughes brothers, Adam Fox, Zach Hyman, Jared Swayman, and Zeev Buium, this is a golden age of Jewish hockey players.
Almost enough for a minyan!
Just think of all the lucrative bagel and smoked meat endorsements!
What's NJB?
Nice Jewish Boy
Username checks out
Adam Fox comps fit on and off the ice then
Fox isn't nice
Tattooed, though. Clearly his Bar Mitzvah Torah portion wasn't from Leviticus.
My pick on D as well. He also has that Fowler aspect of just winning at every level.
While also being a major reason why his teams won. He was so good in the semis and finals at the world juniors
If Demidov is gone, I don’t mind this at all. Buium would be a great add to our soon-to-be elite defensive core. It would 100% mean that one of our defencemen, like Guhle or Matheson, is gone for a top-six forward, likely packaged with 26th overall.
I’m the President of the Zeev Buium fan club
Agree 100%, he may be the best player available at 5. I secretly hope Columbus pick Lindstrom so the Habs don't have to make that call.
I don’t believe a LHD is high on our list. That being said. I’ll be fine with anyone not named Sennecke, Eiserman or Yakemchuk honestly.
I think it's too early for us to restrict ourselves to excluding certain positions. I am high on Hutson but Buium was the better player this year. If we could have both of those guys on our team, I think that would be massive for our prospect pool and the future of this team's defensive core
Ya it’s absurd to act like the team is set on left defence. I am more and more thinking Guhle might be dealt, he’s the only young d man with any meaningful value in a trade and he’s right in that Romanov zone where he was drafted by the previous regime and was older than the star prospects. I don’t think the team sees themselves as 3-4 seasons way and probably wants to build on some positives from last year and improve upon them. I feel like if you deal Matheson and or Savard you may end up in a situation where inexperienced d men are having too much pressure and may end up not hitting their potential. Plus a guy like Matheson could well play at this level for 3-6 years after this. Seems apparent that this coaching staff knows how to maximize his on ice value. Something like: Guhle, Winnipegs pick at 27, a prospect, and Dvorak to even salaries for a youngish top 6 proven winger could make sense.
He's not really all that much older than our stars though. Especially since he's a defenseman. Realistically Guhle and Slaf will be entering their respective primes at about the same time. I'm not opposed to trading him, you need to pay up to get the goods. But the return needs to be solid. At 21 years old Guhle took on the toughest matchups on his offside and, though he did struggle with the responsibility at times, he also held up respectably enough.
Oh I know, he’s very young. He’s just way more valuable than any of the other d men who are part of the log jam in the blueline. As well it’s quite probable the Habs take a d man in the draft. Hutson and Reinbacher are almost certainly going nowhere. All of Harris, Barron, Struble, Kojakevic Maillouix and Xhekaj are throw ins/add ons of not overly significant value. So it could be that Guhle is dealt.
No arguments here, your reasoning is sound. I'd just want a pretty solid return if we're shipping off Guhle. Many of the names floating around the market at the moment are not guys I'd consider trading him for. But there are always surprises, like Dach and Newhook, where nobody expected the trade until it happened.
Yup I totally agree. Guhle by himself isn’t getting a top guy but him in a package with done other quality pieces could.
I wish we could just fuse Hutson and Xhekaj into one player. That would be the best solution to the logjam Hurry up, science.
I wouldn't be surprised if Guhle is dealt as well. I can see a scenario where he might be packaged to a team looking to retool/rebuild. I can see a St Louis or Minnesota being interested in him
In all honesty the thing that would surprise me most this offseason is if the Habs didn’t make at least one big move.
Not sure what's on the market and what they're willing to part ways with. Necas and Zegras don't move the needle for me but I can see them taking a swing and bringing Marchessault in in free agency
Necas might be off the table because the rumour is Guentzel won't re-sign with the Canes.
I’m not saying what we should do. I’m just saying, that’s what management will be doing.
I think they understand that we have ways to go.
Why are you out on Yakemchuk? I’m actually curious, I think he looks really good. Probably not the right pick at 5 but whoever gets him ~12 or so should be real happy.
Often out of position, chases hits a lot, not the smartest player and I believe the oldest in this draft class (5 days from 2023 draft). Electric no doubt, but there are guys available who have just as much or higher potential imo.
Alright if the IQ is a legit concern then that’s fair. But I wouldn’t be too concerned about the positioning or chasing hits. Maturity/coaching/development can solve those issues. I just like the size/skill package, personally.
Yakemchuk has tremendous upside. Any young D has a lot to learn positionally, I LIKE that he hits, and as for his age, I think that’s a plus. If he were born a week different, he’d be one of the youngest in last year’s class, and he would have just had an outstanding D+1 season. He’s more physically developed and will require slightly less seasoning. I like Yakemchuk a lot.
I like Yakemchuck but that's a big gamble. If he hits, damn you got yourself a Brent Burns-esque type player
Wow are you me.
What kind of take is this lol. Sennecke is super high potential.
As is everyone else in the top 10, and they have been doing it for years.
Sennecke is a way better hockey player than Eiserman though.
I don’t want either of them lol. Atleast not at 5.
He doesn't have the back issues that Lindstrom has. If Demidov is gone, then they should 100% take him.
I feel like this sub has a wider appreciation and a more open view of players Montreal might draft!
Facebook/casual fans will freak out with another LHD, but the real ones know what’s up 😎🧠
Yes, but it’s all about Silayev…
I love Silayev as a prospect too. Not as offensively sexy, but a force in his own end and in the neutral zone. Playing a 7 game series and having to get past a 6'7 dude with solid mobility and great defensive instincts would suck. And he'd be a great piece that could neutralize opposing power forwards. I can't wait for draft day, I'll be pumped with just about anyone we pick and I'm over the arguments lmao.
I have Buium is #3 on my draft list, wouldn't mind it at all. I prefer Demidov but yeah
Would you trade Guhle + something else to Ottawa for 7th? To get Buium and demidov or lindstrom?
Yes. Or Matheson. Then read the room and take BPA. Demidov/Lindstrom first then Buium/Silayev/Parekh If both those forwards are gone, then grab the D first and Seneke with the 7th... Either way just find out what Utah is going for and work around that (whatever position they aim for get that position first and still have top choice of the other at 7th).
If Demidov and Lindstrom are available and we take a dman I’d be very concerned with our management team. Demidov is my pick if he’s still available.
I'd still lean Demidov if he's available.
You’re gonna get downvoted for disagreeing with these guys
I’m okay with this.
I think we have to plan one step ahead if we take another Dman. Who are we going to trade and who will we try to get?
Yeh he doesn't seem to get talked about too much but I think he will be taken earlier than projected. I'm fine with the pick, we still don't have a #1D and until that need is met I don't see a point in addressing the forwards concern.
Imo Anaheim is taking him or Dickinson at 3
Buium is really good, but what does it mean for Hutson, aside competition ? Shame he is a LHD ... :(
Buium is already better than Hutson while being 2 years younger.
Yeah I would have to agree that you can't make decisions based on Hudson. Too much uncertainty still. Buium looks really good
It would fall under the "happy problems" category, but I wouldn't pass on Buium just because Hutson is already there.
Has Buium looked good at the men’s iihf worlds ? Had Buium made some plays in nhl ? Hutson has
I see a lot of Matheson in his game
I think we should draft a defenseman in the first round every year. fuck it double down make it a thing. imagine a third pair of hutson-reinbacher in 3 years
If we pick him, predict Guhle to be gone in a blockbuster trade for a forward
Wouldn’t have to be this off-season tho, Buium is in the NHL in 25-26 the earliest
Honestly, I don’t think there is a wrong pick, Sennecke makes me nervous though, with any of the top 4 defenders or top 4-5 forwards. Any one of them can make the team better in the long run.
That's the goal, to build for the long run. That was the logic in the Slafkovsky pick, should be the logic for all the picks
We need scoring and bite upfront. If Demidov and Lindstrom are gone I like Catton or Iginla.
I like that Iginla is so young. One thing to consider is that many of the top ranked players in next year's class are quite old (born in September, October and November). Iginla is an August birthday, finished the year so strong and I think he'd be the second overall pick next year based on this season alone. I am a fan
Ignla fellas
Probably trade down then.
Agree he's the best dman in the draft, I wagered a good amount on him going at #2 because the payout is good.
I think hes the guy if Demidov goes at 2 and Lindstrom goes at 3 or 4 which I think is still a really plausible scenario. I could even see a scenario where both Buium and Levshunov are there at 5 and then you have another big decision on your hands
I think realistically we have to be prepared for Demidov and Lindstrom to be gone at 5. Buium is a real possibility here. Side note : Mise-o-jeu odds for Buium were at 22 a few days ago and now they dropped to 9.5
I'm afraid Buium will be gone at #5. He will probably be the first D to be drafted.
Demidov -> Lindstrom == Sennecke -> Iginla -> defenseman Assuming that Levshunov is no longer available.
I rate him higher than Sennecke but if Demidov is available at #5, he's my #2 player in this class. Regardless, we will be picking a good player at #5
Buium is better than all of these guys except for Demidov imo
lmao no
We are taking a forward. The teams above us need high calibre D prospects
I mean Columbus, probably not imo. They need centers behind Fantilli
Agreed they'll nab Catton or Lindstrom and move on. I'm sold on us drafting Demidov or Iginla at this point.
Last time Habs picked a defensemen from San Diego it went very well.
If you pick Buium it almost forces a trade of Hutson though Both cannot be at their best without PP1 minutes
Bergevin didn't draft Hughes because we had Mete.
Post Bergevin Traumatic Stress Disorder
I think he's better than Hutson right now, he's also a bit bigger. I think you can make it work but also Hutson is a valuable trade piece if you can't make it work
Buium won’t get PP1 minutes for at least the next 2 years anyway, at that time we can evaluate the mix of our D Hutson might work fine in a Sammy Girard role too, sheltered PP2 minutes, PP1 if Buium’s injured Might force a Hutson trade but it could be 4-5 years down the line
FUCK NOOOOO
This is the last year imo we'll be picking this high, and for me it would be a massive mistake not taking at least iginla. To me Iginla will make an impact like Brady Tkachuk which for us would be way more useful than a Buium would. This isn't drafting for need because its close which is why lists are everywhere. We're trying to build a complete roster not an allstar team. We have holes up front, not on the back end. Willing to bet Iginla will have a better career than Buium. A player like Iginla say wont be available to us next year around 10-18 and easier said than don't to trade a dman for a young top 6 potential forward. No one wants to trade guhle for a young zegras who will most likely be a pt per game player in his prime. Hutson Reinbacher Guhle Mailloux. Thats a great potential top 4.
Third best player of the draft? Wtf are y’all smoking lmao I’d even take Catton over him
Trueee we’re all forgetting about Anton “Zdeno Chara is literally his floor” Silayev
Hall if famer is most definitely not his floor. His ceiling isn't even Chara
He's being sarcastic man, but also, he could become Zdeno Chara. Chara wasn't Chara until his 6th season.
I think based on pure skill then Celebrini and Demidov are 1-2 quite easily. After that, it gets a bit muddier between 3-9 imo but I have Buium ahead. Not many defensemen have his pedigree, statistical output and overall game coming into the draft. He had 50 points in 42 games on the best team in college after being the best defenseman at the world juniors.
It would be disastrous. idc how you flip it habs had a terrible offense for as long as i remember and drafting yet another d is not going to help
Watch Buium 2 or 3 full games
assuming I haven't watched him do you think watching him will sway the balance? He's not miles ahead of sennecke, iginla, catton, demidov, helenius or lindstrom the choice is not between drafting Buium or some bottom 6 grinder
I know you haven't watched him because you think he won't help an offense because you see "D" at the top of his hockeyDB page
They don't have much great of anything right now until we see how all these players pan out.
if you can't find a good top 4 with guhle, matheson, reinbacher, hutson, mailloux, barron, engstrom, struble, xhekaj and harris then there's no point moving forward with that group and they should keep tanking until 2026 and pray for mckenna
I'm pretty confident we will be in the McKenna race regardless of who we pick at #5. This team has a lot of question marks, has a pretty poor track record staying healthy and will be looking to integrate quite a few young players into the lineup in the coming years. N
I disagree, but I can understand why you want Buium now.