Basically looking at who should the Habs be picking and who should be re-signed or traded out.
So let's take into account that HABS have little chance of winning the lottery.
Right off the bat we can take out Celebrini out of the equation.
Let's think they could potentially hit the 4th to 7th spot on the draft. I'm asking who would be the best player to draft.
Here are three view on prospects:
Current 4 to 10th prospects from Scott Wheeler the Athletic, Mar 4, 2024:
4 Canada Sam Dickinson (D) London Knights OHL 2006-06-07 6'3" 194 L
5 Canada Berkly Catton (F) Spokane Chiefs WHL 2006-01-14 5'11" 163 L
6 Canada Cayden Lindstrom (F) Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 2006-02-03 6'4" 216 L
7 Russia Anton Silayev (D) Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod KHL 2006-04-11 6'7" 207 L
8 USA Trevor Connelly (F) Tri-City Storm USHL 2006-02-28 6'1" 161 L
9 Russia Matvei Shuravin (D) Krasnaya Armiya Moskva MHL 2006-03-22 6'2" 172 L
10 USA Cole Eiserman (F) USNTDP Juniors USHL 2006-08-29 6'0" 196 L
Current 4 to 10th prospects from Bob McKenzie TSN, March 31, 2024
4 Cole Eiserman (LW) U.S. National U18 Team NTDP 47 48 25 73 30
5 Cayden Lindstrom (F) Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 32 27 19 46 66
6 Ivan Demidov (RW/C) SKA-1946 St. Petersburg MHL 30 23 37 60 20
7 Sam Dickinson (D) London Knights OHL 68 18 52 70 30
8 Konsta Helenius (C/RW) Jukurit Liiga 51 14 22 36 10
9 Zayne Parekh (D) Saginaw Spirit OHL 66 33 63 96 64
10 Berkly Catton (F) Spokane Chiefs WHL 68 54 62 116 41
11 Trevor Connelly (LW) Tri-City Storm USHL 50 27 43 70 86
Current 4 to 10th prospects from consolidated 2024 midterm draft rankings, TWC March 26th, 2024
4 Sam Dickinson 5.9 D London Knights OHL 07-Jun-06 17.8 6’3″ 194 L
5 Cayden Lindstrom 6 F Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 03-Feb-06 18.2 6’4″ 216 L
6 Anton Silayev 6.4 D Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod KHL 11-Apr-06 18.0 6’7″ 207 L
7 Berkly Catton 7 F Spokane Chiefs WHL 14-Jan-06 18.2 5’11” 163 L
8 Cole Eiserman 7.4 LW U.S. National U18 Team NTDP 29-Aug-06 17.6 6’0″ 196 L
9 Zeev Buium 8.9 D Univ. of Denver NCAA 07-Dec-05 18.3 6’0″ 183 L
10 Konsta Helenius 9.3 C/RW Jukurit Liiga 11-May-06 17.9 5’11” 181 R
My preference would be for the first picks starting at #4:
1. Dickinson - While another Defenseman, he's a big guy who moves the puck and gets in the pluses; You can't skip over a player like that. You get another Reinbacher type player who'll be a major decision maker during games. You suddenly have Ghule, Reinbacher, Dickinson, Mailloux, Matheson, Xhekaj.. Harris, Struble as being interchangeable with Xhekaj when needed and in your farm or development you have Barron, Hutson, Sobolev, etc.. So you have the Top 6 you always wanted, plus other you can trade out.
2. Eiserman - seems more like an offensive guy able to play both ways and is at a bigger stature than Connelly with a whopping 40lbs more for almost the same height. He also defends better in the corners and is able to use his quick shot for goals. We get another Cole Caufield but on the right wing, at a bigger size. You suddently give Dach some power offense to his left side.
3. Lindstrom - another forward at center with offensive potential but with size compared to Catton;
4. Catton - He's a good player, center and would need 1 year in Laval, but would be another forward with scoring potential they need;
5. Helenius - Another forward with lots of offensive potential.
Now, if they keep the Winnipeg pick, they'll go for late picks.
24 Andrew Basha (F) Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 63 30 55 85 48
25 Tanner Howe (F) Regina Pats WHL 68 28 49 77 77
26 Jett Luchanko (C) Guelph Storm OHL 68 20 54 74 36
27 Terik Parascak (RW) Prince George Cougars WHL 68 43 62 105 41
28 Charlie Elick (D) Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 65 4 23 27 71
29 Matvei Gridin (F) Muskegon Lumberjacks USHL 56 35 42 77 47
30 Cole Beaudoin (C) Barrie Colts OHL 67 28 34 62 27
31 Lucas Pettersson (C) MoDo Hockey J20 J20 44 27 30 57 40
32 Dean Letourneau (C) St. Andrew's College PHC 17 17 16 33 10
The hard part of picking late...
You could look at points, Parascak comes out way in front of the others, being a winger gives options to our centers. Basha in second.
But if you look at needs in terms of positions, you need to look at players like Pettersson, Luchanko and Letourneau who could manage a 3rd of 4th line.
List of players that if you can get anything in return, then get it.
Some will be more valuable on the market, but considering I've put Gally, Anderson and Dvorak, they may be on the unable to move out list.
This is just a list of those I would look into and see options out there form other teams. If you need to pay to get rid of Anderson, sure, but not a 1st round pick. Rather send him to Laval at that salary than move a key piece of the future. Same for Gally, and Dvorak. If you need to pay a 2nd or 3rd, go for it. But that wishful thinking.
McDavid, Connor
$250,000)
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