MTL would definitely select Cayden Lindstrom and yes, I would trade 6th + WPG Jets 1st to move up to 3rd OA
OTT 3rd round pick should be going to MTL tho

The trade that was originally proposed, though, is not the Winnipeg pick, it is the Calgary pick in 2025 or 2026 (possibly from Florida's draft position too). There are numerous conditions on that Calgary pick, but there is a chance it will be better than the Winnipeg pick this year.

It is not a bad proposal, but it is a tough call in my opinion. If Silayev, Levshunov and Dickinson or Parekh happened to go in the top 5 for some reason then that #6 pick that Montreal gives up could be Lindstrom or Demidov anyway and then Montreal is giving up the Calgary pick without much added value to them.

Man I ain't gonna lie. This is a very interesting proposal. Well done. This is what this site is about!!! Very interesting.

Edit: this was not supposed to be a quote. But the same works here. Interesting stuff from the OP and from you haha

Hmmm... This is an interesting idea. My first reaction as a Hawks fan is that no way we pass on Lindstrom if he's there at #3 OA. Then I re-read a review of Catton's prospect profile and WOW... he'd be a terrific winger with Bedard.

At some point, I think the Hawks have to seek elite talent WITH SIZE. Which is why I surmise they'd still prefer Lindstrom at #3 (if he's there).

Gonna be interesting to see what happens on the draft board this year, once Celebrini is gone.

Well done! Like all 3 of the UFA targets. Don't see Kyle going after two top 6 forwards, but I like the idea! I'm also a fan of the trade too. If the Hawks end up w/ the 3rd pick overall, I'm all for swapping it for the '24 Habs 1st and another '25 1st. I'd be gun shy to take Demidov at #3. And all the other top guys in this class after Celebrini, Leshevnov and Demidov are about equal so trading down 4 or 5 spots is fine.

Fair deal as a Habs fan. I’d say Lindstrom is their guy given their obsession with size

Considering how the draft board's shaping up this year I wouldn't consider trading (If I were any team) up if we're anywhere in the top 8 because at this time everyone's looking to be on the same level between 2 and 8 whereas last year where you had the top 4 in their own tiers (Bedard, Carlsson, Smith and Fantilli) and you had the rest of the pack.
Stay put at 6OA and select one of Levshunov, Lindstrom, Silayev, Buium or Catton and hope you picked the guy that won't bust, all of them bring something different to the table.

Lindstrom over Demidov is another Reinbacher over Michkov. They cannot be that stupid again

Seems like both sides seem pretty intrigued by this idea so I will call that a win

Demidov plays in a Russian Junior League with an average age of 18
Russian KHL has 230 some Junior players in their ranks right now
AHL has what left over from KHL in the 18-20 year old range.
Their Junior has whats left with a record setting amount of 17 year olds this year

Im not saying Demidov isnt Great
Im just saying 35 players aged 17 were chosen for the KHL and he wasnt.
Dude is REALLY small having success in Junior Arena's with Big Ice still (KHL is mostly converted to NHL style but outside that its not a priority yet until the KHL ones are all funded and complete)

Im not choosing a small forward who's doing well on Big Ice against inexperienced Junior Peers in the top 5 for anyone
He's skilled sure but so was Brian Sakic, like RIDICULOUSLY skilled and he also couldnt handle the physicality of the NHL or the AHL for that matter(his brother Joe had no such issues )
Not all players are built the same and sometimes it takes smaller players a lot longer which is why NCAA has become so valuable to the Kariya's Caufield's,Hutsons ,Q.Hughes and Makar's

IF Demidov joined the NCAA like Levshunov
I think head to head we'd be talking about Cellebrini vs Demidov 100% no doubts in my mind.
Limited amount of games with a ton of focus on training and Academic to create Athelete's Physically and Mentally tough
Its got its downside in Conditioning and not providing a real NHL experience in terms of Schedule /Routine BUT thats kinda the point.
Its Different allowing players way too big and some that are really small have time to develop into better athletes and players.


But Russia's Development of Demidov isnt good cause he's playing vs inferior players not people on his Level.
Good as Demidov is there is players better then him in the NCAA as is often the case for any skater to face joining their ranks.
The only place Competition would be as Weak as Demidov's league is in Division 3 which is Academic based Hobby Hockey not the Division 1 top guys we hear getting Drafted
Even then i think Division 3 might not be that far off where Russian Junior is right now.

Lack of Foreign Players had an impact to the point they couldnt keep both top league afloat today without players 17-20 who make up a shocking amount of each system now

Yup
Now we'll argue over who's worth taking the gamble of
Lindstom has Hughes Guy written all over him
I like him too , Personally him , Catton, Eiserman, Silayev, Parekh, and Dickinson im all good with as BPA
Demidov i wouldnt want before like 8th OA as in re-drafted forever we'll be haunted if we do. Even at 8th OA its hard to justify with Benson falling to what 13th OA last year despite being ranked top 5 by many like Demidov with a lot of the same hang up with the exception Benson played in a top world system for Junior players. The hang up was WHL is 3/3 in Producing NHL All Stars and Future HOF players with many not having a ton of faith in it still even after Mcdavid's rise but i digress.

My point is if Benson who's similar size as Demidov gets dropped that much
How is Demidov going this high?