DON

I guess Chicago & Sharks have specific targets in mind. Moving couple spots for picks, which seems odd for two celler dwellers, who likely should want to trade back for more picks to restock pool. And Sabres dont need more picks do they? Would think they would try and trade UP if anything. And given such a big variance on who goes where between 10-20, i would think them doing the deals during the draft once they see who is left on the board to trade up for, makes more sense, no? Assume Weber is entering Hall of Fame as a Predator, doubt he will be making Habs pick #5 this year, eh.

Mean anything with meeting today? Just standard stuff i assume. https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2024/06/26/ivan-demidov-va-rencontrer-le-canadien-jeudi Russian forward Ivan Demidov has a meeting scheduled for Thursday with the Montreal Canadiens staff. • Also read - Canadian: it could be between Demidov and a defender • Also read – Ivan Demidov: NHL teams pleasantly surprised by two revelations about him This is what he told in good English to the media present in Las Vegas on the sidelines of the National Hockey League (NHL) draft which will be held Friday and Saturday. “Tomorrow [Thursday], I have a meeting with Kent Hughes,” he simply indicated. He also admitted to having met with Canadiens recruiters several times during the season. https://www.habsworld.net/2024/06/2024-final-draft-rankings-1-8/ Get this fellow a Habs jersey!

https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/2024-nhl-draft-rankings-consensus-celebrini-demidov-levshunov-bob-mckenzie-athletic-prospects-elite/ Bit more sane consensus ranking;

Why? I would say it totally depends on what forwards are gone/left, dont you think? 6'3' 210lb centre i assume they would opt for instead. And also depends on whether they think Levshonov is better than the other-d, not all do think that. Some have Buium &/or Parekh above him in their ranking, i would rather see Buium, but i am no scout and like what i hear about him and his offense as a freshman was pretty awesome. 2023 Hab draft discussions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh3dmmo5S2k

This is your 2nd or 3rd time attending a draft?

He has made 3 BIG choices so far at/near top of draft, Track record is this, 6'3" Slafkovski 6'3" Reinbacher 6'4" Dach You think is simply coincidence?

A couple in this group may be worth trading up for? Eiserman in the teens might be worth some assets. https://www.habsworld.net/2024/06/2024-draft-final-rankings-9-16/ Freij/Wallenius, maybe a good LH-d pick in the 20s-30s; but seems should be lots d-options available in likes of; Emery/Elick/Brunicke/Badinka or even jumbo overager Pulkkinen, if going for a d-man at 26. 2024 NHL Draft: Alfons Freij brings offensive punch to solid game (habseyesontheprize.com) 2024 NHL Draft prospect: Sahlin Wallenius offers balance on defence (habseyesontheprize.com) 2024 NHL Draft consensus big board: Celebrini leads crowded field of prospects - The Athletic (nytimes.com) The Athletic combined rank;

Ya sure OK, Buium or Levshunov works.

Yup, Buium or Parakh would work.

I dont think fans would complain if this kid was chosen 5th. https://www.habsworld.net/2024/06/2024-draft-profile-tij-iginla/ Some are even higher on him than 5th. https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2024-nhl-mock-draft-post-stanley-cup-final-top-32 4. Columbus Blue Jackets: Tij Iginla, C/LW (Kelowna, WHL) Bold, maybe? Depends on who you talk to. He’s a top-five player in many drafts, and there are a ton of people who think he’s only scratching the surface in terms of his true potential. He didn’t dominate at the U-18s like many hoped but he showed how deep his game can be. Iginla is more than just a goal-scorer; he works so hard, he can defend and he has made a habit of being extremely difficult to play against.

Hossa went to 3 finals in a row with 3 different teams; stuck out with Pitt & Wings before getting his ring with Hawks

Not pulling for Silayev or Dickinson to the Habs, but still all ten seem like intriguing options. Helenius 'seems' less upside than a Iginla-Catton-Demidov-Lindstrom, but a very smart player they say and one Mr Commandant gives him 2 thumbs up.

One i was pulling for, still looking like would of been a good option last year, but 6'0" just too small for Hughes am guessing?

I guess was great run to come back and tie the series and nice for Luongo to at least get a ring.

2024 Final Draft Rankings – 17-24 – HabsWorld.net Some 2nd -half of 1st round options. How far will character issue of Connelly have him fall? Basha, Chernyshov and Hage folks seem to like. Boisvert also another interesting, more local, option at 26. Habs wouldnt pass on this kid, would they? 2024 NHL Draft prospect: Demidov’s hand skills are unrivalled (habseyesontheprize.com) Mitchell Brown and Lassi Alanen’s tracking project Other than his skating stride, the main area of focus needs to be on the defensive side. With offensive skills like the ones he possesses, it’s hard to fault him for not developing this part of his game, but he needs to have the puck to be able to pull off his stick-handles and crisp passes. His hands are clearly skilled enough to strip pucks from attacking players, and his relentless energy should keep him in the play in his own zone. It’s likely just a matter of committing himself to that aspect of the game to become a complete 200-foot player.

Seems reasonable take on Dach and centres. We all hope he is a top six centre, but who the hell knows as of today. https://www.habsworld.net/2024/06/assessing-the-depth-centres-9/ "The hope was that Dach would take a step forward in his second full season with the Habs and give them a legitimate long-term second centre. But after a good preseason, he was injured in the second game of the year and didn’t return. That makes him more of a wild card at this stage than someone management can safely pencil onto the second line regularly."

Seems about right. Which NHL teams need upgrades at wing? Ranking all 32 teams by current quality - The Athletic (nytimes.com) 25. Montreal Canadiens Current quality: 21st percentile Looking for: Franchise talent, top-line winger, top-six winger The Canadiens are in need of franchise talent and have two candidates on the wing with potential. Cole Caufield looks ready to take a leap and Juraj Slafkovský showed superstar flashes in the second half last season. Both players have potential to make this current rank look silly, but we’re going to err on the side of caution for both. Regardless, the Canadiens still likely need one other top-line winger and top-six winger to complement them. Maybe a healthy Kirby Dach can be that solution internally.

Hmm, interesting. Matvei Michkov, Flyers’ top 2023 draft pick, plans to leave SKA, join NHL: Sources - The Athletic (nytimes.com) Russian hockey club SKA St. Petersburg is releasing Matvei Michkov from his contractual obligations on Monday, freeing him up to join the Flyers organization for the 2024-25 season, a team source and league sources confirmed Sunday.

By the Habs.

Would seem a nice choice @ 26 , but dont think he will still be available. (and Habs likely to use 26 in some kind of trade) Stiga seem

But your thinking he wont be available and already gone at 5, arnt you? Who will actually be putting on a Hab jersey, or jury still out?

2Demidov 3Buium (California kid to Ducks, seems too good a fit) 4Lindstrom (Waddell hinted would like a forward, i think)

WELL, who do you think Hughes picks at 5? I would guess Iginla.

And seemingly Beck is Suzuki-like in character.

NHL Mock Draft 2024: Scott Wheeler’s final predictions for the first two rounds - The Athletic (nytimes.com) Wheeler's mockdraft today: He has Lindstrom at 5 & Demidov 4; opposite of Pronman's. Either outcome sounds good to me. 5. Montreal Canadiens: Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat Tigers If the Ducks and Blue Jackets don’t take Lindstrom, I think Montreal or Utah will. I know they had dinner with Tij Iginla at the combine and there is some chatter about Sennecke going really high (I had one OHL source tell me there has been chatter as high as No. 3 about Sennecke), but those feel more like Plan Bs and Lindstrom feels like a perfect fit within the forward group they already have in Montreal. If he’s a center, the Canadiens have their 1-2 with him and Nick Suzuki. If he’s a winger, it’s not hard to imagine him playing alongside (and off of) the smarts of a Suzuki. In the unlikely event that both Lindstrom and Demidov are available, I do wonder if the winds are blowing in Demidov’s direction. And if they do surprise and go with a D, I’d guess that Buium makes the most sense logically." He has Habs picking 26th, a RH-d like this wouldnt hurt to add, already playing in the SHL. 26. Montreal Canadiens (via Winnipeg Jets): Dominik Badinka, RHD, Malmö Redhawks