2024 Draft Thread

[triggrman]

I agree with that but it has to lean more towards talent than size. Also, how did Ekholm grow by moving to Canada? Wasn’t he 6’4” here?

 

[Kat Predator]

I agree with that but it has to lean more towards talent than size. Also, how did Ekholm grow by moving to Canada? Wasn’t he 6’4” here?

Did he grow or did an inch get smaller?

 

[herzausstein]

I agree with that but it has to lean more towards talent than size. Also, how did Ekholm grow by moving to Canada? Wasn’t he 6’4” here?

He should be 193 there (cm)

 

[triggrman]

He should be 193 there (cm)

that's only 6'3" right?

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

With 6 picks in the first three rounds (3 in the second), I would offer a couple of the 2nd's and/or 3rd to move up as much as possible. Would rather a top-notch prospect than several good ones. Especially with the cap space and possibly Sarros as additional capital heading into the offseason.

 

[Flgatorguy87]

With 6 picks in the first three rounds (3 in the second), I would offer a couple of the 2nd's and/or 3rd to move up as much as possible. Would rather a top-notch prospect than several good ones. Especially with the cap space and possibly Sarros as additional capital heading into the offseason.

I share this sentiment. We have a deep pipeline of depth players in my opinion. We need to concentrate our picks to grow the upper crust of our prospect pool.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

With 6 picks in the first three rounds (3 in the second), I would offer a couple of the 2nd's and/or 3rd to move up as much as possible. Would rather a top-notch prospect than several good ones. Especially with the cap space and possibly Sarros as additional capital heading into the offseason.

I just don't think you could move up far enough to really make a difference? At least, you couldn't predict in advance that would be the case anyhow. It's not a great draft. I don't think you gain much by moving slightly earlier in the 2nd. Most of those players won't make it either, so you are better off throwing more darts at the board.

But that's in advance. For this draft. You can always keep an eye open to see if somebody you are really high on is falling later than you think he should, maybe there would be a specific case which arises that motivates moving up. But it would have to be on-the-floor.

Trading up #40 and #51 for L'Heureux at #27 is looking good. If there is something like that available it's worth a look, except since we don't have a pick as high as #40 this year, I'm not sure there will be similar opportunity. Trading two 50's picks for a 40ish pick isn't like to land us any "top-notch" type of prospect.

#47 and #147 last year to get Nilsson at #43 also wasn't giving up much, not sure that will amount to anything, but if you like the player and know another team is about to take them, it's also worthwhile if it's just losing a 5th rounder.

 

[ShagDaddy]

Use those picks as part of package deals in trades. Look to get players that are in the 22-24 year age range that have potential for growth but are NHL ready or close to NHL ready. Or use them as pieces to add to hockey trades for better roster players.

 

[101st_fan]

I'm interested in what San Jose does with the pick they acquired from the Penguins. I could see them using the #1 overall then trading off the #14 to get some more established help.

 

[jumb0]

Pronman's latest mock has us taking Dominik Badinka, RHD from Malmo in the SHL

 

[Gnashville]

I'm interested in what San Jose does with the pick they acquired from the Penguins. I could see them using the #1 overall then trading off the #14 to get some more established help.

Or they could package it with a 2nd and move into the top 10.

 

[jumb0]

2 round mock on The Athletic

22: Cole Beaudoin - C
53: Teddy Stiga - LW
55: Leon Muggli, LHD
59: Cole Hutson, LHD

 

[Scoresberg]

I do believe that Trotz plans on moving up at the draft. Having depth in your prospect pool is a good thing but if there's a guy you really like say in the low-30's to high-40's, I think he could flip two seconds for a pick at that range.

Beaudoin's offensive upside might be limited but as a player profile, he's intriguing. Assuming there are no evident fallers available at 22, I certainly wouldn't hate it if we drafted him.

 

[Legionnaire11]

With all of the second round picks we have, I'll be pretty disappointed if the Preds don't walk away from the draft with John Mustard just on name alone, although he is rated as a late 1st by a couple of publications.

John Mustard - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of John Mustard, 2006-08-16 Newmarket, ON, CAN Canada. Most recently in the undefined with Waterloo Black Hawks. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

 

[herzausstein]

22: Cole Beaudoin - C

Cole Beaudoin - 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Profile - The Hockey Writers NHL Entry Draft Latest News, Analysis & More

A strong 2023-24 season could help find Barrie Colts forward Cole Beaudoin hearing his name called in the early rounds of the 2024 Draft.

thehockeywriters.com

53: Teddy Stiga - LW

Teddy Stiga - 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Profile - The Hockey Writers Latest News, Analysis & More

Teddy Stiga of the USNTDP is a first-year eligible player for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, who could be a second or third round pick.

thehockeywriters.com

55: Leon Muggli, LHD

Leon Muggli - 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Profile - The Hockey Writers NHL Entry Draft Latest News, Analysis & More

Leon Muggli is one of the top shut-down defenders in the draft, likely to be selected in the second round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

thehockeywriters.com

59: Cole Hutson, LHD

Cole Hutson - 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Profile - The Hockey Writers NHL Entry Draft Latest News, Analysis & More

Cole Hutson is just as talented as his brother Lane and could actually be selected higher than him when the 2024 NHL Draft comes around.

thehockeywriters.com

Some scouting reports. Both the Cole's sound intriguing. Hutson is another smaller LHD much in the same mould as Molendyk. Sounds like there is a ton of potential there though.

Not overly keen on what I'm reading on the other two

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

I mostly just want the team to draft a player who they see as fitting the organization's "identity" blueprint, who they will be inclined to want to support and promote from within, without throwing additional hurdles in their way. It's not that common for players to change style or personality as they develop. Pick guys who you aren't going to end up tossing aside because they don't fit the blueprint you're trying to establish.


Maybe Poile had a different vision than Trotz in some ways, so it wasn't the same for him when selecting Tolvanen, Tomasino, Fabbro as things are now. But it's kind of a shame that we're actually hitting on NHL caliber players with our top picks, and yet still ultimately tossing them aside and ending up with nothing to show for the picks just because they don't fit the mold in some ways.

 

[Softball99]

I mostly just want the team to draft a player who they see as fitting the organization's "identity" blueprint, who they will be inclined to want to support and promote from within, without throwing additional hurdles in their way. It's not that common for players to change style or personality as they develop. Pick guys who you aren't going to end up tossing aside because they don't fit the blueprint you're trying to establish.


Maybe Poile had a different vision than Trotz in some ways, so it wasn't the same for him when selecting Tolvanen, Tomasino, Fabbro as things are now. But it's kind of a shame that we're actually hitting on NHL caliber players with our top picks, and yet still ultimately tossing them aside and ending up with nothing to show for the picks just because they don't fit the mold in some ways.

I believe Tolvanen would have been fine in this system. Too bad we didn't hold on to him long enough LOL

 

[braindead]

Cole Hutson looks like he has Preds written all over him, which I came to say before I saw the mock draft had us taking him.

 

[Scoresberg]

Pronman's latest mock has us taking surprise, surprise Cole Beaudoin.

 

[Predsanddead24]

The biggest knock on Beaudoin seems to be his poor skating and lack of speed. Given that we're trying to be a speed based team I just don't see the appeal to him especially since we used our highest pick last year to draft another guy with questionable skating.

 

[BigFatCat999]

Let's say the Preds do trade Saros and get #10...They could do something hilarious and petty, jump Calgary at #9 and draft Tij Igilina

 

[Bringer of Jollity]

The biggest knock on Beaudoin seems to be his poor skating and lack of speed. Given that we're trying to be a speed based team I just don't see the appeal to him especially since we used our highest pick last year to draft another guy with questionable skating.

While poor skating can be the death knell of a prospect, it is also can be a really overrated concern that is mitigated as the player ages and develops. Beaudoin sounds like he has elite playmaking vision and knows where to be on the ice in all situations. If he's a high hockey IQ guy there's a good chance he'll be able to grow out of skating problems.

Also, in 2023 Pronman had us with Honzek and Musty, 2022 with Pickering, and 2021 with Chayka. So large grains of salt needed and probably hang your hat in this not being the pick.

 

[Scoresberg]

The biggest knock on Beaudoin seems to be his poor skating and lack of speed. Given that we're trying to be a speed based team I just don't see the appeal to him especially since we used our highest pick last year to draft another guy with questionable skating.

On the flipside, we've really grown to like players like Cole Smith in the past and Beaudoin represents that same mindset and work-ethic. Whether you spend a 1st on a guy like that is a different question obviously...

Also, I can't stop thinking that Trotz and co. see a lot of similarities between Beaudoin and O'Reilly. Let Beaudoin stew in Juniors for a year or two and then bring him up and attach him to O'Reilly's hip. You could have something there.

 

[Predsanddead24]

Yeah fair enough. I guess anyone is going to have flaws in the late 1st and it’s easier to fix skating than it is hockey sense usually.

 

[braindead]

Yeah fair enough. I guess anyone is going to have flaws in the late 1st and it’s easier to fix skating than it is hockey sense usually.

I dunno. My hockey sense has improved in the last 20 years but I still have to crash into a wall to stop on skates.