2024 NHL DRAFT BIGGEST STEALS | Habs Hit an Ivan Demidov Home Run

In this episode, we break down 9 of the biggest steals in the 2024 NHL Draft. First, Sebastian analyzes three 1st-round home run swings, including Ivan Demidov (5) and Michael Hage (21) of the Montreal Canadiens, who together revolutionize the offensive punch in the Habs' system; Minnesota snagging Zeev Buium at 12 also deserves praise. Next, he checks out a trifecta of skilled players who combine offensive potential with refined defensive and off-puck impacts: Stian Solberg (ANA 23); Igor Chernyshov (SJS 33); Teddy Stiga (NSH 55). Last, the focus shifts to mid and late-round swings on undersized upside: Aron Kiviharju (MIN 122); Justin Poirier (CAR 156); Ryerson Leenders (BUF 219).
Tune back in for our next episode breaking down every single pick in the 1st round!
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[@AnaheimRob]

Solberg is exactly what the Ducks need on defense. They have some very high end, offensive minded young D but not that hard hitting, mean shutdown type. He will do very well on that team down the line. As far as Sennecke, I suppose he is a bit of a reach with Demidov and Lindstrom trending as high end maybe even elite type players the past year plus, especially Demidov. My thinking is Verbeek is betting Sennecke develops into a player that is a Demidov/Lindstrom hybrid of sorts. Sennecke likes to hit and check but also has amazing play making ability along with extremely soft hands. If his skillset improves as he fills out, he may be something special. A risk, yes, but I can see why Verbeek made it. Worse case scenario Sennecke is a solid if not All Star level 2nd line wing. Best case, he is top line, All Star level talent. We will see in four or five years where he falls.

[@tylerlussier1896]

I agree as a Habs fan the ducks needed a shutdown guy… In my opinion that guy would have been Silayev, But they still got that type of guy while getting a talent like Sennecke… I think Sennecke has the potential to be better than Lindstrom or just as good, I do not believe he has the potential to be better than Demidov… But Demidov doesn’t have the size that Sennecke has and that was very attractive for the Ducks and they needed a winger with size like Sennecke…

[@AnaheimRob]

@@tylerlussier1896 With the Ducks passing on Demidov and Silayev I have a feeling they simply don't want to deal with drafting Russian players, playing in Russia with extended contracts.

[@tylerlussier1896]

In my opinion people are sleeping on Jett Luchanko… I definitely understand the feeling that Flyers fans have because of the other prospects available at that spot… A lot of people Slept on Suzuki when he was drafted and I see a lot of Suzuki in Luchanko…

[@powers1500]

Definitively, Demidov and Buium appear to be the steals of the first round. However, in 4 to 5 years, picks like Connelly at 19th and Eiserman at 20th could "possibly" turn into gold.

[@johnturgeon6826]

I`m not a fan on Connelly. but he does have skill.

[@tylerlussier1896]

@@johnturgeon6826 Connelly in my opinion will be a good 3rd line player with the potential to be a second line player, I’m not a big fan but there is skill there… I also wouldn’t say Connelly has the potential to be a steal… Eiserman has a potential to be a steal just because of the level of goal scorer here is… People say he’s like Holtz or Wahlstrom but I do not see it in my opinion his goal scoring ability is miles better than those two players when they were the same age… Eiserman has a lot of work to do to become a top 6 scorer in my opinion… The Islanders was the worst place for him to end up so we shall see… Steals of the draft in my opinion are Buium, Iginla, Demidov, Luchanko, Dickinson, Greentree and Parekh… in no particular order… Parekh i had going 7th overall.. Luchanko on my draft list I had going 8th overall I was high on him like Rocco from recruits scouting was… Demidov I had going second overall. Greentree I had going 12th overall. Buium I had 3rd overall. Iginla I had 4th overall because he has said he wants to play center and he has the hockey IQ to do so and I like his game more than I did Lindstrom… Dickinson I had going 6th overall.. When it comes to projecting where players would actually go I didn’t do that great, But I think my list will look okay in 3-5 years… Luchanko reminds me of a harder playing version of Nick Suzuki and I love this kid, Suzuki should have never gone 13th overall in his draft year and I saw the same in Luchanko… Let’s face it Offensively Demidov in my opinion is the best player in this draft point plank period… I was shocked he fell to the Habs… They say you need some Dannnmm good luck in a rebuild and Montreal has gotten JUST THAT along with being smart and drafting the right players at the right times… Demidov in my opinion has Kucherov level upside 110+ point upside, Michkov is a lesser all around talent and his goal scoring is the only thing that is elite… Demidov’s passing, IQ, Hands, Compete level, edges are ELITE… Dickinson is an absolute workhorse! And one of the best skaters in this draft class in my opinion he is the 3rd best D in this draft without question, San Jose walking away with Celebrini and Dickinson!!! Oh lawwwwdd Jesus take the wheel!! Parekh is an absolute beauty!! This kid has some serious offensive potential and is not as bad defensively as some people like to say, He’s not amazing but he’s not horrible either, Parekh has the potential to be the best D in this draft offensively even better than Buium, Almost like Erik Karlsson… Zeev Buium, The Two way king! This kid in my opinion has the potential to be one of the best PP quarterbacks in the league… People like to say Parekh has “Makar” potential and I do not agree with that, Buium in my opinion has Makar potential, close to it… Buium is an amazing Two way D this guy can shut you down while making you pay on the offensive side of the ice.. SHOCKED this kid fell past 10.. Luchanko as I said reminds me of Nick Suzuki but plays harder, This kid is perfect for Philly and yes lots of people had him lower but I was and still am really high on this kid… Pair this kid up with Michkov in the future and you have an amazing duo in my opinion almost like Caufield and Suzuki… If Philly can add a player like Roger McQueen in next years draft or Porter Martone then that first line in Philly would be absolutely lights out… I 100% understand Philly taking Luchanko, People are sleeping on this kid and he’s a perfect player for Philly… Tij Iginla… THE PLAYER I WANTED ALL YEAR!! 😔😔🫡🫡 Demidov was impossible for Montreal to get and Iginla was the guy I was praying for, He’s going to be a special player and I believe he could end up being the 3rd best forward from this draft class 100%… His shot, Character, Speed, Playmaking, IQ, Physicality, Defence are all there they are either borderline elite skills or very very good, His shot and physicality are the elite traits in his game for me… Utah got a special one… Liam Greentree in my opinion has top 6 upside almost like a Jason Robertson just not as offensive, But I think he will be looked at as a guy that should have went top 15 instead of 26th overall… These are my steals in the draft… I’m not a professional scout by any means lmao, But I love hockey and have loved the draft for the past 20+ years and have always studied the top 2 rounds each year… These were just my steals in the first round, Steals in the second round for me are… Cole Hutson we will look at as We do lane, Igor Chernyshov, Andrew Basha, Ryder Ritchie (Wild had a lights out draft), Ilya Nabokov and Jesse Pulkkinen… Hage is also a steal I forgot to mention him… some decent amount of teams had Hage as a Top 15 pick but still fell… The Habs just had an absolute amazing draft..

[@RandomPlaceHolderName]

@@tylerlussier1896 You alright?

[@johnturgeon6826]

Getting Demidov makes up for missing out in Michkov. Go Habs Go!!

[@MrLaurentdion20]

It's actually even better. Demidov is way more complete than Michkov. Yeah michkov will most probably produce more point but on a 82 game season & Playoff run Demidov will be the most usefull.

[@tylerlussier1896]

@@MrLaurentdion20 there is no world where Michkov Produces more points in the NHL than Demidov… Michkov is a talented Goal scorer and that is it when comparing the two.. Demidov is better in every other way while still having a very good shot… Demidov has a higher compete level, Better defensively, Better hockey sense, better passing, Better skater, Better hands… Demidov is a better bigger version of Michkov and was always seen like that by scouts lol… Last year scouts were saying “Michkov is an elite talent but next year there is Demidov”… Michkov is more of a Kaprizov level talent still amazing, But Demidov is Panarin/Kucherov, There is a difference. Give Michkov Demidov’s hockey sense, Hands and passing ability and you will end up with a Michkov that has Kucherov level talent.. Demidov has Kucherov level talent, Bobrov even said it himself and Demidov expects that from himself as well.

[@LockedOnNHLProspects]

Who were your steals (and reaches) of the draft class? Let us know!

[@mimi-sf1ih]

So we are saying that Blackhawks, Ducks and Blue Jackets management are dumb? Hard to believe that

[@Whatdoingdog44]

Yep Montreal got the same treatment… welcome to 2024