[Alexander Appleyard] With SmahtScouting starting to ramp up our draft class coverage. here are some observations: 1) The D class is insane. Best since 2008 2) There are SO many RHD it’s bizarre. Usually RHD represent ~35-40% of draft class D. This draft? Maybe 50-50 RHD. SIX RHD in top ~35 picks.
With @SmahtScouting starting to ramp up our draft class coverage… here are some interesting observations on the 2024 class:
1. The D class is insane. Best since maybe 2008. ~13-15 likely go 1st round.
2. I dont think 1 Swede goes in 1st. Last time that happened was 2010. #NHL
— Alexander Appleyard (@avappleyard) December 10, 2023
by seeldoger47
2 Comments
>3: There are SO many RHD it is bizarre. Usually RHD represent ~35-40% of draft class D… this draft? Maybe 50-50 RHD. SIX RHD likely go in the top ~35 picks. Of the ~25 OHL/USHL Dmen probably “worth” drafting from their profile? ~16/25 are RHD. 64%.
>4: The group of C’s is pretty mediocre. Celebrini is amazing. Catton+Helenius are potential 1Cs too… maybe Lindstrom can be. But after that? Best of the rest are guys like Misa, Boisvert, Connelly+Hage. Good players, but unless see massive jumps likely 2Cs at best.
>5: Winger depth is pretty damn strong. There are going to be some steals at wing in the 2nd round is my guess…guys who end up ~70+ point guys. Players like Chernyshov, Mustard, Basha, Parascak, Marques might fall to 2nd and have real talent.
>6: As always, some “small guys” will be available in the ~3rd, despite having ability to be in contention to be a 1st rounder if were 6’0+. Mark down the names Mac Swanson, Justin Poirier and Alex Blais… all small, all skilled, all have potential to fall past the 3rd.
>7: There will be some interesting “legacy” draft picks whose family members were excellent players:
>>* Tij Iginla (son of Jarome) likely goes 1st round.
* Alexander Zetterberg (~2nd cousin of Henrik) likely goes 2nd-3rd round.
* Aatos Koivu (son of Saku) likely goes later on.
>8: Goalie class is pretty “Meh” as things stand. Ryerson Leenders is probably the best, but would not be a shock if some of the Russians taken later (Tetyushkin, Yunin, Korotkov, Konovalov, Rogatko) end up being better than the guys who end up going in 2nd round.
Man another year talking about the draft instead of the playoffs. Fun!