American spelling of bite. 🫨
2024 Draft
- Thread starter GGpX
- Start date
GGpX
Well-known member
I liked Barlow a lot too last year. Thought Winnipeg got a good player, especially at that rank.
LesCanadiens
Active member
Curious, comrade. Why so hyped for Demidov, but Catton is on your no pick list?
not all small guys are created equally
Habsy
Not playing around anymore.
LesCanadiens
Active member
Exactly. So why favor the Russian (with the enigma factor), playing on a larger ice-surface, in a weaker league. Over a CDN kid, who plays on an NHL sized rink, in the rough-and-tumble WHL, who is well known for his very high compete level. And at minimum matches Demidov in offensive production relatively speaking. Plus he's a center.
And between the 2 of them, size is negligible. Best I've seen for Demidov is that he's now 6' 180. And Catton said on a recent interview that the stats for his size and weight are old, and wrong. He's now 5'11" and 176lbs.
probably a cut v uncut thing
I've watched the tape of them both. Demidov appears to have a special skill set and is definitely more appealing to me.
Because Demidov is considered a much better prospect? And Catton is not on my “no pick list” as I don’t have one. That’s not how lawyers think. All options are always on the table. But there are beter options than Catton in the top 10. I’d probably take him with the Jets pick.
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LesCanadiens
Active member
Same here, bud. But I think Catton will be better. He's a superior skater and 3-zone player. I've watched about 10 full games of Demidov, plus all the highlight vids, and he's extremely skilled, no doubt about it. But he's not a great skater and not anywhere near as good as Catton (IMO) over 200ft. Catton dominates especially through the neutral zone, and they both dominate from the blueline in. Catton also had 7 shorthanded goals this season.
If you rewatch Demidov highlights, take note of how much space he has. The MHL is really weak league. Horrible defense. Catton has to fight through a gauntlet vs most teams in the WHL. He had 1.7 ppg in that league. Demidov had 2.0 PPG in the MHL. My guess is Catton would've exceeded that if he played in the MHL. Which is even further weakened now, than ever, now that most non-Russians are boycotting playing in any Russian leagues.
Just my take, of course. I want the best for the Habs like we all do. We'll see how it turns out for these guys in a few years.
LesCanadiens
Active member
I think this is largely due to the myth that he's a waif. It's a bizarre and false narrative. Just like the notion that Iginla is some elite, gritty, PF just because his last name sounds like he should be.
Time will tell.
And lastly, lawyers think?
No I think it’s because Demidov is just thought to be a better player by the “experts” but only time will tell.I think this is largely due to the myth that he's a waif. It's a bizarre and false narrative. Just like the notion that Iginla is some elite, gritty, PF just because his last name sounds like he should be.
Time will tell.
And lastly, lawyers think?
GrandWazoo
Well-known member
I like Catton a lot but I think Demidov is a much better prospect, I like him more than Michkov personally
GrandWazoo
Well-known member
Right now, personally, I think I have Demidov, Catton, Lindstrom, Eiserman and Iginla in that order. I don’t care much about the Finn. I could easily put Eiserman ahead of Lindstrom too. Lindstrom I like his size, skating and shot but I don’t really see a high skill level. Eiserman has genuine high skill level, release is absolutely next level, and I think his deficiencies are overblown right now.
LesCanadiens
Active member
I do like your picks as I'm not a huge Iginla guy, and seems you aren't either. My only big quibble is with Lindstrom. Big risk to pick a guy that missed more than half his draft eligible season with something like wrist and back issues. I have back issues. And things can go back to seriously wrong in a hurry even with something as benign as stepping on a rock.
I like Eiserman. However, I hope we go for a more complete player with sky's the limit upside. And I believe Catton, Demidov (although his 2 knee injuries in one year have me hoping someone else takes him), and to a lesser extent, Sennecke, fit that profile. Nygard is another player I like a lot. Helenius strikes me as an elite 3rd liner. And clearly, if not for outside of hockey issues (overblown or not), Connelly has that superstar upside I hope we aim for. But in his case specifically, no way should we even consider him at 5, obviously. Maybe later in the draft if he slips to the WPG pick.
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GrandWazoo
Well-known member
Yeah huge concerns about an 18 years old with back issues, hence why I’m leaning slotting Eiserman ahead of him. Forgot about Sennecke but honestly I don’t know much about him, and I’m a bit wary about late risers. And yes Helenius struck me as a third liner too, no thanks for me.
GrandWazoo
Well-known member
Don’t know anything about Nygard, I’ll have to check him out.
LesCanadiens
Active member
I like him as a player, but not with our 5th. However, I wouldn't be shocked if he turns out better than Iginla or Helenius. He's a solid 2-way winger. High compete level. Very good size at 6'1" and around 200lbs. Forechecks like a demon and has a very accurate shot and great release. I find him to be very projectible. And may have some sleeper upside to turn into an excellent 2nd line winger. He's just not talked about much, thus I wanted to give him some exposure.
worm
Well-known member
Nah