If Pittsburgh decides to sell this deadline which is very likely, it's likely we decide to keep our 1st this year as well which would be a guaranteed top 10 pick. Right now we'd be drafting 9th, however with us selling we'd likely go up a couple spots without the lottery so we'd be looking more at 7-9. Here are the top 5 prospects I'd be looking at from my least favorite to most favorite.
***#5 - TIJ IGINLA***
Projected draft position - 12th
Position - C
Height - 6'0"
Weight - 185 lbs
League - WHL
Stats - 42 goals, 30 assists, 72 points, in 56 games
Scouting Report:
After a red-hot start to the 2023-24 season, the scoring has dried up, but Tij Iginla still looks like an interesting prospect. Besides the name pedigree, Iginla is an easy player to root for. His habits away from the puck are a definite strength, from his frequent scanning, active stick, good forechecking routes, and hard-nosed backchecking. Iginla’s best skills seem to be in slowing the play down to give him space or finding soft spots on the ice. He gets off the wall to the middle quickly, and can also drift into high-danger areas, and when paired with his lightning-quick snapshot, makes him a dangerous goal scorer. Though his skating isn’t elite, he’s got quickness, stability, and mobility which helps him be a solid transition player, though they’re more useful off the cycle, where he is just as effective, solving problems and playing a possession game. Iginla lacks the high-end dynamism of some of the other WHL players in this class, but his combination of all-around skills and pro-level habits make him a good bet to be a contributing NHL player. Ironically the player that Tij Iginla reminds me the most of is his father, Jarome Iginla, while he doesn’t play with the physicality and toughness that Jarome used to, Tij has an identical release to Jarome and all the tools to be an elite goal scorer. He’s a good skater who can beat you in a straight-out race, cut past you laterally with quick weight shifts, or can straight outpower a defenseman on his drives to the net. On the puck, he’s a dangerous individual creator who can create in knifing bursts and works quickly to put defenders on their heels attacking on angles and jumps. Iginla knows how to get to those high-danger scoring areas, and when paired with his lightning-quick release, he is a dangerous goal scorer. Iginla is a solid player in transition, but where he makes his living is off the cycle, as much like his father has a tendency to play with power and force, and can be difficult to contain for a defenseman. Tij has the potential to be a top-six-goal-scoring winger in the NHL, and any team that lands him is going to be getting a great player.
***#4 - ZEEV BUIUM***
Projected draft position - 9th
Position - LD
Height - 5'11"
Weight - 165 lbs
League - NCAA
Stats - 9 goals, 32 assist, 41 points, in 32 games
Scouting Report:
His trademark mobility is as present as ever and is now employing multiple layers of deception at multiple levels. Whether it’s his evasiveness in transition or his speed on the rush, very little can keep Buium from where he wants to go on the ice. Steady two-way defender who can quickly process his best breakout option and execute it swiftly to become part of the rush. He has a solid mentor in Colorado Avalanche prospect Sean Behrens, helping him to understand the pressure of playing big minutes against quality competition. There were a few times last year when Buium looked like the best player on the ice – other times, he can be invisible. He’s a plus-level skater who plays an extremely involved game in all three zones, whether that’s activating into the rush or off the point, shaking pressure on exits or across the blue line, working in and out of give-and-gos, or playing tight gaps against the rush. He's a very busy player on both sides of the puck and he gets in and out of his transitions and footwork so quickly that he can play that style. Buium is a strong enough skater to be able to skate pucks out of trouble. His defense is good enough at the amateur level, but he isn’t that physically imposing, and whether he can make a lot of NHL stops will be a debate.
World Juniors:
7 games for Canada... 3 goals, 2 assists, 5 points
***#3 - CAYDEN LINDSTROM***
Projected draft position - 6th
Position - C/LW
Height - 6'4"
Weight - 216 lbs
League - WHL
Stats - 27 goals, 19 assist, 46 points, in 32 games played
Scouting Report:
Physically gifted and willing to use it, Lindstrom is incredibly disruptive along the boards, competes hard on every puck, and does a lot of little things right. From his tendency to cut to the middle off the rush, to his hard back-checks, to his ability to take each puck in stride without needing to slow down, there are many details of his game that scream ”NHL”. On top of that, his skating is polished and he has no problem carrying his large frame on 200 feet, with or without the puck. Early on, we probably would have ranked his playmaking as a below-average tool. However, we’ve seen incremental growth in his ability to draw pressure in and dish the puck through it, to go along with the refined goal-scoring and stickhandling mechanics. Massive, physical forward who doesn’t sacrifice skill or smarts. Quick and daring in transition, willing to disturb opponents and displays impressive character. Projects as a top-six power-forward center. Prior to the 2023 season start, he didn't have the resume to justify being an early first rounder, but there is too much I like to not have him there now. At six foot four plus, he has a rare combination of size, above average skating ability, the ability to make plays in tight areas, and strong hockey instincts. He hasn't put his game altogether, but has all the outstanding tools in his size, skills, and hands that screams scary potential. He has the power and finesse that team covet. He was moved permanently to center this season and he has shown plenty of new offensive generation ability with his fakes, set-ups and pass deception. At his size, he controls the middle of the ice and dominate the territorial play in his shorts, easily moving pucks out of danger, keeping teams pinned in their own end with a tumultuous forecheck. His skating is surprisingly good for such a large kid. In December he sustained an upper body injury, but no one has looked more dominant in the WHL this season. There are very few 6’ 4” -220 lb 17 year old centers who move with his agility or has as much puck skill as he does. He has found a balance this season using his patience and creativity to create separation, using his teammates effectively and using his strength each and size to force his way to middle ice or to the net. Some team will take him early, as he projects as a special player who engages defensively, transports the puck really well, wins puck battles, and displays one heck of a shot.
World Juniors:
5 games for Canada... 2 goals, 1 assist, 3 points
***#2 - ZAYNE PAREKH***
Projected draft position - 11th
Position - RD
Height - 6'0"
Weight - 181 lbs
League - OHL
Stats - 30 goals, 55 assist, 85 points, in 55 games played
Scouting Report:
Zayne Parekh is the most dynamic defenseman in this year’s draft class. Parekh is the king of deception and misdirection as he will line up his eyesight and hips in one direction getting opponents to chase in that direction before flipping his hips fluidly and cutting up or cutting back against the grain unevaded to the net. Parekh is an excellent passer and playmaker and works the give-and-go to a high level. To top things off, Parekh is a gifted goal scorer who can rip the puck past OHL goalies. The Saginaw Spirit defenseman has an elite sense of the offensive game, making him a threat every time he crosses center ice with or without the puck. He already has 30 goals and 85 points through 58 games in the 2023-24 season, which is bonkers, is definitely a player to watch at the Memorial Cup this spring. He plays an aggressive offensive style that looks to attack off the line into the slot or even the front of the net or below the goal line. He’ll also regularly involve himself in the rush much like a winger does, driving down the wall in control to look to put defenders on their heels with his skating and attack into his shot or create an odd-man rush. At times he can be a bit too smooth to the point where it becomes lackadaisical with the puck. This results in throwing soft no-look passes directly to the other team or allowing the puck to fall off his stick as he wasn’t careful enough with it. Defensively, Parekh is aggressive and effectively breaking up passes through the neutral zone. He times his pinches well forcing turnovers that he can immediately convert into offensive chances. Although he has improved as a defender, he takes a shift off in the defensive zone in favor of offensive changes, and his play away from the puck also needs to be improved. The best NHL comparison for Zayne Parekh is Ryan Ellis, who was a monster in the OHL and was a very highly hyped defenseman, and many thought he would be one of the best offensive defensemen one day. Overall, the excellent skating and offensive instincts and traits are incredibly valuable that you will accept some of the warts with his game because this potential is too good to pass up. Parekh’s game is one of dynamism, creativity, and surgical precision in his activations from the point, he could be the most skilled blueliner that Canada has produced since Cale Makar.
World Juniors:
5 games for Canada... 0 goals, 3 assists, 3 points
***#1 - BERKLY CATTON***
Projected draft position - 8th
Position - C
Height - 5'11"
Weight - 163 lbs
League - WHL
Stats - 45 goals, 52 assist, 97 points, in 59 games
Scouting Report:
He is more of a natural playmaker than a scorer, but he does have a reliable finisher’s touch with an accurate wrist shot and is someone I would anticipate being toward the top of the tournament’s scoring table. Catton was the player who led the charge for Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, as he was the captain of the team, and stepped up whenever the team needed to and lead them through adversity. He led the tournament in scoring and scored at least one goal in every game Canada played. There may not have been a player at the Hlinka who made a bigger impact on their team than Catton. Canada’s number one center and the best player at the Hlinka did nothing but help his draft stock heading into the biggest year of his career to this point. A kid who can play anywhere up front and has high hockey IQ in all three zones. Berkly Catton is a heady playmaker who uses spacing to his advantage and sees the ice at an advanced level, regularly executing quick plays through coverage or delaying into a pre-planned play. He’s got multi-dimensional skill, with an ability to play both with speed on the rush and more slowly inside the offensive zone, when the pace ramps down and he has to spin away from pressure. Catton is an elusive, offensive talent who’s difficult to defend in tight quarters; when he gets a step in transition, he’s a massive threat to create and score. He’s an excellent skater, displaying high-end edge work and quickness for the pro level. He combines that with very good hands and vision and a pass-first mentality. The only real knock on his game is his diminutive frame. The Spokane Chiefs star has great offensive instincts and vision knowing where to be at all times. He has great hands and skill to play in tight spaces and plays a responsible two-way game and is a factor in all situations.
World Juniors:
5 games for Canada... 8 goals, 2 assists, 10 points
Sleeping on Yakemchuk. Numbers aren't as gaudy as parekhs, but I like his all around game better and still has crazy offense then in a 6'3 frame? that's a bonus... Or sens can draft him before the pens haha
Do you ever read Will Scouch’s stuff? His rankings can a little different…or a lot different…but he does get deep into weeds on these guys from analytics perspective. He is not high on Parekh or Yakemchuk at all.
McDavid, Connor
250 000 $)
Imagine874859 a aimé ceci.
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