2023-24 NHL Season Thread

[cholodolo]

Post game Cronin said the Ducks are an "offensively challenged" group.

Zegras out 6-8 weeks with a broken ankle.

Mintyukov out 6 weeks with a separated shoulder.

Gibson left the game in the 2nd period with an "upper body" injury.

[ZappBrannigan]

Originally Posted by cholodolo

Post game Cronin said the Ducks are an "offensively challenged" group.

Zegras out 6-8 weeks with a broken ankle.

Mintyukov out 6 weeks with a separated shoulder.

Gibson left the game in the 2nd period with an "upper body" injury.

Zegras can just kick back and roller skate as a new career.

[anusinha]

Ducks and Blackhawks are injury tanking themselves to another top pick.

[kingb22]

Originally Posted by anusinha

Ducks and Blackhawks are injury tanking themselves to another top pick.

It seems like a pretty shallow draft class - or is my impression wrong? While #1 is Bedard, Celebrini seems like the only guy who would have been top 5 last year and even so would probably have been #4 at best.

[cholodolo]

It will be a miracle if Chicago doesn't win the lottery no matter where they finish.

Bettman gets what he wants and a competitive Chicago is good for business.

[cholodolo]

Originally Posted by kingb22

It seems like a pretty shallow draft class - or is my impression wrong? While #1 is Bedard, Celebrini seems like the only guy who would have been top 5 last year and even so would probably have been #4 at best.

Demidov from SKA is exciting.

Couple of Team USA guys and this Konsta Helenius from Finland are the guys I've seen mentioned most frequently.


Edit: Elite Prospects has an interesting list:

1 USA Cole Eiserman (F)
2 Canada Macklin Celebrini (F)
3 Russia Ivan Demidov (F)
4 Finland Aron Kiviharju (D)
5 Canada Sam Dickinson (D)
6 Canada Berkly Catton (F)
7 Belarus Artyom Levshunov (D)
8 Finland Veeti Väisänen (D)
9 Canada Michael Hage (F)
10 USA John Whipple (D)
11 Sweden Alexander Zetterberg (F)
12 Sweden Alfons Freij (D)
13 Sweden Oskar Vuollet (F)
14 USA Will Skahan (D)
15 Finland Konsta Helenius (F)

[Giroux]

Originally Posted by cholodolo

Demidov from SKA is exciting.

Couple of Team USA guys and this Konsta Helenius from Finland are the guys I've seen mentioned most frequently.


Edit: Elite Prospects has an interesting list:

1 USA Cole Eiserman (F)
2 Canada Macklin Celebrini (F)
3 Russia Ivan Demidov (F)
4 Finland Aron Kiviharju (D)
5 Canada Sam Dickinson (D)
6 Canada Berkly Catton (F)
7 Belarus Artyom Levshunov (D)
8 Finland Veeti Väisänen (D)
9 Canada Michael Hage (F)
10 USA John Whipple (D)
11 Sweden Alexander Zetterberg (F)
12 Sweden Alfons Freij (D)
13 Sweden Oskar Vuollet (F)
14 USA Will Skahan (D)
15 Finland Konsta Helenius (F)

That must be an old list. Macklin is a clear #1 and Kiviharju has fallen a lot

[Satan]

Ya that list is definitely from summer 2023... Kiviharju's fall is v similar to Oliver Kylington and Timothy Liljegren's fall

[Giroux]

Central Scouting just put out their midterm rankings

https://www.nhl.com/news/2024-nhl-dr...kings-released

[cholodolo]

Per the article:

Top 10 North Americans:

1 CELEBRINI, MACKLIN
2 LEVSHUNOV, ARTYOM
3 LINDSTROM, CAYDEN
4 BUIUM, ZEEV DENVER
5 CONNELLY, TREVOR
6 YAKEMCHUK, CARTER
7 DICKINSON, SAM
8 EISERMAN, COLE
9 CATTON, BERKLY
10 PAREKH, ZAYNE

Top 10 Euros:

1 HELENIUS, KONSTA
2 SILAYEV, ANTON
3 DEMIDOV, IVAN
4 JIRICEK, ADAM
5 HEMMING, EMIL
6 BRANDSEGG-NYGARD, MICHAEL (Lots of chatter from Ducks development/scouts about this guy)
7 KIVIHARJU, ARON
8 SHURAVIN, MATVEI
9 CHERNYSHOV, IGOR
10 PETTERSSON, LUCAS

[reddragonthe]

I've not watched much Caps hockey this year... but yikes this is a bad offense. And I can recognize bad offense (I watch 95% of the Blackhawks games). No wonder Ovi isn't getting shots/goals (and he's out today which obviously doesn't help them).

[cholodolo]

Whoever does the scheduling for the league needs to be taken out back.

2 games on a Friday that start at the same time?

Why not stagger the start times on busy nights so we don't have 6 -7 games go into intermission at the same time? 10-15 minutes apart allows for more viewing across the league.

Also, don't know about you guys but absolutely hate the All Star rubbish. Waste of everyone's time.

[Seahawks fan]

I absolutely love having Jeremy Lauzon on my fantasy Hockey team... gets no stats other than Hits. Today he had 12 in 1 game. That is 2 weeks worth for most D men.

[valleynuckfan]

The latest top 32 for the 2024 Draft- post WJC rankings from SportsNet:

1. Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University (NCAA): His three-zone play against the best the world has to offer was more than impressive for Canada at the WJC.

2. Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL): Has the unique ability to make plays mid puck-handle. He’s got great top-end speed, and he’s light on his skates.

3. Anton Silayev, D, Torpedo (KHL): Ice time and production have dipped considerably but big, rangy defencemen are en vogue right now in the NHL, and he’s the biggest in class.

4. Sam Dickinson, D, London Knights (OHL): An elite skater in a sizeable package who is an effective all-situation player.

5. Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State University (NCAA): Can transport the puck not only because of his skating ability, but his handles are elite for a big defenceman.

6. Berkly Catton, C, Spokane Chiefs (WHL): Multi-faceted offensive player who can back defenders off with speed, but also pace himself accordingly to create space.

7. Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL): There’s nothing in the game that he can’t do well. Doing it night in and night out will be the task to complete in the second half.

8. Cole Eiserman, LW, USNTDP: Still operating at a goal-per-game pace mid-season. Defensive play and play away from the puck are the areas of concern.

9. Konsta Helenius, C, Jukurit (Liiga): Based on minutes played, would’ve liked to have seen more production at the world juniors, but he’s a multi-talented player who’s not afraid to be in the fight.

10. Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw Spirit (OHL): He’s so electric offensively that you can live with some of the defensive deficiencies. Will be interesting to see how he handles the addition of two high-end offensive defencemen to the Saginaw roster.

11. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, Mora (Allsvenskan): No surprise he was a leading player for Norway at the world juniors. Withstanding the rigours of the second half of the Allsvenskan season is the next big challenge.

12. Tij Iginla, C, Kelowna Rockets (WHL): Continued success to the tone of eight multi-point efforts in his last 10 games. Occupying a top-10 spot is not out of the question by year’s end.

13. Zeev Buium, D, Denver (NCAA): Significant contributor to Team USA’s gold medal efforts at the world juniors. Played over 18 minutes per game, while putting up five points and a team-best plus-11 rating.

14. Ryder Ritchie, RW, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL): Good, old-fashioned hockey player who has some stubbornness in his game. Has been out with a lower-body injury for almost a month.

15. Emil Hemming, RW, TPS (Liiga): Further back in his development, he gets a higher ranking based on having a high ceiling. A more rounded game that relies less on his NHL-like ability to shoot the puck is advised.

16. Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL): A gifted playmaker who’s elusive in tight quarters. Can beat defenders wide with speed, and can also get it done driving the middle lane.

17. Liam Greentree, LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL): Skating is unorthodox but he always manages to get there. Plays a hard, physical game on both sides of the puck and is plenty skilled.

18. Igor Chernyshov, LW, Moscow Dynamo (MHL): Not afraid to get involved physically, Chernyshov can power through the opposition

19. Carter Yakemchuk, D, Calgary Hitmen (WHL): While there are some warts in his game, there are three things that excite NHL scouts: his size, shot and puck skills.

20. Henry Mews, D, Ottawa 67’s (OHL): There's no doubting his offensive abilities, but he’s at a point where he has to understand he can’t just defend with his feet.

21. Trevor Connelly, C, Tri-City Storm (USHL): The days where teams overlook previous transgressions are over. There are definitely teams that have him on a no-draft list.

22. Adam Jiricek, D, HC Plzen (Extraliiga): Injury after one game at the world juniors does leave doubt based on his Extraliiga play before joining the national team.

23. Aron Kiviharju, D, HIFK (Liiga): A projected four-month absence would make the Five Nations tournament in early February as a return to play target and that would be the perfect venue to kickstart a run to the end of the season.

24. Andrew Basha, LW, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL): Fun player to watch because you’re never sure what trick he’s going to pull out of his bag to create offence for himself or his linemates.

25. Matvei Shuravin, D, CSKA (MHL): Has had at least two games at three different levels in the last month alone, making it hard to get a true read. He’s never been a high-end producer, but there’s plenty of room for the complimentary player who keeps it simple.

26. Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa Generals (OHL): Can evade defenders utilizing size and reach. Can also beat defenders one-on-one with soft hands and good puck skills.

27. Terik Parascak, RW, Prince George Cougars (WHL): Proving that his torrid start was no fluke. Since Dec. 3, has points in 13 of 15 games. The CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will be a great test.

28. Michael Hage, C, Chicago Steel (USHL): With the shoulder issue well behind him, his offensive production is starting to match his elite skating ability.

29. Tanner Howe, C, Regina Pats (WHL): A player who leads by example, he’s consistently in the fight. He won’t be left behind at the next level, but he may not produce at a rate projected based on more than point-per-game numbers in junior.

30. Charlie Elick, D, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL): Starting to figure out how he will be most effective at the next level. Defencemen who move pucks effectively and are nasty to play against have a chance to play for a long time.

31. Maxime Masse, RW, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL): Continues to show flashes of brilliance, but it may not be enough to keep him in the first round by the time June rolls around.

32. Alfons Freij, D, Vaxo J20 (Sweden): Jumped back into the consciousness of scouts at the World Jr. A Challenge where he recorded the most points of any defenceman. League play has yielded solid numbers as well.

[jmarascojr]

Valley, do the #2 and #3 guys have the same contract issues with the KHL that the kid the Flyers took last year has?

Or can they play right away?

Just wondering if that will affect where they are taken...

[valleynuckfan]

Originally Posted by jmarascojr

Valley, do the #2 and #3 guys have the same contract issues with the KHL that the kid the Flyers took last year has?

Or can they play right away?

Just wondering if that will affect where they are taken...

I think Demidov is signed through 2024-25 and Silayev through 2025-26, so probably locked up as per typical KHL players.
However, most draftees aren't ready for the NHL anyway so playing in the K against men would be advantageous to playing in the AHL or high-level college hockey for physical development.

[Giroux]

If anyone is looking for a hockey podcast like I have been, I found these guys to be pretty good. They talk NHL and prospects

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fCKTHd...UJc2NvdWNoaW5n

[Giroux]

Leafs Oilers was great


Beautiful OT winner by Sharangovich in Calgary. He's been on fire.

Great night of hockey

[anusinha]

Originally Posted by Giroux

Leafs Oilers was great


Beautiful OT winner by Sharangovich in Calgary. He's been on fire.

Great night of hockey

Good hockey tonight... but all the California teams lost again. Kings have been in a freefall this year. Rough sledding out here.

[cholodolo]

Originally Posted by anusinha

Good hockey tonight... but all the California teams lost again. Kings have been in a freefall this year. Rough sledding out here.

Wasn't too long ago everyone was creaming themselves over their road win streak...life comes at you fast. Oilers are about to drop them into the Wild Card race.

[valleynuckfan]

Originally Posted by cholodolo

Wasn't too long ago everyone was creaming themselves over their road win streak...life comes at you fast. Oilers are about to drop them into the Wild Card race.

That would pretty much set the table in the West going into the playoffs.
Likely Vancouver or Vegas will win the division and would play the Preds, 'Yotes, Blues or Wild.
#2 gets the Oil.
Kings get #1 in the Central- Jets, AVs or Stars.
First round is always the best by far.

[cholodolo]

Originally Posted by valleynuckfan

That would pretty much set the table in the West going into the playoffs.
Likely Vancouver or Vegas will win the division and would play the Preds, 'Yotes, Blues or Wild.
#2 gets the Oil.
Kings get #1 in the Central- Jets, AVs or Stars.
First round is always the best by far.

Vancouver/Vegas will be interesting to watch as Vegas had this same dip in form last season only to come on after the All Star break.

I don't think the Wild are in it anymore...there's still time but have seen zero fight out of them. Calgary and Seattle are coming on strong. Will be interesting to see who collapses over the next few months.

Would not want any part of the Jets, Avs, or Stars.

Are you going to the Leafs game this weekend?

[valleynuckfan]

Originally Posted by cholodolo

Are you going to the Leafs game this weekend?

No way.
1. Super premium ticket prices.
2. Fist-magnet s**t head Laff Fans bring out my bad side.
3. Local blizzard and freezing rain makes the commute from Langley to DT dicey.
I'm just fine watching on the big screen at home with bevvy in hand.

[kellmuff]

Originally Posted by valleynuckfan

#2 gets the Oil.

Oilers could very well win get that 2 spot themselves

[valleynuckfan]

Originally Posted by kellmuff

Oilers could very well win get that 2 spot themselves

Yeah maybe- they do have 4 games in hand so if they continue the hot streak and win out they will pass Vegas