Montreal Canadiens 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Tier List
hello everyone inside the latest lock on Canadians we’re making a tier list of NHL draft possibilities you’re locked on Canadians your daily podcast on the Montreal Canadians part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day hello everyone and welcome to episode 1,089 of locked on Canadians your daily Montreal Canadians podcast part of the locked on podcast Network where you get your team every single day of the week whereever you get your daily podcast Google Apple Spotify or on youtube.com if that is where you are watching right now and today’s episode is brought to you by Game Time download the game time app create an account and use code locked on NHL for $20 off your first purchase some terms of course do apply and you might be wondering Scott you’re alone and you might be wondering who the hell is Scott I am Scott B I am your host uh dour for today and about the next two weeks as my co-host is off uh enjoying a well-deserved vacation at this point so I am flying solo we’ve got plenty to get through we’ve got player reviews more draft stuff to go through I’m working on lining up some guests to bring them on to record with myself uh in some of these episodes and so much more and I was thinking did I want to do more play reviews today did I want to do another mock draft and thinking on the mock draft because I wanted a little bit more time to prepare for this one and go through it and really think my way through this and I went you know what what have we broke down the the draft possibilities for the Montreal Canadians into a tier list and not that I think a lot of the picks that can be made here but you know the like I’m going to call it s tier is the best one what I think you know the best level is for that a tier just below that probably the next best option uh B tier not bad not my favorite and then everything else after that I’m just considering basically a disaster for the Canadians at that point if they haven’t landed something in those top two parts there and the biggest thing is I want to jump right into the S tier list here right off the bat here the best possible outcome and best picks I think the Canadians can make and I’ve narrowed it down to what I believe are three forwards forwards is that is I’m gonna put that in big bold italic squiggly flashing windings whatever you want to call it lights because this is what I believe is the S tier of possible picks for the Canadians uh assuming at this point that we know mlin celebrini and RTM levanov are both gone from this draft and likely Anton salv and we’re not just actually you know what ignore defense entirely in this one let’s just be very clear with that I’ve narrowed it down to three forwards that I think if the Canadians pick one of these three forwards they have struck gold with that first with their first round pick here like they’ve stepped up and Kent Hughes just hit a Dinger straight out of the Big O uh which I don’t think is possible because there’s a roof but I you know architecture was never for my thing let alone expose baseball and architecture and we’re going to start right with the one and we talked about this a little bit yesterday Ivan demidov just so much skill so much talent everything the Canadians need in a forward that if the rumors are true and he is going to fall slowly down the draft board it like mattv mitkov did last year it’s to the Canadians benefit this year is that if levanov goes two Sal of goost three it’s up to Columbus to kind of maybe throw a wrench in the Canadians plan if they really actually like this player and I think that they do uh indications are like anything that they’re not not going to take him but nothing that they are going to take him because they are very close to the chest on everything but if let’s say Columbus opts for Kaden Lindstrom which would not be surprising I think Ivan demid or demid of being right there in that fifth overall pick spot is a home run for the Montreal Canadians absolute s tier pick skill scoring he will be here sooner than expected we talked about this in yesterday’s episode and I highly recommend you give that a chance and go check that out and look at that because there’s so much you can do uh with that or you can do with him down the line in the future there with talent that you can put him on line one and maybe you bump Coffield down to line two or Steph kovsky down to line two with Kirby Docker and Alex new hook you have options which actually leads me into a name that I just mentioned that we talked about on Monday’s episode Kaden Lindstrom who I think is potentially I I go back and forth between him and my other uh s tier player in here and I look at Kaden Lindstrom and I go this is everything that they saw in yri slavkovsky all over again a little bit more injured not playing in a men’s league there but just all that physical nastiness that scoring Touch of one a great head on his shoulders off the ice as well all the Hallmarks of what makes a great Montreal Canadians player and what this uh new regime of can I can I even call them a new regime at this point now that we are about to be three drafts in at this point but all the earmarks at Hallmarks bookmarks you know birth marks whatever you want to call of a player who I think the Canadians would love to see at fifth overall there are yes maybe some concerns about the back injury but you have a good training staff you have the tools to help him get healthy and get back to reaching his potential he’s going to go back to Junior next year there is no rush to get any of these players into the NHL or AHL this year none nor should there be because the Canadians do not need that and I look at Kaden Lindstrom someone who’s physically very gifted for he is a teenager in a full man’s body right now talking to him at the combine he’s built he’s strong he’s nasty on the ice he is slavkovsky with somehow more attitude if that makes sense on the ice and extremely well you know the nicest person off of it definitely at fifth overall if Columbus goes for demidov is I am looking at Kaden Lindstrom as that guy if I’m the Montreal Canadians I think that he is everything that they’re looking for a big power scoring Winger I know that we have sovi and I know that there’s the uh lingering Spectre of Josh Anderson and such but this is a few years down the line when the cap has gone up some of these players are not your I lvovsky but like some of these other names are gone and you have opened up a window to put Kaden Lindstrom in there potentially with a guy like Owen Beck is a center maybe it’s still Kirby doc maybe Alex new Hook is adjusted to being a full-time Center maybe you have Suzuki s kovski and Lindstrom all on one line doesn’t that sound fun it sounds fun to me and then I like I said I’ve gone back and forth the third name I think in terms of draft picks at that third tier spot or my the S tier spot the third guy in there is TJ ginla it’s I want to read a quote from cam Robinson who has been talking to NHL Scouts today about why I think that I really love tjla an NHL Scout and this comes from a hockey Robinson cam Robinson from Elite prospects I’m betting he’s the next best in this class after mlin celebrini already overwhelming in Puck Pursuit Elite handles great shot physical and he’s got his dad’s attitude that puck is his and he wants it I could not possibly love a description of a player more Relentless in pursuit of the puck love that love a player who busts his ass to make plays happen and not only that he works hard to get the puck control the puck dominate control of the puck and then he does things with it to put it in the back of the net he’s so watching him do his physical testing was impressive because he is 17 years old and a lot like Kaden Lindstrom there’s just another like level to his growth in his game there he’s a scary physical player that he will absolutely dish it out and uh then he’ll score a goal he’ll run you over and then score a goal and I don’t want to make the comparison uh like seriously but in my mind when I read that description I think of the kachuck brothers namely Matthew kachuck he wants the puck he wants to be physical he’s got the great attitude that he wants to make plays he cares he has all this passion for the game TJ ginla is my third and final piece in that s tier there I think that the Canadians adding him to this lineup in a couple of years when some more players have matured just a bit and giving him that role that you know whatever role he earns on whichever line is going to make him an absolute monster I love the idea of tjla Montreal Canadian not just because it’s an ainla but I just read that description again read the draft quotes about him re watch the videos listen to him interview he’s a Pegasis watch how he’s going to fly I cannot wait to see you if it’s not the Canadians I’m going to be sad unless they’ve ended up with Lind or demidov which are in my S tier I am happy with any of these TJ ginla I think is my draft Crush closely followed by Kaden Lindstrom just because I think they’re exactly what the Canadians need but we’re going to do the the fun thing now we’re going to dive into the next tier best player available maybe it’s a defenseman maybe it’s a forward find out coming up next but first as I said off the top of the show today’s show is brought to you by game time it’s the middle of baseball season it’s the hockey NHL finals are going on the NBA finals are going on Euros are right around the corner if you’re one of our European listeners and game time is here to help you find tickets for everything that you are possibly looking for and making it as easy as possible whether it be concerts shows games whatever they have last minute tickets that get cheaper closer to the start of your event Flash Deals Zone deals you can buy tickets for anything and you’ll see the views from your seat and when you go to cash out and use your promo code in this you’re not getting hit with hidden fees you are paying the price you see on game time so take the guesswork out of buying tickets with game time download the game time app create an account use code locked on NHL for $20 off your first purchase some terms apply again create an account and use code l o c k d o n NHL for $20 off your first purchase Game Time download game time today last minute tickets lowest price guaranteed we are back and by we I mean I am back here at lockon Canadians I of course your host Scott Mata we will be back tomorrow I am going to kick into the player reviews tomorrow because well we have a lot of them and the Summer’s going to get very short rapidly with the draft in two and a half weeks so we’re going to dive into maybe some of the guys who are in the last year of their deal uh Fringe players stuff like that that’ll be in tomorrow’s episode but someone raised a very good point on Twitter today and I’m sorry I don’t have the Tweet offand but it actually kind of what inspired this is let’s say Chicago takes levanov salv goes there or they take demidov and then levanov goes there and a bunch of these other forwards are gone for whatever reason let’s say Anaheim takes a forward and not a defenseman for whatever reason here and you are the Montreal Canadians and you come up to the podium at fifth overall and in front of you uh you’ve seen cabina be drafted you’ve seen demidov be drafted you’ve seen Lindstrom be drafted and you’ve now seen also maybe tjla drafted maybe there’s like Salia L shavas drafted in there but you’re coming up there and those S tier forwards are no longer on your board and you’re kind of faced with the the the Eternal question do I draft for a need here they need a forward they need forward help in this Prospect in this Prospect pool in Montreal do I make a little bit of a reach and go to that next tiar down of fors which uh and players which we will get to in the next segment a little bit and maybe make a little bit of a reach trade down even or do you take the best player available and in that point you were looking at solely on defense you were looking at depending on which one of salv or levanov did not get picked you were looking at uh Zayn Pera you were looking at Sam dick a name that we’ve heard a little bit of in trade rumors that I do not want to address on this show uh Z boam and this is kind of where I actually and I am going to change my tone a little bit on this because I said uh famously on this show I believe if they take a defenseman I’m just going to scream and run outside to be hit by a bus but I look at some of the defenseman in this draft and realize they are very very talented and I was maybe a bit dismissive in my analysis of them because I really want this team to draft a high skill forward but I am looking currently at the way it’s broken down in here uh Sam Dickens uh Ivan demidov is at second artam levanov is the highest rated defenseman then Dickenson Anton salv Z buam Zay Pera and then Carter yakimchuk are all names that I I’ve seen tied to the Canadians some that are maybe a little bit of a reach and I look at this and I go it’s not the worst thing I’ve seen and I could actually potentially really get behind this idea if knowing that with 26th overall they’re swinging for the fences they’re going Michael ha Teddy sta uh Cole bdan uh Andrew basa Etc going that direction on there and I think in this second tier because I think that instead of reaching for a forward someone like a cona helenius a Cole Eiserman uh Beck at senica Michael BR segard Etc who we’ll talk about in the next segment a little bit that you can add another very quality piece to this group and it allows you to have a replenishment let’s say two years down the road generously I’m and I’m using two years as just a very general window for things that if you’re looking at this group if angstrom isn’t the guy that you need him to if koskov isn’t that guy if ghouly or Jacky or whomever doesn’t take that step forward here you are having another guy coming in that you can plug in that is of a high caliber that can play at an NHL level and I think all there of all these prospects coming in most of them are NHL quality defenseman at this point Adam angstrom is an unknown for had a very strong season in Sweden and everything I want to see him play at at the NHL level I want to see him in the preseason I want to he’s someone I’m watching very closely because he’s played Pro Hockey can he make that adjustment and if not I think in terms of my listing on here I’m coming around slowly on the idea of Sam Dickinson but at the same time and I made this uh allegory to a Ducks fan who was asking me about this because I was at the combat and I went if you’re picking in the top five it’s like you are showing up with a lot of cash from the lottery to the Ferrari store and yes Ferrari store dealership whatever with a lot of money in your hand to buy whatever you want and you’re looking and there’s a 458 or there’s some of the classics and you walk around you see in the used lot you see a really nice Honda Civic and you go okay it’s maybe not the flashiest thing but it’s going to get the job done effectively and like with startling regularity I don’t know much as much about Anton salv to be quite honest I have not watched a lot of the KHL hockey and I don’t want to comment on someone I haven’t watched play a lot but having watched the OHL playoffs and a lot of the Sagen all games to watch Owen back play I’ve become impressed with Sam Dickinson I could also see zeve buam being that guy he was a stable piece on the u20 team that won a gold medal won a national title with Denver just a very solid player and then Zay Pera is probably the best offensive defenseman in this draft you could do a lot worse at fifth overall than adding another quality backend piece because some of these guys are going to age out or not hit their potential and you’re going to have want a readymade replacement you can and I it’s one of the few things that I actually can agree with Mark bersan on you can never have too many defensemen we’ve seen injuries we’ve seen other things I think reaching for yakam chuk is not high on my list to be quite honest uh and I don’t know if the Canadians quite rankly will go for Zan Pera even though I think that his defensive issues are overblown I think that it’s between uh Dickinson or boam when they pick and I could likely be very wrong on that but that’s kind of that second year the best player available and it’s likely going to be a defenseman if for whatever reason uh demidov and Lindstrom go before that I would still say pick TJ ginla but if you think that’s going to be a reach and the best player available is Anton salv RTM levanov uh Zan Pera Z boam Sam Dickinson I guess you go with the best pick there and I know that’s not going to be popular this isn’t super ideal on my list but I understand it and the logic makes a lot of sense to me that if you have a surplus of things too that other teams want quality defenseman quality young cost effective defenseman you can make a lot on that uh when you need to down the road uh we are going to transition in to our final segment though this is the fun one because this is uh this is everything else this is the other tier of what I would consider disastrous and what I would consider reaching but within reason I think and we’re going to get into that coming up next Today’s Show is also brought to you by the folks at policy genius life insurance can give you and your family Peace of Mind especially when so much out there is unpredictable but good life insurance gives your family a financial safety net to protect them against some of those unknowns out there and with policy genius you can find life insurance policies that start at $292 per year for a million dollars worth of coverage some options are 100% online and avoid unnecessary medical exams it’s not fun to sit there and think about what’s going to happen when you were gone in the future or are you prepared for the future if the unexpected happens and then sifting through all of these things from insurance companies policy genius helps you easily compare all your options from America’s Top insurers and just a few clicks and their award-winning agents can talk you through the process step by step so get piece of of Mind by finding the right life insurance with policy genius head to policygenius.com or click the link in the description to get your free life insurance quote and see how much you could save over at policygenius.com we are back here at lock on Canadians and this is this is where things get murky this is the third tier of maybe you’re reaching because it’s a need but this player is still quality player and would make sense to potentially pick them but it would be considered potentially a reach sometimes just a little bitty reach it’s it’s a reach yet versus you have you have you have reached across the Champlain Bridge uh to pick this player here and the first name that’s going to come up here and I don’t think this is a reach in terms of rankings but I think think just because of the way I’ve heard nothing about this player with the Canadians is Berkeley Kon Kon in said he interviewed with the Canadians gave them an answer to the animal question where he said he’s a dolphin we talked about it on Monday Berkeley Kon is in this group uh Cole Eiserman is in this group cona helenius is in this group and Becket senica is in this group uh just outside of that would be Liam greenre Trevor Connelly and Michael Bren nyard I think they are I’ve heard connell’s name and I don’t love the idea of reaching for him at Fifth and there’s other reasons why I don’t really love the idea of going for that pick that I’m not going to get into on the show because that’s not what we’re here for but I look at Berkeley Ken who is I believe one of just the highest scoring players in the entire CHL this year an incredible centerman great playmaking vision great shooting option he’s got a lot in his toolkit to make things happen 116 points is nothing to scoff at uh on the Spokane Chiefs this year 116 points in general is nothing to scoff at and I look at some of the guys that he was behind Jagger Fergus who’s in his draft plus one year Zack Funk overage player Riley height uh not an overage player but playing with Zack Funk Berkeley Katon is the highest uh undrafted player below that is Andrew Cal uh like he outscored a guy like Conor geeki 99 points draft plus one year he outscored uh TJ ginla even in this uh ainla played 64 games and Ken played 68 so four more games but 116 points compared to 84 points they’re a different type of player but I think Ken just because the lack of any smoke around this player in Montreal makes me think that he is there you you know pull cord in case of emergency kind of player uh right after that uh Cole iserman Cole Eiserman is potentially the best pure goal scorer in this draft class I think he’s got a ridiculous shot he knows how to use it he’s added a physical Dimension to his game but there’s not a lot of other dimension to his game the thing about Cole Eiserman is his one dimension is a very very good one us ntdp goalscoring you know record holder in a uh in a career he is very very good at scoring goals the Canadians need someone who is very very good at scoring goals Cole Eisman at one point was likely a top five pick the lack of evolution in his game has dropped that a little bit uh there’s maybe not as much playmaking ability is you might hope for a guy who has the puck so often but I think that if they pick him they are banking on him developing and turning him into the new age power forward think Leon drle uh with less defense uh in there uh the next one and this is the name that has been lingered around forever is Becka senica I I can hear I have come to terms with understanding it it is not my favorite pick but I have come to understand why the Canadians are potentially interested he’s grown a ton in the last year and the back half of his season with ashaa was stunning uh as a Winger ankle breaking Winger who combines de playmaking manipulation powerful net drives and Puck th thievery skills to control the game overwhelmingly confident Puck Handler grounded in solid technique with an unlocked top arm and fast twitch hands very good as a playmaker all of that sounds very good and that comes directly from the elite prospects guide and on their website and the only thing holding me back from being like I am all in on this is the Canadians need a goalscoring forward they desperately need someone besides Suzuki and Coffield and slavkovsky hopefully to score the goals on this team and maybe it’s Alex new hook maybe Kirby doc comes back next year puts up 25 goals who knows but I look at Becka senica’s profile and I go wow an elite power forward playmaker that sounds great crap who is he passing to you I if you’re going to add this player I need scoring help opposite them at some point somewhere a pure goal scoring type even if it’s a go to the net and tap it in kind of guy power play m whatever you want to call it someone to actually make use of these skills because if you just have a bunch of guys who are going to pass the puck back and forth sooner or later someone’s got to shoot and I’m begging you to do that uh I understand every little bit why the Canadians are interested in this player it’s I’ve come to terms that it’s likely going to be the pick I don’t love that that is potentially the case but I understand it uh and the last option in this group is constant Helen uh probably potentially the safest option in this group he is a bulldog every Scout I talked to uh at the combine and Prospects person says he’s just a pain in the ass to play against you do not have fun playing against cona helenius he works hard he hustles he gets to the right areas he loves to paddle along the boards and everything he will he will fight you for every puck in every bit of space he’s my last one in this group sitting like just outside like I said it’s Brans seg nyard lean greenre Trevor Connelly uh and then there’s a gap and that if they pick anyone outside of those groups I’m starting to go you reached way too hard and you have a lot to make up for with 26th overall or you’re trading up to get somebody else in this group here uh I still think TJ ginla is my ideal pick any of Lindstrom ainla and demidov are fantastic I understand the idea for Beck at senica I do I understand the reasoning potentially behind taking a defenseman but I want to hear from you what does your tier list look like in terms of players you can tweet us _ Canadians and let us know we love hearing from everybody you can tweet [Music] usmail.com as well tweet me at scottm on the app formerly known as Twitter that’s going to do it for our show tomorrow we’re starting player reviews as always you can find us wherever you get your daily podcast Google Apple Spotify and Beyond or here on youtube.com Thank you so much for tuning in and I will see you all tomorrow [Music]
Inside the latest Locked on Canadiens
We’re just a few weeks from the NHL Draft, and for Montreal Canadiens fans there seem to be endless possibilities for the Habs. However, it’s unclear which choice they’re going to make, so Scott has devised the foolproof idea of a tier list.
We’ll break down the different tiers, and which players slot into those, and whether or not the reaction will be kind to Kent Hughes and the Habs. Does Beckett Sennecke make the top tier? What happens if Ivan Demidov falls down the board and the Habs take a defender?
Tune in to find out!
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