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PHR Live Chat: 2024 NHL Draft
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Gabriel Foley
5:33
Hello everyone! Welcome to PHR's 2024 NHL Draft Live Chat! My name is Gabe Foley - I've covered the NHL Draft for the last five years with PHR, Recruit Scouting, and plenty of other sites!

If you're looking for my draft takes, check out my Final Top 100 Rankings - https://www.recruitscouting.com/2024-nhl-draft-rankings-gabriel-foleys...

Otherwise, let's dive into it!
Sharks
5:34
Do we see a Ferraro trade today?
Gabriel Foley
5:36
I have always loved the idea of a Mario Ferraro trade! You'd think there'd be tons of interest in his defense around the league. And San Jose has been plenty busy lately! But it sounds like there is a lot of interest in Top 10 picks - and I wonder if Ferraro would be much of a sweetener compared to other offers. With San Jose already moving up to 11, I'd think they're okay settling for whoever falls out of the Top 10!
Sharks
5:37
Who do we take at 11?
Gabriel Foley
5:40
Sharks fans are excited! I love it - whoever you pick will be set up for a huge spot next to Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith.

I think the Sharks will have their eye caught by a LW. They have plenty of young talent elsewhere - but are still missing a top-line LW of the future. I was hoping they'd be favorite for Trevor Connelly or Berkly Catton at 14, but at 11, they could be in a golden spot to pair Celebrini up with his former partner in crime, Cole Eiserman.

Eiserman and Celebrini were a dynamic duo at Shattuck St. Mary's. There's been some concern on the league-side that Eiserman might need the right environment to really thrive, and pairing him with his former best friend and star center would be a great first step.
DW30
5:40
Do you think the Islanders will be active at the draft moving players and draft picks or will they actually use they’re picks to replenish the farm ?
Gabriel Foley
5:42
The Montreal Canadiens stole headlines earlier today with a move up to Pick 21 - but I don't think enough was made about LA's win in that deal. They nabbed two extra picks while only moving five spots lower.

There's a lot of excitement about the Top 64 picks this year, and I think the Islanders could be in a great spot to follow LA's guidance. Build up picks and round out that prospect pool!!
R
5:42
Are the Canucks still a fit for Guentzel?
Gabriel Foley
5:45
I definitely think they are. It was announced earlier that Zadorov is expected to hit the open market, which frees up a ton of space in Vancouver's budget. They should, optimally, use that to replace Zadorov's hole in the defense... but it'll be hard to ignore a chance to land Guentzel. They'll get priced out of a bidding war quickly but are still definitely in the race.
Soft Serve Scouting
5:45
Hi all!
Gabriel Foley
5:45
Hi Soft Serve!
Geo
5:45
does Winnipeg trade McGroarty today
Gabriel Foley
5:46
Y'know, I've had a sneaking feeling that McGroarty for a Top 15 pick makes a lot of sense value-wise. He's vindicated his draft spot with his growth, but this is a strong class... if a team like New Jersey misses out on their guy, I could see them quickly calling Winnipeg.
Nashville
5:46
Askarov going to get traded?
is Askarov getting traded?
Gabriel Foley
5:49
Man, I'd love to think so. I mean, what's Nashville doing! They're stifling him right as he seems to be hitting his stride!

But I think a trade is a lot tougher than we'd like it to be. The goalie market has been a little all over the place. Even a Vezina winner only fetched a low first round. Askarov has plenty of projectable upside but if teams are scared to commit much to proven vets, I worry they might not bite at Nashville's asking price. After all, a tandem of Saros and Askarov next year is no problem for the Predators.
Steve
5:49
Who do you think the caps with trade for next? What free agents might the caps sign also?
Gabriel Foley
5:53
They did say they weren't done yet! I'm not sure how - they have roughly $7MM in cap space if you factor in receiving LTIR relief for Backstrom. That's not a ton of room when you still need to sign two forwards. If I were running the show, I'd be making a push to sign their RFAs - Malenstyn and McMichael - as cheaply as possible, and using the leftover to pursue a big market swing. Someone like Marchessault or Lindholm, who could round out the top-six while also offering upside! In terms of trade... they may only be able to afford cap dumps!
mike123
5:53
Is trading mcgroarty for the 13th overall an equivalent value in the player worth?
Gabriel Foley
5:53
I fully think so!
UncleMike1526
5:53
I think if the Hawks leave tonight with Leshuvonov and Hage it's a win-win. Thoughts?
Gabriel Foley
5:55
I'm not saying I'm cheering for a good day for the Hawks... but that's exactly what I'm hoping for. Levshunov will bring a projectable impact, and Hage's upside is staggering. He's got a great eye for the puck, and would form a fantastic tandem with Frank Nazar on Connor Bedard's relief line. Fingers crossed!
5:56
I'm looking into the Poll functionality to see if I can't pull some of y'all's thoughts in as well! Thanks for being here!
Play Gloria!
5:56
Do we see the blues doing anything else today?
Gabriel Foley
5:59
Who's to say, that Texier trade came out of nowhere!! As a Blues fan, I'm all here for it. Texier seems like a great replacement for the role GMDA wanted Kapanen or Vrana to fill.

But man, that team is hard to read. They keep their cards so close. I think there's good reason for them to want to move up, though they're bound to get the stout, reliable winger I'm expecting them to be after at Pick 17. Or, they could take their pick of a long list of LDs, which GMDA looooves to draft. Solberg, Emery, maybe even my crazy pick for the first round Eric Burger...
Kyle Dubas
6:00
Do I have any realistic chance in H-E-double hockey sticks of flipping the known problematic contracts for additional draft picks and/or other assets or is this roster as it stands just stuck? Also, any prospects I can draft this weekend that could be intriguing?
Gabriel Foley
6:05
Kyle! My friend, you need to be busy trying to get into this First Round!!

But I see your plight. And I know you got Crosby breathing down your neck. You're a bit screwed on contracts, but there's tons of sleepers:

Hagen Burrows, who landed in my Top 20 after winning Mr. Hockey this season. He's a beefy, heads-up playmaker who I expect to go between the middle of the second round and the beginning of the third.

Kamil Bednarik, the NTDP's top center this season who shows a tonnnnn of speed in his small frame and knows how to create plays off his teammates. He could be overlooked because of his frame, and might fall as low as the mid third round!

Tarin Smith - who's quite a bit unruly but man does he have some great attributes. I'm not sure he's aware of how good he is yet... but when he finds out, he should be a very solid LD!
Rob
6:05
Trouba trade tonight? What’s his value?
Gabriel Foley
6:07
Hard to gauge, that's what it is! Everyone loves to rag on Trouba - and for just reason - but he's an undeniable #1 defenseman, who plays physically, fills special teams roles, and can wear a 'C'. Those are a lot of attributes you don't get on the open market often. I'd think a trade would have to start with A-tier prospects or first round picks, if not strong roster players. Pulling together a package that convinces NYR to ditch their captain could be hard to do this quickly, so I'm expecting this to drag into the summer.
Fred Saskamoose
6:07
First goalie selected in the draft is........
Gabriel Foley
6:08
My bet is Carter George. He looked mighty stout with Team Canada - which is usually a strong place to make your claim.

Who's my choice? Kam Hendrickson. He captained Chanhassen High this season, and has found a way to dazzling success at every level over the last two years. I've been on Hendrickson for a long time, and am a strong believer in his upside and mindset. He finished in my Top 40!
Beaudoin
6:08
I was classmates in high school with Cole Beaudoin’s dad and let me tell you they are cut from the same cloth haha. Anyway, not really a question but MAN do I feel old today.
Gabriel Foley
6:09
How fun! Don't go saying you're old this early, it's only downhill from here! Haha. Beaudoin is a popular name in NHL circles. Kid's an athletic beast and plays a strong role. He could go tonight!
Woooo - good evening Gary Bettman! Welcome to the 2024 Draft everyone!!
6:10
Who does Chicago take at #2?
Ivan Demidov (26.3% | 5 votes)
 
Artyom Levshunov (63.2% | 12 votes)
 
Cayden Lindstrom (10.5% | 2 votes)
 
Beckett Sennecke (0% | 0 votes)
 
Other (0% | 0 votes)
 
Total Votes: 19
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