NHL Draft 2024: Pronman and Wheeler answer the biggest questions facing teams (2024)

Each year, in advance of the draft,Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler solicit prospect and draft-related questions from The Athletic’spool of beat writers. Consider it our experts’ pre-draft press conference.

This year, 11 beat writers submitted a pressing question relevant to 13 beats ranging from specific asks about options for their picks and trade scenarios, to questions about the development and readiness of some of the prospects already in a particular team’s pool.

Anaheim Ducks

With the No. 3 pick, the Ducks could add another high-impact defenseman to their stable of young blueliners on the team and in the system. How do this current collection of Pavel Mintyukov, Olen Zellweger, Tristan Luneau, Jackson LaCombe, the No. 3 selection (if they choose a defenseman) and others compare to the homegrown group that consisted of Cam Fowler, Josh Manson, Hampus Lindholm, Sami Vatanen, Shea Theodore and Brandon Montour? — Eric Stephens

Wheeler: That’s a tough one because Lindholm, Theodore and Montour are all top D in the league right now and Fowler, Manson and Vatanen were all top four D for much of their career. If they take an Anton Silayev, or a Zeev Buium, or a Sam Dickinson at No. 3, though, I think there’s a chance this current group gets close. Those three players have first-pairing upside and I think the guys they already have are all going to range from No. 2s to No. 4s/5s. You’d probably need a Mintyukov to also become a star-level D in order to make the case though.

Pronman: It’s very offensively tilted. They’re all power-play types, but they don’t have their matchup and tough defensive minutes in that group. That’s where someone like Silayev could figure in.

Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres need to win now. With that in mind, the No. 11 pick and prospects are going to be part of trade conversations this offseason. Given what you know about this class and the prospect pool, would you prefer to deal the No. 11 pick or one of Matt Savoie, Noah Ostlund or Jiri Kulich? How would you rank those assets? — Matt Fairburn

Wheeler: Excluding the Sabres’ timeline/context, I think I’d go with the following based purely on value league-wide:
1. No. 11
2. Jiri Kulich
3. Matt Savoie
4. Noah Ostlund

Kulich and Savoie may shift above the No. 11 pick given their proximity to the NHL, though, for Buffalo, in that they fit the timeline you’re talking about better and Sabres fans are tired of waiting.

Pronman:

1. No 11.
2. Noah Ostlund/Jiri Kulich
3. Matt Savoie

I like all of the forwards listed, but I think they’re all likely middle-six types, I don’t see the true high side in their games. With the No. 11 pick you’re probably hoping to get a player you think can be a true top-four defenseman or top-six forward on a good team. I also don’t think Savoie’s trade value is all that high in the NHL based on my survey of teams.

Calgary Flames

Tij Iginla, son of Jarome, is the name on many Flames fans’ minds ahead of this year’s NHL Draft. His skill set and shot, not to mention his lineage, is enticing. The Flames say they’ll know how to insulate him from the pressure if they pick him. But will he be available when the Flames pick at No. 9? And if he is, will they pick him? The Flames will have to justify not taking him if they don’t, even if the pick might be the right call. — Julian McKenzie

Wheeler:There are some who believe he’s a top 6-9 guy in this draft and his three dinners at the combine were with teams picking 4, 5, and 6, so he belongs right in the Flames’ range. If he’s not gone by No. 9 and the Flames don’t pick him, he won’t last much longer. Though he ranks No. 12 on my list, I can see the fit even if you take the Iginla folklore out of it.

Pronman:I think the Flames lack premium positions in center and defense coming up so I’d be a bit concerned about turning away from all the great blueliners in this class for a potential top-six wing. Iginla was telling teams at the combine he could play center next season in the WHL and if you believed he could be that in the NHL I can buy it a bit more for them at 9.

Chicago Blackhawks

Cole Eiserman was projected as potentially the second-best prospect heading into this season. What exactly changed to sway everyone’s opinion of him over the last year? Could he fall as late as the Blackhawks’ 18th overall pick? — Scott Powers

Wheeler:Some of the concerns that teams have about Eiserman’s game have always been present (questions about his play selection, his habits defensively, his IQ, etc.). I think teams just wanted to see them develop and round out more than they did. I know it felt to me at U18 worlds this year that the Eiserman we were seeing was about the same one we saw at the previous U18 worlds as an underager. Then other players start to emerge (Tij Iginla played a very limited role last year in Seattle, Stian Solberg and Anton Silayev weren’t heavily scouted prior, etc.), teams start to nitpick guys they’ve seen the most, and his fall down lists is the natural byproduct of all of that. He is still a top prospect in this class and obviously a high-end scorer, and he’s still likely going to score a ton of goals in the NHL. I expect that will keep him from being available No. 18.

Pronman:I think there’s a legit concern about whether he can create his own chances at even strength at a premium level. He has a lethal shot and is deadly on the power play but there was a lack of true consistent play-driving in his game this season, even if that aspect of his game is still good enough.

Columbus BlueJackets

The Blue Jackets have loaded up on first-round picks in the last three drafts, with five selections in the top 12 and six first-rounders altogether. You both have raved about the CBJ prospect pool, so let’s pretend they’re going to draft by pool need, not best available. With a load of defensem*n and a clutch of centers available, which way should they lean? — Aaron Portzline

Wheeler:Funnily enough, if Ivan Demidov is there I’d probably make the case for the winger, personally. I know they’ve already got skill types at the wing in Johnny Gaudreau and Kent Johnson, with others like a Jordan Dumais in the pool (I’ll be interested to see if Gavin Brindley, with his skating and work ethic, can stick at center or becomes a pro winger because of his size, too). But Demidov will be my BPA if he’s there at No. 4 and the Blue Jackets’ established presence of Russian players could prove beneficial to integrating him. I understand the appeal of an Anton Silayev for some of the same reasons, and because he gives you a different element to David Jiricek and Denton Mateychuk. I understand the appeal of Adam Fantilli-Cayden Lindstrom down the middle. But Demidov would be my guy if I were asked my opinion.

Pronman:I think a premium center or defenseman are both players that can be beneficial to them. I’m not sure Cole Sillinger is a true 2C on a contending team, and I don’t see outside David Jiricek a true premium young defense talent in this organization, Mateychuk would be a maybe for me in terms of that characterization. If you think Lindstrom can be a true premium NHL center then I think you have to lean that way, if not then I would lean to one of the defensem*n.

Detroit Red Wings

After picking well-rounded centers Marco Kasper and Nate Danielson in the top 10 the last two years, do the Red Wings need to add a different, more offensively-geared flavor to their system this year? Or is there value in sticking to an identity in the draft? — Max Bultman

Wheeler:I understand the appeal of those players and the value of building a team identity across levels within an organization, but focusing on competitive, well-rounded, versatile, athletic types also runs the risk of constructing a roster of excellent middle-sixers that lacks the top-of-the-lineup dimension that all top teams also have. Now, finding first-line/PP1 skills types is easier said than done when you don’t get any luck in the lottery, but I think it’s time for them to take a cut on a point-producing type even if that player doesn’t check all of the boxes they typically look for.

Pronman:I respect trying to build a team that wins in the playoffs and I like Danielson and Kasper a lot too, but you have to make the playoffs as well. Someone has to score goals, so I think you have to consider Cole Eiserman or Michael Hage if available at 15.

Montreal Canadiens

How do you evaluate the current Canadiens defense pipeline and, depending on the evaluation, do you think it is correct for them to target a forward in such a defense-rich draft? — Arpon Basu

Wheeler:They’ve got one of the stronger pools of D prospects in the league, without question. Lane Hutson, David Reinbacher, Kaiden Guhle and Logan Mailloux are four of the better young D in the sport for me, and they’ve got plenty of potential depth guys with Jayden Struble, Arber Xhekaj, Justin Barron, Jordan Harris and Co. I believe Hutson’s going to be a star and I think the other three all have some variation of No. 2-4 impact.

So I can definitely understand the inclination to go forward now. I argued then and would argue now that the upside of their pool would have been higher had they taken a Ryan Leonard a year ago and then one of the top D this year (whether that be through the size of an Anton Silayev or Sam Dickinson, or the high-end talent of a Zeev Buium or a Zayne Parekh) but in the position they’re now in, I do believe it makes sense to prioritize a forward like Ivan Demidov or Cayden Lindstrom there, even if I’m higher on a Buium or a Parekh than I am on Lindstrom, for example.

The tipping point for me would probably be if both Demidov and Lindstrom are gone, in which case I’d likely take one of the D over the next tier of forwards (Berkly Catton, Tij Iginla, Beckett Sennecke, etc.), given the makeup of their forward group.

Pronman:I think they have a very deep blue-line group, but I don’t see the high side in a lot of those players. Reinbacher, Guhle and Hutson are projected top four defensem*n. Barron, Mailloux and Xhekaj have a chance to be that and look like regular NHL defensem*n. I don’t see any true No. 1 defensem*n in this group, or even a true No. 2. I would not preclude taking someone like Silayev or Buium, who could be NHL stars, because you have Guhle and Hutson on your team.

Los Angeles Kings

Outside of taking Quinton Byfield at No. 2 in 2020, it feels like the Kings in recent years have gone more toward players with higher floors and lower ceilings. Maybe it has just played out that way in terms of the development of their top prospects and injuries have certainly hampered the growth of Alex Turcotte and Akil Thomas but do the Kings need to take bigger swings when they don’t typically have high first-round selections? Or am I wrong in that lower-ceiling assessment? — Eric Stephens

Wheeler:Traditionally, I would say the Kings’ scouting department has been among the more comfortable taking swings at the draft (Brandt Clarke certainly represented one). I do think they should be looking to take a big swing in their current context, though, as well. Their pool is now a long way from where it was a few years ago, and it could use a rejuvenation of sorts.

Pronman:I’m not sure I’d agree with that. Arthur Kaliyev and Jack Hughes were second-round swings on skill even if Hughes hasn’t played as well as they would hope. They just haven’t had many picks recently.

Ottawa Senators

The Senators have traded away first-round picks in 2022 and 2023, leaving their prospect cupboard barren. They desperately need to upgrade their talent pool, but is Zayne Parekh too much of a risk? Do they need a “safer” pick? — Ian Mendes

Wheeler:I don’t believe Parekh’s projection comes with much — if any — more risk than most of the other prospects who are likely to be available at No. 7. Does a player like Sam Dickinson have a higher floor? Sure. But I’d be pretty surprised, based on what I’ve seen from Parekh over the last two years, if he weren’t a dynamic, point-producing, PP1 offensive defenceman in the NHL. And I believe he has a chance to be one of the league’s best in that regard. After zeroing in on watching him defend in the second half of the season to make sure I got that complex piece of his evaluation right (it is true that he doesn’t defend like most others), I’m also not as low on his defense as some. I think he makes a lot of sense for Ottawa and he’d quite likely be my pick there (pending the draft playing out, of course).

Pronman:I think Parekh is a great player, but if you wanted to add an offensive-minded defenseman I have Zeev Buium and Carter Yakemchuk ranked ahead of Parekh as NHL prospects. I do think in NHL circles the common thought with Parekh is either he’s going to hit and become a 22-minute/game 70-point defenseman, or your coach is going to be terrified to play him, without much middle ground.

Philadelphia Flyers

We’ve already spoken a bit about Matvei Michkov. Flyers fans also seem particularly excited about two prospects in OHL London: Oliver Bonk and Denver Barkey. How would you evaluate their respective seasons and have they been better than you originally expected when they were drafted? — Kevin Kurz

Wheeler:I think it’s fair to say Bonk and Barkey both exceeded my expectations slightly. I expected Bonk to be one of the better D in the OHL this year and he was, but his impact on games was really high and I felt he should have been on one of the CHL’s three all-star teams at season’s send. I expected Barkey to have an 80-90 point player as an impactful top-six playmaker and driver for the Knights, but I likely wouldn’t have predicted an immediate jump to 102 points at 18. Bonk’s skating continued to improve and his confidence built on both sides of the puck so that he could take charge more instead of just relying on his smarts, and Barkey’s interior game/scoring uptick. Because of the steps they took, they’re also going to have a real chance to do something that few get to do in the very cyclical CHL which is make tworuns at the Memorial Cup with the same team (typically those teams have to rebuild after winning, but because their core was mostly 18 London should be dominant again next year). I’m looking forward to both playing for Canada at the world juniors in Ottawa, too (Bonk, in particular, should play a leading role). All positive with those two so far.

Pronman: Bonk is better than I thought. He has legit offense to go with his 6-2 frame and strong mobility. I wish he were meaner, but he looks like a potential top-four NHL defenseman. Barkey had a great season but I don’t see an NHL player with him yet. He’s talented and competitive, but he’s not a special small guy from what I’ve seen.

San Jose Sharks

By now everyone knows who the Sharks will take with the No. 1 pick. The draft party at SAP Center could be a roaring full house when Macklin Celebrini’s name is announced. But should they look at the defense for the No. 14 choice or take another forward if that’s the better player available? And what do you make of the seasons Quentin Musty and Kasper Halttunen had in the OHL? — Eric Stephens

Wheeler:I’d be really tempted by Cole Eiserman if he’s there, which I think he might be. They’re a team that should think long and hard about a defenseman like Stian Solberg, though, too, if only because of how stark the contrast is between their pool up front and on the backend. Re: Musty and Halttunen: I thought Musty’s year was as expected (he was one of the better forwards in the OHL) and Halttunen’s finished strong (he was one of the top performers in the OHL playoffs and the Memorial Cup after a mediocre regular season I’d say).

Pronman:I think Musty and Halttunen project as top nine forwards. With Mack in the picture, their system is so tilted toward young forwards I’d be surprised if they didn’t take Solberg or Adam Jiricek at 14. They both fit based on need and talent at that spot.

St. Louis Blues

The Blues have a hole at No. 2 center, and Dalibor Dvorsky showed a lot of upside after making the move from Europe to the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves last season. Any chance the 19-year-old could fill the spot, or do you think he needs to play in the AHL this season (he’s AHL eligible)? — Jeremy Rutherford

Wheeler:Though he’s not the same player today as the one we saw in HockeyAllsvenskan and the SHL, I do think his play there suggested that he still needed to build more pace into his game before becoming an AHLer. I’d be surprised if he were ready to fill that kind of a role next season, though I do think he projects as a potentially impactful second-liner for the Blues someday. Dvorsky does have the off-puck detail, faceoff detail, and strength to play against pros. He’s got the soft skills and puck protection, too. But I do think development should still be the priority for his 19-year-old season.

Pronman:I don’t think he looked NHL-ready in the OHL this season. He’s tremendous on the power play with his skill and shot, but he lacks pace and energy in his game at times and needs more development time. The AHL could serve him well for a season or two.

Toronto Maple Leafs

In the last two drafts under director of amateur scouting Wes Clark, the Maple Leafs have targeted players who have a deep internal drive and an overt sense of competitiveness to go with their hockey sense. In short, they seem to be looking for players who’ve got that dawg in them. And it’s understandable: Playing in Toronto presents different challenges than most other markets. They’re also not afraid of going way off the board with their picks. So which players possess that sense of unrelenting competitiveness, could be available at 23 and should contribute to an NHL roster soon enough? — Joshua Kloke

Wheeler:I think the players who fit the intelligent-and-ultra-competitive mold with the most emphasis are centers Cole Beaudoin and Sacha Boisvert, but while there’s a chance one of them is there at No. 23, I would say each is more likely to be gone than available. Russian Igor Chernyshov and CHLers Liam Greentree, Marek Vanacker and Terik Parascak also tick some of the boxes the Leafs have drafted for in the past, without maybe ticking all of them. I could also see them liking players like Andrew Basha, Lucas Pettersson and Teddy Stiga (all of whom I also like as much or more than most), but 23 might be a little high for them.

Pronman:Cole Beaudoin, Jett Luchanko, Stian Solberg and Yegor Surin would be the players who fit that profile.

(Top photos of Cole Eiserman and Zayne Parekh: Jari Pestelacci / Eurasia Sport Images / Getty Images and Duane Burleson / The Canadian Press via AP)