2024 NHL Draft Takes Place Friday & Saturday In Las Vegas
We came across a "spoiler alert" concerning the Seattle Kraken which seems to itself be somewhat spoiled. The topic is which on-ice position Seattle should be aiming to fill with their 8th overall pick in the first round of the NHL draft.
You be the judge.
"Spoilers: Seattle probably isn’t looking at a defenseman or a goalie." An opinion from Edgar Chaput of The Hockey Writers.
That the Kraken won't select a goalie with its 1st pick is indeed a safe prediction. In the history of the NHL draft, only six netminders have been selected 8th overall or higher.
However, Chaput's assumption that Seattle will spurn defensemen in the 1st round is far-fetched. He bases his prediction on the Kraken's woeful 2023-24 offense, fourth from the bottom in the entire NHL.
An elite scorer, but not yet the "Cole" package.True enough. But 2024 1st rounders can't be expected to crack NHL lineups sooner than three years from now. By then, Seattle's needs could be completely different.
Besides, the Seattle prospect pool is filled with talented forwards much closer to abandoning the need for water wings. Meanwhile, the Kraken don't have nearly the organizational depth on the blueline.
Could a combination of factors cause Kraken GM Ron Francis and his brain trust to go for a center or winger. Sure! A player may fall to them like Shane Wright did two drafts ago. Or the d-men they covet may be off the board.
But to suggest defense isn't the greater organizational need because the team needs offense RIGHT NOW doesn't float.
Konsta needs to "Finnish" growing to match big skills.Just for grins, though, let's hear Chaput out about which forward should pull on the "#24" Kraken jersey Friday at Sphere in Las Vegas.
"Among the top 16 hopefuls are Trevor Connelly, Cole Eiserman, and Tij Iginla. Yes, latter is the son of NHL great Jarome Iginla.
"Our writers like Eiserman for his shot but suspect the quality of his play hasn’t developed much recently. Connelly is viewed as 'a project,' akin to the Shane Wright situation.
"Iginla has reportedly met with the Canadiens multiple times already. If it isn’t going to be Iginla, it might as well be (Konsta) Helenius despite the size issues and position or Eiserman despite that he needs to work on his game."
Thumbnail Sketches From THN NHL Draft Issue
Helenius, from one NHL scout: "He's going to be an elite forward. I've seen comparisons to Brayden Point. The stuff he did in the Finnish men's league hasn't been done often. He's not ready physically yet, but he could be a high-end forward."
Eiserman, from another NHL scout: "He's an incredible scorer. We all know he can score, but he's struggling with other parts of his game. He needs to play with more 'compete.'"