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Dans les coulisses

Craig Button’s list: Tij Iginla and Zeev Buium in the top-4

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JUNE 10: Tij Iginla #77 awaits his next test during the 2024 NHL Scouting Combine at LECOM Harborcenter on June 10, 2024 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Ben Ludeman/NHLI via Getty Images)

We’re eight days away from the draft. Are you looking forward to it?

With the off-season in full swing yesterday (I say that in jest because the Stanley Cup is just endless and because it was hectic yesterday), it’s time for the draft to arrive.

With that in mind, here’s the DLC mock draft from colleagues Tony Patoine and Marc-Olivier Beaudoin.

It’s interesting to compare the lists that exist. There are bound to be aspects that are similar, but there are also some that aren’t afraid to think outside the box.

For example? Craig Button has a… different list.

While Macklin Celebrini is ranked first and Ivan Demidov follows, Tij Iginla and Zeev Buium are ranked third and fourth respectively.

That’s higher than we’re used to seeing for the two young men. After all, Cayden Lindstrom, Artyom Levshunov and Anton Silayev are normally ranked higher in their respective positions.

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What’s interesting is that Zeev Buium is coming out earlier and earlier when it comes to talking about defenders. His name is popular these days(including with the Habs) and in the eyes of Button, a prospect expert who was once in the game, he’s the best defenseman of his vintage.

He was more offensive than Lane Hutson at 17 in the NCAA without playing with the big Boston machine. He was younger, bigger and can play left or right. He has a very interesting profile.

As for Iginla, let’s just say his expectations are high. Remember that Button drafted his father Jarome 11th overall when he was ranked at the end of the first round at the time.

In his eyes, he could become a kind of Aleksander Barkov if he were ever to play center. Nothing less.

Note that he compares Ivan Demidov (second on his list) to Nikita Kucherov. He also ranks Cole Eiserman fifth on his list, which says a lot about his talent.

Cayden Lindstrom is ninth. Konsta Helenius is another forward ranked ahead of Lindstrom.

Overtime

– Speaking of Lindstrom.

– Oilers: a surprise to be expected?[JdeM]

– Laurent Duvernay-Tardif: retiring with a sense of accomplishment. [BPM Sports]

– Still.

– Toronto in action?

– Makes sense.