2018 NHL Entry Draft Thread (Less then 24 Hours Edition)

[NotProkofievian]

Would you trade 35+38 to pick Lundestrom?

Mmmmmm nope. For me it depends on Barry's consensus ranking. If it looks like we can get him, I'd rather hang tight. I have him ahead of Lundeström by 1 or 2 spots right now, so if we can get Barry with one of those two first rounders, the trade would feel like giving up 38 for free.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

What has either player done in the last 3 months to move up or down?

Doesn't necessarily matter what players have done, it matters what guys ranking them perceive and my point is that can change, particularly after the draft combine. Scouts/scouting services frequently change their orders in the past couple of months. For instance:

On 3/19 Button had: 1: Dahlin, 2:Tkachuk, 3: Svechnikov, 4: Zadina
Today, Button has: 1: Dahlin, 2: Svechnikov, 3: Zadina, 4: Tkachuk

My point is simply that Marek had a rating in March which may not (or may) be the same rating he has at the time of the draft.

 

[Mrb1p]

Would you trade 35+38 to pick Lundestrom?

yes

 

[Mrb1p]

Mmmmmm nope. For me it depends on Barry's consensus ranking. If it looks like we can get him, I'd rather hang tight. I have him ahead of Lundeström by 1 or 2 spots right now, so if we can get Barry with one of those two first rounders, the trade would feel like giving up 38 for free.

Barry aint falling past 25, we can stop dreaming.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Boss gave me the draft weekend off. Probably knew that I would call out anyways.

I booked off the Friday but not the Saturday. I'm working Saturday but will definitely be keeping my eye on things. You can't watch it on the 2nd day anyway.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Barry aint falling past 25, we can stop dreaming.

Bro, he wasn't even invited to the combine, let me dream.

 

[Number 57]

I know a lot of you want Zadina with the 3rd overall pick but drafting a winger with such a high-end pick may prove to be the death of this team and put us in purgatory for another 10 seasons.

I know Zadina is a great prospect and will likely be an NHL star but Bergevin needs a clear direction right now and he has 2 paths he can choose: build around a 1C or building around a 1D. Adding another winger to this squad is not the answer. And no, we're not getting a 1C by dealing Patch.

We have tried for years to get that elusive #1 center and we have failed. Judging from the other top teams in the NHL and the past Cup winners, the next best thing to do if you do not have a #1 center is to get a great defensive corps lead by a Doughty/Keith/Karlsson/Hedman/Carlson/Josi type of guy.

The Habs have an interesting D with Weber as the experienced guy who will lead the way for Mete and Juulsen. But there is little else. Getting a defenseman like Dobson/Boqvist/Bouchard to play the role of #1 on that top-4 would give us quite the punch on the backend and would make us real hard to play against. Not to mention Petry as a fine #5.

Assuming Carey Price regains form (because if he doesnt we are doomed regardless) the best thing Bergevin can do is to build up that defense, giving us a real solid fundation going forward.

Now you're gonna say; alright, who scores the goals? Looking at our offense there is no reason for us to struggle to win games if we have the rest of the important stuff in check (goaltending, defense, coaching). It's not like we lack skills. We do lack a #1 C, but guys like Pacioretty, Drouin, Galchenyuk, Gallagher, Lehkonen, Hudon, Scherbak, Danault and Poehling certainly have the making of a top-9 that can perform up to standards. I mean, look at Vegas' top-9. It's not the best, but it's not the worst. And we can still tweak it in the coming years.

Alright, alright so where are we going with this? Bergevin needs to follow the ''build from the net out'' model. By adding only one player (with our 1st rounder this summer) this can be achieved: a true #1 goalie to go along with a solid top-4 defense.

Not only that, but among the core players only Price, Weber and Pacioretty are old, and to be honest, they're not THAT old. We have a very young team. It will be up to Claude Julien to get the most out of the group.

It's either this plan, or you fricking blow it up and hope to land a true #1 C in the next 2 drafts.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

what?

 

[Habaneros]

Habs don't need offense??????????? Just play better D?????

Did anyone watch the scores in the NHL playoffs this year???

 

[Tim Wallach]

Habs don't need offense??????????? Just play better D?????

Did anyone watch the scores in the NHL playoffs this year???

Word. Teams are winning with virtually no D anymore.

 

[Habaneros]

Word. Teams are winning with virtually no D anymore.

Stanley Cup final
5 Games - 35 goals

 

[Redux91]

Soooo... who do you want..?

 

[Tim Wallach]

Seriously, it's true. I know D are valuable, but recent data is showing us it's perhaps over-valued based on historical biases.

 

[Mark Edwards]

Thanks to @Mark Edwards I had another look at Albin, and that dude is actually awesome.

Not a player I had a ton of conversations with scouts about. A few really liked him though and obviously so did we.

 

[Habaneros]

Soooo... who do you want..?

I think if you go and look at how many teams win the Stanley Cup when they score under 232 goals in reg season you'd be shocked...

 

[Habs]

Its a good argument, and the finals could have easily had other teams in it with stingy D. I like the idea of drafting one in the first round as well

 

[Apoplectic Habs Fan]

If only MTL didnt trade a Norris winner and bluechip defense prospect.....

and no one player will save this franchise if you have a bad enough GM. Ask McDavid and Oiler fans

 

[Habaneros]

Winnipeg Jets vs Nashville series 2018 playoffs

7 games- 56 goals

 

[NotProkofievian]

Not a player I had a ton of conversations with scouts about. A few really liked him though and obviously so did we.

He's like a more polished Safin. I wonder why such an offensively challenged Swedish U18 team left him off.

 

[Runner77]

If the Habs really want O'Brien ... they're going to have to make a move. However, it also depends on if there is a faller who is higher on their list.

 

[Runner77]

I'd like a few words to express my disgust with the management if anyone from the Habs organization is reading this.

How is that even possible. Wishful thinking. There would be no purpose in it.

 

[sheed36]

 

[Runner77]

Now you're gonna say; alright, who scores the goals? Looking at our offense there is no reason for us to struggle to win games if we have the rest of the important stuff in check (goaltending, defense, coaching). It's not like we lack skills. We do lack a #1 C, but guys like Pacioretty, Drouin, Galchenyuk, Gallagher, Lehkonen, Hudon, Scherbak, Danault and Poehling ...

I don't know about counting on too many players from last year's roster, to return. The GM was adamant about the "attitude" problem in the dressing room that apparently he perceived to be there since the start of the season and how he couldn't curb it -- which tells you that he has identified several individuals who no longer fit the team's future template.

I'm afraid we'll have to wait til after the UFA market to find out how many of this supposed attitude-challenged individuals will have been traded and then project from there. Much too early now to know what we'll have on hand.

 

[le_sean]

Seriously, it's true. I know D are valuable, but recent data is showing us it's perhaps over-valued based on historical biases.

I mean if we assume that D have little influence on offensive numbers, which I don’t think is true at all. They might not always get on the scoresheet, but often they are the ones breaking up plays, changing possession and starting transition. As good as the Caps offence was, a lot of that had to do with what Carlson, Kempny and Orlov were doing.

I don’t think the Habs offence is porous because of the forwards not being any good. While they need serious help down the middle, I think the other factor was the inability of the defenders to properly break up plays and quickly transition up the ice. Really only Petry and Reilly provided that at the end of the year, but they can’t be relied upon defensively.

Get a guy like Dobson who has the defensive anticipation and physical capabilities to quickly go up the ice or make a breakout pass, it could make a world of a difference.

 

[WinterLion]

If the Habs really want O'Brien ... they're going to have to make a move. However, it also depends on if there is a faller who is higher on their list.

O'Brien may well be available at 35, and if he's gone there will be some studs left. I really like that pick. If it's me, I'm only moving up to get someone in the middle tier (top 15ish of the draft). Of course you may have O'Brien in that tier... not sure.