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

[G0bias]

I know some peeps were looking for some O'Brien footage.



Not a full shift-by-shift but patched up pretty much all the shifts that specifically involved him one way or another in those three games - he didn't get a lot of ice in the first two.

He's wearing #21 at the All-American Prospects game. #11 against Michigan State. And #9 with Thayer. Hughes with the Lolzner impression at 1:55.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Or better. Guys like Wise, Hillis, Jenkins, Fonstad, Dellandrea, Topping, etc all have realistic top 6 upside as Cs. Id say they all have better offensive upside than Veleno and Hayton.

I prefer centers with size, skill, skating, grit, and can shoot the puck and score. Other than Kotkaniemi, the rest I am unsure of but I do like Wise and Dellandrea in the 2nd round. Not sure if Dellandrea makes the 2nd round though. I think Wise goes from 32-45 range.

Veleno to me I am 50/50. He could turn into a Duchene or he could turn into a Danault or somewhere in the middle. That's where I have him but the lack of goal scoring concerns me. He does a lot of things well and has raw skills, but not sure he is a smart center built for the NHL. His development from age 18-19 next year will reveal a lot IMO!

Hayton I don't know much of and haven't seen much of him. He seems like a decent pick from 10-15 range from what I have been reading and hearing about him.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I know some peeps were looking for some O'Brien footage.



Not a full shift-by-shift but patched up pretty much all the sequences that specifically involved him one way or another in those three games.

He's wearing #21 at the All-American Prospects game. #11 against Michigan State. And #9 with Thayer. Hughes with the Lolzner impression at 1:55.

I was looking at O'Brien a few weeks back. He would be one of my targets with our early 2nd round picks. O'Brien, Dellandrea, Wise, Tychonick. I think we need to draft a LD with one of our early 2nd's. Who else is around that range other than Tychonick? And what do people have to say about him? Seems like a offensive guy that can move the puck and run a PP

 

[G0bias]

I was looking at O'Brien a few weeks back. He would be one of my targets with our early 2nd round picks. O'Brien, Dellandrea, Wise, Tychonick. I think we need to draft a LD with one of our early 2nd's. Who else is around that range other than Tychonick? And what do people have to say about him? Seems like a offensive guy that can move the puck and run a PP

There's going to be a whole lot of talent left at our early 2nds. As for other LD's one of Alexeyev or Sandin if things go right, could be options at that range. Two very smart transitional blueliners with some upside.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Dylan Cozens is another C prospect next year, who is going to be an absolute monster. I love that he's from Yukon, too.

Near PPG right handed center for Lethbridge, almost PPG in the play-offs as well.

 

[yianik]

4 2nd round picks, gotta do some damage somewhere, either by going back into the 1st using whatever, or you gotta nail 2-3 of those 4 picks

I think statistically we have a great chance of getting an NHL regular out if those 4 picks. If its really a deep draft maybe 2. And its about 50/50 that we get one top 6 forward/ top 4 D.

These are just stats and it depends on your scouting and draft depth. Not unusual to have about 10 guys make the NHL and about 3 of them are top players. One year I looked at though had about 8 top players from the 2nd round, but that is rare.

I need to see the high skill sets being taken because we need guys with top half potential, not just NHL players, those guys you can find relatively cheaply.

 

[Habs Halifax]

There's going to be a whole lot of talent left at our early 2nds. As for other LD's one of Alexeyev or Sandin if things go right, could be options at that range. Two very smart transitional blueliners with some upside.

I like Sandin too but like Dellandrea, not sure if they slip to the 35 and 38 picks. Don't know much about Alexeyev

 

[Mrb1p]

Man if the Habs get AlexAlex in the 2nd round its gonna be an absolute steal. Ill be so happy.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Man if the Habs get AlexAlex in the 2nd round its gonna be an absolute steal. Ill be so happy.

It's when all the Draft Thread junkies come together and embrace in happiness.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I think statistically we have a great chance of getting an NHL regular out if those 4 picks. If its really a deep draft maybe 2. And its about 50/50 that we get one top 6 forward/ top 4 D.

These are just stats and it depends on your scouting and draft depth. Not unusual to have about 10 guys make the NHL and about 3 of them are top players. One year I looked at though had about 8 top players from the 2nd round, but that is rare.

I need to see the high skill sets being taken because we need guys with top half potential, not just NHL players, those guys you can find relatively cheaply.

2017 Draft Helps... Poehling, Ikonen, Brook, Fleury. I totally agree, we need to shoot for high end potential because we have a cluster of grade B guys who will help with depth for a long time but the top of our line-up needs additions.

3rd pick: We are going to get a good pick.. even if we trade down.

2 early 2nd's: I expect a solid top 6 forward and top 4D from these picks.

2 late 2nd's: Who knows. Expect us to get another prospect like Ikonen and Brook. One may look good and the other may bust.

3rd, 4th's, 5th: Picks 66-128 range. 5 picks in this range and I expect us to hit on one guy at least. We got Mete at 100.

Is it draft day yet! With all the picks and trade negotiations, I hope we are ready cause it's going to be hectic and busy! Nothing worse when the guy you want is taken right before you... We all been in personal hockey drafts and know the feeling.

What's really interesting is from the 56-128 range. I suspect each team's rankings vary by a lot! This is where good scouts can take advantage. Hope the Habs are ready! We have 7 picks in that range and will be picking on average every 10 picks.

 

[sandviper]

I prefer centers with size, skill, skating, grit, and can shoot the puck and score. Other than Kotkaniemi, the rest I am unsure of but I do like Wise and Dellandrea in the 2nd round. Not sure if Dellandrea makes the 2nd round though. I think Wise goes from 32-45 range.

Veleno to me I am 50/50. He could turn into a Duchene or he could turn into a Danault or somewhere in the middle. That's where I have him but the lack of goal scoring concerns me. He does a lot of things well and has raw skills, but not sure he is a smart center built for the NHL. His development from age 18-19 next year will reveal a lot IMO!

Hayton I don't know much of and haven't seen much of him. He seems like a decent pick from 10-15 range from what I have been reading and hearing about him.

Skill for me first, followed by size. Next Year, Jack Hughes will be like a foot shorter than the next center drafted, with probably less grit but at this time, he's clearly ahead of the others from a skill standpoint. However, I get your point and don't really disagree. That said, on the topic of Dellandrea, I said it earlier but I am feeling he will be gone before Veleno. I still think Veleno goes in the first round, but Dellandrea goes before him.

I think Wise, O'Brien and Tychonick will be available. I like O'Brien, but not with one of our early 2nds... maybe with the Toronto pick. I do like Tychonick and think we'll have to use one of our two early seconds for him. I think he is a top-40 pick.

Jared McIsaac is another lefty I like, but him falling to the second I don't think is likely. Same with Alexander Alexeyev. A stud of a LHD, but surely gone before we pick.

A center we should target is Cameron Hillis. He's a little undersized at 5'11, very young (17 still on draft day) and gifted offensively. This kid drives offense and I see a #1C upside with him, though maybe not with Montreal. I say this because his defensive play is not very good right now and because Julien is still dreaming of having a Bergeron... If Hillis was 6'1 and stronger defensively, he'd be a first rounder, maybe a top-20 pick. I'd consider him before Wise if we're searching for centers early in the second.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Skill for me first, followed by size. Next Year, Jack Hughes will be like a foot shorter than the next center drafted, with probably less grit but at this time, he's clearly ahead of the others from a skill standpoint. However, I get your point and don't really disagree. That said, on the topic of Dellandrea, I said it earlier but I am feeling he will be gone before Veleno. I still think Veleno goes in the first round, but Dellandrea goes before him.

I think Wise, O'Brien and Tychonick will be available. I like O'Brien, but not with one of our early 2nds... maybe with the Toronto pick. I do like Tychonick and think we'll have to use one of our two early seconds for him. I think he is a top-40 pick.

Jared McIsaac is another lefty I like, but him falling to the second I don't think is likely.

A center we should target is Cameron Hillis. He's a little undersized at 5'11, very young (17 still on draft day) and gifted offensively. This kid drives offense and I see a #1C upside with him, though maybe not with Montreal. I say this because his defensive play is not very good right now and because Julien is still dreaming of having a Bergeron... If Hillis was 6'1 and stronger defensively, he'd be a first rounder, maybe a top-20 pick. I'd consider him before Wise if we're searching for centers early in the second.

I agree with a lot of this, but will qualify a few things:

- Skill first, followed by hockey sense, then physical tools for me.
- I don't think Dellandrea goes before Veleno, while I don't doubt he sneaks into the bottom of the first, Veleno is going to be rated higher simply due to scouts overrating certain traits over others.
- I wouldn't go for Tychonick with one of our early 2nds, I think there will likely be higher upside players available, depending if Sandin or Alexeyev are gone, I just don't see the incredible upside with him, he's a 2nd pairing guy to me and his u-18s needed to be better for a BCHLer
- Hillis should absolutely be a target, he could legitimately be the next Brayden Point. He's smart, those playmaking instincts are really, really good. He needs to get stronger and better defensively but his smarts will translate there.

 

[sandviper]

I agree with a lot of this, but will qualify a few things:

- Skill first, followed by hockey sense, then physical tools for me.
- I don't think Dellandrea goes before Veleno, while I don't doubt he sneaks into the bottom of the first, Veleno is going to be rated higher simply due to scouts overrating certain traits over others.
- I wouldn't go for Tychonick with one of our early 2nds, I think there will likely be higher upside players available, depending if Sandin or Alexeyev are gone, I just don't see the incredible upside with him, he's a 2nd pairing guy to me and his u-18s needed to be better for a BCHLer
- Hillis should absolutely be a target, he could legitimately be the next Brayden Point. He's smart, those playmaking instincts are really, really good. He needs to get stronger and better defensively but his smarts will translate there.

Yeah, I meant to imply hockey IQ with skill, but they are two separate things. I agree based on Veleno's rating and pedigree (ranking during last season, pre-2018 hype), he will likely go before Dellandrea, but this was more of a bold prediction on my part.

I made the comments about Tychonick since I feel both AlexAlex and the other Rasmus will be off the table for us. My preference are Alexeyev and Sandin, but we'll see if either are around.

 

[NotProkofievian]

I agree with a lot of this, but will qualify a few things:

- Skill first, followed by hockey sense, then physical tools for me.
- I don't think Dellandrea goes before Veleno, while I don't doubt he sneaks into the bottom of the first, Veleno is going to be rated higher simply due to scouts overrating certain traits over others.
- I wouldn't go for Tychonick with one of our early 2nds, I think there will likely be higher upside players available, depending if Sandin or Alexeyev are gone, I just don't see the incredible upside with him, he's a 2nd pairing guy to me and his u-18s needed to be better for a BCHLer
- Hillis should absolutely be a target, he could legitimately be the next Brayden Point. He's smart, those playmaking instincts are really, really good. He needs to get stronger and better defensively but his smarts will translate there.

I think it has a lot to do with ranking momentum/inertia. Veleno will be ranked ahead because he always was. I can't be sure, but I have a hunch that cognitive biases such as anchoring really mess with scout rankings.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Skill for me first, followed by size. Next Year, Jack Hughes will be like a foot shorter than the next center drafted, with probably less grit but at this time, he's clearly ahead of the others from a skill standpoint. However, I get your point and don't really disagree. That said, on the topic of Dellandrea, I said it earlier but I am feeling he will be gone before Veleno. I still think Veleno goes in the first round, but Dellandrea goes before him.

I think Wise, O'Brien and Tychonick will be available. I like O'Brien, but not with one of our early 2nds... maybe with the Toronto pick. I do like Tychonick and think we'll have to use one of our two early seconds for him. I think he is a top-40 pick.

Jared McIsaac is another lefty I like, but him falling to the second I don't think is likely.

A center we should target is Cameron Hillis. He's a little undersized at 5'11, very young (17 still on draft day) and gifted offensively. This kid drives offense and I see a #1C upside with him, though maybe not with Montreal. I say this because his defensive play is not very good right now and because Julien is still dreaming of having a Bergeron... If Hillis was 6'1 and stronger defensively, he'd be a first rounder, maybe a top-20 pick. I'd consider him before Wise if we're searching for centers early in the second.

In the top 5 or top 10, I agree. Skill overrules all others. That's how you acquire an elite level player. Then 10-30 varies by draft year and really depends on what players you are comparing as best available is not so clear. I always like targeting players with Size/Skating/Skill/Grit. If they got all 4, you got a very good prospect. If one is missing, you analyze it and compare it to another guy who may be missing size vs skating. What we do know is drafting guys like McCarron in the 1st round is not a smart move. He only has size and you hope he has grit. Skill was limited and his skating was not very good. It's was a very bad pick cause we needed centers and we needed size. Same with Tinordi. These are examples of getting trap into drafting by teem need. We even traded down to get Tinordi. Dam you Gauthier! . Be careful with trading down IMO! Your trading two eggs for one and we don't have crystal balls where we know what these guys will turn into for sure.

I agree. Wise, O'Brien, Tychonick stands to be available when we pick 35 and 38. I'd be very happy with Wise and Tychonick with those picks. Might be lacking grit but skill is there! We need these types at center and LD.

I'm disappointed with McIsaac. He is the "safe pick" type IMO. If you want skill and a PMD on the back end, don't draft him! He does a lot of good things well but I've watched him play all year and I don't think he is living up to his potential of what people thought he could be when the Mooseheads drafted him 2nd overall. 12-24 months ago, I would of said he would be a top 10 pick in the 2018 draft. He is a risky pick like Veleno IMO. I call them the slippers... At what point do you take them and is it worth the pick at that point. I would take him with our late 2nd's but I can't imagine him slipping that far. I see some team taking him from 20-40 range.

 

[Mrb1p]

It's when all the Draft Thread junkies come together and embrace in happiness.

Is this you low key saying you want a piece of all this ?

 

[WeThreeKings]

Is this you low key saying you want a piece of all this ?

If we get Alexeyev in the second round, I'll whisper sweet nothings in your ear..

"Filip Hallander is a top 6 playerrrrr"

 

[Doublechin]

2017 Draft Helps... Poehling, Ikonen, Brook, Fleury. I totally agree, we need to shoot for high end potential because we have a cluster of grade B guys who will help with depth for a long time but the top of our line-up needs additions.

3rd pick: We are going to get a good pick.. even if we trade down.

2 early 2nd's: I expect a solid top 6 forward and top 4D from these picks.

2 late 2nd's: Who knows. Expect us to get another prospect like Ikonen and Brook. One may look good and the other may bust.

3rd, 4th's, 5th: Picks 66-128 range. 5 picks in this range and I expect us to hit on one guy at least. We got Mete at 100.

Is it draft day yet! With all the picks and trade negotiations, I hope we are ready cause it's going to be hectic and busy! Nothing worse when the guy you want is taken right before you... We all been in personal hockey drafts and know the feeling.

What's really interesting is from the 56-128 range. I suspect each team's rankings vary by a lot! This is where good scouts can take advantage. Hope the Habs are ready! We have 7 picks in that range and will be picking on average every 10 picks.

I wish it was this easy, he's something though, go through our picks in the second and compare them to players drafted in earlier years at the same rank, it's rarely pretty, if one of the 4 becomes an NHL regular I'd consider a success, let alone a top 6 forward or top 4 D.

You know what here I'll do it and I'll start in 2013.

35: Compher, decent bottom 6 forward
38: Hurley, nothing
56 and 57, not much to show for

2012
At 38 Phil di Guiseppe, another fringe bottom 6 player and nothing at 56, 57 to even talk about

2011
at 35, a fringe bottom 6 forward and 2 AHL'ers with the later picks

2010
At 38 John Merrill was drafted, you could say a number 6 or 7 Dman and 2 4th liners drafted at 56, 57

2009
At 35 and 38, 2 bottom 6 forwards and nothing at 56 and 57

2008
At 38, ROMAN JOSI! There's your home run. Nothing for the other 3 picks

2007
All 4 picks were busts

2006
Mike Weber at 57 was the only non bust here and he's a bottom pairing D at best

2005
Vlasic was drafted at 35, home run again, other than that a bust and 2 players with a couple dozens of games

2004
2004 landed an average backup goalie and a number 6 Dman


So that's 10 years
In those 10, 2 top pairing Dman were drafted, other than that not one top 6 forward or even 2nd pairing Dman. One backup goalie and mainly 4th liners and AHL journey men.

So if we're going by these percentages, we've got 5% chance to hit a home run here and if we do it might as well be a Dman.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

I wish it was this easy, he's something though, go through our picks in the second and compare them to players drafted in earlier years at the same rank, it's rarely pretty, if one of the 4 becomes an NHL regular I'd consider a success, let alone a top 6 forward or top 4 D.

You know what here I'll do it and I'll start in 2013.

35: Compher, decent bottom 6 forward
38: Hurley, nothing
56 and 57, not much to show for

2012
At 38 Phil di Guiseppe, another fringe bottom 6 player and nothing at 56, 57 to even talk about

2011
at 35, a fringe bottom 6 forward and 2 AHL'ers with the later picks

2010
At 38 John Merrill was drafted, you could say a number 6 or 7 Dman and 2 4th liners drafted at 56, 57

2009
At 35 and 38, 2 bottom 6 forwards and nothing at 56 and 57

2008
At 38, ROMAN JOSI! There's your home run. Nothing for the other 3 picks

2007
All 4 picks were busts

2006
Mike Weber at 57 was the only non bust here and he's a bottom pairing D at best

2005
Vlasic was drafted at 35, home run again, other than that a bust and 2 players with a couple dozens of games

2004
2004 landed an average backup goalie and a number 6 Dman


So that's 10 years
In those 10, 2 top pairing Dman were drafted, other than that not one top 6 forward or even 2nd pairing Dman. One backup goalie and mainly 4th liners and AHL journey men.

So if we're going by these percentages, we've got 5% chance to hit a home run here and if we do it might as well be a Dman.

Good post. Historically speaking, there's a higher chance of picking a quality defenseman past the first round than a forward.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I wish it was this easy, he's something though, go through our picks in the second and compare them to players drafted in earlier years at the same rank, it's rarely pretty, if one of the 4 becomes an NHL regular I'd consider a success, let alone a top 6 forward or top 4 D.

You know what here I'll do it and I'll start in 2013.

35: Compher, decent bottom 6 forward
38: Hurley, nothing
56 and 57, not much to show for

2012
At 38 Phil di Guiseppe, another fringe bottom 6 player and nothing at 56, 57 to even talk about

2011
at 35, a fringe bottom 6 forward and 2 AHL'ers with the later picks

2010
At 38 John Merrill was drafted, you could say a number 6 or 7 Dman and 2 4th liners drafted at 56, 57

2009
At 35 and 38, 2 bottom 6 forwards and nothing at 56 and 57

2008
At 38, ROMAN JOSI! There's your home run. Nothing for the other 3 picks

2007
All 4 picks were busts

2006
Mike Weber at 57 was the only non bust here and he's a bottom pairing D at best

2005
Vlasic was drafted at 35, home run again, other than that a bust and 2 players with a couple dozens of games

2004
2004 landed an average backup goalie and a number 6 Dman


So that's 10 years
In those 10, 2 top pairing Dman were drafted, other than that not one top 6 forward or even 2nd pairing Dman. One backup goalie and mainly 4th liners and AHL journey men.

So if we're going by these percentages, we've got 5% chance to hit a home run here and if we do it might as well be a Dman.

Totally agree man! The probability is not great at getting a elite level guy or top of the line-up guy in the 2nd round. However, if it is indeed a deep draft and typical 1st round talent slips into the early 2nd, our probability of hitting on a impact player is much better with those 35 and 38 picks.

2012 Draft: We picked Collberg (33), Thrower (51)
2013 Draft: We picked DLR (34) and Fucale (36). We were able to get Lehkonen at 55 who stands to be the best of the 2nd round.

We will see in a few years how deep the draft really is! I think we can do very well with those 35 and 38 picks

 

[jaffy27]

Skill for me first, followed by size. Next Year, Jack Hughes will be like a foot shorter than the next center drafted, with probably less grit but at this time, he's clearly ahead of the others from a skill standpoint. However, I get your point and don't really disagree. That said, on the topic of Dellandrea, I said it earlier but I am feeling he will be gone before Veleno. I still think Veleno goes in the first round, but Dellandrea goes before him.

I think Wise, O'Brien and Tychonick will be available. I like O'Brien, but not with one of our early 2nds... maybe with the Toronto pick. I do like Tychonick and think we'll have to use one of our two early seconds for him. I think he is a top-40 pick.

Jared McIsaac is another lefty I like, but him falling to the second I don't think is likely. Same with Alexander Alexeyev. A stud of a LHD, but surely gone before we pick.

A center we should target is Cameron Hillis. He's a little undersized at 5'11, very young (17 still on draft day) and gifted offensively. This kid drives offense and I see a #1C upside with him, though maybe not with Montreal. I say this because his defensive play is not very good right now and because Julien is still dreaming of having a Bergeron... If Hillis was 6'1 and stronger defensively, he'd be a first rounder, maybe a top-20 pick. I'd consider him before Wise if we're searching for centers early in the second.

McIsaac is a very intriguing prospect......what I'd do to get both of NYI first round picks.......Pacioretty with a 7yr deal worked out for the Isles (could be their pledge to Tavares to stay) and a few 2nd round picks to nab those two firsts at 11 and 12.....

Then we draft Kotkaniemi and McIsaac and Zadina with our 3rd overall.......we'd have our big centre, our big sniping winger and a solid LHD......prospect pool would get quite the injection of talent in one day!!

Unlikely but WTF......If I was GM, this is what I'd try to make happen

 

[S Bah]

It's true! Can you blame us though? We have been looking for a top center since Beliveau. What's frustrating to me is we have 3 top 10 picks since 2012 and what center could we have drafted?

2012: Galchenyuk vs who? Grigorenko?
2016: Sergachev vs who? L Brown or M McLeod?
2018: Zadina vs who? Guys that are fringe top 10 and we got the 3rd. Kotkaniemi, Veleno, Hayton?

Lets look at the centers in the top 10 from other draft years...

2013: MacKinnon, Barkov, Monahan, Horvat
2014: Reinhart, Draisaitl, Bennett, Nylander
2015: McDavid, Eichel, Strome, Marner
2017: Hischier, Patrick, Pettersson, Andersson, Rasmussen

It's annoying that there are no centers in the top 10 in 2018! I guess our real problem is we don't have a top 10 pick 2 years in a row or we need to be on the ODD years like 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019?

We have a #1C center curse!

Actually the Habs traded #9 OV pick Sergachev for Drouin #3 OV in 2013, Kotkaneimi(C) in my mind should be the Habs focus. Of course Ottawa probably will trade up to take Boqvist, their 2nd might entice the Habs to move back. Arizona might really want Zadina, again trade down for their 2nd, gaining two 2nd's high I might add while still having the Kotkaneimi pick waiting. 6 - 2nd's much better than 4, especially if they give the Habs the 2nd, 3rd, & 4th picks in the 2nd round. Any prospects that slip through the 1st round Habs get three kicks at the can. Great improvement in Habs selections, while ensuring the pick they actually want. A practice that Florida's Dale Tallon used to acquire great prospects that were priorities for his scouting staff, whilst gaining high draft picks and a deep pool of Prospects at positions they needed. Smart man that Dale Tallon, Bergevin learned the ropes from Dale in Chicago, Montreal Canadiens will reap those benefits at this draft IMHO!!!...Looking forward to the rewards of moving up in the draft ahead of both Ottawa & Arizona, whilst still getting Kotkaneimi later in the first round. Still salivating at the thought of Habs trading for NYI's two 1st round picks also, Armchair Quarterbacking the Habs 2018 Entry Draft, the Habs future is looking greater by the moment, hope it doesn't blind Me!!!... By the way I believe the Habs fans, should rejoice in the fact that our GM has learned from two of the best hockey people in the NHL, those two are Dale Tallon & Rick Dudley. Our Habs will reap those benefits in the yrs. to come, changing management continually ruins the chances of building the team properly as it was done in the Glory Yrs. the Thirty Yrs. Dynasty, 50's, 60's & 70's, Habs won half of all the SCC's in those decades with Frank Selke & Sammy Pollock as the GM's.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Actually the Habs traded #9 OV pick Sergachev for Drouin #3 OV in 2013, Kotkaneimi(C) in my mind should be the Habs focus. Of course Ottawa probably will trade up to take Boqvist, their 2nd might entice the Habs to move back. Arizona might really want Zadina, again trade down for their 2nd, gaining two 2nd's high I might add while still having the Kotkaneimi pick waiting. 6 - 2nd's much better than 4, especially if they give the Habs the 2nd, 3rd, & 4th picks in the 2nd round. Any prospects that slip through the 1st round Habs get three kicks at the can. Great improvement in Habs selections, while ensuring the pick they actually want. A practice that Florida's Dale Tallon used to acquire great prospects that were priorities for his scouting staff, whilst gaining high draft picks and a deep pool of Prospects at positions they needed. Smart man that Dale Tallon, Bergevin learned the ropes from Dale in Chicago, Montreal Canadiens will reap those benefits at this draft IMHO!!!...Looking forward to the rewards of moving up in the draft ahead of both Ottawa & Arizona, whilst still getting Kotkaneimi later in the first round. Still salivating at the thought of Habs trading for NYI's two 1st round picks also, Armchair Quarterbacking the Habs 2018 Entry Draft, the Habs future is looking greater by the moment, hope it doesn't blind Me!!!...

The possibilities will all our picks, a GM hanging on by a thin thread, and Patch who is a pending UFA are endless! lol I know my imagination is running wild and can't wait for draft day. I've been waiting for draft day since November of last year!

 

[S Bah]

The possibilities will all our picks, a GM hanging on by a thin thread, and Patch who is a pending UFA are endless! lol I know my imagination is running wild and can't wait for draft day. I've been waiting for draft day since November of last year!

The Winning of moving up one spot in the Lottery, is merely the beginning of Habs fortunes changing. Looks like the long awaited Center being Finnish prospect Kotkaneimi could gain the Habs extra draft picks. Trading the Capt. for NYI's picks is also a way to make Capital gains, much to my chagrin as Max has become a very well rounded/complete player excelling at both area's PP/PK units and 5 on 5 play. Which would fit great with UFA John Tavares(#1 center on most NHL teams) a enticement for the NYI's to resign Tavares & trade for Max, IMHO. Max being the player insuring their playoff hopes and SCC possibility. The NYI's would need a good offer of 1st round picks & roster player to entice the Habs to trade are best offensive & PKer to them.

 

[CapSpace]

McIsaac is a very intriguing prospect......what I'd do to get both of NYI first round picks.......Pacioretty with a 7yr deal worked out for the Isles (could be their pledge to Tavares to stay) and a few 2nd round picks to nab those two firsts at 11 and 12.....

Then we draft Kotkaniemi and McIsaac and Zadina with our 3rd overall.......we'd have our big centre, our big sniping winger and a solid LHD......prospect pool would get quite the injection of talent in one day!!

Unlikely but WTF......If I was GM, this is what I'd try to make happen

Burke had the cohones to work some magic to draft the Sedins back then. We need this kind of ballsy move but I don't have hopes for it.