Pre-Game Talk: 2022 NHL Draft Mega Thread: All Draft Talk Goes Here!

[BenchBrawl]

I have stayed away from the repetitive debates on this forum and elsewhere (hello Twitter). Mais là, je me mouille.

I believe the Habs will take Cooley. Will I be disappointed if they pick Wright or Slavkovski? No.

My hunch is that Renaud is doing the dirty deeds for the organisation. I said that I would be waiting for some ‘inside’ info. I think that’s the first inkling into their intentions : preparing the crowd for a not-Wright.

He threw Slav’s name out there for the NJ decoy. But I do believe that Hughes is leaning Cooley. In part because of familiarity (not only that, but I noticed that it seems to contribute in many hockey-related decisions he takes), and because of the style of player Cooley is : speedy, IQ, character.

Crowd at the Bell Centre won’t be happy (the polls here reflect the general perception. And some will boo (certain of that). But they have their sights on the American kid.

Meaning we will have to live with our centre line for at least 1 more season. One of the weakest centre line in the East, IMHO. Barf.

Interesting.

You should bet big on this, good ROI at 10-1.

 

[dinodebino]

Potent GPA, not surprising for a geek.


He might, that still doesn't change the quality of the centre line this year. LOL

No, for sure, but Wright being in the lineup would have brought something different than the usual suspects. I have ZERO confidence in Evans and Poehling. Zero.

Interesting.

You should bet big on this, good ROI at 10-1.

I would if I was a gambler. Lol I’m not though. Lol

 

[BenchBrawl]

No, for sure, but Wright being in the lineup would have brought something different than the usual suspects. I have ZERO confidence in Evans and Poehling. Zero.

 

[Belial]

I have stayed away from the repetitive debates on this forum and elsewhere (hello Twitter). Mais là, je me mouille.

I believe the Habs will take Cooley. Will I be disappointed if they pick Wright or Slavkovski? No.

My hunch is that Renaud is doing the dirty deeds for the organisation. I said that I would be waiting for some ‘inside’ info. I think that’s the first inkling into their intentions : preparing the crowd for a not-Wright.

He threw Slav’s name out there for the NJ decoy. But I do believe that Hughes is leaning Cooley. In part because of familiarity (not only that, but I noticed that it seems to contribute in many hockey-related decisions he takes), and because of the style of player Cooley is : speedy, IQ, character.

Crowd at the Bell Centre won’t be happy (the polls here reflect the general perception. And some will boo (certain of that). But they have their sights on the American kid.

Meaning we will have to live with our centre line for at least 1 more season. One of the weakest centre line in the East, IMHO. Barf.

On La Dose, his tone was too unequivocal. And seeing his partner’s tweet last evening tells me that he has a source. It’s not HuGo. But he is very close to Bouillon. Very. And Bouillon might have been used here.

Grasping at something that is not there? Maybe. If others come out today with the same ‘insight’, it will reaffirm my belief.

Cooley it will be.

I hope you're wrong!

 

[dinodebino]

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I know. TBH, I would be very happy with Wright. I believe he wasn’t touted the first for ao long for nothing. He eas very underwhelming the two games I saw him play at the WJC. And not so impressive during the only playoff game I saw. But that is such a weee small sample, that I prefer to rely on others’ expertise.

I like Cooley because he has this Denis Savard vibe. Shifty, bright, quick, agile. Long term, could make for a deadly combo with Suzuki.

I hope you're wrong!

I hope for you and the majority that my ‘hunch’ is false. Either Wright or Cooley, I’d be very happy.

 

[WeThreeKings]

They leaked some of Wright's numbers where he was top in 1on1 battles and defensive metrics...

Yes, I'm aware Wright has some really strong analytics. I didn't say anything at all about Wright in that post. I think Wright is the choice to make if you don't take Cooley.

I was just bringing up analytics in Cooley's case because we were talking production and the underlying stats say that he was unlucky because how often he put his linemates in positions to score, his production did not correlate to how many goals were expected to be scored.

 

[dinodebino]

I have a big day at work, I’ll be keeping an eye on this thread for any more info coming from the mouthpieces.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I have a big day at work, I’ll be keeping an eye on this thread for any more info coming from the mouthpieces.

Today's really the day (although if Renaud hits with a regurgitation of his last nights comments I'd note it but not think too much). Gotta believe they nailed down the top of their list last night.

 

[Milhouse40]

I have stayed away from the repetitive debates on this forum and elsewhere (hello Twitter). Mais là, je me mouille.

I believe the Habs will take Cooley. Will I be disappointed if they pick Wright or Slavkovski? No.

My hunch is that Renaud is doing the dirty deeds for the organisation. I said that I would be waiting for some ‘inside’ info. I think that’s the first inkling into their intentions : preparing the crowd for a not-Wright.

He threw Slav’s name out there for the NJ decoy. But I do believe that Hughes is leaning Cooley. In part because of familiarity (not only that, but I noticed that it seems to contribute in many hockey-related decisions he takes), and because of the style of player Cooley is : speedy, IQ, character.

Crowd at the Bell Centre won’t be happy (the polls here reflect the general perception. And some will boo (certain of that). But they have their sights on the American kid.

Meaning we will have to live with our centre line for at least 1 more season. One of the weakest centre line in the East, IMHO. Barf.

On La Dose, his tone was too unequivocal. And seeing his partner’s tweet last evening tells me that he has a source. It’s not HuGo. But he is very close to Bouillon. Very. And Bouillon might have been used here.

Grasping at something that is not there? Maybe. If others come out today with the same ‘insight’, it will reaffirm my belief.

Cooley it will be.

I don't trust Lavoie......the same Lavoie who said that Bind'amour hated KK and he was on his way out of Carolina just to sign an 8 years deal like 2 weeks later.

If there's one thing Hughes showed being very good at it so far is playing the medias.

In the weird category:

June 30th: Wright mentioned in an interviews being in talks with St-Louis and Lecavalier......
July 1st: Canada day
July 2nd: Habs announce a media appearance with Lecavalier for July 4th
July 4th: Medias presence which was in part to talk about that phone call

The way I see it, seems a lot like damage control to me and doing their best to try to put plant doubts about who they are picking. Lavoie always has been a mouthpiece for the Habs and right now they really want to keep the suspense until the end, that much is clear.

They had nothing to announce, less than nothing actually......Why Lecavalier was there? Obviously, it was because of that phone call.

Seems to me like Wright talked a little too much in that interviews......

 

[SOLR]

No, for sure, but Wright being in the lineup would have brought something different than the usual suspects. I have ZERO confidence in Evans and Poehling. Zero.


I would if I was a gambler. Lol I’m not though. Lol

Don't bank on a 18 years old. We need to loose another year, the real center is Bedard not Wright.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Don't bank on a 18 years old. We need to loose another year, the real center is Bedard not Wright.

A Dvorsky or Carlsson aren't bad consolation prizes.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

How so? There is no generational player among the 3 they are targeting.

Everyone knows you don’t draft on need with an early pick, esp. a 1OA. Case in point, Hughes himself stated in today’s presser that he’s not looking for who is the best 18 year old but who will be the best 22-23-24 year old. By the time that player is 22-23-24, Habs may have different needs.

If after conducting their organizational due diligence, they end up with a player who also happens to be a C, it’ll be a bonus.

Hughes explicitely stated they'll consider position along with everything else.

And it's quite logical to do so as some positions have a greater impact than others.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Hughes explicitely stated they'll consider position along with everything else.

And it's quite logical to do so as some positions have a greater impact than others.

They wouldn't be debating if they thought Slafkovsky was a tier above the other two. He hasn't made that case so we wouldn't be reaching for a need, we would be taking the bigger positional impact among evenly evaluated prospects.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Yet he hasn't even posted it to his twitter or even referred to it

Makes me wonder if he's actually willing to commit to this take

Makes it seem likes his bosses, the ones airing the draft, asked him to say that and we all know just how much of a brown nose Renaud has.

 

[Agalloch]

It will be Cooley. The more I read and think, it looks like it.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

There was one thing that Kent said that makes me think they might actually pick Slafkovsky. It was his long digression about players who have the ability to get better, and how much he values it, giving the example of Brad Marchand.

Slafkovsky had one of the biggest gaps in play this year. From playing his way off the team at the start of the year to doing what he did in 2022 is a big jump.

It could be applied to all three as thry all changed their game at some point.

 

[Saundies]

My choices ranked (out of the top 3 available) :

1) Wright
2) Cooley
3) Slaf

Pick a Centre please. The sheer amount of years we've gone without 2 top end Cs have been agonizing. Suzuki is developing nicely, please pick a guy he can help mold and grow with.

If it's Wright, great. I value hockey sense really highly and he has it in spades. He's handled the pressure of being exceptional status and projected 1st overall for years now. Super mature, trains like a pro already. Wants to be a Hab.

If it's Cooley, okay. They value the skill/dynamism he brings along with his compete over Wright. Fine. He at least projects to be a C and I can get behind picking a C with a different skillset if that's what it takes. Hughes knows him really well so obviously he likes him if he's picked.

If it's Slaf, I'm pissed and am gonna have to start drinking to koolaid to like this. Rose way, way too high for me. Reminds me a lot of the Andrei Kostitsyn/KK picks where we try to be the smartest guys around when there are better players sitting there. We don't draft the C we've been looking for and who knows when we have this chance again.

Either way, Thursday can't come soon enough and intrigue is high.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Cooley had 7 other guys that will be drafted in the first round playing with him and he wasn't able to show any sort of domination over his peers.

False, Cooley and Howard dominated the most vs NCAA comp

 

[CheldishGamibno]

People are always referring to Hughes or Gorton but seems to forget about Molson. During Hughes and Gorton's hiring, Molson clearly indicated the KK and Galchenyuk debacles were two of the main reasons Bargainbin and Timmins were fired. No chance in hell Molson accepts to draft someone else than the concessus #1 pick that's been #1 since 2019.

 

[Belial]

False, Cooley and Howard dominated the most vs NCAA comp

Right, he still didn't manage to dominate his peers.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

I have stayed away from the repetitive debates on this forum and elsewhere (hello Twitter). Mais là, je me mouille.

I believe the Habs will take Cooley. Will I be disappointed if they pick Wright or Slavkovski? No.

My hunch is that Renaud is doing the dirty deeds for the organisation.

Maybe not for our benefit, but for interested parties.

Maybe it's his way of coming back into the fold.

Renaud: "I had a direct line to Bergevin!"

Hughes: "spread this info even if it's false and maybe we'll give you more in the future"

Renaud:

 

[BenchBrawl]

I'm in the good position of being OK with them drafting any of the three guys.

But I don't have a lot of enthusiasm for any of them neither.

I'll support whoever they pick and hope they surprise me.

 

[McPhees Moustache]

No problem buddy, I just expected some sort of separation if Cooley was apparently much better...

Have watched him play at all?

 

[HuGort]

Wright / Slaf are projected 2C/2W yet ranked at top of this draft but Savoie who’s never been mentioned in the running for 1OA is an elite 1st liner????


Cooley was over a PPG vs 21-25 year old NCAA players…

Everybody saying best player not at top of this draft. It's a Makar type draft. Wright and Slaf over rated

I have stayed away from the repetitive debates on this forum and elsewhere (hello Twitter). Mais là, je me mouille.

I believe the Habs will take Cooley. Will I be disappointed if they pick Wright or Slavkovski? No.

My hunch is that Renaud is doing the dirty deeds for the organisation. I said that I would be waiting for some ‘inside’ info. I think that’s the first inkling into their intentions : preparing the crowd for a not-Wright.

He threw Slav’s name out there for the NJ decoy. But I do believe that Hughes is leaning Cooley. In part because of familiarity (not only that, but I noticed that it seems to contribute in many hockey-related decisions he takes), and because of the style of player Cooley is : speedy, IQ, character.

Crowd at the Bell Centre won’t be happy (the polls here reflect the general perception. And some will boo (certain of that). But they have their sights on the American kid.

Meaning we will have to live with our centre line for at least 1 more season. One of the weakest centre line in the East, IMHO. Barf.

On La Dose, his tone was too unequivocal. And seeing his partner’s tweet last evening tells me that he has a source. It’s not HuGo. But he is very close to Bouillon. Very. And Bouillon might have been used here.

Grasping at something that is not there? Maybe. If others come out today with the same ‘insight’, it will reaffirm my belief.

Cooley it will be.

Cooley fits Hughes speed and skill mantha

 

[BenchBrawl]

I mean Joshua Roy may be a better prospect than all three of them when it's all said and done.