GDT: 2023 Caps NHL Draft Thread

[trick9]

This feels like a whole lot of wishful thinking. I think Michkov is closer to #2 than #8, but what do I know?

Heck yea to Michkov at #8, other than that I'm not sure who we should take.

If we are evaluating prospects, certainly.

In terms of actually picking him, is whole other thing. Are you secure enough in your job to draft a guy who won't be here until 2027? Briere is currently still just an interim GM. Grier is under a lot of heat already in San Jose. Montreal GM is always under the microscope. With Arizona it's going to be hard to sell him for the people who are desperately trying to keep the team here.

In terms of scouting this is an unique situation too. Do you get to talk to him? I don't think he's coming to the combine. He's a small guy but how small? How much do you trust on videos for scouting? Arizona and Philly doesn't have a Russian scout. Montreal's Co-director of amateur scouting is Russian Nick Bobrov but they drafted 0 Russians last summer.

These all come into play here, which makes it an unique situation.

 

[um]

If we are evaluating prospects, certainly.

In terms of actually picking him, is whole other thing. Are you secure enough in your job to draft a guy who won't be here until 2027? Briere is currently still just an interim GM. Grier is under a lot of heat already in San Jose. Montreal GM is always under the microscope. With Arizona it's going to be hard to sell him for the people who are desperately trying to keep the team here.

In terms of scouting this is an unique situation too. Do you get to talk to him? I don't think he's coming to the combine. He's a small guy but how small? How much do you trust on videos for scouting? Arizona and Philly doesn't have a Russian scout. Montreal's Co-director of amateur scouting is Russian Nick Bobrov but they drafted 0 Russians last summer.

These all come into play here, which makes it an unique situation.

Hmmm, interesting stuff.

You're giving me hope, you jerk.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

How about Kuzy for Arizona's 12 OA this year + one of their 2024 2nd round picks (they have at least 3, IIRC). Arizona comes out with Kuzy + whoever they take at 6 OA.

Logic for them is Kuzy helps them start a path to return to winning. He can be a bridge with Keller to them possibly getting Mathews. They already have a top 5-ish prospect pool before picking at 6 OA. They may believe they could get the best out of Kuzy.

Kuzy would have to agree - the weather is nice... he may enjoy a no-pressure scenario.

If the Caps could get TWO of the names we are tossing around (Moore/Leonard/Benson/Dvorsky/Reinbacher) + Kuzy Cap Space we move the retool ahead.

Try, GMBM, try!

That’s a rebuild move….we need more immediate impact moves IMO. Also, I‘d be stunned if he waived for AZ.

 

[trick9]

Hmmm, interesting stuff.

You're giving me hope, you jerk.

It's really the same question marks for us. How great he is? Is he going to help our team more from 2027 forward than a guy like Reinbacher, Dvorsky or Moore would? Each of them have a realistic chance of making the team in 2025, perhaps even sooner. That's few extra years. It does fit our time-line better the sooner we get help to the (Playoffs) chase. Is he going to be that much better? The situation in Russia is so unpredictable that you almost need to consider it might last a while. That means that if down the road you try to trade him, it's going to be a tough one to pull out that you'll likely lose.

That being said we did draft a (then) long-term project in Miroshnichenko last summer from Russia. So they are prepared to take the risk. But 20+ pick in an average draft is not the same as #8 in a great draft.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

That’s a rebuild move….we need more immediate impact moves IMO. Also, I‘d be stunned if he waived for AZ.

I think it would be a great move for Washington. They’re likely to get another impact forward prospect at 12 with Reinbacher and ASP rising up the boards and it opens up a spot for CMM as well.

 

[marcel snapshot]

So how big (or not big) is Michkov anyway. I've seen him listed as 148lbs, 159lbs, and 172lbs. That's a pretty consequential variance.

 

[Langway]

NHL scouts poll: Who should the Canucks be hoping for with the 11th pick?

To get a sense of the industry view of the 2023 draft class, we reached out to veteran amateur talent evaluators from across the league.

theathletic.com

Examines pretty much all options after the big four.

 

[usiel]

NHL scouts poll: Who should the Canucks be hoping for with the 11th pick?

To get a sense of the industry view of the 2023 draft class, we reached out to veteran amateur talent evaluators from across the league.

theathletic.com

Examines pretty much all options after the big four.

Nice linkage.

 

[Ridley Simon]

That’s a rebuild move….we need more immediate impact moves IMO. Also, I‘d be stunned if he waived for AZ.

Yeah he’s not waiving for AZ. I’d say almost zero chance

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson, and Smith are assuredly off the board. Based on McKenzie's rankings, Dvorsky seems likely as well. Give me a play driver that plays fast, even if the footspeed isn't elite. Haven't honed in on who I really like out of the Benson, Perreault, Leonard, Wood, Barlow, Moore group - though Moore's speed and position definitely pique the interest initially.

A big no on trading the pick, particularly with the strength of this draft. This is (hopefully) the organization's best chance at an elite young talent for a while. Who are you going to get that'll be more valuable in a transition into the post-Ovechkin era?

Trade back into the first, by all means. But don't move down from 8.

Nice linkage.

Anybody want to give a quick-hits summary?

 

[EroCaps]

Michkov if he falls. Then Moore. Then…?

Dvorsky, Sale, and Cristall all have boom/bust profiles.

I’d almost rather trade down and take Gavin Brindley.

At least Bedard went West. Let him at McDavid take pieces out of each other for the next 10 years.

 

[um]

That’s a rebuild move….we need more immediate impact moves IMO. Also, I‘d be stunned if he waived for AZ.

The teams that want a player like Kuznetsov will most likely be willing to give up non roster players. You trade Kuznetsov for futures and then use the futures for a roster player.

We just saw this with Orlov --> Boston 1st --> Sandin

 

[EroCaps]

The teams that want a player like Kuznetsov will most likely be willing to give up non roster players. You trade Kuznetsov for futures and then use the futures for a roster player.

We just saw this with Orlov --> Boston 1st --> Sandin

Trading for roster players is delusional. They aren’t going to win a Cup with this core.

Trade for picks. Promote kids.

Anything less is just continued mismanagement.

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

Trading for roster players is delusional. They aren’t going to win a Cup with this core.

Trade for picks. Promote kids.

Anything less is just continued mismanagement.

I mean, I'd be all aboard Kuzy for Girard with some pieces attached that aren't CMM, Miro, Chesley or 8 OA. But yeah, no to moving their best futures anything but younger, long-control roster players

 

[um]

Trading for roster players is delusional. They aren’t going to win a Cup with this core.

Trade for picks. Promote kids.

Anything less is just continued mismanagement.

you can also trade for kids. I don't have a problem with targeting guys under 25 like Sandin.

 

[Langway]

Anybody want to give a quick-hits summary?

Benson and Barlow were recommended at 11. Pretty much all of the top ~15 range was discussed aside from Sale.

As far as 8 there were a couple scouts bearish on Moore. One wasn't sure he's a C drawing a Cogliano comparison and another didn't think he was top 10. Another had him going right in that range as a play-driving all-situations center. I lean more toward the later. Linemates were part of the issue and he has shown vision on the PP, hitting seams to Eiserman and others. He mainly just needs to slow the game down a bit at times 5v5. It's about all he's got to work on aside from filling out. The stick positioning, pace, shot, faceoffs and obviously skating are all there. I would bank on that area coming along in time. Structurally I think you'd rather have a high pace, all-situations, defensively-responsible center that you can to some extent help with vision/decisions/creativity. Not to wade too far into need but stylistically in terms of heavy lifting and dirty work that's the profile they need. If not Michkov then any of Dvorsky/Leonard/Moore have the mentality to be that hard-working, skilled complimentary and transitional piece they need.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Trading for roster players is delusional. They aren’t going to win a Cup with this core.

Trade for picks. Promote kids.

Anything less is just continued mismanagement.

Expecting management to go into rebuild mode now after they have said repeatedly they are not, is delusional.

Trading for futures and promoting the kids we have is a tank move.


Make good hockey trades and improve the roster. Current NHLers or better young guys ready to hold down an NHL spot, I don’t care.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Expecting management to go into rebuild mode now after they have said repeatedly they are not, is delusional.

Trading for futures and promoting the kids we have is a tank move.


Make good hockey trades and improve the roster. Current NHLers or better young guys ready to hold down an NHL spot, I don’t care.

This is what will happen. It’s been stated. GMBM ain’t a bullshitter, that’s for sure

 

[Silky mitts]

Wheeler: Thoughts and takeaways after the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery

Now that the order for the front half of the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft is set, here’s what Scott Wheeler’s thinking about.

theathletic.com

Interesting bit of info here re: the teams picking 4, 5 & 7. Maybe something, maybe not. With ANA/CBJ likely being too early it stacks up pretty well for a slide. With MTL's second first rounder now looking to be more in the 29-32 range compared to 17ish there's likely less appetite to roll the dice at 5. Chances are there will not be comparable impact to be had at the end of the first. ARI has arena/market complications that, even with another pick at 12, makes you wonder if they'd be comfortable making that pick. Teams could look to move up but for a player perhaps three years out?

I think MTL is the big pivot point. If they opt for the center Dvorsky for more of a floor/character/foundation reasoning then the slide is officially on. (I have a hard time seeing either CBJ or SJS taking him at 3/4 with the quality centers that will be on the board.)

With Montreal's 2 biggest assets a 5'7" wing and a big Slovakian wing they've got to take a long look at Dvorsky.

At least Chicago knocked out the Pens, can't stay mad at them.

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

Yeah he’s not waiving for AZ. I’d say almost zero chance

That was just an example of one possible dance partner if GMBM got creative. There could be others that would facilitate us getting a second player who is at the top of our internal list.

My point is I hope GMBM is both aggressive and creative in making the most of this draft.

Also, we have no idea what is in Kuzy's head and where he would be willing to go (and truly how badly he wants to move if he actually does).

And so much of this comes down to internally what they know about the probable evolution of Backstrom' future. They may know more by the draft internally than is announced.

 

[TRASHCAT]

well we sold at the deadline and proceeded to tank the rest of the season

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

Make good hockey trades and improve the roster. Current NHLers or better young guys ready to hold down an NHL spot, I don’t care.

And that is also a viable path for a quick retool.

I would add that going for picks from this draft isn't, in my eyes, a rebuild move. It would be augmented by smart spend of Cap/possible LTIR savings. And that could include trades at the deadline or next summer.

Many, many potential moving parts - and they are conditional on dance partners/Kuzy & Backstrom input.

 

[YippieKaey]

C is pretty much the only spot that we're ok prospect wise with Lapierre and McMichael both looking like they'll be decent 2Cs. Neither of them are suited for a 3rd line though so either trading one of them for a pick or with a pick for a young roster ready prospect and drafting a Dvorsky hoping for him to become a 1C or keeping CMM & Lapy and building strong wings around them would be my bet.

 

[Jags]

So how big (or not big) is Michkov anyway. I've seen him listed as 148lbs, 159lbs, and 172lbs. That's a pretty consequential variance.

If he's 5'10" like they say, his shoulders are that narrow, and that's his neck, there's no way he's 148. I've seen him play maybe a half dozen times and he doesn't come off small. It's relative though and can be hard to tell, but it never struck me as an issue. *shrug*

 

[EroCaps]

If Michkov falls bc of the Russian factor, …and he could fall, the Caps are in a uniquely good spot to steal a star player @8.

He may not be here for 3-4 years, but so be it.