GDT: 2023 Caps NHL Draft Thread

[MileHighCapsFan]

Pronman has posted his final mock draft over on The Athletic.

7. Philadelphia Flyers: Matvei Michkov, RW, SKA (KHL)​

It’s been the question of this draft cycle: Who is going to pick Michkov? There’s been all kinds of speculation. Will there be a free fall? As we get closer to the draft, I’m sensing the opposite and think there may be more teams trying to aggressively get up to pick him. My best guess at the 11th hour is he will be a Flyer. Philadelphia and Washington are two organizations who seem open to the idea of picking Michkov. Does Washington try to get ahead of Philly? Does Philly beat them to the punch and trade up instead? Montreal and Arizona’s spots are intriguing trade targets for a Michkov trade up. If this isn’t Michkov, I think Philly would target Leonard but I have heard Nate Danielson rumored here as well.

8. Washington Capitals: Dalibor Dvorsky, C, AIK (Allsvenskan)​

Most of my recent mock drafts have discussed Michkov to Washington. I do think that remains a real possibility. But if Michkov goes ahead of them, the other player I believe they are high on is Dvorsky. I’ve had some people in the league wonder whether Washington at eight or Detroit at nine would pick Dmitri Simashev.

 

[Cappy76]

Why no Habs and Flyers? both teams are rebuilding and can easily wait 3 years.

I'm not feeling to confident, very little chance 4 teams will pass on Michkov. I'm all in on a trade.

Just gut feelings. Habs just traded for Newhook and their top 6 is very young I get the mantra of drafting BPA but teams don’t always do it when they should. They need D and to me they draft Reinbacher.
As for Philly I just don’t see them drafting the smaller player add to the fact I think Leonard is a more stylistically the type of player they’d want. That gritty in your face physical player vs the skilled russian

 

[um]

Just gut feelings. Habs just traded for Newhook and their top 6 is very young I get the mantra of drafting BPA but teams don’t always do it when they should. They need D and to me they draft Reinbacher.
As for Philly I just don’t see them drafting the smaller player add to the fact I think Leonard is a more stylistically the type of player they’d want. That gritty in your face physical player vs the skilled russian

I hope you're right, and It does seem like Montreal and Arizona have some agenda to start competing soon. But I find it hard to believe that Briere of all people has a thing against small skilled forwards. Who knows.

 

[OV Rocks]

Suzuki, Caufield, Newhook, Gallagher, are all under 6 feet - 4 out of their top6. Hard to imagine they add Michkov to that but can't fault them for BPA.

Come on GMBM, go get him

 

[Cappy76]

I hope you're right, and It does seem like Montreal and Arizona have some agenda to start competing soon. But I find it hard to believe that Briere of all people has a thing against small skilled forwards. Who knows.

Briere probably not Keith Jones newly minted president of hockey operations 100%

Years of listening to him on NBC and affiliates I could for sure see him passing on him for a player that plays a more physical game but also offensive upside

 

[um]

Briere probably not Keith Jones newly minted president of hockey operations 100%

True dat. Fingers crossed!

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Pronman has posted his final mock draft over on The Athletic.

7. Philadelphia Flyers: Matvei Michkov, RW, SKA (KHL)​

It’s been the question of this draft cycle: Who is going to pick Michkov? There’s been all kinds of speculation. Will there be a free fall? As we get closer to the draft, I’m sensing the opposite and think there may be more teams trying to aggressively get up to pick him. My best guess at the 11th hour is he will be a Flyer. Philadelphia and Washington are two organizations who seem open to the idea of picking Michkov. Does Washington try to get ahead of Philly? Does Philly beat them to the punch and trade up instead? Montreal and Arizona’s spots are intriguing trade targets for a Michkov trade up. If this isn’t Michkov, I think Philly would target Leonard but I have heard Nate Danielson rumored here as well.

8. Washington Capitals: Dalibor Dvorsky, C, AIK (Allsvenskan)​

Most of my recent mock drafts have discussed Michkov to Washington. I do think that remains a real possibility. But if Michkov goes ahead of them, the other player I believe they are high on is Dvorsky. I’ve had some people in the league wonder whether Washington at eight or Detroit at nine would pick Dmitri Simashev.

Might be some silent sobbing around here behind the keyboards tonight! Definitely a thrown foreign object or two…..if it goes down like this….lol….

 

[ChaosLord]

Might be some silent sobbing around here behind the keyboards tonight! Definitely a thrown foreign object or two…..if it goes down like this….lol….

People in this forum are starting to really set themselves up for Michkov and I'm not sure its going to happen.

 

[trick9]

Predictions:

1. Bedard
2. Fantilli
3. Carlsson
4. Smith
5. Reinbacher
6. Dvorsky
7. Leonard
8. Michkov
9. Moore
10. Willander
11. Benson
12. Wood
13. ASP
14. Danielson
15. Perreault
16. Barlow
17. Jonnekin
18. Yager
19. But
20. Ritchie
21. Stenberg
22. Bonk
23. Musty
24. Simashev
25. Edstrom
26. Sale
27. Molendyk
28. Lardis
29. Stramel
30. Dragicevic
31. Nadeau
32. Nelson

Tough draft to judge for sure.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Yeah. Flyers getting Michkov would sting. It would sting a lot more if it’s a run on forwards and we are stuck looking at Reinbacher.

If Michkov and Leonard are gone, I’d be all for trading back to mid teens and picking up some added draft capital *this year*. Top 50 is imperative , IMO

 

[Cappy76]

People in this forum are starting to really set themselves up for Michkov and I'm not sure its going to happen.

I’m cautiously optimistic - more optimistic than I was about our lottery chances but not at all expecting things to fall in place. I’d be perfectly content with any of the names being discussed outside of Reinbacher and Dvorsky at 8.

 

[SecretaryofDefense5]

People in this forum are starting to really set themselves up for Michkov and I'm not sure its going to happen.

It won't happen. Even if the Caps want to move up (which I believe they do) they don't have the assets that other teams have unless MTL is interested in some 2024 second round picks.

 

[OV Rocks]

Excited Picks
Michkov
Leonard

Trade Back Picks
Wood
ASP
Danielson
Barlow
Yager
Simashev


Please God No
Dvorsky
Reinbacher

 

[Acallabeth]

How long will the ceremony take? Does it usually start on time? Maybe I'll watch lol.

 

[ArmadilloThumb]

Sanity check - some, perhaps many, teams that do not get Michkov will win Stanley Cups during Michkov's career.

Also, do not get into bidding wars on your next house purchase and pay $100,000 over asking like people in Toronto do regularly...

 

[itsjustsurvival]

It's funny watching the spy vs spy shit going on. Every team from Anaheim down is letting it be known they might take Michkov. Losing season sucks, but it's fun to be in the top half of the draft. Especially this one.

 

[LesDiablesRouges]

It won't happen. Even if the Caps want to move up (which I believe they do) they don't have the assets that other teams have unless MTL is interested in some 2024 second round picks.

See, IMO, they do have the assets.

Any of our top prospects minus Miro should be on the table (as well as Fever), as should all of our high draft picks this year and next (can put protections on our first round pick next year, if it were to come to that).

 

[OV Rocks]

See, IMO, they do have the assets.

Any of our top prospects minus Miro should be on the table (as well as Fever), as should all of our high draft picks this year and next (can put protections on our first round pick next year, if it were to come to that).

I'd like to keep Miro, Iorio, and McMichael. Everyone else fair game.

I would be curious if 8OA, Protas, and one of 40OA 24 or 25 1st.

Protas could be interesting for MTL due to their lack of size

 

[LesDiablesRouges]

Miro, Iorio, and McMichael. Everyone else fair game.

I would be curious if 8OA, Protas, and one of 40OA 24 or 25 1st.

Protas could be interesting for MTL due to their lack of size

I would give up CMM, Protas, Lapierre, Iorio, Chesley in a nanosecond if it helped us move up and guaranteed that we can draft Michkov.

Different world and levels of talent.

 

[pman25]

Happy to say I'm back on the Trade Up for Michkov train. Still a chance I could hop off

 

[Cappy76]

How long will the ceremony take? Does it usually start on time? Maybe I'll watch lol.

From what I remember it’s slow going at times takes awhile to get moving as they make a show of the first round. Others correct me if I’m wrong but they usually try to make a production out of it not NFL or NBA levels but it’s a show.

 

[Kalopsia]

I think I'd be more pissed about them trading next year's 1st as part of trading up for Michkov than I would be if they missed out on Michkov. It'd have to be heavily protected, like top 12 protection and it becomes a 2nd instead of a future 1st if the protection triggers. A team that finished 8th worst and has very few viable options to improve through trade or free agency cannot be giving away future 1sts for an asset that won't help them for 3 years.

 

[OV Rocks]

I think I'd be more pissed about them trading next year's 1st as part of trading up for Michkov than I would be if they missed out on Michkov. It'd have to be heavily protected, like top 12 protection and it becomes a 2nd instead of a future 1st if the protection triggers. A team that finished 8th worst and has very few viable options to improve through trade or free agency cannot be giving away future 1sts for an asset that won't help them for 3 years.

The potential of Michkov vs the 2024 3rd, 8th, 12th, 20th, or 32nd is so much higher than that pick. Get the generational talent

 

[Brian23]

Yanno, something I hadn't thought about till now (really seeing Peter Hassett make an off handed remark on twitter) but I wonder how much GMBM wants to tie his career in Washington to Michkov.

Like, right now I'd expect him to be the guy that'll champion and guide the team through the post Ovechkin rebuild. I don't see any reason for Ted to cut him loose, beyond maybe he retires (seeing as he is 64). However, if he hitches himself to Michkov and he turns into Yakupov? That would not only delay the rebuild, it could ruin Ovi's last few years, and be a one way ticket to being fired as the GM of the Washington Capitals. Would really sully the respect he'd have built with this fanbase and franchise. Is he willing to do that?

Just a thought I was chewing on.

 

[kicksavedave]

Yanno, something I hadn't thought about till now (really seeing Peter Hassett make an off handed remark on twitter) but I wonder how much GMBM wants to tie his career in Washington to Michkov.

Like, right now I'd expect him to be the guy that'll champion and guide the team through the post Ovechkin rebuild. I don't see any reason for Ted to cut him loose, beyond maybe he retires (seeing as he is 64). However, if he hitches himself to Michkov and he turns into Yakupov? That would not only delay the rebuild, it could ruin Ovi's last few years, and be a one way ticket to being fired as the GM of the Washington Capitals. Would really sully the respect he'd have built with this fanbase and franchise. Is he willing to do that?

Just a thought I was chewing on.

You're talking Ted Leonsis and Capitals GMs. He's only fired one, in 24 years owning the team. Its practically a blood pact. After winning a Cup for Ted, GMBM pretty much will be a dusty skeleton before Ted fires him. The amount of f***-up GMBM would have to make over a sustained period to get fired is almost uncalculatable.