GDT: 2023 Caps NHL Draft Thread
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Carlzner
Registered User
The fact that he has top pick level offensive skills and still tries to model his game after guys like Zach Hyman is incredible.
His potential is elite two way winger.
His potential is elite two way winger.
SecretaryofDefense5
Registered User
I think top six winger is likely. Elite may be a bit strong from what I’ve read but here is hoping I’m wrong.
If i had to guess this is more on AZ than WAS. I’m sure there were discussions. AZ got greedy on what they wanted and as a result lost out on getting more value. With reasonable ask, Caps would have likely moved. Caps have some leverage here as they win with either Michkov falling, Leonard still being available, or Bensen. GMBM knows he wins either way. Without knowing the actual moves, it seems like GMBM played a good game of chess.
Carlzner
Registered User
I know this was posted earlier but this video is a great example of the offensive ability this guy has. He genuinely reminds me of Eichel (Although obviously against lesser quality opponents compared to Eichel in his draft year) in the way he plays with the puck.
Carlzner
Registered User
Reading through his thread on the prospects board, encouraging to see these nuggets:
"His stats vs NCAA D1 teams are 14G 14A 28Pts in 17GP."
"Just a side note, one thing that was really impressive about his play against collegiate competition was his physical dominance as well. He would bury some much older players. He had some really impressive games against NCAA teams."
"He's been covering for Smith at center more often than not, he's literally playing the center role (faceoffs aside) more than Smith is. It's more of a hybrid thing at USDP."
"His stats vs NCAA D1 teams are 14G 14A 28Pts in 17GP."
"Just a side note, one thing that was really impressive about his play against collegiate competition was his physical dominance as well. He would bury some much older players. He had some really impressive games against NCAA teams."
"He's been covering for Smith at center more often than not, he's literally playing the center role (faceoffs aside) more than Smith is. It's more of a hybrid thing at USDP."
Which NHL Draft prospects have the most upside? Corey Pronman ranks the top 36
These rankings are based on pure skill and remove factors that could weigh into which player goes where.theathletic.com
Which 2023 NHL Draft prospects have the most upside? Corey Pronman ranks the top 36
Sounds like an Oshie with better skating and potentially bigger. Very nice for a #8 overall.
Corby78
65 - 10 - 20
Very happy to wake up this morning and see we got Leonard. He was my #2 after the Russian for guys I thought we had any shot at getting. Still some nice guys in round two so also glad we didn’t lose that pick.
Not a fan of Montreal or Zonas work
Not a fan of Montreal or Zonas work
Cush
Registered User
Melkor
Registered User
I'm curious to know did Maclellan really want to go up after Mitchkov or he didn't give a shit either way. Because if you wanted the guy and fell just one pick short ...mate you're loser.
Also the amount of mental gymnastics some people tryna go through to convince themselves Leonard was a great pick is funny. Average pick IMO. What he's about will be clear once he takes on pro comp, not a day earlier.
Also the amount of mental gymnastics some people tryna go through to convince themselves Leonard was a great pick is funny. Average pick IMO. What he's about will be clear once he takes on pro comp, not a day earlier.
I am going back to reading the Montreal/Caps trade speculation threads. Now that is some DMT stuff on there and quite amusing. Who knows maybe they get a gem in the long run, however still puzzling. Good for Philly and the Caps though.
RedRocking
Registered User
Yea, judging by how they handled the Chychrun saga, AZ mgmt does NOT know how to make a deal. Shame if that really was the issue - them being unreasonable and incompetent.
I liked the interview with Leonard. The sincerity of Oshie with the dead eyes of Wilson. If he gets mentored by those two and gets good at faceoffs we have a decent #1 C or an absolutely elite#2 C on our hands. A Kadri type perhaps.
Very happy with Leonard. Not sure why they want to compare for Wilson. Both are labeled as ”power-forwards” but not that much else that puts them in the same. Leonard has better puck skills and offensive instincts as Wilson is more of a complete two way guy. Id rather compare to Tkachuks. Maybe Brady, or Matthew-lite. Love the ”compete level” Leonard has in his game.
For second round there is still couple interesting names on the board, but this is where the draft gets back to normal and isnt as deep anymore. The draft was top heavy.
Brindley would gel well with Leonard as both are competers. ”Tough to play against” core on the works? But ill guess he is taken before us. Id like Nelson too. Or maybe mix it up with taking a goalie, theres all of the top3 to pick from and could end up being a winning bet.
Later rounds, eh, ill settle to get overly hyped by the overly hyped player cards of guys ive never heard of and who for some and any reason obviously are just the perfect fit and somehow absolute steals for the fifth round picks and whatever.
For second round there is still couple interesting names on the board, but this is where the draft gets back to normal and isnt as deep anymore. The draft was top heavy.
Brindley would gel well with Leonard as both are competers. ”Tough to play against” core on the works? But ill guess he is taken before us. Id like Nelson too. Or maybe mix it up with taking a goalie, theres all of the top3 to pick from and could end up being a winning bet.
Later rounds, eh, ill settle to get overly hyped by the overly hyped player cards of guys ive never heard of and who for some and any reason obviously are just the perfect fit and somehow absolute steals for the fifth round picks and whatever.
Calicaps
NFA
Thinking about the “compete level” conversation and remembering how when Carbery was introduced, a lot of his former players talked about how competitive he is. Could be a great situation for Leonard in a year or two… competitive, driven player and a highly competitive coach who can hopefully help Ryan channel all that energy for its best value.
CapsFrontOffice
Registered User
- Jul 8, 2014
- 521
- 303
I'll never main line pre draft hype again!
That was not meant to be a reply to your reply lol It's late
trick9
Registered User
- Jun 2, 2013
- 12,589
- 5,750
Love the pick.
It's not Michkov, but he wasn't there at 8. We still got a huge gift from the Arizona Coyotes. Leonard was easily the BPA at 8 and most mocks had him going 5 or 6. Power-forward who can score are extremely rare, and i'm very curious to see what position he plays from this point on. He has played as center before and he has all the tools to play as one.
I wonder if Andrew Cristall will be there at 40. There are lots of Kelowna -connections with Ross Mahoney and that would be a huge boom-or-bust pick. He is a potential top-line forward.
Lots of good options still left on the board, hope we can pick up an another pick for either round 2 or 3.
It's not Michkov, but he wasn't there at 8. We still got a huge gift from the Arizona Coyotes. Leonard was easily the BPA at 8 and most mocks had him going 5 or 6. Power-forward who can score are extremely rare, and i'm very curious to see what position he plays from this point on. He has played as center before and he has all the tools to play as one.
I wonder if Andrew Cristall will be there at 40. There are lots of Kelowna -connections with Ross Mahoney and that would be a huge boom-or-bust pick. He is a potential top-line forward.
Lots of good options still left on the board, hope we can pick up an another pick for either round 2 or 3.
SecretaryofDefense5
Registered User
So…maybe Michkov never wanted to come here as badly as we think. Apparently he went to Philly to meet with Briere a few days before the draft.
trick9
Registered User
- Jun 2, 2013
- 12,589
- 5,750
He didn't.
Briere basically confirmed that in the interview after making the pick. Michkov loved the Flyers and wanted to play for them and convinced them to pick him. Which made his job easier because of his talent-level.
Time to move along with him. It would have sucked if he was aiming and working towards being picked by us and still someone picked him before. But loves Philadelphia Flyers? Barf.
On to the next target with top-line scoring potential and red flags all around him. Andrew Cristall.
HecticGlow
Registered User
While there are definitely ‘bad’ picks, I think it’s very hard to determine whether it was a ‘good’ pick (outside of Connor McDavids) until they develop into pro players. Miroshenko’s development has been frustrated and delayed by illness, just as Lapierre’s was by injury, but both were considered prospects who would otherwise have gone high in the draft. It’s not like we’ve been risk averse in our drafting of late.
Samsonov was at one time a highly touted prospect with tremendous athleticism, but it didn’t translate to success for us. Kuzy has tremendous speed and skill, but the compete isn’t there.
Michkov is clearly very talented, but was rumoured to have attitude problems and appears to have wanted to go to Philly. He won’t be in the NHL, in all likelihood, for 3+ years. Let’s not pretend his success in Washington was a sure thing - there’s as much chance he proves another Samsonov rather than a Kucherov or Ovechkin.
We know what it means to have a Tom Wilson. We’ve seen what it’s like to have a Mark Stone or Matthew Tkachuk on your team. Leonard might not be as flashy as Michkov, but there’s no reason right now to think Michkov would lead to greater success for the Caps than Leonard.
Samsonov was at one time a highly touted prospect with tremendous athleticism, but it didn’t translate to success for us. Kuzy has tremendous speed and skill, but the compete isn’t there.
Michkov is clearly very talented, but was rumoured to have attitude problems and appears to have wanted to go to Philly. He won’t be in the NHL, in all likelihood, for 3+ years. Let’s not pretend his success in Washington was a sure thing - there’s as much chance he proves another Samsonov rather than a Kucherov or Ovechkin.
We know what it means to have a Tom Wilson. We’ve seen what it’s like to have a Mark Stone or Matthew Tkachuk on your team. Leonard might not be as flashy as Michkov, but there’s no reason right now to think Michkov would lead to greater success for the Caps than Leonard.
Man, it must be tough to wake up this morning as a Habs fan. After a crazy run to the Covid Cup, they have sucked ass for two seasons and as a result of the rebuild, they got, among others, 1OA in 2022 and then 5, 31, and 37 in 2023. Those assets netted them Juraj Slafkovsky, David Reinbacher, and Alex Newhook. Could turn out well for them I suppose but looks pretty bad right now.
Slafkovsky, Reinbacher, Newhook, Suzuki, Caufield, Dach, Guhle, Xhekaj.
Pretty good group of young potential core players though. Especially if Slaf and Reinbacher pan out.
