HF Habs: 2023 HF Habs Prospect Rankings #1

[ginomini]

Mailloux doesn't really own a brain though, which makes the possibility of him being a 1D... difficult to project. It could be he still has a lot of runway because he hasnt played much, but hes almost 21.

On Engstrom though, I clearly see a path where hes a top pair too. Hes not just brains, hes super toolsy. He has hands that rival Hutson, hes got skating that hangs with the two big boys, good size, hes chippy, he has a good shot, his playmaking is good. I know hes a 3rd rounder that didnt have much hype but im pretty sure theres about 31 teams kicking themselves right now.

Yeah I think Mailloux is massively overhyped around here, because he makes spectacular plays here and there. I'm not saying he's not going to be good, but he has major limitations, for now I see him as a lesser version of Ristolainen, which is something you absolutely do not want on a winning team's top 6. He can still improve obviously, but for now I have Engstrom a few notches ahead of him.

 

[Rapala]

I rarely get involved in ranking prospects I find it a frustrating exercise in futility. Perhaps it's because our prospect pool has been so bad for so long.
I was always one of the first to dismiss the hype we see here every year. I get we are all stoked when we see the kids perform live in a development camp but I want to see them playing against NHL talent. Based on that and that alone for me Owen Beck is our top prospect. When I get to see more of them perform at this level I obviously have to hope this will change. Hutson at the Worlds and our European D in their respective leagues definitely have merit but it still isn't the NHL. One thing I will say is I'm far more confident in our propects collectively than I've been in a long long time.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Yeah I think Mailloux is massively overhyped around here, because he makes spectacular plays here and there. I'm not saying he's not going to be good, but he has major limitations, for now I see him as a lesser version of Ristolainen, which is something you absolutely do not want on a winning team's top 6. He can still improve obviously, but for now I have Engstrom a few notches ahead of him.

There is no way to know and we are all guessing. Neither of them has played a NHL game yet. I do like Engstrom because he is build from the back end out like Romanov and Guhle. Trusted by their coaches in all situations and used in heavy minutes.

Mailloux gets noticed a lot because he has that skating/size with the heavy shot.

I like both for different reasons. Engstrom may be the safter bet but how do we always pretend to know how they grow from when they turn pro+. I remember fans telling me that Norlinder was so much better than Harris but I had them close. Turns out Harris is better. Why? Hockey IQ IMO.

 

[26Mats]

Yes but like I said earlier Makar can do those move with his ELITE skating

For sure we don't know what Hutson will be able to do at the NHL level, both offensively and defensively. I'm not worried about the offense, given he's head and shoulders above his peers and he doesn't need size to do what he does at the NHL level.

I'm very concerned about his defense. I'm not certain he'll be able to play defense 5 on 5 at the NHL level. He may end up being a winger 5 on 5 and a PP specialist. That's why I have Reinbacher 1st and Hutson 2nd.

 

[abo9]

I took Reinbacher. Biggest floor combined with extremely high potential. All (?) of our other top picks have been graduated. I'm extremely excited for a guy like Hutson, but he's just too much of a big boom/bust type of guy for me to be ahead of Reinbacher.

I love reading past lists - its' crazy that even with consensus, there's a lot of discrepancy with what actually happens.

My favorite is how we decided Poehling was a better prospect than Suzuki, then Caufield two years in a row. Especially since both graduated right after the poll was done and had success in the NHL - it's not like mistakenly voting guys lower because they were 5 years away from the NHL.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I rarely get involved in ranking prospects I find it a frustrating exercise in futility. Perhaps it's because our prospect pool has been so bad for so long.
I was always one of the first to dismiss the hype we see here every year. I get we are all stoked when we see the kids perform live in a development camp but I want to see them playing against NHL talent. Based on that and that alone for me Owen Beck is our top prospect. When I get to see more of them perform at this level I obviously have to hope this will change. Hutson at the Worlds and our European D in their respective leagues definitely have merit but it still isn't the NHL. One thing I will say is I'm far more confident in our propects collectively than I've been in a long long time.

Well said. There has been issues in the past with overhyping a shallow pool. We have all done that over the years but some learn, and some don't. This current pool has both quality and quantity and not something we have seen in decades. High draft power is how we got to this point. We stopped trading picks for short term gains. Even when we rise up, I hope we are still conservative with trading futures for short term gains. I only like going all in when you are close like Tampa was.

The game changes so much after they turn pro. Time and space is reduced substantially and you see that affecting players like Lafreniere. That's why I think hockey IQ is so important... Their ability to comprehend the hurdles along the way and overcome it is very important.

 

[HomeAndHome]

I love me some Lane, but went Reinbacher as our best prospect at this point in time. To me he has the best combination of tools/ability and I think he has the potential to make the biggest impact in the NHL.

Reinbacher
Hutson
Beck
Engstrom
Roy
Mailloux

Farrell/Heineman/Kidney/Mesar after. Leaving goalies out as I have no clue how to evaluate them

 

[McGuires Corndog]

I’m a huge Hutson fanboy but the fact he’s winning this poll is laughable.

He can barely defend against guys his own age.

Reinbacher, pretty easily for me.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I’m a huge Hutson fanboy but the fact he’s winning this poll is laughable.

He can barely defend against guys his own age.

Reinbacher, pretty easily for me.

Voting doesn't allow posters to change their vote. If that was open, I bet the votes change because posters bring up something others didn't think about. This is fun to look and vote on but it means nothing in the end.

What matters the most is we have a load of good assets with both quality and quantity from Suzuki to Reinbacher. Age 23-18. 5 year spread. Even the next two drafts are still important. That's a 7 year spread from Suzuki. When he is 30, the 2025th picks are 23 and Reinbacher is 25.

I think our possible contending years is when Suzuki is 27+. That's when the guys we are voting on today are touching prime or are in their prime. So yeah, we got 3+ more years of more rebuild/transition years.

 

[Canadiens Ghost]

In my limited knowledge, toss up between the first two.

 

[Whitesnake]

The only potential star power in that list. Hutson. There is 1 guy. And it's him.

 

[26Mats]

The only potential star power in that list. Hutson. There is 1 guy. And it's him.

Reinbacher and Mailloux have star ceiling, perhaps Engstrom and Roy also.

 

[Whitesnake]

I’m a huge Hutson fanboy but the fact he’s winning this poll is laughable.

He can barely defend against guys his own age.

Reinbacher, pretty easily for me.

Well I disagree because I don't think you are right. He improved in that department big time. His coach used him while leading. In important moments. He's still not there yet but that is what a prospect is...not suppose to be there yet. He is the only prospect we have with a star power potential. Reinbacher will be a solid No2 in that pool.

But yes, it does not mean that later on in the development curve, Reinbacher will be our best while Hutson fall down. It's all about projection right now. And when compared to the kids we already have, Hutson was dancing around them and not looking bad defensively.

And frankly, I think people see our prospect pool way too high. It,s time to start comparing...

Reinbacher and Mailloux have star ceiling, perhaps Engstrom and Roy also.

Don't see that at all. Reinbacher has more chances...but the other 3, I don't see it. Engstrom will be insanely reliable. But star? And Roy....long way to go.

 

[Mrb1p]

I love how the same people using the good old two way "good hockey" "right way" arguments are the same people that vote for Hutson over Reinbacher.

Hutson is just a worse version of Michkov and he plays the position that does not lend itselfs well to the skillset he possess.

The only potential star power in that list. Hutson. There is 1 guy. And it's him.

Reinbacher has 1D potential.

 

[Whitesnake]

I love how the same people using the good old two way "good hockey" "right way" arguments are the same people that vote for Hutson over Reinbacher.

Hutson is just a worse version of Michkov and he plays the position that does not lend itselfs well to the skillset he possess.

Reinbacher has 1D potential.

We will see. When Hughes himself doesn't believe that....To me, right now, I see him as No2 D, logging big minutes, PK specialist. My comparison is always Jay Bouwmeester. I don't think we,ve ever named Jay as a star. But a really really good player though, for sure. Actually Bouw was seen in his draft year as a much better Reinbacher. And he played for Team Canada. So he wasn't too shabby. But would you say he was a star?

If Lane racks up the points, while defining himself into a PP specialist on top of that. And while his moves and quickness open passing and shooting lanes and make other players benefit from his style of play....chances are he would becocme hugely important.

 

[TT1]

1) Hutson
2) Reinbacher
3) Engstrom

stacked prospect d-core, i think Engstrom has very high top 3 D upside, it looks like 2022 is gonna end up being an amazing draft

 

[Treb]

Voting doesn't allow posters to change their vote. If that was open, I bet the votes change because posters bring up something others didn't think about. This is fun to look and vote on but it means nothing in the end.

What matters the most is we have a load of good assets with both quality and quantity from Suzuki to Reinbacher. Age 23-18. 5 year spread. Even the next two drafts are still important. That's a 7 year spread from Suzuki. When he is 30, the 2025th picks are 23 and Reinbacher is 25.

I think our possible contending years is when Suzuki is 27+. That's when the guys we are voting on today are touching prime or are in their prime. So yeah, we got 3+ more years of more rebuild/transition years.

Changing vote is out because too many posters like to troll and force tie-breakers.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Changing vote is out because too many posters like to troll and force tie-breakers.

I figured there was a reason

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

The Mailloux slander needs to end. He may not ever be a standout defensively, but as he gets more PT he’ll continue to get better and better. He’s ahead of guys like Barron or even Subban at the same stage, and his tools are closer to the latter than the former. The shot is elite. The size and skating is elite. And he’s got a lot more creativity and skill with the puck than most big defenseman. He’s going to be very good.

It’s a close call between he, Hutson, and Reinbacher, but had to go with my boy Hutson who just is on an otherworldly trajectory that could put him into that Makar/Fox stratosphere.

 

[HabsEstrie]

Why are you comparing him to Makar? Don't stop there. Go all the way to Bobby Orr, Lidstrom and Coffey

Brilliant, simply brilliant! Hats off to y’a

 

[HabsEstrie]

Makar is probabkt the 2nd best skater in the NHL and he could very well be the best skater ever. Makar is also bigger and has some of the best shooting for a D that I can remember.

All weaknesses for Hutson.

One is 19 5’10. Other is 24 5’11

Lmao good one. He will get bigger. Makar is only 185.

 

[Captain Mountain]

The Mailloux slander needs to end. He may not ever be a standout defensively, but as he gets more PT he’ll continue to get better and better. He’s ahead of guys like Barron or even Subban at the same stage, and his tools are closer to the latter than the former. The shot is elite. The size and skating is elite. And he’s got a lot more creativity and skill with the puck than most big defenseman. He’s going to be very good.

It’s a close call between he, Hutson, and Reinbacher, but had to go with my boy Hutson who just is on an otherworldly trajectory that could put him into that Makar/Fox stratosphere.

At the same stage:

- Barron was playing AHL, NHL and WC games
-Subban was 12th P/GP in the OHL among ALL players, was an OHL first team all star, was the top scoring D-man at the WJC, and was a WJC all-star

I'm not sure what your standard for slander is, but being ahead of Barron and especially Subban feels like a real stretch.

 

[Vachon23]

The Mailloux slander needs to end. He may not ever be a standout defensively, but as he gets more PT he’ll continue to get better and better. He’s ahead of guys like Barron or even Subban at the same stage, and his tools are closer to the latter than the former. The shot is elite. The size and skating is elite. And he’s got a lot more creativity and skill with the puck than most big defenseman. He’s going to be very good.

It’s a close call between he, Hutson, and Reinbacher, but had to go with my boy Hutson who just is on an otherworldly trajectory that could put him into that Makar/Fox stratosphere.

At Mailloux ages

Barron was a top 4 Dmen at the WJC and was producing well in the AHL

Subban, I won’t even talk about it they where not even in the sane category

 

[Mrb1p]

The Mailloux slander needs to end. He may not ever be a standout defensively, but as he gets more PT he’ll continue to get better and better. He’s ahead of guys like Barron or even Subban at the same stage, and his tools are closer to the latter than the former. The shot is elite. The size and skating is elite. And he’s got a lot more creativity and skill with the puck than most big defenseman. He’s going to be very good.

It’s a close call between he, Hutson, and Reinbacher, but had to go with my boy Hutson who just is on an otherworldly trajectory that could put him into that Makar/Fox stratosphere.

Buddy thats insanely disingenuous. Subbans 19 YO season had people in shambles, they literally thought he was the next Bobby Orr. He had one of the strongest D+1 and d+2 in recent memory. At 21 he played in the playoffs for the Habs and was one of the best defensive player right out the gate.

One is 19 5’10. Other is 24 5’11

Lmao good one. He will get bigger. Makar is only 185.

Makar is built like a brickshit house and Hutson looks like he would lose in a fight against my 5 foot nothing girlfriend.

 

[Habs Icing]

One is 19 5’10. Other is 24 5’11

Lmao good one. He will get bigger. Makar is only 185.

He's 5'9", 158. It says so on the Habs height and weight release, and Lane hesitantly admitted he was 5-9 in the press conference. If Mrb1p's girlfriend wears heels she'll tower over him.