HF Habs: 2023 NHL Draft part 2

[Draft]

I dunno... I'm still not sold on the guys from the USNTDP. I like Leonard the best of the 3.

Take Smith away from two guys that do the majority of the work on their line and what does he offer? Feels like we've had 20mins all season to see him away from Leonard and/or Perreault. Put him on team Slovakia in a tougher pool, does he hit 20pts at the U18s and win games for his team? Put him in the SHL or Allsvenskan against pro players and how quickly does his three-trick-pony stick skills get eaten up? He's had just about the perfect on-ice conditions from Game 1, but at what point has he proven that he's THE GUY?

I like him and I see the upside, but I don't want Alex Tanguay at #5.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

They won't respect his shot as much but they also will easily pick off his passes and end threats. Won't matter how much time and space Caufield has if he doesn't get the puck

True but Im not expecting Dach to qb the PP and be the distributer. Someone like Hutson would probably be much more effective from the point. Both could work, all I'm saying is I think a scoring threat from the dot is more important than a distributor because right now, Caufield is the only real elite thread so reads are easy to pick off. Doesn't matter how good Dach is at distributing if everyone and their mother knows they're looking for caufield

 

[SOLR]

I said I don't really see a fit, and I can't just invent a world where he becomes a really strong playmaker.

He's not that, he would play at the same spot as Drai, something we do not have at all on that side. And he can go in front of the net and be elite there, he's particularly good at rebound goals.

 

[WeThreeKings]

True but Im not expecting Dach to qb the PP and be the distributer. Someone like Hutson would probably be much more effective from the point. Both could work, all I'm saying is I think a scoring threat from the dot is more important than a distributor because right now, Caufield is the only real elite thread so reads are easy to pick off. Doesn't matter how good Dach is at distributing if everyone and their mother knows they're looking for caufield

He's not that, he would play at the same spot as Drai, something we do not have at all on that side. And he can go in front of the net and be elite there, he's particularly good at rebound goals.

SOLR is saying what I am saying, more than if you want Dvorsky on PP1, the best spot for him is in the bumper. I still like Dach on the half-wall as the primary puck distributor and Lane Hutson as the PP QB.

But if you put Dvorsky in the bumper, then Slafkovsky isn't on your PP1 either.

I'd have it aligned like this

-----------Hutson
-----------------------Mailloux
Dach----Slafkovsky----Caufield
------------Net--------

With movement obviously happening, like Dach going into the middle, Mailloux pinching down, Slafkovsky bumping out to create a LS one-timer.

Dach's pass first approach won't be an issue because he will have a bumper open in Slaf, cross ice to either Mailloux or Caufield for one-timers.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

SOLR is saying what I am saying, more than if you want Dvorsky on PP1, the best spot for him is in the bumper. I still like Dach on the half-wall as the primary puck distributor and Lane Hutson as the PP QB.

But if you put Dvorsky in the bumper, then Slafkovsky isn't on your PP1 either.

I'd have it aligned like this

-----------Hutson
-----------------------Mailloux
Dach----Slafkovsky----Caufield
------------Net--------

With movement obviously happening, like Dach going into the middle, Mailloux pinching down, Slafkovsky bumping out to create a LS one-timer.

Dach's pass first approach won't be an issue because he will have a bumper open in Slaf, cross ice to either Mailloux or Caufield for one-timers.

That doesn't work as Slafkovsky is LHS unless you want him taking it off his backhand or have Caufield feeding him. A right shot in the bumper is optimal unless you have your distributor on the other side. I have no problem with the setup per say just the personnel is kinda off imo. The bumper position has almost no time and space to release therefore they have to take it off their forehand. Mailloux and Caufield aren't playmakers and shouldn't be treated as such. The best option for bumper would probably be Suzuki or Dach as they're the only RHS

 

[Redux91]

SOLR is saying what I am saying, more than if you want Dvorsky on PP1, the best spot for him is in the bumper. I still like Dach on the half-wall as the primary puck distributor and Lane Hutson as the PP QB.

But if you put Dvorsky in the bumper, then Slafkovsky isn't on your PP1 either.

I'd have it aligned like this

-----------Hutson
-----------------------Mailloux
Dach----Slafkovsky----Caufield
------------Net--------

With movement obviously happening, like Dach going into the middle, Mailloux pinching down, Slafkovsky bumping out to create a LS one-timer.

Dach's pass first approach won't be an issue because he will have a bumper open in Slaf, cross ice to either Mailloux or Caufield for one-timers.

Nick Suzuki Captain of the Montreal Canadiens :

Lol

 

[HabsForHire]

Ryan Leonard, from the non top 5.

His motor, his speed, his tenacity, and the hands and skill to go with it.

That forward group lacks his speed. Dvorsky ain't adding speed.

This x100

 

[Gravity]

Trade Anderson and get an Anderson replacement in Leonard :sigh:

 

[The Great Weal]

If Hughes believes in Smith the person, a guy who will do the work to strengthen their weaknesses, he won’t pass on him. The talent is there.

And the fact Smith and Hughes are so close they text each other regularly tells me that Smith will not be passed up.

But if it's still a major issue, maybe he isn't the person he thought he was. Being close to someone doesn't mean that they are guaranteed to be drafted by that person.

Hughes knows Smith and we already know he likes him. You don’t draft a kid top 5 for his ‘’two-way game’’ you draft them top 5 for their offensive potential and then they round up their game.

And yes, i actually think he will play center.

How do we know that he likes him? I don't disagree with the rest of your comments, he's my #5 guy even though I do think he ends up a winger (a non-issue for us).

I think you are reading too much into everything.

After Bedard, it is all up in the air. Maybe Michkov gets picked 2 and Smith or Dvorsky is picked 3rd and maybe Fantilli or Carlsson are the one falling to 5. We will see.

The draft never happens like predicted and surprise always happens. Every single year.

Sure, but I could see us being the team that makes the surprise move of drafting someone that wasn't a top 5 projected pick. Anyways, you may be right in that I'm reading too much into everything. I mean hell, I was convinced we were drafting Wright until Bob Mack tweeted who we picked right before we chose Slaf. HuGo won't show anyone their hands and the uncertainty works in their favor. I just hope we get it right.

 

[xposbrad]

Trade Anderson and get an Anderson replacement in Leonard :sigh:

Really hoping Hughes comes up with a creative way to package Anderson+2nd rounder for a higher 1st round pick so we can grab another high end forward.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

Really hoping Hughes comes up with a creative way to package Anderson+2nd rounder for a higher 1st round pick so we can grab another high end forward.

Gotta target the Washington 1st. Anderson, top 5 prospect (not Hutson or Mailloux) and a 2nd should do it honestly

 

[ginomini]

SOLR is saying what I am saying, more than if you want Dvorsky on PP1, the best spot for him is in the bumper. I still like Dach on the half-wall as the primary puck distributor and Lane Hutson as the PP QB.

But if you put Dvorsky in the bumper, then Slafkovsky isn't on your PP1 either.

I'd have it aligned like this

-----------Hutson
-----------------------Mailloux
Dach----Slafkovsky----Caufield
------------Net--------

With movement obviously happening, like Dach going into the middle, Mailloux pinching down, Slafkovsky bumping out to create a LS one-timer.

Dach's pass first approach won't be an issue because he will have a bumper open in Slaf, cross ice to either Mailloux or Caufield for one-timers.

Definitely out of topic, but you can't have to trigger men on the same side.
But it remains that we should not draft Dvorsky for his potential PP presence since the chance he becomes better than Suzuki is extremely slim. He would potentially be a good bumper guy, but will he better than Slaf?

Anyways, let's not draft to build a PP.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

I am sorry but this statement is bonkers

He is 2-3 years from NHL and he will be only 22 in 5 years and you already know he wont fit the PP1??

That's just someone's opinion. No one here is paid to be an expert and everyone just shares their views.

I mean, in the KK draft people here were comparing Tkachuk to Shane Bowers and see how wrong that was.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

SOLR is saying what I am saying, more than if you want Dvorsky on PP1, the best spot for him is in the bumper. I still like Dach on the half-wall as the primary puck distributor and Lane Hutson as the PP QB.

But if you put Dvorsky in the bumper, then Slafkovsky isn't on your PP1 either.

I'd have it aligned like this

-----------Hutson
-----------------------Mailloux
Dach----Slafkovsky----Caufield
------------Net--------

With movement obviously happening, like Dach going into the middle, Mailloux pinching down, Slafkovsky bumping out to create a LS one-timer.

Dach's pass first approach won't be an issue because he will have a bumper open in Slaf, cross ice to either Mailloux or Caufield for one-timers.

There’s no shot threat on the left side there. Love Mailloux, but he probably ends up PP2 as we roll 4 forwards on PP1. Also where’s Suzuki?

 

[SOLR]

Yeah I think it's more

-----------Hutson
------------------------Suzuki
Dach----Dvorsky----Caufield
------------Net--------


Slaf is behind Caufield on this.


-----------Guhle
------------------- Mesar
Beck ---- Roy ---- Slaf
------------Net--------

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Yeah I think it's more

-----------Hutson
------------------------Suzuki
Dach----Dvorsky----Caufield
------------Net--------


Slaf is behind Caufield on this.


-----------Guhle
------------------- Mesar
Beck ---- Roy ---- Slaf
------------Net--------

I’d flip Dach and Dvorsky, and Mailloux would definitely be the D for the 2nd unit.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

I’d probably go:
PP1
Suzuki———Hutson
Dvorsky———-Caufield
————Slaf————-

PP2
Matheson——Mailloux
Roy——————Dach
————PLD————

 

[Deam78]

What are you guys even talking about worrying about potential PP1 5 years down the road is the least of our worries when trying to draft the best available player, worry about that later lol

 

[Habs Icing]

Why the f*** do people want to take Suzuki, our only true dual threat off the PP?

Haven't you heard? Montreal fans are the most knowledgeable .

 

[Milhouse40]

Leonard isnt nasty lol

Well I mean he has nasty hands and a nasty shot but...

Nasty might not be the right word here....Rugged?
I like that he can beat players one-on-one either by speed or with his ability to always take the inside by strenght.

 

[Mandala]

It would be between Smith and Leonard. My personal choice is Leonard but will be happy with both.

 

[Saxon]

Ryan Leonard, from the non top 5.

His motor, his speed, his tenacity, and the hands and skill to go with it.

That forward group lacks his speed. Dvorsky ain't adding speed.

Good points… but why you

I dunno... I'm still not sold on the guys from the USNTDP. I like Leonard the best of the 3.

Take Smith away from two guys that do the majority of the work on their line and what does he offer? Feels like we've had 20mins all season to see him away from Leonard and/or Perreault. Put him on team Slovakia in a tougher pool, does he hit 20pts at the U18s and win games for his team? Put him in the SHL or Allsvenskan against pro players and how quickly does his three-trick-pony stick skills get eaten up? He's had just about the perfect on-ice conditions from Game 1, but at what point has he proven that he's THE GUY?

I like him and I see the upside, but I don't want Alex Tanguay at #5.

Hot take… Moore will be the best NHLer off that team

 

[Kennerback]

Nasty might not be the right word here....Rugged?
I like that he can beat players one-on-one either by speed or with his ability to always take the inside by strenght.

He’s physical. He finishes his checks and hits a lot. He’s not a Tkachuk/Overchkin Power Forward because he’s 3 inches shorter and has trouble hitting the bigger guys. But the good thing is he wont be pushed around and is not afraid of heavy traffic.

 

[McGees]

Better than many I see tbh.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Better than many I see tbh.

Has better writing than @Mrb1p