HF Habs: 2023 NHL Draft part 2

[Kennerback]

Does anyone not agree with the following two statements?
1. Will Smith has a better vision and is a better passer than Leonard.
2. Smith is at the very least an as good shooter and goal scorer as Leonard.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Nope, yer dun bud. From here on out, every single time Leonard makes a good play hfhabs will @ you. God help you if he does a spinorama.

It’s funny how you can actually like a player yet someone get arguing against them.

Like Leonard is literally 7th on my list. I’d say that’s probably a touch higher than even consensus.

 

[BergevinBurner]

Does anyone not agree with the following two statements?
1. Will Smith has a better vision and is a better passer than Leonard.
2. Smith is at the very least an as good shooter and goal scorer as Leonard.

I don't think Smith vs Leonard is much of a question, you take Smith and don't look back.

The question is what if Smith goes top 4 and management has Michkov ruled out as an option at 5th.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Does anyone not agree with the following two statements?
1. Will Smith has a better vision and is a better passer than Leonard.
2. Smith is at the very least an as good shooter and goal scorer as Leonard.

I’d say goal scoring is pretty similar, Smith brings elite playmaking while Leonard brings high compete and two way play. Smith is obviously a center as well.

I think Leonard could be the 3rd guy on a top line, but overall a 2nd liner. Like your 4th or 5th best forward on a contender.

 

[Mrb1p]

View attachment 713501

Glad to see you agree, Méo

Does anyone not agree with the following two statements?
1. Will Smith has a better vision and is a better passer than Leonard.
2. Smith is at the very least an as good shooter and goal scorer as Leonard.

Yeah to all but Leonard is a better goalscorer.

 

[Goldenhands]

There is more chances Habs win the Stanley cup next year than drafting Wood at 5.

 

[Vachon23]

 

[le_sean]

I didn’t say that’s his ceiling. Just that’s my guess for what he ends up as.

Just like Dvorsky has solid 2nd line centre potential in my book. And the Habs need a physical 1st line winger more than a two-way 2C. So we just won’t agree and that’s fine.

 

[Skip Bayless]

He's also not going to Chicago. Another win.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Just like Dvorsky has solid 2nd line centre potential in my book. And the Habs need a physical 1st line winger more than a two-way 2C. So we just won’t agree and that’s fine.

Dvorsky has a higher upside and a higher floor than Leonard imo, and you never give positional advantage to a winger over a center. I like Leonard but not at 5 OA.

 

[BeliveauFan4ever]

Weren’t Eichel and Fantilli NCAA? Or are you saying they were already 18 years old for most of their seasons? I like Wood a lot but f***, all these players being talked about at 5 that could realistically go outside of the top ten.. possible top six wingers, second line defensive centers… what the f*** did we lose all those games for? I almost would rather they trade down. Don’t trust Bobrov to make the call whatsoever. The only pick outside of Michkov that could be there a 5 I would not have a bad feeling about personally is Benson.

I’m getting to that point.

The dropoff after 4 is significant. That’s where the possible leap forward vs Eastern clubs also rebuilding, resides.

Detroit with 9 and 17 and three 2nds is poised to have a better draft than Habs. This after a supremely ugly and injury-plagued season. That’s disappointing as H.

Our cupboard has improved but one of the Top 4 is what’s so badly needed.

 

[NotProkofievian]

I was listening to an interview with Mike Johnston, the head coach of the Portland Winterhawks, and he said that to him, hockey IQ is when a player has the puck, and the game calms down. When I heard him say that, the player I thought of the most in this draft was Dalibor Dvorsky.

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

I don't think Smith vs Leonard is much of a question, you take Smith and don't look back.

The question is what if Smith goes top 4 and management has Michkov ruled out as an option at 5th.

then i think we should take Reinbacher

 

[BoneHutson]

Best case scenario would be grabing Smith 5th OA and moving up to 8th OA and drafting his pal Leonard.

Slaf-Suzuki-Caufield
Dubois-Dach-Roy
Farrell-Smith-Leonard
RHP-Beck-Heineman

Elite F group right there.

Dubois would be acquired for something around the lines of Dvorak, Armia (to make up for Dubois’salary), Mesar and Kidney

 

[McGees]

Here's a great documentary about the 96 NBA draft. How is it relevant in an NHL draft thread? For one it's inspiring to see Jerry West Maneuver to get Kobe Bryant with the 13th pick. He felt at the time that he was the best pkayer in the draft and a player they had to go out and get, yet could wait until 13th overall to get him.

Ultimately I hope our scouting staff knows how to scout, knows how to find talent.

Soooo, who is the Kobe or Nash we can take?

 

[Jack Skellington]

I was listening to an interview with Mike Johnston, the head coach of the Portland Winterhawks, and he said that to him, hockey IQ is when a player has the puck, and the game calms down. When I heard him say that, the player I thought of the most in this draft was Dalibor Dvorsky.

The Allsvenkan dmen were certainly calm

 

[MarkovsKnee]

McKeen's top 32. They have Simashev as the best D at #9, ASP #14 & Reinbacher #16.

Will Smith is #4, Michkov #5.

MCKEEN'S 2023 NHL DRAFT - FINAL RANKINGS - TOP 32

McKeen's Hockey releases its final ranking for the 2023 NHL Draft. In advance of the release of their annual, McKeen's 2023 NHL Draft Guide, in early June.

www.mckeenshockey.com

 

[Mrb1p]

The Allsvenkan dmen were certainly calm

Looooooool

 

[Michoulicious]

The Allsvenkan dmen were certainly calm

His production in a weak league was very calm indeed.

People say to calm down witn Smith U18 3 ppg because it was U18 (and then say his crazy season overproducing guys like Matthews, Caufield and Keller in the program is because if his linemates) but Dvorsky has been underwhelming THE WHOLE YEAR in a weak league but because he was good against kids at U18 he's now Kopitar.

Nothing against Dvorsky, I actually like him. But drafting him at #5 OA when Michkov/Smith is available is overdrafting like with KK 2.0 once again. Stupidest big brain move ever.

 

[Michoulicious]

McKeen's top 32. They have Simashev as the best D at #9, ASP #14 & Reinbacher #16.

Will Smith is #4, Michkov #5.

MCKEEN'S 2023 NHL DRAFT - FINAL RANKINGS - TOP 32

McKeen's Hockey releases its final ranking for the 2023 NHL Draft. In advance of the release of their annual, McKeen's 2023 NHL Draft Guide, in early June.

www.mckeenshockey.com

I don't agree with Michkov at 5 (he's a clear #2 on talent, and it's not a mock).

However, I agree with the whole idea defensemen will be overdrafted in the top 10 this year.

This is a forward heavy crop.

 

[Kennerback]

I like Zach Benson but not at 5OA. Stylistically he makes me think of Zuccarello and Denis Savard’s spawn.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

I like Zach Benson but not at 5OA. Stylistically he makes me think of Zuccarello and Denis Savard’s spawn.

Habs need that high-end player and everyone has pretty is drawn to the conclusion that the Habs won't draft Michkov, who isn't perfect, but definitely is a high-end prospect. The rest are a step, or tier below and that's why there's so many suggestions and so many opposed to the variety.

It f***ing sucks honestly.

Habs are never in that spot where there's a unanimous selection, or almost unanimous. There's always question marks around who could go where they're drafting and the Habs have a history if selecting wrong.

 

[SwiftyHab]

There will be a stud available at 5, just need to identify them and take them.

Suggest we bring one of these during the interviews

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

His production in a weak league was very calm indeed.

People say to calm down witn Smith U18 3 ppg because it was U18 (and then say his crazy season overproducing guys like Matthews, Caufield and Keller in the program is because if his linemates) but Dvorsky has been underwhelming THE WHOLE YEAR in a weak league but because he was good against kids at U18 he's now Kopitar.

Nothing against Dvorsky, I actually like him. But drafting him at #5 OA when Michkov/Smith is available is overdrafting like with KK 2.0 once again. Stupidest big brain move ever.

Dvorsky was playing against far superior competition than Smith who was playing on a stacked line with almost no defensive responsibilities and dunking on USHL teams that would get spanked by CHL teams. Smith also played against NCAA teams who are also well below the level that Dvorsky was playing at and many NCAA teams are downright awful. You name Mathews , Caufield and Keller as players that he outproduced but you know who he did not outproduce.....Gabe Perreault, his linemate. These comparisons are silly especially the Mathews one because he didn't even play on the USNDTP in his draft year, his numbers were from his previous year as a 16/17 year old.

Stop looking at stats where there is nothing even close to a linear correlation and try to understand and learn how to break down a player's game visually.

I love how you pump Smith's tires for dunking on sh**ters but disregard Dvorsky's dominance against similar competition. We have not seen Smith play against men and we have not seen Dvorsky play on a line that has two of the 2-10 (depending on which scout you talk it might even be 2-4) best draft eligible wingers in the world. We have not seen Dvorsky play between Leonard and Perreault against weak competition with a directive to be creative and score over 200 foot hockey. I personally think that there is a very real chance that Dvorsky puts up better numbers in both places but we will never know.

I am not saying that I necessarily think Dvorsky is better than Smith or vice versa but there is absolutely an argument to be made for both players that does not include comparing stats in a 1:1 ratio. I have been a fan of both for a while now and have flip flopped but am slightly leaning to Dvorsky as of right now and have no reason to be confident that I am correct.

It is very difficult to make these comparisons and no NHL scout can be remotely sure which one will be better. Hopefully our scouts make the right choice because I will choose to trust it.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Suggest we bring one of these during the interviews

View attachment 713576

And don't forget the Zircon encrusted tweezers.....