My list at 5 based on what I've read and highlight videos + some U-18 play.
So, I take into account probability based on the number of mocks/ Rankings I've seen both from "professional" and people here and other amateurs sites. No, not those ones....
1) - Matvei Michkov.
Guy has elite skill. Skill that easily rivals Bedard. They're only real comparison was a U-18 tournament and Michkov out produced him, but that's just looking at stats as I wasn't able to watch that one. If he (Michkov) was 6'3 and still this skilled, I imagine him going 1st overall despite his contract would still be likely. Worst case, he'd go 2nd. He's not, so the habs have a chance for him to drop to 5th and that skill you can't realistically pass up on.
2) Ryan Leonard
Has maybe underrated skill that some give him. He isn't as skilled as his teammate, Will Smith, but he's not slouch. Has a nice release and plays the games as a whole and brings much more to the game than just offense. The potential of having a skilled forward that plays hard like T.J. Oshie, Filip Forsberg, or maybe a little less Gabriel Landeskog is a nice prospect to add.
3) Will Smith.
Name alone should have him going 1st overall, but he just dominated the U-18 and the USNTDP. He beat records set by some really good NHLers, so it's very likely he will go on to be a very good NHLer. Solid size at 6', maybe if the habs draft him they feed him some radioactive pre-workout and he goes a few inches. Would not be disappointed with this selection.
4) David Reinbacher
Everything about him sounds like the potentially perfect piece to add to the potential future dcore of the habs. Like pretty much the others, he's had a season where his point totals are better than what current NHL studs had put up at a similar age. Potential to be a future number 1 dman, but it seems some publications are souring a bit on him because of ASP's U-18 while Reinbacher, who played for a low end hockey country didn't put the points in a much harder tournament for 17/18 year-olds.
In my opinion, if you take Reinbacher at 5, it's the potential of looking like a genius like Yzerman who took Seider at 6th I believe when he wasn't even in that area really, more like 10th+, or it backfires and you get questioned. It's not like it's taking Smith, who seems to be unanimously ranked close to 5 with whispers he could go as high as 3 and he busts.
5) Leo Carlsson
Big centre with skill and a lot to like. He's 5th as it seems it's unlikely he's there at 5. Columbus/San Jose would have to like Smith and Michkov more, or potentially someone else.
Would be a great day to get a player like that at 5th, but I wouldn't hold your breat.
4 weeks and about 8 hours until the habs select.
Way too long.
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