HF Habs: 2023 NHL Draft part 2

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HuGo Burner Acc

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If you notice in the playoffs, the cup champions #1 dman can provide offense just as much as defense. I don't disagree that a guy like Reinbacher wouldn't be helpful. But a guy with the potential to have a Kucherov/Mack impact is worth way more than a primarily shutdown dman.
Give me a Makar over a mack. Give me a Hedman over a kucherov. Give me a prime Doughty over Kopitar. Give me pieterangelo over O'Reilly. So it's about 50/50. No.1 D are as if not more important than top liners. But if we're taking about a 3rd/4th forward vs a 2nd pairing D, that 2nd pair D will help you win more as that's how playoff hockey is played. Mitigating mistakes over creating offence. But getting a guy like Michkov vs Reinbacher is like taking Kucherov over Lightning McDounagh
 

The Great Weal

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I am just stating something to be considered about Michkov and yes, it's worrisome if you want a competitive team.
Sure but I'm not really worried about that when you got guys like Suzuki and Beck in the system. The best defense is being in the opposing team's zone.
 

Jabba11

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Asking draft experts here (so basically everyone here!), how does Will Smith compares to Jac Hughes. IIRC, Jack Hughes defensive play was not his best either. What made Hughes a sure thing versus Smith less of a sure thing with his commitment in "repli defensif"?
 

The Great Weal

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Asking draft experts here (so basically everyone here!), how does Will Smith compares to Jac Hughes. IIRC, Jack Hughes defensive play was not his best either. What made Hughes a sure thing versus Smith less of a sure thing with his commitment in "repli defensif"?
Jack Hughes skating is electrifying while Smith's isn't. Hard to gauge compete level since I recall some concerns too with Hughes (young players can get bored in leagues they dominate).
 

Mrb1p

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Holy s*** dude has serious hands
Yes.

Also can pass the puck. He literally pulls off the no-look deceptive pass better than like 99.99% of players Ive watched in my life. He is 100% a great player.

Look at that spider sense.




Asking draft experts here (so basically everyone here!), how does Will Smith compares to Jac Hughes. IIRC, Jack Hughes defensive play was not his best either. What made Hughes a sure thing versus Smith less of a sure thing with his commitment in "repli defensif"?
Smith is just not as skilled as Hughes. Hughes has skating that ranks in the top 10 in the league, Smiths skating is his biggest weakness. Hughes doesnt need to be great because hes a 100-0 player, Im not sure Smith is good enougg offensively to be a 100-0 kind of guy.
 

HuGo Burner Acc

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That's my point, so why would we want to do that? Reinbacher likely doesn't have the same offensive upside as the dmen you mentioned.
I agree. I don't want to pick reinbacher over michkov. My original point is you win with D like Reinbacher not take reinbacher over michkov. If you have a D with the same talent level as michkov but plays a two way game also, I'm taking the D all day every day but these two players simply aren't proportional
 

BoneHutson

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Mar 26, 2023
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Man, if its true that CLB is dumb enough to pass on Carlsson for the american kid + that Grier will target the second best player in this draft (Michkov), it would simply be incredible. A talent like Carlsson at 5?! Unfortunately, he would have to be pretty terrible at the WC to drop behind Smith (which imo won't happen from what we've seen from him in warmup games with SWE + he was their 1C).

The Michkov to SJ rumour is encouraging as I was picturing them as the team separating us from the possibility of landing Carlsson (assuming CLB takes Smith). The idea of reuniting him with Eklund and Bystedt, I thought, was too good to pass on him. But who knows, if given the choice they might actually go for the Kucherov potential over the Swede connection. Anyway, best case scenario :

1. f***ing losers : Bedard
2. ANA : Fantilli
3. CLB : Smith
4. SJ : Michkov
5. MTL : Carlsson

Could you imagine? Maybe as soon as next year running these lines :

Slafkovsky-Suzuki-Caufield
Heineman-Carlsson-Dach
Farrell-Dubois-Roy
RHP-Evans-Beck-Ylonen-Pezz

Matheson-Barron
Guhle-Mailloux
Xhekaj-Harris-Savard

Just need a starter
 

Mrb1p

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Man, if its true that CLB is dumb enough to pass on Carlsson for the american kid + that Grier will target the second best player in this draft (Michkov), it would simply be incredible. A talent like Carlsson at 5?! Unfortunately, he would have to be pretty terrible at the WC to drop behind Smith (which imo won't happen from what we've seen from him in warmup games with SWE + he was their 1C).

The Michkov to SJ rumour is encouraging as I was picturing them as the team separating us from the possibility of landing Carlsson (assuming CLB takes Smith). The idea of reuniting him with Eklund and Bystedt, I thought, was too good to pass on him. But who knows, if given the choice they might actually go for the Kucherov potential over the Swede connection. Anyway, best case scenario :

1. f***ing losers : Bedard
2. ANA : Fantilli
3. CLB : Smith
4. SJ : Michkov
5. MTL : Carlsson

Could you imagine? Maybe as soon as next year running these lines :

Slafkovsky-Suzuki-Caufield
Heineman-Carlsson-Dach
Farrell-Dubois-Roy
RHP-Evans-Beck-Ylonen-Pezz

Matheson-Barron
Guhle-Mailloux
Xhekaj-Harris-Savard

Just need a starter
Plz god no. Even Carlsson shouldnt be rushed. Let him simmer and earn his bones at C in the SHL, maybe break a few records, come in with full confidence.
 

Goldenhands

Slaf_The_Great
Aug 21, 2016
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Man, if its true that CLB is dumb enough to pass on Carlsson for the american kid + that Grier will target the second best player in this draft (Michkov), it would simply be incredible. A talent like Carlsson at 5?! Unfortunately, he would have to be pretty terrible at the WC to drop behind Smith (which imo won't happen from what we've seen from him in warmup games with SWE + he was their 1C).

The Michkov to SJ rumour is encouraging as I was picturing them as the team separating us from the possibility of landing Carlsson (assuming CLB takes Smith). The idea of reuniting him with Eklund and Bystedt, I thought, was too good to pass on him. But who knows, if given the choice they might actually go for the Kucherov potential over the Swede connection. Anyway, best case scenario :

1. f***ing losers : Bedard
2. ANA : Fantilli
3. CLB : Smith
4. SJ : Michkov
5. MTL : Carlsson

Could you imagine? Maybe as soon as next year running these lines :

Slafkovsky-Suzuki-Caufield
Heineman-Carlsson-Dach
Farrell-Dubois-Roy
RHP-Evans-Beck-Ylonen-Pezz

Matheson-Barron
Guhle-Mailloux
Xhekaj-Harris-Savard

Just need a starter
Carlson dropping would be like winning the 2nd OV spot.
 

BoneHutson

Registered User
Mar 26, 2023
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Plz god no. Even Carlsson shouldnt be rushed. Let him simmer and earn his bones at C in the SHL, maybe break a few records, come in with full confidence.
I actually agree, just thought itd be fun to make the lines with him in it. He could still join the team for the playoffs (I know, I know....) after his season in SWE.
 

Michoulicious

Registered User
Dec 9, 2014
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Carlson dropping would be like winning the 2nd OV spot.
What many people fail to comprehend is that there is not much difference between Carlsson, Fantilli and Smith. 3 probable 1st line Cs, each with their strengths and weaknesses. Everybody seems to be sleeping on Smith but I'd not be surprised if he ends up the best of the bunch.

For me Bedard and Michkov are just a step above those 3. Then there is a gap after at #6-10 with the Benson, Dvorsky, Reinbacher, Leonard, ASP, etc.

We are really lucky to have a top 5 pick in this particular draft. Almost can't miss.
 
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Goldenhands

Slaf_The_Great
Aug 21, 2016
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What many people fail to comprehend is that there is not much difference between Carlsson, Fantilli and Smith. 3 probable 1st line Cs, each with their strengths and weaknesses. Everybody seems to be sleeping on Smith but I'd not be surprised if he ends up the best of the bunch.

For me Bedard and Michkov are just a step above those 3. Then there is a gap after at #6-10 with the Benson, Dvorsky, Reinbacher, Leonard, ASP, etc.

We are really lucky to have a top 5 pick in this particular draft. Almost can't miss.
There is a huge difference between Carlsson, Fantilli vs Smith, one word: POWER! Smith has a weak frame and doesnt compete very hard on 200 ft. Not a strong skater too. Faced 1 decent team at the U18 in Finland and a strong Sweden,squad for the gold, he did very well against Finland, but much more erased during the gold medal game. You have to factor that Smith played all year with another surefire top 10 pick, Leonard who I personally have ranked over Smith, and Perreault who is a great offensive talent as well. Smith's flaws are more concerning than the other top ranked guys and is rather on the soft side. If a team draft Smith thinking he is the next big Amarican star, they are going to realize quick enough that he is a 2-3 years project.
 
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Michoulicious

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Dec 9, 2014
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There is a huge difference between Carlsson, Fantilli vs Smith, one word: POWER! Smith has a weak frame and doesnt compete very hard on 200 ft. Not a strong skater too. Faced 1 decent team at the U18 in Finland and a strong Sweden,squad for the gold, he did very well against Finland, but much more erased during the gold medal game. You have to factor that Smith played all year with another surefire top 10 pick, Leonard who I personally have ranked over Smith, and Perreault who is a great offensive talent as well. Smith's flaws are more concerning than the other top ranked guys and is rather on the soft side. If a team draft Smith thinking he is the next big Amarican star, they are going to realize quick enough that he is a 2-3 years project.
I don't agree there is that big a difference. Smith is the slightest of the three... But Carlsson /Fantilli are far from studs defensively.

I think Smith has the best vision/IQ of the 3, by quite a margin. Fantilli is by far the most explosive skater and the most physical. Carlsson is not really physical, but he's the tallest and he plays against men (as a winger but still projects as a C).

Like I said, the gap is not big... And scouts seem to agree with me. Smith is #3 on Mackenzie's list, and was ranked at #2 OA by a few NHL scouts.

So there is that. I don't think you can talk in absolutes like you are doing right now.

Smith is a great talent. Fantilli and Carlsson are as well. Michkov and Bedard are incredible.

Great top 5.
 
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