HF Habs: 2023 NHL Draft part 2

[Vachon23]

I actually managed a somewhat realistic draft sim

Just finished drafting using Draft Prospects Hockey’s NHL Draft Sim.
Montreal Canadiens
(5) Will Smith, C
(31) Quentin Musty, LW
(37) Michael Hrabal, G
(69) Noah Dower Nilsson, LW
(101) Tanner Ludtke, C
(110) Felix Unger Sorum, RW
(128) Juraj Pekarcik, RW
(133) Matthew Mania, RD
(144) Jaden Lipinski, C
(165) Beckett Hendrickson, LW
(197) Adam Dybal

Love the Ludtke pick at 101

I would be really happy with Lipinski at 144

Only thing I can say about that draft is that I would like to draft an other RD with Mania

 

[Balthazar]

Personally I'd be shocked if Benson goes top 10. Too many people forget that it's not about what they did in junior but how their skillset will translate to the NHL. Undersized and average/below average skating makes him an extremely risky pick. Add to the fact that he doesn't play a premium position, history shows that he's just not what GM's are looking for at the top of the draft.

 

[BergevinBurner]

Personally I'd be shocked if Benson goes top 10. Too many people forget that it's not about what they did in junior but how their skillset will translate to the NHL. Undersized and average/below average skating makes him an extremely risky pick. Add to the fact that he doesn't play a premium position, history shows that he's just not what GM's are looking for at the top of the draft.

I wouldn't be shocked either. He's also coming off of a recent shoulder injury and you'd have to imagine his playstyle will make him very injury prone in the NHL given his size.

 

[Redux91]

I actually managed a somewhat realistic draft sim

Just finished drafting using Draft Prospects Hockey’s NHL Draft Sim.
Montreal Canadiens
(5) Will Smith, C
(31) Quentin Musty, LW
(37) Michael Hrabal, G
(69) Noah Dower Nilsson, LW
(101) Tanner Ludtke, C
(110) Felix Unger Sorum, RW
(128) Juraj Pekarcik, RW
(133) Matthew Mania, RD
(144) Jaden Lipinski, C
(165) Beckett Hendrickson, LW
(197) Adam Dybal

LFG.

 

[Vachon23]

Personally I'd be shocked if Benson goes top 10. Too many people forget that it's not about what they did in junior but how their skillset will translate to the NHL. Undersized and average/below average skating makes him an extremely risky pick. Add to the fact that he doesn't play a premium position, history shows that he's just not what GM's are looking for at the top of the draft.

I would't bet against the mix of drive, character and hockey IQ of that kid. If he goes out of the top 10, many teams will look fools in 5 years

 

[Gravity]

What would be the draft prospect comparables for him, Kent Johnson, RNH, Bobby Ryan, etc?

I think KJ would be a good comp.

 

[Kennerback]

Hanafin is Hanafin. Reinbacher is Reinbacher.

Litterally every skill subset of Hanifin was deemed superior to Reinbacher, but I’m supposed to get excited about putting down a top-5 pick for him. In 2005, he wouldn’t even have been picked in the top-5 Ds on draft day.

 

[26Mats]

Litterally every skill subset of Hanifin was deemed superior to Reinbacher, but I’m supposed to get excited about putting down a top-5 pick for him. In 2005, he wouldn’t even have been picked in the top-5 Ds on draft day.

Personally, I'll get excited 3 years after the draft - unless we get a special talent that emerges sooner.

Alex Turcotte was easy to get excited about, but look how he's turning out.

Guhle wasn't that exciting when we drafted him. Now many consider him untouchable, despite our glut at LD.

 

[NewEraGM]

This is a very simplistic way of looking at things. It's not necessarily an either/or proposition. What if I want to win while being entertained?

I don't remember Guy Lafleur's panache being a drag on the Habs' fortunes. Or Patrick Kane's razzle dazzle getting in the way of the Blackhawks winning multiple cups.

When a player of the ilk of Michkov is available, you grab him with both hands. The opportunity does not come around very often. He is the rarest of all breeds. Ditto for Smith, if our scouting department feels he has anywhere near that potential.

Rugged scoring forwards (Leonard) and minute-munching 2-way RDs (Reinbacher) are valuable assets and do not grow on trees. But they are in no way as difficult to acquire as the game-breaking superstar. Apart from a few brief months of Kovalev, the Canadians have toiled away without one since the time when Lafleur graced the Forum ice. It's been decades and I'm sick of it.

So keep your Leonards and Reinbachers and--damn the topedos--let's reach for the brass ring.

I’m almost certain that if Smith is available at 5, habs will pick him. It’s really only Michkov that we may pass on.

 

[NekkiChiconey]

Personally I'd be shocked if Benson goes top 10. Too many people forget that it's not about what they did in junior but how their skillset will translate to the NHL. Undersized and average/below average skating makes him an extremely risky pick. Add to the fact that he doesn't play a premium position, history shows that he's just not what GM's are looking for at the top of the draft.

Where do you draw the line for undersized and skating? Does Smith make the cut, with his meagre 1 1/2 inch (and total aversion for physical play) over Benson? Oh and also, Smith is a worse skater than Benson. So what's the criteria here?

It's kind of crazy to me how people can't see Benson's game translating to the NHL. He's literally everything you would want in a forward. You know that if he played the exact same game but had a 6 in the "height" column, he'd be battling for 2nd overall.

 

[Vachon23]

Where do you draw the line for undersized and skating? Does Smith make the cut, with his meagre 1 1/2 inch (and total aversion for physical play) over Benson? Oh and also, Smith is a worse skater than Benson. So what's the criteria here?

It's kind of crazy to me how people can't see Benson's game translating to the NHL. He's literally everything you would want in a forward. You know that if he played the exact same game but had a 6 in the "height" column, he'd be battling for 2nd overall.

Really good points Willem

 

[BergevinBurner]

Where do you draw the line for undersized and skating? Does Smith make the cut, with his meagre 1 1/2 inch (and total aversion for physical play) over Benson? Oh and also, Smith is a worse skater than Benson. So what's the criteria here?

It's kind of crazy to me how people can't see Benson's game translating to the NHL. He's literally everything you would want in a forward. You know that if he played the exact same game but had a 6 in the "height" column, he'd be battling for 2nd overall.

From most listing it seems like Smith is 3 inches and 20+ pounds bigger than Benson. He's significantly bigger.

But the main issue for Benson is his play style, there aren't many guys in the league his size that can get away playing the way he does.

 

[Vachon23]

From most listing it seems like Smith is 3 inches and 20+ pounds bigger than Benson. He's significantly bigger.

Put the puck in the corner or in a small area and ask both player to get of that area with the puck and I'm confident that Benson goes out with the puck 9 times on 10

 

[NekkiChiconey]

From most listing it seems like Smith is 3 inches and 20+ pounds bigger than Benson. He's significantly bigger.

But the main issue for Benson is his play style, there aren't many guys in the league his size that can get away playing the way he does.

What is problematic about "the way he plays"?

The way Smith plays right now is also not fully translatable, so both will have to make adjustments. You're picking the player who you believe will adapt the best in the next 3 years.

Also, why is this issue not brought up with Michkov, who is the same size and a worse skater?

 

[BergevinBurner]

Put the puck in the corner or in a small area and ask both player to got of that area with the puck and I'm confident that Benson goes out with the puck 9 times on 10

I'd rather have a healthy Smith that cherry picks and pots 70+ points while playing 82 games a season instead of a Benson that battles hard and plays 50 games per season due to injury.

 

[BergevinBurner]

What is problematic about "the way he plays"?

The way Smith plays right now is also not fully translatable, so both will have to make adjustments. You're picking the player who you believe will adapt the best in the next 3 years.

Also, why is this issue not brought up with Michkov, who is the same size and a worse skater?

Because Michkov is more in the vein of Caufield, he relies on a deadly shot and solid play making. Sure it'd be nice if he was bigger, but with his play style I don't see any issues with him translating it to the NHL(as we've seen he didn't skip a beat jumping into the KHL).

Maybe Benson will be super durable and he'll have no issues with injuries or adjusting, but I think fears of that will make him fall a bit.

 

[NekkiChiconey]

I'd rather have a healthy Smith that cherry picks and pots 70+ points while playing 82 games a season instead of a Benson that battles hard and plays 50 games per season due to injury.

What does that even mean? How can you predict who will get injured or not? For all you know, Smith will get injured more because he will never get used to physical play.

Also, really? What you want from that 5th overall is a glorified Drouin?

Because Michkov is more in the vein of Caufield, he relies on a deadly shot and solid play making. Sure it'd be nice if he was bigger, but with his play style I don't see any issues with him translating it to the NHL(as we've seen he didn't skip a beat jumping into the KHL).

Maybe Benson will be super durable and he'll have no issues with injuries or adjusting, but I think fears of that will make him fall a bit.

What does Benson rely on? Does he not rely on solid playmaking?

 

[BergevinBurner]

What does that even mean? How can you predict who will get injured or not? For all you know, Smith will get injured more because he will never get used to physical play.

Also, really? What you want from that 5th overall is a glorified Drouin?

You can't predict it, but you can take different factors into account.

Smith is bigger and seen as someone that avoids physicality for the most part. Benson is smaller and someone that loves puck battles and that's a big part of him game.


Obviously Smith could end up having far more injuries than Benson, but I'd say Benson is more likely to due to his size and play style.

 

[SlafySZN]

What does that even mean? How can you predict who will get injured or not? For all you know, Smith will get injured more because he will never get used to physical play.

Also, really? What you want from that 5th overall is a glorified Drouin?


What does Benson rely on? Does he not rely on solid playmaking?

Smith and Drouin are nothing alike.

 

[BergevinBurner]

What does Benson rely on? Does he not rely on solid playmaking?

I know he has elite playmaking potential, but his physicality that shines in the WHL could be significantly lessened once he makes the jump to the NHL.

For a guy with a laser shot like Caufield/Michkov, you don't have to worry about that skill becoming diminished in the NHL due to their size.

 

[NekkiChiconey]

You can't predict it, but you can take different factors into account.

Smith is bigger and seen as someone that avoids physicality for the most part. Benson is smaller and someone that loves puck battles and that's a big part of him game.


Obviously Smith could end up having far more injuries than Benson, but I'd say Benson is more likely to due to his size and play style.

Do you read your posts man? I mean is that really what you want from our pick? I get what you are trying to say, but there's an inherent flaw in that logic: there's no way you'd rather have a player who completely avoids physical play right?

Smith and Drouin are nothing alike.

No they're not. Drouin was a much better prospect in his draft year.

I know he has elite playmaking potential, but his physicality that shines in the WHL could be significantly lessened once he makes the jump to the NHL.

For a guy with a laser shot like Caufield/Michkov, you don't have to worry about that skill becoming diminished in the NHL due to their size.

The thing is, it's not his "physicality" that shines, and it's not like he's overpowering guys. He's good at finding the soft spots, getting under the sticks, retrieving pucks and being aware of his surroundings. Whether his opponents are 180lbs or 200lbs on average should not change that in the long run.

 

[BergevinBurner]

Do you read your posts man? I mean is that really what you want from our pick? I get what you are trying to say, but there's an inherent flaw in that logic: there's no way you'd rather have a player who completely avoids physical play right?

If the skill level's there then I can live with someone that avoids physicality. Caufield doesn't bring any physical play but he's one of the best forwards we've had in decades. I'd take Smith in a heartbeat and surround him with bigger guys to handle the physicality like Slaf/Anderson/Dach/etc...

 

[Mrb1p]

If the skill level's there then I can live with someone that avoids physicality. Caufield doesn't bring any physical play but he's one of the best forwards we've had in decades. I'd take Smith in a heartbeat and surround him with bigger guys to handle the physicality like Slaf/Anderson/Dach/etc...

Its not about avoiding physicality, its about playing with intensity.

Have you ever questioned Coles intensity?

 

[NekkiChiconey]

If the skill level's there then I can live with someone that avoids physicality. Caufield doesn't bring any physical play but he's one of the best forwards we've had in decades. I'd take Smith in a heartbeat and surround him with bigger guys to handle the physicality like Slaf/Anderson/Dach/etc...

Fair enough, I respect that opinion even though I don't agree. I'm thinking that for that pick to become our very best player, some physicality and high intensity have to be part of his game.

 

[BergevinBurner]

Its not about avoiding physicality, its about playing with intensity.

Have you ever questioned Coles intensity?

I'd say he brings about as much intensity as he safely can. He's really smart at knowing his limits and being engaged but keeping himself safe and out of danger.