HF Habs: 2023 NHL Draft part 2

[HuGo Burner Acc]

So Habs is likely to pick Leonard or Reinbacher at this point. My opinion? I'm 100% fine with that. They both worth a top 5 selection. I would rather have Ryan Leonard, but if Habs decide to pick Reinbacher, we are going to have a fun defensive group to watch for many years to come.

Imagine if they pick reinbacher and then sign someone like Sorokin. Not exactly what we as fans thought the team would look like but Habs would basically be a better version of the 2010s preds

 

[Postulates]

Its certainly a ranking

 

[Mrb1p]

View attachment 716889 Its certainly a ranking

Jayden Perrons f***ing underrated and I like this take tbh

 

[rochab]

I want Perron at 31....

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Jayden Perrons f***ing underrated and I like this take tbh

Didn't you hear, you don't win with players like Jayden Perron. CHARLIE STRAMEL BABY!

Perron would be a gift at 31. I think he might go down to the 3rd round though.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

"According to this source, the Montreal Canadiens with the fifth-overall pick might have a surprise up their sleeve: “Sounds like it’s Reinbacher or Leonard for Montreal.”

The real surprise would be taking Michkov. I think everyone is expecting Leonard or Reinbacher at this point.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Jayden Perrons f***ing underrated and I like this take tbh

Cristall should not be ranked ahead of Perron. Not sure why he is in majority of places. Similar type players except Perron is way better in defensive zone, and is an all round better skater. Attacks the inside better too. Great puckhandler.

 

[Goldenhands]

Cristall should not be ranked ahead of Perron. Not sure why he is in majority of places. Similar type players except Perron is way better in defensive zone, and is an all round better skater. Attacks the inside better too. Great puckhandler.

Better puck protection skills too, Perron is small but you will see him use his frame to protect it. He is less prone to turn the puck over under pressure.

 

[Mrb1p]

Cristall should not be ranked ahead of Perron. Not sure why he is in majority of places. Similar type players except Perron is way better in defensive zone, and is an all round better skater. Attacks the inside better too. Great puckhandler.

Youre not drafting Cristall for his defensive zone play.

I like both.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Youre not drafting Cristall for his defensive zone play.

I like both.

Perron is more tenacious, but Cristall has the better shot, vision, and passing IMO.

For a while I was worried he was like a forward version of Ryan Merkley - very creative, great vision, but not great hockey IQ. I think I actually underrated his hockey IQ though, he seems to make a lot of smart plays, and the times he doesn't look more like apathy or laziness, which is a whole other can of worms that you need to sort through.

Great gamble if he falls to us though.

 

[Belial]

Youre not drafting Cristall for his defensive zone play.

I like both.

Do you actually want to win a Cup one day or just watch guys putting up points during the regular season?

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Do you actually want to win a Cup one day or just watch guys putting up points during the regular season?

You could have said the same thing about Patrick Kane as a prospect (before anyone jumps on me, no, Cristall is not anywhere near Kane). Arguably the worst defensive forward of his era, won a Conn Smythe and was essential to 3 cups.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Youre not drafting Cristall for his defensive zone play.

I like both.

That's for damn sure. He's non-existent even when he is in defensive zone.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

That's for damn sure. He's non-existent even when he is in defensive zone.

It seems to be an effort thing, since when he's on he knows where to be and is breaking up plays. That's an issue you'd need to get to the bottom of in interviews before drafting him though, but you're obviously not going to get a guy like that fired up for all 82.

 

[Belial]

You could have said the same thing about Patrick Kane as a prospect (before anyone jumps on me, no, Cristall is not anywhere near Kane). Arguably the worst defensive forward of his era, won a Conn Smythe and was essential to 3 cups.

Kane is like a one-in-a-million exception.

 

[HabzSauce]

"According to this source, the Montreal Canadiens with the fifth-overall pick might have a surprise up their sleeve: “Sounds like it’s Reinbacher or Leonard for Montreal.”

I wonder if they're trying to bait Arizona. No point in letting this leak so early unless it's completely made up.

I want Leonard or michkov. Not sure which one I want more. If they're both available and Arizona wants reinbacher, I would love Hugo to swing a trade for #6 and #12. They can take the defenceman and we can decide between Michkov and Leonard PLUS another swing at #12.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Kane is like a one-in-a-million exception.

He would be if Kucherov didn't also exist.

 

[Kaladin]

These attempts to diminish Michkov’s game are amusing. Spoiler alert all prospects have areas you can nitpick including Bedard. Doesn’t change the fact he performed in a historic way in a men’s league and when the pressure was on always performed for his country. Again at a historic pace. His ability to both shoot and pass on a power play itself will be deadly in the playoffs and gives me Kucherov vibes.

We can draft such a player at 5th overall lol. Why are we debating this or justifying HuGo’s bad decisions. Mgmt can peddle whatever bs they want doesn’t mean we have to repeat it in here. It’s a bad decision to not draft him. HuGo will live to regret it.

 

[Belial]

He would be if Kucherov didn't also exist.

How long is your list though? 2,3?

I mean this is your point? Hoping to hit the next Kane/Kucherov?

Good luck!

 

[Naslund]

Would be happy with Wood or Leonard. Wood is still my favorite, but Leonard would be great. Leonard has a higher floor, but Wood could be a real difference maker. I think we should risk it and take Wood. I think Montreal is going to trade down to 7th and pick Wood. HFBoards Habs meltdown incoming.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

How long is your list though? 2,3?

I mean this is your point? Hoping to hit the next Kane/Kucherov?

Good luck!

My point is, toward the end of the 1st is where I think that's a risk worth taking.

My point is also that there are plenty of cup teams with high caliber offensive forwards who are poor defensively. Chicago had Kane, Pittsburgh had Kessel, Tampa had Kucherov, Rantanen was poor defensively the year Colorado won the cup, Washington had, well, several of their top players who are notoriously mediocre to terrible defensively.

I miss Danault and his impact as much as the next guy, but one way forwards are just as useful if they are outscoring their poor defense to the same degree.

Not saying Cristall is that guy, but at a certain point you have to gamble on his upside. That point for Montreal is with their 2nd 1st.

Would be happy with Wood or Leonard. Wood is still my favorite, but Leonard would be great. Leonard has a higher floor, but Wood could be a real difference maker. I think we should risk it and take Wood. I think Montreal is going to trade down to 7th and pick Wood. HFBoards Habs meltdown incoming.

Love Wood but have Leonard ranked just a bit higher (6 vs 7) since I think he can step right in and be at worst a 2nd liner for us. Wood for me has the higher upside, but I'd need to know he has the kind of character where he'd be willing to totally dedicate himself to working on his skating.

Fortunately the NCAA should be the perfect schedule to do just that.

 

[Mrb1p]

That's for damn sure. He's non-existent even when he is in defensive zone.

You're hating a bit too hard.

Watch his matchups against Bed's.

 

[Belial]

My point is, toward the end of the 1st is where I think that's a risk worth taking.

My point is also that there are plenty of cup teams with high caliber offensive forwards who are poor defensively. Chicago had Kane, Pittsburgh had Kessel, Tampa had Kucherov, Rantanen was poor defensively the year Colorado won the cup, Washington had, well, several of their top players who are notoriously mediocre to terrible defensively.

I miss Danault and his impact as much as the next guy, but one way forwards are just as useful if they are outscoring their poor defense to the same degree.

Not saying Cristall is that guy, but at a certain point you have to gamble on his upside. That point for Montreal is with their 2nd 1st.

We already have Cole that kinda gets in that category.

I don't think we can get more and hope to win a Cup tbh.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

We already have Cole that kinda gets in that category.

I don't think we can get more and hope to win a Cup tbh.

He definitely does, I think we can afford another though. You just need to balance them with mobile, puck moving defensemen so they don't have to spend as much time in the defensive zone.

Which is why I get the appeal of Reinbacher, I just think you're more likely to find a guy like him outside of the top 5 than you are any of the big 5.

 

[Goldenhands]

You're hating a bit too hard.

Watch his matchups against Bed's.

His red flags are just way too important, he has very high bust potential, I would target safer players like Wahlberg, Bjarnasson, Strbak who could all help the team down the road or being used as trade bailts. Cristall has very high chances to bust IMO and would be a wasted asset.