HF Habs: 2023 NHL Draft part 2

[Harry Kakalovich]

So all the Russian players were invited yet none showed up? I didn't realize that. This seems a bit odd.

Still scouts were not able to see Mitchkov in person. Does that not seem like higher risk? How about the fact that you won't be able to meet with him to work on his development?

You may be right that it is overblown, but you would have to admit there is some extra risk... and definitely some extra inconvenience.

I don't think the Russian players were invited. I was listening to a podcast with an interview with the director of central scouting and he said everyone invited to the combine accepted their invitations, so I can't see how the Russians were invited.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

I'm only interested in moving back with Arizona for one of their seconds

All of their 2nds are the next 2 years. They only have 1 this year, but a bunch of 3rds.

 

[Vachon23]

How small can a power forward be. We have a different definition.

Jarome Iginla was probably the best PF of the 2000’s and was the same size or Leonard

 

[Vachon23]

A guy smaller than Michkov just won the Conn Smythe, just stop it.

He’s does have freaking dawg in him that not many player have though

I do think Zach Benson have this in him

 

[Vachon23]

 

[Mrb1p]

Doesnt bring much to be fair, Arber was at least a rock defensively and could move the puck.

Im wasting a pick on him for sure though.

 

[jrom]

Hey guys, let's not draft small guys. This should be our first criteria, and we should not look at anything else at first. They never do anything good in the playoffs. They certainly never win the Conn Smythe.

Or so I've read here in the last week or so.

I don’t think it’s size, it’s grit and willingness to go to the contested area and if you’re smaller you need more grit/determination then a 6’2 200 guy. No one is complaining about Brad Marchand’s size.

 

[Vachon23]

Doesnt bring much to be fair, Arber was at least a rock defensively and could move the puck.

Im wasting a pick on him for sure though.

The swag we could have with the Xhekaj bros is worth that 7th round pick

 

[jrom]

The swag we could have with the Xhekaj bros is worth that 7th round pick

Another team will grab him. Would be peachy with Habs (do you really want to beat up Arber’s “little brother” )

 

[Vachon23]

Another team will grab him. Would be peachy with Habs (do you really want to beat up Arber’s “little brother” )

We could have 2 Brothers duos and I brother in law duo after the draft !

 

[Kennerback]

Jarome Iginla was probably the best PF of the 2000’s and was the same size or Leonard

A PF to me is to me a big strong player, that can power his way to the net to score. Ds slash him, cross check him and try to knock him down but can’t.
A prime example of this would be Mats Sundin when he was playing for the Leafs. His 6’5 frame and having filled in his body he was an immovable force.

Iginla did a lot of that and he was 6’1. Leonard is a hair under 6’0, he possibly will grow some more. The height between Iginla and Leonard would then be negligible. You make the argument he could be on the lowest side of the PF size spectrum.

The second side of the PF definition is physical. Leonard is physical in that he looks for body check. He doesn’t power to the net. Offensively, he’s a shooter. His game is simple he gets to the slot (usually an opening in the upper slot) and waits for a shooting opportunity. Either he gets fed by Smith or Perreault or he tries to pick some errant pucks or rebounds in the area. Then he does his shtick, which consists entirely in wiring the puck on net. The puck stays half a second on his stick and is off. He has a very good heavy shot. However, he doesn’t do power moves to the net like PF . And in fact he often gets knocked down by players in the slot area, which is very unlike power forwards.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

They come here to see who not to pick

Nah man they go to Mccagg's twitter

 

[Andrei79]

Hey guys, let's not draft small guys. This should be our first criteria, and we should not look at anything else at first. They never do anything good in the playoffs. They certainly never win the Conn Smythe.

Or so I've read here in the last week or so.

Why not draft them later ? Like, you can get a star midget mid first round or even in later rounds. You can simply sign a Conn Smythe winner out of junior. Same thing with Russians.

Apparently, this is a sound strategy, or so I've heard.

 

[Nedved]

My final top 15, with only 2 defensemen.

1. Bedard
2. Michkov
3. Fantilli
4. Smith
5. Carlsson
6. Sandin Pellika
7. Leonard
8. Dvorsky
9. Benson
10. Barlow
11. Moore
12. Willander
13. Musty
14. Yager
15. Perreault

this list looks more like wishful thinking to me, but I agree, that's best case scenario for us @ 5.

 

[ginomini]

that's a stupid pass more than a great hit hahahah

 

[Vachon23]

A PF to me is to me a big strong player, that can power his way to the net to score. Ds slash him, cross check him and try to knock him down but can’t.
A prime example of this would be Mats Sundin when he was playing for the Leafs. His 6’5 frame and having filled in his body he was an immovable force.

Iginla did a lot of that and he was 6’1. Leonard is a hair under 6’0, he possibly will grow some more. The height between Iginla and Leonard would then be negligible. You make the argument he could be on the lowest side of the PF size spectrum.

The second side of the PF definition is physical. Leonard is physical in that he looks for body check. He doesn’t power to the net. Offensively, he’s a shooter. His game is simple he gets to the slot (usually an opening in the upper slot) and waits for a shooting opportunity. Either he gets fed by Smith or Perreault or he tries to pick some errant pucks or rebounds in the area. Then he does his shtick, which consists entirely in wiring the puck on net. The puck stays half a second on his stick and is off. He has a very good heavy shot. However, he doesn’t do power moves to the net like PF . And in fact he often gets knocked down by players in the slot area, which is very unlike power forwards.

That was Iggy’s game too (Not saying he’s the next Jarome Iginla). I agree he will need to get stronger though, Iggy was force of nature

that's a stupid pass more than a great hit hahahah

Yes that’s Diaz to Eller type of pass

 

[AHShadow]

Recency bias is a hell of a drug innit?

Did we just forget that Tampa Bay won 2 straight cups with like 90% of their top 9 being 6ft or less AND arguably their top best forwards in Brayden Point and Kucherov being under 6ft?

Did we also forget that the Avalanche won with their best defensemen being under 6ft and also have Girard in their top 4? Paired with Lehkonen, who played a significant role into winning the cup as well as having Kadri (who's only 6ft) centering their 2nd line?

You can always find big guys that can skate if we want to insulate our smaller players (ex: our own Anderson or Hyman when he went to the Oilers). It's a lot harder to trade for a Point or Kucherov.

Just draft the best player available that you think has the most skill.

 

[Vachon23]

Recency bias is a hell of a drug innit?

Did we just forget that Tampa Bay won 2 straight cups with like 90% of their top 9 being 6ft or less AND arguably their top best forwards in Brayden Point and Kucherov being under 6ft?

Did we also forget that the Avalanche won with their best defensemen being under 6ft and also have Girard in their top 4? Paired with Lehkonen, who played a significant role into winning the cup as well as having Kadri (who's only 6ft) centering their 2nd line?

You can always find big guys that can skate if we want to insulate our smaller players (ex: our own Anderson or Hyman when he went to the Oilers). It's a lot harder to trade for a Point or Kucherov.

Just draft the best player available that you think has the most skill.

Colorado where big though, Nichuskin, Landeskog, Rantanen, Burakovsky even MacKinnon is far from small

And Girard was actually injured and it was always tough for him in playoffs. It’s important to have a big physical defensive group

 

[NekkiChiconey]

Looking at my favorites from the 2nd round, I'm definitely willing to package 37 + 69 for 2 picks in between (e.g. 46 and 47 with Nashville). I like many players around 31 so I'd keep it, but having two picks in the mid-second range allows us to grab a goalie and RD. I would go for Strbak or Akey, then whoever's left from Bjarnason, Hrabal and Fowler.

My wishlist:
5: Benson
31: Musty
45-ish: Strbak/Akey
50-ish: Bjarnason/Hrabal/Fowler

That's a great draft in my book.

 

[Mrb1p]

Looking at my favorites from the 2nd round, I'm definitely willing to package 37 + 69 for 2 picks in between (e.g. 46 and 47 with Nashville). I like many players around 31 so I'd keep it, but having two picks in the mid-second range allows us to grab a goalie and RD. I would go for Strbak or Akey, then whoever's left from Bjarnason, Hrabal and Fowler.

My wishlist:
5: Benson
31: Musty
45-ish: Strbak/Akey
50-ish: Bjarnason/Hrabal/Fowler

That's a great draft in my book.

You can just pick Dvorak and have more bang for your buck than Strbak IMO.

Id trade next years 2nd for a 2nd this year.

 

[AHShadow]

Colorado where big though, Nichuskin, Landeskog, Rantanen, Burakovsky even MacKinnon is far from small

And Girard was actually injured and it was always tough for him in playoffs. It’s important to have a big physical defensive group

True, but I think it's a balance. You can't shy away from skill just because their small, but you also can't just have big dudes because you won't have enough skill.

I actually think a part from Hutson, we're building a pretty big D-core with Matheson, Guhle, Xhekaj, Mailloux, Barron and Engstrom. This will also help insulate our smaller players in front if ever we draft Michkov/Benson.

 

[Vachon23]

True, but I think it's a balance. You can't shy away from skill just because their small, but you also can't just have big dudes because you won't have enough skill.

I actually think a part from Hutson, we're building a pretty big D-core with Matheson, Guhle, Xhekaj, Mailloux, Barron and Engstrom. This will also help insulate our smaller players in front if ever we draft Michkov/Benson.

No doubt about that you need skills and you need high motor player

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Looking at my favorites from the 2nd round, I'm definitely willing to package 37 + 69 for 2 picks in between (e.g. 46 and 47 with Nashville). I like many players around 31 so I'd keep it, but having two picks in the mid-second range allows us to grab a goalie and RD. I would go for Strbak or Akey, then whoever's left from Bjarnason, Hrabal and Fowler.

My wishlist:
5: Benson
31: Musty
45-ish: Strbak/Akey
50-ish: Bjarnason/Hrabal/Fowler

That's a great draft in my book.

Musty will not be there at 31 (most likely)

 

[NekkiChiconey]

Musty will not be there at 31 (most likely)

Possibly, but there will be a high quality forward probably. If not Musty, then Heidt, Ritchie, Stenberg... There are too many for the 1st round alone

 

[le_sean]

Jarome Iginla was probably the best PF of the 2000’s and was the same size or Leonard

People seem to conflate being a power forward with being big and mindlessly hitting everything in sight like Lucic.