HF Habs: 2023 NHL Draft part 2

[SannywithoutCompy]

Based on Bob's list, this is what I would do:

5: Michkov (Leonard or Reinbacher)
31: Heidt (Nadeau or Dragicevic)
37: Hrabal (Ziemmer or Edstrom)
69: Minnetian (Terrance or Dower-Nilsson)

Based on who is available at each slot, assuming the draft goes exactly how he says, and based on BPA on my list:

5: Michkov - if not, Leonard
31: Dragicevic - if not, Sawchyn
37: Sawchyn - if not, Morin
69: Dower-Nilsson - if not, Barkey

 

[WeThreeKings]

Michkov, Leonard, Reinbacher and Dvorsky are the options but Michkov looks the least likely of the 4.

This is some quotes though that doesn't rule out Dvorsky

“Big Five?” another scout chimed. “I think it could very well be [a Super Six] with Dvorsky in that group [regardless of when/where Michkov goes]. A big centre with elite hockey sense, elite competitiveness and I believe the offence is there when he plays in his peer group. The only knock is he’s not an explosive skater.” That scout isn’t the only one who believes Dvorsky warrants inclusion in the Super Six. “Don’t sleep on Dvorsky,” another said.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Pretty sure Caufield was ranked top 10. I think 7. He just fell.

Who was on that line? Boldy?

Hughes #1
Caufield #7
Boldly #10

Still can't believe Edmonton passed on him for Broberg. McDavid feeding Caufield for his career...

 

[BehindTheTimes]

where there is smoke there is fire. Michkov 5th and Leonard 6th all but confirms to me that we will be selecting Leonard.

I don't like it, but I didn't like last years results either. At least I won't have to look at MB at our table.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

You keep using this line about a 1-2cm difference over and over but the measurements at the combine were 5'9.75" and 5'11.75". A quarter inch below 6'0 vs. a quarter inch below 5'10 is not a trivial difference. Of course it's not some big huge gap, but it's enough that one player is going to be an average sized NHLer and the other will be in the bottom quartile.

Before you start yelling at me, no, I do not think Benson's size is an "issue" and I would be fine if they picked him, but it's dishonest to pretend that it's just some tiny fractional difference or that Leonard does not have a meaningful size advantage over Benson.

NHL average is 6'1.2. They're both under average.

Difference between Benson and Leonard, 2 inches
Difference between Leonard and league average, almost 1½ inch.

 

[ReHabs]

where there is smoke there is fire. Michkov 5th and Leonard 6th all but confirms to me that we will be selecting Leonard.

I don't like it, but I didn't like last years results either. At least I won't have to look at MB at our table.

Coming out of two tank years with Slafkovsky, Mesar, Leonard, and X as our first round picks is really unfortunate and will be widely criticized in the near future. I have hope this won't be the case.

 

[Mrb1p]

Based on who is available at each slot, assuming the draft goes exactly how he says, and based on BPA on my list:

Id do
5: Michkov - if not, Benson/Reinbacher

31: Heidt - if not, Lardis

37: Lardis - if not, Morin

69: Pekarcic - if not, Terrance or Bertucci or Unger Sorum

I love that.

All the picks that would be BPA are pretty small NGL.

 

[WeThreeKings]

There's more to size than just height.

Ryan Leonard will likely be a 6'0" guy which is completely fine but he's got the broad shoulders and frame to pack more weight and punch, thus being able to survive more contact than a guy like Benson who is not only shorter but slighter.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

where there is smoke there is fire. Michkov 5th and Leonard 6th all but confirms to me that we will be selecting Leonard.

I don't like it, but I didn't like last years results either. At least I won't have to look at MB at our table.

Yeah I haven't often agreed on the 1st round picks the team has made.

Agreed on Galchenyuk, Scherbak, Sergachev and Caufield - not great results on the first two, great on the next two (except for the part where we traded Sergachev)

Disagreed on McCarron, Juulsen, Poehling, Kotkaniemi, Guhle, Mailloux, Slaf, and Mesar - jury is still out on probably 2018 onward, but outside of a couple of them it's not looking promising.

 

[Schooner Guy]

Similar to Mike Richards, Matthew Tkachuk also overperformed his profile this past year. Leonard is unlikely to become 6'2" though, so it's a bit of a stretch to say his ceiling is a 100pt powerforward.

Why is Ryan Leonard being compared to Mike Richards? Richards had a nice career despite being a brutal skater but in a different era. Leonard's one of the best skaters in the top 10 of this draft.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Still can't believe Edmonton passed on him for Broberg. McDavid feeding Caufield for his career...

Yeah, stupidest move ever. They even passed on Boldy. Lol Geezus ....

 

[WeThreeKings]

Why is Ryan Leonard being compared to Mike Richards? Richards had a nice career despite being a brutal skater but in a different era. Leonard's one of the best skaters in the top 10 of this draft.

He's not, he's now being compared to Maxim Lapierre.

 

[le_sean]

If Leonard was the 3rd Tkachuk brother, there would be a lot more fans clamouring for the Habs to pick him.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

There's more to size than just height.

Ryan Leonard will likely be a 6'0" guy which is completely fine but he's got the broad shoulders and frame to pack more weight and punch, thus being able to survive more contact than a guy like Benson who is not only shorter but slighter.

Yeah I'm not overly concerned about Leonard having a Brule career. It'll be harder to cut to the inside as much as he does at the NHL level though, hopefully he won't get Matt Cooke'd

 

[WeThreeKings]

Not sure how many of you watched the actual show in addition to the rankings but the way Bob was talking about Michkov and the teams who could take him, he really seemed like Montreal wasn't in the discussion.

Bob on draft night usually has the information to know who teams like, I know he called the McCarron pick before we made it.. so it's just more tea leaves but it really doesn't seem like Michkov is a consideration at this point.

 

[Balthazar]

From Bobby Mckenzie:

Winnipeg Ice left winger Zach Benson is only 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds and doesn’t possess blinding speed, but is so smart, creative and competitive that he still checks in at No. 9 on our list. Eight of 10 scouts had him in their Top 10 but the other two had him between 15 and 20.


Between 15 and 20 eh? Interesting.

 

[The Great Weal]

If Leonard was the 3rd Tkachuk brother, there would be a lot more fans clamouring for the Habs to pick him.

Tkachuk had size going for them which works with the powerforward game a lot better. Anyways, some posters are hesitant because there seems to be a clear "Big Five" as per Bob Mckenzie, not because they don't like Leonard.

 

[Schooner Guy]

Not sure how many of you watched the actual show in addition to the rankings but the way Bob was talking about Michkov and the teams who could take him, he really seemed like Montreal wasn't in the discussion.

Bob on draft night usually has the information to know who teams like, I know he called the McCarron pick before we made it.. so it's just more tea leaves but it really doesn't seem like Michkov is a consideration at this point.

The first draft that Bob wasn't on the air for, he trolled the NHL by tweeting every single pick correctly in the top 20 while each team was on the clock. He added some funny wit to each tweet as well. It was hilarious!

 

[MarkJ]

Not sure how many of you watched the actual show in addition to the rankings but the way Bob was talking about Michkov and the teams who could take him, he really seemed like Montreal wasn't in the discussion.

Bob on draft night usually has the information to know who teams like, I know he called the McCarron pick before we made it.. so it's just more tea leaves but it really doesn't seem like Michkov is a consideration at this point.

yeah he mentioned Philly and Caps as likely to pick him.

 

[Balthazar]

there seems to be a clear "Big Five" as per Bob Mckenzie

From Bobby McKenzie:

“Big Five?” another scout chimed. “I think it could very well be [a Super Six] with Dvorsky in that group [regardless of when/where Michkov goes]. A big centre with elite hockey sense, elite competitiveness and I believe the offence is there when he plays in his peer group. The only knock is he’s not an explosive skater.”

 

[WeThreeKings]

The first draft that Bob wasn't on the air for, he trolled the NHL by tweeting every single pick correctly in the top 20 while each team was on the clock. He added some funny wit to each tweet as well. It was hilarious!

I remember that.

Bob knows a lot and he's very good at keeping information secret until it's allowed to be shared. That is why he has such accurate rankings.

We will lose a lot of value when Bob hangs this up for good.

 

[The Great Weal]

From Bobby McKenzie:

“Big Five?” another scout chimed. “I think it could very well be [a Super Six] with Dvorsky in that group [regardless of when/where Michkov goes]. A big centre with elite hockey sense, elite competitiveness and I believe the offence is there when he plays in his peer group. The only knock is he’s not an explosive skater.”

You excluded this quote:

"Really impressive group after Bedard,” said one NHL team head scout. “It’s not just the Bedard Draft; there’s a Big Five, and if you’re picking in the top five, you’re not getting a good prospect, you’re getting a very good, maybe even great, one.”

Not to mention that Dvorsky is ranked 7th per his list anyways which just shows how most believe there's a Big Five

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Michkov, Leonard, Reinbacher and Dvorsky are the options but Michkov looks the least likely of the 4.

This is some quotes though that doesn't rule out Dvorsky

“Big Five?” another scout chimed. “I think it could very well be [a Super Six] with Dvorsky in that group [regardless of when/where Michkov goes]. A big centre with elite hockey sense, elite competitiveness and I believe the offence is there when he plays in his peer group. The only knock is he’s not an explosive skater.” That scout isn’t the only one who believes Dvorsky warrants inclusion in the Super Six. “Don’t sleep on Dvorsky,” another said.

That is what I have been saying about him all along. His speed is only average but his technique is very good. There is every reason to believe that he will be a strong skater once he gains the strength to push his 200+ lb body around. I can see him going as high as 4 th and definitely not falling out of the to 10. I have said for a while that there is a top six imo and he is part of it.

 

[WeThreeKings]

That is what I have been saying about him all along. His speed is only average but his technique is very good. There is every reason to believe that he will be a strong skater once he gains the strength to push his 200+ lb body around. I can see him going as high as 4 th and definitely not falling out of the to 10. I have said for a while that there is a top six imo and he is part of it.

I'm thinking he does slide to 7.. just based on everything I've heard and seen.

Bedard goes 1
Fantilli goes 2
Carlsson goes 3
Smith goes 4
Leonard goes 5
Reinbacher goes 6
Dvorsky goes 7
Michkov goes 8

Then I think it gets interesting but I think Benson goes 9.

 

[le_sean]

Tkachuk had size going for them which works with the powerforward game a lot better. Anyways, some posters are hesitant because there seems to be a clear "Big Five" as per Bob Mckenzie, not because they don't like Leonard.

Unfortunately for a lot of teams there’s probably just a “Big Four” since they don’t want to consider Michkov. So either you trade up or you take the best of the new group, which includes Leonard at the top (now confirmed by actual scouts).