HF Habs: 2023 NHL Draft part 2

[WeThreeKings]

Chances are whoever we wanted at 29 will be there at 32

Yeah, once Florida got into the ECF it doesn't matter. Lists are so vastly different at that point and tiers are large.

 

[rochab]

I'd be pretty surprised on Benson, just doesn't seem like that's the profile they'll take at 5.

Benson is exactly the profile of a player that MSL wants.... MSL wants to play an "open/unstructured" type of offensive style predicated on players "reading" the defense and making smart and unique decisions. This requires an elite "hockey sense" to do and love or hate Benson, this is probably his strongest trait. He may not have the skating or size to make him the best option at 5 but he seems to me the exact type of player MSL wants.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Benson is exactly the profile of a player that MSL wants.... MSL wants to play an "open/unstructured" type of offensive style predicated on players "reading" the defense and making smart and unique decisions. This requires an elite "hockey sense" to do and love or hate Benson, this is probably his strongest trait. He may not have the skating or size to make him the best option at 5 but he seems to me the exact type of player MSL wants.

Hockey sense is one thing, but I think they value skating and size as well.

They'll find someone else with high hockey sense that doesn't have those two knocks on them at 5.

 

[rochab]

His skating is not that bad and Caufield is doing just fine in MSL's system so I wouldn't be so certain about not thinking he is one of the top players we should be anticipating Montreal taking at 5.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Rumours swirling now that Montreal particularly likes Reinbacher.

Again, I think he'll be a solid 2-3 but I'd rather we take a chance on elite talent, considering this team has been mostly starved of it for my entire lifetime.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Rumours swirling now that Montreal particularly likes Reinbacher.

Again, I think he'll be a solid 2-3 but I'd rather we take a chance on elite talent, considering this team has been mostly starved of it for my entire lifetime.

As a Reinbacher stan myself.

We do have to be careful on some of these rumors. The Habs didn't know where they were picking for awhile, so it's natural they have done their due diligence on a lot of players they liked in their top 10.

We've heard that they like Reinbacher
We know our WHL scouts have talked extensively with Yager and Benson.
We've heard for awhile that they are fans of Will Smith.
We are also hearing the same of their appreciated for Ryan Leonard.

It's impossible to know which one of those guys are really in their sights at 5, and which may have been due diligence and consideration if they dropped a spot or two.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

As a Reinbacher stan myself.

We do have to be careful on some of these rumors. The Habs didn't know where they were picking for awhile, so it's natural they have done their due diligence on a lot of players they liked in their top 10.

We've heard that they like Reinbacher
We know our WHL scouts have talked extensively with Yager and Benson.
We've heard for awhile that they are fans of Will Smith.
We are also hearing the same of their appreciated for Ryan Leonard.

It's impossible to know which one of those guys are really in their sights at 5, and which may have been due diligence and consideration if they dropped a spot or two.

Very fair, and maybe it's more reflective of the previous regime, but he and Dvorsky really FEEL like Habs picks for some reason

 

[Jaynki]

As a Reinbacher stan myself.

We do have to be careful on some of these rumors. The Habs didn't know where they were picking for awhile, so it's natural they have done their due diligence on a lot of players they liked in their top 10.

We've heard that they like Reinbacher
We know our WHL scouts have talked extensively with Yager and Benson.
We've heard for awhile that they are fans of Will Smith.
We are also hearing the same of their appreciated for Ryan Leonard.

It's impossible to know which one of those guys are really in their sights at 5, and which may have been due diligence and consideration if they dropped a spot or two.

We have also heard that some in our organisation believe that Michkov is the Russian Bedard ;-)

 

[WeThreeKings]

We have also heard that some in our organisation believe that Michkov is the Russian Bedard ;-)

And was debunked almost immediately.

Very fair, and maybe it's more reflective of the previous regime, but he and Dvorsky really FEEL like Habs picks for some reason

Reinbacher does for sure because of his ability to skate, jump in on the attack, and move the puck despite under pressure. A lot of what he can do, on top of defend very well, will integrate well with the forwards and system they want.

Dvorsky feels like more the old regime style of pick but I can't discount that most organizations wouldn't value him for what he brings on the ice.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

As a Reinbacher stan myself.

We do have to be careful on some of these rumors. The Habs didn't know where they were picking for awhile, so it's natural they have done their due diligence on a lot of players they liked in their top 10.

We've heard that they like Reinbacher
We know our WHL scouts have talked extensively with Yager and Benson.
We've heard for awhile that they are fans of Will Smith.
We are also hearing the same of their appreciated for Ryan Leonard.

It's impossible to know which one of those guys are really in their sights at 5, and which may have been due diligence and consideration if they dropped a spot or two.

The reality is I’m sure there are people within the organization who love all these players. But we’re only going to take one.

 

[The Last Red]

His skating is not that bad and Caufield is doing just fine in MSL's system so I wouldn't be so certain about not thinking he is one of the top players we should be anticipating Montreal taking at 5.

There is almost zero chance that HuGo drafts Benson at 5. There will be bigger players available there who also skate better than him. Benson ain't coming here with that pick.

 

[WeThreeKings]

The reality is I’m sure there are people within the organization who love all these players. But we’re only going to take one.

Yep, they are probably in rooms now debating, like we are, on who we love and like and where they should go relative to the rest of the class or their area of expertise.

They are gonna really focus that list in before the combine, and spend as much time watching, talking and meeting with their desired targets at 5.

Then they'll go back with all their information, watch more tape, debate more, talk to the prospects, teammates, coaches, family, friends, and really solidify it all.

And we'll hear information, disinformation, disinformation disguised as information, information disguised as disinformation until the pick is in.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

I think it's becoming more and more likely that the Sharks scoop up Michkov at 4. Obviously no way to know if the rumours about Columbus liking Smith were true, but it seems like at 5 we'll likely end up with one of Smith or Carlsson.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I think it's becoming more and more likely that the Sharks scoop up Michkov at 4. Obviously no way to know if the rumours about Columbus liking Smith were true, but it seems like at 5 we'll likely end up with one of Smith or Carlsson.

What information have you seen?

People keep repeating that about the Sharks, but I haven't seen any evidence other than Griers' comments after the lottery which just left the door open wider than Hughes did.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

One of the advantages of drafting Reinbacher is that he could play in Laval right away in his D + 1 season, since he'd be drafted out of a European pro league. We could control his development and have him work with our staff from day 1. We could really accelerate his curve faster than we could with a Benson or a Smith for example and have him be big team ready by year 2.

 

[WeThreeKings]

One of the advantages of drafting Reinbacher is that he could play in Laval right away in his D + 1 season, since he'd be drafted out of a European pro league. We could control his development and have him work with our staff from day 1. We could really accelerate his curve faster than we could with a Benson or a Smith for example.

The NCAA path is great, so I'm not worried about Smith. Benson, yeah, you have no choice but to punt him back to the WHL for another year and he's kind of outgrowing it.

Dvorsky is another one they could bring over, or at least find his way into a favorable SHL situation next year.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

What information have you seen?

People keep repeating that about the Sharks, but I haven't seen any evidence other than Griers' comments after the lottery which just left the door open wider than Hughes did.

More situational than substantiated rumours, but just their recent signings of Russians, their stage of the rebuild (pretty much at the beginning, so able to wait a few years), and the fact that he will be a very obvious BPA who will likely drop to them due to positional preference of Fantilli (who I don't think will be a center, but some might)/Carlsson.

I just think at 4 is when you are picking a player multiple tiers below Michkov just because you want a sure thing, and I don't see San Jose doing that with where they're at.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

The NCAA path is great, so I'm not worried about Smith. Benson, yeah, you have no choice but to punt him back to the WHL for another year and he's kind of outgrowing it.

Dvorsky is another one they could bring over, or at least find his way into a favorable SHL situation next year.

Smith going to BC does make the D + 1 pretty stress free development wise for him , you can just forget about him for a year. He'll be in good hands. I do like the ability to work with a kid right away though. I've grown a bit weary of the way the prospects end up being used in the SHL/Liiga, I don't like having no control over that.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

More situational than substantiated rumours, but just their recent signings of Russians, their stage of the rebuild (pretty much at the beginning, so able to wait a few years), and the fact that he will be a very obvious BPA who will likely drop to them due to positional preference of Fantilli (who I don't think will be a center, but some might)/Carlsson.

I just think at 4 is when you are picking a player multiple tiers below Michkov just because you want a sure thing, and I don't see San Jose doing that with where they're at.

San Jose needs a future #1 center. Smith/Carlsson is a need.

 

[WeThreeKings]

San Jose needs a future #1 center. Smith/Carlsson is a need.

San Jose needs everything.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

San Jose needs everything.

Yes, but getting a #1 center is a lot more important.

 

[BeliveauFan4ever]

What information have you seen?

People keep repeating that about the Sharks, but I haven't seen any evidence other than Griers' comments after the lottery which just left the door open wider than Hughes did.

The Sharks are used to winning. Not sure they’re willing to wait or gamble on Michkov.

If they’re faced with a choice of Matvei or Leo, a big if, I think they’d lean Leo’s way and get a Swedish Thornton.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Yes, but getting a #1 center is a lot more important.

They may not be convinced Smith is a center. Which is entirely plausible.

I don't see them passing on Carlsson, that's a pipe dream.. but Smith v. Michkov can go a different way.

 

[NekkiChiconey]

The NCAA path is great, so I'm not worried about Smith. Benson, yeah, you have no choice but to punt him back to the WHL for another year and he's kind of outgrowing it.

Dvorsky is another one they could bring over, or at least find his way into a favorable SHL situation next year.

I wouldn't be against Smith spending 2 years in NCAA to refine his game. No rush.

As for Benson, I'd think he would play one more year in the WHL and then make the jump because there's no way he spends 2 more years there. The good thing is that he'll have more time to work on skating/training than in the AHL, for instance.

 

[Mrb1p]

I watched a lot of Swedish Jr yesterday.

Stenberg was the best player that I watched. The reason why he doesn't get more top 15, top 10 votes is because he has no area of overwhelming strength. But he is good in all areas and has a good head for the game.

Noah Dower Nilsson was the best playmaker, but due to his overall profile he will be a 2nd rounder, and that's where he should be taken.

Ciernik had the best skating and skill, but also doesn't seem particularly interested in J20 hockey.

Oscar Fisker Mølgaard is a great skater, competitive and smart, but I don't see how he will contribute offensively at the next level. Muffin shot, not integrated with any handles, uninspired playmaking. His points come from outskating and outworking his opponent and making simple passes, and banging home rebounds.

If we go with a size queen pick from Sweden I would prefer Wahlberg, but none of the Swedish big boys are as good as But, for instance.

I think people are getting carried away with Willander, but he's a great skater. Who knows what he can become with a few years of NCAA. I prefer Simashev.

You were so close but you couldn't see it.

Stenberg looks like a peak early boy.

Yes, but getting a #1 center is a lot more important.

Smith is as much a C as Michkov is a C.

Hes not a C.