HF Habs: 2023 NHL Draft part 2

[WinterLion]

Leonard, Benson and Reinbacher is a great group to choose from if you don't want Smith and, honestly, I'm torn. I think right now I would go Benson because IQ reigns supreme, right?

However, I look at Reinbacher and I'm thinking that there's a plausible scenario in which he becomes the most valuable player on our team.

Unless you think one is much better you have to go with the RHD... I know it's a bit boring but I think any veteran NHL exec would agree... BUT if Bobrov & the boys think one of the other guys can be bring it to another level... I wonder which one it will be... it's going to be fun!

It’s exaggerated.

Yes I think he's being overscouted a bit at this point...

 

[NekkiChiconey]

The skating and skill threshold needs to be extremely high for that to happen at 5'9".

Meh, skating concerns are vastly overblown. He's solid and has great edges. Turns and crossovers are sharp. Smooth pivots open a lot of ice. Acceleration and top speed are average. Every aspect should get better with physical growth and strength training.

I'm also less concerned about his height, given the size of the dawg he has in him.

 

[Hannibal]

Watching Tkachuk play and how could we pass on Leonard at 5? The kid brings similar package with less trash talking but seems to have that « it » factor.

Leonard > Smith for me.

 

[Goldenhands]

I didn’t mention points necessarily I mentioned how he dominated shifts more than anything.

He did things like this all tournament and this was against canada. He kept up with Anderson and snatched the puck from him.

Yep Slaf had an amazing tournament, I havent watched Fantilli and Carlsson much this year at the WC,, but statistically Slaf has outperformed both so far.

 

[SOLR]

I do not think this part is good reasoning at all. There's just so much uncertainty with drafts and teenage prospects that I don't think looking forward to next year should be a consideration at all. The argument about taking Reinbacher at 5 should be about whether or not Reinbacher is worth picking at 5th overall over Benson, Smith, Leonard, Dvorsky, Leonard, Dvorsky etc. (setting Michkov aside because that's an entirely separate issue), or if we could trade the pick for something else more valuable than him instead.

The arbitrary concept of a "stud D prospect" that was available in a past draft class or theoretically might be available to us at some undefined point in some future year, or Kiviharju, Levshunov, Mews, Parekh or whoever else we might be in a position to take in 13 months should not enter into the decision at all. Drafting is already such an uncertain task that allowing even more uncertain ideas about what next year's draft "should" look like enter into the decision-making process is going to lead to worse outcomes. Just look at this draft for instance, we're picking 5th overall in the much hyped 2023 draft that was supposed to be loaded to the brim with elite C prospects and we're looking at Smith (who's probably a winger) and Dvorsky as the two best Cs likely to be available.

I agree if you are a team drafting at an undefined position every year, I see your point. But during a rebuild your draft position is relatively stable in the bottom 7, you have to get the most assets value in a 4 years period, and you will be thrown a few curve balls you will have to dodge like bad drafts, draft poor in Ds (this year), draft poor in forward etc. You should never skip the individual evaluations of course, and always take BPA. But you might face weird situations, where you've been rebuilding for a while and you didn't get your hands on a high-end D. I can see that team reaching for Reinbacher. But for the Habs, with all the D prospects we have, we are D heavy, what comes next year matters in this context - we can feel justified to keep drafting forwards if they are BPAs, know that at year 3 of our rebuild there will be a year rich in Ds.

 

[Jack Skellington]

The skating and skill threshold needs to be extremely high for that to happen at 5'9".

He's 5'10 but his skating is better than Smith plus he's much stronger and more solid. Smith has the shooting and stickhandling advantage.

 

[Kaiden Ghoul]

Watching Tkachuk play and how could we pass on Leonard at 5? The kid brings similar package with less trash talking but seems to have that « it » factor.

Leonard > Smith for me.

PLD Slaf Dach Leonar along Guhle and Xhejak

 

[Mrb1p]

He's 5'10 but his skating is better than Smith plus he's much stronger and more solid. Smith has the shooting and stickhandling advantage.

Not really. Shooting, yes, but i wouldnt say better goalscorer.

Hands are a wash, Datsyuk to Kovalev thing.

 

[phillytennis]

I'm very nervous about Will Smith. Will his style translate or not? Who knows

Will Smith is a highly talented player...if he's available...don't over-think it...just pick him!!!

 

[phillytennis]

You’d take Smith over him? I thought you were based and reinbacher pilled???

Jokes aside, I think taking Smith over Reinbacher would be a huge mistake.

I would be disappointed if we pick Reinbacher over Will Smith....many on this board whine that we need high end forwards as talent up front....Will Smith is that in spades!!!

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Would Leonard compare to Filip Forsberg ?

Not the biggest guy, but can throw a big hit and has a tendency to be a bit of an agitator at times. Does that seem similar to Leonard ?

 

[phillytennis]

You can tell this how ? I'd say Cristall is more talented, he's similar hands/Passing wise and absolutely destroys Smith goalscoring wise. I guess being 2 inches taller is a talent difference if were honest. Skating is Cristall by a slight edge. Benson has superior vision, better in tight hands but lesser stickhandling creativity and similar shooting. Skating is also Bensons.

Wood is undoubtedly more talented than Smith.

Smith is way more talented than Wood...and it's not even close.

 

[Jabba11]

All right, I am officially on the Juraj Slafkosvky bandwagon. I think he has Jaromir Jagr type of play potential. The kid is good. I like him a lot. Marketable kid too. Hope we land this beauty!

I'd pick him over Will Smith, Leo Carlsson and Adam Fantilli. Just Michkov and Bedard ahead of him.

 

[Jack Skellington]

Not really. Shooting, yes, but i wouldnt say better goalscorer.

Hands are a wash, Datsyuk to Kovalev thing.

Lol I wouldn't say goalscorer either which is why I didnt. For the record I like Benson far more and he's my pick at 5 but those are the only two advantages I give Smith.

 

[phillytennis]

Slafkovsky has amazing tools but I question his hockey IQ and awareness on ice.

Give him time...he's getting use to his new surroundings and the smaller North American ice rinks.

 

[NekkiChiconey]

Would Leonard compare to Filip Forsberg ?

Not the biggest guy, but can throw a big hit and has a tendency to be a bit of an agitator at times. Does that seem similar to Leonard ?

Svechnikov is my comp

 

[tooji]

Meh, skating concerns are vastly overblown. He's solid and has great edges. Turns and crossovers are sharp. Smooth pivots open a lot of ice. Acceleration and top speed are average. Every aspect should get better with physical growth and strength training.

I'm also less concerned about his height, given the size of the dawg he has in him.

reminds me a lot of what people said about caufield, and a big reason why he fell to 15. They both have extraordinary attributes that you shouldn’t bet against (shot for caufield / IQ for benson)

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Give him time...he's getting use to his new surroundings and the smaller North American ice rinks.

I am giving him all the time but his scouting report was spot on. Amazing tools and potential but clueless at time.

 

[Mrb1p]

Svechnikov is my comp

For Leonard? Andreis a near-generational goalscorer, he hasnt reached that level in the show but everything suggests thats what he was before, and Svechnikov is a complete animal of a player that cannot be contained on the ice.

Love Leonard, but hes 5'11 and not a goal scoring wiz.

 

[Andrei79]

Meh, skating concerns are vastly overblown. He's solid and has great edges. Turns and crossovers are sharp. Smooth pivots open a lot of ice. Acceleration and top speed are average. Every aspect should get better with physical growth and strength training.

I'm also less concerned about his height, given the size of the dawg he has in him.

I think we can expect Bedard and Michkov to eventually be top 20 scorers. They'd be likely the shortest guys in that list and their skill levels are just a complete outlier. The average population is 5'9" and the average NHLer is 6'1", the pool of guys available at that height is that much bigger, yet most of them can't overcome it. Tons of players have great edges in the NHL. Most stars do. This isn't even something to take into consideration if we're talking about drafting a potential star, unless that skill is at a level you can't ignore (Michkov). It's simply something that's not going to hinder him, rather than an advantage, unless the population you're matching him against are middle 6 players, which isn't really productive for 5th OA pick at that size. The closest player at that height in the top 20 scorers is Brayden Point and the acceleration/top speed are not average whatsoever (usually, there's Marchand there too). The compete is there and then some too. If you're not taking the size/skating combo into consideration or calling it overblown, you're not taking into consideration the likeliest path which would prevent him from being a star.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Love Leonard, but hes 5'11 and not a goal scoring wiz.

ok you lost me there.

 

[Hacketts]

Would Leonard compare to Filip Forsberg ?

Not the biggest guy, but can throw a big hit and has a tendency to be a bit of an agitator at times. Does that seem similar to Leonard ?

Lives on the same street as JT Miller, maybe the lite version.

 

[Kennerback]

Would Leonard compare to Filip Forsberg ?

Not the biggest guy, but can throw a big hit and has a tendency to be a bit of an agitator at times. Does that seem similar to Leonard ?

I like Leonard a lot. My comparison only for the physical side would be Andre Kostitsin. He hits a lot and he finishes his hits. Can he become an agitator in the NHL, idk? He has a very good accurate shot. Scores lots off goals. To me is the best skater in the Program (although Moore might be faster).

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Watching Tkachuk play and how could we pass on Leonard at 5? The kid brings similar package with less trash talking but seems to have that « it » factor.

Leonard > Smith for me.

Leonard will be a great all around winger, but he’s not a Tkachuk type. Of all the forwards at the top of the draft, Dvorsky definitely is the most physical and plays with the most edge. Barlow has a bit of it in him as well.

 

[Jack Skellington]

I think Leonard will be a similar player to TJ Oshie