HF Habs: 2023 NHL Draft part 2

[DramaticGloveSave]

Speaking of Smith, I do think the criticisms are quite overblown. He’s not a perimeter player, in fact what makes him so intriguing is his skill set combined with a willingness to pay the price to score. His issues are that he cheats offensively and doesn’t give great effort defensively but the hope would be he can amend those issues with coaching and maturity. Worst case he ends up a winger which wouldn’t be too bad for us but definitely will help him make it to the 5th pick.

 

[Andrei79]

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).

He's got flaws in his skating technique, but he's definitely quite the athlete, which compensates. I don't get the AK comparison though. Do you mean that he's built like a tank like AK ? Or that he plays a similar physical game ? Because outside of a big hit here and there, I wouldnt use AK as a comparison.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

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).

Kostitsyn a comparable to Leonard.
I have seen it all.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

Speaking of Smith, I do think the criticisms are quite overblown. He’s not a perimeter player, in fact what makes him so intriguing is his skill set combined with a willingness to pay the price to score. His issues are that he cheats offensively and doesn’t give great effort defensively but the hope would be he can amend those issues with coaching and maturity. Worst case he ends up a winger which wouldn’t be too bad for us but definitely will help him make it to the 5th pick.

A winger is honestly more preferable since both Dach and PLD can play C. I do think Smith might be better on the wing. Same with Bedard. Go back and watch the WJC and you'll see that boy cheats and shirks defensive responsibility which is fine because that's what opens him up to being the most effective

 

[NekkiChiconey]

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.

Near-generational, really? He was a very good prospect but, like you said, he hasn't reached that. I'm looking at what Svechnikov is today and I think Leonard becomes a stylistically similar forward, with potentially a similar impact as well. I think he'll beat defenders and score goals in similar fashion, while having a sneaky underrated playmaking game.

 

[Mrb1p]

ok you lost me there.

Leonard isnt comparable to Svechnikov because they dont have the same tools. Well, Leonsrd doesnt. Svechnikov scored twice as many goals in the USHL in Muskegon at 15 than Leonsrd did at 16.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

A winger is honestly more preferable since both Dach and PLD can play C. I do think Smith might be better on the wing. Same with Bedard. Go back and watch the WJC and you'll see that boy cheats and shirks defensive responsibility which is fine because that's what opens him up to being the most effective

Yup, I mean that’s what you get when you draft an offensive minded player.

 

[Playmaker09]

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 ?

You're spoiling my draft comps before I can post my top 37... Shame on you!

Yeah, I had a more skilled Dustin Brown in my head for a while but I think the Forsberg comp fits nicely as well. 200 foot winger with high-end speed, shot and incredible hands (not talked about enough) + physical play. More of a 5v5 transition scorer than a PP weapon, but can still execute a more controlled possession game with other skilled teammates in zone. There's a world where he becomes a 40-40 player.

I have Benson 5, Leonard 6 and Smith 7. Won't be upset with any of the three, but as I've mentioned before, I'd be more than willing to give up a king's ransom move up one or two spots.

 

[NotProkofievian]

"smith doesn’t have the defensive abilities, motor, or physicality"

explain to me why i keep reading comments like these.

thats why im not a fan of smith. i don't ignore red flags.

Maybe you should? How do you think we ended up with Caufield?

 

[Andrei79]

Maybe you should? How do you think we ended up with Caufield?

There comes a point where the rest of the package is so great that you can just override the red flags and not take them into consideration. Like, if you take away that red flag you end up with a historic player. If Caufield is 6'2", hes Ovechkin and Jack Hughes almost becomes an afterthought in 2019. That's the kind of overwhelming thing where it's a no brainer even at that size.

 

[The Great Weal]

The average population is 5'9"

Oof

Maybe you should? How do you think we ended up with Caufield?

People often overlook the fact that the best defense is having the puck in the other team's zone which elite offensive players can do consistently.

 

[No More Subban]

Maybe you should? How do you think we ended up with Caufield?

i can tolerate weaknesses at 15th pick, not 5th.

 

[The Great Weal]

i can tolerate weaknesses at 15th pick, not 5th.

Caufield likely goes 5th in a redraft right now. Why is "lack of elite offensive upside" not considered a weakness at 5?

 

[NotProkofievian]

There are a few guys in this draft who have elite offensive skillsets, and the crowd here has soured on almost all of them. Makes ya think.

 

[River Meadow]

There are a few guys in this draft who have elite offensive skillsets, and the crowd here has soured on almost all of them. Makes ya think.

Give me the 6ft1 safe good boi Slovak with the tremendous interview, Dalibor Dvorsky.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Give me the 6ft1 safe good boi Slovak with the tremendous interview, Dalibor Dvorsky.

I like Dalibor. But I also like Smith, Cristall, and even Sale.

 

[River Meadow]

I like Dalibor. But I also like Smith, Cristall, and even Sale.

Gotta take Smith over Dalibor for sure.

Cristall and Sale would have likely been avail potentially at 17.

*wipes tears*

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Leonard isnt comparable to Svechnikov because they dont have the same tools. Well, Leonsrd doesnt. Svechnikov scored twice as many goals in the USHL in Muskegon at 15 than Leonsrd did at 16.

I never compared him with Svechnikov but they don't even score the same type of goals either.

Leonard goals are easily transferable to the NHL, near the paint, tips or one timer mostly and some breakaways here and there.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Wheeler and Pronman did a 2 round mock.

Bedard at 1
Fantilli 2
Smith 3
Carlsson 4
We take Leonard at 5
Reinbacher 6
Dvorsky 7
Michkov at 8.

At 29 we take Cristall
At 37 we take Hrabal.

I'd honestly be okay with that. We get the most competitive with skill player in the draft, go boom or bust with high skill end of r1 and still manage the best goalie in the draft in round 2.

 

[Kshahdoo]

It’s the KHL. I would not be surprised if owners slide a briefcase of cash to their top players. They will have their salary that counts against their cap and then that bonus money is just bonus money.

Lol, there are a lot of teams who won't be happy if their competitors violate rules. There are journalists who will be happy to publish some interesting scoops. There is the league who doesn't approve such a behavior like at all.

The truth is Michkov's salary doesn't count against the cap for next two (probably three) years so he can get unlimited bonuses. Of course he needs to earn them first but it's another topic.

 

[FrankMTL]

I love Leonard. I mean, in an ideal world we wouldn't pick him 5, but I'd be ok with it. He reminds me of a prime Mike Richards type player, but with better hands. Talented, leader, competitive as f***, gritty and plays bigger the his size.

 

[Jaynki]

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

Could we say the same about Fantilli ?

 

[Jaynki]

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.

He outperforms both.

Fantilli and Carlsson are far from bad, actually i think they both display very nice tool. It just put into perspective what Slaf has done.

We heard to be careful with international tournament. It was simply a way to diminish what he did. It was a 1% thing from any 17YO in history.

This being said, since we are in the NHL draft thread.

The prospect thats displaying the most to me in the WC right now is Reinbacher. I am very warming up ti his selection at 5 if he is our pick.

I think Guhle, Hutson and Reinbacher has the foundation of one of the best D squad in the NHL.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

I think Leonard will be a similar player to TJ Oshie

This is probably a good comparison from what I've read about Leonard.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

He outperforms both.

Fantilli and Carlsson are far from bad, actually i think they both display very nice tool. It just put into perspective what Slaf has done.

We heard to be careful with international tournament. It was simply a way to diminish what he did. It was a 1% thing from any 17YO in history.

This being said, since we are in the NHL draft thread.

The prospect thats displaying the most to me in the WC right now is Reinbacher. I am very warming up ti his selection at 5 if he is our pick.

I think Guhle, Hutson and Reinbacher has the foundation of one of the best D squad in the NHL.

If Habs aren't sold on Smith, the obvious choice is Reinbacher. I've commented about this in the past. Laying out the next 1-2 years (up until the end of 2024 offseason) in my opinion, and the one problem I always had was figuring out a way the Habs get a no. 1 D. Reinbacher is in the mold of my favourite types of elite defencemen, even if it's not the popular choice, and he's definitely deserving of a pick between 5-8. If Habs think he's a future no. 1/top pairing D, you take him and run. Conversely, if they think a smith or a Leonard is what the need to properly complete the top 6 going forward thats good too. But I'd like to remind everyone of the obvious in that the Habs (assuming PLD comes) are pretty much done acquirting their future forward core and it's all about time and development now

Just take BPA