2023 NHL Entry Draft

[SlafySZN]

The biggest reason why Fantilli is above Smith (and Carlsson) on lists is the skating differences.

Fantilli is just an awesome skater.

My concerns on Fantilli are just hockey IQ. Carlsson's IQ is higher and his skill level is fantastic, I think his skating will figure itself out as he gets stronger too.

In the Carlsson thread someone said Carlsson reminded them of KK in his draft year in Liiga lol I think that was pretty much because of his skating and being a tall kid. Carlsson's skating is better though.

 

[Mrb1p]

In the Carlsson thread someone said Carlsson reminded them of KK in his draft year in Liiga lol I think that was pretty much because of his skating and being a tall kid. Carlsson's skating is better though.

No comparisons at all. KK was a straight line skater and nothing else, Leo is very good at weaving and 360 mobility, hes just not very fast and even then, I dont find him slow.

 

[Mrb1p]

Nah we definitely need someone else.

Id much rather add an impact forward over another D. Of course you always need more talent but if the choice is between a top line player and a top pair D, id take my chances on the forward.

The Habs have a lot of D talent coming up, Mailloux, Barron, Hutson and Engstrom makes it very likely we fill out at least one spot in the top 4.

Dont forget that a guy like Guhle could anchor 30 minutes a night while playing with trash like Webs, Markov and Subban did most of their career. You really only need another guy to get the other 20 minutes.

 

[The Great Weal]

Id much rather add an impact forward over another D. Of course you always need more talent but if the choice is between a top line player and a top pair D, id take my chances on the forward.

The Habs have a lot of D talent coming up, Mailloux, Barron, Hutson and Engstrom makes it very likely we fill out at least one spot in the top 4.

Dont forget that a guy like Guhle could anchor 30 minutes a night while playing with trash like Webs, Markov and Subban did most of their career. You really only need another guy to get the other 20 minutes.

I love Guhle but it's way too soon to claim he could become that type of dman. Not to mention that we needed Markov and Subban, Markov and Weber, Petry and Weber to even be above average, Mailloux, Barron, and Hutson are all giant mystery boxes. We need another Guhle type player because the players you mentioned are more 2nd/3rd pairing dmen.

We've already got four future players for the top 6 in CC, Suzuki, Slaf, and Dach. The depth also looks good with guys like Mesar, Heineman, Roy, Kidney, and Beck. Sure not all of those guys are destined to make it, but one of them could even become a top 6 player for us. I'm also fairly certain we are going to make a splash for PLD.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Id much rather add an impact forward over another D. Of course you always need more talent but if the choice is between a top line player and a top pair D, id take my chances on the forward.

The Habs have a lot of D talent coming up, Mailloux, Barron, Hutson and Engstrom makes it very likely we fill out at least one spot in the top 4.

Dont forget that a guy like Guhle could anchor 30 minutes a night while playing with trash like Webs, Markov and Subban did most of their career. You really only need another guy to get the other 20 minutes.

I love Guhle but it's way too soon to claim he could become that type of dman. Not to mention that we needed Markov and Subban, Markov and Weber, Petry and Weber to even be above average, Mailloux, Barron, and Hutson are all giant mystery boxes. We need another Guhle type player because the players you mentioned are more 2nd/3rd pairing dmen.

We've already got four future players for the top 6 in CC, Suzuki, Slaf, and Dach. The depth also looks good with guys like Mesar, Heineman, Roy, Kidney, and Beck. Sure not all of those guys are destined to make it, but one of them could even become a top 6 player for us. I'm also fairly certain we are going to make a splash for PLD.

you guys both make such good arguments it makes me realize that we could definitely use one of each.

 

[Vachon23]

you guys both make such good arguments it makes me realize that we could definitely use one of each.

At the end of the day, we do need a #1 forward, #1 Dmen and #1 G. That’s why we need to take no short cut in the rebuild

 

[WinterLion]

Seems like this year the top is heavy on smaller skilled F's (after the top 4). Would you agree? Do you feel like this is just a natural occurance, or a trend in the NHL? Any bigger players you like in the top 15

 

[Mrb1p]

At the end of the day, we do need a #1 forward, #1 Dmen and #1 G. That’s why we need to take no short cut in the rebuild

We need a franchise, top 10 forward.

I dont think we need a 1D at all, Guhles just as good as any D in the league under 23 not named Makar. I have rarely been so sure of a player developping into that type of player, which is funny because until September I thought Guhle lacked high end abilities and that he would slow down in the NHL. Turns out, hes never looked better than in the NHL.

Subban and Weber had similar development curves.

 

[Mrb1p]

I love Guhle but it's way too soon to claim he could become that type of dman. Not to mention that we needed Markov and Subban, Markov and Weber, Petry and Weber to even be above average, Mailloux, Barron, and Hutson are all giant mystery boxes. We need another Guhle type player because the players you mentioned are more 2nd/3rd pairing dmen.

We've already got four future players for the top 6 in CC, Suzuki, Slaf, and Dach. The depth also looks good with guys like Mesar, Heineman, Roy, Kidney, and Beck. Sure not all of those guys are destined to make it, but one of them could even become a top 6 player for us. I'm also fairly certain we are going to make a splash for PLD.

I think we need that elusive Robertson, Matthews, Mcdavid, Mackinnon, Pastrnak, etc type of player much more than we need a top pair D.

If you look at top teams in history, most of them made it with one very good D, on good and a bunch of okay Ds.

Makar/Byram
Hedman/Mcdonagh
Keith/Seabrook
Doughty/Voynov
Letang/Dumoulin


We needed all those Ds because the Habs best forward was either Plekanec, Gallagher or a 20 Yo Suzuki.

 

[The Great Weal]

I think we need that elusive Robertson, Matthews, Mcdavid, Mackinnon, Pastrnak, etc type of player much more than we need a top pair D.

If you look at top teams in history, most of them made it with one very good D, on good and a bunch of okay Ds.

Makar/Byram
Hedman/Mcdonagh
Keith/Seabrook
Doughty/Voynov
Letang/Dumoulin


We needed all those Ds because the Habs best forward was either Plekanec, Gallagher or a 20 Yo Suzuki.

-Devon toews was with the Avs too and he’s a stud
-McDonagh was huge for Tampa, he ate a shit ton of min
-Keith and Seabrook were definitely elite dmen
-Doughty had Muzzin too which who in his prime is likely better than any of our current guys
-Sure with Letang but come on, they had two generational talents. We are never getting that.

Even if you disagree with my take on their defence partners, so you genuinely think Guhle is going to be a top 3 dmen in the league like Makar, Hedman, Doughty, and Keith were in their cup wins?

 

[MarkovsKnee]

I think we need that elusive Robertson, Matthews, Mcdavid, Mackinnon, Pastrnak, etc type of player much more than we need a top pair D.

If you look at top teams in history, most of them made it with one very good D, on good and a bunch of okay Ds.

Makar/Byram
Hedman/Mcdonagh
Keith/Seabrook
Doughty/Voynov
Letang/Dumoulin


We needed all those Ds because the Habs best forward was either Plekanec, Gallagher or a 20 Yo Suzuki.

You need 3.

Makar/Byram/Toews
Hedman/Mcdonagh/Sergachev
Keith/Seabrook/Hjammersson?(sp)
Doughty/Voynov/Muzzin

We have Guhle for sure.

After that a lot of maybes & hopefuls.

 

[Mrb1p]

-Devon toews was with the Avs too and he’s a stud
-McDonagh was huge for Tampa, he ate a shit ton of min
-Keith and Seabrook were definitely elite dmen
-Doughty had Muzzin too which who in his prime is likely better than any of our current guys
-Sure with Letang but come on, they had two generational talents. We are never getting that.

Even if you disagree with my take on their defence partners, so you genuinely think Guhle is going to be a top 3 dmen in the league like Makar, Hedman, Doughty, and Keith were in their cup wins?

Yes, a guy like Toews and Muzzin is needed to either anchor the 2nd pairing or complement he 1D, but I feel like they are much, much easier to acquire than what they need at forward. I am confident in the haul of D prospects we got to turn into a guy that can anchor a 2nd pairing.

Spend a 2nd on Ds until we land it if we have to, keep the first alive for that dere forward.

Same goes for Gs.

You need 3.

Makar/Byram/Toews
Hedman/Mcdonagh/Sergachev
Keith/Seabrook/Hjammersson?(sp)
Doughty/Voynov/Muzzin

We have Guhle for sure.

After that a lot of maybes & hopefuls.

See above.

Hjalmarsson btw

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Yes, a guy like Toews and Muzzin is needed to either anchor the 2nd pairing or complement he 1D, but I feel like they are much, much easier to acquire than what they need at forward. I am confident in the haul of D prospects we got to turn into a guy that can anchor a 2nd pairing.

Spend a 2nd on Ds until we land it if we have to, keep the first alive for that dere forward.

Same goes for Gs.



See above.

Hjalmarsson btw

Yeah, I was too lazy to look it up. Lol

 

[Vachon23]

Yes, a guy like Toews and Muzzin is needed to either anchor the 2nd pairing or complement he 1D, but I feel like they are much, much easier to acquire than what they need at forward. I am confident in the haul of D prospects we got to turn into a guy that can anchor a 2nd pairing.

Spend a 2nd on Ds until we land it if we have to, keep the first alive for that dere forward.

Same goes for Gs.

We have a big hole on the RD, the LD are fine

At LD, we have Guhle set on the 1st pair and Xhakaj set on the 3rd pair for the futur. We have Huston that could be a PP specialist on the 2nd pair and guys like Harris/Engstrom/Struble

On RD though, where extremely tin. We have what ? Barron that I like when we acquired and still think that he can become a #4 but after that..

 

[The Great Weal]

Yes, a guy like Toews and Muzzin is needed to either anchor the 2nd pairing or complement he 1D, but I feel like they are much, much easier to acquire than what they need at forward. I am confident in the haul of D prospects we got to turn into a guy that can anchor a 2nd pairing.

Spend a 2nd on Ds until we land it if we have to, keep the first alive for that dere forward.

Same goes for Gs.

This is assuming Guhle will be a top 3 dman in the league which he most likely won't be. Gonna need another player of Guhle's caliber if we want to be competitive.

 

[Mrb1p]

This is assuming Guhle will be a top 3 dman in the league which he most likely won't be. Gonna need another player of Guhle's caliber if we want to be competitive.

Why would we assume he's a top 3 in the league ? And what tells you he won't ?

We don't need him to be top 3, we need him to be top 10ish, and he surely can be that.

 

[SlafySZN]

Seems like this year the top is heavy on smaller skilled F's (after the top 4). Would you agree? Do you feel like this is just a natural occurance, or a trend in the NHL? Any bigger players you like in the top 15

Eduard Sale and Dvorsky, Barlow are 6’1, Will Smith & Yager are around 6’0, Matthew Wood 6’3.

Not too bad.

 

[The Great Weal]

Why would we assume he's a top 3 in the league ? And what tells you he won't ?

We don't need him to be top 3, we need him to be top 10ish, and he surely can be that.

Because all your examples of one "good" dman are top 3 dmen when they won the cup. Guhle is a lot closer to those 2nd pairing dmen that you mentioned than that 1D based on what we have seen so far. For the record, I don't even think you need to have one of the best dmen in the league to win the cup, but you definitely need a deep squad with good players if we don't have that type of dman.

Guhle-X
Hutson-Mailloux/Barron
Harris-Xhekaj

That "X" is a massive piece and likely needs to be better than most teams 2nd best dman.

 

[Nipsey]

The more I watch Fantilli and Carlsson, don’t see that franchise game changing potential of Bedard/Michkov.

Like it wouldn’t surprise me if Cristall or Smith end up better offensive players.

Defence is underrated this year. Gulyayev/Reinbacher/Dragicevic/Pellikka all have top pair upside.

 

[SOLR]

The more I watch Fantilli and Carlsson, don’t see that franchise game changing potential of Bedard/Michkov.

Like it wouldn’t surprise me if Cristall or Smith end up better offensive players.

Defence is underrated this year. Gulyayev/Reinbacher/Dragicevic/Pellikka all have top pair upside.

They all have top pair upside, but most years there are Ds who are top pair from the start.

 

[WinterLion]

They all have top pair upside, but most years there are Ds who are top pair from the start.

It definitely seems like that is missing this year. Although it's still very early. Maybe one will emerge.

 

[WeThreeKings]

It definitely seems like that is missing this year. Although it's still very early. Maybe one will emerge.

We will see.

Gulyayev has the offensive skills but is a terrible defender in his own zone plus has the Russian factor.
Reinbacher I need to see how good his offensive skills are.
Dragicevic is really good offensively and might be the better target for us because we have the LHD to mitigate his defensive issues.
ASP is a cool story but so far I haven't seen the level of creativity and deception needed at the top of the PP umbrella for me to think he could be the RHD solution.

 

[waitin425]

You need 3.

Makar/Byram/Toews
Hedman/Mcdonagh/Sergachev
Keith/Seabrook/Hjammersson?(sp)
Doughty/Voynov/Muzzin

We have Guhle for sure.

After that a lot of maybes & hopefuls.

Guhle looks like the real deal for sure and I suspect his learning curve will continue at a good rise.

Hutson is the real wild card. I can't wait to see him play the next couple of weeks at an elite competition. We are going to see what we have here and the talk will either quiet or ramp up exponentially.

Between Mailloux, Barron, Axe and Harris we could have a third top d man emerge from them as well.

 

[waitin425]

We have a big hole on the RD, the LD are fine

At LD, we have Guhle set on the 1st pair and Xhakaj set on the 3rd pair for the futur. We have Huston that could be a PP specialist on the 2nd pair and guys like Harris/Engstrom/Struble

On RD though, where extremely tin. We have what ? Barron that I like when we acquired and still think that he can become a #4 but after that..

Don't go to sleep on Logan Mailloux.

Mailloux + Barron on right side is a good start. One of them could still take the leap to top line D man.



These highlights are all showcasing his offensive capabilities as a D-man. But he is improving as the season goes on, on the defensive side of the puck. His footwork, ability to close gaps and long reach are making it difficult for forwards to get by him. @ChesterNimitz had a good write up on his game a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Vachon23]

Between Mailloux, Barron, Axe and Harris we could have a third top d man emerge from them as well.

I don’t see top pair Dmen potential in any of those guys