2023 NHL Entry Draft

[BenchBrawl]

This might've already been asked but if Habs win the lottery, are you picking Michkov over Bedard with what you know today?

No. I prefer Michkov's mysterious IQ to Bedard's game as of now, but Bedard is also a massive prospect, enough that the guarantee to get him is worth it over Michkov's uncertainty.

If things calm down in Russia, I would pick Michkov 1st overall.

 

[Big Empty]

I like Michkov but let’s settle down with the 135 points talk.

 

[BenchBrawl]

I like Michkov but let’s settle down with the 135 points talk.

Well, scoring is up. I don't see why I'd settle down. He has one of the greatest intelligence in a prospect in a long time, the potential is unlimited.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Yeah I just think it's poorly worded article written by ESPN, not the NHL. They shouldn't have used the "move up" part as it doesn't apply to the last place team winning #1 or 2 or the second last place team winning #2. I still believe those situations count as a win and we only have one left in the next four years. Under your scenario the same team could finish last and pick 1st overall every single year, which goes against the spirit of the rule change.

Either way, whatever. Just win Bedard next year and I'm good. Otherwise:

#Don't score for Dalibor
#Mail it in for Carlsson

How about straight from the horses mouth, the wording is pretty clear:

"No single team will be able to advance in the Draft order by reason of winning a Lottery Draw more than two (2) times in any five (5) year period."

https://media.nhl.com/public/news/14767

It's not about simply winning the draw, but advancing in the draft order by winning the draw.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Also, people are most likely overrating the other so-called "great players".

Not a single draft in history had more than 3 franchise players in the Top 10.

I only had to look back to 2015 to contradict this

McDavid, Eichel, Marner and Rantanen.

I don't think any draft in history had three franchise players that went 1-2-3.

There are a few years with 3 in the top 4, 2015 is one of them.

 

[BenchBrawl]

I only had to look back to 2015 to contradict this

McDavid, Eichel, Marner and Rantanen.




There are a few years with 3 in the top 4, 2015 is one of them.

Eichel, a franchise player? Give me a break. Marner? Borderline (do you win with him as the best player on your team?). Even Rantanen is questionable (3rd best player on his team).

You're talking about passing on Michkov for a guy of their caliber, and this one is a particularly strong draft from that criteria too.

f*** that.

If you keep checking the other drafts, you'll see how few there are with several real franchise players. I checked them all.

Not a chance I'm passing on Michkov for this.

See the difference between how far McDavid pushed Edmonton almost singlehandedly in the playoffs, versus Marner for Toronto. That's why I don't want to pass on Michkov.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Eichel, a franchise player? Give me a break. Marner? Borderline (do you win with him as the best player on your team?). Even Rantanen is questionable (3rd best player on his team).

You're talking about passing on Michkov for a guy of their caliber, and this one is a particularly strong draft from that criteria too.

f*** that.

If you keep checking the other drafts, you'll see how few there are with several real franchise players. I checked them all.

Not a chance I'm passing on Michkov for this.

See the difference between how far McDavid pushed Edmonton almost singlehandedly in the playoffs, versus Marner for Toronto. That's why I don't want to pass on Michkov.

I never gave that conclusion so please don't do it for me. It's not because I disagree with an argument you used thst it automatically means I disagree woth your point.

I wouldn't pass on either Michkov or Bedard, but I'd seriously consider how they will play in the next year and how international politics play out before chosing between the two, but I would chose Michkov no matter what over all the others.

 

[BenchBrawl]

I never gave that conclusion so please don't do it for me. It's not because I disagree with an argument you used thst it automatically means I disagree woth your point.

I wouldn't pass on either Michkov or Bedard, but I'd seriously consider how they will play in the next year and how international politics play out before chosing between the two, but I would chose Michkov no matter what over all the others.

Fair enough.

I did the tedious work of transcribing each draft's Top 10 from 1979 to 2017. Assuming a 40-50% chance that Michkov, who I see as a McDavid-level prospect, never comes to the NHL, I bolded the players I would take at 2nd overall, thus passing on Michkov for.

I included Gretzky in the 1979 draft because under modern rule he'd be there and be taken 1st overall.

Recent drafts some guys could elevate their legacy, I went with gut feeling.

Edit: OK, there are some tougher choices, mainly the offensive centers like Tavares, Denis Savard, Hawerchuk, Lafontaine, Spezza but also guys who aren't as good offensively but are "franchise types" like Ron Francis or Jonathan Toews. Anyway, they're all in the maybes to me.

Anyway, the point isn't to nitpick whether to include this or that guy, but to give an overall portrait of the situation, and how few franchise players there actually are in every draft, and the risk it represents to pass on a prospect like Michkov thinking the rest are guaranteed "great players".

2017
Hischier
Patrick
Heiskanen
Makar
Pettersson
Glass
L.Andersson
Mittelstadt
Rasmussen
Tippett

2016
Matthews
Laine
Dubois
Puljujarvi
Juolevi
M.Tkachuk
Keller
A.Nylander
Sergachev
Jost

2015
McDavid
Eichel
Strome
Marner
Hanifin
Zacha
Pronorov
Werenski
Meier
Rantanen

2014
Ekblad
Reinhart
Draisaitl
Bennett
Dal Colle
Virtanen
H.Fleury
W.Nylander
Ehlers
Ritchie

2013
MacKinnon
Barkov (maybe)***
Drouin
Jones
Lindholm
Monahan
Nurse
Ristolainen
Horvat
Nichushkin

2012
Yakupov
Murray
Galchenyuk
Reinhart
Rielly
Lindholm
Dumba
Pouliot
Trouba
Koekkoek

2011
Nugent-Hopkins
Landeskog
Huberdeau
Larsson
Strome
Zibanejad
Scheifele
Couturier
Hamilton
Brodin

2010
Hall
Seguin
Gudbranson
Johansen
Niederreiter
B.Connolly
Skinner
Burmistrov
Granlund
McIlrath

2009
Tavares (maybe)***
Hedman
Duchene
E.Kane
B.Schenn
Ekman-Larsson
Kadri
Glennie
Cowen
Paajarvi

2008
Stamkos (maybe, not a big fan)***
Doughty
Bogosian
Pietrangelo
L.Schenn
Filatov
Wilson
Boedker
Bailey
Hodgson

2007
P. Kane
Van Riemsdyk
Turris
Hickey
Alzner
Gagner
Voracek
Hamill
Couture
Ellerby

2006
E.Johnson
J.Staal
Toews (maybe)***
Backstrom
Kessel
Brassard
Okposo
Mueller
Sheppard
Frolik

2005
Crosby
Ryan
J.Johnson
Pouliot
Price
Brule
Skille
Setoguchi
Lee
Bourdon

2004
Ovechkin
Malkin
Barker
Ladd
Wheeler
Montoya
Olesz
Picard
Smid
Valabik

2003
MA.Fleury
E.Staal (maybe)***
Horton
Zherdev
Vanek
Michalek
R.Suter
Coburn
Phaneuf
Kostitsyn

2002
Nash
Lehtonen
Bouwmeester
Pitkanen
Whitney
Upshall
Lupul
PM.Bouchard
Taticek
E.Nystrom

2001
Kovalchuk (maybe)***
Spezza (maybe)***
Svitov
Weiss
Chistov
M.Koivu
Komisarek
P. LeClaire
Ruutu
D.Blackburn

2000
Dipietro
Heatley
Gaborik
Klesla
Torres
Hartnell
Jonsson
Alexeev
Krahn
Yakubov

1999
Stefan
D.Sedin (maybe)***
H.Sedin (maybe)***
Brendl
T.Connolly
Finley
Beech
Pyatt
Lundmarl
Mezei

1998
Lecavalier
Legwand
B.Stuart
Allen
Vishnevsky
Fata
Malhotra
Bell
Rupp
Antropov

1997
Thornton (maybe, HATE his playoffs, but for RS yes)
Marleau
Jokinen
Luongo
Brewer
Tkaczuk
Mara
Samsonov
Boynton
Ference

1996
Phillips
Zyuzin
Dumont
Volchkov
Jackman
Devereaux
E.Rasmussen
Aitken
Salei
L.Ward

1995
B.Berard
Redden
AP Berg
Kilger
Langkow
S.Kelly
Doan
T.Ryan
Mclaren
R.Dvorak

1994
Jovanovski
Tverdovsky
Bonk
Bonsignore
O'Neill
R.Smyth
Storr
Wiemer
B.Lindros
Baumgartner

1993
Daigle
Pronger
Gratton
Kariya (maybe, leaning yes)***
R.Niedermayer
V.Kozlov
Arnott
N.Sundstrom
T.Harvey
J.Thibault

1992
Hamrlik
Yashin
Rathje
Warriner
Kasparaitis
C.Stillman
R.Sittler
Convery
Petrovicky
Nazarov

1991
E. Lindros
Falloon
S.Niedermayer (maybe, leaning yes)***
Lachance
A.Ward
P. Forsberg
Stokanov
Matvichuk
P.Poulin
M.Lapointe

1990
Nolan
Nedved
K.Primeau
Ricci
Jagr
Scissons
Sydor
D.Hatcher
Slaney
Berehowsky

1989
M. Sundin
Chyzowski
S.Thornton
Barnes
Guerin
A.Bennett
Zmolek
Herter
J.Marshall
B.Holik

1988
Modano
Linden
Leschyshyn
D.Shannon
Dore
Pearson
M.Gelinas
Roenick
Brind'Amour
Selanne

1987
P.Turgeon
Shanahan
G.Wesley
McBean
C.Joseph
Archibald
L.Richardson
J.Waite
B.Fogarty
More

1986
J.Murphy
J.Carson
Brady
Zalapski
Anderson
Damphousse
Woodley
Elynuik
B.Leetch
J.Lemieux

1985
W.Clark
C.Simpson
Wolanin
Sandlak
Murzyn
Dalgarno
Dalhen
Fedyk
Duncanson
D.Gratton

1984
M. Lemieux
K.Muller
Olczyuk
Iafrate
Svoboda
Redmond
S.Burr
Corson
Bodger
JJ Daigneault

1983
Lawton
S.Turgeon
Lafontaine
Yzerman
Barrasso
MacLean
R.Courtnall
McBain
Neely (maybe, if I don't know his injuries)***
Lacombe

1982
Kluzak
Bellows
Nyland
Ron Sutter
S.Stevens
Housley
Yaremchuk
R.Trottier
Cyr
Rich Sutter

1981
Hawerchuk
Smith
Carpenter
Francis (maybe)***
Cirella
Benning
M.Hunter
G. Fuhr
J.Patrick
Butcher

1980
Wickenheiser
Babych
D. Savard (maybe)***
L.Murphy
Veitch
Coffey
Lanz
Arthur
Bullard
Fox

1979
Gretzky*
Ramage
P.Turnbull
Foligno
M.Gartner
Vaive
C.Hartsburg
K.Brown
R.Bourque
Boschman
T.McCarthy

 

[WeThreeKings]

Until Putin is 6 feet under, I will rate Michkov high but wouldn't pick him. I don't know if they'll let the next Russian superstar leave home.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Until Putin is 6 feet under, I will rate Michkov high but wouldn't pick him. I don't know if they'll let the next Russian superstar leave home.

And he has signed for 5 years in the KHL. Avoid Russians if possible. And there is no chance he goes before Bedard. What the team with the 2nd overall pick is a conundrum.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Until Putin is 6 feet under, I will rate Michkov high but wouldn't pick him. I don't know if they'll let the next Russian superstar leave home.

If the Panthers shit the bed I would definitely grab Michkov, and whoever else with our pick.

 

[WeThreeKings]

And he has signed for 5 years in the KHL. Avoid Russians if possible. And there is no chance he goes before Bedard. What the team with the 2nd overall pick is a conundrum.

It would be one thing if it was this draft but Fantilli Yager Carlsson Dvorsky are so good that taking the certain thing is a reasonable decision.

If the Panthers shit the bed I would definitely grab Michkov, and whoever else with our pick.

Unfortunately it sounds like that Panthers pick is pegged for the Dubois trade

 

[BenchBrawl]

Until Putin is 6 feet under, I will rate Michkov high but wouldn't pick him. I don't know if they'll let the next Russian superstar leave home.

Insane risk to avoid a mere risk.

 

[BenchBrawl]

It would be one thing if it was this draft but Fantilli Yager Carlsson Dvorsky are so good that taking the certain thing is a reasonable decision.

Overconfidence. Would be an historical anomaly if they all pan out.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Overconfidence. Would be an historical anomaly if they all pan out.

Anomalous years are a possibility. We've seen the opposite like 2012 where there weren't any franchise players in the top 10.

There will definitely come a year when there will be 4-5, or even 6.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Anomalous years are a possibility. We've seen the opposite like 2012 where there weren't any franchise players in the top 10.

There will definitely come a year when there will be 4-5, or even 6.

Sure. The past isn't a guarantor of the future.

But I wouldn't bet on that exception being the exact year where Michkov is sitting right there for the taken for my team at 2nd overall lol

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

Sure. The past isn't a guarantor of the future.

But I wouldn't bet on that exception being the exact year where Michkov is sitting right there for the taken for my team at 2nd overall lol

I just don't see Hughes taking Michkov if someone like Fantilli or Dvorsky is available. Sure he's BPA. But Hugo, while committing to a rebuild, want to accelerate it. That's possible because MB (in 2 of his last 3 years before 2021 offseason) engaged in a retool, garnering a bunch of picks and getting young core pieces like Suzuki, Caufield, etc. If they built from scratch like Yzerman, theyd probably take Michkov without a second thought as they'd be in a long term project.

Personally I'd be happy with either one of Dvorsky, Fantilli, or Michkov. If Habs get a guy like PLD in a trade without giving up key young forwards, I'd be absolutely fine with waiting on Michkov as Habs would already have 5/6 of their top 6 going forward

 

[Adam Michaels]

After the Petry trade, Habs now have 11 draft picks in 2023.

2 x 1st
1 x 2nd
1 x 3rd
3 x 4th
2 x 5th
1 x 6th
1 x 7th

We should expect them to get more picks throughout the year as they trade others, particularly the ones in the final year of their deals.

 

[Riggins]

How about straight from the horses mouth, the wording is pretty clear:

"No single team will be able to advance in the Draft order by reason of winning a Lottery Draw more than two (2) times in any five (5) year period."

https://media.nhl.com/public/news/14767

It's not about simply winning the draw, but advancing in the draft order by winning the draw.

Thanks, was looking for a legit article that wasn't obscure but couldn't find this. I'm wrong, we can finish last and win the lotto five straight years. Sounds good to me, even if it makes no sense!

On another topic:

Dubois-Bedard-Dach
Slafkovsy-Suzuki-Caufield

Insane skill and size to insulate our small snipers. Inject this into my veins!

 

[Kaladin]

You're gonna be more pissed when the guy we drafted is at best a 80 pts scorer (if not a bust!) and in 2027 Michkov comes in scoring 135 pts a season.

Haha I love how Michkov gained 15 pts a season from your last post to this one. These projections were only 3 minutes apart. At this exponential rate Michkov may hit 1M points a season by the time he gets here.

(I jest - big fan of the kid too).

 

[CanadienShark]

No way Calum Ritchie is 4

(and here we go)



It depends if we sell Petry before the season.
It depends if we sell Dvorak/Anderson at the deadline. We could be epic tankers in the post-deadline timelines.
It depends if Florida implodes! LOL
It depends how much they buy/trade before the season starts.
Depends of injuries: Drouin, Price, Byron, Dach (hopefully not)

How amazing that would be.

Somehow end up with Bedard and Michkov.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Wake me up next summer.

2022-2023 will be a long season.

 

[SOLR]

Wake me up next summer.

2022-2023 will be a long season.

It will be entertaining at least.

 

[FrankMTL]

After the Petry trade, Habs now have 11 draft picks in 2023.

2 x 1st
1 x 2nd
1 x 3rd
3 x 4th
2 x 5th
1 x 6th
1 x 7th

We should expect them to get more picks throughout the year as they trade others, particularly the ones in the final year of their deals.

We should be able to get another 2nd and 3rd out of Drouin, Byron and Dadonov at the deadline....I mean I would hope so anyways. Hopefully they all play this season, and play somewhat well.

This will hopefully be the last full tank draft. After this, the team can start progressing towards becoming a consistent contender.

 

[jrom]

We have Allen to potentially trade also, with 3 retention spots maybe it’s Byron that has the least trade value (especially if he goes on LTIR once season starts).