2023 NHL Entry Draft

[Mrb1p]

How does Smith compare to Suzuki to those who have seen Smith a lot? Sounds awfully similar. Both right-handed, similar size, just "ok" skating and motor, great vision, IQ and playmaking.


Any big differences?

Suzuki is a sturdy MFer and hes sneaky physical, kinda like Plekanec or Datsyuk were. Smith to me, seems like he's more in the Panarin/Kane side where he'd rather not engage physically. IQ, Playmaking and hands are close, I think Suzuki has slightly better hands in tight but maybe less of a willingness to use them, you very seldomly see him try to deke out guys (He should do it more.) In that sense, Smith is more aggressive. Smith is much choppier in his moves, relies a bit too much on the shoulder-fake and doesn't have the same processing and execution speed as Suzuki, though I don't exactly recall where he was at in his pre-draft year, I remember him being great but so is Smith.

Those are mostly nitpicks, the biggest difference is the shot. Nick has that 40g shot, Smith may struggle to put up 25. Suzuki is more skilled and he was a better prospect IMO.

I don't think he has ONE ten. Sorry, only guys like Bedard get 10s.

Smith's skills are great but they are not generational level in many categories. That's ridiculous.

Thats mostly semantics then. I said close to a ten, is his playmaking a 6 ? No ? Close to a ten. Is his stickhandling a 7? No ? Close to a ten.

 

[SOLR]

Thats mostly semantics then. I said close to a ten, is his playmaking a 6 ? No ? Close to a ten. Is his stickhandling a 7? No ? Close to a ten.

Oh I see the semantic door out. You just blamed the guy for some hyperboles and then you carry on to make the greatest hyperbole in the history of HFboards (hyperbole), all semantics, who cares.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Oh I see the semantic door out. You just blamed the guy for some hyperboles and then you carry on to make the greatest hyperbole in the history of HFboards (hyperbole), all semantics, who cares.

I know you're being hyperbolic, but this as opportune a time as any to remind ourselves of that time Avtsin was the next Ovechkin.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I know you're being hyperbolic, but this as opportune a time as any to remind ourselves of that time Avtsin was the next Ovechkin.

I'd still love to see an alternate world where Avtsin doesn't come over right away and get coached by Sly.

 

[NotProkofievian]

I'd still love to see an alternate world where Avtsin doesn't come over right away and get coached by Sly.

It's still real to me dammit!

 

[WeThreeKings]

It's still real to me dammit!

Hahaha, not the Ovechkin comparison that was always ludicrous. But he had some enticing offensive skills for a 5th round pick, but the thought process for development there was weird.

Imagine if we put Joshua Roy in the AHL right after drafting him and letting Sylvain Lefebvre coach him. Oof

 

[NotProkofievian]

Hahaha, not the Ovechkin comparison that was always ludicrous. But he had some enticing offensive skills for a 5th round pick, but the thought process for development there was weird.

Imagine if we put Joshua Roy in the AHL right after drafting him and letting Sylvain Lefebvre coach him. Oof

''That would be fine because reasons''-like 5 people on hfboards habs for some reason.

 

[Mrb1p]

Oh I see the semantic door out. You just blamed the guy for some hyperboles and then you carry on to make the greatest hyperbole in the history of HFboards (hyperbole), all semantics, who cares.

Eh, Im pretty sure saying an elite prospect like Smith is close to a ten in all but skating in shooting isn't even considered an hyperbole. Where is the exageration ? He's from a 7 to a 9ish in all skills aside from skating and shooting. Maybe intangibles/intensity if you want to rate that, where hes below that.

''That would be fine because reasons''-like 5 people on hfboards habs for some reason.

5 is being awfully generous to this community.

Trust the process is the name of the game.

 

[Goldenhands]

@Goldenhands you just gonna take that?

Yep I clearly got triggered. Thats why you cant love too many prospects at the same time, its like women, the sexiest isnt always the one to marry.

Seriously, Moore offers the best blend of skills, size and power of the 2, Moore is a better shooter, better goalscorer too.

Brindley is very high IQ player and a great playmaker, his skating is also high end, but not at Moore level. Im thinking of Moore around 6th OV, Im thinking of Brindley mid 1st.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Habs will likely to have top 10 pick. I think we can all expect that. Bottom 8 is looking lock to me so far. Bottom 8, Habs can still lose 2 spot in loterry draft.

Thats a really good news... some people wanted top 4 pick (Habs need a really good luck at loterry day or a very long losing streak in their 33 games remaining. I expect a 0,500 in their 33 games remaining, they are going to fight even if they are not going to make playoffs.

Even with a top 12, im a happy guy... this a very deep draft, top 4 is all stars players, but range 5-12, you can easily grab a high offensive forward potential with Benson, Smith, Yager, Dvorsky, Moore, Sale, Barlow, and Heidt.

If scouts and management draft one of these beauty, I really like that new management.

 

[xposbrad]

Habs will likely to have top 10 pick. I think we can all expect that. Bottom 8 is looking lock to me so far. Bottom 8, Habs can still lose 2 spot in loterry draft.

Thats a really good news... some people wanted top 4 pick (Habs need a really good luck at loterry day or a very long losing streak in their 33 games remaining. I expect a 0,500 in their 33 games remaining, they are going to fight even if they are not going to make playoffs.

Even with a top 12, im a happy guy... this a very deep draft, top 4 is all stars players, but range 5-12, you can easily grab a high offensive forward potential with Benson, Smith, Yager, Dvorsky, Moore, Sale, Barlow, and Heidt.

If scouts and management draft one of these beauty, I really like that new management.

A lot of teams are going to get 'good' players. And the bottom 4 will get great players.

 

[calder candidate]

After a 3 point game, Wood is up to 24 points in 25 games.

It easy to write him off because the skating look so awful but more I see the more I think it isn’t causing him too many issues he still getting to pucks and dangling guys if the skating improve even marginally he going to be one heck of a player

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Current top 10, will present a top 32 next weekend:

1. Bedard (Exceptional tier)

2. Michkov (Money tier)
3. Fantilli
4. Carlsson

5. Cristall (High-end tier)
6. Benson

7. Smith (Happy-with tier)
8. Moore
9. Gulyayev
10. Simashev

Feel like Oliver Moore has shown enough for me to remove the Michael McLeod lens. He's not a perfect prospect but there is more to his game than just speed and motor.

 

[Mrb1p]

It easy to write him off because the skating look so awful but more I see the more I think it isn’t causing him too many issues he still getting to pucks and dangling guys if the skating improve even marginally he going to be one heck of a player

Is it so awful ? Its not any worse than Kotkaniemis, Tkachuk, Lucic, etc at the same age, or a lot of big bodies with average to below average skating. Hes on rails when hes skating, which is something taht will probably never get better, at least not marginally.

Id be curious to get his actual skating measured on time and on a top speed level, pretty sure his skating is mid range.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

What type of player is Sale ? Keep finding him around 12-15 but im yet to hear someone very excited about him

I think Alex Tanguay is a decent comparable to Sale. William Nylander another. Martin Havlat too.

Excellent passing, vision & stick handling skills. He has an under rated shot. He has a quick release, but needs to shoot more. Tends to defer to playmaking.

Not physical at all. Not an inside player. Generally sticks to perimeter, but will sneak inside if there's space. He's a hard worker.

Can create breakaways for himself because of his speed.

He's not having that great of a season in Czech Republic men's league, but he absolutely dominated u20. He put up 1g, 5a for 6 pts in 7 games at 2023 WJC, which is respectable for a draft eligible player.

 

[NotProkofievian]

I think Alex Tanguay is a decent comparable to Sale. William Nylander another. Martin Havlat too.

Excellent passing, vision & stick handling skills. He has an under rated shot. He has a quick release, but needs to shoot more. Tends to defer to playmaking.

Not physical at all. Not an inside player. Generally sticks to perimeter, but will sneak inside if there's space. He's a hard worker.

Can create breakaways for himself because of his speed.

He's not having that great of a season in Czech Republic men's league, but he absolutely dominated u20. He put up 1g, 5a for 6 pts in 7 games at 2023 WJC, which is respectable for a draft eligible player.

Maybe Hemsky?

 

[MarkovsKnee]

 

[KevSkillz4]

I think Alex Tanguay is a decent comparable to Sale. William Nylander another. Martin Havlat too.

Excellent passing, vision & stick handling skills. He has an under rated shot. He has a quick release, but needs to shoot more. Tends to defer to playmaking.

Not physical at all. Not an inside player. Generally sticks to perimeter, but will sneak inside if there's space. He's a hard worker.

Can create breakaways for himself because of his speed.

He's not having that great of a season in Czech Republic men's league, but he absolutely dominated u20. He put up 1g, 5a for 6 pts in 7 games at 2023 WJC, which is respectable for a draft eligible player.

Eduard Sale is a great consolation prize to don't pick top 4. He is very talented player, I would be very happy to grab him in 8-10 range, for sure. Slafkovsky, Caufield, Sale, Farrell, Mesar, Heineman, Roy great wingers.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Maybe Hemsky?

Yeah, same kind of player. General idea. Highly skilled. Fast. Has a shot but doesn't shoot. Defers to playmaking. Not physical, sometimes avoids contact, but still works hard out there. Has breakaway speed, quick acceleration.

I know some don't like him due to being "soft", but Tanguay, Hemsky, Horvat, Nylander all have had legit top 6 - to top line careers.

Not sure he's one of my targets, but he's a skilled kid.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Yeah, same kind of player. General idea. Highly skilled. Fast. Has a shot but doesn't shoot. Defers to playmaking. Not physical, sometimes avoids contact, but still works hard out there. Has breakaway speed, quick acceleration.

I know some don't like him due to being "soft", but Tanguay, Hemsky, Horvat, Nylander all have had legit top 6 - to top line careers.

Not sure he's one of my targets, but he's a skilled kid.

Me too he is not my top wishlist, but not a bad pick. I trust management.

 

[Mrb1p]

Current top 10, will present a top 32 next weekend:

1. Bedard (Exceptional tier)

2. Michkov (Money tier)
3. Fantilli
4. Carlsson

5. Cristall (High-end tier)
6. Benson

7. Smith (Happy-with tier)
8. Moore
9. Gulyayev
10. Simashev

Feel like Oliver Moore has shown enough for me to remove the Michael McLeod lens. He's not a perfect prospect but there is more to his game than just speed and motor.

What is the argument to have Gulyayev above Reinbacher and let alone having him top 9? Theres very little transferable skills to me. Hes not dominant with that skating at the MHL level, what is he going to be when he gets to the next level? He cant defend well like Mete did, his shot is average, is skating is good but hes not Girard, his playmaking is almost vanilla, hes not soft but hes not Romanov.

 

[calder candidate]

Is it so awful ? Its not any worse than Kotkaniemis, Tkachuk, Lucic, etc at the same age, or a lot of big bodies with average to below average skating. Hes on rails when hes skating, which is something taht will probably never get better, at least not marginally.

Id be curious to get his actual skating measured on time and on a top speed level, pretty sure his skating is mid range.

That is what I mean it look awful but in reality he is still pretty effective moving around, getting open, so it is deceptive…
I kind of felt the same able Rebertson he wasn’t elegant but still very effective and 1st on the puck, skating drop him on a lot of list and now he is a impact player and over a ppg.

 

[Playmaker09]

I know you're being hyperbolic, but this as opportune a time as any to remind ourselves of that time Avtsin was the next Ovechkin.

Mattias "The Next Lidstrom" Norlinder

Oh twitter scouting..

 

[WeThreeKings]

Mattias "The Next Lidstrom" Norlinder

Oh twitter scouting..

That wasn't from Twitter scouts. It was Swedish media who have compared Stralman to Lidstrom before too.

 

[Playmaker09]

That wasn't from Twitter scouts. It was Swedish media who have compared Stralman to Lidstrom before too.

Just in the sense that Habs HFB/Reddit tends to go hyperbolic with the prospect love and expectations after a few highlights.