2023 NHL Entry Draft

[WeThreeKings]

K.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Jaynki]

I am impressed by the US cohort this season. Personally i like Smith, Moore and Leonard better than Benson and Cristall

 

[KevSkillz4]

I am impressed by the US cohort this season. Personally i like Smith, Moore and Leonard better than Benson and Cristall

I'm conviced that Smith and Moore are really really good prospects with high potential. I don't know about Leonard of the beginning of the season, but when I see highlights from him, wow! Really skilled player with hardworking in his game. They have all at least top 6 potential and more...

 

[Mdamico]

It's time for MHN's Midseason 2023 NHL Draft Rankings!

We review the top of this potent draft class and provide a top-64 ranking of eligible prospects below:

2023 NHL Draft: MHN’s Top-64 Midseason Draft Rankings

With the 2023 NHL Draft only about four months away, it’s now time for our Montreal Hockey Now’s Midseason 2023 NHL Draft Rankings. This year’s class is a pretty special one, with the likes of Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli hovering at the top of virtually every draft ranking out there; and...

montrealhockeynow.com

 

[Jaynki]

I'm conviced that Smith and Moore are really really good prospects with high potential. I don't know about Leonard of the beginning of the season, but when I see highlights from him, wow! Really skilled player with hardworking in his game. They have all at least top 6 potential and more...

Every player that should be available with a selection between 5 and 10 have strong top 6 upside.

The US guys and Benson in my opinion, not only display big potential, but they are all really fun to watch.

Moore skating is incredible and Will Smith all offensive style are high, high fun.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Every player that should be available with a selection between 5 and 10 have strong top 6 upside.

The US guys and Benson in my opinion, not only display big potential, but they are all really fun to watch.

Moore skating is incredible and Will Smith all offensive style are high, high fun.

I wish Moore had just one offensive tool that created separation, a high end wrist shot, really dynamic hands, crafty playmaking.

He could still be a Larkin, so I haven't written him out of the discussion.. it just would be nice if he had something in his repertoire that stood out with his skating.

 

[SOLR]

Every player that should be available with a selection between 5 and 10 have strong top 6 upside.

The US guys and Benson in my opinion, not only display big potential, but they are all really fun to watch.

Moore skating is incredible and Will Smith all offensive style are high, high fun.

My posts get some lol icons when I say things like Slaf would go 10th year - but that's because I believe there is more top-line potential in that top 10 than usual and I believe Slaf is a top 6 talent.

 

[Team_Spirit]

Hop on the Barlow wagon.

Choochoo

 

[WeThreeKings]

Hop on the Barlow wagon.

Choochoo

I won't be boarding, thanks for the invite.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Kent Hughes and Will Smith relationship

2023 NHL Draft: Will Smith On Growth, Ties To Canadiens Hughes

The 2023 NHL Draft class is projected to be very top-heavy this year, with one such player, Will Smith, already a well-known commodity for the Montreal Canadiens. The 17-year-old from Lexington, Massachusetts,has been playing some impressive hockey for the last year for the United States...

montrealhockeynow.com

 

[WeThreeKings]

Kent Hughes and Will Smith relationship

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2023 NHL Draft: Will Smith On Growth, Ties To Canadiens Hughes

The 2023 NHL Draft class is projected to be very top-heavy this year, with one such player, Will Smith, already a well-known commodity for the Montreal Canadiens. The 17-year-old from Lexington, Massachusetts,has been playing some impressive hockey for the last year for the United States...

montrealhockeynow.com

If he's available and we are picking at 5 or later, he's my bet for our pick.

 

[McGees]

I can see Smith going #4

 

[Hannibal]

If he's available and we are picking at 5 or later, he's my bet for our pick.

The guy got skills to kill but lacks motor. I highly doubt it.

 

[Skip Bayless]

This is de way.

 

[WeThreeKings]

The guy got skills to kill but lacks motor. I highly doubt it.

I think they aren't going to dip into a lower tier of talent because of a motor that isn't always on.

 

[Hannibal]

I think they aren't going to dip into a lower tier of talent because of a motor that isn't always on.

In later rounds i agree. But in a top 10 where every players are somewhat close in term of talent and skills, i highly doubt they pick somebody with a questionnable motor. Not what they are trying to build here anyway. See Wright as recent example.

 

[WeThreeKings]

In later rounds i agree. But in a top 10 where every players are somewhat close in term of talent and skills, i highly doubt they pick somebody with a questionnable motor. Not what they are trying to build here anyway.

We will see.. I think where they will be picking, if Smiths' on the board.. they are taking him. There's a tier drop off after Benson and Smith now, and I don't think they're gonna just take a whole tier worse of a forward cause they show a little bit more energy in juniors.

 

[morhilane]

If he's available and we are picking at 5 or later, he's my bet for our pick.

Unless Hughes knows things we don't, since has private information about the kid over the last few years that nobody else has.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

I wish Moore had just one offensive tool that created separation, a high end wrist shot, really dynamic hands, crafty playmaking.

He could still be a Larkin, so I haven't written him out of the discussion.. it just would be nice if he had something in his repertoire that stood out with his skating.

I was a little iffy on Moore myself earlier on, but I've warmed up to his game as a pretty safe top-six booster. He's a good example of someone whose lack of top flight talent is more palatable due to his wheels and motor filling the gap, and hopefully with a bit of development can learn when to slow his game down so he is not a one-trick pony. I'm not sure if he has #1A upside, but a great 2A is a neat get in the latter half of the top 10.

Having said such, I understand your philosophy on this player and would not blink if he's outside your top 15.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I was a little iffy on Moore myself earlier on, but I've warmed up to his game as a pretty safe top-six booster. He's a good example of someone whose lack of top flight talent is more palatable due to his wheels and motor filling the gap, and hopefully with a bit of development can learn when to slow his game down so he is not a one-trick pony. I'm not sure if he has #1A upside, but a great 2A is a neat get in the latter half of the top 10.

Having said such, I understand your philosophy on this player and would not blink if he's outside your top 15.

It's possible he's in my top 15.. we will see how things go. There's a lot to like about Moore, just as I mentioned, I wish there was something a little more to hang my hat on. Sometimes though, these guys become the sum of all their parts at the NHL level (like Larkin) and they are really good players.

 

[HuGo Sham]

I can see Smith going #4

if he goes 4th, that means one of the original big four would be available - like Michkov...

 

[Jaynki]

My posts get some lol icons when I say things like Slaf would go 10th year - but that's because I believe there is more top-line potential in that top 10 than usual and I believe Slaf is a top 6 talent.

To each their own opinion.

I personally believe that its underselling Slaf.

Obviously he would be behind Bedard and Fantilli. I am not saying he would go before Michkov or Carlsson, not even Smith or Benson, but i think he is part of this discussion.

Tough to get a real grasp on Slaf as he had both a disapointing 2nd rounder-level season in Liiga and on the other end, what he did in the international stage was absolutely f***ing stellar and top 1% for any 17 years old in history.

 

[McGees]

if he goes 4th, that means one of the original big four would be available - like Michkov...

Ya…but I think we end up picking 7 at best.

 

[HuGo Sham]

Ya…but I think we end up picking 7-9

BITE YOUR TONGUE

 

[montreal]

Hughes will also know Fantilli well since before the USHL he played with his brother for the same school that Jordan Harris played for in the USHS.