2023 NHL Entry Draft

[McGees]

 

[WeThreeKings]

Anyone listen?

If not, I'll transcribe meaty points during the intermission of the Beanpot.

 

[McGees]

Anyone listen?

If not, I'll transcribe meaty points during the intermission of the Beanpot.

Couple points that stood out were:

-questioning if Habs would still take a smol forward based on having a lot of smol players/prospects on the way

- Basu really thinks we won’t draft smol - it’s a big deal

- consider Sale/Dvorsky as their pick

- consider Reinbacher with their pick

- Corey thinks Michkov could slide to maybe 4-8th

- question Michkov vs Smith if both still on board for Habs

 

[morhilane]

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.

Fantilli also played with Farrell in the USHL (thanks to Covid) and Adam Nicholas was the development coach for the Chicago Steel that season (and the one after too).

Habs probably have the best scouting report on him, lol.

 

[WinterLion]

Couple points that stood out were:

-questioning if Habs would still take a smol forward based on having a lot of smol players/prospects on the way

- Basu really thinks we won’t draft smol - it’s a big deal

- consider Sale/Dvorsky as their pick

- consider Reinbacher with their pick

- Corey thinks Michkov could slide to maybe 4-8th

- question Michkov vs Smith if both still on board for Habs

I understand them wanting to add size if possible... but this year doesn't seem like the year to dig in about this...

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Couple points that stood out were:

-questioning if Habs would still take a smol forward based on having a lot of smol players/prospects on the way

- Basu really thinks we won’t draft smol - it’s a big deal

- consider Sale/Dvorsky as their pick

- consider Reinbacher with their pick

- Corey thinks Michkov could slide to maybe 4-8th

- question Michkov vs Smith if both still on board for Habs

I wish I had the same source(s) I used to have back in ze day. As much as everyone would love to draft first overall, I have this weird ass feeling about what would happen if the Habs' mgmt got their hands on it, but this is just pie in the sky stuff.

Either way, the 2023 draft is not the draft to avoid small players for the sake of roster construction, not with a top 10 pick.

 

[Mrb1p]

I wish I had the same source(s) I used to have back in ze day. As much as everyone would love to draft first overall, I have this weird ass feeling about what would happen if the Habs' mgmt got their hands on it, but this is just pie in the sky stuff.

Either way, the 2023 draft is not the draft to avoid small players for the sake of roster construction, not with a top 10 pick.

Lol no they wouldnt no chance

 

[WeThreeKings]

Yeah, listened to the whole podcast and I get what they are saying in a sense.. but they are clearly not thinking about the draft in a sense of knowing the tiers of talent. Like they're talking about taking Sale over Benson because Sale is taller, but if you watch the two play, Benson is the more physical guy and Sale being 6'1 doesn't mean anything to his game.

They had an interesting discussion about Dvorsky and Barlow, Pronman really thinks the same things I do about both of those players.

This draft will be more wide open than people think, there's some differing opinions on a lot of guys. You can see Barlow slip to the 20s or get drafted as high as 8.

 

[morhilane]

Yeah, listened to the whole podcast and I get what they are saying in a sense.. but they are clearly not thinking about the draft in a sense of knowing the tiers of talent. Like they're talking about taking Sale over Benson because Sale is taller, but if you watch the two play, Benson is the more physical guy and Sale being 6'1 doesn't mean anything to his game.

They had an interesting discussion about Dvorsky and Barlow, Pronman really thinks the same things I do about both of those players.

This draft will be more wide open than people think, there's some differing opinions on a lot of guys. You can see Barlow slip to the 20s or get drafted as high as 8.

It really depends what you favor in your players:
- size (there is even more small talented players than last year)
- skating
- IQ
- motor/compete

Teams tend to go with size thought. So easy to see all the 5'9 or less dropping.

 

[BeliveauFan4ever]

Yeah, listened to the whole podcast and I get what they are saying in a sense.. but they are clearly not thinking about the draft in a sense of knowing the tiers of talent. Like they're talking about taking Sale over Benson because Sale is taller, but if you watch the two play, Benson is the more physical guy and Sale being 6'1 doesn't mean anything to his game.

They had an interesting discussion about Dvorsky and Barlow, Pronman really thinks the same things I do about both of those players.

This draft will be more wide open than people think, there's some differing opinions on a lot of guys. You can see Barlow slip to the 20s or get drafted as high as 8.

The 20s?

Seriously doubt that.

 

[Canadienna]

I've got to stop watching Michkov videos I'm getting too obsessed!

But seriously, I'll be very disappointed if we pass on a chance to draft him.

 

[WeThreeKings]

The 20s?

Seriously doubt that.

You can listen to the podcast if you want to see what he says but it's the same thing I've been saying.. he's physically mature so it helps his game, and while you can see his production, you have to wonder how translatable his game really is.. some scouts love him and some scouts really don't think a whole lot of what he can be at the NHL level compared to the class.. so its possible he falls if the teams that do like him always have one person ahead and the teams that don't won't make that selection.

 

[BeliveauFan4ever]

You can listen to the podcast if you want to see what he says but it's the same thing I've been saying.. he's physically mature so it helps his game, and while you can see his production, you have to wonder how translatable his game really is.. some scouts love him and some scouts really don't think a whole lot of what he can be at the NHL level compared to the class.. so its possible he falls if the teams that do like him always have one person ahead and the teams that don't won't make that selection.

I listened to it. Was a good discussion.

Barlow plays with steak, little sizzle. Comparitively, a more straightforward game than other top-rateds.

He’s a winger carrying his club like most Cs and there’s no dynamic C feeding him tap-ins.

Plays an honest game, scores big goals and works the PK.

Has good skating, shot and size, work ethic.

With a good play-making C, he should do well.

Gone, I believe, by 14th-15th.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I listened to it. Was a good discussion.

Barlow plays with steak, little sizzle. Comparitively, a more straightforward game than other top-rateds.

He’s a winger carrying his club like most Cs and there’s no dynamic C feeding him tap-ins.

Plays an honest game, scores big goals and works the PK.

Has good skating, shot and size, work ethic.

With a good play-making C, he should do well.

Gone, I believe, by 14th-15th.

He's ranked high on McKenzie's list, so he definitely could go high. I'm just not surprised the scouts are split on him. I am one of those who don't think super highly of Barlow, not that I think he's bad, just that he's a middle 6 guy and I don't see him being more than a 20-25 support guy.

But if some scouts think he's a 30 goal guy consistently. Yeah you'd want him top 15.

 

[Mrb1p]

I listened to it. Was a good discussion.

Barlow plays with steak, little sizzle. Comparitively, a more straightforward game than other top-rateds.

He’s a winger carrying his club like most Cs and there’s no dynamic C feeding him tap-ins.

Plays an honest game, scores big goals and works the PK.

Has good skating, shot and size, work ethic.

With a good play-making C, he should do well.

Gone, I believe, by 14th-15th.

Nobodys denying he does that, what were saying is that theres a limit to the growth he can have because he looks like he could own an '87 IROC-Z Coupe with a T-top in burgundy on burgundy setup.

I've got to stop watching Michkov videos I'm getting too obsessed!

But seriously, I'll be very disappointed if we pass on a chance to draft him.

He is freaking great. He's a perfect copy of Bedard, almost.

 

[BeliveauFan4ever]

I could go back to the draft discussion and re-listen but did Pronman throw a little shade on Michkov’s skating or did I hear wrong?

I haven’t see MM in months but his skating looked fine to me.

 

[Mrb1p]

I could go back to the draft discussion and re-listen but did Pronman throw a little shade on Michkov’s skating or did I hear wrong?

I haven’t see MM in months but his skating looked fine to me.

Pronman doesn`t know shit and its been evident since forever. If its not international, he probably hasn't seen the player extensively.

Michkovs skating is fine and not a weakness. He's not McDavid but his edge control is very, very good.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I could go back to the draft discussion and re-listen but did Pronman throw a little shade on Michkov’s skating or did I hear wrong?

I haven’t see MM in months but his skating looked fine to me.

Not really shade.. just that he doesn't have elite skating for his size, which is true.

But I've found that the epidemic happening right now with small players is that 'elite skating' just means 'elite acceleration or top end speed'.. nobody cares about agility and edgework with small players when I'd argue that being able to make quick turns and be agile on your edges is more important than straight line speed.

 

[BeliveauFan4ever]

Not really shade.. just that he doesn't have elite skating for his size, which is true.

But I've found that the epidemic happening right now with small players is that 'elite skating' just means 'elite acceleration or top end speed'.. nobody cares about agility and edgework with small players when I'd argue that being able to make quick turns and be agile on your edges is more important than straight line speed.

Agree. Marner has great edges that allow his IQ to play out.

 

[InAG-P]

I understand them wanting to add size if possible... but this year doesn't seem like the year to dig in about this...

Couple points that stood out were:

-questioning if Habs would still take a smol forward based on having a lot of smol players/prospects on the way

- Basu really thinks we won’t draft smol - it’s a big deal

- consider Sale/Dvorsky as their pick

- consider Reinbacher with their pick

- Corey thinks Michkov could slide to maybe 4-8th

- question Michkov vs Smith if both still on board for Habs

I heard the podcast and Basu's opinion on this was surprising to me. For all intents and purposes every top end player in this draft who will be available to us is likely on the small side (by this I'm implying Fantilli, Carlsson won't be available to us).

Foregoing obvious talent like Smith, Benson etc for Dvorsky just because Dvorsky is big seems like the flawed logic we used to employe when we would draft players like McCaron just because we had a stigma that we were too small. I sure hope Basu is wrong here because we need scoring BAD and this is a draft and a 1st round we absolutely need to knock out of the park.

 

[McGees]

I heard the podcast and Basu's opinion on this was surprising to me. For all intents and purposes every top end player in this draft who will be available to us is likely on the small side (by this I'm implying Fantilli, Carlsson won't be available to us).

Foregoing obvious talent like Smith, Benson etc for Dvorsky just because Dvorsky is big seems like the flawed logic we used to employe when we would draft players like McCaron just because we had a stigma that we were too small. I sure hope Basu is wrong here because we need scoring BAD and this is a draft and a 1st round we absolutely need to knock out of the park.

Smith is 6' - which is another reason I think he is the first to go after that first tier.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I heard the podcast and Basu's opinion on this was surprising to me. For all intents and purposes every top end player in this draft who will be available to us is likely on the small side (by this I'm implying Fantilli, Carlsson won't be available to us).

Foregoing obvious talent like Smith, Benson etc for Dvorsky just because Dvorsky is big seems like the flawed logic we used to employe when we would draft players like McCaron just because we had a stigma that we were too small. I sure hope Basu is wrong here because we need scoring BAD and this is a draft and a 1st round we absolutely need to knock out of the park.

I just think he doesn't really know these prospects well.

Will Smith is 6'0.
Yet he's advocating passing on Smith for Sale who is 6'1".

I understand they were talking about like well already have Caufield so can't have too many small players.. but if they aren't on the same line, what difference does it make?

Tampa Bay wins with smaller players in their top 6.

Godin had a bit of a smarter take although I find sometimes he makes it difficult to make his point in English.. he's saying that the Habs aren't really at the position to say, pass on this guy cause he's smaller. They need talent.

All in all, I think, in summation of their points.. they don't think the Habs will go size for the sake of size, but if they are in the same tier of talent, they think the Habs would err on the side of size. I don't disagree with that, but they don't know the draft class well enough right now to know that Zach Benson is a tier above Sale, Dvorsky, etc. so you shouldn't be passing on Benson for Dvorsky.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

All in all, I think, in summation of their points.. they don't think the Habs will go size for the sake of size, but if they are in the same tier of talent, they think the Habs would err on the side of size. I don't disagree with that, but they don't know the draft class well enough right now to know that Zach Benson is a tier above Sale, Dvorsky, etc. so you shouldn't be passing on Benson for Dvorsky.

Sounds like they've been listening to Grant McCagg.

No team should think of drafting Sale and Dvorsky this high out size concerns, if they like their games enough then so be it but if playing big mattered so much, Brindley is 5'9'' and plays three inches taller than either.

This is not an advocacy to draft Brindley top 10 for the record.

 

[Goldenhands]

Pronman doesn`t know shit and its been evident since forever. If its not international, he probably hasn't seen the player extensively.

Michkovs skating is fine and not a weakness. He's not McDavid but his edge control is very, very good.

Yeah Michkov is an excellent skater in the same mold as a Crosby. About Pronman, he is the 1st who brought Reinbacher in the conversation as the top defenseman in the draft. I find he does a good job overall personally.

 

[Tutu to]

Maybe it’s because Suzuki has been underwhelming for a while but drafting Smith at 5 (his comparable) doesn’t overly excite me.