2023 NHL Entry Draft

[Sagikev]

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

Hughes has coached every US kids or what?

 

[Schooner Guy]

Pronman's view of Dvorsky was very similar to mine, thinks he'll go (right now) between 8 and 14. Doesn't love the skating, a lot of concerns amongst scouts about his offensive game translating since he is lacking some above average elements to his tool-kit, most scouts seem him as a middle 6 forward.

Weren't you just posting something to the effect that Pronman knows nothing? Why quote him to support a point? Besides all the players outside the top 4 have question marks and could go in a variety of different orders.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Weren't you just posting something to the effect that Pronman knows nothing? Why quote him to support a point? Besides all the players outside the top 4 have question marks and could go in a variety of different orders.

Why post anything ever

 

[Sagikev]

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.

And Pronman rates skating weird too. He had Makar last season as an above average skater IIRC, or like good tier. Not Elite. lol

 

[WeThreeKings]

And Pronman rates skating weird too. He had Makar last season as an above average skater IIRC, or like good tier. Not Elite. lol

I agree that his categorical ratings for prospects often leave me scratching my head.

Just like anyone's list there's gonna be overlap, there will be disagreements, and all of that. I don't think Pronman is some elite level, gospel scout, he's an internet scout no different than Mitch Brown for elite prospects only Mitch Brown at least has some tracking data that he uses to support what he sees on the ice.

But for Schooners Guy.. the reason why I brought him into the conversation is not because I will ever agree with him on everything, just that he had a similar view to mine AND during the podcast he was bringing up quotes from SCOUTS that he's talked to. So it isn't even me suddenly propping Pronman up because he agrees with my evaluation of a prospect that you really like and I have question marks on, but because he was bringing in quotables from scouts around the NHL.

Who, as we know, don't get everything right either but might help contextualize their current draft projection.

 

[Mrb1p]

And Pronman rates skating weird too. He had Makar last season as an above average skater IIRC, or like good tier. Not Elite. lol

Imagine... I think hes just a hack. Nothing weird, hes just a journalist that wears a scout hat he bought on alibaba.

 

[Schooner Guy]

Why post anything ever

Don't know. When you tell one person Pronman's full of it to invalidate is point and then minutes later use Pronman to support a point...
EDIT: Just noticed it was another poster who stated Pronman knows shit. My apologies for my early dementia acting up.

Back to the discussion, I still think things are up in the air after the top 4 (of course Michkov could drop out). I can seen any of those players normally listed in the 5-12 range being drafted in any order. They all have warts. Dvorsky is likely as safe as any. Some like his upside. Some don't. I personally think he's underrated in here due to often playing against older competition.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Don't know. When you tell one person Pronman's full of it to invalidate is point and then minutes later use Pronman to support a point...

Back to the discussion, I still think things are up in the air after the top 4 (of course Michkov could drop out). I can seen any of those players normally listed in the 5-12 range being drafted in any order. They all have warts. Dvorsky is likely as safe as any. Some like his upside. Some don't. I personally think he's underrated in here due to often playing against older competition.

Are you sure I used Pronman's full of it to invalidate a point.. cause I was talking about Godin and Basu who were talking about the size stuff, which it seems like they didn't really know the prospects all that well.

And as I mentioned above, the Pronman anecdote was brought in because he was quoting scouts he was talking to from NHL teams. That adds an extra layer to the evaluation vs. just Pronman believes this. Which was the main context of the post I was making.

 

[Mrb1p]

Don't know. When you tell one person Pronman's full of it to invalidate is point and then minutes later use Pronman to support a point...
EDIT: Just noticed it was another poster who stated Pronman knows shit. My apologies for my early dementia acting up.

Back to the discussion, I still think things are up in the air after the top 4 (of course Michkov could drop out). I can seen any of those players normally listed in the 5-12 range being drafted in any order. They all have warts. Dvorsky is likely as safe as any. Some like his upside. Some don't. I personally think he's underrated in here due to often playing against older competition.

Dvorsky and Michkov are def underrated in this thread.

Probably Fantili too, even.

Are you sure I used Pronman's full of it to invalidate a point.. cause I was talking about Godin and Basu who were talking about the size stuff, which it seems like they didn't really know the prospects all that well.

And as I mentioned above, the Pronman anecdote was brought in because he was quoting scouts he was talking to from NHL teams. That adds an extra layer to the evaluation vs. just Pronman believes this. Which was the main context of the post I was making.

I mean, just searching Pronman and your posts brings up about a gazillion example of you calling him an idiot.

 

[Schooner Guy]

Are you sure I used Pronman's full of it to invalidate a point.. cause I was talking about Godin and Basu who were talking about the size stuff, which it seems like they didn't really know the prospects all that well.

And as I mentioned above, the Pronman anecdote was brought in because he was quoting scouts he was talking to from NHL teams. That adds an extra layer to the evaluation vs. just Pronman believes this. Which was the main context of the post I was making.

I went back in the thread and it wasn't you. My apologies.

I added the following edit in my previous post...
EDIT: Just noticed it was another poster who stated Pronman knows shit. My apologies for my early dementia acting up.

 

[Doublechin]

hmmmm.....add Gally from the Habs and maybe Columbus 2nd from them?

1st overall + Gallagher

for

2nd overall, Jiricek and 33rd overall

Probably too many moving parts at that point but enticing to dump Gallaghers contract.

Not giving a cap dump to get rid of a generational player

 

[WeThreeKings]

I went back in the thread and it wasn't you. My apologies.

I added the following edit in my previous post...
EDIT: Just noticed it was another poster who stated Pronman knows shit. My apologies for my early dementia acting up.

All good, man. I honestly couldn't tell myself because I'm not the biggest fan of Pronman there is and I usually take bombastic approaches to responses rather than something measured and vanilla.

 

[le_sean]

Depending on how high the organization is on guys like Farrell, Roy, Ylonen and Beck, we seem primed to be the first team to take a defenceman in this draft. There’s always one taken in the top 10 and we presumably have two fairly high picks.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Depending on how high the organization is on guys like Farrell, Roy, Ylonen and Beck, we seem primed to be the first team to take a defenceman in this draft. There’s always one taken in the top 10 and we presumably have two fairly high picks.

Guess it all depends on where we pick and what the information is they've gathered.

For example, if we pick at 7 and we see that the Bedard, Carlsson, Fantilli, Michkov, Benson and Smith order has come to life.. then I could totally get on board with Reinbacher at 7, if they feel comfortable that they'll be able to get Moore, Leonard, Dvorsky, Cristall or Yager with the Florida pick.

 

[Mrb1p]

To be fair, Id much rather do

Reinbacher
+
Heidt/Moore/Dvorsky/Cristall/Leonard/Yager/Potentially even Sale

Than

Benson/Heidt/Cristall/Moore/Dvorsky/Sale/Smith/...
+
Asp/Dragi/Gulyayev

I dont think theres any scenario in which Reinbacher falls out the top 10, but there is a scenario where all these forwards /Benson and Smith, are available at the 2nd pick. As Ive said a lot, theres virtually no separation between Benson/Smith and Cristall, Heidt, Leonard, Dvorsky, Moore and Yager.

The separation between Reinbacher and his peers is... astronomical.

 

[BeliveauFan4ever]

To be fair, Id much rather do

Reinbacher
+
Heidt/Moore/Dvorsky/Cristall/Leonard/Yager/Potentially even Sale

Than

Benson/Heidt/Cristall/Moore/Dvorsky/Sale/Smith/...
+
Asp/Dragi/Gulyayev

I dont think theres any scenario in which Reinbacher falls out the top 10, but there is a scenario where all these forwards /Benson and Smith, are available at the 2nd pick. As Ive said a lot, theres virtually no separation between Benson/Smith and Cristall, Heidt, Leonard, Dvorsky, Moore and Yager.

The separation between Reinbacher and his peers is... astronomical.

And if we really burn a team by taking Reinbacher at 7, they can cheer up, we have defensemen “in stock” to assist them.

 

[rahad]

Benson quite easily for me. Top tier intelligence, can play centre or be a dominant winger. He’s the obvious leader on a team with two 19 year old Top 11 picks. He just seems to have that “it” factor.

WOW! Benson has 17 points more than Matthew Savoie (drafted #9) .

 

[DiglettDangles]

If the Habs win the lottery and Columbus gets the 2nd overall pick but wants Bedard badly, which offer would get the deal done?

To Columbus:
First overall (Bedard)

To Montreal:
Second overall
Jiricek

Would you do this trade and draft Michkov and get Jiricek to fill a huge need?

As much as people are roasting such trade ideas...
I think this is the type of move for which you would 100% be perceived as the loser (immediate and undoubtedly over the course of Bedard's career), but that would actually bring your team closer to a Stanley Cup. I'm looking at the Leafs' and Oilers' playoff success since McDavid and Matthews and it doesn't automatically translate...
Personal preference - that elusive game-changing, reliable, mobile, two-way D is so important. Size is a definite plus.
Recent winners and perennial contenders all had such a player in Hedman, Keith, Letang, Carlson, Pietrangelo, Chara, Makar, etc. Impossible to trade for when established, and rarely available as UFA.

Like another poster added, you can even maybe use the perceived value of Bedard to clean up your salary structure on top of it all.
If I had the chance to add Jiricek and Michkov + get rid of Gallagher's contract, I think we are a PLD away from having a tremendous future and I'd be willing to part with the FLA pick for that to materialize with certainty, even if I've been quite vocal on wanting to keep it. If we preferred Jiricek + Carlsson, that's still a fantastic forecast but PLD becomes less of an absolute need so I would gamble to wait for UFA.

I expect the majority of HFHabs to disagree but I thought you could do with a bit of support.
I think I like Michkov more than average too.
I also think Jiricek is a better prospect than Reinbacher who is getting a lot of love here, quite deservedly.

 

[Benstheman]

As much as people are roasting such trade ideas...
I think this is the type of move for which you would 100% be perceived as the loser (immediate and undoubtedly over the course of Bedard's career), but that would actually bring your team closer to a Stanley Cup. I'm looking at the Leafs' and Oilers' playoff success since McDavid and Matthews and it doesn't automatically translate...
Personal preference - that elusive game-changing, reliable, mobile, two-way D is so important. Size is a definite plus.
Recent winners and perennial contenders all had such a player in Hedman, Keith, Letang, Carlson, Pietrangelo, Chara, Makar, etc. Impossible to trade for when established, and rarely available as UFA.

Like another poster added, you can even maybe use the perceived value of Bedard to clean up your salary structure on top of it all.
If I had the chance to add Jiricek and Michkov + get rid of Gallagher's contract, I think we are a PLD away from having a tremendous future and I'd be willing to part with the FLA pick for that to materialize with certainty, even if I've been quite vocal on wanting to keep it. If we preferred Jiricek + Carlsson, that's still a fantastic forecast but PLD becomes less of an absolute need so I would gamble to wait for UFA.

I expect the majority of HFHabs to disagree but I thought you could do with a bit of support.
I think I like Michkov more than average too.
I also think Jiricek is a better prospect than Reinbacher who is getting a lot of love here, quite deservedly.

I wouldn't do it with Jiricek being the equalizer. It would need to be a young established top pair RHD under 22 yo.

Bedard is a sure thing. Both the 2nd overall and even more Jiricek are not. If you get an already established top pair rhd, you at least get 1 sure piece.

 

[montreal]

I forgot I had these, I might have more but thought I would post the 2 goals I had from when he was 15/16 years old.

 

[DiglettDangles]

I wouldn't do it with Jiricek being the equalizer. It would need to be a young established top pair RHD under 22 yo.

Bedard is a sure thing. Both the 2nd overall and even more Jiricek are not. If you get an already established top pair rhd, you at least get 1 sure piece.

A valid stance as well.
CBJ (specifically) doesn't have a better RHD prospect though.
To be honest I think Jiricek might be established in the NHL by the end of this season, and will likely have the opportunities to rise to the top pair next year.

 

[Benstheman]

A valid stance as well.
CBJ (specifically) doesn't have a better RHD prospect though.
To be honest I think Jiricek might be established in the NHL by the end of this season, and will likely have the opportunities to rise to the top pair next year.

Yeah the only player that fits the bill right now is Seider with the Wings. If Detroit would be drafting top 4 this summer, i would be listening.

Bedard
or
Michkov/Seider?

Man i would be torned if Detroit were to propose this.

 

[DiglettDangles]

Yeah the only player that fits the bill right now is Seider with the Wings. If Detroit would be drafting top 4 this summer, i would be listening.

Bedard
or
Michkov/Seider?

Man i would be torned if Detroit were to propose this.

Yes, or NYI with Dobson (the Horvat pick becomes a 2024 1st if they win the lottery).
I don't think either team would offer that however.
Maybe they are craving for that immediate offensive superstar?

 

[Benstheman]

Yes, or NYI with Dobson (the Horvat pick becomes a 2024 1st if they win the lottery).
I don't think either team would offer that however.
Maybe they are craving for that immediate offensive superstar?

Yeah maybe Dobson also. And you’re right, not sure they would offer that. But one thing is sure, that’s what it would take to pry Bedard away from my team.

 

[NewEraGM]

No, he's not for me. Heard this stuff before and never worked out. Too risky


I have 6th sense Hughes trades Florida pick at draft for Lafreniere. Then drafts Brindley if he can acquire a late first. He could have Brindley rated high

I actually wouldn’t be too against that. Just imagine if we get Fantilli on top. That would be my dream.

Lafreniere - Suzuki - Caufield
Slafkovsky - Fantilli - Dach

That’s nice!!