2023 NHL Entry Draft

[HuGo Sham]

If all 4 players were available with our Fl. pick I would be more then okay with us picking any of them but it would be for a different purpose then a LW’ing on the 1st line.

I think Heidt is going to be a lot like Pleks was, as an example at the NHL level.

+ Heidt's sister is dating Guhle

 

[Schooner Guy]

Makes me think of Anderson really, same type of cant miss...

He isn't anything like Anderson. Barlow's deadly in the offensive zone. Totally different playing styles.

 

[Mrb1p]

He isn't anything like Anderson. Barlow's deadly in the offensive zone. Totally different playing styles.

I know, but read the description of the other poster.

If youre drafting on these criteria, you could also just draft based off... idk ? Picking out of a hat?

 

[SOLR]

Guessing? I mean, yes. It is not scientific proof, but correlation is real and proven.

It's not a correlation strong enough to make decisions....

Remember what you are looking for is not "can X improve physically" but "can X improve", that was the statement for the room for growth. The room for growth is a concept totally disconnected from appearance as it most connected to G (general intelligence) rather than physical attributes.

 

[HuGort]

Heidt is even more chippy than Pleks was, and tbh I think hes more skilled but I dont want to rip Plekasex too much, man was a legend.



Makes me think of Anderson really, same type of cant miss...

You mean Josh Anderson? He wasn't much of a scorer in junior. Barlow has great shot

 

[BeliveauFan4ever]

Heidt is even more chippy than Pleks was, and tbh I think hes more skilled but I dont want to rip Plekasex too much, man was a legend.



Makes me think of Anderson really, same type of cant miss...

Anderson is far more erratic looking.

And, HIS growth curve faded years ago.

 

[montreal]

Lane Hutson's younger brother with 1g, 1a today for Team USA at the 5 Nations U-17 tourny.

 

[Mrb1p]

It's not a correlation strong enough to make decisions....

Remember what you are looking for is not "can X improve physically" but "can X improve", that was the statement for the room for growth. The room for growth is a concept totally disconnected from appearance as it most connected to G (general intelligence) rather than physical attributes.

Being physically mature at a younger age means you could be relying on that factor a bit more than the player who is not, thus actual performances or production at this age should be taken with a grain of salt.

 

[SOLR]

Being physically mature at a younger age means you could be relying on that factor a bit more than the player who is not, thus actual performances or production at this age should be taken with a grain of salt.

I've made this argument 1000s times before.

But this is not indicative for or against of the "room for growth" ahead of the player.

 

[Mrb1p]

Ive had a bit of time today away from school/work/moving into my condo/training and I did a deep dive into goaltending prospects.

Wed be f***ing insane to spend a 1st on Bjarnasson.

Fowler, Yegorov, Gajan, Hrabal, Clara, Augustine, Milic, Suchaneck, Ratzlaff to name a few.

This draft is actually much deeper than we first though in Gs.

 

[le_sean]

Habs need to draft forward and goalie more than D. Maybe Reinbacher with Florida pick is the only RD that I would be happy to draft him, he is a perfect fit for a player like Lane Hutson.

At D, i'm 100% sure that we are set... Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj and Jordan Harris are all proving that they are going to be good defenseman at NHL. Guhle is going to be a top pairing. Add Mailloux, Barron (show good things recently), Hutson, Engstrom, Struble, Trudeau, that's a great depth.

There’s good depth at D in the prospect pool, but it’s just that, depth. Other than maybe Guhle, no one on your list has top pairing upside. Even Guhle, while he was great for a rookie, might just look extra good considering the guys we are throwing out there nightly. Though hopefully he was showing a progression that will continue upwards.

Harris and Barron are simple, solid players with limited upside. Xhekaj can be a really good #5. Mailloux has to show us more than just an elite shot. Hutson is the X factor, is he a star in the making?

I think there’s a big hole, especially at RD. We’d be fools to think that the team is set on the backend. I’m not saying that the solution is necessarily in the top half of this draft, but it can’t be ignored.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

You mean Josh Anderson? He wasn't much of a scorer in junior. Barlow has great shot

He's also waaaaaaay, and I mean waaaaaay better, like hugely better defensively than Anderson. Barlow could step into the NHL next year, and be better defensively than Anderson.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

There’s good depth at D in the prospect pool, but it’s just that, depth. Other than maybe Guhle, no one on your list has top pairing upside. Even Guhle, while he was great for a rookie, might just look extra good considering the guys we are throwing out there nightly. Though hopefully he was showing a progression that will continue upwards.

Harris and Barron are simple, solid players with limited upside. Xhekaj can be a really good #5. Mailloux has to show us more than just an elite shot. Hutson is the X factor, is he a star in the making?

I think there’s a big hole, especially at RD. We’d be fools to think that the team is set on the backend. I’m not saying that the solution is necessarily in the top half of this draft, but it can’t be ignored.

I think you are selling Guhle, Xhekaj and Barron short as all easily have #3D upside and Guhle has a very good chance to become a legitimate 1st pairing NHL dman. I personally think Xhekaj is a lock to become at least a #4 and Barron may really surprise as he has some real offensive tools that might blossom in the next few years. Mailloux also may have the potential to play high in the lineup but there is too much development ahead of him to really make an informed projection. Hutson is a little unicorn and I don't think he could ever be a true #1 unless he gets bigger and much stronger but I have no doubt that he has the potential to be a monster on the PP.

I completely agree that we really need another top RHD prospect and with similar level prospects there is no way that HuGo would overlook one just to stock the forward cupboards.

 

[Goldenhands]

He's also waaaaaaay, and I mean waaaaaay better, like hugely better defensively than Anderson. Barlow could step into the NHL next year, and be better defensively than Anderson.

I like Barlow, but I dont think his skating would allow him to play in the NHL next year, it still needs improvement, but I get your point and agree with, Barlow is much smarter than Anderson.

 

[Goldenhands]

There’s good depth at D in the prospect pool, but it’s just that, depth. Other than maybe Guhle, no one on your list has top pairing upside. Even Guhle, while he was great for a rookie, might just look extra good considering the guys we are throwing out there nightly. Though hopefully he was showing a progression that will continue upwards.

Harris and Barron are simple, solid players with limited upside. Xhekaj can be a really good #5. Mailloux has to show us more than just an elite shot. Hutson is the X factor, is he a star in the making?

I think there’s a big hole, especially at RD. We’d be fools to think that the team is set on the backend. I’m not saying that the solution is necessarily in the top half of this draft, but it can’t be ignored.

I agree that our prospects pool lacks a top pairing defenseman. I think Guhle will be a good #2 or at worst a great 3rd and I really like Hutson, Engstrom and Mailloux as prospects, but I think they all projects more 2nd pairing than top pairing... I watched Mailloux vs Mesar the other day after a long break, and he made the same defensive mistakes I saw at times earlier in the season, not sure if he is just way over casual or really lacks IQ, but he made a couple of bad reads in this game that suggest he will need alot of time at the AHL level to work on his D game and pace, needs to keep improving his lateral mobility.

So it leads me to believe that we are likely going to select Reinbacher with our own pick, unless thats a top 4 and then grab the best foward available with the Pants pick since a top pairing D is the priority and I dont see Smith or Benson as cant miss prospects personally, I like some parts of their game, but I would be perfectly fine with Moore, Dvorsky, Leonard, Barlow, Brindley.

 

[NotProkofievian]

I agree that our prospects pool lacks a top pairing defenseman. I think Guhle will be a good #2 or at worst a great 3rd and I really like Hutson, Engstrom and Mailloux as prospects, but I think they all projects more 2nd pairing than top pairing... I watched Mailloux vs Mesar the other day after a long break, and he made the same defensive mistakes I saw at times earlier in the season, not sure if he is just way over casual or really lacks IQ, but he made a couple of bad reads in this game that suggest he will need alot of time at the AHL level to work on his D game and pace, needs to keep improving his lateral mobility.

So it leads me to believe that we are likely going to select Reinbacher with our own pick, unless thats a top 4 and grab the best foward available our the Pants pick since a top pairing D is the priority and I dont see Smith or Benson as cant miss prospects personally, I like some of their game, but I would be perfectly fine with Moore, Dvorsky, Leonard, Barlow, Brindley.

Yeah that makes sense. I was thinking to myself that if we get one of the top 4, we should definitely pick Reinbacher. But my position is that Wood and Cristall present huge value that will be available for the Florida (or 3rd) pick, which leads me to lean towards Reinbacher as well with our pick if it's 5-7 ish.

 

[McGees]

 

[Zilo44]

Yeah that makes sense. I was thinking to myself that if we get one of the top 4, we should definitely pick Reinbacher. But my position is that Wood and Cristall present huge value that will be available for the Florida (or 3rd) pick, which leads me to lean towards Reinbacher as well with our pick if it's 5-7 ish.

Maybe at 7, but I don’t think we pass on any of Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson, Michkov, Benson or Smith for Reinbacher

 

[NotProkofievian]

Maybe at 7, but I don’t think we pass on any of Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson, Michkov, Benson or Smith for Reinbacher

I'm personally entertaining Reinbacher at 5, not over the top 4 of course. Others mileage may vary, of course.

 

[Schooner Guy]

I'm personally entertaining Reinbacher at 5, not over the top 4 of course. Others mileage may vary, of course.

Yeah. There's the top 4 and then there's a big logjam of about 8-10 players who as of today could go in any order depending on what teams like who. I think Reinbacher and maybe some other D will climb the rankings between now and June. The D position is just so instrumental to winning.

 

[xposbrad]

Yeah. There's the top 4 and then there's a big logjam of about 8-10 players who as of today could go in any order depending on what teams like who. I think Reinbacher and maybe some other D will climb the rankings between now and June. The D position is just so instrumental to winning.

Every list is different, but I still wouldn't pass up on Benson/Smith/Cristall for Reinbacher. Those guys have way too high ceilings and 1st line potential.

 

[Schooner Guy]

Every list is different, but I still wouldn't pass up on Benson/Smith/Cristall for Reinbacher. Those guys have way too high ceilings and 1st line potential.

That's your opinion though and they all have warts/question marks. Like I said, there's a top 4 and then there's a totally separate tier.

 

[WinterLion]

That list makes me wonder if the WHL is maybe not what it used to be...

 

[morhilane]

That list makes me wonder if the WHL is maybe not what it used to be...

Maybe it never was what you think it "used to be"?

That list is kids who were superstars at the WHL level in their draft year, but only one managed to be at the NHL level (Draisailt). Two of them maxed at AHLers (Petan and Brendl).

Interesting things, everyone on that list but Draisailt, Reinhart and Brendl are/were 5'10 and under. And the two guy who had the most success at the NHL level are the tallest on the list (Draisailt/Reinhart at 6'2).

 

[Mrb1p]

Yeah that makes sense. I was thinking to myself that if we get one of the top 4, we should definitely pick Reinbacher. But my position is that Wood and Cristall present huge value that will be available for the Florida (or 3rd) pick, which leads me to lean towards Reinbacher as well with our pick if it's 5-7 ish.

I do think theres very valid arguments to pick Reinbacher at 5, especially after seeing Smith somewhat taper off and Benson not being able to create separation between him and Heidt/Cristall/Smith/Leonard.

Im not picking Reinbacher for the prospect pool though, Im picking him because hes awesome.

That list makes me wonder if the WHL is maybe not what it used to be...

The WHL definitely is weaker than it was since 2020.

Also to note that scoring is just higher than it was due mainly to goaltending equipment changes. Add in the fact that the three guys on there are absolutely elite in talent and thats what you get.