2023 NHL Entry Draft

[WeThreeKings]

Would you take the risk for him if, hypothetically speaking, we were to pick at #4? Even with all the uncertainty, I wouldn't hesitate to pick him there. I just think there's too much of a gap between him and Smith/Benson that it's worth it to take the chance. His talent trumps Carlsson and Fantilli, in my opinion, but I'd still pick both of those players before Michkov due to the political turmoil in Russia. But I draw the line at #4.

My line is 7. I think you take the talent and certainty of Smith and Benson. At 7, I don't think I like anyone enough to pass on Michkov.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

What would you have done different??

Most of our good players are out of the lineup, you have Belzile, Ylonen, RHP, Pezzetta, Scheuneman, Wideman, Pitlick in the lineup, all fringe to ok hockey players….are we supposed to ask our core players to stop trying?

We were never gonna finish bottom 2 and are about 7pts from bottom 3 with 20 some ganes to go against some serious stiff competition.

Ducks and Blackhawks just won….maybe players just try to win

I am not really cursing gorton and Hughes.
I am cursing these Damn hockey gods!!

I know the hockey gods giveth and taketh and I believe in "une de perdue dix de retrouvées" but it would be nice to win the lottery !!

 

[Mrb1p]

Then I would not hesitate to pick Cristall. I feel it's very divided here because of the concerns for his lack of effort and his skating. But, yet, I feel he has really good edgework, very dynamic in the offensive zone. And I like how he can score in any way possible. Forehand, backhand, wrister, snap, slap, dangle, Michigan, etc.

His edges are good for sure. Hes not even slow, its just people look at a small player and the bar for "adequate" is Byron. Its just poor evaluation by the usual suspects.

Personally, I dont give a flying dick if you mail it in in meaningless games defensively. Suzuki isnt giving any effort most nights defensively, hes just there and holds his zone coverage, but when the chips are down weve seen what he can do. Im excited to see what he can do in the POs and tourneys. I think its a better test of mettle than random december regular season games.

Of course, youd want to pick Mcdavid or Crosby, if you could, a guy thats always 100% balls to the wall and super dynamic, but that guy is Bedard and the Habs are out of range.

On the topic of these three players (and Kane), tell me you havent seen any of them be lazy defensively at times? Exactly. Let the Danaults and the Gallaghers try hard, lets get some actual f***ing talent for once.

Id like to note that Bedard, Michkov and Cristall are all high offense but they all skim on defense pretty hard. It is a non-issue.

 

[Jabba11]

His edges are good for sure. Hes not even slow, its just people look at a small player and the bar for "adequate" is Byron. Its just poor evaluation by the usual suspects.

Personally, I dont give a flying dick if you mail it in in meaningless games defensively. Suzuki isnt giving any effort most nights defensively, hes just there and holds his zone coverage, but when the chips are down weve seen what he can do. Im excited to see what he can do in the POs and tourneys. I think its a better test of mettle than random december regular season games.

Of course, youd want to pick Mcdavid or Crosby, if you could, a guy thats always 100% balls to the wall and super dynamic, but that guy is Bedard and the Habs are out of range.

On the topic of these three players (and Kane), tell me you havent seen any of them be lazy defensively at times? Exactly. Let the Danaults and the Gallaghers try hard, lets get some actual f***ing talent for once.

Id like to note that Bedard, Michkov and Cristall are all high offense but they all skim on defense pretty hard. It is a non-issue.

Cannot agree more. Goddamn it, it's about time someone sees it the same way I do. This team lacks major offense and we are spitting on a top prospect because he can't defend? Cristall is high offense, period. Perfect explanation of everything ^^^

 

[Adam Michaels]

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

I think Michkov should be gone by #4 if only because the odds he's an NHL superstar one day is higher than anyone below him DESPITE the contract/geopolitical concerns. Fantilli I get, he's got the physical dimension you cannot teach and is plenty talented in his own right, and Carlsson just plays that sort of intelligent game that translates well to higher levels.

 

[jaffy27]

This is my risk.. I don't see Putin willingly letting his most prized youth hockey player leave the country.

He can always vacation to Turkiye where an American or Canadian passport awaits him and can board the next flight to North America if he chooses.

Turkey is the Mexico for Russians, they will
Always be allowed to travel there.

Only KGB agents have no passports to travel.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

The Slaf pick was ok, rushing him to the NHL not.

I agree with the pick so it's hard for me to critique. But it confirmed concerns that Gorton has to go for the smartest in the room high IQ play every time it isn't a slam dunk, and that management is easily swayed by charismatic personalities.

 

[Doublechin]

Russian military recently made official the drafting of full time students that are 16 years old and above. That fact alone makes me question drafting michkov. The previous draft was for 18+ that aren't full time students. And their were sent to their deaths.

There's pressure amounting on Putin to send everyone fairly and not just kids from the middle class, if it persists, a team might see a risk in all players in the KHL as potential draftees that are sent to an active war front that's been a disaster

Due diligence will need to be done

He can always vacation to Turkiye where an American or Canadian passport awaits him and can board the next flight to North America if he chooses.

Turkey is the Mexico for Russians, they will
Always be allowed to travel there.

Only KGB agents have no passports to travel.

If he comes to the draft, I'd bet a lot on him being without that parents (or siblings) that are told to stay in Russia as insurance policy that he doesn't skip his return flight

 

[Mrb1p]

Russian military recently made official the drafting of full time students that are 16 years old and above. That fact alone makes me question drafting michkov. The previous draft was for 18+ that aren't full time students. And their were sent to their deaths.

There's pressure amounting on Putin to send everyone fairly and not just kids from the middle class, if it persists, a team might see a risk in all players in the KHL as potential draftees that are sent to an active war front that's been a disaster

Due diligence will need to be done


If he comes to the draft, I'd bet a lot on him being without that parents (or siblings) that are told to stay in Russia as insurance policy that he doesn't skip his return flight

Cap

 

[Mrb1p]

Draft thread 2023: anything but draft talk

 

[SnapVirus]

Michokv, if was an american player. Would be in consideration to be drafter 1a-1b with Connor Bedard.

He SHOULD definitely be drafter 2nd overall.

 

[bopeep]

Draft thread 2023: anything but draft talk

At the Giants vs. Cougars game I got a good look at Jaden Lipinski - man can this kid skate... not afraid to get his nose dirty, didn't take a shift off all night, scored a nice goal from in close. I'd start looking for him early in the 3rd round

 

[Benstheman]

No chance. Take Fantilli and all the players you draft and call it a day.

Fantili and Reinbacher

 

[Mrb1p]

At the Giants vs. Cougars game I got a good look at Jaden Lipinski - man can this kid skate... not afraid to get his nose dirty, didn't take a shift off all night, scored a nice goal from in close. I'd start looking for him early in the 3rd round

Agreed, good size too. He strikes me as a pretty good bet to be a pro player. His production is linked to his teammates a bit so I dont know if Id draft him in thr 3rd though.

 

[Jaynki]

Michokv, if was an american player. Would be in consideration to be drafter 1a-1b with Connor Bedard.

He SHOULD definitely be drafter 2nd overall.

No doubt that he is the biggest talent not after Bedard... With Bedard !

Thing is, Fantilli, Carlsson, Benson, Smith are also all insane players with star potential.

Where do we draw the line between the risk with Michkov and the difference in talent between him and the rest of the pack?

I would not skip Fantilli, Smith or Carlsson for Michkov personally but i would be very, very ecstatic if we end up with Michkov if we are to miss on the lottery.

 

[Mrb1p]

No doubt that he is the biggest talent with Bedard.

Thing is, Fantilli, Carlsson, Benson, Smith are also all insane players with star potential.

Where do we draw the line between the risk with Michkov and the difference in talent between him and the rest of the pack?

I would not skip Fantilli, Smith or Carlsson for Michkov personally.

Smith does not have star potential.

 

[bopeep]

Agreed, good size too. He strikes me as a pretty good bet to be a pro player. His production is linked to his teammates a bit so I dont know if Id draft him in thr 3rd though.

I had Lipinski and teammate Mazden Leslie slated for somewhere in the 4th, but I loved the hustle and he surprised with some decent skill along with the power game.

 

[SOLR]

Take note that Lindewood is basically bantam B level. Theyre really bad.

LU is the worst team in the nation

I agree on Smith, not on Benson. Benson is highly dynamic even if he isnt fast.

Cristall isnt like Zegras. He gets inside, he challenges open space, he has a good toolbag of shots and he's overall not a soft vanilla player. Hes a lot more Kane than he is Zegras. Zegras is closer to a succesful Drouin.

Leonards upside isnt 40-50 either.

I know, but I think he's a bit more likely to have a repetition of 30g seasons than Barlow.

 

[Gustave]

Smith does not have star potential.

Depends on what constitutes a star… I‘ll give you a star in my mind; Suzuki is a star.

If I’m prolonging this logic, I’d say Smith does have a career potential like Suzuki (not styles, just status). Thus star potential.

You?

 

[Vachon23]

Depends on what constitutes a star… I‘ll give you a star in my mind; Suzuki is a star.

If I’m prolonging this logic, I’d say Smith does have a career potential like Suzuki (not styles, just status). Thus star potential.

You?

Suzuki should't be consider a star

 

[Jaynki]

Suzuki should't be consider a star

I agree.

I personally separate in 4 tiers

Tier S (star)

Tier A(elite player) <-- Suzuki, Guhle

Tier B (quality depth player with intagibles)
Anderson, Matheson

Tier C (cheap depth, bottom of the line up)

I believe we have everything we need in the A tier and B tier. I also believe Dubois is an A+ tier, not a clear-cut star.

We are lacking one or two S player. I only have Caufield there and its S-. Lets hope Dach, Slaf or Hutson or other prospects can reach that S-tier. I think our biggest bet right now is Dach.

We desperately need this to get over our rebuild.

Cup contending teams have 2-3 S, 3-4-5 A, and 3-4-5 quality B player.

Struggling teams like EDM have big, big S but are lacking in the A and B category. They invested too much money in weak player such as Ceci, Barrie (low quality B tier player) or Nurse (overpaid, weak A tier)

 

[Gustave]

Suzuki should't be consider a star

I get what you’re saying, I just want to calibrate what constitutes a star for MrBip. I just want to grasp his expectation for Smith.

Wether I consider Suzuki a star or not doesn’t matter in what I’m asking, it’s pretty much just to gauge what the expectations are.

 

[Vachon23]

I agree.

I personally separate in 4 tiers

Tier S (star)
Tier A(elite player)
Tier B (quality depth player with intagibles)
Tier C (cheap depth, bottom of the line up)

I believe we have everything in the A tier and B tier. i also believe Dubois is an A+ tier.

We are lacking one or two S player. I only have Caufield there and its S-. Lets hope Dach, Slaf or Hutson or other prospects can reach that S-tier.

We desperately need this to get over our rebuild.

Tier B personally would be really good close to elite (Suzuki is in that category for now he will go in the Tier A in his prime)

We don't have any player that are or will be in the star category and we clearly miss one.

Even the Elite category, I would put Suzuki and Caufield that have the potential to go there but after that

 

[Frozenice]

Suzuki should't be consider a star

Superstar
Average Superstar
Star
Whatever