2023 NHL Entry Draft

[Mrb1p]

I'm easily taking Barlow and Wood.


On a serious boat, how many here think Bedard is a centre in the NHL ?

Everyone ?

 

[Adam Michaels]

Michkov has been sent to the MHL (Russia's Junior league) for the playoff run of Sochi's MHL affiliate HC Kapitan.

He had 3 pts (1G, 2A) in 1 game, which Kapitan won 4-1.

He ended his regular season with:

KHL: 20 pts (9G, 11A) in 27 GP
VHL: 14 pts (10G, 4A) in 12 GP

He didn't play any regular season games in the MHL.

 

[Doublechin]

Smith and Benson are on a similar level to Cooley. Smith/Benson are expected to go 5/6 in this draft, and Cooley went 3rd overall last year.
So Slaf would be the 5th best prospect in this draft.

Benson is a full tier ahead of Cooley, I'd also take Smith ahead of Cooley

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

I think it's more important to keep someone like Dach at C (if he keeps improving) than Suzuki. Suzuki can play anywhere and have a similar impact. I don't think he's a 1C. Yager has speed, bit of size and shooting trending ahead of Suzuki. Dvorsky will be a center in the style of Krejci (too good at Faceoffs to not play C...)

At this point Yager hasn’t progressed. Size? Suzuki over 200 lbs now and solid. His shot is also way above average. I wouldn’t be inclined to say Yager is better than Suz. He’s still a junior. At the same age NS was way ahead

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

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or

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My guess is the Habs end up with one of them.

I could see both actually. Hoping we can get in the top 6 with our pick and I would go potentially off the board for Reinbacher. He seriously impressed me at the WJC

 

[Frozenice]

Benson is a full tier ahead of Cooley, I'd also take Smith ahead of Cooley

Cooley would be projected to be drafted ahead of Benson and Smith if they were all in the same draft, not sure in what way they are a whole tier above them.

 

[le_sean]

Benson is a full tier ahead of Cooley, I'd also take Smith ahead of Cooley

Why would you take Smith ahead of Cooley? The offensive upside is similar but Cooley is a far better skater and also more likely to be a centre in the NHL.

 

[Doublechin]

Why would you take Smith ahead of Cooley? The offensive upside is similar but Cooley is a far better skater and also more likely to be a centre in the NHL.

I think both are 1B centers but Smith's IQ might be 1A quality

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

I think I'd take Cooley ahead of everyone outside of Bedard, Michkov, Fantilli and Carlsson. The next group is close but Cooley plays like a guy who wants to make a difference every shift; some of that will have to be curtailed as necessary at the NHL level, but I love his game and think he'll be what Alex Turcotte should have been without the injuries (due partially to the physical style of play that did not suit his body type).

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Benson is a full tier ahead of Cooley, I'd also take Smith ahead of Cooley

Absolutely not!

I would say that Cooley has the edge on both of them but it is way too early and probably too close to say for sure. Hyperbolic claims of a full tier difference......that is plain ridiculous.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Orebro have two regular season games left. Carlsson currently leads all U20 players in scoring with 25 pts. He also leads them in PPG. And is second in goals.

Engstrom is 4th in pts and 5th in goals among U20 players in the SHL.


Also regarding Carlsson, he's already had a better 18-year old season in the SHL than other centers like Kopitar, Sundin & Zibanejad.

He's hovering around the likes of Backstrom, Forsberg & Lindholm.

 

[AHShadow]

I know we have a few here that are somewhat connected to habs scouts. Wonder if anyone heard the same?

I think I'd be happy with Reinbacher with the FLA pick, but would be disappointed if Dvorsky is our pick at top 7.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I know we have a few here that are somewhat connected to habs scouts. Wonder if anyone heard the same?

I think I'd be happy with Reinbacher with the FLA pick, but would be disappointed if Dvorsky is our pick at top 7.

He still thinks Grant has connections but we know he doesn't since Timmins is gone.

 

[RationalExpectations]

I know we have a few here that are somewhat connected to habs scouts. Wonder if anyone heard the same?

I think I'd be happy with Reinbacher with the FLA pick, but would be disappointed if Dvorsky is our pick at top 7.

Dvorsky Reinbacher would be great !

 

[le_sean]

He still thinks Grant has connections but we know he doesn't since Timmins is gone.

At the same time, aren’t those two of the most obvious picks for the Habs? Both European, so we know Bobrov will be into them. One is the top RD, which is a big need. The other is a Slovakian centre who seemingly fits perfectly between the 1st rounder Slovakian LW and RW we took last year.

 

[Mrb1p]

I like Dvorsky and Reinbacher, especially Reinbacher, but that would be a pretty sad draft.

 

[morhilane]

I'm pretty sure Reinbacher won't be there for the FLA pick and there will be more interesting thing left on the board with the Habs pick unless it's also outside the top 10.

 

[WeThreeKings]

At the same time, aren’t those two of the most obvious picks for the Habs? Both European, so we know Bobrov will be into them. One is the top RD, which is a big need. The other is a Slovakian centre who seemingly fits perfectly between the 1st rounder Slovakian LW and RW we took last year.

Well we don't know where we are picking yet.

I definitely see them being interested in Reinbacher. I don't know if they are gonna be that high on Dvorsky. Certainly not anymore than Smith or Leonard.

 

[AHShadow]

He still thinks Grant has connections but we know he doesn't since Timmins is gone.

Makes sense as I remember Grant being pretty high on both.

I'm hoping that Chris Boucher has enough influence to sway HuGo to go for the high-offense prospects like Benson, Smith and Cristall (obviously if they're still available at our pick).

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Makes sense as I remember Grant being pretty high on both.

I'm hoping that Chris Boucher has enough influence to sway HuGo to go for the high-offense prospects like Benson, Smith and Cristall (obviously if they're still available at our pick).

I am debating Cristall with the top 10 pick if only because I get this feeling NHL teams don't like him much. Risky since we should always go with the guy we want, but I think he'd be available with the Florida pick and perhaps, with a bit of luck, a late first rounder or second rounder.

 

[Mrb1p]

Reinbacher Benson/Cristall and Im a happy camper, honestly.

Its not Bedard, Fantili, Carlsson or Michkov but its damn good.

I am debating Cristall with the top 10 pick if only because I get this feeling NHL teams don't like him much. Risky since we should always go with the guy we want, but I think he'd be available with the Florida pick and perhaps, with a bit of luck, a late first rounder or second rounder.

Who would be your pick if you knew Cristall would be there for Floridas ?

Id do Reinbacher with the Habs and just grab the faller with Floridas. Its impossible that an interesting forward doesn't land on Floridas.

 

[Playmaker09]

I am debating Cristall with the top 10 pick if only because I get this feeling NHL teams don't like him much. Risky since we should always go with the guy we want, but I think he'd be available with the Florida pick and perhaps, with a bit of luck, a late first rounder or second rounder.

I think there's a good chance we get a high-upside faller with the Florida pick as we did with Caufield/Newhook in 2019.

If we're picking 7-10 we can play it relaitvely safe with one of Dvorsky, Leonard, Moore, Barlow, Reinbacher, then grab one of Sale, Cristall or Yager later.

 

[montreal]

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Did Grant tweet out that he for sure would be a "Bacher" of drafting Reinbacher yet ?

If he does, we'll know that player is a bust.

 

[TomKosto]

Benson/Smith (our pick) + Barlow (FLA), draft a D in the second round.