2023 NHL Entry Draft

[calder candidate]

How would you guys feel about this ?

1. Connor Bedard
2. Matvei Michkov
3. Adam Fantilli
4. David Reinbacher
5. Leo Carlsson

To me Reinbacher a 4 is high, I see a very high floor and a NHL player I don’t see a elite NHL player…but it won’t be MTL so it is great

 

[Mrb1p]

Nope. Can’t pass the Russian factor with Michkov and his KHL contract. Amazing talent but pass for me. Unless he’s there around 10.

Reinbacher way too high

I wasnt asking for Michkov, I dont respect the opinion of anyone that doesnt have him at 2. It means they havent watched him or have some size/russian bias.

I was asking for Reinbacher ahead of Carlsson. They are both doing things that aren't done often in a draft year. I think both have positional top 10 ceilings and both have very high floors.

Good question. Andersson was a reach and a bad pick. But Kravtsov was picked pretty much where he was projected to
be. Hard to call that one a true bad pick.

Kakko and Lafreniere were no brainer picks that 100% of the leagues scouts would have made. Can’t blame the scouts on that one.

Someone has to be blamed. Cant have 5 years of busts with the draft capital they had and just attribute that to luck. Even the Habs never had a stretch this bad.

To me Reinbacher a 4 is high, I see a very high floor and a NHL player I don’t see a elite NHL player…but it won’t be MTL so it is great

What does he do that makes you think his ceiling is limited?

 

[HuGort]

Barlow, Dvorsky, Sale are the big guy in the 7-10 range on most rankings. Ritchie/Honzek/Wood would be reach in the top 10, although it might be different with the final pre-draft rankings.

That small (Benson) and low-motor (Smith) players are falling isn't surprising to me. I wouldn't be surprised if Benson is still there for the Florida pick actually.

Big guy will go high this draft, it's smaller on average than last year where the trend was very visible.

I doubt it is Barlow, Dvorsky or Sale. They are not off the board at 7. Sounds like Honzek to me.

But if Hughes going to do that, why not trade down 2-3 slots, pick up an extra second?

 

[le_sean]

I doubt it is Barlow, Dvorsky or Sale. They are not off the board at 7. Sounds like Honzek to me.

But if Hughes going to do that, why not trade down 2-3 slots, pick up an extra second?

I don’t even think they are stupid enough to pick Honzek that high. He’s definitely available with the Florida pick.

 

[HuGort]

I don’t even think they are stupid enough to pick Honzek that high. He’s definitely available with the Florida pick.

Sounds like Hughes stuck on size. Probably why he wouldn't trade Anderson and drafting of Slaf

 

[morhilane]

I doubt it is Barlow, Dvorsky or Sale. They are not off the board at 7. Sounds like Honzek to me.

But if Hughes going to do that, why not trade down 2-3 slots, pick up an extra second?

It seems I misread what was said. I thought it said if the Habs are picking at 5th they would reach for someone who isn't at reach 7-10.

Now I understand he meant reaching if selecting in the 7-10 range, but who does he consider a reach? Based on various public scouting rankings:
- Barlow is in the 7-19
- Dvorsky 8-20
- Ritchie 10-29

Honzek/Wood are in the 14-31 range so far, but might climb as some people are falling in the final rankings.

 

[Hannibal]

I wasnt asking for Michkov, I dont respect the opinion of anyone that doesnt have him at 2. It means they havent watched him or have some size/russian bias.

Boy, here we go again lol.

As oppose to you, i respect you put Michkov #2. As i said, amazing talent. But no way i pick him before Fantilli, Carlsson and others at the top of the draft. Russia’s concern is a fact and his contract in KHL up until 2026 is another fact. Pass.

 

[Mrb1p]

Boy, here we go again lol.

As oppose to you, i respect you put Michkov #2. As i said, amazing talent. But no way i pick him before Fantilli, Carlsson and others at the top of the draft. Russia’s concern is a fact and his contract in KHL up until 2026 is another fact. Pass.

The russian concern is not a fact, it is an opinion.

His contract is of no concern as no player but Bedard is going to have a top 6 impact before 2025.

 

[Hannibal]

The russian concern is not a fact, it is an opinion.

His contract is of no concern as no player but Bedard is going to have a top 6 impact before 2025.

I don’t agree.

 

[NekkiChiconey]

The russian concern is not a fact, it is an opinion.

His contract is of no concern as no player but Bedard is going to have a top 6 impact before 2025.

His contract is until 2026 (3 more years). If this draft is as good as advertised and no player except Bedard has a top 6 impact before D+4, I'd be shocked.

Michkov is more talented, Fantilli is more projectable. Both are arguably 1st overall picks in a regular draft year. Good problem to have at #2.

 

[An0n]

The russian concern is not a fact, it is an opinion.

His contract is of no concern as no player but Bedard is going to have a top 6 impact before 2025.

I agree that he is the 2nd best player in this draft 100%.

However, when you consider a multi-million dollar investment, you have to take some other things in consideration.

The war Russia has imposed on Ukraine is certainly a mitigating factor that needs to be considered before investing that kind of money and I would certainly understand why some owners would rather draft Fantilli/Carlson ahead of him. It gets a lot trickier after that tier of player.

 

[Mrb1p]

His contract is until 2026 (3 more years). If this draft is as good as advertised and no player except Bedard has a top 6 impact before D+4, I'd be shocked.

Michkov is more talented, Fantilli is more projectable. Both are arguably 1st overall picks in a regular draft year. Good problem to have at #2.

Projectable? Because... hes bigger? Fantili may be better but hes not more projectable than Michkov. In fact, I find hes less projectable than Carlsson too. Its very hard to pinpoint where his playmaking and his puck management will take him. There is a route for him that takes him to Byfield territory.

Michkov is gonna come in in 2026-2027 and have immediate impact. Three years is usually when players start having an impact unless theyre exceptional, is it that bad to wait 4 to have a better player?

Is it that bad to have a 22 years old first liner on a 3 year ELC?

Anyway, im so tired of discussing this, its asinine and impatient.

 

[Mrb1p]

I agree that he is the 2nd best player in this draft 100%.

However, when you consider a multi-million dollar investment, you have to take some other things in consideration.

The war Russia has imposed on Ukraine is certainly a mitigating factor that needs to be considered before investing that king of money and I would certainly understand why some owners would rather draft Fantilli/Carlson ahead of him. It gets a lot trickier after that tier of player.

Its not tricky at all after that tier of players. There is very little reasons to be scared that Michkov wont come over in the next 4 years. 1. Putins gonna die one day. 2. The wars gonna end. 3. The war hadnt changed anything but bring a bunch of russo-phobia in the sport.

Also, you realize your franchise literally just picked a guy that had 12 good games and a good interview at first overall?

 

[An0n]

Its not tricky at all after that tier of players. There is very little reasons to be scared that Michkov wont come over in the next 4 years. 1. Putins gonna die one day. 2. The wars gonna end. 3. The war hadnt changed anything but bring a bunch of russo-phobia in the sport.

Also, you realize your franchise literally just picked a guy that had 12 good games and a good interview at first overall?

Hey, you don't have to convince me. Michkov shouldn't go lower than 4th, but it ain't our money.

 

[NekkiChiconey]

Projectable? Because... hes bigger? Fantili may be better but hes not more projectable than Michkov. In fact, I find hes less projectable than Carlsson too. Its very hard to pinpoint where his playmaking and his puck management will take him. There is a route for him that takes him to Byfield territory.

Michkov is gonna come in in 2026-2027 and have immediate impact. Three years is usually when players start having an impact unless theyre exceptional, is it that bad to wait 4 to have a better player?

Is it that bad to have a 22 years old first liner on a 3 year ELC?

Anyway, im so tired of discussing this, its asinine and impatient.

Nothing about picking Michkov is "bad", please don't confuse my opinion for someone else's. There are definitely some aspects of the game in which Fantilli is better, as there are others in which Michkov is better. Some teams could prefer Fantilli, while others could prefer Michkov. For me, he's definitely top-3 and I hope teams are stupid enough to have him fall to us. However, acting as if this decision is cut and dried is completely biased toward your own ranking.

 

[Team_Spirit]

That Brian Wilde audio clip holy crap

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Having now listened to the the Wilde clip, tis a little too ambiguous for me to take to heart. I've heard things in the past ahead of time that sounded too real to be untrue (i.e., hearing from a source Tavares was 100% going to go to Toronto almost two seasons in advance), this is on vague side, and I know Bobrov has a repetitive profile to lean on for evidence.

If I start hearing this move after April, then I'll start taking this possibility seriously.

 

[Goldenhands]

Its not tricky at all after that tier of players. There is very little reasons to be scared that Michkov wont come over in the next 4 years. 1. Putins gonna die one day. 2. The wars gonna end. 3. The war hadnt changed anything but bring a bunch of russo-phobia in the sport.

Also, you realize your franchise literally just picked a guy that had 12 good games and a good interview at first overall?

Yeah, thats why they knew everything about him, even where he was getting hit the most on the ice... Stop trying to lure people, you dont even really believe your own bullshit. Slaf started the year at the Hilinka where he led team Slovakia to the finale, was easily one of the top players of the competition, played a couple of J20 games where he produced at a very good pace. The only place he struggled to produce was in Liiga where he was given 3rd line minutes mostly. Olympics MVP, one of the top player at the WC. Do you seriously think they havent watched any single game he played his entire season before making the pick? They probably watched all games he played the year before. Get out of your intellectual fog and stop taking people for imbeciles.

 

[Mrb1p]

Nothing about picking Michkov is "bad", please don't confuse my opinion for someone else's. There are definitely some aspects of the game in which Fantilli is better, as there are others in which Michkov is better. Some teams could prefer Fantilli, while others could prefer Michkov. For me, he's definitely top-3 and I hope teams are stupid enough to have him fall to us. However, acting as if this decision is cut and dried is completely biased toward your own ranking.

I have Fantili pretty close too and dont really care if you were to pick him ahead, its defendable, I just dont like the people fear-mongering on the situation.

Most people who do so, are not people who typically watch prospects or even have valuable input.

 

[Anardil]

Did anyone hear Brian Wilde on TSN690 this morning?

He states that he's heard that the Habs prospect preference is size and that we would be sad if they follow through with that preference, with what he has heard.

To my mind it would be wonderful if that happens and they end up with either Fantilli or Carlsson. He also mentioned that he's heard that they wouldn't choose Smith if he was available.

Finally I have to admit that in my experience, Wilde is in no way an insider, and in the past he would just repeat what others who are connected would share publicly, so take it with a grain of salt.

 

[Mrb1p]

Yeah, thats why they knew everything about him, even where he was getting hit the most on the ice... Stop trying to lure people, you dont even really believe your own bullshit. Slaf started the year at the Hilinka where he led team Slovakia to the finale, was easily one of the top players of the competition, played a couple of J20 games where he produced at a very good pace. The only place he struggled to produce was in Liiga where he was given 3rd line minutes mostly. Olympics MVP, one of the top player at the WC. Do you seriously think they havent watched any single game he played his entire season before making the pick? They probably watched all games he played the year before. Get out of your intellectual fog and stop taking people for imbeciles.

I didnt say they didnt watch him. I said Slaf had twelve good games and a good interview and a nice stats page, until you scroll a little. I mean, that is pretty much factual. His profile doesn't get him drafted first if he doesnt play the olympics.

 

[Goldenhands]

I didnt say they didnt watch him. I said Slaf had twelve good games and a good interview and a nice stats page, until you scroll a little. I mean, that is pretty much factual. His profile doesn't get him drafted first if he doesnt play the olympics.

So you watched all games he played and concluded he only had 12 good games the whole season? Hlinka games can easily be watched on Youtube.

 

[HuGort]

It seems I misread what was said. I thought it said if the Habs are picking at 5th they would reach for someone who isn't at reach 7-10.

Now I understand he meant reaching if selecting in the 7-10 range, but who does he consider a reach? Based on various public scouting rankings:
- Barlow is in the 7-19
- Dvorsky 8-20
- Ritchie 10-29

Honzek/Wood are in the 14-31 range so far, but might climb as some people are falling in the final rankings.

Way Wilde talked Hughes may go off the board.

 

[Mrb1p]

So you watched all games he played and concluded he only had 12 good games the whole season? Hlinka games can easily be watched on Youtube.

Probably less if you think "first overall".

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Way Wilde talked Hughes may go off the board.

It's a point that "off the board" could mean so many things from Wilde's perspective.

Let's assume what Wilde heard was true. Is it based off his own rankings? I do not recall him being much of a scout, just a media guy, so I'm sure he's referring to peoples' lists to a large degree. He does have Dvorsky at 9 on his twitter so that's not really off the board.

Is he basing it off McKenzie's rankings or Button's or Cosentino's? Cause guys like Dvorsky (again) or Barlow might count as relatively big compared to most players in that range, but they are not really off the board. And end of the day, they have nice frames but aren't BIG big either.

So with that being said, my deduction would conclude the following are what he's hinting at:

Reinbacher
Honzek
Ritchie
Wood
Stramel (this would be f***ing hilarious)

Three of those would be reaches for me in the top 10, less so with the second pick, while one (guess who) would be thoroughly unscrupulous........

Why am I working so hard to deduce info from a random radio hit?