2023 NHL Entry Draft

[Gravity]

I'd be happy leaving the draft with Bedard, Reinbacher and Bjarnasson.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I would prefer Etienne Morin or Mathieu Cataford with our second round pick than picking a goalie.

If there's one thing the Habs need more than a goalie in the system.. it's a left handed defenseman and a small forward.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Hrabal looks a lot like Ben Bishop, he's got that big frame and is athletic for that size. It will take some time to get there but if he reaches his upside, he'd be a legitimate #1.

Bjarnason is a throw back to that Price style. He won't be that good, because honestly, no one really is. But he's positionally sound, very efficient and explosive in his movements, but is also sneaky athletic when he needs to be and his positioning fails.

Fowler I would liken to John Gibson. The good version of Gibson, not the injured version now.

Bjarnason is your top goalie for the draft? Looking at other posts it seems that way.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Bjarnason is your top goalie for the draft? Looking at other posts it seems that way.

Right now yeah
1st-early 2nd round grade
Bjarnason
Fowler (up)
Hrabal (down)

Mid 2nd to 3rd round grade
I also have:
Adam Gajan
Damian Clara

4th+ grade
Trey Augustine
Adam Dybal
Scott Ratzlaff
Samuel Urban
Tomas Milic

 

[Team_Spirit]

With all the playmakers we have coming up Barlow will fit in like a glove.

Must read scouting on Barlow

Not only is Colby a dynamic scorer at even strength, but he’s also developed into an elite powerplay prospect. Using his awareness to get into the right places for his shot, but he can also make the right passes when on the man advantage making him a true powerplay difference-maker.

Colby Barlow receives tons of attention on a game-to-game basis from his opponents, yet the 18-year-old still can’t be stopped. He’s not only a workhorse, but Colby has a strong enough motor to succeed at the pro level. He’s also not afraid to play a tough game when needed, and he thrives when the game gets a little tense. Using his strength, Colby can create space in even the smallest areas and is not afraid to drive the net.

Another thing that stood out to me with Colby is how well matured he is already for his age. The 18-year-old forward is already the captain of the Owen Sound Attack and certainly doesn’t lack the competitiveness you want. I completely mean that too; I was sitting near the top of the arena and could still hear the competitive edge in Colby Barlow’s voice as the forward was trying to rally his team in a comeback effort.

 

[WeThreeKings]

With all the playmakers we have coming up Barlow will fit in like a glove.

Must read scouting on Barlow

At the Florida pick only. He's just not a top 10 prospect and I've reiterated this many times, I don't think his shot is lethal enough to scale at the NHL level. He's got the OHL figured out goal scoring wise but it's a different animal to beat the best goalies in the world.

 

[Habs Icing]

Unsigned, signed = They weren't drafted, but signed by a different team and then signed with their current team.

I might have forgotten, or mixed up how each team got their goalies, but for the most part, there's no real need to trade up to get a goalie. Picking a goalie in the 2nd, or 3rd seems to generate the best results.

Now there are goalies like Askarov, Cossa, Wallstedt that are first round picks that aren't with their team currently.

I've also shared earlier that 1st round picked goalies rarely have won the cup over the past 40, 50 years.

How many 1st round-pick goalies have there been in the last 10 years? 15 years?

 

[TomKosto]

At the Florida pick only. He's just not a top 10 prospect and I've reiterated this many times, I don't think his shot is lethal enough to scale at the NHL level. He's got the OHL figured out goal scoring wise but it's a different animal to beat the best goalies in the world.

I have not seen everygame, but he has a lot of highlight wrister goal, ala James Neal. He has size, character, I agree he fit like a glove. If we end up picking 7-8 I wouldn't mind. He's not going to be there for the Florida pick. We need goal scorers.

 

[The Great Weal]

I'm going to guess we pick 5th since that's when there is a significant drop-off.

 

[Hacketts]

So is it one of these situations if Benson was the same size as Smith, it would be Benson over Smith like 9/10?

 

[Zilo44]

How does Smith compare to former USNTDP high draft picks ?

 

[SOLR]

I'd be curious to see how our scouting department has the big 3 after Bedard ranked.

I'm assuming they'd have both of the big centers ahead of Michkov, but I wonder which one of Fantilli/Carlsson they'd be leaning towards at 2nd.

Highly presumptuous.

It's NOT the scouting department's job to rank Michkov below #2.

The lists that orgs use to draft on draft day are "effective organizational recruitment lists" that have as input the opinion of the scouting department, input from the GM (particularly in the top 15), and other time-based influences (availability matrix) factored in.

 

[HabzSauce]

I understand what you are saying but it's like.. Tampa Bay's top center was drafted in the 3rd round so it is best to grab a center in the 3rd round.. or Boston's best winger is Marchand and he was taken in round 3 so don't take a winger until round 3.

The current state of goaltending isn't anything to draw a conclusion from.. especially since a lot of the goalies you've listed aren't very good. The unequivocally best goalie in the world was a 1st round pick, so if you identify a talent like that, you should go and grab it in round 1 instead of hoping to get lucky in a later round.

You're spot on but shesthy, sorokin, saros (top 3/5 goalies) are 3rd round or later. Not sure the scouting report at time of these guys but I bet you in a redraft they don't make it out the first round.

Goalies are tough to predict

 

[Team_Spirit]

 

[Tanknation]

My updated top 15:

1-Bedard
2-Michkov
3-Carlsson
4-Fantilli
5-Reinbacher
6-Dvorsky
7-Danielson
8-Leonard
9-Benson
10-Barlow
11-Moore
12-Sandin-Pellikka
13-Brindley
14-Yager
15-Smith

Zero chance Smith drops to 15. Michkov also goes lower. 4-9 range.

 

[Goldenhands]

Zero chance Smith drops to 15. Michkov also goes lower. 4-9 range.

Thats not a mock or a ranking prediction, thats my own list. I didnt take the Russian factor in consideration since no one really know where he will drop.

 

[Mrb1p]

So is it one of these situations if Benson was the same size as Smith, it would be Benson over Smith like 9/10?

Hes already a 9/10. If Benson was 6' he probably is in contention for 4th overall with Carlsson.

How does Smith compare to former USNTDP high draft picks ?

Hes around Zegras levels.

 

[SlafySZN]

Outside of Bedard, I pray we get Carlsson. He looks to be a cornerstone player tbh.

Probably the only player we have very little chance to get, sadly. Unless by a miracle we draft 4th and michkov got taken at 3.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

Yegor Yegorov does look like an interesting goalie, s/o to @Mrb1p for bringing him into the discussion.

I'm purely stat watching, but the one thing I will say is that the other 2 goalies on his team play more and have better GAA and SV%. They are older, but to me that suggests he's probably playing for a good defensive team in a lower scoring league.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

At the Florida pick only. He's just not a top 10 prospect and I've reiterated this many times, I don't think his shot is lethal enough to scale at the NHL level. He's got the OHL figured out goal scoring wise but it's a different animal to beat the best goalies in the world.

Apparently, you missed the Florida-Montreal game.

Goaltending in the NHL is complete shit these days.

 

[K2MyEverest]

The way I see Them going would be:

Get a top 5 Pick
Draft Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson, Smith, Mitchkov, Benson in that order. Next one should be Reinbacher or Cristall.

If the Florida pick falls out of top 14 - 15. Package it for Dubois.

My next picks after that top 7 of

Bedard
Fantilli
Carlsson
Smith
Mitchkov
Benson
Reinbacher

8- Cristall
9- Moore
10- Sale
11- Leonard
12- Barlow
13- Dvorak
14-Yager

Then trade the pick for Dubois. If the Florida pick falls between top 10 - 13. I go Reinbacher before Benson and settle for a forward at 10-13

Im really hesitating between Benson or Reinbacher at 6 since I feel the Habs miss an elite winger more than a RD even if Reinbacher is high quality. We have Harris and Engstrom listed at lefties that can play on the right Side and Justin Barron and Mailloux as true RD. Savard isnt going anywhere right now since I feel the Habs Will make sure he Gets to play at least one season with Dubois. They are really good buddies.

Josh Anderson's trade value might be at his best this summer. They need to strike while its hot. You trade him at that moment for a late 1st rd pick in 23.

You revisit an Edmundson trade this summer and you hold half his salary cap to make it more enticing. If he can stay healthy until the end of the season that will help a lot.

Drouin, goodbye! Wish him the best but he's not coming back. Monahan, too injury prone to offer him a contract.

Hoffman, Do what you can to trade him this summer too.

Dvorak (he needs to be packaged to Winnipeg for Dubois, even if we have to have to add a sweetener to make it happen.

Armia. Endure the last two years....

Gallagher, I feel he's closing in to LTIR categorry but knowing his caracter he's going to go for it at least one last time.

With the pick you get for Anderson. You draft your goalie. With our second round pick I would try to get Theo Lindstein. I really like him.

This summer, offer a 2M/1 year prove me contract to Gurianov. Make room for kids upfront.

Dubois - Suzuki - Caufield (Dubois - Dach can alternate as 1st line wingers/second Line center if needs be)

Slafkovsky - Dach -Gurianov
Farrell - Evans - Ylonen
Rhp - Beck - Gallagher/Armia/ Pezzetta

Matheson - Savard
Guhle - Barron
Xhekaj - Harris
Kovacevic

Mailloux - Struble - Roy - Kidney - Mesar in Laval with Richard and maybe bring back Belzile for Laval.

 

[Jaynki]

Zero chance Smith drops to 15. Michkov also goes lower. 4-9 range.

Honestly, i feel alone with this opinion but i don't think it is out of the question Michkov falls out of the top 10.

I asked folks here if they would pass on Barlow, Moore or Leonard to draft Michkov.

Although i totally agree that Michkov is the best after (and pretty close to) Bedard. There is a real risk that he never comes and his 3 year contract is a big deal. We don't know how the situation evolves with Russia and the ties are all but getting better right now.

They might not be blue chip prospects, but Barlow, Moore and Leonard would be top-3 prospects for us (and probably every team) and its a very big opportunity cost to pay if Michkov never come. I feel many teams will prefer to pick player in the Benson/Barlow/Leonard tier than going Michkov.

 

[Tanknation]

Honestly, i feel alone with this opinion but i don't think it is out of the question Michkov falls out of the top 10.

I asked folks here if they would pass on Barlow, Moore or Leonard to draft Michkov.

Although i totally agree that Michkov is the best after (and pretty close to) Bedard. There is a real risk that he never comes and his 3 year contract is a big deal. We don't know how the situation evolves with Russia and the ties are all but getting better right now.

They might not be blue chip prospects, but Barlow, Moore and Leonard would be top-3 prospects for us (and probably every team) and its a very big opportunity cost to pay if Michkov never come. I feel many teams will prefer to pick player in the Benson/Barlow/Leonard tier than going Michkov.

I agree with you. I definitely feel like he could drop further and would not surprise me if he did one bit. Imagine we got to draft Bedard and then Michkov with our second Florida pick at like 18 lol.

 

[NeptunesTrident]

Michkov, to me, is a Steve Yzerman pick if there ever was one. And as long as Ovi is in Wahington I don't see how they'd let him go by their pick.

 

[FrankMTL]

It's crazy how I'm not even thinking of Bedard in this draft as our chances are slim regardless of where we finish. Don't get me wrong, I would LOVE to get Bedard, but I'm being realistic too. I really want a chance at Fantilli, Carlsson, Bedard or Smith. I love Michkov, but I'm an impatient asshole, and don't want to wait 3 years.