2023 NHL Entry Draft

[Slafkofield]

I feel like Habs have a super legit shot to draft Michkov......

The question is... should we?

Absolutely!! But I feel like the Hawks will take him, since their rebuild will last like 15 years

 

[Playmaker09]

10 points of difference between Cristall and Yager ? One is a proven all around the other was lebeled as winger sniper who was way better on the wing last season like i have read, but somehow he have a better PPG than Last year

If Reinbacher have reallh that potentiel sure i guess but next year is loaded with D and we Will not even have a sniff at Eiserman etc... i think we would be better off with forward this year

In 14 less games. It's more like a 30+ point difference.

 

[Kaiden Ghoul]

In 14 less games. It's more like a 30+ point difference.

Yes miss that part

Would still take the two way goal scorer

Or Benson its almost a flip coin but again the height

I know the game will change but the defender will still be on average 6f/6f1...not a fan of two under 6f specialy in the playoff

 

[The Great Weal]

I feel like Habs have a super legit shot to draft Michkov......

The question is... should we?

It's a tough call if we got a top 3 pick, but after that it's a no brainer. You risk getting the superstar over a complimentary 1st liner.

 

[River Meadow]

After watching a lot of highlights on the top 5 or so...

I would LOVE to get Will Smith.

He looks much bigger than Benson, and his hockey IQ seems phenomenal.

tbh I'd take Will Smith over Leo Carlsson based on what I've seen so far. Carlsson doesn't seem too dynamic, though I'm sure he will be very good.

 

[LesHabitants]

Absolutely!! But I feel like the Hawks will take him, since their rebuild will last like 15 years

He'll be too old by then anyway. They should just trade their pick to us for a 2032 1st round pick.

 

[WeThreeKings]

After watching a lot of highlights on the top 5 or so...

I would LOVE to get Will Smith.

He looks much bigger than Benson, and his hockey IQ seems phenomenal.

tbh I'd take Will Smith over Leo Carlsson based on what I've seen so far. Carlsson doesn't seem too dynamic, though I'm sure he will be very good.

Oh Carlsson is dynamic. If you dropped Carlsson into the NTDP, he'd be dunking on fools.

 

[KevSkillz4]

I feel like Habs have a super legit shot to draft Michkov......

The question is... should we?

If Habs draft top 3, no.

But after that, if he is available at their choice, it's a no brainer to me. He is the real #2 without circonstances.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Bob MacKenzie prospects list is considered the gold standard of prospects rankings.
Who is considered better???

Bob's list are usually more accurate and there are others I do look at with a grain of salt. I do like the consolidated rankings on Elite Level Prospect too. Several things to look at.

The other thing I like to look at are rankings as the season moves along. This draft is a bit confusing to me cause it's suppose to be deep so you would assume the top 10 or top 15 guys are more consistent but I see the typical variance and movement in this draft during this draft year.

Scouts just don't look at hot trends in the las half of the draft year. You got to look at ages 15-17 as well. Lots to factor in. We have to consider that development is a but fluid and sometimes, a guy trending very well at age 15 or 16 has a bad draft year (for whatever reason... injuries, bad team, etc).

It's not easy drafting 17/18 year old guys when there are gains in development all from ages 15-20. If we were drafting 19 or 20 year olds, it would be so much easier. We see re-drafts done later many times where lots of prospects fall and some rise.

 

[SOLR]

Yea...but only with the Florida pick.

lol no, if hes there at 5, they better run to the stage

If Habs draft top 3, no.

But after that, if he is available at their choice, it's a no brainer to me. He is the real #2 without circonstances.

Then you draft him 2nd.

Oh Carlsson is dynamic. If you dropped Carlsson into the NTDP, he'd be dunking on fools.

Yes, yes he would, he would make the current US prospect pool look bad.

I'd like to see Bedard for 3 games there, and see if he can get over 24 points - he might.

 

[Vachon23]

Yager is definitely an option if he’s still there with the Florida pick

 

[WeThreeKings]

Yager is definitely an option if he’s still there with the Florida pick

He'd be an option for me if we got punted by two teams behind us.

 

[Vachon23]

He'd be an option for me if we got punted by two teams behind us.

He’s still in my top 10 too (8th)

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

I know Michkov has 2 more seasons in the K, but I personally wouldn't put him in the NHL next season even if he didn't, so I really hope they don't pass on him.

At least if they take Reinbacher, you can argue the Habs saw them as equal and valued defense over him.

 

[BergevinBurner]

I know Michkov has 2 more seasons in the K

He has 3 more seasons on contract. I'd still take him in a heartbeat though.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

He has 3 more seasons on contract. I'd still take him in a heartbeat though.

My bad I thought he signed that deal last year and this was the 1st of 3 years.

That said, I would, too.

Hughes says he envisions the team being 2-3 years away, so not like we'd need him right away.

 

[Adam Michaels]

My bad I thought he signed that deal later year and this was the 1st of 3 years.

That said, I would, too.

Hughes says he envisions the team being 2-3 years away, so not like we'd need him right away.

True that they won't need him right away. He won't be available to be signed before May 2026. But until then, he also won't be available to participate in anything with the Habs, whether it's development camp, rookie camp or main camp.

I think they can bring him over in the off-season, but he won't be able to take part in anything official with the team. He can skate on his own apart from the group.

The thing about him is that Habs won't have a direct hand in his development. But he will be a finished product when he finally comes over and he can jump into the NHL right away. And he'll still be 21 years old when he does come over.

That's if he doesn't sign an extension in Russia to stay longer there.

 

[SOLR]

I still have Yager top 6... I just don't see how these US guys have as much winning power as Yager.

i.e. Yager is a 2 way threat with great athleticism, continuous (zealous) training habits and I think he dominate the US program if he was there. Hlinka was right imo.

 

[CheldishGamibno]

Oh Carlsson is dynamic. If you dropped Carlsson into the NTDP, he'd be dunking on fools.

It might just be me but I'd consider Carlsson over Fantilli at #2

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

True that they won't need him right away. He won't be available to be signed before May 2026. But until then, he also won't be available to participate in anything with the Habs, whether it's development camp, rookie camp or main camp.

I think they can bring him over in the off-season, but he won't be able to take part in anything official with the team. He can skate on his own apart from the group.

The thing about him is that Habs won't have a direct hand in his development. But he will be a finished product when he finally comes over and he can jump into the NHL right away. And he'll still be 21 years old when he does come over.

That's if he doesn't sign an extension in Russia to stay longer there.

Yeah, it's a huge risk, but I have to imagine teams will at least be allowed to talk to him and see if his intention will be to ever buy out his contract.

Or possibly the Habs can work some back door stuff where Michkov is released, Habs sign him and loan him back.

If it came out thar Carolina tried to buy Nikishin out of a deal and it sounds like there's no consequences Habs, or anyone who takes Michkov should be able to attempt the same.

All that said if the Habs pass on him we the fans won't be pissed for a handful of years, if ever.

Arizona, because of the Ottawa pick is the 1st team to have a 2nd 1st. Washington is high enough they might not risk it, but then again, Michkov - Ovy for a season, or two they might take him.

 

[WeThreeKings]

It might just be me but I'd consider Carlsson over Fantilli at #2

Been there since the season started and haven't changed my mind.

 

[MonkeyBusiness]

I feel like Habs have a super legit shot to draft Michkov......

The question is... should we?

Definitely, if you're sitting at #4, 5 or 6 and Michkov is available, you take him and run. He's worth the wait and will finally give us what we've been envying for years: A proper superstar.

 

[le_sean]

I mean Reidenbach? Look sweet and all, but hes he really the type of D we really need on the top 4 ? I never saw him play but from the little ive read about him he seems to be more of a 40 points D ?

I mean a big 40 point RD that plays physical and can skate is exactly the type of player the Habs, or any team for that matter, can use. 40 points would have put him basically Top 30 in scoring for defencemen last season.

True that they won't need him right away. He won't be available to be signed before May 2026. But until then, he also won't be available to participate in anything with the Habs, whether it's development camp, rookie camp or main camp.

I think they can bring him over in the off-season, but he won't be able to take part in anything official with the team. He can skate on his own apart from the group.

The thing about him is that Habs won't have a direct hand in his development. But he will be a finished product when he finally comes over and he can jump into the NHL right away. And he'll still be 21 years old when he does come over.

That's if he doesn't sign an extension in Russia to stay longer there.

And that is the reason I don’t see it happening for the Habs. They brought Slafkovsky to the NHL right away for the simple reason of controlling his development. They also got Mesar to go to the CHL for similar reasons. No way they draft Michkov. They clearly want someone that can grow with the core that they already have.

 

[Frozenice]

Yager is definitely an option if he’s still there with the Florida pick

I think we’ll pass on him even with the Florida pick. There’s going to be 1 or 2 players that will be available then that I’ll prefer to him.

My problem with him if he’s not a 1st liner, you can get better middle 6 players then him. To me, you put up with players like him if he’s an elite scorer but if he’s not, you don’t.

 

[Mrb1p]

Man that 5th spot sucks.

Id put money down that we end up at 6 or 7. I dont think ill ever be good with HuGo because of this season. What a clusterf***.

Also the Panthers being outside lottery range... god that sucks.