2023 NHL Entry Draft

[WeThreeKings]

Yea I hear y’a and could easily get on board with that. Just think we need a more high end/elite talent. With Fantilli, we have 5 of 6 for top 6 forwards and I think they 6th spot can be filled with some internally (be it Farrell, Roy, Mesar).

I don't think anyone would do it but if they would and we get Dubois..

Slaf-Fantilli-Suzuki
Dubois-Dach-Caufield

Would be unreal

 

[TomKosto]

I don't think anyone would do it but if they would and we get Dubois..

Slaf-Fantilli-Suzuki
Dubois-Dach-Caufield

Would be unreal

I really doubt we put our captain to the wing but damn that's a good top6. Size and skills.

 

[Riggins]

I really doubt we put our captain to the wing but damn that's a good top6. Size and skills.

Suzuki/Dach/Dubois/Fantilli gives you multiple options who to play at center. That top 6 would be wicked and only has one smurf who's going to be a 50 goal scorer.

It's hard to actually imagine the Habs having that kind of size and skill in the top 6. Would be a force in the playoffs.

 

[PavelBrendl]

I really doubt we put our captain to the wing but damn that's a good top6. Size and skills.

Agreed, especially while Dach is below 40% on faceoffs.

 

[bcv]

I really doubt we put our captain to the wing but damn that's a good top6. Size and skills.

Giroux got shipped to the wing early

 

[NewEraGM]

I don't think anyone would do it but if they would and we get Dubois..

Slaf-Fantilli-Suzuki
Dubois-Dach-Caufield

Would be unreal

Other than getting Bedard, this is my 2nd favorite option!! That too 6 is legit and all under 25.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

I don't think anyone would do it but if they would and we get Dubois..

Slaf-Fantilli-Suzuki
Dubois-Dach-Caufield

Would be unreal

No weaknesses to be had in that top-six. I would argue for switching Suzuki and Dach but I ain't complaining.

 

[jaffy27]

I don't think anyone would do it but if they would and we get Dubois..

Slaf-Fantilli-Suzuki
Dubois-Dach-Caufield

Would be unreal

Slaf-Suzuki-Caufield
Dubois-Dach-Gurianov
Farrell -Fantilli-Anderson

Now there’s a top 9 I can live with

Suzuki and Caufield have a special chemistry I don’t want to mess with

 

[Goldenhands]

Might get Michkov at 5. But would Habs take him?


I like Honzek with Florida pick? Big Slovakian fits in well with Slaf.

There are a couple of guys I like mid 1st and Honzek is one of them.

 

[NewEraGM]

I don't think anyone would do it but if they would and we get Dubois..

Slaf-Fantilli-Suzuki
Dubois-Dach-Caufield

Would be unreal

I honeslty don’t think a forward group like this is that far off from being what a top 6 would look like on a Stanley cup contender. Anderson slides down into bottom 6 and we have enough young players to fill in the spare holes.

It would really just be a top D and maybe some goalie help, but the jury is maybe still out on Monty

 

[Goldenhands]

It's gonna end up what the team is looking for

If they prioritize speed and skating, go Moore, if they want elite playmaking, they go Smith, if they want a coachable, leader type that plays a complete game and give you top 6 numbers while lacking elite attributes, you can go Leonard and be sure that worst case scenario his floor is safe AF

I like the small PF tag @MarkovsKnee is using to describe Leonard since he is pretty hard to knock off the puck, great overall strength, throw his size around ect. While I wouldnt call his skating elite, he still has great straight line speed, some great hands and close to elite shooting and scoring skillls. Its not like Leonard had limited offensive tools or offensive upside, his tools are really really good. Ive watched many USNDTP games and ranked Moore over him for a while, but ended up changing my mind and ranking Leonard over him since I think his offensive awarenesses are superior and should generate more offense at the NHL level. I still love Moore alot, Im a huge fan of his tools and 200 ft. game, but at some point he needs to put more pts on the board.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

No, I'd just take Smith and Leonard, then we can reunite part of that line long term.

I'm really starting to push Leonard up my board, the guys on eliteprospects had chatted with him and he says he takes board battles personally. It shows. He's got the skill and mentality to be just a great player with all the other elements to elevate skilled players around him

Could also do Benson and Reinbacher.

I love Leonard as well....I don't put any stock in that embarrassing beta group of "scouts" that Elite Prospects put together as they would all be laughed at by real scouts. Yeah....St.Louis was hired by the Habs but that was just on a technical level to continue compiling video for them. He is not and was not a scout.

There are so many great prospects who all seem to have one ugly wart that are ranked between 5-20 that it will be incredibly interesting to see how it all plays out. I really like both Leonard and Barlow (I know you aren't a fan) and I love Smith's upside and Sale's easy skill and Dvorsky's talent level etc.

Even a guy like Wood who his a brutal skater, I would be ok with at Florida's pick because he is exactly that kid who, if he improves his skating will become a star as his hands and brain are exceptional.

I think Cristall is too difficult to project given his bantam level play style and poor skating so I would avoid him with both picks and I have zero interest in ASP who looks like a right handed Jordan Harris which is not a bad thing but not a good thing at these draft slots.

I am curious how you feel Smith compares to Cooley given that you were correctly drinking the Cool-Aid last year and Smith is out producing his numbers that Cooley put up with the USNDP team. I prefer Cooley's savage pace but there may be something said for Smith's delay game.

 

[Michoulicious]

I have a feeling we end up with one of the USNDP forwards with our pick if it stays in the 5-7 range.

How would you rank them in term of desirability for Montreal?

Personally:

1. Leonard/Smith
2. Smith/Leonard
3. Moore
4. Perreault

I think Leonard's game would be a better fit... Smith is more cerebral, slow pace kind of C... a bit like Dach.

Leonard is more intense, in your face... He'd be a great fit on the right wing of a Dach/Slaf line. Plays big. Slight reach at 5-7, but I like his package. If he was 6'2 it would be a no brainer. The only thing is I liked Turcotte for the same reasons, and we all know how it played out.

But I like Smith too. Ceiling is sky high.

Benson is great, as well. #5-7 OA is great place to pick. Hopefully we stay in that range.

 

[JuJu Mobb]

If he was 6'2 it would be a no brainer. The only thing is I liked Turcotte for the same reasons, and we all know how it played out.

The jury is still out on Turcotte.

 

[Michoulicious]

The jury is still out on Turcotte.

Yeah, but having him in my top 5 was a big mistake on my part.

His offense ceiling is clearly limited. I see a 3rd liner right now if he makes it. Same kind of risk goes with Leonard, but I think he has still a greater upside.

 

[HuGort]

I love Leonard as well....I don't put any stock in that embarrassing beta group of "scouts" that Elite Prospects put together as they would all be laughed at by real scouts. Yeah....St.Louis was hired by the Habs but that was just on a technical level to continue compiling video for them. He is not and was not a scout.

There are so many great prospects who all seem to have one ugly wart that are ranked between 5-20 that it will be incredibly interesting to see how it all plays out. I really like both Leonard and Barlow (I know you aren't a fan) and I love Smith's upside and Sale's easy skill and Dvorsky's talent level etc.

Even a guy like Wood who his a brutal skater, I would be ok with at Florida's pick because he is exactly that kid who, if he improves his skating will become a star as his hands and brain are exceptional.

I think Cristall is too difficult to project given his bantam level play style and poor skating so I would avoid him with both picks and I have zero interest in ASP who looks like a right handed Jordan Harris which is not a bad thing but not a good thing at these draft slots.

I am curious how you feel Smith compares to Cooley given that you were correctly drinking the Cool-Aid last year and Smith is out producing his numbers that Cooley put up with the USNDP team. I prefer Cooley's savage pace but there may be something said for Smith's delay game.

Could Wood be this year's Jason Robertson or Tage Thompson?

 

[montreal]

Lots of the vid is on the '23 guys, likely the best game i've seen from Hunter Brzustewicz. I also liked Sova who scored at the start of the vid.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

To me the skating isn’t the biggest issue, his feet seem heavy he isn’t quick and backward skating need work, but it isn’t horrible. the issue is that he is very bad on D he get beat one on one, very bad stick, never seem to be in the right position, FW seem to beat him to spot or get body positioning on him, he can seem lock up any one even when he on top of them he seem to be useless the guy just grab the rebound… On offense he put up numbers but he isn’t super creative play maker. He is good (quick) joining the rush, good shot, stick handling poised with the puck he is good at evading pressure, he will spin off or dekes a 1st guy and start a break out or give and go. Maybe is processing on D has improve since I saw him earlier but even if it doesn’t he will likely get pick at the end of the 1st because of the size and upside.

When you say that his backwards skating needs work but isn't horrible that is just wrong. It is important to state that he can not back skate...at all. I have never seen him do it remotely well, partly because he never even tries to do it because he knows that he can't (I know, circular logic but true nonetheless lol).

He is as bad a defender as I have ever seen but he is smart and feisty and determined. Once he let's go of his safety blanket (side shuffle) and accepts the fact that he needs to entirely relearn how to defend from the back skate posture he will improve dramatically. I actually wonder if he won't be better suited as a RD so that his stick hand is on the outside when defending the rush so that he can deflect the puck when the attacker tries to take him wide on the rush. As a LHD he has to hold the stick with his right hand when defending in the backskate posture which allows him greater access to wingers trying to beat him to the outside. Playing him at RD does hinder his incredible forehand breakouts so it is tough to say whether it is a great idea but MSL will certainly be aware of these scenarios.

Saying that he isn't a super creative playmaker is even more odd than saying that his back skating only needs work and isn't horrible. Both of these comments are so egregiously false I don't know where to start. Lane Hutson may be the most creative Dman that I have ever seen in over 40 years of watching, coaching, teaching the game. The kid is an absolute phenom as an offensive facilitator who will need to get stronger and faster to translate his game to the next level but make no mistake about his mind and creativity, they are elite.

Big ass/leg summer for the kid where he needs to learn the fundamentals of back skating and start to not only learn how to balance and push/shift but to start tackling the back crossovers that he currently has never even attempted in a hockey game that I have witnessed.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Could Wood be this year's Jason Robertson or Tage Thompson?

That is precisely what he could be. His shot is absolutely bananas and he uses it exactly like those two do. To be clear his skating is very bad and considerably worse than Thompson's at the same age although less so in Robertson's case.

I have almost tried to not like Wood because I hate his skating but I have seen too many players fix this problem and/or work around it Stone/O'Reilly/Daze/Robertson/Neely/Benn/Andreychuk/Perry/Toffoli etc. His IQ/instincts, his hands, size and his shot are very tantalizing and are difficult to ignore. For a 17/18 year old freshman to lead a good NCAA team in scoring like he did is something that you absolutely must take note of and not overlook.

He is way too risky to take with our 1st pick but I take him all day over Cristall with our 2nd pick.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Giroux got shipped to the wing early

He split time between wing and center for his first two seasons but was exclusively a center for his prime years. He has played a lot more wing in his later years as he has slowed down but has continued to take strong side faceoffs.

 

[Lockin17]

Would you trade for 2nd overall?! I think I would.View attachment 675492

Not for #5 and #6 ,, maybe #5 + a good prospect like Beck

 

[Goldenhands]

So thats it for the regular season in the CHL, some games tomorrow in the OHL, but some 23 draft eligibles are playing their last game tonight, thats the case of Nate Danielson whose team didnt make the playoffs and the kid is too old to be part of the U18. Danielson could pretty well drop to the Panthers pick, especially if they ended up missing the playoffs, he is a smart talented 2-way center with good size and upside, a name to remember for the draft. Bjarnason will likely be part of the U18, I really think he could be a difference maker for TC and increase his draft stock, played on a terrible team all year long.

 

[BeliveauFan4ever]

I see there is no love really for Yager... OK im not into prospect like some here but for the People talking about points he played wing until this year, its not like moving from left wing to right wing. Sure hes not the caliber of the top 4 but i prefer one player that can play on pk and pp and score maybe 40 goals

And i see Yager fitting better with the young core we already have.

Draisaitl never set the whl on fire neither and appart from Bedard Who set the league on fire recently...?

Benson at over 6 feet>Yager
Benson with already injury problem<Yager

Not sold on the D and the rest for a top 5/6 pick

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 ?

There are a number of Reinbacher vids on Youtube. Check them out.

The guys here that watch a lot of the prospects and provide their rankings here, are pretty good and complement other sources quite nicely.

[ tips cap ]

They don’t always agree on the Top 10 but I think they’re unanimous or very close to that about Reinbacher.

Back in the summer I viewed this draft as The One where Habs would finally nab a No. 1 C.

They still might, but the bluest chips at C might be out of reach. That would be a downer for me, but!

The rise of Reinbacher might be the tonic. I checked out clips of him and he does look like a good one. He’s RD, the top-rated D, and Habs dearly need a top flight RD. They have quality prospects at LD.

I still hope/dream our team is blessed at the Lottery and gets the chance at Bedard or Fantilli or Benson is there at 5 or 6.

But Reinbacher looks skilled, confident and authoritative. He offers an intriguing alternative, and nothing like a great Plan B at a draft.

 

[Kaiden Ghoul]

There are a number of Reinbacher vids on Youtube. Check them out.

The guys here that watch a lot of the prospects and provide their rankings here, are pretty good and complement other sources quite nicely.

[ tips cap ]

They don’t always agree on the Top 10 but I think they’re unanimous or very close to that about Reinbacher.

Back in the summer I viewed this draft as The One where Habs would finally nab a No. 1 C.

They still might, but the bluest chips at C might be out of reach. That would be a downer for me, but!

The rise of Reinbacher might be the tonic. I checked out clips of him and he does look like a good one. He’s RD, the top-rated D, and Habs dearly need a top flight RD. They have quality prospects at LD.

I still hope/dream our team is blessed at the Lottery and gets the chance at Bedard or Fantilli or Benson is there at 5 or 6.

But Reinbacher looks skilled, confident and authoritative. He offers an intriguing alternative, and nothing like a great Plan B at a draft.

Not a fan of you tube video when it comes to evaluate the player we often see the good and not the bad, i should at least try to see how his transition game is but at least in his zone the consensus seems to be positive on hf bord from what ive read

 

[calder candidate]

When you say that his backwards skating needs work but isn't horrible that is just wrong. It is important to state that he can not back skate...at all. I have never seen him do it remotely well, partly because he never even tries to do it because he knows that he can't (I know, circular logic but true nonetheless lol).

He is as bad a defender as I have ever seen but he is smart and feisty and determined. Once he let's go of his safety blanket (side shuffle) and accepts the fact that he needs to entirely relearn how to defend from the back skate posture he will improve dramatically. I actually wonder if he won't be better suited as a RD so that his stick hand is on the outside when defending the rush so that he can deflect the puck when the attacker tries to take him wide on the rush. As a LHD he has to hold the stick with his right hand when defending in the backskate posture which allows him greater access to wingers trying to beat him to the outside. Playing him at RD does hinder his incredible forehand breakouts so it is tough to say whether it is a great idea but MSL will certainly be aware of these scenarios.

Saying that he isn't a super creative playmaker is even more odd than saying that his back skating only needs work and isn't horrible. Both of these comments are so egregiously false I don't know where to start. Lane Hutson may be the most creative Dman that I have ever seen in over 40 years of watching, coaching, teaching the game. The kid is an absolute phenom as an offensive facilitator who will need to get stronger and faster to translate his game to the next level but make no mistake about his mind and creativity, they are elite.

Big ass/leg summer for the kid where he needs to learn the fundamentals of back skating and start to not only learn how to balance and push/shift but to start tackling the back crossovers that he currently has never even attempted in a hockey game that I have witnessed.

Are you talking about Hutson Or Dragicevic ? I’m pretty sure I was replying on conversation about Dragicevic…