2023 NHL Entry Draft

[River Meadow]

Could ChatGPT tell us who Montreal should take at 5?

ChatGPT says Will Smith

 

[NomadSports94]

Wouldnt put Benson and Smith in the same category. Benson just screams ppg+ all situations, fan favorite, first line winger. Smith has two many glaring holes in his game. Benson is in a tier of his own and its likely that a team in the top 4 takes him instead of Michkov.

What glaring holes does Smith have? He's a 2 way C that has produced better than current NHLers at at the same age and close to guys who went 1st overall in their years?

 

[Jaynki]

What glaring holes does Smith have? He's a 2 way C that has produced better than current NHLers at at the same age and close to guys who went 1st overall in their years?

He does not always seems interested and there is an apparent "lack of effort" in his game.

Personally, i don't care, he also has superstar potential (don't know about his personality) by the way he plays the game. He is my personal choice after Bedard, Fantilli and Carlsson and he is a player i would skip Michkov for.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

I do like Smith, though think he ends up a playmaking winger. Don’t see how he can stick at center with his weaknesses but he’ll be fine at winger where he can focus on offence. The weaknesses aren’t fatal flaw level, I think he’ll be fine, just don’t think he’ll be staying at center which is ok for us anyway what with Suzuki, Dach and hopefully PLD.

 

[NomadSports94]

He does not always seems interested and there is an apparent "lack of effort" in his game.

Personally, i don't care, he also has superstar potential (don't know about his personality) by the way he plays the game. He is my personal choice after Bedard, Fantilli and Carlsson and he is a player i would skip Michkov for.

I wouldn't say disinterested, he was just that much better than the level of competition he was facing. I can see him at the very least being a PPG+ guy in Div 1 next season at least

I do like Smith, though think he ends up a playmaking winger. Don’t see how he can stick at center with his weaknesses but he’ll be fine at winger where he can focus on offence. The weaknesses aren’t fatal flaw level, I think he’ll be fine, just don’t think he’ll be staying at center which is ok for us anyway what with Suzuki, Dach and hopefully PLD.

You keep mentioning weaknesses. What weaknesses do you see that says he is only going to be a winger at the NHL level? Because there are teams of scouting groups working for NHL teams who very well see him as an NHL centre

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

I wouldn't say disinterested, he was just that much better than the level of competition he was facing. I can see him at the very least being a PPG+ guy in Div 1 next season at least


You keep mentioning weaknesses. What weaknesses do you see that says he is only going to be a winger at the NHL level? Because there are teams of scouting groups working for NHL teams who very well see him as an NHL centre

He’s pretty shit defensively mainly. The effort level seems to lack on that end. Tough to be a center who isn’t good defensively

 

[BoneHutson]

What glaring holes does Smith have? He's a 2 way C that has produced better than current NHLers at at the same age and close to guys who went 1st overall in their years?

Smith is quite the opposite of a 2way C and his skating mechanic is quite bad. Hes always the last F back in his zone despite playing C and lacks a consistent effort level. I suggest you go watch GAMES instead of highlights and his EP page. The simple fact that you actually think hes a two way player tells me youve never seen him play. At least, watch him during the u18. Pin my comment and we will talk after the event, then youll be able to tell me how his 2 way game actually looks

 

[Artaud]

Is Drouin a good comp for Will Smith?

 

[MON4NHLTOR4MLB]

Looking like Smith or Benson at the 6th spot unless Michkov falls and we don’t make the dumbest decision of passing on him but more than likely they’ll go off the board for a toolsy bust

 

[River Meadow]

Looking like Smith or Benson at the 6th spot unless Michkov falls and we don’t make the dumbest decision of passing on him but more than likely they’ll go off the board for a toolsy bust

Absolutely.

Bobrov loves those big toolsy European busts.

LFGGGGGGGGGGG

 

[le_sean]

I like him in the slot when the puck is low, or in front of the net when the puck is high. Same role Toffoli played

But Toffoli has really quick hands that are a benefit in front of the net. Slafkovsky doesn’t. I think Dach is what you’d look for in that role since he can’t really beat goalies from far, but definitely has quick hands.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

But Toffoli has really quick hands that are a benefit in front of the net. Slafkovsky doesn’t. I think Dach is what you’d look for in that role since he can’t really beat goalies from far, but definitely has quick hands.

If Slaf doesn’t have quick enough hands to be a net presence we’re in trouble lol

 

[NomadSports94]

Smith is quite the opposite of a 2way C and his skating mechanic is quite bad. Hes always the last F back in his zone despite playing C and lacks a consistent effort level. I suggest you go watch GAMES instead of highlights and his EP page. The simple fact that you actually think hes a two way player tells me youve never seen him play. At least, watch him during the u18. Pin my comment and we will talk after the event, then youll be able to tell me how his 2 way game actually looks

His skating mechanics arent bad at all. He isnt an elite skater but he has great edge work and good straight line speed. I have watched his games, and you stating the fact that his mechanics are bad even with solid skating ability is a horrible take. Plus his IQ level easily makes up for this "problem" youve created.

 

[Paddy17]

Looking like Smith or Benson at the 6th spot unless Michkov falls and we don’t make the dumbest decision of passing on him but more than likely they’ll go off the board for a toolsy bust

I think there's a good chance that Michkov falls to 6 at least. Unless he's so convincing during interviews as to dissipate most doubts about his future in 3 years.

Teams picking 4 and 5 will look at the trade-off, and they might judge that Smith or Benson is not such a big drop from Michkov to risk it, so they'll pick certainty over doubt.

At 6 onward, the talent gap becomes much wider, and it would be much harder to pass on Michkov.

 

[KevSkillz4]

At 1 or 2, it's 100% between Bedard at 1 or Fantilli and Carlsso at 2.

At 5 or 6, it's 100% between Smith or Benson. (If Michkov drop at there, let's do it).

At 7 or 8, it's 100% between Leonard, Moore, Yager, Dvorsky or Reinbacher.

Habs will draft between 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 or 8 right now.

 

[NomadSports94]

He’s pretty shit defensively mainly. The effort level seems to lack on that end. Tough to be a center who isn’t good defensively

WHere are you getting the sense he is shit defensively? Based on the games ive watched and reports ive read from people much more qualified than me and you, he is pretty sound in the defensive zone

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Sam Costentino released his rankings. Wood is 20th.

Habs get Benson/Michkov/Reinbacher and can grab Wood(giggity) I'd be happy from my limited highlights/reading.

Need May 8th to hurry up and get here so the draft websites like draft Sim can be updated and can play around with that again

 

[River Meadow]

Sam Costentino released his rankings. Wood is 20th.

Habs get Benson/Michkov/Reinbacher and can grab Wood(giggity) I'd be happy from my limited highlights/reading.

Need May 8th to hurry up and get here so the draft websites like draft Sim can be updated and can play around with that again

Absolutely..... that would be great.

Tons of talent within the top 20 so we're going to get 2 very solid prospects.

 

[NomadSports94]

Sam Costentino released his rankings. Wood is 20th.

Habs get Benson/Michkov/Reinbacher and can grab Wood(giggity) I'd be happy from my limited highlights/reading.

Need May 8th to hurry up and get here so the draft websites like draft Sim can be updated and can play around with that again

If he can fix his skating to be even average hes a top 12 talent guy

 

[Egresch]

Ya I’m a fan of Dvorskys PP skills, they should not be doubted. But 5on5 his linemates were prettt bad, numerous times I saw Dvorsky see openings offensively that his linemates simply didn’t. Overall I’m not too concerned about the production questions.

From coaching point of view, Dvorsky is excellent option as he can be your key player for both PP and PK, plus you can use him to shut down opponent first line. But I guess that is very similar to what we have in Suzuki already.

 

[SOLR]

From coaching point of view, Dvorsky is excellent option as he can be your key player for both PP and PK, plus you can use him to shut down opponent first line. But I guess that is very similar to what we have in Suzuki already.

The issue I have with this statement is that Suzuki is actually not that tested in a shutdown role and due to his playing with Caufield, it might be wiser to shelter them from the opposition's top line for real.

 

[MON4NHLTOR4MLB]

I have a feeling soft Molson will handcuff them from drafting Michkov and we’ll watch him be an all-timer in another organization but at least the political people will be happy

 

[SlafySZN]

The issue I have with this statement is that Suzuki is actually not that tested in a shutdown role and due to his playing with Caufield, it might be wiser to shelter them from the opposition's top line for real.

We can’t assume Caufield and Suzuki will always play together.

Need a first line C who can actually play against harder competition.

 

[River Meadow]

I have a feeling soft Molson will handcuff them from drafting Michkov and we’ll watch him be an all-timer in another organization but at least the political people will be happy

Absolutely.

Russian man bad.

 

[BoneHutson]

His skating mechanics arent bad at all. He isnt an elite skater but he has great edge work and good straight line speed. I have watched his games, and you stating the fact that his mechanics are bad even with solid skating ability is a horrible take. Plus his IQ level easily makes up for this "problem" youve created.

His mechanic is bad, what are you even looking at. Theres no ankle flexion (which means he can only uses his strides to generate speed), his back is completely bended (which makes you lose balance and increases the risk of chronic back pain) and to top it off, he starts his strides wide (which means he cant generate a long push=no speed). You add that to a real lack of effort on most shifts and that puts him a tier below the top 5 at least.

I get the crazy pts total (tho that can also be explain by his tendency to always wait at his blue line instead of being involved in the Dzone) and his mits (then again, hes mostly a one trick poney with his toe drag, which while being really effective rn, wont be as much in the NHL), but I cant see a world where some teams really have him in front of Benson, Michkov or Reinbacher even.