2023 NHL Entry Draft

[Paddy17]

Smith has such a high ceiling because of his tremedous vision and IQ, it's hard to pass at 5.
Same reason I'm picking Carlsson over Fantilli at 2.

Of course, either one can wind up busting or performing below potential, but that could happen to any prospect outside of maybe Bedard. They all have weaknesses to work on.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

I disagree.

View attachment 687432

2009 was Josi's post draft season. Reinbacher just had the most productive NLA draft season ever.

Ya I get the arguments for Reinbacher but I don’t see elite NHL level playmaking.

 

[Slew Foots]

A better Ekholm-Subban or what? Two big boys that can bang and put it in whenever they feel like it. Sounds like problems.

Honestly thats the kind of defining roster building that could change things and allow the Habs to necessarily not have that top 15 offensive forward and still be very successful, just like Nashville a few years back.

It would be an interesting pairing, no doubt; that being said, you brought up Nashville as a comparable - did they ever win a cup with that type of roster construct?

In fact, when is the last time a team won a cup without having a player capable of being top 10 in points in the league? I think we gotta go way back to see that...

Also, it's kinda insane that the last time we had a player who was top 10 in points was Naslund. Having been alive for that whole period, I'm desperate for elite offensive talent lol...I say no matter where we're picking (1, 2, 5-8), we gamble on offensive upside. Please. I need it.

 

[le_sean]

Based on a few games of his that I have seen, and his WJC performance I can see where DGS is coming from. But I've seen a couple games where he was simply unbelievable.

I thought he had a really good WJC considering he had zero help. He often had to do everything himself.

 

[NomadSports94]

Based on a few games of his that I have seen, and his WJC performance I can see where DGS is coming from. But I've seen a couple games where he was simply unbelievable.

Every prospect is going to have off games, but thats why you need to look at a big sample size. He was an absolute horse for Austria at the WJC, that team was just not good

 

[ginomini]

It would be an interesting pairing, no doubt; that being said, you brought up Nashville as a comparable - did they ever win a cup with that type of roster construct?

In fact, when is the last time a team won a cup without having a player capable of being top 10 in points in the league? I think we gotta go way back to see that...

Also, it's kinda insane that the last time we had a player who was top 10 in points was Naslund. Having been alive for that whole period, I'm desperate for elite offensive talent lol...I say no matter where we're picking (1, 2, 5-8), we gamble on offensive upside. Please. I need it.

St.Louis, Boston, and also Kopitar was not a top 10 offensive producer in any of LA's wins. He was maybe a top 10 forward overall tho.

All those teams had insane depth and defense. I think its definitely possible. But hey, it's obviously better to have an offensive superstar.

 

[le_sean]

It would be an interesting pairing, no doubt; that being said, you brought up Nashville as a comparable - did they ever win a cup with that type of roster construct?

In fact, when is the last time a team won a cup without having a player capable of being top 10 in points in the league? I think we gotta go way back to see that...

Also, it's kinda insane that the last time we had a player who was top 10 in points was Naslund. Having been alive for that whole period, I'm desperate for elite offensive talent lol...I say no matter where we're picking (1, 2, 5-8), we gamble on offensive upside. Please. I need it.

Who after Bedard has the actual potential to be Top 10 in points? This season you’d need 100+ points. I like Benson and Smith, but they are not 100 point players.

It’s also very rare to win a Cup without an elite defenceman, often chosen in the Top 10. We don’t have that.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Based on a few games of his that I have seen, and his WJC performance I can see where DGS is coming from. But I've seen a couple games where he was simply unbelievable.

I haven’t delved deep into Reinbacher or any D for that matter yet, so if someone can pass along some tape where he shows elite playmaking skills I’m open to changing my opinion.

But from the tape I’ve watched, he’s a Guhle type. 6’2”, great skater, physical, smart, and has a big shot. Like I’ve said, I like the player just not at 5/6/7.

 

[JoelWarlord]

Caroline is building all out offence. They have freaking Frederic Andersen in net.

Carolina built around Slavin and Pesce, they didn't add Aho and Svechkinov until later.

 

[KevSkillz4]

One thing for sure if Habs select Reinbacher over Benson and Smith, management are very confident that they will acquire Pierre-Luc Dubois and they are confident with forward in prospect pool to complete Suzuki, Dach, Caufield and Slafkovsky.

The only thing I see Reinbacher in Habs jersey at 5 or 6, it's because they are 100% sure that forward group will be good and Dubois will be a Habs aswell.. if not, that's a stupid move by them... they have already a great future defensive group with Guhle, Hutson, Barrron, Mailloux, Xhekaj, Engstrom, Harris, Struble. Matheson for 4 years too.

 

[Mrb1p]

It would be an interesting pairing, no doubt; that being said, you brought up Nashville as a comparable - did they ever win a cup with that type of roster construct?

In fact, when is the last time a team won a cup without having a player capable of being top 10 in points in the league? I think we gotta go way back to see that...

Also, it's kinda insane that the last time we had a player who was top 10 in points was Naslund. Having been alive for that whole period, I'm desperate for elite offensive talent lol...I say no matter where we're picking (1, 2, 5-8), we gamble on offensive upside. Please. I need it.

Boston, STL, LA to an extent (Kopitar has one top 10 finish, 8th in scoring.), Anaheim and Devils also.

I'd love to have a top 10 points producer, it would be super fun. Sadly, the Habs wont have that unless they win the lottery or win the proverbial lottery with Cristall, Sale or Wood.

 

[Vachon23]

he’s a Guhle type. 6’2”, great skater, physical, smart, and has a big shot. Like I’ve said, I like the player just not at 5/6/7.

Guhle would be draft in that range if we remake the 2020 draft though

 

[Hannibal]

Guhle would be draft in that range if we remake the 2020 draft though

Not really sure. 2020 was deeeep.

 

[Slew Foots]

Boston, STL, LA to an extent (Kopitar has one top 10 finish, 8th in scoring.), Anaheim and Devils also.

I'd love to have a top 10 points producer, it would be super fun. Sadly, the Habs wont have that unless they win the lottery or win the proverbial lottery with Cristall, Sale or Wood.

Boston had Marchand (granted, he wasn't yet capable of being a top 10 guy back in 2011), St. Louis had Tarasenko (he did it in 2016-17), LA had Kopitar...by "capable" I meant having that kind of upside (not necessarily having accomplished it the season the team won the cup).

But yeah, unlikely anyone available at 5-8 would have that upside unless Michkov drops and the Habs miraculously stay away from geopolitical virtue signaling.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

If we win the #2 draft slot in the lottery this board is going to be a war zone with Fantilli vs Carlsson vs Michkov factions.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Guhle would be draft in that range if we remake the 2020 draft though

Guhle is great. Calling Reinbacher Guhle is not a diss.

And just to be a touch more specific, I’m talking about more that elite offensive creativity- and part of that is his puck handling isn’t amazing. So I’m talking more about his hands than vision, but that is part of what makes a great playmaker.

If we win the #2 draft slot in the lottery this board is going to be a war zone with Fantilli vs Carlsson vs Michkov factions.

It’s going to happen. It’s destiny.

 

[Vachon23]

Not really sure. 2020 was deeeep.

I would any those guys before Guhle:
Stuzle
Raymond (even him I’m not sure)
Sanderson

There could be an argument for Lundell and Mercer

 

[JoelWarlord]

It would be an interesting pairing, no doubt; that being said, you brought up Nashville as a comparable - did they ever win a cup with that type of roster construct?

They didn't win the cup, but they did lose Johansen for the cup final and still put up a pretty good fight, so it's difficult to take their cup finals loss as proof their build was fundamentally flawed. Johansen's not a world-beater or anything but a lot of teams would struggle if they lost their #1C in the conference final.

In fact, when is the last time a team won a cup without having a player capable of being top 10 in points in the league? I think we gotta go way back to see that...

2019. The Blues' top scorer was O'Reilly with 77P which put him 31st in the league. I guess you could argue Pietrangelo is/was capable of being top 10 in defenceman scoring but as much as I love Tarasenko's game, that team won without a standout dynamic point producer. The Kings in 2012/14 (again unless you want to argue Doughty as a top 10 dman scorer), and Bruins in 2011 as well.

Also, it's kinda insane that the last time we had a player who was top 10 in points was Naslund. Having been alive for that whole period, I'm desperate for elite offensive talent lol...I say no matter where we're picking (1, 2, 5-8), we gamble on offensive upside. Please. I need it.

I fully agree that we should swing for the best offensive upside if we're taking a forward, but adding Reinbacher for his two-way ability as a right shot D would be an excellent move in my opinion. He'd be a perfect partner for any of Guhle, Matheson, or potentially Hutson down the line. Overall I just disagree with the idea that taking Reinbacher with our pick would be passing on upside. Reinbacher's upside is every bit as high as anyone in this draft outside the top 4 IMO.
________

@Hannibal you can laugh all you want but it's absolutely true. Over the past 5 seasons the Hurricanes have ranked 16th, 9th, 10th, 14th, and 16th in goals for, while ranking 2nd, 1st, 4th, 6th, and 6th in goals against. They rely heavily on defence and playing an uptempo heavy forecheck and using Slavin/Pesce as their defensive rocks. You can see it in how they treat their OFD. They've cycled through Hamilton, DeAngelo, and now Burns as their PP + offensive specialists on the blue line while holding on to Slavin and Pesce as the core of their defence. Not to mention that they've hung around to Jordan Staal as their 2C for all these years. Not exactly what I'd expect a team that's ostensibly focusing on all-out offensive to be doing.

 

[Mrb1p]

I think JJ Moser is a pretty good comparable to Reinbacher if you want to make a direct league comparison.

22 points in 46 games at 18 years old for David
30 in 48 for JJ as a 20 years old, who would go on to produce 15 pts in 43 games and 31 in 81 in the next two years as a 21-22 YO on the coyotes.

Both teams were similar situations, mid range, Reinbacher was 7th on his team, Moser 5th.

If the prospect of a 19 years old having a pretty clear translatable 30 points in the NHL while playing a good defensive game and a solid physical game doesn't bring you to a top 10, it's an insanely good draft and you should be loaded up in picks.

Not really sure. 2020 was deeeep.

Yes it was, but Guhle is as good/Better than Sanderson who went 5th.

Boston had Marchand (granted, he wasn't yet capable of being a top 10 guy back in 2011), St. Louis had Tarasenko (he did it in 2016-17)...

But yeah, unlikely anyone available at 5-8 would have that upside unless Michkov drops and the Habs miraculously stay away from geopolitical virtue signaling.

Maybe, we can say they were all stretch. I think Suzuki and Caufield have the ability to maybe get in the back end of the top 10 in a career year, heck, Cole was a top 10 goalscorer in the league in the 2022 calendar year as a very young player on a bad team.

BPA should be the way, Reinbacher is a very good option there.

If we win the #2 draft slot in the lottery this board is going to be a war zone with Fantilli vs Carlsson vs Michkov factions.

Not at all, Ill be happy and vibing no matter who the Habs land.

 

[Hins77]

I think JJ Moser is a pretty good comparable to Reinbacher if you want to make a direct league comparison.

22 points in 46 games at 18 years old for David
30 in 48 for JJ as a 20 years old, who would go on to produce 15 pts in 43 games and 31 in 81 in the next two years as a 21-22 YO on the coyotes.

Both teams were similar situations, mid range, Reinbacher was 7th on his team, Moser 5th.

If the prospect of a 19 years old having a pretty clear translatable 30 points in the NHL while playing a good defensive game and a solid physical game doesn't bring you to a top 10, it's an insanely good draft and you should be loaded up in picks.

Yes it was, but Guhle is as good/Better than Sanderson who went 5th.

Maybe, we can say they were all stretch. I think Suzuki and Caufield have the ability to maybe get in the back end of the top 10 in a career year, heck, Cole was a top 10 goalscorer in the league in the 2022 calendar year as a very young player on a bad team.

BPA should be the way, Reinbacher is a very good option there.


Not at all, Ill be happy and vibing no matter who the Habs land.

Moser has 31 pts on a shit team at 22 years old and there is a huge gap between 18 and 20 years old. Moser had 7 pts when he was elligible to be draft.

 

[Mrb1p]

Moser has 31 pts on a shit team at 22 years old and there is a huge gap between 18 and 20 years old. Moser had 7 pts when he was elligible to be draft.

Yes... The point is that Reinbacher could be a 30 points Dman at 19.

 

[Hins77]

Team are keeing their RD despites there is a big time overpayment. thats why there is always D would be select prior forward in the draft. This is why I think Reinbacher gonna be select earlier.

Yes... The point is that Reinbacher could be a 30 points Dman at 19.

He could, and he could have 35/40 pts, who knows? reinbacher dveeloppement’s is ahead of Moser right now, you told it too.

And, when it comes to management, RD is a position really tough to reach on trade market. There is plenty of forward availlable, but I could see a team going with the low risk/top 4 dman pick a la Nemec, in Reinbacher

 

[Mrb1p]

Team are keeing their RD despites there is a big time overpayment. thats why there is always D would be select prior forward in the draft. This is why I think Reinbacher gonna be select earlier.

He could, and he could have 35/40 pts, who knows? reinbacher dveeloppement’s is ahead of Moser right now, you told it too.

And, when it comes to management, RD is a position really tough to reach on trade market. There is plenty of forward availlable, but I could see a team going with the low risk/top 4 dman pick a la Nemec, in Reinbacher

Thats what Im saying.

 

[NotProkofievian]

I thought he had a really good WJC considering he had zero help. He often had to do everything himself.

I agree he was good at the WJC. But his strongest performances this year have been in the NL, IMO.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Since DGS hit us with his hot take earlier, I'll throw one in.

Reinbacher is a better passer/playmaker than Dvorsky.