2023 NHL Entry Draft

[Artaud]

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.

IMO, Fantilli is not an option at 2.

His beard is too full for an U18 player, just like Lafrenière's in his draft year. A bearded kid at that age will intimidate his peers, which gives him an advantage that simply does not translate to the NHL level. The beard is also a tell that he's more physically mature for his age than other kids, which again, does not translate.

And the inverse is also true. Look at Lane Hutson. Probably the most baby-faced prospect since Mitch Marner and he already looks like a steal.

 

[Hannibal]

What would be your comparaison for Benson? Marner? Point?

 

[WeThreeKings]

What would be your comparaison for Benson? Marner? Point?

Marchand without the dirtiness, for me.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

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

Reinbacher is a better passer/playmaker than Dvorsky.

If Habs don't get a top 5 pick, the best option would probably be Reinbacher. The dropoff from 4 to 5 is massive while 5-10 is negligible

 

[WeThreeKings]

If Habs don't get a top 5 pick, the best option would probably be Reinbacher. The dropoff from 4 to 5 is massive while 5-10 is negligible

I'd still prioritize Smith/Benson.. we are a bit out from next year, but it does look like we'd have plenty of options to grab a strong RHD prospect in 2024 where I'm not sure we'd have a chance next year to grab a prospect with the same offensive upside.

I certainly won't be mad at a Reinbacher pick, though.

 

[Hannibal]

I'd still prioritize Smith/Benson.. we are a bit out from next year, but it does look like we'd have plenty of options to grab a strong RHD prospect in 2024 where I'm not sure we'd have a chance next year to grab a prospect with the same offensive upside.

I certainly won't be mad at a Reinbacher pick, though.

Im with you. Except for Smith. Benson/Leonard for me and grab a RHD next draft or via trade. I don’t expect us to be able to draft a top 5-6 forwards with elite upside anytime soon.

With a Dubois trade and less bad luck health-wise, i don’t expect us to pick top 10 again going forward in this rebuild.

 

[jfhabs]

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

They have a super underrated defense group.
I think Andersen is very underrated because he had a shit group in front of him when he was there.
He still had number 1 numbers for the most part.

 

[Vachon23]

 

[Mrb1p]

Absolutely insane, as a draft year D too. He took charge of that team.

Anyone who doesn't have him in their top 30, if not 20 is seriously underrating him.

 

[Vachon23]

Absolutely insane, as a draft year D too. He took charge of that team.

Anyone who doesn't have him in their top 30, if not 20 is seriously underrating him.

They are some games where he takes the whole control of the game.

If only he was a RD

 

[jfhabs]

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

I think Guhle and Sanderson are super close.
Always hard to compared forwards to D unless it's super obvious.

 

[Mrb1p]

They are some games where he takes the whole control of the game.

If only he was a RD

I don't mind him being a LD at all. He's something the Habs don't have a lot of, he's basically another Hutson but with average size. I think he has a Letang like future.

 

[David Suzuki]

Absolutely insane, as a draft year D too. He took charge of that team.

Anyone who doesn't have him in their top 30, if not 20 is seriously underrating him.

he’s better than reinbacher…

 

[Vachon23]

I don't mind him being a LD at all. He's something the Habs don't have a lot of, he's basically another Hutson but with average size. I think he has a Letang like future.

Wouldn’t be mad if we take him for sure

My only question with him is how good he will because he’s gonna play in the NHL

 

[Mrb1p]

he’s better than reinbacher…

If were strictly looking at offensive zone play he very well could be for sure. Reinbacher is no slouch there though.

Wouldn’t be mad if we take him for sure

My only question with him is how good he will because he’s gonna play in the NHL

Yep, he has a NHL future for sure. He's the type of guy that has a pretty high ceiling too.

 

[phillytennis]

Right now my list goes:

Dvorsky
Smith
Benson

I’m assuming both Dvorsky and Smith shine at the U18s. If both end up sucking I’ll move Benson to the top of that list. All three are very close for me and consider that a “tier”.

I believe we will have better idea who we will draft after watching the u18 tournament which begins April 20th.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

For heaven’s sake it’s almost as if some of you not just accept but expect Russophobia and discrimination.

What happened to having high expectations? If they skip on Michkov they should be criticized.

Sadly, I’m certain many people will shrug it off or even applaud it, and another bit of our collective humanity gets chipped away.


@Kobe Armstrong this caution is why many people on Twitter and (it appears) here don’t respect Grant McCagg.

I've said my piece about Grant more than anyone here cares to read again, but Grant putting together a video trashing Will Smith doesn't make me think Will Smith is bad, but it does give me some reason to believe that the Habs won't be taking him.

 

[HuGort]

Yeah, definitely not good. Zero willingness to engage anywhere on the ice. Doesn't even really try to get the puck from anyone.

The thing with NTDP players is that they essentially play their whole season as exhibition, so yeah, work ethic & care varies game to game.

With them, I do value u18 tournaments, as those aren't exhibition. You want to see the competitive spirit come out.

The u18 championship is what the NTDP builds up to for their year. It's their season finals.

Let's see, how things go.

So I take it you won't take Smith at 5 or 6th?

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

It's kind of wack that the 3 USDP kids are all going to Boston College together next year, they'll probably play on the same line again and it will be a mystery who is really driving the line until they turn pro.

At least Moore is going to Minnesota

 

[Habby Patty]

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.

Literally 2019…

 

[Jack Skellington]

I've said my piece about Grant more than anyone here cares to read again, but Grant putting together a video trashing Will Smith doesn't make me think Will Smith is bad, but it does give me some reason to believe that the Habs won't be taking him.

It seemed to just be a full games worth of shifts stitched together. Maybe he purposely chose an awful game, not sure. The U18 will hopefully shed a lot more light because it can be hard to decipher the real value of some USNDTP guys with the variance in the quality of teams they play against. Does anyone know how to find their player stats against just NCAA teams?

 

[phillytennis]

The NTDP is so stacked every single season that the higher end guys like Smith, Moore, and Leonard just absolutely make a joke of games and it just doesnt go well. I cannot wait to see how all 3 do next season in Division 1


That pairing would be disgusting

If I was to choose between Reinbacher or Leonard...I would pick Leonard.

 

[Schooner Guy]

I've said my piece about Grant more than anyone here cares to read again, but Grant putting together a video trashing Will Smith doesn't make me think Will Smith is bad, but it does give me some reason to believe that the Habs won't be taking him.

Grant lost his inside connection with the Habs when TT got canned. He still converses with scouts in press boxes in Gatineau and Ottawa. I'm assuming he's hearing some question marks about Smith much like he was hearing with Wright a year ago.

 

[morhilane]

Grant lost his inside connection with the Habs when TT got canned. He still converses with scouts in press boxes in Gatineau and Ottawa. I'm assuming he's hearing some question marks about Smith much like he was hearing with Wright a year ago.

Those scout seems to like to chat a lot and not just to Grant... We will soon enter the main "a NHL scout told me " part of the scouting season.

 

[phillytennis]

They are some games where he takes the whole control of the game.

If only he was a RD

Étienne Morin was the best player in the prospects game. I would love us to draft him
between 16th---37th.