2023 NHL Entry Draft

[Kaladin]

Possible nightmare scenario if we drop to pick #6 and Hughes won't take Benson or Smith no matter what

Say the top 5 is

Bedard
Fantilli
Carlsson
Reinbacher
Benson/Smith

Do you take Dvorsky, Sale or Barlow?

I take michkov. Lol people are really willing to pass on the second best player in this draft. We’re in crazy land. If Hughes passes on him I’ve lost all faith in him. It WILL come back to bite us.

 

[Hannibal]

You have to go with skills though. Leonard is fun, and will have an insane impact on a team, I know it, you know it, everybody knows it. But Smith is just gonna pull these plays out of his pants that Leonard just can't do. It's valuable.

I've also watched an interview with Smith where he recognizes his two-way play is a weakness and he wants to make that a priority, so it's not all hopeless there, like with Wright who just shrugged off any criticism on his intensity and what not.

Drouin was pure skill too in junior. And he said all the right things in interview also, still to this day.

Sometimes pure skills isn’t the right choice. In later rounds? No problem with the gamble about a player with mad skill and questionable work ethic/ clueless when we doesnt have the puck. Like we did with Roy. But in top 5 or top6? No way.

Leonard > Smith all the way for me.

 

[Mrb1p]

Drouin was pure skill too in junior. And he said all the right things in interview also, still to this day.

Sometimes pure skills isn’t the right choice. In later rounds? No problem with the gamble about a player with mad skill and questionable work ethic/ clueless when we doesnt have the puck. Like we did with Roy. But in top 5 or top6? No way.

Leonard > Smith all the way for me.

I have reservations about Smith but not the same as Drouin. Drouin never had a shot and he had a clear case of dumb-itis. He'd keep ramming his head against junior players until it worked, Smiths problem solving is way more high-end, even if it's also a problem with him.

 

[WeThreeKings]

What is everyone’s take on Sandin Pellikka?

Not good enough offensively to run PP1, not good enough defensively to be PK1.

 

[Hannibal]

I have reservations about Smith but not the same as Drouin. Drouin never had a shot and he had a clear case of dumb-itis. He'd keep ramming his head against junior players until it worked, Smiths problem solving is way more high-end, even if it's also a problem with him.

I understand, but i wasn’t trying to compared Smith to Drouin. The idea was just to give an example about going a player with pure skill but a lot of questions marks about his game top 5 or 6 isn’t always good idea. Smith is ND for me. I might be wrong but it is what it is

 

[Mrb1p]

I understand, but i wasn’t trying to compared Smith to Drouin. The idea was just to give an example about going a player with pure skill but a lot of questions marks about his game top 5 or 6 isn’t always good idea. Smith is ND for me. I might be wrong but it is what it is

But you choose the worst example possible, its not exactly fair to Smith, and to be fair, it's not even fair to Drouin who clearly had problems away from hockey that prevented him from becoming a good player, depression but also probably a lack of character and entitlement.

 

[Hannibal]

But you choose the worst example possible, its not exactly fair to Smith, and to be fair, it's not even fair to Drouin who clearly had problems away from hockey that prevented him from becoming a good player, depression but also probably a lack of character and entitlement.

To be fair, it could happen to Smitj also. We don’t know and we’ll never know. Could happen to anybody.

 

[NotProkofievian]

To be completely fair, Drouin is only [current number of years] old, we don't know how good he can be.

 

[phillytennis]

Possible nightmare scenario if we drop to pick #6 and Hughes won't take Benson or Smith no matter what

Say the top 5 is

Bedard
Fantilli
Carlsson
Reinbacher
Benson/Smith

Do you take Dvorsky, Sale or Barlow?

They could consider Ryan Leonard.

 

[CHwest]

You can't start doing this. Anyone we pick in 2024 is gonna be a full 12 months behind in development, the team make-up is gonna change by then. You're drafting for need and then using a future draft for this ?

Like by the time whoever the Habs pick is ready to have an impact, it's going to be 2027, how silly is it to base your draft decisions on this in 2023 ? I'm not even that much of an advocate of defenseman being picked in the first, heck, I was mad about the Guhle pick. Reinbacher just is a special case, when you have this quality of defender thats pretty much ready made, you have to be happy about it.

A top pair D is worth a top line forward, and usually more.

Best player available, end of story. 3rd round and beyond you can start worrying about needs. Players can always be traded to fill out team needs.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

What is everyone’s take on Sandin Pellikka?

Don't want him with either first round pick.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

I don't know, I wouldn't even be thrilled with a Benson at our pick even if he was average sized tbh.

I guess he could be a Marchand type but he looks more like a mid 1st rounder to me. Could just be a stylistic preference.

I'd take Smith and Reinbacher over him. Reinbacher ain't super flashy and I know you're supposed to COMPLETELY IGNORE need
but with him our blue line looks absurd going forward. He looks super effective and has that pro translatable offence that might not quite look it
but he could produce at a pretty decent clip.

 

[Hannibal]

I don't know, I wouldn't even be thrilled with a Benson at our pick even if he was average sized tbh.

I guess he could be a Marchand type but he looks more like a mid 1st rounder to me. Could just be a stylistic preference.

I'd take Smith and Reinbacher over him. Reinbacher ain't super flashy and I know you're supposed to COMPLETELY IGNORE need
but with him our blue line looks absurd going forward. He looks super effective and has that pro translatable offence that might not quite look it
but he could produce at a pretty decent clip.

Benson will be a stud.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I don't know, I wouldn't even be thrilled with a Benson at our pick even if he was average sized tbh.

I guess he could be a Marchand type but he looks more like a mid 1st rounder to me. Could just be a stylistic preference.

I'd take Smith and Reinbacher over him. Reinbacher ain't super flashy and I know you're supposed to COMPLETELY IGNORE need
but with him our blue line looks absurd going forward. He looks super effective and has that pro translatable offence that might not quite look it
but he could produce at a pretty decent clip.

Zach Benson, Sabres' draft pick at No. 13, can do it all

With his 90s-style mullet and mischievous grin, Benson sets himself apart both on and off the ice.

theathletic.com

"“If we’ve done a hard, technical conditioning drill and I’ll say ‘OK, two-minute break,’ he’ll go over, he’ll take a sip of water,” she said, chuckling mid-sentence, “and as he’s swallowing the water, he’s back out on the ice for free time working on his intricate moves. A lot of players will stand at the boards and be like ‘Did he really just do that? How did he do that?’ And when he’s out there trying those moves, I’ll often say to him ‘You can’t do that again two times in a row’ and sure enough that’s a move that he has created and gone out and perfected, and it will be the exact same. If there’s the Michigan, then he’s got the Benson.”

"When people show up to watch him play, they’re wowed by his moves, a lot like Aidelbaum and her clients are. But they’re usually surprised when the small, ultra-talented winger is also the game’s best defensive forward, or hardest worker, with an energy on the ice that matches his spirit off of it."

“He’s going to be a special player. He’s one of the smartest young players I’ve ever seen. He has high-end hockey IQ, he’s got a great stick, he’s as good defensively as he is offensively … and he’s real good offensively.”

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

I don't know, I wouldn't even be thrilled with a Benson at our pick even if he was average sized tbh.

I guess he could be a Marchand type but he looks more like a mid 1st rounder to me. Could just be a stylistic preference.

I'd take Smith and Reinbacher over him. Reinbacher ain't super flashy and I know you're supposed to COMPLETELY IGNORE need
but with him our blue line looks absurd going forward. He looks super effective and has that pro translatable offence that might not quite look it
but he could produce at a pretty decent clip.

lol no chance that happens

 

[JoelWarlord]

I'm becoming more and more Reinbacher-pilled by the day. I just really like the idea of having him in the mix with Guhle/Matheson/possibly Hutson in the future and we desperately need someone on the right side that can actually eat big minutes. Obviously I won't be upset with a forward but I think the possibilities of a Guhle-Reinbacher pairing are extremely exciting.

 

[SwiftyHab]

I'm becoming more and more Reinbacher-pilled by the day. I just really like the idea of having him in the mix with Guhle/Matheson/possibly Hutson in the future and we desperately need someone on the right side that can actually eat big minutes. Obviously I won't be upset with a forward but I think the possibilities of a Guhle-Reinbacher pairing are extremely exciting.

 

[TomKosto]

Zach Benson, Sabres' draft pick at No. 13, can do it all

With his 90s-style mullet and mischievous grin, Benson sets himself apart both on and off the ice.

theathletic.com

"“If we’ve done a hard, technical conditioning drill and I’ll say ‘OK, two-minute break,’ he’ll go over, he’ll take a sip of water,” she said, chuckling mid-sentence, “and as he’s swallowing the water, he’s back out on the ice for free time working on his intricate moves. A lot of players will stand at the boards and be like ‘Did he really just do that? How did he do that?’ And when he’s out there trying those moves, I’ll often say to him ‘You can’t do that again two times in a row’ and sure enough that’s a move that he has created and gone out and perfected, and it will be the exact same. If there’s the Michigan, then he’s got the Benson.”

"When people show up to watch him play, they’re wowed by his moves, a lot like Aidelbaum and her clients are. But they’re usually surprised when the small, ultra-talented winger is also the game’s best defensive forward, or hardest worker, with an energy on the ice that matches his spirit off of it."

“He’s going to be a special player. He’s one of the smartest young players I’ve ever seen. He has high-end hockey IQ, he’s got a great stick, he’s as good defensively as he is offensively … and he’s real good offensively.”

Sold

 

[Hannibal]

Zach Benson, Sabres' draft pick at No. 13, can do it all

With his 90s-style mullet and mischievous grin, Benson sets himself apart both on and off the ice.

theathletic.com

"“If we’ve done a hard, technical conditioning drill and I’ll say ‘OK, two-minute break,’ he’ll go over, he’ll take a sip of water,” she said, chuckling mid-sentence, “and as he’s swallowing the water, he’s back out on the ice for free time working on his intricate moves. A lot of players will stand at the boards and be like ‘Did he really just do that? How did he do that?’ And when he’s out there trying those moves, I’ll often say to him ‘You can’t do that again two times in a row’ and sure enough that’s a move that he has created and gone out and perfected, and it will be the exact same. If there’s the Michigan, then he’s got the Benson.”

"When people show up to watch him play, they’re wowed by his moves, a lot like Aidelbaum and her clients are. But they’re usually surprised when the small, ultra-talented winger is also the game’s best defensive forward, or hardest worker, with an energy on the ice that matches his spirit off of it."

“He’s going to be a special player. He’s one of the smartest young players I’ve ever seen. He has high-end hockey IQ, he’s got a great stick, he’s as good defensively as he is offensively … and he’s real good offensively.”

Please hockey gods.

 

[Mrb1p]

I don't know, I wouldn't even be thrilled with a Benson at our pick even if he was average sized tbh.

I guess he could be a Marchand type but he looks more like a mid 1st rounder to me. Could just be a stylistic preference.

I'd take Smith and Reinbacher over him. Reinbacher ain't super flashy and I know you're supposed to COMPLETELY IGNORE need
but with him our blue line looks absurd going forward. He looks super effective and has that pro translatable offence that might not quite look it
but he could produce at a pretty decent clip.

Benson isn't a mid-first kind of prospect, not in this (super strong) draft, not in last years and not in any draft. He'd be closer to top 3 in most drafts, he'd probably go first last year and if he had even average height, he'd be neck and neck with Fantilli and Carlsson.

You should absolutely be thrilled with Benson.



Look at this no looker

I'm becoming more and more Reinbacher-pilled by the day. I just really like the idea of having him in the mix with Guhle/Matheson/possibly Hutson in the future and we desperately need someone on the right side that can actually eat big minutes. Obviously I won't be upset with a forward but I think the possibilities of a Guhle-Reinbacher pairing are extremely exciting.

Reinbacher and Benson and Ill be thrilled.

 

[tooji]

Zach Benson, Sabres' draft pick at No. 13, can do it all

With his 90s-style mullet and mischievous grin, Benson sets himself apart both on and off the ice.

theathletic.com

"“If we’ve done a hard, technical conditioning drill and I’ll say ‘OK, two-minute break,’ he’ll go over, he’ll take a sip of water,” she said, chuckling mid-sentence, “and as he’s swallowing the water, he’s back out on the ice for free time working on his intricate moves. A lot of players will stand at the boards and be like ‘Did he really just do that? How did he do that?’ And when he’s out there trying those moves, I’ll often say to him ‘You can’t do that again two times in a row’ and sure enough that’s a move that he has created and gone out and perfected, and it will be the exact same. If there’s the Michigan, then he’s got the Benson.”

"When people show up to watch him play, they’re wowed by his moves, a lot like Aidelbaum and her clients are. But they’re usually surprised when the small, ultra-talented winger is also the game’s best defensive forward, or hardest worker, with an energy on the ice that matches his spirit off of it."

“He’s going to be a special player. He’s one of the smartest young players I’ve ever seen. He has high-end hockey IQ, he’s got a great stick, he’s as good defensively as he is offensively … and he’s real good offensively.”

Yeah Benson is a prototypical top 3 pick in any draft that isn’t as front loaded as this one.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

I'm in the Reinbacher camp but I don't see Seider offensively at all

The value I see in taking Reinbacher is getting a guy that has the physicality and agility to defend 1v1 against good NHL players. Guhle is the only player on our team who really has the potential to put the clamps on in a matchup scenario vs a star.

He may only be a 30-40 point guy but he LIVES in your top-4 and you never have to worry about him

 

[Michelangelo]

What are the odds that Benson grows to be 6'0"?

 

[WeThreeKings]

I'm in the Reinbacher camp but I don't see Seider offensively at all

The value I see in taking Reinbacher is getting a guy that has the physicality and agility to defend 1v1 against good NHL players. Guhle is the only player on our team who really has the potential to put the clamps on in a matchup scenario vs a star.

He may only be a 30-40 point guy but he LIVES in your top-4 and you never have to worry about him

I think the profile is there for 10-15 goals from the back end.. and certainly be able to pop 20-30 assists a year, while providing high end defense.

What are the odds that Benson grows to be 6'0"?

Probably less than 10%

 

[SwiftyHab]

What are the odds that Benson grows to be 6'0"?

He’ll need a note from his proctologist