2023 NHL Entry Draft

[DramaticGloveSave]

Benson can flat out play hockey. To me there is something aesthetically pleasing about watching him play that I don’t get with a lot of players. Maybe I over value hockey sense.

I think it’s how fast he plays. He’s not the fastest guy in a full on race, but his play speed is very high. Most guys kind of coast around, while Benson is always on the move. It’s the hockey IQ that allows him to play fast as he just sees things quicker than anyone else. Definitely a fun player to watch because of that. I would not be mad if he were our pick.

 

[WeThreeKings]

So our order of probabilities is

6th overall 44%
5th overall 24.5%
top 2 17.1%
7th overall 14.1%
3rd overall 0.3%

Pretty cool to have a bigger chance at the top 2 than 7th overall.

 

[Goldenhands]

I really liked Gaucher last season, and supported his drafting, but a lot of people on this board didn't. Ditto Bystedt.

No one seems to like big players on this board. They get trash talked endlessly then we wonder & bitch about why Montreal is so small. Lol

Swedes u18 team is big & fast. Hopefully, we get Wahlberg or Edstrom.

Just watched the 1st, god team Canada couldnt be more flat. Cristall is such a softie, bad skating, reminds me of Bobby brink. Barlow is overrated IMO, his feet are heavy for a 6 ft. tall player, lacks agility first and foremost. Wood terrible skater, cant see Habs having a single interest in this player. Bjarnason was shit in net, kid has to wake up.

A couple of Swedes are looking great, Stenberg, Edstrom, Wahlberg, Sandin-Pellika wow, all 1st round material IMO. I would rather draft a third line power winger like Wahlberg or a great midlle 6 center like Edstrom than softies like Salé, Cristall. Edstrom such a great skater coming with a great frame, strong 200 ft. game with some intriguing skills.

Sweden was the team I was the most excited to watch and I havent been disappointed so far. Stenberg likely cracks my top 15, great player.

 

[Goldenhands]

I really liked Gaucher last season, and supported his drafting, but a lot of people on this board didn't. Ditto Bystedt.

No one seems to like big players on this board. They get trash talked endlessly then we wonder & bitch about why Montreal is so small. Lol

Swedes u18 team is big & fast. Hopefully, we get Wahlberg or Edstrom.

They are not as sexy as Cristall like players.

 

[Jabba11]

So our order of probabilities is

6th overall 44%
5th overall 24.5%
top 2 17.1%
7th overall 14.1%
3rd overall 0.3%

Pretty cool to have a bigger chance at the top 2 than 7th overall.

Help me, how can we "win" the 3rd overall pick?

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Just watched the 1st, god team Canada couldnt be more flat. Cristall is such a softie, bad skating, reminds me of Bobby brink. Barlow is overrated IMO, his feet are heavy for a 6 ft. tall player, lacks agility first and foremost. Wood terrible skater, cant see Habs having a single interest in this player.

A couple of Swedes are looking great, Stenberg, Edstrom, Wahlberg, Sandin-Pellika wow, all 1st round material IMO. I would rather draft a third line power winger like Wahlberg or a great midlle 6 center like Edstrom than softies like Salé, Cristall. Edstrom such a great skater coming with a great frame, strong 200 ft. game with some intriguing skills.

Sweden was the team I was the most excited to watch and I havent been disappointed so far. Stenberg likely cracks my top 15, great player.

Yeah, ditto about Sweden. Really surprised at how well Wahlberg & Edstrom skated. Really strong on their feet. Strong, powerful strides.

Barlow definitely looked like his feet were heavy today. But, one reason why I like this tournament is it's played at a much faster pace than CHL games, so you can really pick up the skating deficiencies. Dragicevic was a disaster in his own zone today, and can't skate either.

I've been feeling for awhile now that the WHL guys in particular are getting overrated (except Bedard), and Swedes are getting underrated.

Still like Leonard & Moore neither disappointed me today.

First game, hopefully, Team Canada gets their shit together.

 

[Schooner Guy]

They need to push Zegras to the wing IMO.

Agreed. Carlsson on the wing is another option as that's where he has played most of the last two seasons. But yes...I think the Ducks would be stronger if they could find another center who fits with their core group to put Zegras on the wing.

 

[Deam78]

Sandin Pellikka gives me Q. Hughes/ M. Heiskanen feeling. Can watch him skate all day.

Don’t think he’ll reach that franchise level but a 40-50 ish point smooth skating puck transition monster is a massive player to have.

Watching USA, anyone else always coming away more impressed with Leonard/Moore compared to Smith? Smith is very skilled, but average skater and brutal motor. A little Turcotte vibes there.

Can you clarify what you mean with the bolded? Haven't seen today's game, but in my opinion Smith and Turcotte are like polar opposite as prospects

 

[Guig]

Help me, how can we "win" the 3rd overall pick?

Ottawa wins the first lottery, they would get 2nd overall and Anaheim keeping the first overall. Then Montreal winning the second lottery, they would get the 3rd overall.

See Marco D’Amico article: Canadiens Potential Draft Lottery Outcomes, 3rd Overall Possible?

 

[Mrb1p]

I really liked Gaucher last season, and supported his drafting, but a lot of people on this board didn't. Ditto Bystedt.

No one seems to like big players on this board. They get trash talked endlessly then we wonder & bitch about why Montreal is so small. Lol

Swedes u18 team is big & fast. Hopefully, we get Wahlberg or Edstrom.

I dont think its size, rather picking someone for role-playing, aka a 3rd liner, assignment.

 

[Goldenhands]

Yeah, ditto about Sweden. Really surprised at how well Wahlberg & Edstrom skated. Really strong on their feet. Strong, powerful strides.

Barlow definitely looked like his feet were heavy today. But, one reason why I like this tournament is it's played at a much faster pace than CHL games, so you can really pick up the skating deficiencies. Dragicevic was a disaster in his own zone today, and can't skate either.

I've been feeling for awhile now that the WHL guys in particular are getting overrated (except Bedard), and Swedes are getting underrated.

Still like Leonard & Moore neither disappointed me today.

First game, hopefully, Team Canada gets their shit together.

The scandinavian dragon sucks, really bad lol. Cant defend at all, very low defending IQ.

 

[ReHabs]

I want to express my thanks to the commentators here for their contribution to our knowledge and understanding of prospects. Some really fun discussions so far.

Enthusiasm for the draft… going up.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

The scandinavian dragon sucks, really bad lol. Cant defend at all, very low defending IQ.

Yeah, I can't see Montreal being interested. I don't see what value he'd add to our organization.

I also think they do value skating. 2022 we didn't draft a bad skater in the group. There are some weaknesses, but nothing overly concerning, and that strength training can't improve.

Can't see them changing their minds about that now.

 

[26Mats]

Marinaro reporting Aaron Portzline saying if Columbus slips to 4th they're taking Will Smith.

Also saying Brobov wants Michkov, calls him the Russian Bedard...

Edit:

 

[MarkovsKnee]

I dont think its size, rather picking someone for role-playing, aka a 3rd liner, assignment.

My thoughts are if you can predict them as a 3rd liner on draft day then they can probably improve enough to become top 6. You have to leave room for development. I mean McCarron, who I figured was going to be an AHLer on draft day, went on to be a 4th liner with Nashville. It took years, but he still managed it, and improved his skating quite a bit after he left Montreal's organization, which tells you just how crap development was under the former regime.

 

[26Mats]

I didn't know we could potentially draft 3rd overall this year...

Canadiens Potential Draft Lottery Outcomes, 3rd Overall Possible?

The NHL Draft Lottery is less than three weeks away, and the Montreal Canadiens are hoping to get lucky for the second year in a row. By virtue of finishing 28th overall in the NHL standings, the Canadiens have the fifth-best odds for the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery on May 8. Since last season, there […]

montrealhockeynow.com

 

[crosbyshow]

If by miracle Florida wins vs. Boston and we pick 20-25.....we.might draft Etienne Morin

 

[Goldenhands]

Yeah, I can't see Montreal being interested. I don't see what value he'd add to our organization.

I also think they do value skating. 2022 we didn't draft a bad skater in the group. There are some weaknesses, but nothing overly concerning, and that strength training can't improve.

Can't see them changing their minds about that now.

Agree, they will likely value skating very highly, competitiveness, IQ and size as well.

 

[Schooner Guy]

If by miracle Florida wins vs. Boston and we pick 20-25.....we.might draft Etienne Morin

Florida winning vs Boston won't change anything unless they also win Round 2. The only way that Panthers pick changes is if Florida makes it to the ECF. All conference finalists picks end up in the bottom 4 (29-32). The rest goes by regular season standings and the draft lottery.

Now...if Florida does beat Boston, they'll likely be facing a Carolina team that is missing Svechnikov, Pacioretty and now Teuravainen. That's a lot of offense missing. One thing Florida can do very well is score goals.

 

[River Meadow]

If by miracle Florida wins vs. Boston and we pick 20-25.....we.might draft Etienne Morin

Just think, if Florida wins the cup we can draft Jean-Guy Talbot from Quebec at 32nd!

(As you know, FLA needs to get to Finals before we get #29, it's #17 or 29+)

Marinaro reporting Corey Pronman saying if Columbus picks top 4 they're taking Will Smith.

Also saying Brobov wants Michkov, calls him the Russian Bedard...

LFGGGGG Bobrov!!!!!!

 

[SlafySZN]

Marinaro reporting Corey Pronman saying if Columbus picks top 4 they're taking Will Smith.

Also saying Brobov wants Michkov, calls him the Russian Bedard...

Marinaro calls him that or Bobrov?

 

[Jack Skellington]

Marinaro reporting Corey Pronman saying if Columbus picks top 4 they're taking Will Smith.

Also saying Brobov wants Michkov, calls him the Russian Bedard...

Yesss

 

[26Mats]

Marinaro calls him that or Bobrov?

Marinaro reporting Aaron Portzline saying Brobov calls Michkov the Russian Bedard.

 

[SlafySZN]

 

[Schooner Guy]

Marinaro reporting Corey Pronman saying if Columbus picks top 4 they're taking Will Smith.

Also saying Brobov wants Michkov, calls him the Russian Bedard...

I'm surprised to hear Marinaro saying that about CBJ. Timmins is Assistant Director of Amateur Scouting and Grant who is often in sync with TT has Smith at #12.

Regarding Bobrov and Michkov, every team wants Michkov. It will all come down to each team's risk assessment of where in the draft they're willing to take a chance on him. Keep in mind that this Habs brass don't seem to let anything leak unless it's intentional.

In any event, I doubt Tony or Pronman have any reliable scoops on either team with still over two months left before the draft.