2023 NHL Entry Draft

[le_sean]

Isn't he 5'11-180?

That's bigger than Bedard, Michkov, Benson and close to Smith and Leonard etc

He’s 5’10-5’11.

He’s not in the same tier as the ones you listed. When you get to his tier, I feel NHL GMs will be more enamoured by the likes of Barlow, Danielson, Honzek, Yager, Wood. I just don’t see him being picked close to 10.

 

[Michoulicious]

Would be even crazier if we somehow trade Anderson for a 1st-pick and draft Leonard to get the whole trio.

It's probably a very poor draft strategy, and even unlikelier that it actually happens, but could be pretty cool drafting a whole line knowing that all 3 of them complement each other so well and are all going to play for the same team in their D+1.

At some point we'll need a top pair potential RHD prospect...

Trading up from #17 to around #12-13 for ASP if he is still there would be my strategy after drafting one of the forwards at 5-7.

If not, trade down and pick Wallinder.

 

[ginomini]

Besides the legions of RDS analysts licking their chops at the thought of drafting a québécois in the first round? Perrault is P'tit gars de chez nous material.

Does he even speak french?

Edit: nevermind, just found out, he does!

 

[McGuires Corndog]

At some point we'll need a top pair potential RHD prospect...

Trading up from #17 to around #12-13 for ASP if he is still there would be my strategy after drafting one of the forwards at 5-7.

If not, trade down and pick Wallinder.

I’d definitely be game for that if ASP is still on the board there.

I could see a team nabbing him sooner than though. He’s the clear cut 2nd best D man in the draft in my opinion behind Reinbacher, and I don’t find the gap particularly large if I’m being honest.

If a team is hot for a D man and Reinbacher is gone, ASP will be picked for sure.

 

[rahad]

Hrabal is definitely worth it... he's very coordinated for being 6'6".. the sky is the limit there.

Otherwise, you could probably see Bjarnason, Fowler and/or Gajan still on the board by our 2nd round pick and I'd probably lean Fowler at this point.

Bjarnason's tracking skills just haven't come along enough, even though his movement skills are really great and athletically he's got the full package.

He would be gone in the late first round. Kinda like Jake Oettinger(#26). I can see a team drafting him around 22-31.

 

[Mrb1p]

Hrabal is the only goalie that I wouldn't be mad if we selected.

I'd still be grumpy, but you know, just the normal level of grump.

Picking goaltenders past the 3rd round IMO isnt much of a problem, before that meh.

 

[Artaud]

Does he even speak french?

Eh he just needs to be able to say 'lancer des rondelles au filet' over and over when Marc Denis shoves a mic in his face between the 2nd and 3rd period.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

He would be gone in the late first round. Kinda like Jake Oettinger(#26). I can see a team drafting him around 22-31.

Or 17

 

[Jaynki]

Except both Smith and Perreault are vastly better than Slaf + Mesar

Imagine we draft 7th overall.

The big 4 is gone.

Would you trade Slafkovsky for the 5th overall pick and the chance to draft Will Smith?

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Imagine we draft 7th overall.

The big 4 is gone.

Would you trade Slafkovsky for the 5th overall pick and the chance to draft Will Smith?

No.

 

[Jaynki]

No.

I would not too. But the other poster seems to want to argue that Will Smith is a better prospects than Slaf was. I am curious to hear why

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Since I'm wholly watching video highlights my opinion doesn't mean much (though you can make an argument for overscouting hampering opinions but I'm not going to make that argument here).

What we really need is someone who can play when the chips are down. People are somewhat iffy on Suzuki (somewhat understandable) and Caufield (not understandable and heresy) on being guys who can carry a team but the beauty thing about them is how they demonstrated, to me at least, that they're absolute money in the playoffs.

Suzuki had ice in his veins on that Cup run and Caufield had games where he had a breakaway on every shift. Let alone all the big time clutch points they had in that run. I don't want any f***ing Matthews or Marners. Superstar passengers. I'd take a guy with maybe a bit less upside if you're certain he turns it up a notch or two when it matters. I don't know who these guys are where we're gonna pick but we have to target them imo.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Since I'm wholly watching video highlights my opinion doesn't mean much (though you can make an argument for overscouting hampering opinions but I'm not going to make that argument here).

What we really need is someone who can play when the chips are down. People are somewhat iffy on Suzuki (somewhat understandable) and Caufield (not understandable and heresy) on being guys who can carry a team but the beauty thing about them is how they demonstrated, to me at least, that they're absolute money in the playoffs.

Suzuki had ice in his veins on that Cup run and Caufield had games where he had a breakaway on every shift. Let alone all the big time clutch points they had in that run. I don't want any f***ing Matthews or Marners. Superstar passengers. I'd take a guy with maybe a bit less upside if you're certain he turns it up a notch or two when it matters. I don't know who these guys are where we're gonna pick but we have to target them imo.

Benson and Dvorsky seem like the type.

 

[An0n]

Watching Slovakia vs Canada again in full, and a few thoughts:

-Dvorsky is a beast, don’t believe anyone saying otherwise. Maybe not top 5, but he’s right there after that.

-Barlow is near the top of my list in terms of who I’m hoping for at 17. He looks like a 2nd line 25 goal scorer who brings size, leadership, and grit all day.

-if Cam Allen falls to the 2nd I’d be all over him. Obviously it’s been a bad year, but he’s still got first round tools.

I thought Dvorsky was basically a no show except for his goal. I did miss the end of the 3rd though. Maybe that's where he did all his beastly things.

Imagine we draft 7th overall.

The big 4 is gone.

Would you trade Slafkovsky for the 5th overall pick and the chance to draft Will Smith?

Just Slaf straight up for 5th? Hell yeah brother.

Pick Smith at 5 and Leonard at 7.

 

[calder candidate]

At some point we'll need a top pair potential RHD prospect...

Trading up from #17 to around #12-13 for ASP if he is still there would be my strategy after drafting one of the forwards at 5-7.

If not, trade down and pick Wallinder.

ASP isn’t a player I moving up to draft, because of the guy like Wallinder and Strbak which probably have improved there stock but still less expensive.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

Imagine we draft 7th overall.

The big 4 is gone.

Would you trade Slafkovsky for the 5th overall pick and the chance to draft Will Smith?

It’s close, but I’d probably stay with Slaf.

The difference maker is I feel Perreault is a lot better than Mesar.

 

[NotProkofievian]

The thing that I don't like about Benson is that he doesn't actually do anything at an elite level besides hustle. Leonard also hustles, but he's bigger, stronger, a better shooter, and a much better skater.

 

[Schooner Guy]

Watching Slovakia vs Canada again in full, and a few thoughts:

-Dvorsky is a beast, don’t believe anyone saying otherwise. Maybe not top 5, but he’s right there after that.

-Barlow is near the top of my list in terms of who I’m hoping for at 17. He looks like a 2nd line 25 goal scorer who brings size, leadership, and grit all day.

-if Cam Allen falls to the 2nd I’d be all over him. Obviously it’s been a bad year, but he’s still got first round tools.

Agree with you on Dvorsky and Barlow. I don't think there's any chance Barlow is there at 17. I think there's a higher chance he'll go top 10.

Disagree on Allen. What are his first round tools? I don't like his footwork, his defense or his hockey IQ. He never opens up lanes in the O-zone. His game isn't progressing. I think he's one of those kids who filled out before others his age and was physically strong for his age group but that gap has now closed. I wouldn't take him in the 3rd. I don't see any upside or potential for growth in his game.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Man I don't know I'm loving what I see from Reinbacher. His offence is total projectable imo. I don't care that he's not super creative/flashy. He makes up for it in just being efficient.

IF I was going to draft for need I'd draft Reinbacher. I'm pretty damn high on our kids up front that we can cobble together a really good top 6 with what we have. Not saying I wouldn't love a high end blue chip forward but I think we're missing more of a top pairing right D man.

I feel way more comfortable having Barron and Mailloux fighting for a 2nd pairing spot than a 1st pairing spot in a few years.

I also like that Reinbacher is simultaneously a safe pick and a high upside pick. Looks like a rock defensively and though he's not super flashy he still did pace with Josi PPG wise. Only .06 of Josi's mark if memory serves.

I think a lot of people think you can't put up pretty high end numbers if you're a D unless you're a puck wizard. Dude's got crazy stretch passes. Big shot.

Defence wins championships ultimately. I'm more willing to gamble on Suzuki, Caufield, Dach, Slaf, Roy, et al's upside than most I think so I see D as a bigger need.

And BPA's a tough thing to gauge when you're comparing forwards to D men. You have this guy and Guhle anchoring your back end, teams are going to be REALLY hard done by. Plus you still have guys like Barron, Hutson and Mailloux to give more offensive creativity back there. And it's not like Guhle and (by the looks of it) Reinbacher are trash with the puck by any means.

Even if Reinbacher's only a 2nd pairing guy he'd still be a great presence back there. I'd bet the farm he's no less than a 2nd pairing guy which is a fantastic floor.

The thing that I don't like about Benson is that he doesn't actually do anything at an elite level besides hustle. Leonard also hustles, but he's bigger, stronger, a better shooter, and a much better skater.

this is what I see from my lowly highlight watching. He really doesn't pop to me. Small not an elite skater and doesn't look supremely skilled.

The sum could very well be more than the parts though. I'm willing to concede that. It just seems in this insane draft that a guy like that at that high seems odd.

 

[Jaynki]

It’s close, but I’d probably stay with Slaf.

The difference maker is I feel Perreault is a lot better than Mesar.

Fair enough. I agree. I think Smith and Slaf are in the same tier of prospects but i prefer what Slaf brings over Smith for our team. Agree on Perreault and Mesar.

 

[Favster]

People comparing Reinbacher to Guhle like it's a bad thing. What he did this season as a rookie playing top D minutes was unbelievable and he looks like the real deal.

The fact he has similar qualities to Seider makes me go Hnnnng.

As someone who wanted Jiricek badly last season (yes I had Wright 1OV), going with Reinbacher this year would make me extremely happy.

I have no idea how people don't see his potential. I think it's just because we've been craving for a top end forward for a long time.

I don't either. He would be a huge add to our prospect pool, we'd be set for a decade with our young D prospects. It makes even more sense if we get Dubois.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

It's great to see Will Smith killing the u18s, looks like there is a firm top-4 with Michkov set to drop.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

Whoa - Stramel was considered top 10 at one point?
Top 10 to think 'Potato' was a color maybe.

Yeah Stramel is a tough one for me.

He was considered far and away the best 2023 US prospect last summer, then he goes to Wisconsin (which we know is a low scoring, tough program for a Freshman), the other USA guys stayed in the USDP except for Brindley (also very well regarded last summer), who then got a much more favorable slot in the Michigan lineup with Fantilli.

Stramel has definitely shown weakness this year, IQ and skating, but I doubt he is as bad as everyone here thinks. Still don't think we will be in a position to take him unless he falls to our 2nd, then I would be game depending on who else falls.

It is important to remember that when Hughes was coaching Smith, Stramel and other guys were seen as far better prospects than Smith, but we really don't know what their personal relationship was like.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Agree with you on Dvorsky and Barlow. I don't think there's any chance Barlow is there at 17. I think there's a higher chance he'll go top 10.

Disagree on Allen. What are his first round tools? I don't like his footwork, his defense or his hockey IQ. He never opens up lanes in the O-zone. His game isn't progressing. I think he's one of those kids who filled out before others his age and was physically strong for his age group but that gap has now closed. I wouldn't take him in the 3rd. I don't see any upside or potential for growth in his game.

Nothing stands out too much, but everything looks above average across the board which is still first round calibre.

 

[tooji]

Benson, Leonard, Reinbacher in that order with our 7th pick. Wouldn’t be upset with anyone out of those 3 tbh