2023 NHL Entry Draft

[Goldenhands]

The man certainly does not try to hide his bias this is like those Wright clips of him coasting as F3 all over again

I dont know whats wrong with this video, if anything thats more complimentary than bad. Kid is a beautiful talent and is proving so far in this tournament that he can elevate his effort level. Personally I see a big difference compared to his league play where backchecking looked so painful. He is clearly an offensive minded player with alot of strengthening to do, will need to put more efforts on the defensive side of the game, but what I see right now is pretty encouraging. Unlike Wright, Smith's puck skills are amazing, so is the offensive creativity, he looks pretty dynamic right now and I like it.

I reached the point where I think I would be happy with any of the big names, including Smith. His flaws in this tournament arent as apparent as it was in the USHL a few weeks ago, what suggests that its fixable at some extend. Our scouting staff will have to determinate what is the physical growing potential of this kid, can he add like 15-20 pounds of muscle to his frame down the road or has he that type of frame with limited growing potential like RNH or Jake Evans have? Adding more power will be determinant to his development IMO.

My updated ranking:

Bedard
Michkov
Carlsson
Fantilli
Reinbacher
Dvorsky
Leonard
Smith

We are assured to get one of these kids.

 

[Nevins]

 

[McGees]

That's what I said.

Please don't beat me up.

Also with the 5th overall selection...

 

[MarkovsKnee]

I know we shouldn't put a lot of stock at these short tournaments, but still impressive that around half of the top 20 at the U18s went on to be superstars at the NHL level.

Wouldn't be surprised if we see both Smith and Perrault at the top of the list if they can go far in the tournament.

The craziest stat? Michkov in the top 10 while he was 16 at the time.

Smith & Perreault with 15 pts in 4 gp. Lol

 

[WeThreeKings]

I dont know whats wrong with this video, if anything thats more complimentary than bad. Kid is a beautiful talent and is proving so far in this tournament that he can elevate his effort level. Personally I see a big difference compared to his league play where backchecking looked so painful. He is clearly an offensive minded player with alot of strengthening to do, will need to put more efforts on the defensive side of the game, but what I see right now is pretty encouraging. Unlike Wright, Smith's puck skills are amazing, so is the offensive creativity, he looks pretty dynamic right now and I like it.

I reached the point where I think I would be happy with any of the big names, including Smith. His flaws in this tournament arent as apparent as it was in the USHL a few weeks ago, what suggests that its fixable at some extend. Our scouting staff will have to determinate what is the physical growing potential of this kid, can he add like 15-20 pounds of muscle to his frame down the road or has he that type of frame with limited growing potential like RNH or Jake Evans have? Adding more power will be determinant to his development IMO.

My updated ranking:

Bedard
Michkov
Carlsson
Fantilli
Reinbacher
Dvorsky
Leonard
Smith

We are assured to get one of these kids.

I figured when there was something to play for, Smith would do more defensively. Not that he's competing super hard, but like you said there's the signs there.

Surround that type of skill with Dach PLD or Slaf? I like it.

 

[NewEraGM]

Assuming we’re picking 5-7, and if the draft were held tonight… I think my guy would be Dvorsky. I don’t want to do the Slovak thing but maybe it would be good for chemistry?

But the reason I like him is that he’s just such a good well rounded player. Good size, good skater (don’t get the skating knocks), good skill, smart, competes hard, great shot, and even good at face offs. To me he’s a top 6 player all day, maybe not a superstar, but could be a heck of a 2nd line center or perhaps a Landeskog type as a 1st line LW with CC and Suzuki. Not as gritty as Landeskog but just a really good all around hockey player.

Your reasoning is because of chemistry with the 2 other Slovaks that we have? Why not just pick a Canadian so he can have chemistry with Suzuki, Anderson, Dach, Guhle, evans, Gallagher lol

 

[Frank JT]

I would draft Strbak over Bonk personally and not because he is Slovakian, because he is a damn good defenseman.

Thanks for your answer. Yeah Strbak is a option, and he could be there à 37th.

Why do the Habs need to move up for a D, let alone a low ceiling one like Bonk? They need forwards and high potential ones. Bonk is similar to Engstrom (worse).

I can agree with you. It's always dangerous to draft for need.

I just tought RHD was a need, and if we select 2 good forwards with our two first picks, it could be a good option to select a RHD prospect after, especialy a two-way who is not small and two-way. Mailloux is a offensive RHD, but the defensive side is not a force; Barron is a bit soft. There a couple of RHD this year in the top40. Bonk and Strbak are in that range and have a the profile. Bonk si climbing some rankings (now late first in some), Strbak seems like droping out of the first for a while.

 

[NewEraGM]

I cant either lol. Thats why im so mad at hughes for not going for the top 4.

Yes it is Kent Hughes choice to go top 4!

Sounds like our pick to me

Why? There is no evidence that that is how Kent Hughes thinks. In fact, he was adamant when we drafted Slafkovsky that he wanted the player who would be the best in 4-5 years.

There is no basis to say that this group likes high floor players early in the first round

 

[ginomini]

The man certainly does not try to hide his bias this is like those Wright clips of him coasting as F3 all over again

He is such a child. Why would you even put a clip where the only mistake he does is lose the faceoff....

I seriously question his ability to evaluate players after watching this. Comments like a guy who never played hockey and doesn't understand the game super well.

It' actually vry frustrating to watch.

Edit: How the hell can someone call that first play a turnover.

 

[WeThreeKings]

He is such a child. Why would you even put a clip where the only mistake he does is lose the faceoff....

I seriously question his ability to evaluate players after watching this. Comments like a guy who never played hockey and doesn't understand the game super well.

It' actually vry frustrating to watch.

Edit: How the hell can someone call that first play a turnover.

He's an idiot with a platform cause he was buddies with Timmins.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Also with the 5th overall selection...

How do we get 5th-11th overall picks. All of them.

 

[ginomini]

Side note on Will Smith. How amazing is it to see an offensive all out skills guy rock the number 2! Top of my draft list just for that xd.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

I figured when there was something to play for, Smith would do more defensively. Not that he's competing super hard, but like you said there's the signs there.

Surround that type of skill with Dach PLD or Slaf? I like it.

I had Benson ahead of Smith, but so far with his performance at the U18s I’m inclined to put Smith ahead.

Definitely want him if he’s available

 

[Skip Bayless]

Also with the 5th overall selection...

Matthews level shot.

That alone will get him into the NHL. No wonder he looks like he asks for change outside an in n out, the only thing in life that matters is that shot.

 

[Toene]

Side note on Will Smith. How amazing is it to see an offensive all out skills guy rock the number 2! Top of my draft list just for that xd.

I love when forwards wear a single digit number. Like Beliveau, Esposito, Richard, Hull, Howe, Ovechkin, etc.

 

[NewEraGM]

He is such a child. Why would you even put a clip where the only mistake he does is lose the faceoff....

I seriously question his ability to evaluate players after watching this. Comments like a guy who never played hockey and doesn't understand the game super well.

It' actually vry frustrating to watch.

Edit: How the hell can someone call that first play a turnover.

In his defense, he put every shift

 

[Jack Skellington]

I dont know whats wrong with this video, if anything thats more complimentary than bad. Kid is a beautiful talent and is proving so far in this tournament that he can elevate his effort level. Personally I see a big difference compared to his league play where backchecking looked so painful. He is clearly an offensive minded player with alot of strengthening to do, will need to put more efforts on the defensive side of the game, but what I see right now is pretty encouraging. Unlike Wright, Smith's puck skills are amazing, so is the offensive creativity, he looks pretty dynamic right now and I like it.

I reached the point where I think I would be happy with any of the big names, including Smith. His flaws in this tournament arent as apparent as it was in the USHL a few weeks ago, what suggests that its fixable at some extend. Our scouting staff will have to determinate what is the physical growing potential of this kid, can he add like 15-20 pounds of muscle to his frame down the road or has he that type of frame with limited growing potential like RNH or Jake Evans have? Adding more power will be determinant to his development IMO.

My updated ranking:

Bedard
Michkov
Carlsson
Fantilli
Reinbacher
Dvorsky
Leonard
Smith

We are assured to get one of these kids.

He's commenting on instances where like nothing happens as negative and over half of those clips were negative ones, in a game where he had 5 points! I've seen his videos on the prospects he likes, you really think he's showing every battle Dvorsky happens to lose? What about the play (50 seconds into the vid) where Smith chased the guy behind their net, and tore the puck from him? Mccagg says: "crafty puck steal after losing the puck easily".. it was a 50-50 battle at best that he stayed engaged in and ended up winning. Why the need to spin everything negative, even the good plays? Perfect pass to set your teammate up with an empty net? Nice chemistry with your line!

In his defense, he put every shift

He only had 8 minutes of ice time?

 

[Jack Skellington]

Matthews level shot.

That alone will get him into the NHL. No wonder he looks like he asks for change outside an in n out, the only thing in life that matters is that shot.

Twitter video player cant even keep up with it

 

[Skip Bayless]

Twitter video player cant even keep up with it

I feel like this draft truly showcases how far hockey has come in the last couple of decades...you got kids with this level of skill about to get drafted 13th.

 

[Mrb1p]

Bensons getting underrated lol. He came back from injury and is dominant in the WHL playoffs against a a top flight team.

Smith is doing good, but so is Benson.

 

[jiboy]

Barlow has a modern quick release shot in the mold of Bedard and Matthews

Dont think hes available at 17 but would be fun to have him and Caufield

 

[River Meadow]

Barlow has a modern quick release shot in the mold of Bedard and Matthews

Dont think hes available at 17 but would be fun to have him and Caufield

Take him at #5

#YOLO

 

[Jack Skellington]

Bensons getting underrated lol. He came back from injury and is dominant in the WHL playoffs against a a top flight team.

Smith is doing good, but so is Benson.

It's wild how fast the public opinion sways with these small sample sizes when these decisions are made about players that could be with your team for 15 years. I'm certainly guilty of it as well but I've started to just try to have fun with the draft and not really get too invested in being correct or whatever. I'm a homer Habs fan first and foremost so I'm gonna watch highlight videos and convince myself it was the right pick anyways. I was inhaling Slaf World Championship highlights after being pretty disappointed with the pick.

Barlow has a modern quick release shot in the mold of Bedard and Matthews

Dont think hes available at 17 but would be fun to have him and Caufield

Like Cutter Gauthier, I imagine NHL teams will appreciate him a whole lot more than scouting lists. He scores NHL style goals, probably because he's 37.

 

[Balthazar]

This Montreal draft lottery odds pie chart helps visualizing how the odds are in favor of them drafting 6th or 7th

 

[WinterLion]

Bensons getting underrated lol. He came back from injury and is dominant in the WHL playoffs against a a top flight team.

Smith is doing good, but so is Benson.

Smith is looking so good... but I agree about Benson... He's got the motor and jam... they are both good. I wish Benson was a bit bigger... It will be a tough choice if they are both available at our pick.