2023 NHL Entry Draft

[Gustave]

If there ever was a year to finish bottom 5 for an offense starving franchise, it’s this one. The top 6 is loaded.

Of course, we might go for one of only two D’s ranked in the top 20, which would be very Habs like. Like last year we had Nemec right there for the easy pick in a not so hot top end forward crop, but we were dead set on going for a forward.

 

[calder candidate]

Smith, Leonard and Perreault with a combined 43 points in 4 games.....good lord.

For comparisons sake, Hughes, Zegras and Caufield had a combined 47 points in 7 games at the U18's in 2019 (Zegras played only 5 games though).

Caufield had 14 goals in 7 games in that tournament.

Don’t want to take anything away from them but… That group was pretty weak only Finland had a legit team Switzerland, Lativa and Norway just isn’t the same caliber as Canada, Sweden, Czechia, Slovakia or Russia so stats might be a bit inflated.

 

[Toene]

Smith Leonard Perreault
Hughes Caufield Turcotte

How? Turcotte had tremendous skating while Perreault seems to be criticized on this aspect. Turcotte wasnt leading his class in production. So what gives?

 

[Mrb1p]

If there ever was a year to finish bottom 5 for an offense starving franchise, it’s this one. The top 6 is loaded.

Of course, we might go for one of only two D’s ranked in the top 20, which would be very Habs like. Like last year we had Nemec right there for the easy pick in a not so hot top end forward crop, but we were dead set on going for a forward.

Top 4 is better, top 6 (Id say 7.) Is similar to other top 5s, IMO.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Andrew Gibson ?

 

[Vachon23]

Andrew Gibson ?

If he’s there at 101, I would probably take him depending who available but not before that.

 

[McGees]

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

LETS GO GREEN BABY!

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

If he’s there at 101, I would probably take him depending who available but not before that.

Right handed, seems to be a physical, stay-at-home dman. Possibly a future partner for one Mr. Lane Hutson.

I say seems because I haven't seen to know for sure

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Ya Barlow is pretty nasty. Interested to see who falls to 17. Someone should land there. Yager, Leonard, Barlow, Sale, Perrault, Moore, Wood, Stenberg… one of them should be there.

 

[SlafySZN]

Assuming Smith is taken, we skip Mitchkov and are dead set on a forward who do you take— Benson, Leonard, or Yager?

Benson or Moore.

 

[SlafySZN]

Dont think Molson will sign for a third year of this. Im fully expecting the Habs to start being bubble next year, especially with the kids progressing and healthy.

He does, actually.

 

[Team_Spirit]

All aboard the wagon

choochoo

 

[McGuires Corndog]

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.

If rumours are to be taken seriously, there’s a higher probability of Smith being chosen by some teams theoretically ahead of us right now, so ultimately it may be Benson by default.

That’s hoping that the org views Benson the way we do, because there’s been rumours (albeit none I’d consider credible at this time) that the Habs are not considering Benson.

Right now the names I constantly keep seeing linked to the Habs are Smith and Reinbacher. I like Reinbacher, but to me unless we’re picking 7th he’s not my preference. Even at 7, there’s still some very interesting forwards I’d contemplate there as well ahead of him.

 

[SlafySZN]

If rumours are to be taken seriously, there’s a higher probability of Smith being chosen by some teams theoretically ahead of us right now, so ultimately it may be Benson by default.

That’s hoping that the org views Benson the way we do, because there’s been rumours (albeit none I’d consider credible at this time) that the Habs are not considering Benson.

Right now the names I constantly keep seeing linked to the Habs are Smith and Reinbacher. I like Reinbacher, but to me unless we’re picking 7th he’s not my preference. Even at 7, there’s still some very interesting forwards I’d contemplate there as well ahead of him.

What rumours?

Benson himself said he spoke with the habs quite a lot this year. There must be an interest.

Plus he says he wants to play for a canadian team.

 

[Raskolnikow]

I like Leonard he’s the Boldy of this years US team. Do wish he was Boldys size though.

Yeah, they are similar level of talents, but their playstyle is different. Boldy is more of a finesse player and has better puck skills while Leonard is faster and physically more engaged.

 

[ReHabs]

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.

I can’t imagine anyone wanting to double down on Slaf and Mešar no matter how they might end up being in the future. If Dvorsky is the best player left available I could see it but where we are drafting there will be many options and Dvorsky doesn’t stand out as a Must Draft, so doing it because there is a supposed Slovak connection is likely to be counter productive.

You gotta know when to hold ‘em, and when to fold ‘em, and when to walk away…

 

[WeThreeKings]

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

Actually the odds should be thought about this way

6th 44%
5th 24.5%
Top 2 17.1%
7th 14.2%
3rd 0.3%

So 7th is less likely than picking top 2.

 

[SOLR]

How? Turcotte had tremendous skating while Perreault seems to be criticized on this aspect. Turcotte wasnt leading his class in production. So what gives?

1 passenger per year...

 

[Hannibal]

All aboard the wagon

choochoo

My boy!! What a stud!

 

[McGuires Corndog]

What rumours?

Benson himself said he spoke with the habs quite a lot this year. There must be an interest.

Plus he says he wants to play for a canadian team.

Just chatter on Twitter and other forums, it’s likely unsubstantiated rumours - but you never know.

I would hope Benson is well on their radar.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Just chatter on Twitter and other forums, it’s likely unsubstantiated rumours - but you never know.

I would hope Benson is well on their radar.

I would as well, though on paper he's pretty much the opposite of what Bobrov likes when drafting high up in the draft.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

I would as well, though on paper he's pretty much the opposite of what Bobrov likes when drafting high up in the draft.

Agreed, and I think that’s where a lot of the speculation is driven from.

 

[Habs Icing]

What rumours?

Benson himself said he spoke with the habs quite a lot this year. There must be an interest.

Plus he says he wants to play for a canadian team.

He'll quickly change his tune when he experiences the weather, lack of fan pressure, scant media coverage and favorable tax breaks in many of the American NHL cities

 

[WeThreeKings]

I would as well, though on paper he's pretty much the opposite of what Bobrov likes when drafting high up in the draft.

Bobrov is just one decision maker.

 

[Habs Icing]

I can’t imagine anyone wanting to double down on Slaf and Mešar no matter how they might end up being in the future. If Dvorsky is the best player left available I could see it but where we are drafting there will be many options and Dvorsky doesn’t stand out as a Must Draft, so doing it because there is a supposed Slovak connection is likely to be counter productive.

You gotta know when to hold ‘em, and when to fold ‘em, and when to walk away…

You're a Kenny Rogers fan, aren't you?