2023 NHL Entry Draft

[DramaticGloveSave]

Would have ended 2nd in points behind Suzuki...just sayin'.

He’s not getting those points on our team lol

 

[ginomini]

0:26, 0:35, 0:55, 2:14, 2:48, 3:10, 3:20 (2 on the same rush)

And that’s just to that point lol it’s throughout the video lol

He’s not Will Smith in regards to his hands and vision, but he’s still got nice hands and vision.

If I may jump in.

Stickhandling:
On most of these plays he shows efficient stickhandling, but does not create with stickhandling. Nothing that will create separation. Far from the smooth stickhandling you would expect from a first line center. The only true 1Cs that I can think of in the league from the past few years that don't really show more than that in terms on stickhandling are Bergeron, O'Reilly and maybe JT Miller.

Passing:
He is a smart playmaker, quick and efficient. But again the best playmakers have the stickhandling ability to slow down, shift side to side or accelerate to create passing lanes or find openings. He is a good puck distributor, not a pure creator. He has a lot of time and space and holds onto the puck for very long on some plays. I'm not sure if he will have what it takes to speed that up since he currently relies a lot on physical skills to dominate at that level.

Overall, good stickhandling and playmaking, but not difference makers for now. Definitely something that could limit him at the pro level.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

I hope it is rigged because Bedard to Montreal would be phenomenal for the NHL and their need for revenue.

I'll start by saying it is not and never has been rigged, not saying that you would subscribe to such nonsense, just making sure nobody thinks that I believe in troglodyte inspired conspiracies.

Secondly......even if there was such a conspiracy Montreal would be the last place that the NHL wants Bedard. They are looking for American television/advertising dollars and either want to create interest in their weaker markets to make a national deal more profitable or to put him in a huge American market where he can make the biggest financial impact on the league.

The NHL has little to gain from their Canadian teams and don't need Bedard to try and squeeze more money out of markets that likely have little more to give.

 

[Rob Sense]

Would have ended 2nd in points behind Suzuki...just sayin'.

Take away his 5 point game and he goes back to his usual performance.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

0:26, 0:35, 0:55, 2:14, 2:48, 3:10, 3:20 (2 on the same rush)

And that’s just to that point lol it’s throughout the video lol

He’s not Will Smith in regards to his hands and vision, but he’s still got nice hands and vision.

Playing on the USNDPT is like playing for the Globe Trotters where the kids are encouraged to dunk on lesser competition. Maybe we see another side of Dvorsky if he were on the same team as Smith.

I would be fine with either selection TBH.

 

[PavelBrendl]

I know you guys hate Grant, but this is a great video of Dvorskys game against Germany that most of us couldn’t watch.

As you should see, his hands and passing ability are on display numerous times- not to mention 4 clutch goals in a must win game coming back from down 4-2 in the 3rd.

His hands are fine. Not really a strength, but we’re also not looking at Max “hands of stone” Pacioretty. His strength and puck shielding ability are much more important to his possession game than his hands.

I think his passing for the most part, is in the same category. He made some nifty ones, but his lack of creativity also led to him forcing the obvious play a few times.

However, while he isn’t the most creative, he thinks quickly enough and has the vision to use his pass as an outlet when he runs out of space for himself. He’s generally fantastic at keeping the play alive.

He’s clearly an elite finisher in the slot and his physicality, possession and two-way play are outstanding for a 17-year-old, and are the reasons that he’s one of my favourite players outside of the top-4 despite not having elite hands and creativity.

 

[Seb]

I can see why people would be disappointed if we picked Dvorsky 5-7, he's definitely not a sexy pick. But he would be extremely valuable and a would make Suzuki's life THAT much easier.

I would compare this to having to settle for Kopitar in 2005 when Crosby was available. It's even worse this year considering the top end of this draft. But we might not have the luxury to pick one of them.

2 decades later Kopitar would easily be picked top 5 in a redraft. Dvorsky has that potential imo.

 

[Michoulicious]

Just curious - what time stamps are the display of his hands and passing ability?

I just want to know where we are seeing things differently on this issue.

I went through this exercise re: Wright with Mrb1p last year, and his analysis did not match up with the tape.

Watched it all, and I agree... Dvorsky looks physically dominant against U18 kids (Germany, but still). Slows the play down, protects the puck with ease, can win battles, maintain a cycle, good shot...

But I don't see neither hands nor great passing abilities.

High floor pick, a big 2-way C that at worse becomes a strong #3. Best case scenario becomes an O'Reilly type of player. Reminds me of the KK pick, but Dvorsky has a bit more polish to his game, and is stronger on his skates.

Not sure I want that player in front of one of Smith, Leonard, Benson, etc. I think we miss more goal scoring in the top 6 and I prefer good/great skaters in general.

But a line of Slafkovsky - Dvorsky - Dach could certainly cycle down low, not too worried about that.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

I can see why people would be disappointed if we picked Dvorsky 5-7, he's definitely not a sexy pick. But he would be extremely valuable and a would make Suzuki's life THAT much easier.

I would compare this to having to settle for Kopitar in 2005 when Crosby was available. It's even worse this year considering the top end of this draft. But we might not have the luxury to pick one of them.

2 decades later Kopitar would easily be picked top 5 in a redraft. Dvorsky has that potential imo.

I’d prefer to grab Smith if he’s on the board as he’d be a more natural 1C in the future and push Suzuki down the lineup where he can be used more as the 2-way guy.

I think Dvorsky is a safeish pick, but it’s not the type of sexy pick fans like to see at #5. I’d be openly critical of the pick, if Smith/Benson/Reinbacher/Yager are still there.. which worst case we pick 7th? One will be there.

 

[Goldenhands]

His hands are fine. Not really a strength, but we’re also not looking at Max “hands of stone” Pacioretty. His strength and puck shielding ability are much more important to his possession game than his hands.

I think his passing for the most part, is in the same category. He made some nifty ones, but his lack of creativity also led to him forcing the obvious play a few times.

However, while he isn’t the most creative, he thinks quickly enough and has the vision to use his pass as an outlet when he runs out of space for himself. He’s generally fantastic at keeping the play alive.

He’s clearly an elite finisher in the slot and his physicality, possession and two-way play are outstanding for a 17-year-old, and are the reasons that he’s one of my favourite players outside of the top-4 despite not having elite hands and creativity.

I would say his hands are pretty good, way above average.

 

[SlafySZN]

Would have ended 2nd in points behind Suzuki...just sayin'.

I mean… caufield missed half the year and has around the same points total as KK lol Dach would’ve had more too if he didn’t get injured and missed around 25 games.

And i like KK i think we haven’t seen his best yet.

 

[Jaynki]

To me, Dvorsky screams efficiency. Puck protection, positioning, shooting, skating. It don't need to be sexy, it needs to be efficient, especially at the NHL level. I don't think it lower his ceiling.

If he becomes a 30 goal, 2 way, physical centerman. That would be a f***ing great pick at 5OV.

 

[Deebs]

Would have ended 2nd in points behind Suzuki...just sayin'.

Playing on a Cup contender....just saying

 

[Vachon23]

To me, Dvorsky screams efficiency. Puck protection, positioning, shooting, skating. It don't need to be sexy, it needs to be efficient, especially at the NHL level. I don't think it lower his ceiling.

If he becomes a 30 goal, 2 way, physical centerman. That would be a f***ing great pick at 5OV.

For a team that have already an elite #1 C, I could agree but not in the Habs situation where we need elite talent

 

[Jaynki]

For a team that have already an elite #1 C, I could agree but not in the Habs situation where we need elite talent

I think he effectively projects more as a top 6 C then a true 1C (like Smith by the way). He still has 1C upside in his own style tho. (Like Smith)

I think we should simply go BPA and Dvorsky imo has a case there at 5OV

 

[le_sean]

Just curious - what time stamps are the display of his hands and passing ability?

I just want to know where we are seeing things differently on this issue.

I went through this exercise re: Wright with Mrb1p last year, and his analysis did not match up with the tape.

Yeah that video isn’t impressive. There’s not much creation and there’s definitely not any separation with his skating.

 

[AHShadow]

To me, Dvorsky screams efficiency. Puck protection, positioning, shooting, skating. It don't need to be sexy, it needs to be efficient, especially at the NHL level. I don't think it lower his ceiling.

If he becomes a 30 goal, 2 way, physical centerman. That would be a f***ing great pick at 5OV.

I think the problem with Dvorsky is that he will likely slot at the 2C position max with us. Either Suzuki and/or Dach would probably be higher on the depth charts, which means he would either slot at the wings or as an extremely good 3C pivot.

I'd rather draft someone like Smith who could become our 1C and make Suzuki/Dach our 2C or draft Benson who'd be an offensive driver from the wing.

 

[Jaynki]

I think the problem with Dvorsky is that he will likely slot at the 2C position max with us. Either Suzuki and/or Dach would probably be higher on the depth charts, which means he would either slot at the wings or as an extremely good 3C pivot.

I'd rather draft someone like Smith who could become our 1C and make Suzuki/Dach our 2C or draft Benson who'd be an offensive driver from the wing.

I think both Smith and Dvorsky project to slot at 2C to be honest and both could become our 1C too. Smith will need a better defensive implication and more stamina/pace to be a true 1C in the NHL. Dvorsky will need a consistent offensive production with his game. I would be very happy with both but i think its really a question of preference in their case. I don't think, overall, one is clearly above the other.

I would not make the selection with taking into consideration what we have. If we have three top 6C and Beck for our 3C, i don't see this as a problem. We will have a choice to make and have the trade capital to fill another need. Its all about BPA. To me both Smith and Dvorsky projects as top 6 C with 1C upside, both in their own style.

 

[AHShadow]

Randomly got suggested this interview with Arpon Basu on YT. Pretty insightful comment he made regarding the Juraj Slafkovsky selection last year and how it might impact this year's draft.

I'm paraphrasing:
"They looked at this year's draft and saw that no one really had the same amount of size and skill that Slaf had. They probably had Cooley 2nd overall last year (mentions he can't confirm it) But they had him at 2 cause he had a dynamic element to him that differentiates him. Because this year (2022) is a down year, let's just take the rarest specimen and take a highly skilled guy next year."

So maybe hope is not lost that we try and go for Smith/Benson.

 

[AHShadow]

I think both Smith and Dvorsky project to slot at 2C to be honest and both could become our 1C too. Smith will need a better defensive implication and more stamina/pace to be a true 1C in the NHL. Dvorsky will need a consistent offensive production with his game. I would be very happy with both but i think its really a question of preference in their case. I don't think, overall, one is clearly above the other.

I would not make the selection with taking into consideration what we have. If we have three top 6C and Beck for our 3C, i don't see this as a problem. We will have a choice to make and have the trade capital to fill another need. Its all about BPA. To me both Smith and Dvorsky projects as top 6 C with 1C upside, both in their own style.

Dvorsky still has a chance of becoming a 1C, but I just feel that because his offensive tools are lacking, his ceiling is just lower than Smith's (although Smith has a lower floor).

For years, we keep drafting safer players, but I really think we need a high-offensive player to take us to the next step, and to me that's not Dvorsky.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Randomly got suggested this interview with Arpon Basu on YT. Pretty insightful comment he made regarding the Juraj Slafkovsky selection last year and how it might impact this year's draft.

I'm paraphrasing:
"They looked at this year's draft and saw that no one really had the same amount of size and skill that Slaf had. They probably had Cooley 2nd overall last year (mentions he can't confirm it) But they had him at 2 cause he had a dynamic element to him that differentiates him. Because this year (2022) is a down year, let's just take the rarest specimen and take a highly skilled guy next year."

So maybe hope is not lost that we try and go for Smith/Benson.

If they take a forward, it's almost certainly one of those 2, or Michkov. Reinbacher seems like a real possibility.

I can't remember the exact quote, but a Habs scout said if taking him (Slaf) now means not picking for size later, let's do it.

Now, I can't remember if he specifically mentioned the 22 draft, or not, but seems to make sense.

 

[Sam I Am]

Smith and Perreault
or
Dvorski and Honzek

Give me door number two. Drafting the Smith/Perreault combo pretty much sets up the Habs as a small team for the next decade. With Dvorsky and Honzek, Habs add talent and size.

I would say his hands are pretty good, way above average.

I agree. Dvorsky put on a stick-handling clinic against Germany. He is 6'1", over 200 lbs and a late birthday. Still only 17.

 

[Vachon23]

I think he effectively projects more as a top 6 C then a true 1C (like Smith by the way). He still has 1C upside in his own style tho. (Like Smith)

I think we should simply go BPA and Dvorsky imo has a case there at 5OV

Yes but Smith bring something different that what we have with the Habs

 

[Jaynki]

Dvorsky still has a chance of becoming a 1C, but I just feel that because his offensive tools are lacking, his ceiling is just lower than Smith's (although Smith has a lower floor).

For years, we keep drafting safer players, but I really think we need a high-offensive player to take us to the next step, and to me that's not Dvorsky.

I totally agree with the 2nd part, except i think Dvorsky could be it. I don't think Dvorsky offensive tools are lacking. They are simple and, they are absolutely not as impressive and wowerizing like Smith. But i believe Dvorsky will score some snipes, a lot of goals in the slot, a lot of offense from the cycles he will generate, he will generate offense and counter attack with his defensive implications and consistent backcheck.

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

I'd be surprised if anybody takes Michkov ahead of the Habs, and I'd be surprised if the Habs take Michkov, so what's everyone's best guess of the top 7 without Michkov, because I think the Habs will get one of those 7.