HF Habs: 2025 NHL Draft: Part II

[Goldenhands]

I'm not the highest on Smith either, but he's a much surer puckhandler than Beaulieu ever was who handled it like a grenade.
With Beaulieu there was a 50/50 chance of any puck coming back to the point hopping over his stick and leading to a break the other way. I don't see that with Smith, and he has much better odds of being a long-time NHLer.

I see Smith as more of a Seth Jones/Jeff Petry type who you absolutely do not want on your shutdown pair, but who can contribute nicely in a more sheltered second pair role. However, as a LD he's not as valuable or scarce as either of those guys. Certainly not to us in particular.

Beaulieu was a good puckhandler and puck mover in junior, even with the farm. He was constantly jumping in the play, just not always very smartly.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Should they keep the 2 1sts, which is doubt, leaving with Spence and Fiddler would be a pretty good haul and potentially get another good prospect with Pittsburgh's 2nd.

 

[WinterLion]

They must

Scouts go gaga when D hit the 6'5 or 6'6 mark... no?

 

[WinterLion]

Should they keep the 2 1sts, which is doubt, leaving with Spence and Fiddler would be a pretty good haul and potentially get another good prospect with Pittsburgh's 2nd.

I think they will keep the picks.

They have a bunch of young prospects that are all doing quite well and they will need to start trading some of them soon. I think they would rather trade some of those guys before they need to clear waivers.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Scouts go gaga when D hit the 6'5 or 6'6 mark... no?

6'2

 

[Doublechin]

Should they keep the 2 1sts, which is doubt, leaving with Spence and Fiddler would be a pretty good haul and potentially get another good prospect with Pittsburgh's 2nd.

I'd rather a safe pick and a swing to the fences

I think Reschny qualifies as a swing, perhaps Cootes too, if these are the top two centers left, I would take one and take a safe pick with the second.

Reschny has sold me quite enough and his game is quite complete, if he's closer to 5'11 than 5'10, I have a hard time not liking the pick 16-17

I'd compensate with size and a safer pick with the second option, either an RD or a forward

A combo of

Reschny/Cootes + Spence/Hensler/Fiddler

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

I'd rather a safe pick and a swing to the fences

I think Reschny qualifies as a swing, perhaps Cootes too, if these are the top two centers left, I would take one and take a safe pick with the second.

Reschny has sold me quite enough and his game is quite complete, if he's closer to 5'11 than 5'10, I have a hard time not liking the pick 16-17

I'd compensate with size and a safer pick with the second option, either an RD or a forward

If you're going that route, trade back, get picks in the future and take him so you have more trade assets.

No trade to take one of them right then and there when there's a great chance they'll be there in the early 20s.

Edit: I should add Spence and Fiddler are the swing and safe pick.

Spence, if he hits is likely a 30 goal scoring menace.

Fiddler, with his size and being a right d has a great chance to have a solid career, even if it's as a journeyman.

 

[Doublechin]

If you're going that route, trade back, get picks in the future and take him so you have more trade assets.

No trade to take one of them right then and there when there's a great chance they'll be there in the early 20s.

Edit: I should add Spence and Fiddler are the swing and safe pick.

Spence, if he hits is likely a 30 goal scoring menace.

Fiddler, with his size and being a right d has a great chance to have a solid career, even if it's as a journeyman.

I see Spence as a safe pick due a decent floor

 

[Goldenhands]

I've watched Smith extensively this year, and I disagree with that take of yours.

Not to say that Jackson Smith doesn't have brainfarts at times on the ice and play selection issues, like Beaulieu, because he very clearly does.

But I just think that when Jackson Smith stops wanting to "be a hero" and plays a quiet, "solid fundamentals" type of game that his play quality shoots WAYYY up.

There are quite a few of those moments throughout his season where Jackson Smith was just an absolute rock on defense, physical, and showed signs of playing a mature, "pro type" of game.

Those games were amazing to watch, and highlighted potential #1D in the NHL type of potential. It's just a bit of a shame that Smith would follow those types of games with more brash, uncontrolled performances that I wasn't nearly as high on.

But with pro coaching I think Smith will learn, and end up a very good defenseman in the NHL. Beaulieu never had those highs I see of Smith, and had much lesser tools as a prospect besides so I don't think that comparison is accurate.

Agree to disagree otherwise.

Oh yeah, and just to reiterate, what makes me rate Jackson Smith so highly are those quieter moments of his where he stops being all-over-the-place and just concentrates on defense, making a first pass, supporting the play, and being physical.

If Smith hadn't had those types of quieter games I'd be much, much lower on him than I am now, since that would make his floor much, much lower.

But the presence of those more controlled plays and pure hockey tools makes me think that maybe there's a future in which Jackson Smith manages to put everything together and ends up an actual #1 in the NHL.

Right now I'd say that, barring injuries Smith projects to be at the very worst a #5 physical defenseman on a good team, with high potential to boot. Which is exactly why I've got him at #7 on my list.

A high ceiling and high floor makes for a very desirable draft prospect.

BTW, what do you think of Jack Nesbitt? Where do you have him ranked and whats your projection?

 

[MarkovsKnee]

You guys know Fiddler is 6'4 right?

It doesn't seem like it. I'm like, an inch taller? So D need to be 6'5 now.

 

[WinterLion]

What happened with the NDTP players this year.... are there going to be some late bloomers. It's weird that they are so bad.. what's the deal?

 

[Nicko999]

Should they keep the 2 1sts, which is doubt, leaving with Spence and Fiddler would be a pretty good haul and potentially get another good prospect with Pittsburgh's 2nd.

Assuming he makes his decision before the draft, I would target Mason West with that pick. Potential is too interesting to pass on.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

I would try my best to trade with Pittsburgh at 11.
I personally have a solid top 11 that are all top prospects.

They dropped after the draft lottery and might be more interested in acquiring more assets.

I would offer our 1st 16th or 17th, 41st (2nd from Pittsburgh) and a 3rd round pick. That would guarantee us a top very good player.

Then with the other 1st we could trade it for immediate help or pick the BPA.

 

[Walksss]

Assuming he makes his decision before the draft, I would target Mason West with that pick. Potential is too interesting to pass on.

Me too. At 6'6 with his vision and IQ I just can't imagine he doesn't get drafted higher than 41st if he announces he's sticking with hockey. Definitely the most enticing second day pick I've seen.

 

[Schooner Goon]

Spence, if he hits is likely a 30 goal scoring menace.

I like Spence and the Habs need more players with his sandpaper on the big club but I don't see any world where he scores 30 goals in the NHL. I see him as a 12-20 goal scorer in his prime if he hits. He might not even go top 20 in a weak draft. Had he been born a week earlier, he would have been in last year's draft.