dackelljuneaubulis02
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- Oct 13, 2012
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HF Habs: 2025 NHL Draft: Part II
- Thread starter MarkovsKnee
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JadedRandom
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D might be a bigger need than F, but the options that would be available at #16, where Calgary's pick would currently be, that would also be BPA for that pick are IMO guys like Kashawn Aitcheson and Cameron Reid, both lefties.
And we have a LOT of lefties already.
Adam Engstrom looks like he could be a good NHLer one day, Guhle and Hutson are pretty entrenched as our LDs of the future 5-6 years.
We are far less deep on the right side. Reinbacher looks like an awesome defenseman when he can actually play, but his injury has put some serious doubt in my mind about whether or not he could be a long-term option there for us.
And Mailloux has fallen off a cliff development-wise after a massive turnaround in his rookie AHL season. If this trend continues, Mailloux might end up an NHL tweener on D; not strong enough offensively for a top offensive spot, physical and good for some amount of puck-possession but also not strong enough defensively to hold-up a long-time spot in a bottom-of-the-lineup role as a defenseman.
Not all is lost yet on our RDs, and they may yet make something of themselves.
But yeah, organizationally-speaking RD would be the biggest need. But in my opinion we're not yet at that point of our rebuild where we can overdraft a position at the expense of BPA.
Which brings me to the next part of my point and the simple fact that I plainly don't think ANY of the RDs of this draft after Radim Mrtka, who will go top-12 barring a lucky fall for us, have the same kind of upside as Aitcheson and Reid, who are both lefties.
Ergo, at the 16th spot or so it might be that the best we could hope for would be a Lynden Lakovic, Justin Carbonneau, or Braeden Cootes type of forward unless we double-down on upside and LD.
Lakovic I'd be very happy about, he has tons of potential as a possible top-6 option with size.
Braeden Cootes I am higher on than most others, and I'd be happy with too. He's IMO more skilled than people give him credit for, and has definitely elevated his play in the playoffs for Seattle.
Carbonneau I'd be okay with too, he shows some flashes of greatness at times. But is inconsistent and plays like a rover most of the time, which is not my preferred type of offensive game.
Aitcheson and Reid would be great picks though, even if they don't fit our needs at all.
Both have clear top-4 upside, and I like the raw skills of Reid though I think Aitcheson's ruggedness and ability to neuter rushes would be nice to have too.
That's bout it I guess.
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Guess
Registered User
Why not just package one of the picks for a 2C that can help now? If none of the picks are sexy.
I don't think management will be keen on using up both of those picks unless there are some players they really want.
Not sure who the picks are but I'd like to have some middle six skilled grinders who can fill that role on the second and third line (and a 2C, and some RD).
I don't think management will be keen on using up both of those picks unless there are some players they really want.
Not sure who the picks are but I'd like to have some middle six skilled grinders who can fill that role on the second and third line (and a 2C, and some RD).
MasterMatt25
Registered User
Who would be a good, but also young enough 2C to fit that? I like Rossi but I know a lot of folks would say him and Suzuki is too small up the middle
I don’t care what people say but I think Kashawn Aitcheson could be a big steal in the middle of the draft. This guy reminds me a lot of PK Subban but on the LD.
He’s a top 10 talent for sure. Could be a fan favourite.
Carter Bear is another player I like in the middle pack. He might be gone by our pick. He’s going to give you 100%. Think Shayne Corson.
I like Logan Hensler. He plays like a pro. Plays like Adam Larsson.
Hutson Reinbacher
Guhle Hensler
Aitcheson Carrier
Xhekaj Mailloux
He’s a top 10 talent for sure. Could be a fan favourite.
Carter Bear is another player I like in the middle pack. He might be gone by our pick. He’s going to give you 100%. Think Shayne Corson.
I like Logan Hensler. He plays like a pro. Plays like Adam Larsson.
Hutson Reinbacher
Guhle Hensler
Aitcheson Carrier
Xhekaj Mailloux
People are sleeping on Malcolm Spence in the range that the Habs will be drafting.
He may not have massive upside but he would be a pain to play against for many years. He could be a really good third liner or make for a great line if he is the third best player on it.
He may not have massive upside but he would be a pain to play against for many years. He could be a really good third liner or make for a great line if he is the third best player on it.
If for some reason Montreal keeps both picks then I wouldn't hate using one on him, but we'd need to take a swing at a RD or C with the other
The older I get, I feel like I enjoyed hockey the most when Bruins and Habs both were in the playoffs. I hope they get someone good and bounce back so the rivalry returns.
Playmaker09
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Top 8 are out of reach regardless of what happens, but getting two of that 9-13 range would be ideal, and probably only happens if Bear falls due to injury and/or some D like Mrtka, Fiddler, Aitcheson, Hensler get overdrafted (as they always do).
My top 17 has been pretty much the same names shuffled around for months, but I could see Kindel making a push with a deep playoff run or Potter with a dominant U18.
With Evans locked up, my preference would be to avoid Cootes and Martin unless we really think there's some legit 2C potential in there.
We've bought time to draft and develop a good 3C with a 1st in either 2026 or 2027.
WeThreeKings
Habs cup - its in the BAG
Evans doesn't really do anything to dispel getting Cootes or Martin. Those guys are warriors. We need more of that.
Scintillating10
Registered User
I wouldn't take Cootes with Flames pick. Likely not with our pick. He's barely a ppg in the W. How you see Cootes like a Ryan McLeod?
Martin with our first pick. If gone Reschny I pick. He's more offense and better hockey sense.
JadedRandom
Registered User
Agree to disagree on Cootes vs. Martin.
I think Cootes has quite a bit more upside than Martin; more skills, higher-end skating, slightly better reads whilst playing with admittedly less edge and intensity.
And I personally have Reschny 22th in my draft ranking, so there are quite a few other players that I would personally take before Reschny if we were to indeed draft at 16.
Here would be my list for reference's sake. Many egregious mistakes there on this ranking, but it is mine and I stand by it.
| 1- Schaefer | 17- Reid |
| 2- Misa | 18- Cootes |
| 3- Hagens | 19- Hensler |
| 4- Martone | 20- Martin |
| 5- Frondell | 21- Kindel |
| 6- Desnoyers | 22- Reschny |
| 7- Smith | 23- Spence |
| 8- Eklund | 24- Potter |
| 9- O'Brien | 25- Fiddler |
| 10- Mrtka | 26- Nesbitt |
| 11- Schmidt | 27- Zonnon |
| 12- Lakovic | 28- McKinney |
| 13- McQueen | 29- Gastrin |
| 14- Aitcheson | 30- Ravensbergen |
| 15- Carbonneau | 31- Murtagh |
| 16- Bear | 32- Nobert |
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I like Desnoyers but the odds that he becomes another Bergeron are like 25% at best
Team_Spirit
95% Elliotte
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Playmaker09
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Right, but it's not exactly a rare breed. There are guys like that available every year and they don't cost top 10 picks to acquire. Even if we're in playoff contention the next few years, we won't miss out on drafting one.
In 23 you had Moore, Ritchie, Edstrom. In 24 Luchanko, Boisvert, Beaudoin, Surin.
For now we have Evans, Beck and Kapanen to compete for 3C/4C so there's no pressing need to invest one of our 1sts this year to add another. We can just do so next year when we have more of a luxury to.
We have immediate needs in the top/middle 6 and on D that should be addressed ASAP via draft and trade before we start spending on luxury items.
DemidovSZN
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- May 21, 2022
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O’brien is gonna be drafted very high, maybe top 5 high so he won’t be available sadly
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I guess stranger things have happened but I really can't see him going top 5. This isn't like 2018 where there's a shortage of C's and someone reaches on Kotka/Hayton, they'll be picking between guys like Misa, Hagens, Frondell, Desnoyers
DemidovSZN
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- May 21, 2022
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Maybe not top 5 but very close to that. I personally would take him before Frondell for sure, maybe Desnoyers even. A 6’2 center with his vision and playmaking skills is very interesting.
WeThreeKings
Habs cup - its in the BAG
Those guys have 2nd line upside offensively but have playoff competes and nastiness. Those guys are hard to get. The guys you are talking about, for the most part, are bottom 6ers. Cootes and Martin have way more skill than that
I can see the argument over Desnoyers, I think barring injury Frondell is a top 5 pick all day in the draft though.
Playmaker09
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- Sep 11, 2008
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Then that's where we disagree.
2nd line C's are guys like Bennett, Kadri, Horvat, Schenn, Monahan. Younger guys like Rossi, Wright, McTavish, Dvorsky.
All a clear level or two of skill above Cootes and Martin for me, and the known quantities almost all go top 10 (like Desnoyers and Frondell will).
It's stiff competition to make it as a top 6 C in the NHL.
