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HF Habs: 2025 NHL Draft: Part II

I have a hard time seeing a 6'6 RH defenseman who is solid defensively and can contribute offensively not go top 10, especially in a weak draft after 5-7. I haven't watch much of his tape though, any significant drawback that doesn't get talked about?

What are the odds Mrtka goes ahead of Smith, a 6'3 smooth skating defenseman that seems more skilled but is a lefty?
 
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If we aren't going to package these picks for a #2C

I want a big defensive crease clearing defenceman. Preferably on the right side. Fiddler has good blood lines. How does he look? or what about Hensler?

Second.....I want a future top 6 LW to play with Demidov and Hage. Spence or Zonnon?
 
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waitin425 said:
If we aren't going to package these picks for a #2C

I want a big defensive crease clearing defenceman. Preferably on the right side. Fiddler has good blood lines. How does he look? or what about Hensler?

Second.....I want a future top 6 LW to play with Demidov and Hage. Spence or Zonnon?
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I honestly can't see us keeping the picks, but I think I'd probably prefer Fiddler and Spence (although I admittedly haven't seen much of Zonnon).
 
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MarkovsKnee said:
Hensler really improved in the 2nd half. Mrtka will be long gone by our picks. I would be OK with a Hensler pick.
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Yes. I get the feeling Hensley is getting McDonagh'ed at Wisonsin. People overlook him based on stats. His team is atrocious.


When you see his stats you have doubt but when you watch him play you can see the physical atttibutes to become a very good NHL defenseman, his mobility and physicality are very impressive I think getting him mid first round could end up being an absolute steal.
 
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Hope Of Glory said:
I have a hard time seeing a 6'6 RH defenseman who is solid defensively and can contribute offensively not go top 10, especially in a weak draft after 5-7. I haven't watch much of his tape though, any significant drawback that doesn't get talked about?

What are the odds Mrtka goes ahead of Smith, a 6'3 smooth skating defenseman that seems more skilled but is a lefty?
Click to expand...

Mrtka's offense in the CHL is a bit overrated in my opinion.

Mrtka moves the puck quickly, and passes well to his teammates overall. But he is only "good" in transition, not "great" by NHL standards.

Similarly, Mrtka is not particularly skilled 1-on-1 when he tries to hold the offensive blueline and lacks a lot of the manipulation skills that strong offensive defensemen use to allow them to better leverage their abilities and manufacture offense for their teams.

I also find that Mrtka's shot is pretty slow/weak for his size, and that he struggles at times to find lanes from which to even get his shot on net.

So yeah, I think Mrtka's statline is impressive, and that it reflects a strong quality of his where Mrtka will use his strong defensive play to regain the puck somehow and then utilize his passing skills to try and give the puck to his teammates in positions where they can do some damage.

But I don't personally think the offensive skills are there for Mrtka to be a productive top-pairing defenseman.

I do however think Mrtka will be a good top-4 defenseman in the NHL though, with size, physicality, some amount of playmaking, and solid defensive skills.

Which brings me to the next and most important point I was trying to make; the unfortunate fact that, from the games that I've watched of Seattle this year, Mrtka doesn't seem to have much poise when contested in-tight by opponents with the puck on his stick in the defensive zone.

When forecheckers get "in his face" and start putting pressure on Mrtka to make a play under duress, what ends up happening is that Mrtka either defers a LOT to his partner, which can get exploited, or he starts being turnover-prone.

With experience and development, maybe that changes.

But right now I'd say that Mrtka needs to improve on that facet if he ever wants to step onto an NHL ice and be more than just a bottom-pairing guy.

Aside from that, I'd say the usual; that Mrtka's acceleration needs some boost, that his pivots could stand to be more fluid, and he could definitely bulk-up some more and start being a more physical player as I think he currently under-utilizes his strength/frame/size advantage to get leverage defensively.

That would be where I currently stand with Mrtka.

I think he is a very strong defensive prospect for this year's draft, and would be the 3rd-best defenseman in this class after Schaefer and Smith.

And to answer your post, yes, I'd have Mrtka in the top-10 (at #10) this year so I really don't think he'll make it to us.

And Mrtka shouldn't get drafted before Smith, but maybe he will be based on his handedness and having slightly greater upside defensively than Smith (but lesser offensively).
 
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JadedRandom said:
Mrtka's offense in the CHL is a bit overrated in my opinion.

Mrtka moves the puck quickly, and passes well to his teammates overall. But he is only "good" in transition, not "great" by NHL standards.

Similarly, Mrtka is not particularly skilled 1-on-1 when he tries to hold the offensive blueline and lacks a lot of the manipulation skills that strong offensive defensemen use to allow them to better leverage their abilities and manufacture offense for their teams.

I also find that Mrtka's shot is pretty slow/weak for his size, and that he struggles at times to find lanes from which to even get his shot on net.

So yeah, I think Mrtka's statline is impressive, and that it reflects a strong quality of his where Mrtka will use his strong defensive play to regain the puck somehow and then utilize his passing skills to try and give the puck to his teammates in positions where they can do some damage.

But I don't personally think the offensive skills are there for Mrtka to be a productive top-pairing defenseman.

I do however think Mrtka will be a good top-4 defenseman in the NHL though, with size, physicality, some amount of playmaking, and solid defensive skills.

Which brings me to the next and most important point I was trying to make; the unfortunate fact that, from the games that I've watched of Seattle this year, Mrtka doesn't seem to have much poise when contested in-tight by opponents with the puck on his stick in the defensive zone.

When forecheckers get "in his face" and start putting pressure on Mrtka to make a play under duress, what ends up happening is that Mrtka either defers a LOT to his partner, which can get exploited, or he starts being turnover-prone.

With experience and development, maybe that changes.

But right now I'd say that Mrtka needs to improve on that facet if he ever wants to step onto an NHL ice and be more than just a bottom-pairing guy.

Aside from that, I'd say the usual; that Mrtka's acceleration need some boost, that his pivots could stand to be more fluid, and he could definitely bulk-up some more and start being a more physical player as I think he currently under-utilizes his strength/frame/size advantage to get leverage defensively.

That would be where I currently stand with Mrtka.

I think he is a very strong defensive prospect for this year's draft, and would be the 3rd-best defenseman in this class after Schaefer and Smith.

And to answer your post, yes, I'd have Mrtka in the top-10 (at #10) this year so I really don't think he'll make it to us.

And Mrtka shouldn't get drafted before Smith, but maybe he will be based on his handedness and having slightly greater upside defensively than Smith (but lesser offensively).
Click to expand...

Thank you for the lengthy analysis, this is exactly what I was looking for! This likely won't matter for the Habs but I had a hard time ranking both in relation to each other with limited viewing. Both should be gone by our picks anyway.
 
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waitin425 said:
Any chance McQueen drops? There is always one faller. I would be interested in a 6'5 Centre.
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He missed 5 months due to a back injury and then missed the last 2 games of the playoffs the same injury flared up again. I'm sure after the Lindstrom debacle that he will fall, but his injury is certainly worrisome and I don't know that I'd use a top15 pick on him.
 
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JadedRandom said:
Mrtka's offense in the CHL is a bit overrated in my opinion.

Mrtka moves the puck quickly, and passes well to his teammates overall. But he is only "good" in transition, not "great" by NHL standards.

Similarly, Mrtka is not particularly skilled 1-on-1 when he tries to hold the offensive blueline and lacks a lot of the manipulation skills that strong offensive defensemen use to allow them to better leverage their abilities and manufacture offense for their teams.

I also find that Mrtka's shot is pretty slow/weak for his size, and that he struggles at times to find lanes from which to even get his shot on net.

So yeah, I think Mrtka's statline is impressive, and that it reflects a strong quality of his where Mrtka will use his strong defensive play to regain the puck somehow and then utilize his passing skills to try and give the puck to his teammates in positions where they can do some damage.

But I don't personally think the offensive skills are there for Mrtka to be a productive top-pairing defenseman.

I do however think Mrtka will be a good top-4 defenseman in the NHL though, with size, physicality, some amount of playmaking, and solid defensive skills.

Which brings me to the next and most important point I was trying to make; the unfortunate fact that, from the games that I've watched of Seattle this year, Mrtka doesn't seem to have much poise when contested in-tight by opponents with the puck on his stick in the defensive zone.

When forecheckers get "in his face" and start putting pressure on Mrtka to make a play under duress, what ends up happening is that Mrtka either defers a LOT to his partner, which can get exploited, or he starts being turnover-prone.

With experience and development, maybe that changes.

But right now I'd say that Mrtka needs to improve on that facet if he ever wants to step onto an NHL ice and be more than just a bottom-pairing guy.

Aside from that, I'd say the usual; that Mrtka's acceleration need some boost, that his pivots could stand to be more fluid, and he could definitely bulk-up some more and start being a more physical player as I think he currently under-utilizes his strength/frame/size advantage to get leverage defensively.

That would be where I currently stand with Mrtka.

I think he is a very strong defensive prospect for this year's draft, and would be the 3rd-best defenseman in this class after Schaefer and Smith.

And to answer your post, yes, I'd have Mrtka in the top-10 (at #10) this year so I really don't think he'll make it to us.

And Mrtka shouldn't get drafted before Smith, but maybe he will be based on his handedness and having slightly greater upside defensively than Smith (but lesser offensively).
Click to expand...
What do you think of Mrtka playoff?
 
Hope Of Glory said:
I have a hard time seeing a 6'6 RH defenseman who is solid defensively and can contribute offensively not go top 10, especially in a weak draft after 5-7. I haven't watch much of his tape though, any significant drawback that doesn't get talked about?

What are the odds Mrtka goes ahead of Smith, a 6'3 smooth skating defenseman that seems more skilled but is a lefty?
Click to expand...
I can easily see Mrtka go ahead of Smith. Only way Mrtka does not go top 10 is if the teams 6-10 all load up on centres. Otherwise he's def going top 10. Could see as high as 5 depending on who has that pick come draft decision.
 
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Benstheman said:
He won't trade the pick before the lottery. I would be excited if we win 1 of the lottery and draft 3OA. But 13OA? I'm more than ok if that pick is being traded.
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They can keep the 13th and trade the 17th if they wanna trade for a center.

At 13 there’s still gonna be one of Bear, Martin, Lakovic
 
It’s not the only issue on the table but last night’s game, for me, emphasized the need for muckrakers with talent.

In an odd (?) or ‘falling back’ performance, the team lost too many stick battles.

And as someone here pointed out, Foligno gave Monty the snow treatment w/o a hint of repercussions.

There was bad passing and a plethora of annoying dump outs, but Habs have to get bigger.

Martin or Spence, but I’d take both if possible. They can play and they compete like mad.
 
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