HF Habs: 2025 NHL Draft: Part II

[WeThreeKings]

Well that's certainly an opinion. Reschny had like what? 12 points alone in one playoffs series vs Tricity. He was going up against Jackson Smith infront of the net and was winning battles. He's really turned his game up in the playoffs. Let's see how this one ages.

Mesar dominated the WJCs twice against his own age group on an underpowered Slovakian team. Those things don't always translate to pro hockey.

Point being that just because one guy is smaller and scored a bunch of points and the other guy didn't score as many points but has more physical tools doesn't mean the smaller guy is gonna be a top 6 guy and the other guy can't.

Spence certainly has way more paths to contributing in a NHL top 6/9 than Reschny has. We need what Spence offers more than what Reschny offers, too.

 

[TheBuriedHab]

Mesar dominated the WJCs twice against his own age group on an underpowered Slovakian team. Those things don't always translate to pro hockey.

Point being that just because one guy is smaller and scored a bunch of points and the other guy didn't score as many points but has more physical tools doesn't mean the smaller guy is gonna be a top 6 guy and the other guy can't.

Spence certainly has way more paths to contributing in a NHL top 6/9 than Reschny has. We need what Spence offers more than what Reschny offers, too.

Spence's development has been stalled for 2 years now. He doesn't have much runway left to grow in my opinion. I think he's a really low upside pick. We have 2 2nds and 3 3rds where I'd be more inclined to take these low ceiling guys. Not mid first. I'm still taking home run swings on skill there.

If we're talking about guys with top 6 or top 4 upside like Carbonneau, Smith, Reschny, Bear, Lakovic, Hensler, Fiddler vs guys like Spence or Cootes I'm not taking Spence or Cootes sorry.

 

[montreal]

I haven't seen that much of Spence but I would easily take Cootes over him

 

[MasterMatt25]

How would y’all rank from best to worst between the second tier centre group (assuming tier 1 is Misa/Hagens/Desnoyers/McQueen/Frondell/O’Brien);

Braeden Cootes
Benjamin Kindel
Brady Martin
Jack Nesbitt
Cole Reschny
Ivan Ryabkin

 

[bopeep]

And if he was taken in round 1, no one would bat an eye now. The Habs have the skilled stuff pretty much figured out and honestly the names being thrown around with the Spence's and Cootes of the world are not exactly stellar offensive producers you can't afford to pass on either. I've yet to see a name mentioned against them as the 'skilled' type that have a clear advantage where it would make sense to forego the elements that we desperately need to take them for their perceived upside.



I think we are saying the same thing in different ways. You go to the top guy on your list but who that is may not be seen as BPA to other people. It's why I think Mesar was their BPA as he was in a tier of 2 other guys when we went to pick there but you ask many others on the form and they don't even think he was a 1st rounder. That's where a clear BPA is a fictional concept in that sense.

My understanding, though, is that the Habs put players in buckets and tiers. So unless Aitcheson is the only guy in that tier left, they are far more likely to select from the physical forward or right shot defenseman bucket than the left shot defenseman bucket.

I remember Hughes using the term tranche when describing a similar group of players.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Spence's development has been stalled for 2 years now. He doesn't have much runway left to grow in my opinion. I think he's a really low upside pick. We have 2 2nds and 3 3rds where I'd be more inclined to take these low ceiling guys. Not mid first. I'm still taking home run swings on skill there.

If we're talking about guys with top 6 or top 4 upside like Carbonneau, Smith, Reschny, Bear, Lakovic, Hensler, Fiddler vs guys like Spence or Cootes I'm not taking Spence or Cootes sorry.

I mean talking about guys whose stock is falling, it's Hensler. Was a top 5 pick and now he's considered a mid to late first.

There's a whole lot in Cootes and Spences game along with offensive tools that can easily translate to upper levels because they use them in professional ways.

I'd rather take a shot at Ekberg in round 3 because Cameron neutered him, that burn a first round pick on a small skilled guy playing a junior game.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

Watching this it is easy to see him having success in the NHL, especially on a scoring 2nd line.

Seth Jarvis type where even though he's small he's always in the play because of IQ

 

[TheBuriedHab]

I mean talking about guys whose stock is falling, it's Hensler. Was a top 5 pick and now he's considered a mid to late first.

There's a whole lot in Cootes and Spences game along with offensive tools that can easily translate to upper levels because they use them in professional ways.

I'd rather take a shot at Ekberg in round 3 because Cameron neutered him, that burn a first round pick on a small skilled guy playing a junior game.

Hensler is getting undervalued because he plays at Wisconson, a bad team coached to play a very defensive style. I think a lot of his struggles are because he's playing in the NCAA already and he's been getting adjusted to that level.

 

[montreal]

 

[WeThreeKings]

Hensler is getting undervalued because he plays at Wisconson, a bad team coached to play a very defensive style. I think a lot of his struggles are because he's playing in the NCAA already and he's been getting adjusted to that level.

His stock was falling last year. Offense wasn't showing up at his age group and defense nowhere strong enough to compensate for that.

Hensler is a gamble that he finds the upside from before. Same gamble that you'd be making on Spence who also was seen as a top 5 pick not long ago. For Spence his Otters team wasn't very good and he doesn't play that junior style which will lead to more CHL points but less translatable pro points.

Spence is an elite athlete and has plenty of tools. Great speed. Great shot. Underrated playmaking.

 

[Shutdown]

How would y’all rank from best to worst between the second tier centre group (assuming tier 1 is Misa/Hagens/Desnoyers/McQueen/Frondell/O’Brien);

Braeden Cootes
Benjamin Kindel
Brady Martin
Jack Nesbitt
Cole Reschny
Ivan Ryabkin

Martin
Cootes
Reschny
Kindel
Nesbitt

haven't watched enough Ryabkin to offer an opinion but i do not have much faith in Kindel's game translating to pro or Nesbitt's skill level, so he'd more than likely slot above them and maybe above Reschny

 

[Garbageyuk]

How would you all feel about the following scenarios with our picks, assuming we keep both?

Scenario 1: Hensler 16th, Aitcheson 17th

Scenario 2: Lakovic 16th, Ryabkin 17th

Scenario 3: Lakovic 16th, Hensler 17th

Scenario 4: Hensler 16th, Ryabkin 17th

If you could pick one of these combinations right now, which would you pick?

 

[JeffreyLFC]

I would be very surprised if Spence ends up being good enough to play in the top 6.

I have watched him a lot. His game will translate well to the NHL in a sense that he do little things that can work with the pro but I would be the first surprised if he becomes a legit top 6 winger. Mike Grier type of upside.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

and I'd be surprised if Reschny plays anywhere but the AHL and Europe.

That's a bad take. Reschny can be an effective shutdown center if needed. His IQ is high enough and he is a legit center than can win faceoff. His skating issue is also overblown, his technique is fine and I believe he can improve it a bit. I do not see a star producer but he is very well rounded and has the required talent to play with the pro. He still has things to fix, like his skating and getting stronger but that is normal for every 17 years old. I think he has legit 2nd line upside. I think he could form a nice duo with Hage as his winger.

 

[DesmondDekker]

How would you all feel about the following scenarios with our picks, assuming we keep both?

Scenario 1: Hensler 16th, Aitcheson 17th

Scenario 2: Lakovic 16th, Ryabkin 17th

Scenario 3: Lakovic 16th, Hensler 17th

Scenario 4: Hensler 16th, Ryabkin 17th

If you could pick one of these combinations right now, which would you pick?

Scenarios 2 & 4 won’t happen. Montreal won’t draft Ryabkin, at least not in the first round. Scenario 1 is unlikely, don’t think we draft 2 Dmen.

So scenario 3. Hensler fills a need and Lakovic could become a solid piece if he finds a way to use his frame to complement his soft skills game. Not sure Lakovic is available when we pick though.

 

[Playmaker09]

How would y’all rank from best to worst between the second tier centre group (assuming tier 1 is Misa/Hagens/Desnoyers/McQueen/Frondell/O’Brien);

Braeden Cootes
Benjamin Kindel
Brady Martin
Jack Nesbitt
Cole Reschny
Ivan Ryabkin

Top 10
Martin (as RW, not C, otherwise a tier below)

10-20
Reschny
Cootes

20s
Kindel (as RW, not C, otherwise a tier below)
Nesbitt

2nd round
Ryabkin

 

[Playmaker09]

How would you all feel about the following scenarios with our picks, assuming we keep both?

Scenario 1: Hensler 16th, Aitcheson 17th

Scenario 2: Lakovic 16th, Ryabkin 17th

Scenario 3: Lakovic 16th, Hensler 17th

Scenario 4: Hensler 16th, Ryabkin 17th

If you could pick one of these combinations right now, which would you pick?

3 but it won't happen unless both bomb their interviews.

Lakovic is in my top 10 and Hensler will likely get over drafted as RD.

 

[Garbageyuk]

Scenarios 2 & 4 won’t happen. Montreal won’t draft Ryabkin, at least not in the first round. Scenario 1 is unlikely, don’t think we draft 2 Dmen.

So scenario 3. Hensler fills a need and Lakovic could become a solid piece if he finds a way to use his frame to complement his soft skills game. Not sure Lakovic is available when we pick though.

3 but it won't happen unless both bomb their interviews.

Lakovic is in my top 10 and Hensler will likely get over drafted as RD.

There’s no way we can say who will or will not be there when we pick. We can’t even count on using these picks 100%. Any of these guys could be gone by the time we pick, and any of them could still be there as well. I don’t think anyone would’ve thought Buium and Dickinson would be available where they were last year, for example.

I could see the Habs liking any of these guys, with Ryabkin being the least likely. However, if we still have both picks, and management is able to take one of the guys they like at 16, I could see them being willing to take a home run swing on Ryabkin - he’s supremely skilled, and is a center. The upside is sky high if he can put the issues he’s had this season behind him. I think the core and locker room in MTL would be a great place to give him a chance to do that. There’s tons of young guys, and MSL seems to be great with young players. While there are definitely valid concerns with Ryabkin, he’s easily a top 5 talent in this draft, imo.

 

[TheBuriedHab]

Simon is the best

 

[Goldenhands]

I mean talking about guys whose stock is falling, it's Hensler. Was a top 5 pick and now he's considered a mid to late first.

There's a whole lot in Cootes and Spences game along with offensive tools that can easily translate to upper levels because they use them in professional ways.

I'd rather take a shot at Ekberg in round 3 because Cameron neutered him, that burn a first round pick on a small skilled guy playing a junior game.

Henlser got better in the 2nd half in a better league than the CHL, on a weak Wisconsin team. The tools are there.

How would you all feel about the following scenarios with our picks, assuming we keep both?

Scenario 1: Hensler 16th, Aitcheson 17th

Scenario 2: Lakovic 16th, Ryabkin 17th

Scenario 3: Lakovic 16th, Hensler 17th

Scenario 4: Hensler 16th, Ryabkin 17th

If you could pick one of these combinations right now, which would you pick?

Scenario 3 would be unreal, but unlikely, Im expecting both to go before our picks, so we would have to trade up to grab one of them.

 

[Garbageyuk]

Scenario 3 would be unreal, but unlikely, Im expecting both to go before our picks, so we would have to trade up to grab one of them.

Agreed. Scenario 3 would be my preference as well, and I also think it’s the least likely to be available for us.

I think the Aitcheson one is less likely as well, due to it being two D, as well as Aitcheson being a LD. I’m not as high on him as some are around here, but he’s a fun player to watch for sure.

 

[Andrei79]

Not a Sens fan whatsoever, but that punishment is so ridiculous. No chance a team like Florida, NY or Dallas would have ever had to forfeit a first round pick.

 

[TheBuriedHab]

Not a Sens fan whatsoever, but that punishment is so ridiculous. No chance a team like Florida, NY or Dallas would have ever had to forfeit a first round pick.

Would really suck if their pick next year was the Gavin Mckenna pick. No way that happens...

 

[WeThreeKings]

That's a bad take. Reschny can be an effective shutdown center if needed. His IQ is high enough and he is a legit center than can win faceoff. His skating issue is also overblown, his technique is fine and I believe he can improve it a bit. I do not see a star producer but he is very well rounded and has the required talent to play with the pro. He still has things to fix, like his skating and getting stronger but that is normal for every 17 years old. I think he has legit 2nd line upside. I think he could form a nice duo with Hage as his winger.

I want to be clear that I was sensationalizing a take on Reschny as a means to the conversation. The poster i was quoting was making pretty exaggerated claims in the other direction.

I'll have Reschny firmly in my first round when I finish my list, but he's certainly not a target of mine for the Habs. We've got 4 of the top 6 completely set, with Hage looking strong to be the 5th member of that top 6 eventually. If we keep a first to pick, the goal should be to identify which of the forwards at our pick has the requisite offensive upside to go with physicality, edge and intensity to complement what's there. We are putting the finishing touches on the painting, we aren't really looking to determine the subject of the painting at this point.

 

[Quatre Vingt Treize]

Watching this it is easy to see him having success in the NHL, especially on a scoring 2nd line.

Seth Jarvis type where even though he's small he's always in the play because of IQ

Jarvis looked like better goal scorer