Confirmed with Link: Canadiens Will Pick 5th (Hughes Presser in OP) NO POLITICS

[McGees]

I heard there's a loophole if we call the first name of one player and the last name of another that we can take them both.
I'm looking into it, as it is worth a shot.
Matvei Reinbacher would look pretty good on the Habs.

 

[David Suzuki]

If Carlson/Michkov/Smith are available you 100% take one of those in that order. Then Benson or Leonard. I would take Pellikka over Reinbacher if I wore to go the D route. But never at 5. Be a huge failure and disappointment if we took him at 5.

id be fine with reinbacher over leonard but not the others tbh

 

[skidcells]

Sure but then on offense Habs have Caufield…

I really think if they go Reinbacher with Michkov available they are the biggest wimpballs I have seen.

I agree our offense is thin but to say it's just Cole is also not accurate. You have Suzuki and Caufield with Dach having shown he took a step last year. If he takes a similar step next year you can add him to the Suzuki/Caufield group. We cannot discount Slaf yet either. He had a very underwhelming year last year but has the potential and is simply too young to write off. You would think/hope at least one of Kidney/Roy/Heineman/Beck/Mesar can join the group as well. Add to that maybe someone via trade/UFA and you can have a group that looks acceptable with potential for tremendous upside (say Slaf becomes that close to ppg power forward which cannot be completely excluded yet)

 

[junyab]

My issue with selecting Reinbacher is there is almost always a first line D-man available with the 5th-7th overall pick. There isn't always a possible pt per game+ forward at 5.

2022 Jiricek
2021 Edvinsson
2020 Sanderson
2019 Seider
2018 Q Hughes

So I'd much rather take a Michkov/Smith this year and snag the best defenseman with our 1st pick next year over selecting Reinbacher this year and the best pt per game player next year, which will most certainly won't be as good as this year.

 

[Sorinth]

Was playing around with CapFriendly for a potential 2024-2025 roster to assess where the Habs’ most dire positional needs are upon completion of a guesstimative depth chart. [Core; Veterans; Hopefully traded; Rookies]

Centers : Suzuki, Dach, Dvorak, Evans, Beck*, Kidney

Left Wingers : Caufield, Slafkovski, RHP, Ylonen, Heineman, Farrell

Right Wingers : Dach, Anderson, Gallagher, Armia, Roy*, Mesar

Left Defensemen : Matheson, Guhle, Xhekaj, Harris, Hutson*, Engstrom*, Struble

Right Defensemen : Barron, Savard, Kovacevic, Mailloux*

Goalie : Montembault, Primeau, Dobes, Dichow

Considering this, the missing pieces would be:

- RW1/C2 : Depending whether Dach is ultimately used as C2 or RW1.

- RHD1 : Barron/Mailloux have interesting offensive upsides, but they both lack defensive acumen; a true first pairing RHD must thus be found, unless the answer turns out to be using Guhle as RD since the LHD pipeline (Hutson, Engstrom) appears so strong.

- G1 : The answer might be within the organisation as well - Montembault - but the Habs will in any event part ways with Allen sooner than later and finding another solid, perennial option in net is paramount.

And so, as for the upcoming draft, if we compute these needs and the candidates within the #5 range :

- Carlsson : Fills the top-6 C/RW requirement perfectly, enabling optimal top-6 flexibility with Dach.

- Michkov : Fills the elite RW admiradbly and provides, along with Caufield, a lethal 1-2 punch of scoring wingers on the top-6.

- Smith/Dvorsky : Fits the top-6 C need; likely means Dach plays RW.

- Benson/Leonard: Fits the top-6 W need, likely means Dach plays C.

- Reinbacher: Fits the RHD profile sought, likely means Guhle remains LD and that the Habs can engage in further « Romanov-trades ».

My humble conclusion for #5, in order of preference : 1) Carlsson; 2) Michkov; 3) Reinbacher; 4) Smith; 5) Benson/Dvorsky.

And if there’s a Dubois sign and trade deal at the draft (not involving #5 obviously!), then I’d go : 1) Michkov ; 2) Reinbacher.

The chances of there being 0 trades or UFA signings is next to nothing which is why the exercise of drafting for positional needs is misguided and we should go with go with whoever projects to be the best player.

There's also not a lot of value in seperating wingers between LW and RW, there are some who really are much better on one side vs the other but for the majority it's kind of irrelevant. It's not as true for D but is still there to some degree. Also aren't you missing a top-6 winger, there's 4 core players listed and one missing piece which is 5 of 6. Now that might all depend on your definition of core but seems a bit strange.

 

[Mrb1p]

My issue with selecting Reinbacher is there is almost always a first line D-man available with the 5th-7th overall pick. There isn't always a possible pt per game+ forward at 5.

2022 Jiricek
2021 Edvinsson
2020 Sanderson
2019 Seider
2018 Q Hughes

So I'd much rather take a Michkov/Smith this year and snag the best defenseman with our 1st pick next year over selecting Reinbacher this year and the best pt per game player next year, which will most certainly won't be as good as this year.

Not sure Smith has that PPG+ ceiling, at least, Id put a lot more money on David to be a 1D than Smith to be a PPG+ forward. His offensive ceiling is around that of Wood IMO.

I see Huberdeau when I watch him.

 

[sampollock]

Cant wait to find out reinbacher fills a need on draft day lol

this board will explode if he is taken at 5

 

[junyab]

Not sure Smith has that PPG+ ceiling, at least, Id put a lot more money on David to be a 1D than Smith to be a PPG+ forward. His offensive ceiling is around that of Wood IMO.

I see Huberdeau when I watch him.

Maybe so, but my point doesn't change much, should still be a 75-80 pt forward vs 60 pt forward at the same position next year.

And is further backed by what the 2024 draft rankings currently look like with:

The class of 2024, which is made up predominantly of players born in 2006, is led by two A-level forward prospects (neither look A-plus level to me) at the very top, but looks like it could be defined by a strong crop of defensemen (half of the 24 players listed here are D

Scott Wheeler's early 2024 NHL Draft ranking: Celebrini, Eiserman top the list

It's still early, but the 2024 NHL Draft looks like it could be defined by a strong crop of defensemen who make up half of this list.

theathletic.com

 

[The Great Weal]

just saw the Hutson highlight goal and made me think someone like Reinbacher next to him for the next 10 years would be great if we miss out on Michkov and Carlsson

The Habs would be going Guhle-Reinbacher as a pairing

 

[NORiculous]

I agree our offense is thin but to say it's just Cole is also not accurate. You have Suzuki and Caufield with Dach having shown he took a step last year. If he takes a similar step next year you can add him to the Suzuki/Caufield group. We cannot discount Slaf yet either. He had a very underwhelming year last year but has the potential and is simply too young to write off. You would think/hope at least one of Kidney/Roy/Heineman/Beck/Mesar can join the group as well. Add to that maybe someone via trade/UFA and you can have a group that looks acceptable with potential for tremendous upside (say Slaf becomes that close to ppg power forward which cannot be completely excluded yet)

I love Dach. But up to now, after 200 games, he has never broken 40 pts. I do expect him to eventually do it, but still. 80 pts is far away.

Suzuki, sure. Although I believe he would be best suited behind a top guy even if he can fill in that spot occasionally.

We can talk about adding/re-evaluating Slaf in 2 years. Let’s see how he adapts and develops because there is as much of arguments to be made for him to become a 3rd liner. It’s far from a done deal.


Sure one guy out of that list (Kidney/Roy/Heineman/Beck/Mesar) might become a 2nd liner, maybe two guys. But so far, except maybe Caufield, most of these guys would be better placed on the 2nd.

So… where is the top line 80+pts guy? He has been missing since Kovalev in 2007-08.

If there is one that has that potential when the Habs pick, it would be a wimpy ass move to go with Reinbacher.

 

[Jaynki]

Getting Smith would f***ing suck compared to the others. We were so f***ing close. Our AHLers and f***ing Montembeault and management ruined our season.

You will be surprised when you will see that every single f***ing draft

Surefire player picked in the top 5 are always busting and players picked 6-10-15 become way better than them.

Carlsson and Fantilli may bust and Leonard and Danielson could end up the big stars of this draft.

Dont know if you are being sarcastic or not but lets just hope we nail the pick. The rest is only hypothetical and nothing more than our personal preference.

 

[JadedRandom]

The first round of the 2023 NHL draft can end up unfolding in many different ways, but there are only 5 main axis around which our first-round draft could develop in my opinion.

1) At 5 we should have a shot at any one of Michkov, Carlsson, and Smith (in order of my preference), and they are all very good prospects.

If we draft any one of those at 5, get a good player with our other pick (or trade it for a long-term asset), then I end up a pretty happy camper on first-round draft night.

2) We trade up or down with the 5th pick, gaining or losing additional assets. Obviously, Habs fans' mood fluctuates depending on how the trade shapes up, and what we do with Florida's pick.

3) If we draft any of Reinbacher, Benson, Dvorsky, Leonard, or Moore with the 5th pick on draft night (and no trading down) I am unhappy/unimpressed as a fan, but it's also not the worst.

And in that scenario, even if we knock our 29th pick out of the park (or do a good trade with it), I still end my night feeling quite despondent.

4) We trade the 5th pick in a package and get ourselves a young-ish star player under contract for many years (not Dubois, think higher-end, and no, not Marner). Our team improves from the get-go at the expense of losing a potentially higher-end piece down the line (Michkov, Carlsson, Smith). Again, reactions change depending on the details of the trade.

5) If we draft any other player but those I mentioned before at 5 (AKA the "Thomas Hickey Reach") then we start getting our pitchforks and torches ready to run out everyone associated with our scouting out of town. Needless to say, I also get really, really angry with the team on a personal level.

So yeah, lots of things that can happen still. I just hope that with the 5th pick our scouts don't try to be cute and go against consensus like LA did in '07 (or Boston in 2015).

 

[Sorinth]

My issue with selecting Reinbacher is there is almost always a first line D-man available with the 5th-7th overall pick. There isn't always a possible pt per game+ forward at 5.

2022 Jiricek
2021 Edvinsson
2020 Sanderson
2019 Seider
2018 Q Hughes

So I'd much rather take a Michkov/Smith this year and snag the best defenseman with our 1st pick next year over selecting Reinbacher this year and the best pt per game player next year, which will most certainly won't be as good as this year.

But then you have to factor in whether we will get a 5-7 pick next year because with a more normal injury situation and/or a little growth from the rookies/young guys then we could easily be looking at a pick in the 10-12 range next year.

 

[junyab]

But then you have to factor in whether we will get a 5-7 pick next year because with a more normal injury situation and/or a little growth from the rookies/young guys then we could easily be looking at a pick in the 10-12 range next year.

Actually, even then my point stands, less so of course. But we'd be looking at Mintyukov, Clarke, Guhle, Soderstrom and Bouchard. And the forward we'd get would be far worse, could be a 40pt difference.

 

[Draft]

Not sure Smith has that PPG+ ceiling, at least, Id put a lot more money on David to be a 1D than Smith to be a PPG+ forward. His offensive ceiling is around that of Wood IMO.

I see Huberdeau when I watch him.

And just like Huberdeau, his success and production might be highly dependent on systems and line mates.

I see Alex Tanguay. At this point, I've got doubts he stays in the middle and I think we should be questioning whether or not the flash comes with real substance. For example, the production was great, but I didn't love his showing at the U18s - especially in his final game. Is this a guy you win Cups with? Is this a guy you can build with? I think it's an easy yes to both those questions when it comes to Reinbacher, but I'm a little less confident when I'm projecting Smith into a top line role.

 

[David Suzuki]

this board will explode if he is taken at 5

the saving grace is that if hughes and adam nicholas pass over smith it’s hard not to trust their judgment

 

[waffledave]

If we draft the dman.... crazy than in the last 10 years we've had a 1st overall, 3rd overall twice, and a 5th overall, and we still haven't had an elite center that puts up PPG since 1995.

 

[sheed36]

Not taking whoever is left between Carlsson, Michkov, and Smith would be quite disappointing to me since I want one of the top 5 forwards at 5. These 3 along with Bedard and Fantilli seem to be considered the top 5 players in this draft by most it seems.

I have zero interest in the Habs taking Reinbacher at 5, which means the Habs will likely take him now, just like I had zero interest in taking the winger Slaf 1st overall last year, so yeah I won't be joining any Reinbacher train since I really want a forward at 5th.

 

[Skip Bayless]

I heard there's a loophole if we call the first name of one player and the last name of another that we can take them both.
I'm looking into it, as it is worth a shot.
Matvei Reinbacher would look pretty good on the Habs.

I heard this as well.

 

[sampollock]

If we draft the dman.... crazy than in the last 10 years we've had a 1st overall, 3rd overall twice, and a 5th overall, and we still haven't had an elite center that puts up PPG since 1995.

they better not pass on smith if at 5

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

The Habs would be going Guhle-Reinbacher as a pairing

why both of them are good defensively

Hutson - Reinbacher
Guhle - Mailloux

we would be much better with those pairs Hutson will be a stud offensively but being small we would be better off pairing him with a big guy that can defend well

Mailloux is also nice offensively but struggles in hes own end which is why Guhle would be good with him

 

[sampollock]

dont take a D man at 5....... a 5th pick does not come around every day

 

[WeThreeKings]

dont take a D man at 5....... a 5th pick does not come around every day

I'll tell St Louis and LA they made mistakes taking D men in the top 5.

 

[sampollock]

I'll tell St Louis and LA they made mistakes taking D men in the top 5.

sounds good

tired of the vanilla pick ... see KK

 

[BenchBrawl]

You will be surprised when you will see that every single f***ing draft

Surefire player picked in the top 5 are always busting and players picked 6-10-15 become way better than them.

Carlsson and Fantilli may bust and Leonard and Danielson could end up the big stars of this draft.

Dont know if you are being sarcastic or not but lets just hope we nail the pick. The rest is only hypothetical and nothing more than our personal preference.

I'm not sarcastic and I don't give a f*** about Fantilli (and to a lesser extent, Carlsson).

I want Michkov, and Michkov won't bust.

He's not a "Top 5 player", he's a f***ing unicorn.