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

[RationalExpectations]

I don't give a f***. Pick Michkov and that's it.

I really think SJS will go Michkov. They have the 3 years in front of them, their prospect pool is in the early stage of the rebuild, they have 3 years left with Vlasic, 4 with Couture, Karlsson, 2 with Burns (share of it), that s close to 30m cap to clean in 4 years.

 

[RationalExpectations]

Oh they will , They are gonna pick Dvorsky and pass up into Smith or Michkov or they will draft the Budget Version of another Jiri Sekac.

This org never picks BPA , trash scouting.

Personnally I don t know the NA prospects as well as you guys (living in Europe so can t really look at that many games) but during U18, Dvorsky and Smith both impressed to be fair. I think Dvorsky is a sniper center which is something quite rare in the NHL while Smith seems more spectacular. I would not be mad with either pick.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Personnally I don t know the NA prospects as well as you guys (living in Europe so can t really look at that many games) but during U18, Dvorsky and Smith both impressed to be fair. I think Dvorsky is a sniper center which is something quite rare in the NHL while Smith seems more spectacular. I would not be mad with either pick.

Dvorsky at 5 is just a miss like Slaf at 1. BPA >>> others

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

and that’s why he won’t be available at the 10 th selection

I am not so sure about that, he is a prime slip candidate imo.

 

[salbutera]

Oh they will , They are gonna pick Dvorsky and pass up into Smith or Michkov or they will draft the Budget Version of another Jiri Sekac.

This org never picks BPA , trash scouting.

Zero chance Hughes passes on Smith if he’s available at 5OA regardless of whether Bobrov is co-director of amateur scouting or not

 

[FrankMTL]

He challenges Bedard for #1 if he lived in North America

True. Imagine Michkov playing in the CHL...especially the Q. He would have destroyed the league this past season.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Zero chance Hughes passes on Smith if he’s available at 5OA regardless of whether Bobrov is co-director of amateur scouting or not

With your history of bad calls, I feel pretty confident they'd pick Michkov over Smith if given a choice and if they have re-assurance about him coming over in 2-3 years.

There's an obvious talent gap between the two, not that Smith isn't a great prospect, but on potential and overall play alone, Michkov is another breed.

On top of that, Hughes didn't pick Cooley last year.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

True. Imagine Michkov playing in the CHL...especially the Q. He would have destroyed the league this past season.

Yup. 2.5 ppg maybe. Maybe 3.

Pretty sure he would've passed Fantilli in the NCAA too.

 

[SOLR]

Zero chance Hughes passes on Smith if he’s available at 5OA regardless of whether Bobrov is co-director of amateur scouting or not

You are assuming quite a bit too much that having coached Smith means he likes him. He would also know all the weaknesses.

 

[sandviper]

With your history of bad calls, I feel pretty confident they'd pick Michkov over Smith if given a choice and if they have re-assurance about him coming over in 2-3 years.

There's an obvious talent gap between the two, not that Smith isn't a great prospect, but on potential and overall play alone, Michkov is another breed.

On top of that, Hughes didn't pick Cooley last year.

I think in his scenario, Michkov would had gone top-4.

Assuming Carlsson goes top-4 also, that’d leave Smith #5.

On that note, I’m not entirely convinced we’d take Smith at #5. I would, but I got a feeling they’d prefer some of the other options discussed all the time here and in the draft thread.

 

[Kennerback]

Just to be clear, having to pick between Smith and Michkov at 5OA won’t happen unless there’s the science fiction scenario that one of the teams preceding us goes way off the board. It’s an academic debate.

 

[WG]

I think in his scenario, Michkov would had gone top-4.

Assuming Carlsson goes top-4 also, that’d leave Smith #5.

On that note, I’m not entirely convinced we’d take Smith at #5. I would, but I got a feeling they’d prefer some of the other options discussed all the time here and in the draft thread.

I hope I'm wrong, but given Bedard and Fantilli are gone for sure, we might see:

Smith/Michkov go in some order 3/4 >> take Carlsson no question
Carlsson/Michkov go 3/4 >> take Smith no question
Carlsson/Smith go 3/4 >> maybe pass on Michkov and that brings Reinbacher, Benson, etc. into play

Hopefully HuGo don't outsmart themselves, take whichever of LC/WS/MM is sitting there at 5 and be done with it.

 

[Redux91]

With your history of bad calls, I feel pretty confident they'd pick Michkov over Smith if given a choice and if they have re-assurance about him coming over in 2-3 years.

There's an obvious talent gap between the two, not that Smith isn't a great prospect, but on potential and overall play alone, Michkov is another breed.

On top of that, Hughes didn't pick Cooley last year.

I just want to mention a big (not the only) reason they didn't pick Cooley was because the Dach trade had been formulating too.

But I agree, Michkov or Smith, you gotta go Michkov, but that option will most likely not materialize itself come draft day

 

[NORiculous]

Anderson's strengths are Kotkaniemi's weaknesses, and Kotkaniemi's strengths are Anderson's weaknesses.

Imagine adding both weaknesses together.

 

[26Mats]

I just want to mention a big (not the only) reason they didn't pick Cooley was because the Dach trade had been formulating too.

But I agree, Michkov or Smith, you gotta go Michkov, but that option will most likely not materialize itself come draft day

If we want Michkov, he's there for the taking. Just gotta offer Columbs (who don't want him) the right package to move down to 5 and get whoever San Jose doesn't take between Carlsson and Smith. They still get their C, plus much more (i.e. whatever we give them). Maybe they get two C's if Beck is part of the package.

The point is, unlike Bedard, if we really want Michkov, we can get him.

 

[GrandBison]

As for that Habs-Russian thing, fans had no problem with Kovalev and Markov, au contraire. Both were extremely popular. Plus Montreal is a great city for Russians who don't want to feel too disoriented. Same weather as Moscow, European-like vibe, etc.

I don't buy that this franchise doesn't want Russians. I think they're a great fit.

All the Russians left under Julien

 

[SlafySZN]

I think in his scenario, Michkov would had gone top-4.

Assuming Carlsson goes top-4 also, that’d leave Smith #5.

On that note, I’m not entirely convinced we’d take Smith at #5. I would, but I got a feeling they’d prefer some of the other options discussed all the time here and in the draft thread.

No chance.

It had been said many times the habs likes Smith and he would be BPA

 

[SOLR]

No chance.

It had been said many times the habs likes Smith and he would be BPA

32 teams will say they like Smith, like 32 teams like the top 10 players every year. Comments mean nothing.

 

[Steve Shutt]

True. Imagine Michkov playing in the CHL...especially the Q. He would have destroyed the league this past season.

Curious if he gets drafted by a CHL team in the Import draft. Imagine him playing in Sherbrooke or somewhere else in the Q next year where Montreal could monitor his development closely

 

[ZUKI]

Oh they will , They are gonna pick Dvorsky and pass up into Smith or Michkov or they will draft the Budget Version of another Jiri Sekac.

This org never picks BPA , trash scouting.

 

[SlafySZN]

32 teams will say they like Smith, like 32 teams like the top 10 players every year. Comments mean nothing.

That’s my point, though.

Smith is a top 5 talent, probably every team think he is why would the habs skip him lol.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Curious if he gets drafted by a CHL team in the Import draft. Imagine him playing in Sherbrooke or somewhere else in the Q next year where Montreal could monitor his development closely

That would be terrible for his development. He's way too good for the chl.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

If Anaheim wants caufield+ for the 2OV, I'd do it, as long as we keep the 5th. Draft Fantili and then one of the three that remains. Hopefuly Michkov.

No way.

There’s no way we should give up a guy who’s been pacing at a top ten (close to 50 goal pace) already. Zero way I’d trade him for that.

Moving up? Sure. Want to trade some prospects to do it? Okay. But Caufield? No f***ing way. Esp since we’ll probably wind up with Mitch at 5th anyway.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Yeah, if you can turn #5 and Caufield into Fantilli(or Carlsson) and Michkov, you take that and run.

Michkov will be a better version of Caufield.

Nooooo!

No! No! No!

Come on guys.

So you trade CC for the 2nd. What do you do with it? If you want Fantilli you have to take him at 2. Then you’re in the same boat with Mitchkov that you otherwise would be at 5th, hoping nobody takes him…

We have the 5th overall. We’re getting a stud no matter what. Why trade away our 21 year old sniper? The idea is to ADD to what you have.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

The Dach opportunity was so unique that it makes you wonder how in the world it could be replicated. Essentially, you had a complicit GM giving up on a recent top 3 pick with size and skill, aged 21 and playing a premium position for an 11th OA and spare parts in a weak draft. Where will we find another crazy man like that this summer?

At least, Hughes was first to the wire in securing Dach. A lot of teams were caught with their pants down.

Lafreniere is a similar case.