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

[Lafleurs Guy]

He also got clocked on an innocuous hit in the rare time he crashed the net, regular season, concussion protocol. He's now missed half a season with a shoulder injury in less than 2 years. DD was brutal, but he went cold for what 40 games with like 1 goal??
These are serious red flags. We cant tie up top dollar on inconsistencies, especially a player whos only job is to score.

Eric Lindros had tons of injuries, so did Chris Pronger…. Big guys get hurt all the time. Hockey’s a physical game and sometimes you’re going to get smoked. Big or small… Yes his size is an additional risk. No you don’t write off a player because of it.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I respect your replies... but i'm not speaking as a fan. Im just too old for that.. i love players as a fan of the team, but in a hard Cap era, everything needs to be considered.
So many teams make this mistake, only to find themselves handcuffed, often signed by desperate GMs..

Now, if the market can't return equal asset value for CC, then i can see the AAV inch up to 6.5/yr x 8. beyond that id sign him to a 4 year bridge at 4m like Dach.

It’s 2023. Hes worth well more than 5.5.

He’s likely to get Suzuki type money. We’ll see.

 

[Doublechin]

I've came to the conclusion that 1 to 4 are Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson and Smith and that there is a very high chance our next bracket will have Michkov in it and he won't be taken.

I've also came to the conclusion that Ryan Leonard is my favorite option if that's the case but I would not be disappointed or even underwhelmed if we opt for Dvorsky or Benson.

Can't wait for the draft, all I know is that if we've targeted Reinbacher at 5, I hope we trade down

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

I hear Michkov's lack of footspeed and size (more like 5'9 than 5'10) are the reason why he might fall; that, and his contract, of course. I hear you won't find many players to compare his skillset with in the NHL. Basically, scouts worry he's just another Corey Locke. I'd still rather gamble on a superstar but that's how I will rationalize it if they don't pick him.

That makes no sense. Locke dominated juniors. Michkov overpassed 18yold Ovy in the world's second best league. Completely different stories.

 

[Beendair Donedat]

Journalist are now going to the meterology department of UQAM and now asking if Michkov might be hit by lightning. “Well yes there are indeed lightning strikes in Russia””And he is currently in Russia”. Headline: “Expert says Michkov might die in Russia”.

I mean that's hilarious and accurate for what passes for journalism these days, but it's not what we were talking about, unless I missed some sarcasm in your previous posts (and if so I apologize).

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

I mean that's hilarious and accurate for what passes for journalism these days, but it's not what we were talking about, unless I missed some sarcasm in your previous posts (and if so I apologize).

Every article and reports that come out on Michkov from the local media are sensationilistic fearmongerings.

It speaks volume of their desperation and irrelevancy.

 

[themilosh]

The top four is set (Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson and Smith). I don't see HuGo taking Michkov; it seems fairly obvious to me based on the complex situation with this player and the other guys available at 5. Among these other players, Leonard stands out in term of what HuGo are looking for in players. Speed, strength, skills and character. I just don't see a world where he is not the pick for the Habs.

then why not trade their pick with Washington who would want Mitchkov - seeing as the next tier of players are about 5 deep

 

[themilosh]

Michkov does have more risk but the rewards far outweigh that.

Saying his dream is to play in the NHL and being present at the draft are very very good signs.

Unless Bobrov can figure out that Michkov is lying and all he wants is to be drafted as high as possible in order to use that and cash in in KHL (seems highly unlikely) I don’t see a good enough reason not to draft him at 5.

Risking Reinbacher (taking Michkov is risking the other guy you would take) isn’t that big of a deal because the guy that will replace Reinbacher isn’t/won’t be that far off.

But if Michkov comes over, the pay day is UNPARALLELED.

Guys like that go 1st overall in almost ANY draft. You can’t pass that for the « small » risk envolved.

I think Hughes is going to pick Michkov because the drop off actually reduces the risk on Michkov.

But out of the other players you name, Benson was seen as a top player before sliding a bit. It would probably go down to the interview. But in any case, top 5 guys are the top 5 guys. Don’t unsmart yourself Hughes!!!

"dream" in Russian also means "nightmare" so one has to watch translation.

 

[1909]

Hughes is just praying right now that SJ will pick Michkov at #4. Then he will grab Carlsson or Smith and be very, very happy.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

I see more people are hopping on the Reinbacher bandwagon, that's good!

I fully expect Hughes to take him, especially if all the big Centers are off the board, he's a big right hand shot defenseman, uses his size effectively, great skater, and will be a very effective NHLer. Simply checks too many boxes and addresses a glaring organizational hole.

You're looking at an exceptional group of young defensemen down the road if he is taken:
Guhle
Xhekaj
Barron
Kovacevic
Harris
Reinbacher
Hutson
Mailloux
Struble

That's as deep of a defensive prospect pool as there is in the NHL.

And the at forward we have... hummm.
Evians, Piazzeta and Potluck

 

[Runner77]

The top four is set (Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson and Smith). I don't see HuGo taking Michkov; it seems fairly obvious to me based on the complex situation with this player and the other guys available at 5. Among these other players, Leonard stands out in term of what HuGo are looking for in players. Speed, strength, skills and character. I just don't see a world where he is not the pick for the Habs.

That’s just the thing — is there a tier drop after the top 4 and how significant is it, assuming Michkov is a DND?

Also, how likely is it that Smith remains firmly entrenched as one of the top 4 the closer we get to the draft?

 

[Hins77]

The player we are going to select at 5th is going to help the team to make the playoff afterward. Michkov or not Michkov
We know that Molson first objective is to make playoff as soon as possible to make more money.
Even if Michkov is a better addition to win the stanley cup at the end, I doubt Molson will want to take the riskier path. I hope Im wrong.

 

[SlafySZN]

The player we are going to select at 5th is going to help the team to make the playoff afterward. Michkov or not Michkov
We know that Molson first objective is to make playoff as soon as possible to make more money.
Even if Michkov is a better addition to win the stanley cup at the end, I doubt Molson will want to take the riskier path. I hope Im wrong.

Molson has come out for the first time ever saying they are in a rebuild and that it’ll take a few years.

 

[Beendair Donedat]

And the at forward we have... hummm.
Evians, Piazzeta and Potluck

Juraj Slafkovsky
Owen Beck
Joshua Roy
Riley Kidney
Emil Heineman
Filip Mesar

The forward depth is pretty solid as well, although we could definitely use a gamebreaker.

Slaf - We've seen his skill, quickness, great size, needs seasoning and to learn to keep his head up.
Beck - looks like he will be a very solid 2nd/3rd line Center who can do everything well.
Roy - Projects as a talented 2nd/3rd line winger that can kill penalties.
Kidney - The most improved prospect we've got this year. Took huge steps forward.
Heineman - Scored 7 goals in 11 games in the AHL when he came over, potential Arturi Lehkonen clone.
Mesar - Jury is out so far, was PPG in the OHL, and showed flashes of offensive brilliance. Defensive zone coverage was pretty suspect by times. A ton of offensive talent.

 

[SlafySZN]

Smith or Leonard, please

 

[BehindTheTimes]

Bc a soft 50 goal regular season perimeter scorer means nothing in the playoffs if they have no room in tight checking games. CC hasn't even lasted through the rigors of the regular season, on a team with no expectations and now is in a holdout pattern for a huge contract?

He's simply too small. And opposing teams will eat him alive. We have had 30 years of small forwards and they dont last. Val bure, ribero, oleg petrov, saku, samsonov, gionta, gomez, Cammalleri, desharnais, etc...

It's insane to think CC will be different. Look at the remaining teams - not one has a small player leading them.. his value to this team is as a complimentary player (nothing more) an asset in the group, but if we are going to pay big bucks on him we are locking ourselves in for continued futility..

He should sign a reasonable contract at $5.5m aav, he'll be rich for life. But at least this will allow hugo to build big and fast around him, so he can actually play.

Thank god hugo isn't buckling. He will be traded. Mark my words.. some other team will blindly throw $10m his way, just like pipsqueek johnny hockey or playoff warrior debrincat.. interesting how Tkachuck is twice the player in playoffs now..

I’ve never seen a take more wrong than this. I mean how did this ever get posted ?

 

[salbutera]

That’s just the thing — is there a tier drop after the top 4 and how significant is it, assuming Michkov is a DND?

Also, how likely is it that Smith remains firmly entrenched as one of the top 4 the closer we get to the draft?

Also don’t discount a team potentially drafting for need - recall in 2019, one of the main reasons Habs ended up getting Caufield was because teams like Det (Seider), Fla (Knight) and Phi (York) all drafted for need..

 

[Andrei79]

Also don’t discount a team potentially drafting for need - recall in 2019, one of the main reasons Habs ended up getting Caufield was because teams like Det (Seider), Fla (Knight) and Phi (York) all drafted for need..

I wouldn't call either the Detroit or Florida picks for need. Detroit clearly felt Seider was going to be an impact player with rare attributes.

 

[FF de Mars]

That makes no sense. Locke dominated juniors. Michkov overpassed 18yold Ovy in the world's second best league. Completely different stories.

Corey Locke was a 5’9 (mod) that skated at a fraction of the speed of Michkov. Around the NHL scouts community, word was things like “he’ll never score even a single goal in the NHL”. Habs took the risk anyways knowing full well it was an outside chance he was going to amount to anything.

Obviously that's an hyberbole.

 

[salbutera]

I wouldn't call either the Detroit or Florida picks for need. Detroit clearly felt Seider was going to be an impact player with rare attributes.

Bobby Mac and other talking heads were talking about how Stevie Ys focus was a Dman and Panthers wanted a G

 

[SlafySZN]

Michkov is telling us he’s coming home to MTL

Lol jk

 

[ZUKI]

The player we are going to select at 5th is going to help the team to make the playoff afterward. Michkov or not Michkov
We know that Molson first objective is to make playoff as soon as possible to make more money.
Even if Michkov is a better addition to win the stanley cup at the end, I doubt Molson will want to take the riskier path. I hope Im wrong.

Be happy guy because yes, you are wrong
Molson is a big hockey fan since he was a kid. He was spending a lot of time in the old Forum to meet the players, see the games but also the practices. Molson is also rich for decades and the Habs are only one of his investments. He posses Molson beer company, tower downtown , etc...As a fan he had the chance to live the most epic times of the CH , that from the inside .

So if you think that he needs to make more money with the Habs, you are completely wrong. He doesn't need the extra 5-6 m$ he would gain by accelerating the re-build, the Habs already making 40-60 m$

 

[NORiculous]

"dream" in Russian also means "nightmare" so one has to watch translation.

Touché. I dig the sens of humour.

 

[NORiculous]

Not to speak on someone else's behalf but I read that as WTK just outlining a possible scenario in which Bedard/Fantilli/Carlsson/Smith are the top four picks and then the Habs decide to pass on Michkov.

I don't think he was saying that they will or should pass on him, it looks like he was just laying out a scenario and giving his opinion on who to pick IF they decided to pass to on Michkov and Smith was already off the board.

No doupt.

But in this case, I think that the medicine is worse then what it is trying to heal.

 

[salbutera]

Be happy guy because yes, you are wrong
Molson is a big hockey fan since he was a kid. He was spending a lot of time in the old Forum to meet the players, see the games but also the practices. Molson is also rich for decades and the Habs are only one of his investments. He posses Molson beer company, tower downtown , etc...As a fan he had the chance to live the most epic times of the CH , that from the inside .

So if you think that he needs to make more money with the Habs, you are completely wrong. He doesn't need the extra 5-6 m$ he would gain by accelerating the re-build, the Habs already making 40-60 m$

Beer business was sold off to Coors nearly 25-years ago, the Molson family only has a couple of seats on the board to show for.

Jr was warned by his father to not try and build a consortium to buy the Habs fortunately he has his brother who’s the real brains behind the operations - they have done well with non hockey related ventures using Habs as the revenue stream to borrow off of.

BTW - all businessmen only have ONE objective, be profitable and make more $ or you’re not a businessman to begin with. There’s no such thing as “not needing more money”…