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

[26Mats]

Man I really want Matvei on the Habs!!

CC + MM = Goals!

2 potential 40+ goal scorers in your top 6.

Insane!

What would you give up to move from 5 to 3 to get him?

 

[GrandBison]

What would you give up to move from 5 to 3 to get him?

I don't see a scenario where Columbus trade down to 5 unless they have a guarantee that the Habs pick Michkov with the pick.

 

[26Mats]

I don't see a scenario where Columbus trade down to 5 unless they have a guarantee that the Habs pick Michkov with the pick.

Yes, such a guarantee can be written into the deal.

 

[eklund the clown]

The Kotkianemi pick wasn't a bad choice at the time. Only because Hughes and Tkachuk are on fire now we think KK was a mistake. But KK might still yet find a new form as he gets into his mid-20s.

KK already played an impressive 58 playoff games, and he wasn't a total non-factor. He had his moments. This experience might come handy later on.

Plus, let's face it, like the 2022 draft last year, after the first two picks in 2017, it was a crapshoot. When it's a crapshoot, I'm less severe about the outcome. I judge a poker hand by how it's played with the information at the time, not by how it turned out.

It was a bad choice .He should have picked Tkachuk no question about it .

 

[sampollock]

It was a bad choice .He should have picked Tkachuk no question about it .

that set the habs back

we need to look towards the future now.
#5 is a bigger pick the #1 last year

 

[BenchBrawl]

that set the habs back

we need to look towards the future now.
#5 is a bigger pick the #1 last year

Is it though if we end up with Smith?

I'm not ready to claim he's a better prospect than Slaf just yet.

It was a bad choice .He should have picked Tkachuk no question about it .

Sure, just like 14 teams should have picked Joe Sakic in 1987. Hindsight is 20/20.

 

[Kennerback]

Is it though if we end up with Smith?

I'm not ready to claim he's a better prospect than Slaf just yet.

Smith’s more offensively skilled than Slaf. It doesn’t mean he’ll produce more in the NHL. But he backs it up with numbers in the NTDP that are extremely impressive.

 

[SOLR]

Yes, such a guarantee can be written into the deal.

No, you can't. But gentleman agreements are as solid on this kind of stuff as written stuff.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Smith’s more offensively skilled than Slaf. It doesn’t mean he’ll produce more in the NHL. But he backs it up with numbers in the NTDP that are extremely impressive.

I mean, Slaf is another kind of beast than a pure offensive producer.

His size is a serious advantage. He'll be able to impose his game and tempo against virtually all NHL defenders in his 20s. We'll see.

 

[Team_Spirit]

This man does not have the guts to pick Matvei Michkov.

Source, trust me bro.

 

[SlafySZN]

Benson is also far more skilled player than Leonard is and their size differential isn’t that far off to make Leonard a higher pick. The biggest difference is weight and that comes with age as your body develops. Benson also plays with an edge to his game and is no shrinking violet. Benson is clearly a better prospect than Leonard is.

I like Benson but i don’t agree. He is indeed skilled but his skating is not very good and how much will he be able to play with an ‘’edge’’ in the NHL? He’s gonna be a good player but he will have his limitations.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

I like Benson but i don’t agree. He is indeed skilled but his skating is not very good and how much will he be able to play with an ‘’edge’’ in the NHL? He’s gonna be a good player but he will have his limitations.

If we're going to reach, I'd rather we reach for Wood.

 

[Adam Michaels]

 

[Hacketts]

I like Benson but i don’t agree. He is indeed skilled but his skating is not very good and how much will he be able to play with an ‘’edge’’ in the NHL? He’s gonna be a good player but he will have his limitations.

I would say Benson skating is better than people give it credit for, solid edge work and a pretty shifty skater. Give him time to add strength and I reckon you'll see a solid improvement in his overall speed. You can say that any player will have his own set of limitations, but give me a player like Benson who seems to have the character to be continuously work on them and improve.

Also two words.. Brad Marchand.

 

[The Great Weal]

KK fans live in a different stratosphere than the rest of humanity

Nah man we ruined his development by not giving him a chance when he's played less than 10 minutes in the last 2 games of the playoffs, made a catastrophic mistake to replace him with Dvorak who are pretty much the same players, and most wanted Zadina so somehow that excuses the bad pick we made.

 

[sandviper]

What would you give up to move from 5 to 3 to get him?

Do you think #3 is necessary? Columbus is probably taking a center, Gaudreau is signed long-term, Laine has 3 years, Johnson and Marchenko are RFAs who'll likely be top-6 wingers. Their center depth is no good at all and a Smith or Carlsson is going to fit in nicely and I don't think the skill gap is so wide that Michkov is going to help them more than those two.

San Jose on the other hand...

 

[Sterling Archer]

I like Benson but i don’t agree. He is indeed skilled but his skating is not very good and how much will he be able to play with an ‘’edge’’ in the NHL? He’s gonna be a good player but he will have his limitations.

I think Bensons skating is not a problem. Just because he doesn’t have McDavid speed doesn’t make him a liability. It’s a rarity to have those kind off wheels and plenty of good players don’t.

Ironically enough, this post shows the exact video I was thinking I’d when I made my post. It’s not unique as Benson has good speed, but he’s shifty AF seemingly has 360 vision on the ice. I’d take Benson all day over Leonard and their rankings reflect that, with Benson consistently in the mid singles and Leonard in the low double digits.

I would say Benson skating is better than people give it credit for, solid edge work and a pretty shifty skater. Give him time to add strength and I reckon you'll see a solid improvement in his overall speed. You can say that any player will of his own set of limitations, but give me a player like Benson who seems to have the character to be continuously work on them and improve.

Also two words.. Brad Marchand.

 

[JohnTheBaptist]

I would say Benson skating is better than people give it credit for, solid edge work and a pretty shifty skater. Give him time to add strength and I reckon you'll see a solid improvement in his overall speed. You can say that any player will of his own set of limitations, but give me a player like Benson who seems to have the character to be continuously work on them and improve.

Also two words.. Brad Marchand.

Too many small players doesn't work in the playoffs. We have enough already.

 

[Sterling Archer]

Too many small players doesn't work in the playoffs. We have enough already.

Having a top 9 of Dach, Anderson, Dvorak, Suzuki, Slafkovsky with CC and Gally as the “small” guys isn’t an issue. Especially if they end up getting PLD and or resigning Monahan, they’re good.

It’s the bottom 4 where they arguably need more size and grit IMO.

 

[Hacketts]

Too many small players doesn't work in the playoffs. We have enough already.

2022 playoffs- 15gp/23pts
2023 platyoffs- 15gp/17pts

Certain players elevate there game in the playoffs, he's one of them. Give this kid a few years to develop properly, and he'll be a special player I think.

 

[OnTheRun]

Nah man we ruined his development by not giving him a chance when he's played less than 10 minutes in the last 2 games of the playoffs, made a catastrophic mistake to replace him with Dvorak who are pretty much the same players, and most wanted Zadina so somehow that excuses the bad pick we made.

...Or the brain trust decided to rush a 18 years old with a glaring technical flaw to the NHL then wisely used the next 3 years to punish him for not being ready to be a solid contributor to the team. Meanwhile, fortunately, Bergy and his merry band of monthbreathers developed Nate Thompson, Jordan Weal and Eric Staal who are all set to contribute to the Habs successes for years to come.

 

[SlafySZN]

I think Bensons skating is not a problem. Just because he doesn’t have McDavid speed doesn’t make him a liability. It’s a rarity to have those kind off wheels and plenty of good players don’t.

Ironically enough, this post shows the exact video I was thinking I’d when I made my post. It’s not unique as Benson has good speed, but he’s shifty AF seemingly has 360 vision on the ice. I’d take Benson all day over Leonard and their rankings reflect that, with Benson consistently in the mid singles and Leonard in the low double digits.

Leonard is 7th on Mckenzie’s list, Benson is 8th.

You don’t need to convince me Benson is good, i know he is and still have years to get better. I just have a personal preference for Leonard. He has advantages on Benson that will be the reasons he’ll be drafted in front of him.

If we're going to reach, I'd rather we reach for Wood.

Leonard or Benson wouldn’t be a reach, though.

 

[The Great Weal]

...Or the brain trust decided to rush a 18 years old with a glaring technical flaw to the NHL then wisely used the next 3 years to punish him for not being ready to be a solid contributor to the team. Meanwhile, fortunately, Bergy and his merry band of monthbreathers developed Nate Thompson, Jordan Weal and Eric Staal who are all set to contribute to the Habs successes for years to come.

You're right, MB should have done what Carolina did and played actual superstars like Mackenzie MacEachern more than KK in the last 2 games of their team's season.

 

[Sterling Archer]

Leonard is 7th on Mckenzie’s list, Benson is 8th.

You don’t need to convince me Benson is good, i know he is and still have years to get better. I just have a personal preference for Leonard. He has advantages on Benson that will be the reasons he’ll be drafted in front of him.


Leonard or Benson wouldn’t be a reach, though.

I’m not trying to draw a massive difference between them. Just thought it was funny how people were acting as if Leonard was a huge power forward and Benson a Smurf when they’re separated by 1.5” in height.

I hope Habs pick neither but if they had to take one, I’d take Benson as I think he’s a more skilled player.

Benson clearly higher ranked among more accounts according to these ranking agencies:

Zach Benson - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Zach Benson, 2005-05-12 Langley, BC, CAN Canada. Most recently in the NHL with Buffalo Sabres. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Ryan Leonard - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Ryan Leonard, 2005-01-21 Amherst, MA, USA USA. Most recently in the NCAA with Boston College. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

 

[OnTheRun]

You're right, MB should have done what Carolina did and played actual superstars like Mackenzie MacEachern more than KK in the last 2 games of their team's season.

...Or he should have sent the kid back to Finland to use that year to work on his skating, since a Liigua season is way less busy than anything in NA you get more time to work on technical issues.

The Canes never got to work with the player @18yo, so what they do now is irrelevant to what the Habs did back then.