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

[lamp9post]

Your high end forwards will end up putting 60-65 points season without the help of a capable defensive squad able to move the puck......that's my point. Can't have a working PP without one or two Dmen being able to control play or a great point shot.......we have neither.

Now having said that, the player we pick now is for 1-2 years from now, the problems and needs will be different by then.

Well, that's not necessarily true. Is Edmonton's defense the reason they have 3 100 point forwards? Is Arizona's defense the reason Keller scored 87 points this year? Kaprizov manages to be consistently above PPG despite a mediocre crew in Minnesota. Lots of high scoring forwards in Toronto and and outside of Reilly their defense isn't exactly known for their puck moving. Heck, hasn't Caufield been pacing at roughly PPG since St. Louis took over despite the defense in Montreal?

There was a time not long ago when we had two point producers on defense in Markov and Subban. How did our forwards produce over those year? That's right...Pac and Plek typically led the way with 60-65 points. We need to prioritize offensive talent, especially in an exceptional, forward heavy draft. Reaching for D at #5 would be following the same mistake we made when we reached for KK in 2018.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Hughes said it, Smith also said it multiple times. Hughes also keep in contact and speak with Leonard still.

I know he said it about Leonard but I only heard him say that Smith has probably changed since he coached him......you are probably right but I would be curious to see a link if you have one readily available.

 

[HabbyGuy]

I have no doubts he shouldn't be there at 5....but if he is, I'm even more concern about the reasons.

Many are calling him the Russian Bedard, best Russian since Ovechkin, Would have been the 1st overall in the last 4-5 draft and so on......He should be in the conversation for 1st overall with Bedard and surely the undispusted 2nd overall way ahead of Fantilli and the others.

Either he's overhyped or something (fears) will make Anaheim, San Jose and Columbus not go with the BPA.

If he's not overhyped and the fears are unjustified, then I have no doubts that at the very worst San Jose just can't pass on him either. Smith is very good but we're not talking about him like the coming of McDavid junior

Yeah. I don't see him getting to 5, it would be a dream scenario for it to happen in my eyes. I'm saying if he does drop the habs will gleefully take him and punish the other teams for their stupidity. Unlike you I would have no concerns as to why he's there. Just ecstatic that he is.

 

[crosbyshow]

If someone.....in the entire world can garanteed me that Michkov will coming over for sure in 3 years.......I am all in.


..because so far...no one knows for sure ..even Michkov himself.

 

[Milhouse40]

Well, that's not necessarily true. Is Edmonton's defense the reason they have 3 100 point forwards? Is Arizona's defense the reason Keller scored 87 points this year? Kaprizov manages to be consistently above PPG despite a mediocre crew in Minnesota. Lots of high scoring forwards in Toronto and and outside of Reilly their defense isn't exactly known for their puck moving. Heck, hasn't Caufield been pacing at roughly PPG since St. Louis took over despite the defense in Montreal?

There was a time not long ago when we had two point producers on defense in Markov and Subban. How did our forwards produce over those year? That's right...Pac and Plek typically led the way with 60-65 points. We need to prioritize offensive talent, especially in an exceptional, forward heavy draft. Reaching for D at #5 would be following the same mistake we made when we reached for KK in 2018.

Don't need to have an all star cast either.....just not one that completely sucks in that matter....our 2nd best point producer this year on D was freaking SAVARD.

We don't have one D with a shot that is a threat on the point
We don't have one D with the skills to be a Quaterback on the PP
We don't have any threat offensively on the backend, it's easy for the opposition to put all their attention on our forward and shut them down.

Some are coming....

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

If someone.....in the entire world can garanteed me that Michkov will coming over for sure in 3 years.......I am all in.


..because so far...no one knows for sure ..even Michkov himself.

Actually Michkov made it pretty clear he wants to play in the NHL.

 

[crosbyshow]

Actually Michkov made it pretty clear he wants to play in the NHL.

Yeah he wants...a lot of Russians people wants some things these days but....

In a time of war like that....Michkov' desire means almost nothing..

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Yeah he wants...a lot of Russians people wants some things these days but....

In a time of war like that....Michkov' desire means almost nothing..

So why is he allowed to go to the draft?

 

[lamp9post]

Don't need to have an all star cast either.....just not one that completely sucks in that matter....our 2nd best point producer this year on D was freaking SAVARD.

We don't have one D with a shot that is a threat on the point
We don't have one D with the skills to be a Quaterback on the PP
We don't have any threat offensively on the backend, it's easy for the opposition to put all their attention on our forward and shut them down.

Some are coming....

Well, its clear we need improvements throughout the lineup, not just at forward, however we did play most of the year with FIVE rookies on D so this is not a surprise. They actually did a lot better than I expected TBH. Also our best puck mover (Matheson) was injured for large chunks of the season. We'll know more about what we have with this group at this time next year. Guhle, Barron, and Harris are effective puck movers, and Mailloux/Hutson will have more seasoning as well.

 

[Mcdonaldz]

That could be a championship contending defence

Because in the history of hfhabs … the roster filled with prospects and young guys always seems to work out

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

We are getting Michkov at 5 , hope is all we have and I ain't letting go of it boys

 

[HabbyGuy]

Man Michkov is one cocky player with his goal attempts and celly's. This is from a couple years ago, and granted the defence being played against him make Patrick Traverse look like a hall of famer.

But still very much fun to watch. If he was a little quicker he'd be completely unstoppable. Can you imagine getting to watch this every night as a hab fan?

 

[nhlfan9191]

Well, that's not necessarily true. Is Edmonton's defense the reason they have 3 100 point forwards? Is Arizona's defense the reason Keller scored 87 points this year? Kaprizov manages to be consistently above PPG despite a mediocre crew in Minnesota. Lots of high scoring forwards in Toronto and and outside of Reilly their defense isn't exactly known for their puck moving. Heck, hasn't Caufield been pacing at roughly PPG since St. Louis took over despite the defense in Montreal?

There was a time not long ago when we had two point producers on defense in Markov and Subban. How did our forwards produce over those year? That's right...Pac and Plek typically led the way with 60-65 points. We need to prioritize offensive talent, especially in an exceptional, forward heavy draft. Reaching for D at #5 would be following the same mistake we made when we reached for KK in 2018.

You make a very good argument. But I don’t think picking the defenseman in the case that Smith, or Michkov aren’t options for whatever reason is a strong argument. Reinbacher isn’t the reach that KK was in 2018. I don’t even think it’s as much of a reach as going for Slafkovsky last year.

 

[Schooner Guy]

Actually Michkov made it pretty clear he wants to play in the NHL.

There are rumours that his dad was encouraging him to go to the NHL before he was mysteriously found dead in a man made pond after going for a walk.

Not saying there's a connection but geezaz that's a bizarre situation and you really can't take anything at face value that comes out of Russia these days.

 

[Schooner Guy]

So why is he allowed to go to the draft?

The draft has zero impact on his status with his KHL team. It's good that teams like the Habs will get a chance to talk to him before the draft and get to know him.

 

[Redux91]

Man Michkov is one cocky player with his goal attempts and celly's. This is from a couple years ago, and granted the defence being played against him make Patrick Traverse look like a hall of famer.

But still very much fun to watch. If he was a little quicker he'd be completely unstoppable. Can you imagine getting to watch this every night as a hab fan?

I mean he's okay I GUESS
(That hands on hips toward the opposing bench celly tho, gad dayum lmao that is cold blooded)

 

[NORiculous]

You make a very good argument. But I don’t think picking the defenseman in the case that Smith, or Michkov aren’t options for whatever reason is a strong argument. Reinbacher isn’t the reach that KK was in 2018. I don’t even think it’s as much of a reach as going for Slafkovsky last year.

Habs won’t get any more shots at a Smith or Michkov in the next couple of seasons as they get better but they will get a shot at more Reinbachers.

Most have Reinbacher around 10th, which is about what the Habs pick in 2024 will look like in a deep Defensman draft.

There is no case for a D at 5 this year. Zero.

You have to pick BPA at 5 and if Reinbacher played the other side, not one person would even mention him. That shows he is a reach, exactly the same as KK.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

If someone.....in the entire world can garanteed me that Michkov will coming over for sure in 3 years.......I am all in.


..because so far...no one knows for sure ..even Michkov himself.

Will Smith will also stay in College for 3 years and could perhaps ditch after 3 years
Point being?

 

[WG]

Habs won’t get any more shots at a Smith or Michkov in the next couple of seasons as they get better but they will get a shot at more Reinbachers.

Most have Reinbacher around 10th, which is about what the Habs pick in 2024 will look like in a deep Defensman draft.

There is no case for a D at 5 this year. Zero.

You have to pick BPA at 5 and if Reinbacher played the other side, not one person would even mention him. That shows he is a reach, exactly the same as KK.

Agreed. Every recent prospect list (not mock draft, but prospect rankings) I have seen recently puts Bedard 1, then some combo of Fantilli, Michkov, Carlsson and Smith from 2-5. Then the rest. BPA is whichever of those five is left when Montreal picks.

I agree with you, the chance is there for a potential first line forward, be it Carlsson, Smith or Michkov and they won't get many more opportunities. A team that has had one guy exceed 80 points since 2000 should probably try to grab a player who can get over that admittedly low bar. Everybody loves Suzuki but he's our #1 point producer which puts him about 70th in the league.

And as you say, there's a chance to get a good D next year. Take the forward, HuGo.

 

[NORiculous]

If someone.....in the entire world can garanteed me that Michkov will coming over for sure in 3 years.......I am all in.


..because so far...no one knows for sure ..even Michkov himself.

He said it’s his dream and he will be at the draft. His dad wanted him on the NHL too.

But he will probably end up in JS.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

He said it’s his dream and he will be at the draft. His dad wanted him on the NHL too.

But he will probably end up in JS.

JS?

 

[Kennerback]

If someone.....in the entire world can garanteed me that Michkov will coming over for sure in 3 years.......I am all in.


..because so far...no one knows for sure ..even Michkov himself.

My 2 cents, if he defects à la Mogilny there’s not much they can do. Sue a now Canadian temporary resident for breach of contract in a Russian court?

 

[dinodebino]

I'm speaking hypothetically as we don't know for sure they will and the smoke seems to reinforce they'd pass more than they would take him

There’s a lot of smoke right now. But that’s another story for another day.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Smith sounds like he really wants to be a Hab.

Where did you hear him speak ?

 

[Kennerback]

IMO, like Malkin and others, Michkov will get fed up and cross over before his 3 years are over with SKA, and play for SJ, Habs or Caps.

Russia did not sign the international tranfer agreement. And an NHL team can’t pay off a European team to get a player transfered, because the NHL doesn’t allow it.

SKA would perhaps try to sue Michkov in Russia or Canada for breach of contract. If they would get a Canadian court to enforce a judgment, it probably wouldn’t be for much. Maybe the amount for the remainder of his contract. Let’s say 1 M$. Which would be nothing for Michkov in North America.

Because it’s from Michkov not from the Habs, Bettman and the NHL couldn’t block a payment. Court enforced or not.

Just brainstorming a possible scenario.