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

[The Great Weal]

Anaheim will want a quality piece like Dach and more plus the 5th OA pick. Should have just sent down RHP and Belzile when they were doing everything if you liked the top of the draft that much more. Also Sharks aren't trading the pick if Carlsson falls to them.

 

[jaffy27]

Americans are increasingly becoming a hazard to pick.

Many of them will prefer to go back to the US asap. Not all, sure.

I much rather we draft Canadians, then Russians/Euros, than Americans, if the choice is close.

Caufield had no
Issues signing long term, Harris signed no problem, same with Struble.

I don’t think the Canadiens have any issues retaining US players

 

[Canadienna]

The problem with moving up at the draft isn't the cost, it's finding teams willing to do it.

But that at least - in part - has to do with the value offered right?

But I get what you're saying, and if a team is set on picking it would likely take a massive overpayment.

It's probably unrealistic, but fun to think about. I just wanted to get others thoughts on what it would take to get ANA or even CBJ to bite on a swap.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Caufield had no
Issues signing long term, Harris signed no problem, same with Struble.

I don’t think the Canadiens have any issues retaining US players

Did I say all? And it's a phenomenon that will probably accelerate.

Caufield was fine, but he was also not a Top 5 pick.

And he got in at the right time in Montreal, while there's an effervescence with a new group of players and management and a lot of hope in the future.

 

[jaffy27]

No players should be out of the table for Fantilli

No….but a combination of certain players is.

I’d offer our 2 first’s….Barron and Beck….but that’s it….for all we know Smith falls to 5th and is the 2nd best player of this draft….gotta be careful here

Did I say all? And it's a phenomenon that will probably accelerate.

Caufield was fine, but he was also not a Top 5 pick.

And he got in at the right time in Montreal, while there's an effervescence with a new group of players and management and a lot of hope in the future.

Caufield is a top 5 talent….never said you said all, I’m saying Habs have no issues retaining US born players hence no fear to draft them

 

[Deleted member 257557]

Americans are increasingly becoming a hazard to pick.

Many of them will prefer to go back to the US asap. Not all, sure.

I much rather we draft Canadians, then Russians/Euros, than Americans, if the choice is close.

Looks like the habs have a good american connection these days though from Caufield and Hutson through ownership(Rangers gm and Hughes college / agent connections). Good rep I feel.

 

[Natey]

With the caveat that you never know who had the best draft at the draft, Montreal did not have close to the best 1st round outside of Chicago "hands down":

-Anahiem got Fantilli
-Columbus got Carlsson
-Detroit got Michkov and Honzek
-Arizona got Reinbacher and Perreault
-Flyers got Leonard and Ritchie

You're right. Detroit would rank higher here too but that's it.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Anaheim will want a quality piece like Dach and more plus the 5th OA pick. Should have just sent down RHP and Belzile when they were doing everything if you liked the top of the draft that much more. Also Sharks aren't trading the pick if Carlsson falls to them.

Yep Anaheimand San Jose are in full rebuild mode , habs are like a year or 2 ahead , we don'T make good trade partners at all.

*Edit Anaheim

 

[BenchBrawl]

Looks like the habs have a good american connection these days though from Caufield and Hutson through ownership(Rangers gm and Hughes college / agent connections). Good rep I feel.

Yeah well, we don't know until we know. Like with that Matthew Tkachuk fiasco in Calgary.

Holy shit imagine being Calgary man.

 

[Vachon23]

No….but a combination of certain players is.

I’d offer our 2 first’s….Barron and Beck….but that’s it….for all we know Smith falls to 5th and is the 2nd best player of this draft….gotta be careful here

Or go full NFL mode !

3x 1st round pick

 

[The Great Weal]

Maybe this is all noise and smokescreens. Maybe not. It is very exciting though.

I'd say it's more nerve-wracking than anything lol. Not impressed with the 1st round picks last year (although it was a terrible year to have the 1st pick but missing on Kulich is inexcusable). Gorton's focus on size with the 1st OA pick is not inspiring.

That being said, it could very well be them thinking "well both Bedard/Michkov and CC in the top 6 isn't ideal with their size so might as well draft a giant projected to go high in a bad draft class and miss out on the more talented player in a bad draft but take one next year where it's going to be good".

Yep Arizona and San Jose are in full rebuild mode , habs are like a year or 2 ahead , we don'T make good trade partners at all.

I actually think Arizona would be a great trade partner assuming a guy like Keller or Cooley want out. I'd give up the 5th OA for either.

 

[BenchBrawl]

I'd say it's more nerve-wracking than anything lol. Not impressed with the 1st round picks last year (although it was a terrible year to have the 1st pick but missing on Kulich is inexcusable). Gorton's focus on size with the 1st OA pick is not inspiring.

That being said, it could very well be them thinking "well both Bedard/Michkov and CC in the top 6 isn't ideal with their size so might as well draft a giant projected to go high in a bad draft class and miss out on the more talented player in a bad draft but take one next year where it's going to be good".


I actually think Arizona would be a great trade partner assuming a guy like Keller or Cooley want out. I'd give up the 5th OA for either.

I mean, the fact that they drafted Slafkovsky last year should erase any selection based on size this year. They even claimed this argument themselves last year in the brainstorm videos they put out. By picking Slaf, they could focus on other things than size afterward. Don't see why that wouldn't transfer to this year too.

You can have 2 small players in the Top 6. CC and Michkov/Benson, one on each line.

We already have two monsters in Slaf and Dach.

 

[jaffy27]

The philosophy was wrong right from game one. We could very easily have kept the bulk of our rookie D and Slaf in Laval picked up a few more waiver wire players and ensured that teams with more talent like San Jose and Anaheim don't out tank the dead last team from the previous year. More Wideman too would have helped. The Pro Tankers always wanted two years particularly with this year's top end. Suzuki and company would have sucked in their guts just the same and that winning culture BS was just that BS. Get some players then work on the culture. I thought we were more intuitive.

The only way we duplicate last years last overall results is if we would’ve kept Ducharme and I’m pretty sure Caufield is pulling a Dubois in Columbus and is asking his agent to get me the f*** out of here, you arr essentially destroying your young core to finish last and end up not even drafting Bedard and there is no guarantee Fantilli or Carlsson will better Michkov or Smith or even Leonard.

We are picking 5th and have an ascending young group of players, this is a great position to be in

 

[Twisted Sinister]

I mean, the fact that they drafted Slafkovsky last year should erase any selection based on size this year. They even claimed this argument themselves last year in the brainstorm videos they put out. By picking Slaf, they could focus on other things than size afterward. Don't see why that wouldn't transfer to this year too.

You can have 2 small players in the Top 6. CC and Michkov/Benson, one on each line.

We already have two monsters in Slaf and Dach.

Incoming Reinbacher.

 

[rickthegoon]

Whenever I don't come in here for 48hres, there's automatically a new bandwagon that people jump on....... crazy how within a week Smith was the guy most talked about, 2 days later Leonard is on everyone's lips, and 2 days later it's now Benson who's the hot ticket.
Can't wait to tune in Friday when I read about the next new best flavor.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Incoming Reinbacher.

 

[The Great Weal]

Whenever I don't come in here for 48hres, there's automatically a new bandwagon that people jump on....... crazy how within a week Smith was the guy most talked about, 2 days later Leonard is on everyone's lips, and 2 days later it's now Benson who's the hot ticket.
Can't wait to tune in Friday when I read about the next new best flavor.

Have we talked about Michkov yet? On a serious note, I do think it's unsettling that Leonard all of a sudden considered just as good if not better than Smith when nobody really thought that the last time they played hockey at the U18.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Whenever I don't come in here for 48hres, there's automatically a new bandwagon that people jump on....... crazy how within a week Smith was the guy most talked about, 2 days later Leonard is on everyone's lips, and 2 days later it's now Benson who's the hot ticket.
Can't wait to tune in Friday when I read about the next new best flavor.

Hello, "rickthegoon" (lol!), you're right. We should have an official thread posted 2 days before the draft, so everyone can post their final Top 5 list of who they want us to pick in order (including Bedard). That way we can revisit it for all to see later on.

 

[The Great Weal]

I mean, the fact that they drafted Slafkovsky last year should erase any selection based on size this year. They even claimed this argument themselves last year in the brainstorm videos they put out. By picking Slaf, they could focus on other things than size afterward. Don't see why that wouldn't transfer to this year too.

You can have 2 small players in the Top 6. CC and Michkov/Benson, one on each line.

We already have two monsters in Slaf and Dach.

Time to add another one in Mark Sto...I mean Matthew Wood.

Good luck playing against Slaf-Dach-Wood

 

[River Meadow]

So basically.. Benson is 160 hockey IQ

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Have we talked about Michkov yet? On a serious note, I do think it's unsettling that Leonard all of a sudden considered just as good if not better than Smith when nobody really thought that the last time they played hockey at the U18.

everyone the whole season said the top 5 was

Bedard Michkov Fan Carsson and Smith

Now , we have Dvorsky Benson , Badbaker as #5 , like absolutely nothing changed.

Same shit happened last year.

It's like some doofus started it because the habs are about to make a dumb move and want people to cope

 

[BenchBrawl]

everyone the whole season said the top 5 was

Bedard Michkov Fan Carsson and Smith

Now , we have Dvorsky Benson , Badbaker as #5 , like absolutely nothing changed.

Same shit happened last year.

It's like some doofus started it because the habs are about to make a dumb move and want people to cope

You love Smith better than Benson?

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

You love Smith better than Benson?

Damn right I do , what the hell is this coming from , anyways we shouldnt even be talking about it since Michkov should be the target.

Why we have to make it so damn complicated every years when the obvious is starting right at us , Im still bamboozled that habs picked f***ing Slaf at #1

 

[Ozmodiar]

Have we talked about Michkov yet? On a serious note, I do think it's unsettling that Leonard all of a sudden considered just as good if not better than Smith when nobody really thought that the last time they played hockey at the U18.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Damn right I do , what the hell is this coming from , anyways we shouldnt even be talking about it since Michkov should be the target.

Why we have to make it so damn complicated every years when the obvious is starting right at us , Im still bamboozled that habs picked f***ing Slaf at #1

Why do you prefer him to Benson? Benson is incredible, a much better foundation of skills and decision-making.

You're right though, we should pick Michkov without thinking twice. You don't pass on a guy like that.