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

[SwiftyHab]

 

[River Meadow]

I think that's a good solid top 3 for us to be eyeing.

Would be happy with either.

 

[Kennerback]

I love Benson’s hockey mind. I’m just a bit worried for his mix of size and speed in the NHL for a pick @5oa. We’ll see. I am super high on Smith.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

I love Benson’s hockey mind. I’m just a bit worried for his mix of size and speed in the NHL. We’ll see. I am super high on Smith.

Same worries people had about Caufield and Cole is smaller.

 

[Runner77]

Same worries people had about Caufield and Cole is smaller.

If Benson is the BPA at the 5th slot, so be it. The size issue will then have to be addressed otherwise.

 

[Hannibal]

One thing i’m scared from Benson, is that yes he is small. But from seeing videos of him at the combine, he has one of the smallest frame i have ever seen. My god. I question the fact of how much more weight and mass he will be able to put. Frame looks even worst than hutson lol

 

[River Meadow]

One thing i’m scared from Benson, is that yes he is small. But from seeing videos of him at the combine, he has one of the smallest frame i have ever seen. My god. I question the fact of how much more weight and mass he will be able to put. Frame looks even worst than hutson lol

I mean, his face looks young af too. He looks 12.

Some kids take a longer time to mature......

 

[waffledave]

See this is where I struggle. No matter how talented Smith is. I don't believe he belongs in the top 4 tier with Bedard, Fantill, Carlsson and Michkov.

I believe Smith is in the next tier. So moving up for him doesn't compute for me. (I'll gladly take him at 5 though)

Unless as you say the habs are adamant about avoiding Michkov at all costs. Which from a hockey talent standpoint I also struggle with.

Especially when Hughes emphatically stated they'll take the BPA.

This draft can't come quick enough. It's killing me.

Curious to know why you think that. Talent/skill wise, he is top 3 in this draft. He has great skating and speed. He is a wizard offensively and can make a fool out of opposing dmen. By all accounts he is in great physical shape. He has hunger/drive/tenacity over his peers. IMO he goes top 3 with little doubt.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Get insight.

I mean, this was literally posted in two spots, so might as well make two comments about it

Come on, mods, there only needs to be 1 thread.

 

[HabbyGuy]

Curious to know why you think that. Talent/skill wise, he is top 3 in this draft. He has great skating and speed. He is a wizard offensively and can make a fool out of opposing dmen. By all accounts he is in great physical shape. He has hunger/drive/tenacity over his peers. IMO he goes top 3 with little doubt.

He has great hands no doubt, love his creativity and willingness to attempt to use it. It looks great in the usntdp, just not sure it will necessarily translate with the same success in the NHL, and if it does, I think most of that success will occur in the regular season opposed to the playoffs.. I don't find him particularly strong on his skates, and he's prone to brain farts.

I'd happily take him though at 5, because his talent is tantalizing, and we are bereft of this type of skill.

My top 4 are not only what I believe to be the better players as a whole but more importantly the ones I believe the habs would most benefit from through a organizational and team construction standpoint.

It is only my opinion, I may even be wrong, (some would say most likely) but that's just how I feel.

 

[Milhouse40]

Same worries people had about Caufield and Cole is smaller.

The problem isn't Cole or Benson's size......the problm is to built a team with both of them at the same time on the top 6.

That's the problem with players like Cole or Benson, if they don't get on the top 6 , then they are mostly useless.

Hugues talked about team building lately and that's what he meant by that. It's one thing to go ahead with the smallest player in the NHL like Cole, but they have to build smartly around him and don't add player like Benson actually.

It don't mean they can't take Benson......but he's a trade chip at best down the road unless he surpass Cole which is a hard thing to do.

 

[River Meadow]

The problem isn't Cole or Benson's size......the problm is to built a team with both of them at the same time on the top 6.

That's the problem with players like Cole or Benson, if they don't get on the top 6 , then they are mostly useless.

Hugues talked about team building lately and that's what he meant by that. It's one thing to go ahead with the smallest player in the NHL like Cole, but they have to build smartly around him and don't add player like Benson actually.

It don't mean they can't take Benson......but he's a trade chip at best down the road unless he surpass Cole which is a hard thing to do.

tbh I don't think it's as big of a problem as we may think, if the players are as talented as they are.

Look at Tampa... tons of smaller super skilled players and it didn't hurt them at their peak.

Yes we need to build the team carefully to compensate but it's also very doable, IMO.

 

[HuGo Sham]

If Benson is the BPA at the 5th slot, so be it. The size issue will then have to be addressed otherwise.

it really will. I'm all for skill over size but at some point the team can't trot out Caufield, RHP, Suzuki (not small but not big) and say Benson in a top 9 role and expect to get anywhere in a playoff series - especially against a team with a rugged D corps.
That's the reality, and that's why I'm not getting rid of Anderson and why someone like PLD is important.
And yes, I know Dach is there

oops i forgot gallagher...
another top 9 small guy who's permanently beaten up

 

[River Meadow]

it really will. I'm all for skill over size but at some point the team can't trot out Caufield, RHP, Suzuki (not small but not big) and say Benson in a top 9 role and expect to get anywhere in a playoff series - especially against a team with a rugged D corps.
That's the reality, and that's why I'm not getting rid of Anderson and why someone like PLD is important.
And yes, I know Dach is there

RHP transcends size.

He is a Clutch King.

 

[HuGo Sham]

RHP transcends size.

He is a Clutch King.

lol agree to disagree.

 

[jaffy27]

I mean, his face looks young af too. He looks 12.

Some kids take a longer time to mature......

So 3yrs?….might as well go with Michkov the superior talent.

I’ll be honest, if we’re picking Benson at 5 I will be in a bad mood, I want Michkov, Leonard, Smith or Reinbacher at that spot.

 

[Beer and Chips]

Bias in journalism was obvious before as well. You can still predict the tone or angle of a journalist if you know which newspaper hires him.

It not just bias it is the loss of the basic 5 W's.

 

[jaffy27]

RHP transcends size.

He is a Clutch King.

He will more then likely have a shorten career like Gallagher.

Love the player though

 

[Runner77]

it really will. I'm all for skill over size but at some point the team can't trot out Caufield, RHP, Suzuki (not small but not big) and say Benson in a top 9 role and expect to get anywhere in a playoff series - especially against a team with a rugged D corps.
That's the reality, and that's why I'm not getting rid of Anderson and why someone like PLD is important.
And yes, I know Dach is there

oops i forgot gallagher...
another top 9 small guy who's permanently beaten up

Correct me if I’m wrong but you see more and more teams building their D-corps with oversized, physical and mobile D. So those challenges by diminutives that you mention, are likely to take place with far greater frequency.

 

[SlafySZN]

tbh I don't think it's as big of a problem as we may think, if the players are as talented as they are.

Look at Tampa... tons of smaller super skilled players and it didn't hurt them at their peak.

Yes we need to build the team carefully to compensate but it's also very doable, IMO.

Also they won’t play on the same line anyway other than the power-play.

 

[River Meadow]

lol agree to disagree.

I'm of course mostly joking, but he is pretty damn clutch...

I wonder how that progresses when we place actual expectations on him..

 

[HabbyGuy]

The problem isn't Cole or Benson's size......the problm is to built a team with both of them at the same time on the top 6.

That's the problem with players like Cole or Benson, if they don't get on the top 6 , then they are mostly useless.

Hugues talked about team building lately and that's what he meant by that. It's one thing to go ahead with the smallest player in the NHL like Cole, but they have to build smartly around him and don't add player like Benson actually.

It don't mean they can't take Benson......but he's a trade chip at best down the road unless he surpass Cole which is a hard thing to do.

Makes a lot of sense. That said a top 6 of say..

Caufield Suzuki Dach/Dubois
Benson Dubois/Dach Slafkovsky

Seems well balanced enough, no?

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

Do you really think it's completely out of the realm of possibilty the habs may actually love Michkov and are determined to make sure he's available even if this scenario is unlikely?

Not that I'm disagreeing with your assesment. Just that the possibility may exist.

Because I'm aware, even I, who is a huge supporter of Michkov, too would struggle to choose between Carlsson Fantilli or Michkov if we had a top 3 pick. At 4 it becomes a no brainer to me from a strictly hockey sense.

Talent wise, it'a top five all dressed. It's just that after 5 the talent drops a lot, and a lot. Not saying any of those might not become good assets long term but they look less promising at this point in june 2023. Now if Habs have the choice of Michkov at 5 and they don't take him, some of us will get angry.

 

[HabbyGuy]

Talent wise, it'a top five all dressed. It's just that after 5 the talent drops a lot, and a lot. Not saying any of those might not become good assets long term but they look less promising at this point in june 2023. Now if Habs have the choice of Michkov at 5 and they don't take him, some of us will get angry.

Yes I have no problem with Smith at 5 if Michkov is off the board.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

See this is where I struggle. No matter how talented Smith is. I don't believe he belongs in the top 4 tier with Bedard, Fantill, Carlsson and Michkov.

I believe Smith is in the next tier. So moving up for him doesn't compute for me. (I'll gladly take him at 5 though)

Unless as you say the habs are adamant about avoiding Michkov at all costs. Which from a hockey talent standpoint I also struggle with.

Especially when Hughes emphatically stated they'll take the BPA.

This draft can't come quick enough. It's killing me.

I feel if Habs wants to move up is to avoid Michkov and make sure of one of Carlsson or Smith, preference with Carlsson. I see it clear like stone water.