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

[Runner77]

Maybe there is another Davey D lurking in the shadows...

Looking like you have a good feeling about this one.

 

[HabbyGuy]

If we stay at 5 and Michkov is the one left, and we don't take him... Gorton/Hughes are going to derail their positive movement with our youth rebuild because "not taking Michkov" will haunt them for years. A distraction that lasts for 5+ years.

Yeah, Michkov could not come or disappoint but who's really going to bet a lot of money he won't sign in the NHL after his KHL deal and he's a disappointing prospect? Who's betting big money on that? I wouldn't

As far as Michkov telling teams who he will have an interview with.... Has there been a report saying he told the Habs he wouldn't? Didn't notice any

I don't think it will derail our rebuild, we're still going to get a solid prospect out of the draft at 5, but I absolutely agree we will end up regretting passing on Michkov. 100 percent.

 

[Michoulicious]

Habs will list Michkov as a no-draft because they won't like his answer to which animal he would be

He just has to say he is a "female lion" and then Bobrov will cry of joy and give him his first born.

 

[Jaynki]

Top 5 pick in a "generational" draft demands you pick the most skilled player, period, end of conversation. Size makes no difference to me in this scenario as long as the skill level is so significantly higher than the next guy. You can play him on a thick line to create space. Some of the best players in the league are under 6'. Skill is rare, size can easily be acquired and for cheap.

The talk about it being a generational draft is bullshit.

There is Bedard but the rest is like any other draft.

The 2022 draft was at some point a generational draft because of Wright and Lambert and not even a year later its apparently a f***ing weak draft.

It could be a generational draft and we could whiff our pick or it could be a very weak draft and we end up with Forsberg. Those notion are irrelevant and are nothing but noise.

Nail the pick and thats it.

 

[Draft]

The talk about it being a generational draft is bullshit.

There is Bedard but the rest is like any other draft.

The 2022 draft was at some point a generational draft because of Wright and Lambert and not even a year later its apparently a f***ing weak draft.

It could be a generational draft and we could whiff our pick or it could be a very weak draft and we end up with Forsberg. Those notion are irrelevant and are nothing but noise.

Nail the pick and thats it.

Yeah… no.

Carlsson, Fantilli, Smith, and Michkov all being available in the top-5 is an anomaly. The quality of the top-25/30 is just about unparalleled compared to the last decade.

We don’t know how it’ll all turn out until they’re in the NHL, but there’s no question that this draft year is exceptional.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I don't think anyone can definitively say Benson is outright more talented than Ryan Leonard.. and then you factor in the better frame and skating.. I can definitely see Leonard going ahead of Benson in a BPA on talent.

 

[Jaynki]

Yeah… no.

Carlsson, Fantilli, Smith, and Michkov all being available in the top-5 is an anomaly. The quality of the top-25/30 is just about unparalleled compared to the last decade.

We don’t know how it’ll all turn out until they’re in the NHL, but there’s no question that this draft year is exceptional.

I know the popular opinion is that Slafkovsky would have been picked 17th in the 2023 NHL entry draft but i firmly believe that Carlsson, Fantilli, Smith, Michkov, Slafkovsky, Cooley and Wright belongs in the same discussion.

Therefore, i think after Bedard its like any other draft.

 

[Whitesnake]

Especially after saying during the combine that ultimately we will take the most talented player available. If they won't take Michkov @ 5 (and I don't think they will) I'd say there could be a case made for Benson being arguably the most talented player left on the board @ 5 for the Habs.

I was listening to Carbo being interviewed on TSN690 last week and when asked about what he thinks the Habs should do at the draft the first thing out of his mouth was the Habs need size since you can't have too many smaller players on your team since they already have a few. Yes the Habs might need more size but this team also really needs talent.

It's just plain stupid. Not because you could ice 20 5'8''. You can't. But thank god nobody said this when it was time to pick Caufield....we would have ended up with John Beecher....

You pick Benson. You deal Mesar, Farrell, and everybody else not named Caufield and Suzuki.

I don't think anyone can definitively say Benson is outright more talented than Ryan Leonard.. and then you factor in the better frame and skating.. I can definitely see Leonard going ahead of Benson in a BPA on talent.

Personnally, I'd have no problem with either of them. If it's not Michkov, it's one or the other for me.

 

[Runner77]

 

[Draft]

I know the popular opinion is that Slafkovsky would have been picked 17th in the 2023 NHL entry draft but i firmly believe that Carlsson, Fantilli, Smith, Michkov, Slafkovsky, Cooley and Wright belongs in the same discussion.

Therefore, i think after Bedard its like any other draft.

No. It’s a bad take. If you follow the draft closely through the years and analyze these kids based on watching their play and not on fun draft-time narratives, it’s obvious and pretty well unanimous.

We knew it was a weak crop by the end of the Slaf/Wright year, even leading up to it. Very few players stood out, none appearing exceptional after Wright was injured/sick and ultimately plateaued. Slafkovsky showed something special at the Olympics, but most could put that into context.

Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson, Smith, and Michkov are at the absolute peak of what we typically see from prospects in these leagues. Name an equivalent to Fantilli last year in the NCAA? In the last five years? Was it luck that Michkov dominated last years U18s while not being in his draft year? Had the best season for a Russian player since Ovechkin? Carlsson is having the best season for a draft eligible player in the SHL in many years. Smith is breaking USNTDP records and dominating international play… No matter how you look at it, this top-5 is special compared to other years and there isn’t a huge drop off either.

For those that follow prospects closely, you’ll hear a nearly unanimous agreement that this is a special year. It’s not a conspiracy, it’s just a good draft year.

 

[HabbyGuy]

There's no denying, that despite the risks that may be associated with Michkov, if we end up passing on him, it will indeed be a very tough pill to swallow.

There's a huge possibilty, or more so probability, it bites us and them in the ass.

They sure as hell better know what they're doing.

It seems far riskier to me to NOT pick him then it is to pick him.

Considering the reward.

 

[BenchBrawl]

About Michkov's small size:

Based on his pics his frame looks strong (made of one block) and he's heavily bow-legged, like most great skaters.

I'm not worried about that at all, he doesn't look weak by any means.

 

[Jaynki]

No. It’s a bad take. If you follow the draft closely through the years and analyze these kids based on watching their play and not on fun draft-time narratives, it’s obvious and pretty well unanimous.

We knew it was a weak crop by the end of the Slaf/Wright year, even leading up to it. Very few players stood out, none appearing exceptional after Wright was injured/sick and ultimately plateaued. Slafkovsky showed something special at the Olympics, but most could put that into context.

Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson, Smith, and Michkov are at the absolute peak of what we typically see from prospects in these leagues. Name an equivalent to Fantilli last year in the NCAA? In the last five years? Was it luck that Michkov dominated last years U18s while not being in his draft year? Had the best season for a Russian player since Ovechkin? Carlsson is having the best season for a draft eligible player in the SHL in many years. Smith is breaking USNTDP records and dominating international play… No matter how you look at it, this top-5 is special compared to other years and there isn’t a huge drop off either.

For those that follow prospects closely, you’ll hear a nearly unanimous agreement that this is a special year. It’s not a conspiracy, it’s just a good draft year.

You are making good point but its debatable, i believe.(i insist on debatable)

Nothing that Carlsson or Fantilli, even Smith, has done was as impressive as what Slafkovsky did in both the OG and the WC (9 points in 20 total teams goals and the display of massive offensive tools.) The Michkov U18 at 16YO is like Wright 15YO season and 16YO U18. Carlsson has a similar season to bust-trending William Eklund, production-wise (i much prefer Carlsson tools and profile). Fantilli is only 5 months younger than Cooley who had a pretty similar season. Cooley did not also played with the same crop as Smith. The talk is that Fantilli lacks IQ and he is 13 days removed from the 2022 NHL draft, where he would have had a decent season in the USHL but probably not worthy of his current hype.

This top 5 might not even go like we think it will. Public list are one thing but the real draft is always another one. Someone like Reinbacher or Leonard, heck even Dvorsky, could surprise us and be picked top 5. We might surprise at who falls into our lap. Dvorsky will still be 18 when the stanley cup is lifted in 2024, whereas Fantilli will be 19 when next season start. Small details indeed tho.

Statisically speaking, one of Fantilli, Carlsson, Smith will bust. They may end up 2nd or 3rd liner. Someone picked 6-15 will be better than players picked top 5. Its the same poutine each and every year. There is just so much variance.

But yes, it indeed looks good.

 

[Sterling Archer]

The talk about it being a generational draft is bullshit.

There is Bedard but the rest is like any other draft.

The 2022 draft was at some point a generational draft because of Wright and Lambert and not even a year later its apparently a f***ing weak draft.

It could be a generational draft and we could whiff our pick or it could be a very weak draft and we end up with Forsberg. Those notion are irrelevant and are nothing but noise.

Nail the pick and thats it.

I disagree. The quality of picks in this draft is much higher than last year and past drafts. Solid picks going into the 2nd round. None the less. You’re right. Just make the right pick!

 

[sampollock]

Dvorsky may be the safe pick

 

[Runner77]

There's no denying, that despite the risks that may be associated with Michkov, if we end up passing on him, it will indeed be a very tough pill to swallow.

There's a huge possibilty, or more so probability, it bites us in the ass.

We’re not going to know for some 3 years if Michkov or most other draftees have an NHL impact, so the GM has 3 other drafts in which to manufacture hope.

Who knows if this management contingent will even be around as is by the time Michkov supposedly becomes available to the NHL.

 

[HabbyGuy]

We’re not going to know for some 3 years if Michkov or most other draftees have an NHL impact, so the GM has 3 other drafts in which to manufacture hope.

Who knows if this management contingent will even be around as is by the time Michkov supposedly becomes available to the NHL.

I'm more worried about it biting us, the fans, and team in the ass, then I am the management side. Finding a different GM is easy, acquiring elite talent, not so much.

When's the last time we had a bonified elite offensive star?

I'm tired of it.

Everyone's talking about risk/reward. It seems far riskier to me to pass then it is to not.

I'd have no regret with them atleast taking their shot and be fine if it failed.

There's not one prospect they could pick that is a guarantee anyway.

Why not go after the brass ring? The one with the clearest highest upside.

I have not seen anything anywhere on these forums or media thus far that answers this simple fundamental question.

 

[Jaynki]

I disagree. The quality of picks in this draft is much higher than last year and past drafts. Solid picks going into the 2nd round. None the less. You’re right. Just make the right pick!

I dont disagree, but we almost picked Lane Hutson in the third round. For what its worth.

 

[Runner77]

This “you’ll see” bit had all the ominous overtones of a Russian spy agency communique:



“Michkov will go to Washington, you’ll see,” the source told Match TVand translated via Google Translate. “The Capitals will definitely take him – there is only one competitor for [them], San Jose,
who will make the fourth choice. Because, the owner of the club loves Russian hockey very much, and he is a fan of Igor Larionov.

 

[armChairScout]

We’re not going to know for some 3 years if Michkov or most other draftees have an NHL impact, so the GM has 3 other drafts in which to manufacture hope.

Who knows if this management contingent will even be around as is by the time Michkov supposedly becomes available to the NHL.

This management group in Montreal gives me more hope and optimism than the bargainbin management group. What a disaster that was !! He put us back 10 years.

What will help Montreal rebuild is not having price in nets. Meaning that he was the reason we picked 23-15 when we should have been picking 1-6 for 10 years

This “you’ll see” bit had all the ominous overtones of a Russian spy agency communique:



“Michkov will go to Washington, you’ll see,” the source told Match TVand translated via Google Translate. “The Capitals will definitely take him – there is only one competitor for [them], San Jose,
who will make the fourth choice. Because, the owner of the club loves Russian hockey very much, and he is a fan of Igor Larionov.

Did they mention Montreal ?

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

If I was in Michkov’s shoes, I’d try very hard not to play in Arz too.
lol

Yeah I could understand but that's not 100% ethic. This nhl league have Arizona as a franchise, one of the 32. They are the poorest and most miserable of the league, the crowd is something like 2500, it's a joke. Midget 3A in Qc or junior across Canada and Minnesota brings more crowd. But Arz are in the nhl so it's better play the system, accept to play there. If later he ask for a trade, he have to accept the PLD treatment and swallow the pill in silence.

 

[Runner77]

Did they mention Montreal ?

Just a brief mention: “It is hard to imagine that Montreal (fifth overall) will take the Russian,” the source started.

Looks solid.

 

[McGees]

People here are more certain that Michkov becomes an NHL superstar than any other player in the draft....its hilarious and insane.
Skill is only one aspect of a player and the career they will have.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Dvorsky may be the safe pick

Another 3rd liner exactly what we need

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

I guess you are willing to bet guys from 6-10 will be better than Michkov?

Can you agree nothing is done yet, we are not in 2026 and Mitchkov is only a projected player. He can bust, he might never come, he can be half-bust, he can be 80% what you expect and 100% what you expect. Same for everyone except the others don't have the geopolitical context. The media environment could be a distraction for Mitch. As a public person, he will have to answer questions about the war?

Even if he comes here, the stats would say out of the 6, one might become better and 2 would become equal. It happens all the time. Dvorsky, Reinbacher, Leonard, Benson and few others have all interresting projected potential. The idea is making the potential happen or who is better suited to accomplish his potential?