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

[HabbyGuy]

If the idea is that Slafkovsky killed them with his charisma during the last interviews before the draft then Michkov stands no chance IMO.

Is there any information available out there on his ability to interlocute in English?

I was watching an interview with him recently but it was done via a translator. I don't get the sense it's a strength of his at all.

It does make it trickier, but hockey has it's own language, and his innate hockey sense would be a huge plus in helping with that translation, on the ice anyway.

 

[Belial]

I was watching an interview with him recently but it was done via a translator. I don't get the sense it's a strength of his at all.

It does make it trickier, but hockey has it's own language, and his innate hockey sense would be a huge plus in helping with that translation.

Bobrov to the rescue!

 

[ReHabs]

Putting hysterics aside, if the Habs squander the opportunity to draft a prospect with upside to be a PPG player at 5OA I think not just myself but a lot of people will approach the Habs and Kent Hughes with a much more critical eye going forward. You can't whiff on successive 1OA and 5OA picks, you just cannot do that.

The likelihood of Slaf being a PPG forward is not high. The likelihood of Leonard or Dvorsky being PPG forwards is not high. Reinbacher either, obviously. They can all become good, solid "playoff" players but if they don't produce at a high rate they won't be protagonists and that's specifically what we need. Hughes should know this.

 

[Sorinth]

Putting hysterics aside, if the Habs squander the opportunity to draft a prospect with upside to be a PPG player at 5OA I think not just myself but a lot of people will approach the Habs and Kent Hughes with a much more critical eye going forward. You can't whiff on successive 1OA and 5OA picks, you just cannot do that.

The likelihood of Slaf being a PPG forward is not high. The likelihood of Leonard or Dvorsky being PPG forwards is not high. Reinbacher either, obviously. They can all become good, solid "playoff" players but if they don't produce at a high rate they won't be protagonists and that's specifically what we need. Hughes should know this.

The odds of any of the top picks from last years draft class being PPG are not high.

 

[HuGort]

That's what they told us but I doubt it's true.

It's still unknown. Even likely to Hughes.

I am one of the few open to trading down to 8 or 9. If return is big enough?? If we could move one of our bad contracts and acquire another 2nd round pick I would consider it. we end up with Benson. I don't think many be crying.

 

[Belial]

Putting hysterics aside, if the Habs squander the opportunity to draft a prospect with upside to be a PPG player at 5OA I think not just myself but a lot of people will approach the Habs and Kent Hughes with a much more critical eye going forward. You can't whiff on successive 1OA and 5OA picks, you just cannot do that.

The likelihood of Slaf being a PPG forward is not high. The likelihood of Leonard or Dvorsky being PPG forwards is not high. Reinbacher either, obviously. They can all become good, solid "playoff" players but if they don't produce at a high rate they won't be protagonists and that's specifically what we need. Hughes should know this.

This PPG player mania is such a shortsighted view of the game...

There's no doubt in my mind that Suzuki and Caufield can reach PPG stats with a better cast of players surrounding them.

But that's not really the point I was trying to make, Vegas just won the cup and none of their players reached a PPG during the season. Eichel was almost PPG but still.

The year the Blues won the Cup none of their players had PPG seasons.

Tampa in 20/21 same thing.

McDavid and Draisaitl are torching the league for years and still can't win shit in the PO.

 

[HabbyGuy]

Putting hysterics aside, if the Habs squander the opportunity to draft a prospect with upside to be a PPG player at 5OA I think not just myself but a lot of people will approach the Habs and Kent Hughes with a much more critical eye going forward. You can't whiff on successive 1OA and 5OA picks, you just cannot do that.

The likelihood of Slaf being a PPG forward is not high. The likelihood of Leonard or Dvorsky being PPG forwards is not high. Reinbacher either, obviously. They can all become good, solid "playoff" players but if they don't produce at a high rate they won't be protagonists and that's specifically what we need. Hughes should know this.

Are you calling me hysterical?

 

[ReHabs]

The odds of any of the top picks from last years draft class being PPG are not high.

Doesn't matter. As 1OA they had the responsibility to pick the most effective player, not a "unicorn" with borderline critically bad hockey IQ. And Slafkovsky's season was brutal in a bad way. No one would be happy with such a first season for a 1OA so it further reinforces that the pick has been so far a bad one (even if Wright is having as tough of a time). If no PPG forwards were on the table from their perspective, they should've picked one of the dmen. I'm not post-hoc criticizing the draft pick either -- it was clear that Slafkovsky wasn't the "future PPG" type and both Wright and Cooley had marks against them as well, so it was the Habs' job to make the best out of the situation and it seems they have not. Especially if you account for the Mesar pick too.

 

[HabbyGuy]

This PPG player mania is such a shortsighted view of the game...

There's no doubt in my mind that Suzuki and Caufield can reach PPG stats with a better cast of players surrounding them.

But that's not really the point I was trying to make, Vegas just won the cup and none of their players reached a PPG during the season. Eichel was almost PPG but still.

The year the Blues won the Cup none of their players had PPG seasons.

Tampa in 20/21 same thing.

McDavid and Draisaitl are torching the league for years and still can't win shit in the PO.

I'm not too concerned about the PPG thing, but more about the skill and abilty to attack creatively and impose our will offensively. The results would naturally follow. It should also be theoretically easier to surround great talent with the complimentary pieces after. If you had the right management team in place. I wouldn't put McDavid and Draisaitl as reasons for their failures, they're the only reasons they have any success at all.

He's right that we need more skill up front. That should be obvious to anyone, no matter how good Suzuki or Caufield could be. It's pretty barren after that.

Doesn't matter. As 1OA they had the responsibility to pick the most effective player, not a "unicorn" with questionable-at-best hockey IQ. If no PPG forwards were on the table, they should've picked one of the dmen.

Well we're not quite sure yet they haven't. I'm sure if Slaf reaches his potential he'd be more than "effective".

I totally agree we need more though!

 

[Sorinth]

Doesn't matter. As 1OA they had the responsibility to pick the most effective player, not a "unicorn" with questionable-at-best hockey IQ. If no PPG forwards were on the table, they should've picked one of the dmen.

There's no indication that they didn't pick the most effective player since no one has done much of anything in the NHL yet.

 

[ReHabs]

There's no indication that they didn't pick the most effective player since no one has done much of anything in the NHL yet.

Neither has Slaf, who ended his season with a monstrous 40gp injury, which is the problem. Nemec and Jiricek were both there.

The fact is we need players with ceilings above Suzuki and Caufield. If after two years of hardcore tanking the Habs don't have a single better forward prospect than Caufield, that's a big L.

 

[sandviper]

Apparently, Habs are on Michkov's list of teams he will be open to interview.

If I were to guess; Chicago, Anaheim, San Jose, Montreal, Philly, Washington, Detroit, STL and Pittsburgh.

Maybe a couple big market teams in case he really gets passed over.

 

[Habs Halifax]

If I were to guess; Chicago, Anaheim, San Jose, Montreal, Philly, Washington, Detroit, STL and Pittsburgh.

Maybe a couple big market teams in case he really gets passed over.

I hope our interview goes well. We have not all seen Michkov play that much but he is a real talent. There are risks with any prospect you take. Take the guy who has a high chance at reaching their ceiling. BPA

I heard a rumor last night that Gorton/Hughes are considering trading up. I guess we are going to find out soon what happens with our pick and Dubois.

 

[sandviper]

Putting hysterics aside, if the Habs squander the opportunity to draft a prospect with upside to be a PPG player at 5OA I think not just myself but a lot of people will approach the Habs and Kent Hughes with a much more critical eye going forward. You can't whiff on successive 1OA and 5OA picks, you just cannot do that.

The likelihood of Slaf being a PPG forward is not high. The likelihood of Leonard or Dvorsky being PPG forwards is not high. Reinbacher either, obviously. They can all become good, solid "playoff" players but if they don't produce at a high rate they won't be protagonists and that's specifically what we need. Hughes should know this.

I agree top picks you don’t want to F*** up, but it’s possible for example that Hutson ends up being the best player out of the 2023 class. maybe Beck will develop into a perennial Selke candidate?

Of course I am not implying this is set in stone, but what I’m getting at is we won’t know for a half decade how the team will look. Maybe HuGo won’t be around to reap the benefits As well.

 

[Habs Halifax]

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?

Nothing is done yet. I'd put my money on Michkov. And yes, I'm aware there will be busts and disappointments in that top 10.

Michkov was playing in the KHL at age 18 and producing bud. That's a good sample size for a prospect because you usually don't see performance that good for a undrafted 18 year old.

 

[ReHabs]

I agree top picks you don’t want to F*** up, but it’s possible for example that Hutson ends up being the best player out of the 2023 class. maybe Beck will develop into a perennial Selke candidate?

Of course I am not implying this is set in stone, but what I’m getting at is we won’t know for a half decade how the team will look. Maybe HuGo won’t be around to reap the benefits As well.

Maybe Owen Beck becomes the next Sidney Crosby. We'll see how it turns out but the fact is with the 1OA and 5OA you should have at least ONE forward in your system that is nearly generally considered a blue-chip prospect with PPG upside. If they reach down to Dvorsky, Leonard, or Reinbacher like some here insist (and almost exclusively here -- why are fans more conservative and risk-averse than professional analysts?) the Habs prospect pool will continue to lack, for many years running, a single prospect who has likely PPG upside.

Nothing is done yet. I'd put my money on Michkov. And yes, I'm aware there will be busts and disappointments in that top 10.

Michkov was playing in the KHL at age 18 and producing bud. That's a good sample size for a prospect because you usually don't see performance that good for a undrafted 18 year old.

Michkov isn't just producing in the KHL, he's producing at a significantly high clip. Against men in the second best league in hockey. It's the reason why there is so much intrigue and hype for him despite the alleged red flags and complications (which aren't so complicated if you look at the bare facts).

 

[Jaynki]

Putting hysterics aside, if the Habs squander the opportunity to draft a prospect with upside to be a PPG player at 5OA I think not just myself but a lot of people will approach the Habs and Kent Hughes with a much more critical eye going forward. You can't whiff on successive 1OA and 5OA picks, you just cannot do that.

The likelihood of Slaf being a PPG forward is not high. The likelihood of Leonard or Dvorsky being PPG forwards is not high. Reinbacher either, obviously. They can all become good, solid "playoff" players but if they don't produce at a high rate they won't be protagonists and that's specifically what we need. Hughes should know this.

Care to elaborate on Habs whiffing their 1st overall pick last year?

We can debate Slaf ultimate upside or if they handed him well.

But its pretty apparent that Wright would have been the ultimate whiff.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Doesn't matter. As 1OA they had the responsibility to pick the most effective player, not a "unicorn" with borderline critically bad hockey IQ. And Slafkovsky's season was brutal in a bad way. No one would be happy with such a first season for a 1OA so it further reinforces that the pick has been so far a bad one (even if Wright is having as tough of a time). If no PPG forwards were on the table from their perspective, they should've picked one of the dmen. I'm not post-hoc criticizing the draft pick either -- it was clear that Slafkovsky wasn't the "future PPG" type and both Wright and Cooley had marks against them as well, so it was the Habs' job to make the best out of the situation and it seems they have not. Especially if you account for the Mesar pick too.

Too premature. It's one season at age 18. You may be right in the end but I would personally steer clear of deflating or pumping him. Lets see how he looks in his age 19 season. If it's more of the same, then we start to wonder more.

 

[ReHabs]

Care to elaborate on Habs whiffing their 1st overall pick last year?

We can debate Slaf ultimate upside or if they handed him well.

But its pretty apparent that Wright would have been the ultimate whiff.

I know we will disagree on Slaf but the fact remains many supporters of Slaf will downplay his potential to be a PPG player in the NHL. If after two years of tanking the Habs will not have added a single player with PPG upside, they'll have made a mistake somewhere along the line.

I don't want to re-litigate the Slafkovsky pick but if Wright was also bad then they should've looked harder and more closely at the defenders available. I understand and respect that Slafkovsky's upside is viewed as "unicorn" and unattainable on the open market so it means they HAVE to hit on this 5OA pick and get a damn PPG quality forward prospect. You can't miss on it twice.

If they had taken Nemec/Jiricek in 2022, then there wouldn't be any hesitation to take a PPG-upside skill forward in 2023. But now some are insisting to consider Reinbacher with the 2023 5OA, which would leave Slafkovsky, Mesar, and Reinbacher (+ the 31 OA) as the fruits of two years of hardcore tanking that are unlikely to be repeated. When will we get PPG players?

Too premature. It's one season at age 18. You may be right in the end but I would personally steer clear of deflating or pumping him. Lets see how he looks in his age 19 season. If it's more of the same, then we start to wonder more.

I'm not calling him a bust but even his pumpers and fans and supporters downplayed his PPG upside, so I'm operating with the same notions they put forth. Many even prior to the draft warned that none of the expected top picks were guaranteed first-line/first-pairing players. If that's the case the Habs have to make do but that means NOT drafting the "complete, 200ft, two-way" conservative prospects and going for the upside with their 2023 pick.

 

[NORiculous]

How about we make the playoffs again before worrying if our future dynasty won't be exciting enough

How about we get an interesting team and focus on talent before worrying about the playoffs.

 

[waitin425]

"I cheer for this team to get better by crapping on every move this management team does"

~ The Artist Formerly known as Expat Habs ~

 

[Jaynki]

I know we will disagree on Slaf but the fact remains many supporters of Slaf will downplay his potential to be a PPG player in the NHL. If after two years of tanking the Habs will not have added a single player with PPG upside, they'll have made a mistake somewhere along the line.

I don't want to re-litigate the Slafkovsky pick but if Wright was also bad then they should've looked harder and more closely at the defenders available. I understand and respect that Slafkovsky's upside is viewed as "unicorn" and unattainable on the open market so it means they HAVE to hit on this 5OA pick and get a damn PPG quality forward prospect. You can't miss on it twice.

If they had taken Nemec/Jiricek in 2022, then there wouldn't be any hesitation to take a PPG-upside skill forward in 2023. But now some are insisting to consider Reinbacher with the 2023 5OA, which would leave Slafkovsky, Mesar, and Reinbacher (+ the 31 OA) as the fruits of two years of hardcore tanking that are unlikely to be repeated. When will we get PPG players?


I'm not calling him a bust but even his pumpers and fans and supporters downplayed his PPG upside, so I'm operating with the same notions they put forth. Many even prior to the draft warned that none of the expected top picks were guaranteed first-line/first-pairing players. If that's the case the Habs have to make do but that means NOT drafting the "complete, 200ft, two-way" conservative prospects and going for the upside with their 2023 pick.

Well, that is in my opinion simply the harsh reality of tanking.

You are not guaranteed the Matthews and McDavid. Detroit is tanking for a while now and their only homerun is Mo Seider, whom they reached for.

Concerning the 2022 draft, the harsh reality was that there probably was not a true elite offensive star out there. So we had to make a choice between 3 forward with their strenght and flaws and who, according to McKenzie, where projecting as 2nd liner. It remains to be seen if Nemec or Jiricek can elevate their status as 1D but its kinda premature right now.

On the 2023 draft, we are all enamored by the likes of Carlsson, Smith, Fantilli, etc but again the harsh truth is that none of them are guaranteed PPG forwards and statiscally speaking one of them bust. And after them (and Michkov), we are in an even more speculative spot, where Reinbacher has a case for BPA. (A top pair RD is more valuable than a 60 points winger). Much like Nemec/Jiricek had a case against the 3 forward in 2022.

VGK build a cup winning team with two PPG star and one rock on D. They did it with an agressive strategy on the trade market and on free agency. They built an environment where players wanted to go there.

To me, its all about building a top-notch organisation. Doing so, players will want to come and play here. That was not the case with Bergevin. Hopefully, its the case with Gorton(he bringed PPG stars to NYR with trade and FA) and Hughes.

I understand the disappointment with the thoughts that we may end up two seasons of rebuild with "only" Slafkovsky and Reinbacher.

That don't take into accounts that we also drafted Hutson who i believe has star potential and that also don't take into account that Hughes agressively traded for Dach. Again a personal opinion, but i think he is the player with the most upside in our team right now, i can easily see him becoming a better C than Suzuki. Ending two years of rebuild with Slaf, Hutson, Dach and if we nail our 5OV pick this year, whoever it is, its starting to look pretty good tho in my opinion. That also don't take into account Suzuki, Caufield and Guhle.

Sorry for the boring long post

 

[ReHabs]

"I cheer for this team to get better by crapping on every move this management team does"

~ The Artist Formerly known as Expat Habs ~

This is not remotely true. I've consistently praised the MSL hire, the Caufield extension, the Petry/Matheson trade, and all the sales in the first trade deadline.

Why is the tendency to take aim at me instead of engaging in a constructive discussion? You got it flat-out wrong too, to boot.

 

[Jaynki]

"I cheer for this team to get better by crapping on every move this management team does"

~ The Artist Formerly known as Expat Habs ~

He is one of the most interesting and clever poster out there tho.

 

[ReHabs]

Sorry for the boring long post

Your comments are never boring, that's not a worry with which you should concern yourself.

We have slightly different views on the same thing. That's fine. You say there aren't any guarantees but you go on to say that Dach could eclipse all the aforementioned players (and it would therefore make the two tank seasons look good in summary) but that's not guaranteed either. Tanking doesn't always bear the best, ripest fruit and as someone who is opposed to year-on-year tanking I definitely agree. I also admire the Vegas approach of aggressive team building and expectations, so you're preaching to the choir.

The next few days will be nervy for sure. Ultimately we will root for whoever the Habs pick but I still predict the tone of the discussions will be a lot less light and forgiving if Hughes goes off-the-board and reaches down for one of Leonard, Dvorsky, or Reinbacher instead of one of the more skill-and-production upside players like Smith or Benson. Because once the hype dies down, and we sober up a bit, we will look at the prospect pool and still see the same damn glaring hole: no PPG upside prospect for the XXth year in a row.

(Michkov is difficult to pin down, I'd rather not concern myself thinking about him so as to not be disappointed if what I'm afraid of happening happens.)

On a side note, I've just published a post about Rebuilding and how I think we have enough evidence to say the Habs are no longer in a Rebuilding Phase. It is on my substack (I'm not sure if I'm permitted to link to it, but the link is found below my profile picture) and I've also posted it as a HFBoards article though it is under review. @waitin425 should give it a read.