How is it a have my cake and eat it too proposition? Do you just not discuss other options because it is counter to what you hope is happening? Should I just sit here and yell into the void that the Habs aren't going to get Leo Carlsson and that they should trade everything under the sun to get into a position to draft him, and if they don't, they are irredeemable idiots?
I'm not even saying that at all. What I am saying is that there is a real possibility that we will not select Michkov for hockey and non-hockey related reasons, so with that being a real and valid possibility, we need to discuss the other options and not just shit on them. What are we getting if we take Leonard? What are we getting if we take Reinbacher? Are there other prospects that should be in the discussion and how do they fit, what do they need to work on?
I don't think the Habs, or any organization, go into the process with any DND mindset on any prospect. I'm certain they've done their homework on every prospect in the draft and they'll do it on Michkov. As they should, as I would do in their shoes, and as I am hoping they will do and with an open and unbiased mind at that.
I've already answered that I have Michkov at 3, so I'd take Michkov at 5 if it was me but it's also an unfair question to really ask anyone. It's like saying well would you marry Halsey if you were single? Yeah, she's gorgeous, she's a talented artist, I love her music, she loves similar things to me.. but I've never met this person, I've never dated them, I don't know if we have chemistry, I don't know if she values the same things as me, etc. There's an entire massive other side to Michkov outside of what he can do in the offensive zone and we, as fans, don't get to have those conversations and so we can't accurately assess the risk profile of Michkov.
But the pro Michkov camp isn't really doing the "I'd take Michkov at 5" they are doing "if the Habs don't take Michkov at 5, they are stupid and they are incompetent and selecting any other player if he is on the board at 5 is the worst decision they could make" and not at all acknowledging that there may be more at play. If the consensus out there is that Michkov is a top 3-5 talent in this draft, but he's not getting drafted 3, and likely not getting drafted 4, and looking likely isn't getting drafted at 5 - when do you concede it isn't as simple as taking the most offensively talented player left in Michkov, regardless of everything else around him - information that you don't and won't have.
That same Michkov camp seemingly throws away any suggestions that there is a risk. Russiaphobia. Russia boogeyman. Character assassination. Smoke and mirrors. Maybe there is some veracity to it, if there could be 3-5 organizations passing on someone that you've all ascertained is the most talented player available after Bedard? Those organizations aren't doing that blindly and without due diligence.
Thoughts?
