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

[Runner77]

Welp.

I sure am glad we won those close games with our AHL squad this year so we can miss out on the elite big Centers.

: D

Yeah, that extra handful of wins will make a huge difference down the line. We’re damn fools.

 

[River Meadow]

Yeah, that extra handful of wins will make a huge difference down the line. We’re damn fools.

Maybe... just maybe......

Dvorsky is the smart pick for us at #5... assuming Fantilli/Carlsson/Smith are off the board.

Dvorsky isn't flashy but seems to be a smart well rounded relatively big C who uses his body effectively to protect the puck, but also, I have an odd feeling that he will be a sort of Filip Forsberg type, where his offense is questioned right now (pre-draft) a bit, but I think he will do just fine at the NHL level...

 

[Skip Bayless]

Wow what a transparent guy, it really changes from what we have in mtl



So Columbus is getting for sure Smith or Carlsson

No surprise there.

 

[Kimota]

If Mich is still available at #5 and the Habs don't pick him, I'm gonna buy a good 2 x 4.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

I mean, they can afford to tip their hand a bit more since they know who will still be available at 3OA.
A luxury we don't have drafting at 5.

Hence why I don't hold my breath that much for a trade up, though I'd welcome it

I am close to 100% certain at this point that Michkov will last until at least the 4th pick. I am hoping that HuGo's decision will be entirely a hockey based conclusion without geopolitical influence. If their deep dive on Michkov finds him to be overhyped then so be it but if they conclude that he is the best player but his situation makes them too nervous and pass on him that is not something that I can easily accept.

 

[Runner77]

Maybe... just maybe......

Dvorsky is the smart pick for us at #5... assuming Fantilli/Carlsson/Smith are off the board.

Dvorsky isn't flashy but seems to be a smart well rounded relatively big C who uses his body effectively to protect the puck, but also, I have an odd feeling that he will be a sort of Filip Forsberg type, where his offensive is questioned right now (pre-draft) a bit, but I think he will do just fine at the NHL level...

I thought Dvorsky projected as a 2nd liner.

Where is our offensive superstar? Why do we have to settle for players with limited offensive ceiling, after the putrid season we’ve had? It’s frustrating to have to consider a lot of potential downward scenarios.

 

[River Meadow]

I thought Dvorsky projected as a 2nd liner.

Where is our offensive superstar? Why do we have to settle for players with limited offensive ceiling, after the putrid season we’ve had? It’s frustrating to have to consider a lot of potential downward scenarios.

We're not lucky like Chicago who get to choose generational talent whenever they need it.

tbf we also can't tank like Chicago when it matters because we have so much Karacter.

IMO for me, if Michkov is serious about coming over to NHL after KHL contract for sure and gives those assurances to MTL, we take him, easily.

However if that's not the case... we're looking at who? Dvorsky, Leonard, Benson..... (likely Smith will be off the board)

Dvorsky could be more than a 2nd liner too, he has a really good hockey IQ at least.

McCagg love him or hate him, has Dvorsky at #3, and says he has no flaws in his game, hasn't seen a better defensive Center prospect since Patrice Bergeron..

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Michkov will not end up in Montreal. Either the concerns attached to him are somewhat resolved before the draft, leading San Jose to go for him. However, if the Sharks stay away, then you can bet that Montreal will as well, not because they will blindly follow their lead, but because they will have the same information that drove San Jose to make their decision. Michkov will then fall, until the reward vs risk ratio is large enough to justify picking him. The difference between Smith, Leonard, Dvorsky, Wood, etc... is not large enough to drastically change the reward/risk ratio between San Jose and Montreal. Thus, these teams would either both pick him or both drop him. Unfortunately, San Jose picks before us, so there is no chance that he will be a Habs.

That's quite probably a bad supposition. Montreal and San Jose will likely not have the exact same information, nor the same perspectives. Nor Anaheim, nor Columbus. Nobody knows what those teams will do.

I see a whole bunch of people in this thread already in shell mode. Already bracing themselves for the worst possible outcome. So scared of having just a sliver of hope. Holy shit the trauma is real!

 

[Takeru]

I am close to 100% certain at this point that Michkov will last until at least the 4th pick. I am hoping that HuGo's decision will be entirely a hockey based conclusion without geopolitical influence. If their deep dive on Michkov finds him to be overhyped then so be it but if they conclude that he is the best player but his situation makes them too nervous and pass on him that is not something that I can easily accept.

I trust they'll do their homework and act in the team's long term best interest, similar in how they felt Slaf was the best pick last year despite the lack of consensus.

At the moment, there are multiple scenarios that can play out leading up to our pick. So KH does the smart thing in my opinion by not tying his hands with a declaration or making a claim he has no way of backing, unless he'd want to go as generic as "we'll be drafting a forward" which borderlines on meaningless at that point.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

If Mich is still available at #5 and the Habs don't pick him, I'm gonna buy a good 2 x 4.

A Washington fan can write if Caps don't pick Mich at #8 I'm gonna buy a ticket to Moscow and have an explanation with an owner of an KHL team.

 

[Takeru]

We're not lucky like Chicago who get to choose generational talent whenever they need it.

tbf we also can't tank like Chicago when it matters because we have so much Karacter.

IMO for me, if Michkov is serious about coming over to NHL after KHL contract for sure and gives those assurances to MTL, we take him, easily.

However if that's not the case... we're looking at who? Dvorsky, Leonard, Benson..... (likely Smith will be off the board)

Dvorsky could be more than a 2nd liner too, he has a really good hockey IQ at least.

McCagg love him or hate him, has Dvorsky at #3, and says he has no flaws in his game, hasn't been a better defensive Center prospect since Patrice Bergeron..

View attachment 707351

Gotta love those annual "best since Patrice Bergeron" comparisons.

Don't know enough about Dvorsky to contradict it, but it does lose impact with each repetition.
Weren't KK and Wright propped up in similar fashion?

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

he has control in his hands, he can buy out the rest of his contract with SKA if he wants to, it will take a year but he is allowed.

They (Ska) will want the rest of his contract to be buyout? And if that's possible to be done clean, without a scandal of bribery, a Lamborghini delivered to a Ska owner or a large amount of money paid on the side, illegal style, you know.

 

[yianik]

Oh neither would I, just believe that's what it would take for Columbus to pull the trigger. Unless they're that high on one of our other prospects, which I don't see them being.

Maybe we get a player for Anderson plus picks and / or prospects they do want.

I do know though the more complicated it becomes , the more unlikely it is to happen. The best shot we have is if the Sharks are good with Michkov, that we trade with them and get Carlsson, or more likely Smith.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

Gotta love those annual "best since Patrice Bergeron" comparisons.

Don't know enough about Dvorsky to contradict it, but it does lose impact with each repetition.
Weren't KK and Wright propped up in similar fashion?

After reading this I am in front of a new dillemma. Are we missing a new Patrice Bergeron in Dvorsky? Just to have Bergeron in comparaison it's enough to have a strong bedate. To be followed ...

 

[Gravity]

Trade up to secure Carlsson.

 

[Takeru]

Maybe we get a player for Anderson plus picks and / or prospects they do want.

I do know though the more complicated it becomes , the more unlikely it is to happen. The best shot we have is if the Sharks are good with Michkov, that we trade with them and get Carlsson, or more likely Smith.

Which center Columbus drafts and who the Sharks prefer between Carlsson/Michkov are the potential dominoes in this situation.

From what I've read, Smith isn't a guy worth trading up for. Nice consolation prize at 5 with more certainty than Michkov, but a cut in talent below the top 4. Unless CBJ or SJS have a significantly different evaluation of the players or there are some monstruous red flags from Michkov, I think we'll stay at 5. Don't see Carlsson making it past 3, seems too much of a pipe dream.

 

[yianik]

I thought Dvorsky projected as a 2nd liner.

Where is our offensive superstar? Why do we have to settle for players with limited offensive ceiling, after the putrid season we’ve had? It’s frustrating to have to consider a lot of potential downward scenarios.

We take Michkov. Elite talent. Done. He doesn't come over ? Damn. If he does come over, is great and we didn't take him then Hughes gets added to the list of dumb F##K GMs we've had. And we pay the price.

When GMs get away from the talent evaluation and emphasizing non talent factors like character, warrior mentality, being a gym rat, being able to cook chicken at 14, blah blah blah, I think it will often end badly. Not saying those things aren't to be considered, but don't overthink it.

 

[Kennerback]

Yeah, that extra handful of wins will make a huge difference down the line. We’re damn fools.

Chicago know how it’s done. Blow everything up. Draft Kane & Toews. Win 3 Cups. Rinse and Repeat.

Our master plan: avoid that franchise player at all cost. Mission almost accomplished.

 

[yianik]

Which center Columbus drafts and who the Sharks prefer between Carlsson/Michkov are the potential dominoes in this situation.

From what I've read, Smith isn't a guy worth trading up for. Nice consolation prize at 5 with more certainty than Michkov, but a cut in talent below the top 4. Unless CBJ or SJS have a significantly different evaluation of the players or there are some monstruous red flags from Michkov, I think we'll stay at 5. Don't see Carlsson making it past 3, seems too much of a pipe dream.

If Michkov goes top 4, no problem, we get a top C prospect even if it's Smith. The problem is if Michkov is available, and we don't take him. We take him we have drafted an elite prospect and that takes some ofthe pain out of missing one of the Cs. We don't take him, then bloody hell.

So I want to avoid the possible DND Michkov issue. And would be good to get a top C prospect

 

[Kennerback]

Michkov will make it to the NHL like every single Russian superstar in the past 30 years. If he doesn’t win us the Cup in 4 years, it’ll be in 8. I’m very patient.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Michkov will make it to the NHL like every single Russian superstar in the past 30 years. If he doesn’t win us the Cup in 4 years, it’ll be in 8. I’m very patient.

What the hell does the last 30 years have to do with anything???? There was no war then.

 

[Galaxydoggystyle]

If michkov is available at 5 we just take him and roll the dice on a potential elite player we haven't had in decades. It really isn't a hard choice to make.

 

[Kennerback]

What the hell does the last 30 years have to do with anything???? There was no war then.

There was the Cold War. Sergei Fedorov was drafted during the Cold War and won 3 Cups with the Wings.

 

[dinodebino]

Ya well, reading the Mtl pundits over the last two days, or even since the lottery, kid MM is getting the riot act. The negative takes are a plenty. They are just attacking everything, even his attitude now. Une job de bras.

 

[Sorinth]

Chicago know how it’s done. Blow everything up. Draft Kane & Toews. Win 3 Cups. Rinse and Repeat.

Our master plan: avoid that franchise player at all cost. Mission almost accomplished.

So spending big on a UFA goalie and trading picks and prospects for Havlat is considered blowing everything up because that's what they did while tanking for Kane and Toews.