Prospect Info: Current #2 overall poll and discussion

[AfroThunder396]

I don't buy the theories going around in the mainstream, I think it's all a big elaborate smokescreen.

Montreal is going to take Wright. They *want* to take Slafkovsky, but I don't think they will. With the draft being in MTL and the nature of Canadian fans/media, passing on a safe #1 center from North America to pick a traitsy European would cause fans to riot. Especially considering how thin that organization has been at center for the past few decades.

I think MTL's ideal scenario is that NJ trades up to take Slaf and takes the choice out of their hands, then they can"settle" for Wright and claim to the fanbase that 'well he was our guy all along (lie), plus we picked up assets to it's a huge win!' So I think all of this smoke is an effort by Canadian media to scare NJ, who clearly is set at C and wants to add a big power forward, into making a move up for Slaf. We won't.

If Kent Hughes find his balls and DOES take Slaf, I think we still take Wright. He would pretty clearly be the best player on the board and provide huge ELC value to us at the time when our core is starting to age into their second contracts. Plus, having a surplus of talented centers is never a bad thing, worst case scenario we have a stockpile of the best asset in the league - cost-controlled #1 center.

I think the only way we take a defensemen is if we trade down, which I think is incredibly unlikely. Fitz isn't going to try to trade down, so some other team would have to blow us away with an offer we absolutely can't refuse. TBH I think the odds of trading the pick for a guy like Tkachuk/Past are higher than the chances of us trading down, but you never know. But after winning the lottery this pick is house money, I think you simply have to just select a player at #2 here.

 

[Capt Nico Poo]

I don't buy the theories going around in the mainstream, I think it's all a big elaborate smokescreen.

Montreal is going to take Wright. They *want* to take Slafkovsky, but I don't think they will. With the draft being in MTL and the nature of Canadian fans/media, passing on a safe #1 center from North America to pick a traitsy European would cause fans to riot. Especially considering how thin that organization has been at center for the past few decades.

I think MTL's ideal scenario is that NJ trades up to take Slaf and takes the choice out of their hands, then they can"settle" for Wright and claim to the fanbase that 'well he was our guy all along (lie), plus we picked up assets to it's a huge win!' So I think all of this smoke is an effort by Canadian media to scare NJ, who clearly is set at C and wants to add a big power forward, into making a move up for Slaf. We won't.

If Kent Hughes find his balls and DOES take Slaf, I think we still take Wright. He would pretty clearly be the best player on the board and provide huge ELC value to us at the time when our core is starting to age into their second contracts. Plus, having a surplus of talented centers is never a bad thing, worst case scenario we have a stockpile of the best asset in the league - cost-controlled #1 center.

I think the only way we take a defensemen is if we trade down, which I think is incredibly unlikely. Fitz isn't going to try to trade down, so some other team would have to blow us away with an offer we absolutely can't refuse. TBH I think the odds of trading the pick for a guy like Tkachuk/Past are higher than the chances of us trading down, but you never know. But after winning the lottery this pick is house money, I think you simply have to just select a player at #2 here.

I feel like i've read this analysis in this thread a dozen times already. This thread is a big loop draft cant come too soon to have new discussion points and angles..

 

[AfroThunder396]

I feel like i've read this analysis in this thread a dozen times already. This thread is a big loop draft cant come too soon to have new discussion points and angles..

Sorry, I've been out of town for the past week and haven't really been checking in beyond the occasional glance at Twitter. Sorry If I rehashed an earlier discussion.

 

[Traitor Zach]

I don't see any legit folks discussing the idea, just a bunch of unverified Twitter accounts. People really need to stop posting the garbage that gets thrown up on Twitter by fake accounts, burner accounts, troll accounts.

There's no way the Canadiens in their home arena, with a #1 pick are going to play chicken and default a prime choice for them. They'd get absolutely and rightly vilified it's so nonsensical. They aren't getting any premium assets for moving back 1 pick, and if Fitz is even thinking or entertaining idea of giving up real valued prospects or another high #1 pick next year , he should be fired on the spot by ownership. Unless MTL is willing to take a 5th rounder conditional in 2024, this isn't happening, mostly because it makes no sense from the MTL perspective. I don't see Gorton based on how he operates, doing anything like this. Hughes isn't calling the shots on this either as GM, it's really Gorton with Hughes input.

This is all just the usual unverified and unsubstantiated fantasy "filler" that gets plopped out before the draft and free agency to keep the interweb hits going and going and chatter that can keep the hamsters busy.

I also keep seeing nonsense about how Slaf will be booed if the Habs don't take Wright, the Canadian boy. I think that's ludicrous as well. Many Habs fans simply want a good player and to get their rebuild in momentum. Either player does it for them. They add a good C prospect with a good C they have. Adding Slaf gives them a power forward/big body type to help their smaller forwards and so on.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

He would be (stylistically) another Nico to pair with Jack. I don't think anyone would say no to that if we had the luxury by literally playing Nico with Jack, but obviously we can't. But we could with Wright. I've pretty much just settled with "whoever is the pick is the pick, as long it's one of the two". Like you, I think Slaf is the player with potential to be better but hey what can you do if he gets picked 1st.

He isn’t the same as Nico though. Has a better shot and probably a better hockey IQ as well.
I don’t think he has as much speed or 1-on-1 skill though.

 

[RSeen]

I don't buy the theories going around in the mainstream, I think it's all a big elaborate smokescreen.

Montreal is going to take Wright. They *want* to take Slafkovsky, but I don't think they will. With the draft being in MTL and the nature of Canadian fans/media, passing on a safe #1 center from North America to pick a traitsy European would cause fans to riot. Especially considering how thin that organization has been at center for the past few decades.

I think MTL's ideal scenario is that NJ trades up to take Slaf and takes the choice out of their hands, then they can"settle" for Wright and claim to the fanbase that 'well he was our guy all along (lie), plus we picked up assets to it's a huge win!' So I think all of this smoke is an effort by Canadian media to scare NJ, who clearly is set at C and wants to add a big power forward, into making a move up for Slaf. We won't.

If Kent Hughes find his balls and DOES take Slaf, I think we still take Wright. He would pretty clearly be the best player on the board and provide huge ELC value to us at the time when our core is starting to age into their second contracts. Plus, having a surplus of talented centers is never a bad thing, worst case scenario we have a stockpile of the best asset in the league - cost-controlled #1 center.

I think the only way we take a defensemen is if we trade down, which I think is incredibly unlikely. Fitz isn't going to try to trade down, so some other team would have to blow us away with an offer we absolutely can't refuse. TBH I think the odds of trading the pick for a guy like Tkachuk/Past are higher than the chances of us trading down, but you never know. But after winning the lottery this pick is house money, I think you simply have to just select a player at #2 here.

Bobby Mac basically always gets the first pick correct so I don't see what you are saying as being true.

It could be either one, but Kent Hughes isn't an old school GM where he will take someone like Wright despite his scouts thinking another player is the best.

 

[Saugus]

Bobby Mac basically always gets the first pick correct so I don't see what you are saying as being true.

It could be either one, but Kent Hughes isn't an old school GM where he will take someone like Wright despite his scouts thinking another player is the best.

I don't think this is the right way to read McKenzie's rankings. His own write up of his poll said it was a very small edge to Slafkovsky, because the 10 scouts in the poll voted 5-4-1. I don't think he is predicting that Slafkovsky will definitely go #1, and his piece even says that team needs and drafting philosophy are not considered. It's other people who are bringing up this idea of "McKenzie is never wrong about the #1".

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Bobby Mac basically always gets the first pick correct so I don't see what you are saying as being true.

It could be either one, but Kent Hughes isn't an old school GM where he will take someone like Wright despite his scouts thinking another player is the best.

I think you’re underestimating the pressure that they might be under to pick Wright. There will be a packed crowd of Montreal fans expecting him to pick Wright.
They might have a very quiet and disappointed crowd very quickly if they don’t.

 

[Saugus]

I think you’re underestimating the pressure that they might be under to pick Wright. There will be a packed crowd of Montreal fans expecting him to pick Wright.
They might have a very quiet and disappointed crowd very quickly if they don’t.

They probably do care about the crowd (and fanbase) opinion to some extent, but they really shouldn't take that into account. They should be looking for the BPA. Maybe they think that's Wright, maybe they don't. But other considerations shouldn't enter into it.

 

[Devs3cups]

They probably do care about the crowd (and fanbase) opinion to some extent, but they really shouldn't take that into account. They should be looking for the BPA. Maybe they think that's Wright, maybe they don't. But other considerations shouldn't enter into it.

I think the most likely scenario is that they like both a lot, but would prefer takimg a C, which ia the most valuable position after all. Wright/Suzuki down the middle is a very attractive option.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

They probably do care about the crowd (and fanbase) opinion to some extent, but they really shouldn't take that into account. They should be looking for the BPA. Maybe they think that's Wright, maybe they don't. But other considerations shouldn't enter into it.

But I think if they’re close whatsoever the crowd and fans come into effect.
Unless they think Slafkovsky is clearly the better prospect they probably go with Wright.

 

[Oneiro]

My guess is that a week from now we're going to be giddy about Slaf being a Devil and once more disgusted by experienced reporters acting as mouthpieces for Canadian NHL teams in exchange for insider info later.

 

[Normal Devil]

I think you’re underestimating the pressure that they might be under to pick Wright. There will be a packed crowd of Montreal fans expecting him to pick Wright.
They might have a very quiet and disappointed crowd very quickly if they don’t.

The GM's job is to pick the best player according to their organization .. fans be damned.

 

[Devs3cups]

The GM's job is to pick the best player according to their organization .. fans be damned.

It’s 100% his job. But that stuff does factor in sometimes, especially in a big fan driven market like MTL.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

The GM's job is to pick the best player according to their organization .. fans be damned.

Not sure what your point is.
We’re all aware of what a GM’s job is.
That doesn’t mean the fanbase and pressure doesn’t have any effect or role in some things. Part of the GM’s job is keeping the fans happy and that’s extremely important for their own sake. Hughes won’t want to piss off the fans as any GM wouldn’t.
As I said above. Unless he thinks Slafkovsky is clearly the better prospect he’s probably gonna go with Wright because there will be thousands of people in that arena expecting him to pick Wright that he wants on his side.
If he picks Slafkovsky over Wright he better be right.

 

[Devils090]

If Slaf goes 1 take Nemec

 

[Normal Devil]

Not sure what your point is.
We’re all aware of what a GM’s job is.
That doesn’t mean the fanbase and pressure doesn’t have any effect or role in some things. Part of the GM’s job is keeping the fans happy and that’s extremely important for their own sake. Hughes won’t want to piss off the fans as any GM wouldn’t.
As I said above. Unless he thinks Slafkovsky is clearly the better prospect he’s probably gonna go with Wright because there will be thousands of people in that arena expecting him to pick Wright that he wants on his side.
If he picks Slafkovsky over Wright he better be right.

My point was that they shouldn't be worried about fans booing them. Pick the best player and move on.

 

[MauDevils]

The GM's job is to pick the best player according to their organization .. fans be damned.

Isn't this the market that won't hire a coach who doesn't speak French?

So yeah...

 

[Captain3rdLine]

My point was that they shouldn't be worried about fans booing them. Pick the best player and move on.

That’s easy for a fan of another team to say.
They absolutely have to worry about that.
If they think Slafkovsky is clearly better and are confident in that then sure take him. But otherwise the pressure of the fanbase and environment is a factor.

 

[Traitor Zach]

People are completely believing their own imagination and it's somewhat dishonest to operate from a premise in believing that fans have a real impact on deciding which player their team should take as an operational decision making plan or foundation for team building. It's not like Wright was baptized in maple syrup in the Quebecois forests up there folks.

If MTL believes Slafkovsky is a better long term player to help their current forward group grow together and fit for rebuilding their club, they are taking him. Period. Full Stop. If they take Wright, it's because they believe he is a better foundational piece for them in how they are conceptually building their hockey team out into the future.

Honestly, I like the Slafkovsky fit for Montreal. I think him with their current young forwards would really make a difference quickly. He's a difference maker given the smaller wings and C's they currently have.

I personally love both players for us. Teams that are deep at C tend to do well, provided their front offices aren't incompetent at roster building out from that premise and depth (I don't have a ton of confidence in ours by the way right now, but that's a different convo).

 

[Zacha37]

LeBrun: Updates on the draft, free agency and Jim Montgomery's fresh start in Boston

As the NHL Draft approaches, there's intrigue about what the Canadiens will do with the first pick, and how that affects everyone else.

theathletic.com

Mentions the Devils

 

[Devs3cups]

LeBrun: Updates on the draft, free agency and Jim Montgomery's fresh start in Boston

As the NHL Draft approaches, there's intrigue about what the Canadiens will do with the first pick, and how that affects everyone else.

theathletic.com

Mentions the Devils

Glad to read Fitz saying that if a C is their BPA, he won't hesitate.

 

[Brodeur]

Bobby Mac basically always gets the first pick correct so I don't see what you are saying as being true.

It could be either one, but Kent Hughes isn't an old school GM where he will take someone like Wright despite his scouts thinking another player is the best.

Bob will tell you that his ranking is a poll and not a mock draft. In 2017 it was 5-4-1 for Nico, Patrick, and Makar. If somebody else had the #1 pick, Patrick could have gone first. Allegedly Vegas was trying to trade up with us presumably to make a splash and take Patrick; Their assistant GM (and now current GM) had Patrick in the WHL. In a stroke of luck, apparently Colorado really wanted Patrick but had to settle for Makar.

In a separate interview, Bob said he pinged an additional five scouts and simply asked them Wright or Slafkovsky and he said three of them said Wright. It does seem to be a toss up. Last I saw the betting odds still had Wright going #1 but considerably lower after Bob's ranking came out. Although the oddsmakers could just be taking advantage of people who are stuck on rankings from 9 months ago.

Most years somebody would have emerged by now as the consensus #1 pick, so I wouldn't read too much into how Bob's list hasn't been "wrong" since 2003.

 

[Nubmer6]

Last I saw the betting odds still had Wright going #1 but considerably lower after Bob's ranking came out. Although the oddsmakers could just be taking advantage of people who are stuck on rankings from 9 months ago.

I'm putting money on the Habs taking Slafkovsky, just so I'm happy either way

 

[Guadana]

I didn't scouted Smith in his draft year, but he was horrible skater in year one. His skating against the rushes was horrible. I remember he did fell on his vss like two times in one game and thre straight games or something like that, was pushing away from the puck everytime on the boards, and didn't challenge opponents and even didn't try. But everybody were happy about another pp point.
I should say skating should be avarage at minimum in every skating aspect. Injuricek was above avarage skater before the injury, and now its hard to say how it will gonna work. Schneider did have some skating question, especially starting speed and first steps, but now when I did look at him, he makes some steps in development.. skating isn't a thing you can't develope, but when I have Smith, Foote and Holtz on the roster, who really didn't change their skating well, im little nervous about drafting player with skating issues by top pick.
For example Slafkovsky develop his skating when the season was going and that was a mark of high quality for me. Wright didn't and he isn't on the level with slafkovsky as prospect , but he is avarage or above avarage skater at least in different aspects of the skating.