Prospect Info: Current #2 overall poll and discussion

[BananaGenetics]

They can get a servicable RD in free agency and if they draft one next week, he won't be playing for 2-3 years. And they don't need top RD, they already have one.

I wouldnt say we dont need one. Another RHD with top-2/4 upside would really solidify our future on the backend. Right now we dont have anyone for that, even if Luke plays the right side in pre-NHL hockey

Unless they see him on the right side long-term, then perhaps we need a top-pair LHD to pair with these guys. But then we draft for forward here at 2 so, maybe acquire one?

 

[Guadana]

I wouldnt say we dont need one. Another RHD with top-2/4 upside would really solidify our future on the backend. Right now we dont have anyone for that, even if Luke plays the right side in pre-NHL hockey

Unless they see him on the right side long-term, then perhaps we need a top-pair LHD to pair with these guys. But then we draft for forward here at 2 so, maybe acquire one?

Drafting or trading another… LD?!!!

 

[BananaGenetics]

Drafting or trading another… LD?!!!

Lol love The Office.

I only said that if Luke or the organization wants him at RD. Who on our left side has top pairing potential in the org? Should be something to be mindful of

 

[Guadana]

Lol love The Office.

I only said that if Luke or the organization wants him at RD. Who on our left side has top pairing potential in the org? Should be something to be mindful of

Guy with the last name SiehenthalerOkhotiukGravesMukhamadullinBahlVukoevichMisyulVilenEdwardsSmith. I believe he will help him. Anyway, jokes aside, Okhotiuk is very fast, very mobile, strong on the boards, Mukhamadullin is very smart and mobile defenseman with big physical potential.
And you know, we have one pretty good defenseman in the regular roster.

 

[BananaGenetics]

Guy with the last name SiehenthalerOkhotiukGravesMukhamadullinBahlVukoevichMisyulVilenEdwardsSmith. I believe he will help him. Anyway, jokes aside, Okhotiuk is very fast, very mobile, strong on the boards, Mukhamadullin is very smart and mobile defenseman with big physical potential.
And you know, we have one pretty good defenseman in the regular roster.

I like Siegenthaler's defense a lot but Im not sure if hes strong enough offensively to be called a top-pair guy ever. We just need him to tie down a pair with Hamilton or Hughes (if he was on the right). Otherwise, getting a RH two-way dman for Luke's pair if he plays the left is an idea for this draft. Thats why I assume they have had some sort of conversation with Luke about which side he'll play.

 

[Guadana]

I like Siegenthaler's defense a lot but Im not sure if hes strong enough offensively to be called a top-pair guy ever. We just need him to tie down a pair with Hamilton or Hughes (if he was on the right). Otherwise, getting a RH two-way dman for Luke's pair if he plays the left is an idea for this draft. Thats why I assume they have had some sort of conversation with Luke about which side he'll play.

Rutta, Coburn, Schenn and Cernak were not great offensively. But it didn`t hurt tampa, because they have Hedman, Mcdonaugh and Sergachev as their D partners.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Habs fans are delusional man...there is a thread on the trade board where they think they can get #2 WITHOUT giving up any of Caufield or Suzuki

 

[Triumph]

Habs fans are delusional man...there is a thread on the trade board where they think they can get #2 WITHOUT giving up any of Caufield or Suzuki

They have been this way for as long as I have talked to Habs fans online. What's funny is that Montreal has had the dullest team since I've been a fan of the NHL. As superstars go, they've had Subban, a few years of Price, maybe Weber if you squint, that one season of Jose Theodore, and that's about it for 25 years. They've rarely been awful but they've almost never been great, either.

 

[BananaGenetics]

Rutta, Coburn, Schenn and Cernak were not great offensively. But it didn`t hurt tampa, because they have Hedman, Mcdonaugh and Sergachev as their D partners.

Good point. Though admittedly Id like a top pair guy on each side

 

[Hisch13r]

Habs fans are delusional man...there is a thread on the trade board where they think they can get #2 WITHOUT giving up any of Caufield or Suzuki

Don't forget they also won't give up Romanov

 

[BananaGenetics]

I must be in the clear minority here but I really like the look of Simon Nemec. Slaskovsky is fun to watch but I just dont see the high end potential, more of a perfect fit

Luckily this is why Fitzgerald and them make the big bucks and I just get ready for an exciting draft. I trust in the team to get it right

 

[BehindTheTimes]

I must be in the clear minority here but I really like the look of Simon Nemec. Slaskovsky is fun to watch but I just dont see the high end potential, more of a perfect fit

Luckily this is why Fitzgerald and them make the big bucks and I just get ready for an exciting draft. I trust in the team to get it right

Im a huge fan of Nemec too. I don’t see a scenario where we don’t take Wright.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I must be in the clear minority here but I really like the look of Simon Nemec. Slaskovsky is fun to watch but I just dont see the high end potential, more of a perfect fit

Luckily this is why Fitzgerald and them make the big bucks and I just get ready for an exciting draft. I trust in the team to get it right

You're literally drafting Slafkovsky BECAUSE of his high end potential. There hasn't been a player his size with his combination of playmaking/puckhandling in 20 years, he's able to make ridiculous moves at high speeds in open ice and then dominate in tight and down low. He's got a high IQ and compete, he's unpredictable with the puck in ways which make him impossible to defend when he's going on all cylinders like in the Olympics. Slafkovsky's talent ceiling is as a top 10 winger on the planet.

Don't forget they also won't give up Romanov

I'm afraid to open Twitter for the fear that Habs fans think we'll trade #2 overall straight up for Montreal's 7th round pick.

 

[beekay414]

We honestly probably shouldn't have neglected RHD in the draft as much as we have. We've taken three...yes...three RHD in the last 6 drafts. Reilly Walsh (2017; 3rd Round), Case McCarthy (2019; 4th Round) and Viktor Hurtig (2021; 6th Round). My cutoff was the new regime, so I'm sure it goes back further than just 6 drafts.

 

[Hisch13r]

We honestly probably shouldn't have neglected RHD in the draft as much as we have. We've taken three...yes...three RHD in the last 6 drafts. Reilly Walsh (2017; 3rd Round), Case McCarthy (2019; 4th Round) and Viktor Hurtig (2021; 6th Round). My cutoff was the new regime, so I'm sure it goes back further than just 6 drafts.

At least we’re in a situation where for the foreseeable future our top 2 RD will be Dougie and (hopefully) Severson. Luke could also potentially play the right side.

 

[beekay414]

At least we’re in a situation where for the foreseeable future our top 2 RD will be Dougie and (hopefully) Severson. Luke could also potentially play the right side.

Sure, we may have backed our way into a good situation. Just don't think it's wise to basically completely neglect a position. In comparison, I think we've taken 14 LHD over the same span.

 

[Hisch13r]

Sure, we may have backed our way into a good situation. Just don't think it's wise to basically completely neglect a position. In comparison, I think we've taken 14 LHD over the same span.

Sure but at the end of the day what matters is the NHL roster. It wasn't wise but it's all in the past at this point and things have seemingly worked out for the roster.

 

[beekay414]

Sure but at the end of the day what matters is the NHL roster. It wasn't wise but it's all in the past at this point and things have seemingly worked out for the roster.

For now. Depends on what happens with Severson. And we really haven't done anything yet with this roster so who knows if it's worked out or not? Balance in our picks would be nice.

Prime example is...a year after taking 2 1st round RW, we decide to take another RW in the 1st instead of a RHD with massive upside in Scott Morrow. For what it's worth, this has nothing to do with hindsight. I was top dog on the Morrow bandwagon last year.

 

[Cheddabombs]

Thought the draft was next week, imagine my surprise when I found out it was this week instead! That's pretty neat.

Still haven't voted here lol but I'd take Slaf. Would also be happy coming away with either defensemen, or Wright if he doesn't go 1st.

 

[JrFischer54]

Trade the pick

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

the more i read about Wright, the more im happy with him or Slaf. maybe this is wrong, but seems like Wright could pencil in on the wing as well? kind of like Mercer did at times this year.

i think him taking shifts on Jack or Nico’s wing would be a thing of beauty this year. if IQ and his Shot are really the best in the draft, i think we take him and absolutely run with it.

edit: all being said, i really don’t wanna trade the pick and especially don’t wanna trade down.

Yea I did some more digging into Wright now (didn't bother before because why would I), and all his criticisms seem to be a non-issue if he plays wing with a dynamic center.

 

[BananaGenetics]

You're literally drafting Slafkovsky BECAUSE of his high end potential. There hasn't been a player his size with his combination of playmaking/puckhandling in 20 years, he's able to make ridiculous moves at high speeds in open ice and then dominate in tight and down low. He's got a high IQ and compete, he's unpredictable with the puck in ways which make him impossible to defend when he's going on all cylinders like in the Olympics. Slafkovsky's talent ceiling is as a top 10 winger on the planet.


I'm afraid to open Twitter for the fear that Habs fans think we'll trade #2 overall straight up for Montreal's 7th round pick.

Then why would Montreal pass on him if hes something we havent seen in 20 years?

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Jesus f***ing Christ lol

 

[Guttersniped]

The Habs board’s discussion about us swapping picks out of fear that they will take Slafkovsky is pretty wild.

In defense of their posters there were a good number who posted something along the lines of “no reason for NJ to do that”, “that would never happen”, “that doesn’t make sense for NJ”, “that doesn’t make sense in general” etc.

But I enjoyed the posters who leaned in on Hughes outwitting Fitz by convincing the world they that they might take Slafkovsky, while still wanting Wright, so they could trade down and get an asset(s) from us plus Wright.

If your mastermind plot is being discussed openly it’s probably not going to work so good on the people it’s supposed to fool.

Some also scoffed at the reports that NJ was fine with drafted a center, claiming that was subterfuge on our part lol.

There’s also a Conspiracy Theorist who’s convinced that Wright would be an uncontested 1OA if Toronto had the pick and this debate is all a product of anti-Habs bias (this includes the machinations of Leafs fan Bob McKenzie and his manipulated “poll”).

 

[Forge]

The Habs board’s discussion about us swapping picks out of fear that they will take Slafkovsky is pretty wild.

In defense of their posters there were a good number who posted something along the lines of “no reason for NJ to do that”, “that would never happen”, “that doesn’t make sense for NJ”, “that doesn’t make sense in general” etc.

But I enjoyed the posters who leaned in on Hughes outwitting Fitz by convincing the world they that they might take Slafkovsky, while still wanting Wright, so they could trade down and get an asset(s) from us plus Wright.

If your mastermind plot is being discussed openly it’s probably not going to work so good on the people it’s supposed to fool.

Some also scoffed at the reports that NJ was fine with drafted a center, claiming that was subterfuge on our part lol.

There’s also a Conspiracy Theorist who’s convinced that Wright would be an uncontested 1OA if Toronto had the pick and this debate is all product of anti-Habs bias (this includes the machinations of Leafs fan Bob McKenzie and his manipulated “poll”).

Seems to be a very tense place right now. Habs twitter as well. Maybe it's because I don't have a stake in it, but I've never really doubted they would take wright. I'd be very surprised if they took slaf.