D David Reinbacher - EHC Kloten, NL (2023, 5th, MTL)

[Hockeyholic]

Kent Hughes on David Reinbacher's ceiling: "Probably a 2D. I'm not sure he's gonna run a first powerplay in the NHL."​

Have to think Michkov told Montreal not to draft him. Only explanation here. You don't pass up a generational forward for a guy who won't run a #1 PP.

 

[Legend123]

Ghule is not a top pairing, he has to play a full season in that position...

They had amazing stats in the AHL, and they also had a great start in the NHL, like Ghule...

You said that he would go top-5 in a redraft, I gave you around 10 names who could go in front of him and I added a bunch of other players, because their development is not done yet. Of course, I would not trade Ghule for Lafrenière and many other names, but I'm a biased Habs fan like you. We need to see more from Ghule, before yelling in every thread that he's a top-pairing D...

It's not bias to tag guhle with top pairing potential.

Besides you can apply everything you said about guhle to the other guys you said. So why should guhle not go ahead of them? He's already better

 

[Arthur Morgan]

Who are those prospects?

Guenther isn't better than Slaf last time I checked...

Cooley is one. I dunno Im not very big on Slav I guess we will disagree on that.

 

[WentWughes]

Have to think Michkov told Montreal not to draft him. Only explanation here. You don't pass up a generational forward for a guy who won't run a #1 PP.

It puts less pressure on the kid and honestly we won’t need it from him. Hudson will be the guy that runs the pp1.

 

[Mersss]

Cooley is one. I dunno Im not very big on Slav I guess we will disagree on that.

Again that's ONE player

Habs have much better D prospect than any D prospect in the yotes system in Guhle, Mailloux. Barron and now Reinbacher.

One thing we know for sure is that offense doesn't won you championship. Defense does. Ovie don't get a ring before he understood thay scoring 50 doesnt bring anything if you let in 80

 

[TopC0rner]

Have to think Michkov told Montreal not to draft him. Only explanation here. You don't pass up a generational forward for a guy who won't run a #1 PP.

What about all the other selections after Bedard? The facts are that only Bedard was "generational" in this draft. Which, if Michkov was "generational", the same thing would apply for everyone picked between Bedard and Michkov.

The "generational" thing is media and fan hype.

As to what Hughes said, well I'm sure if they had drafted Michkov, he'd have said: "We see him in our top 6 in the future playing an offensive role".

 

[Canadienna]

His instagram is like 99% positive loving comments. Seriously go look. Anyone criticizing him is getting shouted down.

Social media is by nature toxic, but we also do this selection bias thing. He's getting a ton of love from Habs fans at large.

 

[Hockeyholic]

What about all the other selections after Bedard? The facts are that only Bedard was "generational" in this draft. Which, if Michkov was "generational", the same thing would apply for everyone picked between Bedard and Michkov.

The "generational" thing is media and fan hype.

As to what Hughes said, well I'm sure if they had drafted Michkov, he'd have said: "We see him in our top 6 in the future playing an offensive role".

I would be curious to know why SJ didn't draft him. Unless he told them he wasn't interested. They won't be competiting for awhile anyways.

Flyers probably met with him too. And they are just as bad as SJ, Mon etc. Odd that he will go there but not (Supposedly) other rebuilding places.

Columbus I get because they've never had a star #1C. They've got great wingers.

Anaheim idk about.

 

[BerthMania]

I don't why they're even upset.

I'm surprised so many were hoping for Michkov. He was never gonna happen. He was on the no draft list of most teams, including Montreal. I don't know why this is so hard to understand. I'm sure Hughes would have loved to draft Michkov but if the interest isn't mutual there's no point.

The question is why Simashev, But or Gulyayev weren't? Is there another reason the his nationality which would justify putting Michkov on a ''no draft list'', it's particularly weird considering the Habs drafted 2 russian players in later rounds.

Obviously, I share the disapointment about the pick, I prefered Benson, Leonard, Dvorsky and many others. However, why the f*** would a fan write to the kid himself? He just played hockey at the best of his ability it's not his fault, it's the Habs management's fault

 

[DaPhazz]

Ghule is not a top pairing, he has to play a full season in that position...

They had amazing stats in the AHL, and they also had a great start in the NHL, like Ghule...

You said that he would go top-5 in a redraft, I gave you around 10 names who could go in front of him and I added a bunch of other players, because their development is not done yet. Of course, I would not trade Ghule for Lafrenière and many other names, but I'm a biased Habs fan like you. We need to see more from Ghule, before yelling in every thread that he's a

Not to be that guy, but since you're obsessed about him, it's Guhle, not Ghule.

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

Not to be that guy, but since you're obsessed about him, it's Guhle, not Ghule.

I posted less than 5 messages in that thread, responding to someone who talked about him. How am I obsessed with Ghule ?

 

[JRichard]

I don't why they're even upset.

I'm surprised so many were hoping for Michkov. He was never gonna happen. He was on the no draft list of most teams, including Montreal. I don't know why this is so hard to understand. I'm sure Hughes would have loved to draft Michkov but if the interest isn't mutual there's no point.

Michkov on NO DRAFT list of MOST teams…

this is quite hard to understand.

Would have been picked by most teams at 8, 9 ,10… maybe not at Arizona next pick cause they are weirdos all dressed alike who brought 4 chicks on stage (not dressed alike for some reason) for their 1st selection.

i get you have no choice but to move on and hope for the best. But cmon lets not act like this was a « normal » or « Expected » move.

expected move was drafting Michkov if available OR trade down and get assets like 7th, 22nd AND Cutter Gauthier. Went on and on and on.

 

[JRichard]

I would be curious to know why SJ didn't draft him. Unless he told them he wasn't interested. They won't be competiting for awhile anyways.

Flyers probably met with him too. And they are just as bad as SJ, Mon etc. Odd that he will go there but not (Supposedly) other rebuilding places.

Columbus I get because they've never had a star #1C. They've got great wingers.

Anaheim idk about.

More than met with him. Philly closed their training facility to entertain Michkov and his entourage. Sounds like it was major factor. They loved the kid and vice versa. Met Flyers who were in the gym, played air hockey (remember we are dealing with a teen here).

My opinion is that Michkov pulled a Lindros or a Jagr on teams drafting 2-6

 

[Ligue]

More than met with him. Philly closed their training facility to entertain Michkov and his entourage. Sounds like it was major factor. They loved the kid and vice versa. Met Flyers who were in the gym, played air hockey (remember we are dealing with a teen here).

My opinion is that Michkov pulled a Lindros or a Jagr on teams drafting 2-6

Thats a bit of a reach though.

First, teams 2-6 absolutely do not believe Michkov is a generational talent. Theres no way they believe that.

Second, to make the best of a Lindros/Jagr siruation is to draft the guy and let him increase his trade value even more. Its all about maximizing asset value.

 

[Hinterland]

Michkov on NO DRAFT list of MOST teams…

this is quite hard to understand.

Would have been picked by most teams at 8, 9 ,10… maybe not at Arizona next pick cause they are weirdos all dressed alike who brought 4 chicks on stage (not dressed alike for some reason) for their 1st selection.

i get you have no choice but to move on and hope for the best. But cmon lets not act like this was a « normal » or « Expected » move.

expected move was drafting Michkov if available OR trade down and get assets like 7th, 22nd AND Cutter Gauthier. Went on and on and on.

Absolutely not. It was reported days if not weeks ahead of the draft that Michkov may be have a few, maybe even just one team in mind he wants to play for and that for all other teams, the only way to talk to him was to actually attend games and try to catch him there. Apparently he rejected most if not all interview requests and a few teams like apparantly Arizona were told to get lost where the sun don't shine.

The result of this behaviour was always gonna be clear, especially knowing already about the war, his contract, the mysterious death of his father, questions about his character and work ethic etc. Montreal was never gonna draft him and probably at least 9 out of 10 teams felt the same.

 

[Hinterland]

Thats a bit of a reach though.

First, teams 2-6 absolutely do not believe Michkov is a generational talent. Theres no way they believe that.

Second, to make the best of a Lindros/Jagr siruation is to draft the guy and let him increase his trade value even more. Its all about maximizing asset value.

That's a cool idea but we're talking about a Russian guy. If Montreal drafts him there's a pretty good chance he just stays in Russia until you grant him his wish to play for the Flyers. That wouldn't increase his value at all.

 

[Siludin]

After reading some more I do think that that Michkov and/or his agent did subtly tell certain teams to avoid him.
I don't think anyone is dumb enough to pull a Lindros nowadays - this type of thing would happen behind closed doors before the draft even occurs, and I'm guessing that NHL teams in this case didn't want to protest it publicly due out of respect for Michkov's situation re: his father, the situation with Russia, and even just respect for Michkov's leverage if it did get leaked.
However, it does make sense that the pundits found about the situation from the teams, which is why they projected him falling so hard over the past couple of months. It was sort of a "tell".

 

[Hinterland]

The question is why Simashev, But or Gulyayev weren't? Is there another reason the his nationality which would justify putting Michkov on a ''no draft list'', it's particularly weird considering the Habs drafted 2 russian players in later rounds.

Obviously, I share the disapointment about the pick, I prefered Benson, Leonard, Dvorsky and many others. However, why the f*** would a fan write to the kid himself? He just played hockey at the best of his ability it's not his fault, it's the Habs management's fault

It's simple. Interviews are important. If you can't interview a guy or if he tells you to get lost where the sun don't shine then you gotta ask yourself if you wanna draft this guy. Especially knowing about all the other issues...

Leonard I can sort of understand because he's a very complete player and those are rare. Having said that, he's likely a winger in the NHL and his hands are average. His stats are misleading as well because he was facing weak competition and was carried by his linemates.
Dvorsky and Benson both have serious bust potential. Benson is small, soft and I'm not sure he has the skillset to make up for that. It's very good but not special. Also has a lot to learn against the puck.
Dvorsky is an intriguing prospect but likely also a winger in the NHL. Also, he played a very poor draft season. His transition to pro hockey failed initially. He was a turnovermachine and his scoring was very underwhelming. Statwise, Reinbacher played a very similar season a year ago. Last season, Reinbacher had almost the same amount of primary assists as Dvorsky points. Reinbacher outscored Dvorksy. Of course we're talking defenseman vs. forward and the forward played in a tier 2 league while the defenseman played in one of Europe's top leagues

So for conclusion...I can see arguments for Leonard since he's a unique player but he doesn't have the ceiling of a Reinbacher. Leonard will never be a 1C, maybe fringe 1W or 2C while Reinbacher's ceiling is 1RD and he's pretty much guaranteed to be a 2RD given how good he is already. Of course, franchise RD's are very rare and hard to find.

Dvorksy and Benson may have huge upside but are also bust candidates. They're both projects and if they're gonna hit they're gonna take time. Those are the type of guys you take in the backhalf of the 1st round and I think it was a mistake to take Dvorksy at 10.

 

[Frank Drebin]

Hopefully he does it for another team. I’m not sure the canadiens deserve him after the way many of their fans are acting, sending him thousands of hate messages. Insane.

Get over yourself dude

 

[Hinterland]

After reading some more I do think that that Michkov and/or his agent did subtly tell certain teams to avoid him.
I don't think anyone is dumb enough to pull a Lindros nowadays - this type of thing would happen behind closed doors before the draft even occurs, and I'm guessing that NHL teams in this case didn't want to protest it publicly due out of respect for Michkov's situation re: his father, the situation with Russia, and even just respect for Michkov's leverage if it did get leaked.
However, it does make sense that the pundits found about the situation from the teams, which is why they projected him falling so hard over the past couple of months. It was sort of a "tell".

Can you protest if a player tells you not to draft him? Isn't this a player's choice? Also...I'm not sure that's what he told all teams...apparently many teams couldn't talk to him at all because he was rejecting all interview requests...which is his right as well.

 

[Saxon]

This Michkov thread is busy!!!!

 

[Frank Drebin]

I would be curious to know why SJ didn't draft him. Unless he told them he wasn't interested. They won't be competiting for awhile anyways.

Flyers probably met with him too. And they are just as bad as SJ, Mon etc. Odd that he will go there but not (Supposedly) other rebuilding places.

Columbus I get because they've never had a star #1C. They've got great wingers.

Anaheim idk about.

The answer is because they do not view him as a generational player. They may not even view him as a star.

These teams may not have scoured hockeydb, twitter and YouTube like hfboards posters though. They may have not done their homework.

 

[Hinterland]

The answer is because they do not view him as a generational player. They may not even view him as a star.

These teams may not have scoured hockeydb, twitter and YouTube like hfboards posters though. They may have not done their homework.

I don't see Michkov as generational either. Even with Bedard this remains to be seen. Both will be stars for sure but you can't label a player generational before he played a single NHL game.

 

[BB88]

Sorry, it was hate messages not death threats. I misspoke. Still crazy, thoug, to be doing that to a teenager.

That’s just sick

 

[Siludin]

Can you protest if a player tells you not to draft him? Isn't this a player's choice? Also...I'm not sure that's what he told all teams...apparently many teams couldn't talk to him at all because he was rejecting all interview requests...which is his right as well.

My guess is that there is some clause with the union/CBA/signing up for the draft that makes it so this thing isn't really "allowed" but nonetheless gets overlooked in a lot of scenarios where it actually comes up. It's probably really nuanced like a team talking to the agent on the side like "if we drafted X, would he be excited to be here or would he prefer to go somewhere else?" just to feel out how things would pan out if they drafted a particular player. You don't want a quiet quitter, I guess.