We're supposed to dig out heels and never admit we're wrong. And if we do admit we were wrong about something -- like I was wrong about Slafkovsky's development -- we're meant to have that lorded over us so we never admit we're wrong ever again and dig our heels in even deeper the next time.
Pre-draft I preferred Michkov or Benson, quite loudly, but after the draft I was in on Reinbacher and respected his development plan since he wasn’t rushed. The ones harassing him were wrong and f***ed in the head (not dissimilar to the ones smearing Michkov). Think that’s normal and good, no?
I find it hard you dont think the "we only picked Reinbacher because Michkov did KGB things, but otherwise we totally would’ve picked Michkov” undercurrent going around isn’t actually disgusting and disrespectful of Reinbacher and the Habs.
He’s a good kid and a good prospect with a terrible injury.
You were big time in his corner pre-draft, why haven’t you called out these arguments?
Let’s not find reasons to get mad at other fans. We all want the Habs to succeed.
I think the reality is that Reinbacher was seen as the best prospect not named Michkov after the top 4 and that was seen by majority of the NHL hence the action around the pick and what we know about the teams trying to get the pick.
And that our scouting and management team aren't idiots that are surprised Michkov is a talented offensive player that scores in the NHL. Nobody is surprised Michkov is a good offensive player. It's the easiest call to make.
All of Reinbacher being seen as the next best pick after Michkov, the rarity of tall, smooth skating, right shot defenseman with high upside on the D side of the puck and great transition skills, coupled with the size of the potential forward group, the KHL contract and the fact Michkov wanted Philly and not San Jose, Montreal or Arizona, makes the calculus so that the management group decided that Reinbacher was the pick.
Everyone knew we weren't picking Michkov and they still acted like baboons when the selection happened. Even after the fact, it's all about us passing on Michkov and nothing about San Jose. We know Michkov is a better prospect than Will Smith. So if San Jose, Montreal and Arizona went in a different direction, maybe there's some massive truth to how Michkov played the process. Which he has every right to do. I much prefer what he did to Gauthier who told Philly he wanted to be a Flyer and then made them trade him at a massive loss.
The reason why we don't discuss the merit of Reinbacher is that the other side of the fence won't hear it or have a logical discussion about it. Every time Michkov does something, the worse Reinbacher becomes, I had a guy on Twitter say Reinbacher will never even play for the Habs now. It's so sensationalist.
It's pretty demeaning that people think that the scouting staff and management team are so stupid that they didn't know Michkov was an elite offensive talent. Everyone knew. That isn't a scouting masterclass.
They just looked at everything and made the decision to take Reinbacher. Which is a completely reasonable decision to make when you consider the talent, the rarity of the prospect and what Michkov wanted. Management teams don't generally invest a 5th overall pick on a guy that isn't all in on being a Hab. The reality is if that's the case you absolutely don't want a Gauthier situation where a few years later you have to sell him at a loss because he threatens to extend in the KHL.
It isn't a coincidence that they used the term culture with Reinbacher. It wasn't an attack on Michkovs character. It was a statement that Reinbacher wanted to be a Hab and Michkov wanted to be a Flyer.
