HF Habs: Draft Lottery tonight!! 7 p.m. ET. (MTL with #16 and #17!!)

[Catanddogguitarrr]

I have that crazy idea that the next 2c could be Desnoyers. What could bring a 2c in a trade could be draft at 5th pick. 2c problem solved, Desnoyer can play nhl right away and his skills equals Demidov, Suzuki and Hutson. 2 years polishing his raw skills could work magic.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

I have that crazy idea that the next 2c could be Desnoyers. What could bring a 2c in a trade could be draft at 5th pick. 2c problem solved, Desnoyer can play nhl right away and his skills equals Demidov, Suzuki and Hutson. 2 years polishing his raw skills could work magic.

Utah getting no.4 made this draft really interesting. Let's just say the Hawks go with Mortone or Frondel.

I expect their asking price would start with both the no.16 and 17 picks. Then they probably ask for someone like Mailloux. Add in another piece and maybe they pull the trigger. But those trades are complicated

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

Utah getting no.4 made this draft really interesting. Let's just say the Hawks go with Mortone or Frondel. I can't see Utah going with Desnoyers as they're too loaded at C. Catton, Beniers, Wright, etc. It's not a great spot for them drafting wise. They'd probably be your trade partner.

I expect their asking price would start with both the no.16 and 17 picks. Then they probably ask for someone like Mailloux. Add in another piece and maybe they pull the trigger. But those trades are complicated

It depends how much I feel entusiastic about Desnoyers. He's 6'2", 172 lbs. Perfect size and weight for his age. Plays center, very fast, good hands, good shooting, playmaker, I mean he's the perfect sleeper like Kopitar and Bergeron were when they were drafted. I could bet the team who will pick him will be very happy. That will depends how his playoffs will go.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

It depends how much I feel entusiastic about Desnoyers. He's 6'2", 172 lbs. Perfect size and weight for his age. Plays center, very fast, good hands, good shooting, playmaker, I mean he's the perfect sleeper like Kopitar and Bergeron were when they were drafted. I could bet the team who will pick him will be very happy. That will depends how his playoffs will go.

I just edited my comment. I completely mixed up Utah and Seattle lol. No they probably take Desnoyers and run to the bank

 

[Sorinth]

Utah getting no.4 made this draft really interesting. Let's just say the Hawks go with Mortone or Frondel. I can't see Utah going with Desnoyers as they're too loaded at C. Cooley, Hayton, etc. It's not a great spot for them drafting wise. They'd probably be your trade partner.

I expect their asking price would start with both the no.16 and 17 picks. Then they probably ask for someone like Mailloux. Add in another piece and maybe they pull the trigger. But those trades are complicated

You're mixing up Seattle and Utah.

 

[SOLR]

If Crosby is traded, it's a mutual decision between him and the Pens. I'm pretty sure they talked about this type of stuff when he signed his current deal. Basically, he's going to give the Pens every chance to improve their roster and based on last season, it's just not that easy. Dubas is their GM and does not have a good track record at addressing holes on a roster.

The 2026 TDL might be a tipping point if the Pens fall flat on their face again next season. Most would say they will. You can smell this from a mile away and it reminds me of the P Kane situation with the Hawks. Hawks fans were repeatedly saying he will retire as a Hawk and they were wrong. When you loose games, things change. Crosby is far to competitive to keep loosing... it will wear on him.

Avs and Habs are the two logical spots. Avs being the front runner based on where they are at and with the MacKinnon factor. But the Habs actually have the futures to make this deal work and we are a team on the rise. Crosby will have the Habs on his open list (if he ends up opening up for a trade)... that I am sure of.

Crosby to the Habs is low probability today, but once it is known he is open for a trade, the probability increases substantially overnight.

The best GM in history could not do anything with this group of signed for fortune semi-retired player base. It was clear 2 years ago, at this point they are just entertaining delusional feel good emotions.

Going in the season without aiming for McKenna, would be a big mistake from Pens management.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

You're mixing up Seattle and Utah.

I know I already commented that lol. I had them on my mind cause I've been suggesting them as a trade partner in other posts

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

The best GM in history could not do anything with this group of signed for fortune semi-retired player base. It was clear 2 years ago, at this point they are just entertaining delusional feel good emotions.

Going in the season without aiming for McKenna, would be a big mistake from Pens management.

Unless Pittsburg picks a lane, they could be in a state of irrelevancy for a whole decade at least

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

I just edited my comment. I completely mixed up Utah and Seattle lol. No they probably take Desnoyers and run to the bank

Would you prefer draft #1 and pick Slaf or pick #5 and pick Desnoyers?

 

[Sorinth]

I know I already commented that lol. I had them on my mind cause I've been suggesting them as a trade partner in other posts

Yeah in any case I kind of doubt Utah will want picks/prospects. They want to make the playoffs so if they are trading 4th overall it's for established players that can help them make the playoffs right away. And I kind of doubt we would be a good fit in that regard.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

Would you prefer draft #1 and pick Slaf or pick #5 and pick Desnoyers?

I'd still pick slaf because you still need that elite powerforward which I think slaf will still develop to be. Desnoyers will be a great 2C. I would love to have him. But those players aren't as rare as what Slaf could become

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

Yeah in any case I kind of doubt Utah will want picks/prospects. They want to make the playoffs so if they are trading 4th overall it's for established players that can help them make the playoffs right away. And I kind of doubt we would be a good fit in that regard.

Yeah they should take Desnoyers. Cooley-Desnoyers would be elite. And after Frondel, he's probably close to the most NHL ready

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

I'd still pick slaf because you still need that elite powerforward which I think slaf will still develop to be. Desnoyers will be a great 2C. I would love to have him. But those players aren't as rare as what Slaf could become

The thing is : Slaf takes some time to developp when Desnoyers is almost ready. And he plays center. He's almost a copy paste of Modano. Tall skilled centers are rare to find.

And Slaf will not become a Shanahan 2.0. He will not become a Lucic or a Wilson either.

 

[SOLR]

Yet somehow the team concedes scoring chances at a significantly increased rate with Caufield on the ice rather than with Caufield off the ice, how curious... maybe evaluating a player's defensive ability is best done primarily with the use of objective data than through biased and flawed human eyes that see that which they want to see?

View attachment 1031375View attachment 1031374

The Habs will contend when Caufield is a 2nd liner. Ive been saying this for a few years.
There is no fixing Caufield's D.

 

[Sorinth]

I do wonder if we couldn't slow crawl up the draft. For example swap 16 & 17 with Columbus for 14 & 20, then make a move using 14+ to get Pittsburgh at 11, then use 11+ to try and get into the top-10. Obviously it's a very EA Sports trading fantasy but last year Hughes moving up days before the draft and trying but failing to move up even more on draft day makes me think it's at least plausible that he'll attempt to do so again. But obviously it takes other teams willing to trade down without really knowing who will be there at their pick.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

The thing is : Slaf takes some time to developp when Desnoyers is almost ready. And he plays center. He's almost a copy paste of Modano. Tall skilled centers are rare to find.

And Slaf will not become a Shanahan 2.0. He will not become a Lucic or a Wilson either.

And we don't know what Desnoyers will become. He hasnt played in the NHL. Slaf might not be the powerforwards that you talked about but he could be like a Rantanen (without MacKinnon). Not overly physical but uses his body and physicality to mostly pursue and shield pucks, creating space for his linemates. Desnoyers also plays on the best team in the Q and in a crappy league where getting points is relatively easy. You could make a case that Carter Bear who also played for the first place Everett team in the whl and plays in a better/more defensive league, has more offensive potential that Desnoyers.

I can see slaf being a legit 1st liner in his prime. I have a hard time seeing Desnoyers has a legit first liner. Great for your 2C, jack of all trades, master of none

 

[LaP]

Unless Pittsburg picks a lane, they could be in a state of irrelevancy for a whole decade at least

They should pick a lane like Boston did when they traded Raymond Bourque, Andreychuk, Joe Murphy and Rob Dimaio.

Hockey is a business i understand they want Crosby to finish his career there but at one point the future of the org is more important and Crosby playing 2-3 years elsewhere is not the end of the world at all. Hapenned to many great players. Their prospects pool is so thin if they don't sell it will likely take close to 7-10 years to rebuild the team. Owners, presidents and GMs should not get emotional it's a business and you do what you got to do. If they ask Crosby to lift his NVC for the good and future of the org he will lift it i'm 100% sure.

They can still get a pretty good return for Crosby and Malkin. It's not going to be outstanding but they can certainly get a 1st and a relatively good prospect for Malkin retained and they can get more for Crosby for sure. Summer 2026 they'll be able to retain on EK and get something for him. There's a couple of other guys who could have some value. Yes many of those picks / kids will amount to nothing but the point is if you can get 3-4 good players with them then you saved probably 3 years of rebuild. I mean we got Hutson for the pick we got in return of Kulak and this saved us certainly one year of rebuild.

 

[CHfan1]

Unless Pittsburg picks a lane, they could be in a state of irrelevancy for a whole decade at least

One of the problems is all their older players have NMC’s (Crosby, Malkin, Letang, and Karlsson), so it makes it a lot tougher to trade them and start a rebuild.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

And we don't know what Desnoyers will become. He hasnt played in the NHL. Slaf might not be the powerforwards that you talked about but he could be like a Rantanen (without MacKinnon). Not overly physical but uses his body and physicality to mostly pursue and shield pucks, creating space for his linemates. Desnoyers also plays on the best team in the Q and in a crappy league where getting points is relatively easy. You could make a case that Carter Bear who also played for the first place Everett team in the whl and plays in a better/more defensive league, has more offensive potential that Desnoyers.

I can see slaf being a legit 1st liner in his prime. I have a hard time seeing Desnoyers has a legit first liner. Great for your 2C, jack of all trades, master of none

This year have interresting picks until 12. Habs can target another player but I doubt picks 16 and 17 will land something signifiant. I'm not interrested in McCaron 2.0 or Sherbak 2.0. Or Poehling? I feel these picks will be used to get some big fish. It will be experienced 2c nhl like Horvat.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

One of the problems is all their older players have NMC’s (Crosby, Malkin, Letang, and Karlsson), so it makes it a lot tougher to trade them and start a rebuild.

We need to get a 'tradable' player if things doesn't get well. The NMC’s are less attractive.

 

[Sorinth]

This year have interresting picks until 12. Habs can target another player but I doubt picks 16 and 17 will land something signifiant. I'm not interrested in McCaron 2.0 or Sherbak 2.0. Or Poehling? I feel these picks will be used to get some big fish. It will be experienced 2c nhl like Horvat.

For sure the picks are on the table as part of getting a quality NHL player. But it's kind of funny the guys you listed were 25, 26, and 25. Our actual recent picks in the range are Caufield 15, Guhle 16, Beaulieu 17, Leblanc 18, so pretty hit or miss.

No matter what people say about the depth of this years draft, in 10 years time there will be some great players that were available at picks 16 & 17. It's just a question of identifying and developing them properly.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

This year have interresting picks until 12. Habs can target another player but I doubt picks 16 and 17 will land something signifiant. I'm not interrested in McCaron 2.0 or Sherbak 2.0. Or Poehling? I feel these picks will be used to get some big fish. It will be experienced 2c nhl like Horvat.

Besides a great 1st round last year, it looks like the habs completely flopped last year. Obviously we won't know until later but still. This year I hope they target players that look like great complementary pieces to the current young core when they're in the middle of being real contenders in 3-5 years. Hopefully solid 2 way smart hockey players with some finishing ability. I'm not interested in players who are one way PP merchants cause they won't be on the habs PP1 anyways

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Besides a great 1st round last year, it looks like the habs completely flopped last year. Obviously we won't know until later but still. This year I hope they target players that look like great complementary pieces to the current young core when they're in the middle of being real contenders in 3-5 years. Hopefully solid 2 way smart hockey players with some finishing ability. I'm not interested in players who are one way PP merchants cause they won't be on the habs PP1 anywaysI

What are you talking about. They got Koivu, Sawyer, Thorpe, Protz. All of which were good value for where they were picked.

 

[Rob Sense]

For sure the picks are on the table as part of getting a quality NHL player. But it's kind of funny the guys you listed were 25, 26, and 25. Our actual recent picks in the range are Caufield 15, Guhle 16, Beaulieu 17, Leblanc 18, so pretty hit or miss.

No matter what people say about the depth of this years draft, in 10 years time there will be some great players that were available at picks 16 & 17. It's just a question of identifying and developing them properly.

so we should keep 16 and trade 17.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

What are you talking about. They got Koivu, Sawyer, Thorpe, Protz. All of which were good value for where they were picked.

I said what I said. Koivu is undersized and has minimal offensive upside. Sawyer will probably be an ahler at best, I'm gonna be completely honest, I have not watched a single game from Protz so I refuse to make a judgement call there.

Thorpe is the only one I can see carving himself a legit NHL spot on a 4th line.