Official 2023 NHL Draft Thread

[deadhead]

people talking about cristall at 22, are you guys f***ing dreaming AINTNOWAY he is there

I don't know, at least pre-draft, there seems to be wide variance in the ranking of prospects, and since I think many of the amateur rankings are off scout scuttlebutt, it may simply reflect a lot of difference of opinion once you get past the top 5 or so - that is there isn't large perceived gaps within tiers or between the 2nd and 3rd tier.

Turtles all the way down, into the second round.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Just assign 30 prospects a number and use a random number generator for both picks. It has the double sided benefit of taking the pick out of the scouts hands while also giving them a good excuse if the pick(s) flop. Trust in the hockey gods. They owe us one

 

[bauer]

the more i see and read about him, the more i really want Benson at #7. he fits exactly what the Flyers need, and i think he'd be the perfect complementary piece to Gauthier. i like Leonard a lot too, just not as much.

i do think the Flyers would definitely pick Leonard over Benson though because he fits their "culture" more. we know how the organization thinks. but we really need to hit a home run here so i'm hoping that Danny given his own career, will take the smaller, more skilled player over the safer pick.

don't want Moore or Dvorsky. and with the forwards that will be available, #7 is too high to take Reinbacher. plus Flyers will probably go D at #22 anyway, because that's what they do. i'll be shocked if we take 2 forwards in the first round.

 

[Kelmitchell2]

Yea he seems like a top 5 lock. Dvorsky, Leonard, Moore, Benson and Reinbacher seem like the most realistic options at this point.

I'm gonna be so f***ing angry when we take dvorsky

 

[Dr Jablonski PhD]

Fun fact. Even playing with dillholes for much of the season, Oliver Moore produced at a marginally higher clip than Cutter Gauthier did in his DY. This idea that Moore is a safe pick is IMO a bad take that found its way into an echo chamber. Whoever takes him is probably going to be very .. very happy

Also.. just because Leonard happens to have characteristics that the Flyers have historically been drawn to for the wrong reasons.. doesn't mean he's a bad choice. This is a fallacy. He's a god damn stud

 

[Nabrules]

Been following a lot of reports from team picking 3-6. According the the rumours swirling, CBJ still debating Carlson or Smith, with reporters thinking it’ll be Carlson. Whichever drops will be SJ pick. MTL is focused in on Leonard/Reinbacher at 5 but sounds more like Leonard according to MTL reporters. ARZ is also locked in on Leonard but if mtl takes him I have no clue where they go.

That leaves us with Philly. 3 of Michkov, Dvorsky, Reinbacher and Benson will be there for us depending on what ARZ does.

 

[Dr Jablonski PhD]

I think you're spot on with that. If the board goes like that, I could see ARI taking any one of Michkov, Dvorsky, Reinbacher, or Moore. Let's hope Mtl somehow manages to take Reinbacher so Ari jumps on Leonard, leaving us with Michkov. I do think Briere would take him at 7

 

[Sombastate]

Been using all my breaks at the club tonight to watch highlights

I’m all in on Benson

 

[Sombastate]

Yea he seems like a top 5 lock. Dvorsky, Leonard, Moore, Benson and Reinbacher seem like the most realistic options at this point.

Am i alone in thinking Smith is gonna be the worst of the top 10? I Just seem to give a damn about him

 

[Tripod]

We will take Rein and then Jones will declare "we said we were going to build a great defense. We have been searching for a top RHD since Niskanen left and Rein will one day fill that spot. We could not pass on the opportunity to draft the best Dman in the draft who also ìs a RHD which every team covets. We are doing what we said we were going to do"

Be prepared.

 

[BobbyClarkeFan16]

We will take Rein and then Jones will declare "we said we were going to build a great defense. We have been searching for a top RHD since Niskanen left and Rein will one day fill that spot. We could not pass on the opportunity to draft the best Dman in the draft who also ìs a RHD which every team covets. We are doing what we said we were going to do"

Be prepared.

I'm hoping (and it's a big hope) that they don't bite on defense in the first round this year. Next year is the year to go after defensemen, especially when there's 7 right handed defensemen alone that are expected to be selected in the first round. Use the firsts next year on defensemen.

 

[deadhead]

I can see someone like Pellikka or Willander at #22.
At that point you're looking a 2RHD prospects.
Don't see any D-man who's a slam dunk at #7, given the forwards on the board.
But we have two weeks, odds are Briere lands a high 2nd or low 1st before the draft.

 

[Ghosts Beer]

Zach Benson is certainly not the best defensive forward in the draft from an NHL projection standpoint.

He’s not even going to be a center. A small LW who often looks like he’s churning his legs in place when trying to cover large portions of ice is not a premier defensive asset, even though he works hard & is responsible.

His ceiling may be Giroux at wing, but I can’t help recall how ineffective Giroux was in the playoffs once he hit his mid-20s onward.

More likely IMO his production ceiling is roughly Sam Reinhart, maybe a little less because of the size issue.

He’s a likable player, & I think he’ll be pretty good, but he would not be my first choice at 7.

I would take Simashev, Moore, Leonard, & Michkov over Benson, of those with a chance to be there at 7 (i.e., excluding Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson, & Smith).

 

[renberg]

Been following a lot of reports from team picking 3-6. According the the rumours swirling, CBJ still debating Carlson or Smith, with reporters thinking it’ll be Carlson. Whichever drops will be SJ pick. MTL is focused in on Leonard/Reinbacher at 5 but sounds more like Leonard according to MTL reporters. ARZ is also locked in on Leonard but if mtl takes him I have no clue where they go.

That leaves us with Philly. 3 of Michkov, Dvorsky, Reinbacher and Benson will be there for us depending on what ARZ does.

Reinbacher is getting a lot more mention in the press the last few days. I think that he’ll go either to the defensively depleted Coyotes or Montreal will take him. It wouldn’t surprise me if SJ took Michkov and things are wide open at seven

 

[RANKKA]

Been using all my breaks at the club tonight to watch highlights

I’m all in on Benson

same

Am i alone in thinking Smith is gonna be the worst of the top 10? I Just seem to give a damn about him

you are not alone

 

[Curufinwe]

I’m watching Benson on YouTube. Still holds up.

 

[CutOnDime97]

Film Room: How Zach Benson stacks the deck in his favour

Mitch Brown takes you into the Film Room™️ to look at how 2023 NHL Draft prospect and Winnipeg ICE winger Zach Benson stacks the deck in his favour.

eprinkside.com

 

[Columbus Hockey Dad]

Reinbacher is getting a lot more mention in the press the last few days. I think that he’ll go either to the defensively depleted Coyotes or Montreal will take him. It wouldn’t surprise me if SJ took Michkov and things are wide open at seven

Nah, SJ is taking whoever Columbus doesn’t take between Carlsson and Smith.

My top three wishlist of the realistic options at #7 is:

1. Michkov
2. Benson
3. Leonard

 

[BigToe]

Am i alone in thinking Smith is gonna be the worst of the top 10? I Just seem to give a damn about him

Think that'll end up being Dvorsky or Reinbacher if they go in the top 10.

 

[renberg]

How good the players on the USNDT are as individuals remains to be seen. The team was so deep that they were able to overpower and then demoralize their opponents. How much weight do you give to a player who scores a hat trick against a team that gave up twenty minutes into the match? IDK. I guess that that’s what makes scouts earn their pay.

 

[Nabrules]

For all those worried about a potential Reinbacher pick, I recommend you watch this video by Elite Prospects on him, great breakdown of his game by their team.

He wouldn’t be my top choice at 7 but he’s in the mix. Definitely has more potential than people give him credit for!

 

[FlyerNutter]

For all those worried about a potential Reinbacher pick, I recommend you watch this video by Elite Prospects on him, great breakdown of his game by their team.

He wouldn’t be my top choice at 7 but he’s in the mix. Definitely has more potential than people give him credit for!

I’ll bet 10$ that it’s him or Leonard. It’s kind of easy to determine who this team will go for.

 

[Nabrules]

I’ll bet 10$ that it’s him or Leonard. It’s kind of easy to determine who this team will go for.

I feel you on that! I don’t think Leonard makes it to 7 regardless

 

[deadhead]

I’ll bet 10$ that it’s him or Leonard. It’s kind of easy to determine who this team will go for.

Benson and Moore are just as likely, Benson probably reminds Briere a little of himself (and G), Moore is a perfect fit for Torts' uptempo game.
Benson won't be the best defensive forward, but he'll probably be the best defender of the top offensive forwards in this draft.

 

[BillDineen]

For all those worried about a potential Reinbacher pick, I recommend you watch this video by Elite Prospects on him, great breakdown of his game by their team.

He wouldn’t be my top choice at 7 but he’s in the mix. Definitely has more potential than people give him credit for!

Video talked up the Wings' developing Seider's offense the two years after the draft. We all know the Flyers will not do that.