Which player should the Mtl Canadiens pick with their 1 st choice?

[morhilane]

As long as by character he means player with actual character on the ice and not player with rispek who play the "white" way then it's fine character really is important. Rispek not so much.

They meant someone with great work ethic and competitiveness whom other players will follow in example. MSL was brought onboard to be that that person this season.

The way I see it, HuGo want to give the control of the team to the kids instead of the vets. While there is a lots of chatter about Suzuki for captain, he's apparently a quite dude and I think Hughes wants someone more vocal.

The interviews will have a bigger impact on who they pick 1st than the stats/ceiling projection will.

and I can already tell you that Wright will ace that interview.

 

[Licou]

I don't see him as the safest or the highest upside.

Highest upside is Nemec (scary high IQ).
Safest is Jiricek (he's already here).

Wright is in the top 5-10 at everything, but he ain't the best at anything.

Wright is not good enough to be the default choice. You need to have a clear vision of how to surround him. If we can pair him with Jager (next year), fine. We need to be intentional from the point we draft him to make it work or he won't be what we want him to be, he can't. Suzuki will remain our best center unless we get Bedard/Fantilli/Dvorsky/Carlsson next year.


No scout compares Wright to Bergeron. Tavares is the scouts' comparison.

Wright compares himself to Bergeron.
It's bollocks and one of the reasons I don't like Wright, he doesn't know what he is.

I am far from a credible poster regarding prospects, especially compared to some of the prospect junkies in here.

I do have worries about Wright, but it's from my very limited knowledge.

The only reason why I think he may have the highest upside is that if his real self his closer to what he showed as a 15 year old and that his current state is just a set of unfortunate circumstances, he could actually become a franchise player.

We'll see. I just feel like picking Wright might be a forgone conclusion at this point.

 

[SOLR]

I am far from a credible poster regarding prospects, especially compared to some of the prospect junkies in here.

I do have worries about Wright, but it's from my very limited knowledge.

The only reason why I think he may have the highest upside is that if his real self his closer to what he showed as a 15 year old and that his current state is just a set of unfortunate circumstances, he could actually become a franchise player.

We'll see. I just feel like picking Wright might be a forgone conclusion at this point.

After 30 years of watching prospects, I do not believe in "unfortunate circumstances", there is what is and what is not. Simple, if you try too hard you can excuse anything.

Even at 15, the upside was not there, you could make the point that teams/players have adapted to him - what do you think will happen in the NHL? Wright went from 1.05 to 1.4 points per game.

At the same time, Matt Savoie went from 0.3 points per game to 1.4 points per game (not the exact numbers, for demonstration's sake). That's a player that is gaining an advantage as time pass. 1.4 points per game in the WHL is about 1.8-1.9 pts per game in the OHL, since the WHL is more defensive.

Who has the most upside?

 

[Licou]

After 30 years of watching prospects, I do not believe in "unfortunate circumstances", there is what is and what is not. Simple, if you try too hard you can excuse anything.

Even at 15, the upside was not there, you could make the point that teams/players have adapted to him - what do you think will happen in the NHL? Wright went from 1.05 to 1.4 points per game.

At the same time, Matt Savoie went from 0.3 points per game to 1.4 points per game (not the exact numbers, for demonstration's sake). That's a player that is gaining an advantage as time pass. 1.4 points per game in the WHL is about 1.8-1.9 pts per game in the OHL, since the WHL is more defensive.

Who has the most upside?

Intuitively, I also find it unnerving that see a prospect regress, or at least stagnate at such point of his development.

I am just trying to get high on copium, but I can't find a big enough dose!

 

[Deebs]

As long as by character he means player with actual character on the ice and not player with rispek who play the "white" way then it's fine character really is important. Rispek not so much.

Ignorant post

 

[MTL-rules]

The Bergeron comparaison is a joke, so is the Tavares one, a better and more realistic upside is Elias Lindholm. Can score 34 and even 40 on very hot years assuming he's well surrounded but I don't think he will become an elite 2 way Center as some think he will be

You're right, he'll become an elite no1 center.

Shane Wright has dominated the competition, he has superstar upside.... His floor is a solid 2 way center.

It's comical the amount of disrespect he's getting, I hope HuGo won't get caught in this and draft our futur no1 center and franchise player.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

people in the 2 threads going on already calling Shane Wright a bust or the worst overall in the last 20 years are the reason why nobody wants to play in Montreal.

Not even drafted and yet people are already on his case. Pretty sad

 

[Habs]

people in the 2 threads going on already calling Shane Wright a bust or the worst overall in the last 20 years are the reason why nobody wants to play in Montreal.

Not even drafted and yet people are already on his case. Pretty sad

people have ptsd from first round picks that aren't 'sure fire' superstars.

 

[morhilane]

I just read a Radio-Canada article with some quotes form Wright's agent. The most interesting part is that is about Wright's TOI: 23-27 minutes per match. According to his agent, he's sent to the PK in the 3rd when the team is already losing 5-1 minutes.

The kid has no gas left in the tank by the 3rd period...

 

[Natey]

Is it true that you can’t pick at No. 1 twice within 5 drafts? By picking No. 1 in 2022 and presumably Shane Wright, we can’t pick No. 1 Connor Bedard in 2023?

No. You can pick #1 twice in 5 years.

The rules are a bit muddy. Many places report that you can't move up more than twice in 5 years. But NHL.com says you cant win the lottery more than twice in five years.

So who really knows, but regardless next year would only be the second time so we could get #1 and Bedard.

No, the rule is that you can't move up due to lottery wins more than twice in 5 years.
- We technically didn't move up so it doesn't count
- Even if we did move up to #1, we would still have the possibility of winning next year for Connor Bedard

Source: Which Recent NHL Draft Lottery Outcomes Led to the New Rule Changes?

NHL.com's own release about it says nothing about moving up though. It just says you can't win the lottery more than twice in five years.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

people have ptsd from first round picks that aren't 'sure fire' superstars.

You don't need to be a superstar to be effective , people need to learn that.
It's cool to have a Matthews , Stamkos , Mcdavid and Draisailt of this world.

But having a Wright and Suzuki who can both get around 70 points with the good wingers is more than good.

People forget that Wright and Suzuki could easily be our top 6 centers for a whole decade.

The centers we never had in 2 decades.

It's a great start to a rebuild and going the right direction.

People need to be chill if he stays in the NHL and struggle in his first year or hes sent back to the OHL. Not because you are not a stud at 18 year olds means you are a bust.

 

[LaP]

Ignorant post

How so?

I think it was quite evident MB was mixing reputation for character. Reputation is one thing (like Ovy not having character a reputation that he unjustifiably held for many years). Actual character is another one.

 

[Vachon23]

You don't need to be a superstar to be effective , people need to learn that.
It's cool to have a Matthews , Stamkos , Mcdavid and Draisailt of this world.

But having a Wright and Suzuki who can both get around 70 points with the good wingers is more than good.

People forget that Wright and Suzuki could easily be our top 6 centers for a whole decade.

The centers we never had in 2 decades.

It's a great start to a rebuild and going the right direction.

People need to be chill if he stays in the NHL and struggle in his first year or hes sent back to the OHL. Not because you are not a stud at 18 year olds means you are a bust.

The best Center line I ever saw as a Habs fans was Koivu-Plekanec... Where talking about an other level of quality center line

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

The best Center line I ever saw as a Habs fans was Koivu-Plekanec... Where talking about an other level of quality center line

Yep and you build a team with centers. I think we can all agree with that. Which is a good start. Now just need to attach them wingers

 

[Vachon23]

Yep and you build a team with centers. I think we can all agree with that. Which is a good start. Now just need to attach them wingers

Way easier to find good Wingers

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Way easier to find good Wingers

Exactly. Now we will start slowly to get rid of the bad contracts to insert upcoming wingers that will fit with Wright and Suzuki

 

[Licou]

You don't need to be a superstar to be effective , people need to learn that.
It's cool to have a Matthews , Stamkos , Mcdavid and Draisailt of this world.

But having a Wright and Suzuki who can both get around 70 points with the good wingers is more than good.

People forget that Wright and Suzuki could easily be our top 6 centers for a whole decade.

The centers we never had in 2 decades.

It's a great start to a rebuild and going the right direction.

People need to be chill if he stays in the NHL and struggle in his first year or hes sent back to the OHL. Not because you are not a stud at 18 year olds means you are a bust.

I am your worse than average observer here. But I find that some of the red flags for this player worrying that's all.. lack of intensity, no will to challenge defenders 1 on 1...

He does seem to have very high IQ though, so it's not all doom and gloom.

But this whole jack of all trades, master of none thing seems like a gamble. You need to be pretty special to perform in the NHL.

But yeah, my opinion is worth jack shit but it is what it is!

 

[Frank Drebin]

I can't wait to revisit this thread in 4 years when half the board is saying "I actually wanted playerx"

 

[dcyhabs]

Ignorant post

I disagree. His post accurately describes the difference between Therrien's attitude and MSL's. Julien and Ducharme may have been in the middle, but closer to Therrien. They wanted players who would say "yes coach" more than they wanted people who wanted to win. Under Therrien and Bergevin there was a definite willingness to lose in a foxhole with friends and friendly, grinding, white players rather than to leave the comfort zone and win.

 

[Michelangelo]

No. You can pick #1 twice in 5 years.

The rules are a bit muddy. Many places report that you can't move up more than twice in 5 years. But NHL.com says you cant win the lottery more than twice in five years.

So who really knows, but regardless next year would only be the second time so we could get #1 and Bedard.


NHL.com's own release about it says nothing about moving up though. It just says you can't win the lottery more than twice in five years.

It does though, when you look at the NHL release

"""
(3) Limit on Teams Winning a Lottery Draw

No single team will be able to advance in the Draft order by reason of winning a Lottery Draw more than two (2) times in any five (5) year period. This limitation will not affect a Club’s ability to retain its presumptive Draft position in any Draft Lottery, nor would it preclude the possibility of the Club moving down in Draft Order to the extent other Clubs advance by reason of winning the Lottery Draws. For purposes of clarity, the limitation would attach to the team, not the specific pick.
"""

https://media.nhl.com/public/news/14767

https://media.nhl.com/site/vasset/public/attachments/2021/03/14767/DraftLotteryMarch23.pdf

Obviously I am assuming here that "advancing in the draft order" = "moving up"

 

[dcyhabs]

I am your worse than average observer here. But I find that some of the red flags for this player worrying that's all.. lack of intensity, no will to challenge defenders 1 on 1...

He does seem to have very high IQ though, so it's not all doom and gloom.

But this whole jack of all trades, master of none thing seems like a gamble. You need to be pretty special to perform in the NHL.

But yeah, my opinion is worth jack shit but it is what it is!

There's a lot to worry about but if his hockey sense is anything like what is projected he'll be better, not worse, at the next levels. Mysak may have had a bit of the same problem. From my limited knowledge he spent a lot of the early season trying to set up clumsy teammates, gave up on them, and started going to the net himself.

 

[Licou]

There's a lot to worry about but if his hockey sense is anything like what is projected he'll be better, not worse, at the next levels. Mysak may have had a bit of the same problem. From my limited knowledge he spent a lot of the early season trying to set up clumsy teammates, gave up on them, and started going to the net himself.

Yeah, that's the reason why I think he is *the* pick at #1. Size, strength, decent speed and hockey IQ are some pretty important checkboxes. As long as he is a dedicated young man, we can actually end up with something very special.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Ignorant post

I think you're missing it's context. He's talking about the attitude of the former regime with skilled players...

 

[Natey]

It does though, when you look at the NHL release

"""
(3) Limit on Teams Winning a Lottery Draw

No single team will be able to advance in the Draft order by reason of winning a Lottery Draw more than two (2) times in any five (5) year period. This limitation will not affect a Club’s ability to retain its presumptive Draft position in any Draft Lottery, nor would it preclude the possibility of the Club moving down in Draft Order to the extent other Clubs advance by reason of winning the Lottery Draws. For purposes of clarity, the limitation would attach to the team, not the specific pick.
"""

https://media.nhl.com/public/news/14767

https://media.nhl.com/site/vasset/public/attachments/2021/03/14767/DraftLotteryMarch23.pdf

Obviously I am assuming here that "advancing in the draft order" = "moving up"

That seems pretty clear. The NHL.com website release had nothing about that.

 

[dcyhabs]

Yeah, that's the reason why I think he is *the* pick at #1. Size, strength, decent speed and hockey IQ are some pretty important checkboxes. As long as he is a dedicated young man, we can actually end up with something very special.

According to an article it's pretty rare in that his parents weren't sports stars. They considered him "almost overcompetitive" or something along those lines. He may have lost some drive, the question is whether it would come back playing in a better league with better players on a (n eventually) competitive team.