Whom would you draft in 2023 with our first pick ?

[1000eeer]

Leonard was my pick.

 

[ReimanSum1908]

As this question of any other fanbase in the league and whom would they select?

31/31 would take Michkov because he's simply the far better player.

 

[Andrei79]

As this question of any other fanbase in the league and whom would they select?

31/31 would take Michkov because he's simply the far better player.

Could not possibly care less what the morons on other boards would choose. I've seen enough terrible takes over the years that make their opinions nul. This is without mentioning many cannot even properly assess players currently in the NHL.

The answer is to the question is two fold:

1. Reinbacher is the better fit. Michkov becomes redundant with both Caufield and Demidov in the club.

2. It's still way too soon to say. Demidov could fizzle out. Reinbacher could bust. We don't know how much of Michkovs game will translate. I thought he was Bedards 1B, but watching him this year, even with the added production, I was wrong. I'm looking forward to seeing how his speed and lack of strength translates. That's without mentioning what Tortorella will think of the cherry picking.

 

[Le Barron de HF]

With hindsight? Leonard would be a beauty on this roster

 

[BenchBrawl]

Michkov.

 

[MaynardJames]

I would have trade back with Philly and pick Reinbacher or Leonard

 

[KevSkillz4]

I wanted Michkov, Leonard or Benson in 2023.

But today with Ivan Demidov, I prefer him to Michkov, Leonard and Benson.

I would re-pick David Reinbacher, knowing that Demidov is the pick of 2024.

Demidov + Reinbacher > Michkov + RD in this year draft.

Reinbacher is more complete d-man than Levshunov.

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

People keep glazing over the fact that Reinbacher put up better numbers than Dahlin did in his draft year. D+1 season "regression" is the result of an absolutely terrible team. He looked great in camp in September 2023. He was very good in Laval to finish the season.

That Michkov may well be the 2nd best player in the draft doesn't enter into it for me. Whatever the list of reasons Montreal had for not taking him, just like 4 other teams after Bedard/Hawks, I'm comfortable with it.

I'm good with Reinbacher.

4 teams passed on Demidov, maybe we made a mistake by drafting him...

That's not a good argument.

 

[Redux91]

lol at the Reinbacher crowd. Could have drafted Michkov or Leonard and snagged a better dman this year regardless.

Fight me

 

[Rockomax]

Michkov would still have been my pick. However, I've warmed up quite a bit to Reinbacher since then. He plays a position that is very hard to fill, so as an asset, he might end up being the more valuable one.

Plus, he seems to have the personality profile that Hughes and Gorton want for their core pieces.

 

[Rob Sense]

lol at the Reinbacher crowd. Could have drafted Michkov or Leonard and snagged a better dman this year regardless.

Fight me

So basically you would prefer Michkov and Parehk instead of Demidov and Reinbacher. time will tell.

 

[sandviper]

Could not possibly care less what the morons on other boards would choose. I've seen enough terrible takes over the years that make their opinions nul. This is without mentioning many cannot even properly assess players currently in the NHL.

The answer is to the question is two fold:

1. Reinbacher is the better fit. Michkov becomes redundant with both Caufield and Demidov in the club.

2. It's still way too soon to say. Demidov could fizzle out. Reinbacher could bust. We don't know how much of Michkovs game will translate. I thought he was Bedards 1B, but watching him this year, even with the added production, I was wrong. I'm looking forward to seeing how his speed and lack of strength translates. That's without mentioning what Tortorella will think of the cherry picking.

My bold prediction… actually don’t think it’s all that bold…

Michkov will NOT be winning the Calder. My actual bold take is he won’t be top-5 in rookie scoring next season.

 

[HabzSauce]

I don't disagree. He was compared to someone selected very high going into draft, and based on his numbers. I had Dahlin in my mind when posted, but I may be misremember the name that was thrown out as a comparable.

You thinking Josi? Not drafted high but that was his comparable since they both played swiss league

 

[BLNY]

You thinking Josi? Not drafted high but that was his comparable since they both played swiss league

I'm filled with self-doubt now lol. I thought it was someone more recent, but maybe.

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

You can't compare numbers straight across between the SHL and NL, they're on completely different levels as leagues.

If you wanna compare same league, Reinbacher outshone Josi in his draft year. Reinbacher will be a stud

 

[BLNY]

4 teams passed on Demidov, maybe we made a mistake by drafting him...

That's not a good argument.

Apples and oranges. People doing the same action for different reasons. Michkov fell because of his pre-draft activity in the week leading up to it imo.

 

[Meth Flanders]

I'm filled with self-doubt now lol. I thought it was someone more recent, but maybe.

I believe it was Moritz Seider.

 

[BLNY]

I believe it was Moritz Seider.

He played in German and Sweden.

Moritz Seider Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Statistics of Moritz Seider, a hockey player from Zell, Germany born Apr 6 2001 who was active from 2017 to 2025.

www.hockeydb.com

 

[HabzSauce]

Id still go reinbacher although Leonard would be extremely tempting too.

Reinbacher is just so unique. Big mobile RD that plays aggressive, very decisive, and can move the puck up the ice quickly OR even take it in himself like we saw with his first goal in Laval.

Maybe he never exceeds 40 points, but He's going to contribute to our offence more than we think because of his skillet. I see us on the attack more often than not when he's out there. Always pushing the play up the ice, and when in the offensive zone, throwing pucks on net to create havoc.

I feel at his best, he would be alot more impactful than any other forwards left including Michkov, Benson, Leonard. Just too valuable of a position and he does it so well.

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

My bold prediction… actually don’t think it’s all that bold…

Michkov will NOT be winning the Calder. My actual bold take is he won’t be top-5 in rookie scoring next season.

Joshua Roy will finish ahead of Michkov in Calder voting!

He played in German and Sweden.

Moritz Seider Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Statistics of Moritz Seider, a hockey player from Zell, Germany born Apr 6 2001 who was active from 2017 to 2025.

www.hockeydb.com

There was a comparison with Seider and they were both « reaches ». I think Seider was ranked 13th and went sixth

 

[Doublechin]

Leonard for me, no hesitation, he's a rare type that does and excels at everything I look for in a hockey player and with this draft our top 6 for the future would have been set

Slaf Suzuki Demidov
Leonard Dach Caufield
Roy Beck Newhook

I would have targeted Badinka to get an RD in this year's draft with the 26th pick and might have traded for another early 2nd round pick and gotten Kleber or Brunnicke

 

[yianik]

I wanted Michkov. They didn't. The fact they took Demidov this year just reinforces to me they must have had good reason not to take Michkov , and I like to think it doesn't have to do with him ever coming over. So Reinbacher it is.

 

[Gainesvillain]

Correct answer is still Michkov.

 

[L4br3cqu3]

I wanted Michkov, or Leonard, even Dvorsky.

What's done is done though, and I don't mind Reinbacher, so I hope he becomes the no3/Hamrlik type I think he can become for us.

 

[Zilo44]

Gotta play it safe and go for Danielson here