Wright, Slafkovsky, Cooley : Time to make that final decision

[ArtPeur]

You probably right. But being Montreal you have to be watchful of this stuff. Being first overall Wright is going to be under intense pressure. A lot of stars have cracked here under the pressure. Ie. Roy, Lemieux,etc..

To some extent, I'd say Wright was already under pressure this whole season: having the #1 tag on his back since long ago + named (youngest?) captain in Kingston history + missing last year. I would believe that the decision might be a bit psychological at the end of the day. How did he fare in his meetings with the staff might interest or not the team. Was he already cracking under the pressure this season?

To me, it's still my pick if the team feels he can handle it. Get some extra help if needed. Have Vinnie help him out and teach him some stuff.

 

[salbutera]

Lebrun in insider trading says Habs waiting for jersey to pick up the phone and ask what it would take to swap picks so they can take slaf.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

Like Jiricek maybe?

...does he belong to Jersey??...is there another Jiricek they have that we don't know about??...

 

[Kaladin]

...how does that have any bearing on Wright, Cooley, Nemec or whoever??...Jersey wants to ensure the get Slafkovsky, that's it...

Because Montreal can't be sure Jersey would pick Slaf. They might pick Wright instead. IF montreal is willing to move the pick it means they don't necessarily care about picking either Wright or Slaf. At least not enough to ensure it's in their power.

I'm just speculating on the Cooley part, could be Nemec or some other player but given Cooley is a C, got invited to dinner and is in the top 3 of most lists he seems like the most likely choice if it isn't either Wright or Slaf.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

Because Montreal can't be sure Jersey would pick Slaf. They might pick Wright instead. IF montreal is willing to move the pick it means they don't necessarily care about picking either Wright or Slaf. At least not enough to ensure it's in their power.

I'm just speculating on the Cooley part, could be Nemec or some other player but given Cooley is a C, got invited to dinner and is in the top 3 of most lists he seems like the most likely choice if it isn't either Wright or Slaf.

...you are reading into that far more than was discussed...Jersey wants Slaf and might want to ensure they get him by flipping picks with us...that's it...

 

[sheed36]

To me, if this is true - this suggests that Habs want Cooley. Don't like Wright or Slaf enough to keep 1st overall but don't want to pick a player 1st that they can get 2nd + something extra.

Maybe so or maybe the Habs choice is Wright but they've been leaking they'll take Slafkovsky 1st to hopefully get an additional asset from the Devils while still getting their guy Wright 2nd.

 

[Sorinth]

To some extent, I'd say Wright was already under pressure this whole season: having the #1 tag on his back since long ago + named (youngest?) captain in Kingston history + missing last year. I would believe that the decision might be a bit psychological at the end of the day. How did he fare in his meetings with the staff might interest or not the team. Was he already cracking under the pressure this season?

To me, it's still my pick if the team feels he can handle it. Get some extra help if needed. Have Vinnie help him out and teach him some stuff.

There's a very easy way to take the pressure/spotlight off whoever we pick. Sign PK Subban and name him Captain, nobody will be talking about Wright anymore

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

There's a very easy way to take the pressure/spotlight off whoever we pick. Sign PK Subban and name him Captain, nobody will be talking about Wright anymore

Management in NJ said Subban was a great help for the kids on the team. Might not be a bad idea.

 

[GalHabsGal]

Maybe so or maybe the Habs choice is Wright but they've been leaking they'll take Slafkovsky 1st to hopefully get an additional asset from the Devils while still getting their guy Wright 2nd.

They switch their pick with NJ thinking they will draft Slaf, but NJ draft Wright lol

EDIT: Anyway, Habs will draft #1 in MTL, no way they trade their 1 pick

 

[Kaladin]

...you are reading into that far more than was discussed...Jersey wants Slaf and might want to ensure they get him by flipping picks with us...that's it...

It's called game theory and if you don't think Hughes is plotting out all possibilities before giving up 1st overall your not giving him enough credit.

 

[Goldenhands]

...does he belong to Jersey??...is there another Jiricek they have that we don't know about??...

What about Habs 1st to Devils for Devils 2022 + 2023 1sts. Then Habs shock the hockey world and select Jiricek. Wouldnt it be hilarous? Habs going through the 2023 draft with 3 1st round picks and the blueline fixed for decades.

Only extrapolating an unprobable Hollywood scenario...

 

[Kaladin]

They switch their pick with NJ thinking they will draft Slaf, but NJ draft Wright lol

Exactly. If you believe the Habs are dumb enough to do this then I don't know what to say. The ONLY way they do this is IF they don't care if they get Wright or not. Which implies a third favoured choice. Which isn't to say that they think Cooley (or insert third choice) is the best player. They might just think there isn't much of a delta between the three.

 

[sheed36]

Exactly. If you believe the Habs are dumb enough to do this then I don't know what to say. The ONLY way they do this is IF they don't care if they get Wright or not. Which implies a third favoured choice. Which isn't to say that they think Cooley (or insert third choice) is the best player. They might just think there isn't much of a delta between the three.

Well this is a first for me and I'm shocked it hasn't happen way before today TBH. In my 17 or so years of posting on HF this is the first time I've been called dumb for thinking something.

 

[Kaladin]

Well this is a first for me and I'm shocked it hasn't happen way before today TBH. In my 17 or so years of posting on HF this is the first time I've been called dumb for thinking something.

Haha mate I didn't mean it as an attack. I just meant logically speaking, if you truly want Wright - you don't play games like pretending to be into Slaf just so the devils trade up and give you something because you believe they want Slaf. What if your wrong? The downside is too large.

If you truly like a player you don't play those games. You just pick who you want.

 

[sheed36]

Haha mate I didn't mean it as an attack. I just meant logically speaking, if you truly want Wright - you don't play games like pretending to be into Slaf just so the devils trade up and give you something because you believe they want Slaf. What if your wrong? The downside is too large.

If you truly like a player you don't play those games. You just pick who you want.

No worries. I had a very good chuckle when I read it and I'm sure there were many times in the past someone called a post of mine dumb but just never posted about it.

Yeah just draft Wright 1st and be happy with the pick.

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

Nemec will be 1OA in the redraft in 4 years so might as well just take him now and not regret it then

 

[Tetragrammaton]

Management in NJ said Subban was a great help for the kids on the team. Might not be a bad idea.

I would welcome Subban with open arms, Markov too while we’re at it lol.

 

[absolute garbage]

Nemec will be 1OA in the redraft in 4 years so might as well just take him now and not regret it then

I don't know what the right pick is for 1st overall but I know the Habs will make the wrong one! Too much pressure, so might as well trade down so people can't clown on you as much in the future!

Out of the top teams in draft, I could see Philly really wanting to move up. It seems like they are kind of imploding, and if you could get unprotected 2023 1st from them now, that could be huge next year. Imagine having two top 5 picks in next year's draft.

 

[KevSkillz4]

You know your stuff buddy, I must admit that I underrated you a bit. I would add that Slafkovsky has much smoother hands than Nichushkin too. The way he overpower guys all over the ice is a pretty unique trait as well.

Thanks, sometimes i put "sarcasm" on my posts. But when it's time to talk prospects and draft. I put serious conversation, i'm not a scout, but I really like watching games (not just Habs).

When I watch young players, I focus on their hockey IQ and when you look the tools of Slafkovsky, his hands, his skating ability for a big guy like him, his two-way game, his shoot, powerful in his game, great protection of puck... you add his hockey IQ with that, that's easy to think that he is going to be a very special player in NHL.

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

I don't know what the right pick is for 1st overall but I know the Habs will make the wrong one! Too much pressure, so might as well trade down so people can't clown on you as much in the future!

Out of the top teams in draft, I could see Philly really wanting to move up. It seems like they are kind of imploding, and if you could get unprotected 2023 1st from them now, that could be huge next year. Imagine having two top 5 picks in next yea r's draft.

BPA is a myth. They take a prospect and add a premium for position, add or subtract a premium for size, add or subtract a premium for recency bias and hype and you’re left with a ranking based on all of that. It’s like saying the best car is the one that has the highest sales tax. Strip that way and Nemec is 1OA

 

[bsl]

I have a vision of Nichuskin personally.

That could be the case. I grabbed Nich in my pool early this year. Profited. Except: He played with Mac. Habs don't have a Mac.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Le CH indécis avec le choix no 1

La direction des Canadiens ne serait toujours pas certaine à 100% quant à son choix pour le 7 juillet prochain.

www.rds.ca

 

[Xirik]

...a good RD prospect that can move the puck...

Devils don't have a single RD prospect that you would want. There is a reason Devils fans were so high on Jiricek and Nemec when they were thinking they were getting 6OA before the lottery.

Our best RD prospect is Rielly Walsh who was drafted in 2017, Basically his potential is being a 3rd pair defenseman that has good offence and who you would use to quarterback the powerplay. He is NOT a strong defender.

If you don't mind LD I think you guys would like Kevin Bahl, 6-foot-6, 230 pounds defeceman who hits, Knocks people off pucks, and can clear the crease. His outbreak pass is also underrated. He's knda Redundant on the Devils currently as Mukhamadulin is basically a better version of him, Just doesn't hit as much.

You also get the upside of being able to make Ball puns.

Bahl+2022 3rd is the max I would be comfortable with, Anything more Id rather just take whoever is available at 2nd or trade back.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

Devils don't have a single RD prospect that you would want. There is a reason Devils fans were so high on Jiricek and Nemec when they were thinking they were getting 6OA before the lottery.

Our best RD prospect is Rielly Walsh who was drafted in 2017, He's basically his potential at being a 3rd pair defenseman that has good offence and who you would use to quarterback the powerplay.

If you don't mind LD I think you guys would like Kevin Bahl, 6-foot-6, 230 pounds defeceman who hits, Knocks people off pucks, and can clear the crease. His outbreak pass is also underrated.

You also get the upside of being able to make Ball puns.

Bahl+2022 3rd is the max I would be comfortable with, Anything more Id rather just take whoever is available at 2nd or trade back.

...naw, we just don't make good trading partners...Habs keep #1 OA...

 

[Xirik]

...naw, we just don't make good trading partners...Habs keep #1 OA...

I still think the devils would trade for Price if you turn him into a cyborg.