Speculation: Your post combine pick at 5th OV.

[26Mats]

Wow!

If Ryan Leonard is available and Montreal doesn't take him, it will biggest regret they will have since they missed out on Brady Tkachuk.

These are the exact types of players you need to be successful with in the playoffs.

We also know now that Leonard is basically 6ft so there is no concerns about size.

He will be a BEAST once he adds size to his already stout frame.

Wow, didn't realize Zach Benson is the exact same height as Connor Bedard. If Leonard is basically 6'0, since he was measured at 5'11.75 then Benson is basically 5'10, since he, like Bedard was measured at 5'9.75.

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]NA[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Connor[/TD]
[TD]Bedard[/TD]
[TD]C[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]9.75[/TD]
[TD]185[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]NA[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]Zach[/TD]
[TD]Benson[/TD]
[TD]LW[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]9.75[/TD]
[TD]170[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

NA

5

Ryan

Leonard

RW

5

11.75

190

 

[River Meadow]

Wow!

Wow, didn't realize Zach Benson is the exact same height as Connor Bedard. If Leonard is basically 6'0, since he was measured at 5'11.75 then Benson is basically 5'10, since he, like Bedard was measured at 5'9.75.

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]NA[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Connor[/TD]
[TD]Bedard[/TD]
[TD]C[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]9.75[/TD]
[TD]185[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]NA[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]Zach[/TD]
[TD]Benson[/TD]
[TD]LW[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]9.75[/TD]
[TD]170[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]NA[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]Ryan[/TD]
[TD]Leonard[/TD]
[TD]RW[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]11.75[/TD]
[TD]190[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

You're a Benson guy heh?

 

[26Mats]

You're a Benson guy heh?

No. I'm a Michkov guy. But I thought Benson was more 5'8.75.

But I'm not wedded to Michkov. Whoever we get, I'll reserve judgement on until we see what they are at the NHL level.

 

[River Meadow]

No. I'm a Michkov guy. But I thought Benson was more 5'8.75.

But I'm not wedded to Michkov. Whoever we get, I'll reserve judgement on until we see what they are at the NHL level.

Yeah.

I've thought about that too, tbh.

Benson being 5ft10 is actually not bad at all.

He isn't 5ft7...

 

[MTL Dirty Birdy]

If the Hughes Habs were just as aggressive and reluctant to lose as the Vegas Golden Knights, I wouldn’t have any issue.

Florida was built aggressively but traditionally — do we have a Barkov or Ekblad? —but they acquired Tkachuk by trading another PPG players.

So let’s get the PPG players first no?


We need hockey players, this isn’t Mr Olympia.

Some of you people would’ve skipped over Patrick Kane without a second thought.

What the f*** are you talking about man? I made absolutely no reference to size being a selling point. I was simply explaining why some kids play big and others don’t. That being said , the « you people » I can do without when you have zero knowledge of you're replying to. If you care to know, I favour skill every day of the week and twice on Sunday. and I put extra on competitiveness. That’s an intangible that helps teams win.

 

[ReHabs]

What the f*** are you talking about man? I made absolutely no reference to size being a selling point. I was simply explaining why some kids play big and others don’t. That being said , the « you people » I can do without when you have zero knowledge of you're replying to. If you care to know, I favour skill every day of the week and twice on Sunday. and I put extra on competitiveness. That’s an intangible that helps teams win.

How a prospect is built (“absolute unit”) is only partially relevant to his ability to play in the NHL. I didn’t mean any offense to you, but size obsession always comes around and it’s always generally irrational. As soon as the Habs win games nobody is going to whine about size. It isn’t a real problem.

 

[ZUKI]

It could fail both ways and theres a lot more chance that you look stupid for passing on that talent than the opposite.

How do you explain to your fanbase that you passed on the best player in the league for a top 6 winger if he comes over and lays waste to the NHL?

You really think that the fans are that stupids ? No need to explain that a 3 years contract is a 3 years contract, and no need to explain that Russian are in war , neither that Putin loves hockey and that he could give the choice to send Michkov in Siberia for military training , or to stay and re-sign with his russian team.

Do you need me to explain this another time ? someone else ?

 

[Runner77]

It’s fine we can always tank and give up another whole season to be in a position to draft a single PPG player. What’s the problem?

You already know the problem. Hughes was OK with winning games in a lost season while several other teams overtly put themselves in a position to lose. This is how you end up with the 5th drafting slot despite setting a record for man games lost for a 2nd season in a row.

Yes it’s a lottery in the end but if they’d have finished say 2nd to last, it would have already prevented the dilemmas we’ve been having.

 

[ReHabs]

You already know the problem. Hughes was OK with winning games in a lost season while several other teams overtly put themselves in a position to lose. This is how you end up with the 5th drafting slot despite setting a record for man games lost for a 2nd season in a row.

Yes it’s a lottery in the end but if they’d have finished say 2nd to last, it would have already prevented the dilemmas we’ve been having.

If they don’t galaxy brain it at 5OA we should be drafting at the very least Will Smith who’s a phenomenal talent. The dilemma comes from all of us feeling that the Habs will galaxy brain it.

There is a reason why the discussion hasn’t stayed on Smith vs Michkov (a very interesting discussion due to relative risks and talent and play styles) and instead it’s meandered over Dvorsky, Reinbacher, and Leonard, and ‘trading down’. If these weren’t things we expect the Habs to do, we wouldn’t be reading page after page about the picking a 10th ranked prospect with the 5OA.

 

[River Meadow]

If they don’t galaxy brain it at 5OA we should be drafting at the very least Will Smith who’s a phenomenal talent. The dilemma comes from all of us feeling that the Habs will galaxy brain it.

There is a reason why the discussion hasn’t stayed on Smith vs Michkov (a very interesting discussion due to relative risks and talent and play styles) and instead it’s meandered over Dvorsky, Reinbacher, and Leonard, and ‘trading down’. If these weren’t things we expect the Habs to do, we wouldn’t be reading page after page about the picking a 10th ranked prospect with the 5OA.

I don't think Smith is avail at 5.

Who do you pick at 5 if Smith is not avail and Michkov is a DND?

You already know the problem. Hughes was OK with winning games in a lost season while several other teams overtly put themselves in a position to lose. This is how you end up with the 5th drafting slot despite setting a record for man games lost for a 2nd season in a row.

Yes it’s a lottery in the end but if they’d have finished say 2nd to last, it would have already prevented the dilemmas we’ve been having.

tbf, who knew our AHL players would turn into NHL All-Stars....

 

[ZUKI]

Montreal does have a taxe disadvantage though… so it’s probably harder to get players. Although they seem to be doing a good job to create interest but it’s not that clear it works yet either and to what point it works.

There is something about the bonus that isn't in the same taxes % as the salary itself, and a part of the income is paid in the USA where they play. ( I think )
That said, we can also compare the cost of living in the Big Apple, and the one in Montreal. I don't think you will pay your house the same kind of price

oh, and there is only one Chez Paré

 

[Runner77]

If they don’t galaxy brain it at 5OA we should be drafting at the very least Will Smith who’s a phenomenal talent. The dilemma comes from all of us feeling that the Habs will galaxy brain it.

There is a reason why the discussion hasn’t stayed on Smith vs Michkov (a very interesting discussion due to relative risks and talent and play styles) and instead it’s meandered over Dvorsky, Reinbacher, and Leonard, and ‘trading down’. If these weren’t things we expect the Habs to do, we wouldn’t be reading page after page about the picking a 10th ranked prospect with the 5OA.

I hate that with such a high pick we still need to hope that the weakest link, galaxies it before our pick. And that won’t be the Ducks (especially not with Martin Madden as assistant GM), nor Jarmo.

It all hinges on rookie GM Mike Grier who has less than one year at the position.

 

[ReHabs]

I don't think Smith is avail at 5.

Who do you pick at 5 if Smith is not avail and Michkov is a DND?

Michkov as a DND does not make sense to me. A team like the Habs, with difficulty attracting premium talent, should have a larger risk appetite for the rewards that come with a player like Michkov. Instead we have the opposite attitude on display among the fans.

(I don’t consider anything Hughes says as legitimate. Could be smoke and mirrors to psych out Grier and SJS.)

There’s very little chances of Michkov being so high risk that we should skip him. If a team as desperate as ours skips him and he still goes top10 it just reveals that we were wrong to skip him. The poor kid is not responsible for geopolitics, he shouldn’t have the risk of nuclear escalation pinned on him.

But to answer your question — if Michkov and Smith are both unavailable and the other top3 are gone — I would gun for the highest production upside prospect remaining and I think that’s Benson.

I hate that with such a high pick we still need to hope that the weakest link, galaxies it before our pick. And that won’t be the Ducks (especially not with Martin Madden as assistant GM), nor Jarmo.

It all hinges on rookie GM Mike Grier who has less than one year at the position.

I think there is definitely an element of Hughes trying to psych out Grier.

 

[Sterling Archer]

Assuming all of Smith, Carlsson etc. are not available, it has to be Michkov. Every player in n the next tier can go anywhere between 6-15. The drop in quality is stark.

If they don’t take Michkov, it’s a waste of a pick. May as well have finished 10th last and had a better season.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Leonard if not Smith.

That’s my final opinion.

Any of Smith, Leonard or Reinbacher and we secure another core piece for the future. Let’s not overthink this and try to be the smartest guy in the room.

 

[Runner77]

tbf, who knew our AHL players would turn into NHL All-Stars....

TBF, is that not HuGo’s job to know?

 

[River Meadow]

Michkov as a DND does not make sense to me. A team like the Habs, with difficulty attracting premium talent, should have a larger risk appetite for the rewards that come with a player like Michkov. Instead we have the opposite attitude on display among the fans.

(I don’t consider anything Hughes says as legitimate. Could be smoke and mirrors to psych out Grier and SJS.)

There’s very little chances of Michkov being so high risk that we should skip him. If a team as desperate as ours skips him and he still goes top10 it just reveals that we were wrong to skip him. The poor kid is not responsible for geopolitics, he shouldn’t have the risk of nuclear escalation pinned on him.

But to answer your question — if Michkov and Smith are both unavailable and the other top3 are gone — I would gun for the highest production upside prospect remaining and I think that’s Benson.


I think there is definitely an element of Hughes trying to psych out Grier.

That's fair.

Benson would be a good pick.

My concern about him (and I'm not an expert) as I've only really seen his highlights, not games, is I've heard his shot is good not great, skating good not great... and then you factor in the size, and his motor is insane but that gives me PTSD and makes me think of Gallagher when you combine that motor+size.

He excels at hockey IQ and playmaking if I recall, right?

Is it enough? He could improve his skating and shot for sure too....

TBF, is that not HuGo’s job to know?

Come on man..

We're still in the honeymoon phase with HuGo...

We're still in the 'Blame-The-Former-GM' phase.

Any of Smith, Leonard or Reinbacher and we secure another core piece for the future. Let’s not overthink this and try to be the smartest guy in the room.

So you're sayin we should draft Quentin Musty?

 

[River Meadow]

Assuming all of Smith, Carlsson etc. are not available, it has to be Michkov. Every player in n the next tier can go anywhere between 6-15. The drop in quality is stark.

If they don’t take Michkov, it’s a waste of a pick. May as well have finished 10th last and had a better season.

It may feel like that from looking at draft lists but in actuality, the reality of it will be far different..

 

[ZUKI]

as i previously said, Habs should convince the Hawks that Mitchkov will be available at #5 OA and trade this 5th + Panthers first , in return off their 1st OA , because you know they will get the chance to select a player as good as Bedard in Mitchkov

 

[HabsCowboysOwn]

We need hockey players, this isn’t Mr Olympia.

HF Habs pre-draft copium be like

 

[McGees]

I like how the majority of votes here are for a guy that most likely won't even be an option lol.

 

[Habs13]

You really think that the fans are that stupids ? No need to explain that a 3 years contract is a 3 years contract, and no need to explain that Russian are in war , neither that Putin loves hockey and that he could give the choice to send Michkov in Siberia for military training , or to stay and re-sign with his russian team.

Do you need me to explain this another time ? someone else ?

They are. There are still some that want to bring Drouin back.

 

[bcv]

I’ve put a whole 12 seconds on this thought :

Dvorsky is the only player that’s being « discussed » at 5 that I would be really disappointed with.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

Michkov, it's not even a question. The media is just stirring up some clicks. Obviously Hugues won't tell you but I believe he'll pick Michkov.

It’s definitely a question. One we won’t like the answer to.

 

[ReHabs]

That's fair.

Benson would be a good pick.

My concern about him (and I'm not an expert) as I've only really seen his highlights, not games, is I've heard his shot is good not great, skating good not great... and then you factor in the size, and his motor is insane but that gives me PTSD and makes me think of Gallagher when you combine that motor+size.

He excels at hockey IQ and playmaking if I recall, right?

Is it enough? He could improve his skating and shot for sure too....

I’m only following the big names and don’t have any pretentions of expertise either.

All along, it seems the names after the top4 are all in the same tier with different questions marks associated to them and their prospect profile. Will Smith seemed to be the clear choice of that pile, possibly belonging to the top5, but now it’s as if he’s mixed in with the rest.

Benson: Gallagher with offensive IQ is basically a much better player who’d take to the body less and get hurt less. It’s basically not Gallagher at all. How many times do players even get a chance to release a clean shot? Playmaking ability is so much more important in getting goals on the bars than a player’s pure shooting ability imo. The NHL is rife with chippy and chintzy goals — as long as he isn’t Kotkaniemi-slow at shooting, Benson’s shot shouldn’t be a problem.